Bill W

You sure played havoc with the characters from one of my favorite westerns from when I was a kid. Of course, I don't think TV would have been ready for this Lone Ranger and Tonto during the 1950s, but this story was certainly better than the movie The Lone Ranger! Good job, Lee.

That's definitely more than one meal for the spiders! 😧

Happy New Year to all of our wonderful GA community! I stayed on New Year's Eve as well, but the neighborhood fireworks going off kept me up until 1:30, since they didn't seem to want to stop with the fireworks, firecrackers, and other items that would give off a loud boom. As far as the first New Year's Day meal, where I grew up it was always ham and cabbage, but maybe that was to prevent large gatherings at the house with other relatives and neighbors dropping in, since ham and cabbage tends to make everyone gassy. That left us to watch the parades and football games in peace.

The word opulent comes from Latin Opulentus (wealthy, abounding in resources) -> Opulens (wealthy, splendid), derived from ops ("wealth, power, resources") and opus ("work, labor") and seen in words like opulence. It ultimately traces to a Proto-Indo-European root (*op- or *h₃op- ("to work, produce in abundance"), indicating richness through great resources or effort, entering English around the 1600s via French opulent. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of "opulent" in English dates to the early 1500s, with its first recorded instance around 1518, found in a translation by the author Alexander Barclay. Examples of "opulent" used in a sentence: "This highly residential district is home to many opulent villas." "We took my fiancé's parents to the opulent Venetian Room to hear Lou Rawls." "The Palace of Versailles is home to the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Chapel, and many other opulent rooms." "I had seen a photo of three large men wrapped in luxurious towels, smoking pipes in extremely opulent surroundings." "They strode through the opulent mansion down a stairwell spilling into sunlight and swaths of green grass at the side of the main house." "The robed man led her into the fortress and wound his way through bright intersections, down stairs, and into a more opulent part of the building."

The cards are a question mark right now, although the boys have high hopes for what they'll bring, along with the coins and other items from the cave. Even if they have to use money from both, it looks as if they're planning to do something to honor Johnny's memory, possibly the gravestone, or maybe the Little League field, or it could be a donation for the survivors.

Yes, Johnny's story was a sad one and I think we all hoped he didn't suffer, like the boys speculated. And I agree. Either the thieves better appear soon or the boys could be doing this again over Spring Break. And after doing the overnight for a while and sleeping during the day, the results are similar to jet lag, when you're in another time zone for a long time and your normal schedule is disrupted.

Thanks, Anton, and there was a lot of information packed into this chapter, and I'm glad you found it all quite interesting. You learned about the boys going on a stakeout as Great Horned Owls to see if they can spot the thieves and lead to their capture, and you also learned about the sad death of Johnny Logan. Yes, Devin and Mac show a lot of empathy and concern for others, and even as they attempt to make money they'll be able to live on for possibly multiple lifetimes, they're not obsessed with keeping every dollar for themselves. They're willing to take care of others, even if it's just keeping their memory alive, or having Santa visit the Children's Ward of the hospital.

No, Devin and Mac had planned their return to the house so Louella wouldn't be able to see them transition. 😉

Yes, libraries have mostly kept the microfilm and microfiche, rather than incurring the expense to digitize that information. Devin and Mac did Google Johnny's name, but since he died before such things were kept online, his information didn't show. His name did pop up in obituaries of two of his siblings who died in the 2020s, as his name was listed as having predeceased them. 😒 When Mac and Devin returned from patrol, they always landed in a corner of the backyard where Louella couldn't observe them from a second floor window of her house, and then they kept close to the house as they made their way to the back door, so she wouldn't be able to see them then either. 😉

