Yesterday, when I stepped outside and looked at my cherry tomatoes, I thought for one second that I saw a hinge of red, but then discounted it as wishful thinking.

Today, when I went out to look, I spotted two little red cherry tomatoes.  Well, they aren’t quite red, but they are getting there.  They must have turned red over night.

Hopefully, the rest will turn red soon, so I can actually make a salad out of them.  Right now I must have something in the neighborhood of 200 flowers along with 50 already grown tomatoes.  I am going to have cherry tomatoes coming out of my ears!

Technically, I think they are called Grape Tomatoes, but since I have been calling them Cherry Tomatoes this entire time, that is what I am going to continue to call them.

So, my garden has gone a little wild.  Just a little.  You can view the progress by clicking here and here.  Phil actually took a pano of my garden.  I’ll put that up as soon as he puts it together.

My nine cherry tomato plants look like one giant bush! I’ve got all sorts of tomatoes, but like my beefsteaks, not a single one has a hint of red of them.  I’ll cry if they don’t turn.

These here are my beefsteak tomatoes.  Some are bigger than others, but not a single one has turned red.

They don’t look quite like they do in the grocery store, but eh, as long as they taste the same, I don’t really care. I can’t decide if I want to pick them as green or red peppers.

This past weekend, Phil and I went up to his parent’s lake house to fish. While we were there, I noticed this little Anole chilling on the porch and took a picture of him. Being spring and all, I’m surprised he was brown instead of green.

He wouldn’t let me get too close to him, so I credit my camera with the nice crisp clean shot that I got. I swear he was posing for me. He kept turning his head in different directions, as if he were saying, “This is my better side.” After his photo session was done, he crawled in between the screen and the wood.

I went to Lisbon, Portugal for a week in 2004. While I was there, I had a nice dinner in a wine cellar. All the lights had gone out in the place, so we had to eat mostly by candle light. You can see the flickering lights in the video.

The women is singing Fado, a Portuguese song that is supposed to express the nostalgia felt while missing someone.

I wish I had a better camera at the time, so you could have seen the girl better, but I guess the important part is the sound.

I’m mad at myself that I didn’t take more pictures when I visited Lisbon, but at least I was smart of enough to catch this on video. I really like the sound. It’s sorta like opera, you don’t have to understand what she is saying to get it – you can feel it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewqlHevGhIE[/youtube]

I’ve written about the paper making village I visited while I lived in Fuyang, China, before, but I never put up the videos. You can see those posts about the village here, here, and here(but the slide show died – sorry).

Enjoy!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0mrD80MelA[/youtube]

Here we have step one.  My voice over should cover all the bases.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goD2PdHFlBo[/youtube]

Here we have part two. They take the smashed bits of paper and throw it into the water to be filtered out one sheet at a time. I wonder how much those guys get paid.  Surely, not enough.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCEKbDIa3Bk[/youtube]

Here we have part three.  After they have made the sheets, they have to dry them.  They put them up on a very hot surface and “iron” them until they are dry.  Later, they cut it and then either paint on it or turn it into books. Pretty interesting process.

Well, that didn’t take quite as long as I expected.  My little blog now has a permanent rent free home! That is, if you don’t count the 10 dollars it costs a year to keep my domain.

So now I can start blogging more regularly again. Horrah!  I know you’ve all just been heart broken that you haven’t been able to read about my exciting life.  If you click on the photo link at the top, you’ll notice that there aren’t any pictures to see right now.  I decided I didn’t like the way I had them organized.  I’m going to go through all of them and pick the best ones out and then put them back on.    Phil is also going to be working on the look of my blog again soon. It looks alright now, but there is always room for improvement.  So, sit tight, I’ll try to get some of postcards or something up to keep you entertained.

This is what happens when you throw left over, supposedly dead seeds into a pot and have no intention of them becoming anything.

When they first sprouted, we thought they were all cucumbers, so we we let them climb up a tomato cage. Big mistake. Turns out, a lot of our supposed cucumbers are actually cantaloupe. Now we have to support the cantaloupes hanging in the sky by pantyhose. Yes, pantyhose. At least, that is what the internet suggested for people who don’t have a lot of space in their garden. You can’t really see it in this photo, unless you look really, really hard, but there is a cantaloupe hanging 3/4ths of the way up(center). It is a slightly less green. I really hope this pantyhose idea works.

I really don’t know how this happened, but mushrooms randomly started sprouting out of the dirt of the office plant that my Granny gave me about 3 months ago.

I don’t know about you, but mushrooms are very phallic looking, especially these.

And other than that . . . I don’t know what else to say.

