drsawzall

Ya just gotta love Amy...she's earned her place with this crew!!! Amy looked from one face to the next, and then raised a hand. "I can sense that, too." Robin gave a little, exaggerated, forlorn sigh. "Oh, dear. Once the ladies can sense you're older, it's all over." Amy looked surprised. "Oh, be quiet. You're still hot!" Robin's eyes widened, and his face reddened, and it was all Charlie could do not to laugh out loud. But history's favorite thief was nothing if not resilient. He recovered quickly, and offered Amy a slight bow. "I am honored, m'lady." It was Amy's turn to look embarrassed then. "I mean, you still look young and handsome." Her discomfiture deepened. "Um, I mean--" Horace took her hand, and squeezed it gently. "Sometimes, my dear, it's just best to stop while you're ahead." For what it is worth, truer words were never spoken, it is to our collective detriment that we allow our politicians to focus on the inconsequential rather than what is truly important... Robin smiled, even as he gently shook his head. "Charlie, the human race has to grow up sometime. At some point they are going to have to stop allowing tyrants and troublemakers to hold them hostage. Why people allow a small handful of troublemakers to make the lives of the entire race miserable, is beyond me. But human inertia is legendary. Good people, simply because they are good people, often lack the will that is required to take out the rotten bastards that make us all miserable. And, many people are too easily misled by the propaganda of those that seek to control them. The human race has not arrived at a point where truth has become so important that misinformation is willfully rooted out and dealt with. Until that happens, those with dark designs will always have an advantage." "Then wouldn't it be a good idea to help them get rid of these people?" Kippy asked. "No. It wouldn't. The human race has to mature to the point where it will no longer tolerate these sorts in power. For us to rid them of the problems would be to let them off the hook for ever having to do it themselves. Right now, there is a level playing field between average humans. Good people have as much of a chance at winning out as the rotten ones, if they only develop the will to do it. Our intention is to keep that level playing field in place by eliminating the troublemakers with unfair skwish advantages. But it's going to be up to the people to rid themselves of the troublemakers in their societies. We are not going to do that for them." Looks like my prognosticator is getting a bit better, if it were my proboscis I'd be worried, my comment about squish in the previous chapter just may come to fruition... "Charlie," Kip began then, and Charlie nodded. "I see him." All eyes turned then, and no one said a thing as the man - for it was a man - rose to his feet and moved to the aisle. He turned and came towards them then, slowly, into the light, and stopped across the fire pit from them. He was tall and bearded, and dressed in rough but warm-looking clothing. He smiled and held out his hands, his eyes reflecting the glow of the fire. "Welcome home." Charlie gasped then, recognizing the face, across a century and a half of time. It was Ian Lewellen.

Here's a crazy thought...what if Aunt May's old will left everything to Marc's supposed mother...

Ok...so color me confused...up to this chapter it was my impression that Marc hadn't seen his parents since he was a pre-teen... “Would you? Mr. Calhoun, I haven‘t seen my son in five years. And there are obviously things we need to discuss. We‘re not leaving until they‘re sorted out.” There was an actual shake in Jonathon‘s voice. The situation had upset him, but as for which part had made him angry and unsure, Marc had no idea. He‘d bet it was the money. Marc had seen a new will drawn up, giving him power of attorney amongst other things, could it have been filed with another attorney? Rachel is a dear, I was obviously wrong about her and she hit the nail on the head... Mama always told me, "Iffin ya cain't say anything good...pass the two by four!!!

I found the following confusing @Cia, But he couldn’t. He’d prop his chin up on his first, eyes trained on the notes or the page, and then be a goner. All the last semester, Beckett had gotten be the same dream, or a version of it. Now I was exhausted. Looks like Parallax has a doppelganger...

I'm so ready to go...like right the heck now!!! And I would be remis if I didn't repeat myself...Ya just gotta love Browbeat!!!! "We won't need that long, will we?" Kippy asked. Robin smiled. "Santiago isn't quite halfway down the length of the southern coast of Chile. It's still 1500 miles or more to Tierra del Fuego, I would say. That's three days by ship, at least. The more time we have, the better, I would think." "He's right," Horace said. "My feeling is that we won't simply want to drop off this timber and leave. There will be some, um, sightseeing to do." Charlie laughed at that. "That's putting it mildly." The ghost hunter smiled. "I feel something unusual from our friend above. It feels very much like excitement." "Aw." Kippy raised his eyes to the beam above them. "It's going home, and it can't wait!" "This will be fun!" Browbeat said, flapping his wings to show his own excitement. But then he squinted at Charlie. "Am I going to have to be quiet the whole time?" With only 2 chapters left to go (Grrrrrr), I sense things will go smoothly and the focus once they get there will be on those who created this magical city!! I feel a bit like @weinerdog at the moment, as my prognosticator is conjuring all sorts of random/astute possibilities...one disconnected thought would be, could those who built the city be the origin of squish on planet earth, be responsible for the elves and those like Nicolas and Robin???

