tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32898372702782419482024-03-17T17:43:06.911-07:00SURFMATTERSPaul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.comBlogger2080125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-26941495975904662322024-03-05T09:02:00.000-08:002024-03-05T09:02:17.673-08:00From Steiny<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw5f1hIYVRNA4HmoXWuzxrkdi_s6ZJiS96PcerejA19-x561emQrJfoU6Qe4YhXc27-a8BXVAbEh4-q6WW-aXck7sNeLu4SQHb3xZveSTw0nUJ9eyJ4AhDf8TwbsCa4Pb6q3AKai7_wqNzdDKjRckI5o_YtF9jWHV4V8IAO9JXCHuIMixszkwuTv0gsg/s1552/image_50763009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1552" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw5f1hIYVRNA4HmoXWuzxrkdi_s6ZJiS96PcerejA19-x561emQrJfoU6Qe4YhXc27-a8BXVAbEh4-q6WW-aXck7sNeLu4SQHb3xZveSTw0nUJ9eyJ4AhDf8TwbsCa4Pb6q3AKai7_wqNzdDKjRckI5o_YtF9jWHV4V8IAO9JXCHuIMixszkwuTv0gsg/s320/image_50763009.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-77334445487834269412024-02-29T07:37:00.000-08:002024-02-29T08:33:01.541-08:00From Ben<div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyfxoI9y6XjSrpURTtUj90-SzNVXc7VOujuWIgrVc7cxAljDBpAhZ0IqGXfLvu0BFVp9-9IKBrWyoq_D-SA-N0MrDSMSd1aKgRohyphenhyphen62aDtbqEPrHlyJ_Q0EPqX8-tf1PN8SdivKFYswnc8QGzWE6qzWAMJ9TRVeDsyGnIKF1rsJbVR6BHNQXFQf0oGSA/s2048/IMG_3224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyfxoI9y6XjSrpURTtUj90-SzNVXc7VOujuWIgrVc7cxAljDBpAhZ0IqGXfLvu0BFVp9-9IKBrWyoq_D-SA-N0MrDSMSd1aKgRohyphenhyphen62aDtbqEPrHlyJ_Q0EPqX8-tf1PN8SdivKFYswnc8QGzWE6qzWAMJ9TRVeDsyGnIKF1rsJbVR6BHNQXFQf0oGSA/s320/IMG_3224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rrVItRtvda_yAyg2e59BQJVHgZLHNnTCO6VDTymQzKpKxRBkUiwBMTxMHT0a0s9UU-OYtxn5ZXp4DBsptygwAEBcEan2nhWInGR9urM2c1sah8IiswocnQq8ZopsXTi_VNeJc6Bxj7JQ5aMjLVyErvgkuRZFygBXgeDGEZV2vO3dH-SrjhRua1PD9_Y/s2048/IMG_3225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rrVItRtvda_yAyg2e59BQJVHgZLHNnTCO6VDTymQzKpKxRBkUiwBMTxMHT0a0s9UU-OYtxn5ZXp4DBsptygwAEBcEan2nhWInGR9urM2c1sah8IiswocnQq8ZopsXTi_VNeJc6Bxj7JQ5aMjLVyErvgkuRZFygBXgeDGEZV2vO3dH-SrjhRua1PD9_Y/s320/IMG_3225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photos: Jesse Coker<br /></div><div><p></p></div>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-56361143740400153942024-02-24T07:37:00.000-08:002024-02-24T07:37:59.041-08:00From Joe<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwDTP26ha3oAnVKwE_LyALUVlKNR4_fM1GhokzeSs24bNSGdimiOzcRCXU3dFzT__uarK29L_TmCOkLjTMGYA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Hey Paul,</p><div>Hope you're doing well over there. It's a wild world all the time, but it sure is a weird one at the minute. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>The difference between my old omni and the lotus is unbelievable. Thanks for the advice and the recommendations.</div><div><br /></div><div>The
lotus holds, the lotus fits, the lotus' flywheel winds up faster and
releases with greater torque. It seems happier sitting and holding
higher up the face of the wave, its banking turns are incomparable. In
saying all this I finished repairing my omni and am really excited to
get back on it. </div><br class="yiv2278505149gmail-Apple-interchange-newline" /><div>I'm
pretty lithe and light, so the lotus sizing feels better, less space to
get the arms up on the mat which has in turn resulted in some very
positive right arm/both arms back discipline.</div><div><br /></div><div>We've
had some very good and unseasonale swell over summer here and I've been
out at least thrice a week. Most of my surfboards are looking at me
quite forlornly as I pass them in the garage...</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>I've attached a few media moments of joy below for your / but also my/ pleasure.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the best,</div><div><br /></div><div>joe</div>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-9022595276676560292024-02-21T06:26:00.000-08:002024-02-21T06:26:42.021-08:00From Bryan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwX7Aa-TFci3LsQydcBbxaE9lwMyhCKD6Xbz1JpvcdkKZgByZulvb4Ueus3Ci_XXiwDiHpkY6mxZvHqdhWqjw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p> </p><p>Hi
Paul,</p><p></p><p>I had a great time on my fatty in hard offshores today. I was a
little worried about my mat getting blown to Hawaii but thankfully I
maintained a firm grip throughout the session. I attached a clip of my
best wave of the day. I was right on the edge of holding the rail and
sliding out for this whole wave and it felt great.</p><div class="msg-body P_wpofO mq_AS" data-test-id="message-view-body-content"><div class="jb_0 X_6MGW N_6Fd5"><div><div id="yiv1619761239"><div><div class="yiv1619761239yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Bryan</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-83002891727340390822024-02-19T10:24:00.000-08:002024-02-19T10:24:22.277-08:00From Aaron<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz8NXy71xZAq6U9r-Sa4uJRsAkAlhV1zg4_UIuVEat7pJFYCiY6KDZBPyC_OqtcbyvaARQHOmYSAYJGvQPaBg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwepzhpmoxwv8GvSW3Hk2RiEc0pdPRYabvrOmcV0X1Sacci1Um0zDK4JptjtY-kzrcCOn3HjiGfjrwYdVjm7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_njekFp_cfTgMvhJdoBPzvzx4VFihulvOEMbXnChlRjgraHiuRUV5NYb2Xl4oYK5fMxqpLlKBo4wo2lXzNQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwoqLAAb0FoWkfg0cwuh1-WmL0_a6OIlIS658748HBqV-QfT_NuNC35jbMktkADH75w4hr18L-xMv8Ju7MWDQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p><p>In these clips from Andrew, I was running high inflation on my 4gf Standard because of the south wind chop. High inflation let me hold an edge for the brief moments of water contact.</p><p>Waves here have been very soft and hard to catch this year. Most days, I've been running inflation extra low, to the point where the mat can be folded into 3...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pCk4jsXcHK0oI9u2LtrBnsXJF4BfXdB10KSvLRnyH0vYrxmDFSEoFWuDQGnxUtNbDSiNYc9t51dbccbZQA-sTy3hUICPE3tjZwGFtiAlR3gTx-z2eiKtTlTP18k0HHNLLgEJkSr4y1I-DAh-O_P9RVvItthGajjteD2zjDXqnNsn1JRT90KWbXb1rDA/s1600/IMG_6057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pCk4jsXcHK0oI9u2LtrBnsXJF4BfXdB10KSvLRnyH0vYrxmDFSEoFWuDQGnxUtNbDSiNYc9t51dbccbZQA-sTy3hUICPE3tjZwGFtiAlR3gTx-z2eiKtTlTP18k0HHNLLgEJkSr4y1I-DAh-O_P9RVvItthGajjteD2zjDXqnNsn1JRT90KWbXb1rDA/s320/IMG_6057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-3035422863428134132024-02-14T20:49:00.000-08:002024-02-14T20:49:28.054-08:00San Diego Loaner Mats<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NGr4gT6ZhtPt0mA0vwVKiSezUN19MWcgkE0JwrO9vsH0zqXgRQcdQw2JdDpNeWso5cJzjJjW10uZTiAJNuwoA4I6XCWZkJ6cJQBuDnHR3s1KfQ5YoYsLkq7TqS92BQ1cpePcH8yj7cbTsvkaqvPH0QFBgeIKr5gD3OpT92CKq8thX1NxT7u5Ff4x4gM/s600/Mikey%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NGr4gT6ZhtPt0mA0vwVKiSezUN19MWcgkE0JwrO9vsH0zqXgRQcdQw2JdDpNeWso5cJzjJjW10uZTiAJNuwoA4I6XCWZkJ6cJQBuDnHR3s1KfQ5YoYsLkq7TqS92BQ1cpePcH8yj7cbTsvkaqvPH0QFBgeIKr5gD3OpT92CKq8thX1NxT7u5Ff4x4gM/s320/Mikey%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-83589687439581900302024-02-11T08:34:00.000-08:002024-02-11T08:34:16.548-08:00Travel Safety...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-48zgbW7mwwtE8cJiF0ZYrSEYYLvlWD3bKf4FxKgUvO2GZALjkpYXwBR734fpUOOLgUVWQGucLXhAwf9Dadv4WccclPqUTTKQhWpVdiq53FDPCfQN6NWPe_yhA3F6_kY_ce7ukxR_6vQigLtSjP2kPJuYebo5wNh0phcIG1DNU7CajFZ6dnfOl4kFPw/s719/Screenshot%202024-02-11%20at%2008-26-49%20Pro-Lite%20Int.%20on%20Instagram%20Protect%20your%20boards%20from%20the%20rigors%20of%20travel%20with%20the%20Armored%20Coffin%20surfboard%20travel%20bag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="719" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-48zgbW7mwwtE8cJiF0ZYrSEYYLvlWD3bKf4FxKgUvO2GZALjkpYXwBR734fpUOOLgUVWQGucLXhAwf9Dadv4WccclPqUTTKQhWpVdiq53FDPCfQN6NWPe_yhA3F6_kY_ce7ukxR_6vQigLtSjP2kPJuYebo5wNh0phcIG1DNU7CajFZ6dnfOl4kFPw/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-11%20at%2008-26-49%20Pro-Lite%20Int.%20on%20Instagram%20Protect%20your%20boards%20from%20the%20rigors%20of%20travel%20with%20the%20Armored%20Coffin%20surfboard%20travel%20bag.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfJZ9Nc9ZWaCe6CjvXPZLx-DmC7YEydTOkWi6Um84T-7nXLslGTjHOpe2hyphenhyphenb1GArDMcYDhkxz6ycDOprg7YklDCA3IdAPdCOQZJCyTstj4F_FlIaYe2KJIv8YE7xvU6p2kFuQFyFINnoqX5odMt4-_u_ti74LeVEwZs0zkct9rHlStIQjW1uayOitsxU/s719/Screenshot%202024-02-11%20at%2008-27-42%20Pro-Lite%20Int.%20on%20Instagram%20Protect%20your%20boards%20from%20the%20rigors%20of%20travel%20with%20the%20Armored%20Coffin%20surfboard%20travel%20bag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="719" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfJZ9Nc9ZWaCe6CjvXPZLx-DmC7YEydTOkWi6Um84T-7nXLslGTjHOpe2hyphenhyphenb1GArDMcYDhkxz6ycDOprg7YklDCA3IdAPdCOQZJCyTstj4F_FlIaYe2KJIv8YE7xvU6p2kFuQFyFINnoqX5odMt4-_u_ti74LeVEwZs0zkct9rHlStIQjW1uayOitsxU/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-11%20at%2008-27-42%20Pro-Lite%20Int.