I wonder what's happened to Mendalla? Haven't seen him around his usual haunts for a few days.

Oh, well. The ways of the Ape are strange.

I've got coffee on, with pots of Red Rose and Lemon & Ginger teas on the side.

I'll wander behind the bar and see if there are any of Sara's GF cookies available, then make myself comfy until someone else comes in for breakfast.

Another comp entry, I see, not (yet) Verbal's.

In some ways, my friend, letting go of a book is the hardest part. You've worked on it for so long, and you've been polishing and polishing and polishing…

But you have to finally say, "Well, damn! I can't do any more damage here," and let it go.

Of course, then when it's published, you see the typo on Page 1 that you read and missed a hundred times…

(wanders in, glances around, sniffs the air, and sits on his haunches)

I had a haunch that this place would be quiet (snicker) but not THIS quiet! Jeez!

Well, let's get some caffeine going, and see that improves things…

The tea kettle is hot and steaming, and I've put out pots of Red Rose and Earl Grey teas.

The coffee is made and hot, and there's milk as well as cream for those who want 'em.

Not sure if anyone takes oat or soy milk, so I'll leave that detail to Mendalla.

Now, if Sara would just show up with some gluten-free cookies…

I'll mosey over to her corner, and set a spell and see.

Meanwhile, a number of new comp entries, including two thought-provoking ones by ShyThespian (scary), and Amy (amusing, and true!), so if you're not up-to-date, dive in and enjoy!

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

Bit of both, I think, cause that game is mostly luck. Usually it's played for $10,000.

.

Hey Elyse! I just noticed a story in The Guardian – British newspaper – about Alan Rickman. I didn't know if you'd be interested, but thought I'd point it out anyway:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/24/alan-rickmans-secret-showbiz-diaries-harry-potter

He was a versatile actor, and an intriguing person.

And good afternoon to everyone else. I'd like a cuppa Red Rose, and I'll mosey over to Sara's corner and see if she shows up.

If morning's glory,

Then read a story

And when it's done

You'll have some fun

.

A little unBEARable doggerel to start your day!

Lights on, tea kettle is steaming and ready, and coffee is made.

I'll leave last night's washing up for Mendalla…as a courtesy, of course, it being his bar.

(wanders in, sniffs the air)

Hunh. Nobody home!

Well, I guess I can get things started.

(flicks on the lights, sweeps the floor)

I've put the tea kettle on and made the coffee. I think that's…

Oh, wait. People are doing that poetry thingie, so, I guess…

.

The time is dawn

The lights are on

The tea is ready

If hands are steady

The coffee's hot,

But I am not!

I'm cool…

Quote by KatarinaTechgoddess

Another cup of tea for me

With lemon and some sweet honey

To soothe my throat so sore and dry

And comfort as the day goes by

Happy Sunday all y’all 😎☕️

.

A cuppa Red Rose would be great, or Earl Grey would be even better.

And with Writer Girl away, perhaps I could sit with Kat?

(pads over to Kat's table, lays his muzzle on the counter, and looks up at her with soulful eyes)

Hmm…nobody around.

Oh well.

Flip on the lights, sweep up the floor…done.

Tea kettle is put on, and I've even taken a run at making coffee. This urn is pretty similar to some others I've set up before, so let's hope the results aren't atrocious!

Hopefully, someone will come along with some treats, perhaps Sara with her cookies.

So, Inspirations is open for business!

Any takers? Good morning, all!

Quote by Mendalla

Coffee steaming in the pot

…

Vacation looms for this ape. A couple weeks off work with a driving tour to some parts of my country I have not been to before as part of it. So I'll be scarce for a couple weeks at the end of the month and into the start of October. Still around for another week, though.

Maybe you could show me how to manage the coffee maker? Then, when I'm around, I can get things started.

Meanwhile, where are you going, Mendalla? Mayhaps I've been there and can offer you some free advice.

But then again, as I tell me clients, free advice is sometimes worth what you pay for it!

Gee. Nobody around. Well, I'll at least put the tea kettle on so people can make tea, hot chocolate, or instant coffee.

I don't think I'll be any more adventurous than that. I'm not familiar with the coffee set-up here. I think I'll leave that to Mendalla!

Quote by KatarinaTechgoddess

Technically I shouldn’t be going out anywhere without the new epi-pens. But the nurse did assure me that being only one month beyond the expiration date, I should be fine. But apparently not fine enough to give me the serum. Praying the damn things come before 2 pm tomorrow. Otherwise I have to wait until next week to get vials. In which case I’m gonna have to be extra careful to avoid my food sensitivity list (Aka everything that tastes good). Ah well. It could be worse. It’s just frustrating to wait.

Take care, Kat! That doesn't sound like something worth being impatient about!

Well, folks. I guess the moderators located an emergency supply of barf bags, because they published my poem. I won't say approved it…

Anyway, you can find it here:

It Was A Dream…

Big sigh…

Look, poetry's not my thing, unless it's limerick, then I can excel.

