High Tide

This is Day 10 of the 2018 edition of the 20 Days of Chill writing challenge hosted by P. J. at A ‘lil HooHaa. Please join us this month on our writing journey. Today's prompt is Hi, low...in, out.

My very first thought when I saw today's prompt are Tides. What exactly are tides anyway?

Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of Earth.

Spending time at the beach will get you to thinking about the tides for various reasons such as fishing, swimming and sunbathing, games, jogging, sand castles and tidal pools.

The tides are high when the moon is either directly over head where you are, or directly overhead on the exact opposite side of the earth. It works differently in each place. When the moon is overhead at your location, the moon's gravity is essentially pulling the water toward it. The opposite is true when the moon is overhead on the opposite side of the earth from you. The moon's gravity is pulling the earth away from the water on that side. There is a graphic here that shows this.

What I knew about tides from my beach trips was that there were both high and low tides twice a day, and that the moon affects the tides. Now I know more of how that works. Any coastal town will experience a high tide about every 12 hours and 25 minutes. If you are interested, you can find tide charts at any bait and tackle shop on the beach or just search online for tide charts.

Now let's stroll along the beach and enjoy The Tide Is High by Blondie.

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Swimming Upstream

This is Day 9 of the 2018 edition of the 20 Days of Chill writing challenge hosted by P. J. at A ‘lil HooHaa. Please join us this month on our writing journey. Today's prompt is Swimming Upstream.

Previously on the continuing saga of the FBI and the Scuzzy Art Dealer (SAD), Alex has arranged for Sato Yasahiro of Tranquility Imports to obtain a rare artifact as a wedding gift for his fiancée. Based on a recorded conversation in the alley between Sato and SAD, it is believed that arrangements are being made. As the story continues, however, we find that this is how that conversation in the alley really went.

"Hello, I am Sato Yasahiro. I believe we are to be doing some business together," stated Sato.

"It would appear so. I am John."

"Interesting," commented Sato, "You don't look like a John to me." 

"Some things are best not known, so today I am John."

"I understand the object in question is in Hirosaki, and will be in the States within the week," responded Sato in confirmation. "The American will pay top dollar to make his woman happy. This is a good deal."

"This is where the deal changes, my friend," explained John. "I am thinking we kill the American and take the money, then we sell the artifact and split the profit fifty-fifty."

"Okay," says Sato, "But what are my chances of getting out of this alive with half of the money."

John laughed. "Oh, about fifty-fifty. Are you willing to take that risk for the money?

"Sure, why not. If I survive I have millions, and if I die, I won't know anything anyway. Seems fair enough," agreed Sato.


"Good morning Diane. Would you please let me know when the others get in," requested Charlie. "By the way, you look nice today. I mean you always look nice, you just look particularly nice today...Oy that didn't come out right," insert foot thought Charlie. "Excuse me, I'll be in my office," and a very flustered Charlie made his departure, leaving a puzzled Diane looking on. 

"Hey Charlie, what's up?" asked Alex as he, Bobby and Kyle piled into Charlie's office.

Relieved to get back to the case, Charlie plunged in. "We got a hit off of the cigarette butt. The DNA belongs to a Japanese guy with the equivalent of a rap sheet in Tokyo. His name is Hayashi Akio. However, it seems he may not be our guy because he has an alibi for the murder currently under investigation, but he is a person of interest by virtue of being at the warehouse, but not a suspect."

"Since we have no idea who SAD is yet, I guess we are still swimming upstream," stated Bobby matter-of-factly.

"Yes and no," said Charlie, "It's true he has an alibi, but we will investigate all known associates and double check his alibi because Hayashi could still be involved. I'll assign some agents to make phone calls and conduct searches into all his business and social contacts, pull phone and credit card records."

"Alex, you and Bobby keep going around to high-end establishments, museums, and such  and keep up your cover. You never know who is going to say what to whom when they think no one's paying attention."

"Kyle, you and I will do the same on our end, and hopefully we can gather enough information to put our plan into place before the package arrives.

To be continued...

Other Adventures of Charlie and Alex:

Risky Business

Aliens, Really?
The Colombians
The Key
Stranded
The Last Laugh
The Morning After

Bears, Beans and Beer

Kidnapped

Jenna's Misfortune

Murder in the Warehouse

A Rough Week in Philly

San Francisco Connection

No Grunt, No Glory

Crush Or Be Crushed
Going Under

Let's Make a Deal

So now we wait

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Got Candy?

This is Day 8 of the 2018 edition of the 20 Days of Chill writing challenge hosted by P. J. at A ‘lil HooHaa. Please join us this month on our writing journey. Today's prompt is Candy Bars.

Photo courtesy of Photobucket by jzata

What do we think of first when we hear the word candy? Easter, Halloween, Christmas and Valentines, right? Guess what? Candy is a year-round thing from something to get you through the afternoon with that last cup of coffee or an after-school treat for the kids.

There are so many kinds of candy bars–where do you start? There are dark chocolate and milk chocolate, plain and peanut, chewy centers and gooey centers, crunchy ones and ones filled with coconut. 

How can I pick just one favorite? I can't! But I can tell you what I like and don't like.

I don't like ones the ones with chewy centers like Snickers or Milky Way. I feel like they are going to rip my teeth out. While I do like chocolate and peanuts together, I don't like Mr. Goodbars or peanut M&Ms.

I like both dark and milk chocolate, depending on the candy bar. So, in no particular order, here are some of my favorites, and yeah they're not all technically candy bars. 

Mounds
Nestlé Crunch
Hershey Krackel
Hershey Kisses (dark chocolate)
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Kit Kat
York Peppermint Patties
Plain M&Ms

Other chocolate confections I like are brandied cherries (I don't like cherries otherwise), Whitman chocolates (soft centers only) and Lindt Chili dark chocolate bars.

What's your favorite candy bar, or other candy?


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