%20on%20Instagram%20Protect%20your%20boards%20from%20the%20rigors%20of%20travel%20with%20the%20Armored%20Coffin%20surfboard%20travel%20bag.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcQKpwEVYag7pFWN7adXzwF4clyEs4JL-_OZNyrtBU6V84tTeF3ZRMIzDkngpoWFrQOnsqCevJd-c0FiD8sYZeMmf6EOMOkwtB1E0oAkuOn2tZkRTyoef1o1asVBYJlcvdu-XWt-uIl_jYviDOZtMirC-LDd2BfY1unq3SVOYH9qdQ87eqRKRblvhAYw/s719/Screenshot%202024-02-11%20at%2008-28-05%20Pro-Lite%20Int.%20on%20Instagram%20Protect%20your%20boards%20from%20the%20rigors%20of%20travel%20with%20the%20Armored%20Coffin%20surfboard%20travel%20bag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="719" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcQKpwEVYag7pFWN7adXzwF4clyEs4JL-_OZNyrtBU6V84tTeF3ZRMIzDkngpoWFrQOnsqCevJd-c0FiD8sYZeMmf6EOMOkwtB1E0oAkuOn2tZkRTyoef1o1asVBYJlcvdu-XWt-uIl_jYviDOZtMirC-LDd2BfY1unq3SVOYH9qdQ87eqRKRblvhAYw/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-11%20at%2008-28-05%20Pro-Lite%20Int.%20on%20Instagram%20Protect%20your%20boards%20from%20the%20rigors%20of%20travel%20with%20the%20Armored%20Coffin%20surfboard%20travel%20bag.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Pro Lite travel bag crew has developed an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz9xbQPA7m9/">inflatable liner for travel bags</a>...to protect surfboards in transit. Of course, you could just save the hassle and take deflated inflatables rolled up in a suitcase and surf them...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-13353950204306018212024-02-03T21:16:00.000-08:002024-02-03T21:16:57.996-08:00From Steiny<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM2HYC21GND5DB9Qy1mK5elolGJwyyC8XeQm4MGvranETVLzT0ojHb95E6g0j1c_5KfQD6lija4_UN0rPdmvGX0gdSX_pghjo6RlNmyfr385unOGn0gldD49rJDPJKbGOhr64EEWt5eaPSDkAK_un7zpar3YsjWymk6lMWJbkZ8xo9DZJO32ZzbpPZLU/s2656/IMG_3805(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2656" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM2HYC21GND5DB9Qy1mK5elolGJwyyC8XeQm4MGvranETVLzT0ojHb95E6g0j1c_5KfQD6lija4_UN0rPdmvGX0gdSX_pghjo6RlNmyfr385unOGn0gldD49rJDPJKbGOhr64EEWt5eaPSDkAK_un7zpar3YsjWymk6lMWJbkZ8xo9DZJO32ZzbpPZLU/s320/IMG_3805(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Sarah and her Omni. More about Sarah <a href="https://savilasurf.com/slaying-dragons/">here!</a><p></p><p> Photo: Alex Vierra <br /></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-41127276749970834052024-01-17T23:07:00.000-08:002024-01-18T14:49:57.976-08:00From David<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3x0sg4t0UeUJ-R8rzp_FI3xw0jeLvDBPAAhM3HglpwQ2YOx-xJQarZoukqlCsIUrc5snX-3fj3dTgF21XxOmao288spe8tj7sdcV4_2hX4SelV8P17uFrsjpQXrHTtED0cd-B5jiNIiBUUUZ48HM5GNg8CIzNnv03lDLxQ0DSkrsC0h-3aoprd7tBuo/s5184/IMG_4369.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3x0sg4t0UeUJ-R8rzp_FI3xw0jeLvDBPAAhM3HglpwQ2YOx-xJQarZoukqlCsIUrc5snX-3fj3dTgF21XxOmao288spe8tj7sdcV4_2hX4SelV8P17uFrsjpQXrHTtED0cd-B5jiNIiBUUUZ48HM5GNg8CIzNnv03lDLxQ0DSkrsC0h-3aoprd7tBuo/s320/IMG_4369.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8FU8BizVlscWE_FytWB6wzGEBwWLsqwFq-WEfuyncHo8IxwIEHcdpiTz4rX9VOgp6FggFnDIPg9VH0eEGpuXNUh87m_ggYH1A1LoHeBaWJLmtp1ifCVLRs6REFVU9IEcCyLAkdj8fZKRbatx7HvHOVHo373MPA55mM3n5xfLxhoYpqsH-pIG1Tw6-4E/s5184/IMG_4373.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8FU8BizVlscWE_FytWB6wzGEBwWLsqwFq-WEfuyncHo8IxwIEHcdpiTz4rX9VOgp6FggFnDIPg9VH0eEGpuXNUh87m_ggYH1A1LoHeBaWJLmtp1ifCVLRs6REFVU9IEcCyLAkdj8fZKRbatx7HvHOVHo373MPA55mM3n5xfLxhoYpqsH-pIG1Tw6-4E/s320/IMG_4373.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMz3WcElBl9X8SREyrKRQg5CSFx-ZwYeef8T0nhLu7BK4MjHCYt7vuILQ_y857WuujPb7sCmKJ7ag3XIbVmCni1IevYyPrghifU3aHTG5X-eJl9VCwy-z-dsxQArR27H5EDpMhW9wUE7h9tA_DK_xVep6mpj_muEXmFovjM9PkFRmwUEjRzoFnUeVgOg/s5184/IMG_4376.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMz3WcElBl9X8SREyrKRQg5CSFx-ZwYeef8T0nhLu7BK4MjHCYt7vuILQ_y857WuujPb7sCmKJ7ag3XIbVmCni1IevYyPrghifU3aHTG5X-eJl9VCwy-z-dsxQArR27H5EDpMhW9wUE7h9tA_DK_xVep6mpj_muEXmFovjM9PkFRmwUEjRzoFnUeVgOg/s320/IMG_4376.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /></p><p><br />Hi
Paul, <br /></p><div class="msg-body P_wpofO mq_AS" data-test-id="message-view-body-content"><div class="jb_0 X_6MGW N_6Fd5"><div><div id="yiv6296514753"><div><div class="yiv6296514753yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div dir="ltr">I just wanted to say Happy new year and glad to see you are
actively riding and testing mats. All the
mats you've made me are still in good condition and riding well over the
years. I had a fun session over the summer at a right hander and my 11
year old son Luke actually took a couple of photos. </div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr">Wishing you good
health and plenty of waves this year. </div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr">Thanks for the fun sliding
vehicles you create.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">David</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-15296977904125596512024-01-13T10:28:00.000-08:002024-01-13T10:28:53.836-08:00Brave New World<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyyHnResTng8Kd7sTUdgHhFHH53SVKEnn_PFGv7_8e6tV8xVx6x7Ma6JryJMTbbRASzaMDi80kM3MVyhThNgg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-65445229947835406522024-01-10T11:03:00.000-08:002024-01-10T11:03:33.595-08:00From Kelly<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSNUlXaKSCviWd34-ejqKtGMIw1cndONgjS-XQD5HKJaXkLP33eriin4_mPP1cJte84HhlmeSRSyQHtipwoxSJZtyHPDvjIFOzmjFhP-Dw0te1023smMW1fez-rT1-lmZnXGLIDCd3TyW1Hrv4M7ztc05t_3X4hMqQQyXob02GtSCP9M6xdOuQvdf4hM/s855/Screenshot%202024-01-10%20at%2010-59-57%20Stories%20%E2%80%A2%20Instagram.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSNUlXaKSCviWd34-ejqKtGMIw1cndONgjS-XQD5HKJaXkLP33eriin4_mPP1cJte84HhlmeSRSyQHtipwoxSJZtyHPDvjIFOzmjFhP-Dw0te1023smMW1fez-rT1-lmZnXGLIDCd3TyW1Hrv4M7ztc05t_3X4hMqQQyXob02GtSCP9M6xdOuQvdf4hM/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-10%20at%2010-59-57%20Stories%20%E2%80%A2%20Instagram.png" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-42121506443766782412024-01-09T20:40:00.000-08:002024-01-09T20:40:27.270-08:00From Richard<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84jzw_AQceDHQZAHQQnHwg_IcBIpeUcRamQIVfQur1-b3XOSmM_GI1EifvaC7rGkIqyj6GNwvKPdoqO4ZffJRegUry6cjdrrEdwiqqJD4DTUiTEq1NuvhhDByD-MrmtBPy6_Fpk37Bu-31LBHc1a594dHduTOncPbmff3Kr9n6J9w09tjqITmHHS5RPg/s320/472FDAFC-4E01-40CF-AD75-49E386199C7F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="320" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84jzw_AQceDHQZAHQQnHwg_IcBIpeUcRamQIVfQur1-b3XOSmM_GI1EifvaC7rGkIqyj6GNwvKPdoqO4ZffJRegUry6cjdrrEdwiqqJD4DTUiTEq1NuvhhDByD-MrmtBPy6_Fpk37Bu-31LBHc1a594dHduTOncPbmff3Kr9n6J9w09tjqITmHHS5RPg/s1600/472FDAFC-4E01-40CF-AD75-49E386199C7F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPQxpZeCeZsv15HQI0cGNtAT1Q9HKv9vNKAgHB8rS3TxX8tjqt-Ag4sL1018wo9-F5CR0crO8mcLp1UpmDC0wztFcZuXjT6h41F1ehnn60M8OtMMea711BCN8fjh12joughp3y5qzKp0Kl8MwbUHz4ccBmQXy7sBgL_ZE8B7pu4WVnlreEDx9s9QhhPg/s320/F262D936-9DA2-4F64-862F-B6EF3595D123.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="320" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPQxpZeCeZsv15HQI0cGNtAT1Q9HKv9vNKAgHB8rS3TxX8tjqt-Ag4sL1018wo9-F5CR0crO8mcLp1UpmDC0wztFcZuXjT6h41F1ehnn60M8OtMMea711BCN8fjh12joughp3y5qzKp0Kl8MwbUHz4ccBmQXy7sBgL_ZE8B7pu4WVnlreEDx9s9QhhPg/s1600/F262D936-9DA2-4F64-862F-B6EF3595D123.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_Cld1vifyMb195J__TpL5VaStAtROdh3dR3yhd5BpXvfQukIJYsENQqor4mFpj3eWV4LzDI940Xv3ok8mgN4_ytCe5s43qdJ0zrCgB1o_0hJDuc1Nq2DPHG5OkODQ7KuDosDQnaX4CPLATqY_nP0Hj4lgdJtA3mdEnaN0Vm6_yfGjSsj8Z_tfV4kWmc/s320/76AFA1FF-98B0-478C-BF0F-C905A3D5A7A7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="320" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_Cld1vifyMb195J__TpL5VaStAtROdh3dR3yhd5BpXvfQukIJYsENQqor4mFpj3eWV4LzDI940Xv3ok8mgN4_ytCe5s43qdJ0zrCgB1o_0hJDuc1Nq2DPHG5OkODQ7KuDosDQnaX4CPLATqY_nP0Hj4lgdJtA3mdEnaN0Vm6_yfGjSsj8Z_tfV4kWmc/s1600/76AFA1FF-98B0-478C-BF0F-C905A3D5A7A7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div dir="ltr">Hi Paul, I hope this note finds you well. <br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Here’s
a few pics from last fall at my home break in Beach Haven. I’m still
riding one of the two standards in my quiver as my go to surf craft. <br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">It
was a surprise to see another matter from my area writing in about
fins, especially since he’s on Bob Evans’ force fins. I went to them a
few years ago after tearing both my Achilles tendons over a period of
two years. I’m hoping to have a look at the yuccas. The FFs just don’t
do it for me when it comes to using them as a rudder. <br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">If
you don’t mind passing my email on to Dave from Philly, I’d be
interested in talking to another local mat rider. I live in suburban
Philadelphia <br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Rich<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div>PS.
