VSRR III Ruth on the Road Day 23 (2983)

July 23, 2007

There seemed to be a lot of mumbling going on – we peeked in and found Dan who said, “I was up early - to help clean up the mess that was left behind!” . . . Such Texas hospitality! … Is that Dale in the pool in his tuxedo? Dale looked surprised. “I sure don't remember how I got so wet.” . . . Donna said, “I wandered over and made some coffee.... but then took a nap…I’m up now!” She quickly returned and said, “Well, I have a crisis at work... it's Monday...So good luck to all the non-workers in the group...Catch you all later.” … Dan answered, “Gotta love Monday!” . . . Holli danced into the room …“Thanks Ruth! ... It was one dang party! I am a little sore with dancing yet another night! Loved the music!” . . .

Dan studied a handful of racing scores. “Like most days recently the changes on top were varied - PattiK and Esme did the best in Trivia overnight and Helen moved to within 3 points of the lead behind Penny who kept the spot throughout the night - back to the scorer's table! … Today's Episode: "The Yellow Ruth of Texas hosts Ho-down - Mexican style" . . . “Morning Racer's - must have been a wild party at Ruth's last night - I’ve only seen Donna wandering around so far… Helen said, “Sorry I missed the party, Ruth...got called home to help my friend. Her grandson, age 17, who lives with his mother in NM arrived for summer visit with his father...and catalogs from 3 Ivy League schools but not the PSAT/ACT scores to match...His father, who is a "starving artist" type knows the kid has to get a free ride to go to college...so spent some time trying to help them work their way through some possible scenarios...will leave it at that, but think I needed more than Ruth's Margaritas by the time we were done...Looking forward to the next day's race.” . . .

Penny said, “Hey - I am up and about on this overcast - cool day. Only 65 outside. Whatever happened to summer! I might just as well get rid of all the sleeveless tops as this summer certainly hasn't lent itself to being very warm. Looking at The Today Show from New York - it is a raining there. They had a demo of roller derby gals out in the rain. The landscaper arrives later today (maybe as they beat to their own drum) with our plants/trees. He told us last night it should be done in about 5 days. We will see.”. . . Dan laughed. “LOL - It's brutal up there - Tracy was going to go swimming in her sisters pool until she found out the water temperature was only in the 70's - man that's almost ice skating weather! “ . . . Penny asked again her question of last evening. “I need help from someone that has Verna Mae's Boutique from NEV. When unpacking it today I found a small piece of gray -- looks like fencing. I have no clue where it might to. Can anyone help me out with this? One side of the fencing is not perfectly straight - in the middle it has a slight dip.” . . . Allyn answered, “Doesn't sound like it belongs. Is this a new or new-to-you piece?” . . . Penny said, “It is one I had in the box. I wonder if it doesn't go to something else and when we were packing it got stuck in the wrong box.” . . . A little later Penny said, “Thanks to my sista Sue - I found where that piece of what looks like fencing goes. It is all fixed now.” . . .

Dan spoke up “1. Today's starting time 14:00 ZULU …2. Starting today - I'll try to post the SS and PP at the same time - as we approach the end of the race it will be important to know when this is happening. -- 3. So expect to be busy around starting time. -- 4. SS - what is it and where is it worth points. -- 5. PP - - finish the phrase. -- 6. Bingo - only 21 spots available - check the points for today and tomorrow. -- 7. HITS - slowly slipping away. -- 8. Starting gun loaded - ready to go. -- That'll do it for now! … Good Morning and Good Racing! … HRS” . . . Dan returned with additional comments. “Just as a further clarification - SS and PP answers - will not be accepted until after the starting time today - I may put them out early so I can test them to verify they are working.” . . .

Starting time – there’s the gun – loud little devil, isn’t it…took a long time for the racers to fly over Texas … raining everywhere … look at all that water! Here come the clues … a. -- made of sandstone, -- b. Inselberg –Monadanock, -- C. -- 1142 feet high. -- d. Circumference 5.8 miles. -- e. 208 miles southwest of nearest town. -- f. Sacred to Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara. -- g. 2831 feet above sea level down under. -- h. Uluru. “ . . . Rita was exasperated. “Great! … Today I had no trouble finding the SS & PP and the darn work computer will not bring up the puzzles. I'm on 11 minutes and counting and still not up.” . . . Dan sympathized, “Bummer” . . . She continued, “Weird -- the location puzzle came right up, but still nothing coming up on the SS/PP!” . . . Dale said, “Puzzle done-- Now to find the SS & PP” . . . then Dale offered Rita, “Send me the link and I'll see if it works here” . . . Rita continued working her computer. “I'm sure it's on this end. Though can't figure out why the location puzzle came right up and the others still won't.” . . . Dan, equally puzzled, said, “Just tested them again - and they both came up” . . . He continued, “I'm afraid you are correct - others are answering both SS and PP so I know they are working” . . . Donna asked, “Did you try clicking on the puzzle? “. . . Rita replied, “Either nothing comes up or just the square in the top left corner that says Flashgear.com. That leads me directly to Flashgear. The puzzle thing in the middle doesn't come up, just not loading. I will try later at home.” . . . Sly suggested, “Maybe your cache is too full from all the searching.” . . .

