Conference turris::womannotes-v3

Whoa, this move has been quite disconcerting to me.  I think I'll take a 
break while the moderators continue to unpack, and relax, let myself become
accustomed to the new environment for a while....

Ahhhh...

Nice to have the place to myself for a little while before anyone else gets
here! :-)

D!

    *sigh*
    
    betcha didn't realize that when we constructed V3, we tripled the size
    of the jacuzzi....and there's a solarium in here now, too, with several
    colorful tropical birds amongst the potted palms....
    
    anybody else spot anything new?
    
    -Jody
    

    mmmmm - wonderful    -  Do I detect signs of other animals peacefully
    coexisting?  Is that a kitten I see, to cuddle up and purr?  Maybe it
    is just visiting too.   And lots of pillows to relax on...
    
    linda

    
    and a string quartet in the corner...mind if i sit in?
    

    joe are you going to play with them or direct?
    
    :-)
    
    I really like the greenhouse with all the big tropical plants.
    
    DE where did you hide the massage room?
    
    Bonnie

    Well I know I just caught the scent of roses, yellow roses...  Wait,
    there are some lilacs too!  Stroll, and smell the flowers.

    Ahhh!  I needed this after working so. . .huh?  What the hey?  I
    just felt a raindrop on my head. . .!?  Wait a minute. . .that wasn't
    rain. .   Ack!  Stupid colorful tropical birds. . .
    
    Steve

    Re .4, but, joe, did you notice you can't hear the string quartet
    because Bruce Springsteen & the entire E Street Band are in the
    other corner playing "Cadillac Ranch"....isn't it heaven? *sigh*
    
    Lorna
    

    Steve
    
    Do you think you can fix the flaw in the air curtain mechanism so
    the birds won't get out?
    
    :-)
    
    Bonnie

    And the ceilings so high that we've got Pegasus in the corner giving
    rides through the fluffy white clouds.
    
    Now who was it had a problem with the birds? 8-)
    
    Zzzzzzzzz.....

    
    i'm sitting in for the violist who is off with the e street band
    during their break. right now we're playing the debussy quartet.
    i don't know where bruce went.
    

    I hear a drum beat in the distance.  A relaxing beat.  I think I'll
    take a nap.

    Pat

    Nancy Rumbel is playing that little instrument that sounds like a flute
    but looks like a ceramic flower holder.  She walks around and adapts
    her tunes to the relaxing atmosphere as only a New Age Musician can!
    
    

I spy a trellis literally sagging under the weight of succulent yellow
raspberries.  I must visit it before those pesky birds notice it.

Excuse me a moment ..................

    Kenny G, play for me. Mellow, mellow, mellow.
    
    Come on, don't pass me that boring old spring water. I'll take a
    wine cooler. Hold the cool.                  
    
    Kate

    hmmmm what's this ....
    
    who brought in these kittens....drat....no...wait...they've got little
    tags under their chins, hanging from their collars?  They say....
    "hypoallergenic himalayans"....     Boy - y'all think of everything
    here!  And look over there, hypoallergenic huskies!  and out in that
    wide-open field....could it be a hypoallergenic horse?!!!!  
    
    -Jody

    	Hypoallergenic pets??!!  Oh, now that I can't resist!!  I
    think I'll just cuddle and play with one of those huskies for 
    awhile...

    	amy

    I hope that someone remembers to bring the trained, gentle,
    hypoallergenic big cats. Lions and panthers are my favorites.
    
    

    splash ! aaahhhhh.... there's a case of Molson Gold in the 
    truck if someone wants to take a walk out there. Meanwhile
    I'm just gonna float...I'll rub your back, you rub mine...
    Linda Ronstadt & The Nelson Riddle Orchestra are playing
    this morning...just for me... 8-)

    Look at all the books!  OK, come on - admit it.  I died
    and this *is* heaven, right?

    
    	Hiya everybody!
    
    	Ah - the water feels great and the company is excellent!!
    
    	Hello, Dawn??  Got time for a massage?  (I'm ready!!!)
    
    	Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ............................
    

    Gasp, splash...  BBppffffggppff...  Hi...  Rather a longish way between
    the -V2 tank and this one...  Hadda hold my breath longer than I
    expected.  Fortunately me ol' rubber ducky saved me life...  When I
    thought I was a goner (too many trout blocking my path, I think) I
    remembered that rubber duckys are hollow and you can get some air out
    the whistle-hole.  Now my mouth tastes all soapy!  Yucko.  Pass the
    Liebfraumilch.  Oops, make that a Chablis.  Gotta watch them labels.
    :-)
    
    Gee, this place is NICE!!  Waterproof books, music, old buddies, even a
    few hypoallergenic pets.  Large enough to accomodate many different
    tastes in relaxation...  Also for the occasional backstroke race or
    backrub.  My compliments to the interior decorators!!  :-) :-)
    
    Aaahh...  Quietude...
    
    So...  We've got the jug of wine and plenty of compatible "thou's";
    pass the loaf of bread, and we've got paradise enow.
    
    Here's to =V3=, long may she wave!!
    
    Sploosh...

    Is there room for one more?  I have some homemade bread to go with the
    chablis, Dan.  Ohhhh, that does feel good!!  Now I know why I got
    chubby, it's so I could float better in the tank.  
    
    Dondi

    
    	Dawn ... Gale ...  have a spare hand (or four ;-)?
    
    	My back and shoulders are rebelling from planting 7
    	trees yesterday (1 hamlin orange, 2 navel orange, 1 tangelo,
    	1 mineola, 1 meyer's lemon, and 1 persian lime)...ummm...
    	thanks.  Feels better already :-].
    
    	Anyone for key lime pie?
    
    							nancy b.
    

    We're over here installing hammocks for the mods to lounge in when they
    get tired of tubbing ...

    Oh bless you Marty!  I love hammocks.

    =maggie
    
    I've never managed to capture the art of drinking a beer in a hammock
    tho!
    
    bj

    RE .28 >I've never managed...the art of drinking beer in
           >a hammock
    
    Use a straw and to heck with what the neighbors think :-)

    Ahhh, perfect grass that never needs mowing, azaleas always in bloom,
    lots of tulips because no critter ate the bulbs, trees full of singing
    birds, a comfy hammock, and cold beer with a straw.  I LOVE it here. 

    Make it some French brut champagne for me, with plenty to share.
    

    Hi....<oof!> ....sorry I'm late....deadline <puff> 
    
    	[gimme a hand with the massage table, please?]
    
    <thud>  Ow! geez..hit the doorway....oh, thanks.
    
    Now, what's behind this door over here?.....Oh! A little room. Perfect
    size. I'll set the table up here....hm....tape player over here..
    <thunk>  Lessee...tapes....towels...oil.....menthol creme...<clunk>
    
    There. That oughta do it.
    
    
    
    OK. Who's first?
    
    

    
    	I am.  Everyone else can get in line behind me....
    
    
    Thanks.  That feels great!
    
    
    Zzzzzzz

I'll wait my turn Dawn, since I get one every month anyway.

And, in _my_ womannotes flotation tank, you can give me the aromatherapy
massage I never got around to getting in CA... :-)
	Mez

    hey dawn!
    
    could you pul-eeze squeeze me in before the day is out???  it's been
    a long one!
    
    give me a nudge when you're ready....

    This is such an soft place, glad I came, oh look.....silver buff cocker
    puppies.....so soft....and oh look...my grandmother is here too.  Glad
    she came, she's soft and warm........hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
    
    
    
    "j"

    I think I'll treat myself today (my birthday).  Oh....this is
    absolutely wonderful.  A nice hot, hot cup of tea, sitting in 
    the big white wicker rocker, with beautiful flowery print pillows,
    looking at all the plants, listening to Chuck Mangione playing
    one of his tunes!  Let me just veg out.  Thanks
    

    And did you know that if it's your birthday, you get dibs on the first 
    hour-long professional massage of the day?
    
    -Jody
    

    Jody, thank you!
    
    L&H,
    Paula

    Happy birthday, Paula,
    
    Can I join you?  I'll even bring the Mumms to celebrate!
    
    
    -Dotti.

    Thank you Dotti!  Are you the same Dotti that worked in personnel
    a few years back?!
    
    L&H
    Paula
    

    Hi Paula,
    
    Yup, it's me.  How are ya?  Send mail....love to hear from you...
    
    -Dotti.

    friday..........aaahhhhh
    
    Could we move that frozen yogurt machine over a bit and make room
    for this ? It's a present for Maggie and MOMCAT - an ESE20 :-)
    

    Thanks, Dana!  [er, what's an ESE20?]

    	Tanks, I needed a break.  
    
    
    								Kelly
    

    Today is my last day of a wonderful three-week vacation.  I have
    exactly one day to recover from traveling across four time zones, and
    it is obvious that I could use another week of just sitting about and
    doing nothing.  My three main destinations were all in locations that
    were either hotter than Colorado, or more humid, or both, which made me
    appreciate all the more where I now live.

    Although I flew to my first two destinations (Indiana and Florida), I
    drove from Colorado Springs to my final destination, Las Vegas, which
    is 850 miles to the west.  Having never been west of Colorado before,
    it was a lot of fun to experience such different environments, although
    I must say I was *very* glad that my car didn't break down, since I
    don't think I have ever felt more isolated in the middle of nowhere
    than I did in the Utah and Nevada deserts.  I especially enjoyed the
    110 mile stretch of I-70 between Green River and Salina, Utah, where
    there are *no* gas stations, restaurants, or any other services.  Parts
    of that stretch were awesomely beautiful, though, in a stark sort of
    way, with desert and mesas stretching to the horizon in every
    direction.

    The temperature in Las Vegas was between 105 and 110 degrees in the
    daytime, so I didn't walk up and down the strip at that time; I waited
    until night, when it cooled down to double-digit temperatures (98 or
    so).  The first time I felt a breeze coming on, I anxiously awaited the
    cooling effect, only to discover that in the desert even the breezes are
    hot.

    I didn't come away from Vegas a millionaire like I had hoped, but I had
    fun anyway.  I mostly stayed with the quarter slots and video poker
    games at the casinos.  Every place seemed to have its own little gimmick
    to advertise its own slots; I drove by one, for example, that had a sign
    reading "Loosest slots in Vegas" (I had to do a double take on that one,
    since I first thought it said "loosest *sluts* in Vegas").  I would also
    advise that if you walk up and down the strip, don't do so in flip flops
    like I did.  My sore feet taught me a lesson:  it may be hot in Vegas,
    but it is never too hot to wear shoes.
    
    Now that the vacation is ending, I have been embarking on the hopeless
    task of trying to catch up on notes.  Having been away from all the
    bickering in notes for an extended period of time, I think I now realize
    why my vacation was so relaxing and enjoyable.  Unfortunately, I suspect
    that my love-hate relationship with notes is more hate than love, but
    addiction seems to play a role in all of this.  I will have to decide
    whether or not I really want to continue participating here, but the
    Flotation Tank seemed like a pretty good place to hang out in the
    meantime.