My son moved to Santa Barbara from Oxnard recently. He mostly surfs
Oxnard still but next time I’m out there I hope to find a good mat spot
near his house as I’m usually on bicycle when I’m there.Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-78311098771271887992024-01-02T11:46:00.000-08:002024-01-02T11:57:03.060-08:00From Mikey at SurfnSkateHoarder<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QszAmu_ROTkTJ_jBYW59Co7ezFLU2JWH7aPxPIPxIQxoL9_cH3CasGOCPpZ9ErKd8Uj8PB1jJCfL8jdJxYFHwN8Efzq4Da2s42-JQ7pnlmXuUZZSkRkBDPxQ_2iZaVClpIeENJw8ArLu6ktXaXpD-486WX6okYtDDhyQK1WMw8tb8cYlwJPzxnv4wuU/s403/Mikey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QszAmu_ROTkTJ_jBYW59Co7ezFLU2JWH7aPxPIPxIQxoL9_cH3CasGOCPpZ9ErKd8Uj8PB1jJCfL8jdJxYFHwN8Efzq4Da2s42-JQ7pnlmXuUZZSkRkBDPxQ_2iZaVClpIeENJw8ArLu6ktXaXpD-486WX6okYtDDhyQK1WMw8tb8cYlwJPzxnv4wuU/s320/Mikey.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24aNITK9Hlt2EfhDu8fgOTFJf1B8x8XcMrZHm4gk9-AixPnuXxzmR_sRNCO_s3-mha8GGv9IDbU4N0YQZEc-nlM8TWKyu-NndnU0_-HDQICfWbzBFTKWPjF8PX9iWS_mQAhzh8Z3ckepnNOjs8eotSk_vJ8YEycTwemGdIyujJ6WjA7WaD4XHoq_2CuE/s711/412460139_1390394925173017_3690597155093141981_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="711" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24aNITK9Hlt2EfhDu8fgOTFJf1B8x8XcMrZHm4gk9-AixPnuXxzmR_sRNCO_s3-mha8GGv9IDbU4N0YQZEc-nlM8TWKyu-NndnU0_-HDQICfWbzBFTKWPjF8PX9iWS_mQAhzh8Z3ckepnNOjs8eotSk_vJ8YEycTwemGdIyujJ6WjA7WaD4XHoq_2CuE/s320/412460139_1390394925173017_3690597155093141981_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Pic by Phil Britton<p></p><p>Good start to new year!! <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz _aa9_ _a6hd" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/lowerpowered/" role="link" tabindex="0">#lowerpowered</a> flick <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz notranslate _a6hd" href="https://www.instagram.com/_philalbritton/" role="link" tabindex="0">@_philalbritton</a></p><p>The mat crew has been growing down here .. I had few old buddies buy
some of your mats for xmas.</p><p>A quick funny story me my best bud,
Daniel, Captain Dave , my other buddy Alex and a gentleman that I
didn’t know we’re all on mats. </p><p>It was kind of big and
there was a kid on a short board just floating next to us not even
trying to Surf. He literally paddled out and was floating and out of
nowhere, this lifeguard into JetSki comes rolling up sees all of us on
the mats and looks at the kid and goes. Hey kid didn’t you get the memo
mats only? Out of the water. </p><p>He was totally joking and picking on the kid,
and we all laughed and the kid was like really? And we’re all no
dude you can hang out. It’s not a big deal we’re just kidding. It was
super funny though. The lifeguard recognized me and my other buddy from
the swim zone, so we just came up and thought I’d be funny. Anyway, have
a nice day brother.</p><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-30541958194749163472024-01-02T06:27:00.000-08:002024-01-02T06:27:01.442-08:00From Andrew<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUg6pxgrrPthxGlMMMlJcol1IykGKyP8VaCYSzTNqfpU8M24UgabtGfwf99tDV0zTrzDohRZSlc_7k82-prLAg7Oc2uuCBmOIg2soLfOR-5G2_WYUtwXZqWEyhEaZaBbLlb3RQCzFJDtSUCvBzZllkZDx2dtuaRgqcL7__kxINYUQuR0z8ujy-a_wlbqQ/s1080/Ken%20in%20So.Af.%20from%20Andrew%20Parseghian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUg6pxgrrPthxGlMMMlJcol1IykGKyP8VaCYSzTNqfpU8M24UgabtGfwf99tDV0zTrzDohRZSlc_7k82-prLAg7Oc2uuCBmOIg2soLfOR-5G2_WYUtwXZqWEyhEaZaBbLlb3RQCzFJDtSUCvBzZllkZDx2dtuaRgqcL7__kxINYUQuR0z8ujy-a_wlbqQ/s320/Ken%20in%20So.Af.%20from%20Andrew%20Parseghian.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Hey Paul, <p></p><p>Wishing you a happy New Year. Just wanted to share a photo of
one of my best friends. Ken, who’s currently in South Africa, has been
enjoying two different oceans with a standard you’ve made for me years
back. He’s a skilled body surfer and it makes me smile that he chose to
ride your mat while currently overseas. </p><p>Cheers!</p><p>Andrew P <br /></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-1635110278094259832023-12-31T10:20:00.000-08:002023-12-31T11:49:52.487-08:00Product Of The Year, 2023 !!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVLDhREyjfcXlJ7ovZQT03f1mx5_BJPXe9wZU3JceVO0vxF8d3NZVub4_C2KvGCTwSRHu1DvSdn8VYASjU4yYW-Q6IXjGoHDOguflBtTsm3IIl4Vr1XHdobZ-3q_t771cUMC-3MvT5nX75IprfuW1V4ML1msoXygCFF5Cme3NDHALjMPvoqrKXZjttMc/s900/stormy-surf-carollmiller-photography.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVLDhREyjfcXlJ7ovZQT03f1mx5_BJPXe9wZU3JceVO0vxF8d3NZVub4_C2KvGCTwSRHu1DvSdn8VYASjU4yYW-Q6IXjGoHDOguflBtTsm3IIl4Vr1XHdobZ-3q_t771cUMC-3MvT5nX75IprfuW1V4ML1msoXygCFF5Cme3NDHALjMPvoqrKXZjttMc/s320/stormy-surf-carollmiller-photography.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6n25ndIBElD8Sa-24BYN5rnbL663ADgISNgQ8QJ5SY48hDlNY7TlpCSQhP1kBTQyR9sDvMp2HcZqewwGUYnosTDXrofVTBxfU2Rf5TVzt453qgn8BJvx1OMBanFv8MTyc6r2ZNAchlTfr_q6u-h4i49ZxNehtmpSF55yqv8Bo-ZNspWPfn_ZgZh2YHh4/s480/beer%20goggles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="222" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6n25ndIBElD8Sa-24BYN5rnbL663ADgISNgQ8QJ5SY48hDlNY7TlpCSQhP1kBTQyR9sDvMp2HcZqewwGUYnosTDXrofVTBxfU2Rf5TVzt453qgn8BJvx1OMBanFv8MTyc6r2ZNAchlTfr_q6u-h4i49ZxNehtmpSF55yqv8Bo-ZNspWPfn_ZgZh2YHh4/s320/beer%20goggles.jpg" width="148" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CQclsWIiZkTceglT-wD7vpLx9Ys5mfu4xOOnlce-soizT-iR6e0ZEBugzDCRSOiPO_nPKWefAc-yrtg8TUifoM6X4WJZ_ZvWQd88YHOuAAahrQxrRpOfgXgDC4Buq4_t7iQlbTMd8mTsqZKCEGwl5VeTbqXB7ZxryG3HZcnHarcgBbZ9me4WzMn6DEs/s1000/perfect%20surf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CQclsWIiZkTceglT-wD7vpLx9Ys5mfu4xOOnlce-soizT-iR6e0ZEBugzDCRSOiPO_nPKWefAc-yrtg8TUifoM6X4WJZ_ZvWQd88YHOuAAahrQxrRpOfgXgDC4Buq4_t7iQlbTMd8mTsqZKCEGwl5VeTbqXB7ZxryG3HZcnHarcgBbZ9me4WzMn6DEs/s320/perfect%20surf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Developed by our own <a href="https://surfmatters.blogspot.com/2022/04/april-fools-redux.html">Mister Dirk</a>, these special 4GF-tinted lenses let you see the surf through 'mat goggles.' Just slip them on your dome, and turn your local beach break junk into a free trip to Indo! <br /></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-33967165364493576882023-12-30T07:59:00.000-08:002023-12-30T07:59:22.619-08:00From Andy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH8oSNNpieuKyKYJkc-eFMmk_Epcb3jxzDb-fMBR-47MfzAC3AmuNp_HaAfn-9V2oQyVYN9ybvuhuZOBVuE0ar7aGKsOqSQJbd5UY6L5myc9yV5x1xkZS8apwbEQ9SN3C7buKUXgcxBKLzoSDH6Gx92QuwAOqaIupvGsBfN1Q1-RDbvlJuihN_tCOw7Y/s1080/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH8oSNNpieuKyKYJkc-eFMmk_Epcb3jxzDb-fMBR-47MfzAC3AmuNp_HaAfn-9V2oQyVYN9ybvuhuZOBVuE0ar7aGKsOqSQJbd5UY6L5myc9yV5x1xkZS8apwbEQ9SN3C7buKUXgcxBKLzoSDH6Gx92QuwAOqaIupvGsBfN1Q1-RDbvlJuihN_tCOw7Y/s320/IMG_2173.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FWg-pIkOZIuFpYHGO2ldOI-msdRSV3k4bX0MhaDYo0zKwbM1gXigLcpxrYR4QuRcdofbPt2_kYZqGVqEY0-ppcy2kTAgTF2vpPqa6l4_VBn_qq-ai7L9CQVGIu-yjt7xk0QgrXXLS1PRUEZ6TLsf5U5yg7pxch3YpkJ-v-nzEnM4AASRivCFY9Mrp0U/s1080/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FWg-pIkOZIuFpYHGO2ldOI-msdRSV3k4bX0MhaDYo0zKwbM1gXigLcpxrYR4QuRcdofbPt2_kYZqGVqEY0-ppcy2kTAgTF2vpPqa6l4_VBn_qq-ai7L9CQVGIu-yjt7xk0QgrXXLS1PRUEZ6TLsf5U5yg7pxch3YpkJ-v-nzEnM4AASRivCFY9Mrp0U/s320/Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Hi Paul,</p><div dir="ltr">Just
wanted to say thanks for the mats you made me recently. </div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr">I spent a lot
of time debating if I should go with the Standard or the Lotus, only to
eventually get both. It’s amazing how two mats can look so similar and
ride so differently. </div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr">I think my favorite thing about trying out mats is
being back in the learning phase. </div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr">I read in one of your previous
posts that a fun thing to do is to ride the “wrong” mat for the
conditions to help you learn about what makes each mat work, and that
rings true to me.</div><div dir="ltr"><br />I’ve attached a couple pictures of the lotus and
standard in closer to the right conditions from the recent west coast
swells.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div>-AndyPaul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-83080841368370465702023-12-16T20:03:00.000-08:002023-12-16T20:03:00.261-08:00From The Surfline Files<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzysueXdwI6RyKfOJgXRboqemUkP2uhSRkLf_4DTAi0Cc1u8g8jNd0pUF7ajEYyR4TNTpwdkfPOua0g9pGEXA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Surf Sister, dawn patrol...<br /><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-24417568608148897772023-12-09T22:42:00.000-08:002023-12-10T00:09:55.979-08:00From The Tusked Beast<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFWf-C_x9PwKs2gDk1nFPQTrkSz0zeVTO1NJzr5wYwlOpHUMBxB9OpoiY_3U1Yjat9iMQl1Q32aoUDNVE5w4stF3WPs6EQ7hqe02Nov_7tl79ytm2hTYU4EX2ew1PuzIhSo0zuI2PHqqoTmDfzu_o2CFlnzY3A1LNdsn3XMj9srN7LjUs_C7O__oF2TE/s675/07a9d1457e7064ec1195d2ce564918cd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="675" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFWf-C_x9PwKs2gDk1nFPQTrkSz0zeVTO1NJzr5wYwlOpHUMBxB9OpoiY_3U1Yjat9iMQl1Q32aoUDNVE5w4stF3WPs6EQ7hqe02Nov_7tl79ytm2hTYU4EX2ew1PuzIhSo0zuI2PHqqoTmDfzu_o2CFlnzY3A1LNdsn3XMj9srN7LjUs_C7O__oF2TE/s320/07a9d1457e7064ec1195d2ce564918cd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div>Hi Paul, how are you? Hopefully well.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was out today on the mat and, between waves, I saw a dude take a
fcking phone call in the water, via his watch. Really?? While he was conversing, an outside set came. As I was lining it up he paddled out the back, to keep talking!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>....Anyway,</div>JonathanPaul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-30204178001766964832023-11-29T08:21:00.000-08:002023-11-29T08:21:30.372-08:00From Ben<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIXVokFaznsAFzgO50Z0jqMhTrsB0d6_Ss27QZXmocdAVeZDQjKHZNGu9tTA4ys7UJwEO2ppt3zyeLIoT-_JkUjCknIecj3eybg9c_Lgrqo4W_Ij7NZCFzCupkbO7JV3jbKmhH3gkCXnqb3qA5G_8y0mYUYRPXA7982ERB2vyVGMVe5qdNQ6QPHsjbSo/s1280/IMG_2872(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIXVokFaznsAFzgO50Z0jqMhTrsB0d6_Ss27QZXmocdAVeZDQjKHZNGu9tTA4ys7UJwEO2ppt3zyeLIoT-_JkUjCknIecj3eybg9c_Lgrqo4W_Ij7NZCFzCupkbO7JV3jbKmhH3gkCXnqb3qA5G_8y0mYUYRPXA7982ERB2vyVGMVe5qdNQ6QPHsjbSo/s320/IMG_2872(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Jamo mat Waco<br /><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-44387175792300139962023-11-19T16:06:00.000-08:002023-11-20T03:52:36.978-08:00More From Max<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlQLtCxNuYuo8IdGv6pu4TlGyMXG3wjw9Vimr01nMZtZ1s5JXIhmUxXMM7Im40REEgfxqFen5xNjhf-pI2MCnd5tlIUmv6dHyeDhNCylDK24g19bTNXgnbA-b4Tyy1JdFPiJWVFp5gzbZ458GPC3MGsB58yqHCFL3foS46qoLVkD9c6-zHWYa9mj_E_w/s1600/PAHL%20002%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlQLtCxNuYuo8IdGv6pu4TlGyMXG3wjw9Vimr01nMZtZ1s5JXIhmUxXMM7Im40REEgfxqFen5xNjhf-pI2MCnd5tlIUmv6dHyeDhNCylDK24g19bTNXgnbA-b4Tyy1JdFPiJWVFp5gzbZ458GPC3MGsB58yqHCFL3foS46qoLVkD9c6-zHWYa9mj_E_w/s320/PAHL%20002%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="376">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Unresolved Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Link"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Not From Around Here</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Under
starlit sky a warm October breeze scented with sagebrush wafted through West
Malibu's semi-authentic Aztec Cantina. Jay Wheeler, that night's mid-forties
sun baked blonde surfer-slash-waiter dressed in a garish aloha shirt, faded
khaki pants and black sneakers, could not stop ruminating. He was fixated on a
patio table occupied by frequent diners who were highly unusual even by West
Coast standards. The exotic party of four were exceptionally tall, pale and
thin skinned, with elfin streamlined features, fine white hair and wide sea
green catlike eyes. Always immaculately dressed and unnaturally well spoken,
they were intriguing oddball customers who invariably ordered just the fish
special and only drank scalding hot green tea. Wheeler was relentlessly
