Congrats! Welcome to the club! 😎🎉

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

Ladies, Gentlemen, and all the rest of you lot…

Not feeling like caffeine much today.

I have news, but it's not certain.

I called Lion's phone … and got:

"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service."

Not what I was hoping for.

That's not definite, and there might be other reasons, but …

Praying that whatever the reason, he’s at peace.

Just a fun little story for all y'all: Jake, Not From State Farm

Quote by Beachgirl1959

As a New Yorker... 25 years  

I had just dropped off my son at kindergarten. I watched in horror as the very familiar NYC skyline with its two distinctive towers, now appeared on fire, black smoke rising to the heavens, suddenly changed shape. My own gasp of shock joined the collective sorrowful wail rising from those standing around me - as they realized their loved ones might be there.

It took days.

Eventually, 70+ beautiful souls - neighbors, members of my community, former classmates, childhood pals, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, Twin Tower employees, NYPD, Port Authority, FDNY dedicated members -   were confirmed lost.

Rockaway Beach, NY will never forget ...

Hugs...

Yummm! My favorite cupcakes! And while I should have it with a Coke Zero, I think I will help myself to a mimosa. I have a board meeting this morning and could use a little something something so I don’t lose my mind.

Made it back safely yesterday and I’m already missing the kids something fierce. The littles asked why we weren’t at the house yesterday. They don’t understand the concept of G’ma and G’pa living in Florida. 😢

But it is good to be home and I slept like a… whatever sleeps soundly… in my own bed.

We were originally supposed to head to Alabama this weekend to see the youngest but she’s so busy with her new position that we will just wait to see her and her man at Disney in Oct. when they run the half marathon.

I have a lunch meeting after the board meeting. But I should be back around this afternoon to mod a bit. So tuck one of this cuppycakes away for later. 😘

TGIF!

Our trip has had some oddities: delayed flight, then it took us a full hour longer than typical to fly from Tampa to Detroit due to weather, our Airbnb has had no power so we had to find a hotel, and today my hubby and DIL had to arrange for and hookup a generator for the school she works at so the food in the freezers and fridges wouldn’t be lost. Fortunately son’s house had power and our grandson, LW, had birthday pool party as planned while we took the Littles over to some friends house to keep them out of the way.

Tomorrow is CJ’s birthday and we will all head to the cider mill and petting farm. The humidity broke this afternoon and it was quite pleasant. Hopefully tomorrow will be just as nice.

Fingers crossed we can actually head to the Airbnb tomorrow. Fortunately the host will reimburse us for any nights we have to stay in the hotel.

Hope all y’all are having a good weekend. 😎

Quote by wxt55uk

A mug of Yorkshire tea, please, Bear. Thank you. 😎

Well, we're packed and ready for our taxi to take us to the airport tomorrow morning. So, with my tab fully paid, I won't be around much in the next three weeks, though I am taking my laptop, so there is a chance I might drop in. The pastries look good, but I think I should wait to eat them until after the flight. 😳😋

The weather is bright and warm but a little breezy here; it certainly feels as if Autumn is on its way. However, the temperature in Crete is 28C, that is 6 degrees warmer than here. 😎

Have a lovely time!

We are also heading to the airport in the morning, but our destination is Michigan. What awaits us there is time with my two oldest kids and their kids. (The youngest kid is still out there being a badass at her job, plus she doesn’t live in Michigan).

I will also be taking LW school clothes shopping as he has grown at least 6 inches over the summer. He is excited for some one on one time with me and they warms my heart. He’s turning 13 and still likes to hang out with me.

I will be around on and off for the next week. We have rented our own house so we will have down time. Same house as I rented last time. Less than 10 minutes from our son’s house. 🥰😎

I’m planning to spend some time with former coworkers as well. And breakfast with my nephew. Plus seeing a few friends, etc. so it should be a great week.

✈️😘

We’ve been getting lots of lightning and thunder. But the rain either passes us by or seems pretty insignificant for all that fanfare.

Just a quick cup of tea before I head to the gym. Early workout today.

Having Parts 1 and 2 of my Bob Jones college story published, I've gone back to work on Three Bourbon Slushies and a Beached Mule. It was stalled because the Bob Jones story wanted out (although there will be a Part 3, since my goal was to keep the parts very short).

I've also been "pinballing" a half dozen other stories that will, hopefully, eventually see the light of day.

Here you go, part two. But even better? There will be a part three. I kept two short just for y'all who like a quick read. 😘

Bob Jones And The Incorrigible Co-Ed ~ Part Two

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Morning, Rumpies

I’ve laid out a goody for y’all in the bar…

YUM 😘

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Good afternoon, Rumpies

Swamped at work this month, installing new software release. Ick.

Hugs... I'll check in on the boy toys since you're kinda busy at work. 😉😘

Quote by Seeker4

That sums up pretzels in general, doesn't it? I haven't had one in eons.

Good morning. After basically 24 hours of rain, we have sun right now. Still a chance of more showers, though.

Yes, it does. After not having one for quite a while, I guess it just seemed saltier than I remembered.

Grabbing the Coke Zero, but skipping the goodies today. My scale said I shouldn't have had that Mickey pretzel at Hollywood Studios yesterday. WAY too much salt. But YUM!

I'mma be modding in the corner. 😎

780

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

Every writer at one time or another experiences this. Just take a deep breath, relax, and don't let it worry you.

If you really want to write, SF writer Larry Niven has a technique you can try:

Sit down at your typewriter (or keyboard), roll in a piece of paper (or turn on the computer – you can tell this is from last century), and start typing.

