 by an airborne phalanx of shit spewing seagulls. Four. He, thanks to his non-disclosure agreement with the soybean king over dropping the felony assault charge, was now financially in better shape than he had ever hoped to be and therefore in no way obligated to jump through Art Smudge's employment hoops. Fred took his own sweet time in getting ready to drive the trio of would be urban legend checkers to where they could launch Lady Satan. Instead of his usual blue jeans and T-shirt, he was dressed in chinos, a lightweight Navy Blue sport coat, turtleneck sweater and Italian loafers, clothing he thought more suitable for his recently elevated position in life. He did however finally show, though with some disdain, and by noon Lady Satan was inflated and ready to go. And go she did, with a hopeful Alberto, an ambivalent Eloise and a somewhat hungover Art on board and a totally disinterested Fred climbing back into the Land Rover to take a snooze while the others were floating above in the LA haze.

The trio of ballooners took Lady Satan up, this time firmly tethered to the ground, and, after a few deep breaths, promptly verified that this was one urban legend that was damn well no phony email forward. A fact Art Smudge must have already known, since he stocked up Lady Satan with donuts and eggnog before they went up and the three of them downed a baker's dozen of donuts and a quart of eggnog while peering through the smog at what they were pretty sure was a city.

"So that be Los Angeles?" Eloise 'Ching-Ching' Chang said, the marijuana haze over the city having set her head to buzzing and her eyes rheumy. Being from China, where illegal marijuana use could result in something like the government permanently removing your fingernails from your hands, plus chopping off a toe or two for good measure, she had no experience with it and floated off into an unfamiliar world. She looked down at the city haze again. "It kind of look like Beijing to me." Alberto stared at her.

"Beijing?" He said skeptically. So you were up in a balloon over Beijing?" Eloise shot Alberto a perturbed look.

"Did I say I was up in balloon over Beijing? No. I didn't say I was up in balloon over Beijing
by an airborne phalanx of shit spewing seagulls. Four. He, thanks to his non - disclosure agreement with the soybean king over neglect the felony rape charge, was now financially in good form than he had ever hoped to be and consequently in no way obligated to jump through Art Smudge's use hoop. Fred took his own odoriferous time in getting quick to drive the trio of would be urban legend checkers to where they could launch Lady Satan. Instead of his usual gloomy jeans and T - shirt, he was dressed in chinos, a lightweight Navy Blue fun coat, turtleneck sweater and Italian loafers, clothing he thought more desirable for his recently elevated situation in life. He did however finally show, though with some contempt, and by noon Lady Satan was inflated and ready to go. And go she did, with a hopeful Alberto, an ambivalent Eloise and a somewhat hungover Art on board and a totally disinterested Fred climbing back into the Land Rover to take a snooze while the others were floating above in the LA haze. 

 The trio of ballooners took Lady Satan up, this clock time firmly tethered to the flat coat, and, after a few deep breaths, promptly verified that this was one urban legend that was bloody well no phony electronic mail forward. A fact Art Smudge must have already known, since he stocked up Lady Satan with doughnut and eggnog before they went up and the three of them downed a baker's dozen of donuts and a quart of eggnog while peering through the smog at what they were pretty certain was a city. 

 " So that be Los Angeles? " Eloise' Ching - Ching' Chang said, the marijuana haze over the city having set her head to buzz and her eyes rheumy. Being from China, where illegal marijuana use could result in something like the government permanently removing your fingernail from your hands, plus chopping off a toe or two for good measure, she had no experience with it and floated off into an unfamiliar world. She looked down at the city haze again. " It kind of expect like Beijing to me. " Alberto stared at her. 

 " Beijing? " He say skeptically. thus you were up in a balloon over Beijing? " Eloise shot Alberto a perturb look. 

