We once had our sump fail on a rather soggy Christmas. Flooded the basement which, fortunately, we only use for storage. Cleaning up anything water over the holidays is not fun. My sympathies, Gil.

And good morning all!

Finally got my writer's cap on and started on a follow-up to the story that I still have not published from earlier this fall (some may recall my emo agonizing over killing off a character). Wrote a fight scene yesterday and it went well, so I think I might have this one. Might even finally post the predecessor if I feel things are moving well.

Coffee is on. Some nice dark roast from Costa Rica. Teas are Red Rose and Earl Grey. And there's hot water for all your other hot beverage needs.

Later!

Today's Author's Publish list is 22 respected literary journals and magazines. IOW, it's the big guns. Atlantic, New Yorker, Paris Review, etc. The ones where, if you somehow got in the door, you'd be rubbing shoulders with names like Franzen, Oates, Naipaul, Murakami, and so on. But, hey, maybe it gives us all something to aspire to. 😉

https://authorspublish.com/22-respected-literary-journals-and-magazines/

Steam has the romantic history associated with it but a modern diesel/electric will get you there a lot faster. So I guess it depends why I'm on a train ride, nostalgia for a time I never really knew or to get somewhere.

Snowblower or shovel? (yes, this question crossed my mind the other day as I dug out)

Quote by AnnaMayZing

Oh Helga Natt - Tommy Johansson

And Tommy singing it in the familiar English version. This was his final Christmas video for this year. I am not usually crazy about rock and pop singers singing this one. It really needs a voice with a some range and skill. However, between Tommy's two versions and Floor Jansen's performance of the Finnish version from a few years back, I am realizing that the better metal singers can pull it off.

Let's see, there's the comp entries here (I have a few to catch up on), the aforementioned bio of Leonard Cohen, and maybe other stuff. I am trying to get back into the Great Courses course on New Testament that I started earlier in the year so might do some Bible reading (though the last two lectures were more background on the early church as reflected in Paul's letters than the testament itself).

And the same to you, Ceebees. Welcome. Loved your comp entry and glad to hear you'll be around more in the New Year.

Here in Canada, we are celebrating Boxing Day. Which means one of two things: We are buying lots of stuff in boxes or we are getting into fisticuffs trying to get to the bargains. 🙄😜

Coffee pot is full up with some Ethiopian. Tea pots have Assam and Duke of Earl (my current black teas). Hot water is ready for those wanting other teas, hot chocolate, or some of our homemade instant coffee drinks (cappuchino, cocoa, and latte).

Off to stuff myself at a local buffet. See you 'round.

Seems to finally be settling down around here. Still have some shoveling to do but it's not a rush. We kind of had our Christmas yesterday.

Got a nice dark roast in the coffee pot and English Breakfast and Earl Grey in the teapots. Hot water is on for other teas and hot chocolate.

takes a couple snowflake cookies

Quote by Verity

Happy Christmas everyone. I hope the new year gives you everything you need. Regards, Verity.

Hey, nice to see you. Hope all is well. Happy Christmas and all the best from the ape.

The song was originally by British rockers Slade, this version is by German band Blind Guardian.

Not likely. My taste in cars tends to be pretty basic (I currently have a Honda Civic LX, the base model, on order). I like looking at the 100K+ cars but no real interest in spending that kind of coin on transportation.

WYE give up your car and rely on transit, bike, etc.?

This week's Tuesday mailing was 30 Magazines That Accept Poetry Submissions. Since I knew we have a few poets around here from the previous comp, thought some might like to see the list. There's also some contests but many are getting awfully close to the deadline. As always, read carefully. Some of these target specific demographics, others specific genres or themes. There are some general interest ones, too.

https://authorspublish.com/30-magazines-that-accept-poetry-submissions/

Oo, eleven. Now the chase for a top ten spot really begins. Heh heh.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah, and whatever you might be celebrating this season! It may be cold outside, but we're nice and warm in here.

And happy writing in 2023!

Cool, fun stuff.