The boys are getting the best education possible, being exposed to the wider world around them. @scrubber6620 makes a good point as well about some of the museums further south of NYC. They could spend a month at the Smithsonian and its various museums...Not only are they citizens of the US but also of the wider world around them, that in of itself is an important lesson to learn!

At the end of the day the parents may have claim to the house but...they would have to show a pattern of responsibility. Who paid for the upkeep, renovations, utilities, and taxes. Who paid for Marc's upkeep as he grew? Is there any written agreement between Aunt May and the parental units as to how necessary and legal costs were apportioned while the PU's were off galavanting across the globe? Can the PU's show any evidence of any semblance of care for either their son or property, phone calls, letters, or emails? Could they be reasonably accused of property/child abandonment? When did they last talk to their son? What are the terms of Aunt May's will, is there any correspondence between the PU's and Aunt May over the years, denoting how they wished their son and property to be cared for? In the court of public opinion, the parents are losers, in the real world their claim to their property is tenuous, and to some extent...defensible... Put this case in front of a jury, and if the parents can't establish any semblance of a standard of care or responsibility, and I would take my chances on the PU's being kicked to the curb... One last niggling thought(s)...how did the PU's afford their wandering lifestyle and did Aunt May help fund???

Don't know why but this chapter reminded me of the following... And what should happen to Marc's parents...

Silly me, and here I thought my prognosticator was broken when it only needs a tune-up, per my comment in Ch 2. Oh." The man laughed. "No. Well, not exactly. Actually, I think it means spirit of wood." Charlie and Kip looked at each other. "Spirit of the woods?" Charlie asked. "No. Oshtàpày was said to have been a manëtu, an individual spirit. A life force." He looked from Charlie to Kip, and back again. "Different manëtu had different abodes, different substances they called home. The spirit of Oshtàpày was said to have lived within wood." I'm thinking that the spirit called Oshtapay just may be living in some of the wood used in the house during its original construction and...it may be that the wood the spirit is living in is/was imported... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I think it is time for the gang to have an in-depth discussion with George down at the Pizza Parlor. I'd like a meat lovers please...yes to the anchovies, onions, mushrooms, and peppers, to get a better sense of his thoughts...I do get the feeling that George may be of some help/assistance. It would seem to me that the Oshtàpày that was keeping the abandoned city so clean is one in the same as the one occupying the house, or possibly a like minded Oshtàpày... I have a feeling if the gang transports to the abandoned city, it won't be the same as what they saw in the vision but more derelict and rundown...well it would seem that my prognosticator is all, over the place now...

Thanks for the chapter Lord Arbor...it is greatly appreciated... I think Grainger, has for the lack of better words, taken the wind out of his dear Caroline's sails...if this were a naval engagement, his broadsides have had the desired effect... Caroline will find herself more than marginalized, she's been neutered as well. Was there any doubt as to where the servants stood??? However, and I hope the blowback from Caroline is minimal, that she has the good graces to accept her current situation with equanimity, but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned... “That was certainly unexpected,” Daventry noted. “It really was my only choice,” Granger replied. “I spoke with the King and asked him to do what he could to keep her away from London, so we will see if that is successful.” “You have stolen a march on her,” Daventry said with concern. “Let us hope that is enough.” Granger was more optimistic than Daventry, but he heeded his friend’s admonishment to stay on his guard. I think at the end of this day, Grainger has just found himself with a many more allies than previously....what will happen to Lord Castlereagh's brother having been publicly named and shamed in front of the Prince of Wales and his set??? Dear sir...another chapter as quickly as you can and on to Lady Kendall's will!! https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/england-europe-british-byron-catholic-b1985509.html

Think this was your best chapter yet by far!!! Bring on the next one!!

