So, too bad the Braves couldn't take two in Houston, but they did their job by splitting. Now they have home-field advantage. Let's hope they can capitalize on it!

I'd like some orange pekoe tea, please. Hot. Or if there's none hand, I'll try some of the Buddha's Blend. And if there are any gluten-free Hallowe'en cookies, that would be amazing!

Meanwhile, I've got my costume ready to go!

Quote by Mendalla

By the way, I am dressing up as a human for Halloween.😉

.

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That's perhaps the scariest monster of all!

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And besides a pot (with cups available) of Earl for the white fuzzy types, I have put on a fresh pot of coffee and boiled the kettle for those inclined to some other variety of tea. I have been drinking Scottish Breakfast today myself.

I thought Scotch was "Scottish Breakfast"?

So, my competition story is out: The Road Not Traveled

It's about as spooky as I get.

I mean, come on, folks! I'm a bear.

I can people just by waltzing into the living rooms, right? So, I've never had to try to be spooky before!

Anyway, it's out there. It took some time to get approved. I've been told that the moderators read it, one at a time, and then were too overcome with laughter to approve it. Finally, someone recovered enough to do so.

So, read it and weep – laughing, if the fit takes you!

Now, may I have some tea, Earl Grey, hot, please. IN a cup this time, thank you very much!

And I'll check the cookie Tupperware safe for gluten-free cookies. Yup! Still some there. Thanks, Sara!

Hey there, y'all! And congrats to the Braves! I was so hoping they'd beat the Dodgers blue! (That's an "inside baseball" joke). Yea, Sara!

May I please have tea, Earl Grey, hot, in the famous words of Captain Picard? Naturellement!

And if there are any gluten-free cookies leftover, I'd like a couple of those, too.

Thanks!

Just submitted a comp entry, and it'll be published whenever the moderators stop ROFL. So, maybe sometime next week. I'm not a spooky kind of guy, so don't get your hopes up. And you can definitely wear white pants while reading it!

Quote by Mendalla

Quote by Welshdreamer42

I’m locked out of the other site 🤣

I knew I would be, I’m so rubbish with technology, lol 

Don’t suppose you could sneak me a beer, could you? 🍺

It's not you. I can't get in right now either. The site is still unstable from the upgrade, I think. My suggestion to all would be to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully, the tech crew are working on the issues.

There's a couple cases worth in the bottom of the fridge. Emergency stock I laid in. It's Sleeman's. Good Canadian beer (even if the company is now owned by Sapporo).

I'm just sneaking in for some Earl Grey tea, hot (as per Jean-Luc), plus one of Sara's (stolen and returned) GF sugar cookies. I'll take a seashell and a dolphin cookie, please. And yes, I know that's two, not one, but as Robert Benchley once said, there are only three kinds of people in the world: those who can count, and those who can't.

Hope everybody's well. Our g'daughter starts Sr. Kindergarten tomorrow, so we're out of town to avoid the rush. Of course, her parents (rightly) don't trust the provincial government here in Ontario to know their ass from the Grand Canyon, so she'll be attending remotely. Not sure what that will be like; her first experience with school being through a screen! Well, as my mother used to say "All will be revealed!"

Quote by Mendalla

Good morning! Coffee is a-brewing and kettle is a-boiling.

Day 2 of the long weekend and I am still kind of "at sea". I guess it's depression but I just feel very unmotivated and sort of unhappy. Not down in the dumps unhappy, just kind of lacking in joy. 

Sales trainers have a cure for that. It's called "GOYA", which stands for "Get Off Your Ass", meaning you're not going to feel any better moping around. Instead, get moving and do something constructive. Even if you have to force yourself in the beginning, once you're into it, you'll feel better.

Not sure if that helps, but it works for me!

Quote by ladysharon

Hello, everyone. Life is good, and I had a great few days ending August and am ready to tackle Blogtober on my website. The little one is in preschool and recently turned four and it seems like she was just born yesterday. 

I see the site has a new design and I'm feeling it. I'm going to have a look around and get some writing done. I hope to have a new original piece up soon.

Nice to meet you, Lady Sharon. I'm James, a polar bear married to Lady Jay. And no, I don't have a title – and am certainly NOT bi-, if you see what I mean.

Nice to see everybody. I have supper cooking on the BBQ, although I'll probably finish it in a pan, and we're sitting by a quiet lake in eastern Ontario, on vacation this week and into early next, wishing to miss the school rush, ours being too old for that.

I'll have a tea, Earl Grey, hot, please!

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Hold it, did the bear just confess to murdering Earl Grey? Does this mean we now have a murder mystery going on in here?

The problem with using Niven as an example is that a lot of his later stuff really was drivel, even if he also put out some pretty fine s-f in the seventies and eighties. I have a gut feeling that he might be a tough read for 21st century me, even though I was a fan in the eighties.

