31.   The Breitling balloon is smaller.

32.   The British balloon was the first of three teams to start, with the other two planning to launch from Switzerland and Missouri.

33.   The balloon is a good friend, with a broad red cheek to hug and the good sense to wake Pascal with a firm bop when he oversleeps.

34.   The balloons were still rising as the ferry began a slow turn starboard, away from Ireland and toward France.

35.   The music is blaring, the balloons are afloat, the lights are bright.

36.   The microsurgical cutting comes moments before the balloon is inflated to expand the blood vessel and improve blood flow.

37.   The runaway balloon is different, and I think the entire world should be looking up as this story unfolds, instead of looking down at those others.

38.   The Virgin balloon is large enough to carry a large, pressurized crew capsule, in which three men can travel fairly comfortably.

39.   The three balloons are very different from one another, though.

40.   Then there are balloons emblazoned with the likeness of Barney, the TV dinosaur.