Busy Saturday in the Real World

Never mind the graphic, I’m enjoying my “Danger Bay Collectible Mug” of organically and shade-grown, fair-trade, French-Roast coffee in the warmth of our office! While -8ºF was predicted for this morning, my Pruett’s Pig Powders replica thermometer indicates 0ºF—still too cold for coffee on the back porch—I’m not all that fond of iced coffee.

This weekend will be dedicated to putting up the Christmas tree, keeping warm, the obligatory house cleaning, keeping warm, napping, keeping warm, petting Daisy, keeping warm, and finally conjuring up a few more graphics for “Danger Bay.”

The cheesy stories are easy to write, so I always seem to get ahead of my drawings waaay too quickly! So—in an effort to catch up—parts of today & Sunday must be dedicated to that effort.

So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll return to the drawing-board. I’ll leave you with this photo of one of five electric candles gracing my front porch, decorated by our recent snows.

Danger Bay—Episode 33—the Voyage of the Motor Vessel Sparrow Begins

By Boomer Jack Boardman

(Read Episode 32)

“Plenty of time for this after we get under way!” Captain Molly said in her outdoor voice, but with a big smile as well, “Lets finish up, and meet at the Sparrow in the morning!”

And after another hour of tying up loose ends, and, in spite of Molly’s admonishment, the AR colleagues managed to continue to get to know one-another in person, their friendships forged on the ‘net, and cemented in Danger Bay.

The full moon struggled to peek through the predawn fog the following morning. The villagers, guests, Sparrow officers and crew, still sleepy from the late night of planning, found their way to Hiram Silverthorn’s café. Hiram is known for laying out a fine & hearty North Woods breakfast, and this morning was no exception! Eggs (all styles), thick sliced and crisp bacon, sausage (links & patties), hashed browns, grits, pancakes, waffles, and several complete vegetarian entrées were ready, not to mention organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Danger Bay Blend coffee (tastes just like your favorite coffee—only better!).

After breakfast, still dark & foggy, everyone worked together to load the luggage and personal effects to last the nine or so months of this voyage. Sarah offered the use of her pick-up, and Medlar Farkleberry helped out with his old truck.

Soon, all was ready for the departure of the Motor Vessel Sparrow. The village was vacant, Mayor Gamboge went quickly through and found all secure. He the threw the switch on the Internet Search Confusticator—in the back room of Farkleberry’s Star Service Station (Full Service Only, Thank You Very Much)—to prevent any search from finding the village while the Sparrow is gone.

With Mac at the helm, the Sparrow was skillfully launched on her journey. She slowly pulled away from the pier making hardly a ripple in the still fog enshrouded water of the Big Lake. With little to see that they hadn’t seen before, the villagers set about exploring the Sparrow.

The “Real World” people, Ines, Sarah, Bob, Lysa, Fred, and Maggie were on the upper deck, marveling at the eerie beauty of the foggy lake and shoreline. The only thing intruding on their quiet thoughts as they slowly made there way towards the breakwater was the deep rumble of the two powerful biodiesel engines.

“I’m glad we have the Search Confusticator,” Sarah said quietly, as if not to disturb the fog, “I’d worry about my store and not be able to enjoy all this—it is beautiful.”

“It is beautiful,” Ines replied, “This Big Lake is remarkable, just a lake, but it so resembles the northern seas. I too, am glad the village is protected.”

Is it? Is it REALLY? TO BE CONTINUED…

Codger Archives—Codger Lodge Post—May 2007

By Jay Merton

Sometimes we like to present an old post from ActiveRain—this one represents the forerunner to our current Danger Bay series, Enjoy:

20 May 2007: Codger Lodge on Sunday—Because it’s Warmer than the Real World St. Paul!

This fine Sunday morning, we are enjoying our fine porcelain, not china, but made in China, Codger Collectible Mug filled to the brim with organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Sumatran-roast coffee, at our respective homes. Medford, as usual, is here at my back porch where Pruett’s informs us it is 43ºF, and our lens-assisted eyes tell us it is cloudy.

