12. The Healing Planet

Entering the uncharted territories turned even the stoutest of Hynerians into the equivalent of jiggy jello on a hot plate, which is to say, going uncontrollably everywhere and going there fast. The inhabitants of Bravo-Four-Zero had no choice, yet the fear of the unknown, the fear of childhood campfire horror stories, in short the fear that firmly rooted itself in the imagination, tended to suffocate it's victims like an anaconda with time on it's hands. Fear like this permeated every pore, turned the eyes bloodshot for no good reason, and warped judgment like wood left out in the rain too long.

No outside observer would have been surprised to learn that our friends attempted to land at the first planet that came into view. Later dubbed The Healing Planet, for the purplish waters had magical powers to heal all infirmities. A water world like their own Hynerian homeworld, our friends thought they had found their needle in the haystack. Passion fruit was consumed in quantities beyond legal limits as happiness and joy appointed themselves king and queen of the day.

There always seems to be a "however" about this time in the story as the happy couples soon discovered all was not as it seemed. Oh, the waters of The Healing Planet were in fact magical but as the old Hynerian proverb stated, Take what you want, and then pay for it, our friends soon realized that while the dark purplish waters certainly did heal, they also aged.

Just as the stars appeared to melt into the planet's lakes and oceans so too did a Hynerian appear to exchange life force, life years, in exchange for the healing properties. Had our four couples stayed, old age would have claimed them all within the year. Keep in mind a Hynerian's average life spanned centuries. The reign of happiness and joy were short lived as anger and fear rode in like barbarians to resume their rightful place. Within the hour, Bravo-Four-Zero headed back into deep space.

11. Perfect Food

For long journeys to parts unknown, Hynerians had perfected more than just the galaxy famous passion fruit. They had also perfected what came to be called perfect food. Perfect food is what everyone else called Hynerian eggs. Perfect since each individual egg contained everything one needed to sustain life--all the vitamins, minerals, calories, not to mention water, needed for perfect health. On a supply of Hynerian eggs a space traveler could survive indefinitely.

Bravo-Four-Zero had not been given much hope of finding an inhabitable planet, but they had been given enough perfect food to survive long beyond the supply of oxygen their small ship could carry. Hunger would be absent from this voyage. Unfortunately the same could not be said for fear and uncertainty.

10. Trouble

Coming in waves never seen before and beyond Hynerian scientists to either predict nor understand, massive hurricanes, like roving bands of wolves, made life untenable.

Life pod Bravo-Four-Zero, containing just four Hynerian couples, launched for territories unknown, a roll of the cosmic dice. A little unknown solar system, perhaps, just maybe, held a jewel of a planet capable of sustaining life. No time to plan, no time for research. Life in the balance. Non-believers converted like lemmings to the cliff.

Strapped in tight, eyes squeezed tight as if one's lids were capable of resisting the unhynerian g-forces launch inflicted upon the crew. Five-four-three-two-GO.

9. Hynerian Homeworld

The Hynerians came from a water planet populated with islands of various geometric designs. Much like the passion fruit, the waters surrounding their islands were as warm as the Caribbean in summer, yet just a few hundred feet inland the climate changed to one of snow and ice.

The warm waters were therapeutic and much loved. The cold and snow and ice were not. In searching for a new land, they sought to keep the warm waters and combine it with a warm climate. Our mythical little island, which is not on any map nor can it be seen from the open water, was deemed by Rygel's relatives to be paradise, the best of both worlds.

8. Hynerian Passion Fruit

The Hynerians are legendary lovers, known beyond doubt from the Pleiades to Andromeda and all points between. Rygel the Angelic, aka Rygel VIII, personally oversaw the development and crosspollination of the fruit developed over the course of three centuries using a combination of exotic fruits from seven galaxies.

From the outside, Hynerian passion fruit looks like a normal green mango. When cracked open and exposed to air, the fruit illuminates and pulses. The inner edges generate heat while the center rapidly cools to the touch. A single succulent bite intoxicates the neural synapses responsible for amorous awareness while heightening the physical nerve endings in ways beyond imagination.