I’m entirely too depressed to write anything meaningful, so I have decided to post one of those files/stories Phil was able to save off my older than sin Apple.

I used to be a huge X-file fan – I mean HUGE.  For instance, I had to be in front of my TV at 9 pm sharp on Sunday or else I thought the world was going to come to a shrieking halt.   Well, I combined my love of writing and X-files and managed to write a story starring Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.  I was a big fan of Mulder and Scully hooking up, so that is sorta what the story is about.  The story, like Brain Cell Bob, has all sorts of grammatical errors and what not – like my blog, so you shouldn’t be too shocked.  I wouldn’t even say the story is a good one, it just makes me laugh.  It makes me remember how retarded I actually am.  🙂

1ST ANNUAL FBI BALL

BY GABRIELLE COOK
11/02/96

DANA SCULLY SAT CURLED UP ON HER COACH WATCHING HORROR
CLIPS ON FOX.  THAT WAS HOW BORED SHE WAS.  SHE DIPPED HER
SPOON INTO HER HALF A GALLON OF ROCKIE ROAD ICE CREAM.  SHE
WAS FULL.  SCULLY HAD NEARLY EATEN HALF OF THE CARTON.  IT
WAS ONLY 8:15PM AND SHE WASN’T NEAR TIERD.
SHE AND HER PARTNER, FOX MULDER HAD JUST GOTTEN BACK
FROM ONE OF THEIR INVESTIGATIONS WAY OVER IN THE WEST.
SCULLY WASN’T SURE WHY SHE WASN’T TIRED FROM THE LONG FLIGHT
FROM CALIFORNIA.  SHE HADN’T SLEPT A WINK ON THE PLANE.
MULDER HAD THOUGH.  HE ALWAYS WAS ABLE TO FIND A COMFORTABLE
PLACE IN HIS HARD CHAIR.  SHE JUST READ THE WHOLE ENTIRE
TIME.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SKINNER GAVE THEM THE NEXT THREE DAYS
OFF FROM WORK BECAUSE OF HOW LONG THEY WERE OUT THERE.
ALMOST A MONTH.  SHE WASN’T SURE WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO FOR
THREE DAYS.  SCULLY WASN’T USED TO THAT.  MAYBE SHE AND
MULDER COULD DO SOMETHING.  MAYBE GO SEE A MOVIE IN WHICH
SHE HADN’T SEEN ONE IN AGES.  SCULLY DECIDED TO CALL HIM SO
THAT HE WOULDN’T MAKE ANY PLANS.  SHE PUNCHED MEMORY #1.
THE NUMBER QUICKLY WAS DIALED.
“HELLO”, MULDER SAID.
“HEY, IT’S ME.  WHAT ARE YOU UP TO,” SCULLY SAID
FEEDING HER MOUTH A SPOON FULL OF ICE CREAM?
“NOTHING MUCH REALLY.  JUST SITING HERE WATCHING SOME
COOL HORROR MOVIES.  WHY DID YOU ASK?”
“MULDER I MUST REALLY REALLY BE BORED IF I AM WATCHING
THE SAME THING YOU ARE.”
“YOU MEAN YOU, DANA SCULLY, ARE WATCHING HUGE ANTS
DEVOIR HUMANS TOO.”
SHE LAUGHED.  “PRETTY SCARY HUH?”
“COMPARED TO THIS MOVIE, YEAH, I THINK SO.”
“HEY, MULDER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR YOUR THREE DAYS
OFF?
“OH, PROBABLY JUST SIT AROUND THE HOUSE.  WATCH MORE
DULL MOVIES ON FOX.  GO HANG AROUND THE LOCAL BARS.  NOTHING
REAL FUN.  DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN MIND SCULLY,” MULDER
ASKED?
“WELL, I MIGHT GO SEE A MOVIE OR TAKE A WALK AROUND THE
PARK.  JUST TAKE IT EASY.  IF I DID GO TO THE MOVIES, WOULD
YOU WANT TO JOIN ME,” DANA ASKED HOPING THE ANSWER WOULD BE
YES.
“WHY NOT.  IT BEATS HANGING AROUND LOCAL BARS OR
WATCHING ANTS DEVOUR PEOPLE ALIVE.  WHAT MOVIE WOULD YOU
LIKE TO SEE SCULLY?”
“I DON’T KNOW.  I HAVEN’T HAD TIME TO GET A PAPER.”

