Clancy59

BTW, that word was used as a spelling bee word between Steve Harvey and a kid who looked like he was about 8 years old (someone posted it on FB). Harvey blustered about it, of course, and the kid grabbed his mic and just spelled it right out with barely a hesitation! Harvey stood next to him with his mouth hanging open. I don’t know if it was for real or not, but it was amazing that the kid could spell it out either way. 😜

I was one of the many who were certain the laptop was in the car, so it was no surprise that that was where they found it. Hopefully, Sebastian and his crew can get it opened. I am concerned about this trip to Crescent City. Does the Boss know about Kage? Does he know how he died and who killed him? Will Elijah’s news be a surprise to him? What will his reaction and response be? Hmmmm. I don’t know if anyone has speculated about this, because I haven’t read all the pages of commentary, but I don’t think we have heard the last of Kage. Why? Because of the way he ‘dissipated’ and pierced through Elijah, leaving the scar. I don’t know how or when he’ll make his appearance, but I have a feeling he’ll make his presence known in some way, and not necessarily physically.

It’s hard to believe that someone with such deep hatred would be in such a position. Why would she be at the hearing representing Child Services and saying those things in total opposition to the filed report? It makes no sense. The representative has to represent the findings, not her own opinion. Its like she snuck her way in. I also like the idea of the hyphenated last name. That long, full name may be a mouthful right now, but imagine how regal it will sound when he is an adult and a partner in his grandfather’s law firm! Armand doesn’t have a security system or insurance on the gallery?! What are people thinking?! Sorry, but that’s just plain dumb and short-sighted. He needs to get that rectified yesterday!

Not if they can help it. There are dozens of online database subscriptions available that are much less expensive in the long run. However, in terms of this story, as he did, Armand would be much more likely to find this kind of information in the local Library or news media archives where the accident occurred. This particular, relatively minor story would not really be the kind of thing that would be snatched up into a national database, unless it is the kind to retain every bit of the issue (i.e.; ads, weather reports, crop reports, etc.). Some do. So, all in all, his search for the photos was logical. Maybe he could try the local high schools to see if they had been students. Many HS Libraries keep copies of the yearbooks. We did. When I got there, they were stuffed in cardboard boxes {{shudder!!}}. We took them, organized and cataloged them and stored them in a filing cabinet. Not only did students enjoy looking through them, going back to 1938 (they giggled a lot at those!), although not all of them were there. But we were able to help a few reunion committees and a couple of people doing family trees! We even helped one family planning a memorial for their loved one. He’d have to get permission from the Office to use the Library, however, but the Librarians are usually quite willing to help.

That’s what I meant. However, time means that the microforms can deteriorate through rot or simple fading. Many preservationists are racing the clock to preserve as many historical documents as they possibly can before they disappear altogether—which was why they were put on microforms in the first place! To preserve the information from those documents (usually newspapers and magazines) without taking up the space. In addition, the machines used to read the forms are aging as well. Things break down, whether through simple aging or misuse (and there is a lot of misuse, accidental or otherwise, from patrons who don’t know what they are doing). Parts are no longer available or become cost prohibitive in themselves. So, yes, smaller, older Libraries are, indeed likely to retain these older formats, but any modern Libarian with common sense can see the writing on the wall for this format and will be budgeting to transform these to a digital platform as soon as possible. I was just trying to point out that the story could still be set in relatively modern times after @weinerdog’s comment.

Not necessarily. It can be expensive to convert all those files into digital format. Depending on the finances of the community, I can easily see some smaller Libraries hanging on to some microforms, despite the space issues. They can convert them over a period of time, as budget allows. If Thomas had no relatives to take him in, why would strangers think to save family mementos for him when sending him to the orphanage? Even if there was such a photo, they wouldn’t think to keep it for him and he wasn’t old enough to know to ask.

“Whorevitamin”. I love it!

