“What are you looking for, Little One?” “I thought I saw Friday run through here.” “It is Friday, so you may be right.”
It is Friday Twiggy, and I think we are all glad. Seems like this was a longer week than usual.
Thoughts on the week.
I am part of the 1B group (Over sixty-five with an underlying medical problem) eligible for the Covid vaccine. That would be good news, with the exception that there is no vaccine available. It looks like the rollout follows the usual 2020 practice, which is a manifestation of the murphy law that says what can go wrong will. I met with my doctor, and we both agreed to stay in quarantine. Besides, The Producer is not in an eligible age group, so it makes no sense for me to be protected and then go out and drag that evil back to the house.
As we all know, the house of representatives voted to impeach Trump. Most everyone is happy about this circumstance. I, ,wish they would have spent some time on necessary legislation for the country but do understand congressional leadership needing to carry out the purpose that they stated several years ago. Saving face is a big thing these days. This impeachment should be labeled for what it is – revenge. It does nothing to unite the country. As I read other blogs, it doesn’t look like anyone is in the mood to unite. It is going to be an interesting year. I, for one, hope the new president will be able to work on bringing us back together again. A tall order, but pray he can help get it done.
The inauguration is next week. I’ve stated before that I hope there is enough force in DC so that the punk element will think twice before starting another insurrection.
Today’s JohnKu talks about unity. I hope you all have a super weekend.
“Not bad for a Wednesday, huh, Twiggy?” “Says the eternal optimist.”
It is Wednesday Story Day time again, and last week, we learned there is a mole in the group feeding information to Cortez’s team. Just who and how it was done are questions that need answers. I see Pricilla is starting to eliminate those who she suspects are clean. Let’s go and listen to her logic.
“With all of us here, I want to make sure none of you are involved in passing information to Cortez. Larry and Andrew, I think the fact that you have been shot at leads me to believe you are in the clear.”
“I appreciate that Pricilla cause it’s true.”
“Yes, fine. Also, Lazar here would be the one to pass information to save his daughter, but I have to wonder how he would do it.”
“Thank you, Ms. Thomas. I have not been out of anyone’s sight and have nothing to communicate with.”
“The lieutenant here is a public servant with a spotless record. I can’t see any kind of motive for wanting to give information to Cortez.”
“Thank you, Ms. Thomas. I would have no reason to co-operate with that mob.”
“So that pretty much leaves Stennis.”
“I think we all got there too. I have to wonder what he has to gain?”
“We won’t know until we question him. I have the FBI taking him into custody right now.”
“If he is feeding information to Cortez, won’t his being in custody jeopardize Carolyn’s life?”
“I don’t think so, Mr. Popović. My guess is that Cortez will eliminate Stennis anyway. The value in his information to Cortez was knowing how much we knew about Carolyn’s whereabouts. I think they didn’t know where she was until we found her.”
“So, you led them to her?”
“Sadly, it looks that way.”
“This sucks.”
“Sadly, Mr. Popović. It does.”
“You know Ms. Thomas, I’ve been thinking.”
“Yes, Larry. About what?”
“When did you call Stennis?”
“When?”
“Yes, when did you make a call to him?”
“Let me check my outgoing. I don’t see a call to Stennis.”
“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 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 next Monday.”
“I don’t have a clue. Maybe we can catch another.”
“I thought this was supposed to be a lunch break.”
“Yeah, me too. Looks like it was just a quick stop. I told you we should have gotten a translation book.”
“This rain isn’t going to make it any more comfortable.”
“The fact that I’ve grown webbing between my toes should tell us something.”
“Webbing?”
“Just joking. It’s been raining so much. I think we are going to need to tread water soon.”
“So, back to the bus. What should we do?”
“Hold on, I have the tour operator’s card here. Let me call them.”
“Oh, thank heavens. Yes, call them.”
“Hello. This is McGee calling. Bob McGee. We are stranded at a bus stop. How soon for the next bus? You’re kidding? Yeah, we know that now. Yes, sure, put us on that one. Isn’t there anything sooner? Okay then. Thanks. Bye.”
“So that didn’t sound good.”
“The next bus is tomorrow at this time.”
“Twenty four hours in this jungle outpost? There’s no place to sleep.”
“Well, we will just have to make due. The guy said we should never have gotten off the bus.”
