VSRR III Ruth on the Road Day 09

VSRR III Ruth on the Road Day 09 (3399)

July 9, 2007

“Morning racers - had to untangle a bunch of wires running to the JudgeMobile from Ruth's ROAD-FOOD truck - but I think we are all set now - heading to the scorer's table be back shortly!”…Continuing his study of late night messages he answered each as succinctly as possible – given the distance, circumference, latitude and dolameter of the message. Answering Larry’s call from Atlanta he said, “Remember - you have to keep up your strength - this is definitely an endurance race!” . . . Commenting on Holli’s madcap dancing…” One night in San Francisco and the ladies go wild!”. . .

On Vera’s reminder to get wine, Helen said, “The Hook and Ladder Gwurtztraimner is the best...goes well with spicy stuff.” . . .then, “Larry, if that summer route takes you to Augusta or surrounds, there might be a local food location for you.”…..

Responding to Allyn’s daughter’s pleasure at being a trivia wildcard he said, “Be sure to read carefully...Well today's her day - Woodstock and Kiri are the wildcards –you could get double points or double double points! But just to make it interesting so are traveler and sunfrog…The four wildcards today work as follows - if you get between the highest wildcard and the lowest - you get double points - if you manage to get between the two wild cards between the highest and lowest you get double double points… Can't wait for the questions on this one! tongue in cheek, NPS said, “Dan, What?” . . . Dan laughed, “Good question - that about covers all the possibilities” . . . Donna joined in, “ok, got it...if Woodstock is second and kiwi is last lets say 20-- and traveler is 4 and sunfrog is 9 and I get 5, I get double double points......of course first gets me regular and 3 just is double -- right?...ok so what happens if Woodstock is 1st, kiri is 2nd- traveler is 4 and sunfrog is 5.... number 3 gets only double and no else gets crap? hum......” . . .” Close enough - for the last part of your comment - please see Mike and his trailer! . . . Big score announcement …”Remarkably both Vera and NPS are tied for 1st place at 403 points - results are posted…1. Vera and NPS - 403 points … 2….3. Allyn - 384 points…4. Esme - 363 points … 4. - Kay - 361 points… BJOTD - Suepa makes a move from 13th to 7^th!” . . . Giving that a moment to sink in, he added, “Now that the scores for Day 8 are posted - here's an example--- 1. Racer 2. Racer 3.Wildcard 4. Racer - double points 5. Racer - double points 6. Wildcard 7. Racer - double double points 8. Racer - double double points 9. Wildcard 10. Racer - double points 11. Racer - double points 12. Wildcard 13. Racer 14. Racer 15. Etc. -- Make sense?” . . . From Donna, “ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh…So the wildcards are not working in *pairs* as listed in the other email.... they all have equal wildcard placement?” . . . His answer,” This is only an example - you mileage may vary depending on tire pressure! . . . Yup - they could be 4 in a row - and no extra points won! Or they could be 1-2 next last and last and everybody gets double double - lot'sa possibilities!” . . . Dale reminded, “Remember, the rear mirror will tell you that you are closer than you think you are.” . . . Dan said,” Dale - new innovation - talking mirrors?” . . . Sly laughed, “Talk about funny - I knew two answers and played "Pin the tail on the donkey" with the rest - managed to get 7 right – unbelievable!”… From Dan, “Sound like you work well when you are not under pressure.” . . . Sly said, “I work with people who have difficult problems - work under pressure all the time. Working under pressure is fine when you know what you are doing - sports and movies are another matter.” Vera answered SuzyQ’s corn idea, “SuzyQ, Chitty can't wait he is on his way! Have a couple bushel baskets ready for him! Gonna be a quick trip! Doris - will you husk while enroute so it is ready for Ruth! Fresh salad
goodies would be appreciated too. Doris whips up a mean salad to help Ruth out!” . . . Happily cleaning salad, Doris said, “you betcha!! I’ve had lots of practice husking corn! and salads are my specialty.” . . . She turned to Suzy Q, “I'm sitting here waiting for chitty to get here with all the great produce. I have some cherry tomatoes ripe so I'll add those to the mix. One of my friends in pekin is picking tomatoes. she buys those vines from Lowe's that grow 10' tall. What do you do with all your peppers, Suzy?” . . . “SuzyQ way ahead said, “Vera and Doris, I put one bushel of each color (yellow. white and bi-color) in shade by the garage. Also a bushel of cucumbers picked from our garden today - so glad to get rid of them - they are going crazy this year! Only had two pecks of peppers (not pickled) to spare, but you folks are welcome to them. Our tomatoes haven't ripened yet - don't think other home gardeners have any yet either, and the ones at the farmer's market are still more than $1 a pound. Too expensive for me, but at least they aren't the hard "waxy" skinned ones found in the supermarkets.” . . . Donna remarked,”Better get a good night sleep and don't forget to sharpen that pencil tonight... might want to stop on the way home and pick up another eraser too......” Dan laughed, ”I love it!....Helen asked, “In other words, if no one does better than sunlfrog did, we should see lots of double points...(Teacher was up early.)” . . .Dan answered, “Good for her - as it stands now - everybody has a shot at double points.” . . .Sly laughed, “It is abundantly clear - today is sports - all wildcards will do better than me.” . . .Dan announced, “Today's Episode -- "Holli's Holiday Hustle Hula - HUBBA-HUBBA!" . . . Penny asked, “Has the SS been posted yet?” . . .”Nope!” WC called in about Holli’s party dance,” Holli, Oh What Fun! I'm so glad you got out there! Your story reminds me of the fun, crazy things "us girls" did prior to 1989 (marriage hit 3 of the 4 of us, within 6 weeks of each other). Perhaps we should call you Wild Child as well! (you could be NYWC or ECWC...East coast wild child)!” . . .

