Friday is here and it seems like it came around pretty fast. At least that is my opinion. This week was pretty normal. Not much going on except doing the editing on the WIP.
One exciting thing is Gwen Plano and I will be guests on the Rave Reviews Book Club, Rave Waves Blog Talk Radio show titled Behind the Pen with host Beem Weeks. The show is Saturday, October 6th at 12:00 Central time. We will be talking about The Contract. Here is the link in case you want to tune in. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravereviewsbookclub
Today’s JohnKu talks about a normal week. Have a great weekend.
“You Two want to get up? “What day is it?” “Wednesday.” “Come back Friday please.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week Andrew and Larry arrived at Gault Industries and met with Ned Dixon. Looking around it was obvious to our pair that the plant had seen better days. Ned explained that he worked for the bank and called Louis the tech. We learned Louis has worked for Gault for twelve years so if anything funny went on ten years ago, he should know about it or was the perpetrator of the funny business. I see Louis has arrived so let’s head back to the plant. You might want to grab a bottle of water before you go. I personally would not touch anything out of those faucets.
“Here’s Louis. Louis meet Larry and Andrew. They have a deep diving business and are looking for some major descaling of artifacts brought up from the sea.”
“Nice to meet you, gentlemen. I didn’t get the name of your company.”
“Ah, Neptune Enterprises. We just formed the business, so you probably never heard of us.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I never have.”
“Well anyway. Louis, these two want to see if we have the capability to handle their work.”
“You want to clean stuff from the ocean, right?”
“That’s right, Louis. Some of the items may have been below water for hundreds of years.”
“You will need a pretty strong current to get through those old layers. Yet you don’t want to damage the original piece. Am I on target uh Andrew isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s Andrew. Nice memory Louis. You are precisely on target. These are valuable artifacts, and we need to make sure the system can clean them without damage. To use an example, it would be like removing someone’s appendix without hurting the body.”
“Yeah, that’s an interesting example. But to ease your mind we have a system that can do as you say.”
“Remove an appendix?”
“No. Cleaning the item without damage.”
“Excuse me, Louis.”
“Yes Larry.”
“I am curious as to how this equipment works.”
“I can imagine. Why don’t we go to the machine and I’ll show you? Did you bring something that needs cleaning?”
“Yes, we brought an anchor.”
“Okay. Go get it.”
“Do you have a dolly or something?”
“Is it big?”
“No just heavy.”
“For heaven’s sake, Larry. Just go get it. We are wasting time.”
“Oh yes, boss. I’ll be right back.”
“Louis maybe you could give him a hand.”
“Sorry Mr. D but I have a bad back. Besides, he has returned.”
“Okay, where to and I hope not far.”
“It is in the next room. Follow me through this door.”
“OMG want is that smell?”
“It is citric acid, Andrew. It is part of the solution to take the foreign matter off of things.”
“Smells like grapefruit.”
“Not surprised since it is made from citrus. I can’t smell it any more. Working around the stuff for a while does that. How about you Mr. D? You smell it?”
“Makes my eyes water, Louis. If you don’t mind I’m going to wait outside.”
“A question for you Louis.”
“Yes, Andrew.”
“Is this citric acid toxic to skin?”
“Well over time it would be.”
“How much time?”
“Let’s say an hour.”
“So, if someone were in this solution for an hour it would alter their skin.”
“More like a burn. Where are you going with this?”
“Just curious. I don’t want our objects ruined if the acid is too toxic. Doesn’t seem like it is.”
“You sound like a medical man with all these body questions and examples.”
“No. Just want to protect my client’s investments. So how does this work?”
“You put the item in the tank. The diodes attached to the item carries a current that begins to vibrate the material on the object until it falls off. The citric acid acts like a cleanser to get between layers.”
“Sounds like a denture bath.”
“Now that is the first example that makes any sense at all.”
“Hey, Louis.”
“Yes, Larry.”
“Can we put the anchor in there and see if it works?”
In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (Below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or website, next Monday.”
This is another in the series of things not to do during historical occasions. Since today is the International Day of recognition for Vegetarians and Older Persons, I thought I would make fun of these occasions. Although I only do vegetarian every other day I am 100% an older person. I hope you like it.
The Top Ten Things Not to Do on the International Day of Vegetarians and Older Persons.
10 On Vegetarian’s Day, do not wear your “Vegetarians Eat What My Food Eats,” T-shirt. If you do, at best those you meet will wonder about you. At worst, that angry-looking gang at the tofu grill might decide that you need to go somewhere else. ( I’m not sure I would fool with the one swinging the nun-chucks, Faegan. He looks serious.)
