Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

After GoGo van Gogh-Gogh's hooded visitor left the Ministry, GoGo sat head in hands at the table, moaning, altho he did take the time to finish his half-full/half-empty glass of Joy Juice. Madame P, who'd been in the kitchen and baking a fresh batch of Brownies (Troop 237 from Peoria, according to the badges on a sash one of the girls was wearing), poked her head out the kitchen door to ask what his problem was.

I'd been near the door and leaning on my mop, commiserating with GoGo, between passes over the dining room floor. I gave her a brief synopsis of what I'd heard.

With a sidelong glance at GoGo, she said to me, "Seriously? He has a talented son back in Rumania? And he's moaning?" She glanced at GoGo again. "Whatever for?"

"Well," I said, "He'll have to leave the Ministry and get a real job. Something that pays, so he can help support his son."

The Dark Lady frowned. "But he's Artist-in-Residence. The Martian does pay him."

"Yes, but not with money. With Joy Juice."

She said slowly, "But if he gives up drinking, that means..."

"Exactly. Either way, GoGo's ruined, his career over. Without Plutonium Joy Juice, he can't paint a lick."

(Download)

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Beautiful lady and beautiful work, Randy!

angler Loc: StHelens England

Gulp!!!!Poor GoGo perhaps he could get a job painting the white lines in the middle of the road Randy it doesn't pay well but at least he can keep his paint brushes in action and perhaps a bit of graffiti on the derelict buildings just to keep his hand in. That's a beautiful image of the Dark Lady Randy she seems to get more beautiful as time goes by.

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Thanks, nimbushopper. Glad you enjoyed the image and tale, pleased it brought a smile. Poor GoGo, lol. Thanks for all those thumbs and your visit, always very much appreciated!

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

What a beautiful image, outstanding work Randy, love the story.

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Thanks, Corky. I think GoGo has saved his best for last (if this one is to be his last, lol). But we here at the Ministry are all very fortunate to have such a pretty Dark Lady around, and even more so that she puts up with a certain astronaut/custodian like yours truly.

Glad you enjoyed GoGo's 'painting', and thanks as always for your very kind words and visit, they're most appreciated!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Thanks, Angler. GoGo certainly has done some sterling work over the years, with perhaps this image as one of his best. I'm pleased you enjoyed it. Madame P looks pretty darned good for 239 years old, and, as I often tell her, she doesn't look a day over 200. But whatever her years, it's hard not to stare at her.

GoGo can't draw a straight line with a ruler when he's sober, so I'm not sure painting white lines on highways would be such a good idea, lol. But he may be desperate enough to do just that. So if you start seeing wavy white lines on your roads, it could be that GoGo got the job.

Or it could be that last pint you had before closing time. ; )

Thanks for the very kind words and excellent suggestions for GoGo's future employment (lol), always much appreciated, and thanks for stopping by!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Thanks, Mike. One of GoGo's best, I should say, lol. It would be a shame for the Ministry to lose such a fine artist, so we'll have to hope that he can find another way out of the conundrum he's faced with.

Thanks for your very kind words and visit, always grateful for your time, and glad you enjoyed this episode.

Red Sky At Night

Enjoyed the story and the photo.

SpyderJan Loc: New Smyrna Beach. FL

Another beautiful shot of Madame P, Randy.

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

Randy. This sounds like quite a quandary for GoGo. He should jump into his Van and head off to the nearest store that sells his favourite elixir and engage in some heavy bulk buying, thus allowing him to take a step back from his questionable nefarious activities and engage in a financial endeavour to assist his son who claims to be hungry in Hungary.
To this end you could perhaps assist by establishing whom the distributor of this potion is and then the nearest distribution / sales point that stocks Joy Juice.
Prior to this it would be prudent to ask pertinent questions that need clarification. For example - Is the aforementioned distributor the 'Sole' distributor of J. J. Is a current patent held on J.J. If so, by whom. etc.

Next, perhaps Madam P could assist, although she seems to show some disdain towards GoGo. I suspect with her culinary skills she could perhaps, with some assistance from the Ministry, manage to replicate a potion very similar to the original J.J. At the same time a placebo could also be produced, this would be very useful in weaning GoGo off J.J. without him losing any of his talented skills.
I submit this to you for your careful consideration and predilection

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Thanks, Red Sky. Glad you enjoyed this episode from our continuing 'Tales of the Ridiculous.' Poor GoGo seems caught between a rock and a hard place. What to do? If he gives up his position at the Ministry of Mayhem to find more gainful employment ("Did you want fries with that?") he gives up his career as a world-famous artist, as Plutonium Joy Juice is nearly impossible to find on the open market (except in Peru, of course), never mind unaffordable. If he remains at the Ministry and has the Martian pay him in actual coin of the realm instead of Joy Juice, he also loses his ability to paint. This seems an insoluble problem. Maybe Madame P can help?

Thanks for the positive comments and your visit, they're very much appreciated!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Thanks, Jan. This one came out particularly well, one of GoGo's best. It would be a shame if GoGo has to gogo. I mean, go. The Ministry just wouldn't be the same without him, and the Dark Ladies do enjoy his work. We'll hope a solution can be found.

Thanks for your very kind words and visit, they're always much appreciated!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Thanks, Roger. I appreciate the consideration you've given the conundrum here. Before GoGo jumps into his Van and go-goes, it needs to be pointed out that Plutonium Joy Juice is a rare commodity. Far as I know, there's only one distiller and distributor, and that's the Martian himself. He does have a large Joy Juice Emporium down in the Fire Mountains of Peru, run by a former Mexican pharmaceutical executive, Hector. But that's too far to drive, even for a long weekend. And short of that, GoGo is stuck, as you won't find the Martian's Plutonium Joy Juice on the shelves anywhere. I know. I've looked. You can Google Plutonium Joy Juice, and you'll get some interesting hits. But no retail outlets.

Madame P might well take pity on GoGo, as she does admire his work (tho she says she could do without his making constant passes at her). We'll have to see how this evolves and whether a solution can be found.

Thanks for the laughs and your visit, I very much appreciate it!