    Mike

    re:46
    
    Mike,
    
    I've been through there a couple of times. I found the desert to be
    starkly awesome. Utah is one of my favirite places.
    
    Kate

    Thanks, Kate.  It's good to be back (I think).  Unfortunately, there is
    so much of Utah along that stretch that I didn't visit, and that I
    really want to see (e.g., the arches).  I told my mother on the phone
    the other night that I drove by myself through the desert, and she
    underwent a fit of retroactive worry about what might have happened to
    me if my car had broken down.  Sigh.

    -- Mike

    I'm spinning a bit much these days...every time I turn around, I see an
    old concept in a dis-covered light, and the connections are making the
    'big picture' start to get a little dizzyingly disconcerting...its a
    bit frustrating to try to write and feel the need to explain 5 tangents
    in every paragraph.
    
    time to float for awhile.  give my subconcious time to put it all back
    together.  Lessee, a little Wilson Phillips, a glass or two of the
    Nalle '88 Zin, dim the lights over there, could you please?  Ahhh...
    
    Only one difficulty in the float tank, its so quiet in here...if anyone
    wants to chat, hey c'mon in, the water's fine.  We could discuss a good
    book or fine wines, homebrewing, food...
    
    DougO

    Move over DougO, I'm on vacation and I need to relax....
    
    
    mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
    
    
    
    now, what did you want to talk about?
    
    
    Bonnie

    what shall we talk about, idly splishing in our meta-spa?  perhaps
    I could entreat you to the Nalle, I've quite a bit left.  A red zin,
    very aromatic, it smells grapey and sweet, at the same time the smell
    promises some tannic, dark complexity...when you taste it your mouth is
    alive! with flavors.  It reminds me of high mountain meadows in the
    sun, with a strong wind blowing the flowers and grasses in waves,
    filling the air with flavor and scent and sound.  or perhaps we'll talk
    about The Gate To Women's Country, and the many insights of that book;
    about one sort of breeding experiment, about covering the tracks of one
    culture underneath the pomp of another (hmm...just like Ladain/Langlish
    in Native Tongue and The Judas Rose...) or the need for force to
    protect and defend what one loves, if one lives with hostiles or in a
    hostile culture.  or perhaps we could discuss the role of tears in
    human communication; what can they mean, how many different ways do we
    express ourselves by crying?  or maybe we could talk about spandex.
    
    I dunno; what do *you* want to talk about? ;-)
    
    DougO

    DougO,
    
    Since I have read all three of those books several times I'd love
    to lie back in the floation tank and talk about them with you.
    They are powerful books. And I'd like a bit of the Nalle also.
    
    Tho right now, my mind is on the emergency vet run we just took.
    My two week old kitties have flea induced anemia. :-( We are 
    giving them supplimental feedings to keep their strength up and
    flea bathing them as often as is safe..
    
    I need to let go a bit...
    
    Bonnie

    Oh, Bonnie, sorry to hear about your kitties, 2-weeks-young seems
    dreadfully early to be assailed by parasites...I hope they pull
    through, it sounds like you'll be taking extra-special care of them.
    
    But to take your mind off them, (*splash!*), roll over and over, let
    the water soothe your aches and worries away.  And we'll talk...ah, 
    of the books.  Oh, a glass of the wine, coming up.
    
    I was astonished by several events of The Gate to Women's Country. 
    
    {spoilers follow...}
    
    when the woman (name forgotten, I haven't read it in 9 months) was
    captured and her implant removed, she got pregnant by the betrayer, 
    as a rape victim, I think.  Why did she keep that baby?  I didn't
    understand her motivations, I thought her character had been written
    to have total disgust towards that betrayal, and all its products.
    She had options...I didn't follow why she did what she did.  And 
    David did disappoint her.  He didn't come through the gate...
    
    {Really BIG spoiler coming...
    don't continue if you plan to read the book!}
    
    something else...in the relatively primitive culture they were
    surviving in, was that level of an attempted breeding program
    technically feasible?  Carefully charted temperature readings 
    on all the women to determine peak fertility times, followed by
    swab-applied artificial insemination...the audacity of the scheme 
    was breath-taking, but it made so many other parts of the book make
    sense!  The title, for one...the gate by which men accepted a role
    of less 'honor' in their society when realizing that more than the
    males martial arts must be important in life.  One almost wishes we
    *could* breed for such sensitivity.
    
    And, from the other books...what did the whales say, according to 
    the linguists?
    
    "We won't play your silly game."  ;-)
                                                                 
    DougO

    DougO
    
    I'm going to take the replies to your note to mail..
    
    not to disturb the calm of the flotation tank.
    
    note new pn!
    
    Bonnie

[BTW, I don't have my dictionary here, but shouldn't the "Flotation"
in the title be "Floatation"?]

This past week i experience a real, live women's floatation tank.  Well,
sorta.  We didn't have the musicians or birds or Ben and Jerry's.  But
what we did have was well worth the $6-$10 we paid to get it.

The place was Osento, a women's Japanese-style bath-house in San Francisco.
It's in a converted house and rather hard to find, and I gather advertised
primarly by word of mouth.

It's a no-clothing, totally non-sexual, sinfully luxuriant blast.  For
a $1 deposit the management provided us with towels and then showed us
around.  The first room is a rest room, with mats on the floor, and 
odd-looking but very comfortable chair-thing, a bookcase full of all sorts
of random readings, quiet, gentle music in the background, and decorated
with Oriental paintings of women bathing.  Off of that is a kitchen
containing cold spring water, glasses and lots of sliced lemon.  Help
yourself.

Further on is the hot-tub room, tiled in blue, and containing a large
jacuzzi big enough for about 8 (or more if you are very good friends.)
There are also ladles and pots, for pouring warm or cold water on yourself
or your friends.  (They ask that you shower before going in the tub...
in the shower they provide wonderful almond soap.  Mmmm.)

Off of that room is the "relaxation room", which contains bed and bunks,
and which is silent except for the sound of women breathing.  My friend
and I like talking so we didn't stay there long.  Outside the in the
private courtyard are a number of benches and chairs for sunning oneself,
as well as a small sauna (6 people, maybe?).  If you dare, after the sauna,
you can dunk yourself in the rain barrel.  (There's also a shower and
more almond soap outside.)

Finally there is a sunroom where you can get a professional massage.
we didn't, but we could see a woman who did and she seemed to be enjoying
herself.

The whole place was very quiet, and not many women were there.  of course,
it was 2 in the afternoon on a weekday.  The atmosphere was friendly,
although it didn't encourage talking to other women. I don't know if it is
different when there are more women there (which there presumably are
after working hours.)  And you can stay as long as you like.  

It was fun.  So my friend and I were toying with the idea of starting one
in Boston.  We thought somewhere near Harvard Sq would be best...a high
concentration of people and accessible by T.  Of course, it would mean
buying and massively renovating premium property, so the start-up capital
necessary would probably be prohibitive.  But it was nice to dream...would
there be a market for it?  Osento said that got about 70 women a day,
but then, SF is larger city, and with a larger and more cohesive Lesbian
population.  (The bathhouse was not gay, but it does seem like the sort
of thing that would appeal to Lesbians, being FWO space and all.)  Also
Californians in general are more laid back about those sorts of things.  A
couple of people we told about this said "Sounds great but I would go if
I was required to take my clothes off."  I can understand their hesitation,
but on the other hand, if we allow some people to go naked and others to
remained clothed, some might feel too shy to take off their clothes.
(Hot Tubs with clothes are silly anyway.)

While we were dreaming, we decide that to be the absolutely *perfect*
place, it would be a combination bookstore/bathhouse/cafe.  There would
be little munchies lying about, chocolates and whatnot.

So, wat do you all think?  Is such a venture a possibility on the eastcoast?
What would you add to it/want to see added?

D!

    
    Well, it sounds like my idea of heaven.  I may dream about a vacation
    to S.F. just so I can go to Osento.
    
    CQ

    
    	re: 9.55 (D!)
    
    	D!, it sounds like you and Justine Sullivan ought to get
    	together to plan a joint flotation tank / coffee house.
    
    						nancy b.
    

    
    
    Sigh...  I knew you'd like it there, D!  It's funny cause right after
    Dale and I got back from our vacation to SF a couple of years ago, we
    talked about opening a Women's bath, too.    

    Sounds like heaven.  I'd be a regular.
    
        Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmargaret

Sounds great to me..  a couple of ideas  (since i don't think i'll be in
sf any time soon,  i guess i need to encourage you to open one up here!!)

	re: clothing.. how about terry robes or  large towels with 
	velcro strips that could be wraped around the body and not
	fall off.....  that way, people are out of their 'clothes',
	but are still not 'naked'.  of course, you would naturally
	not wear them in the jacuzzi, but they would be optional
	in the sun room, sauna, etc.  I'd expect that after a few
	visits, repeat customers who were initially hesitant would
	begint to go 'au natural'.

	re: location.... if boston is too high rent, how about 
	out in the 'burbes where the prices are lower, but still
	on the 't'....  or how about north hampton, mass?  there's
	a large population of college students from the five college
	area,  and a well established gay community.  in fact,  there
	are already several hot tub rental places that seem to always be
	booked,  and all they provide is the hot tub & shower!

whereever/ whatever you open up,  are you going to have a special 
-wn- opening nite!!??!!

m

    Aaaaahhhhhhh.  Sanctuary!  Intelligent women and men.  Serenity.
    Peace.
    
    Refreshment.
    
    E Grace

    It's another confrontational day in the neighborhood, another
    controversial day in the neighborhood.  Won't you be, could you be,
    would you be my neighbor?

    This is a flotation tank.  Can you say 'lite topic'?  Sure, I knew you
    could.  Let's just take a look here.  Hey!  Who peed in the flotation
    tank?  Jeez, this sucks.  Okay, we'll clean that out later.  Hey boys
    and girls, I have an idea.  Let's start a wave!  You know, like they do
    at football games.  Okay, you children start over there, on that side. 
    Hey, what's the matter?  Don't you feel like having fun today?

    Oh screw it.  Maybe I'll just pee in the flotation tank myself.

    -- Mike

    OK, OK, so the darn thing's been drained and scrubbed and refilled
    and we put a bit of non-allergenic rose water in the water so it
    smells great now.
    
    And we have new rubber duckies and lots of those little floating
    drink-holders and LOTS of lovely new non-breakable glasses so we
    can hang out and sip raspberry gingerale, Dr Pepper (no .), lemonade,
    vintage champagne and other potables.
                                          
    Now, all gently and lovingly back into the tank.  This is safe space
    and comfort.
    
    The massage center opens at noon.  
    
    Pace.
    
      Margaret

    what's the music in the floatation tank?  There are such things as
    water-proof radios; do they have earphones or shall we each make a
    selection as we arrive and put it in the queue?
    
