h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There's a stunning cake, mari-rae...to be cut at the end of the party with much ceremony and pomp, l'm sure. And it's chocolate!

*whips out her Martini mixer*

Powdered phlog, then? Vodka in, or no?

Ah, I'm back now. Fell asleep at the keyboard. Odradek, this is mari-rae, another horse person. mari-rae, this is Odradek, who does 3-day eventing. Let me know if there is anyone else you haven't met and I'll be happy to introduce you.

Odra did you see the pinto colt mari-rae gave GR for his birthday? Last week there was just one horse, and now there's Ferrari and two younguns. We need to get to work on building the stable.

The cake has been cryogenically frozen by GR till tomorrow. So do stick around cos we are going to have some amazing fireworks, too.

One horse more and we'll have enough for a proper Apocalypse
Has GR named him yet?

Speaking of Apocalypsises, we will have fireworks, yes...lurvlely explosions...
And the burning man is still going! That's remarkable.

And speaking of the stable, Lil, think maybe we could run a hunt out of there? Cruelty free, of course...but there's nothing quite like galloping around in a pack over hill and dale like maniacs...

Ah, hunting. We could put down a drag scent. Now you know, this is a really explosive topic over in England just now, all loaded up with class warfare under a veneer of animal welfare.

A friend of mine who lives in New Mexico says they hunt coyote out there. Never caught one yet, in 25 years. (another reason to move out there) Me, I'm too old to ride like a maniac, but I look forward to lots of trail riding and schooling. I'm in the dressage phase of my riding life...

GR came and went pretty quickly at the last minute, so I don't know whether he caught all the backlog. He'll be around at greater length tomorrow.

We can load up the fireworks as a grand finale to the party, then. lf l do it right, there may not be much left of the beach to have the rest of the party -on-, if you catch my meaning...*grins evily*

They hunt ordinary fox out here, but never on a single hunt l've been on have they caught a one. They're so hard to find in this developed area that, even if we were to find one, it would be protected scrupulously.
But paper chases can be fun, too. l remember a mock hunt once where l got to be one of the hounds...that was interesting.

lf we do any mock hunts, l decree here and now that the fox has to promise not to gallop us all into a bramble patch. Those low-hanging branches and prickly bushes -hurt-...

This being an ideal world, we can simply import a prime piece of Ireland and have the hunt there. Yes, we'll clone a hefty chunk of Irish countryside, rescue in advance all small mammals that might get underfoot, and "borrow" the Beaufort hounds.

Tomorrow can we do the fireworks between 5 and 6 pm east coast time? We don't want GR to miss the display.

Splendid. Now we just need to think of a name...

For the fireworks, now. Between 5 and 6 edt...l'm pretty sure l can make it. RL might be obnoxious, but l think (-think-) everything l have to do will be primarily in the morning, so l should be home in time. And l've some of it planned out already

*sips her drink, notices Dio has sauntered over*
No, dear. No phlog.

Strawberry soda for the cat, please? Ah, thank you.
ln a saucer, thoughtfully. Very good.

*sets it down for him; he pouts. She gives in and adds just a touch of powder*
*s

Mari-rae - haven't talked to you for ages. How are you? I'm not sure I'm talking right. I'm still trying to shake off the residue of powder punch. Maybe I need some of the hair of the dog?

*pours the punch*

*considers adding a pinch of Golden retriever*

*considers against it*

There we are...

RL can sure be cruel at crucial times when you want to be online. Oh Lord yeah...

I've lost track of what's happening now *^_^*. Agh, what are we doing?! What's going on?!
A hunt sounds real cool. Just pounding around a moor on horseback would be fun. And scary and cold and windy and dangerous. Are we game?

*And The Bands Played On*

Yes, please to the vodka and Phlog! Hey Barney! I thought you looked familiar. And Mike A, we've met haven't we? At Greebo's perhaps?

Ok, so the fireworks will start at 5 - 6 EST on Saturday? I'll be with you virtually as I'll be out shopping and dining after. Put in some ooo's and ahhh's for me!!

Chocolate cake is goooood! Looking forward to that.

Looks over her shoulder to where Cookie is grazing next to Ferrari. She looks like a fat pony next to the big black horse. I don't know about a hunt...

*enters bearing several large, tastefully wrapped parcels containing an antique leather flying jacket, matching leather flying helmet, goggles, white scarf, a Lego Mindstorms kit and a box of Jelly Babies*

Happy Birthday Mike A (QMike/GR/Q)!!

Hi Amy! Now I'm confused. How many birthdays are we celebrating here, and for whom? I may have to go out shopping again. (Not that that would be a bad thing. I like shopping!)

Just two I think. Ox and "He of Many Names" (Mike A, QMike etc)

Ox?!! I thought this was for GB. Ok, I'll be back...


*Jumps on Cookie and gallops away into the distance. After a while she comes back with two more horses in tow, both paints, one palamino and white, and one chestnut and white.*

Happy birthday to all!

Hi MIKE,

It's me.

Marshall.

The one that ran you over with a snowplough.

Happy Birthday.

Hope you choke on your cake.

And I hope you will Accept my invitation to a marriage. Me and Jo's marriage. Like I said, hope you can come

Now, would you like some lemonade or does your mummy not like you to have too strong a drink before bedtime?

Incidentally, it IS time to get out the cake! Where's the bot? I need my gloves...

Happy Birthday Mike & Ox. The cake? I think I saw a dimbot trying to fit it into the blender...
I somehow doubt he was successful, though. It was a VERY big cake.

*Chesworth reaches into cryogenic capsule and pulls out the birthday cake on its platter, magnificently streaming white smoke*

*In response to the locus of cold air a small whirwind forms, causing the tiki torch flames to flutter*

*the securibot extends an arm attachment that momentarily envelops the frozen cake. There is a ticking sequence finishing with a 'ding!'*

*As the attachment withdraws, the perfectly thawed cake is revealed*


Mike A, you are your old nameself again! And not reading the backlog -- people have been giving you presents. You have a pinto colt from mari-rae, aviator clothes for your Stealth (you spoiled rich kid! ), and now a malediction from Marshall.

Marshall, I don't believe we have been properly introduced. Why come here and say nasty things at this party? Please help yourself to refreshment and hang around for the fireworks in a few hours. We'll have a second display late evening east coast time, I'm sure, for those Yanks who will still be out and about during the earlier show.

And has anyone noticed that we have figured out how to play Twister online?