From: mjmh@crsa.bu.edu (Michael J M Holmes)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Purple wishes... Was: Re: Unbe Awakens
Date: 14 Dec 92 16:30:35 GMT
Organization: Boston University Center for Remote Sensing

In article <1992Dec12.041604.11459@ttinews.tti.com> hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) writes:
>In article <104386@bu.edu> mjmh@crsa.bu.edu (Michael J M Holmes) writes:

>}... And /* is
>}what I came up with!!  'Slash Asterisk' has quite a ring to it!"

>Only if you pronounce it that way.  I pronounce '*' as "star." Others
>pronounce it as "splat." _The New Hacker's Dictionary_ lists a number of
>other pronunciatons.


/* is drier now, having used a big fluffy purple towel to get the
drink 'off' him...

*deprecating grin*  "Thanks, Polymath!  Hmm, 'Slash-Star!'  Sounds like
I should be in a bad remake of Battlestar Galactica.  Or how about
'Slash Splat!'  Nope, don't like that one at all!  I don't want to
even *mention* what I think *that* sounds like!"

"I don't think I want to know what the other pronunciations are!!
(But they probably can't get any worse than 'Slash Splat!')"

The purple guy has been trying madly to keep up with all the
activity in the place...

"Congrats brumby!!  And welcome to Jennifer Rhiannon McNamara!
That is such a beautiful name!!"

"And Alfvaen... " *snicker* 
"I just finished reading that you were leaving :-( and then 
I find out that you're back!"  :-)

"Big Al, I hope that we never get to the point where we *have*
to miss you... "

"Thanks to the Didi-Sprite for the holiday poem!!  And my thoughts
are with you... hope you feel better soon."

/* runs around, giving purple hugs, greeting all the newcomers,
(even though he still feels like a newcomer himself!).

"Abner, hang in there!!"  *Extra-special Universe-battling Hug*
(in the new decorator shade of purple!)

Then /* gives a 'harrumph' sound, stops, then slowly smiles
again.  "Okay, B'naal, I'll admit that I have never had Alaskan
blueberries... but I wonder if you have ever had _real_ New
England Maple Syrup??  Most of the stuff in grocery stores is
not even close. Maybe we'll have to have a special brunch in
here sometime!"

The purple guy rushes to the door, opens it, drags in a huge
snowflake, and brings it to his table.  It is intricate, ornate,
beautiful, and almost as tall as /*.

"Well, we did just have one of our biggest snowfalls in decades
here!"  ;)

"There have been a lot of ups and downs lately, so I thought I'd
bring this in, as an early present to Callahan's!"

/* removes his purple gloves, and grasps the giant snowflake.
Slowly, color washes through the snowflake, like waves of
purple emanating from his hands.  His eyes are closed, and
there is a look of intense concentration on his face.  A
seemingly infinite variety of shades of purple intermingle,
and the snowflake begins to glow softly.

/*'s eyes snap open, and he looks at the glowing kaleidoscopic
snowflake.  "Mike, is it okay if I put this on a wall for
decoration?  That way it can be here for everyone."

Mike smiles and nods, and then points to a particularly nice
open spot on the wall.  /* mounts the snowflake on the wall,
with some help from a few of the taller people in the place.

"To everyone who is feeling blue, having some troubles,
or going through finals, my best wishes and warmest thoughts."


-- 
========================================================================
Mike Holmes       mjmh@crsa.bu.edu           "Happiness Will Prevail!"
Boston University Department of Geography (a truly GREAT place to work!)
========================================================================