    I vote for "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano", with Rampal on the flute. 
    I don't remember who plays the piano.  The picture on the front of the
    album is funny: a cartoon color drawing of a flute and a piano in bed
    together at some motel.  The flute is smoking a cigarrette...:-) 

    
    does someone have a loofah sponge?  
    
    i think i'll soak in this private tub in the corner today ...
    in lettuce oil bubbles and mozart on my walkman.
    
    Carla
    

Can I come in too, please?  

I have another hard weekend of performing ahead of me!

Ooooo....a nice rubber duckey all for me.



Aaaaaaahhhhhhh

E Grace

er... um...perhaps I should change the second line of that!

I meant performing on stage.

Oh, gosh, that doesn't sound too good either!  How am I going to get

	"Off The Hook"

for this one?

E Grace

    Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano -- Jean-Pierre Rampal and Claude Bolling.
    
    					andrew

    An excellent choice of music.  Very soothing.  I'll be in the tub
    in a minute, after I take the pie out of the oven. There.  Would
    anyone like a piece?  I just baked it myself, with fresh pumpkin
    from New Hampshire's best fields.  Just for you-all.  Smell the
    cloves and the cinnamon?  Tickles the nose with warm steam as I
    lift it out.  The scent wafts over the water.  My stomach growls
    with pleasant anticipation.  A big dab of vanilla ice cream right
    on top, melting down the sides . . . aaaahhhh.
    
    There.  Now for the tub.  I love the way the little waves tickle
    my skin.  Could somebody rub my back, please?  Thanks . . . a
    little lower?  Aaaaaahhhhh, there, that's it . . . this is
    wonderful.  
    
    --bonnie

    oops...thump...excuse me...oops, sorry...aaahhhh
    
    mmmmmmm. anybody who doesn't like hot apple pie with Vermont
    cheddar cheese please move to the other side of the tub and
    give us connoisseurs elbow room...chomp...munch...munch...mmmmm

    I have some ice cream, if anyone would like their pie a la mode. 
    Vanilla and coffee today.  I don't want to overwhelm those wonderful
    desserts!
    
    
    Judi
    

    Do I hear the strains of "Birdland" wafting over the water from that
    jazz ensemble in the corner?  Oh, huzzah, I do!  
    
    I'll just hop out of the tank and wrap up in this thick, warm, thirsty
    towel, and sip my Boysenberry Spritzer.  Why, oh my goodness!  It's a
    video library!  And some of my favorite movies are here!  Any
    objections to "Singin' in the Rain"?  
    
    Oh my, that feels nice, a little higher on the shoulders.....a little
    to the left.....right......*there*....
    
    *sigh*
    
    -Jody
    

    play the soundtrack of "Singin' In The Rain" again for me -- in its
    entirety!  I'd rather float and listen than do much else I can think of
    today...
    
    any votes for "Music Man"?  "Oklahoma"?  happy musicals, all!
    
    re a few back, thanks for posting Claude Bolling's name, I should have
    remembered that!  I'm gonna play that record while I prepare dinner
    (really, pick from the Chinese restaurant's takeout menu :-) tonight.

    can we project the movies on the ceiling ? I _love_ Gene Kelly,
    Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, all the great dance/musicals.
    
    Let's have a filmfest!

    sounds good to me (the filmfest).
    
    do we need any rules about food in the tub?  People seem to have a wide
    variety of snacks already, some of them pretty crumbly...
    

    
    nah, let's not make any tub-rules.  i promise to come by with a very
    fine mesh skimmer occasionally so it doesn't get too messy.
    
    

    Actually, it's very easy.
    
    We invoke the magic of this place, and all crumbs and other detritus of
    our activities vanish.  So that this place remains a resting spot, a
    place to lay down burdens, worries, cares, fears, and hates.  Leave
    those things at the door, and come in to find peace, joy, calm, and
    friendship in abundance.
    
    Alison

    Hi there fellow soakpersons!  I've been away from NotesWorld for a few
    months getting re�stablished in a new group, and naturally when I
    returned to =wn= the first place I wanted to check out is Ye OIde
    Flotation Tanke.  Not too many visitors lately...?  Glad I missed the
    brief bout of politico-uric pollution, and I like the new features of
    apple-pie crumbs and the skimmer, plus lotsa old friends, and rubber
    duckies too!  :-)  Let's hear it for the maintenance crew who never
    lost the spirit of the Tank!
    
    Some fresh apple cider, some favorite music (yes please ::Binder, I'd
    *love* to hear the Goldbergs just now!), some almond soap (another
    welcome innovation! splash... :-) -- it's great to be back!
    
    My wife and I've been baking all day in anticipation of having the kids
    home for TurkeyDay -- anyone wanna snarf one of my favorite oatmeal
    choco-chip raisin cookies (complete with an automatic crumbly-scooper)? 
    Or some turkey-stuffin' makings like corn-bread 'n biscuits?  You'll
    have to eat *those* in the poolside hammocks, they're too crumbly for
    even the auto-skimmer.  Come 'n get it, friends!
      
    ... sounds of transcutaneous water absorption ... sounds of
    professional massage ...  music...  good conversation...
    
    aaahhh...

    
    After a week floating across this magestic water planet of ours, and
    a subsequent week walking land, I'm in need of the gentle rocking of
    the waves, the smell of water, warmth, and comforting company again.
    
    On my walkman I listen to Enya, a friend (who isn't a DECcie, I hope
    this is OK) sits next to me and holds my hand, and moment by moment
    the stress, the anxiety, the battalions, the wounds, the cares, the
    worries melt away into nothingness.
    
    Peace.
    
    Carla
    

    Sheesh, it's been since 4-DEC-1990 since anyone new dropped in...  I
    dunno about Carla but my toesies are all pruned up, and the last of 
    the bubblebath went weeks ago.
    
    Things seem to have calmed down elsewhere in =wn=land, anyone for
    Rubber Ducky Games?
    
    Infusions of bubblebath, new CD disks, masseurs/seuses, all welcome...
    
    Happy New Year, Fellow Former Floatees...
    
    Splish...?
        

               ... Thinking ***EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT***...
    
                               (-:emphasis mine:-)
    
                                       Come on in, all, the water's fine!
    
    "Then I slipped out of the tub..."
                                        (got the rhythm yet, folksies?:-)

Here, let's try one of those June Taylor Dancers flowers - you know, the kind
where you all hold hands and make patterns with your legs or whole bodies and
it looks like a kaliedascope (sp?).

Oh,oh - someone please grab my hand, I'm sinking....Ah, thanks.  The water is
around 82 degrees, beautifully blue, and rippling ever so slighy.  Yes, I see
we're still floating......heads arched back ever so slightly - that way all
the noises become fleeting, muffled echos.....

Wow!  This really works...respiration is returning to normal, no it's getting
even a little bit slower than normal....the lighting bolts are running down my
arms, out my fingertips and dissipating in the water.....the lightening bolts
are running down my legs, out my toes and dissipating in the water.....now I
feel every ripple carrying me along.....oh hi!  yes, you all are still here -
I was sort of drifting into my own little, gentle vortex......

AHA!  Caught you relaxing......splishing......untaxing.....

I am giving all of you a *watery* hug......I do so much like you.....Won't
you stay for awile?

Love,

Barb

    c'mon in, all, the water's fine!  What a good idea!
    
    can we have some soothing music too?
    
    Sara
    

    Yayy!!  Party-time, of the wet persuasion!!                                
    
    OK folksies, I brought almond-scented ***bath oil*** this time...  No
    danger of _that_ getting low...  And (for use in the side pool only,
    plezz!  Can't get all sudsy in the tank unless we all agree...) several
    bars of Riley's Skin Soap, that gorgeous stuff we first encountered,
    and "imprinted on," at Caneel Bay Plantations in St. John, U.S.V.I.,
    several years ago...  Totally fabulous... so that when we get in the
    tub, we'll all smell (imho:-) great, and be ready for the bath oil...
    
    Nice to see you all!  It's been awhile...
    
    Ain't it great to see that there's a party goin' on??
    
    "Soothing music..."  some Mozart, perhaps...?  Or what's your fave?
    
    Prunish (note, not pruDish:-) Hugs to all =wn= NetBuddies!!
    
    Dan
    
    Gee, two OutPourings in only a few hours' time...  Have I turned
                                        multi-Pourgasmic all of a sudden??  :-)

    Dan
    
    thanks for the oil...I  take you back to only 'one toy short
    of a happy meal'.
    
    I'm going to lie here with a good  book with my head on a floating
    pillow and my behind on a raft..
    
    and I *might* bring my grandbaby and her parents if it is quiet
    enough
    
    Bonnie

    
    
    >         -< Jody, Heather, Sara, Kathy, =maggie, Laura, et al >-
    
    
    I'm sorry, Barb....as much as I'd like to feel comfortable here, I
    don't.
    
    I'm very distrustful that someone will splash me in the eye when I'm
    not looking and that would hurt.
    
    8-(
    
    So, can I have my towel so I can please get out?
    
    Thanks.  Maybe some other time when I feel more wanted here.....
    
    kath

    well, Kath, I want you here, I just wish you, nay we all, were more
    comfortable. (I don't think people can be screaming at eachother and
    comfortable at the same time.)
    
    The only thing I want out of the tub is Bonnie's book -- Bonnie, I
    *always* end up dropping the book in the water, which causes me to
    cuss, and spoils the mood!  But maybe you're more coordinated than I am
    Sara       :^)
    

	Well, you're not going to believe this,

	(well, I can be cynical you know, I don't see why people should break 
	a habit of a lifetime)


	But I am a trained swiming coach/teacher, and synchro teacher.
	I am a qualifeed timekeeper,lane-judge and starter.
	I am also a qualified water-polo ref.
	I have my PADI diving licence.
	I have my sailing licence.
	I am a qualified life-saver (I bet that make some of you snigger)
	I even have a Maryland drivers licence.

	I just happen to find it funny (did you know that the British sense of
	humour is rumoured to be practically uninteligable to Americans - and 
	most everyone else) that I'm the only one who is qualified to be in 
	charge here!

	Heather

    I know cpr, so I have a feeling we have safety smothered, I mean
    covered.
    
    Heather, c'mon in.  I for one think we can have a hilarious session,
    contrasting and comparing various American and British expressions in
    English.  I think codswaddle (sp?) is a strange word, and that
    conversation would reveal many other equally novel (on this shore)
    expressions.  We can look up the roots of names, too; I think that 
    thig means genteely poor, and pen means top of a hill.
    
    Quick, now, before the water gets cold!
    
    Sara
    
    
    

	Well, I never could resist water, however, I shall be chosing the
	music and choreograpghing (sp?) the movements tonight.


	It won't be too cold, 'cause I'll ensure you all have wet-suits, you'll
	have no excuses to shirk training.

	Now, as we have a spare few minutes, I'll have 10 lengths butterfly, 
	followed by a 1-6 pyramid front crawl, yup, no freestyling for you lot.
	Followed by a length underwater, so I know you will be ably to do all 
	those fancy movements without coming up for air.

