Good evening, all. Grass cut and pruned more bushes (in an attempt to spare my eyesight from poking branches). I shall have an iced tea and a couple of those peanut butter banana cookies while I wind down.

We had showers on and off all day yesterday, with some lightning in the evening while we were watching the Olympics. Got to see Canada's first medal live (silver in 4x100 freestyle relay). My city has a local girl on the team, too, who will be going for a medal in 100m butterfly tomorrow (tonight our time). Big story of this games might be the anchor of the relay team, though. Penny Oleksiak is one medal away from joining two past (and much older) athletes as Canada's top medal winner in the Olympics. They both have 6 and last night was her fifth. 21 and only in her second Games. Still won't match Clara Hughes, though, in one regard: Hughes six medals were spread across both summer and winter games, a pretty rare feat. Two cycling medals in Summer Games and 4 speed skating medals in Winter Games. And then went on to become a mental health advocate after she retired from competition.

Quiet in here at the moment, but I'll put the coffee and kettle on for those wanting their morning "fix".

Went to the parade this morning... The parade float I worked on was in the middle of the parade so it was awesome to see .
Not sure if it won a ribbon or not it hasn't been announced yet . I'll let y'all know tomorrow.


Given that you literally poured your blood into it, I should hope it gets something.

Ah, Elmo the delight of kids and the terror of parents. My son was never that into Sesame Street and my Sesame Street days predated Elmo by a couple decades, I think.

Been pouring through some of the comp entries that I missed during the week. Some really good stuff here. Nicely done, SS writers.

For the first time in my life I have built up the confidence to write. So far, I have really enjoyed it and actually wish I had started sooner.

I think many of us SS regulars would say we enjoy it and wish you had started sooner, too. Writing has certainly generated some high points of the pandemic for me, too (first comp win, most notably).

Good morning. Nice see that elizabeth ... ponied up ... for a gift. * ducks thrown tomatoes (from Gil's garden, of course) *

So, the Olympics are on. Anyone paying attention. Saw some of the opening ceremony. There's a couple local athletes I hope to catch in action. Beyond that, not sure how much I'll bother to watch. Might be worth watching women's gymnastics just to see Biles in action again. She's pretty amazing.

Aww such cute doggies. Even that makes me feel a bit better.

And sixteen stories now. Nice.

Gotta go. A non-smoky, sunny sky puppy walk beckons the family.


So it has cleared up out there. We got smoke from fires in Northwestern Ontario early in the week but it seems to have cleared out as well. At least the sun wasn't a dark orange-red last night like it was the previous couple.

Another story crept in. Excellent! That means we tied the number from last summer's comp.

Just swinging by for a tea.

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Talia is at the office, so today the kitties and I are going to learn to juggle, to surprise Talia on her return home.

Verbs:

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Talia:

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Netflix's Russian Doll has a nicely curated soundtrack of popular music. Harry Nilsson's "Gotta Get Up" serves kind of, sort of, as the theme (but not really, it just shows up whenever the main character's time loop restarts).

Tina felt the bedsheet peel away from her skin as she sat up. She was covered in a sheen of sweat from head to toe. Her hair was damp and matted. Even at midnight with all the windows open and no clothing but panties, Tina could not seem to beat the heat. It was making sleep more and more difficult all the time. For days, the city had been caught in a heatwave. The temperature had...

Added 18 Jul 2021 | Category Crime | Votes 19 | Avg Score 5 | Views 259 | 16 Comments

Voldar knelt before the statue of the great warrior and wept. Around her were the ruins of the city she had once called home. Foes had swept over it weeks before. “How could you let this happen?” Voldar cried, “You swore to protect them.” But the statue remained silent stone. “My family, my friends, my lovers. They were all here. Now they are nothing.” Voldar rose and drew her blade. ...

Added 20 Jun 2021 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 313 | 8 Comments

The killer looks down the scope at his target. He neither knows nor cares why The Boss wants this woman dead. That is not the killer's problem. The woman is undressing. Her dress slips to the floor, then her underwear. The killer watches with delight. Then she pulls off her hair and turns to the window. Her eyes are solid black. Her mouth is studded with pointed teeth. “Fuck,” the...

Added 19 Jun 2021 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 322 | 7 Comments

I have lived forever, Or so it seems to me, In my little temple, By the shining crystal sea. Some come in celebration, Some have come to sneer, Some have run in terror, I can be one to fear. My power is enormous, My mercy can be rare, Given to the wise folk, Calling me in prayer. But my world is fading, The magic in my heart Feels like it may leave me, I have played my part. My legend may...

Added 30 Oct 2020 | Category Poetry | Votes 5 | Avg Score 5 | Views 293 | 5 Comments

Something flew past the bedroom window as Shannon closed it for the night. The dark shape went by quickly, so quickly that Shannon could not really see what it was. Startled, she jumped back. “Probably just a bat or bird,” the young woman muttered as she quickly closed the window and curtains. She did not quite believe that. The shadow passing through the night had seemed too big for...

Added 27 Oct 2020 | Category Horror | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 340 | 10 Comments

Talala looked down on the city square of Tantovar and smiled. Around her, people danced in a throng that filled the square. The rhythmic beat of hand drums and skirl of pipes filled the air with joyous sounds. “If only I could dance with them,” thought the goddess. But her body of carved stone was affixed to the temple dais. For deities could not enter the world of their own accord. They...

Added 21 Oct 2020 | Category Fantasy | Votes 10 | Avg Score 5 | Views 608 | 10 Comments

High up among the mountain peaks, 'Midst towering trees and flowing creeks; There I will find a holy space, That’s filled with beauty, love, and Grace. In this temple I shall bow and pray, And worship to the Cosmos pay.    ...

Added 15 Oct 2020 | Category Poetry | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 313 | 8 Comments

Frank Baldwin stared out the window of his office. The lights of downtown Eversham shone before him. Usually, the mayor smiled when he looked out at those lights. A lifelong resident who had been the city’s mayor for twelve years, Frank was pleased and proud with the work he had done to improve the city. Tonight, though, he gazed out at them and sighed. It was looking like twelve years...

Added 10 Aug 2020 | Category Romance | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 440 | 7 Comments

Butterflies and bees danced under the summer sun as Gail walked to the raspberry patch. The heat was increasing as the day wore on but was still bearable. With the lake as her pool, the heat did not really matter to Gail. She would re-apply sunscreen and go for a dip later. Finding a bush with plenty of ripe, red berries, Gail started picking. Her husband Michael was grilling a trout he...

Added 28 Jul 2020 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 20 | Avg Score 4.94 | Views 769 | 19 Comments

I am slumped in a chair, staring at my newest painting. For over twenty-four hours I have been awake, painting in a near-trance for more than half that time. The painting portrays a scene not far from my studio, a shallow bay on Lake Madeline. A woman emerges naked from the water. An overturned canoe floats nearby. The woman’s name is Lily. Memories flood in. ***** Thunder rumbled in...

Added 30 Sep 2019 | Category Supernatural | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 731 | 11 Comments