Inspirations, the Stories Space Coffee House: If you're reading this it just might mean I'm back, sorta. If you're not reading this, well, congratulations.

Quote by verbal

I like Paul Krugman’s Substack too. Our fave Substcker is Heather Cox Richardson, a political historian. She has videos too, twice a week, where she talks about American history, and they remind us of FDR’s fireside chats (on purpose I think).

Tough to read the headlines every morning. Again, what keeps me sane is making calls to my elected officials. I feel less hopeless. And writing my little 3 sentence speech every morning helps me focus and move on from the news.

Almost done with the first draft of the novel!

And the Mets have won 5 in a row!

Coffee please.

Ooo exciting about your novel! What an accomplishment. I envy you who can write the long ones. I’ve come to accept my writing sweet spot is 3K or under.

Quote by WriterGirl
I’ve come to accept my writing sweet spot is 3K or under.

Not a bad length for chapters. (hint hint) 😊

I don't know if I can long until I try. I have enough material in the Tana chronicles to compile them into a novella assuming I rejig them the way I was thinking of doing, which includes adding some "deleted scenes" and that sort of thing. It's just spending the time and energy on that would take away from what little energy and time I seem to have for writing anymore.

Retirement is looking better all the time but at this point, I am not sure it's realistic to pull the trigger this year. Next Summer seems more likely.

Mr Ape, Retirement was the plan for me until my parents got Alzheimer’s and I’ve seen how much these memory care places cost in our country. And the fear of what might happen to social security. Now, I’ll probably never fully retire. What seemed like enough money for me, no longer seems like enough.

I do plan on at least evolving into a more pleasant career path, though.

Quote by WriterGirl

Ooo exciting about your novel! What an accomplishment. I envy you who can write the long ones. I’ve come to accept my writing sweet spot is 3K or under.

3K is my comfort zone for sure, I understand! I just keep writing bad novels, until I get enough practice under my belt to write a mediocre one.

Same old thang here. Weather is nice, and the Mets have won 6 in a row. I've made my daily calls to my elected officials and am ready to write.

Seize the Deim!

First personal hit from tariffs. Well second. First was my stock portfolio. Second is my herbal drink my acupuncturist makes me. He told me this morning he may have to raise his prices depending on what China does to the price of herbs he gets from them. Sigh.

Thank you, asshat in the White House. 😠

Quote by WriterGirl

Mr Ape, Retirement was the plan for me until my parents got Alzheimer’s and I’ve seen how much these memory care places cost in our country. And the fear of what might happen to social security. Now, I’ll probably never fully retire. What seemed like enough money for me, no longer seems like enough.

I do plan on at least evolving into a more pleasant career path, though.

Medicaid paid for a memory care bed for us, back in the day. Of course, those systems are being quickly dismantled. And I’m sure you’ve probably already looked into it. But it was a lifesaver for us (though we needed the help of a State Representative to make it official).

We had to turn off the news yesterday. We were both getting too depressed by it.

Coffee please!

Quote by verbal

Medicaid paid for a memory care bed for us, back in the day. Of course, those systems are being quickly dismantled. And I’m sure you’ve probably already looked into it. But it was a lifesaver for us (though we needed the help of a State Representative to make it official).

We had to turn off the news yesterday. We were both getting too depressed by it.

Coffee please!

I’m glad the system worked for you! ❤️

I’m told you have to deplete your assets now before Medicaid kicks in. And here, there’s a wait for a Medicaid bed in facilities. My friend waited two years before she could get her mom in one in Lexington. It’s hard. You work you whole life, save, then a major health crisis can take it all in a short time. We’re still thinking Dad won’t outlive his money. Hoping, anyways.

Headed on a twins weekend to Nashville!! Woohoo! A nice break!

Y’all enjoy your weekend! ❤️

Quote by WriterGirl

I’m glad the system worked for you! ❤️

I’m told you have to deplete your assets now before Medicaid kicks in. And here, there’s a wait for a Medicaid bed in facilities. My friend waited two years before she could get her mom in one in Lexington. It’s hard. You work you whole life, save, then a major health crisis can take it all in a short time. We’re still thinking Dad won’t outlive his money. Hoping, anyways.

Headed on a twins weekend to Nashville!! Woohoo! A nice break!

Y’all enjoy your weekend! ❤️

Yeah, I had to fight for years to get my retirement account--401(a), not 401(k)--declared as NOT an asset. It finally worked. And then needed a State Rep's help to find a bed. Good for you for keeping your head in the fight. It's so easy to get discouraged.

