Dangerous Ducks

The Kids Who lived

2005-08-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

This is still good....
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1920's 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70'sFirst, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.They didn't need birthing classes or birthing videos to do what comes naturally.No need for back rubs, a partner to breathe with them, or the need to put the blessed event on a home movie for all and sundry to see..Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints, with bars you could get your head stuck in.We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because................ WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING !We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.We respected the authority of adults, parents, aunties, uncles, teachers, police officers and the like.We had to attend school every day and like it. We worked our arses off because we knew the consequences of a poor report card. The Teacher was always right, and your parents sided with them.When we misbehaved, were rude, spiteful, or didn't follow the rules, we were caned, detained, and reprimanded. We didn't go home and tell our parents what happened because we knew we'd get walloped again.We had three meals a day and we ate what was put in front of us. No choices. You ate what you were given and you ate it all....."There were children starving around the world."We had an extended family watching out for us..........aunties, neighbors, and your friends mothers. If you were caught doing something you shouldn't be doing, you got a slap up the side of the head from some one.We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.If you were lucky enough to get pocket money.........you had to earn it.We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.Dirty knees and fingernails showed we knew how to play, explore and have FUN.........a few bruises and scabs proved we were tough.We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS!You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how strong and independent their parents were.Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?

So, I wrote this...

2005-08-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

Well, since I do write and I would rather write fun stories, I started this one. People who have read it say they expect it to be a little kid story...while kids could certainly enjoy it...well...I'll post it here, a bit at a time so you can see what they're talking about.

Danny Doc Dilly and the Dangerous Duck: Prologue

“Arr, Captain Kreeg, the Tropic Kingdom be near enough, I'd say. I can hear the waves rolling up on the shore."Captain Joshua Kreeg stood by while his First Mate, Emmaeus Splinter, manned the helm. The star-lit skies vanished behind a blanket of gray fog, putting his very soul on alert. He too heard the terrible sound of waves crashing on rocks and knew travel into the harbor would prove a fool’s journey, and Captain Kreeg rarely played the fool.

"If it weren't for this devilish fog we'd land, Mr. Splinter. However, tonight we go no farther. This cloud is far too wicked.”"Aye, Captain.""We're near enough to drop anchor and wait for dawn. We can't see, so we can't sail. Give the order. I’ll take the helm."

Captain Kreeg held the solid, oak wheel steady as around him Mr. Splinter called the crew to life. They were well-seasoned men who deserved to sail into harbor rather than swim.Damp, chilly air wrapped around his body and he began to wish for a mug of hot chocolate from the Down Under Inn, one of the Tropic Kingdom's best establishments. But soon the cold would melt with the morning and they‘d unload their cargo of cocoa beans. Then the crew would take a bit of leave in one of the world’s jolliest villages.

He smiled. At their last visit to the Tropic Kingdom, he noticed even the smallest horse cart was painted with flowers. And King Danny Jack had quite a number of inventive fellows advising him, so there was always some interesting contraption on the build. One of them, what was his name? Danny Doc? Yes, that was him. He had mixed up an excellent batch of invisible ink. Just the thing for private messages.Beneath his feet he could feel the ship drag to a halt.

"The sails are down, Captain," said Mr. Splinter. "The anchor's out."He nodded."Thank you, Mr. Splinter.“"Aye, tell you what, sir. I'd be more'n happy to brew us some joe. I don't care if this is the bloomin' Tropic Lands. Autumn nights on the water still be cold.""My thoughts exactly, sir. Much appreciated."

Mr. Splinter vanished into the galley and Captain Kreeg began to consider his next log entry. He would note that at three bells and an unknown distance from shore, they anchored due to visibility conditions and then....he heard a strange sound.He glanced up. What was that? On foggy nights sounds could dance strangely across the open water, and from the oddest places.There it was again!He frowned. Something about it this sound was so familiar . . . but different.He heard it again. He knew what he thought it sounded like, but the noise was too huge and sharp to be . . .

"Captain Kreeg!" Boatswain Tim called. "What IS that, sir?"

"I don't know but . . . " the sound was much louder and closing in. "BATTLE STATIONS!"

On the outer island of Pedalpip Landing, a few people reported hearing gun fire on the water that night; terrible screams, cries for help and at last a voice calling, "THE CAPTAIN! DEAR LORD IT TOOK THE CAPTAIN!" Finally, there was only a dreadful silence, and the same ghost-like fog.

The next morning Captain Kreeg's vessel was discovered nearly deserted. The only crew member left was poor Mr. Splinter who had stumbled in the galley when the enemy hit. He was taken to the Tropic Kingdom where he remained too terrified to speak.

As to the cargo, not a single cocoa bean was left on board . . .

What is the Big Deal?

2005-07-25T17:17:00.000-07:00

Drivers: have you ever had some idiot stay on your tail, fighting and swerving to get around you because you happen to be doing the speed limit that day? Sure, he could have leaped into the fast lane, but that was full of traffic. But then, after aquiring this prized position in front of you he speeds off only to wind up at the same stop light with you just a block or two down the road. The road ragers all seem to need a dose of Ziggy Marley, 'No worries, mon! Respect!' I mean, unless you're in the NFL, all that stress to get 20 yards ahead just doesn't seem worth it. Really, don't worry, be happy.

First Post

2005-07-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

Testing 1-2-3...Appears to works so...hello. I'm Michel aka DocDilly and this a blog about some of the stranger goings-on that I stumble across and a few not so strange, like for instance my kid that loves NASCAR...not strange. Temperatures in the Artic of 98 degrees plus...strange. I'm going to go work on the set-up some more and we'll gradually get under way here. In the mean time, good to meet you.