Important Notice: The deadline for writing entries to the Thursday Doors Writing Challenge has been extended to run concurrent with this week’s doors challenge. The deadline for both is now noon on Saturday, June 3rd.

Last week, I attended a retirement lunch for a woman who worked for me before I retired. The lunch was catered in the office where we both used to work. On my way there, just like I did every morning when I was working, I stopped at Great River Park. Normally, my visit to the park consists of watching a few ducks, maybe some fishermen, but last week was different.

Two men pulled up to the boat ramp dragging a good sized boat. As they were backing it into the water, a park ranger drove over, stepped out of his quad and walked over to the men. From what I overheard, the men with the boat didn’t have a registration for it. I didn’t hear all the details, but it sounded like a whole lot of “the check is in the mail” and like that.

The bottom line was offered by the ranger.

No papers, no going into the water

“If you get in any trouble on this river, their gonna ask where you put it, and it ain’t gonna be from my dock.”

This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner, and would like to join in on the fun, you can follow this link to participate and to see the one-liners from the other participants.

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

55 responses to “But, but, but…#1linerweds”

  1. That was an interesting scene to whittness did the ranger win? Lovely photos as always 💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes – the two men with the boat pulled away after some inappropriate language. It turns out, I was parked next to the ranger’s truck. I talked with him for a while. A very nice man with a desire to keep his park in perfect form.

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      1. And good for him otherwise things get spoilt and there’s enough ugliness without giving it a helping hand 💜

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  2. There are always those who think they are the exception to the rules. Cats know about this; you can tell by the looks on their faces they do not tolerate exceptions to THEIR rules.

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    1. I spoke with the ranger later. He said that he can get in trouble for letting them launch the boat without it being registered. It’s not that expensive-all the paperwork they were missing and the launch fee would have been under $100. Cats do have and enforce their rules. We’ve been subject to cat rules for almost 40 years.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. It’s no wonder all the neighborhood cats watch your yard. Squirrels and bunnies galore. It’s feline tv!

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    1. The baby bunnies are the best show, according to MiMi who was in the window over my desk this morning. It’s like a new season of a prime time favorite.

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  4. Applause to your Park Ranger. I’ve never understood why so many people using and enjoying boats aren’t much into boating rules and regs. The boating accidents and deaths abound up here on our lakes. You should submit your property to the National Wildlife Federation and post a sign because you take excellent care of your outdoor pets. :-)

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    1. I was impressed with the ranger. He remained calm and professional throughout the exchange. The would-be boaters were claiming the Coast Guard had given them permission to be on the river. The ranger simply pointed out that, “The Coast Guard doesn’t own this dock.” They moved on. There are other docks, but none within an easy drive with the kind of parking that aren’t similarly patrolled.

      Lately, we are being called upon to clean the bird baths, multiple times during the day. These guys are getting picky.

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      1. They were lying about the Coast Guard to the ranger?! Oh, boy. These guys were really dumber than dirt. The CG probably meant another dock…without a ranger watching. 🙄

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        1. Never a good idea to lie to the ranger.

          Liked by 2 people

  5. Murphy’s Law Avatar
    Murphy’s Law

    Hooray for the Ranger for taking his job seriously. There’s just too many people who think the rules only apply to other people!

    Together those two cats could have their own reality show! And now all the squirrels are comedians!

    We have a bunny who sits with the birds, one squirrel and one chipmunk eating birdseed! Now there’s a blended family!

    Good to see MiMi keeping tabs on Smokey.

    Beautiful picture of Old Glory honoring all those who died honoring her.
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I was glad to see the ranger in action. Registration carries a very modest fee, especially compared to the cost of fuel. He remained professional throughout the exchange. They left without getting the boat wet.

      Those two cats make a good pair. I think the woman has several more inside, but these two are often standing guard. One with a nice, “Good morning” and one with “Get off my lawn.”

      I like it when we see a crowd in the yard “foraging” for birdseed. Lately, there’s been a line at the birdbath. We get yelled at when it needs to be cleaned/filled.

      It was good to see the flag lowered in honor of the men and women who died to keep her flying.

      I hope you’re having a good week, Ginger.

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  6. No papers, no water – I agree!
    It’s fun looking at your nature pictures and reading the captions!
    (Good work, Owl).

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha – thanks GP.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. LOL! I get it as it would come back to him if they put in on his watch without papers and did get in trouble out on the river.

    The critters are so cute especially the one hiding behind a sprig of grass, and the one peeking out from the tree.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yeah, I talked to the ranger afterward and he said he would get in trouble, for sure. The fee is not very much, and I think you can do it at the DMV website.

      I did cut the grass yesterday so these guys can move around and find the peanuts and bird seed easier. They’re all pretty cute (and they work that).

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    2. Thanks for explaining the ‘sprig of grass’ in front of that other cat, Debra. I was going to ask Dan what was wrong with that poor kitty’s face!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I had to look at it a couple of times to figure out what was on its face myself! 😀

        Liked by 2 people

      2. That poor kitty hates me!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Of course he does! Look at the crummy photo you took of him! 😹

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Ha ha – I guess it’s my fault for not waiting for him to smile.

