tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65910933387333459652024-03-14T05:41:46.714-07:00The Casebook of Constable CrabThis blog is a serial children's story about a fictional animal character--Constable Crab--who solves crimes and has adventures--with 5 daily installments per week.Thomas F. Woldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04124289235843543776noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-42352183480987282242011-10-19T08:45:00.000-07:002015-03-03T19:01:44.814-08:00Wolf and Dog<div style="color: #741b47;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1uskANKSRNwXE2gI1U3sK8KVb2dtJucW3mb6CRqNtruffwWX9Qf8lJDwk5iW3vdCgDgTsTXM9h-fys6DvhuJ2x5Xip7dv_h4qCJuppcUeW5UEeUGKS0qjIK9tuUR-BOL8PHIUd4z1Sk/s1600/tom+portrait+good.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1uskANKSRNwXE2gI1U3sK8KVb2dtJucW3mb6CRqNtruffwWX9Qf8lJDwk5iW3vdCgDgTsTXM9h-fys6DvhuJ2x5Xip7dv_h4qCJuppcUeW5UEeUGKS0qjIK9tuUR-BOL8PHIUd4z1Sk/s320/tom+portrait+good.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, Friends of Constable Crab.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Next I am going to tell a twice-told tale--not about our favorite Crab--but about two animals which lived once upon a time in Russia. I truly hope you will enjoy it.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Please click on my other story time blog: </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b><a href="http://uncletomskidstime.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;">uncletomskidstime</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">And the Best of the Best to you,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thomas.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">...</span> </span></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-83925815828389248552011-10-14T16:19:00.000-07:002011-10-14T16:19:32.126-07:0028. Boon<b>Two</b> <b>weeks free!</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjZBQOgRJnqpKsJu5wwrBci4XL6KdbqY_tvMJ9JEnHmXqsdXDkhLh3PfGNQhT4xWliAOQTIXKkqT5lDbL9KRZJwzI0TlK2w_2LH7isPybMf5h-cAoBcPOs_06QmjIvMZMaYY7-P3ic4Y/s1600/28.+Boon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjZBQOgRJnqpKsJu5wwrBci4XL6KdbqY_tvMJ9JEnHmXqsdXDkhLh3PfGNQhT4xWliAOQTIXKkqT5lDbL9KRZJwzI0TlK2w_2LH7isPybMf5h-cAoBcPOs_06QmjIvMZMaYY7-P3ic4Y/s320/28.+Boon.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><b>This IS the life for a crab!!! </b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">...</span></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-6168139117132048942011-10-04T08:55:00.000-07:002011-10-05T17:49:03.150-07:0027. Package Boon<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFY7iZNw7s8hdD5fM0iOW7SW7melwSNVEe5vX6g_rieuIt1RJso8Jh-9B-omWtTbCdHJn5X6XghzVyW35kIGTUEpSf_F7Vl6iNjiPODxR54GBciZspTjJQHpfZX37lSx9EcwcAaLQsw3I/s1600/27.+Package+Boon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFY7iZNw7s8hdD5fM0iOW7SW7melwSNVEe5vX6g_rieuIt1RJso8Jh-9B-omWtTbCdHJn5X6XghzVyW35kIGTUEpSf_F7Vl6iNjiPODxR54GBciZspTjJQHpfZX37lSx9EcwcAaLQsw3I/s400/27.+Package+Boon.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"Uh, Boss?" Isaiah whispered to Saul.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"Isaiah! We're discussing serious...what do <i>YOU</i> want <i>now</i>?"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"I got an idea about a boon..."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"From <i>you </i>WE need an idea? Get <i>real</i>, flatfish!"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"But you could offer Crab a package deal..."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"PACKAGE D... you nincompoop! What kind of <i>package deal</i>?" </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"We already know what he has wished for in the past--just offer him that..."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"You numbskull-- like <i>strawberry tarts with Starfish, pizza, Top Detective for his part of the reef, two free weeks vacation in the Bahamas</i>...?<i> </i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"Yeah. <i>That </i>package. Try it." </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"Well...OK. Why not?" </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">Saul looked from his aide to King Neptune and then to me.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"Sire," he said to King Neptune, "We think Constable Crab would like this package deal for his boon: Two free weeks at a first-class hotel in the Bahamas with all the trimmings, some strawberry tarts with his buddy Starfish, a hot pizza with everything and to be Top Detective for his part of the reef."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"Would that package boon suit you, Constable?" King Neptune asked.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"Sounds wonderful--if the Bahama weather is good." I replied.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"We can guarantee there will be no hurricane during your Bahama visit." King Neptune said--then, raising the now cool trident, he commanded: <i>"Let this package deal boon be done NOW in my name!"</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-16201645690665073302011-10-03T11:32:00.000-07:002011-10-03T12:19:53.222-07:0026. Boon Suggestions<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfJY90e7Gf9xsTb8GdVg8BLCzXga8T39egoE5SfWrIsQehSmOxmzFoXmMP2pFsISvgOMl57GhsXGz4-uW3TaipA2gX-EKmPWc4p6OHXnzNOFH8M-cFfKmSlQc1ybwlkcfwWEjNZVk1I0/s1600/26.