Fear the Crab

I had to deliver some foodstuffs to an exhibition. I was told that I would be delivering some gourmet coffee and some biscotti. The vehicle used to deliver these goods was a cross between a tricycle and a segway. Maile accompanied me on my journey, standing behind me like kids would stand on a trike’s rear axle.

The trip was mostly uneventful until near the end. We were taking back roads because we couldn’t bring this weird contraption onto the highway, and we found ourselves on a dirt road near farmland. In a case of self-fulfilling prophecy, I was in the midst of conversation with Maile and discussing how the vehicle we were in was efficient, but if I took a turn too fast it could tip over. Lo and behold, I take a turn, one of the wheels hits a rock, and we tip over.

At this time I became aware that in addition to Maile, we had a little midget along for the ride. The three of us gathered up the container of coffee and biscotti and went into a general store to check if anything was damaged.

It was the strangest coffee I had ever since. The grounds were white or cream-colored, and had the consistency of flour (maybe it was flour). The biscotti looked like dried, fried pasta. Except everything really was coffee and biscotti.

Things looked okay, so we repackaged everything and prepared to head out. I then noticed Janet KS in the store, buying an unknown item. She saw me, said hi, and then saw Maile and said hi. Then, “Oh, you two know each other?”

Strange.

I have the Wood o’ Death in my aquarium. This morning I woke up and was about to feed the fishies when I espied one of the peppered cories head-first in a little pocket in the driftwood. The color was really faded and he (I say he because he was always smaller, and the males tend to be smaller) was missing some fins. Sure-tale signs of expiration, methinks.

He wasn’t stuck because it was quite easy to get him out. I think he died and ended up in the driftwood. Still, death persists in the shivering tank of watery doom. Maybe I’m just not cut out to keep fish.

If I lose anymore I’m probably going to give away the peppered and agazzis and keep the two sterbai. Those two are quite happy-go-lucky and despite me having taken them in with little finnage, have persisted nicely. Granted, I don’t know what will happen psychologically to them if the other cories suddenly disappear.

Argenta is big and fertile, as she keeps laying eggs. I think she’s also abusing herself against the filter, because she will swim up to the lip (where the filtered water comes in) then dart quickly away, gouging herself in the process. She does this rarely, like once a week when I’m there, so I don’t think it’s a skin condition.

Don’t know what else to say about it.