Going to the dentist today. Wah. But it's a GORGEOUS day outside, and going to the dentist mean I don't have to write, so it's like having the day off.

Coffee!

Good afternoon, everyone!

I hope all of you are doing well. The dead of winter has given way to new life of spring. Nature is beautiful. Just dropping by to say, 'hey,' I wrote a poem a week or so ago but I'm not sure I'm going to submit it to SS. I think I might keep it in my private collection, but who knows? I think it still needs a little work. Life has been busy, enlightening, and hopeful, in a word. I hope the best for you all.

I hope everyone has a beautiful day! ❤️🌹

Quote by Cora

Good afternoon, everyone!

Whoa, look who's back. Hi, Cora. Nice to hear from you. Spring has been a bit of a work in progress in my parts. We had snow as recently as the middle of the week. But this weekend is turning out well. Got in a walk today and might do some yardwork tomorrow.

Quote by Cora
Life has been busy, enlightening, and hopeful, in a word.

The enlightening and hopeful part sounds nice. I've been busy and a bit down of late. Better today.

Quote by Cora
I hope the best for you all.

I hope everyone has a beautiful day! ❤️🌹

All my best to you. And I did have one. Hope you did, too. 😊

I am taking a story and reworking it for a new cast of characters and a shift in setting. It was originally one of my ideas for a sequel to Shadows of Tan Maldrin but it was really sitting easily in that role. I am redoing it as a standalone.

It's a Sun-day on Sunday. How about that? Going to take advantage of the good weather to get some yardwork done and maybe a walk.

For those wishing to hang out here in the cafe, there's some Tobermory Grotto coffee brewed along with Yorkshire and Earl Grey Cream teas for the tea crowd. Fresh lemonade and iced tea are in the fridge, along with an assortment of sodas. Kettle is boiled and ready for other teas or hot chocolate. And I've got goodies (the brownies are "clean", don't worry)

Yummy! I’ll take sone cookies, please.

Just walked in the door from a fun weekend twin’s trip! Big fun! :)

Good morning!! Short week for us working folks as Easter looms. I have seen my bunnies already but none brought me chocolate.

I have put some Nicaraguan dark roast coffee from Las Chicas on. Teapots are now filled up with English Breakfast and Black Currant. Kettle is ready for other teas or hot chocolate. Soda stock and pitchers in the fridge are looking good.

What's up?

Ooh, yum, brownies! I love brownies, clean or unclean.

Going to the doc with Talia today. Nothing big, just a follow-up. Write a little beforehand, home just in time for the supper and The Game. Mets are still hanging onto first place by the skin of their teeth.

Coffee and a clean brownie please!

I'm one step closer to having my father's long-term healthcare kick in. I'll be in shock when they hopefully approve everything.

It was a quiet weekend. We did some yard work and started working on our garden plots. The rain over the weekend did help wash some of the pollen away. I wiped my kitchen counter, and the cloth ended up green. I think everyone is sneezing.

I hope everyone has a good week. Cheers.

Ape shuffles in and looks around.

Hmm. Need caffeine.

Here's some Fire-Roasted Holiday Blend coffee (hey Easter is a holiday and comes up soon). For teas, there's Assam and Sunday Tea. Kettle is ready if you're craving something else. Cold beverages are looking good but if your weather is anything like mine, not much call for them.

Quote by gillianleeza
The rain over the weekend did help wash some of the pollen away.

Pollen hasn't really started in earnest here yet. That's more a late April-May thing. Love it when I wipe the deck table and it comes off a brownish-yellow. 🙄

Quote by gillianleeza

I'm one step closer to having my father's long-term healthcare kick in. I'll be in shock when they hopefully approve everything.

It was a quiet weekend. We did some yard work and started working on our garden plots. The rain over the weekend did help wash some of the pollen away. I wiped my kitchen counter, and the cloth ended up green. I think everyone is sneezing.

I hope everyone has a good week. Cheers.

Sound like you are nearing the finish line! Then you can sleep for a month and a half and slowly begin to heal.

I just put up a flash-ish horror story called A Voice Made of Leaves. Hope you like it.

I used to listen to news all day long while I write. Clearly I can't do that anymore. I get too upset. So I've been writing lately to the Flow soundtrack. Really peaceful and lovely. Both the animated movie and the soundtrack are wonderful.

Coffee and a bear claw please.

Quote by verbal
So I've been writing lately to the Flow soundtrack.

Yeah, I usually write to music as well. I'll check that out. Heard a lot about the movie but not the music.

Woke up too early today. 6:30. I got up and called my elected officials - I do that every morning. The interns at the sole Republican's office know me by name! Or phone number, anyway.