+Boon+Suggestions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfJY90e7Gf9xsTb8GdVg8BLCzXga8T39egoE5SfWrIsQehSmOxmzFoXmMP2pFsISvgOMl57GhsXGz4-uW3TaipA2gX-EKmPWc4p6OHXnzNOFH8M-cFfKmSlQc1ybwlkcfwWEjNZVk1I0/s400/26.+Boon+Suggestions.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Saul!" King Neptune cried. "Come closer, Counselor, and give us some advise!" </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">When the sole was comfortably close, King Neptune whispered: "What boon could we grant to Constable Crab for finding and returning my trident to me?"</span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Your majesty," Saul Sole whispered back into King Neptune's ear, "there are some traditional precedents as to royal boon giving. You could give the crab your daughter's hand in marriage..."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"I hardly think Ariel would be very happy as Mrs. Constable Crab, Saul." King Neptune whispered back.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Or you could offer him half your kingdom. That is often done by kings giving boons..."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"But then I would only have <i>half </i>of my seven seas! Only three and a half seas? That's really not enough for <i>my </i>sort of majesty. Come on Saul be sensible!" </span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-42399352577359419142011-09-30T08:39:00.000-07:002011-09-30T14:51:26.106-07:0025. A Boon<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvzSxRItaQxdHxpmuyMpUTSe4MBqcGcHVKZQGqQmBXSOh-F-I9htXHfTVnFEhlZEarAz98v47NsQY2fsmbjL9ttrmc-jIJmG1-pa03dU4rtGttPqNgTbNvWbn5IpK7u0seFyNdNqz82k/s1600/25.+Boon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvzSxRItaQxdHxpmuyMpUTSe4MBqcGcHVKZQGqQmBXSOh-F-I9htXHfTVnFEhlZEarAz98v47NsQY2fsmbjL9ttrmc-jIJmG1-pa03dU4rtGttPqNgTbNvWbn5IpK7u0seFyNdNqz82k/s400/25.+Boon.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">"A boon? I didn't really DO anything to deserve a boon, your majesty..." I said.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">"Ah, but you DID! You found and returned my magical trident! And that's worth a lot to me! So chose!"</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">"I am pretty content with my life..."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvzSxRItaQxdHxpmuyMpUTSe4MBqcGcHVKZQGqQmBXSOh-F-I9htXHfTVnFEhlZEarAz98v47NsQY2fsmbjL9ttrmc-jIJmG1-pa03dU4rtGttPqNgTbNvWbn5IpK7u0seFyNdNqz82k/s1600/25.+Boon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">"But you must dream of <i>something</i>! And make it BIG because, after all I am the KING of all these oceans and it would not be fitting to grant a <span style="font-size: xx-small;">small </span>boon!"</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">"I am just a rather simple country constable..."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">"That's IT! I can make <i>you </i>the Chief of Police of Ocean City! Bravo!"</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">"But I never liked bureaucratic jobs--I mean just sitting around drinking coffee and pushing papers..."</span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-33800177913981803502011-09-28T09:10:00.000-07:002011-09-30T14:32:23.734-07:0024 Trident Returned<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhen-VaYeu1DfwGmOSSagXxo5MqXu4W-ZKENSEApaZvUv7PFU9gEe6Xth8thfh3F5D93qu1zJ9h1LKbBTcNQ2dMjTSzNiNJHZX4gdBBvaG3RL9AObLx0LaDa1RC5e3urDtp1mTDnVlk-U/s1600/24.+Trident+Returned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhen-VaYeu1DfwGmOSSagXxo5MqXu4W-ZKENSEApaZvUv7PFU9gEe6Xth8thfh3F5D93qu1zJ9h1LKbBTcNQ2dMjTSzNiNJHZX4gdBBvaG3RL9AObLx0LaDa1RC5e3urDtp1mTDnVlk-U/s400/24.+Trident+Returned.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"My TRIDENT!"</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Seated on a throne before me was surely the mythical King Neptune!</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">And he was as <i>real </i>as you or me!</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"We took the liberty, your highness, of bringing the one who found your lost trident back with us to return it to you in person." said Saul Sole. "I would like to present Constable Crab."</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Uh--your majesty?" I said.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"We thank you, Constable Crab, for returning our trident--our magical symbol of authority." King Neptune said. "It is customary to grant a boon to anyone doing a great favor for the ruler of the oceans of the earth--ahem--so what can we do for <i>you</i>?"</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">...</span></span></span></span></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-1358065820635817442011-09-27T08:12:00.000-07:002011-09-30T13:53:36.075-07:0023. KING Neptune<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnWeQc7Iiu9e7d-2cFD5CCzMbZ8kXqlM1ej-C9xy9r_lklMTOQzrGmVwGddzgW5pFfUzNwne_m0hEX3x7j0t2zPGAuR1wLkr6Rp91zmyfmI3fHV0KL9KJsGZGclBocMnnCqkBnFnNyBs/s1600/23.+KING+Neptune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnWeQc7Iiu9e7d-2cFD5CCzMbZ8kXqlM1ej-C9xy9r_lklMTOQzrGmVwGddzgW5pFfUzNwne_m0hEX3x7j0t2zPGAuR1wLkr6Rp91zmyfmI3fHV0KL9KJsGZGclBocMnnCqkBnFnNyBs/s400/23.+KING+Neptune.jpg" width="355" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mistake!