Not so at the Cyber-Lodge! It is a sunny 72ºF, with a light breeze off the cyber Lake Superior (at the real Lake Superior, at Knife River, where we have placed our Lodge, it is a very brisk 30ºF & partly cloudy—[[shudder]]). So, why wouldn’t we hang out here—at least for this post?

Again today—since we have little else to post about—at least that we WANT to post about, we’ll regale you with a couple more new or modified photo-graphic combinations.

The first is a modified Cyber Codger Lodge full view, at the top of this post. It features a docked Pegasus II, the crew, Codger-Mascot Daisy, and Carl’s smoker/barbeque, in which Carl is preparing a fine meal for later in the day.

The second, below, is a close-up of the same photo-graphic. This features our custom Codger characters up-close & personal (note another replica Pruett’s Pig Powders thermometer over my shoulder)!

And finally, this is a new big map of our little corner of cyberspace. This details character Maggie Florida’s new home (the former Cyber-Codger Lodge), and the new Cyber Codger Lodge.

Danger Bay—Episode 32—Sarah’s Adventure—Conclusion

Episode 31

By Sarah Cooper

As you may remember from our earlier post (Episode 28), I was telling Ines about my Poofing-and-Popping adventure. We’d just gotten to the good part when there was a (not so) surprise cliffhanger ending.

As we left off last time, I was telling Ines about how I *Popped* into a parking lot full of motorcycles. I could hear blues music and was just beginning to realize where I was when suddenly *POP!* — someone else suddenly appeared in the parking lot!

“Well?” asked Ines. “Who was it?”

“You’ll never believe this, Ines!” I said. “It was … Bob Carney!”

I thought Ines was going to fall over, she was so surprised. She looked at me with her mouth hanging open for a second, and then said:

“Well? What did he say?”

I laughed a little and continued my story.

“At first he looked totally flabbergasted! He wondered how he got there, what was going on … but you know, he’s a regular reader of Danger Bay, so it only took him a minute to decide to just go with it and see what happened.”

Ines giggled and nodded. Yep, she knew the feeling.

So Bob and I decided to go inside and see what was going on. We walked up to the building and noticed it said The Iron Horse across the front of it. That’s what we thought!! We’d learned about it through Active Rain, because …

Ines guessed it, “LYSA!”

Yes, there was Lysa Napolitano, RIGHT THERE in front of us! How likely were we to just POOF and POP right into her territory! She gave us a great big hug and introduced us to her friends.

It seems that we were just in time for a big event. A HUGE group of bikers was about to leave that morning from Daytona to Danger Bay, on a fund raising ride called “Iron Butts for Boobs”. It was to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness. And yes, we got to ride back with them!

Ines was so excited! She wanted to know, asking, “Bob and Lysa? Are they HERE, in Danger Bay? Now?”

“But of course!” I replied.

At that moment they walked through the doorway with huge smiles on their faces. There were hugs all around and we realized there was something very special about having our Active Rain friends here with us in Danger Bay at this very special time …

We saw the lights were still burning across the road at Silverthorn’s Café. I could see Maggie Dokic in the window of the café, so we all went over.

Ines went in first, with me following closely behind.

“Hey everyone…” Ines began.

And I finished: “…Look who’s arrived in Danger Bay!”

Everyone turned to look, and as the shadowy figures entered the light of the room they saw Bob & Lysa.

Maggie’s wide smile became wider as she rushed over to greet her AR colleagues and friends. A full-blown party was just beginning when:

“Plenty of time for this after we get under way!” Captain Molly said in her outdoor voice, but with a big smile as well, “Lets finish up, and meet at the Sparrow in the morning!”

To Be CONTINUED…Getting Underway

Danger Bay—Episode 31—Ports-of-Call!

By Jay Merton

Yes, Gentle Readers, I DO still write on this blog! I asked Boomer to handle the political posts of the past week or so, but now it’s back to Danger Bay!

We have two story lines running concurrently: the tale of Sarah Cooper’s adventure in cyberspace (written by Sarah), and the planning for the Sparrows longest voyage, written by Boomer & I. Sarah’s adventure will conclude on Monday, Nov 12 (that’s RIGHT, Monday), and the voyage planning line will end today.