“I’LL PICK YOU UP IN A HOUR.  THAT IS WHEN ALL THE
MOVIES START.  THAT WILL ALOW YOU TO GET READY.  IS THAT
ALRIGHT WITH YOU?”
“YEAH, I GUESS MULDER.  I’LL SEE YOU THEN. BYE”
“BYE.”
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN MULDER SLIPPED INTO SOME MORE
COMFORTABLE CLOTHES.  HE HAD REMEMBERED THAT HE WAS NO
LONGER ON DUTY.   HE COULD WEAR WHAT HE WANTED.  MULDER
HOPED THAT SCULLY DIDN’T DRESS UP FOR THE ACCATION.  HE
HADN’T MESSED WITH HIS MAIL SENSE HE HAD BEEN HOME SO HE
DECIDED TO SIFT THROUGH IT.  HE NOTICED A BRIGHT BLUE
ENVELOPE THAT HAD “DON’T MISS IT” WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.
THE LETTER LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING HE MIGHT WANT TO OPEN
SO HE DID.  IT WAS A LETTER FROM THE OFFICE.  IT READ:

DEAR AGENT FOX MULDER,

WE ARE INVITING YOU (AND WHO EVER YOU CHOSE TO
BRING) TO THE FIRST ANNUAL FBI HEADQUARTERS BALL.  IT WILL
BE HELD ON NOVEMBER THE 7TH (AT 7:30PM TO 12:00AM) IN THE
FBI HEADQUARTERS BUILDING ON THE 8TH FLOOR.  YOU DO NOT NEED
TO BRING ANY MONEY OR FOOD.  ALL THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE
OF.  PLEASE SHOW UP.  WE WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME.

SINCERELY,
THE FBI

THAT SOUNDED SOME WHAT FUN.  MAYBE SCULLY WOULD JOIN
HIM.  THAT WOULD BE ODD THOUGH.  THEM DANCING TOGETHER IN
FRONT OF ALL THE OTHER AGENTS.  THEM BEING CLOSE LIKE THAT
FOR A CHANGE.  HIM DANCING.  HE WOULD HAVE TO SHOW THAT TO
DANA, PERSUADE HER INTO GOING AND HAVING FUN.  MULDER WOULD
NOT LET HER SAY NO.  HE LOOKED AT HIS WATCH.  IT HAD BEEN
NEARLY A HOUR.  HE BETTER BE ON HIS WAY.
HE ENTERED THE ELEVATOR AND PUSHED THE NUMBER FOUR AS
THE DOORS CLOSED.  THE ELEVATOR SEEMED COLD.  COLDER THAN
NORMAL.  THE DOORS OPENED AND HE WALKED DOWN THE HALL AND
THEN TURNED TO FACE SCULLY’S DOOR.  FOUR-O-TWO STARED HIM IN
THE FACE.  HE KNOCKED.
“SCULLY, IT’S ME,” HE YELLED.
SCULLY WAS SITTING ON HER COACH FLIPING CHANNELS. SHE
GOT UP AND OPENED THE DOOR.  “HEY.”  SCULLY MOTIONED HIM
IN.  “I WAS HOPING YOU WOULDN’T DRESS UP OR ANYTHING.  I
THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE NICE TO DRESS CASUAL FOR A CHANGE.”
“YEAH, THAT IS WHAT I WAS THINKING TO.  HAVE YOU LOOKED
AT YOUR MAIL TODAY, SCULLY,” HE ASKED.
“NO, I HAVEN’T EVEN BEEN DOWN TO THE MANAGER’S OFFICE
TO GET IT.”
“WELL, MOST LIKELY YOU’LL FIND THIS,” HE SAID AS HE
PULLED THE BLUE ENVELOPE OUT OF HIS POCKET.  “OPEN IT.”
SHE DID AS SHE WAS TOLD AND BEGAN READING.  “A BALL?
WHAT GAVE THEM THE IDEA OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.  WHO
WOULD POSSIBLE SHOW TO UP TO DANCE.”

