C James

Wow, some great speculation here!!! I can't comment on what will happen (If I do, our anti-spoiler Echidna, Graeme, will turn me into a pincushion! I feat the spines!) However... I can mention that I always bury clues to what will happen, earlier in the story. In this case, although Changing LAnes is supposed to be a stand-alone story, there are some serious clues back in LTMP. Remember the chat Eric and Chase had right after the "Worlds Collide" chapter and Eric's kiss with Cody? That's one good place to look. There are others, in Changing Lanes itself, but as the old saying goes, sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees.... Another nuke would IMHO be highly cliche and repetitive. I'm afraid I can't comment beyond that, other than to say that, like in LTMP, I'm striving to make certain the tech is real. The Stealthed photo recon satellite, for example, is quite real, and so is the general description of how it is built. Sometimes, I may have to make guesses. For example, I do not know, nor can I find out, the specific ORBAT (order of Battle) for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, nor their equipment and tasking manifest. I also don't know for sure where, exactly, their chemical weapons inventory is stored (it will be in several places). All I can do in cases like that is make extrapolations and deductions. Do I know that they would have NBC detectors nearby? No, but doing so is both logical, and has twigged photo annalists to other chem and bio depots in other countries in the past. In other words, it's operationally logical that they would do so, so I assumed that they would do so even though I do not know. John knew that Eric was planning on the Canary Islands, but not that he was going to check it out in person. Eric couldn't tell him in advance, because Helen can read Jon like a book. Obtaining a false, working passport is far from easy. The General's freind Bill works in the wrong side of the as-yet-unnamed agency (he's intel, not operations) to have any access to anything like that. The General's contacts are mainly military. No access to a false passport, nor the means and skills to do it himself. And Yes, I suspect that the Shady One isn't done with Eric yet... That does sound good!! Ground black Pepper on vanilla ice cream is actually one of my own favorites... It's quite good! But then again, the peanut butter and pepperoni sandwich (with tabasco sauce) in chapter one is one of my favorites too. BTW, I bet you know wone of the secrets of good chilli... Chocolate.

Thank you Krista!!! Tiger!!! Sweet, innocent me!?!?!? How can I be the king of Evil Cliffhangers, when there haven't even been any in Changing Lanes? As for Shadowgod.. Him riding his motorcycle in front of Eric was the cause of Eric deciding to get one... Now that was Evil of his Shadowyness! Thank you Benji!!! Yes, the Shady One (or,m as he says on his liscence plate, "Shady-1") did do that.. I'm not sure what he's planning for Eric next though.. I do hope it's nothing like LiS 26! SPiCE needs to rally, and condemn the Shady One for luring Eric onto what Helen described as a Two Wheeled Death Machine! So, whilst I'm away, could you all please make sure to blame Shadowgod for me?

It was the regognition issue that made me take that route initially. I already, per necessity, had to do a lot of "educating" in LTMP (such as related to the technology) so I figured enough was probably already too much. LoL! If I start writing in Italian, there would be far more problems than that. ! LoL! Thanks... Oh, BTW, yes, Senior Frogs is real. And yes, I've been there (to the one in Grand Cayman). To be honest, I didn't find the food that good, but it was a unique name so it found its way into the story (besides, i knew it would catch the eye our you, our resident amphibian!)

I drink Tequila too... In fact, I was ripped on it when I wrote my short story "three for Jake". LoL! Besides, I think Erics and Tequila are a good mix.

I have a question regarding the paparazzi. Paparazzi is a plural term, meaning more than one. The singular is Paparazzo. In LTMP, I used "Papparazzi" as both singular and plural, as this is how people in the industry refer to them. "I had a damn paparazzi on my front lawn!" In the dialog, this is quite okay, but in a third-person narration, should I have done this (in the narration)? I did it mainly for simplicity, but it is an inaccurate usage. So, my question is, should I go back and fix in in the posted chapters of Changing Lanes (and maybe LTMP)? If I shift over to using the correct terms in the narration, I'd IMHO need to do so consistently, which would mean changing the posted chapters. I can do this easily with Changing Lanes as there aren't many chapters. Please let me know what you think. CJ

Yes, I must agree.... His Shadowyness is dropping hints (in Changing Lanes!) of the uber-mega-disaster-cliffhanger he is rumored to be planning (I speak the truth: He really is rumored to be planning this!) for Dreams & Cliffed Wings. I think he's planning on the annihilation of an entire US Coast! He's evil like that, you know...

But, your Shadowyness, what did I say? It's not my fault that your cliffhangers are so traumatizing! I'm just suffering from post-LiS 26 traumatic stress disorder!

