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 A Journal to impart knowledge and facts |
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July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
As the night and the excitement of the week begins to die down, we're all gathering at the bar to swap stories...what's the wildest party experience of your life you can remember? I was given a Bill Joel CD this week. It has a song on it called "The Stranger" a really fun thing would be to listen to Billy Joel's music on the magical ship. I really like this ship it can stop at my house and pick me up for a fling anytime. My first husband was determined to introduce me to the wild side of life. So, in 1962 we were sitting at a table playing poker with another couple. Everyone was drinking tequila. Of course if you lost a hand you downed a shot. I lost a lot. It was the only time I was ever drunk on liquor. As a rule I like being sober. I like being in control of my own thoughts and I like to dance which I think is a good way to let go and a better way to remember the fun later.  Someone out there always wants to know more? Who is it? |
In spite of all the weeks problems, an emergency day away from home, computer sending me messages about computer problems and other blah blah  I still got to the party: just late.I wore a long flimy dress I bought last year and never had a chance to wear anywhere. It is green with rose and white flowers all through it. Great for a party and dancing. I don't drink so if I fall down it is just old age or because I'm a dizzy dame.  The food was great and I danced until I couldn't stand up. All The Magical Ship people were having a good time. God Bless the party makers.  |
We're being treated tonight to a live performance by one of your favorite comedians...but what you don't know is that he/she has conspired with the rest of us to get you on stage during the set. What kind of skit have we planned for you to improv to?    I've always loved the "RED, Green, Show" Making fun of the small town situations that arise is the mature human taking life in their stride. If we can laugh at our local superstitions and see the comic side of social problems we can continue to exist. In college the teachers talked me into taking an acting class. The teacher was gross. (seriously) But, I was determined to get a good mark. Due to a couple of people gracious enough to include me in their group we set out to find a skit that would bring in the A+ promised for the semester, by the teacher if we played our skits a certain way. It was Christmas. We did a skit about the wise men. I was a Shepard which required me to lay on the floor and snore loud enough to be heard in the audience 20 feet away. If you think it isn't funny for a 57 year old woman to dress up as a Shepard and snore loudly on stage your wrong.  We practiced hours the night before. Yes,. the skit worked, there was lots of laughs and lots of applause and the A+ at the end.   |
| We were gonna head to the ship's lounge for a mellow night of listening to some classic crooners...but there are signs posted up all over advertising a Talent Show! That sounds like fun! Are you performing? Is it a solo act, or part of an ensemble? Or are you content with just watching us and conferring with the judges? I could tell a story. I us-ta be able to sing but not as good any more. I think I strained my voice screaming at life. If I sing a song it would probably be Horses and Eagles by John Denver just because it is a nice song. Then the story would go something like this: I was on a ship. It was probably one of the biggest of personally owned vessels around. I’m not very good with the workings of personally owned ships so you will have to bear with me about the facts, because I may be missing some. Notice, this is a real vessel (sorry not a magical ship) owned by a rather wealthy family I met up with one day at a horse show . I was in the warm up area. I had finished my class and was pleased to come away with a 2nd place. Basic Brown (the horse) was pleased too. She gets a kick out of performing in an arena with lots of spectators. So, anyway, I rubbed her down put her away with some fresh hay and went back to watch the other classes; a young woman rides up and dismounts. “Will you hold Betsy? I need to call my Mom, Betsy doesn’t like it when I ride and talk at the same time.” I took the reins and walked Betsy while Milenda talked to her mom. Afterwards, she thanked me, swung up and rode away. When her class came up the two of them rode a really good class. You could see they were working well together. Later in the week I received an invitation in the mail to a family cruise to a south sea island. When opportunity knocks at least ask; What Up? Short story, here I am on a family luxury cruise ship looking at an Island, where we are about to dock, through my birding binoculars. What I see is amazing. A really luxurious looking home, complete with swimming pools shaped like turtles and sharks. A long covered veranda with lots of lounge chairs and cozy swings. It looked like a two story building. The