	Heather

>   I think codswaddle (sp?) is a strange word, and that
  
	"codswallop" actually, its a nice way to say "nonsense" 

	I remember using "collywobbles" yesterday, it means that your insides
	are all wobbly, like a jelly on a plate.


	and devon cream tea - but thats been gone into already somewhere, and it
	isn't adviseable to eat it whilst swimming (or lounging in the water).

	Heather

    Heather, it's true I'm outta shape, but 2 points for you to ponder:
    
    1) I'd rather go cross-country skiing (and it's gonna snow tomorrow and 
       Saturday! yippeee!)
    
    and more importantly,
    
    2) I envision this flotation tank as kind of a large hot tub, round,
       with seats around the rim (underwater, of course); I think it would
       be kinda hard to swim laps :-) especially with so many of us in
       here!

    
    
    
    Speaking of words and their meanings, it might be best for everyone to
    remember that Heather is "across the pond" from most of us.
    
    What might be fine to say in one language is insulting in
    another....even European English is much different than American
    English.
    
    
    Most English people know what I mean when I say "I want a fag" yet in
    America I get really rude looks from some people......
    
    If you don't understand something....ask...and accept the explanation.
    
    kath

    
>    2) I envision this flotation tank as kind of a large hot tub, round,
>       with seats around the rim (underwater, of course); I think it would
>       be kinda hard to swim laps :-) especially with so many of us in
>       here!


	Okay, so here's what we do, line up around the edge in a circle, and 
	all swim clockwise..........................
	

	Have fun skiikg - it's too chilly for me


	Heather

    
>    What might be fine to say in one language is insulting in
>    another....even European English is much different than American
>    English.


	It's not just words either, the number of times I have got lost in 
	buildings and stores, because I forgot that 1 was the ground floor, not
	the first floor.......and all those buildings without a floor 13!

	For those of you who don't know, in the UK the Ground floor is street 
	level, 1st floor is the level ABOVE that, then the second etc.......  

	Can you picture this:

	Me looking puzzled - Oh, I thought this was the second floor?
	
	Oh yes it is, but haven't you got such a cute accent, are you English.

	Yes thanks, however I'm a bit lost, there are dresses here, and I 
	thought that dresses were on the first floor?

	No of course not, that's hardware, but isn't is a coincedence, do you 
	come from Norwich, 'cause I've got a grandmother who lives there.

	Now I'm trying to orientate myself, and have a conversation at the 
	same time.

	But I thought hardware was on ground level?

	Yep that's right honey, she's called mrs Hilda Goodliff, are you sure
	you don't know her?

	Now I resign myself to being lost, how can hardware be on the ground 
	floor and on the first floor at the same time, have I missed a split 
	level?

	I then get sidetracked into explaining that Norwich is 400 miles from 
	where I live - Plymouth - it still takes me a while. 
	Eventually some poor person takes pity on me, and guides me outside 
	for air!

	Heather - who is lucky she didn't smoke!

	Another .00 for Ad.

    Sometimes the eyes don't work to well.
    
    In .94 I read "shirk training" as "shark training" and had a panic
    attack.  *Sharks* in the flotation tank!  Oh NO!
    
    Mary

    Heather, you don't need to be in charge.  Thanks to the magical
    qualities of =wn=, the water in the =wn= flotation tank is of that
    special kind that you can *breath*, therefore it is impossible to
    drown.  Moreover, all food in the flotation tank is calorie-free, and
    dissolves completely in water, so you don't have to worry about
    cleaning out the tank.  
    
    D!

    
>>*Sharks* in the flotation tank!  Oh NO!
  
    Don't worry, Mary.  I'm sure there must be one of those non-gun control
    folks who can dispatch that nasty fish pronto! ;-)            

    But they're *nice* sharks.  Like dolphins, only sharper!  
    
    And as for drowning, I'm glad I won't, because one of my favorite
    things to do when I was young was bob down to the bottom of the deep
    end of a pool and look *up* into the water and sunlight above and just
    rest there for a bit.  Now I don't have to come up for air.  Anyone for
    pool-bottom polo?  scrabble?
    
    -Jody
    

>    Moreover, all food in the flotation tank is calorie-free, and
>    dissolves completely in water, so you don't have to worry about
>   cleaning out the tank.  

        Oooh, what a horrible dilemma for us klutzen!  Do I eat my
        chocolate safely away from the flotation tank and consume all
        those calories, or do I go to the flotation tank where it's
        calorie-free and risk dropping it in the water?

        D!, with sharks you *never* have to worry about cleaning out
        the tank.

            Sharon
      

    
�    And as for drowning, I'm glad I won't, because one of my favorite
�    things to do when I was young was bob down to the bottom of the deep
�    end of a pool and look *up* into the water and sunlight above and just
�    rest there for a bit.

	Is this a Bobbing Bobbitt?

						--D

    re: .94
    
    Ah, thank you, I feel so much better after a little exercise.
    
    re: .105  
    
    Don't worry about dropping the chocolate in the tub; we got the
    skimmer a while back to keep the water clean, remember?  And if I
    massage your back, will you share your chocolate?  
    
    --bonnie

    My cold is getting much better floating in here with all the  steam..
    
    aaahhhhh
    
    yummers
    
    Bonnie

    re .109, Mark, how PC! :-)
    
    Lorna
    

You won't believe it....wait......splish...splish...aaahhhh...

Oh yeah.  Anyway, on the way home from work last night, I found just the thing.
They're called Your Heart's Desire Bubbles.  Haven't tried them out yet, but
here goes....

Here comes one for you Sharon.....float......float......pop (gently)....Nice....
now Sharon's surrounded by samplers of the world's finest chocolates.....see,
after she tried one, the paper recycled itself, and, wow! that little shimmer
around her hands cleaned them before they could hit the water again.......

Here you go Mary......float......float.....pop (softly).....Now this is really
getting good......little sharky just snuggled right up like a purring kitten...
super! giving you a relaxing ride around the tank......

Well, I'll leave a bowl here at the side if anyone wants to try more of these
out.  Let me know how they go over, and if I should pick up some more.

Treat's on me!

Barb 

	re: 9.91 (Heather Thomas) 

>	most everyone else) that I'm the only one who is qualified to be in 
>	charge here!
[...]
>	I am a qualifeed timekeeper,lane-judge and starter.
>	I am a qualified life-saver (I bet that make some of you snigger)

	Hey Lady, me too ;-)!  But I'm out of practice!

	Let's practice our life-saving on some unsuspecting soul
	that's very slippery ;-)!  But that might churn up the waters
	in the tank a bit!    

	Butterfly anyone?
	
					nancy b.
					an extra in the movie
					Jaws-3D filmed @ Sea World, FL
					who has no prob with sharks ;-)!!

    I think we should be careful about making too many fish jokes while we
    are in the flotation tank.  We wouldn't want anyone declaring in an
    accusatory tone...
    
    
    	"These cods are mocked!"
    
    -- Mike

    What's that music I hear wafting over the tranquil pool? - could it be
    the remote and mellifluous strains of "Salmon-chanted Evening"?
    
    
    -Jody
    

    flounder, don't be a guppy

    
   >>   <<< Note 9.114 by CSC32::M_VALENZA "Envelop while you lambada." >>>

    
    >>I think we should be careful about making too many fish jokes while we
    >>are in the flotation tank.  We wouldn't want anyone declaring in an
    >>accusatory tone...
    
    
    	>>"These cods are mocked!"
    
    >>-- Mike
    
    
    Are you trying to create a red herring?!!?
    

    >Are you trying to create a red herring?!!?
    
    Gill-ty as charged.
    
    -- Mike

    Arg, not FISH-PUNS!  They give me such a haddock!!
    
    D!

Oh why not,



just for the halibut?

D.

re: .121
    
    I don't know, maybe I just can't fathom it.  This doesn't mean you, of
    course - you all don't look like someone who just came up the pike. 
    No, I'm not doing this on porpoise.  But I'm sure you've heard that
    tuna before.  Is it shellfish to use up this many available puns in one
    paragraph?  I guess when it comes to verbal control, I'm just kelpless!
    
    -Jody
    

    Thanks for the chocolates Barb... they're good but I'm going to take
    them out of the tank now, as some of them are beginning to dissolve,
    and I don't want to fight that shark for the Lindt.  Anyone near me,
    feel free to try some.

    Wait a second... here's one of those gentle hypoallergenic lions...
    has anyone fed her lately?  She's showing too much interest in the
    caramel turtles...

	Sharon

    
    Just curious...
    
    Has anyone ever been in a real flotation tank?
    If so, what was/is it like?
    
    							Hank

    .122
    
    Wow! 
    
    (feeling defishent)
    
    D.

        cod...swallop!
        
        Dan
        0:-)

 >   things to do when I was young was bob down to the bottom of the deep
 >   end of a pool and look *up* into the water and sunlight above and just
 >   rest there for a bit.  Now I don't have to come up for air.  Anyone for
 >   pool-bottom polo?  scrabble?
    
 Jody - Great memories! How about a tea party on the bottom.  


But first, since I finally found the time to put on my bathing suit, I'd like
to just relax here a bit.  If I could squeeze in between E Grace & her 
frolicking sidekicks and Dan....  Oh thanks, didn't mean to splash you, tee-hee.

Could I be next on the backrubs?  Would someone pass me that cushion? Thanks.
To many late nights, lately.  Ahhhhhh, this is just what I needed.

Just a few more minutes I'll be ready to tackle that code again.  Ummmmm,
maybe I could write some in my head and float here a while longer.  Hey, 
waitasec, this is magic water isn't it?  Maybe I could just pop up a window????
What do you think?  Nahhhhhh.  I'll just listen to the music. This is my
favorite part of the Four Seasons.   

Speaking of backrubs I think my pruney fingers are getting rejuvenated.  I
give pretty good neck & shoulder rubs if someone is in need.  I've even been 
known to get rid of tension headaches in a single session.  Any takers?

Contented sigh,

-Andrea

    I hate to carp on the subject, but we pun-sters seem to be having a
    whale of a good time.
    

   re: .120

   D!  - don't be such a crab!

The sturgeon general has definitely found that floating in our tank is
beneficial to all muscle grupers for the fewest clams on anyones scales.

Pikes!

Barb

    Cod, this is so corny.  I'll step down off my perch and let someone
    else blubber on.

	Bathing suit?

    re: .133 Bathing suit?
    
    She meant baking soda.  Right, E Grace?
    
    Mary

	Mermaid suit!

    
    >>She meant baking soda.  Right, E Grace?
    
    
    You guppy, Mary!!!
    
    E Grace

	Altripe, already - Mermaid suit with baking soda.

	Baking soda?????

	
	-Andrea  (Feeling like a grunion trying to keep up :-)

    > Baking soda?????
    
    see 568.5

    Since I'm from Ayr, (and there is a Thornton's shop just down the
    street) can I join in.  I know it's pretty far away but if you keep
    the water warm me and my Thornton's will be along in a mo.
    
    
    Tracy W

    I'm not gonna touch the last reply with a ten foot pole..
    