The word corpulent comes from the Latin corpulentus, meaning "fleshy" or "fat", which itself derives from corpus ("body") plus the suffix 'ulentus ("full of" or "abundant"). It entered English in the late 14th century via Old French (corpulent), ultimately describing someone or something with a large, bulky body, stemming from the same root as words like corpse, corporation, and corset. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and related sources, the word corpulent first appeared in English in the Middle English period (around 1398) in a translation by John Trevisa. It came from Old French and Latin, meaning "fleshy, portly, or stout," describing someone with a full body, often linked to wealth in earlier times. Examples of "corpulant" used in a sentence: "I assumed Troy was referring to the corpulent kid." "Shannon Oliviera was a rather corpulent woman and she was proud of it." "He was not obsessed with corpulent women; he had simply never noticed that she was fat." "The audience thought the corpulent soprano they'd cast was hilarious as Violetta." "Edward was corpulent, had heavy unshaven jowls and dragged one foot because his shoe had no lace." "Throughout history, many political leaders were corpulent, such as the Roman Emperor Vitellius, King Henry VIII, and President William Howard Taft."

Secrets 3: The Road to the Future – by Bill W Copyright 2025 by billwstories Chapter 29 – Johnny Logan and Stakeouts When we woke up the next morning, it was nearly 10:00, so we got dressed quickly and drove to a restaurant to have breakfast. As we were eating, we decided to discuss what we were going to do while watching for anyone that might look suspicious while we were on stakeout later. "I don't think the thieves will be breaking into the dorms during the day," Devin beg

The word "murmur" comes from the Latin murmur (a hum, mutter) and murmurāre (to mutter, make a gentle sound), and Old French murmure, ultimately from an imitative Proto-Indo-European root that is an onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound itself, and is found in Sanskrit, Greek, and Lithuanian words for rustling or babbling. . It appeared in English around the 1390s, meaning a low, indistinct sound. In medicine, a heart murmur is a sound from turbulent blood flow in the heart, caused by healthy variations (pregnancy, fever) or issues like faulty valves or congenital defects, making it either harmless or a sign of a problem. The earliest known use of the word murmur in English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), is found in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer during the Middle English period (around 1275-1325). The noun murmur is first evidenced from around 1385, and the verb murmur is first evidenced from around 1390. Examples of "murmur" used in a sentence: "The shy boy spoke in a murmur." "Many in the crowd began to murmur their dissent at this." "Sarah woke up to the low murmur of people speaking." "The suggestion brought murmurs of disapproval from those in attendance." "The sweet murmur of the Sarayu (or Sarju refers to a sacred river in Hinduism) added to the deceptive calm." "The group of friends were planning something in secret and only spoke to each other in murmurs."

I'd also like to wish everyone on GA a Happy and prosperous New Year as well. Don't drink too much on New Year's Eve, and that includes you, Steve!

The word loathe comes from Old English Lāþian ("to be hateful/displeasing"). It is derived from the adjective lāþ ("hated, hostile, repulsive"), which itself stems from Proto-Germanic Laitha- (hateful) and ultimately a Proto-Indo-European root Leit- (to detest). It is related to words for sorrow or ugliness in German Leid, and Old Norse leið (hateful). It is connected closely with "Loathe" (verb) developed from "loath" (adjective), which meant hostile or repulsive, while the adjective "loath" also came to mean reluctant. It entered Middle English as lothen or lathien and the modern sense of intense disgust is attested by around 1200, with impersonal uses (e.g., "it loathes me") isn't common until the 16th century. The verb "loathe" (rhymes with clothe) was first used in English during the Old English period (pre-1150), according to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). The earliest known citation provided by the OED for the related adjective "loath" (rhymes with broth) comes from an anonymous work, the Poema Morale, from sometime before 1200. Examples of "loathe" used in a sentence: "They were rivals who truly and bitterly loathed each other." "I loathe having to do this, but it is something that I can't ignore." "It was a habit his wife loathed, but one he had trouble breaking." "She loathed the idea of being seen as a victim." "There is clearly much that he loathes about modern life." "Do you want to revamp your home but loathe the idea of spending your weekends painting walls?"