MOLDER LOOKED UP AT HER LOOKING HURT.  “I WOULD.  OR MAYBE
“WE” COULD.” SCULLY STARTED TO LAUGH.
“MULDER, I COULDN’T DANCE IF I TRIED.  DO YOU KNOW HOW
LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE I DANCED,” SCULLY ASKED.
“I HAVEN’T DANCED IN FOR EVER EITHER SCULLY BUT WE
COULD TEACH EACH OTHER.”
“WE BETTER GO TO THAT MOVIE WE PLANNED ON OR IT IS
GOING TO START WITHOUT US.”
“THE MOVIE THEATER IS BEING PUT UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND
THE OTHER ONE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.  WE WOULD NEVER
MAKE IT ON TIME.  I SAW THE SIGN IN FRONT OF THE THEATER ON
THE WAY OVER.  WE COULD JUST RENT INSTEAD OR FLIP CHANNELS.
MAYBE EVEN TEACH EACH OTHER HOW TO DANCE AGAIN.”  HE LOOKED
UP AT HER AGAIN GIVING HER HIS BEST SMILE.  HE APPROACHED
SCULLY GRABBING HER HAND IN A DANCING MOTION.
“COME ON SCULLY JUST ONE DANCE.  WHERE IS YOUR RADIO,”
MULDER ASKED.
“OVER THERE IN THE KITCHEN.  THERE IS A PLUG IN HERE.
BUT I’M TELLING YOU NOW THAT I AM ONLY DANCING TO ONE SONG
AND THAT IS IT,” SULLY SAID WITH A SERIOUSNESS HE HAD NEVER
HEARD BEFORE.  MULDER PLUGED IN THE RADIO AND TURNED IT ON.
HE BEGAN TUNNING ON ONE OF THE 80’S STATIONS.  AS SOON AS IT
WAS TUNED HE HEARD THE D.J’S VOICE.
“THIS IS A NEW SONG FROM THE BROADWAY PRODUCTION RENT.
IT’S CALLED I’LL COVER YOU.”
THE MUSIC BEGAN.  MULDER GRAPED SCULLY’S HANDS AGIAN
AND BEGAN “TRYING” TO DANCE.  THEY SWAYED BACK AND FORTH.
MULDER LIFTED SCULLY’S HEAD UP.
“DON’T WORRY ABOUT STEPPING ON MY FEET.”

LIVE IN MY HOUSE
I’LL BE YOUR SHELTER

“I WASN’T WORRIED ABOUT STEPPING ON YOUR FEET.  I WAS
WORRIED THAT YOU WOULD STEP ON MINE.”  THEY BOTH CHUCKLED.

JUST PAY ME BACK WITH ONE THOUSAND KISSES
BE MY LOVER AND I’LL COVER YOU

“YOU KNOW SCULLY WE AREN’T IN SOME MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM
WHERE THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO BE ARMS LENGTH AWAY FROM EACH
OTHER.”  MULDER STEPPED A FEW FEET CLOSER.  MULDER WAS SOME
WHAT WAS ENJOYING THIS.  EVEN THOUGH HE CARED SO MUCH ABOUT
HER HE NEVER HAD TIME TO SHOW IT.  ALWAYS OUT CHASING
SOMETHING.  THE WORDS ROLLED ON.

ALL MY LIFE I’VE LONGED TO DISCOVER
SOMETHING AS TRUE AS THIS

SCULLY LOOKED UP INTO MULDER’S HAZEL EYES.  THE
TWINKLED TONIGHT.  MUCH MORE THAN USUAL.  THEY LOOKED AS
THOUGH THEY LONGED TO TELL HER SOMETHING.  A FOR LONGED
SECRET KEPT INSIDE.  SCULLY BLUSHED.  SHE HAD LOVED MULDER
SINCE SHE HAD FIRST MET HIM FOUR LONG YEARS AGO.  WHY SHE