If you’ve never read our Danger Bay Stories, and don’t mind cheesy melodramas, take the time to visit “Danger Bay Episodes,” where you will find links for the entire series in easier to follow chronological order.

Now, for today’s episode:

We find our heroes at Hiram Silverthorn’s café. From left to right: Sam (behind the counter); Maggie Dokic, MV Sparrow’s business manager; Sam’s father, Hiram Silverthorn; MV Sparrow’s first Officer, Trigg Guudlender; Sparrow’s Captain, Molly Halloran and the Sparrow’s chef & pilot, Mac McIntyre. They continue to plan:

From Episode 30:

“We’ll close the village until we return,” Hiram said, “this IS cyberspace, and we can do that!”

Continued today:

“I should have known that,” Molly, slapping her forehead in a “well-duh” manner said, “I live in cyberspace, I knew that!”

“As it stands now,” Trigg looking at the draft itinerary, “we don’t yet have any ports-of-call along the chain of big lakes, or the Seaway. Our first port-of-call is Gales Ferry on the Thames River off Long Island Sound in Connecticut.”

“Hey, that’s near Ledyard,” Carl rumbled, smiling wide indeed, “we can visit…”

“…We sure can,” Maggie interrupted, with an even wider smile, “I can’t wait!”

“If you will let me continue,” Trigg interjected, with just a hint of irritation, “after that, we are scheduled to visit Chesapeake Bay, and even motor up the Potomac River.”

“Wow,” Hiram exclaimed, “lots of history there!”

“From there,” Trigg continued, “we’ll make ports-of-call at Daytona Beach and Miami.”

Just then, the door to the café burst open and Sarah & Ines arrived, just a little out of breath.

“Hey everyone…” Ines began.

And Sarah finished: “…Look who’s arrived in Danger Bay!”

Everyone turned to look, and as the shadowy figures entered the light of the room they saw…

…TO BE CONTINUED…ON MONDAY!

POLITICALLY INCORRECT…FOUR DEMS ENDORSE REPUBLICAN!

By Boomer Jack Boardman

It is a rare Sunday morning in Old Saint Paul that you may find Jay, Carl, Fred & I standing in the +44ºF heat, enjoying our porcelain, not china, (but made in China) “Danger Bay Collectible Mugs” of organically & shade-grown, fair trade, French-roast coffee, helping our brains to fire on all remaining synapses.

For the second time in a mere five days, we are again going political on this generally non-political blog, and endorsing yet another deserving individual for political office, and this time committing heresy for this gaggle of Democrats—we are endorsing a Republican!

There was unanimous agreement and no discussion about this endorsement, because we have come to know this person over the past months as:

• Thoughtful—she reads this blog
• Honest—not afraid to express her point of view
• Possessed of needle-sharp humor
• Is involved with “Habitat for Humanity,” one of our favorite programs
• Past member of the school board
• And most importantly—a friend of the Codgers

So it is without hesitation that we heartily endorse our friend, Linda Davis, for re-election to the Ledyard, Connecticut Town Council!

Thursday at Joe’s—Danger Bay Tomorrow & Our Endorsement of Dave Thune

By Jack Boardman

It is a fine morning here in Old Saint Paul, my replica “Pruett’s Pig Powders” informs me the temperature is +33ºF, and the sky appears to be clear. The fact that Jay has come by to join me in the walk over to Joe’s Café & Coffee (“Pretty Good Food & Fine Coffee”), makes it fairly certain he’s back in town after a few days away.

We arrived at “Proud Czech” Josef Rusicka’s place to find our friends already there, twice retired Carl (US Army, Sergeant-Major – 22 yrs, Ford Motor Company – 20 yrs), and Fred Jaworski (retired St. Paul School teacher 33 yrs), both enjoying their porcelain, not china, (but made in China) “Danger Bay Collectible Mugs” of organically & shade-grown, fair trade, French-roast coffee, firing up their remaining brain synapses to synapt. And, as always, there is plenty of room at the counter for you Gentle Reader, at the counter, so c’mon in, grab a mug, and join the conversation!

