Hey Rumps! Back home. Back to reality.
I am already missing the upper-70s, but I will take 20 degrees over the -40 degrees I missed while on the islands. And it’s supposed to creep into the low-40’s later this week. One step closer to spring! 😊
Spent the morning digging through two weeks of emails and MS teams messages. Throwing a pot of coffee on for anyone who needs a mid-day pickup.
Quote by techgoddess
Sick as a dog most of the day, but I sucked it up and helped Kevin put our new bed together.
Anyway, I'm off to bed. Hoping to wake up feeling better.
Feel better, Kat!
Quote by KimmiBeGood
Aww, whale watching is on my bucket list. If you get a pic, please send it to me.
Here you go, Kimmi.
Quote by JamesLlewellyn
Congratulations, David! I plan on getting to that, but I'm a tad tied up at the moment…
Tied up, huh. If wasn’t on vacation, I’d be throwing “polar bear” and “shibari” into my favorite AI image generator. 😂
Last full day on the island. Always bittersweet. Heading out to do some whale watching. Grabbing some coffee to go.
Have a great day, everyone!
Quote by Mandapanda2025
All Things Must Die - Casey Lee Williams
I Would Die 4 U - Prince
Quote by S7williams
Would never want to get between a Resident Gorilla and it’s Banana!!
You apparently have not heard about Storage Room #4. That is where you would find Ape and his “banana” 🤣
Aloha, Rumps. Four more days in paradise before I head back to reality. Granted, looks like the warmth may follow me back to the midwest! The long term forecast show temps in the mid-to-upper 30’s next week! Fingers crossed for an early spring this year!
Welcome to Rumps, S7! And great choice in whiskey. I have a bottle of the 10 and the 12 have home. I’ve tried the 15. Have yet to get my hands on anything older. Stagg Jr. is my go-to, when I can find it.
Statistically, the stories I’ve written that have deeper backstories are less popular than those that do not. All have fewer likes, favorites, and comments. Granted, it could just be a coincidence.
Personally, when I am reading a story, I like to know the “why”. That being said, if there is too much of a backstory, I sometimes find myself jumping ahead. As a writer, I am still trying to find the right balance.
I have dropped teaser posts on the wall on my profile. Anyone who is a friend/follower will get notifications of new wall posts.
Quote by Mandapanda2025
I Still Believe (Great Design) - The Call
Still Feel Like a Kid - Dawes
Quote by techgoddess
IT’S GARAGE MOVE-IN DAY!
Yes, I am incredibly excited. So much so that all drinks are on me today (on my tab not on me.)
🎉🎉🎉😎🍺🥤🍷🍹🍸🍻☕💋🥰😻
I almost yelled “BODYSHOTS!” Almost. 🤣
Stay safe everyone!
Quote by Seeker4
Good afternoon. I am back. Maybe. Not that anyone probably noticed my absence. Just didn't feel a need to be here. Still not sure I do. We will see. Tea. Earl Grey. Black.
For what it’s worth, yes, I did notice you were MIA. Sorry things have been shitty at work. Hope things turn around or you are able to navigate a graceful exit.
Aloha Rumps! Another day in paradise.
It’s still early, but they are saying upper-70s. Sure beats the weather back in MN. When I checked last night, it “felt like” 43 below zero. For those doing the math, the is 120 degrees colder than Maui. Fuck.
Quote by techgoddess
Bearkeep, newbies to the bar can have their drinks on my tab. 🍻🍺🍷🍹🍸☕🥤😎
I will take a mimosa to celebrate the halfway point in my vacation. Thanks, Kat!
Quote by JamesLlewelly
Are you and Cog getting into ventures together?
I'd be careful about that. He's a nice boy and all, but…
Nice boy and all??? And a “but”??? 😂
Thank you for the detailed responses, techgoddess and GreyMatter. I know this is a challenging and sensitive topic.
I apologize for completely derailing this forum post.
Quote by techgoddess
Looky, looky! Our very own Kis has a story in the Classics section on the first page. It's a fabulous story and got a well-deserved Recommended Read! In case you missed it, here's the link: Kimberly Has A Ball
Congratulations, Kis!
Quote by GreyMatter
My advice to you - and everyone else - is to embrace being an amateur writer. We all started somewhere. Use your time here on Lush to develop your skills over time - you will get better, I promise. And you’ll get lots of help and feedback from the mods and the community along the way.
This is good feedback. But it is also something that I struggle with.
I go through my stories dozens of times, writing, rewriting, tweaking, and trying to make them as polished as possible. I want each one to be “perfect” before submitting it. That is just me and my OCD. Part of it is ego. At the same time, I acknowledge that I am also still figuring things out, so I when mods take the time to share feedback, I appreciate that.
Quote by GreyMatter
We’re not using Grammarly to scan for AI, we have other methods that I won’t discuss publicly - but we can tell who is using AI and to what degree (ie a fully written AI story or one that’s been AI written and heavily edited, ones that were written with AI assistance etc). Anyone who thinks they’re sneaking one past us because we’ve published their story is sadly mistaken.
I am curious… Why?
If you feel certain that some stories are AI written (or heavily AI assisted), why are mods letting them slide through? Why don’t you shut those stories down and/or ban those authors from the site?
Quote by JamesLlewellyn
Cog, are you swiping toys from Store #4 – again?
I thought we had this conversation: What happens in Store Room #4 STAYS in Store Room #4 – WITH ALL THE TOYS!
No, no, no. I didn’t touch anything in Store room #4. Everything on the island is brand new. Think of this as a 'taste of Store Room #4’ for those traveling. This is just a little something for any Rumps regulars who are looking for a little extra ‘aloha’ while spending time on the islands.
