The day after Thanksgiving feast

We went to my son Pat's the day after Thanksgiving. He cooked a turkey that had not been frozen. It was very good. We also had a beef roast. My grandson baked three pies, apple pumpkin and lemon . They were all very good.They have a wii and I went bowling. I didn't play but they also played football. Maggie came with us and was for the most part good. My grandson took out his pet snake and put it on his head. Maggie wanted to get it. We brought a stake and chain to put her outside. One time it was not on right and one of the grandkids went to walk around the house, and she followed. He went in not knowing she was there. She decided to check out the neighborhood. Pennie notice she wasn't on the chain, and called her back.The day was very nice but my son Pat got sick probably nerves and my daughter got the flu.Dr John is still recovering from the long ride.

Raven 41

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: posthumous, flagrant, seven days a week, cheese and crackers, pyramid, civil war, clarinet, microwave, absent without leave, blue jeans
Mini Challenge: sugar-coated, thermometer, tractor pull, evangelical, masquerade

The Ten Word Challenge

Mark had been envisioning the meeting with Captain Clark since the teams return. It was a flagrant breaking of the rules for him to shapeshift . Not the Spaceship rules and not Earth's rules, but rules made by the Captain, his adoptive father, and him. It was for his protection for people could be cruel to those who were different.There would be a consequence for breaking the rule, and it would not be eating cheese and crackers for seven days a week. His greatest fear was that he would be sent to the Zonics home planet where he had never been ,to his people he had never seen. They were not meeting in the office but in the Captains residence. The Captain was dress in blue jeans and a tee shirt with a clarinet painted on it. He so wanted to be absent with out leave. Dr Peterson entered the room. Mark could feel his anger and fear. He had lodged the complaint against Mark. Dr Peterson was holding a object pointed at Mark that looked like a pyramid. . Mark knew that he had contracted with a weapons expert to build a weapon that would be able to kill a Zonic. The weapon was to use some kind of microwave ray. Would his report of the Linx be read posthumously. There was the mystery of the human contact with the Linx still to solve. Was there a civil war? The anger was directed at the Captain. The fear was toward Mark.

" How could you knowing the suffering our family went though at the hands of the Zonics, harbor one.? I have written so much on the danger of one Zonic in our universe. It will be you who will lead to the destruction of our freedom. Get him off our ship and out of our universe."
Captain Clark responded" Mark is my son and has a place on this ship. How comfortable would you have felt knowing the truth? Has he at any time given you a reason to be concerned about your safety?"

Mark spoke up,"I have saved you a number of times."The captain gave him a look that said be quiet. Mark was not concerned about the weapon pointed at him. He could easily put it out of commission, but he was concerned about his fathers need to punish him for breaking the rule. Dr Peterson was a well known scientists. He was a man that he admired. There was no question that his recklessness was responsible for putting his father in a precarious situation. Just as his father turned to Mark there was an explosion and the ship was hit. A voice was heard asking for the captain to return to duty.

"We will have to settle this later. Get to safety immediately."The captain ,although needed ,took the time to put on a uniform . He felt he needed the uniform for respect.

The Mini Challenge

It was not the noise that made Sandy Shore want to turn down an invitation to the tractor pull, but the fear that the pesky penguin would show up. There was no telling what that bird would do. On thinking her decision over, Sandy considered she could masquerade as a contestant in the pull. She was making up her mind when the doorbell rang. She looked out the peep hole in the door and saw Jeff. Oh boy. She gabbed a thermometer placed it in her mouth and pulled an afghan off the couch wrapping it around her. She unlocked and opened the door.
"I am not feeling well so I can not accept your invitation,"she lied.
There was no sugar coated pill she could take. Jeff became evangelical in wanting Sandy to go to the tractor pull. Reluctantly she left with Jeff to go to the pull, on alert for the penguin.

Happy 'Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. May you have a great day.

A Week in Review

Last week I helped my daughter make learning posters for the Christmas program. She was helping he choir directer who does the Christmas program. The simple way to do the posters is to write on the poster board the song words. Pennie got a Cricut for Christmas and had not been able to use it as much as she would like. She decided that this would be the perfect time to use it. The Cricut cuts out forms out of paper etc. The Cricut was set to cut light material. She did not understand that and had a few failures before the setting was correct for cutting out construction paper letters. The next problem she faced was the size of the letters. We wanted them big enough to be seen by all the students, but the least amount of poster board used. I took the cut letters from the paper and at the beginning because we didn't have the setting correct it was time consuming. We had managed by Saturday night to have two songs on large poster boards. It was 2:00 AM before we could go to bed.

Dr John and I worked also on the train layout and got nine packages out on EBay and sold.

Back to the posters. They got used but as they were used the letters would come off. Pennie came home on Sunday and in the afternoon got all the songs on small er poster boards{easier to hold up]. She used the simple method of just writing the words on the poster board. She has them all ready for next week. She learned a great deal about the Cricut's use.

We got our first significant snow fall today.

