The Investigators, Inc. The Killer Mystery. Chapter 11. Concluding.

Posted on June 13, 2026 by

795 Comments

Man in leather jacket reading notes with ghostly woman beside him in office

Steffie had just finished her little speech and everyone throughout the chateau had gone silent while she spoke. Cristy had allowed everyone in the chateau to hear Steffie, all but Jennifer and I. We were in my office and Cristy turned off the speaker into the office so we couldn’t hear what was going on. At first Friskie had reprimanded Steffie for saying her aunties were bad, but now she was silent too. Sky had heard Jennifer and I talking before Steffie began her speech and she “sneaked” some donuts from the other girls to bring to me as a present while she apologized to me.

Sky has the ability to hear me talking no matter where I am, even if I’m half way around the world. She just doesn’t normally use that ability unless necessary. However, at times she likes to listen in, the sneak. I think Jennifer is angry just like Steffie and she says that there will be some major changes within the Investigators from now on. Sky agreed that changes need to be made. “We need to get those changes done quickly,” said Sky, “I know you can do it Steve.” “That was a quick move from ‘we’ to ‘you’,” I said sighing. “Well, you are the leader,” she said smiling.

“Sometimes I’m not so sure about that,” I replied. “I will be making the changes myself if Steve doesn’t get things moving,” said Jennifer. “Oooh, sounds interesting,” said Sky excitedly. The Black Wolves and Wildcats made it back home safely and I announced to everyone that tomorrow was going to be a free day to just relax, then we would have a team picnic two days later since that is the date that Muffin and I launched the Investigators, Inc. Everyone was totally excited about that and much of the work was already done by the home team during this last case.

That case is officially closed since there really was nothing else we could do anyway. We did close down what we could of that international gang of sex traffickers and whatever else they were. With help from Kat, Samantha was able to get Harley up and walking around again so that she will be able to participate in our anniversary picnic. Yes, we did do a little misleading of our enemies in order to bring them out in the open so that we could stop them. We just never imagined how big that group was!

I’m so glad that Harley survived, I would have felt totally responsible for her death because we never checked out her family before sending her back home. That is something we are going to do from now on though, just in case. We had to make things look good just in case we were being watched. We almost lost John though and although Samantha says he will recover, she isn’t sure if he will recover fully so he can go on cases. I think that will be harder on John than it is on me having to stay home. However, there are other ways he could still work for us, such as a driver, something that we always need.

The day between our free day and our picnic we will be having a team leaders meeting which will also include all ghosts, Samantha, Galyna, Celestine, Victoria and Sienna. I wanted our doctor and 3 counselors to be in attendance to give their opinion on some things. Sienna also has a wealth of knowledge that she can share with us. Storm, Jewel and Snow will also attend this meeting. I even called Mandar to join us if he has the time as I’m sure he could also have much wisdom to share with us.

He wasn’t quite sure if he could make it until I mentioned our anniversary picnic that would be on the following day. He then said there was indeed an opening on his calendar so he would be happy to join us. Nothing like food to get Mandar’s attention! Well, the day of our meeting has now arrived after a very relaxing day yesterday and our meeting is now underway. I told everyone that we need better communication from now on, especially keeping me informed as to what is happening on a case. So they will give me a daily update, more often if there is a problem of any kind.

Team leaders will also pick a junior leader who can take their place in an emergency. They will each give me their pick but I will have the final say. Junior leaders can’t be any of the ghosts, however, since the ghosts get moved around a lot on cases even though normally assigned to a specific team. We will also have a team leaders meeting before all cases so everyone knows what is going on first hand. There will be two ghosts at home at all times, which is something we do now, but we will try to change which of them stays home each time so that all get a chance to go on cases too.

I will not be confined to my office, or even inside, as long as both ghosts are with me at all times while outside. And one of them will have to hold my hand at all times while outdoors in order to ensure my safety. Jennifer will stay home most of the time with me as one of the ghosts, unless she specifically needs to be on a case. Mandar is going to provide extra security for our picnic so that all of our team can participate.

The last time we had such a large team picnic we were attacked by Toledo and Kat was killed. Mandar wants to make sure there is no such repeat, especially since he will be here too. Well, I wonder what kind of case we will have come our way next? I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a simple case for us, but perhaps something that isn’t quite so complex would be nice. We shall see.