absorbed in compelling far out speculation reverbrating through his
post-psychedelic mind that the particular peculiarities of his picky patrons
clearly demonstrated that they were obviously, "Not of this Earth!"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay gave in to uncontainable curiosity and
finally impulsively decided to really investigate. As he cleared the suspected
space aliens' identical dinner plates from which only the baked red snapper
fillets had been eaten, Wheeler casually inquired, "You're not from around
here, are you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We are from Finland," responded
the taller of two youngish dapperly dressed gentlemen in a flat statement
delivered with elementary phonetic American pronunciation.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay discreetly pointed a guarded index finger
straight upward and mildly provoked, "I would have guessed that you were
from much further away."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The enigmatic foreigners' wide moist emerald
eyes flared momentarily before they feigned composure. The slightly older of
two long and luscious alabaster extraterrestrial uber babes curtly reiterated
in the same plain idiom, "We are Finnish tourists."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sorry. My mistake," apologized
their cheeky waiter with a slight bow, "Shall I bring another pot of green
tea?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The other even slimmer, less translucent,
much fresher and more fantastically formed cosmic coquette affirmed with a
faint trace of friendly emotion, "Hot as possible."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay thought to himself, "You sure
are," at which point he noticed a faint smirk of satisfaction cross her
fluidic face as if she had read his mind, which he attempted to control, lest
his suspicions be revealed in all their complexity.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">In the kitchen the tan and fit waterman with
floppy sun streaked curls and veined gray eyes quietly but hastily informed his
staff as to what had just transpired.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Doesn't prove anything, Wheelie,"
countered Amanda, the Aztec's prim and professional brunette blue eyed manager,
as she folded red cloth napkins.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Chef Carlos, who busily shredded greasy
carnitas with a massive cleaver, wasn't buying Wheeler's theory either,
"They look Finnish to me."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">While Jay poured hazardously hot water over a
double ration of powdered green tea in a spouted terracotta jug with hand
painted pink carnations he lightheartedly chided, "How does a Nicaraguan
refugee know what Finns look like?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"They're tall and pale and blonde,"
asserted Tino the tequila-breathed busboy who actually was an authentic
descendant of the Aztecs, "Everyone knows that."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"So are Pleiadeans."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">In order to move things along Amanda humored
Wheeler, "Then they've obviously got to be sightseers from another
planet."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Holidaying on Earth," snickered
Carlos.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm gonna find out."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You do that Jay. But not on the
restaurant's time."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Fair enough."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">As Wheeler delivered a fresh pot of near
boiling green tea he arched a salt encrusted eyebrow and breezily offered,
"If you folks are interested in proper surfing technique, I teach old
school traditional group lessons, and the first one is on me."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We already surf quite proficiently. And
don't require lessons," the taller fellow softly but firmly responded.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's cool. Where do you go out?"
inquired Jay in an understated yet overly congenial attempt to be engaging.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The more statuesque of the two galactic
fashion show runway refugees looked Jay in straight the eyes and confidently
claimed with open disdain, "Wherever the waves are best."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Right, well, maybe we'll see each other
in the lineup."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Maybe," commented the younger
ultimately attractive eel-like waif with a thin wisp of compassion for their
insulted inquisitive server.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler nodded sagely in response to her
semi-smile and wisely edged away with his heart pounding in uncontrollable lust
to check on his other customers.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">When the four elegant ETs left the restaurant
Jay noticed that they had once again tipped him exactly twenty-percent down to
the last penny. He surreptitiously observed through the front windows that the
faux Finns drove a shiny black top-of-the-line Mercedes 4x4 van equipped with
first rate surf racks. Wheeler's sense of adventure was thoroughly piqued by
the perilous prospect of actually proving that clandestine extraterrestrials do
indeed live among us. If he could break the story properly and play his cards
right this would mean no more waiting tables, getting over driving a rusting
Japanese econobox, and moving beyond inhabiting a dilapidated backyard guest
house. Maybe he'd even pay off his outrageous student loans. Plus, how about
retiring to Bali? Wheelie grinned with anticapatory satisfaction,
"Finland," then smiled so widely that he split his chapped lower lip,
"I don't think so."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Next afternoon Jay spotted the Merc van with
racks parked at Malibu Point where a consistent five foot New Zealand swell was
immaculately textured by gentle north winds. The Bu was indeed where the waves
were best. Rather than paddling out to get a closer look at the galactic
boardriders, Wheeler decided to observe from the beach in order to be ready to
tail them to their next destination. Picking the bright white haired supposedly
Finnish delegation out from the crowd was easy enough. All four of them were
trendily equipped, and capable of catching more than their fair share of waves,
then hacking them with intermediate levels of proficiency featuring kooky
broomstick-up-the-ass style that truly sucked. Jay sat in the shade of the
lifeguard tower and enjoyed the silly spectacle of south swell Malibu as
two-hundred-plus assorted personality types vied for approximately fifty decent
waves per hour. Such random chaos afforded deep anthropological insight into
the superior workings of the tall blonde aliens' advanced tactical intelligence
versus pitiful greedy earthlings' hierarchical oceanic version of musical
chairs.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">By the time the interstellar impostors got
out of the water and headed for their vehicle Wheeler was convinced that they
were fantastic entities capable of outsmarting all but the most cunning
earthbound humans. Although painful to watch as they performed the obligatory
maneuvers and tricks with their sadly degrading stinkbug form, the fish eating
tea drinkers caught the lion's share of good waves. Even the most energetic
grommies and highly experienced locals couldn't contend with extraterrestrial
paddling speed and crowd savvy. Jay reckoned that the planetary posers must
come from an ocean world such as ours. Most likely their home environment was
endowed with much higher technology but only mediocre crowded surf. And
probably with somewhat less light and gravity, based on their frail and pale
but highly efficient super-sleek hydrodynamically adapted physiques, which
would obviously thrive in our thicker air, and of course slip quite easily
through slightly denser Earthly H2O.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay waited until the four solar system
hoppers piled into their van to change out of their wetsuits before he
meandered over to his rusty yellow 1978 Mazda hatchback that was hot enough
inside to melt the wax off his 6'10". Soon he was three cars back heading
north on Pacific Coast Highway. Fifteen minutes later Wheeler was a quarter
mile behind when the van turned right at Encinal Canyon. Not wanting to be
spotted tailing his quarry, Jay drove past the intersection, pulled a quick
U-turn, then careened up the mountain road and put the hammer down to get an
occasional glimpse of the black Merc on the long straights. Mysteriously, the
van disappeared, only to show up in Wheeler's rear view mirror. Now the aliens
were pursuing him. They must have pulled over in a hiding place and let the
faded four door pass. This was an unexpected wrinkle in Jay's unformed plan.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Throwing caution to the wind, Wheeler slowed
and parked on the graveled dirt shoulder at a spot with a sweeping view of the
coastal foothills and sparkling Pacific where he got out with a box of stale
Vanilla Wafers in hand and pretended to take in the gorgeous scenery. The Finns
parked ahead of the yellow Mazda and emerged to confront their paranoid
pursuer.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay nonchalantly commented, "Fancy
meeting you folks here."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">No response.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Not much smog today. The Channel
Islands are really clear."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Still nothing.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Would any of you care for a
cookie?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Why are you following us?" the
alpha spaceman demanded.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Caught unprepared, Wheeler went with
half-truth, "Well... I was watching you surf, and thought that a lesson in
classic style was in order."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Are you insinuating that we're
kooks?" came back the younger and spunkier alien hottie with a crestfallen
frown.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"No, it's just that you guys lack any
sense of surfing tradition. Which I can impart to you. So you will look more
appropriate on the waves."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Their serious minded leader stayed on topic,
"Why are you bothering tourists from Finland?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler dropped all pretense, closed the
cookie box, and risked, "Because I reckon that you are actually visitors
from another planet."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The apprehensive aquanoids looked at each
other in a shared moment of telepathic agreement before the taller woman
languidly pulled out a chrome ray gun and nonchalantly fired at their gauche
object of annoyance, who was instantly frozen, completely immobilized,
incapable of anything. Unable to correct his normally impeccable balance the
expert waterman slowly tipped forward and downward towards the pebbled clay.
The obviously not Finnish travelers caught their paralyzed waiter before he hit
the ground, hustled him into their vehicle, locked the cookies in his car, kept
the keys, and calmly sped away from the spectacular overlook.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheelie could only think as he lay motionless
on a heap of wet wetsuits and soggy beach towels, desperately straining to
maintain consciousness, similarly to his younger Hawaii days while running out
of breath when being held down by thirty foot Waimea Bay closeouts. He
helplessly thought, "Far out. I've been abducted by extraterrestrial
surfers!"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Another blast from the beam shooter knocked
him out cold.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay came out of his coma to find himself
sprawled on a light brown leatherette couch in the sunlit living room of a pine
paneled ranch style house surrounded by sycamore trees and dense coastal brush
beyond a paprika colored brick patio outside of a broad sliding glass window.