No one is really sure whether the fruit makes the sensations of intercourse better or simply causes one to think that it does. Moreover, no one really cares since the end result is an experience lovers have traded years in Hynerian dungeons to experience, and say they would do the same if given the chance. The fruit trades on the black market at prices only the wealthy can afford. If caught punishment is severe. On our island, however, it’s the main course tonight.

7. Purple Trees

Next to purple lake stand purple trees. Unlike most trees, purple trees have chutes that once a year produce fully formed yellow leaves with green branches. On an early spring moonless night the chutes glow translucent mauve and the leaves and branches flow down the chutes and gently rise to attach themselves to bare limbs.

Image a tree in the dead of winter, leafless and bare. Next morning that same tree appears on fire with the most glorious coat of yellow and green foliage. Now imagine the entire woods dressing overnight. Such is the nature of the purple trees near purple lake, which populate the trails just outside our bungalow.

6. Shells

Jewel encrusted shells line the untouched beaches. Their flesh providing substance to the local crab population while the Hynerians harvest the riches of rubies and sapphires along with mother of pearl and a diamond or two for use as local currency.

5. North

Since we're going to be on this island for awhile, I've secured an old contour carving of the northern side, which is where our bungalow is located. We're on the northwest side of purple lake.

4. Scottish Fireflies

Rygel's relatives populated the island with exotic wildlife from their homeworld. Nocturnal creatures, they filled the island with scottish fireflies, which produce ten times the light of regular lightning bugs. Much like pets, each Hynerian owns several fireflies that produce their light on command, following their owners wherever they go.


These little guys can change colors as a means of communicating. Green light means the path is safe; blue indicates drinkable water just ahead; purple warns that an amorous female is nearby; and orange light is warning of danger.

3. The Natives

Distant relatives of Rygel XVI have inhabited our island, undiscovered for centuries. They cater to our every need in exchange for information on the outside world.

2. Almost Home

Mystical night skies on our mythical Caribbean island.

1. Caribbean Canopy

Warm breeze milks stress from the mind like experienced nimble fingers upon a taut muscle. Humid salt air wafts in from the southern Caribbean with each crashing wave upon the velvet clay textured beach. Riches untold within and out, overpowering the senses, seductive and dreamlike. Our bungalow, deep in the jungle awaits our weary spirits. Come inside the magnificent, mystical canopy. Promise, you won't mind the ride. Me and you, one island, one union, one time. Warm, wet, sweaty, intoxicatingly bewitching. Breathe. Just breathe. Now. With me. As us. As one.

Can you hear it. The surf darlin'. A crescendo matching the intensity shining in our eyes, the beat of our hearts. Can you hear it. My love dear. Hear it in my eyes, see it in my touch, feel it in my whispers. Let me hold your hands and gaze into the liquid of your soul. Open yourself, open to me, open to us. Walk to the cliff. Feel the breeze that only lovers feel. Come to the edge with me.

My hand caresses your cheek warmed by the day's sun. At the speed of light, still took more than eight minutes to travel from source to you and in this moment, to my hand. Millions of miles of warmth, from you to me, in this moment, the sun, you and me, as one sensation of warmth and love. What are you, who am I, where is the sun if not embodied in the pulse of our touch.

Talk to me sweetness. Utter the words I long to hear, words born of pure intent, sacrificed at the alter of passion, profound in their direct simplicity. Tickle my ears with a symphony of she-devilish delectation. Swoon with the musical flow of two hearts in tune. Fear not the fall, what my arms might miss, my heart will catch.


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O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

Much pleasure doth thou bring me!

Donuts

How do you see? With your eyes. Perhaps your mind does the seeing or at times maybe your heart. Do you know who processes your data before you call it your own.