Maddie arrived full of wonderful weekend tales. ”I went to Maine for the weekend... all my family is there for our usual 2 week vacation, but after being away 3 weeks in May/June, this weekend was all I could muster. One of my brother's friends and wife are foster parents now, and brought along a 5yo boy that they hope they will be able to adopt. His grandparents have been taking care of him since infancy, as his mother died from a drug OD and no one knows who the father is. Anyway, one grandparent died and there is no family to care for him, so DSS has placed him in foster care. Well, as we walked to the beach and hit the sand, he stopped, eyes wide like saucers, dropped what he was carrying, and just kept saying wow, look at all the water, wow.... seems he had never been to the beach before. It brought tears to your eyes. He joined right in with all the kids (nieces/nephews) and just had a ball. Periodically he'd run from the water to where we were and said things like "this is so much fun", "I love the waves", etc. He had been shy at first and really hadn't talked to anyone until we got to the beach. When they left that night and Glen told him to say good bye, he ran around and hugged everyone...even the teenagers. It was so nice to see the change in him...he had a constant smile on. So glad this child will have a happy home. DSS has him signed up for kindergarten, but several of us advised that he really is not ready and should go to pre-school first. I am sure the grandparents did the best they could under the circumstances, but he doesn't know all his numbers and colors and shapes, etc. At least he has a happy home.” . . .

Dan said, “Maddie - you have such wonderful tales to tell!” . . . NPS added, “What a nice story!” . . . Helen added, “Great story, Maddie, I'm certain his new parents are elated with him.” . . . Vera, having just received SuzyQ’s food message, said, “Doris...you ready.....get those shoes on!!!! Be there in a second! Then back north....stay on the roof incase more rains float in!” [But it was signed Chitty!] Rita added, “Thank goodness there are people out there like this for children like that. Sounds like he gave everyone a new perspective on something they take for granted.” . . . Esme remarked, “Boys at age 5 often find Kindergarten a challenge. Giving him the gift of an extra year would probably do wonders for his confidence. What a loving extended family you have Maddie.” . . . Vera said, “Maddie, You, Your family - can enrich anyone's life! Just the parts of your life you share with us bring a tear! It is so wonderful to see a strong functional family! I envy you that!” . . . Doris agreed, “You tell the most wonderful stories, Maddie. Thanks for sharing and a big
hug to those adopting parents.” . . .