The gorgeous aquatic elf of his wildest dreams coolly watched Wheeler struggle
to comprehend his whereabouts. She held the same type of silver ray gun that
put him under in her sinuous manicured hand.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Did you have a pleasant nap?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Slept like a baby."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">After a slight dramatic pause the initial
interrogation commenced, "What, Mister Wheeler, is the exact nature of
your interest in us?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Still groggy, Jay's weakened brain sputtered
useless deceptive responses with no strategic value, so he sighed, and chose
honesty, "It's not every day that a person discovers entities from outer
space."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"A very dangerous discovery."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Evidently. But also quite
compelling."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"And what sort of compulsion would this
be?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Profit."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"From revealing us?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Something like that."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Did you take photos?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I don't own a camera."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"And I should believe you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I don't lie, and I need every penny to
pay my bills, so a camera is out of the picture, so to speak."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"What were you going to do after you
found out who and what we might be?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Decide then, I suppose."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You have no plan?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Organization has never been one of my
strong points."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">With an air of pity the attractive astronaut
proclaimed, "Silly earthling."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">She pointed and activated her zapper. Wheeler
felt a slight tingle run through him before falling into a well of darkness and
passing back out on the comfy tan cushions.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The next time Wheeler regained consciousness
he was tightly strapped to a cold metal operating table within what appeared to
be a medical laboratory aboard an advanced alien spacecraft. The four humorless
humanoids looked down on him as if he were an experimental lab rat.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We've got to stop meeting like
this," slurred Jay as the fog lifted from his brain.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"This is no joke, Mister Wheeler."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You can call me Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Very well... Wheelie. You have
compromised our security. And in so doing opened yourself up to a whole new
realm of possibilities."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Such as?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That would depend on your attitude
during this interview."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Could you outline my options?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Painless death. Total permanent
mind-wipe. Service to our cause."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'll take plan number three."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Most sensible. Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"And exactly what are you, I mean we,
striving towards?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You would not understand."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Try me."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"It's quite complicated."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm not going anywhere at the
moment."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"True."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Well?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Since you will be partially mind wiped
after this deliberation we can speak freely so as to learn precisely where each
of us stands."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You go first."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Very well. Our territory is a vast
region, with many factions, at various levels of play."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I suspected so."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"And our game is rather
self-serving."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"As is any sane person's."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We appreciate our freedom."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Likewise."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Our work involves dealing with various
earthly and off-planet organizations so as to earn the right to spend a decent
amount of our idle time where and how we choose."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Could you please define, 'work'?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Because money is obsolete in galactic
space, we trade in favors."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"For example?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Mostly applying influence to
earthlings. And sometimes eliminating them."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Fair enough. Where do I fit in?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We would be foolish to perform these
errands ourselves."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"So you program schmoes like me to
hypnotically do your dirty deeds, and keep our minds wiped to cover your
tracks."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Quite astute."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Given my opportunities, such as they
are, I'm your man."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Thank you for your cooperation. We will
be using you in the near future." </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">As Jay composed an appropriate response to
the dire stipulation outlined by the freakish freelancers the super hot
skinnier spaceling looked deeply into his eyes before raying him once again.
Wheeler fought valiantly to remain awake but inexorably slipped into the
featureless netherworld of mind wipe.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">When Wheelie woke up in his car at the
overlook everything seemed normal. Taking a nap in the hills was nothing
unusual. As he drove down to the coast Jay slowly realized that he had no
memory of how he came to be there. The last thing Wheeler recalled was... He
knew his name, where he lived, his job, his life story. But not the day of the
week, "This is October, and... Nada! I must have had a stroke. Or hit my
head." He felt for lumps and found none, "I wonder if I'm working
tonight?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Back at the Aztec, no one had any idea as to
where Jay had been since last night's shift, which he couldn't remember the
details of. Carlos mentioned the four tall pale blonde diners as a possible
angle. Wheeler had no recollection of serving them, "This is really weird.
I feel normal, but have missing time."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Did you take some kind of drugs?"
pressed Amanda.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Not for years."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Maybe someone slipped you
something," she reasoned.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Carlos joked, "Or the aliens from
Finland messed with your mind."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Finland?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You asked them if they were from outer
space and they claimed to be Finnish tourists."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Why would I do that? Aliens?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Tino informed Jay, "Because they're
weirdos who look like aquatic ETs and only eat fish."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Amanda added, "Plus they always just
drink hot green tea."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The weathered waiter narrowed his sun damaged
steel gray eyes, "I can't really see myself doing that."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You did, dude," Carlos assured
him.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Oh well. No sense worrying. Maybe it'll
all come back to me."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">But Amanda was worried, "You don't
remember the Finns?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Nah. Why?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"They've been coming here for weeks, and
you always comment on how odd they are."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I do?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You're convinced that they're
extraterrestrials," clarified Carlos.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's ridiculous. There's no such
thing."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Amanda was fed up with wasting time,
"This is getting us nowhere. Jay, if any tall pale customers come in, just
make nice, and don't get smart with them."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Okay. Fair enough."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The Finns did indeed arrive for their
customary fish and tea. Wheeler served them respectfully as if it was their
first visit. After the four left, Amanda had some questions for Jay.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Did they tip you twenty-percent down to
the penny?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The bewildered waiter counted his gratuity
and cross-referenced it with the bill.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"To the cent."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"And they left everything on their
plates but the fish?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Yeah. Weird, huh?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"They speak perfect English with no
accent or inflection?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Come to think of it, that's
right."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"And you never saw them before."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Never."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You're not playing one of your stupid
jokes on us, are you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Not even. I want to know what's going
on more than you do."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You've waited on those people, or
whatever they are, at least a dozen times. This is really strange."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'll say."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The following day Wheeler set out to string
together what clues he could to reconstruct his missing memories. A good place
to start was the Bu. And yes, he was sighted watching the Finnish tourists
surf, plus ranting about giving lessons to the four aggro euros.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Tim the lifeguard was indignant,
"Wheelie, why on Earth would you want to help those snakes?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"What do you know about them?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"They paddle like hell and hog all the
waves they can with their hideous style."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Really?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You sat here and watched them for over
an hour."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I did?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Were you tripping or drunk or
something?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm sober these days. But somehow I
lost my memories of yesterday. And what's really weird is that I can't recall
anything before last night regarding those four foreigners, even though I've
supposedly served them multiple fish dinners for months."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Is someone playing an elaborate hoax on
you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler pondered and gave up. "I don't
know what to think. Thanks for your help, Tim."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Take it easy Wheelie. I'll let you know
if I get any intel on them."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler looked around as he walked to his car
but couldn't dredge up any recollections from the previous day.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">When Jay returned to his parking spot he
found the younger of the two refined women from last night's mysterious party
of tall and slender Finnish tourists leaning with sexy confidence against his
oxidized Mazda. She appeared to be about twenty, six feet tall or so, wore a
white t-shirt, faded Levis and red cowboy boots. Thick straight white hair hung
to her shoulders with low cut bangs that framed high cheeks, a button nose,
full soft lips and a slightly receded narrow chin. Her unnervingly flawless porcelain
skin was unobscured by any makeup or piercings. Long blonde lashes shaded large
and intensely intelligent jade green eyes. Wheeler suppressed a lustful groan
of desire that welled up from his groin to his throat that the fabulous foxy
fake Finn seemed to be able to hear and to which she acknowledge with a sly
wolfish wink. The suspicious surprised surfer unconsciously responded using his
trademark slightly elevated left eyebrow as he thought to himself, "Carlos
might be onto it. She's out of this world."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The stunning stellar specimen narrowed her
enticing eyes as she inquired, "I've heard that you give surf
lessons."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You heard right."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"My name is Elle."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm Jay. But my friends call me
Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'll call you Wheelie and we'll see if
we become friends."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Fair enough."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"However, before our lesson, I've got
another idea."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay experienced a surge of adrenaline,
"Oh really?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The exquisite amphibian proclaimed,
"Rosebud."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Hypnotically pre-programmed behaviors
activated within Wheeler's mind, slammed shut his faculties of inner-directed
cognition, and rapidly dictated an itemized protocol of tasks to be expedited
as efficiently as possible. Overwhelmingly motivated to get the job done, Jay
quickly excused himself, "Gotta run. See you in half-an-hour or so."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The erotic ET's mischievous smile was crossed
with a faint trace of trepidation, "Okay, Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay eased into his car and drove on autopilot
to park near a lowish-rent beach house where he robotically approached a tree
shaded side window, picked up a copper watering can that he used to smash the
glass, and entered the premises. Once inside, the brainwashed burglar searched
around for an office room, rifled its file cabinets, and selected various
document folders. With his objective in hand Wheeler wiped his prints and
exited the way he came. The next door neighbor, an athletic Polynesian with bushy
dark hair, wearing a navy blue Da Kine hoodie, Hawaiian print baggies and
flip-flops, who was patching a significant dent on the bottom his state of the
art kiteboard, warily imquired, "Hey Wheelie. What's going on?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Subconscious suggestion told Jay to ignore
the beach local.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Turned to crime, eh?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler's devious directive faltered as his
gregarious nature marginally overrode its imperatives, "Just doing my
job."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Oh yeah? For who?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Um... None of your business.
Actually."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"True."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"See ya."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Lucky for you I don't like that guy, or
I'd call the cops."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Cool, brah."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler carried on as the not so nosy
neighbor shook his shaggy head in amusement and went back to sanding his board.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle, who was turning out to be something
other than the stoical off world intelligence asset that her crew portrayed
themselves as, animatedly talked trash with a stoked bearded homeless guy while
waiting for Wheeler near the stoplight at the pier, where Jay pulled up and let
her in. The stack of pilfered manila folders was piled on the passenger side
floor. Elle carefully scanned them, and when satisfied that Jay was able to
procure the proper documents, expressed genuine gratitude, "Well done, Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Not a problem."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Did anyone see you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"The next door neighbor. But I whacked
him."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"How?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Just kidding. I know the guy, and he
hates whoever I was ripping off, so no worries."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Are you certain of that?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Kalani is way cool."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Very well. I won't tell the others, who
would have you eliminate the leak."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Thanks."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"So Wheelie, since we're ahead of
schedule, and you're still under my hypnotic control, let's make use of our
free time."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Like how?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I want you to teach me to be a better
surfer."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Can do."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I know my style sucks. But that's just
how we do it at home."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I've got a couple of longboards stashed
at the Colony."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler emerged from the depths of total
unconsciousness to find himself lying curled up on the exclusive private beach
of the famed Malibu Colony. Outrageously expensive sand stuck to his right
cheek as he hauled himself to his feet and attempted to gauge the time. Late
afternoon sun shone weakly through beige haze on the western horizon indicating
about five o'clock.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Not again," complained the
disoriented mind wiped minion to a nearby flock of fat seagulls who stood
eyeing him with disdain.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay turned landward to begin the search for
his car and faced three young rich guys sitting with their backs to a low
wooden seawall smoking a joint and drinking Heinekens.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Who was that cutie, Wheelie?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Cutie?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"The skinny blonde babe you were making
out with."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Huh?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"First you had her on a longboard
teaching her to pose like a surf star."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"And then you two snogged on the beach
for over an hour."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We did?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Tall, pale, white hair, green
eyes?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"With a killer bod."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"How could you forget? Are you frying on
acid or something?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Yeah... I must have overdosed."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Way to go buddy!"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler had had enough massive frustration.
He waved indicating he was out of there and checked to see that his lesson
boards were still hidden among rotting pilings under an empty beach palace
before sneaking across its side yard and hopping the locked gate to a private
street where the ancient security guard begrudgingly allowed the longtime local
to wedge his ratty sun bleached hatchback between a metalflake lime green
Porsche GT4 and a camo Hummer on 22" rims.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The evening shift at the Aztec was going
reasonably well with decent tips and no Finnish tourists when a gaggle of
sunburned middle aged surfers ambled in and seated themselves. Tino delivered
chips and salsa and a round of Coronas with lime wedges before Jay approached
the table of seven.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Howzit, Wheelie?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Hanging in there."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Heard about you breaking and
entering."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Caught backfooted, Wheeler improvised fast as
he could, "Oh yeah... I was working for... these people... And they...
didn't leave me the spare key."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"So you smashed his window?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Uh huh."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Some sort of mad ultra-level government
scientist, isn't he?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Very high clearance."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm calling bullshit. You're a thief
now."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Whatever."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Just don't get busted, buddy."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Right, guys. Enough chitchat. What'll
it be?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">When Wheeler brought out the locals' dinners
they carried on with their friendly harassment.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"So who was that underage supermodel you
were spotted with at the Colony?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Caught out again with missing time, Jay
utilized scraps of info gleaned from the trio of party guys at the seawall to
cobble together an adequate rejoinder, "A surf student. Who happens to
also be a legal adult."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"With a big fat crush on you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Hardly. She was looking for pointers on
her style."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"More like she was looking to style your
pointer."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sorry fellas. A gentleman never
tells."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Stealing classified documents and young
girls' hearts?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's right. I've decided to become a
cat burglar and a gigolo."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sweet!"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Indeed it is."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You've already caught and fumbled every
chick in town."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That girl's not from around here."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Well, dude, it's about time you stepped
things up."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Just keep it quiet."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We'll only tell the usual
suspects."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Utterly baffled, Jay nodded and ducked out to
wait on another table before he dug himself in any deeper.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">At home after work in his antique backyard
bungalow Wheeler popped a ginger ale and settled into the sagging couch to put
together the tenuous pieces of the puzzle that his life had recently become,
"Finnish tourist repeat customers who I am supposed to suspect are ETs
that I can't even remember. Missing time. Unconfirmed reports of: Me wanting to
give surf lessons to aggro kook Finns who only eat fish and drink green tea.