But I didn't think that appropriate for the competition…so…

I wrote a poem. More doggerel, really. I think. With a trailing wind…

But I've submitted it, so I'm committed, and waiting to BE committed.

It'll show up…once the moderators can find a barf bag…

.

The Bear had a thought of a poem

Even though he knows he don't know 'em

But when he got there

The Bear found himself bare

He submitted, but should have buried it in loam…

I'm slowly working my way through the poems – as time permits – while working on a poem of my own. I know how I want it to be when it's done, I just can't figure out how to get there – yet.

I know this feeling. It means my subconscious is working on it, and I shouldn't rush things. I hope.

Meanwhile, I also managed to find some time to read Kat's most excellent story, "The Locket", and would highly recommend it to all and sundry. Find it here:

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/realistic-fiction/the-locket-2

Quote by Mendalla

I shall join in your toast to Her Majesty. 96 years on Earth and 70 on the throne is a good run by any standard. And she remained throughout that time very much the kind of monarch that even a definitely not-monarchist like me can admire, which is no mean feat.

And I don't know if you are kidding but if you want to include "and" in your poem, I imagine it will fit in somewhere. 😋

I'm just reading the rules, Mendalla, and "and" is one of the words in the specification.

However, I very much doubt anyone would normally write a poem WITHOUT "and" in it.

Now, I understand there's a contest brewing here, and I understand it's…poetry?

Oh, dear. (sigh) Well, I'll give it a shot.

Anybody got a blindfold? I write poetry best when I can't see what I'm doing…

I understand that the entries have to contain these four specific words: Dream, Imagine, Peace, and.

Or at least, that's how I read the rules…

Good afternoon all.

I'd like some tea, and to offer a toast:

To Elizabeth Windsor, Elizabeth II or Britain, Canada, and the Commonwealth.

Her reign was long, her actions true, and her passing will be mourned.

The Queen is dead. Long Live the King!

Morning, all! I've been MIA for quite a while, but life kept getting in the way.

I'm going to try to drop a new story that's been sitting in my file for a while. It was my entry to a public fiction-writing competition sponsored by The Toronto Star. (Hint: I didn't win the $5,000 prize). Maybe when I review it, I'll see why I didn't win??

Anyway, I'd like a big mug of Red Rose to speed me on my way, please.

I'll have a cuppa Earl Grey, please, plus a couple of Sara's GF cookies, please!

Sara – do we get to sign your boot, like we used to sign casts in high school? I'd like to draw a polar bear on it, looking ferocious – but cute. You know – like me!

Morning, all! Or afternoon, I guess.

Family Day here as well – since we're both in Ontari-ari-O, and the streets are quiet. Eerie. Quiet streets in Toronto. What next?

I'll have a cuppa Red Rose and some GF cookies. Sara – I know that patience is hard, but there are times when it's a must. I think it was St. Francis who said, "Lord, give me patience – and hurry!"

Take care, there, girl!

Quote by Mendalla

Gooooood morning, Inspirations!

Last I checked it is a weekend. And that means ... I'm not at work. Not even on call this week.

Been prepping my stories for the anthologies and once again cussing myself out for the "big oops". Lost the original Docs file for "The Empty Office" so I had to take a PDF image of the copy on the site and use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to convert it to a text file, then do some editing to deal with the vagaries of OCR. But I now have a usable copy.

Anyhoo, coffee is brewing. Borrowed some Kicking Horse Pass from another local institution (glances around nervously as if checking for large, white furry animals).

Tea du jour is English Breakfast and Peach.

Hot chocolate is ready to go for those what drink it, and marshmallows are restocked from the newly replenished reserves.

Hmmm…well, as the only large, white, furry animal here, all I can say is – go for it!

Mendalla, what I did was to go to the story page here, click "Edit" at the bottom, copy the text, paste it into a Word document, then send that. Not only does that work, even if you've lost the original files, but it also includes any last-minute edits along the way.

Worked for me.

Some Earl Grey, hot for me, plus a couple of Sara's GF cookies, please!

Hey WG, I'm in – and flattered to be included.

I'm sorry, I don't understand. I am elated to have my story acknowledged and appreciated. And I would not have wanted to be a judge in this competition – all of the stories were remarkable!

Is it really necessary that there always be a fight over judging?

Violet's story was extraordinary, and she has continually grown as a writer – and for that, I rejoice.

But that throws no shade on any other author who entered. It was an astonishing array of talent on display.

I'm going to splash out with a large mug of Irish Breakfast tea, and a couple of the GF cookies that Sara so thoughtfully provides!

And congratulations to the winners and runners-up in the competition, especially to Violet the Eloquent and the other podium winners! A fascinating topic, so kudos to Molly, too!

Way to go Violet! Congratulations! And to all three of the podium winners, and 9 of the top 10 – Well done!

It was an intriguing topic, Molly – so thank you for suggesting it.

One of these years, we should have a very different kind of Valentine's Day theme: Massacre!

Quote by Mendalla

I has a sad. Ivan Reitman, the director of Stripes, Meatballs, Ghostbusters, and so many more movies that made me laugh has left the world at 75. Great director and he left the best possible legacy: his son Jason has followed in his footsteps, with Up in the Air that he wrote and directed and his father produced getting six Oscar nominations and winning a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay.

