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Day 3 - The EARS of Ruth
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| Another early morning with everyone still asleep but-Dan-and-Donna...coffee
brewing, papers rustling, glasses on the nose and Dan deep into last night's
messages...one from Donna -- regarding accommodating all racers' different
schedules and time zones...and the careful, philosophical, practical reply
from Dan.... "Racing around the world for 31 days is a tough sport
and until we all become independently wealthy I don't see an easy way around
that. So the best I can do is to assure you that we'll race during each
one of the 24 hours of the day so at least everyone in every time zone will
have the advantage or disadvantage of a good or bad time to play. Hopefully
the research that was required last year has been minimized and certainly
the need to be first at the day's finish line has been reduced - not quite
as critical as in the past."... then added, "Above all the goal
of the VSRR is to have fun and share a few laughs with friends regardless
of wherever and whenever you can compete.".... . signed, Hollidan Official
Nighttime Energy Systems Team - HONEST" ...Wonder if he smokes a pipe?...(my
next step is to become independently wealthy.) . . ."Dan's final's
of Day 2. "Shortly before midnight NPS arrived in the Big Apple and
proved you don't have to be on the starting line at the designated time
- NPS left Boston and zoomed to NYC to move into a second place tie over
all before the trivia scores of the day were added in. NPS and Allyn were
only 4 points behind leader PattiK - good job all around...Don't forget,
today Kiri is a wildcard-- if she beats you - you get the number zero placed
behind your score tomorrow - so everyone should be cheering Kiri on!"
. . .Isn't that kinda like double speak? I haven't enough to think about
without a second language!. . .Here comes Dan's yesterday's summary . .
."As the HUSTLE II Prepares to leave New York Harbor - the final results
of the Day 2 competition are posted and even in the final moments of the
days racing there was a lot of jockeying for position. PattiK holds onto
1st heading into Day 3 - leading by 10 points. Allyn is in 2nd also 10 points
ahead of third place. CitySue - is in sole possession of 3rd but only by
a point. Sly Granny in 4th is hot on her heels. NPS - just one point behind
-- rounds out the top 5. All 20 racers who have started are still with us
- special hat off to Barney who is quietly racing and keeping pace with
the leaders - anybody seen Dale? On to Day 3 festivities!" . . .(Drat
-- I notice my name was not called!) . . .Final dispatch of Day 2, Donna
asked, "Can we take a morning spin around the SOL before leaving for
the day?" . . .sigh-- another acronym -- Sweet Old Lady?-- Sign Of
Liberty? -- Sun Over Long Island? -- (I like Moon over Miami better.) .
. .Dan's reply..."Sure we can always get you to where you need to be
with the Hollicopter!"... Came a groan from Holli, "It is only
day three and these Crazy Virtual tourists have managed over 500 messages!
What is a judge supposed to do???" . . ."Yesterday's Epic Adventure,
Ruth Sojourns is now available on the VSRR II web page - catch up on all
the comings and goings and find out where they went - available at a newsstand
near you... signed, Hollidan Mail Forwarding Service." . . .excited
message from Rosann, " I SAW IT!!!-- Did you get my message, Dan?"
. . .(wonder if she saw early fireworks in the harbor?) . . .NPS wrote,
"Today is one of our holidays this year -- so-- home in front of the
computer. They won't let anyone in the building on holidays no matter how
much work you have to do. But you are allowed to work weekends." .
. .Donna suggested, "Must not want to pay that double time crap....At
1700 ZULU the race began with four clues -- and they were off . . ."PattiK
needed assistance, "Could you reprint a link to the VSRRII site please.
We had a terrific storm here early this morning and the new wireless router
is now dead. I have to use my husband's computer.". . .Donna stepped
in and gave PattiK the link, "Dan's busy counting my score... so here"
. . .which prompted PattiK, "I hope he's counting my score, too!"
. . .,"Helen, with extra time on her hands, made a " run to the
pool store for some chemicals...of course, Books A Million is across the
street and I couldn't resist their 3 for price of 2 summer reading stuff..just
what I need to sit on the deck of Hustle II and relax after an early race..."
. . . When Ruth suggested a desire for learning to pilot the Hollicopter,
Holli called out, "The Hollicopter is ready when you are!! We can always
use a co pilot! -- Come on in!! I'll teach ya!! -- signing it "Hollicopter
EMERGENCY RECRUITER SERVICES (HERS)."...About that time another fast
dispatch from Holli, "Got a Hysterical call from HuggyBear, who was
suppose to be opening the pool, but decided to play with his car. I tell
ya the man was HYSTERICAL!! Told me Not to yell at him!! So Had to run out to the scene. No one was hurt, but Huggy's feelings. And of course his car. I am now home waiting the arrival of the Model A via Flatbed tow! signed, The UNHAPPY JUDGE!" . . . commiseration all around and a lot of clucking!! But the good news was nobody hurt! . . .Dale dropped a funny with the comment, "Don't think today is a good time to let her train you Ruth," giving everyone a good laugh -- even the beleaguered Holli!! . . .PattiK, still displeased with herself over yesterday's world broadcast of the Secret Stash was taking a ribbing from Dale -- and responded, "Didn't you notice -- EVERYBODY is on my private email list!!" Along about 0100 ZULU Dan closed the shutters, banked the fires and readied for the night. "Day 3 Final Dispatch. This Judge is pooped -- headed to the main suite on the Hustle II - will add additional scores in the AM. Race time from our current location will be 19:00 ZULU - anybody want another Philly Cheese Steak? Several Special events planned for the fourth! -- Thanks for a fun day -- see ya in the AM!" . . . which kinda signalled the end of the day. Rita called out, "We're having a rip roaring celebration tomorrow (or maybe it's already today) to show how thankful we are for this great country. The Hustle is all decked out in red, white and blue and NPS is doing the Hustle up on the bar with Barney and Dale. Wow, look at that... Esme is waving that baton to the beat" . . . Perhaps lots of thoughts about tomorrow's Birthday Celebration, the Big Bash, the one and only Fourth of July . . .It's a lot more than fireworks and parades and flags and cheering. It's family and friends and remembering and giving thanks, and a lot more. It's our Birthday! It's Special . . . |