The Adventure Continues

We left Medford Friday.

We arrived at Crow's house that evening. Spent two lovely days and nights being Aunt Mame and Uncle Lithus.

Left there Sunday.

Arrived in Wendover, NV Sunday night.

Left there Monday (today), had lunch in Evanstown, WY and are now spending the night in Sidney, Nebraska (and I don't know how to abbreviate that so...)

By Thursday night, we will be in Connecticut with the Lovely Cats et al.

For those of you who have been in touch and haven't heard from me, that's why. Postings to follow. Because yes, I'm taking notes. :)

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

For BDS Over at $$

And he knows why.

Those are Pobble Thoughts (a day or two late). That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Oh...Wow...Dude...You're Kidding Me, Right?

Yesterday morning, Mechie, Lithus and I met up with our fuel truck driver for breakfast. He's a local to Medford and knows of a great little diner that serves prime rib on Sunday mornings. We had to try it out. When the three of us got there, the driver says "I'm glad to see you. There was an accident on your street earlier this morning, two guys and a gal. All three were killed. I didn't think it was the three of you but I'm still glad to see you."

We all made appropriate noises and shook our heads and assured him that the three of us were just fine and ready to chow down.

Last night, Mechie called Lithus. The "gal" was none other than CMFTW from Friday's post.

Oh...wow...dude...you're kidding me, right?

Nope, seriously. No false alarm. No attention grabbing melodrama. That young woman's dead in an accident this weekend that could've involved Mechie. That just a few weeks ago would've involved Mechie.

Lithus and I held each other pretty tight last night. He's being gentle ~ in that rough way men have ~ with Mechie today. But still...

You're kidding me, right?

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

On Writing

What an interesting day today was. On the first of the month ~ as I've mentioned here previously ~ I accepted a 1000 words a day challenge. I haven't quite made it but I am doing well, far better than I had feared I might do. Today, though, was an interesting day. The past 17 days, when I worked, I made my deadline. If I didn't make my deadline, I was because I didn't work.

Today, I worked ~ and I didn't make my deadline. What I did do, though, was connect with these two characters, figure out what they feel about each other and why, learn how they got to this place with each other and where they both want to go from here. Honestly, it's the first day like this I've had as a writer and it was more than a little fascinating. My Gestalt Observer was going overtime.

And it reminded me why I like writing.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

You're Fucking Kidding Me, Right? a Deux

One of the mechanics at N.C. cannot keep it in his pants. Can Not. Mind you, it is beyond me how he gets laid as often as he does, but I have to give him credit ~ somehow or other, the man is a sex machine. Partly, it's because the women he attracts are very much the Officer and a Gentleman, looking to get out of town with anyone and anything that will take them away from where they are because it's gotta be better than here, often looking for a baby daddy, type of women. But still. A charmer, he's not. Nonetheless, he gets laid. And because of the women he has sex with ~ and the lies he tells them in order to have sex with them ~ these women believe/insist they are Mechie's Girlfriend instead of the Chick Mechie's Fucking This Week.

So, the other day, Mechie decides he's getting a little bored with and crowded by the latest CMFTW and stops returning her calls and text messages, which, given her understanding of the relationship, bothers her. But what does she do? In an attempt to garner sympathy...scare the crap out of him...get back at him...get back with him...who the hell knows...she texts him saying she has been hospitalized with the Swine Flu and reminds him he has been exposed. Then she stops responding to his calls or texts.

Here's the thing ~ had Mechie been exposed to Swine Flu, we all would've had to have been quarantined. The helicrew spends too much time in too small a space, and Lithus and I have obviously been exposed to one another's germs. We had managed to be in Mexico when the Swine Flu broke out...and were going to be quarantined in Medford, Oregon. Twenty minutes later and several calm-professional-sounding-but-hiding-the-underlying-panic phone calls to hospitals by Lithus (and one near manic call to the Lovely Cats on my part) and it was established that CMFTW had lied about Swine Flu, her motives had been less than pure, and we weren't going into a five day quarantine at the helibase. And TTG for it.