Sunny, cold day here again but the coffee is hot. Got a pot of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe for the coffee crowd, Irish Breakfast and Peach for the tea drinker, and hot chocolate on standby for those what likes it. There's rumours that the blockade on the Ambassador Bridge stopped a shipment of mini marshmallows but that was cleared yesterday so all should be well. watches nervously for the truck

Up in the Air really hit a chord with me. I came close to identifying with the George Clooney character because my job (pre-pandemic) involved so much travel. Unfortunately, I don't have Clooney's looks or charisma and am happily married, so the resemblance didn't carry over to being casually irresistible to women.

OTOH, I had a home to go to, and someone there to greet me, so it more than evens out.

Green tea sounds good, Mendalla, and a couple of Sara's GF cookies would be great!

Happy Hallmark Day, y'all! 😉❤️

Quote by redwriter

Our 12 year old shih tzu died of a heart attack last night. No apparent illness, painless, rapid--a blessing in that respect. But no more words through the tears.

I'm sorry to have just noticed this, but condolences. Even if they die well, the death of a beloved pet always sucks.

Quote by verbal

Ugh. On what should be the last dumpster load. My back is barking, as my Dad used to say. Still, we are very close to being ready. 13 days away.... It does feel gratifying.

I quit writing. I'll start up soon, but I'm scared if I write without my head fully in it I'll just f it all up anyway. So, a little 1-2 week break until this house stuff is settled.

Not to get political, but what's up in Canada with the truckers? We don't get a huge amount of coverage. I assumed it would peter out, but it appears to be getting kinda weird and dangerous.

Coffee and a dumpster-shaped cookie please!

To add to what Mendalla said, it started out as a small minority of truckers who objected to being vaccinated for the usual stupid-ass reasons. However, all of the right-wing-nut groups saw it as an opportunity and jumped aboard. Unfortunately, the authorities didn't take action quickly, which emboldened all these a--h---s, and they are now using supply chain chokepoints to hold the economy to ransom.

Now the authorities will have to act, and the wing-butts will get their January 6th moment. All of the politicians wanted to stay away from it, especially the conservative ones, because there are no political winners in this, only losers – which is actually one of the things that some of the right-wing groups want. They want the governments to look weak and ineffective.

Their demands were ridiculous at the start, and are now impossible. Even if a government wanted a "I have here a piece of paper" moment, they couldn't get it. Now they have to fight.

If it weren't so tragic and incredibly stupid, it would be fascinating, especially as wing-butt groups in other countries are watching and asking themselves, "Hey – why don't WE do this?"

Bad ju-ju all around.

Busy day today – and more tomorrow. Lady Jay and I are about to start making a major change in our lives. Much as it pains me to say it, we will be leaving Toronto, a city that I love and that absolutely infuriates me.

Not yet, but probably in the early summer.

A stiff Red Rose tea, please, innkeeper. And some of Sara's finest GF cookies, please and thank you.

Greetings, all! I've just finished reading the last competition entry, and I agree with Violet. There are some stunning entries, and I'm glad to see some newcomers!

I have no idea whose story I would pick as the winner – and am glad that I'm not doing the judging! To be honest, after a while the stories start to blur in my memory. But then, I've been told I have a one-track mind, so keeping several stories straight is clearly beyond my feeble abilities!

A mug of Red Rose, please, Mendalla, and a couple of GF cookies to go. I've got tasks to manage before I can collapse and do some more reading!

Ironically, I find myself almost rooting for the owners in the MLB debacle of negotiations. The MLBPA wants to bring in free agency a year earlier, which I understand from the players' point of view, but it also means you grow to love and root for a player (like Vlad Guerro Jr.) then BAM! They've moved on to the Yankees or Dodgers!

But I doubt very much the owners will accept that. They've said, loudly and repeatedly, that it's a non-starter.

sigh

Take me out to the ballgame,

Take me out to the crowds…

At least may I please have some Red Rose tea and a couple of GF cookies? I'll be back lying on the floor by Sara's chair, hoping for a fur-brushing!

Quote by Amelia

Oh I am so ready for baseball again! Hopefully this year my Red Sox will go farther and just dominate lol 😂 I will always love them even when they are having a horrible season. Though they do know how to frustrate me lol 😂

The weather here is COLD and icy … I wish it was snow and not this ice mess

Amelia, I'm right there with you on baseball – except I'm a Blue Jays fan!

But I suspect both of us are going to be disappointed as the MLB owners and players are continuing their uninterrupted string of monumental stupidity at the negotiating table. They've more or less admitted that Spring Training will be at least delayed, and they're still miles apart in positions.

If the owners weren't such entitled, spoiled brats, they would learn from the NBA and hire a professional commissioner, instead of an ass-kissing flunkey. Peter Ueberroth was the last professional commissioner they had – and that was in the 1980s!

So, much as I would be counting down the days to pitchers-and-catchers – I ain't holding my breath!