upper rooms all had an outside balcony, that ran the full length of the upper story. That is all I could see, from the ocean, as we docked. A couple of golf cart type vehicles came down to the dock to pick up the passengers which numbered 15. Milenda was the middle daughter in a family of 5. She had an older brother and a younger sister. The other passengers were two couples that were business partners of her fathers. Then there were 6 single people. One boy that was a friend of Robby, Milenda’s brother A daughter of one of the business couple about my age and Milendas’s age, her name was Sam. Christine, Milenda’s younger sister brought 4 from her brownie troupe. The trip was their prize for selling lots of candy in a recent contest to earn money for the troupe, which they actually invested so the troupe would be getting dividends from investments for the next few years. At the lodge we were given rooms for our visit. The ship would be docked here for a week. My room was sandwiched between Milenda’s and Sam’s. It was a beautiful warm day. From the veranda outside my room I could hear tropical birds screeching in the jungle type foliage. Milenda sat down next to me in a chair on the veranda. “I noticed you wearing a pair of birding binoculars on the way up from the dock. Do you like to look at birds? “Yeah. I do a bird count every year. Hiking and watching birds is a favorite pastime when I’m not riding or studying for classes at school. “ “I like to watch the birds around here. There are a lot of different varieties, you should walk out on some of the jungle trails. I’ll send one of the house boys out with you so you won’t get lost. Just tell me when.” “How about tomorrow morning?” “Sure. I’ll tell Jocob to meet you after breakfast.” Sam sauntered out and leaned on the balcony railing. “I think I’ll take a nap.” Then she swung around and reentered her room. I should have got to know her better then bu,t who Knew? The next morning breakfast started an awesome but fundamentally dysfunctional day. Jacob turned out to be an elderly man. He handed me a water canteen as we started down the trail. “Never leave for a long walk around here without a water supply.” He instructed me about looking for insects that might be poisonous and plants to leave alone. We walked east inland for about 2 miles. There was a cross trail so we moved south for a mile when we came to a small inland pond. There was a tree stand which we climbed and sat in an alcove looking out over the water. The canopy in the trees had many species of parrots and tropical birds. “Some of the birds here were not natives. The family brought some mated pairs of parrots and set them free on the island now they are part of the landscape. Other birds and some of the wildlife have also been introduced. Some do not do well others seem to thrive.” Jocob brought out some sandwiches for lunch out of his backpack. We watched the water and canopy for a couple hours. “We better start back.” We continued moving South and soon hit a wide trail that took us west back to the lodge. Milenda met us on the trail many yards before we arrived. “Is Sam with You?” Jocob became agitated quickly. “No it is just us.” “She did not come down this morning. I thought she was sleeping so I didn’t look for her now when I went up to find her she was not in her room. After I looked around I alerted the staff to look so everyone is searching but no one can find her anywhere.” “Is anyone else missing?” “No one, everyone else has been alerted and is looking for her but I did not send anyone down any of the trails.” Jocob and Milenda kept up their conversation without me until I began to feel like an interloper to a private conversation. “Where’s your Dad?” “Dad took the ship and the crews to refuel at the refueling station. He said he wanted to get it all ready for when we needed to return. I called the ship. He and the crew are looking in every possible nook but so far they haven’t found anything but one strange thing. One of the carry on bags Sam brought with her is aboard in her state room. I’m sure I had all the luggage carted to the lodge yesterday.” “And your Mom?” “She had a flake out, she is spending her time in the library with Sam’s Mom and Mrs. Johnston. I sent Marla to keep and eye on them and Shondra is suppose to be watching Christine and the troupe. Robbie and his friend want to go out into the jungle to look but I wouldn’t let them yet until you returned. Sam’s Dad is on the ship with my Dad and Mr. Johnston.” The late afternoon came. Jacob had taken Robbie and his friend out to look at the first several yards of each trail leaving the lodge compound. They were basically looking for signs of Sam or any other thing that might give out a clue. On the ship a dogged search of every crack and cranny had turned up a cryptic note in the mess hall on a message board that said, “YOU’RE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE!” The note was written in some kind of leaky red stuff but Mr. Johnston was sure it wasn’t blood. “ I’ve checked it quite thoroughly it looks like really thick poster paint.” Jocob brought