    REK

|    I'm not gonna touch the last reply with a ten foot pole..
|     REK
        
        Good idea Rick ! :^)
        
        Matt

    >>                    -< E is gonna get me for this >-

    >>> Baking soda?????
    
    >>see 568.5
    
    
    Remember, Mary...you're on _my_ floor now!
    
    E Grace

Oh, Phew -

I really need to sit on the bottom for awhile and contemplate my.......
float....dive.....wow! nice furniture down here....yes, it does look like
just the right focus when you look up......

mmmmmmmm......scones with jam and tea........I think I'll stay in a bit

Barb

p.s.  now what was that I was going to contemplate?

     >>p.s.  now what was that I was going to contemplate?
    
    
    The fact that hugs float!
    
    E Grace

E Grace

That floating hug surrounded me all at once like a reverse ripple....

Nice touch.

Barb

    
    hi everybody!
    
    let me know when the war is over and women have reclaimed =wn=.
    
    i'll be in the corner trying to remember my mantra.
    

    I think I'll join you...
    after reading that our "Patriots" are people savers...
    well, wake me when it's over, or better yet,
    don't wake me at all
    
    

    Rumor has it the moderators have hired a contractor to put an addition
    on the flotation tank. 
    
    

    Wet Dreams
    
    It was April the 41st, being a quadruple leap year. I was driving in
    downtown Atlantis.  My Barracuda was in the shop, so I was in a rented
    Stringray, and it was overheating, so I pulled into a Shell station. 
    They said I'd blown a seal.  I said, "Fix the damn thing and leave my
    personal life out of it.  OK, Pal?"
    
    While they were doing that, I walked over to a place called the Oyster
    Bar.  A real drive, but I knew the ownder -- he used to play for the
    Dolphins. I said, "Hi, Gill!"   You have to yell -- he's hard of
    herring.
    
    Gill was also down on his luck -- fact is, he was barely keeping his
    head below water.  I bellied up to the sandbar; he poured me the usual:
    rusty snail, hold the grunion, shaken not stirred, with a peanut butter
    and jellyfish sandwich on the side, heavy on the mako.  I slipped him a
    fin -- on porpoise.  I was feeling food.  I even dropped a sand dollar
    in the box for Jerry's squids -- for the halibut.
    
    Well, the place was crowded; we were packed in like sardines.  They
    were all there to listen to the big band sounds of Tommy Dorsal.   What
    sole.  Tommy was rockin' the place with a very popular tuna, "Salmon
    Chanted Evening," and that stage was surrounded by creaming groupers,
    probably there to see the bass player.  One of them was this gute
    little yellowtail, and she's giving me the eye, so I figured this is my
    chance for a little fun.  You know, a piece of Picses.
    
    But she was saying things I just couldn't fathom.  She was too deep,
    seemed to be under a lot of pressure.  Boy, could she drink.  She drank
    like a...she drank a lot.  I said, "What's your sign?"  She said
    "Aquarium." I said, "Great!  Let's get tanked!"
    
    I inivted her up to my place for a little midnight bat.  I said "C'mon,
    baby, it'll only take a few minnows."  She threw me that same old line: 
    "Not tonight.  I got a haddock."
    
    And she wasn't kidding, either, 'cuz in came the biggest, meanest
    haddock I'd ever seen come down the pike.  He was covered with mussels. 
    He came over to me and said, "Listen, shrimp.  Don't come trolling
    around here."  What a crab.  This guy was steamed. I could see the
    anchor in his eyes.
    
    I turned to him. I said "Abalone!  You're just being shellfish."  Well,
    I knew there was going to be trouble, and so did Gill, 'cuz he was
    already on the phone to the cods.  The haddock hits me with a sucker
    punch.  I catch him with a left hook.  He eels over. It was a fluke,
    but there he was, lying on the deck, flat as a mackerel.  Kelpless.
    
    I said, "Forget the cods, Fill; this guy's gonna need a sturgeon." 
    Well, the yellowtail was impressed with the way I landed her boyfriend. 
    She came over to me.  She said, "Hey, big boy, you're really a game
    fish.  What's your name?"  I said, "Marlin."
    
    Well, from then on we had a whale of a time.  I took her to dinner; I
    took her to dance; I bought her a bouquet of flounders.  And then I
    went home with her. And what did I get for my troubles?  A case of the
    clams.

    That gem came from Kip Adotta (or however you spell his name).
    
    -- Mike

    
    
    
    	creaming groupers?
    
    E Grace

    *screaming* groupers...
    
    But I guess the other could work just as well.  :-)
    
    D!

    re 683.20, liesl,
    
    > Hmmph, I say we make Doug note in the wet spot. liesl
    
    C'mon in, the water's fine ;-).
    
    DougO

    ... whew, ya had me worried there, glad this is good ol' H 0... 
                                                              2
    
                             (-: Hi DougO! :-) 

    > glad this is good ol' H2O
    
    You think *you're* glad, Dan, what have you got to worry about!
    
    -Mary

A entire HOT TUB full of... you mean... OH WOW! 'scuse me.

<pitter pitter pitter> DIVE <splooch> Yeeeeeee! Haaaaa!

	-- Charles

                      But "on the whole" I prefer water...
    
    And I think it's HIGH time we all took up the bubble-bath and rubber
    duckies again, and no I do NOT mean the duckies wearing rubbers.
    
    So, guys & gyns, repeat after me, "SPLISH SPLASH, I was takin' a bath..."
    
        (-: Sorry Mary, didn't mean to worry you... hee hee... :-)
    
       

    Can I curl up in quiet corner here? I need some peace....
    
    Bonnie

    Whew, whatta week.  Wall-to-wall meetings, presentat..phlub, and
    EMai.. glubbo.. outthe wazoobubbles...          . ..blobbowipeout..
    
    Pass the soap, heat the towels, honk the duckie, put another CD on the
    player, and let's invite the backrub squad over here.  If they're not
    too wiped-out themselves from their OWN looong weeks...  heeelp...  
    
    Hugs to all who join the party...   We're into quiet relaxation here...
    
    ..friends, I think we NEEED this...     it rebuilds us...
    
    CheeryBubbles...?
    
    Dan
                                                 

    Dan,
    I'll rub your shoulders if you'll rub mine...
    
    much too much stress this week.
    
    BJ

    yes, MUCH too much stress.
    
    E, where're those super safety flotation hugs?
    
    -Jody
    

    can I come in for a float?  I'll park my skis outside.  I REALLY need
    it bad -- dissolve away all the hassle of dealing with my nephew (5th
    grade vocabulary at 6 yrs, and a 1.5 yr-old's self control. sigh) and
    with my kids' reactions to him...
    
    Just a short break before diving into the workweek... ah, that feels
    good!
    
    Sara

    
    
    
    	(okay, come on....want to play in the flotation tank?  Hey!  *stop*
    	 that *tickles*! heheeheeheeheegigglehee...have you all got your
    	 little water-wings on?  O-kay....in you go!  
    
    		{splishsplishwheeeeeesplishsplish}
    
    	 (I think Jody needs some help staying afloat...yes, I know, she's
    	  one of your friends....yes, and there is Bonnie and Sara and Dan.
    	  me too?  okay...here I come.............)
    
    
    Hi everyone, is there room for all of us?   
    
    
    E Grace

Room for me, too?  I won't even bring any food . . .

--b

    I don't care what today's amenities are, I'm coming in!
    
    
    aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    
    
    E Grace

    E Grace!!  Thou Hussy!!
    
    Anent your implication that there are "today's amenities" in reference
    to the =wn= Flotation Tank -- FIE on thee, theE!  Why do you imply that
    there are rules -- or even amenities -- that are anything but eternal?? 
    Why do you lie!?!  :-)
    
    OK, so there are supposed to be rules, I guess...  Eternal ones, yet... 
    Hmm...  I seem to have set myself up a problem here...?
    
    Reverie...  splish...   Aaaaahhhh, I have it!! 
    
                           PROPOSED POOL ROOLS
    
    0.  The =wn= Flotation Tank is a place of PEACE, quiet, and sharing, if
        you want...
    
    1.  Hugging and backrubbing strongly encouraged...
    
    2.  Hypoallergenic soap, used in moderation, is welcome...
    
    	2a.  Corollary:  Moderators, in moderation, welcome too!  :-)
    
    3.  Music is fine, all different kinds OK, as long as it relaxes YOU... 
    
    (The =wn= Flotation Tank has Magic Air such that YOUR music will be
    inaudible to your neighbors if they don't like it, but you'll still be
    able to chat!  Ain't this FUN? :-)
    
    4.  We're working on a crumbly-food-handling system, but till it's
        online, only cheeses and undercooked fruitcakes are permitted... 
        Blancmanges also verboten (too squishly)...
    
    5.  A Rubber Ducky is not _de rigueur_ for every visit, but a Tally
        Will Be Made And Entrance Denied to any visitor who has not been so
        Accompanied on at least HALF his/her previous flotations...  (Ignore
        Rule 5 if you wish)
    
    6.  Quack quack...  splash...  Turn ON the bubble machine...
    
    7.  ...No Evolving...
    
    	7a.  Corollary:  You can't stay in the Flotation Tank too long, or
             you'd evolve into a prune (cutaneous wrinkles, yasee:-)
    
    8.  There are no rules, really..., just kiddin'...  you know how silly
        I can get after too-long a day...  :-)
    .
    .
    n.  New rules can be proposed, and old ones squished, by acclamation of
        those currently floating...
    
    ...? like anyone here? ...
        

    
    Mmmm.  Nice.
    
    Could we roll back the ceiling and expose the stars?
    
    CQ

    I really don't care; I just want to be here!  Now, where is Joe,
    anyway?
    
    
    E Grace

    help me in, please -- I stupidly brought a loaded 2-drawer file cab
    down the spiral stairs myself 3 days ago, and my back still hurts...
    
    oh,  MUCH BETTER!!!
    
    Sara

re: .169
>        online, only cheeses and undercooked fruitcakes are permitted... 
    
    UNDERCOOKED FRUITCAKES!  I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!
    Er....RESENT....right...resent that remark.....
    
    ;)

    Yeah, and what about us fruitcakes that have been just a tad
    over-baked?!!!!!
    
    Does this mean I'm not welcome?!!!!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
    
    
    

    
    i'm here ;^)
    

    
    Hey! I never expected to find you floatin' next to me in here! ;-)
    
    Wanna play "name that tune"? :-)
    'gail
     

    mind if i join you? aaahhhh...it's been a long week. oh, and i bought
    this nifty cd last weekend, and the singer is amazing...`twist in my
    sobriety' still gives me goosebumps.
    
    ...laura

    If _you_ can't play tennis without the blancmanges, then I suppose _I_
    shall have to put a sack on my head, stand on my chair and sing
    'Jerusalem'
    
    and your peace and quiet will be shot to hell ...
    