The End. A new case will be on the way shortly. ©2026 Steve McLeod.

Category: Adventure, Fiction, Mystery, Story, Strange Happenings, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , , ,

795 Comments on “The Investigators, Inc. The Killer Mystery. Chapter 11. Concluding.”

    • Well, tomorrow I’m going to repot a couple plants that I didn’t repot today. Then I will finish rearranging the plants so more will get more light that they need.

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    • Oops, forgot, time for bed so hopefully I can sleep better tonight, last night wasn’t so great. But my back is bad again tonight, so, it might be another night of little sleep. Sigh. Have a good night Dusty, I will talk again tomorrow! 😃😴🌛

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  4. Yeah, I didn’t do much. I didn’t feel like it. I did however get the last few things out of the other place. I had a couple come and look at it yesterday. They wanted a few days to think it over.

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    • I thought you were going to rent it to some lady? Did you decide to sell it instead? Well, it’s good you finished the moving process anyway, that’s more than I did. I really haven’t felt like doing anything much all week, it’s like I really have to push myself lately.

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    • Good thinking, these days it can be hard to rent out a place. Even people who seem to be good tenants at first can sometimes become a problem. And then comes the headaches and stress dealing with those people.
      It was a nice day here, sunny and 84 degrees and no smoke today which was nice. That south wind blew it away I guess.

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  6. That’s good news. I hope it can stay that way. I just saw a weather forecast for MN on Sunday the day of the Grad party that there could be storms, which socks because I’m going all that way for one day and it’s going to storm…
    Oh well. Are getting out taking pictures again soon?

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    • I’m not sure when I can get out for more pics, supposed to be showers every day next week, possibly anyway. I don’t want to go out if showers are in the forecast. Sunday is going to be our only sunny day, but I can’t go then. It’s going to be hot on Sunday here anyway, could hit 100 degrees again, maybe higher. Hopefully it won’t storm for your day.

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  8. Yep, they can and are wrong a lot of the time.
    I was going to use my passport for my ID at the airport on Saturday, but when I looked at tonight I noticed it had expired. I don’t have the new enhanced drivers license that you’re supposed to have for flying now, so I had to pay the extra charge to the tsa to get pre-authorized clearance. That’s the way my whole day went today. I woke and opened an envelope from home Owners company stating they had canceled my homeowners policy for the house in MN!
    What a day!😝

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    • Oh my, that’s quite the day! I don’t keep up with the flying rules here since I don’t fly. I do have a passport though. That reminds me, I need to renew my tenants insurance soon.
      Well, time for bed again, hope you get a good night’s sleep and tomorrow is a better day! I will be back for more chatting! 😃😴🌛

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  10. I will be delayed in chatting tonight. I was invited to have a birthday supper with a club member and a few others. We’re to meet at 6 and eat. So it could close to 7:30 or so before I’m at home and able to chat.

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    • I’m here, but probably not for too long. There was an incident in our building this morning, definitely not something I wanted to see, it really affected me.

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    • No, a lady down the hall had her dog killed by another dog, there was blood everywhere. Her dog was old and small, everyone loved him. The guy wasn’t restraining his dog properly. The dog bit someone before apparently and nothing was done that time. The police got involved this time and the man will be charged.

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  13. Totally irresponsible! That’s sad to hear. They should be leashed and if it has bitten before, puzzled whenever out of the apartment! No exception.
    Did you see it happen?

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    • I got there just after the fact, it wasn’t nice to see. The other dog will get put down this time. Yes, it should have had a muzzle. It always barked and growled at me whenever I walked past it before.
      There is a severe thunderstorm heading our way and should arrive within the next hour, there is also a tornado warning with it too.