9 On Vegetarian’s Day, do not ask Tiny the WWF champ about all the rabbit food on his plate. If you do, at best he’ll not hear you. At worst, since Tiny has been a vegetarian for two hours, he might take offense to your comment. (Don’t worry, Fafner, although Tiny’s looks could kill he doesn’t plan to eat you. Yet.)
8 On Vegetarian’s Day, do not go near Whole Foods if you plan to buy your normal red meat excesses. If you do, at best security will be heightened, and you’ll make it out of the store. At worst, you will come in contact with 100 of the most militant “I’d rather eat poop than meat, activists.” (You were warned, Fain. Now, I would just drop that standing rib roast and run for the exit.)
7 On Vegetarian’s Day, do not call your vegetarian neighbor and ask to borrow a cup of ground beef. If you do, at best they will hang up. At worst, they will call the police and file a hate crime complaint against you. (You should have checked out the city ordinance against mocking vegetarians before your call, Falke. Might have made a night in jail unnecessary.)
6 On Vegetarian’s Day, do not invite all your meat-eating friends over for a tofu turkey feast. If you do, at best you are going to run out of beer. At worst, your friends will believe you have lost your mind and need an intervention. (You have to wonder who ordered delivery of ten meat pizzas and buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Farah. They are only trying to help.)
5 On Vegetarian’s Day, do not go door to door in your neighborhood handing out celery and carrot sticks to whoever answers the door. If you do, at best your neighbors will think you are ill. At worst, the SWAT team will respond to numerous calls. (Your story about gifting veggies is falling on deaf ears, Farley. I would just confess to being drunk. Might be more comfortable in the long run.)
4 On Vegetarian’s Day, do not demonstrate in front of McDonald’s. If you do, at best the patrons will want you to drop dead. At worst, the manager who is eighteen years old will hit you with his personal MACE spray supply. (You might have a lawsuit, Farouk but you need to stop crying first.)
3 On Older Person’s Day, do not try to help an older person across the street. If you do, at best you’ll get advice to go somewhere else. At worst, the person will think you are after their belongings and use that hickory cane very effectively. (You’ll be able to breathe and walk in a few minutes, Farran. Remember no good deed goes unpunished.)
2 On Older Person’s Day, do not bring up the subject of quitting driving. If you do, at best there will be another argument. At worst, your older person will take you fro a demonstration cruise in their 1998 Mercury. (Those white knuckles are well deserved, Farris. Those were some pretty close calls.)
1 On Older Person’s Day, do not make dinner reservations for eight o’clock. If you do, at best your older person will need a meal before the meal. At worst, your older person will have an extended cocktail hour and do you the favor of passing out in the Vichyssoise. (You better help, Farruco. We could have a drowning incident here.)
Port Aransas Music Fest was held this weekend. Since most of the performances were after my bedtime, I thought you would enjoy meeting the artists virtually and seeing the places where the artists performed. Well, that’s the hope anyway.
It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “dom.” Yup that’s it, dom. Linda Hill says we can use it alone or as part of another word. If you would like to join this mayhem, visit Linda’s blog and find out how easy it is to get hooked. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/09/28/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-29-18/
“Humm. Did I miss something? What trip to Germany?”
“Remember we talked about taking a trip?”
“I do remember. I thought we decided on Kansas City.”
“Maybe you decided on Kansas City, but I think we ought to see a little more of the world. We have done enough of domestic travel. I want to go overseas.”
“Okay. What is special about Germany?”
“For one thing the city of Cologne has the Dom Cathedral. ”
“And what is so special?”
“It was built over 500 years and completed in 1880 and is massive. It is one of the largest churches in the world.”
“Looking at this brochure, it says, Kölner Dom.”
“Yes, the city we call Cologne is Köln in German. Kölner Dom means Cologne Cathedral.”
“Sure looks beautiful.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“Whats this Kölsch?”
“Amazing that you would spot that. It is a beer that is made locally in Köln or no more than 30 miles from the city. They say it can’t be transported too far and must be drunk on the premise. There are a number of places that have Kölsch in the city. You can’t get it anywhere else.”
“When do we leave?”
“Do you want to hear of other things to see?”
“Nope, I’m good.”
“How about other cities?”
“I think we won’t have much time after we visit all the Kölsch breweries.”
“Why don’t you let me do the predominant itinerary and then we can see how many we can visit.”
“Okay but leave enough time for a bunch.”
“I love your indomitable, and I might add random spirit.”
Yay, it is Friday. This has seemed like a long week for some reason. Maybe its the fact that I’m editing the next release. For whatever reason when I’m editing time moves very slowly. I suppose it is the need to move carefully across the words. It could also be that I don’t enjoy editing a lot. Not that I hate it but like eating mashed orange squash, I would certainly like to be doing something else.