Oh, boy. And just after D’Gar asked him about trouble with some of the newer Candidates. Jevikel tried to downplay it, but that being said, D’Gar must have some suspicions about who is causing problems among the newcomers and this just confirmed it. Hortaimin and his posse will be lucky if they remain as Candidates. (I can’t wait to see that arrogant jerk receive his punishment. Imagine his attitude that he thinks he automatically deserves, and will get, a bronze simply because of who he is. If he does stand and Impress, he should get a green!) Jevikel and Turmevon will probably be subject to a ‘father/son’ discussion about how they should have handled things differently, but will ultimately be sent off with a reminder to find help next time they find themselves in a similar situation. D’gar’s recent situation with F’drun could be used as an example, I suppose. Jevikel may have a ‘punishment’ just so no one can complain, because he did throw a punch. I’m happy for Kadin to be finding a place with the musicians. Whether he Impresses or not, he will always have that place to turn to for joy or solace, and be able to share those feelings in a way that words cannot with people who truly understand him.

Nettleman and Morgan are putting on a dog-and-pony show for the public so they can claim to be trying to protect the kids. Like everyone else said, it’s a bogus argument. When a school is on lock down, it means exactly that. Everything is locked down. No one is allowed in or out. That means everyone is locked into their classrooms until the all clear is individually given to each and every classroom by the properly designated authority. Not even a general announcement over the PA is allowed. There is no way the students would have been allowed into the school with that kind of a threat hanging over them. If I had been a parent, or even a teacher, in that school, I would have been screaming from on top of the highest point in the area to every law enforcement agency in the state, every government official (i.e.; the Governor, Senators, Representatives, etc.) and every news outlet I could get ahold of. Having the cops roaming the halls carrying assault rifles was merely a gimmick to frighten the students into the kind of behavior they deemed proper. It was obvious when those idiots ‘smirked’ at Parker and Natalie. They are just making the protestors case more evident and strengthening the support they will be garnering nationally, and this will be going national, very shortly. Morgan and Nettleman are preparing to be ‘hoist by their own petard!’ (Look it up.) And where is Dan in all this chaos?

I understand your explanation for the military, but their presence makes me nervous, also. Maybe it depends on who is in charge of them and why. I don’t think I am too concerned about Dr. Chen and his wife, other than their mourning for what happened to their homeland, families and friends. They understood that they were leaving all of that behind and there was nothing they would be able to do for them in any instance. It’s just the horror of what actually happened to their birthplaces. They will also understand that it was decades ago, by that point. I also love these ‘cultural’ nights! What a great way to enhance their friendships! I love French Meat Pies! My SIL makes them every time we come visit because I raved about hers the first time we came to their house. But it took me 10 years to get her recipe! Now I make it for special occasions, also. (I actually have one of those mini pie machines and use that. It makes it handy for taking them to parties!)

It doesn’t matter. We know more will be coming and more details will be coming about the Weyr and those who live in it. We love these stories and want to keep reading more. You are exploring areas Anne and Todd never did. We are having a blast with these! Thank you!

Yeah. Mama was one in a million. It hurt that no one other than Daddy, my husband and I seemed to recognize that. She overcame an abusive childhood (basically her mother), living in near poverty during the Great Depression. It was so traumatic for her, she refused to ever give me details. I had to finagle what little information I could and figure out what little I could. Maybe sometime I’ll write up her ghost story with her mother and post it. I would tell it to my students at Halloween and they would stare at me with eyes as wide as saucers. Mama swore to her dying day that it was true. I’d be happy to help with whatever information I can regarding RI, but clambakes? Those are few and far between. They take a lot of effort, from what I understand and you really need an area where people won’t fall into your baking pit accidentally! So, they tend to be on private beaches or properties and not something everyone attends. Ocean Drive, where the private mansions are, doesn’t really have ‘beaches.’ It’s very rocky. The area by the ‘cottages’ is surrounded by Cliff Walk, again rocky cliffs, not beach. Beaches are more in Middletown, heading for the Mass border, and those are public. If your wedding party is going to have a clambake, they’d be better off hiring a company that specializes in it that can bring in something transportable for a temporary setup. There may be caterers who do this. I don’t know. I’ve never needed to look for one! But we’re talking Newport here. I’m sure they can find just such a caterer there. I think you said something about having the Breakers as a setting. Gorgeous. Will that be for the wedding or the reception? Might the wedding be at St. Mary’s where the Kennedys got married? (Streets are kinda tight around there and parking is a nightmare.). Wherever you use, the best idea will be to bus guests in from the hotels. Parking around Bellevue Avenue is extremely limited. Each ‘cottage’ has its own lot, but they aren’t very big and not designed for long term (all day) parking. Public lots are a couple miles up the street. Not conducive to walking in wedding attire! Whatever. I would be happy to answer any questions I can and contribute to a series I greatly enjoy..