       Annie

    Because of its Magic Properties, them who likes "Jerusalem" will be
    able to hear and enjoy you...  and your chair, and even your sack!... 
    :-)
    
    And Brian, *loved* your oblique ref to MPFC...  Ya really wanna play
    tennis in the Flotation Tank?  OK by me, reread my Proposed Pool Roolz,
    you'll see there's a General Disclaimer Loophole big enuf to drain the
    whole thing...  So everyone plug it with their own Roolz, relax, and
    enjoy...
    
    I sure am glad *I'm* here -- for a Monday, the stress level is (or
    was!) pretty high, but now I'm here, I feel better already!!
    
    SplashQuack....  GurgleLurgleLurgle...  :-)  mmm...  aaah...

    ohhhh ... _I_ see ... this is not an equal opportunity Python-citing
    environment ...
    
    but ...
    
    warm water, scented oil, watching the gauze billow in the eddies,
    sipping a vintage Cabernet, poetry, philosphy, and maybe a screening of
    Brazil ...
    
    OK, I think I'll stay ...
    
      Annie

    ... we even know in what direction to go to find the loo!  :-)
    
    Gotta LOVE this flotation tank!!

    never been in here before, and may not get another chance, so.....
    <splash>
    oh... it's not cold at all.... love the music....  mmmmmmmm........
    who's gonna take the mercedes account?...no,no,no... no work, just float..
    ..ok, ok, ok,....6 months behind in expense accounts, car insurance,
    dead battery....STOP IT! JUST FLOAT!.......... water, warm, secure.... 
    ...floating.. music...twinkling music... thirst....magic!.. floating 
    drinks.... good... oh, the ceiling is opening up like the planitarium.... 
    stars and the moon..... silver light.... a moonbath float...with music 
    and stars...  

    
    welcome!
    

    Ahhhhh! Nice place!  But what's this??  Bubbles???
    
    I think I just discovered the source of the "bad atmosphere"
    
    Did somebody fart in the flotation tank?  :-)
    
    Mary

    
    Oops.  And I thought I could sneak in here without anyone noticing.
    :-)
    
    CQ

    This is a first time for me.. mellow and warm thoughts huh? Lemme see..
    
    
    I never cease to be amazed by the enormous similarities between various
    cities of the world. Possibly the most amazing similarity to me is that
    between Melbourne (where I am) and Boston (where Digital has
    occasionally sent me).
    
    Firstly, it so happens that the two cities are official sister cities
    and there is a whole darned committee which works at various
    Melbourne-Boston activities, one of which saw Gov. Mike Dukakis (heard
    of him?) come and stay here for 5 weeks to study the way Australia's
    Federal Health Scheme works. 
    
    Secondly, both cities have a bay area and a similar looking downtown
    area. The populations of the two cities are cosmopolitan and the
    foreign names one encounters on billboards and such are the same ones
    we're used to here..with some notable exceptions. "Tobins", a name
    synonymous with food and catering in Boston, is the name of the family
    which conducts what is about the biggest funeral director (undertaker)
    business here. Another is "Gandolfo" - a name synonymous with the
    pharmacy/chemist shop business here, yet synonymous with real estate in
    Boston - could be incorrect on that last one.
    
    Thirdly - the nature of the urban sprawl into many, many villages,
    areas, is similar in both cities.
    
    
    It's strange, but out of all the USA cities I've visited, Boston 
    is most like home to me.
    
    
    Don
    *8-)
    
    

    time to slide into the warm water like a turtle sliding into a pond to
    cool off after sunning for a long time.  Roll the ceiling back, it's a
    beautiful spring day -- blue sky, bright sun, balmy breeze.  I'm
    learning to tell the birds by their songs, the song sparrow from the
    robins from the redwings... don't be silly -- I already knew the blue
    jay and the chickadee!  and it's too early for the nightingale.
    
    ah, the water is soothing.  Is that you?  could you bring me a glass of
    iced tea, please?

    
    would you like lemon in that?
    

actually my fave iced tea is English Breakfast Tea, made as sun-tea, with 5-6
cloves and a sprig of mint in the bottle.  yummmmm.    But if you've made up the
tea with lemon, don't worry, I like that too.  I'll make the next batch.

    
    deal!
    have you ever tried lapsang souchong as iced tea?
    

�    have you ever tried lapsang souchong as iced tea?
    
    Oh boy, tarry tea!  Do you have a quarantine corner where I can sip
    this without being contagious?  I'll sterilize the glass in the
    steambath later.
    
    *cough*
    Ray

    I'm over here floating under the waterfall ... loud white noise, sudden flashes of
    sunlight, tiny wavelets under my back ... humming ... heaven!
    
      Annie

    oh, so _that's_ what's making all the little bubbles.  It's clear night
    now, and the moon is near full.  I closed the roof; it's cool out.

    
    Ripple......ripple.....
    
    I love it when I can't hear anything except that soft, swooshing
    booming sound because my ears are under the water....
    
    'gail
    on her back, looking at the stars, paddling gently....
    

    
    hi! long time no see!
    
    

    
    swooOOOOSH o  oooo  oo ooo oooooooo oo
    
    Ah. That's better. Just had to get the water out of my ears.
    Did someone say something?
    
    OH - hi Joe! It's been a while....
    Could you pass my personal stereo? Thanks. Got any tapes to swap?
    This one's...uh...drat, the ink's run.....I think it's Faure....

    
    i'll trade you a gabriel faure for a ralph vaughan williams and a
    sandy koufax
    

        Are motorboats allowed?
        
        Dan

        Okay, I'll just float here, errrr, sink to the bottom
        here.
        
        Dan

    
    Ahhhh! Yes please....
    
    I'll just hang on the side here and take in the sounds for a while....
    

Can I just float here a little while?
Ahhhh!

Who's that pushing me under?
Who's that grabbing my foot?

     G 
        U
           R
              G
                 L
                    E
                       !

          g
           l
            o
              b
               !

	"say Friend, and enter"
			-JRRTolkien

	"she always makes you welcome in"
			-Joni Mitchell

blub blub splish splash one of the really fun things about this magical water is
that it holds me up when I float on my back.  Everywhere else, I sink, slowly,
starting at the feet and proceeding to my neck till suddenly I realize I'm
treading water...

Sara

    pedo mellon a mino, indeed.... (I know I probably munged the spelling).
    
    I love sitting at the bottom of a pool (in the real world I can't stay
    there that long, but here I can) and looking up through the water at
    the sun-filled sky.  It's like looking into an unbearably bright soul!
    
    -Jody
    

    I feel kinda weird comparing the tank to Moria. Whew.
    Well, if I can convice my quaking heart to ignore the watcher in
    the pool and realize the balrog is long gone, I'll speak the
    word of entering and...   splash!
    
    What's that?    Oh! Just a few hobbits, and an elf or two.
    Or maybe just a womannoter with a particularly nice smile.
    
    Nice here.  The stars, some moonlight making tenuous shadows on
    the ripping water, a rubber ducky quacking by.
    
    My water wings were made in Rivendell, pretty aren't they? Splish
    splash... have a built in tape recorder playing Alastair Cook reading
    Lord of the Rings.  Ahhh, I do so love Gandalf. 
    
    Ohhhhhmmmmmmm.  
    
        Margaret

    hobbits?  Bobbitts?
    
    hmmmm....

    
    a new flotation tank motto?
    ;^)
    

    drat.  I knew it.
    
    Where's the waterproof elven/english dictionary?
    
    ah....floating right by....here....
    a elbereth gilthoniel.......
    
    -Jody
    

I just wanna tell you all how much I am enjoying living in my home in

		UNDERHILL  !!!!!

say friend, and enter...

floating home for the day, now.... did you know you could float home from the
flotation tank?  We TOLD you the waters were magical!

Sara

    
    i had you at an advantage, my dear. i simply walked over to my
    bookshelf (at home, since i was at home) and looked it up.
    

    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  It's great to get back into the tank.
    
    I don't even know how to swim.  But there's no fear of drowning here.
    

    its always here ...
    
       ... the warm breath of moonlight and star jasmine to dry my tears.
    
    Annie

    RE: .216
    
    And so, while your tears may be salt, the trace of them is sweet
upon your face.
    

    mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
    
    
    sigh
    
    

    Ah, feels good to be here.  Travelling is so stressful, it is so nice
    to just lay back, let the warm water draw away my pains...
    
    D!
    
    [PS: Of *course* motorboats are allowed...*everything* is allowed. 
    Fortunately here in -wn-land we have motorboats that are *silent* and
    *invisible* and are designed such that it is impossible to run anybody
    over.  Without motorboats, how can we all go waterskiing?]
    
    [PPS: Next week I'll bring in my scuba gear...any divers out there?]

    I dive, but I'm not sure scuba gear is necessary.  You can easily
    breathe this water.  And the bottom of the tank is the most incredible
    coral forest, aswim with brilliant fishies, no sharks, and
    constellations of starfish that do not eat coral.  Huge conch shells,
    blue lobsters, and the light filtering from above is stunning in
    its clarity.  Like pillars of brighter blue shimmering downward.
    
    I like the weight belt and flippers though.  Let me swim down here
    forever.
    
       Margaret
   

    Why look!
    
    I just rediscovered Atlantis!
    
    Let's wave back to all the merfolk!
    
    -Jody
    

this is wonderful.  I blew my only other chance to see a lovely living coral
reef (Ras Muhammed, southern tip of Sinai) cuz I was skeered to "breathe" in the
water (snorkle), and actually panicked.  This is much much better!  The sunlight
rays in the water are like columns of shimmer.  It must be sunlight; the moon
is waning...

gurgle splash dive

    _splash_
    
    wonderful, relaxing....
    
    so warm water... (who's paying for the heating)?
    
    first time here, I must do it more often..
    
    I can feel the norwegian sun, spring is here too (tulips, dafodils..)
    Yes,...in Norway!
    Se you around.
    
    PerS,
    
    

    PERS
    
    Det glaeder mig Dem besoge os. Vaersgod vaeldig hyggeligt.
    
      :^)
    
       Margaret 

Now that I've learned to breathe and float, I'm really enjoying my stay here.

It's nice to see so many old and new friends, with or without swim suits.

Brue 

    re: .224 
    
    ooh!  you're talking underwater!  can I do that too?  
    
    (just joshin' ya...the only other language I speak is pig-latin!)
    
    -Jody
    

Avhay unfay.

Ucebray

PS - It's been years since I've written anything in this language.

    Actually, it's the only known language of mermaids...

       :^)

    Impressive Margaret! Do you have an instant translator in the 
    flotation tank, or... How come you master scandinavian language (it
    seems to me close to Danish)?
    
    And thank you for making me feel welcomed.
    
    PerS,

    
    In the flotation tank ...
    
    Where I am no longer undertall, but have grown to a height
    appropriate for my weight.
    
    A mere 7'8" and well formed I dive into the calm cool waters,
    barely disturbing its surface as I go.
    
    I feel the strength and comfort of the waters as it caresses 
    me through each arc and kick of my butterfly.
    