Nonetheless ~ you're fucking kidding me, right?

So what did Mechie do? Texted her and told her he hoped she was feeling better and he was really sorry he hadn't gotten a chance to say goodbye before he left but he was in Utah on another gig now and wouldn't be back to Medford this summer. Then went and found the next CMFTW ~ who at least hasn't tried to get us quarantined. Yet.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Fly, Darlin'

The NTSB report for Roarke's accident has finally been released. While the armchair quaterbacks and the ambulance chasing lawyers will never be silenced, other people have been and that's enough. The blackbox recording transcripts will make you weep ~ and make you proud.

Roarke, you done good. Now fly, Darlin'.

Those are year old and brand new Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

The Money Shot

And this, friends and neighbors, is Lithus, up there, doing what Lithus does. Yeah, I'm proud of my baby.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

You're Fucking Kidding Me, Right?

You know the problem with the there I was... story? First, you have to be there.

Back when we were in Utah, Lithus mentioned he was a little frustrated because the helicopter had a hydraulics issue. The issue itself wasn't what frustrated him; these things happen and it wasn't an issue of any great importance. What frustrated him was the fact that when he'd picked up the helicopter, he'd been told there were no issues at all. Boo on bad communication. Still, he dealt with the hydraulics the whole time we were in Utah, even to the point of running the bird with them cut off to make sure, should the worse happen, he'd still be able to land without them. Yep. He could. If the worse case hydraulics situation should occur. He flew the Utah gig, finished it up and flew the helicopter back to New Company's base. When he landed, he told the mechanics that the hydraulics were getting a bit worse and they needed to look at them. Then he walked away.

Last night, he was talking with his immediate boss. Now, his immediate boss and Lithus go back to flight school together. These guys know each other. And it's a bad sign when Boss-Man starts something with "Lithus, do you really want to know this?" Being Lithus, he did.

Turns out it wasn't the hydraulics at all. Ever. It was the transmission. A hydraulics failure is survivable. A transmission failure isn't. The transmission froze within moments of Lithus landing the bird back at base. Thirty minutes earlier, he'd been at 11,500 feet.

You're fucking kidding me, right?

He's good and he's lucky. We've agreed he will continue to tell me these things because, just as Lithus being Lithus means he wants to know, me being me means I want to know. But...wow. Maybe not just before bedtime, any longer.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Wow... (the post that got put on hold)

Okay, I'll be honest ~ the outpouring that came after the post about the site dying was actually a little embarrassing. HUGELY appreciated and accepted with MUCH love. Just...overwhelming. I have the greatest readers in cyberspace. Not just because of the way you rallied to me but the way you rallied to Lori this past weekend. My life is richer for you in it. Thank you. Sincerely.

So, I'm several days into a 1000 words/day writing challenge. I'm making the average quite nicely so far. It's phrased that way because I bought myself some extra words so Lithus and I could go out one night with new friends.

The challenge was issued by another author, whom I am coming to adore as a person, too. It was taken up by another author, as well, who is familiar to some of you. I won't out him here but he's making his quotas as well and deserved kudos and praise so, if you're reading this ~ YAY YOU! Keep it up.

I found the plot for the book ~ finally. I was 3000 words into the story but found it, TTG.

For dinner the other night, we were going over to our friends' house. He is a wine drinker. Lithus asked me to pick up a bottle of Australian shiraz. Guess what happens when you ask someone ~ okay, what happens when you ask me ~ to pick up shiraz given that I don't know the difference between a shiraz and Mad Dog (except that a shiraz has a cork so it's gotta be a little classier, at least)? You get three bottles of wine chosen because they have cute labels. Yep. The guys drank cute wine. Here are 2 of the three labels (I couldn't find a picture of the third one but it had a gecko-ish critter on it and was very cute, trust me.)


Penguins. Little Penguins. Little, Australian penguins. What's not cute about this? (especially considering we all know how Lithus loves his penguins!)


