The Portrait of Zool

Am currently rereading Caleb Carr's 'The Italian Secretary', a 'further adventure of Sherlock Holmes'. For some reason this has three stars on Amazon, but I think it's GREAT, a faithful and atmospheric new Sherlock Holmes story!. If you love Sherlock Holmes, you'll love this too.

Heard an interview with this young lady this morning on NPR and thought WOW! I've got to have this!

Last night I finished another John Scalzi book, 'The Android's Dream'. Great book! Very fresh and exciting. Not quite on the scale of space opera but with worlds hanging in the balance anyway - highly recommended!

Another LP I'd been looking for forever which I finally found:

Awesome! New vinyl here: Yes - turned up to 11!

"Hello again," said Zool, peeking out from under his chair under the table. When things started flying Cricket had ducked back under the table. Her chin trembled, but she held her tears, not sure just how to react to all that had gone on in such a short time. "That's some fish!" she finally blurted out, meaning it, and at the same time not sure what else to say. Then, one tear ran from her eye, tracing a single almost clean track down her face. "Oh my dear - What's the matter?" said Zool, clueless, as always. Cricket's face clouded over, but still she held her tears, from long practice. "I..." again she just didn't know what to say. Everything was so strange... and everyone was so... Clean! "I just..." she said hesitantly, then tried to bury herself in her own arms. "Hmm... I think I see. Don't worry Cricket, we're going to take care of you." With that he popped up above the table long enough to give a loud whistle with his fingers between his lips, then he just as quickly popped back down. "Here's the plan," he said, keenly feeling his inability to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "The Boaz Room is a full service restaurant - and I mean FULL service!." As he said this in under the table came a waiter and waitress. They came prepared this time, wearing civil defense helmets, the woman armed with a broom and the man with a mop. They were learning what to expect from this crowd. Zool gave them a couple quick instructions which Cricket couldn't quite hear over the noise. They both nodded, and turned to Cricket. "Go with them, they will help you into some new clothes and with whatever else you need." He held his hand to his ear as though listening, then said, "I think it's quieting down out there - go with them, GO!" It didn't sound any quieter to Cricket, there was still plenty of screaming and banging, but used to commands she reflexively jumped up and followed the waiters from under the table, across a short distance and out a servants door. Zool wasn't sure what her next entrance would be like, but was looking forward to it!

Ha! Great stuff!

I mean I just now looked it up on Amazon and bought it. Been a busy day for me - hope to have some Pen time tomorrow!

I actually found this LP on sale some time ago for $5 - and I LOVE IT! It's great at parties.

Wow - I like that! I just bought the LP.

Great poem! - though I think in the pattern you showed throughout the poem the second to the last line should start 'and' - just a suggestion!

"So you admit you are a villain?" said the Swami in the same even tone he used earlier. "Villain-ish, my good sir," replied Lord Dreadful in between bites of delicacies. "The particular adventure of which you speak is a good case in point. Princess Willamina and I had begun as partners - well, co-conspirators, to be technical - with the aim of getting her father to increase her allowance. I was completely taken in by her tears and her beauty, but quickly found out exactly why her father had set the limits he had. Then we fell under the power of the Magic Breathing Dragon, and hijinks ensued." "I'd still like to know how it is you are alive," said Zool. Lord Dreadful gave a half shrug, taking a moment to finish chewing, then said with a flair of his fingers, "Magic." Zool could feel there was a story there, which he was about to start digging out but the Swami spoke first. "Your reputation has preceded you Lord Dreadful - your reputation of charm, eloquence, and, shall we say, confidence making. Your stories seem so, shall we say, unlikely, compared to the common chronicles. It all seems so contrary - and your name is, after all, 'Lord Dreadful'" "I'm sorry, you are..." replied Lord Dreadful, giving the Swami his full attention. "Swami Noguru," said the Swami with a small nod. "Ah yes, why I've heard of you too. I suppose you have the advantage of me, as your overt livelihood is, shall we say, as a showman. And as to my name, surely you wouldn't condemn a man for an accident of parentage?" Not comfortable with where this seemed headed, Yasmina broke in, saying, "So how is it that you came to the Boaz Room tonight?" Zool and the Swami glared at her, which she pointedly didn't notice. "My Lady that is a bit of a mystery to me too. You see, I had a bit of business to attend to across the forest, but a strange storm had come up, and I'm afraid I got a bit turned around in the wind and the dark, but then I saw a flash of something. Thinking perhaps there was a fellow traveler with a lantern ahead I followed the flashing, which was difficult, as it seemed to come and go erratically. Eventually I noticed it only flashed when the moon showed through the torn clouds." "So it was a reflection," said Yasmina. "Yes. But by that time I saw the lights of this Keep. Getting to the gates I recognized which Keep it was, as I have been here before, but the surprising thing was the source of the flashing, which was a large carp, swimming through the air." Rydia's ears picked up. "That's my carp!" she said, clapping her empty glass down on the table which was immediately refilled. "Is it?" said Dreadful. "Perhaps so, as I kept on following the fish, not knowing where else to go, and it eventually lead to the bottom of the stairs outside. I went up the stairs to meet that gorgeous Hostess, who directed me inside. As I said I was hungry." "Where is Carp now?" asked Rydia. "Oh, right here," said Dreadful, pulling the large carp out of his robe. Carp was NOT happy at having been confined to a robe! It fought furiously to escape Dreadful's grasp, sending plates and glasses flying, and diners scrambling. "Don't let him go! Don't let him go!" screamed Rydia, earrings flashing as she lunged for the fish, but it was too late. Carp rocketed around the room, looking for an escape.

I'm not a big Pink Floy fan - but that is a great song! I'm slumming it tonight: http://www.radiogaia.com.br/

I actually have this record on too! Great record!

Sneakers! - unless I'm hiking on volcanic glass or something. Hair up or hair down?

That does sound yummy! I played golf once, and proved to be a danger to myself and others - though I was into racquetball for a while. Saturday or Sunday?

Popcorn! - though I'm at the age I really have had to curb my sweet tooth, I still enjoy the occasional fat/salt blast! Grass or ferns?

This is an old favorite of mine. I had never heard this version before, but I found it on youtube and it's pretty good.

Yeesh - busy day for me too! Hope you're feeling better. Nice track! I'm not listening to much tonight - just kicking back. Maybe I'll put something on later.

I suppose, in some countries. I've tried both - once - and did better at water skiing - though that was a looong time ago. Ice skate or roller skate?

Well, I have a charcoal grill, but it starts the charcoal with gas! I take my BBQ VERY seriously - should introduce you to my Belchfire character some day. Whoops! Forgot the 'Or'. Umm.. Shrimp or Chicken?

For some reason the taste of Goldfish never agreed with me. Wheat thins or Triscuits?

You ever met a goat? Ornery critters! I much prefer clean reliable easy to run machines! Godzilla or King Kong?

A good pumpkin pie is good - but apple is better! Raspberries or blueberries?

It's a great album - the first song is not the best by any means. We made a fire tonight too! It's starting to rain outside - welcome winter!