It can be frustrating the way the general public deals with people with visible disabilities, but if you have an ‘invisible’ disability, it can be even worse. My mom was hearing impaired due to having 2 dibilating illnesses—at the same time—in early childhood during the Great Depression. It was a miracle she even survived at all, and even more so with only hearing loss. (When I was in college and studying statistics for education, I figured out that she actually qualified for Mensa, if she wanted. She was brilliant! And only we seemed to recognize it!) She had no hearing in her left ear and about 10% in her right, which got worse as she got into her senior years. This was horrible for her, especially as she was a singer and musician. It was normal for us as we grew up. We would have to make sure she knew which direction we were coming from. We grew up looking at people when we spoke, and no mumbling, because of her. If we were in a store and we wanted to show her something, we would stand, watching her, because she always checked on us every couple of minutes, and either flagged her to come over to us or held whatever up to see (we could communicate across entire store floors this way without making a sound and we didn’t know sign language!). We never yelled or called out loud. It wasn’t unusual for us to repeat what people were telling her, especially when they would be looking down. The stores in our neighborhood were all familiar with her and loved her and took good care with/of her. However, when we had to start going outside our neighborhood shopping district, people would give us looks. It was if they were wondering if she was stupid or slow. If it got especially bad, we would have to explain that she had a hearing problem. 75% of the time that would take care of it, but there were still those idiots who seemed to think she shouldn’t even be out in public, as though it was something to be ashamed of. Mom always said she would rather be blind than deaf because, at least people can see that disability and they make accommodations. They don’t for hearing issues. I remember when I was in college taking a class on special needs kids, we had to interview a person with special needs. I explained my situation to the professor, and after much persuasion, she allowed me to interview Mama and Daddy, but the final paper better be top notch! I did the entire thing as if I was interviewing them like any of the other students. They spoke candidly of how they dealt with things. Daddy said her inability to hear properly was never an issue with him. He fell in love with HER, not her ears! (Yes, we were both tearing up here!) I only admitted at the end of the paper that she was my Mom and how all of this affected my life. I got an A+. Mom cried happy tears. She had never seen her life written down like that. Thankfully, today’s society is much more accommodating to those with special needs, whether they be physical or mental. However, work still needs to be done on those ‘invisible’ disabilities.

I’m with @raven1! I posted my last comment and found @Mawgrim’s comment about ‘the next story’ and I also went into cheer mode! Yay! 🎉🥳🙌

Ooh! I can hardly wait for Hortaimin’s —um—awakening, shall we say? He’s going to blow a gasket. It would serve him right to be rejected by the dragons and be sent home in disgrace from the Hatching for some kind of atrocious behavior. In front of his arrogant father! And the current Lemos Lord Holder is rather disdainful of the Dragonriders, if I remember correctly. (I’m not vengeful, am I?) I am surprised that he was successfully Searched! I still think a stint in the kitchens could be a useful thing. Yes, they have done ‘some’ butchering, but not everyone has the stomach for the extensive work they’ll have to do soon. Cutting up slabs of meat is different than butchering an entire animal. I don’t know that I could do something that extensive. And don’t tell me Hortaimin has ever helped out in the kitchens! Even if he has been assigned KP, you know he coerced one of his toadies or some hapless, fearful underling to do it and claimed that he did the work. Yes, the guys are making their marks within the Weyr and people are noticing them. People who count. It’s going to be interesting to see where/how they end up fitting in in the hierarchy. Then I want to see Vikkel’s face when he realizes his son, daughter and nephew have become so important within the Weyr. The ones he had so little interest in and the dragons and their riders he was so disdainful of.