“That makes me feel so much better knowing that. So what do you suggest?”
“What do you have in that bag?”
“My dirty red bandana and my harmonica.”
“Perfect. We are saved.”
“How so?”
“I’ll just thumb a diesel down before the next rain, and we’ll sing songs to the driver. We’ll sing every song the drive knows.”
“You sayin’ the windshield wipers will be slapping time?”
“Now, you’ve got it.”
“Gee, Bobby. It does sound good.”
“We are making memories, kiddo. The kind where you might want to trade all your tomorrows for a single yesterday.”
“You have such a way with words, Bobby. Put out that thumb, and let’s get going.”
***
Thanks to Chris Christopherson for writing, Janus Joplin, and Johnny Cash among others for singing one of my favorite songs, “Me and Bobby McGee.” Here is Janis
This week marks the 120th anniversary of a big oil strike at Spindletop Hill near Beaumont, Texas. Since this is the dawn of the oil industry, which grew to be the first Trillion dollar industry, we need to see this. We better take a list of the things not to do so we don’t cause a tear in the time continuum.
James’s Oldsmobile from Eternal Road – The final stop
10 If you go, do not step on the black grass. If you do, at best, you’ll only use one foot. At worse, you’ll go several feet. (The problem is, MacGregor the oil well spewed oil for hundreds of feet coating the landscape. You now are covered from the knees down, and some roughneck wants you to pay up for the oil you are taking.)
9 If you go, do not ask Tiny, the WWF champ, a question as he tries to cap the well. If you do, at best, he’ll be too busy to pay attention to you. At worse, he will stop what he is doing and put a melon hold on your head. (You see, MacKenzie, Tiny has been trying to cap the well for nine days, and so far, the well has showered the area with 900,000 gallons of crude. Tiny has missed several of his coping group meetings, so he is a little tense. Don’t worry, those dimples made by his finger grip will go away in, say, five years.)
8 If you go, do not feel you have to lecture on how fossil fuels were made. If you do, at best, you might find someone to listen. At worst, no one will care since the boss is yelling about the crude oil spilled all over the ground. (The fact that crude was formed by plants and animals under pressure will fall of deaf ears, Maklin. If you could point them to an easy way to pick up the oil, I think you might have something. That big guy over there is telling you to start scooping oil. Nt the time to refuse.)
7 If you go, do not congratulate Patillo Higgens on finding the oil. If you do at best, he won’t be listening. At worse, he will hear you. (Patillo Higgens was the guy who thought there was oil under the salt dome near Beaumont. He leased the land at Spindletop to engineer Anthony Lucas. Lucas is the one who hit paydirt. Higgens had sold his stake in the land before the strike. So you see, MacNab. Higgens is a bitter pill. Speaking of that, I think you ought to start for the door. Higgens is drinking again.)
6 If you go, do not listen to anyone who wants you to buy an oil lease. If you do, at best you won’t have any money. At worse, the man will take an IOU. (Now you are in a pickle, MacPherson. You have given an IOU on a worthless lease. The bright spot is when the guy goes to collect, you will be long gone. All these hucksters and grifters are why Spindletop became known as Swindletop.)
5 If you go, do not try to explain to anyone how Beaumont will become a boomtown. If you do, at best, folks will think you are lying. At worst, you’ll tell Joseph S. Cullinan, who will go on to found the Texas Fuel Company. (Joe was very interested in what you had to say. His company became Texaco, and he very rich. Joe wants you to join him at his company, Masison. Too bad you have to go.)
4 If you go, do not talk about how much oil will be needed for gasoline-powered engines. If you do, at best, you’ll be laughed at. At worse, you’ll have to explain exactly what makes you believe the numbers will be that high. (So now everyone thinks you are weird, Madu. In 1900 there were 4,092 cars. By 2018, there were over 273 Million gasoline vehicles in the US alone. Who’s going to believe those numbers?)
3 If you go, don’t tell anyone about the number of oil wells that will be drilled in Spindletop next year. If you do, at best, your drink will be taken away. At worse, you will be labeled as a fortune teller and run out of town. (you have to admit, Magni, the idea of 285 active oil wells is not something people can grasp. Don’t look now, but the Tar and Feather group has just started a fire.)