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  14. Uh oh… keep your head under the blanket and your toes curled up tight and watch out for lightening!😬
    I’m guessing that’s what’s heading for MN on Sunday…

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    • Actually the system is moving straight east, looks like the clouds have begun to arrive already.
      Well, time for bed, the lights just went off briefly but came on again. Have a good night! 😃😴🌛😬

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  15. Hi, I have a few moments so I thought I’d check in and see how you’re doing. It’s been a mad rush since I left Saturday morning, then a 4 hour layover in Austin and when I landed it just never stopped until this afternoon. I hope the smoke and fires have gotten better there. It’s been clear and very warm and humid here since I landed. My granddaughters grad party went well, a little uncomfortable with the ex son-in-law, but no drama with him and my daughter and my granddaughter had some friends she had made in Omaha drive up on Sunday just for her party which I thought was awesome! All three of them were really nice people.
    Well, I let you go, I’ll be in bed early tonight as I’m driving back in the morning so I hope to be home on Thursday afternoon sometime. I will look for you then. 😁🙃

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  16. Hi,
    I made it home this morning about 2:30 am. Yep, you guessed it! I drove it straight thru. 23 hours and 18 minutes door to door! I slept until around 9:45 thus morning, but i feel like i have a hangover. Can’t wait to get back into bed tonight.
    How’ve you been? Fires smoke plants , pictures? What’s going on in your neighborhood?🤔

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    • Good morning Dusty! Glad to see you are home safe and sound once more! Sorry I wasn’t around last night but this heat we have had again made me quite sick, so after posting my 2 pictures I shut things down and went to bed. Yesterday was bad. Lots of fires still, about 1.5 million acres burning right now, might be more now actually, I didn’t check today. Not much happening here, I did get out for some flower pictures on Wednesday, I think that might be why I got so sick. I probably wasn’t drinking enough either. I’m feeling a bit better today, but not back to normal yet. Did you sleep well again last night? That was a long drive!

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  17. Yes and yes! I did sleep about 11 hours last night. I’m feeling much more alive than yesterday. I actually did a few things today!😃 No, not really, just made a few phone calls and paid a bill or two, but at least I did it!😂
    Hey, you have to be careful in the heat! You ca m ger very sick very easily if you’re not careful. I’m glad to hear you got a few pictures 😁 it was 97 degrees on Sunday during the Grad party and it was uncomfortable 🥵 I did get out swimming on Monday which was fun.
    Are you still sweltering or has it cooled off yet?

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    • Our temps have been staying between 97 and 104 degrees all week, but today it was only 86 degrees. It is supposed to be 84 tomorrow and 85 on Sunday, then drops to 80 on Monday, then 73 on Tuesday. That might be it for our heat this summer, but ya never know, it might get hot once more yet. Just hard to believe how much the heat has affected me this year. Guess I’m getting old or something.🤔🙄😂

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  18. Yep! Me 2! I looked at the temps here for the next 4 days and it goes something like this… 102, 104, 101, 100, then… probably more of the same! Looks like next week might be a day or two at the beach ⛱️ 🤔

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    • Hey, that’s a great idea, camp out on the beach! During the day anyway, not at night. I have been sorting stuff and rearranging stuff and washing stuff and looking for stuff. Not all at once though. I have actually been doing this for the last 3 weeks, it’s a slow process. I’m getting rid of stuff at the same time, which is helpful.😃🖼️🧵🎪🎁

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  19. At least they next time you sort it out there wont be as much to sort through.😁 That’s a positive!
    Yeah, since I’ve only gone a few times this season, I think its time to go teaching again!

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    • It’s your birthday! Happy birthday to youououououou! I thought all those hints from emojis would remind you! Ya just go, 2+2+2 add a 0 +10-6+3-2+1=?? and you have your answer! See how easy that was?🙃🤣🥳

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    • Well, it’s time for me to head to bed and get some sleep, i hope. Have a great night Dusty, shall return tomorrow with more unbelievable chattering! 😃🌛😴

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    • Haaaaapppppyyyyyy Birthday!!! I know you’re probably not home, but I wanted to wish you a very happy birthday anyway since it’s your birthday today and that makes it the best day to say happy birthday on the day that you celebrate your birthday which is why I said it today. If you are by chance around, stop by, say hi! If you’re not around then you don’t have to stop by and say hi. Hi. 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🎈🎉🧨

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    • Well, it was only 81 today and sunny, with high flying smoke changing the sun to an orangey kind of color. Been kind of a rough day though, didn’t sleep too well, have been dizzy, headache and my back is incredibly sore today as well, though it feels somewhat better after my massage. I didn’t really do much except sort some of my insulators, I’m trying to reduce my collection a bit.🙃