Not only is the name Fat Bastard great, but it's a smiling hippo. Infinite cuteness.

After the last post, LRNs left me this comment:
Consider why you blog. Is the site "dying" because you've moved on? Radical life changes will do that. Perhaps the place of this blog in your life needs to transform with your own transformation. On the other hand, perhaps if you allow this feeling of change to permeate your blogging, you might find something transformative there too. Maybe a new Pobble Thoughts will come from that. Stop "hanging on" and instead let the spirit take you new places. It's food for thought. We'll see what happens and where we go. Pobble Thoughts may indeed take a totally different turn. It may limp some days and cruise others. But I think I can pretty safely assure you and me that it's not going anywhere.

Again, thanks for last post.

Those are grateful Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ or a glass of cutely-labeled shiraz.

Blog Light!

This is not the post I had intended to write today. That post was about me and you and other stuff. I've saved it and it will come in the next few days. This post is about Teri. And Lori. And Tim. And Brian. Some of you know Lori. She's the GNightGirl over at This Just In. Teri is her sister. Tim is Teri's husband. Brian, Lori's son and Teri's nephew. Over the past however many months ~ too many at first and now far too few ~ Lori, her brother-in-law Tim, Teri herself, everyone else who loves Teri, or Lori, or Tim, have been fighting Teri's cancer. Yesterday the cancer won.

Whenever anyone in the community, be it her life community or her cyber one, has a need ~ for a hug, for a supportive word, for a resource, a shoulder, a laugh, a care package to a soldier, any need ~ Lori is the first one there, organizing, calling on, pushing, pulling, supporting, cajoling, badgering...loving. In fact, the title of this post originates with her. As far as I know, she created the blog light. It's similar to the Bat Signal. She told me once during a hard time of my own to remember that if I ever needed anything to just send up the Blog Light and "we'll all come running." Need further proof? Be sure to check out the post immediately prior to the one about Teri. She and Brian were out doing what they do, with pictures to boot. Even during this time, her posts have been beautiful, informative and (although she'll hate my saying this) inspirational. She has actually been concerned about keeping her blog updated. Worried that she was getting too single minded and we weren't enjoying her blog as much. And yet she somehow manages to do all this without being sickly sweet and/or martyred to it. She's as cool as they come.

So, Pobble Readers, please don't comment here. Click on over to Lori's place and tell her she and her family are in your thoughts. Tell her you'll be praying for her. Tell her you're sorry. Tell her whatever but tell her something. I know you don't know her. It doesn't matter. I know it's awkward and weird to leave a comment for someone you don't know. It doesn't matter. Just send her a little support. And thanks.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. And this is where you need to go now.

Sigh...

I can feel Pobble Thoughts dying. I don't want it to die. I still write great posts in my head while showering or driving. They just don't quite get here. I don't spend as much time reading blogs as I used to. Many of my favorites have moved on to Facebook or Twitter or just don't blog any more. DonDon, Jaded Jersey, Tai, even the Lovely Cats. Many of my other favorites now post so rarely that it's still hard to keep up. And I don't care what anyone says, Facebook and Twitter are not the same for those of us who are reading. I hate to break it to you but finding out which 19th century ruler you most resemble or learning that your cyberfarm just burned but you still managed to save all your cows just isn't as interesting as reading your thoughts on life, the world, the issues that matter to you. And you can't truly express your thoughts on life, the world, the issues that matter to you in 180 words or less. Plus, I imagine that those same people who are tweeting and twitting and facing and booking probably aren't reading over here any more. I know most of them haven't commented here in months. Not that I write for comments or readers. It does, however, lend a sense of this is a good way to stay connected with people that goes away when it appears no one is reading.

Yet I understand why people have either stopped blogging or have slowed waaaay back. After all, that's what started this post: I can feel Pobble Thoughts dying. Maybe, in the end, it will matter that I don't want it to die so will keep it limping along until I pick up steam again. Maybe...it won't. I guess we'll just have to see how it goes.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.