Frenetic comes from Greek phrenitis (brain inflamation/insainity) via Latin phreneticus and old French frenetike, meaning "mad" or "delirious", eventually evolving to describe wild, energetic, or chaotic activity, sharing roots with frantic and phrenology (mind/skull study). The core idea links to a "mind" (phrēn) affected by inflammation or madness, moving from a medical term to a descriptive one for wild excitement. The difference between frenetic and frantic is that frenetic means wildly energetic, fast, and almost uncontrolled, often with a hectic but productive vibe (like a busy city); frantic means desperate, wild with panic, fear, or distress, implying chaos and negative agitation (like someone searching wildly for a lost child). While both suggest high energy, frenetic leans towards intense activity, whereas frantic implies emotional distress and disorganization). According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word frenetic first appeared in English during the Middle English Period (1151-1500), with the earliest known use found in a translation by John Trevisa from before 1398, meaning "temporarily deranged, delirious, crazed," stemming from Old French and Latin roots for mental derangement. Examples of "frenetic" used in a sentence: Describing pace/rhythm: "The stock market experienced a frenetic day of trading." "Trading volumes have skyrocketed, underscoring investors' frenetic attempts to protect their portfolios." Describing activity: "The team engaged in frenetic activity to meet the deadline." "How often in our frenetic world do we stop to look properly?" Describing energy/mood: "The concert had a frenetic energy that captivated the audience." "There is nothing here that is not familiar, though the pace has become more frenetic." Describing movement: "The dancer's movements were frenetic, yet beautiful." "The music matches the frenetic movements of the dancers, and Spanish instruments such as maracas and drums are often used for accompaniment." Describing sound: "The sudden crash was followed by frenetic screams". "As the crowd grew the vibe and atmosphere became more intense, the music seemed to become more frenetic."

Irksome comes from Middle English "irk" (meaning weary, troublesome) plus the suffix "-some", (from Old English -sum) meaning "tending to", "apt to" or "causing". It appeared in the early 15th century and was derived from older roots possibly linking to Old Norse "yrkja" (to work) or even Celtic for "harm", meaning something bothersome or tedious. It may also stem from Old English weorcsum ("painful" or "hurtful"). It describes things that cause annoyance, weariness, or vexation through repetition or persistence, like an "irksome task" or "irksome restrictions". In essence, an "irksome" thing is one that makes you feel weary or bothered, much like tiresome work or annoying repetition. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the adjective "irksome" first appeared in English during the Middle English period (1150-1500), with the earliest recorded use found in 1435, in a translation by Richard Misyn, bishop of Dromore. Examples of "irksome" in a sentence: "It is irksome that some common sense preventative measures are not in place." "Why subject yourself to an irksome book when so many sublime ones are available?" "More than 1,700 passengers were surveyed, returning the five habits cruisers find most irksome." "The restriction on upward mobility is becoming increasingly irksome to young, highly qualified, and knowledge people." "He found the slowness of criminal trials particularly irksome and his attempts to speed them up did not find favor with the Bar." "It's particularly irksome when you are designing a house and have to explain yourself explicitly to your builders for the sake of clarity."

Thank you for your continued support, Anton. It's much appreciated. I hope you also had a wonderful Christmas with your family as well, and I wish you, and all of my readers and other GA members, a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! And as far as Atsa is concerned, you will be hearing more about him before too much longer. 🤞

I'll add my Merry Christmas to all the wonderful members on GA and a Happy Holiday for everyone who celebrates another holiday.

Yes, I think we all hope Dean Gay will be able to help Clint. 😍 And I'm sure we all hope nothing happens to those baseball cards. They and the coins are the boys' nest egg for their future. 🍯💰 I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter, Danilo!