Time to write, but I fear I may be too tired. Do I have permission to go back to bed?

I have a spooky story up. https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/horror/a-voice-made-of-leaves

Sigh. Coffee please.

Quote by verbal
Do I have permission to go back to bed?

Go for it, I say. I'm at work so don't even have the option. Though I guess others more influential than I might have something to say about it. 😉

Cold, wet, gloomy day here. Got a good amount of sleep at least.

The protest tomorrow is gonna be cold and wet. I'm still going.

I'm SO CLOSE to the end of this damned novel. It'd exciting.

Mets won. Coffee please.

Quote by verbal
Cold, wet, gloomy day here.

Kind of going there here now. Wasn't bad in the morning so I started cleaning the window screens and then with three left to go, a shower came in.

Coffee is on. Nothing fancy. Just a dark roast Colombian. Teas are Red Rose and Vanilla Earl Grey.

How is Easter going, folks? Weather for Good Friday (day off around here) was better than expected so I got some work done. Have more but today I am working on tax returns. Our idiot revenue agency introduced the ability to download our slips into our software a few years back, saving me some effort. However, they broke the f-ing system this year and slip issuers are having trouble uploading the data so I'm back to keying in everything myself. Watch them fix it the day after I submit or something stupid like that. I'm done keying and have checked. My laptop stand proved to be a very good document holder so I could get the dang things closer to my eyes, at least.

So, I need a nice hot cuppa tea and maybe others need the other caffeinated beverage. So here's some Fire-Roasted Dark Roast Guatamalan coffee. Teas are Yorkshire Gold and Raspberry Royale. Kettle is hot and ready if you're craving other hot drinks. Fresh lemonade and iced tea are in the fridge along with our stock of selected sodas (if you select it, it's there, presto).

Between yard work and taxes, not doing much writing this weekend but I'll get there, I hope.

Taxes and every other government agency are all broken here now. They weren't very efficient before, but now you can't even get the information you need in anything approaching a timely fashion. Or any info at all, since most agencies aren't answering their phones. Grrrrr!

I'll be happy to get out of the country for a bit. We leave for Germany on Friday. Hopefully, I won't have picked up anything from my father's unit. A cold or a virus is going around, and he has an awful cough. I'm going to skip my visits after Sunday just in case. My brother can take over for me.

It's a quiet weekend here, but warm and sunny. The only bad thing is that the pollen has built up again. Achooo.

Have a good weekend, everyone. Cheers.

Quote by gillianleeza
Taxes and every other government agency are all broken here now. They weren't very efficient before, but now you can't even get the information you need in anything approaching a timely fashion. Or any info at all, since most agencies aren't answering their phones. Grrrrr!

Ours isn't great but at least we don't have DOGE messing things up even more than they are already messed up. My sympathies to my American friends.

Have a great trip. I was in Germany a couple days on my Baltic cruise last year. Visited Warnemunde, Kiel, and Lubeck. And I've been to Berlin once, too (wife had a conference there just after our wedding so it became part of the honeymoon). Still more there I want to see, though.

I've put on fresh coffee and tea. Here's some Easter goodies for those seeking a chocolate fix.

Morning all! Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Hoping for a period of renewal for myself. 😊 Was a rough winter.

A roaring 20’s mystery is in the queue. It will be 2 parts and should earn me the prolific writer badge. It’s a little rough, starts with a death, but is one of my favorite writes. Lots of characters to keep up with.

May joy fine each of you today! ❤️

A mystery starting with a death. Gee, that never happens. 🤣 I am focusing on something for another site right now but have a story on the go that would probably end up here if I ever actually finish. Kind of a romantasy (I actually hate that portmonteau but it fits this one so I'll wear it) about a merchant's niece and a young prince both seeking to escape their lives, or at least find ways to make them better.

I have heard rumours of a special badge being awarded. Something about Writergirl being prolific (as a writer, that is)? Congratulations. WG is a real asset to this site and being prolific is only part of that. Her stuff, at least what I have read, is also pretty dang good generally.

So, to celebrate,

And to go with that, we've got Fire Roasted St. Drogo coffee on. The teapots are filled to the tippy top with English Breakfast and Duke of Earl tea. Kettle is ready for other hot beverages. Pitchers are washed and filled with fresh lemonade and iced tea. Sodas are stocked up.

And for those not inclined to cake, here's cookies and pie.

Awww! (Gives Mr Ape a bear-sized hug) ❤️ Thank you!!! I love writing over here! There’s always been a sense of peace and acceptance I feel here. Some superb writers, too!