so... happy new years, everyone. haven't been around much - just too much going on in RL to do much more than pop my head in a few times and say hello to a few people. nothing new on the story front - i do have another chapter of Alice that's about 75% done, but i haven't been able to sit down and write for a few weeks now - hoping that, with the holidays behind us, that will change. fingers crossed. hope everyone is doing well - optimistic for 2023 - see how long THAT lasts. lol try to do this more, at least - saying 'hullo' that is. cheers. - Rach

Quote by deviantsusie

Well they deleted my post on the thread about stories so I’m glad you quoted me. It may not stay up too long.

Still.. I only popped in to say goodbye. So happy new year and maybe I’ll see you someplace else. I’m leaving the stories. Too many to bother taking with me.

Slante 🥃

genuinely sorry to see you go, Susie, and again, genuinely, best of luck. You'll be sorely missed here. I hate seeing any of the old crowd going. much love and thanks for all you've done for Lush over the years. - Rachel.

Quote by Lynkeus
Even as a reader-only, non-author, I would like to see more TRANSPARENCY on the site!

what is it that you don't find transparent? and you do know that if something doesn't seem transparent, instead of posting random complaints about it in forums, it would make more sense to simply contact someone like me (i'm a senior mod) and ask - be more likely to get an explanation that way if you're truly interested in answers.

New term learned today. Alfaux Male.

Feliz Navid everyone! Christmas, this year, is about trying to do too many things in too little time. fortunately, we're good at it. so, despite the drama, despite the trauma, despite the weariness, we're having a wonderful day and plan to follow it up with a wonderful tomorrow. love you all.

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

And here in Ontario, as Ape said, it's frigid, blowing, sideways snow. They're saying we might get anywhere from 20 to 50 cm! For our American friends, that translates as anywhere from 8" to 20". Either way it's YIKES!

And the temperature dropped all day from just above freezing to -15C, or 5F, so cold, however you measure it.

But then, this is Canada, so we're more or less prepared – except for the foolish people doing stupid things on the highways.

I took my son out to run two last-minute errands this morning, and (unfortunately) witnessed an idiot overtake / pass another car – on a two-lane highway.

In a city.

As I was coming the other way.

As I said to my son, he was in a hurry to get to his funeral!

Anyway, Lynkeus, I don't believe we've met. I'm James, the 2nd junior ass.t Bear-tender around here, but everyone calls me Bear. Welcome! Can I get you something warming and Christmasy?

Sea-Tac was shut down today. power is out in a lot of places. roads are too icy to drive on. thank god i'm home now and not going for a bit.

i love seeing a lot of new names in the top 10 - awesome job guys and gals

Quote by Seeker4

So apparently I am the only G&S fan here. I mean, Kimmi's new kitty immediately brought this to mind.

Good morning, y'all. How's life? Chilly and a bit of snow here.

SS story is provisionally done. Letting it stew for a bit before I take a final run at it. Can't say it is my favourite of my stories but it is on theme and I think I managed to pack a lot into 1000 words without it feeling too rushed. We shall see what others say, though.

Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

we just watched Topsy Turvy the other night - about the making of The Mikado. very good - you should check it out.

Quote by Myrrhhhhhh

Hello loveys!

Here's hoping everyone is having a comfortable weather gearing to the Holidays. May you and your loved ones be covered with the warmth of the Holiday spirit.🎄 This year, I'll spendi it with new friends, the sanctuary staff. I'm in the mainland for a few days then will go back to the island again.💙

I think I came to the right place, The Rumps. Interested about the comps, I thought I'll write from personal experience about my suicide attempt. I am better now though. It was the second to the last attempt that I want to write about.

Yesterday, I asked Molly if something about suicide is prohibited in SS. I didn't see it in the terms and genre descriptions. Thus, I checked first so I don't waste my effort.

This is her reply:

The word suicide is prohibited from the site going forward.

Now, you can write something that pertains to it as long as there are not details. Same rule as violence and erotica. This does mean you will have to come up with another term for it.

I thought I will include how and why it happened, what I felt, saw and heard during the attempt and what happened after. No names of persons involved. For another term for suicide, I was thinking of the phrase "taking my life".

i need help to determine if this will this work or not based on her reply? If I am to ask her again, what are the right questions to ask so I don't keep asking her back and forth? It may be annoying. Lol

in case you need a safe/supportive place/outlet to talk about your experience(s), lush has one: https://www.lushstories.com/forum/health-and-fitness/project-semi-colon-lush-style

Quote by Seeker4

I have always found it interesting that two of the greatest songwriters of our time had anything but conventionally great voices. I am speaking, of course, of Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Cohen's voice actually improved with age. Never did really warm to Dylan as a singer, even if I love his writing.

And since we already have some Dylan, here's Lenny.

Tom Waits should also be mentioned here - brilliant song writer with a voice (as well as musical accompaniment) that is not for everyone.

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

Look who's talking! How much snow are you expecting this winter?

we've already had our first snow. Seatle has one snow plow, btw. a number of years back we had a real snow. shut the entire city down. it was awesome. going to work today? can't. snow. wanna build a snowman?

ps - this time last year we were in chicago. brrr.

