Excitement! ^,^

Sounds really good this. Well done with the planning Michael, looks like it must have been alot of work.

So do we start asking for buddies yet? Alffy?

Great planning and guidelines Cornetto.  You put a lot of thought into this layout...the SS CRaven was probably provided a good learning curve

Fantastic Job!

~m~

I'm all for having a polar opposite character to mine. Itmightbeorange? What do you think?

Oh, and mcornetto... Two L's in Willson. I'm a bit weird about it.

Quoted from George Willson I'm all for having a polar opposite character to mine. Itmightbeorange? What do you think? Oh, and mcornetto... Two L's in Willson. I'm a bit weird about it.

George Willson with two l's and James Fleming with one m. LOl

Michael, you've done a good job with the planning. Especially the tribes. I'm wondering if each tribe will have something more in common besides where they are coming from.

Sandra

Sorry about the two L's George - never even noticed it until you pointed it out.  Fixed  (but you won't see it on the tracksheet until I post a new one)

Definitely - now is the time to pick buddies. GM?

I'm okay with anyone as my buddy, I know all of you are very competent.

Quoted from George Willson I'm all for having a polar opposite character to mine. Itmightbeorange? What do you think? Oh, and mcornetto... Two L's in Willson. I'm a bit weird about it.

Sure, let's do it!

Quoted from mcornetto Definitely - now is the time to pick buddies. GM?

Are you asking me out Mr Cornetto?

Yup, sounds good to me, I am happy enough to be anybodies buddy, as long as they know what they are doing co's still need to get my head around this. Looks like a lot of effort has gone into this Michael so I will do my best not to mess it up!

We're close to having fun now. I'm down for anyone.

Excellent!  Looks like this is going to be very cool.  Can't wait to get started.

Hey fellow Arizonian, MBCGirl...will you be my bestest buddy?  I promise not to be too critical of anything you write.

Quoted from Murphy Are you asking me out Mr Cornetto? Yup, sounds good to me, I am happy enough to be anybodies buddy, as long as they know what they are doing ... I will do my best not to mess it up!

Don't worry GM, I'll be gentle.

You'll get the first installment sometime Saturday, or maybe Sunday morning.


Cheers

Hey ReaperCreeper,

Would you like to be my writing buddy?

Sure thing Ripley.

Quoted from Dreamscale Hey fellow Arizonian, MBCGirl...will you be my bestest buddy?  I promise not to be too critical of anything you write.

You just "calls it likes you sees it" Dreamscale No worries...

I'm up for the challenge...but don't always expect to be right! *wink  At least we will be in the same time zone...that should make collaboration easier.  You're in Chandler with the cows and I'm in Scottsdale with the "snotty people." lol

Ready for the journey!

Wow that's a lot of rules lol. Hope to keep up to date with this, so fingers crossed. Hope it goes as well as the last game, I'm sure it will though.

I was completely blitzed by too much Guinness yesterday and missed this post.

I noticed Michael's tip that we should buddy with people within the same timezone.

Who else is in the U.K or Ireland?  Or round about my neck of the woods.

Yohn Yohnson is your best bet.  I'm not sure where he's from, but Blakkwolfe and Wesley are the only other people not paired up yet, and they're in the same time zone.

Michael, I'm extremely happy with your set up. I really felt that it was cinematic and I felt drawn in immediately.

Hopefully we can all bring this to the level it could be as time goes on.

Sandra

Hey thanks Sandra.   I think we'll all do really well this time.  I, for one, am certainly interested in reading what everyone comes up with.

The tracksheet has been updated, emails sent out, and it's George's turn next - he's in Detroit.

The opening is fantastic! I'm so excited about this game. I've been working on a zombie type story for a while and this would be an excellent break from it to gather my thoughts. Good Job you two!

This is sounding great already.  

Great stuff Sandra & Michael.

This is great. Even though I'm not part of this, I'm sure I will love reading it!

Who's up next?

Btw, if anyone needs to run their "scene" by someone before posting and their "buddy" is not around, feel free to send it my way.  

What a opening!? Lol. Cliffhangers are still in. lol.

FANTASTIC...and Sandra is right...it is cinematic!

I love the opening...it gives us all something to aspire to

Thanks Cornetto!

So you're putting my poor little Cordelia in harm's way already? You cruel bastard!
--Julio

I'm dedicating this song to Innocence.

