Reading: Locus
Music: random bluegrass
TV/Movie: Journey to the Center of the Earth
Link o' the Day: Fire Ants, Armadillos and Phorid Flies FAQ

Odd mail arrives once or twice a week, and I've come to look forward to these strange, mis-delivered little missives. They may be more connected to each other than I first suspected--some letters to are intended for a single repeated recipient--and others to that recipient's descendants and possibly ancestors. Not all of the letters are as thus, mind you, but I suspect more than one would initially think.

Dear Bast,

Behind the black idol, within a recess concealed in the wall, you will find a brown leather bag with enough gold krugerrands to finance your venture. The boss says to remind you that Professor Steinwick will be in Calais on St. Crispin's Day (you know the specific meeting place) to inspect the results of your find and to authorize your final payment. Following that meeting, you will immediately fly to Chicago to both deliver and collect. Do not go to Chicago until you have seen Professor Steinwick. Do not go to Calais until you have acquired the relic. Do not under any circumstances enter Istanbul.

Good luck, ole chum!

You will forgive me if I sign this note as...

(signed)
The Plaid Genie

Since receiving these letters, I've been studying the attributes of certain inks and papers. I am not far along in my studies, but I'll mention here (for later reference) that the paper smells fainly of orange peel and the ink flakes away when rubbed with a thumbnail.

The second letter today is written on a familiar pressed-rag stationary with crimson ink.

Dear Sirs,

Did you signal us? We are not entirely certain. Bosch claims to have seen the signal, but when the rest of us looked, it was plainly not in evidence. It is not entirely Bosch's fault as the night was quite stormy and lightning lit the sky at odd and unnerving times.

We remain at your service and at the ready, but we ask that if you have given us the signal, that you do so again.

Our pardon.

(unsigned)

I, of course, gave no such signal. Why and what for and how are a mystery to me. Given the yellowing of the envelope this arrived in, I suspect the time for signals is long since past. I wonder if anything ever happened.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Letters aside, work continues. It's been a decent week--everything keeping to schedule, for the most part. Some advertising materials are holding up a couple of things, but nothing too serious, time-wise. I should be able to get a bit more writing in today as well. Possibly even work on some poetry.

Hey, put butter on me. I'm on a roll.




Speaking of rolling...the Teehans now own bowling balls. Yeah. bowling balls. What up with that? Now we're truly invested in this new past-time. We have the bowling shoes. We have the bowling bags. We have the bowling balls to put into the bowling bags. I even have a little bag of resin.

If I have a good, productive day today, we'll go bowling tonight. If I don't--fire ants.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


Speaking of fire ants, and because the Internet is where you can find anything about anything, today's link goes to the Fire Ants, Armadillos and Phorid Flies FAQ from the Brackenridge Field Laboratory of the University of Texas at Austin.

It's important reading in case the Revolution comes.

Cheers!