Well now...it would certainly mean with the latest developments that my prognosticator is definitely broken, inoperable and in need of a serious tuning by a qualified mechanic... I haven't a clue, farthing, sintilla, or hazzard even the most remotest of guesses as to what the gang will find/discover... My curiosity was triggered when the discussion of the natives of the area was brought up...not one of our finest chapters in history... I do remember reading somewhere, that the natives astounded the Europeans as they seemed to be inured to the harsh climate and for some of the most southern tribes/clans, wore little to marginal clothing. Later on if memory serves me correctly, it was discovered that they had extra blood vessels in their lower extremities enabling them to be more accustomed to the harsh climate... For those interested in knowing a bit more about these folks... European genocide[edit] The Selk'nam genocide was authorized and conducted by the estancieros that between 1884–1900 resulted in a severe indigenous population decline.[3] Large companies paid sheep farmers or militia a bounty for each Selk'nam dead, which was confirmed on presentation of a pair of hands or ears, or later a complete skull. They were given more for the death of a woman than a man. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuegians

Loved this chapter, nearly perfect but could have been a tad longer...😁 Rick is upset as it dawns on him he isn't quite as astute as he thought or feels he isn't part of the gossip club...he'll come around and loved the following... “And it’s not an issue for me, in any way, shape or form,” Karen finished, “if that’s what you’re asking.” “Me either,” Reba piped in. “I already knew, anyway.” Three down, one to go. Sawyer turned to Rick, who sputtered, “I’m thinking, damn it! And”—he spun to Reba, pointing one beefy finger in her face— “what do you mean, you knew? How could you know? You knew? What the fuck, Reba?” “Oh, please.” Doing her best to be as condescending as possible, Sawyer was sure, she said, “I‘m the mother of two boys.” Rick spread his hands. “What difference does that make? I’m a boy.” “Astute self-diagnosis,” Karen muttered. “And I didn‘t know,” Rick finished. “Don‘t feel bad,” Reba soothed. “You‘re blind to everything that doesn‘t involve your dick.” “Which this most definitely does not,” Rick rushed to add.

In high school and single I had dry spells in relationships, but the minute I was in a relationship opportunities seemed to abound all around me...go figure...

Hope Rafe remembers that pride goeth before the fall...Methinks Dylan just may win this fight...

Ya just gotta love Browbeat.. Kippy came to Charlie's side and leaned up against him. "A job like this only needs two of us." Horace smiled at them, and nodded. "You two go. We'll get things ready here." Browbeat sailed over to them then. "Can I go? I'll stay in the car." Kippy nodded. "Sure. Come along. We're just getting pizza." "Oh, boy! Pizza!" The flyer turned a small, happy circle in the air, and then stopped in front of Kip. "What's pizza?" I think the following could be a very important clue.. The man smiled. "Yes. Oshtàpày is related to luwànàn'tu, the winter spirit." Kippy leaned forward, just as fascinated as Charlie. "Oshtàpày is a spirit? A Lenape spirit?" The man shook his head. "A spirit, yes. But not of the Lenape. Oshtàpày was said to have come from afar, to visit his cousin luwànàn'tu." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh." The man laughed. "No. Well, not exactly. Actually, I think it means spirit of wood." Charlie and Kip looked at each other. "Spirit of the woods?" Charlie asked. "No. Oshtàpày was said to have been a manëtu, an individual spirit. A life force." He looked from Charlie to Kip, and back again. "Different manëtu had different abodes, different substances they called home. The spirit of Oshtàpày was said to have lived within wood." I'm thinking that the spirit called Oshtapay just may be living in some of the wood used in the house during its original construction and...it may be that the wood the spirit is living in is/was imported...

Right....

What a tremendous way to instill the magic of learning.. “Let’s shoot for one day. Find out the best city to go to visit. Just make sure it has an archeological museum.” “And a bookstore.” “You weren’t supposed to be listening Toby.” https://www.booksfact.com/technology/ancient-technology/ancient-alarm-clock-plato-4th-century-bce.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism

An interesting chapter tho Tanner's home life sounds problematic..

Well done and do something unexpected, give us another chapter!!

Let's hope we aren't getting bogged down...

You may say it's a time honored tradition...

I understand tar and feathering is coming back in vogue...just saying...

I'm hooked...bring on Ch 2 ASAP!!!

One has to wonder what Ike was really thinking... 😁 As to Samael...in order to cast out the devil it just may take a few attempts!!!