It doesn't matter what you type. The Quick Red Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Brown Dog will do. Or a recipe, or what you had for breakfast (no wait – that's Facebook-type shit; forget that)

Anything. Just keep typing, and eventually something will start coming.

It works – most of the time.

The biggest thing is to keep going. Kat is a perfect example, if I may say so. How many stories has she published where she introduces them by saying, "I found this on my thumb drive and can finally finish it."?

Or, as Winston Churchill once wisely said, "Never give up."

And speaking of never giving up – the last couple of days have been eventful.

Wednesday I took delivery of a new Bear-mobile. I had drawn a "merciful veil" as Lady Jay says, over just how much paperwork bullshit there is to getting a new car. It too almost two hours to wade through it all.

But I'm pleased with the result! It's a full EV, from Genesis, and not an American part in it! (I think)

And it's got all kinds of bells and whistles – like a recommended posture based on your genotype.

I had to scroll down a long way to find "Handsome Polar Bear" in the menu, but it's there!

And the seat moved into that position! Ipse dixit and Shazzam!

Now, if I could just figure out how to turn the damn thing ON!

And yesterday was Lady Jay's and my anniversary. Not a round number, but a good one. We're trying to think what we want to do for the next big one, which is in a couple of years.

We have enjoyed Disney cruises in the past, but … American. Sorry.

River cruise in Europe, perhaps including Prague and Budapest?

A month in Paris, in le Marais, or Ste. Germaine des Pres?

We've got time, but we're thinking about it.

We've got L'Or Absolu for coffee this morning, from French France.

Yorkshire Gold and Gunpowder Green teas in the pots on the sideboard.

Chocolate éclairs and oatmeal cookies on the counter.

And Coke Zero restocked in the cooler.

Kat, I don't mind you sucking up – all the Coke Zero. But could you please put the cans in the recycling rather than just toss them on the floor??? I know how focused you get when you're writing, but … really?

Take care out there, 'K?

Those cans aren’t mine. I’ve never been a litter bug in my entire life. I recycle ♻️ and even take my neighbors’ cans, bottles, etc to the town hall recycling center. Must be someone else which would explain why we are going through Coke Zero like water here. lol.

And yes, I currently have about a dozen of those unfinished stories on my drive. I’ve been visiting some of them recently and trying to finish something. It will happen.

My brother goes home today and I get a break until January. It’s always nice to have him here but also nice to have just hubby and me time.

Happy Anniversary, Bear. You don’t have to wait for a round number to take a trip. Next year we are doing a European cruise because we don’t want to wait for our next round number. 🥰

Congrats on the new ride. 🚙

I’m having tea this morning and will be in the corner figuring out where to end book 4 and what the focus of book 5 will be for Mac and Grace. ☕️❤️

TGIF all y’all.

778

The End of Oak Street

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

There's a very special place in hell for writer's paralysis (basically being too tongue-tied to write even though you have ideas).

I have felt this pain. It sucks. Hang in there. Hugs. 🥰😘

Quote by wxt55uk

Hi Rumpie's

It is a shame that there is no Double Ominium Badge, as it strikes me, looking in from the outside, that it wouldn't be the hardest thing to introduce. 🙄 I would probably do it, having (very roughly) another 30 genres to write two stories in. Without it becoming official, it is unlikely I would write additional stories in the more unpopular genres. 😈

A mug of Yorkshire tea, please, Bear. 😎

Trust me, there are a couple that will be hard to write. I've been putting off Monster Sex... the category, not the real deal. LOL.

I've been "pinball" writing for a few hours. Sadly, nothing got finished. BUT I did make progress on about 7 stories. 😜

Time to refill my Coke Zero. I'm gonna be wired by the time I go to Bunco tonight. Maybe I will win. HA!

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Morning, Rumpies

Caffeine me up, please. Just started annual software upgrade at work. Will be busy beaver for next few months.

Which is code for her beaver will be busy in Storage Room 4.😉 (Sorry, I couldn't resist that set up).

Time to take my Coke Zero and head to the corner to do some writing. I've been modding for a bit; time to give the partially finished stories on my flash drive some of my time and attention. If I've counted properly, I have 10 more genres to write in to reach the non-existent Double Omnium.

Depends on the party, but more likely first to arrive.

crossword puzzle or sudoku?

I swim 4-5 times a week and do functional weight training 3-4 times a week. I also enjoy walking and biking when the weather isn't like a blast furnace.

Quote by 1OGHMNW

Put the Coke Zero and cupcake on my tab.

Awww, thanks, Dave! 😘😘

Thanks for the Coke Zero. I'm gonna snag a cuppycake too!

Bob Jones And The Incorrigible Co-Ed ~ Part One is the story of a "nice" college girl who is also a cock-hungry slut.

Yawns. Quiet here this morning. The perfect place to get some writing done. Houseguests went home, hubby is at pickleball, and I don’t have a gym session today. Imma grab a Coke Zero and be over in the corner writing. After I check on the toys in Storage Room 4 of course. 😘

Happy Monday, all y’all.

Congratulations to the winners and the runners up. Great stories! 🥰😎👍🏼

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Just popped in to clear Butters name. Was coincidence her scratch on my ear was near same time as ear swelling/pain. I have Shingles on left side of face from ear to eye to jaw to inside mouth. My fucking face is on fire.

It’s indescribable pain. I don’t wanna whine every day, so I’ll be back when it’s gone.

Love you all! Feed and water and play with the toys in Storeroom 4, please. ❤️

I've had Shingles twice in my life. Soooo much pain! You poor thing! Rest as much as you can. I'll take care of those toys in Storeroom 4. I've got an ice bucket full of ice and I'm not afraid to use it.😉😘

All Mine is a microfiction piece about a committed couple who belong to each other. ❤️🔥