</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The closest Neptunian looked at best curious and at worst <i>hungry</i>! </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Much as my great interest in things out-of-this-world astronomical was--as the Neptunian moved closer it seemed best to get the heck out of there!</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The trident was hot in my claw as I shouted: "KING Neptune, please!"</span></span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-58246269495842779272011-09-26T10:29:00.000-07:002011-09-26T10:56:53.246-07:0022. Neptune<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXaiFcDxoL3_PpRheWknBTa8EBHazYdpbKnAZVvFy1HONXrkqjoXwF0V2UVxgQoADqr8ihm2-VBjt_LsODLEH7wbXQsFdwlGgiYRgAL1f9O7DtDp6a3MRUuhPII8wD24liGcTLDU8ukg/s1600/22+Neptune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXaiFcDxoL3_PpRheWknBTa8EBHazYdpbKnAZVvFy1HONXrkqjoXwF0V2UVxgQoADqr8ihm2-VBjt_LsODLEH7wbXQsFdwlGgiYRgAL1f9O7DtDp6a3MRUuhPII8wD24liGcTLDU8ukg/s400/22+Neptune.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Holy smoke! Where on earth <i>were </i>we?</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Uh--Constable Crab," said one of the fish in black, "were you thinking of <i>KING </i>Neptune when you were wanting to go to him to return his trident?"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Well, I repeated the name <i>Neptune </i>three times..." I said.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Wrong!" said the fish in black, "You have brought us to <i>Planet </i>Neptune! And these Neptunians don't look exactly pleased to have visitors!"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-56380779672090899412011-09-10T09:03:00.000-07:002011-09-10T09:03:16.224-07:00Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZp0-ZyZhIwTUx9Xu0hIDaAeOSMvxf24dexHldtjMN5-Az-prOI-cR9AtIsGltSiSfcUZOJuqfD-4Z5Lk5XWQzACklJkryKYpOZ517FcZgjKM1H3NFFj3bY9Pza5t8HMB3ww7gSc9AhSo/s1600/Jade+Buddah+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZp0-ZyZhIwTUx9Xu0hIDaAeOSMvxf24dexHldtjMN5-Az-prOI-cR9AtIsGltSiSfcUZOJuqfD-4Z5Lk5XWQzACklJkryKYpOZ517FcZgjKM1H3NFFj3bY9Pza5t8HMB3ww7gSc9AhSo/s320/Jade+Buddah+9.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hi Fans!</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm gonna take a short vacation.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">See ya back at your favorite computer monitor in a week or so...!</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fun to you! </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Tomasito </span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-2993787304292236202011-09-09T08:54:00.000-07:002011-09-09T16:37:47.939-07:0021. Try<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDux9KF4IHnwt2rP4ixgXpyaKcDoGHF41na0dJZnBwfCZF1Cu4FqUOmec2k_1plwjIWoZhS3FpzOycc98Uu5vUK2bhyGz6eijHp9o9rvB-FPSk5f8bkfWqXx_gsEoMP9wfYVb4TINvQ4/s1600/21+Try.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDux9KF4IHnwt2rP4ixgXpyaKcDoGHF41na0dJZnBwfCZF1Cu4FqUOmec2k_1plwjIWoZhS3FpzOycc98Uu5vUK2bhyGz6eijHp9o9rvB-FPSk5f8bkfWqXx_gsEoMP9wfYVb4TINvQ4/s320/21+Try.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">The trident! </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">It produced a free pizza and a hurricane for me--maybe it would produce a fictitious mythic figure.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">These bizarre <i>fish in black </i>seem convinced that it would.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">I might as well give it a try.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDux9KF4IHnwt2rP4ixgXpyaKcDoGHF41na0dJZnBwfCZF1Cu4FqUOmec2k_1plwjIWoZhS3FpzOycc98Uu5vUK2bhyGz6eijHp9o9rvB-FPSk5f8bkfWqXx_gsEoMP9wfYVb4TINvQ4/s1600/21+Try.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">I held the trident up high as I supposed might be the way to hold a magical talisman if one believed in magical talismans--closed my eyes</span></span></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">--started walking</span></span></b><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">--and <i>thought </i>"Neptune, Neptune, Neptune."</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><i> </i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-60430139023881675352011-09-08T08:46:00.000-07:002011-09-09T16:14:14.400-07:0020. Going Home<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrGSI_X95s8n9ISdoonIsvXHK-XMcxea-lKZAUERGxLIEXQa45Vtpga9vH_KK-kJEaadPX0LRziaIShl8yCNmyTauq3Qi-0YYL3t36QR_tFYK0DgsmFkGCgh_00O-XMTHnq6KPwGyWt0/s1600/20.+Going+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrGSI_X95s8n9ISdoonIsvXHK-XMcxea-lKZAUERGxLIEXQa45Vtpga9vH_KK-kJEaadPX0LRziaIShl8yCNmyTauq3Qi-0YYL3t36QR_tFYK0DgsmFkGCgh_00O-XMTHnq6KPwGyWt0/s320/20.+Going+Home.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"I would like to. I would like to meet your King Neptune--but it is probably a long way to travel and I have my work here.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Nah," Isaiah said, "Its a lot closer than ya think! You got the magic trident, havantcha?</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Well, all ya gotta do is <i>think </i>o' Neptune and start walkin'--the trident gets ya there instantaneously."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"But I don't believe in magic." I protested--"and I don't even know what Neptune looks like or where he lives." </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"You got the <i>trident.