“Welcome back Jay!” Carl rumbled in greeting, “How was your trip?”

“Good thing you’re back,” Fred, looking up from his ever-present morning paper, “Jack’s been out of control in your absence.”

“I’m aware,” Jay answered, taking his place at the counter, “I got back yesterday afternoon and immediately fired up my computer to see what was going on.”

“But,” Fred, with some surprise rejoined, “he took the blog into politics, endorsing Dave Thune.”

“Yeah—cool, huh,” Carl added, “You were in favor of the endorsement, weren’t you?”

“Sure” Fred, with a hint of an evil smile, “I just wanted to start some trouble.”

“Gentlemen,” Jay said, “Boomer & I discussed that endorsement before I left. This IS an important election for us in the second ward and payback for a courageous action by Thune is not a good enough reason to replace him with Bill Hosko”

“Just so you fellas know in advance,” I smiled, “We’re preparing yet another political endorsement for Monday.”

“Who, this time?” Carl asked expectantly, “‘fess-up!”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Jay answered, “but I will tell you this much; a Republican.”

“Tomorrow is Danger Bay Day!” Fred announced, “Will we FINALLY learn of Sarah’s adventure?”

“No,” I replied, “even if the story has been completed (it’s gonna be great), Jay and I need some time to draw the graphics.”

“We’ll be drawing over the weekend,” Jay said, and then added, with a grin, “Between items on Boomer’s ‘honeydo’ list!”

“Tomorrow’s story will reveal a little more of the Sparrow’s voyage itinerary,” I added, “We’ve gotten a great response to yesterday’s ‘call for help’ post, and have received several fine photos.”

“We’re looking for more photos,” Jay said, “From more locations for the Sparrow to visit. We have Connecticut, Virginia & Maryland, Daytona Beach and Miami, We could use some from the Great Lakes, and other locations along the US/Canada Eastern Seaboard.”

ANYONE? ANYONE?

Danger Bay—Episode 29—Preparations…

…for Sparrow’s longest voyage! Story inspired by Bob Carney.

By Jay Merton

At the same time Sarah Cooper was telling Ines Hegedus-Garcia of her adventure, directly across the road at Silverthorn’s Café were gathered: Sam (behind the counter), his father Hiram Silverthorn, Sparrow First Officer Trigg Guudlender, Captain Molly Halloran and Chef & Pilot Mac McIntyre.

“Mac,” Hiram said looking at Mac’s right hand, “your knuckles look a little scuffed.”

“Ummm, yeah, they are,” Mac said quietly.

“Well?” Trigg, with a large smile, encouraged.

“I’d rather not say,” Mac rumbled.

“MAC!” Molly said ominously, “I think you’d better explain yourself.”

“I, ummm,” Mac began, “had a little chat with Big A, outside Swigs.”

“And—the knuckles?” Trigg asked.

“I got in the last word, I guess.”

“So, what brings you all in here this time of night?” Hiram queried, “Besides Mac’s knuckles.”

“We’re working out some of the details,” Trigg smiled, “of our longest voyage.”

“Really?” Hiram replied, “Where to?”

“First, we’ll visit all the Big Lakes,” said Molly.

“And then,” Mac added rumbling, “traverse the seaway to the North Atlantic.”

“Where will this voyage end?” asked Sam.

“We’ll hug the Eastern Seaboard of the States,” Trigg continued.

“Making stops along the way.” Mac added, smiling.

“Along the way to where?” Hiram insisted.

“Miami!” Molly answered with gusto.

TO BE CONTINUED…

PhotoZou—PhotoZou—Wherefore Art Thou PhotoZou?

By Jay Merton

This fine Saint Paul morning it is a brisk +39ºF, with a wind chill adjusted temperature of +35ºF and the skies are clear. Inside proud Czech Josef Rusicka’s “Joe’s Café & Coffee” (“Pretty Good Food & Great Coffee”) it is a comfortable 72ºF, and the atmosphere is as always, congenial.