    And I hardly splash anybody else, at all.
    Cindi
    

...undertall -- I love it!

nobody can be undertall, underwater :-)

gurgle gurgle look above the surface -- there's a flock of purple martins doing
an aeriel ballet

                  -< real decadence requires creativity ;-) >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    oops, comin' through, 'scuse me. This looks about right. Antigravity
    units 'on'. Shoes and socks off. ahhhhhhh. Well, why _not_ put a 
    swinging chair over the whirlpool?  Now ya can rock and soak your 
    tired feet in the bubbles at the same time. ahhhhhhh

The weather is so nice!  Let's open the big glass panels to the outside
and let some of that sunshine and glowing smells in!  All you people
with allergies, though, need not worry...there is a toxic-pollen screen
over the window!!

D!

    can we float some apple blossoms on the surface?
    
    mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnniiiiiiccccccceeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
    
    sara
    

    How about floating little thimbles full of warm saki on lotus leaves
    like in a Japanese poets' garden?  I know this is Digital, but, hey,
    it's my fantasy. 
    
    Margaret

    
    glug
    

    re: the past week or so...
    
    if anybody wants to find me, I'll be in here for a little while....my
    brain hurts...amonst other things less tangible...
    
    \D/

float me away

    
    for the gentle wind doth move
    silently, invisibly...
    

    Joe,
    
    Do you mind if I join you?  I just wanna float... in the
    dark... for a... while
    
    with love,
    cheyenne

Today looks like the day to take a few moments to visit the flotation tank.
Like a vision of sailing on a clear blue day, a steady warm breeze that lifts
me, carries me across the lake swiftly, seemingly without effort.  The sound
of water gently lapping the boat, from time to time a little wave sprays up
and covers me with drops of water, refreshing coolness on a hot summer day.

Happiness is.......

Martha

    
    Today, I think I'll just sit on the bottom, looking up through the
    tranquil aquamarine patterns at the sunshine above the water.  I will
    recline with the lilies, and be nuzzled by the dolphins as they check
    on me from time to time to make sure I've got just enough company to
    keep me from getting lonely, but still leave me with enough alonetime.
    
    Today the fanned fronds of the underwater ferns weave before my eyes as
    the water smooths my hair from side to side.  Today I recede into the
    water.  Today I breathe slowly, relaxing, replenishing.
    
    -Jody
    

    The wind flutters the summer leaves ever so gently, bringing
    a cooling breeze across my face, as the sun sparkles off my
    ice filled glass.  The swaying of the hammock keeps time with
    the chirping of the birds, the buzzing of the insects, and the
    swishing of the horse's tails as I'm rocked peacefully into a 
    much needed nap.....

    			 (sigh)
    
    HRH

        re .-1,
        
>>				and the
>> swishing of the horse's tails ...
        
        Horses in the floatation tank!?!?!?
        
        Great!!!
        
        Anyone for a game of water polo!!!
        
        Dan

    OH, this is just what I needed today.  Ahhhhhh. The water feels so
    warm, so soft and relaxing.  I brought rose scented candles, the
    steam is rising and mingling with the scent.  Now I'm floating on 
    my back, stretching my tense neck muscles, and I'm closing my eyes,
    they hurt.  My whole body is hurting and tense and battered from
    all the anger and frustration and irritation radiating from the 
    file lately.  I just need a little time to melt away the stress, 
    then I can go back. 
    
    Anyone want to join me?  If you do, maybe you can bring a good
    chardonnay!
    
    Kim

	Anybody want to come to Nashua and give a massage.  I'm suffering from
two days of chainsaw massacre cleaning up downed trees at the family homestead
on Cape Cod.  Overall, we came out pretty well, but my hands, arms and back
are killing me.  I think I'll just sit here in the jacuzzi portion for a bit.


						--D

    Re .246
    
    How do you keep the candles lit in the flotation tank? (-;
    
    HRH

    Oh, HRH, needs must you read the whole string to discover the wondrous
    nature of the =wn= flotation tank!
    
    
    E Grace
    
    
    
    
    
    
    		See the bubbles over there?  Those are hubbles!
    
    

    re:.248
    Easy!  they're set inside the glass lamps built into the wall!!!
    

    re .247
    
    Well, if that's the case, why did someone make fun of
    MY entry?
    
    HRH

    Who made fun of your entry?  (I think you are referring to my answer of
    you, are you not?)
    
    E Grace

    No, my entry way back in here somewhere......someone picked
    out something I said from my entry and made fun of it....
    Which, of course, defeated the whole purpose of my entry
    in the first place....to escape reality for awhile....
    
    HRH
    

    Lynne, I think you missed the title of Dan's reply.  I do not believe
    you were being made fun of.  Some very amazing things have been in the
    flotation tank; it is much more than just a hot tub!  
    
    E Grace

    E-
    
    Gee, I hope Jody took Scuba Lessons! (-;
    
    	
    HRH

    
    I don't need scuba in this tank because it's magick.
    
    it's special water.  you can breathe it when you want to, and watch the
    weaving patterns of light play across the depths.
    
    And the candles burn as nicely on the bottom as they do on the top.
    And no dripping wax, either!
    
    -Jody
    

    
    	I'm here for a long swim and R & R.
    
    	Can I even write my C programs in here?
    
    		     gurgle();
    

Suzanne,

Writing C programs is R&R?  Friend, you ened more R&R than you know!

:-)

But yes, you can write C programs here.  And they will all compile bug-
free on the first try, too.

-d

    splish splash
    
    did you know that the Floatation Tank can magically make you not-tired
    even if you have a large sleep deficit?
    
    this is wonderful, even better than swimming in Rock River

    re.253>to escape reality for awhile...
    
    Yes. I call this little spot 'fantasy island'. (Yeah, I know, not 
    too creative ;-) ) Sunny, with a spot to sit and dangle tired feet
    in the water. Oh, look, here comes my fantasy friendly dolphin!
    (I made him tiger-stripes-color just on a whim.) Throw him a fish
    and he'll love ya forever. That's right, tickle him right _there_.
    Oh, and he loves towing people around, so let's go out to the big end
    of the tank and play awhile...
     

    
    
    Are men allowed in here?  Lord knows, I could use it today!!!
    
    	GJD

    Of course, everyone is allowed here, because everyone is
    instantaneously and magically equal and prejudice-free upon entering...
    :-)
    
    If only we could extend this outside the tank...
    
    D!

    D!  If only we could extend it a little way outside this tank.
    
    Ahhhhhhhhhh, burble.
    
    !-)
    jimc

Hey!  Who emptied the tank?

    Shhhhhhhhh, please, I came down here for tranquility, peace and
    QUIET-ET-ET.  There are others her with me, I sense their presences. 
    As I just told a friend, I never note in here becuase it would disturb
    the sense of peace this place gives me.  

    Make way, people!
    
    I'm about to slide in!
    
    Oh! I need to relax today - I'm in the library on my own for a whole
    week and I'm just a little scared/excited/you know!
    
    Alice T.
    
    

    MMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that feels gooood!
    
    Alice T.

    No need to worry about disturbing the peace in here.  Once of the nice
    things about the =wn= tank is that the air is very thick - it isolates
    sounds quite well.  And it has the wonderful property of only
    transmitting sounds at the volume the reciever wishes.  So you can hear
    it at full volume if you like that, hushed if you want quiet, or not at
    all if you want silence.  Or you can even have it amplified if you are
    hard to hearing.
    
    And of course, if you are saying something private to someone, no one
    can hear it at all, no matter how loud you speak.
    
    D!

    
    I suppose this is too peaceful a place for me to be wild and silly in,
    now that my headache's gone, hmm?
    
    Alice T.

    Of course not, Alice T..  You can be as silly as you like!
    
    E Grace

    Wahoooooooo!
    
    hee hee!
    
    Alice T.

    Gee, this feels great...  H'lo, friends!
    ...splish...
    Dan

    
    	Hi Dan !!!!!!!!
    
    	I'm over here - toss the Rubber Ducky my way first !
    
    	Suzanne
    

    Yeesh, it's a good thing that dis here tank has the
    /SpaceWarp(Juxtapose=Colorado,Massachusetts,...) 
    option enabled, else I'd never be able to wing this your way!
    
    Fling_*w*a*r*p*_Splash...
    
    Who wants it next?  RubberDuckies shouldn't oscillate between just two
    folx, they should follow a more Brownian track...
    
    Gosh, the autumn leaves drifting into our tank from the surrounding
    Maple and Birch trees are such jewels...  and they swirl around amid
    the bubbles... Aahhh...

    
    	Hi Dan!   Splash....throw the ducky over this way!  
    
    Aahhh!  Yes, warm, swirling water...lay back, relax...<<quack!!>>
    ooopps! sorry, ducky! didn't mean to bop you on the head!
    
    You know, the leaves are nice, but don't they clog the filtration
    system??  :-)   Oohhh, that water feels good on my sore muscles...
    working out is great, but the muscles complain for *days* after!
    
    <splash, splash>  Hey, who wants the ducky next???
    
    Catch!
    
    Debbi

    ... hey, Majick abounds here, Debbi...  either the autumn leaves are
    Special or the tank can cope with 'em better than you'd expect... 
    Heck, even the RubberDucky has a personality!  Think positive...
                                    (-: :-)

    Hey, I'm next for the duck!
    
    
    Paul, you coming in?
    
    Alice T.

    Can I hide in here and have *noone* find me?
    
    I'm feeling much better today, but I could still use I nice
    looooonnnggg  float, a back massage, and a few hugs (oops, wrong
    note...can i do that in here?)  

    cheryl, see all those bubbles?  Look inside....no, no, *really*
    look....see the hugs?  
    
    
    (*8
    
    E Grace

    \             \    \              /               /      /
              \                         /                   /
      \	         \		\		/    /
    
                \        \              /       /  /
           \         \                    /
                                 /
                  \                        /
                        \       /    /
    
    
                       ~ S P L A S H ! ~
    
    
    

Lynne, I came here to get wet!

in 'real life' I cannot float on my back at all.  I sink.  I don't care
what anybody says, *I* cannot float on my back in fresh water or salt.

So one of the things I love about the Flotation Tank is that I can float
effortlessly, with eyes closed, and listen to the music of the breezes in the
leaves

>So one of the things I love about the Flotation Tank is that I can float
>effortlessly, with eyes closed, and listen to the music of the breezes in the
>leaves

Yup, only in the =wn= tank can you float on you back and still have your
ears out of the water!

D! who floats very well, due to large, built-in bouancy compensators, but
   whose ears are, of course, in the water

    
    
    
    AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......
                                                  .
                                                   .
                                                    .
                                                     .
                                                      .
                                                       .
                                                        .
                                                         .
                                                          .
                                                           blub,blub,blubbl
    
    
    Jamd

    Here duckie, duckie.....
    
    Ohh! Dan, thanks!  Look!  It's got stripes in 6 colors! Blue on the
    bottom, then violet, red, orange, yellow, and green on top.  I LIKE
    this duck.
    
