Modern Vespa

Something else to go wrong then

Hodna's new GB350S I predict will sell well because it's like me, simple.

Hodna's new GB350S I predict will sell well because it's like me, simple.

Escaped. Not huge on this city either but it's a shitload cleaner.

Please clue me in, I don't recognize it.

Escaped. Not huge on this city either but it's a shitload cleaner.

HAH! A friend of mine had a Geo Storm. We called it the "Geo Partly Cloudy".

Good times, man. Good times.

And I'd pay to read that book.

I might have to use the tools at my disposal and start writing it.

In a quiet town where the neon lights of the local convenience store were the only beacon in the night, there lived a man named Harold. His days were as monotonous as the ticking of a clock, but his nights... those were a different story. Harold Flackslasher had a peculiar hobby, one that kept the townsfolk guessing. He was often seen tinkering in his garage, surrounded by the scent of engine oil and the whir of power tools. His hands, calloused from years of manual labor, moved with an uncanny grace as he worked on his prized possession: a cherry red Geo Storm.

This wasn't just any Geo Storm. Oh no, this was a car that had seen the underbelly of the world and had the scars to prove it. The once gleaming paint job now had a few dents and a few coats of makeshift armor, courtesy of his trusty friend and partner, Harold McCrackcheek. Together, they had turned this run-of-the-mill vehicle into a vampire-slaying machine. The car's engine had been modified to run on solar power, which was quite a feat for a car from the early '90s. The headlights were swapped out with UV beams that could fry a vampire's retina from fifty feet away, and the trunk was filled with an arsenal of stakes and holy water.

The duo had stumbled upon their vampiric adversaries quite by accident. It started with a rumor of a creature lurking in the nearby woods, a creature that preyed on the townsfolk's livestock. As they patrolled the deserted backroads one moonlit night, they saw a pair of glowing eyes in the rearview mirror, quickly closing in on them. That's when they realized their town had a much bigger problem than they had initially thought. The vampires had infiltrated, and they were growing bolder by the day.

Since that fateful night, the two Harolds had taken it upon themselves to rid their town of the undead plague. They'd become something of a local legend, a pair of mysterious heroes who struck fear into the hearts of the bloodsuckers. Word spread quickly among the vampire community that this was not a place to feed easily. Some nights, they'd return home with tales of daring escapades and close calls, other nights, they'd sit in silence, contemplating their grim mission.

Tonight, they had a lead on a vampire lair, a rumored hideout deep within the forest. The air was thick with tension as they revved up the engine and peeled out of their driveway, leaving behind the safety of the streetlights. The Geo Storm sliced through the darkness, the UV lights casting eerie shadows on the trees as they approached the woodland. The night was alive with the sound of crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl, a stark contrast to the metal beast that prowled the asphalt.

As they ventured further into the woods, the GPS beeped with the insistence of a heart monitor, guiding them closer to their destination. The forest grew denser, the trees leaning in as if to keep their secrets hidden from the intruders. The silence was suddenly broken by the distant sound of a howl, sending a shiver down their spines. It was time to hunt.

They pulled over at the edge of a clearing, the headlights illuminating a dilapidated mansion that stood tall and ominous. The vampires had chosen well; the old building had long been abandoned, forgotten by the town that once knew it as a place of joy and celebration. Now, it was a tomb for the damned.

The two Harolds exchanged a nod, a silent pact to face whatever horrors lay within. They armed themselves with crossbows loaded with UV-tipped arrows and stakes coated in garlic paste, feeling the weight of their responsibility to their community. The trunk of the Geo Storm popped open with a hiss, revealing an array of weapons that gleamed under the moon's pale light.

They approached the mansion, each step echoing through the stillness of the night. The air grew colder, heavier with the scent of decay. As they reached the crumbling steps, the door swung open with a groan, as if the house itself was inviting them in. The Harolds shared a look that was equal parts determination and dread. They knew the night would be long and fraught with danger, but they had a job to do.

Inside, the mansion was a maze of dusty corridors and cobweb-covered chandeliers. The only sounds were their footsteps and the occasional drip of water from a leaky ceiling. They moved with purpose, their eyes peeled for any sign of movement. The walls held portraits of families long gone, their eyes following the duo as if they were the ones being hunted. The tension grew palpable, thick enough to slice with a knife.