Raven's

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.
Ten words: pipe organ, ravages of time, lottery tickets, angelic music, five x five, boxes of books, flattery will get you nowhere, yodelling, pig tails, knitting needles

Mini challenge: canary yellow, grizzly bear, out of the frying pan into the fire, simpleton, Ministry of Crazy Walks

The Flicks

Ten Word Challenge

Mark in the form of the giant thin green bipedal humanoid creature, engaged a pair in conversation. Another gift he had was that after listening to a conversation for a little while he knew the language. The pair were heading to the palace. No one prevented him from entering with the pair. There was angelic music being played by a pipe organ. He looked around and he could not see the pipe organ. The room was spacious . It had marble tile with beautiful mosaics on the wall. The room was attractive but showed the ravages of time. The organ stopped, and then he jumped because there came a sound that he had only heard from Carol Burnett on old CDs. There was someone yodelling. Out from a sliding door came a creature like the others but smaller in pigtails. The pair bowed to the smaller creature. Mark followed their lead bowing also. The creature with the pigtails walked past them and the pair followed, and so did Mark. She walked to another sliding door. The door opened to a five x five room with a box of books and another box of what looked to Mark like large human dolls. The pigtailed creature pulled out of the box three dolls. The creature then went to the box of books and sorted through the books finding two and taking them. She then walked passed them and the three followed. Mark was silent as the other two discussed as they followed that the Princess was "Not right" because she was obsessed with the belief that something looking like the dolls did exist.

Mark had learned that the creatures were called Linx. Their names were Let and Sut, and the Princess's father wanted the two body guards to stop his daughters belief in what Mark knew to be humans. As they made their trek toward the waterfall that Eric and his father were hiding behind ,Let and Sut argued over who would be the best in convincing the Princess. Each one was trying to convince the other that the other would do the better job. After Let described Sut's amazing verbal abilities, Let said"Flattery will get get you nowhere." Sut finally agreed to explain to the Princess that the beings she had dolls of, did not exists. He made no head way.

Eric had spent the time of their hiding telling his father Dr Peterson that Mark was not a threat. They had known Mark for sixteen years and no one had been hurt. Dr Peterson argued that Zonics are powerful and that Mark alone could destroy the ship and its inhabitants. Eric as he talked to his father check the court yard. He saw three giant figures and a shorter one approach the waterfall.

"They are coming this way,"whispered Eric.Dr. Peterson and his son ran back to the fake living area. They hid behind the couch and just in time. The four came into the room. The shorter one with pigtails placed the dolls it was holding on to chairs around the table. It spoke to them, brought over the fake food seeming to be pretending like a human child with dolls. One of the dolls which had grey hair, had a ball of yarn and knitting needles. The smaller creature then moved the dolls to chairs facing the fake TV. The creature with the pigtails went to a pocket of the doll which looked like an older human male. It pulled out what looked like lottery tickets. It then bounced the dolls up and down raising their arms. It was then that three of the Linx froze, and Mark shapeshifted into Mark the human.

"Lets get out of here now," he said.

Eric and his father did not argue but left the way they had originally came in. They were not met by the wild dogs , and they move quickly and silently to their space shuttle. Each one was thinking about all that had transpired on this excursions.

Mini Challenge : Sandy's Date

Sandy had no idea how unusual her date with Jeff , the B movie star was going to be. They left the movie set ,and drove to a park near the lake they were filming. There was a small hut at the entrance. It said in bold letters above the door Ministry of Crazy Walks. Jeff picked up a map and paid the entrance fee. They began walking on the path when Sandy almost fainted for there was that penguin with the cinnamon floppy hat, and wearing a canary yellow jacket. The penguin waved at Sandy. Jeff said nothing. She grabbed Jeff's arm tugging on his navy jacket.

"Do You see it? Do you see it?"

"See it? what?

"The penguin in the yellow jacket and a cinnamon floppy hat?"

"What are you talking about? I don't see anything. Wait, there is some thing behind that rock. It is." He walked closer, Sandy followed close behind, but the penguin was not behind a rock. It was beside them.

"It is a grizzly bear"

They were about to run, when it rotated to the side.

" It is a fake bear. Brave me I feel like a simpleton. Nothing to fear from a fake bear."

" But what about the penguin?"

" A penguin? I don't see a penguin."

" Then there was a roar, a lion was charging them. Jeff was pulling Sandy. He saw a brick building ahead. He hoped they were close enough to get there before the lion. Sandy saw the penguin beside her then ahead of her. The penguin went in ahead of them. Sandy closed the door leaning against it trying to catch her breath. Jeff was leaning over trying to catch his breath. Sandy heard the penguin chuckling.

"What are you laughing at. you ran too."

"I am not laughing." said Jeff

Just then they heard the flutter of wings and a giant bird flew at them. It was out of the frying pan into the fire. The bird was on a string hanging from the ceiling. It seems that the animals they were meeting were models. The penguin was still there, and Sandy knew it was not a model or was it. Jeff and Sandy decided it was time to end their first date. Jeff left Sandy off at her place, quickly driving away after a short kiss.The future of this pair did not look so good.

