Friday the 13th(how was I to know it would come on Wednesday this month?), I was sitting in the deck chair on the weather deck on my catamaran, having a glass of two of Merlot(as I recall, I had already had a glass or two while checking my e-mail), and I noticed a couple guys on "C" dock carrying lumber, saws and a roll of something that appeared to be rolled roofing to the boat that was tied to the end of the dock. I just happen to be tied to the end of "D" dock about a hundred feet away from them. I watched for a while with my hand(thumb) under my chin and three fingers up along my cheek and my little finger curled over my upper lip, you know- the way you do when you are a bit tired and your head is leaned over a bit and you are looking over the top of your glasses when you are alert and watching what is going on around the dock....I don't know where a few seconds went, but I was suddenly wide awake(it seemed to me)and noticed these two guys standing solemly side by side inside the Stardust Cruiser(there was patio doors and I could see them plainly thru the glass) The boats bow was pointing north and they were looking to starboard(isn't Mecca that way!?) The next thing I observed was both of them dropping to their knees and bowing their foreheads down to the floor! Well, being the alert fellow I am and realizing that we all have to look out for one another, I figured this required further looking into - so I walked over to said "C" dock and approached the Stardust Cruiser, all the while berating myself for not sticking my permitted carry weapon into the small of my back(where it's almost impossible to reach), (but looks cool in the movies), as I have quite a time wipeing my own behind while on the head....

Anyway, I get over there and cautiously reach around the corner of the bulkhead and tap on the door. Jeff(the owner and my good neighbor) slid the door open and invited me to step in. It was then that I noticed, not just a prayer rug, but an entire roll of black rug that they were kneeling on. They tried to convince me was rubber padding for under the hardwood they were installing. I asked them about the suspicious kneeling and putting their heads down to the floor. They claimed they were having trouble getting up the small chunks of vinyl tile that remained glued to the sub floor! Likely story....

Since Jeff and his buddy are GI's in the reserves, I gave them the benefit of the doubt,(I think I'll pay close attention to the waterline on my boat for awhile....) went back to the Catamaran where I belonged and had a couple more glasses of the Merlot, that I am almost positive had nothing to do with this entire episode....

Thanks for puttin' up with this nonsense.

I still think it behooves each of us,now days, to remain constantly vigilant!

Tronteck,
Great story! Couldn't have been the Merlot!
Look forward to chapter 2.

Roger

It's been awhile and now the cardboard wineskin is Cabernet Sauvignon. Wow - had to go get the box to come up with that spelling! No telling what will develope with this episode.Jeff, the guy that turned out to be one of ours, is back on the boat and even though I am only into the first glass, after an eight hour ride back from Booneville, MS, on the Valkyrie motorcycle, via the Natchez Trace highway, which, by the way, is one of the most fascinating rides I have ever taken, until the cop coming the other way turned on his lights, waved his hand out the drivers window and signaled me to slow down....I was watching my speedo, couldnt have been more than two miles over the limit(because I left my billfold and all of my ID in m truck when I left to begin the trip), but - what that brought about will have to wait for the next wineskin....

Back to Jeff, you know, the guy that I originally thought might be one of "theirs". Well I have noticed him making a lot of trips to check a minnow bucket that is tied up in his neighbors slip, who, by the way happens to be out on the lake somewhere at this time( which will possibly also bear close scrutinizing in the future).Why is Jeff so worried over that minnow bucket? If it's just minnows in there, they ARE in the water and don't their little gills remove oxygen trapped between the water molecules? WHY all the trips to the bucket? We don't have freshwater sharks here and they couldn't get into the bucket anyway. What's that you say? Oh - bucket and All! I hadn't thought of that.... I think my first glass is gone - be right back....

While I was refreshing my glass a strange apparition went by my Catamaran. There was a red light on the front (pointy end) and a white light on the back( square end). Must have been a boat and I am tied up on its port side ( you following this?) Start paying attention! Now - back to my Cabernet Sauvig--- uh---where I left off. While I'm still thinking, I think - that was Jimmy and Karen and, If so, they have a pontoon boat and it would have two pointy ends and one square end. I will have to check tomorrow, after I sober - uh - wake up!

Before I leave this session, there was another suspicious thing this evening. A neighbor, down on the far, far end of the low rent dock, was sitting(yes, a grown man, sitting, on the dock, with what looked to be a young grandson, obviously training him in some art that he did not want lost in the future. What that art was will have to wait for another time, as they had some sort of poles with what looked to be kite winders of some strange looks to them and canisters(oh - there's a word that sparks interest now days!)and some sort of wiggly elongated animals in them that looked to be desperate to escape their prison containers!

It's late and I believe I should have just ONE MORE goblet refreshing....have you ever noticed how the word "believe" has another word, a three letter word that should give us pause to wonder what is going on!

I'm workin' on it....I put two lbs of dark brown sugar in a gallon jug about a week ago and the yeasty beasties are workin' overtime! Gonna pureify it when it's still(still? did I say that?)

You ARE talking about making ethanol fuel additive for your boat, right? Must be able to get some sort of gummint grant for that.....