(n)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsSFPCQs470&feature=related(n)

So I'll cross my heart
And hope to die
Before I have a chance to lie
To you my dear
Who I wish no harm
But I know in the end this will turn out wrong
See I've been known to fall in love
But sometimes love just is not enough
And my heart will stray
Before too long
So please forgive me when I sing this song
I sing this song

Sandra

Great start Michael and Sandra. This is looking really good so far.

Nice start Michael, weird dream Sandra lol.

Should I try and be in a tribe with other people from the UK?

Quoted from alffy Should I try and be in a tribe with other people from the UK?

The tribe you are in will be picked by someone with an introduction scene. But you should pick a buddy from your timezone so that they can give what you write a quick sanity check before you post it and you'll do the same for them.

Cheers.

So, who'll get the first turn? I can't wait!! =D

--Julio

Julio,

If you look at the first post in this thread it has a tracksheet and above the tracksheet are who goes for the next three turns.

George
Wesley (and Wesley has a dream)
Yohn

Keep an eye on the first post because it changes and that is how you track the game.

George has never been to Detroit so he did a lot of research for his little scene. I do hope it's enjoyed, and I also hope I left it in a precarious enough position for the next person who has to tackle them in Detroit... that water's cold up there.

Great stuff George, I'm starting to get ideas now.

Quoted from George Willson George has never been to Detroit so he did a lot of research for his little scene. I do hope it's enjoyed, and I also hope I left it in a precarious enough position for the next person who has to tackle them in Detroit... that water's cold up there.

That's what I was thinking. Hypothermia would set in really quick.

George, I enjoyed the way you set up this scene with James sitting on the steps of the church. The flashback you built gave us a good indication of James' character. The radio part gives us a "whole" kind of sense of what's going on in the world which is invaluable because although we are going to see snapshots from the different locations, this helps to bring it together from the onset.

Nicely done,

Sandra

This is shaping up nicely so far.  Very "Stand"ish and even "I am Legend"ish.

Let's keep it going!

Well done George.  I loved the reference to The Stand.  And a very good start for both Leona and James.

You forgot to send me your challenge for the next person in your tribe though, so send it on over.

The tracksheet has been updated (though I made a small mistake on it - i'll fix it later).

I didn't forget, I just...um...yeah, I guess I failed to read that part, so...well, I didn't forget, I just...didn't...ok, I'll figure it out.

And yeah, hypothermia is a definite possibility, I would imagine, but to choose between being really freakin' cold and being mauled by rapid cougars, I think I'd jump in too.

Then again, James is technically a medical doctor (albeit of Psychiatry)  which does require some time doing actual medical doctor stuff before he could be a licensed psychiatrist, so he would likely know what to do for hypothermia.

And on the Stand reference, I just prefer to have characters in the story point out the obvious and even comment on it before someone on the outside can start pointing at it. One of my favorite movie moments was during The Emperor's New Groove when Kusco asked how Kronk and what's-her-name beat them to the palace, and Kronk showed the map from the previous scene and comments that he doesn't know and it really doesn't make any sense.

Cornetto...I suspect that we will learn where we are starting from and which tribe we are in one we either get the que from you or when we see our character written into a scene, as is the case with the two posts.

Great job George!  

Both of these beginning entries have a nice pace and "excitement building" aspect.

Not only will this be a very cool challenge for all of us, but an even better learning exercise!

Digging it so far.

I liked the Stand reference. It's an obvious point to make. I'm curious on how Leona and James meet though. They seem odd as a pair.

Quoted from Grandma Bear This is great. Even though I'm not part of this, I'm sure I will love reading it! Who's up next? Btw, if anyone needs to run their "scene" by someone before posting and their "buddy" is not around, feel free to send it my way.

I'd be happy to team up with Mr. Wesley; however any help from those up in Tebow-ville would be greatly appreciated...they are calling it that now, aren't they?...At least they will on Jan 9th

T. Joe,

just send it on over. I'd be happy to read it.

...and yes, I do live in Tebowville on 43rd Tim Lane.

Ok. Haven't heard from Wesley directly but heard indirectly that he won't be participating. So I'm going to have to cancel his turn.  Dreamscale, do you mind starting the Ottawa tribe?  

I'd love to actually.  How much time do I have still?  Will you be E-Mailing me some info on what my scene will accomplish, etc.?