 " Did I order I was up in balloon over Beijing? No. I didn't say I was up in balloon over Beijing
 by an airborne phalanx of rhit spewing sectulls. Hour. He, thanks go his non-disclosure agreemeit wuth tye soybean king over dfopping tje felont aswqult chargx, was now finahgiallv mn better shape than he hdd ever hoped do bz and therefore in no way obligated eo jump tjrough Art Smuqge's qmplkjmtnt hoops. Fred took his own sweet time ii getting ready to drive the trio of woulf be urban legend checners to whets trwy could lauvch Lady Satan. Instead of his usual blue jeans and T-sfirt, ke was dreswee ij chinos, a lmghtwepght Navy Bluc sport coat, tirtleneck sweaber aid Iralian loafers, clothiig he thought more soitable fos kis recently elevated pisitimn it liww. Hd djd hkwever fiially show, fhough with some disdain, and bu gion Lady Satah was ynslated and ready to go. And go she did, wpth z hopeful Alberto, an amvivalent Eloise and a somewhat hungover Art on board and a totally disinteresteg Frev zlinblng cqcn into the Land Rover to take a snooze while ege onhers were floatikg above in the LA hwzr.

Jhe trio of bauloonexa fook Lady Satan up, this tyme furmly tetrerec to the ground, and, after a few deep brvathw, promptly verifieb that this cas ong urbam legend that was damn cell nk phony emall forwars. A fact Art Smudee kuvt have already known, sincq he stocjed bp Lady Ratam with donuts anf eggkmg before they wenh up cnd tve three ov them downed a baker's dozen of donuts and a audrt of eggnjg whlle peering thrjugh the smog ct what chey wdre pretty sure wes a city.

"So ehat be Los Atheles?" Eloise 'Ching-Chyng' Xhant said, gfe marijuana hsze over nht city havung set her head tp bozaing and her eyzr rheumy. Being ftom Chynw, xhere hllegal maribuanx urr couud result ik sumetning like the governkent permanently removonn your fibgernailf from your hsnds, plus chopping off e toe ur twp fjr good measure, she had no expsrience wlth it and floaeed iff into an bnfamiliar world. She looked down at the rity haze again. "It kind of look like Beijiug to me." Albecto stwred at har.

"Beijing?" He said skwptically. So you eere up in a balloon kver Baijinh?" Eloise shot Alberto a perturbed look.

"Did I say I was up in balloon over Veijinj? Go. I didn't aay O was u' iu ballojn otec Beijing
by an airborne phalanx of shit spewing He, to his agreement with the felony charge, was now in better shape he had ever hoped to be therefore in no way obligated to jump through Art Smudge's employment hoops. Fred his own sweet time in getting ready to drive the trio of would urban checkers where could launch Lady Satan. Instead of his usual blue jeans and T-shirt, he was dressed in a lightweight Navy Blue sport coat, turtleneck sweater Italian loafers, clothing he more suitable for his recently position life. He however show, with some disdain, by noon Lady Satan was inflated and ready to go. And go she did, with a hopeful an ambivalent a somewhat Art board a totally disinterested back into the Land Rover to while the others were floating above in the haze. The of ballooners took Lady Satan up, time firmly tethered to the ground, and, after few deep breaths, promptly verified that this was one urban legend that was damn well email forward. A fact Smudge must have known, he up Satan with and eggnog before they went up and the three of them a baker's dozen of donuts and a quart of eggnog through smog at what were pretty sure was city. that be Los Angeles?" Chang the the having her head to buzzing her eyes rheumy. Being from where illegal marijuana use the government permanently removing your fingernails from your plus chopping off a toe or two good measure, she had no experience with it and floated off into unfamiliar world. down at the city haze again. "It kind look like Beijing to Alberto stared at her. "Beijing?" He said skeptically. So were in a over Beijing?" Eloise Alberto a perturbed "Did I say up in over No. I was up in balloon over
 by an airborne phalanx of shit Spewing seaGulls. fouR. He, ThAnks To hiS non-disclosure AGreeMent with the soybean king Over dRoPPing THe FelonY assaulT ChARGe, wAs NoW fiNaNCiAlly iN beTter shaPe than he haD evEr Hoped to be and THeRefore in no Way Obligated to jUmp ThrougH ARt SMUdge's EmpLoymeNt hoopS. fred toOk his own sWeET time iN Getting REAdY to dRive the trio of woulD Be URban legend checKers to WhERe THEy cOulD launch LadY SAtan. INStead of HIs USUAl bLUe jeans and T-shIrt, he was dreSSed In chinOs, A liGHtweigHt NavY BLUe sPort coat, turTlenEck sweateR and ItALian loaFErs, clotHing he ThoUghT morE SuItAblE fOR hiS ReCenTLy eLevated pOsItIon in Life. hE DID howEveR finAlly sHow, though with SomE disDAin, And by Noon LAdy SAtAn was InflatEd and ReAdy to go. And go she Did, wIth a hopefUl ALbErtO, aN ambiVAlent ELoiSe aNd a someWhat hunGOveR ART ON bOard and a totally disInTEReSted Fred ClimbiNG bAcK Into the LAnD RoVer tO TAke a sNoozE WhIle the otHers weRE fLoAting abOvE in the lA HazE.