Sandy Shore could not believe how fortune had gone her way. She landed the leading role . She was kissing the leading man Jeff Hurtz. The film was being filmed on Lone Lake. A beautiful secluded lake in the mountains. The shot had to be taken several times, which Sandy was enjoying as she sat in the light blue convertible. Was that thunder she heard . She looked up into sky to see the dark thickening clouds. She thought nasty thoughts toward the heavens. She gave Jeff a questioning look. Would they have to stop the filming? She knew they would because the scene did not call for rain or storm and the lighting would not be right. Sandy’s fortune had turned suddenly she thought. Jeff gallantly escorted her out of the convertible.. They ran as the rain drops started to fall toward the main lodge, The filming crew joined them in the scramble for shelter. All were drenched by the time they entered . The noise from the excited voices was deafening . She looked at Jeff and was hoping that her disappointment was not showing. Jeff and Sandy walked toward the back of the room passing around the beautiful but fake wedding cake. In the movie script, they were to be married but never had a honeymoon because some monster from the lake attacks them. They sat at a decorated table. Passing the time they talked about from where they came and general get to know more about you information. An announcement came that there would be no more shooting for the day. The crowd slowly cleared the room. The two continued in conversation. The next day they would be filming again and Sandy was glad for that but she was glad also for the time of not filming. The rain was not unfortunate , but she continued in her good fortune. She had a date.

Raven's Challenge

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: palace, hypocrite, canned air, telephone, biscuit, pinball, acorn, customary, fruit juice, waterfall

Mini Challenge: buyer's remorse, lava, haphazard, mildew, soup to nuts

The team feeling they were out of danger examined the underground room more carefully only to discover things were not as they appeared. Yes there were computers, a microwave, beds, a telephone, and even a pinball machine. Eric walked over to the computers and picked up the cords they were not plugged in. Mark went over to the phone, and it had a cord not plugged in. Dr Peterson examined the walls and there were no outlets. Dr Peterson opened the small refrigerator. It was stocked with food. There was a glass bottle of fruit juice. Dr Peterson picked the bottle up and shook it. The juice did not move."It is fake,"he said. "Everything is fake." Looking up at the ceiling cameras were located in four locations. Were they real or fake? There was a fake biscuit on the table. It sure looked real. Eric was hungry but he guessed he would have to eat the rations he took with him from the space ship. Both he and his father reached for their back pack at the same time. To get to the food rations the canned air had to be removed. Mark did not notice the eating pair as he continued on his search of the room. He did find a real acorn. He picked it up and put it in his pack for storage. Mark noticed that there was a wall switch. He went over and pulled the switch expecting it to be fake also, but was surprised to see the wall open. There was a tall narrow hallway. "People come check this out ,"he shouted at the other team members. Eric and his father stuffed the food into their mouths and quickly picked up the remaining items putting them into their backpacks. They examined the opening leading into the hallway. The hallway was lit which caused them to be cautious.

They did not follow their customary order, but Mark led the way. Mark made the comment that he was the brave one. Then he felt like a hypocrite because he had the feeling that he could handle any situation because of his abilities. He made no apology. They followed the hallway and it was about a half mile long. Then it came to the end, it just stopped and they were standing and looking at a wall. There was a plate on the wall, which Mark touched and a door slid open and they were standing behind a large waterfall. Before them was a large court yard with what looked like marble pathways winding among fountains.and waterfalls. There was a green tint giving a peaceful feeling. There were tall,giant size, biped creatures walking about the courtyard. " This looks like a palace," said Mark. Unthinking he shapeshifted into the form of the creatures roaming about. Eric and his father moved back into the hallway just enough to hide themselves. "Oh great" said Eric. His father was flustered. "Whats going on?" Eric looked at his fathers face and wondered if this was the time to reveal Mark was a Zonic. Mark had moved quickly on to walking with the tall creatures and conversing with them. Eric was in a spot.

Mini challenge;

While out driving Sandy Shore saw a quaint little shop on the side of the road. She stopped and went in. There was a slight mildew smell. The shop had a every item from soup to nuts. They were not neatly arranged but they were haphazard. She could not believe again what she was seeing. The penguin with the Cinnamon floppy hat was picking up a blue lava lamp. She was not sure what to do. Sandy picked out a sugar and creamer and headed to the register to talk to the clerk. She put down the sugar and creamer taking out of her purse a wallet to pay ,bending over toward the clerk and whispered" do you see a penguin in a floppy hat?" "What?" said the short gray haired clerk. The clerks voice was loud . "Shush . Do you see a penguin?" asked Sandy. "No I don't have penguins" Frustrated Sandy paid for her sugar and creamer hoping she would not have buyer's remorse. Sandy watched as the lava lamp in the penguins hands left the shop. The clerk move quickly as she could from behind the counter running after the penguin holding the lamp. The penguin moved faster than the clerk. "Did you see that?" " The lamp floated . "I have a ghost. A fast ghost. I have to call Ghost Hunters." Sandy left the shop looking for the penguin. It had vanished ,if it was ever really there.