This morning finds all four of us at Joe’s enjoying our porcelain, not china, (but made in China) “Danger Bay Collectible Mugs” of Joe’s organically & shade-grown, fair trade, French-roast coffee. From left to right: Carl McIntyre, Boomer Jack Boardman, myownself, Fred Jaworski & Josef Rusicka.

As always, we’ve reserved a spot for you, Gentle Reader, at the counter, so c’mon in, grab a mug, and speak your mind!

“Tomorrow it is again time for Danger Bay,” Carl rumbled with a large smile, “but I don’t expect to learn what it was I did to poor Big A—((sigh)).”

“I think you already know,” Fred replied with a knowing look, as Carl’s smile widened.

“Boomer,” I said as he finally sat down at the counter, “have you uploaded any graphics to PhotoZou in the past day or so?”

“No, Why?”

“You can’t get there from here,” I replied, “when I tried to upload the graphic for yesterday’s post, this is what I found instead of the site: ‘Not Found The requested URL /bin was not found on this server,’ so I ended up importing it directly into the post.”

“The whole site can’t be down,” Boomer suggested, “I see our graphics are still here on the blog.”

“For now,” I said with some apprehension, “But I am concerned. Still, we can go back to ‘Flickr’ if necessary.”

But, the question still remains—what’s up with PhotoZou? Will it return? What of our graphics stored there?

FOR ANSWERS TO THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS, TUNE IN—UMM—SORRY, WE DON’T HAVE A CLUE!

From Last Winter–Original Codgers

From last winter, check out the weather:

Tuesday Morning at the Cyber Café—Codgers discuss

Cold-Call Marketing (January 30, 2007)

It was a brisk +07ºF when I stepped out on my back porch this morning on my way to pick up Med and head over to the café for our usual meeting of the Codgers. What? Are you nuts? Of COURSE we’re not gonna walk to the coffee shop—with the wind, it is cold out! A -13ºF wind chill, coupled with slow-walking (IN to the westerly wind) codgers is not a wise combination.

“They’re all at your table,” Molly said as we shivered our way into the café, “Harold’s got his underwear in a bunch over something.”

“Thanks Molly,” said Medford, as we struggled out of our parkas, “Two official Codger mugs of your best organically and shade grown, fair trade coffee, please.”

“Mornin’ Med, Jay,” Carl greeted, as we made our way to the table by the front plate-glass window, “glad you’re back, Jay, to keep Medford in line.”

“Yeah,” added Harold, as Molly refilled his official Codger mug, “the old farm-boy has been really hard to handle in your absence.”

“OK, pile it on,” Medford smiled, “hey Harold, Molly says you’re out-of-sorts about something. I’m almost afraid to ask, but…”

“Telemarketing,” Harold declared, “after months of none of those dinner hour and bedtime calls at all, lately I’ve begun to get them again.”

“Charities?” Carl asked, and then added, “They are exempt from the ‘do not call’ list.”

“Campaigning’s done for now,” I added, “someone you’ve done business with in the past?”

“Nope and nope,” Harold answered, “real estate agents! Goes something like this:

‘Hi! I’m Peter from XYZ Realty, how are you this evening?’

‘Fine, until now. Why are you calling me? I’m on the do not call list!’

‘I’m not selling anything, but maybe you can help me.’

‘How?’

‘There has been a lot of interest in your neighborhood lately, and quite frankly, there just aren’t enough homes for sale. Do you know of anyone, friends, neighbors, who might be thinking of selling?’

‘You are selling, you really want to know if I want to sell, don’t you.’

‘I’m sorry to have bothered you. I’m a new agent, and this is what my broker told me to do.’

He then hung up.”

Fred, looking up from his ever-present morning Pioneer Press newspaper, said: “Hey, someone from that same company called me last week, I just hung up on her.”

“Did you file a complaint?” I asked.

“Darn right,” Harold answered, “I went online and filled out a complaint form at the State Department of Commerce.”

“Cold call prospecting is kinda risky these days,” Medford concluded, setting down his official Codger mug, “If not done carefully, it can be expensive. They need to honor the ‘Do Not Call’ lists—especially when they come across a curmudgeon like you, Harold.”