I sit down to breakfast and open my box of donuts. Before me in a single carton are four white powdered donuts, four chocolate covered and four plain cake-like ones. The morning is still, quiet with suspense as the opening prologue of cardinal chatter dancing within my ears reminds me I'm not alone.

I look at my donuts. No arguments, no fights, no yelling about who is the better donut or why this group is in front of that group. No posturing of the powdered group to be picked ahead of the plain group. Just donuts. Even breakfast greets me with wisdom for the day. I marvel at the blessed teachers in my life. Today, I shall live like my donuts. In peace and harmony with all around me and a love that remembers the bond between us all.

Gargoyles

Paris, 1989. Memories of Notre Dame

Sailing over the Sea

Twirling high above the atmosphere, of the world but not in the world, we dance free from the gravity of cares.

Red Carpet

Limitless (Part 2)

Sending all my love to you. Did you get it?

Limitless

My arms fold into you with a care and strength unknown to any other. I glance into your eyes and marvel at the curve of your cheeks illuminated by a million stars on this moonless night with the soft reddish cast from our gently ringing red bells. The river appears on fire with thousands of multi-colored flower candles drifting down the river with nary a bob, such is the quiet of the night, the smoothness of the glass-like river surface.

From the banks, a thousand eyes watch for the first kiss, a kiss between lovers from a distant land and another time. The warmth and softness of the embrace meld the beat of my heart into yours, and for a moment, there is just this, there is just now, there is just us.

My love knows no bounds, no limits. Try as I might what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine, where before there were two, now stands one. Through the tremble of my lips, my love overflows beyond any power I have to contain it and I feel a lightness to the night that defies description. I'm in love and my heart overfloweth into the soul of my lover. As the candles flow down the river, we flow together in timeless enchantment fueled by hearts that know no bounds.

Bells Rouges

On either side of our foot bridge the most luminescent red bells light our way and gently sing to the beat of our hearts as the cascade of color parades below us on the mirror like river flowing below. Your eyes glisten with a kaleidoscope of colors that accent the warm glow of your cheeks. There is nowhere else I would rather be than in your arms, two as one.

Come with Me

Come with me back in time to a place far away. Just the two of us, walking along the banks of a slow moving river in feudal Japan. Across the river is a small arch-shaped foot bridge reserved just for us. From up-stream, the local villagers are releasing the most colorful and beautiful flower candles, by the hundreds, as an honor to our visit. Set aside your worries and come walk with me. May the dance of light before our eyes delight us with the magic of young hearts in love.

Pennies from Heaven; Pennies in Chocolate

Pennies from heaven or pennies in chocolate. Either way, I'm not complaining. As you can see, my mind has already turned to food on Thanksgiving eve.

Special thanks tonight to so many of you who have lifted my spirits day after day with the wonderful comments you all have left for me here. I can't find the words to say how deeply they are appreciated. Each day I am reminded of the power of a kind word. And I am eternally grateful to all of you, my friends.

Dandelion Wishes

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

The Enemy Within

I have seen the enemy. Just needed to look in the mirror of my mind. I think we're going to be friends.

Arizona

Memories of Sedona

Zippers

A thousand zippers closed as tight as a croc's jaws. Protecting who against what I cannot answer. Unzip your mind, unzip your heart, and come make yourself at home. Love abides.

News Bulletin for Andraxians

UD - Robby Brewer
UD Employee

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:13 pm
Post subject: Grid.org scheduled outage
Dear Members,

This is a reminder that Grid.org will be physically moving to a new facility this weekend. This will provide better reliability and is part of the Grid.org migration. Grid.org must be completely powered down in order to move. This will include the forum, member web, and the grid itself.

Since this is not a trivial outage, we cannot give an exact time that Grid.org will be down. The outage will take as long as it takes and it may be a day or two before everything is back online.
_________________
Robby Brewer
Senior Support Engineer
United Devices

Temple of Doom

Nothing quite like a few ghost stories between father and son on a dark and cold windy night.

Father and Son

Christopher is with me this weekend.

