This weekend was the annual Harvest Moon Regatta. This is a sailing race from Galveston to Port Aransas. The distance covered is about 150 miles. The race used to begin on Friday and end on Saturday, but this year it began on Thursday. Some captains asked if they could use their motors. Here is the answer. “No. This is a sailboat race. In the past, the race started on Friday, and some motoring was allowed in case the winds were light, and people were not able to finish in time to make it to the awards ceremony. The race now starts on Thursday; motoring is not allowed, except for emergency purposes. (Note: While you may disagree, the Race Committee does not consider getting to Port Aransas in time to party Friday night, to be an emergency!)
I hope you enjoy the photos.
Here is a shot of the sponsor’s sign
T-shirt concession.
Check-in desk.
A vendor tent with equipment like generators and radar units.
This one is for Dan Antion. Big ole ship.
This is not a participant but looked good navigating the channel.
Like the fact this boat has a Sugarland home. (there is no salt water near Sugarland.)
A shot of some of the boats that took part.
Another boat from a landlocked city.
I liked this shot for the flag.
This Marilyn Monroe flag caught my eye.
A boat from Annapolis Maryland.
A group of catamarans
The Producer says this is her kind of boat.
This crew was a little puzzled since there were a few lines out of place.
Lots of flags
These were displayed at a booth selling boat photos of participants.
This is the tent where the victory party took place Saturday night. Hope you enjoyed the tour.
It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again and this weeks prompt is “bone.” Linda Hill says we can use it any way we want. I just love the smell of freedom in the morning. If you would like to participate and lose yourself forever just visit Linda’s blog and she has the easy info on how there. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2018/10/26/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-27-18/
“So Friday. You’re here finally. What took you so long?”
Another Friday. Hopefully, your week went well, and you were not too disturbed with the correction in the stock market. I also hope you were not too disappointed with not winning the Mega Millions Lottery. (Well except for that one ticket sold in North Carolina.) I guess we are all happy no one won the Powerball jackpot on Wednesday, and we can still dream of winning $700 million plus. The next drawing is Saturday so good luck to us all.
This week has been a bit of a challenge, and I normally wouldn’t share these details, but you have come to know Bailey through this blog. She has not been feeling well, so we are in the process of trying to find out the cause of her symptoms. We have had blood testing and an ultrasound and have narrowed the possibilities. It will in all probability require a cat-scan to rule out the last potential if other treatments do not work. In the meantime, we are eliminating the other variables as we wait for a cat-scan appointment.
Is it Friday yet? No? Come back when it is, please.
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we discovered through Larry’s astute (?) questioning that Louis was hired by Sandusky to experiment in finding a way to remove organs from the body without a visible entry. The reason Sandusky gave for the research was to facilitate organ transplant. Of course, getting an organ back into the patient was an open question. Larry invited Louis to go downtown for further questioning. Louis agreed, and they all left for police headquarters. I see that Andrew and Larry are in Larry’s office. Let’s pop over there and find out what they are talking about.
“So you think the story about the reason for the research by Sandusky was a ruse, Andrew?”
“A ruse. I mean how stupid would it be to explode organs and then cut someone open and put in a new one. My god the mess in there alone would be impossible to clean adequately.”
“What does that mean?”
“Think of a chicken exploding in the microwave. Do you ever get the little pieces cleaned up?”
“Well, I would stay with it until I did.”
“Showing a certain anal retentiveness, I would say. In a body, the old tissue would be in every recess. After the new organ is in the old residual pieces of tissue would rot, and no doubt cause an infection.”
“A little different from a microwave.”
“Right. I used that example so you would get the degree of difficulty.”
“I understand. So why did Sandusky use a ruse to get the experiments done.”
“I can only imagine he didn’t want old Louis calling the cops.”
“You don’t think Louis couldn’t figure out the downside of the procedure.”
“I’m guessing he did. Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money.”
“To keep one’s mouth shut.”
“Yes, for sure. You also have to wonder how Sandusky became one of the victims.”
“What do you think happened.”
“I could paint a scenario where Louis got a little greedy and asked Sandusky for more money. He and Sandusky got into a spat which ended with Sandusky in the vibration pool hooked up to a negative lead.”
“So it is good we have Louis here for questioning.”
“Don’t know the best way to make him break down and confess.”