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    • Well, yes, that is very true, but there is the little matter of dusting all these critters, not to mention all the other critters which I have been thinking about reducing instead of reducing the insulators. Might be easier actually since every time I look over the insulators I think of 550 reasons why I should keep that one particular insulator, so I move on to the next one only to have the same problem with that one. And so on. So, after a week of this I only have 12 maybe ones to get rid of. Sigh.🙄

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  24. I know… but that’s my point 👉 every single one of them has a memory and you can’t just throw memories away!😉
    Hey, I have been considering getting blog going again. I just don’t know if it’s something worth paying for again. What do you think 🤔

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    • Hey sounds like a good idea! You can start with a free plan and upgrade if you think it’s something you want to continue. Blogging has changed a bit over the last few years, just doesn’t seem to be as popular as in the past. I almost quit last year because hardly anyone was showing up to read. Most of my readers are now email subscribers, about 100 or so a day. But I usually get about 900 or so readers on my blog each day too, but because they don’t have blogs themselves, then they can’t hit the like button. Most are reading older posts too, that is, more than a year old. This is already my best year ever and there’s still 5 months to go!😃

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    • Yep, that could be and I can tell whenever anyone opens the email, so that’s nice. Even better, people have been sharing my posts on places like X and Facebook, plus others. It really started last fall, but has picked up a lot this year. Since October my posts have been shared on X 40,000 times! And Facebook 12,000 times! That has really helped out a lot to bring in new people and lots of email subscribers.

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  26. Excellent! Then it good that they are going back to read your older posts! That means they like what you write and how you write it.
    I think you should stay with it.

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  27. That’s the main thing! So keep going! I don’t want to, but I need to get to bed. They’re expecting me at the airfield in the morni g at 8, so it’s beddy bye time for me.
    Sleep Well I’ll be back tomorrow. Sleep 💤 😴 🛏

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    • Good to hear there were no crashes today. No, I didn’t make it to Church, I fell, hit my head, got a big round red mark on my forehead, and hurt my back. 😬 Turned too fast I guess. Oh well, no broken bones which is good. I almost fell twice yesterday due to brief dizziness. 🙄 It was 86 today, high humidity too.

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    • I do mix it up. One day I have potatoes, chicken and veggies, the next day I have chicken, veggies, and potatoes. That way I get variety. 🙃 Um, not quite, but I did look at them and I put some more back on shelves that I’m definitely keeping, but those were sorted yesterday. Seems I have more than I thought I had, that complicates things a bit.🙄

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  32. True, it does… hey there is nothing wrong with veggies, chicken and potatoes! Put a little butter on the spuds and veggies with some sour cream and there you go!😋😛😂

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    • I can see just fine and I get mixed up all the time, so it works out okay!
      That depends on what I feel like after shopping. I’m hoping to get out one day this week for another highway trip, if there’s a sunny day. 📷 If. Supposed to be a lot of cloudiness this week. I would like to paint a piece of plywood tomorrow to hang some of my pictures on to hang on the wall. That way only one hole in the wall instead of six. Smart, right?
      Well, time for bed, early morning in the morning. Have a good night Dusty, talk tomorrow!😃😴🌛

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    • Good morning Dusty! Did you go flying again today? We are getting some rain today, not heavy rain, but a nice amount. And it has cooled off, started at 73 this morning and the temp fell throughout the day and it’s only 60 now with a north wind. It changed too quickly for me.

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  35. Yikes! That’s a big change from one day to the next! But, If it helps with the fires that’s a good thing! Is the air clearing up?🤔
    Yes, I did do a little flying at the local park that’s just for electric planes. It was fun to meet some new faces and fly the little ones again.

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    • Too big of a change, it really gets the pain going crazy! Yes, if the fires are getting this then that will help a lot. There is more smoke around today than the last couple of days due to the north wind bringing it in from the fires. It’s actually very strong right now.😬🔥

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    • The rain doesn’t seem to be impacting the smoke at all. Problem is, the smoke keeps coming. The smoke is actually starting to make me cough again, and bothering my eyes. Oh well, first it’s heat, now it’s smoke and cold. Nothing exciting shopping today either, but the stores were sure busy even that early in the morning, kind of odd for a holiday.