      Margaret

    surely there are many of you who feel the need of the refreshment of a
    long, lazy, relaxing float in the soothing and bubbly waters of the
    floatation tank, as I do.
    
    over here, the water is fast, cold and invigorating, like below the
    waterfall at Rock River
    
    over here, it's warm and laps softly around your ankles, like the
    sea on a clear and calm full-moon night 
    
    over here, blub blub blub down to sleep among the pond weeds
    
    mmmmmmmm

    Thanks for the reminder, Sara!  Almost forgot about this place...
    
    Just the thing for a dank Fall evening.  I can just UNSTRESS here...
    
    S
     P
      L
       A
        S
         H
           plunk.  oooh.
    
    Hey, whatta cute duck!  Thanks for the paintjob, Margaret!
     
    Toss it to Sara, Margaret -- to the Moonlight, in Vermont...  quackblub

    I'm in a wonderfully silly and stupid mood today, and outrageously
    happy for no particular reason.
    
    And I feel like relaxing.
    
    So I'm going to stay in here until this evening (when I'm being treated
    to a pizza!).
    
    Make way, everyone (oh no! just forgot - no-one's in the way in here,
    are they!?), I'm about to glide through to the warmer stream!
    
    aaaaaaaaahh! That's *good*.
    
    Alice T.

    
    why look!  there's the magic verdant moss, beneath the aged willow
    trees (these are kind, wise, ancient willow trees....)....
    
    the wonder of this moss is that when you sleep on its soft, supportive
    green cushion, an hour of sleep rests you enough for 10 hours of sleep
    anywhere else.
    
    *sigh*
    
    -Jody
    

    oh!
    
    bliss!
    
    so *this* is what floating feels like! Maybe I'll pop in *every* day!
    
    Alice T.

    oooh, I *needed* this place...
    
    I'm floating away, pillowed blissfully with warmth and love...
    
    ooohhh

                P
    		L
                O
                P
                !
    
    Fizz, bubble, bubble, fizzzzzzz, fizzzzzzzzzzzzzz
    
    Ahhhh, so soothing, and they don't pollute the water! (-8
    

	my first time in here.......finally ought to be able to relax,
	I hope.....after more than 15 months, my father's estate is
	finally settled and I don't have to be on pins_and_needles
	anticipating more family garbage..........

	..........oooohhhhhh, this is ssssoooooottthhhhhinnnnngggg....

	maybe it'll even make my poor pulled muscle better........

	.................aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh


    

   It's been a horrendous week.  I really needed to come in here.


   ........ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    It seems to me that *everyone*'s had one of *those* weeks. I certainly
    have.
    
    This is heaven.
    
    Alice T.

I *love it* when there's a bunch of folks in here at the same time...

Happy Friday, folks!  To counter the general TGIF spirit, this is one 
puppy who's kind of sad to see Friday roll around...  My first week in a
truly nifty group.  Too much fun to have, too little time.  But enough of 
this real-world chatter.  This is, after all, The =WN= Flotation Tank!! 

But who can't use a good soak and ducky-catch while sitting, on hold, with a
phone receiver by their ear?  Certainly not me!

Soooo...  Last one inna pool izza rotten egg!  

(-: or sperm, as the case may be, don't wanna be X-Chromosomo-Chauvinist do we,
O no certainly not... :-)

PS Glad you like my name(s) too, Andrea...  :-)  :-) 

OOOOhhhhDeeeeStresssssssssPlop

    
    	Yo, Dan!!  Toss the duckie to me - I'm ready for some
    	Friday frolicking...!
    
    	It's so good to have you back in the tank (and in the
    	file!!)
    
    	Backstroke over this way...
    

>    	Yo, Dan!!  Toss the duckie to me - I'm ready for some
>    	Friday frolicking...!
>    
>    	It's so good to have you back in the tank (and in the
>    	file!!)

Huh?  I'm not in the tank and I hadn't left the file.

Dan

    
    	Yowsa - another Dan!  Our tank runneth over...!  :)
    
    	Got a duckie?
    

Another Dan?  Oh, no, not two of us!

Dan

    
    	< what was that funny-sounding splash?  sounded kinda like
    	"snarf-.x00!!!" >
    
    	Nice duckie, though.  :)
    

Did you say "Party"?  Now that you mention it, I think
I will join the rest of you!

: puts on the theme music from Jaws.

: swims around underwater...

Dan

                  ... or at least strap on a fin, hey?
    
                        Nice to see ya, friends all!
    
                           Me next fer de duck!

    Dan Deramo,
    
    Do you know what happens to people who 'play shark' in the pool?
    
    Bonnie

    
    But, Bonnie, if you're using your sten mother's voice, I think you
    should start out by saying "Daniel Vincent D'eramo...." :-)
    
    Cq

    Christine, I couldn't remember his middle name! ;-)
    
    Bonnie

    Oh! I need this *badly* right now.
    
    Someone find me a masseur for my aching shoulders. I know, I know, the
    water's supposed to do that job. Well it doesn't seem to be working.
    
    Maybe I should get out. My sour mood might just turn the water bad for
    everyone else.
    
    Alice the grump 8-(

    Actually, Alice, we have a licensed massage therapist in residence.
    [seriously].
    
    But until she re-surfaces, might I recommend sitting under the
    waterfall?  It's worked for me in the past.
    
    As for turning the water bad ... can't be done.  Bigger grumps than you
    have tried and failed, ;^)
    
      Annie

What Annie said in .308. 

Hey, if the SHARK that alleges hir's in here hasn't been able to cause any
grief -- and no reports have surfaced :-) to that effect -- how could a mere
Grump have any adverse effect on this Pool Party?  Not to worry...  

...relax...

Hie thee to the waterfall...   but don't hog the duckie while you're getting
your massage...  :-)

... enjoy ...

        The "V" is for "Victor".
        
        Dan

    
    Just goes to show, first hunches are usually right.
    
    Cq

    
    Well, Cq, it's not your foot, but it will do!  Hehehehe!!
    
    +++Splash+++   Ahhh, boy, that was a loooong ride home from the Cape!
    Maybe this will make up for the lack of sleep this weekend!!  
    
    Hey, I want a *new* toy for in here!!  E Grace and I saw the *cutest*
    motorized frog in P-town!!  ===I *want* one!!===  But I refuse to pay
    "tourist" price for anything!   In the meantime, we can enjoy it in
    here cause we don't have to pay retail for it!  Go on, froggy, swim
    around all the nice people in here....
    
    
    
    Debbi

    ... that was one of the "tag lines" on a childrens' program I used to
    watch on the first TV my folks ever owned in the '50s...  Thanks for
    the happy memory.  Partly as a result of that show, me & my own family
    are froggy collectors...  So in honor of Debbi's contribution of the
    motorized P-town froggy, I have rainbow-painted (-:thanx Margaret:-) up
    my own favorite spring-powered froggy and let him loose in the
    Flotation Tank.
    
    Aint it great how well they get along with each other...
    
    Aint it great how they only swim near folks who are in a playful mood
    and completely avoid those in the early stages of de-stressing...
    
    Aint it great how well they get along with the rubberducky...
    
    Aint it great how they keep WELL away from that there nut saying 
       DA        DA
    DA   DA    DA   DA
           DA          DA
                          with the shark-fin strapped to his back!!  :-)
                                                            

        The shark was just looking for .x99's to reply to. :-)
        
        Dan

    OK, Daniel Victor, a close reading of the Tank Transcripts shows you
    didn't EXPLICITLY bring up the Shark Concept until .302 (though you did
    vaguely foreshadow something like it in your P_N's for .298 and .300). 
    So your denial ("The shark was just looking for .x99's to reply to") is
    CLEARLY a fabrication, exposing you as a dishonorable person.
    
    I might add that the only predators that claim to be sharks and which
    are known to be capable of "lurking quietly...pounce!" are LAND sharks. 
    The waterborne ones aint got no feet, which are imho required for the
    act of pouncing.
    
    So OUTTA THE TANK, fink!!  Check your fin at the showers.  It was
    unlicensed anyhow.
    
    And no -- I don't want any candygrams -- aieee...
    
    ... and now back to our regularly scheduled flotation ...
    
    Hee Hee :-)                                              
    
    Dan

    Guess what!
    
    
    The waterfall's working fine!
    
    Alice T.

    
    
    	I think this is only the second time I've had to use this...
    
    	sigh............so much better.........
    
    	no re-orgs in here.....no new hires.....no meetings to set
    	up....no phones ringing.......
    
    
    	JJ
    

        re .315,
        
        Compare the timestamp on when the shark was first
        mentioned to the timestamp on 13.2000. :-)
        
        Dan

    Dan-
    
    "Jaws" was on last night....and all I could think
    of was it being in the FT! (-8

>    "Jaws" was on last night....and all I could think
>    of was it being in the FT! (-8

But of course the sharks in the field test, oops, flotation tank, :-)
are all tame and domesticated.

Dan

	Does your shark bite?
	No.
	<pets shark>
	<Chomp!>
	I thought you said your shark doesn't bite!
	That's not my shark.

 Peter Sellers just rolled over in his grave! :-)

    
    Hey, Dan glad you're here.  Actually, it's been a great summer for the
    duckies and we have a couple dozen rainbow duckies in the tank now. It
    absolutely quacks me up to see them paddling around.
    
    Madame, does your duck quack?
    No
    <quack>
    I thought you said your duck does not quack.
    Zat is not my duck.
    
         Zut alors!
    
      splish splash
    
           Margaret

    We need more toys in the FT.....Here you go!  SPLASH!
    
    A whole bunch of those floating blow up things that look
    like animals....there's an alligator, and a dolphin, and
    a killer whale you can ride on, and over there is a striped
    zebra....
    
                Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee
                             

    
    
    Just make sure my froggie doesn't get eaten!!
    
    Splash!   Ahh, just what I need before a visit to the dentist and the
    chiropractor this morning.
    
    
    Debbi

    Make way!
    
    I'm coming in!
    
    I'm in such a fabulous mood and this feels like the right place to
    share it.
    
    Alice T.

    did you all know that all decisions (and timetables for them) are held
    in abeyance while you are in the flotation tank?  mmmm... you can
    float, and not think about it, and time is suspended, and when you're
    fingertips look like raisins and you reluctantly climb out, somehow you
    find that you have reached the right decision.
    
    think I'll stay in a bit longer, blub blub blub
    
    (is this anything like the Holodeck? :-)

                   Splish splash, I was takin' a bath
    
                    On about a :-> Saturday nite!  <-:
    
                    Row ma boat, relaxin' as I float
    
                (-: Thinkin' ever'thang is alright... :-)

    I just read 1.44... looks like they're gonna kick us outta the
    tank on Monday so they can drain and clean it... pooh! 8-)
    
    Somebody toss me the duckie?
    
    --jim
    

    
    Someone better take in *all* the toys and stash them in a safe place!
    
    I hope it gets filled up by Monday night, I have a feeling I might need
    it!  :-)
    
    Debbi

    The floatation tank is full and awaiting your pleasure in V4 :-)
    
    (see note 1.44 if you are confused).
    
    Bonnie