2 If you go, do not trip over a president of a drilling or Land development company. If you do, at best, he won’t notice. At worst, he’ll take offense. (It’s going to be hard avoiding those guys since over 500 companies converged on Spindletop. Mahpee. You can be forgiven for being clumsy, except that guy looks like he’s drawing a pistol.)
1 If you go, do not let your Down with Big Oil t-shirt show. If you do, at best, no one will know what big oil is. At worst, you’ll have about 2,000 workers wanting your hide. (The Spindle top area produces over 17 million barrels of oil that first year. That was about $3.4 million or in today’s dollar value over $102M. You can see that any dispersions on oil would be taken seriously, Maichail. I think I would hit the return home button.)
Since it is a slow day here in Lakeway, I decided we would look at some of the locals’ recycling habits. This will be a short trip so we will want to spend a lot of time eating and drinking.
I think most of you are familiar with the tour bus. First impressions can be deceiving, and we try to keep the bus profile very low. We don’t want a lot of people wondering what we are doing in their neighborhood. At the request of Jill Weatherholt, I’m showing the newly refurbished interior of the bus.
As you can see, it is designed for maximum comfort and privacy. Today, we are serving goose liver pate or melted parmesan on a toasted baguette for an appetizer. We are serving standing rib roast or grilled tuna steaks, garlic smashed new potatoes, and roasted baby mixed root vegetables for the main course. Dessert includes molten chocolate cake with freshly churned vanilla bean ice cream or tiramisu. Of course, we have top-shelf liquor, and for the red wine, we have Luna Winemaker’s Reserve 2016 cabernet and for white 2019 Joel Gott California Sauvignon Blanc. Our entertainment is the Corrs.
Let’s get on the bus.
Our first stop is to marvel at the leaning tower of cardboard. This is a masterful use of the recycling container exhibiting just the right amount of overstuffedness to make one wonder if the whole thing continues to stay upright. I notice one piece of cardboard has been jettisoned. Probably to maintain balance.
Who says suburban residents don’t have a heart? Here is a gift being offered to the recycling crew. A small gesture of generosity.
We needed to stop at this one. I love to study people and wish I could meet the person behind this demonstration of a classic Type A personality.
At the opposite end of the personality spectrum is evidenced by this tote. Anyone who can handle at least two 24 bottle allotments of Coors light is my kind of Olympian. Don’t forget recycling pick-up is every week, so this is a real athlete’s sign.
Ah, here is my favorite of all the recycling—a 42 inch TV container announcing to the world that this home would be worth a break-in. A 42 inch is easily fit into a trunk and can be handled by one person.
You have to look close. What looks like a bush on the left of the mailbox is a Christmas tree. It was put out for the recycling crew to pick up. Notice it is still there and probably will be until next Christmas. There are instructions on how to handle trees, and this one did not conform.
Excuse the green tone of this scene, but we need to stay on the bus. None of us want to get close to that thing obviously passed over by the recycling crew. I have to say a Dyson Vac sitting on the side of the road makes a fairly concerning statement. The long cord alone concerns me.
Well, That is the end of a nothingness tour of the neighborhood. I hope you stay for more food and entertainment. I also hope you have a great week and keep smiling.
It is Stream of Consciousness time again, and here comes Linda Hill. She has a balloon on a string and an envelope attached to the string. I’ll bet it is the prompt for today.
“Hi, Linda. Want to come inside.”
“No thanks, John. I just need to deliver this prompt.”
“I like the balloon.”
“Well, grab the envelope and open it. See you.”
“Bye, Linda. Now let me see. I’ll open the envelope. Oops, the balloon just got away. Wow, look at it, climb. The sky’s the limit for that sucker. Let me see what the note says.”
Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “sky’s the limit.” Write about something that has or seems to have no end. Enjoy!
“Yes,Twiggy it’s Friday.” “Thank heavens. Didn’t think I would make it.” “Why? What do you have to do?” “Wait, Lucy, wait.” “Blessed is he who stands and waits.” “Well, I sat most of the time, and I’m a she.”
Twiggy gets her wish. Friday is here, and we are all glad. Before I forget I am also at Story Empire today. Here’s the link but come back.
This has been one heck of a start to 2021. We all witnessed an insurrection act that we haven’t seen since the British burned the Capital in 1814. The sight of those Proud Boy hooligans desecrating the House Chamber was enough to turn the stomach.