</i>" Isaih retorted, "It knows what ta do. Ya don't hafta believe in anything-- it still works! Just like Dorothy's red slippers knew how ta get her back home to Kansas. And in this case ya don't even hafta click yer heels three times, ha!"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"But--"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"NO BUTS! Just think the <i>name </i>"Neptune" and don't forget about <i>US </i>'cause <i>we </i>wanna go back home too!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-49258673506983240382011-09-07T08:43:00.000-07:002011-09-07T19:04:08.646-07:0019. No myth<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaNC1h7i3X6duujooCWhRtmB_76IFPEjwI3z2pF27jkCKtLoZG4rTJfdcAqIRJuPqTxGNBY2DdvdMbzePBMnmPwMQxS6aeVdKDRkfeqEFXlpJzJ2nd09fU0KKXQjJdPbVk2_VXYXW4cM/s1600/19.+No+Myth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaNC1h7i3X6duujooCWhRtmB_76IFPEjwI3z2pF27jkCKtLoZG4rTJfdcAqIRJuPqTxGNBY2DdvdMbzePBMnmPwMQxS6aeVdKDRkfeqEFXlpJzJ2nd09fU0KKXQjJdPbVk2_VXYXW4cM/s320/19.+No+Myth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><i>"King Neptune?</i> You mean the party guy in charge of the ceremony for people crossing the equator in ships?" I asked.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"No, not that phony. I mean the <i>real </i>King Neptune." Saul Sole replied.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"But King Neptune is only a myth!" I said reasonably.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Oh, Better not let HIM hear you say that!" Saul said, "He gets very upset whenever anybody says he is only a myth and sometimes reacts with storms, strong currents, riptides and whirlpools." </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"But <i>isn't</i> he a myth?" I said--still not convinced.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Nope. He's as real as you and me!" Saul replied. "Tell you what-- you can go with us and return his lost trident to him in person if you like."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-48132318683564391772011-09-06T08:36:00.000-07:002011-09-06T13:23:52.346-07:0018. Whose Trident<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5JdN3TVie13rFxYqrRU8aZW8mdcsysBCCYgDIZhuc54YzSp3zMHPRBg3ieI0OiYlYubhpVMGx8ErUg2tdUaC4I0M8v-KC7aCvEcHOjsR7VH_xdtOUvTjSkz9sSVLfSmQn8adFHJclqM/s1600/18.+Whose+Trident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5JdN3TVie13rFxYqrRU8aZW8mdcsysBCCYgDIZhuc54YzSp3zMHPRBg3ieI0OiYlYubhpVMGx8ErUg2tdUaC4I0M8v-KC7aCvEcHOjsR7VH_xdtOUvTjSkz9sSVLfSmQn8adFHJclqM/s320/18.+Whose+Trident.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"<span style="color: black;">Good morning, sir." one of the fish in black said, "Nice trident you've got there."</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"Thanks." I said.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"We have a--er--friend, who is missing <i>his </i>trident. It looks just like yours! Would you mind if we looked at your trident a little more carefully?"</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"As a matter of fact," I said, "I recently <i>found </i>this trident on some underwater rocks near here..."</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"Ah, well," said the fish in black, "our <i>friend</i>'s trident has some very peculiar characteristics--have <i>you </i>noticed anything unusual since you found it?"</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"I sure have-- <i>and </i>it's getting as hot as a firecracker to <i>hold </i>the longer I have it! <i>And </i>it seems to know what I am thinking <i>and </i>it makes things happen--like provides me with pizza <i>and</i> makes hurricanes blow--<i>and</i>..."</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"That's our friend's trident. No doubt about it! You might even say it is <i>magic</i>, couldn't you?" said the fish in black.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"I have never believed in <i>magic</i>--but if I did I would say this trident <i>is</i> magical!"</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"Ah yes, Mr.--uh..."</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"Crab. Constable Crab. I am the constable of this portion of the ocean from about ten fathoms down in the water and up the beach to the high-tide mark and from the harbor pier to the river mouth."</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"So you are a busy fellow--and an honest one."</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"Yes I am and I try to be."</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"I am Saul Sole. I am an adviser to King Neptune. This is my Chief of Staff, Isiah Halibut."</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">...</span></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-889994240450692232011-09-02T08:23:00.000-07:002011-09-02T12:27:17.416-07:0017.Strange Visitors<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAAHyIHW3DD1ue38lX_TN9H-q2Hl1ZOgOFMBoZ9xXIF-OiQdGh68J5yim0ISq4SfRiEUizVYjqzEZQnKruMqacOIx9778olv8hL_Ni8_U-6TNbsAf-eeYNfQQ3vROM8IOvS31VVFJB5Y/s1600/17.+Strange+Visitors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAAHyIHW3DD1ue38lX_TN9H-q2Hl1ZOgOFMBoZ9xXIF-OiQdGh68J5yim0ISq4SfRiEUizVYjqzEZQnKruMqacOIx9778olv8hL_Ni8_U-6TNbsAf-eeYNfQQ3vROM8IOvS31VVFJB5Y/s400/17.