In a Western Place

Matty and I are leaving in an hour to pick up our rental so we can drive up (and over) to Black Rock City, Nevada for an extended weekend of “camping.” Despite being out in the middle of the desert lacking cell phone reception, running water, electricity, garbage collection and shade… we’ll have plenty to see and do. A few of you know what I’m talking about, but for those that don’t: pictures and stories to follow (like I always say). And if you need to find me, good luck. Until Tuesday…

I wanted to give a quick hello. Hello!

I’m alive and well. Our trip back East went smoothly, aside from the 25 hour journey from Rochester back home — but we survived. Matty’s summer break is over and he’s back teaching a fresh brood of 3rd graders. I’m up to my eyeballs in preparation for the Fall Semester (which starts next Thursday). We’re also in the midst of planning our awesome labor day weekend trip out of here and getting closer and closer to finding our perfect new home. So yeah, we’re keeping busy… more later.

Oh, and the weather here has started to feel more and more summer-like, hooray for no jacket!

Just a band that I’ll be seeing next Friday at the San Francisco Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. You know, just a band.

(OK, I’m freakin’ squealing over here!)

Outside of Matty’s apartment, we noticed the KRON 4 news van…

reporting on road blocked by a fallen tree.

?!?!

I had to laugh — this sort of thing happens all the time in (the state of) New York. I guess it’s news worthy out here!

Here’s my CYOB contribution, taking off from where patandfran.com Remember, you have to start here. See you soon?

The alien was out fetching Xinni’s water for what seemed like an eternity. Feeling restless, Xinni quickly stood up and out of her seat only to succumb to the weight of the new life that was growing quickly inside of her. She fell face-forward, and belly flopped onto the floor in front of the Captain’s chair. The fall forced the air out from her lungs.
“You need to be more careful.”
“Huh… who… was… that…?” She asked, while gasping for air.
“It’s only me.” Xinni cranked her head around and saw the alien walking in from behind, holding a leather bladder. “Here, let me help you up. I have your water.” The alien helped Xinni into the chair, and poured the murky brown contents of the bladder into a steel mug and handed it to her. “Here, drink this.”
Xinni looked down at the mug shook her head “no.” She was still trying to catch her breath.
The alien shrugged his shoulders and turned around to set the mug down on the main control panel. With his back toward Xinni, he folded his human-like hands and looked toward the night sky. Minutes had passed as the alien continued to stare into the dark abyss, almost as if it had reached a meditative state. Xinni contemplated an escape through the main gate.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” the voice said.
Xinni’s heat beat faster. She tilted her head up and noticed that the alien was still standing and staring out the window, motionless. Where was this voice coming from?
“You’re not going anywhere.” said the voice, as her belly shook. Xinni placed both of her hands on the outer edge of her womb, just as several volts of electricity coursed through her hands and up her arms.
“Gah!” she yelled as she flung her hands in the air. Smoke was emitting from her fingertips as the alien jumped awake and turned toward her.
“You’re not going anywhere.” The alien repeated.
With a sense of panic, Xinni realized that the spawn was merely a thought box, a device cleverly implemented into her bowels by the alien to imprison her. While the thought box certainly could threaten, and even weigh her down by its increasing mass, it couldn’t stop Xinni from escaping. Jax did tell her and the rest of the Melmacian crew that the ship had a Proton Phaser, a weapon that could destroy any and all life forms in an emergency situation. It was located in a small steel box, under the Captain’s chair. But that was on her ship, and this ship was merely a replica. Xinni kept her eyes forward, toward the alien as he turned back toward the control panel. She slowly reached her hand down and below the Captain’s seat for a feel. She felt a box! Using her pinkie nail, she lifted the thin lid and slide the rest of her hand in. She was surprised to feel the cool, titanium handle of Proton Phaser.
The alien spun around.
Just then, a loud blast outside jolted the alien away from the control panel, and Xinni felt the Phaser move away from her fingers. She now only had a second to react…
Should Xinni attempt to vaporize the alien and leave the ship with the thought box to try and locate the rest of her crew on her own? Click here
OR, should Xinni hold the alien hostage until he removes the thought box and helps her find the rest of her crew? Click here