This was a great way to introduce the candidates to the care of their dragons. He’ll have to do the same thing with the feeding. Some people can get very queasy with the thought of the butchering they’ll have to do. Since all of the current dragons feed themselves, I think, maybe everyone should have a stint in the kitchens helping with that task. Figures there would be another F’drun in the making. And he’s already making noise about having to impress an impressive dragon simply because he’s a Holder’s son and Daddy Dearest will be there. It would serve him right, for multiple reasons, to get a green! Sorry, kiddo. It don’t work that way! He’ll probably step in front of a hatchling he thinks he deserves and get injured as a result. Will Daddy start screaming because a shepherd boy got his boy’s dragon instead? The conversations Jevikel and Kadin had with the adults were interesting. It was telling that Jevikel went to Piroth without prompting. R’feem seemed impressed by that, his questions and the discussion. I think he’s going to be watching this Weyrling. Kadin may have been adopted by the Weyr Harper and will be getting some special lessons. That would not interfere with his duties as a Dragonrider. Anne certainly had a couple of them in her stories. Oh! And I love your concept of the hatchlings being able to communicate with their mother while still in their shells and let her know when they need to be shifted. Mammalian babies are able to do so on their own because their environment is flexible. Eggs aren’t. Egg mothers often turn the eggs to ensure proper development (ex; hens, ducks, wild birds, etc.) These dragons are sentient and telepathic, however. It makes sense they can communicate with Mama in search of comfort. So we’re just a couple of sevendays away from the Hatching, huh? I can hardly wait! I wonder who will get which kind of dragon?!

“That’s it. You’re off the Christmas list.” I love the relationship between Hank and Chloe. I find myself smiling every time there is an interaction between them. The news from Earth was indeed devastating. However, that was the whole purpose in their departure—finding a safe haven where their families could grow happily and securely. They also have to remember that they have been in stasis for 10 years. This conflict could have happened that long ago and they are just now finding out about it. They need to put Earth in the past, mourn its loss and proceed to their future by finding that wonderful new planet that has to be out there somewhere!

Well, although it ended on a sadder note, the entire chapter was highly entertaining. I keep giggling at overprotective Daddy Hank. He really has to understand that his baby girl is growing up and spreading her wings! It’s part of life, after all. I love the discussions that ensue. Would that everyone on Earth today could understand things that well now. Maybe we wouldn’t have the kinds of issues we are burdened with.

Believe me, I know. I live halfway across the country from where I grew up and my parents lived. This created a lot of problems when they started having medical issues and I couldn’t help them properly. To top it off, I have a brother who thought that because he was closer, he was the only one to make decisions for them, despite direct orders from both of them that I was to be consulted on all decisions (he actually told a doctor I was not to be included in any information regarding my mother’s palliative care. They both were reamed by the both of us and Mom had me find a different hospice. Brother was furious.). When Daddy passed, he claimed his funeral flag because, evidently he deserved it more than I did, although he barely spoke with them for over 20 years. Needless to say, contact between us is very sparse. His wife will only contact me when he is having a serious health issue because she knows I won’t allow her to NOT inform me (we’ve had issues in the past). My eldest niece has unfriended me on FB, evidently because I am not right-wing enough. These are the same people who complain that I don’t do things for them, but they refuse to inform me of events in their lives. Sorry. I really didn’t mean to get into a rant here. I just really understood what you were saying.

That would be a lovely painting for Armand. Angela standing in the room in her wedding gown, being attended by a nun or two (although that could be optional— I can see it both ways), looking down at her flowers with the light streaming in and shining on her. The look on her face is happy and peaceful. I can see it with both clear glass and stained glass.

OMG! Once again, these are hysterical. I mean, a couple of them are simple typos, but some of them are plain gibberish, and this is coming from someone who’s family is famous for making up terms for various things! For example, we would say Hossispital for hospital or soldier for shoulder. Many come from childhood inability to pronounce various words/sounds. But we would never have turned in papers with those kinds of lulus!

