under dome 13

Whatever it was it went the other way. Just hours ago a new splolde ran across the surface. The heat didn't seem to affect it at all and the magma didn't singe it though it was constantly startled by the bursts. When the unknown thing ran across it's path it caused it to separate. It quickly reassembled. I'm going to send it back out without the separation option functional next. When I return to the dome I'll test both for any acti-u.
I hadn't seen any of those in Under domes 12 or 14.

.

Transition

It's after 2 A.M here. Still awake and listening to the sounds outside my window. Particularly the ones that go bump, grunt, and scrape. I creep to the front door and open myself to the wild. It's black as heck out there now so I stand near the door as I allow my eyes a moment of adjustment before I investigate what was outside my bedroom window. Forget it, it can stay there. It grows fainter anyway. I'm walking cautiously through the front yard toward then onto the deck where I look out upon all the forest that I still can't see. There it stands before me, somewhere there, shrouded in secret shadow. I listen to the sound of the woods. Shadow. To be shadow there must be light. Where? I look around. down then up. Up. There is a great bowl above me. It is filled with stars casting their subtle light and creating this flood of shadow. These are not the shadows of summer. They have not the defined drawings of direction and intensity. These are the shadows of a transition, a full and tightly woven shroud drawn by distant lights that beckon the chill.
When Alaska's sky grows clearer still.
The land it feels,
it even knows,
Of Mr. Plumma's
frozen prose.

.

Retailers encourage credit card fraud

Went to a really huge bookstore today, looked for the reference section. It wasn't on the 1st floor so I went to the second. I Stood near the top of the stairs and scanned the area looking for some clue that might direct me to the reference area. Not in sight. With enough browsing I finally found the sign I was looking for. Conveniently placed almost directly behind a large column between the top of the steps and the reference section. I figure this was a good way for them to cause me to walk aimlessly around the store looking at everything I didn't come in here for. Possibly that I might find something else to purchase in addition to what I came for in the 1st place. Yes, a convenient marketing conspiracy.

Back to the subject. Scratching and clawing my way away from the digression.

I found my book. A German-English English-German translation dictionary. You know, because I might belong to some German mafia of sorts and need to be able to get along here in an English speaking country whilst fraudulently using someone else's credit cards to purchase the thing that's going to allow me to fool the ditsy cashier.

Back down to the 1st floor to make the purchase.

The cashier asked if I had found everything I was looking for. I replied, "yes". She rung it up and said, "That will be $21.95". I handed her a credit card. She took it, swiped it, and handed it back. She didn't look at it at all. Not the front, not the back. A few seconds later the paperwork printed. I reached for a pen to sign it. Nope, didn't need to. I must have had a slightly confused look on my face because she immediately said, "You don't need to sign anything if it's under $25.00". I said,"Oh". She then asks if I need a bag.(what is it she's selling here?,dammit, more digression). I said, "no, not as long as they let me out the door without one."

Maybe I shouldn't have posted this huh? maybe I should have just gone to McDonalds to get some food, Then gone to 3 different gas stations, charged $24.99 each and filled my tanks, Then hit the mall for some clothing at about 4 different stores. A 24.00 shirt here, a 15.00 hat there. Pack or 3 of underwear someplace else. Hey, maybe a burger and a couple beers too. I'd stop at a couple kiosks on the way out. Some stupid jewelry at one and a new case for my cell phone at another.

Then I'd just go home and wait for the bill to come in. When there's no proof that I actually ever purchased these things because I never signed for them, no keyed-in security code or, well, didn't have to prove anything at all I'd just call the credit card company and tell them I never bought this shit. If they say "yes I did" then I'll ask them to send me a copy of the proof, anything. That I'd like to see my signature on these purchases. They won't be able to and they'll have to forgive the debt.

If I were a thief that is.

Next time I get a credit card in I'm just going to sign it on the back as "Please ask for I.D.". I wonder how much free stuff I can get from the store when they don't and the manager tries to keep me from getting too loud about it at the register and alerting all the other customers about their security issues.


++Tormen Tagain++


.

Twin Peaks and the Dragons Breath

Trekked up Twin peaks the other day with A friend of mine. We were going to do the Williwaw lakes hike around O'Malley peak but something about all the rain and fog let us turn plans and head north some. When we Got to our destination it was raining harder than before we left Anchorage. This was a good sign that we were still alive so we headed up the trail. It rained pretty damned constantly all the way up to the tree line. This worked out nice because there was no one else on the immediate trail.(It seems the brim of my bush hat tested out pretty well in that I don't recall having the constant drip drip of rain invade the center of my back. Therefore I think a hearty thumbs up is due to whoever invented these things.) If there was no one else on the official trail there certainly wouldn't be anyone scrambling the unmarked areas up toward the peaks. We were right. By the time we hit the tree line the rain had ceased or been left below us and we were introduced to an amazing display of the dragons breath rolling and flowing around, above, and beneath us, opening occasionally to reveal a ridge or peak that we might keep our bearings as we headed upwards via any number of switchbacks toward our destination. Every time we thought we were cresting the uppermost ridge there seemed to always be another vertical ascension awaiting us that had been obscured by the ever thickening dragons breath of clouds. We finally opted to just trek around the various ridges. On a clear day I would find it a hard thing to not constantly be filled with amazement by the sheer vastness, scope, and beauty of this range of mountains and the valley below us. On this day because of the closeness of the clouds I was able to turn my gaze toward the more immediate surroundings. Goat paths and alpine tundra, mountain streams, rocks and marmot holes. At one rocky outcropping at cliffs edge we just had to stand and take it in. Still, the clouds swirled thickly below us giving the impression that we could just step right off that cliff and walk atop them out into the valley. Pristine mountain nature all around my feet as tho we were ones of a very few who trek this far above and beyond the marked trail.

Just us and "Jason and Amber".

What? yes, Jason must sure love Amber because he had bought her a nice little pack of expensive swiss chocolates to show it. "From Jason to Amber with all my love" did the half eaten package read. I suppose that the .00008 ounces of plastic wrapping and the 2 uneaten pcs of chocolate was just toooo much to pack out after the rigorous testing of some proposal or other showing of devotion so here's to you Jason and Amber. It could have been there for a few days, weeks, months, I don't know but Fuck you very much and I hope one or the other had to carry the other out with a sprained ankle as penance for not taking your plastic and chocolate out with you. Assholes.

P.S. Don't worry, I packed it out for you. Please don't return to get it. The land doesn't like you any more.


.

I think I'm shallow

I can't drown. I'll never hit deep water while shallow. I don't think there's any thing else after this so therefore I'm shallow. I like to strive for the good things. I like a good house. I love to cut holes in the walls and change their shape. I think the thrill really is the chase so the prey always has to change. Overpopulation and religion are killing the world and I've nearly decided that most times I don't care so that makes me shallow to. The little laughter behind me as the bear goes sideways is joy to my heart so I'll be sure to help that laughter grow.