Stealing some sort of something from an alleged government egghead. Supposedly
making out on the beach with an ultra-hot waif surf student less than half my
age?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The phone rang making Jay jump and spill his
soda. He answered, "Malibu Mystery Theater."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Wheelie, it's Tim."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Wha'sup?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I found a lead for you on those
tourists."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Cool man. What have you got? "</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Okay, don't laugh, but rumor has it
they're some sort of spies from another world."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"No shit?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Yeah. And this space cadet I know from
the point claims that he can introduce you to little blue aliens who might be
able to help you find out what's actually happening."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Oh come on."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's all I've got. Do you want to
meet this guy?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I don't think so."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Yes or no?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Fine. At least it'll be a diversion
from my worries."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"His name's Robert. I'll give you his
number."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler's morning ritual was to jog for ten
minutes to a nearby bluff where he checked the day's sea conditions. When Jay
arrived at the high sandy cliff to survey promising lack of wind combined with
a building southwest swell crossing up yesterday's diminishing deep south he
couldn't help but notice a stunning young woman in a snug sky blue t-shirt,
plain gray sweatpants and spotless white tennies standing idly on the brink...
who completely fit the description of the seductive surf student he was reputed
to have cuddled at the Colony! Very rational fear coursed through his
neurochemistry at the thought of complete amnesia and any potential
complications arising from whatever else may have unwittingly transpired.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Hello Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Have we met?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You wouldn't remember."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I've been told that we're
acquainted."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Then you know we've become more than
friends."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay experienced vertigo and had to squat on
his haunches to prevent major wobbling, "So they say."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Bringing up their supposed surf and snuggle,
plus the space spy angle that he learned about last night, would not be
prudent, so Wheeler decided to play dumb. The fantastically formed fem fatelle
looked back out to sea and composed her response before sitting alongside and
drawing her knees to her perfect meager chest.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You're the only one who has ever taken
me seriously and treated me with dignity."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"What's that supposed to mean when I
don't even know your name?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Elle."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Do you really know anything about me,
Elle?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You're a free man, with kindness, and a
unique way of seeing things for what they are."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"So?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Everyone else in my life is hard, or
compromised, or otherwise untrue. And the things we do are awful."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Well yeah. You get that
sometimes."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"All the time."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The alluring sea nymph smiled courageously,
"For once I actually had fun, learning style on a surfboard, and being
with a natural man."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I don't remember any of that. What the
hell's going on?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle leaned close to Jay, kissed him
tenderly, then looked into his eyes with tears in hers, "Rosebud,"
she croaked.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Following deep hypnotic suggestion Wheeler
gamely sped down the coast and up a broad suburban street to where he parked
around the corner from an all-original '60s glass fronted tract home with an
equally retro British racing green Aston Martin leaking oil on the driveway.
Jay found a loaded .45 waiting in his glove box and phlegmatically released the
safety. This time he politely rang the doorbell and put on his most charming
expression. A posh but sun starved copper haired middle aged woman in an African
print summer gown and leopard spotted house slippers opened the sliding glass
door. The lady of the house swirled melting ice cubes in a squarish glass
tumbler half-full of pale orange liquid as she demanded, "Have you got my
package?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay ironically answered, "I've got your
package right here," as he raised and cocked the anodized metal weapon
that matched the color of his eyes.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I should have known."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler froze and began to tremble.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Well go on. Do your job."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I can't."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I know who sent you."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You do?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm the one who double crossed
them."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I never killed anyone."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Obviously."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler slowly lowered the shaking gun and
slumped as he turned to go. The unflappable woman remarked to his broad back,
"You must be an exceptionally strong soul to override their
conditioning."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Failsafe programming propelled Jay straight
to Elle, who lounged in a skimpy lemon yellow bikini on a folding aluminum
beach chair sunk into the dusty littered sand of Topanga Beach. A second red
and blue striped low fabric chair stood empty with a small green and white
plastic cooler between them.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I couldn't kill her."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's wonderful, Wheelie!"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"It is?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You're our first mind control operative
to defy programming."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I am?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Rosebud."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay experienced unnerving discomposure as he
took in his surroundings, "Weren't we just at the checkout spot?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"It's a long story."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"No doubt."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"This will probably get us both
terminated, but I'm going to level with you."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Maybe we should just forget we ever
met."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Things have gone too far for
that."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Glassy four foot peelers playfully roped
along the cobble<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reef point all the way
down to the cove. The simple act of surfing had never called so beckoningly. If
only Jay could shake off his deepening dread and paddle out like normal in the
shimmering cool water to forget all his cares.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You should probably be sitting down to
hear this, Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">He let out a pent up breath and got
comfortable while Elle pulled out and popped open a pair of glistening ice cold
Coronas then dug lime wedges from a Ziploc bag and inserted them into the necks
of the sweating clear glass bottles.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Salud."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Cheers."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Cold beers with a hot chick was the next best
thing to sliding a clean point break. So much for sobriety.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Okay, lay it on me."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"My three friends and I are aliens, as
you earthlings call us."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"So they say... Some wacko star gazer I
talked to on the phone claims that you and your crew are actually undercover
extraterrestrial entities who are using me to do your bidding with some sort of
advanced mind control."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's a very accurate
assessment."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You mean it's true? Nah. This has to be
some sort of TV prank show or something."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Very few earthers are willing to
consciously suspect that my associates and I are, 'not from around here,' as
you put it."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">After being brought up to speed on the
severity of their situation Wheeler learned to his amazed delight that Elle
really did have a huge crush on him, and on top of that, she brought a couple
of boards in her car. Fortunately Jay wore his surfshorts to the botched
rubout. Elle donned a pricey fullsuit to insulate her fine fat-free frame and
with a mutual nod they paddled out.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">To Jay's astonishment, based on numerous
previous fiascoes, sharing the same waves with an incomprehensibly beautiful
woman was actually working out quite comfortably. Never before did side by side
trimming and figure eight go-behinds transpire so smoothly. As for navigating
the crowd, having a stunning alien amphibian bodyguard to part the masses made
catching the premier peaks child's play. Of course there was the usual
grumbling and name calling but all hostilities ceased when Elle fiercely
asserted that the pissed off public was messing with one-hundred-eighteen
pounds of short-fused high grade plutonium! Wheeler had never felt so smug in
the surf.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">While Elle and Jay waited between sets he
learned that the fishy Finns actually did hail from a low gravity water planet
with mostly crap surf. Far more meaningful was the way his aqueous angel surfed
with classic body English and subtle nuances that she joyfully acknowledged
were gleaned from Wheelie's impeccable tutelage on their fateful forgotten
yesterday of pure bliss at the beach. Although he could not recall exactly what
led up to the sheer ecstasy of the present moment Jay had somehow momentarily
found himself in heaven.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Back on the hot gritty beach the improbable
mixed-solar system couple found that they were highly compatible as they
casually shot the breeze and polished off Elle's cervezas.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Oh Jay. This is the part I really
hate."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"What part?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We're going to have to mind wipe you.
For your own safety. And mine."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You mean I won't remember our time
together again?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm so sorry."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler took a long anguished look at Elle
and relented, "If this is how it has to be."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The tight traitorous off-planet operative
surreptitiously aimed her brain blaster, "I love you Wheelie," then
sadly switched him off for another three hour beach nap.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Robert turned out to be a stocky
twenty-something half-Irish half-Native American hippie replete with long black
ponytails and mustache, yellow happy face button pinned to a purple haze
headband, beaded quartz crystal necklace dangling a dried hawk's talon grasping
a pale blue marble, teal Grateful Dead t-shirt under a fringed brown leather
jacket, gray wool trousers and obligatory worn out logging boots. He'd even
gone so far as to dub himself White Eagle. Wheelie surmised that if anyone
could make extraterrestrial contact it would be a furry freak along the lines
of this time traveler from the psychedelic sixties.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">They toodled along in Robert's meticulously
restored and eclectically cluttered cherry red 1967 VW bus. Winding up the
narrow canyon road to the highest peaks above far West Malibu, the secondhand
smoke from White Eagle's reefer prompted seven years drug-free Wheeler to come
onto kaleidoscopic acid flashbacks from previous hallucinogenic expeditions to
the highest crags and deepest caves of the Santa Monica Mountains. Sticking his
head out the window only made the swirling sensations worse so Jay merrily swore
off recently failed sobriety, took a fat toke, and just went with White Eagle's
magical mystery tour, "I haven't been up to Bony Ridge in ages."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We're gonna camp on Indian Head
Peak."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Is that where you see the UFOs?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Yeah, it's a portal, a time-space
vortex."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay had no clue but played along, "Yeah
man. A vortex."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">An hour or so hike along a 3,000' ridge with
backpacks and bedrolls led to the mesa of a monumental boulder featuring a huge
natural perfect profile on its southern flank of a native elder gazing across
smoggy Santa Monica Bay towards Palos Verdes peninsula. The two saucer seekers
set up their sleeping spot and then hoisted Jack Daniels and Cokes to the
setting sun as it nestled between the distant Channel Islands. Far below,
Ventura County began to twinkle, as did red warning beacons on nearby government
radar dishes. On the coast to the northwest was Point Mugu Naval Air Station.
Directly offshore from Bony Ridge local fishermen swore that they had watched
nuclear submarines glide right under them on course for shore, which clearly
indicated a massive clandestine undersea grotto. Plus there were the fabled
UFOs, with scores of legitimate sightings, including multiple witnesses
reporting Top Gun F-14s scrambled on hopeless saucer intercepts. Robert himself
had been contacted by clever small blue aliens of the generic slit-eyed X Files
variety who complimented him on his way of thinking and encouraged him to share
his far out discoveries with select like-minded earthlings.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"One time they took me into their
spaceship that was so cramped that I had to duck to fit. It was super
sophisticated. And they were really friendly. The Blues communicate by thinking
and told me that they only work for the good of the Universe."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Did you tour the galaxy?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I wish."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"So how do we call them in?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Just put our best thoughts out there
and they'll find us."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler was dubious, but what the hell, so he
imagined that he was psychically emanating his recent story as he went over its
scrambled details in his mind.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's good bro. I can feel your vibes.
Keep concentrating while I make the fire."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">At around eleven-thirty, when Jay was
thinking more about sleep than making contact, a flash of white light
approached at impossible speed from the northeast.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"They're he-ere," intoned Robert.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">A speeding diamond-white thirty-foot-diameter
ball of brightness stopped on a dime, hovered nearby, then winked out to reveal
a smallish black flying saucer with wriggling veins of bright crackling rainbow
electricity fanning across its polished surfaces amid a mist of dripping
cryo-condensation. Wheeler reckoned that he must have nodded off and was having
an intense dream as the minuscule spaceship quieted down, then settled to float
a foot off the ground, whence a broad hatch slid open to reveal the silhouettes
of three sky blue four-foot-tall bulbous-headed skinny humanoids wearing loose
fitting silver metallic coveralls.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Hold up your hand," instructed
Robert as he raised an open palm to the ETs.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler did as told and the aliens responded
in kind with three long fingers before disembarking to join their hosts around
the campfire. Robert hurriedly mixed Jack and Cokes that the humble crinkly
skinned space dwellers gratefully accepted with slow blinks of their large
shiny black almond shaped eyes. The peaceful visitors raised their plastic cups
in a silent toast to which the two vision questers happily rejoined and with
mutual glee they all clinked and drinked.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler's normal voice inside his head spoke
up but with words formed by the little blue dudes, or whatever they were,
"Earth man has problems with water planet people, does he?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay thought back, "He does. But I can't
remember what they are."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Mind wiped are you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Missing time."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">One of the blues pulled a shiny metal disc
the size of a quarter from one of its many cargo pockets and flipped the coin
to Wheeler, who caught the intricately etched object, and suddenly experienced
total recall accounting for all of his lost memories. Profoundly relieved that
nothing fatal had occurred, Jay considered himself fortunate, and even blessed
to be chosen by an exquisite extraterrestrial ultra-girl. However, now that the
past was clear, his future appeared extremely hazardous and altogether uncertain.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Danger, Earth man."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"No kidding."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler held the mind wipe wiper disc out to
give back.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Keep it."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Thank you very much."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Know we not what else to do."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"They can't hypnotize me any more if you
hold the disc."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Oh really?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Which you can use to advantage."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sure can.Why are you helping me?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You would do the same for us."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"True."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Hours passed as the five casual cosmic
comrades shared cocktails and bong hits while telepathically telling highly
improbable stories and inside jokes around the fire. Finally the diminutive
spacefarers bade adieu and staggered drunk and stoned to their mini spaceship
which silently left the way it came at mega velocity in an blindingly
incandescent ball of dazzling pure white light.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay carefully studied the ornate alien
iconography on the mysterious device that had activated his hidden experiences,
"Fun guys, those aliens."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"They're groovy little entities."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The next day as Robert and Wheelie merrily
coasted the candy apple microbus back down the twisting canyon road to the
coast highway a black late model sedan with no license plates occupied by four
identical burly guys sporting crew cuts and Ray-Bans in cheap black suits
buttoned over white shirts with shiny navy blue ties raced up right behind the
VW to hug their bumper with micro-accruate tenacity.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Robert squinted at his mirror, "Uh oh.