+Strange+Visitors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i><span style="color: black;">While back in Crab Country:</span></i> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">Whoo! That hurricane was no joke!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">I picked myself up from where I had been blown over and rolled away by the wind and checked to see if I was all together.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">I was. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">And I had not lost my grip on the magical trident--though it was getting too hot to hold with any comfort.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">It looked to me like the hurricane had been a local disaster but had not caused any damage farther away.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">I guess it was just the trident showing me what Bahama weather <i>could </i>be like. Not so pretty after all.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAAHyIHW3DD1ue38lX_TN9H-q2Hl1ZOgOFMBoZ9xXIF-OiQdGh68J5yim0ISq4SfRiEUizVYjqzEZQnKruMqacOIx9778olv8hL_Ni8_U-6TNbsAf-eeYNfQQ3vROM8IOvS31VVFJB5Y/s1600/17.+Strange+Visitors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">I walked down the beach and headed on through the surf into deeper water to see if anyone out there needed any help--and saw a strange sight.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">Two fish--they looked like haddock or hake, halibut or sole--in black suits and dark glasses were heading toward me.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-62262937618478703162011-09-01T08:35:00.000-07:002011-09-02T11:57:07.799-07:0016. Fish in Black<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VMoRWbYwpznoLebt7EkfbOJtjpRILeVOI3HiSuD4nXqckkKbFkmvzQ0r3F5U6rl4YachOiUSM54YoebHqO_LCyzteUZNivFEOg1ntj7sSVTC3FcuuYExcn4qKFLn7skJJQJQjF99E0I/s1600/16+Fish+in+Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VMoRWbYwpznoLebt7EkfbOJtjpRILeVOI3HiSuD4nXqckkKbFkmvzQ0r3F5U6rl4YachOiUSM54YoebHqO_LCyzteUZNivFEOg1ntj7sSVTC3FcuuYExcn4qKFLn7skJJQJQjF99E0I/s400/16+Fish+in+Black.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Lucky we saved these costumes from Halloween, yes, Boss?"</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Yes. Now tell me honestly--how do I look?"</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"You make that outfit look good!"</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"That's what I thought! Now rehearse for me my plan." </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"We go in costume to to the center of </span></span></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">the part of the ocean </span></span></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"> where the impossible hurricane hit--lucky it is not too far from here--and we snoop around to find out if anybody has found and is <i>mis</i>using Neptune's trident..."</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"I don't like the word snoop--<i>investigate </i>is better."</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Right! We <i>investigate </i>who might have found the trident and then..."</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Ho, ho! We use the old "Fish in Black" routine to convince the finder of the trident to give it to us--so we can return it to its proper owner, King Neptune."</span> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-384161932520293682011-08-31T09:36:00.000-07:002011-08-31T16:26:44.553-07:0015. Meanwhile<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkidn4mIUXFWBGsC9e9q6w92lWLtUqPI7byuf25EigVuBxFKqT3Nz02WoU9KeOATdKkP1q2ja3_hBAcXLFCdTHrELEPGZybVd6uU5kc1JiUN2qo5HlMCw17F3KwfRhK7eul6PfzOP2_x8/s1600/15.+Meanwhile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkidn4mIUXFWBGsC9e9q6w92lWLtUqPI7byuf25EigVuBxFKqT3Nz02WoU9KeOATdKkP1q2ja3_hBAcXLFCdTHrELEPGZybVd6uU5kc1JiUN2qo5HlMCw17F3KwfRhK7eul6PfzOP2_x8/s320/15.+Meanwhile.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: black;">Meanwhile, in another part of the ocean:</span></i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Y</span><span style="color: black;">ou wanted to see me, Isiah?"</span></span></span></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Uh, Boss--I may have some information about the whereabouts of the missing trident..."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Oh so you <i>MAY </i>have some <i>INFORMATION</i>! Its the <i>TRIDENT</i> I WANT dumbkopf! Not stupid <i>information</i>!"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Oh, I know, I know, Sir! The Trident! Well I have received some information that may help..." </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"<i>TRIDENT</i>! NOT INFORMATION!" </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Uh, yes boss! Trident! Well, it seems there has been a hurricane in a part of the world where there never has been a hurricane before so someone may have found the magic trident and could be experimenting with its awesome power..."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"I'll awesome power YOU if you don't get back to me with that trident very soon-- hmmm. Hurricane you say? Sounds promising."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Yes. And if you will come..."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Shut it! I have an idea! <i>I'll go with you</i> to the center of where the hurricane happened. That is probably where the finder of the trident is experimenting! And we'll use the old "Fish in Black" routine to get it back!"