everyone inside for the night. “I suggest you all stay inside for the night. I will go out with some of my family and look some more. If anyone knows anything you better tell us right now!" Jocob’s tone now had a feel of someone very frightened. Milenda stayed in the Library with her mom and the other Ladies but I was tired from the long day and the birding hike so I went up to bed. Milenda tried to get me to stay with the ladies I think she was afraid I would come up missing. The night was hot but the fan in the room kept the air circulating. I showered and made one concession. I dressed in daytime clothing to greet the morning as if it had arrived. Then, I stretched out on the bed and fell fast asleep as I prayed for the Lord to care for and return Sam to us unharmed. Sometime in the night after I had been asleep for several hours some sound woke me. At first I was not sure what I heard then I realized it was a kind of shuffling sound out on the veranda. I slung my feet over the edge of the bed and wrestled them into tennis shoes in the dark. Quietly I crept to the window. “AND WHAT TO MY WONDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR BUT A MINIATURE SLEIGH” “No! No, that’s not right!” The girl troupe was quietly shuffling across the veranda with a muffled flashlight. I decided to follow them from a distance. I quietly walked into Milenda’s room and shook her with my hand over her mouth. She came to flailing at me but, I quickly shushed her. “Your sister and her friends are going down the stairs at the end of the veranda with a flashlight. Do you know what they are up to?” “Argh! I was afraid Christine was mixed up in this up to her teeth and beyond!” Milenda quickly dressed and we headed down the stairway. “Where are they?” “I see movement over toward that sandy beach that starts on the other side of the dolphin pool.” “Follow them quick!” We skirted the edge of the forest where the sandy beach met the brush trying to follow without being seen. After the group drew away from the house they became more vocal. One of the girls seemed to be sobbing another was giggling and a third was telling them to all shut up. Soon they came to a shed that was sheltered by the jungle on the edge of the beach out of sight of the lodge. “Unlock the door quick.” The rattle of keys in a lock is heard. “Here we brought you some water and a sandwich. Eat it quick.” “You little brats. Let me go. I won’t even tell on you just let me go!” “No I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do with you yet. You’ll know soon enough.” Christine slammed the door and turned the lock. “come on before someone misses us at the lodge.” Milenda put her finger to her lips and looked me in the eye. I kept quiet while the troupe walked away. One of the troupe was sniffling and moaning. “You should have let her go Christine.” When they were out of the area we approached the shed door. “How can we get this door open.” “I have a key.” I jumped with fright. The voice came right out of the jungle beside us. “Robbie!” Milenda shrieked. Robbie and his friend stepped out from the undergrowth and opened the lock. We all helped Sam out and untied her. “Finally, I’m so glad someone found me.” Sam was sobbing while we rubbed her arms, where the robes had left red pitted marks in her arms. “What is going on, why did they do this to you?” Robbie was walking Sam slowly10 feet up and down the beach so she could get the circulation back in her legs. “Here stretch your arms up slowly that will help. Now tell us.” “I overheard your sister and her troupe telling that they only pretended to invest the troupe donations. They really took the money to go on a shopping spree. When they caught me listening they smacked me on the head with a bottle and tied me up. I came to in that shed." “Wow look at the bump on your head your lucky your not dead.” Robbie took a kerchief and wet it in the ocean he wrung it out and set it on Sam’s bump. “What’s wrong here. They can’t get away with this.” This was my first comment throughout the whole scene. “Sure they can. That group is trouble with action as their middle name.” Robbie’s friend was shaking his head as he exclaimed over the problem. “Not this time. Come on we better tell mom and get Sam back to her Mother. Everyone is so worried they will be glad to see you are safe. We need to get someone to look at the bump on your head.” Milenda took Sam’s arm and started helping her walk the shortest distance toward the Lodge. In the end it was considered a kid’s prank. There were no police involved and the worst thing that happened was the troupe was split up, and the money given over to the investment. Oh. And Christine had to change schools. This is an island without police and wealthy people without constraints. We all sailed home on time. Discussion Question: What should happen to the perpetrators of this lawlessness? |