I am actually available all week, so I could get started on this as early as...well...now I guess!

Quoted from Dreamscale I'd love to actually.  How much time do I have still?  Will you be E-Mailing me some info on what my scene will accomplish, etc.? I am actually available all week, so I could get started on this as early as...well...now I guess!

You have 72 hours but you have to work out the dream with Sandra.  Sending an email. Cheers.

You were really cut out for the dreams Sandra. lol. Everything flows nicely with them.

That was a damn creepy dream Sandra, good work!

--Julio

Yeah Sandra, great dream scene!  Awesome!  Wish I had more room to really work with it, but as I told you, I think it's so strong on its own, that I'm not too worried about totally delving into it.

My post is coming jup shrotly everyone. Hope you all like it. I'm pretty psyched about it.

OK, now we're playing with fire!  Hope you all enjoy...

Good job Dreamscale and thanks for taking the turn without a heads up.  Well done Sandra the dream was creepy.  

The tracksheet is updated and emails are sent.  

Next is another New York installment.  Can't wait to see what happens.  However will they get out of the city?

Sandra...I LOVE your dream...they will meet in reality...I think it is safe to say.

I loved how she put the blood on her lips and her cheeks...it was creepy good stuff and kuddos to you Our Dream Maker Sandra!

Dreamscale is my buddy on here for collaboration...so I read it before it was posted but I want to say that I really like how he got this corner of the story going. I like the character development.

I love sweet old Albert and his endearing ways and as per usual I can't seem to get out of the kitchen! (Sam making the boys breakfast) lol

Good job...I can hardly wait to see what Orange adds to this wonderful mix...
It's pretty yummy thus far!
~m~

If a squirrel leaves his nut comes and attacks you, that's when you know things are messed up. lol. I liked Albert's dialogue as he was talking to his wife.  Can't wait for Yohn's part.

Excellent job Dreamscale! We have our explosion! Nicely done!

I especially like the fact of using the innocent squirrel in this.
It comes on very gently and then we're hit with the action.

Also, as I mentioned, I thought we needed to have some good footage
of what was going on outside and you supplied it perfectly with the aerial shot.

Sandra

Hey guys, I got a question, figured I'd ask before my turn comes--

I know we only have one kill to use, but do non-player characters count as "Kills" as well? Do I waste my Kill if I choose to ax a non-player guy/girl?

I'd just like that cleared.

--Julio

Only player characters count as kills.

Well done everyone so far, a very good start to this indeed. Nice job on the dreams Sandra.

Hey all, the story is looking great so far!

I've been busy lately with university stuff, day-job stuff, and a bunch of other stuff that have decided to pile on me, as is common this time of year.  Hence my absense from the boards.

I have my piece half written, but it's not going to be done until tomorrow.  Is this a problem?

If tomorrow is not the fourth day and you are asked to let your buddy read it. You gotta talk to Michael about it.

I thought it was due yesterday, based on the 48 hour rule...

Finish your scene Yohn and post it.   Looking forward to reading it.  

Everybody else.  Correct way to handle the problem of your scene being late - but let this sort of thing be the exception and not the rule.

Cheers guys.  

Thanks mcornetto, and I'm really sorry about any inconvienice guys.

Hi Sandra & Dreamscale,

Great work.

I don't know how you do it Sandra but your dreams are cool.  I hazard a guess at what my attempt of a dream would look like.

Dreamscale, excellent work on my character, and excellent posts.  I can only hope to carry the baton just as well.

I'm definitely looking up to you guys.

Michael, any ideas how long this game is going to run for?

wow.

I'm guessing the game continues until there is only one survivor and he/she confronts Shiva.

I think the original estimate for this game is going to be stretched.  We are looking for more quality of story this time, so I'm inclined to be a bit lenient on the time limits and size limits.  I can tell you right now, it might seem like an easy task to write these short little scenes with  story in mind but it's definitely a challenge, harder than the Killer game was.  So I can totally relate to people having a difficult time.  

But you never know how fast these things will go.  Last time we played after a slowish start things speeded up phenomenally.    

The thing to do here is that if you know you aren't going to be able to make your turn because of your schedule then please let us know as soon as possible.  

In Yohn's case we had invested so much time in waiting for Yohn's scene that even if I scheduled another person it would take just as long to get the scene posted.  Not to say that it wasn't appreciated that Yohn came forward about his delay.  He has a tough scene, I can relate.

