YEA Kat, Jason, and verbs! Way to go, guys (well, gal and guys, but … you know).

And congratulations to everyone who had the audacity to enter. It turned out to be a rollicking competition.

So, tonight's The Big Debate. I suspect trump will do as he did against Biden – talk non-stop nonsense when it's his turn to speak, ignoring questions, and trying to deliver memorized one-liners against Harris.

For Harris' part, the memorized one-liners will also surely be there. I've read several "analyses" with recommendations for how she should approach this, including ignoring trump's presence and establishing her expertise.

I doubt there has been a public event where the stakes have been higher in many years, perhaps even in my lifetime.

Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed for the outcome!

Quote by WriterGirl

Woohoo! Twelve!!

I’m taking a short getaway next week/weekend and will unplug, but best wishes to all who entered. I’ll check out the judges’ choices when I return. You are all worthy poets!

Well maybe, but my feet sure show it … They're LONGFELLOWS!

Oh Gillian – what a horrible thing to have to deal with. That's heartbreaking, and I'm so sorry you have to go through it.

My younger brother is going through early-onset Alzheimers, but I'm not his caregiver, so I can't really know what it's like.

Best wishes, and thoughts of comfort to you.

💔😢

Dark roast Costa Rican coffee in the urn, Darjeeling tea in the pot, and all's right with the world!

How's everyone doing today?

Brought some peach cake to go with the cookies! Peaches have been delicious this year! Best I can remember.

Since you ask, Bear and Girl has finally been published, after a LOT of hassles with Kindle. They had some kind of "technical glitch" which caused the ebook to be hung up for 23 days!!

NVMD, it's been published now. Here's a link to the site:

Bear and Girl: A Story of Hope, Friendship, and Strength

And here's an earlier version of the cover, but most of the other versions I have are too big to upload here.

So Verb's poem has been published, and it is lovely.

It reminded me of a Zen saying…

But you'll have to read the poem first:

Rainbow Geometry

Death brushes by me,

While, disfigured by its touch,

I wait for falling snow…

Quote by CuriousAnnie

Poetry? Seriously!

Lol, well I channeled that Welsh git, you know the one ...

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And there's a villanelle loaded under my name which I will tinker with over the next couple of days. It's not Dylan, but that's not surprising, after all I'm no poet. Many new writers start with poetry; why, I ask, it's literally the hardest writing task of all?

.

So true, Annie! I always struggle with poetry – but then, perhaps that's how it's written: as a struggle.

Except limericks, of course.

I love Haiku, but trying to write one is … a struggle.

.

Death brushes by me,

While disfigured by its touch

I wait for falling snow…

Hey there, hi there, ho there!

Busy time here. Bear and Girl – the book – is almost published. I say almost because Kindle can't seem to get their shit together and publish the ebook version of the paperback and hardcover they've already approved.

We'll see what happens, and I'll make a formal announcement when it's all done.

Take care!

Good morning, campers!

Costa Rican dark roast in the urn, Red Rose in a pot on the sideboard.

Poetry comp is heating up nicely!

Lots to do today, so I'll steep and run!

Quote by verbal

There is too much rejection in writing.

Coffee please.

Jeff, there's too much rejection in life.

OTOH, if everything were accepted from everyone, there would be no simple way to tell good from bad, and we would drown in too much information.

Which, come to think of it … we are!

(checks coffee urn, sniffs) WHEW

I think we could use a new brew.

(Empties old coffee, rinses out machine, refills and resets, the hits ON)

OK, it should be ready in a few.

Meanwhile, try some tea. A much more civilized infusion beverage!

(checks cookie stash) Hope Sara comes in soon. Looks like we're getting kinda low here.

BTW, I finally got off my furry rear end and posted my competition entry.

It's weird. Just sayin'…

Dreaming…

OK, so let's say four and a half…

I just submitted my entry…called…

Dreaming…

(scratches chin, trying to think, but nuttin' happens…)

🙄

Good morning campers!

I see Mendalla hasn't wandered in yet, so let me get some fine Guatemalan coffee going, plus some Earl Grey tea.

(checks the cookie jars) Seems like we're OK for now. If anyone sees Sara, ask her if she has some more cookies cookin', OK?

I'm going to take a Bear-sized mug of Earl Grey back to WriterGirl's corner and see if I can't get her to inspire me with some poetry. Maybe that'll make it easier for me to think of something for the comp!

Oh man – POETRY!

About the only poems I'm any good at are Limericks.

.

An unpoetic Bear name of Jimmy

When asked to write poems would shimmy

Then stutter and stare

Look off into thin air

And beg to be let off with a gimmie!

.

Beyond the veil, eh?

Maybe a bridal story??

Hmmm…

OK, this is NOT an entry, but a certain person who will remain nameless happens to be visiting French Lick and wanted me to post this. I discarded this as too creepy, but apparently … SOMEbody LIKES creepy…

------------------------

The Assignment

Gildor opened the door. Hot summer air torched his face, and a fly buzzed by.

French Lick, he sneered to himself. What a hick name!

Flashing his plumber’s card, he entered the resort’s service entrance. His tool kit held zip ties, gags, and chloroform. He’d been sent to abduct that pair of twin sisters, and when the money was right, he always delivered…

Quote by verbal

I counted the words like 10 times. I think I’m right at 70

.

