The issue of the blue-green algae came to mind a couple weeks ago when I decided to write about something serious. My first idea was to write about the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. I decided to go against it, mainly because "Condoleeza" is hard to spell.

In my investigations last week, I contacted two people, both of whom I deeply feel wield the same power and authority as the other. First, I e-mailed the president of the United States, and second, I called Neal Whitaker, a park ranger at the reservoir.

The final conclusion I came to last week was that the blue-green algae really wasn't doing anything, but it was doing it out of control, and would eventually kill us all with its toxins, which haven't seemed to actually harm us yet.

But I wanted to be sure, so I decided to actually go out to the reservoir, despite the very real risk I might actually get reimbursed for the gas I used, and find out just how bad the algae actually was.

Joining me on the investigation was Becky Steketee. I invited her along, because (1) she knew where she was going, and (2) she's been trying to get her name into my column for years.

On the way to the reservoir that morning, we had a normal teenage conversation. We talked about relationships, sneaking out, vehicle center of gravity-stuff that you would read about in any teen magazine.

However, once we got to the reservoir, it all turned to business.

We were reporters. And we were on a mission.

Our first stop was at an area called French Creek Cove. I remembered the area from the Driver's Ed class I took my freshmen year. French Creek was where I made my first three-point turn.

But I couldn't reminisce long, because we were greeted at French Creek by a small group of geese who definitely were not morning people. Becky and I kept our distance.

I asked Becky how the algae had affected her in the past.

"If you swim in it, the lining of your swimming suit is really blue and nasty," she said.

We walked down to a floating dock to more closely inspect the water for the algae. Sitting nearby was a water snake, who, like the geese, did not look like a fun person to be around in the morning.

"I saw something floating on top," Becky said a few minutes later. "But it could have been a dead animal."

Moving on, we decided to go to Hillsboro Cove, a nice beach made up of two parts sand and three parts cigarette butts. My reporter's intuition kicked in when I saw a sign that said: "An algae bloom has made this area potentially unsafe for water contact. Avoid direct contact with visible surface scum."

My first reaction was that the park rangers were being very insensitive to the algae's feelings by calling it "scum." But the feeling of empathy was greatly overcome by the fact that there had to be a reason for the sign.

We walked down to the water's edge.

"Algae!" Becky yelled, trying to call the "scum."

The water seemed to be a murky turquoise to me, but Becky didn't seemed bothered by that fact and was content to look for the algae in other places. Who was I to spoil her fun?

After a while, Becky suggested we try one other place. She recommended we might have more luck finding the algae if we went to a place that wasn't swum in as often.

As we left Hillsboro Cove, we passed a woman sitting at one of the camping spots. Like all the other wildlife we'd seen that morning, Becky and I agreed she was not a morning person.

"I should have interviewed her about the algae!" I said.

"Let's not and say we didn't," Becky replied.

Where we ended up had no name. It was a secluded little area surrounded by trees. The only sign marking the area said, "Road ends in water." If we were going to find the blue-green algae, THIS was where it would be hiding.

We got out of the car, and went down to the edge of the water. Nothing.

"I think we struck out," I said.

"I think it all flew away," Becky replied.

Although we didn't find anything, this did confirm my original theory. It also added a new twist.

Apparently I was correct in thinking that the algae really wasn't harming anything, but was doing it at an uncontrolled rate. Not only was it doing that, but while we weren't watching it do it, we lost it!

Can you believe it? We turn our backs for one stinking second, and we lose the algae. Becky and I looked very hard, and I'm pretty sure it left.

That's why I'm proposing a county-wide action to search for it. As long as we're going to make a big deal out of the blue-green algae blooms, we may as well HAVE it. Once we've found it, we can continue treating it.

Treating it for what? I don't know. From what I could tell, the algae wasn't really committing any acts against us.

But I can tell you this: We'd better find the algae soon. Because I'm starting to miss it.

* * *

UFO: Forty-one countries have at least one star on their flag.

Don't ask why.