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Brilliant, Boss!"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Yes--I am!"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-4503096948781482572011-08-30T09:28:00.000-07:002011-08-30T16:57:28.872-07:0014.Ill Wind<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha32k3oz7U3Eyq1h_Wb2G4lrRJMjYN1-YrYcKZ-IzrCeSkWWri1FNulvsT7wJCGJ3QhiudgeS2Hzk7AnJWNUlTk3WA_J21YFqMP0t0ZIyA7z_9uBVwkQenNeGXvOd10pfWKPE3paxO9xk/s1600/14.+Ill+Wimd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha32k3oz7U3Eyq1h_Wb2G4lrRJMjYN1-YrYcKZ-IzrCeSkWWri1FNulvsT7wJCGJ3QhiudgeS2Hzk7AnJWNUlTk3WA_J21YFqMP0t0ZIyA7z_9uBVwkQenNeGXvOd10pfWKPE3paxO9xk/s400/14.+Ill+Wimd.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Ahhh." I thought--</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Everything perfect.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">But wait a minute. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Suddenly everything got darker and everything started to move. The wind started to blow so hard my beach chair turned over, collapsed and was swept away. Rain began to fall so heavily everything was drenched.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">I had asked the trident for Bahama weather right where I lived and it had given me Bahama weather with a vengeance: a Bahama hurricane! </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">And the trident felt a little warmer. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-50734254510406724502011-08-29T09:24:00.000-07:002011-08-30T16:14:17.810-07:0013. The Life<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxWbmpL5mfOe1FebizRLuouN-jZaAUQiGXLrI-pBoUF9xMVKiUpxs8OejgUUyU6Ul9CVqcE5XuM9fdI1PTSPGTwT5DEoroyMpnSYOebi8bFZcrlv-_G91XzLEDiWTMLvGBNibrz2e1nA/s1600/13.+The+Life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxWbmpL5mfOe1FebizRLuouN-jZaAUQiGXLrI-pBoUF9xMVKiUpxs8OejgUUyU6Ul9CVqcE5XuM9fdI1PTSPGTwT5DEoroyMpnSYOebi8bFZcrlv-_G91XzLEDiWTMLvGBNibrz2e1nA/s320/13.+The+Life.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: black;">As long as I held the magic trident everything I wanted simply appeared.</span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: black;">Soon I had not only the perfect weather of the Bahamas but all the frills I had dreamed of--warm sand--beach chair--tall cool drink served by pretty, tan shrimp.</span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: black;">The LIFE I had always dreamed of! </span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: black;">And NO problems--well, one <i>little </i>problem--the magic trident kept getting <i>warmer.</i></span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-68192688502991890812011-08-27T09:44:00.000-07:002011-08-27T16:45:46.232-07:0012 Good Weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8mLt_UO5KITV0KuWsfvRFrEg5W6ixDRoZX5KI1Eg1tJrzncC2O-LS0lPmRuJ4dQtIYbhH6quaglo9_4tkTBsyFlJivrihLz6CJTDDR_Qv7gAFXph9WPEc9ozZim0-WQsVSMZWuafHOY/s1600/12+Good+Weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8mLt_UO5KITV0KuWsfvRFrEg5W6ixDRoZX5KI1Eg1tJrzncC2O-LS0lPmRuJ4dQtIYbhH6quaglo9_4tkTBsyFlJivrihLz6CJTDDR_Qv7gAFXph9WPEc9ozZim0-WQsVSMZWuafHOY/s320/12+Good+Weather.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">So! </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">There could be no doubt of it. That trident was some kind of good luck charm!<br />
<br />
And it <i>REALLY</i> WORKED!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">So maybe I should stop fooling around and get some bigger things done!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Go the the Bahamas for sunshine and perfect weather?--POOH!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'd get that perfect weather RIGHT HERE and RIGHT NOW!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Do you hear that, Trident?! I want perfect sunny weather like they have in the Bahamas HERE and NOW!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">And things brightened up and the water got warmer <i>immediately</i>!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">WOW! POWER!!!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">...</span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-92005270906144554122011-08-26T12:49:00.000-07:002011-08-27T09:35:49.171-07:0011. Pizza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSSnEKb25r8oc9KpcUq18yvjfKSWtCofuntV24HTG2NVUtZMJzE8b42pO38wtvtwuDbd-mMwMrQPpZomj-9oInPHlXJxT8TlbqSf_z-y2CtXgS-QIbLp2uMg_VtUWFYQl8ao8kOZ9j_M/s1600/11.+Pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSSnEKb25r8oc9KpcUq18yvjfKSWtCofuntV24HTG2NVUtZMJzE8b42pO38wtvtwuDbd-mMwMrQPpZomj-9oInPHlXJxT8TlbqSf_z-y2CtXgS-QIbLp2uMg_VtUWFYQl8ao8kOZ9j_M/s320/11.+Pizza.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"Maybe I'll run a little test." I thought. "I am feeling a little hungry so I will think of food and see what happens."</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>There was a knock at the office door and a pizza delivery clam was there.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"You Constable Crab?" he asked.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"I am." I answered.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"Then here's a free hot large size pizza--with everything--from the Hasty Tasty Pizza Shoppe."