NEVER REALLY SHOWED HIM WAS A QUESTION SHE LONGED TO FIND
THE ANSWER TO.
“YOU KNOW MULDER, EVEN IF I DID GO TO THIS BALL I
WOULDN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR,” SCULLY SAID.
“I’M SURE YOU COULD FIND SOMETHING TO WEAR.  IT DOESN’T
HAVE TO BE THAT FANCY, YOU KNOW.”  THE SONGS CHORUS BEGAN
MAKING THE BEAUTIFUL SLOW SONG NO MORE.  SCULLY BACKED AWAY.
“WHY DID YOU STOP?  THE SONG IS NOT OVER.  YOU PROMISED
TO DANCE THE ENTIRE SONG.”
“MULDER, I’M TIRED AND THE CHORUS OF THE SONG ISN’T AS
SLOW AS THE REST OF THE SONG.  YOU CAN’T DANCE SLOW LIKE
THAT.  I NEED TO GO TO BED.
“WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO HELP YOU TO BED?”
“MULDER…”  SHE HUSHED HER SELF WITHOUT MAKING HER
SELF SOUND MORE REJECTED.  IF SHE TURNED DOWN HIS PROPOSAL
HE MIGHT NOT THINK SHE HAD THE SAME FEELINGS AS HIM.  “JUST
GO AHEAD AND MAKE SOME COFFEE.  I’LL BE OUT IN A SECOND.”
MULDER SMILED.  HE WAS GLAD SHE HAD NOT HAD SAID NO.  HE
QUICKLY BEGAN MAKING THEIR COFFEE.  HE DASHED SOME SUGER IN
TO HER GLASS.  MAYBE WAKE HER UP.
THE LAST DROP DROPPED OUT OF THE COFFEE POT.  HE POURED
THE COFFEE INTO THE MUGS.  AS HE ENTERED THE LIVING ROOM HE
SAW HER LYING ON THE COACH.  SHE WORE A LIGHT RED LONG SILK
GOWN.  HE COULDN’T HELP BUT STOP AND STARE.  SHE LOOKED
AWESOME.
“WHAT MULDER?”
“OH, NOTHING.”  HE HANDED HER HER GLASS.
“THANKS.”
“NO, PROBLEM.”  SHE SAT UP GIVING HIM ROOM.  SHE SIPPED
HER BOILING COFFEE.  THE HOTNESS MADE HER EVEN MORE SLEEPY.
THE SUGAR DID NO GOOD.  HER EYE LIDS STRAINED TO STAY OPEN.
MULDER SAW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IF SHE FEEL ASLEEP.  SO
HE GRABBED HER CUP.  HE PLACED IT ON THE COFFEE TABLE.  HER
EYES FINALLY WENT COMPLETELY  SHUT.  HER HEAD DROPPED ON HIS
SHOULDER.  SHE WAS IMMEDIATELY ASLEEP.
HE GOT UP EVER SO SLOWLY SO HE WOULDN’T WAKE HER.  HE
LAYED HER HEAD ON A PILLOW AND PUSHED HER AUBURN HAIR OFF
HER FACE.  HE STARED AT HER.  HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE LOOKED.  SO
ELEGANT.  SO PEACEFUL.  HE BENT DOWN AND KISSED HER CHEEK
WITH A SLIGHT BRUSH.  HE THREW THE SHAW THAT LAY OVER HER
COACH ONTO HER.  MULDER TURNED OFF THE LAMP AND OPENED THE
DOOR.  NOT YET LEAVING.  HE LOCKED THE DOOR AND TURNED TO
LOOK AT HER ONCE MORE.
“GOOD NIGHT DANA.”  HE SHUT THE DOOR.

*** THE NEXT NIGHT ***

MULDER SAT UP IN HIS BED.  HE LOOKED AT HIS CLOCK THAT
READ 10:34PM.  HE HADN’T TALKED TO SCULLY SINCE LAST NIGHT
WHEN HE LEFT HER TO SLEEP.  HE WAS BORED OUT OF HIS MIND.
HE HAD SPENT HIS WHOLE DAY JUST SITTING IN HIS BED WATCHING
TV, LISTING TO GAMES ON THE RADIO AND LOOKING OVER A OLD AND
DUSTY X-FILE.  WHY HADN’T SCULLY CALLED.  MAYBE SHE WASN’T
FEELING WELL.  SHOULD HE CALL HER?  MULDER DECIDED NOT TO

BOTHER.  IF SHE HAD WANTED TO TALK, SHE WOULD HAVE CALLED.
HE SHOULD GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP FOR THE FOLLOWING NIGHT
AHEAD.  HE TURNED OFF HIS LAMP AND FELL ASLEEP.
SCULLY HAD SLEPT MOST OF THE DAY AWAY.  THE FLIGHT BACK
HAD CAUGHT UP WITH HER.  SHE HAD AWOKEN THAT NEXT AFTERNOON
LYING ON THE COACH WITH THE SHAWL OVER HER.  WHEN HAD MULDER
LEFT?  HOW LATE WERE THEY UP.  SHE LOOKED INTO HER MUG FULL
OF COFFEE.  MOST LIKELY NOT LONG.  SCULLY COULD SLIGHTLY
REMEMBER DRINKING THE COFFEE AND THEN DOSING OFF.  SHE
WONDERED IF HE HAD CALLED WHILE SHE SLEPT.  OH WELL, SHE HAD
TO CLEAN UP HER APARTMENT AND FIND A DRESS IF SHE WAS GOING
TO THIS BALL TOMORROW.
AFTER HOURS OF CLEANING HER APARTMENT SCULLY TURNED ON
HER RADIO THAT WAS STILL PLUGGED INTO HER WALL IN THE LIVING
ROOM.  SHE WAS SICK OF THE SILENCE.  SHE COULDN’T TAKE IT ANY
LONGER.  AS SOON AS THE RADIO WAS TURNED ON THE SONG THAT
SHE AND MULDER HAD DANCED TO CAME ON.  IT HAD JUST BEGAN.
SCULLY SIGHED.
“NOW IT IS GOING TO HAUNT ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.”
THE WHOLE NIGHT MULDER DIDN’T CALL OR COME BY.  SHE WAS
SURPRISED HE HADN’T ALL READY COME BY ASKING FOR JUST ONE
MORE DANCE.  SCULLY FAINTLY REMEMBERED THE NIGHT.  SHE HAD
BEEN SO TIRED.  SHE COULD REMEMBER THEM SWAYING BACK AND
FORTH TO THE SLOW BEAT OF THE MUSIC.  MULDER’S GENTLY
HOLDING HER.  THAT WOULD BE NIGHT TO REMEMBER.  ALWAYS.
SHE HAD LOOKED THROUGH ALL OF HER CLOTHES THAT DAY
TOSSING THINGS ALL ABOUT HER ROOM.  SHE WAS BEGINNING TO
BECOME FRANTIC WHEN SHE PULLED OUT A DRESS SHE WORE SEVERAL
YEARS BACK TO A DANCE AT COLLEGE.  IT WASN’T REAL FANCY NOR
DULL.  IT HAD IT’S OWN BEAUTY TO IT.  ANYWAY BLUE STOOD OUT
ON HER WITH HER RED HAIR.  SCULLY PICKED UP ALL HER OTHER
CLOTHES WHEN SHE NOTICED THE TIME.  11:48PM.  SHE BETTER GO
TO BED.

