Natalia - Anastasia

Completed our morning swim and enjoying some sparkling water and gluten free pretzels by the pool.. The family aged Spring break has begun so my quiet, peaceful days ended yesterday for a while. It’s all good. I still have the best view around. Less wind today and less Red Tide toxins blowing around. I’m grateful for a bit of relief from the excessive coughing that causes. DIL sent me a video of my hubby pulling the baby on a little sled yesterday up north. So adorable! I Hope to spend some time writing as well. It all depends on how the afternoon goes.

I am sitting on the couch with my cat as I avoid folding laundry.

It’s the perfect afternoon for some beachy cookies. I’m terribly unfocused today.

Irene — Esmeralda

Nathan —- Niaomi

I just finished reading all the new stories and need cookies. I’m gonna grab a handful of Rays cookies and some iced tea lemonade. So much emotion from such talented writers.

Time to switch over the laundry and do a breathing treatment. The toxins are really bad today and the pollen count is high. Between those things, I can barely breathe. Looks like I’m staying indoors the rest of the day. Dead fish are starting to turn up on the shore. It seems so unfair for the fish. ☹️🐠

Quote by verbal

I was a huge fan of Ian Hunter back in the day, and so was a huge fan of Cleveland Rocks way before the show. They’re all really good openings. What a creative show. Great cast.

I’ll kick back with Kat for a cup of tea. It’s been a long day, I could use the relaxation.

Thanks for the company.

I always enjoyed Christa Miller on Drew Carey and Scrubs. She’s in a new show with Jason Segel and Harrison Ford called “Shrinking” on Apple TV+. It’s a great show but I’m left wondering every week if she had some kind of plastic surgery because her cheeks and mouth look a little off. Idk and the Internet search was no help. LOL. I ended up going down a rabbit hole on that one.

Need a cuppa tea before bed. The red tide toxins in the air are kicking my ass. I’m sure I’ve used my rescue inhaler more in the past 3 days than I have in all of 2022. ☹️

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

…wel, part of it is that one of their songs was used as the theme song for Drew’s sitcom for awhile, which is how and why I know about them.

I really liked that song, Five O’Clock World, if I’m not mistaken.

With so many good stories, I am thrilled to have placed 2nd. Congratulations to the winners and top ten! I highly recommend reading all 12 stories entered if you haven’t done so already. Fabulous talent here on SS!

Congratulations to all the winners and the top 10! So much talent here! I’ve read all the stories and I highly recommend reading all twelve stories that entered.

Woke up way too early. After multiple attempts to go back to sleep, I gave up and will likely need a nap later. Been working on a few stories this morning. Taking my brother for a swim at 10 and then I have the rest of the day to get ready for my nephew and his best buddy who are coming down for Spring break tomorrow for a week. Hubby is gone till Sunday so it’ll be nice to have some company and additional help with my brother.

Hope the week is going well for all y’all. I apparently picked up a cold in Michigan, which bums me out. But it seems to be running its paces rather quickly so I’m hopeful it won’t bog me down for long.

Sipping a cuppa tea while the cat snuggles up with me maybe I will take that nap sooner than later. LOL!

Congratulations! Thrilled for you!

Popping in for some caffeine. Caught up on reading the recent stories here and now I need to do something about the unpacked suitcase that is staring at me. The weekend was bittersweet, attended a funeral Friday afternoon and babysat my grandsons Friday. The weekend flew by but I managed to fill my heart with baby snuggles. My swim this morning should have invigorated me but instead I feel drowsy

So now it’s nap or consume caffeine and be productive. Hmmmmm….

Quote by Susie_de_Vil

It’s a beautiful sunny frosty day here in Ireland. Just been for a walk with the dogs and I’d love a cup of coffee to warm me up. I recognise a few faces from other places but hi, I’m Susie. New to here and hoping to publish a story or two soon

Welcome! 😎

How fabulous! Thrilled for you!!

The beginning of Lent. Was so pleased to discover that Methodists celebrate Lent. Hubby and I are making the switch from the Catholic Church to the Methodist Church. We needed a place of worship that felt more inclusive.

Never got around to having a doughnut or a paczki, but I had a Stella with my blackened grouper sandwich for lunch and dipped my kettle chips in Mayo. So, that counts right? Bon Mardi Gras!

Loved Annie's story! Honestly, I enjoyed all of the entries. This was a cool comp!

Cora wrote a lovely piece to honor him. Requiem | Stories Space

It's very sad to lose someone who was so kind and supportive.

Quote by Ceebees

I've managed to read all the entries in so far and like you, I'm really impressed by the variety of stories and interpretations on the theme.

I got my entry in. I've never been to Mardi Gras so I'm afraid you're stuck with fecking pancakes.

I've read all the entries as well. Fabulous stories. LOVED your fecking pancakes!!