Dan, following the race exclaimed, “Off like a shot - Allyn reaches next destination - 1^st” “. . . still scanning the skies, he said, “WCDonna and Helen arrive - Helen claims 1st Place! . . . Suepa - arrives, answers SS and PP - moves into 1st place!!” . . . Penny Arrives - SS in hand - pulls into 1st place” . . .

Suepa came to the door, “I'm on my way to the EYE DOCTOR now! … Judges… What a horrible thing to do to an old person so early in the morning. I will have a headache all day!!! No more black and whites PLEASE!!!!!! Can't believe I got it together. <Panting from the stress>” . . . Dale said, “BEEP BEEP - Look out where you are going!” . . . Dan laughed, “That ended up being a lot harder than I thought - I had trouble and I knew what it was supposed to look like!” . . . Dale said, “Hey it was fun--We need more.” . . . Rosann exploded through the door. “TELL ME ABOUT IT!” she laughed. “Has anyone requested a tow yet? GEESH!!!!! I'm only working with one eye too...it was making me dizzy!!!!!!!” . . . Without slowing down, Dan continued. “NPS - just keeps on going!!! She's back in first after looking down under the dizzying lines … Way to go Sue … HRS … Eye exams available free of charge to all races courtesy H-EYE (Hollidan - Eye Yanalizer Enhancers)” . . . Helen said, “I almost gave up....now I know I didn't have to complete the puzzle!” . . . She added, “I'd like to suggest that next Monday's trivia be something other than sports.” . . . Ruth groaned, “My trivia game was under the title - General - Easier!! Try getting a total of 1... Wonder what HARD is like ... Yuck!!” . . . Suepa exclaimed, “Oh Helen, you must finish it so you also can be cross eyed at the party tonight. Or as Penny says.... it keeps your brain active!” . . . Helen said, “I did finish it....really....” … Penny laughed, “Come on guys - it was a lot of fun – work, but fun. I even put off finishing breakfast to work on it. . . . Ruth said, “My brain is fried . . . that was a horrid puzzle! To make matters worse I had about 2/3 of it finished - no idea what the picture was - and decided to rest my eyes and do other good things on the computer. When I returned the puzzle was gone - GONE!!! I had to start over.” . . . Sly sympathized, “Gee - that would be horrible!” . . . Penny asked, “Has anyone requested a tow yet?” . . . Dale answered, “There are still a couple open Penny-- Better call now” . . . “Why don't they show on the scoring page then? Or am I just missing them?”.... Dan replied, “Nope! - You can always check the results at the bottom of the scorecard - that's where tows that have been requested will be listed.” . . . You may have to scroll down. “ . . . “Thanks - that is what I wanted to know.” . . . Penny continued, “So it looks like no one has requested one. Am I correct?” . . . Dan’s one word answer, “Correct!” . . . Penny continued, “I did scroll all the way down. It shows HITS - and a table of points available. The first 3 lines are marked NLA and then Day 23 and Day 24. It doesn't show that any were taken yet.” . . . Dan answered, “That's because day 20, 21, 22 are NLA (No Longer Available) - each day that goes by there are fewer tows available and the points go up - ---- just to make it interesting!” . . .