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"But I didn't order..." I started to say.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"'At's all right. We </b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> give </b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>one free pizza away every week--good advertising, ya' know. An' we pick one name at random from the phone book and your name was the one chose! </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"Congratulations an' here's your pizza!"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"Bye!"</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">.<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-11671432571679554102011-08-24T08:57:00.000-07:002011-08-24T15:38:37.238-07:0010. Warmer<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzXHpaQkvAfzcr_Ukrrw_iCA9WYzr0d6y_4mZDHZ4FWAem9NVLlXF_pOk-dHz0WoGclqsTQ6DRh5uGYocQkWzz92gGSwp_UmviVoqGNO6aSlV7j7zbWevwTznI_YZ39LZRmM3ZzoojBY/s1600/H10+Warmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzXHpaQkvAfzcr_Ukrrw_iCA9WYzr0d6y_4mZDHZ4FWAem9NVLlXF_pOk-dHz0WoGclqsTQ6DRh5uGYocQkWzz92gGSwp_UmviVoqGNO6aSlV7j7zbWevwTznI_YZ39LZRmM3ZzoojBY/s400/H10+Warmer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">This was almost too much of a good thing.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">This sudden run of good luck--more in one morning than I usually had in months or even years...</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">Something was very fishy.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">And it all seemed to start when I found this trident!</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">I have never believed in magic or talismans or anything like that but this string of bizarre coincidences was just too much--and it did seem that this cool trident was somehow <i>causing </i>the things to happen to me.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">I was still carrying it and there was something else odd abut it.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">It seemed to be getting <i>warmer</i>!</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">...</span></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-42303673502351994072011-08-23T08:49:00.000-07:002011-10-05T08:52:55.732-07:009. Bahamas<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0fjSTEWUqtdAUWl1KmNJi-ANd2BgwQu7QApH73AZjurdAeFl5c38pA_FdHxgN3IIgk6mYvK800qRrjNCPVGHRgt0y_bOhgyC0AdWh8TAVIf_vi3foDqNDZV0D4lO6yPEdtfF3klGwhk/s1600/H9+Bahamas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0fjSTEWUqtdAUWl1KmNJi-ANd2BgwQu7QApH73AZjurdAeFl5c38pA_FdHxgN3IIgk6mYvK800qRrjNCPVGHRgt0y_bOhgyC0AdWh8TAVIf_vi3foDqNDZV0D4lO6yPEdtfF3klGwhk/s320/H9+Bahamas.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">Wow! Me, Top Detective!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">And I never thought the Ocean City Police even knew I existed!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">I was excited--Effie was excited--and I really didn't know what to do next!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"I guess I 'll just stay here and continue with the work I always do." I said to Effie. "This is a bit sudden!"</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">I was thinking I needed some time--maybe some time away from my usual distractions--to decide what to do. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0fjSTEWUqtdAUWl1KmNJi-ANd2BgwQu7QApH73AZjurdAeFl5c38pA_FdHxgN3IIgk6mYvK800qRrjNCPVGHRgt0y_bOhgyC0AdWh8TAVIf_vi3foDqNDZV0D4lO6yPEdtfF3klGwhk/s1600/H9+Bahamas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">Just then my good friend Ollie walked in.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"Hi, Constable." He said. "I was hoping you would be in. I won a couple of tickets to the Bahama Islands for a two week vacation---hotel, meals, car rental--everything paid, but you have to use 'em now and I can't go.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">"I thought maybe you would like to use them? Anyway, here they are. Bye!" </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">And he walked out leaving me with a couple of tickets and wondering what was going on!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-23593766815599191452011-08-22T09:39:00.000-07:002011-08-22T17:18:55.828-07:008. Promotion<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-vcR2Im1XngxObjmKpb0xqO4mOXAo9vbzdZNvffLDnNglvMBe90dlvdDzgnJCJ7VZTUmX3pDwYUK3ZuRW_ByOxMBd7NSvkzFosc7arLAWyEmlK_wkfBzFGOmpnP89HOk_b0KoCFzuW8/s1600/H8+Promotion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-vcR2Im1XngxObjmKpb0xqO4mOXAo9vbzdZNvffLDnNglvMBe90dlvdDzgnJCJ7VZTUmX3pDwYUK3ZuRW_ByOxMBd7NSvkzFosc7arLAWyEmlK_wkfBzFGOmpnP89HOk_b0KoCFzuW8/s320/H8+Promotion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Starry and I parted at the cafe and I continued to my office still carrying the trident I had found.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Effie, my walrus secretary, met me at the door.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Hi, Effie. Look at the cool trident I found out in the rocks."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Very pretty, Constable. Here is an envelope that was just hand-delivered for you. It looks important."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"I opened the envelope. Inside was a letter from the Ocean City Police Department.