The Sublime Roundabout

Not sure if I've posted this one before, but here goes: So there I was - just married. Literally, within DAYS of being married and my wife and I were on a camping trip in Southern Utah... We went to Bryce Canyon and then to Calf Creek - you know the place. Well, I found out that my wife's idea of camping and mine were somewhat divergent. So we decided to cut the trip short and head back home. We started up that beautiful road to the east of Calf Creek - before Boulder - and the car died. Died. Like it ran out of gas... Which I figured later it did, kind of... There was a strange gas-like substance on the ground under the car. My wife said it was gas, but I was sure it was water from the air conditioning condensor. Should have listened to her immediately... It's a lesson I am still trying to learn. A car stopped by and went into town and got us some gas (I still thought we were out of gas...). I put that in the car but it didn't help. Turns out, one of the fuel li...

The American Dream An American businessman was standing at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish. "How long it took you to catch them?" The American asked. "Only a little while." The Mexican replied. "Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" The American then asked. "I have enough to support my family's immediate needs." The Mexican said. "But," The American then asked, "What do you do with the rest of your time?" The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life, senor." The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could hel...

Drum beats From far off The cry goes up Fire! Fear! Foes! Come! Quickly! Come and help! Come and save! Yet we read of the warrior Who stood on the hill And did not save the city Because the sound of the bells Was carried away By the wind All the bells rang The din was an uproar The city imperiled Implored for aid But none was forthcoming Because the bells rang in vain Like the wisps of so much smoke That ascend up to heaven But are blown away Tattered by winds And never reach the intended eyes Of the one who could Do so much If only the signals reached...

Janice's eyes widened when she saw who was seated around the large conference table. These were men who's names she'd heard on the radio and television, faces she'd seen on news networks and in online forums. She never thought that she'd ever see any of these people in real life, men who were powerful and influential. Men who were, for the most part, despotic, tyrannical thugs. But men who knew what they were about and knew how to do it. This meeting was set up with the purpose of studying distribution methods for the new weapons being developed not far from where they were seated. But there were other purposes for this meeting as well. The men at the table had demanded to see the new successor as leader of the team, and they wanted a demonstration of the effects of the weapons they were acquiring. Interestingly, there was no discussion of money or what was expected in return for the supply of munitions. Some of the men at the table openly stared at her, disbeli...

Sam hated this part of the investigation. Any investigation. They all seemed to go in fits and starts. They'd catch a break on one lead, run it down as far as they could, and then have to wait for the next break. Only rarely did all of the breaks and leads point to the same source from the beginning. On one hand, he did enjoy the mental exercises that were involved with putting the pieces together, forming a complete picture that could then be brought in front of a jury - or at least that pointed at the culprit. But on the other hand, the waiting game wore him down, rubbing his nerves raw. He needed a break, and he knew it. Maybe after this one is over, he thought, I'll get that boat I've dreamed of and sail around the world... ...yeah, right. He picked up a styrofoam container of what passed for coffee around here. He was shocked to discover that the Sheriff's office didn't even have a coffee pot. He'd gone out and purchased one on his own, but he'd...