Quote by verbal

Sorry to hear about the ear (there's a pun in there somewhere), Red. I've had nothing cut away yet, but a bit of colon (unnecessarily as it turned out). Now I have a semi-colon. Tip your waitresses.

Red, you should get antennas, like My Favorite Martian. That's dating myself!

No Talia Thursday. I'm feeling a bit under the weather, but will do my best to push through. Hope it's not a sign of actually getting sick.

Coffee and a cookie please.

Sorry you are feeling under the weather. Perhaps a ladder would help you climb over it? (Sorry. Puns are contagious). hope it’s nothing serious. Feel better!

Thanks to you I now have the theme song from My Favorite Martian in my head. Ray Walston had a lot of credits under his acting belt, but “Uncle Martin” was one of my favorite roles for him. That and “Mr Hand” in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Think I’m gonna need some tea while I travel down this rabbit hole…

Quote by Mendalla

Wow, Kat, Bear and I must have all been typing our posts at the same time. Psychic connection? Or coincidence? You decide.👻

Definitely a psycho, I mean psychic connection. 😎Or great minds thinking alike. 😉

Quote by redwriter

Have to have yet another carcinoma cut off my ear on Monday. I'll have no ear left at this rate. I wouldn't care, the sun is being blamed but it doesn't shine that much here on the NE coast. Does anyone have a spare? I've been to the ear shop but they only had Doctor Spock or Mickey Mouse ears--and they would clash with the one I have. I could get a matching pair but they would clash with the shape of my head!

It's 13 hours since Sara was here so I hope the coffee is still hot--yes, a latte and--oh, only Valentines cookies (that's past) --still, they are made with Sara's flawless skill, so why not? Mmmm, scrumptuous!

I’ve had carcinomas removed. My most recent diagnosis has me doing a few rounds of a topical chemo to avoid having part of my lips removed. Interestingly enough, docs are convinced that my issues stem from sunburns I got as a child years ago. Seems unfair. Back in the day, we ran around outside all summer long. We didn’t know about sunscreen.

Good luck with that ear. Sending positive vibes.

Good morning from the beach. It's chilly this morning, but it should warm up enough for a swim in the pool this afternoon. It will be a few months before the gulf is warm enough for this girl!

Sorry to hear COVID hit you again, Gillian. Hardly the kind of Valentine you hope for. Hopefully, y'all have a milder case. I understand the asthma concern, as that made my bout with Covid rather scary.

Hubby and I had it in January of 2020 when no one really knew what it was, and it left my doctor quite baffled as to why she couldn't get me well. I was on breathing treatments every four hours for three weeks. My cough lasted forever, and my sinuses became so blocked that my left eardrum burst. It was a nightmare. So I have had as many shots as have been available and will get as many shots as recommended in the future. I never want to be that sick again. Hubby's case was intense but very short-lived. Still, it put him in bed for two days which NEVER happens.

Thanks for recommending my poem, Bear. Your story was fabulous, and I very much enjoyed Jeff's Dentistry!

I have a few more recent pieces here that I need to read, plus a plethora of comp stories on the other site. I'd hoped to see more comp stories here, but the ones entered are all very entertaining.

It’s a chilly day today (by my standards) so a hot chocolate sounds good.

Congrats to the Chiefs!

Hope all y’all are having a great start to your week.

Quote by Mendalla

Good morning! There is no truth to the rumour that the object shot down over Canada yesterday was a massive coffee urn.😀 Or beer keg.

But here, the coffee is a'perking. And there's pots of Earl Grey and English Breakfast tea, too. Plus hot water if you want other teas or hot chocolate.

Up to seven in the comp, now, so I guess things are picking up. Read one so far and it was terrific (Kat's).

Thanks! I appreciate the nod! Popping in to say hi, grab a cuppa tea, and snag a handful of Laffy Taffy candies. YUM! Back to the table for some cards. Entertaining friends on a cool, windy day means finding things to do besides beaching it. To all y'all who are super interested in the Super Bowl, hope your team wins. I just want my numbers to win! LOL!

Memories of Mardi Gras (One Last Time)

This is a story that weaves bits of truth with speculative fiction. I stayed at that hotel, went on that tour, walked on those streets, but I never experienced what Giselle did. I hope you will read and enjoy my story. Be sure to LIKE it if you do! Many thanks!

Had friends arrive yesterday and it feels good to know that any amount of time can pass between visits and we are still so close.

“Tennis” elbow rearing its ugly head again. I got a steroid shot in early January that helped a lot. But it didn’t last. Aging sucks.

As we have no horse in the race, we will probably turn on the Super Bowl as background noise until halftime. I like Rihanna and am interested in seeing her perform. After that? Maybe sneak in another episode of Better Call Saul before bed. We started season 6 on Thursday.

Great Mardi Gras stories so far! I’ve read them all and I’m glad I don’t have to be a judge.

Have a great Saturday everyone.