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    • Yeah, we have Labor day here too, first Monday of September. I don’t get much excited about those holidays anymore though, but they used to be nice! Can’t figure why i don’t get excited about them now.🤔🙄

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  39. Well, it’s still a day off. But only if you’re working. Which neither of us are, so it’s just another crowded day at the parks and stores. That’s kinda cynical isn’t it? I mean what if it’s someone’s b-day or anniversary ya know? It’s still special!😁😉

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    • Not really cynical, just the way it is, it’s no longer an important day for those who are retired. Only for those who work. Of course we could pretend it’s still a big deal, go away for the weekend, stay at a hotel, invite all your friends over for a BBQ. Hmm not a bad idea. 🤔😃

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  40. Sounds like fun!😁 But, it’s all long drive and it’s really smokey up that way!😂 But I do miss the country up that way. It’s one of my favorite places in the world!

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    • Yep, it’s nice place to live in the summer, winter not so much.
      Well, time for bedtime once again, have a good night Dusty and I shall return on the morrow with more exciting conversational chatter! 😃😴🌛

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    • Good morning Dusty! 😃 I was hoping to be here a bit sooner, but I kinda had an after supper nap. Unintentionally, that is. Sigh. It was warmer today, sunny and a high of 66 degrees!🥶

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    • Well, my apartment is still hot, it takes a while to cool it off after getting so hot. One problem is the hallways stay hot and that heat keeps coming into our apartments since the doors don’t exactly fit air tight. Not even close. However, it is much cooler in here tonight. I can feel a nice cool breeze coming in through my balcony door right now and I can keep the bedroom cool with the A/C, so actually, sleeping is the same. Yeah, too big of a shock really, so my pain level is worse right now. Just being outside for a short time was hard on my back. It always works out better if it’s a gradual change, but dropping 20 degrees one day to the next is too much. My PSW was late again tonight and just left.🙄

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  43. Yep, I’m the same way. To fast from heat to cold and my whole system goes bizirk. Boy did the bugs eat me up yesterday when I went flying. I have bites all over my legs! And do they itch! Them no-siums that you can’t see but sure feel the next day I!!

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    • Oh yeah, those tiny critters are terrible! They used to bite my dad so badly, he would be covered in bites. Thankfully they don’t bother me, they bite, but nothing happens, just like mosquito bites.

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    • I was rearranging things and dusting today, plus watered some of my plants. I started putting insulators back on their shelves too. So much for sorting. Sigh. 🙄😂

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  45. Well, rearranging can be exhausting if you can’t decide which would look better where it is or somewhere else. I tried hanging some foam board insulation using a caulking glue to hold it up. It didn’t go well. So I had to order some screws and washers to to mount it, but it wont be here until Thursday so…. now I have to wait. Oh well, it was hot in there anyway…😂

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    • I can understand the glue problem, I was told to try that once and it didn’t work well for me either. So, I resorted to the good ol standby, screws and washers.
      Yeah, trying to figure out what works and where can be a bit frustrating. I move something, doesn’t look good, move it back, sit down and think, try something else, repeat, sit down and think. Sigh.🙄😂

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    • Yep, and I am tired, thanks for reminding me. I need to sign off and get to bed again. And I just slept last night too, amazing.🙄🥱
      Have a good night Dusty and I shall return tomorrow with more chatter and maybe some new news too! 🤔😴🌛

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  48. Hidy ho, my day went as well as coukd be expected considering I did do very much. I helped my friend from the airplane club work on his newest build for a few hours this afternoon. That’s about it.

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    • Well, hey, that’s quite a lot that you didn’t do much of! I put my insulators back on the shelves today, but on different shelves. Hey, look at that, it’s raining!

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    • Actually it’s a thunderstorm, lots of thunder and lightning but not a lot of rain. ⛈️ What am I supposed to do, stand on air? My PSW actually said it was hot today. I wonder where she was? 🤔😂

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  50. Hey… that coukd be a shocking experience and an enlightening one!😂😂
    You don’t weigh much so make it quick li k e Wil-e-coyote before he falls!😂😉
    A thunderstorm sounds like a nice way to sit and enjoy the evening. Not so good for fires , but… it’s nature.

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