Holli sang out, “Hi Kids, ummm racers! … Here are today’s Bingo items … white gloves -- Gold Lame Bikini -- Pet Potato… Good luck!!” . . . Shortly after lunch Esme said, “We woke up to wet streets in formerly sunny So. Cal… I even used my wipers a couple of times on my way to summer school with Jack. His "Create a Book" teacher needed help getting the books finished by tomorrow, so I'm back in grade school, first and second grades at that! … We'll see what tomorrow brings as I don't think some of them are nearly finished… But the sun is out now.” . . . Meanwhile, Holli was tired of struggling with her computer. “Can some one please send me the link to today’s puzzle? Seems my browser wont give me today’s date” . . . There was a fast response from Dan saying, “Hope that helps.” And he produced the link she eeded. http://dtlima.com/VSRR%20III/Locations%20web%20page/Locations.html . . . “Yeppers! tanks!” said Holli!” . . . Penny asked, “Which puzzle - Location or secret stash?” . . . Holli answered, “Location... just got it... loaded fine.” . . . “Good,” said Penny, “Did you do the black and white one? That is a challenge!” . . . “No ... The colored one,” said Holli. … Penny laughed. “You should try the other one - good for the old noggin’ !!” . . . Holli laughed. “I see that... trying it now... I think I just went cross eyed!” . . . Helen added “and tough on the eyeballs.” . . . Sly said, “And thats the truth - white on white is not easy.” . . . Donna opined, “Well given choices.... I would rather do that white on white and never see those tiny pieces that didn't move we had for the first couple of days... now that was .... sorry Dan... awful to do!” . . .Penny agreed. “I totally agree. Those first few puzzles were terrible. All those little pieces - cutting them out - pasting them together - that was the pits.” . . . Allyn said emphatically, “I'd rather do a hundred white on white jigsaw puzzles than have to face another round of "sports" trivia. What the @%#& is netball? and why do I care who was penalized for roughing in a 1970s soccer match? AAARRRGGHHHH!” . . . Rita agreed. “I have to agree with you Allyn. I guess at most of the answers. Never heard of some of those things.” . . . Rita said, “That puzzle was horrible. Glad I got the hint about solving it ---NOT. …I did try to put it together. Got the outside and about 1/3 of the inside and then my eyes gave out....P.S.”You must be familiar with that song by Hootie and the Blowfish.” . . .

Larry stuck his head in!! “My family is leaving for our summer vacation tomorrow morning so I will not be able to finish the rally. Please know that you all helped to pass an awful lot of lonely hours while sitting in hotel rooms this past month. I had to travel on business but the antics, banter and overall good humor of the folks on this list helped many an hour to pass by… Thanks for all the secret help, the many emails and the great times.” . . . Dale called to him, “Hey Larry before you go- call for a tow. We guys have got to have a good showing or they will never let us live it down.” . . . Penny said, “Glad you had fun. I believe that most of us did. Just remember - it is only a game and a lot of fun. Think of all the things we have learned - and those wonderful puzzles to do. Good for stimulating the brain… Have fun on vacation!!” . . . Dan said, “Hi Larry - glad you could join us - enjoy the time with the family!” . . . Sly added, “Hey Larry - glad you were with us for the ride so far - who knows, our path may take us near where you are - if you hear a lot of noise don't be surprised if it is the gang dropping in to say hi,” she laughed! “ Enjoy your holiday … and Sly turned to Holli laughing, “HOW can I have good luck DUJ?” . . . Holli said, “Hi Larry! We are so happy you were able to travel with us! We surely enjoyed your companionship! This is truly a great bunch of kids we have here, and so glad you are a part of it!! Enjoy your family time... as always we will leave the lights on till you return back home to us!” . . . NPS called out, “Glad you were a part of the rally. This does really make the month of July go by so fast We all have the judges to thank for that and for Ruth for blessing us with her diaries of the days events. Thank you. “ . . . Doris said, “Larry, have a wonderful, safe vacation.” . . . Rita said, “Larry, It was nice having you along for the ride. Have fun on your vacation and enjoy your family. Visit us again when you come back.” . . . Dan said, “Just stopped in to clear off the scorer's table - picking up Tracy in the late morning - type at you all then… Good Night and good racing! Thanks.” . . . Penny said, “Nite Dan.” . . .

Dale thought of a great idea, “Hey if we call for a TOW tomorrow we just might catch up with the leaders.” . . . Kay laughed! “So, are you going to do it before I get up in the morning or what??” . . . Suddenly Dale yelled at the top of his lungs, ‘I WANT A TOW NOW’." . . . [It was almost mid-night.] … Holli frowned, “Geesh Dale it is the middle of the night!” . . . Esme placidly said, “Not where I am!? Looks like he wants a tow, now! “ . . . Dale logically answered, “Why do you think I called for a TOW?” . . . He added, “Better Hurry Esme. They only have one truck.” . . . “Well,” said DUJ … “It looks like you'll get your tow!!! Dispatching one to you... May take awhile to get to you, “she smiled. . . . Dale was impatient. “Hurry up-- It's DARK out here” . . . Terse reply from Holli. “Use your flash light” . . . Dale looked around and said, “I might see something... PLEASE hurry” . . .

While typing this into the computer the narrator laughed so hard she miss-typed half the page . . . it was worse than a caffeine jag. How does one get to sleep after all the laughing!!!