Thanks, and thank Wildone, I hadn't heard of Spirit Bears! I'm sorry I've been absent so much lately; I had to get ahead on my work (I'm self-employed, though I prefer not to say in what in public) and prepearing to be away for five weeks takes a LOT of advance work. Then there's the trip itself; I've been finding accomodations en route, reading up on them, reading reviews, bargain-hunting, etc. I've also had to do some advance maintanance on my SUV, pack, take care of all my bills, paperwork, etc, and a hundred other things. Plus of course summer thunderstorms keep me off the computer in the late afternoons and evenings almost every day. And this is all on top of being in the process of building a new house and moving (and I've been doing much of the construction on the new house myself). So, I've been a little busy lately. I'm very much looking forward to my trip. I need a break. I'm going to try and get another chapter of Changing Lanes done before I go (right now, I'm only just finishing Ch 9) otherwise posting will be kind of slow while I'm away. I hope to get 10 done this weekend. As for Shadowgod... Of course its all on him! His cliffhangers are much scarier than bears!! CJ

Bears?? I'm not too worried about bears... Please bear in mind (ack, a pun!) that I've seen a black bear less then 10 feet from where I'm sitting typing this. There's a kind of a stepped pathway around the side of my house, made out of railway ties, and there are often ground squirrels nesting by burrowing under it. Bears like 'em, and a black bear lifted up a section a couple of years ago. I saw it. (there's a window to my right, and the bear was less than five feet from it). Black bear aren't as big and dangerous as Grizzly (I've never seen a grizzly) but they can attack on occasion, though normally they avoid you. I've seen black bears on my property several times, plus the occasional mountain lion. (For those that think I'm a gun not for always going around armed, now you know one reason). I'm more concerned about truly scary things.. such as Shadowgod's cliffhangers. Now those are scary!!! CJ

Thanks!! BTW, I just wanted to clear up one small thing.. The contact has a Russian accent. The Scar wasn't russian. Dimitri was, but Dimitri is dead. The Scar, if alive, would also be missing an arm at the very least. The contact isn't. The contact isn't The Scar.

I figured that I'd make this a separate thread, due to their being some unfathomable resistance to the idea that Shadowgod was the cause of Eric's interest in Motorcycles. Here, I shall offer my proof, and decisively defeat all counter-claims! :2hands: But Your Shadowyness, I only endeavor to (literally) give the Devil is Due and see you honored for your prowess at the Evvvil Cliffhanger! Oh.. Might I point out that there haven't even been any cliffhangers in Changing Lanes yet, though that's certainly not the case for Dreams and Clipped Wings? And now we get the the real proof of the issue... Yes, Shady 1. Here's the relevant passage from CL 3...

Steph is right on both counts! Instinct is indeed in danger, while in Los Angeles, from one of Shadowgod's earthquakes. And you're right, it is about a week in DnCW timeline... Hrmmm, still, if Shadowgod hasn't stolen that check, it should be there by now... CJ

Oh crap!!! ACK! I looked... I didn't believe it, so I looked. I typed it it. And that's what comes up first. I then checked what Cuil is, and it's a search engine, a new one. Here's what they say as a description.

Ahhh, but, Changing Lanes is indeed set two or more years in the future. That much we agree on. However, that dark rider in Ch 3 was unarguably shadowgod, right down to the vanity license plate. So, was Eric having a flashback, or is this something Shadowgod is going to do in a couple of years time? Or, more likely, does Shadowgod, being Satan, have the ability to change his temporal location?? Whatever the answer is, it's obvious that this is indeed all Shadowgod's fault; he deliberately lured Eric into an interest in motorcycles! As proof, I offer this indisputable fact: I have, loudly and often, decried the way motorcycles put Shadowgod's characters in danger. Eric is my favorite character; why on earth would I ever let him anywhere near a motorcycle? Your Shadowyness, might I point out that I have never claimed that LTMP or CL are fiction? I mentioned that it had to be set in the future because Toowoomba hasn't dissapeared in a blinding flash, yet... That would not be the case for fiction. Therefor, if it is a recount of future events, you most ceertainly can be the dark rider (and don't forget the vanity plates... everyone knows that there can be only one set of California plates with that name, so therefor, it's gotta be you). Therefor, you have a conundrum... If it's fiction, you're at fault becuaseyou kept boosting the motorcycle idea, including for Eric... (You've oft said how hot he'd be on a motorcycle...) Or, if non-fiction, then you're to blame for tearing throguh traffic in front of Eric, and leading him to decide to get a motorcycle. Agreed Benji! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who can see through the Shadowy One's attempts as dissembling. Now, if only he would admit his rile, all would be well. RALLY SPiCE! SAVE ERIC!!

I don't know... His Shadowyness is always plotting some form of evil to hurl at his characters... TOTALLY agreed! I can confirm that Eric sent it, so where is it? Did His Shadowyness steal it before Cody got it???