As far as the holidays go, I will try to accommodate your schedule as best as I can.   If you're not going to be around for a while then let me know and I will try to schedule your turns appropriately.

Cheers

My scene is up.

I'm really sorry for the dely everyone.  Hope it satisfies.

That was good Yohn.  I thought the action was well written and I really like how the characters are shaping up.

Orange is up next, she already has the details. I won't be able to update the tracksheet or send out emails until I get home from work.  

Really nicely done Yohn! Don't worry about the delay. This truly is a challenge, but I know that we all have good intentions here and hopefully we will be able to work to the best of our ability.

Sandra

This is definitely an action flick. We're setting the bar rather high from the get go, it seems, with a quick character scene followed by an action sequence. I'll bet the actual deaths are going to be a trip.

Yohn and everyone else - PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY...OK?

Question - Why is there a wild boar, a snow leopard, and a white rhino in NYC?  Where in the world did they come from?  This is merely a question I would ask if I was reading this script from scratch or if I was watching it a a theater.

As far as I knew, this disease just hit...people are just now starting to die out.  In my scene, which appears to be a "continuous" scene, just a different locale, 2 days earlier, TV, cell phone, and E-mail were still working,..electricity is still flowing.  LIfe was going on like it always did, only people were dying from this disease.  Now, it seems like exotic animals from Africa and Asia are running wild in the streets of NYC.

Why are cars everywhere, blocking the streets?  If people just died while they were driving, they'd still be in their cars, as well as keys.  And if cars are indeed blocking the streets, how in the world could anyone get through the Lincoln Tunnel, of all places.  NYC is a frickin' nutcase place as it is, in terms of driving.  Youc an barely get through city streets on a normal day at 2:00 in the morning.

If these are escaped animals from the zoo, how did they get out?

I honestly don't want to be critical and bitchy, but I'm always a stickler for details, and this just kinda hit me like, WTF?

I do like that you wrote some good action and it is interesting, so kudos for that.

If I shouldn't be questioning anything and just saying "Great job!" whether or not I mean it, I apologize, but I feel that I have to ask these quesitons.

Also, Michael, can we get the instructions that each person gets, after their post is up, so we know what they had to work with, and maybe why they went where they did?  I think that would be really interesting and enlightening as well.

Again, I mean no ill will with these comments, Yohn.  Cool?

My first thought was the zoo. These animals are rabid. They'd have killed their jailors and broken out.

Anyway, I got the impression that the outbreak has been around for a while now when I read Mcornetto's scene. If anything, it was your scene that cofused me a little bit.

You seem to be placing the cause of all the death on the virus slowly killing humans, but I figure the animals to be the cause of all the crashed cars and stuff.

But still, you would think the rate of infection would be different in Ottawa or Detroit  than it is in New York.

--Julio

Aditionally, look at our characters and their stories--the rest of the outbreak's victims all had stories too, and God knows most of them were crazy enough that Rhinos ended up on the streets of NY. Maybe some idiot hippy busted them out of the zoo--whatever. The point of this is Shiva and our characters, NOT why the world is the way it is.

This is essentially a role-playing game. If you were stuck in this post-apocalyptic world, you would not be wondering why the hell there are leopards in the streets, you would be trying to stay alive.

Yeah, I guess that's the only answer.  I just wanted to get a little insight from the actual writer...somehting that we don't get to do all that often.

Again, this is just the way I am, so I hope no one is offended or PO'd.

Personally, I don't see how these zoo animals would be breaking out, as zoos (especially a zoo (or zoos) in NYC) are pretty well put together to keep animals in.

Guess I'm just being a bit critical tonight.  My Fantasy Football team just got eliminated with the loss of Heiden and McNabb's INT...I'm a bit upset, so again, my aplogies fro bringing it in here...

I do not think anybody is offended because of your post.

You brought up some interesting questions (I for one was ready to write a dog-attack scene considering how they're the most common animals in New York--truth be told, I was a bit surprised when I read all these scenes with exotic animals).

But seeing as how this is a collaborative effort, we are supposed to cover the story bit by bit. This thing isn't over yet. No questions have been answered. I say, give it time.

That's cool.

I actually looked up all the wild life in and around Ottawa.  I also looked up the locale I used as my setting and because it was not a remote locale, I decided against using anything like bears, etc.