| Let's wind down another month on the Magical Ship by taking in some of the on-board entertainment...I hear there's a funk band playing on stage in the ship's casino. Who's ready to try their luck? Who wants to get down and boogie? Tell us about it...the sights, the sounds, the action, etc. So; that's why the Magical Ship is rocking back and forth in the clear dark sky under millions of stars? There is a disco party going on: I'm making smoothies: fresh washed spinach leaves, apple slices, a few strawberries, ice or soy milk or almond milk take your pick, and frozen strawberry yogurt? Dump it into the ninja and whip it up: I get to wear my new dress from Lost in Time: Dance on the deck under the stars all night: All the adventure lovers are here: Blue Moon, Princess Megan Purple Rose, Panda Paws, Elaine, Elaine; Fivesixer, prosperous Snow(Neva,) Noyoki-we got this!, /Alexi Mason Brother Nature, Andre, Cubbee-Busy as a Bee! and other racing fans are running pinewood derby cars on the bow. Hope nobody falls overboard     |
Just catching up on the day I lost while restocking my pantry: Prompt for Friday, April 22: What finally happened to get us back to our own time and home? Do you have a story of what happened to the ship? Why it broke down or ignored us so dramatically? I fell asleep while the ship was sailing us back to our own time. So, I talked to Neva when I woke up. She has a really good guess about Andre and the banana still. I’m sorry she could not get into the pie making business. We could sell banana creme pies to help Andre keep the banana bar running. So far the running of this ship remains a mystery. I thought I saw a Jolly Roger flag on the ship which came by to get our ship up and running again. On the other hand I think the Magical Ship has a soul and it is a little mischievous so it probably teams up with Andre and they get into trouble together. The trip gave me a lot of ideas. I had a lot of fun on this voyage and look forward to another sometime. Plus, I learned some more history. And, I now have a new dress thanks to Princess Megan Rose. |
| Thursday, April 21, 2016 Using https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1625 or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_English_history or another history entry to pick something around the time of 1625 to write about. There were some notable people who died in 1625. Are there any of these people that you would have liked to visit with if the ship would take you there? After a space of time, in which I was able to recover some cleanliness. It wasn’t easy because when the Magical Ship got put back together the showers were inserted upside down so we had to scurry around to find the “make it right” button which was inserted in the ceiling of a lower halfway that leads to the kitchen. Anyway, Princess Megan Rose found a stepladder in the kitchen and stood on it to push the button which emitted a horrid loud screech which knocked the ladder over. The Princess with her regal balance landed gently on her feet so all was well; except when the showers were fixed the kitchen table was turned upside down. Of course that was just a small glitch. Blue Moon and I set it upright and everyone went off to whatever needed their individual attention. After a shower, change of clothing and a pizza I found myself without an adventure to live through; so I wandered into the large glassed lounge. Of course when I entered I had to go around and set all the stands beside chairs and sofas upright because they were (Oh you guessed!), Yep! Upside down. There is a time scope which looks like a flat monitor on the wall. It was dialed into 1625 so I turned it on. Probably shouldn’t mess with this kind of machine on the ship who knows what might happen? To my amazement the field we had been working on was planted and just the tips of a new corn crop was showing above the soil. Wait, what was happening to Peter and the lost children? A group of soldiers were running them off the land. I wonder what happened? Will they be o.k? Then I noticed the captions at the bottom of the screen. Although King James, Charles father, had pretty much ignored the farmers that were settling on some of the land owned by the king. Charles was incensed and began to run the farmers off. Peter and his group of riders skedaddled quickly away from the soldiers who were to busy burning all the buildings to notice their departure. I ran to ask Elaine, Elaine how to get the ship to pick up Peter and the others. She immediately conversed with the ship. We caught up with the group. The ship put down a ramp, horses and all boarded. In a quick meeting with Peter it was decided to move on into 1625 to Oxford where the parliament was now meeting because of London’s plague problem. The horses were brushed, fed and watered. The full group was cleaned and fed. (Had to get out the smell).  Now, we were setting down in Oxford near the Divinity School where parliament was meeting. Of course the ship had to start using it’s cloaking mechanism. I’m beginning to be cautious about this ship it has odd habits.  