Men In Black."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler turned to see, "They really
exist?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Well duh."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Should we pull over?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We can outrun them."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"In a '67 bus?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Just kidding."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The high performance cruiser passed and
blocked the van, forcing Robert to stop in his lane. All four rock hard, square
jawed, expressionless young tough guys stepped out in unison and split off
two-to-a-side to cover any possible route of escape. Wheeler smiled as
disarmingly as anyone could in such unusual circumstances. Robert gripped the
steering wheel and stared straight ahead.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay urged, "Hey buddy, you'd better open
your window before one of these guys tears your door off."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Without shifting his gaze the petrified
hippie slowly pulled open the sliding glass half-pane.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Doing a little star gazing last
night?" asked the nearest MIB.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler waited for Robert to respond... then
leaned forward and answered for him.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Uh huh."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Did you happen to see a particularly
bright white star?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Yeah, traveling about a million miles
an hour."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"With three alien delinquents
aboard?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Now that you mention it, I do believe
so."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Did you two make contact with them?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I don't know about contact, but we
shared some cocktails and chewed the fat for a while."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"National Space Security Agency
regulations specify that any civilians who have made contact with EBEs are to
be detained for observation."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"EBEs?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Extraterrestrial Biological
Entities."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The holding room was standard issue with two
hard beds and a barred front. Robert continued to sit and stare while Wheelie
pretended to sleep as his mind replayed recovered memories and filed them in
proper sequence. Two phrases blasted alternately from the emergency megaphone
located centrally in Jay's neo-cortex repeating, "... Big Trouble! Remain
Calm! ..."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Just when Wheeler was about to get up and
bang his head on the white painted concrete block wall a MIB approached along
the echoing corridor and unlocked the cell.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Let's go," dryly ordered the
imposing generic authority figure.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The puzzled surfer and scared-straight hippy
silently complied and warily tagged along.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">A conventionally attired senior station chief
seated at a plain gray office desk in a gray room was concise and direct,
"You fellows ought to know better than to mess with EBEs"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">No response.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"This is the part where you tell me
everything."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler shrugged then spent twenty-five
minutes spilling every detail of his unusual association with the space
surfers, Robert and the Blues.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The observant officer pressed his fingertips
together and gathered his thoughts before pronouncing his edict that,
"You, Mister Wheeler, are hereby deputized by the National Space Security
Agency as an unofficial accessory agent."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I am?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We've been pursuing your so called
Finnish tourists to no avail," at which point the poker faced clean cut
hulk slid Jay's ET disc across the dull gray Formica table top, "Our
department would be most grateful if you would use this gizmo to inform us as
to the location of your next rendezvous in order for us to subdue, arrest and
deport them."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sure thing."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"White Eagle... You are free to go.
Under the condition that you carry on as usual."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Robert simply nodded in agreement.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The chief handed Jay a slip of notepad paper,
"Wheeler, this is our contact number, with which you will supply us
precise coordinates for a proper ambush."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sounds good. Now... I have certain
conditions of my own to propose."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Such as?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"As I mentioned, one of the Finns is on
side with me, and I want her to remain that way."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The seasoned spook softened and smiled
knowingly, "Alien love, eh? If this turns out to actually be so, we can
make it happen."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Second, if you get what you want from
those space crims, NSSA has to do something charitable for me."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Meaning?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That would be up to you, since I'm in
no position to demand specific compensation."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Very reasonable. Anything else?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's the lot."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Then we have a deal?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We do."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Robert dropped Wheeler off at home, "Hey
Jay, you can camp on Bony with me any time. That was the highlight of my
life."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Mine too."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Take it easy."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You do the same."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The red VW clattered down the tree lined
street as Wheeler shouldered his pack and ambled along the broken concrete path
leading to his beat up bachelor pad. Elle, in a yellow t-shirt, black
boardshorts and pink rubber sandals, was waiting for him on the cracked wooden
porch, lounging in a weatherbeaten brown canvas deckchair. She sat up straight
and immediately informed Jay with fear in her eyes, "My partners suspect
that I'm betraying them."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">He didn't want to let on just yet that his
memories were intact, "Who are you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Someone very glum with no other choice
than to say... Rosebud," at which she commenced programming Wheelie to
perform yet another dastardly deed.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Although Jay was fully conscious this time
thanks to the blue aliens' memory protection disc he intuited who he was meant
to intimidate and where he was supposed to meet Elle.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler immediately went on his way, but
rather than automatically zeroing in on his target, he met up with the MIB, and
they arranged to be there when he rendezvoused with Elle in order to possibly
confer with her in order to work out exactly how to capture her corrupt cosmic
compatriots.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">After biding his time at John's Garden with
an avocado sandwich, organic corn chips, green tea and the local real estate
guide, Jay drove to the big oak tree at the first turn on Sycamore Canyon Road,
where NSSA informed him that they had intercepted Elle and needed him to talk
to her because she was not cooperating. When pushed, the MIB admitted that they
of course utilized Wheeler's report to constrain Elle as backup inducement to
ensure that he played ball. Wheeler thanked the agents for their integrity and
got in the back of the sedan to explain everything to Elle, who uselessly
spoke, "Rosebud," and grew more and more cold as she decided upon
hearing Jay's weakly fabricated false cover story, as lamely suggested by the
MIB, that he had intentionally ratted her out, which he subsequently
disregarded, and then breathed deeply before reluctantly speaking plain truth.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Fine," Jay submitted, "You
tell me where to find your team and I'll be the bait all by myself."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I don't know who to trust."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm gonna use this opportunity to stop
your former friends, whether you step up or not."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle relented with fresh resolve, "Okay
Wheelie. Despite whatever may have gone down, I'm sorry I doubted you. If
you're this seriously committed, I'm in. Let's go. It's our only chance."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle and Jay showed up at the atypical
aliens' mountain lair and stoically seated themselves on the front terrace in
white painted wrought iron chairs at a round similarly styled glass topped cafe
table shaded by a classic Cinzano umbrella. Wheeler played like he was in a
brainwashed trance when the three extraterrestrial entrepreneurs emerged to
confront their cheeky partner in crime. Elle put on an uncaring facial pose.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The tallest of the villains from the void,
who appeared to be jealous of Elle's excessive interation with Wheeler, spoke
first, "Bringing along a conscious asset is a serious breach of
procedure."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle coolly explained, "It's okay,
Volar. He's under hypno."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"That's no excuse."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You worry too much."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Rules are rules."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I brought him here because things are
not going to plan."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The less statuesque salamander-skinned
spaceman was dubious, "Like how?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I think," played Elle, that
someone is onto us."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We think you're betraying us,"
accused the smaller spaceman.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Why would I do that, Tandor?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler's anxiety compounded as he wondered
what was taking the MIB so long to swoop in.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"For that one," hissed the other
mazing astronomical Amazon.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Don't be ridiculous, Irshtaq."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"This would not be the first time,
Ellexizhata, in which one of our kind sold us out for an earther."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I do not go for primates."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Primates?" thought Jay.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We'll soon find out," threatened
the leader as he raised his knockout pistol and aimed it at Jay, who was
silently totally freaking out.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The aggravated alien argument was rudely
interrupted by a harsh bolt of laser light that set the innocent red and indigo
umbrella aflame. More rays vectored in from various directions with an
aggresive blaster beam crossfire. Jay instinctively lunged at Elle to protect
her in a bear hug and they hit the orange bricks. Simultaneously the three
celestial cohorts also dove onto the terracotta, pulled out serious guns, and
fired back with lasers. Searing shafts of seething yellow energy sliced through
the air above their heads, keeping them pinned down, plus showing that NSSA
quite possibly wanted their alien quarry captured alive. Wheeler seized the
moment and dug into the cargo pockets of his chinos to find the two beam
weapons that the MIB had equipped him with for the raid. He pressed one into
Elle's hand as they dashed to the protection of a planter box festooned with
pink and white geraniums. Having never fired a ray gun, Jay's wild aim
instantly melted five chaise lounges, and then exploded the propane barbecue in
a billowing cloud of fire. Elle and Wheelie used his impressive accidental
pyrotechnic diversion to chance a desperate run for the bushes, found
themselves positioned alongside one of the marginally supportive NSSA agents,
and gamely joined the fierce laser blaster battle. However, Elle, similarly to
the MIB, could not bring herself to fry her crew. The three lucky bad ass ETs
became aware that the MIB and their deputies were not shooting to kill, and
wisely fired back with only their weaker wide-angle knockout ray beams.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">As the government guys toppled Wheeler
positioned himself in front of Elle, pulled out his alien disc, and explained,
"I've got a device from little blue spacemen that thwarts your guys' brain
blotters."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"You've been aware this whole
time?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Since last night. Sorry about that.
Anyway, we can both hold onto this thing, and when they zap us, let's play
along like we're wiped out."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Then what?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We'll think of something."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Good plan."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Got any better ideas?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">A stream of mind numbing ions struck the star
crossed couple and down they went to play possum. As the galactic gangsters
inspected their handiwork a dazzling white light appeared from seemingly
nowhere and hovered above the yard. Three sparkling bands of purple electrical
plasma extended downward from the blinding orb. Shimmering energy tentacles
lifted Elle's ex-partners off the ground and made them writhe ineffectually in
mid-air with maddening pain that forced them to drop their ray guns. Elle sprang
forward to snatch up a mind wiper and individually neutralized the three
struggling sinister swindlers, at which point the sphere of brilliant
diamond-like luminosity winked out to reveal the blue aliens' stunted steaming
black saucer. Its iridescent tractor tendrils gently laid the sleeping space
scofflaws on the brickwork and then retracted as the crackling obsidian
starship almost but not quite touched down. The trio of benevolent blue beings
from the previous night on Bony Ridge disembarked from their hovering spaceship
holding up their three-fingered right hands. Elle and Jay reciprocated with
mirrored gestures and a meeting of minds was directed at Wheeler.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We received a distress signal from your
mind wipe blocker."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Just in time."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Those three need to be restrained
before they revive."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Will do."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Are you in league with the Men In
Black?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sort of. They're hoping to kick the
Finns off planet."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The spacelings let Elle in the circuit,
"Who is your friend here?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I'm Elle. I'll be staying with
Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sweet."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The psychic pygmy partiers then marched
straight in the front door, came out moments later with the contents of the
liquor cabinet cradled in their spindly arms, and cheerily telepathically
telegraphed, "Our work here is done."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Party on," cognized Wheeler.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle held up a Mister Spock double fingers
peace sign as she sincerely empathed, "Live long and prosper."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The three mirthful munchkins from the Milky
Way bowed and broadcasted, "Likewise," then boarded their vessel and
zoomed.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The MIB revived to find that they had somehow
captured the three avaricious aliens. Elle and Jay shared a knowing glance and
just went with it as her spiteful handcuffed ex-friends turned angry foes were
loaded by super-satified MIB into the back of a plateless black sedan to be
hauled to base, interrogated, mind wiped and deported from the solar system. An
ET craft cerified NSSA space pilot was choppered in to transport and impound
the priceless interplanetary flying saucer. Nearly identical replacement patio
furniture was promptly delivered and disingenuous apologies were made to the
irate landlord before wiping his recent memory. Site closed.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Back at Space Security HQ the section chief
matter of factly gave Elle an appropriately improbable false identity,
"We've created a fictitious person named Elle Fitzsimmons who was born in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, and then moved to Provo, Utah along with her parents at
age six."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sounds almost believable," she
enthused.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Here are your documents and family
photo album."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Wow. Thanks. I never thought I'd become
an honorary earthling."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Our pleasure. Now Wheeler, as your
reward for keeping your word, both Elle and you are hereby appointed as Special
Reserve NSSA Operatives."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"We get to be WAMIB?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Wamib?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Woman And Man In Black."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Good one, Wheelie."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">All three shook hands and that was that.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The chief had turned Elle and Jay over to
Agent Gardener who oversaw equipment and he was ordered to issue the two raw
recruits the same basic kit as is normally provided to agents of their ranking,
"Two black sedans, twelve cheap black suits, sixteen pairs of black
glasses, fourteen black crew cut wigs, eleven black credit cards, six chrome
ray guns, ten fake FBI badges and four sets of keys to a modest Malibu beach
house."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheeler was wide eyed as he took in
Gardener's amazing revelations, "No way?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Yes way."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay asked, "What special features do the
cars have?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"None. Except for four-hundred
horsepower and window stickers that tell the cops to give you a pass on
everything."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Everything?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Total amnesty from legal restraints.