There was no excuse for this to happen. The Capitol Police had enough warning from the Hooligan in Chief that this could be a possibility. There were not enough officers placed at the Capital to maintain law and order. If the Capital Police didn’t think they had the human resources to do the job, then Federal troops were needed. I’m no lover of the conduct of Congress but seeing them having to scurry out of the place was a sick sight.
I’m betting that law enforcement needs the mandate to enforce. The sight of that Capital guard chased up a flight of stairs made me wonder how far we are willing to let unruly mobs go. You can draw comparisons to the BLM protests all day long and criticize the lack of Police action as much as you want. The fact of the matter is these thugs should never have gotten access to the Capital, and somebody better figure out why they did and fix the problem.
I’m hoping someone does an honest evaluation of the security needs for the inauguration and then takes the steps necessary to eliminate any mob rule threat. I would also hope that an exercise of the 25th Amendment will ensure that inside leadership of any seditious behavior will be absent.
Today’s JohnKu talks about our heritage. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
“Is it still Wednesday, Dad?” “Yup.” “Lucy said it was Friday.” “She was pulling your leg.” “No, she said it. I think she was pulling my anticipation.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week, we watched as the options for grabbing Carolyn went out the window. It appears that the only option is to wait for Cortez’s team to contact someone. Pricilla believes it will be Lazar’s lawyer. Nothing is certain at this point. IN fact, we don’t even know if and when they will call. As a precaution, Stennis, the lawyer, will hang around for a while to see if a call will come in. I see everyone is hanging around the interrogation room waiting for a call. I guess we should go there and wait with them.
“This is driving me nuts.”
“I know Mr. Popović. I don’t think there is much else we can do. Hold on, I have a call coming in. I don’t recognize this number. Well, there is nothing to lose by answering. Yes, this is Thomas. Hello. Yeah okay. Speaker, it is. You are on speakerphone.”
“I’m only going to say this once, so listen up. We have Carolyn Popović. She will come to no harm if you release Lazar to us. If you don’t see this plan’s wisdom, you can inform Mr. Popović that he will need to do another plan. That will be for the memorial service.”
“Who are you?”
“Please, Ms. Thomas. Don’t make yourself look stupid in front of all those in the room. Also, do not interrupt me again. We will be communicating through you. You can expect a call within two hours, giving you precise instructions. Oh, please triangulate the location of this phone. By the time you figure out where this call is coming from, we will be long gone. Don’t try to call this number since it won’t exist in twenty seconds. That is all.”
“Wait. How is Carolyn? Hello? Hello. Damn, he’s gone.”
“Oh my god. They have my little girl. I don’t care. What happens to me. Do as they say. Let them have me. We have to save Carolyn.”
“Please settle down, Mr. Popović. The government has a standing policy against meeting the kidnapper’s demands. We need to get a plan together. Unfortunately, you will not be too useful. Lieutenant.”
“Yes.”
“Please take Mr. Popović back to the holding cell. Mr. Stennis, you are free to go.”
“Wait, Ms. Thomas.”
“What?”
“I can help, I’m sure. There must be a place where they have taken her that I know about. After all, there are Cortez’s men, and I used to work for him. Please let me stay and help.”
“My better judgment says no, but there is something in what you just said that makes sense.”
“Okay, you can stay. Larry and Andrew. I don’t see that this is something you need to be concerned with so you can beg off.”
“if you don’t mind, Andrew and I would like to stay and help.”
“We can use the help. Okay, you are signed on as well. Lieutenant, how about you?”
“At your service.”
“Mr. Stennis, you are excused.”
“Thank you, but I too wish to help.”
“All the same, I think we have a working group, and your client will be in good hands.”
“Very well. If that is your desire.”
“It is.”
“Okay, Lazar. Remember what I said about saying anything.”
“I remember. All I want to do is get my daughter away from those animals.”
“Alright, then. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye. Lieutenant, would you please escort Mr. Stennis to the front door.”
“My pleasure. Follow me, sir.”
“Everyone, hold on until the lieutenant returns.”
“What’s the problem ?”
“Just wait.”
“Okay, Ms. Thomas, Stennis is out the front door.”
“Riddle me this all of you. How did Cortez’s group know my number?”
“Is it unlisted?”
“Yes, of course. Also, how did they know there were other folks in the room?”
“Now that you ask, it is an excellent question. We have a mole.”