In 2015, Parliament met in the Universities Divinity School which is now part of the Bodleian Library. The library has extended to many libraries that have more books than any where I can imagine. It was in honor of the different times when Parliament moved to Oxford for its meetings. I decided to get off the ship for awhile and see if I could meet Sir Thomas Bodley who re-founded the University Library at the beginning of the 17th century. Peter and his relatives and friends took horses and their few rescued possessions. With great thanks for our help they set out for a cousin's estate to the West of Oxford. I hope they watch out for the Kings men. This is a riotous century. When I re-boarded I went to talk to Neva. I was thinking how fun it is to meet some of the special people who studied at the University, like Shelley. I wonder if she has ever read about him? And, J.R.R. Tolkien, a list of famous people studied here. Now, the library is celebrating a manuscript they acquired written by Shelly. King Charles is about to dissolve parliament for awhile because he can’t get them to vote his way, it is still the 1600’s. Now which way are we going to send this ship traveling? Maybe someone else will want to visit a special place. I think I’ll take a nap wake me up if there are any more adventures. Or, maybe I'll find a history book to read. references: www.Ox.ac.uk /www.wikipedia.org / www.bodlean.ox.ac.uk/whats on/discover |
| Prompt for Wednesday, April 20: Let's continue our sojourn in 1625 England. By this third day surely we've met a friendly local or two. Tell us what a ordinary day is like in late spring. Continued from 4/19/2016 Spring in the 1600's. Blooming crocus and daffodils, budding trees, sun and storms that kick out winter and usher in summer. Fairies wake up and sing their spring songs. Peter stepped out the door. “Don’t worry that’s my boys, they were lost but I found them.” The riders slide to a stop. The leader dismounts. Peter goes over to them and begins a quiet conversation. The others climb to the ground. The ship that is sailing toward us is now stopped beside the remaining fragment of The Magical Ship, which hangs, in the sky just slightly East of the farm, over the cornfield. The magical ship is no longer smiling. It seems subdued and a little scared like a small child in trouble with a parent. The new ship is larger, two times the size of the magical ship and threatening. It throws out large cables that attach themselves to our once happy ride. The sky begins to glow. The horses are nervous and start to shift around but their riders quickly move to their heads. Calmly singing some language I never heard before, they sooth the 4 footed creatures. All the scattered pieces of our wreaked magical ship flow back into place. The glow in the sky becomes denser. The stalks in the corn field begin to glow and grow, first by inches then by feet. Next, it grows corn, which tassels and becomes a mature crop. The energy stops, now two whole ships sit in the sky. A big whoosh and the larger ship has departed. Our ship hangs out a sign it says, “Welcome, all passengers may board when ready.” Peter taps my shoulder. As I turn, there is a young man standing there, “this is my bother, John, back there is Sarah, my sister, her friend Ruth, and Samuel, and Lester. “Hi. You have very well mannered horses. What was the language you were singing in their ears?” “John bows and smiles. Just something we learned in our travels. We brought food and drinks. Please join us in a feast before you depart. We can share stories of travels with you.” “Hey, Do we want to have a feast with these nice people before we go?” “Everyone is in accord. Yay!” Peter and his friends set up tables under a tree that has by the same energy as the corn field grown full summer foliage Other trees, in the forest across the rutted path are only budding. A rather modern looking grill appears. Slices of carrots, squash, and other vegetables begin to simmer quickly. There are venison steaks and burgers. As we gather around eating we hear a lot of Magical Ship stories. Peter tells us about the hidden society of travelers that live in the area. People who have traveled before into time and yes, gotten lost for awhile. “Now I have a job to clean up. That corn field will have to be harvested, cut down, plowed up and replanted in the next 24 hours. And, we will have to divert any one who might travel this way, until it is done. It is to early in the year for a crop of corn to be ready. The weather here is much the same as weather in the Northern USA. It is forty to 60 degrees in late spring with intermittent storms flailing away winter into summer. Unfortunately, we will have to harvest the corn the way it is done around here; we like to stay in 1600’s mode.” Most of the passengers from the ship volunteer to help. Staying one more day does not seem to matter and we will get some 1600’s farming experience. After partying late into the evening rough wool blankets on straw mattresses laid out on the floor of the house, doesn’t even faze our sleep. When light from the rising sun barely makes a glow in the sky a rooster flaps through the open window lands on a chair and starts crowing, way to loudly for comfort. With direction from John, the group fixes a quick breakfast of fresh eggs gathered from the chicken coop and thick slabs of bacon