On that note, I will take a to-go cup of the Picasso Private Blend. I need to head downstairs and claim a chair by the pool.
Welcome to my first ‘Pimp my Profile” post!!
It’s been 75 days since I dropped chapter 1 of my first story on Lush.
Since then, I’ve published 11 stories. But there is something about your “First”.
Open Secrets is a five-part story. It is an intimate, psychologically driven exploration of desire, temptation, and the fragile boundaries that hold long-term relationships together. The story centers on a married man who believes his life is stable and predictable until an unexpected situation forces him to confront the parts of himself he has carefully kept hidden. What begins as a private indulgence spirals into a tense emotional and moral crossroads defined by loyalty, secrecy, and self-discovery.
Chapter 1 may feel familiar, echoing a cliché setup. That is by design. Keep reading, and the story deepens quickly, trading surface-level intrigue for escalating tension, emotional complexity, and characters who begin making choices that are anything but safe. If you are willing to move beyond the opening chapter you will find a narrative that grows sharper, riskier, and far more compelling with every chapter.
If you have not read the series, please check it out! And please share feedback in the comments.
Caught in the act by his wife’s best friend, an awkward moment quickly escalates into something reckless.
Cheating
I was going to take a break from writing while on vacation. Of course, one day into my trip, an idea hit me.
I am trying to move away from “just smut” and push myself as an author. I feel like I am getting there.
Now I will take a break. Maybe. 🤣
A husband’s gift empowers his wife, reshaping desire, control, and their marriage’s emotional balance.
Wife Lovers
Quote by KimmiBeGood
Morning, Rumpies
Big snow… and I really mean BIG SNOW… hitting the Bluegrass this weekend. I’m freakin’ a little. If it comes, we’ll all be snowed in for days which causes me some anxiety. Loading up on supplies today…
Stay warm and stay safe. Sending you warmth and hugs from Maui.
It may not stop the snow, but hopefully it will ease your anxiety to know that Storage Room 7 is now fully setup and operational! You should have seen the look on the bellhop’s faces when I pulled up with 42 giant black plastic tubs! I then asked them to “line them up in the hallway" outside a random door. What they didn’t know is that the door leads to the only storage room on property with an ocean view.
If anyone is in West Maui, let me know and I will share the key code for the door. Gotta keep it locked to prevent little ones from wandering in.
This is going to be EPIC!
Good morning and Aloha! Still mid-morning on Maui. And it’s a brisk 72 degrees. No worries, as it will jump up to a comfortable 78 degrees soon!
Quote by techgoddess
So, my garage door excitement was short lived. The installers didn’t include handles or locks. 🙈It’s always something. I’ve been told they will fix that. The question is when. 😫
Sorry about the handles and locks, Kat. I too would have just assumed that they were part of the package. Hopefully they can get those installed soon!
Nope. I am in my early-50’s. People tell me I look like I am in mid-to-late 30’s. That feels like a stretch. But I absolutely do not look like I am in my 50’s.
Wow…. First one in today. Yes, it’s early on the islands. But it’s late-morning for those on the east coast. Hmm…. This is, um, new.
Let’s start with some fresh beans that I grabbed yesterday. Hana Bliss from the best coffee shop in Maui, maybe the entire United States.
Teapot is cleaned and going. Just Yorkshire today. Everyone knows the process if you want something else
And here are some chill island tunes to start your day - Islands to Nashville by Common Kings.
(Sorry for not embedding the song directly - my iPhone is not playing nice today.)
Quote by techgoddess
Going for the Omnium Badge (a story in every category) made me stretch a lot and helped me try out new things.
Funny. I’ve actually been looking at some ideas I have that are not fully flushed out and then wondering “How would the story look different if went with genre A vs B?”
Aloha, Rumps! First sunrise in Maui should happen in around 15 minutes. Grabbing a cup ‘o Joe to tide me over until i get to the original Kick Ass Coffee store.
And speaking of “store”, I will look for an adequate place for a new Store Room #5. You’ll know it by the “KBG” sign on the door. 😊
Happy Friday, Rumps. Fly-by to grab some coffee. At the airport this morning. Next stop… Maui! Hope everyone has an amazing day!
Quote by fillelapine
Steals all the chocolate cream filled for myself and hides in storeroom #4!
Hehe. “cream filled” 😂
Okay, I am better now. Grabbing some tea and heading back to the office.
Quick fly by...
Grabbing some coffee and getting ready to fight traffic and start my week. Have a great day, everyone!
<edit> Just noticed the amazing songs playing this morning. Maybe I’ll sit down and have my first cup here. Then I’ll grab a second for the road.
Quote by Mandapanda2025
I would not mind replacing the one in the pipeline with the more complete version.
After you publish a story, you can go back and edit it. The key is to edit it within Lush (as opposed to doing a full ‘copy and paste’). If you tell the mods what you edited, they can see the changes and it should get fast tracked through the approval process.
Quote by fuzzy1954
Best get this 3rd set playing which I shall honour one and only Bob Weir, founding member of Grateful Dead and lately of Dead and Company he was a young 78.
Rest peaceful Bobby, I can only dream of the jam session with Jerry in heaven.
I finally came out of the Storage Room #4 yesterday afternoon. Had to watch a little football. Thanks for letting us newbies know about your stash, Kimmi. Everything is cleaned up and put back in it’s original place
Sad day for my Green Bay Packers. That’s all I can stomach to say today about that.
I also saw the news about Bob Weir. RIP Bobby. You will be missed. I’ve been a deadhead since college. I have seen the Dead several times, as well as Dead and Company. I still recall being at Jerry’s last show in Chicago a month before he passed away in 1995. Such an amazing group of people.
Folgers Lion? Really???