Mountains

Do the trees on the side of this mountain look at each other and say, "We are on a mountain and as such our fate is much greater than our brethren in the valley. We face the wind and the cold in ways they will never know. Woe be us." Or do they simply rejoice in being a bit closer to the sun, a bit closer to the heavens. I'd like to think they do neither, but rather express themselves fully as trees without the layers of this or that.

Star of Earl

As the sun set on the day, a star rose in the darkness of night and I felt a warmth on the back of my neck. Message received, job done. Permission to move on granted.

Check-Six

17 November 2004

One year ago today, at 4:04am my dad lost his fight with cancer. The fractal above is my tribute to and remembrance of my father. My dad was a marine, which explains why I choose a military theme. In the fighter pilot lexicon to "check-six" is to look behind for approaching bogeys. In this image the pilot has no chance against the two enemy fighters on his tail. I yelled check-six to my father many times. He never heard until it was too late. Dad, if you are reading this, I love you.

Don't Know

This image touches something very deep inside of me tonight. I cannot put my finger on exactly how to describe the emotion. I see the laughing faces as knowing something about life and death I don't. Their laugh is both knowing and mocking at the same time. Absurdity is the only word that comes to mind but even it falls short of describing the depth and breath of the feeling.

Small Towns (update)

We got the vet bill today for Mario's last three weeks. His twice a day visits amounted to $2097. Our vet discounted $1200 off that price, so we owe $897. I have to believe this was his cost. Where else does this happen. Small towns.

Love and Innocence

Red petals crying in the rain.

No Guarantees

No promises there will be a tomorrow. Tell someone you love them--today.

Delicious Delight

Hope you are having a delicious day of delight and wonder at the colors and textures dancing before your mind's eye in a kaleidoscope of orgasmic revelation.

Peace. Love. Joy. Compassion.

Relief

Sat still and released the hounds. Thoughts left and right sprang in every direction in an endless parade of "look at me." I watched as they begged for my attention, each jockeying for front and center position. Then I thought, WWGD. And I knew the answer, "Just keep lovin'."

King Kitty

Official portrait of the cat from across the street that tortures my four yorkies every day. Telephoto close-up has been requested for identification purposes (below).

Cherry

Ice Cube

I'd like to think when I touch the sky I touch the heavens and the heavens touches me back. They say we are made of the same material as the stars. Carbon, hydrogen, water and such. In my ice cube is the cosmos and in the cosmos is my ice.

This I believe. Touch me, touch the world, touch the universe, touch the beginning of time, for when can you divide me from the beginning. When. At what point. Touch me, touch time, touch all eternity. Love, hugs and kisses my friends.

Tears

Dry your tears, you are beautiful in my eyes.

Darts

Standing at the line, dart in hand, eyes firmly focused ahead, my mind melds one into the other and there is no room for anything other than the precious present of now. My bag of rocks, one labeled past and the other labeled future have been left outside the door. I'll pick them back up when the game is over, but for now, it's just me, the darts and the board. Where one ends and the other begins I couldn't tell you and I wouldn't want it any other way. Let's play.

Right View

For those on the space roller coaster, look right. I've once again enter the land of "no words." As your guide on this ride, I'll just keep my mouth shut and let you enjoy the view, as is.

Going Up

If going up and going down are just the same two impostors parading as reality, a facade of concepts, images, memories, constructs, paradigms standing between us and "is" then why not choose going up. Anyone up for a ride on a space roller coaster? Morning Peeps {waves from "Here"}

Marriage

I'm painting today so I want an image with lots of color, perhaps even something outdoors. Since we often have hot air balloons pass over our house and they are very colorful, I thought I would do one for today.

I've got the image about right and I call my lovely bride in to get her opinion. I ask, "Hon, what does this look like to you?" Of course, I fully expect her to say hot air balloon. She looks for a sec, and without doubt says, "It's Ringo Starr!" I've just told you everything you need to know about my marriage--lol.