Life around us

Just in case you didn't catch my last post there, hope sustains me. I was smiling today while driving, thinking about yellow cars. Right, so I went to this Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake for an employee recognition dinner, which I think is nice, since I only been there for a few weeks. You should see this venue though, it was amazing! Maybe I'm easily entertained, but the detail in the woodwork and the floors were so nicely done. Apparently this chap built the place back in the 1860s pre civil war as well as 1000 acres around it right there on the lake. Apparently it was also used as a ice distribution center, catholic school, and is now a reception hall and school for the arts. I highly recommend a quick visit. If nothing but for the views, I mean the sunset from their windows was picturesque. And I've always said sometimes the time immediately before or after a sunset or sunrise can be magnificent too. I want to organize a group or something that collects places like this, small places and photos of them, that have bits of information about the venues. Kind of like a vagabond explorer's league that finds little places like this that have some significance to the community, but no one would otherwise find it unless you were from the area. New goal. Never attend a place without a camera and take only ONE good picture while there to capture its magic. I'm a little fried at school, but what can you do, I mean it is supported by the state of Illinois. I am excited at the advent of Movember and NaNoWriMo. I'll have you know, my stache is coming in nicely. I look slightly less reputable, but no matter. I've been saying it for months now, I wear my glasses and I look socially acceptable. I'm going to wait a spell before I really run the gun on NaNoWriMo. Sunday will be my first real input. Feel like there should be a picture here. HOKAY, story time. "We're losing altitude," muttered the Captain. The storm heaved around them like a giant with a head-cold. "She's not gonna hold out at this level, we're gonna have to land." The Captain checked his instruments again, not realizing his co-pilot was listening. The wind howled outside the cockpit, wailing in protest at the metal bird strained in the maelstrom. "This ain't our first and won't be our last, just hold out." "Engine two is gone!" exclaimed the co-pilot. Another howl of protest shrilled in their ears, and the Captain shifted in his seat, straining to hear the sound again. He nodded making up his mind. "Stewardess, please find a way to calm the passengers." "They're getting unruly sir." "I understand. The may need something, give them something to eat." The stewardess sighed heavily. "Yes sir." Grabbing armfuls of drinks and salty snacks, she heaved another sigh as she stood at the cabin door, the roar getting louder. In a cacauphony of sound and motion, the tiny stewardess roared over the cries of the passengers as she entered the cabin and closed the door behind her. "ALL RIGHT YOU MISERABLE GOBS, THIS IS HOW WE GET REPAID FOR FLYING YOU UP HERE?!" A few sweating passengers looked up wearily from their crankshafts and pedals, wheezing in exhaustion, their brows shimmering in their sweat. Grandmas, children, and young couples alike all pumping as hard as they could to keep the engines going. A few walked about handing out ladles of waters\ to other passengers. "I KNOW YOU SORRY LOT HAVE PAID YOUR WAY, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO LIVE THROUGH THIS, YOU CAN'T GIVE IN!" she shouted over the din, throwing drinks and snacks around, grubby sweaty hands reaching. "THERE MAY COME A DAY WHEN YOU SCUM SUCKING PUKE DRINKERS MEET AGAIN IN HELL, BUT TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY." A few passengers heaved throaty laughs and grunts. The electricity began to grow. "ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY DROP AN NOBLE CRAFT SUCH AS THIS BECAUSE YOU PUTRID WORM WARTS DECIDED TO GIVE IN." More grunts and a few 'hear-hears' sounded, and a particularly round granny tied her scarf over her brow, baring her false yellow teeth. "WE WILL NOT FLY QUIETLY INTO THE STORM! WE'RE GOING TO GO ON! WE'RE GOING TO SURVIVE! TONIGHT WE FLY HOME TO DALLAS TEXAS!" Suddenly the humid, rank cabin exploded in cheers and roars as every passenger pumped their crankshafts as hard as they could. The plane righted itself a bit as the second engine coughed back to life, while the stewardess stayed back to shout more encouragements to the rest of the crew. Making her way back to the cockpit, she paused a moment to compose herself, tucking some stray stands of hair back into a bobby pin, flattening the front of her suit, and wiped the sweat from her brow. Clearing her throat as she opened the door, the Captain looked back and gave her the thumbs up as she reported raspily, "All the passengers are settled and ready for re-entry." OPERATOR OUT.