“I’m the detective leave it to me. We also need to think of possibilities as well.”
“Like getting some coffee?”
“Good suggestion but other motives for Sandusky to bite the terminal so to speak.”
This is a continuation of the Top Ten on a historical backdrop. On October 21st after 14 months of testing, Thomas Edison first demonstrates his electric lamp, hoping to one day compete with the gaslight.
Top Ten Things Not to do if You were with Edison in 1879
10 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not say, “Watson come here I need you.” If you do, at best no one will answer. At worst, you will be escorted from the room and your 100 shares of Edison stock revoked. (You somehow got Alexander Graham Bell mixed up with Edison, Frici.)
9 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not elbow Tiny the WWF champ out of the way for a better view. If you do, at best Tiny will ignore you. At worst, Tiny, who has an aversion to being touched will use his hips to body check you out the door. (You didn’t think a big guy could move that fast huh, Friduwulf? Too bad the door was closed when you went through it.)
8 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not touch anything before the demonstration. If you do, at best you’ll avoid the live wire. At worst, you will inadvertently disconnect the main lead. (The test was a failure, Frisco. Thanks to you we are all living with gas lamps today.)
7 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not tell him how to improve his speech. If you do, at best he will do the speech the way he wrote it. At worst he will take your suggestions. (Thanks to you, Fynbar, the electric light bulb was named by Edison as “the better mousetrap of gas lamps.”)
6 If you were with Edison in 1879, do not mention to bystanders that the British had toyed with incandescent bulbs since the 1830’s. If you do, at best Edison won’t hear you. At worst, you’ll be talking with a reporter from the Wall Street Journal. (Well now you’ve done it, Fernando. The headline reads “Edison steals British Idea.” Good luck with your future stock options.)
5 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not make jokes about the Edison Screw. If you do, at best you better hope he doesn’t hear you. At worst, the joke carries a big laugh, and now you are unemployed. (You had no way of knowing, Francisco, that the Edison Screw is the standard set up for light bulbs and sockets. The joke was pretty funny though.)
4 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not trip and let the only bulb fall to the floor. (If you do, at best the carpet will prevent a disaster. At worst, the lab floor is made of concrete. (Well, there goes the demonstration, Franklin. Future generations of those who do not have General Electric to work for salute you.)
3 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not suggest naming the company. If you do, at best Edison will choose his own name. At worst, he will call the company after a significant advantage of the bulb. (Somehow the Less Gas Light Company doesn’t sound too good when you say it out loud, Frankie. Let’s hope he comes to his senses.)
2 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not try to talk him out of his idea about motion pictures. If you do, at best he will avoid you on the subject. At worst, you will be successful, and he will abandon the idea. (So where are you going with that tub of buttered popcorn, Freddy?)
1 If you are with Edison in 1879, do not suggest that he read from the newspaper on the first recorded conversation. If you do, at best he will choose his own literature. At worst. He will listen to you and select the classifieds. (So now the first recorded voice puts everyone to sleep, Fletcher. Mary Had a Little Lamb is so much better.)
Each year Port Aransas celebrates its roots with an Old Town Festival. This year due to the rain the popular parade had to be canceled. Also, the sand pumpkin carving contest was postponed Other events went on as scheduled. Here is a photo review of the goings-on.
The sign points the way.
The first stop is The eighth annual Expression Session Surfing Contest. Here you seem some boards waiting for surfers.
The Texas Gulf Surfing Association is here.
A big tent with hot dogs and T-shirts and loud music.
A surfer coming in from the cold under the Horace Caldwell Pier. The Gulf temperature is in the low 70’s
More contestants going out.
A shot of the surfers using the iPhone zoom.
Wading into the cold water.
Have to have a VW camper which doubles as a kissing booth.
Here is the kisser. A little too stiff for my taste. (a manikin)
Type A surfers.
Some young folks getting ready to surf.
An old folk pretty much done for the day.
There is also The Pawesome Doggie Surfing Contest but it had not begun yet. Here are a trio of spectators.
The next stop is the Port Aransas Hurricane Tree Recovery Campaign.
Native Texas tree plantings are free.
Some of the varieties.
More.
All you do is sign in and pick out which trees you would like.