cut from a freshly slaughtered hanging pig, sloshed down with herbal tea. Then, it is off to the field to pick the corn. We work all day picking corn into baskets loaded onto a wagon drawn by a team of horses. It is exhausting work. When the corn is picked we walk down the rows tying the stalks that are still growing in the ground into teepee shaped bundles. In reality, the stalks would be left to dry in the sun for a few days if it were autumn, but, Peter’s friends and relatives walk down the long rows wielding scythes with long sharp blades. Soon the stalks are laid down and we load each bundle onto the wagon. The corn and bundles are hidden in the drying shed. Peter tells us out of sight will be good enough, in this rural area, to keep away any curious people. Our share of the work is finished and a good thing too, we are exhausted. Tomorrow Peter and some helpers from the group will re plow and fit the field for a new crop of corn that will not be ready for harvest until fall, he hopes. A loud ringing started coming from the magical ship. A set of steps unfold until it reaches the ground. Andre comes blasting down the stairs, with a banana in one hand and a bell, in the other. “I think we need to board”. Everyone starts hugging and handshaking everyone else then we start up the long stairway. At the top I turn and wave. It has been fun but, I miss 21st century convenience. Andre pulls me in and quickly slams the ship door. The Ship is starting to move. I hope everyone made it aboard. |
| Prompt for Tuesday, April 19: Well, the ship hasn’t responded (yet). Are we forever lost? There are some practical aspects we have to worry about. Tell me how we are taking care of sanitation. You don’t have to go into detail, just some ways we handle this biological function of the human body – without a ready made shovel, tp, or other modern advances. I definitely saw fairies If that’s the ship visible to us in the sky then it is definitely laughing. I was looking up at the part of the ship that was still hanging above us. I thought, Beam me up Scotti. The ship shuttered and it’s grin widened. Andre and the boy walked over to us. Andre, monkey laughed us, then ran off into the top of another tree. The boy held out his hand to Five-Sixer. “I’m Peter, I talked to your friend, the little ape, he told me your plight I have a farm down this path you are all welcome to come to stay there for awhile.” Elaine, Elaine, walked over, “I think we should stay within sight of the ship.” Neva entered the conversation, “You can understand Andre, I thought he was Brother Nature'ss muse, isn’t he the only one who can talk to Andre?” Peter moved around looking over his shoulder and around the nearby wooded area, “Look it’s like this, these forests and land belong to the king. We really should not talk here, it isn’t safe. The woodsman might come by and start asking questions. He is employed by the local overseer to keep people from using the wood for hunting and such. Anywise, You can see the Magical Ship from my farm down the path toward the hamlet of Handy Cross. “ Blue Moon jumps up and down, “Yeah, lets go see the farm.” “I’m for it,” yells, Noyoki. “Take a vote. Everyone for following Peter raise their hand.” Alexi speaks this with one hand in the air while walking toward the rutted path. Everyone else raises their hand and follows him. It was about a quarter mile down the road. One side of the road was all wooded area the other side was a field with a crop of corn just showing the tips of its green growth. A clearing with a small house opened up as the corn field came to the end. The house was small and low built of homemade bricks. Peter led the way through the door. Where is the bathroom asked one of us. I don’t remember which one? Peter laughed. Welcome to never never land, He pointed straight through the two small rooms out the back door. There was a small shed away from the house. It had a curtain made of cow hide hanging on the door. Princess Megan Rose wrinkled her nose, “ewww!” Apondia always the history buff laughed. “Peter, how did you know about the Magical Ship?” “Every once in awhile people get dumped here by the Magical Ships. Don’t worry they usually get picked up after awhile. Sometimes. You know people who live in this century don’t bathe. There are no bathrooms. Usually stoneware pots in a room. Maybe some corn husks to wipe your bottom if your lucky.” And, they make little packets of herbs to hold in front of their noses if people smell bad. One man I know plucks out the hairs under his arms and smears his under arms with mint leaves to smell better. There is a lot of cholera, don’t drink the water unless it is boiled first. I first met up with some people from the 20th century. They told me all about the Magical Ship Voyager Line. They got me on a ship that let me ride a long time through different times. But, I’m from here and I got lonely for my family and friends so after awhile I came back. Now, I keep an eye out for unfortunate time travelers. I built the outhouse that is out in the back yard. It is patterned on a 19th century farm I once visited. I can’t build modern because this place is visited by local woodsman and church people seeking tax and supplies for the Lord in charge of the area.” We were all rolling our eyes and signaling to each other. Blue Moon was the first mental casualty. “Elaine, Elaine, you get us a way home right now or I’m going to, going to, going to! A rumbling noise sounded over head. Was that thunder? I walked back out the front door. a large Magical Ship was sailing our way, through the atmosphere. Was this our ride? Oh no, there is a group of horseback riders coming down the rutted path.  |