Quote by techgoddess

Good morning all y’all. Had enough of the cold damp weather here in Seattle. Time to head home to my mid-70s. Yes I’m whining. But just a little. Just a cuppa tea this morning while I wait for my flight. Hope everyone is making it through the week and finding some joy along the way.

light weight. lol

Holiday season is especially hard for those dealing with loneliness, depression, all of that. be there when someone says 'i need to talk' you should never be too busy to listen. i know we are at this time of year, but the trip to the mall can wait. the lights can wait. the fruitcake can really wait. lol

for those of you who don't know, i work with families who are victims of domestic violence. I'm on vacation this week. doesn't mean i just shut the phone off. i keep in touch. you sort of have to. you also have to have a sense of humor. light and dark. i like my co-workers. seriously, you sort of have to get along even if you rub each other wrong occasionally, which does happen. i got this today as a text. it's kind of fucked up, but you know, life is kind of fucked up at times - she knew i'd get it - not something she'd share with just anyone. i don't have that filter, so here you go.

the first text: you hear a lot of crazy ex-girlfriend stories, mostly funny ones. But you hardly hear any crazy ex-boyfriend stories. ever wonder why?

second text: because most women don't make it out alive.

we had an attempted suicide today. one of the gals staying with us. she's stable. it happens. i wish i could have been there. you always think - maybe i could have been there at the right time with the right words and it would have gone differently. maybe. like i said, if someone is reaching out, pause. listen. maybe it will be just enough. it might not be, but we all have to look out for each other through these holidays.

for the record, i am doing fine. this year has been hard, but i'm in a pretty good place. if that changes, i have people to lean on, so yeah, if you need to, reach out. i might not have answers, but i'll listen. the fruitcake can wait.

peace. Rachel

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Wow, Kat, 17! That's a pretty long life for a cat. I do wish our pets had longer lifespans! My sis had a 28 lb Manx who died last year. Lived to 15. Was truly 28 lbs!!!! He loved to eat. And any attempts to put him on a diet were met with sharp resistance. But he was one of the happiest cats I've ever known. Fat and happy. I'm definitely coming back next life as a cat.

Cleo el Gato just turned 17 in October and is doing well. sorry to hear about Boo, Kimmi. such a terribly sad thing to come home to. i can't even imagine. much love and deepest sympathy.

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

It's also one of Lady Jay's favourites as well. I particularly like the scene between Jimmie Stewart and Cary Grant, where Stewart's character is drunk, and confronting Grant about the fact that Grant's character (C.K. Dexter HAVEN) is still in love with Hepburn's character – then hiccups in mid-sentence.

That was not in the script, and both actors almost corpsed over it. You can see the grins on their faces as they try to suppress their laughter!

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

"I'd like to thank the Academy…"

No, wait…wrong speech.

AHEM!

Thank you, Kimmi, for interceding on my behalf. The Gods were pleased with your burnt offerings, and told me to tell you they're anxious to see you up-close-and-personal! (eventually)

And thank you to sprite for, um, whatever it was she did. Tinkering with the Cosmos, I think it was. Regardless, I am most appreciative.

To quote Kathryn Hepburn in "The Philadelphia Story" – "I'm beholden to you!"

And thanks for all the well-wishes here in the bar. Or was it just you need someone to wash up all the mugs and I have the acorn whistle that Michelle gave me??

All seriousness aside, though, picking up on Scott's comment about addresses – I use a VPN, so my IP address changes. Would that have caused some of the problem?

Anyway, thanks to all, and to All a Good …

No wait, that's the wrong ending.

Who's responsible for the scripting around here, anyway?

no prob - i went exploring and found all sorts of back rooms that i'm probably not supposed to have access too. lol god, i can't wait to get high and go fucking around back there again. about half of you are going to get moved to different continents.

P. Story - one of our (Kate and mine's) all time fav movies. "My, she was yar."

vpn -shouldn't be an issue. you're not the only one who uses VPN and i don't think that's been a problem in the past?

it's weird, because admin says there's still an IP ban in place, but i was able to switch off the site ban which was, apparently, the real issue. that's still a glitch, but it seems that it doesn't affect your account? leave that one to the experts. long as everything is working on your end, that's all that matters. ok. time to start drinking. lol

i am so going to regret this, aren't i? i could have had peace and quiet for the rest of my days... lol

Good news is i have his stories and forum posts back up. not sure if he can log in though. i am guessing not? worth a try, though.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

I email him through his work address, so I'll update him.

can you ask him to try to log in now?

Quote by KimmiBeGood

I email him through his work address, so I'll update him.

btw, let him know i'll make sure his comp story is still in the running.

Quote by krystalg

The entries for this competition are all top-notch. The judges will have a very difficult time getting their top three. Well done, everyone.

actually, we're just putting names into a hat for this one and pulling three. take about 3 or 4 minutes at most. after that, we'll get drunk as hell for about a week before putting up the results.

Quote by fuzzy1954

Thanks Sprite I know you are the ONE to reconcile and help. Sorry while you are holiday this came up. ☘️ hugs ☘️

ain't no thing - and really, Jen's the one doing all the heavy lifting. i just sort of shook a few trees to see what's up. James can be a pain in my ass, but i still like him and he's a great asset to the site - i'm sure it'll all get cleared up before too long.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

I email him through his work address, so I'll update him.

true story. i thought it would be funny to suspend Nicola a few years back. that's why i no longer have the power to ban/suspend members. in my defense, it WAS funny as fuck.

Quote by Seeker4

That's kind of what I suspected.

i am not setting anything about it so i've PMed a few people to see what's up. it's a head scratcher.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

FYI, friends of James: his comments, comp story, posts have disappeared. He emailed me outside of Lush that when he tries to logon he gets a message that he has been permanently banned. I msgd Jen on his behalf and will let you know what I find out.

looking in to it. i'd know about it if it was intentional, so i'm guessing it's a mistake/glitch.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Pimping an author, Icarus4, who wrote a stunning piece of poetry, imo. If interested...

https://www.lushstories.com/stories/erotic-poems/the-wind-and-the-jinn

yeah, i gave it an RR. and i usually hate poetry.

Quote by krystalg

Did somebody call me?

not unless your name is horny slut. oh, wait, nevermind. i guess they did.