Turning to his clipboard, Dan posted his SS # 9, “Read closely and you shall hear, All the things you need not fear, On the pages of the racer's web I did, Place the Secret Stash - it has been hid, For extra points and some extra fun, Also find the hidden Punny Pun, If you answer the pun too, Extra points to you - it's true, Send the question and the answer to the judges, Clear, clean type please no pencil smudges, While you're at it check your cards, Bingo's close - it's not so hard!... signed, HPL (Hollidan Poet Lariat)” [That was positively bootiful – I’m overwhelmed!!]

Kay interrupted. ”Color me dense but I don't get this punny pun stuff. Is this a hidden link or what?? Searching these pages time after time is just not fun. I guess I'll go do something else AGAIN.” . . . Rosann joined in,” HUH????????? I've searched & searched.......can't find a darn thing..... Are you just playing with us?????”. . .

The Holidan Poet LAARRIIOOTT replied, “I speak only truth - every word below tells a tale, Would this be hard to read if it were a sale?” [Hoo Boy – I bow to the Master!]… Kay continued, “And yes I want cheese with my whine! Not goat cheese though!” . . . Dan announced, “NPS fins SS # 9 moves back into sole possession of 1st place!” . . . Helen commented, “I think I've read the page twice over and still can't find the SS....Dan really outdid himself today.” . . . Penny said, “It would help to know what a punny pun is. Of this I have no clue.” . . . Dan announced, “Vera's turn on the top of the see-saw - finds something punny and regains lead!”… He added,” Hi Penny - let me clarify A punny pun is a Pun that's Punningly punny - as in a funny punny pun - as to be punish in its punnyness of a pun! Hope that helps.” . . . [Why didn’t he say that in the first place?} . . .Esme commented, “Always did make sense. It was clear as mud. Dale told me so.” . . .

Holli bounced in saying, “Good afternoon Kids! Are you looking for some Bingo Items?? Well, you opened the right email... I have them right here sitting in a jar on my desk... Could today be the day a Bingo is called? Or Not? So here we go... Putting my hand in the jar, picking the first one… Clint's Hog Breath Restaurant…Ok... next..... Farmers ….And the last one for today is......Hustle II . . . Thanks kids.....good luck!” (signed Holli Da Udder Judge of Udder stuff.) . . . Esme asked a pointed question, “Okay, what happens if we don't progress, i.e., don't use racing points? Unless you come in 1st or 9th today, it cost more to travel than you can earn by getting there. Why go? Hmmmmmm… Why not travel only on days when you can get ahead? Do we have to travel? …Hmmmmmm!” . . . . . Dan burst out laughing. “Because the only way to win is to be at the final destination with the most points - so if you have a gazillion points more than anybody else but you are sitting in let's say London - you don't win -You have to advance to the next day's destination before you can move to the next next days location. It's what I like to refer as a small but significant point.” . . . [ Man, but logic is beautiful! Wish I’d said that!] He continued, “Hence the saying -- the further ahead you are, the farther behind you get - but not in this race” [Now which is it – further or farther…potato or potato…tomato or tomata?]. . . Esme's brilliant response was for all of us. “Oh...” . . .

Maddie said, “As I sit here with 9 of the items on my A BINGO card, I wonder who has reached BINGO but is holding out because of the point spread???” . . .Dan replied, “Me too - I have it on good authority - at least one racer - maybe more have it!” . . . NPS replied, “I wish I knew, but I'm like you, still need another one to be able to call it.” . . . Mike joined in,” I only need one more too! This should get interesting.” . . . Dan said, “Especially when there won't be enough Bingo Points to go around!” . . . ” No chance,” said Helen. ”I still need 3....one on B and bingo on C as of yesterday...one of these days...maybe.” . . . Kay spoke up, “I still need 2 more on Card A. Cards B and C are in much better shape! Yes, tomorrow should be interesting and probably not everyone is going to have the opportunity to call Bingo…Bummer!” . . . Ruth groaned, “I’ve twice lost my bingo card and had to reconstruct. Currently I have three vacant spots and it takes a minimum of two days to call bingo on that! I don’t think I’m an imminent threat to anyone!” . . . Dan’s kindly answer, “If anybody starts calling you names - you let me know - I'll sic Mike, Frank and Bubba after them!” . . .