I copied it into a Word document, and MS Word thinks it's 70 words.

It's also very good.

Finding Godot

`

Godot burst through the door, head buzzing with hope – then stopped dead, disappointment bitter in his mouth.

The airless room was baking with summer heat. Turning, he found the door behind him had vanished. Only the door ahead remained.

Wiping his face, he resolved to escape. He strode forward, yanking the door handle…

.

Godot burst through the door, head buzzing with hope – then stopped dead…

Quote by gillianleeza

There are two weeks until my beach vacation. It will be nice to get away after all the stress and emotional ups and downs of planning and having a wedding in our yard. Hopefully, nothing comes up with my parents before or while I am away. Other than that, nothing exciting is going on.

Have a good weekend, everyone. Cheers.

.

Good luck with the wedding! I'm sure it will be amazing – and that everyone will behave! (for a change – families, right?)

Cheers!

Congratulations to WriterGirl, Tom, and Mendalla, plus everyone else who didn't come in 9th!

It was a fun theme, and brought out some great writing and better ideas.

Well done all.

Quote by verbal

That's a lot of cities! I don't know I could handle a schedule like that. Off to get a haircut, and run a few errands - we are off to a Brooks and Dunn concert in Denver this weekend.

I'm taking a few days off from watching the Mets. It's just too depressing. Why do they ALWAYS suck?

A coffee and a flag cookie please.

.

Why do the Mets always suck? For the same reason that the Jays suck – ownership. When a team that should win loses for a season or two, you can blame the manager. When they lose for 5-10 years, blame the GM and President. When they lose for longer than that, blame the owners.

Ever since Labatt's, the original owner of the Jays, was taken over by a foreign brewery that didn't care about baseball, the Jays have struggled to be relevant, save for one short period when they had Alex Anthropolous as the GM.

Alas, Edward Rogers fired him (effectively) in a year when Anthropolous won GM of the Year, so he went to the Braves – which is a big reason the Braves are as good as they are.

It takes persistence, patience, and brains to win consistently. Neither the Mets nor the Jays have that.

And Mendalla, I would strongly suggest that you pick your battles. If you're getting ragged, skip a city or two, stay on the ship and relax. Most of those "10 cities in 11 days" cruises don't show you all that much since you're in each city for such a short time.

(looks around, finds the place empty)

I've got some Kona coffee in the urn, and Red Rose black and Kettl Uji Genmaimatcha green teas brewing today.

So far, I think I've got a decent chance of making the Top 10 in the current competition! Of course, it would be great if more people joined the fun, but then I expect there will be a last-minute rush.

Let's hope so at any rate!

Chilly here this morning: 10C, which is 50F, but it should warm up as the sun rises.

Enjoy the day, y'all, because it's Spring!

Quote by verbal

Nice to see a new batch of stories! Looking forward to reading them.

And congrats on the Girl and Bear book, James. I enjoyed those stories.

Not much new here. Critique group tonight, which means I am reading and critique most of the day. It does get in the way of a productive day.

Time to make the donuts. I’d love a coffee.

It's not published yet. I'm working on release next month, in time for beach-time reading lists.

I'll be sure to let everyone know. It will be offered for free on Kindle for a limited time, and I would appreciate it if people could comment on Amazon about the book.

I'll let y'all know when it's about to launch.

Thanks!

And an Original Earl Grey tea for me, please, Ape!

Quote by Mendalla

And FYI, folks, besides James' comp entry, Sara's is up now, too.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/childrens/millys-adventure-2

And thick and fast they came at last…

He was born. She lived. They died – together.

OK, so the moderator must have felt particularly generous today as my comp entry has been approved!

Find it here:

If Only …

I realize I've been a bit of a stranger, but there IS a reason: Bear and Girl.

I'm putting it together in a book, and I've hired a publication company to help produce, but more importantly, market it. I hate marketing. It was the one part of my job I didn't like – promoting myself.

Anyway, another part of the reason I'm here is that I've just submitted my comp entry, and am anxiously awaiting approval or rejection. I hope the mods like it!

I'll let folks know when it hits the street – one way or the other.

Meanwhile, I'll check for GF cookies, and grab a cup of Cream of Earl Grey tea, then mosey on back to Sara's Spot and set for a spell!

Quiet in here.

OK, well, I've got a nice Ethiopian coffee perkin' away, plus some Kenyan Darjeeling tea in the pot, plus some…

BIRTHDAY CAKE!

It's Sara's birthday, everybody!

Happy Birthday, girl!

Hmmm…doesn't seem like there's any coffee or tea going, so I'll get things started.

Costco Lavazza beans, and Red Rose and Earl Grey White Tips tea are brewing today – and, as always, hot chocolate and mini-marshmallows are available.

Less than a week 'til Christmas! I have all the presents for Lady Jay – now I just have to wrap them!

She does all the presents for everyone else, so…

I have an idea for the last 2-3 chapters of the Bear & Girl stories, but so far haven't had time to work on them. I'll get there - I hope.

Enjoy the holidays, in whatever shape, form, or flavour you take them! Merry Christmas!