*** THE NEXT MORNING ***

THE PHONE IN MULDER’S ROOM RANG.  MULDER STILL HALF A
SLEEP PICKED IT UP.
“HELLO,” HE MURMURED.
“GOOD MORNING AGENT MULDER.  THIS ASSISTANT DIRECTER
SKINNER.  I WAS CALLING TO SEE IF YOU WERE COMING TO THE
BALL TONIGHT.  ARE YOU COMING,” SKINNER ASKED.
“YEAH, I AM.  I AM BRINGING AGENT SCULLY ALONG WITH
ME.”
“YOUR BRINGING AGENT SCULLY!?,” SKINNER SAID SOUNDING A
LITTLE SHOCKED.
“YES, IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT,” MULDER
ASKED.
“NO. NO, I WAS JUST A LITTLE SURPRISED.  THATS ALL.
WELL, I HAVE SEVERAL OTHER AGENTS TO CALL SO I NEED TO GO.
I’LL SEE YOU TONIGHT AGENT MULDER.  BYE.”
“BYE.” MULDER LOOKED AT HIS CLOCK NEXT TO HIS BED.  IT
READ 10:38AM.  TIME TO GET UP HE THOUGHT.  THE SUN PEEKED
THROUGH HIS CURTAINS.  HE WAS HUNGRY.  MULDER SEARCHED HIS

REFRIGERATOR BUT FOUND NOTHING GOOD TO EAT.  HE HADN’T BEEN
IN HIS HOUSE THIS LONG IN FOREVER.  IT WAS ODD.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN SCULLY SAT ON HER FLOOR IN
BETWEEN HER COACH AND COFFEE TABLE.  SHE WAS EATING SOME
CORN FLAKES DOWSED WITH SUGER.  SHE SIPPED HER ORANGE JUICE.
SHE THOUGHT ABOUT THE THE BALL THAT WAS GOING TO BE HELD
THAT NIGHT.  SHOULD SHE GO?  SHE ALREADY TOLD MULDER SHE
WOULD BUT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN MULDER NEVER
SHOWED UP PLACES WHERE THEY PLANNED ON MEETING.
WHAT WAS SHE THINKING.  TONIGHT WAS GOING TO BE FUN.
BEING WITH MULDER AND DANCING WITH HIM.  MAYBE EVEN MEETING
SOME NEW PEOPLE.  GARFIELD AND FRIENDS WERE ON.  NOT THAT
SCULLY WATCHED CARTOONS BUT SHE HADN’T SEEN A CARTOON SEEN
IN SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHEN.  HER HAIR POOFED IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
SHE WAS MOST LIKELY GOING TO HAVE TO PIN IT BACK TONIGHT.