Dan announced, “Heading for the Ruth's truck - all scores I have received have been entered - please let me know if I missed anything - as always if you have questions please direct them to Dale and Mike!” . . . Penny asked, “Please resend the information - in simple to understand form - on the trivia scoring for today. Not that I did very good - sports is not one of my things to know.” . . . Dan’s quick reply, “The best goal is to end up in with as many wildcards on either side of you as you can!! . . . Mike groused, “Ask Dale. I don't know anything and can't get a straight answer out of the judges. (I've tried bribes. I've tried asking nicely. All that's left is threats. LOL!) I'm going to a little league game shortly after ZULU hits so I probably won't even get a decent score again today.”

Race time – Dan testing the starter gun tangled with Yahoo! Being lazy.” Looks like Yahoo is being finicky this evening!” . . . Donna confused said, “Why when did you send it? showed up here at 6:50” . . . Dan punching buttons “Just hit Yahoo – 4 minutes till show time!” . . . Rita said, “Looks like Dan is using white ink on his messages also.” . . .Off they went as the first clue with the puzzle flew out of the starter gun . . .Dan smiled, “With 2 minutes to Spare Barney races into Mexico to be on the line for > tonight's start!” . . . Vera said, “Way to go Barney.....We've been waiting and Ruth and Doris have a super meal planned!” . . . After the third clue Dan shouted into the microphone, “Out like a shot Rosann - first to arrived followed very closely my Mike
- they claim the 1 -2 positions!” . . . Following 5 clues Dan excitedly announced, “NPS - blasts into 1st place reclaiming lead she has held often!” . . . and here comes the anticipated clues in order of call,” From Ancient to Modern , Home to Used Vehicles, 9% of the land developed , 15-17,000 people work there, 34 miles long, 6 miles wide, 219 square miles , Complex 39” . . . [What a race . . .]

Donna announced, “Tired of waiting....I'll take the 60 points and run with it. Hopefully, by my making the first move, now some of the rest of you "point hungry fanatics" will call Bingo too!” . . . “Way to go WC!!!!” shouted Vera! . . . Dan announced, “Point will be awarded - pending verification from the BJ (Bingo Judge) …Way to go!” . . . Holli promptly announced, “I am officially, as the official Bingo Official, CONFIRMING Officially the FIRST OFFICIAL BINGO!! You Rock Donna WTG!!!” . . . “Yippee! now on to card B (on the 11th) “crowed Donna! . . . NPS stuck out her hand, “Congrats WCDonna! I would have called it if I had it but can only hope for tomorrow.” . . . Rita added, “Same here WC. I have 2 to go and I doubt they will come up tomorrow.” . . . Helen said, “Well, we have 2 at the top, but the 2 in Allyn's den haven't
played...and both tend to do well, so we might all end up with no double scores....[waiting to hear back from Dan that she landed on the right coast.”] . . . Rosann said, “Me Too....1 more to go to Bingo!” . . . Dan reported, “Points now certified!” . .

“Whew said Dan, having cleared his scoring table. “I love the smell of melting silicone at race time (what happens to a computer after once it starts) when the racers are coming at you fast and furious - 15 racers have made it in - and some have already blasted off for the party - that'll do it for me for tonight – looking forward to how trivia is going to end up with sunfrog and traveler at the top - they sure did their part!! …Ruth - I put the coffee on in the morning unless Donna beat me to it! Thanks racers - as always I hope you are having at least half as much fun as I am. Special thanks to the Udder Judge for all her help!” . . . Rita chimed in, “And thank you to the Judges. Without you July would be hoooooot and boooooring.” . . . Holli announced her bingo strategy…” Hi racers, with the last few pics left, I have decided to let you all know what time I will post Bingo. So…I will post tomorrow's Bingo at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. Use this to your advantage and start planning your strategy…Have a great evening, cya in 14 hours!” . . .