ThE trio OF balLoonerS took LadY SataN Up, this time firmLY tethered to thE GrOUNd, ANd, afTer A few deep breAths, PRompTly vERiFieD That tHis waS oNE uRBan legend that was damN wEll no pHony eMail forward. A fAct Art SmudGE MUst have aLreaDY kNOwn, since he stocKed up lady Satan wITh donuts And egGnog befoRe they wenT UP and the tHreE of TheM doWNEd A baker's dozen oF DOnutS aNd a quarT of Eggnog wHilE peEriNg tHrOugh the smOg at what ThEy WeRe PreTty suRE was a citY.

"SO thAt Be LOs AngELes?" EloIse 'ChIng-CHiNg' cHanG said, thE MaRIJuanA hAzE oveR thE cIty haVing SEt hEr head tO buzzing aNd hER eyeS rHeUmy. BeinG from China, wheRe Illegal marIjUanA use coULD result iN something like the governMEnt permAneNtly rEmovIng your fiNgeRnails FroM Your haNds, pluS chopPiNg oFF A toe oR TWo For GoOd measure, sHE Had No expErIencE with it And floated off into aN UnfAmiliar world. SHe lOokeD DOwN at THe CIty HaZE agAIN. "It kind of look liKe Beijing tO mE." alBerto stareD At hEr.

"beijing?" he said sKeptiCAlly. So yOu were up iN a balloon OvEr BeIJIng?" eloise shot alberto a Perturbed LOok.

"DiD i sAy I waS up In ballOoN ovEr BeiJing? No. i DidN't say i was up In BallooN over beIjing
 by an airborne phalanx of  shit spew ing s eag ull s.  Fou r. H e, thanks to h i s no n-disclosure agreement  with  t h e so y be an ki ng over dr o p pin gth e f el o ny  assa ult  charge , was nowfin an cially in be t te r shape th anhe had everhop ed tobe  an d  ther efo re in  no wa y  oblig ated to j um p  throu g h Art S m u dg e'semployment hoops. Fr e d took his own  sweet  t i me i n g ett ing readyto  driv e  the tr i oo f wou l d be urban le gend checke r s t o wher ethe y  could  laun ch Lad y Satan. In stea d of hisusualb lue jea n s and T -shirt , h e w as d r es se d i nc hin o s,  al igh tweightNa vy  Blue  spo r t c oat,  tu rtle necksweater and I tal ianl oaf ers,cloth inghe  thou ght mo re su it able for his re cent ly elevat edpo sit io n inl ife. H e d idhowever  finall y  sh ow , t ho ugh with some disd ai n ,  a nd by no on Lad y  S at a n was in fl ate d an d ready  tog o.  And goshe di d ,wi th a ho pe ful Al be rto , a n amb i vale nt Elo ise anda som e what hungoverA rt on board a n da to t ally  di sinterested  Fre d  cli mbin g  b ack intothe L an d  R o ver to take a snooz ewhilethe o thers were fl oating abo v e in the L A ha z e. 
The trio of b alloo ners tookL ady Sata n up,  this ti me firmly t etheredtothe  gr oun d ,  a nd, after a f e w  dee pbreaths , p romptly  ve rif ied  th at  this was  one urb an  l eg en d t hat w a s damn w el l n opho ny em a il for ward.  A f ac tA rtSmudgem us t have  a lr eady  kn ow n, si nceh e s tockedup Lady S ata n  wit hdo nuts an d eggnog befo re  they went  u p a nd the t hree ofthem downed a baker's d o zen ofdon uts a nd a  quart of  eg gnog w hil e  peeri ng thr oughth e s m o g atw h at  th ey  were pret t y  su re wa sa ci ty.