Same for your FBI badges."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Really?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Really."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle hefted her ray gun to feel its balance,
"How about these electronic pistols?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Stun only. Unable to cut or explode
things. A direct hit knocks 'em out for about ninety minutes. That slide-switch
on the left adds twenty-four hour mind wipe. The button on the butt accesses
charging prongs. Plug into any wall socket."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Why chrome?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"More impressive."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"The plastic?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Your card is loaded with twenty-grand
on the first of the month. To cover operating expenses. Your new home has no
booby traps or other secret stuff. Plus weekly maid service."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay asked as nonchalantly as he could in such
thrilling circumstances, "What are our orders?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Didn't Chief tell you?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Nope."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Your assignment is to keep the peace
between us and EBEs."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle suspiciously inquired, "That's
it?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Sniff out trouble. Then improvise.
Discreetly."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Anything else?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Look cool."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">NSSA's Camarillo station entrance was a
rundown muffler shop in a decrepit industrial building on a sleepy side street
of the tired Old California town. Only an ancient stoical wino noticed when
identical generic late model sedans emerged into dusty sunlight to purr
menacingly onto the cracked rural two lane blacktop heading for the coast. Elle
floored it causing her turbomatic to kick down to second gear with impressive
wheelspin. Jay had to admit that she was indeed performing the, "look
cool," aspect of their job extremely well indeed. He felt incredibly smug
at twice the speed limit in his cool slightly lowered, hard sprung, quietly
powerful unmarked black cruiser. The crew cut black wig fit surprisingly well.
In combination with gleaming black Top Gun Ray Bans, the tough guy in his rear
view mirror appeared menacing enough, until Wheelie laughed out loud at the
irony of his new life as a MIB. Covering distance as never before was a wild
giddy high.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Slightly lowered black sedans with oversize
tires tucked neatly in the two car garage, Elle and Jay played
rock-paper-scissors to see whose matching key would open the wood and glass
front door of their classic cool fifties beach bungalow. Wheelie's paper
wrapped rock, so he gallantly let Elle into her immaculate ultra-exclusive
Carbon Beach period piece cottage featuring a very expensive view through
exrtavagantly expansive sliding multipane glass of Malibu pier and point. Both
were at a loss for words, awestruck by good fortune, taking it all in as best
their overloaded consciousnesses could manage. An unattainable reality thrust
into their laps!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle eloquently summed it up, "The
spoils of temporary victory over ubiquitous ever strengthening galactic uber
evil."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay could only nod affirmatively, still
incapacitated by massive beachbum stoke as he surveyed his wildest dreams come
true, with his newfound super sexy space squeeze being the unimaginably
magnificent unattainable maginificent centerpiece,</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"How good does it get?" he uttered
in semi-shock.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Not much, on this backwater
planet."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"How about dinner at the Aztec?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Are you on tonight?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Oh yeah. Can I use your phone?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jay dialed Robert, "Hey dude. It's
Wheelie. Want a job?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Well... I suppose."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Show up at the Cantina at six o'clock
and take my place. They'll be cool with it after I call them."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Waiting tables?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Yup."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Righteous."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"I've got better things to do now."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Cool man."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle and Jay arrived at the Aztec where its
staff were warmly welcoming and White Eagle had taken on Wheeler's job.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"What'll it be, dudes?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Wheelie ordered, "A steaming pot of
green tea and two fish specials, thank you."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">"Very well."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle smiled cosmically as only she could,
"He's just kidding. We'll start with Coronas and a nacho plate."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The former surfer/waiter corrected,
"Make mine green tea."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Robert nodded affirmatively, turned to Elle,
poised his pen vertically and innocently asked, "Are you from, like, up
there?"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Elle casually affirmed, "Yup."</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"> </p>
Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-31311034211895208662023-11-16T01:54:00.000-08:002023-11-16T16:32:56.811-08:00From Mat Max<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwldPmuF1SAFyuL-McrM-26FRI-yDHJ1BUaBkSlZDE3YkVQI4qX7hEXK_XT4sF8i09y0CdvI5KoDcwsB7qnf4JyzUHc2951NPhgRRnHWqw-AU2lNvCO1Bh5nKIg15sWPn2vJbyi8ZT2fuUv2EJ6whfghn9zyJxOB8YMbLWjk4iKslz6SQh7ZBkOLbOeY/s1280/2X2A5378.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1280" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwldPmuF1SAFyuL-McrM-26FRI-yDHJ1BUaBkSlZDE3YkVQI4qX7hEXK_XT4sF8i09y0CdvI5KoDcwsB7qnf4JyzUHc2951NPhgRRnHWqw-AU2lNvCO1Bh5nKIg15sWPn2vJbyi8ZT2fuUv2EJ6whfghn9zyJxOB8YMbLWjk4iKslz6SQh7ZBkOLbOeY/s320/2X2A5378.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Take it from me. Because your lowly 4GF is the most sophisticated
wave riding vehicle on the planet, designed and built by the premier
surfing geniuses in the world, you can ride it at whatever volume of
inflation you like. I'm incomprehensibly stoked on leakers so as to
experience the full spectrum of potentials. I let them become
outrageously flaccid and they merrily soldier on with aplomb and
dignity, serving up mach 11 speed runs at ridiculously minimal
inflation. And, at the other end of the air volume spectrum, more and
even more air creates a rigid bodyboard that can handle anything up to
and including the humunga cowabunga from down under. Thus, as
demonstrated by the above testimony from a seasoned matting veteran, it
just doesn't matter.<p></p>
<div> </div>
<div>Mat Max</div>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-75265222282553108662023-11-13T12:48:00.000-08:002023-11-13T12:48:11.899-08:00From Ben<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVlUbSm5Dn28ZAk43jJ1XBYbV5XgA-i6Z_x-1xRsUxhaqMX3zuLoRazuOxW6kbf9RlBMWdXDYUd3pZNP4BEQjlzZUKBvsXai-TSrSJCpJIQvk9Wt1kBOaSkP93nwcypB-p2pvsU2JtCK6zQCrcK48KHuWacCjY-YE_JTS_HTKZzJ6u7HlcjbfXypOfsg/s2048/IMG_2807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVlUbSm5Dn28ZAk43jJ1XBYbV5XgA-i6Z_x-1xRsUxhaqMX3zuLoRazuOxW6kbf9RlBMWdXDYUd3pZNP4BEQjlzZUKBvsXai-TSrSJCpJIQvk9Wt1kBOaSkP93nwcypB-p2pvsU2JtCK6zQCrcK48KHuWacCjY-YE_JTS_HTKZzJ6u7HlcjbfXypOfsg/s320/IMG_2807.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-89592398062004647212023-11-10T03:42:00.003-08:002023-11-10T03:42:40.890-08:00From Los Boogieman<p> </p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="332" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aFSBtNJ8DWE" title="GoPro POV 4GF Sunrise Sesh" width="600"></iframe>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-66409691855393395242023-11-06T21:27:00.001-08:002023-11-08T05:18:33.270-08:00Mat Meet Re-Creation <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyNPBmOKJAYnn3y0KmASKS4525oUVAT0W-Ej_-QhbTc7TGGLinZqZt7mCsFncUGFUO6NHLQqFY1bSLJ-L38NQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3289837270278241948.post-34994870982168422912023-11-01T01:00:00.002-07:002023-11-02T03:41:47.915-07:00Halloween Mat Meet -- San Diego Style<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD-B6GkzrHLftAFi9L8vw2ugGxtLA2PpLUOEBzjOc9ncfLwyUaeIoNlpFoHMyMp2cwDS6TGn9sf6DByrnw4DJY6V38l75BthkR8g9bF8UMHnaH-JsbzFXi1yZlmLh3kawhprNiphy-3tO8fjsZ2mvcN5kko3ke0pVbvYAut9Md5LHWXB9_DHn8NGJEq8/s3000/image0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD-B6GkzrHLftAFi9L8vw2ugGxtLA2PpLUOEBzjOc9ncfLwyUaeIoNlpFoHMyMp2cwDS6TGn9sf6DByrnw4DJY6V38l75BthkR8g9bF8UMHnaH-JsbzFXi1yZlmLh3kawhprNiphy-3tO8fjsZ2mvcN5kko3ke0pVbvYAut9Md5LHWXB9_DHn8NGJEq8/s320/image0.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0R3f_AxPtBQpqm4beMT9sB9Bmp1sZwimE1xgNE7wkb96Lyx472Jbn9EG_lNYZAdOKIrLEXIxjAy_bcXZjmAigDKNhs8N6Jsy-y3inecBp-FCmGvnxN2xEbDfj3lpouUTo87PEY-0Ndz3pzpQoVGdihdyf8E_klbOJePISpvjusBKVg4_FsdkpaRVnj8/s702/Screenshot%202023-10-29%20at%2010-49-11%20Instagram.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0R3f_AxPtBQpqm4beMT9sB9Bmp1sZwimE1xgNE7wkb96Lyx472Jbn9EG_lNYZAdOKIrLEXIxjAy_bcXZjmAigDKNhs8N6Jsy-y3inecBp-FCmGvnxN2xEbDfj3lpouUTo87PEY-0Ndz3pzpQoVGdihdyf8E_klbOJePISpvjusBKVg4_FsdkpaRVnj8/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-29%20at%2010-49-11%20Instagram.png" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTuYgi0UzG7XrwNhi5yFVLGBq9vcsbKI4CI6SbN7Cb8jPXXUW-EpKInHQRr_kWZSC0x7ZLDKHOuAAjXYoNjU1B7lTa5d3iPStHWiPY6_bVCWmv2FUAJa0cVxINhplVZS7z0mUfiQibQWNTLJx368xrK3dJrtf-U1w2vsj_wgBtQN9-PFiTEKw5Nt8Sj4/s561/Screenshot%202023-10-30%20at%2020-24-25%20Instagram.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTuYgi0UzG7XrwNhi5yFVLGBq9vcsbKI4CI6SbN7Cb8jPXXUW-EpKInHQRr_kWZSC0x7ZLDKHOuAAjXYoNjU1B7lTa5d3iPStHWiPY6_bVCWmv2FUAJa0cVxINhplVZS7z0mUfiQibQWNTLJx368xrK3dJrtf-U1w2vsj_wgBtQN9-PFiTEKw5Nt8Sj4/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-30%20at%2020-24-25%20Instagram.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="340" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sKo6-Q7l6p8" title="Creeping Of The Mats" width="600"></iframe>Paul Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614071361550493917noreply@blogger.com0