The word "decoration" comes from Medieval Latin decoratio (meaning "ornament") and ultimately from Latin decorare ("to adorn, beautify"), derived from decus ("grace, ornament, honor, dignity"), stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root *dek- (to take, accept") with the sense of "adding grace" or "suggesting an idea of accepting or adding something pleasing". It entered English in the 15th century, initially for cosmetics, then expanding to adornment and honors. The meaning of "decoration" evolved from covering blemishes (early 15c.) to adorning with something beautiful (1580s). It is related to "decorate", "décor", and "decorous". The noun "decoration" was first used in English in 1584, according to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). The earliest evidence comes from the writing of King James VI & I, who was then King of Scotland and later King of England and Ireland. The verb "decorate" appeared even earlier, with the OED's earliest evidence dating back to 1530. Examples of "decoration" used in a sentence: "The only wall decorations are candles and a single mirror." "Festive paper decorations had been hung from the ceiling. He was awarded several military decorations." "The Roman glass-blowers were masters of all the ordinary methods of manipulation and decoration." "Throughout the grand rooms were tasteful decorations on doors and outside, seasonal songs playing." "The planting of winter and spring-flowering bulbs will supply colorful decoration at a time when most gardens are looking fairly desolate." Examples of "decorate" used in a sentence: "She enjoys decorating the tree at Christmas." "Our kids always get so excited when it's time to decorate the Christmas tree." "The stadium was decorated with several large banners to celebrate the big game." "My students helped me decorate the classroom for the Halloween party." "We decorated the guest bedroom in shades of white and cream."

Yes, they guys have sent the baseball cards to be graded, and unfortunately they didn't do quite enough research to discover the requirements UPS had about sending packages that are insured. The checked out the money aspect, but that's all, and that cost them in time and a little money in the process. I thought making the President of the Gay-Straight Alliance a guy named Dean Gay a bit ironic, and this way if someone asks Clint if he's gay, he can respond, "No, he's just my friend." Now we just have to wait and see if Clint joins and if he finds a bf there.

Yes, drs, hopefully there won't be any glitches in either of these two plans. 🫰

Decorous comes from the Latin decorus ("seemly, fitting, proper, becoming"), which itself stems from decor ("beauty, grace, ornament"), linking it to words like decorate and decent. Its root is the Proto-Indo-European dek- meaning "to take, accept," with the sense of adding grace, leading to terms for appropriateness and adornment. Decorum also comes from the Latin decorus and means "behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety, etiquette". The earliest known use of the adjective decorous in English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), is from the writing of Henry More, a philosopher, poet, and theologian in 1664. A slightly older sense of "decorous," meaning "fitting, appropriate," is now obsolete. The modern meaning, "characterized by or exhibiting decorum; proper," also dates from the mid-17th century. According to the OED, the noun "decorum", meaning "dignified propriety; appropriate and proper behavior or appearance", first appeared in English in the mid-1500s, with the earliest known evidence coming from the writings of Roger Ascham, a royal tutor, before 1568, initially referring to literary appropriateness and later evolving to mean polite behavior. Examples of "decorous" used in a sentence: "Yates draws a decorous curtain around the rest of the scene." "Among the criers were some of the least decorous people in the country." "In these coffee-houses, however, there generally prevails a very decorous stillness and silence." "The tone was decorous and reserved, a moving elegy delivered by someone who didn't know the deceased very well." "Without Stevenson, Sterne would probably have been a more decorous parish priest, but he would probably never have written Tristram Shandy or left any other memorial of his singular genius." Examples of "decorum" used in a sentence: "There was decorum in the countenance he wore." "We trust he will show the proper decorum for the occasion." "Your sense of ethics and social decorum is also strong as you strive to be your best. "She accepted his report, not without obvious sadness but with business-like decorum and no sign of tears." "The boy had a wild streak that overcame his sense of decorum too often and landed him in duels every other day.

I think we all hope that it's good news for Clint, but we'll have to wait before we hear back from him. That might possibly be on their next rafting adventure. 🤞

As you'll discover, Lee, this time I increased the font on the title line so there'd be no confusion this time.