Today’s JohnKu talks about those things we may not totally enjoy doing but are necessary. I hope you have a super weekend.
“Anyone know what day it is?” “Yup, Wednesday.” “Wake me on Friday.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week Andrew got a call from a firm that had the equipment that could be used to pulverize a heart. A meeting was set up for 3:00 but Andrew had a feeling the guy on the phone didn’t know too much about the process. Andrew felt the guy was a banker who led him to the conclusion that the company was bankrupt. Larry and Andrew went off to have some lunch and then visit the company. I see they are out front of what looks like a warehouse. Larry is hauling an anchor which is the item of subterfuge to get a demonstration of the machine capabilities. We better get over there.
“Jumping gee Josaphat this thing is heavy.”
“Yeah, I wish I could help, but my back is killing me.”
“It might also be that second bowl of chowder. Which I suspect you wouldn’t have had if you were picking up the tab.”
“I explained that I forgot my wallet. I’ll get the next one.”
“Seems I hear that a lot.”
“I mean it.”
“Yeah, okay. Look at this building. Looks like something out of the forties. Did Dixon say where to meet him?”
“No. I suppose we might as well go inside. Follow me.”
“Slow down. Hold the door will ya.”
“Wow look at this place. Hello anyone here?”
“I think there must be a coat of rust on everything. I’m going to leave this anchor by the door.”
“Gentlemen. Welcome to Gault Industries.”
“Are you Mr. Dixon?”
“I sure am. You can call me Ned.”
“Okay, Ned. My name is Andrew, and this is Larry. As we outlined in our ad, we were wondering if we could take a look at your descaling operation and see if your firm might have the capability to do some work for us.”
“We would be delighted to help you in any way we can. Your ad mentioned an anchor. Are you all in the salvage business?”
“Why yes, we are. We have a deep diving business, and we will need a safe way to clean some of the items we bring up. In fact, we brought the anchor to test the equipment.”
“I have to tell you that I’m not very familiar with the equipment. I work for the bank that holds the mortgage on this building.”
“Let me guess. The owners haven’t been keeping up with their payments.’
“Correct. But we still have some qualified people who can work with you to give you what you need.”
“Is there anyone around who can do a demo today?”
“Andrew is it? Yes, there is a technician here today. I’ll call him as soon as we are ready.”
“And if we decide to use this company, how do we know the work will get done?”
“You have the assurance of the First Source Bank and Trust.”
“Okay good enough for me. Call the technician. We should get this demo done.”
“You won’t be sorry. Hold on I need to give him a call.”
“In the meantime, Larry why don’t you fetch the anchor.”
“In the meantime, Andrew, I’m sure the tech will figure out how to do that.”
In Keith’s words, “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”
“Now listen to me people. I’m going to be asking a series of questions. If you get them right, you’re good. Wrong answers will draw the usual punishment.”
“Uh excuse me.”
“What is it, Thompson?”
“The usual punishment? I’m unfamiliar with it.”
“You have to take a lap around the wheat field with your falcon.”
“Does the falcon fly or ride?”
“You have to carry your falcon.”
“My goodness. That seems harsh.”
“Look around you, Thompson. See the smiles. No one else is bothered. See they know the answers. do you?”
“I haven’t heard the question yet.”
“Yet, sir.”
“You don’t have to call me sir.”
“I’m not calling you sir. You need to call me sir.”
“Okay, sir.”
“Okay what, Thompson?”
“I’ll call you sir. By the way, sir when can I have my Falcon back?”
“As soon as I’m through inspecting him.”
“Yes, sir. Maybe after the inspection, you’ll realize he is a she.”
“I think I’m going to have trouble with you, Thompson. What was your last assignment?”
“Falconer to the king, sir.”
“What? With that attitude? What happened? You get banned?”
“Not really, sir. I received the Croix de Oiseau and a pension.”
“What are you doing here then?”
“I felt my skills could be put to use with the common folk.”
“Who you calling common?”
“It is just a term that separates the royals from everyone else. No need to take offense.”
“Okay I’m going to give you a question, and if you can’t answer it, we will see you in about eight hours.”
“I’m ready.”
“You’re ready what?”
“For the question. Oh, I’m sorry. I’m ready, sir.”
“Here it is then. How fast can a falcon fly?”
“Before I answer. How about a small wager?”
“What kind of wager?”
“If I get the answer right, you take a lap of the wheat field. Wrong I’ll take two.”
“You are on.”
“In 2016 a Peregrine Falcon broke the record for a dive at 240 miles per hour.”
Artist: 
Artist: 
Artist: 