*** 6:53PM ***

MULDER SLIPPED INTO HIS BLACK AND WHITE SUITE.  HE
THOUGHT HE RESEMBLED A PENGUIN HE HAD RENTED IT FROM THE
PLACE DOWN THE STREET.  MULDER DIDN’T WANT TO WEAR HIS EVERY
DAY WORK CLOTHES TONIGHT.  HE RAN HIS FINGERS THROUGH HIS
HAIR ONCE.  HE PICKED UP HIS PHONE AND QUICKLY DIALED
SCULLY’S NUMBER.  HE COULD DIAL HER NUMBER IN HIS SLEEP.
SCULLY SAT IN FRONT OF HER BATHROOM MIRROR HOLDING A
PIN IN HER MOUTH AS SHE INSERTED ONE INTO HER HAIR.  SHE HAD
PUT HER HAIR UP INTO A BUN AND LET SOME SIDE PIECES DOWN.
HER PHONE RANG.
“HELLO.”
“HEY, SCULLY.  WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO PICK YOU UP?”
“NO THATS OKAY MULDER.  I’M NOT QUITE DONE AND IT’S
GONING TO TAKE ME A BIT TO GET COMPLETELY READY.  I’LL JUST
MEET YOU THERE OKAY?”
“OKAY, I’LL SEE YOU THEN.  BYE.”  HE HUNG UP BEFORE SHE
COULD RESPOND.  HER BLUE DRESS FELL RIGHT BELOW HER KNEES.
IT HAD LONG SLEEVES AND HAD A SLIGHT LOW CUT FRONT.  SHE
DIDN’T CARE.  IT WAS BETTER THAN WEARING HIS NORMAL WORK
CLOTHES.  SHE PLACED A PEARL EAR RINGS IN HER EARS.  THEY
HAD BEEN A PRESENT FROM HER MELISSA TWO YEARS AGO AND SHE
NEVER FOUND TIME TO WEAR THEM.  SHE GLANCED BACK AT THE
CLOCK AND IT READ 7:10PM.  SHE NEEDED TO GO.  SHE QUICKLY
CURLED HER LOSE PIECES OF HAIR AND SMOOTHED THE WRINKLES OUT
OF HER VELVET DRESS.  SHE GRABBED HER KEYS BUT FORGOT HER
CROSS NECKLACE.  SHE PICKED IT UP FROM HER DRESSER AND WAS
ON HER WAY.
MULDER ARRIVED ABOUT TWENTY EIGHT MINUTES BEFORE IT
ACTUALLY BEGAN.  HE STOOD TALKING WIH HIS FRIEND AGENT ALAN
BURGESS.
“DID YOU BRING ANYBODY MULDER,” AGENT BURGESS ASKED.
“YEAH, BUT SHE’S NOT HERE YET.  SHE SHOULD BE HERE
SOON,” MULDER REPLIED.
“WHO IS *SHE*?”
“AGENT DANA SCULLY.”

“REALLY!  AGENT SCULLY.  I DIDN’T KNOW YOU TWO WERE
INVOLVED.”
MULDER SMILED AT WHAT BURGESS SAID.  “WELL, WE AREN’T
REALLY.  WE JUST DECIDED TO GO AS FRIENDS.”
“YEAH, WHATEVER YOU SAY AGENT MULDER.  WE ALL KNOW
ABOUT YOU TWO.  WE AREN’T REALLY ALL THAT DENSE.”
“WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY?  I KNOW I CARE ABOUT HER
BUT SHE IS MY PARTNER.  AM I SUPPOSED TO HATE HER OR
SOMETHING,” MULDER SLIGHTLY YELLED.
“NEVER MIND MULDER.  THERE SHE IS,” AGENT BURGESS SAID
AS SCULLY WALKED IN THE DOOR.  MULDER LEFT AGENT BURGESS TO
GO TOWARD SCULLY.  SHE SAW HIM COMING THROUGH THE SOME WHAT
CROWD THAT HAD FORMED.  MULDER RAISED HIS HAND TO MAKE SURE
SHE SAW HIM.
“HEY SCULLY.  YOU LOOK GOOD,” MULDER SAID.
“THANKS.  YOU DON’T LOOK HALF BAD YOUR SELF.  THERE ARE
MORE PEOPLE HERE THAN I THOUGHT.”
“SEE SCULLY THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO KNOW HOW TO
DANCE.  UNLIKE US.”  SHE SMILED.  THEY BEGAN WALKING TOWARD
THE REFRESHMENT TABLE.  “WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING TO DRINK,”
HE ASKED HER?
“SURE, IS IT PUNCH,” SHE PONDERED.  (COULD IT POSSIBLE
BE SPIKED)
“THATS WHAT I’M THINKING.”  HE HANDED HER HER PLASTIC
CUP.  SHE RETURNED IT WITH A SMILE.  A SCULLY SMILE.  THE
D.J’S VOICE CAME ON THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.
“WELL, HERE WE ARE AT THE 1ST ANNUAL BALL EVER TO BE
HELD FOR THE FBI,” CRACKED THE YOUNG AGENT WHO WAS ASKED TO
BE A D.J.  “EVEN IF THIS IS A BALL YOU ALL CAN DANCE TO
THESE FASTER ONES.  THE FIRST SONG IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES
AND I CANT WAIT TO SEE ALL OF YOU DANCING TO IT.  IT IS THE
MOCKERANA!”  THE SONG BEGAN TO GO THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.
SCULLY LOOKS OVER AT MULDER TO FIND HIM HAVING THIS AWKWARD
SMILE ON HIS FACE.
“ABSOLUTELY NOT MULDER.  YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD AND DANCE
TO IT.  I’LL WATCH YOU FROM HERE,” SHE ORDERED.
“YOU’RE NO FUN YOU PARTY POOPER.”  HE JOINED THE
EXCITED CROWD.  SCULLY ONLY LAUGHED AT HIM.  THE REST OF THE
NIGHT DREW ON AND SCULLY KEPT ON TURNING DOWN MULDER’S
PROPOSALS TO DANCE.  THE CLOCK ON THE WALL READ 10:48PM.
“OKAY, THIS WILL BE OUR LAST DANCE FOR THE NIGHT.  IT’S
A SLOW ONE AND IT’S MENS CHOICE,” THE D.J SAID TIREDLY.
“ALRIGHT SCULLY.  I’M NOT TAKING NO FOR A ANSWER.”  HE
GRABBED HER HAND AND PULLED HER TO THE CENTER OF THE FLOOR.
THE SONG BEGAN.  HE PULLED HE CLOSE.  MULDER’S EYES LOCKED
ON HERS AND HERS WITH HIS.