It wasn't long before they stumbled upon the first vampire, a young one, caught off guard by their unexpected intrusion. It hissed and snarled, revealing a mouthful of jagged fangs. Harold Flackslasher took aim with his crossbow, his hands steady as a statue. The bolt shot through the air, hitting its target with a thud. The creature writhed on the ground, dissolving into a pile of dust under the harsh light of their flashlights. The sound of its demise was met with grim satisfaction.

This was only the beginning. The mansion was a labyrinth of death, filled with the undying who had turned the once-beautiful estate into a fortress of darkness. As they descended deeper into the bowels of the building, the whispers grew louder, the shadows more menacing. They were getting closer to the heart of the nest.

The stakes were high, but the two friends had faced worse. They had become a well-oiled machine, each knowing the other's movements by instinct. They had honed their skills over the months, turning a hobby into a calling. The vampires didn't stand a chance against the Harolds and their trusty Geo Storm.

With each kill, the whispers grew quieter, the shadows less intimidating. They could feel the vampire's fear spreading like a contagion. The game was on, and the Harolds were winning. They were the apex predators in this twisted ecosystem, and they were determined to restore order to their town.

As they approached the final chamber, they could hear the muffled sound of a struggle. Their hearts raced in anticipation. They knew that the leader of this vampire coven would be a formidable foe, one that would not go down without a fight. The door was ancient and heavy, but it didn't stand a chance against the adrenaline-fueled strength of their combined efforts.

They burst into the room, crossbows at the ready, only to find a sight that neither of them had ever anticipated. A human, chained to the wall, their eyes wide with terror, pleading for help. It was the mayor's daughter, who had gone missing a week ago. Her skin was pale, her veins dark with loss of blood.

The vampire master stood before them, tall and imposing, his eyes burning with rage at the interruption. He had the air of a king in his castle, surrounded by his loyal subjects, ready to protect him with their unlives. The room was bathed in a crimson light, the walls adorned with the trophies of his conquests. The Harolds knew that this was it: the moment that would define their legacy.

The vampires had chosen well; the old building had long been abandoned, forgotten by the town that once knew it as a place of joy and celebration. Now, it was a tomb for the damned.

Are you finding that there are bigger crowds and everything is more expensive in Italy with the Jubilee and/or am I doomed if I return in late August/September?
We're not planning on hitting the big Cities. Probably focusing on the Puglia region mostly. I'm dreading landing in Rome because of the crowds but I understand there are flights to Naples which might be a better option(?)

Yeah ... let AI be your friend here :



I haven't even read it all yet, but if the "Twilight" saga could make as much as it did, this is a good start.

I love the line :



That's gold, man.

Oh, and FTR, the last names came from an MST3K 'Manly Name Generator'. Some of you probably already guessed that.

We were sunny and +50º yesterday. We took Isabelle, our dog, for a walk.

Started to read that, but then realized I didn't want it to cloud the ideas that I already have bouncing around.

The stakes were high, but the two friends had faced worse. They had become a well-oiled machine, each knowing the other's movements by instinct. They had honed their skills over the months, turning a hobby into a calling. The vampires didn't stand a chance against the Harolds and their trusty Geo Storm.

Kind of bittersweet. Glad you could enjoy her presence. I've had those moments with several pets, enjoying them, through evanescent moments. Hope you can keep them going...

So, Nomad, tell me more about the Hodna 350.

Oh, don't worry about that ... this stuff is truly terrible.



That's bargain bin fodder for sure.

Ok, so I read the story, and you're right, it is pretty bad.

But I did get two ideas from it - UV lighting on the car, and integrating Holy Water sprayers - maybe redirecting the windshield washers & filling the reservior with Holy Water?

I know that whatever I end up generating for this story, it's going to be a long process. .

We had one of those moments last week. Our son's dog Bella took her last trip to the vet. She was over ten years old and had cancer etc. but she had a good life. The kids are broken up about it. On the good news side, we were blessed with a new granddaughter last week (other son's baby).

Ok, so I read the story, and you're right, it is pretty bad.

But I did get two ideas from it - UV lighting on the car, and integrating Holy Water sprayers - maybe redirecting the windshield washers & filling the reservior with Holy Water?

I know that whatever I end up generating for this story, it's going to be a long process. .

Haven't you ever seen Buffy, or Zombieland? The later had SuperSoakers full of HW. And Bill Murray, if that matters.

Haven't you ever seen Buffy, or Zombieland? The later had SuperSoakers full of HW. And Bill Murray, if that matters.

Then got lost in the bush