Oh, please. They’ve been speculating, and dreading, on this since he started becoming well-known, especially after he worked for Clinton’s campaign! They’ve known for years that he’ll run. They won’t be surprised and will simply give each other a ‘look’ that CJ will be shocked to see and Ozzie will go into hysterics over!

What a wonderful way to wake up on a bright, sunny Friday morning! A new CJ chapter! I’ll even take the single chapter stories to feed my addiction. Liebe seems to have weathered her ordeal better than her fathers did, but that’s the resilience of youth, especially at age 2. However, I agree with them. They will have to discuss this with her at some future point and make sure there are no hidden traumas that could crop up at a later stage. But all the cuddling and loving she is getting right now from her trusted people is the best thing to reassure her that she is safe and secure. I could just see Ritch running pell-mell across the base, especially when he couldn’t get any phone calls through, after being given the news. He did well to have held himself together in the Commander’s office as long as he did, although I am sure the blood drained from his face when he heard and they all knew it. This is an extremely close family who rallies together in support as soon as needed. I am very lucky to have married into such a family, and benefitted from it a couple of times when desperately needed. I love them dearly. So, the guys are headed to Newport next, huh? Give me a call when you get here. I’m just across the Bay, but we are in Newport about once a month for various reasons. We’ll meet for dinner. You have to visit a couple of the ‘cottages’ while you’re here, especially The Breakers. You won’t believe the ostentatiousness! They actually have 3 faucets in the bathrooms: hot, cold and sea water! I do think, however, Rose Court is really quite lovely. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to walk Cliff Walk from beginning to end right now. There was a rock slide earlier this spring and a large section of the Walk simply slid down into the ocean! They don’t know when/how/if they’re going to repair it.

A Roomba is a robotic vacuum. There are various versions and now different companies are making them. There is even one that you can use to wash your floor (I think that’s a Brava.) https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba.html

Holy cow! That was a roller coaster ride of a chapter! I was relieved to see Siku, Gunnar and company at the door and not surprised at the reactions their appearance caused, but when Colt and his minions showed up, I was totally expecting a bloodbath. I was actually happy and laughed to see the minions step back after hearing what happened to their friends and realizing they had an opportunity to escape from Colt’s tyranny, also. Even Shane, Colt’s #1, rethought the possibilities when he realized no one was willing to risk themselves for Colt anymore. Of course, Colt, the ever fearsome (not) leader, was willing to send in his cannon fodder, but not do so himself. He was forced to fight himself, to his detriment. I loved the debate that ensued about exactly who would battle Colt and his resulting befuddlement from the discussion. I was shocked when Nimerah was the ultimate warrior! She was the LAST person I expected to see defend Shivay and Siku! But, wow! She decimated him! She totally redeemed herself there. And then… She blew up all the good karma she had gathered with her unreasonable hatred and tried to attack Siku and fatally injured Charlie. The Banerjees and her daughter were right to read her the Riot Act (Were you aware that is a real thing?). She still tried to salvage the contract and they told her, rightly, that she was insane. I was very proud of Lakshmi when she stood up to her mother and, reminding her of their deal, told her she would be going to design school in New York. I guess seeing Shivay get out from under his mother’s control encouraged her to enforce their deal. I did roll my eyes at her mother’s sad attempt to keep control over her. Mrs. Banerjees came across as rather pathetic, I think. Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. I wasn’t surprised when she blocked the attack on her beloved bear, but so upset when she was so severely injured! The daughter was quite correct to lambast her mother. Even Charlie seemed confused as to how she arrived in the tween realms (I don’t know what to call them), but seemed to accept the arrival of Freya quite easily. It wasn’t too surprising that she chose to return to Siku and Shivay. The reunion was wonderful. Well, the bad guys are now taken care of. Siku has found his Soulmate (both of them!). We have resolution of the major issues of this story. Now we just need to wrap up the small details: Nimerah and her family relationships, Nameer, the SF werebears and their rehabilitations, Siku and Shivay and where they will settle, Captain Ron and his crew. I think those are the main issues. I’m looking forward to the next chapter, @Grumpy Bear! Love these stories!