| This third week of April, we hopped back onto the Magical Ship for another round of fun. So many ideas were tossed about for places to go and things to do. After all the discussion, the Ship rose into the air, rocked back and forth, and then Bam! Everyone is deposited onto the ground. The environment is temperate. Around us are forested areas and it does look as if we are nearby a road of some sort – a dirt road with a few ruts. Doesn’t appear to be highly traveled. Not everything is forest, there are fields here and there, maybe even farmed areas. There is one remnant of the ship. Hanging in the air like a Cheshire cat’s smile is a LED display that says, 1625 AD 51°36′31″N 0°46′16″W51.6086°N 0.7710°W (2016 equivalent, Handy Cross, England) We are not dressed in the clothes we left in. Other than our clothing, we seem to have no other supplies. Prompt 1 for Monday, April 18: Tell me what you are thinking and feeling. What do you think is happening? What are you afraid of? What do you do in the next couple of hours? I bet there might be a around here?  Thump, Thump, Thump, bodies are hitting the ground all around me. I climb to my feet. Then I rush around helping up the others. Neva is examining the flora and fauna around her so I know she is fine. Blue moon says, “So much for the safety of the Magical Ship, I want to go home.” I pat her on the back and move on to Noyoki who is also brushing herself off. Andre has climbed a close tree and is surveying the surrounding countryside from the top probably looking for bananas. In spite of the ship blowing up and the fall no one seems to be injured. Where are we? "The sign over there pointing west says Handy Cross. I think that is a village in the Wycombe District of England says Alexi." “It must be the 17 century judging by our clothing,” Five-Sixer states as he wacks his hat on his knee to get off some of the dung he landed in. "I think we are in some farmers field. Lets move on down the path." “I think we should be careful. If we really did land in 17th century England we need to figure out the rules for living. It is a very religious time of unrest. The puritans are fighting the catholic rules in the church of England. There isn’t much real freedom of speech. Charles Stuart became king in April when his father James died and he is at odds with parliament because they won’t grant him the money he needs for war and to run the country." This is rattled off by Jelly Fish while wandering around where we landed. "Plus, he married a Roman Catholic Princess from France so that makes everyone who is against the church of England upset." added Panda Paws. "Everyone is expected to worship with the church of England but, the puritans are holding unauthorized meetings and preaching against catholic doctrines within the church of England. I’m glad the magical ship dropped us in period clothing but I find this long dress made of homespun scratchy. I hope I don’t need to wear a bonnet all day.” Princess Megan Rose smooths her gown as she speaks. “To make matters worse at one point early in the 17th century bubonic plague was rampant in London and parliament moved to Oxford to escape it. I don’t know how bad it was in the hamlets and villages in Wycombe District. Any one else know some facts that will help us keep out of prison? Is there a vaccine for bubonic plague? Do we have any way to kill rats?” Apondia complains. We spend some time discussing our options and how to go about changing our situation. Brother Nature thinks we better spend the next couple hours making contact with the local population. We definitely need a place to stay or a home to use as a base until we get oriented. Elaine, Elaine, is trying to contact the home office on her gizmo to find out why the ship blew up and left us stranded. Maybe they will send a new ship out until then Lets draw straws and send whoever wins out to make contact, with the local population. "Maybe that is a bad idea It’s hard to say. We might rescue one person from the locals if necessary but there is no need for all of us to be endangered." Someone else comments. We spend an hour discussing our options and how to go about changing our situation. Then Andre comes down the nearby rutted dirt path I've been calling a road holding on to the hand of a young boy. I wonder, why isn’t the boy scared of Andre? (To Be continued--maybe! anyway this is my daily 500 words I need to get lunch!) apondia#1781748 apondia#1781748 apondia#1781748 apondia#1781748 |
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