            Liked by 2 people

  8. The boat launch “incident” reminded me so much of my son-in-law. He’s a park ranger in San Diego with a whole handbook of those rangerly one-liners.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. He must shake his head often, Liz. It’s such a simple thing in CT to register a boat, and it’s not that expensive. I was parked next to the ranger’s truck, so I got to talk to him for a while afterward. The park is beautiful, and he’s dedicated to keeping it that way.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, he does–but he loves his job.

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  9. Great one-liner and story, Dan. And your photos are beautiful–especially the one of the Blue Jay. Since we’ve moved to Arizona, I’ve not seen any, and I miss them.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Gwen. There are days I’d gladly box up a few dozen blue jays and ship them to you. They are beautiful, but they steal the peanuts we put out for the squirrels. The squirrels have poor vision, but the blue jays have amazing vision. I’ve tossed a peanut to a squirrel, and before he can find it, a blue jay swoops in and takes it.

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  10. Goodness, I realized I am a bit chatty today, aren’t it? 😆 Anyway–good for that ranger. We have so many boat launches here I don’t know how the rangers keep up. And they finally completed our new bridge and roundabout (in Jersey, we just called it a circle 🙄) so the Coast Guard station is gone. I don’t know where they relocated, but they are still here…watching.
    Cutest animal photos and captions! I love all the kitties but the ‘other’ one warms my heart. The one with something ‘weird’ on his face. 😂 I’m so glad Debra explained that!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That cat hates me, Lois, and she hated Maddie (that feeling was mutual). The term I remember from New Jersey is “Jug Handle” – the first time I went to NJ was for a job interview in Piscataway. I drove by the building and then passed three intersections trying to make a left turn from the left lane. I finally drove over the median and made a U-turn.

      I had never seen the ranger in action before. This was funny. I think these guys thought they could talk their way around the regulations, but it was a no-go. I talked to him later. He said he can get in trouble if he lets unregistered boats in.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Jug-handle turns!! Yes! I forgot all about that–thanks so much for reminding me. Oh, I’ve been down here way too long. And you drove over the median?! 🤣 This was an extra good post today, Dan.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. It was a rental car and I was about to be late for my interview. The signs all said “No Left Turn – Use Jug Handle” I had no idea what tat meant. That’s how I remember New Jersey. A state where they don’t trust you to pump your own guess or make a left turn.

          This was a busy post for you.

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  11. The photo of the Bluejay is stunning, Dan. And at least you had some entertainment on your morning stop. :)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Jan. They are very pretty birds. The exchange between those guys and the ranger was funny. He was totally professional, which is so disarming to angry people.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. That is a good motivation for the ranger to do his job. Beautiful blue bird in the photo!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s so easy to comply with the law, Frank. I can understand the ranger not wanting to get into trouble.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. I love it when the folks who feel they are privileged get put in their place. Thaks for sharing. I enjoyed the photos today, Dan. That bunny is the cutest.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have to admit, it was satisfying, John. It’s easy and inexpensive to register a boat here. I’m glad to see the laws being enforced. The baby bunnies are so darn cute.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. That picture of the Bluejay is so crisp and so clear, it’s exquisite!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Pam. They are pretty birds.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. I think this is lot more serious than you assumed. I think it could have been a major catastrophe and a breach of National Security. Apparently a major terrorist group got hold of some advanced scientific technology. Those people were plotting to teleport the entire river to another location, and that’s why the ranger said that if they did it then “Their gonna ask where you put the river.”

    “… on this river, their gonna ask where you put it”

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  16. I wonder where they went instead… Maybe just for beer.
    It was lovely to see MiMi. Have a great rest of the week, Dan. Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My guess is they tried (and likely failed) at the boat ramp in Hartford. There’s a ranger on duty there, too.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. The word has gotten out about you and your peanuts!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah, they all know.

      Like

  18. Well done on the prompt, Dan. Lovely photo gallery with so many animals.

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  19. Why would you have a boat and not register it? Maybe I watch too many law enforcement shows, but “the check is in the mail” seems a little shady to me…lol. Glad the ranger is keeping everyone in line.

    Hope you are having a good week, Dan. I had hoped to get in one more door challenge post, but not sure that is going to happen. Way too busy these days!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I guess the guy thought he could talk his way out of it, but he went home without any fish. The ranger was 100% professional, but he sent them on their way.

      You’re getting ready far an adventure, right?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, biking adventure on the Little Miami Trail in Ohio. And whatever microbreweries or trouble we can find. We leave early morning next week Friday.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. I know you cannot walk out of the house empty-handed with your peanut-eating friends. At the Park today, the mowers have not been around and the grass has gone to seed. Even standing up, I could only see the tops of the squirrels’ heads. :)

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    1. They are always on the lookout for us.

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      1. I got one now, a nursing Mama and I open the door and she magically appears. I think she watches from her tree across the street.

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  21. Ain’t no rebel like a water rebel!

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  22. Well , rules is rules .

    Liked by 1 person

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