Here is a shot of the Museum where a special surfing exhibit is on display. The sign points to the community center where storytellers are relating Wild Sea Stories which are tales of Port Aransas’ past.
Here is a shot of the community center where the stories are being told and a lunch is being served.
Here is a photo of the Farley Boat Works which was the location for the Barn Dance Saturday night. In addition to a band, there was red or white clams linguine served.
All in all the rain did not put a damper of the Festival.
All aboard!Beep-beep, yeah! The party bus is here. (Click here for theme music Magic Bus!) Our first stop is in Connecticut to pick up Dan Antion, who has a handy guided tour of Atonement, TN. Dan agreed to be a relief bus driver too, since bus-driver-Lilith the calico, sometimes has to take a break to give Deme or Honeybell a head bath.
Where “atonement” begins
It’s best if you read the first book first. So, for the launch of “Bloom,” Atonement, Tennessee is on sale for 99¢ (e-book). Click Atonement book covers for purchase links.
Residents of my fictional town might be of any race and from any ancestry. So author and translator Olga Núñez Miret translated the debut novel to Spanish! For that language I changed the title to Expiación y Magia!
Atonement, Tennessee in Spanish
Speaking of the otherworldly pigs, I should mention the order of the Atonement stories. Your first visit to the town is Atonement, Tennessee. It’s an urban fantasy — set in our present-day, real world but with magical elements. Aside from the heroine and her neighbor-friends (or as Diana Peach likes to call them, the gall palls (Diana’s review here), you’ll meet the grumpy sheriff, Robin Warden.
Includes the prequel
The first “snort” in The Glowing Pigs, Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee is about a very young Deputy Robin. (Review by Dr. Phuong Callaway here.) That particular story is tied to the novel I’m launching today, Atonement in Bloom.
Long awaited sequel to Atonement, Tennessee
Here’s the blurb!
The quaint town was stranger than Ralda Lawton could have imagined. The local population included supernatural beings of the fae variety. Although only she and a few others knew about that.
In a past life, Ralda ― Esmeralda had been involved in something with those supernaturals and it had carried into her present life. In Atonement, Tennessee, that almost got her killed. Now she has new problems, and new supes to complicate matters.
Atonement in Bloom continues the misadventures of Ralda, her friends, and neighbors in the small (but far from peaceful) town of Atonement, Tennessee. Her old house and cemetery are still there, along with Lilith the cat, quirky townsfolk, and assorted supernaturals.
Now Lilith the calico sniffs out a strange beast.
Fae foolery backfires. A friend is abducted.
On a cold December day, Atonement, Tennessee comes into bloom.
I don’t know why the party bus is stopping. Oh! It’s a delivery of flowers in honor of the book launch from Kirt Tisdale of The Wall Gallery! Wow… beautiful blue roses. Thank you, Kirt. The blue rose of the impossible is an important element of Atonement in Bloom.
We’re back on the road, and Dyanna at Ravenhawk’s Magazine has plenty of music for our road-trip. Lilith, slow down. I see Melissa from Today You Will Writeat that bus stop up ahead.
Hang on to your seat-belt. Lilith just took a sharp curve and we are magically in Kentucky. Deme wanted to check out Teri Polen’s October horror and suspense book fest, Bad Moon Rising! You’ll find 31 authors and their books there!
Welcome to Atonement, TN! Everybody in town is taking part in the fun. Annie’s Antiques is hosting an exhibit of Art by Rob Goldstein.
What’s that on the next table? It looks like an Aladin’s lamp. And a puff of colorful smoke! Oh, it’s the Lamp Magician. Welcome, Magician. I’m glad you could join the party bus!
My stomach is growling. Thank goodness Carol Taylor and Gerlinde de Broekert have catered the book fair. There are delicious foods at every booth! However, Deme and Honeybell love to read, so they ran straight to the Atonement, TN Book Fair. They’re in hog heaven with so many great books!
Heartfelt thanks to everyone for supporting this Bloomin’ Party Bus. Click the author names for more info.
(If anyone wants to share a link to a review of your book, or anything about yourself, please leave a comment with the link.)
Resawill help you find the right thing to wear. She’s a costume designer. She would have enjoyed helping Ralda, Bethany, and Lacey search through the antique clothes in Sunhold’s closets (scene in “Bloom”).
Now available as an audio book too