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">"Dear Constable Crab," it said, "Congratulations for a job well done. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">We have reviewed your outstanding performance as a reef constable and have decided that you should be immediately promoted to Chief of Detectives for your area. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">This will mean tripling your present salary and giving you a larger cost of living and housing allotment. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">You may stay in your present reef location or come to the city to work. Whatever you decide is all right with us. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">Best wishes in your continued excellent work. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">A. Frump, Chief of Ocean City Police."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #38761d;">...</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-74245492049508457022011-08-19T08:26:00.000-07:002011-08-19T16:26:00.471-07:007. Surprize Desert<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sgFNmyysir7i2xFnlgG5-m4BZQ5HbArf3_dd1wUThDC1MHh695xrdscS2YX_YNQrWmuyegDvUHcPlbQRhYgBgqp6C1Fyl1Wpv-nOnqyjpkQU0ZOmKOHIESvl98P-vOlkalsZN5zsksk/s1600/H7+Surprize+Desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sgFNmyysir7i2xFnlgG5-m4BZQ5HbArf3_dd1wUThDC1MHh695xrdscS2YX_YNQrWmuyegDvUHcPlbQRhYgBgqp6C1Fyl1Wpv-nOnqyjpkQU0ZOmKOHIESvl98P-vOlkalsZN5zsksk/s320/H7+Surprize+Desert.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <span style="color: black;">The tempura <i>was </i>delicious.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">Starry and I finished and were having a nice after lunch chat when the waitress came by again with the desert menus.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"Do you have a little room for desert?" she asked.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"Oh, why not--lets!" Starry said and we accepted the menus.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">What I hoped to find listed was my very favorite desert--strawberry tart--but it was not on the menu.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"Yummy!" Starry commented, "They have Orange Sherbet with Chocolate Flakes and Hot Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese..."</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">But before we could make a decision, the waitress appeared again carrying a silver tray with two deserts.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"These deserts are not on the list," she said, "but our chef baked them for his own family this morning. </span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"When he heard that the famous Constable Crab and his friend Starry Starfish were our guests he sent them out with his compliments--on the house. </span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"He hopes you will try them and enjoy them. </span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">"They are his own specialty: Strawberry Tarts." </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">...</span></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591093338733345965.post-52859551354785142812011-08-18T09:37:00.000-07:002011-08-19T10:44:10.788-07:006. Fern Special<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WY3VHc6WPxXNRwSxWrkxRSvoUS8MTkcTrdMSbDHGgTjrqPdDCE4-XG5gxgmelsbBwgZ2g5O1YTjnFei9bKdAOTIew-iQBvvOJx33NnoNAv5vqxY8cM_3M8WLL8NCHgnv7SUCIru2cZY/s1600/H6+Fern+Special.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WY3VHc6WPxXNRwSxWrkxRSvoUS8MTkcTrdMSbDHGgTjrqPdDCE4-XG5gxgmelsbBwgZ2g5O1YTjnFei9bKdAOTIew-iQBvvOJx33NnoNAv5vqxY8cM_3M8WLL8NCHgnv7SUCIru2cZY/s320/H6+Fern+Special.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: black;"><b>We walked together into my reef and as we passed a little restaurant Starry said: "Hey, Constable. How about a bite of lunch? I'll treat!"</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b>"Sounds good to me!" I said, and we made our way into the place.</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b>"They used to have <i>such </i>a wonderful chef here." Starry said to me as the hostess was showing us to our table, "His name was Yamamoto and he made the most delicious Bracken Fern</b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b> with Tempura Mushrooms</b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b>! They were my all-time favorites, but he retired a couple of years ago."</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b>When our waitress came to the table and handed us our menus, she said: "You might like to try our Special of the Day, <i>Bracken Fern with Tempura Mushrooms</i>! </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b>"Our new head chef, Wally Yamamoto, the son of our old retired chef, has just started working here today. He has learned all his father's secrets and people say his cooking is just as good as his father's was!" </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b>"Wow! That's pretty amazing, Constable!" Starry said, "Let's try that Bracken Fern with Tempura Mushroom Special!"</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b>"Sounds good." I said, but I had a funny feeling about this second odd coincidence since I picked up the peculiar trident--which I was still carrying!</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0