Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Bad Habits, Part 2
After his friends had left he continued sitting on his balcony nightly after dark, drinking heavily and watching the dark sea, the small swells that
reached the south end. Nightly the unlighted boat worked south, not always visible based on the configuration of the moon. It worked north two hours
later. On a night with a partial moon he sat and listened for the sound of the outboard motor late into the evening but it was not there.
He poured a final rum, grabbed his book, went to bed to read. His mind listened for the motor on the boat but never heard it.
Somewhere in the night something woke him. He stood naked on the balcony and scanned the ocean below; could see nothing. He heard sounds from the
north, a brief scraping, a boat pulled onto a sandy beach? Couldn?t be certain. Then he heard hushed voices and saw shadows of men moving formless
packages from a small boat to a truck backed down to the shoreline. There were no lights on the boat or the truck and the moon was partial and the
entire scene was almost invisible, but his mind was set and he knew what was happening.
The events were beyond his control and outside his ability to offer influence and what did he care anyway. He was going back to bed, hit the john
before to check his urine, growing darker daily, and heard a second, larger outboard on the ocean.
Back on his balcony he spotted a second boat arriving. Its reflection was thrown by the partial moon. The offloading boat on the shoreline was
oblivious of the new arrival, they were apparently focused and intense only on their own activities.
Suddenly he saw several flashes from the incoming boat, heard several seconds later the pop pop pop?s. Gunfire?
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Debra
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Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Hey Mike! Don't leave us hanging like that! 
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
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Location: Sunset Beach
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Mood: Just dancing through life
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Mike
You are writing about things that I did not talk about when they occurred on the beach in La Salina. Just cover your head and think good thoughts and
come out in the morning. The alternative just does not work.
And drink water!
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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Sallysouth
Super Nomad
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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Thats the Writing thats been missing here!! Waiting with "baited breath" so to speak!
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Debra
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Mike is in Baja with limited internet access....He should be home in a few days (or maybe they did get home?).......still, I think it's very unfair of
him to leave us all hanging. 
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Sallysouth
Super Nomad
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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I so agree with you Debra! Can't wait(guess we have to) for the next part! Hope all is well with you ....Sal
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
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Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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every one remember that when you are posting your stores. it is better to Wait to finish your story and then post all of it . that way your trusted
readers get the full effect of your story and are not mad at you for leaving you hanging. 
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Phil S
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Registered: 10-28-2003
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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I think that Mike just left us with a "cliff hanger" I'm not mad about it. Why is anyone else? Just typical of a good writer. Brings 'em back, huh
Miike???
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
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Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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no one is mad at mike Phil we are only commenting that the cliff hanger or soap opera stile of writing may not be the best way to post on a forum
where two thirds of the people only sign in once a month or less. according to Doug most posts are read from the archives and when you write a two
three or even more part story it is difficult sometimes to locate all of it.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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I?m not trying to keep anyone waiting. We?re in Ensenada and the keyboard I?m using is bad and I?m writing small parts of the story when I have the
time. This is a very negative story and a difficult one to write.
Thanks for reading. ?We should be back to Ventura late tonight so I?ll hope to be on a roll within the next day or two.
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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be careful on the rode Mike. cant wait to here the end of the story.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Sallysouth
Super Nomad
Posts: 1835
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Capo Beach
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Mood: missing Baja...
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I kinda like the suspence! It keeps me comin back for more!!Even if it is a tough one to write, you are giving us a story that no one else can deliver
like you can Mike! Thanks, Sally
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Keri
Super Nomad
Posts: 1393
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: La Mision, Baja Norte
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Mood: muy contento
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Love it Mike.
Cant wait for the next installment  ,k
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Write it however you want; just so you keep writing !
My only complaint is that you don't write more and faster.
Hey, how about a book ? I don't know if you've ever considered it for something to do in your retirement but you've got what it takes !
A thought; any chance you have kept your past tales and could compile them for publication in some form ? I for one, and I'm sure there are others,
would love to be able to read all your past posts.
We got any internet publishers out there ?
Thanks Mike,
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Debra
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Diver, Mike's stories are on Fred's board......
Look at the bottem of the index page "Baja with Mike"
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Eli
Super Nomad
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Location: L.B. Baja Sur
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Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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Thanks Mike,
Even as it is a heavy, it is a great begginging. Saludos, Sara
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Diver,
I've been considering Sunbelt Publications for some time. I don't have the time to send out hundreds of publication solicitations and Sunbelt seems
like a good alternative. They are encouraging me to publish a book with two major stories I wrote some time back. Both are relatively extended
pieces. The first is about my wife and I as newlyweds building a thatched hut and living for a summer where Camp Gecko is today (Bahia de Los Angeles
1974). The second I've already posted parts of and it's about our family living just outside La Gringa in another thatched hut in the sunner of 1985
when our two boys were 5 and 7.
Sunbelt seems to believe that the longer works where people can read about an in-depth life in Baja would go over better (for a first publication)
than a collection of shorter stories.
So I just need to make a decision and get with the program.
Thanks for reading.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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I've read some of the Camp Gecko stories and enjoyed them.
Your writing has matured and the style has improved, maybe because you have mellowed or maybe because you have more time to focus.
How about two books of short colections ?
One for baja stories - one for human nature ?
Whatever you decide, please let me know if/when I can buy your book(s).
And please, get with program ! Can't just sit around thinking about dark colored pee !
[Edited on 7-15-2005 by Diver]
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