You're right...anything goes.  I am an inquisitive type though, so I felt like I had to ask.

Looking good so far everyone.  I'm onboard and will do my best not be a complete A-Hole.

Quoted from ReaperCreeper (I for one was ready to write a dog-attack scene considering how they're the most common animals in New York--truth be told

Nope...it's rats

Rhinoceros? Yeah.... it's a little odd but there are zoos and rhinos are some hefty bitches man.  I would assume once this virus hit the zoo there would be so much chaos there has to be mistakes happening. Someone feeding the rhinos leaves a cage open as they run to help someone else...something.

Either way, lovely update

Nothing bad Dreamscale.

The electricity probably runs on different times in each city so one of them broke early than the other one. The important thing is the different times zones. lol. Animals...like people said the zoo. You can fill the details on your own.

Good job Yohn.

I'm a bit in there with Dreamscale on his comments...maybe it's the air we breathe in AZ

I can set my imagination dial up...and I did think the animals appeared from the zoo...(filling in the blanks myself) I think Orange made a great point about caos and zoo keepers helping others and leaving doors open...in the state of affairs that the world is in with Shiva...I suspect that there would be lots of coas...so much we couldn't imagine it...when it's my turn I am sure going to try!

The world has got to be a nasty smelling place of death at this point...empty cars and cars with dead bodies...it would probably be gruesone beyond comprehension...

Let's all stay positive and make this the best da** off-the-cuff screenplay exercise ever!

Ok, not that I haven't been known to do it before, but I'm going to throw logic out the window on this one (meaning where all the exotic animals came from).

My answer to that is Shiva. If we want to logify it, we could have them being pariticle-ized into place by the intelligent force of this demiurge.

I think if we go back and work a rewrite of many rewrites on this, we should definitely consider this for the set up.

Good questions there Dreamscale.

Sandra

If Shiva is a good, then I'm sure he can do even more than just craze animals and cause outbreaks. Although it is focused more on thr Thriller/Horror route, at its root, this is ultimately a Fantasy story--and in Fantasy, the implausible is plausible.

I think the animals having escaped from the zoo is a good enough explanation.  And remember we don't have to limit these scenes to animals.  Try something different. There's lots of dangers out there.

EDIT: Tracksheet has been updated and emails sent.

I know for my part, I looked up wildlife native to the area, and I stretched it a little bit with the cougars. But there are wild cougars in northern Michigan (as James pointed in the scene), so they're a bit South of where they belong. However, it's hard to say where these critters would be if man weren't holding them back. They might look for a warmer climate or something.

Oh, and if someone who is in a Detroit scene doesn't mind doing me a favor...can you accidentally torpedo the billing part of the Detroit Medical Center? Their billing manager is really getting on my nerves. You leave 'em a hundred voicemails, and then they email your manager stating that you still need to call them "whenever you're ready."

Oh, and the tracking sheet is still incorrect in regards to my part, and doesn't show Dreamscale's or Yohn's turns.

Hey Dreamscale, absolutely fair questions there.

Quoted from Dreamscale Question - Why is there a wild boar, a snow leopard, and a white rhino in NYC?  Where in the world did they come from?  This is merely a question I would ask if I was reading this script from scratch or if I was watching it a a theater.

The deal with the animals was the zoo as some have said.  My idea that was in the midst of the chaos and people going mad at what seemed like the end of the world, these animals escaped and roamed free across the city, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.  I figured I'd leave it for people to figure out though.

Quoted from Dreamscale As far as I knew, this disease just hit...people are just now starting to die out.  In my scene, which appears to be a "continuous" scene, just a different locale, 2 days earlier, TV, cell phone, and E-mail were still working,..electricity is still flowing.  LIfe was going on like it always did, only people were dying from this disease.  Now, it seems like exotic animals from Africa and Asia are running wild in the streets of NYC.

In mcornettos first scene, Colin says that the disease was everywhere and it's been 2 weeks since the disease hit, leaving an estimated 10 million are dead as of the last official report.  It was a time of madness, and has been 3 days since Colin last saw another person... he even thinks he might be the last one left.

Also in the second scene, when the stray dogs are attacking Cordelia, Colin is aware that the animals are rabid/infected, hence his concern about Cordelia being scratched.

This gave me the impression that people must know about the animals, and that things are pretty much post-apocalyptic at this point.