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'll be leaving on vacation on Aug 30th, and getting back in the first week of October. I should have occasional internet access for part of the trip, but for at least two weeks in the middle of it I'll have none at all. (I'm going to Alaska). Also, my laptop battery issue from last year still applies; a new battery would have cost me nearly $200, which is insane for a nine year old clunker of a laptop. I just haven't had the time or funds to shop for a new one. So, it's plug-in only. However, My team and I are working hard to get some chapters ready for posting while I'm away. The way it's looking, at worst we might end up with a bi weekly instead of a weekly posting. I'll post all trip news and reports in this thread. CJ

Yes, but with all your impending disasters, it's not safe for Eric to go anywhere near the bay area!! There is a bit of a time lapse... Dreams & Cliffed Wings is taking pace basically day be day. In Cody's world, the Instinct Concert in SF is just a couple of weeks in his past. In Changing Lanes, it's the better part of a year. The timelines should sync up again around Chapter 45 of Dreams and Cliffed Wings. And yes, Wildone, just look at Ch 7! Shadowgod is CLEARLY laying the groundwork for one of his LiS 26 magnitude mega-cliffhangers! Remember how he led up to it in LiS? Well, he's laying the groundwork again. DnCW 7 had multiple cliffhangers. Not LiS 26 scale, granted, but he's just starting to get warmed up. I think he'd got something purely evil planned. SAVE CODY, before it's too late!!!

Shadowgod!!! Now this is stretching things, even for you!!! It's true that the type of bike in the graphic is not your style, but I needed a silhouette and thats all I could some up with. HOWEVER, as for the rest, you should be ashamed of yourself! Part of it is true (the fact that you have remarked, often, that Eric on a motorcycle = HOT). However, you totally gloss over the fact that it was your daredevil riding through traffic that inspired Eric to think of getting a motorcycle! If you hadn't have been riding like that, it wouldn't have happened! I gues this is partially my fault for setting this part of the story where you live, but still, you could have stayed away! Those notorious vanity plates of yours are proof conclusive; it was you. BTW, I hope you don't mind me blabbing your liscence plate all over the internet, but it's a bit late now.. So, this is indeed all your doing!!! And BTW, that makes any possible tension regarding Eric, motorcycle, and tequila all your fault! And thus, any cliffhangers in Changing Lanes are all your doing! (I do hope all you readers will bear this fact in mind when it's time to vote for the King of Cliffhangers in the 2008 reader's choice awards). Ahh, but if Shadowgod hadn't been riding in front of Eric, this never would have happened! I said to him, at the time, that he really should learn to obey traffic laws. That was both hazardous, and a bad influence on Eric. So it really is all Shadowgod's fault. BTW, the title for Chapter 4 is Islands in the Sea. CJ

I thought it would be fun to hide clues in the graphics. The left-hand side is similar to the old LTMP graphic (stage lighting at a concert). Thanks Tim!! See? Shadowgod's EEEvil influence is right there for all to see. Thanks for posting this!! I haven't seen that, but I wonder if they took stress into account? In a simulator you know you won't die. The hard thing about landing is lining up so that you touch down at the right place, direction, and speed. The runway is very confining. Brandon in LTMP had the advantage of not having to worry about the runway; he had a virtually infinite one. On the other hand, he was also dealing with a badly damaged aircraft, plus no flaps. Thanks!! CJ

His Shadowyness, of course, so therefor he's at fault if The Scar starts making mischief again.

Welcome Back Benji!!

Happy Birthday, Francois!! I hope you had a GREAT day, and have a wonderful year!!

Not so! Eric is my favorite character... It's Shadowgod who is mean to his characters... (think of all the mean things he's done to them!) And of course, now he's riding through Changing Lanes on his motorcycle, being a bad influence on Eric!!

Ahh, The Scar... All I'll say is that the key is in the final reference to him...

Good points about the timeframe... I felt that it had to be set in the near future, otherwise it has to be an alternate universe (Unless Toowoomba went missing recently?) For an approximate timeframe, figure a few, though not many, years in the future. Less than 5. And yes, Conner, I knew you'd love the pool party idea. Yes, one of the Shadows (Steve, the leader of the shadows) had a motorcycle in LTMP. However, that's not who the Dark Rider was... the true villain of this story: Shadowgod.. Ok, we've seen Eric head off to get his M1 (That's a motorcycle driver's liscence in California) due to spotting the DARK rider with the "shady-1" vanity plate tearing through traffic. "Shadow-1" would have alluded to The Shadows from LTMP, so that wouldn't have fit. Besides, Shadowgod picks out his own vanity plates for his motercycle, nothing I can do about it... It fits though, he's often called "the Shady One". Had it been up to me, I'd have had the plate just say "shadowgod" but hey, it's his plate, so his choice. BTW, if you look in the title graphic, you'll see a motorcycle, just to the right of center. When I made the graphics I already knew that Shadowgod was planning on leading Eric into the two-wheeled-death-machine world, so I made that as a hint. I still think SPiCE needs to act, SAVE ERIC!! (Protect him from Shadowgod!!)