The Bobo Affair (Chapter 3) "A Tank and a Tangent"

Now that the Bobo had been ordered, I set about finding complementary accoutrements. This resulted in ordering the drip tip in Chapter 1, but of course, I wanted more.

Thank God Sadly, the Smiley tank I had so deftly photoshopped onto a Bobo a few weeks earlier had been sold which left me in search of a suitable tank.



While perusing the glass tanks on the High Desert Vapes website I was suddenly visually assaulted confronted with this little treasure! I don't know how I could have missed it before! It's glass! It's about bowling! It's, it's, it's... $59.95 in case you're interested.


"This pyrex tank is unlike anything else we've seen on the market to date. It features a perfectly detailed bowling ball and pin on the outside and a beautiful color pattern on the inside. The pictures really don't do this any justice, once you hold it in your hands you will really appreciate the artistry and talent that went into creating this tank." mmmm-k.

Despite the obvious allure of a bowling theme, the colors simply would not do for the Bobo; still, it got me musing about how such a unique piece came to be created.

(Mr. H. Desert visits the artisan in his studio)

Mr. H: "Gee Bob, it looks like you screwed up another tank. What's the white thing?"

Bob: "It's a whale or a fish, like in the ocean. Do you have any Advil?"

Mr. H: "So the colored stripes are seaweed moving in the waves? What's the line across the middle?"

Bob: "It's sand, ya know, like on the bottom of the ocean."

Mr. H: "You missed the floor Bob. What's the black thing?"

Bob: "It's a clam...or a mussel...I don't remember."

Mr. H: "Bob, how many times do I have to tell you? Blowing glass and tequila don't mix!"

Bob: "Yeah, yeah, I know...I'm getting better...this is the last time, I swea..."

Mr. H: "Save it Bob. I need to sell this hideous thing. Is there anything else you can turn it into?"

Bob: "Ummm, the white thing could be like a seal, and uh, the clam could be a ball.

Mr. H: "Seals aren't white Bob. And balls float. There wouldn't be a ball on the bottom of the ocean even if there were white seals."

Bob: "A snowman? Yeah! A snowman with a lump of coal!"

Mr. H: "It's summer Bob. You make the snowman tanks for Christmas. And we still haven't sold the one you had to remake into an ice cream cone."

Bob: "A mermaid?"

Mr. H: "It would look like a dead bloated mermaid. Let go of the ocean theme Bob. Maybe we should focus on the round thing."

Bob: "The clam..."

Mr. H: "It's not a clam anymore Bob."

Bob: "It could still be a ball..."

Mr. H: "Balls float Bob."

Bob: "Not all balls. Bowling balls don't float and they'd sink in the ocean too if someone threw em in!"

Mr. H: "I supposed the white thing could be a bowling pin..."

Bob: "That got thrown in the ocean! Yeah!"

Mr. H; "Dear God..."

Bob: "But yeah, cool! Phiniac doesn't have a bowling ball tank! I'll bet lots of vapers bowl!"

Mr. H: "In the ocean..."

Bob: "Huh?"

Mr. H: "Never mind."

Bob: "Yeah! Bowling! Bowling!"

Mr. H: "Is there any tequila left?"


Poor Bob, I hope things work out for him. Perhaps some day he will get over being fired by Phiniac.

Phiniac "Scratch & Dent" page - $41.25



Just so you know, the Ice Cream Cone tank is still for sale at High Desert Vapes - $39.99