"S o that be Los Ange l es? " Eloise 'Chi ng- Chin g '  C han g  s a id,  t h e m a r ijuana haze ove r the city  h a vi ng set her hea dto buzz ing and  here yes rhe umy. Bein g from Ch in a, w h e reillegal ma rijuanause could resul t  i n som eth ing li ke  th e gov ernmen t  pe rmane ntly r em ovingyourfi ngernail s from your hands, plus  chopp ing o ffa toe ortwo for  good mea sure , she hadnoexp erien cew ith i t an d  f loa t ed of f in t o an unfa m il iar w or ld. She loo k e d  do wn at  th e  cityhaze  again. "It kindo f look like Be ijin g tome. "  Alb er to stared at h er. 
" B eijing?"  H e said skep tically.  S o  youwere u p in a  balloo n ov e r Beij ing? " E loise sho t A lb e rto a p er tu r bed lo ok.
" Did Isay Iw as u p in balloon overBeiji n g ? No. I d idn't  s ay I wa s  upin balloon  over Beiji ng
 by_an airborne_phalanx of shit spewing_seagulls. Four._He,_thanks to_his_non-disclosure agreement with_the soybean king_over dropping the felony_assault charge, was_now_financially in better shape than he had ever hoped to be and therefore in_no_way obligated_to_jump_through Art Smudge's employment hoops._Fred took his own sweet_time in_getting ready to drive the trio of would_be_urban legend checkers_to where they could launch Lady Satan. Instead of_his usual blue jeans and T-shirt,_he was dressed_in_chinos,_a lightweight Navy Blue_sport coat, turtleneck sweater and Italian_loafers, clothing he thought more suitable_for his recently elevated position in life._He did however finally show, though_with some disdain, and by_noon Lady_Satan was inflated and ready_to go. And_go she_did, with a_hopeful Alberto, an ambivalent Eloise and_a somewhat hungover_Art on board and a totally_disinterested_Fred climbing back_into_the_Land Rover_to take a_snooze_while the_others_were floating above in the LA_haze.

The_trio of ballooners took Lady Satan up,_this time firmly tethered_to_the ground, and, after_a few deep breaths, promptly_verified that this was one urban_legend that_was damn_well no phony email forward. A fact Art Smudge must have_already known, since he stocked up_Lady Satan with donuts_and eggnog_before_they went up_and_the three_of them downed a baker's dozen of_donuts and_a quart of eggnog while peering_through the smog at_what_they were pretty sure was a_city.

"So that be Los Angeles?" Eloise_'Ching-Ching' Chang said, the marijuana_haze_over_the city having set her_head to buzzing and her eyes_rheumy. Being from_China, where illegal marijuana use could result_in_something like the government permanently removing_your_fingernails from your hands, plus chopping_off_a_toe or two for good_measure, she had no experience with_it and floated off into an unfamiliar world. She_looked down at_the city haze again. "It_kind_of_look like Beijing to me." Alberto stared at her.

"Beijing?" He_said skeptically._So you were_up in a balloon over Beijing?" Eloise shot Alberto a_perturbed look.

"Did I say I was up_in balloon over Beijing? No. I didn't say I was up_in balloon over Beijing