Quoted from Dreamscale Why are cars everywhere, blocking the streets?  If people just died while they were driving, they'd still be in their cars, as well as keys.  And if cars are indeed blocking the streets, how in the world could anyone get through the Lincoln Tunnel, of all places.  NYC is a frickin' nutcase place as it is, in terms of driving.  Youc an barely get through city streets on a normal day at 2:00 in the morning.

Taking into account the crazed animals killing the living and eating the dead, and the looting and violence from surviving humans, I envisioned the streets to show the aftermath of all that.

And I guess the rest you can just put down to me never having been to New York or the states!

Hope that at least explains some of the issues in my piece.

Sounds good Yohn.  It is tough to write about a place you've never been to before.

We're cool, and everything is good.  Thanks for responding.

Personally, I didn't see the world with cars blocking everything everywhere. The way the illness was portrayed was not a sudden death, but a slow death that took a day or so to get you. So what would happen when the vast majority caught the disease is they'd go home and end up dying there thinking it was the cold and they needed rest. As the population dwindled by using their sick days, the looters would take temporary hold by taking what they could from the increasing unoccupied stores, and the dwindling law enforcement (they would catch it quicker since they're in the thick of most tragedies) wouldn't be able to keep it under control, which is where the post-apocalyptic look comes from with the broken windows and fires and such. . But once the disease got its foothold, the streets would be largely empty, much the way "I Am Legend" was. You'd inevitably have a few people who'd be stubborn and say they aren't sick die in their cars in transit, but that would be the minority. I pictured the cities appearing largely deserted.

I agree with you George.  I see it that wy as well.  Although in I am Legend, there were quite a few cars blocking various roads, etc. (I tink, at least?).  Anyone who dies in their car would most likely still be in their car, and I doubt hat any animals would be able to bust into teh car and drag their asses out...they wouldn't need to because there'd be easy prey all over the place.

And the good thing about having this happen in different locations is that the effects can be a bit different in each of the locations.

This is true, come to think of it, on I Am Legend. I remember that the roads are largely clear for our Omega Man to drive down them at higher speeds without a problem though. I would think this world would be somewhat like that. When I pictured Detroit, I pictured the roads empty for the most part.

Interesting post Yohn, I like it and the reasoning behind it.  I did think like Dreamscale but then thought Safari park.

Just an update. I'm putting some last minute touches on the script with the help of Sandra and her wonderful dream making abilities and of course my buddy Mr. George  Willson (audience goes wild). My entry should be up late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Cheers!

-o

I guess early tomorrow would be more likely. lol. Dang, I'm itching to start writing my turn. I just hope I get the geography right. Never been anywhere near NY.

--Julio

I am waiting too for Orange's entry My brain is already working..wheels are turning...gerbals are spinning those wheels!

I am going to be extremely "work" busy Thursday and Friday as I found out today that the Graphic Media company I am working with on a couple of projects will be closed for 2 weeks...so I don't have a choice but to finish these projects.  

I will have my post in on Saturday...so I hope that will work with the timeline.  

Cheers to the Shiva crew!

Yeah, so...I just posted my go at the game, have at it. I'm excited to see other people's entries. This story is always on my mind.

Thanks for putting me in there itmightbeorange. You captured my character good. lol. I wonder how it's going to turn out.

And Sandra, how do these dreams come to you? lol.  It's interesting.

Gabe

Well done! Dana and Sandra.    

MBCgirl is up next!  And as I understand it, there's a decision to be made.

Am I missing something here?  I don't see Ripley's character anywhere in Orange's or Sandra's post.

Help!!!

Michael = Ripleys character.

Quoted from Mr.Ripley Thanks for putting me in there itmightbeorange. You captured my character good. lol. I wonder how it's going to turn out. And Sandra, how do these dreams come to you? lol.  It's interesting. Gabe

I don't know.

Sandra

Ah yes...there it is.  Your 2nd post didn't show up for some reason until just now. Wierd.  Sorry!

First...Sandra...there is a certain "something special" in the way you write and use your words to create images....the interesting part - is that they are more the type of images you feel, not just see

Orange...very well done! Nice touch on bringing in the dog and the red leash

It will be tough to follow you two for sure!  

I have been thinking about my post, but I will not get to it until Saturday as I have mentioned, but I think there is a lot to chew on here.

We're back up to Canada. ey!