YOUR EYES, THE ONES THAT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE
THE NIGHT YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE
WHERE THERE’S MOONLIGHT I SEE YOUR EYES

“YOU COULD HAVE JUST ASKED YOU KNOW.  YOU DIDN’T HAVE
TO PULL ME OUT LIKE THAT,”  SHE SPOKE ANGRILY.

“IF I DIDN’T WE WOULDN’T BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION,”
HE WHISPERED.  SHE LOOKED AWAY FROM HIS HAZEL EYES AND
PEERED ABOUT THE DIMMED ROOM.  THEY WERE THE CENTER OF
ATTENTION.  SEVERAL COUPLES WHO WERE DANCING JUST STARED.

HOW’D I LET YOU SLIP AWAY WHEN I’M LONGING TO HOLD YOU
NOW I’D DIE FOR ON MORE DAY ‘CAUSE THERE’S SOMETHING I
SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU

HE TURNED HER HEAD TOWARD HIM AGAIN.  THERE EYES LOCKED
ONCE MORE.  SCULLY STARED IN TO THEM.  THEY WERE THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL COLOR EYES SHE HAD EVER SEEN.  THEY TWINKLED SO.
SHE NEVER WANTED TO LET GO OF HIM AGAIN.  SHE LAYED HER HEAD
ON HIS CHEST.  HIS HEART PONDED SO VERY STRONG.  MULDER
SWAYED BACK AND FORTH WISHING HE HAD MADE THE D.J DEDICATE
THIS SONG TO HER.  IT WAS SO TRUE.  IT TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT
OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

I SHOULD TELL YOU I SHOULD TELL YOU
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOU
YOU CAN SEE IT IN MY EYES

MULDER PICKED HER HEAD OFF HIS CHEST AND STARED INTO
HER EYES ONCE MORE.  HE NO LONGER RESIST.  HE LEANED FORWARD
AND BRUSHED HIS LIPS GENTLY AGAINST HERS.  HE PULLED AWAY.
SCULLY’S EYES ASKED SO MANY QUESTIONS.
“THAT SONG SAYS EVERYTHING,” HE WHISPERED.  MULDER COULD
SENSE ALL THE EYES.  ESPECIALLY AGENT BURGESS’S EYES.  “EVEN
THOUGH I HAVE NEVER TOLD YOU DANA, I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT
WAY.  FROM THE VERY DAY I LAYED EYES ON YOU.”  MULDER LOOKED
UP AND NOTICED EVERY BODY HAD STEPPED OF THE DANCE FLOOR TO
WATCH THIS REMARKABLE EVENT.  THEY STOPPED DANCING AND TOOK
EACH OTHERS HANDS.
“FOX…I LOVE YOU, TOO.”  HOOTS AND HOLLERS WERE HEARD
ALL OVER THE ROOM.  SCULLY RETURNED MULDER’S KISS.

-THE END-

DEDICATED TO BUDDY WHO WITHOUT HIM THIS WOULD HAVE
NEVER BEEN POSSIBLE.  IT WOULD HAVE JUST BECOME ONE OF
SEVERAL OTHER X-FILES.  THANKS BUDDY!

I was invited to my school to judge an English competition on my birthday. At the end several students and teachers sang songs. They asked me to sing, too. I don’t know any songs by heart, especially with out the music, so I sang Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Laugh if you will, I was just having some fun.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdTdQCchyIk[/youtube]