But, yeah, that's kind of what I've been doing. The problem for me is that technique usually generates these wonderful openings that have nowhere to go and any attempt to finish them seems to end up with me figuratively ripping the paper from the typewriter and tossing it across the room.

It wasn't me, I wasn't there, he didn't look like me even if it had been me, I was at home with my sainted mother, bless her dead soul, and besides, I always  liked Earl Grey – when he was alive. And my girl friend, Felicia, will back me up – but let me call her first, OK?

Well, if you can't, you can't. I can't think of anything else to say…oh, wait. That's the problem, isn't it? *shrug*

I've published a story that I had wanted to have linked to an existing series, but couldn't figure out how to do so. I've published the story and have now figured out how to add a link, but can't now find out how to link the already published story with the series. When I go to edit it in order to add the link, it seems to think I'm creating a new series. Help?

There's always the

Quote by Mendalla

Quote by verbal

I'm not writing well, and I don't know why. Keep at it I guess.

 

Me, too. Have two stories sitting there with like half a dozen to a dozen paragraphs but just don't know where to go with them. Great beginnings both, but then my imagination stalls on trying to go further.

Kettle is on for tea.

There's always the Larry Niven technique for writer's block. Just start typing, and keep going, even if it's complete drivel. Eventually, your subconscious will kick in and take over. Then circle back and edit out all the crap.

It works, even if it seem stupid or contrived!

Hi y'all! I could murder a cup of Earl Grey tea, hot, please!

I finished, exhausted, and collapsed into her loving, supportive arms.

Good evening everyone! Finally managed to get back here – apologies for the absence! And I've spent some time figuring out the new interface while submitting a story. It had me stumped for a while, but I just kept telling myself, "They know they have to make it simple enough for bears, they KNOW they do…" and kept plugging. Eventually, I figured out how it worked by trial and error.

Speaking of which: Where does red mean go, and green mean stop?

Quote by rolandlytle
Hi my friends.

I have been off my rocker for a few days but started feeling better last night. I am falling so far behind on my reading. Please accept my apology.

I love my father, but he believed in so many of the right-wing conspiracies like Covid-19 was a hoax. So he did not get the vaccine. Last week he got sick. He would not go to the doctor because he did not think it was serious. My sister and her husband, who live with my father, made him go to the hospital on Sunday night with labored breathing and a fever. When they arrived My sister and her husband had their temperatures taken to get in the hospital and found out they both had fevers too. All three were tested and were positive for Covid-19. Last night my father died of Covid-19. My sister and her husband both had their vaccines. My sister still has a slight fever and a sore throat and her husband no longer has any symptoms. Next week I will be going to Charlotte, NC with my family for his funeral.

I am heartbroken and upset. I can not help but think my father threw his life away because of the lies he listened to and believed.

Until I return from the funeral, I will not be writing much, but I will try to read some. I am sure that reading your stories will help keep me sane for the next two weeks.

Death is a part of life, just like birth, happiness, love, and tragedy.

Till later. Be safe, happy, and continue being the great people you are.

Laughter is healing, so remember; chameleons who can not change color are suffering from reptile dysfunction.

Quote by elizabethblack
James, you are so right. What was that sign maker thinking. Must have been from Mars or Pluto. Here is one more appropriate for the wonderful people that live in the north:

Quote by elizabethblack

Quote by Mendalla

For my dear friends from Canada:

Actually, I think that sign should say, "One day Canada will take over the world, and then WE'LL apolgize for the necessity!"

You, know, Canadians being so polite and all…

Good morning everyone! A lovely day here in the Great White North! How's everyone doing?

I have a full day ahead, but wanted to stop in and say howdy.

Howdy!

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Psst. The bear is getting older. Pass it on.
to JamesPBear!!!

Quote by DenimAngel
hi peeps
Tam in the Elmo Cookie jar is gluten free cookies
There is a Polar Bear that lurks in the Coffee house that is on a gluten free diet too .

*Peeking in the cookie jars * we are in good shape
* Giving the adorable critters fresh water and treats*
Stay safe everyone.

Quote by Ping
ugh. didn't think I'd finish. just submitted my comp.

chocolate milk, please.

i've decided to protest everything capital.

sorry, gotta go. another busy day. will start reading the rest of the stories later tonight.

good day to y'all (now officially accepted as a word)

Quote by Mendalla
Good morning. I visited Stonehenge just a couple years ago but there was neither Verity nor dancing happening. Must have gone on an off day.

I see a mysterious polar bear has wandered into the competition. Hope he drops by to introduce himself though he seems vaguely familiar, eh.

Coffee is on and kettle is boiling. I'm settling in for a rather quintessential Southern Ontario Summer day (high of 30C, humid, chance of evening showers).