Coldest day so far this winter here. -20C going up to -5C. So I've put some nice hot Nicaraguan coffee on along with pots of steaming English Breakfast and Lemon black teas. Kettle is ready if you prefer another variety of tea, hot chocolate, or our homemade instant coffee drinks.

Bundle up, folks (well, except Annie who's in summer-y Oz). It's brrrrrrrrrrrr out there.

So I have been playing with DALL-E, the AI art generator from OpenAI (same folks who created the much talked about ChatGPT). And for fun, I asked for "closeup pencil sketch of a beautiful snowflake" to see what it might come up with that could be from Jenn's sketchbook in my comp story. So here's some samples. I don't think any of these are the "perfect, beautiful snowflake" from the climax, but they could be some of her early attempts.

While I do like Pablo in his way, I love Constable's moody landscapes, so him.

Painting or sculpture?

6221 (snowstorms are fun ... not)

Quote by JamesPBear

Now we have 10, eh? Then maybe I have a chance of cracking the Top 10 this time!

EVERYONE STOP! NO MORE SUBMISSIONS, PLEASE!

Oh come on. Where's the fun? We need at least 16 (which has kind of been our usual in previous comps) to make things interesting.😊

And with all the snowflakes blowing around out my window right now, I feel like I need to get a magnifier or microscope and look for either a perfect, beautiful snowflake or one with a serial number. 😜

(If you don't get the joke, read the comp entries)

Landscapes. Grandad was a landscape painter (hobby, not primarily an artist) and I have always been fond of the Group of Seven, a school of Canadian landscape painting.

Oil or watercolour?

Good morning. Blowing light snow here. Not much accumulation yet but it is supposed to last the day.

So, I'll put on some nice hot coffee and teas (Assam and Christmas Tea, which is chai-ish but also with some fruity bits). Kettle is ready for some other hot bevvies. Marshmallows restocked for the hot chocolate crowd.

Cool new tea thing: Make a pot of oolong (premium Fujian oolong preferred), put a bit of cream in your cup, add the tea. Makes a nice creamy oolong. Yummy.

Quote by WriterGirl

(Shakes you awake) You are NOT taking a nap after your horror-flake story kept me awake last night. You tell me a sweet, lovely, gumdrops and snowflake fairies story RIGHT NOW, Verbal! 😠

Oh come on, we get enough of those this time of year. A little darkness in the mix never hurt. Of course, it takes a lot to freak me out (But I still haven't forgiven Ping for his winning story in the 2021 Halloween comp. That one even freaked me out.😨)

Quote by redwriter

Thank you, Scott. I was astounded at how easily that worked out after my hopeless attempts yesterday. I believe it is now being verified 9or not) Anyway, I am in your debt forever. Thanks too to Molly for your kind offer. Of courzse, I am blaming the laptop for these recent failings--it couldn't be me, could it? Could it?

Rule number 1 of IT: It's always the computer's fault. 🤣(Yeah, I've been using that line for probably 30 years now)

Quote by verbal
I will polish up my comp--which seriously channels the energy of Ping!--and maybe even submit today

Okay, now I get this statement. Very Ping that story is. 😀

Quote by AnnaMayZing
Not only was I in Germany, I was in Munich. Nightwish played at the Olympiastadion not so far from where we were staying. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go and am still kicking myself.

Yeah, I had to take a pass on their Toronto date on the North American tour in the spring (had an appointment that day that ended up getting cancelled at the last minute plus general concern about travel still at that time).

Got a pleasant surprise. An ultrasound that I thought would not happen until after my vacation in January happened this afternoon. Guess someone cancelled. I found out a 1:45 that a spot was available at 2:45. And the technician was on time, too.

Quote by redwriter

I think I have tried every conceivable Copying, Uploading , gliding and I still cannot make a connection. I had no bother initially in just plain copying to Word page before I started writing. But that simple technique didn't work and neither has anything else.

Let me give this a shot. Below is a copy of the write your own story screen. The text of the story (but not the image) gets pasted into the box at the bottom of my image marked "Story". For the cover image, you need to have a copy saved to your computer. Then you click the box marked with a camera and "Cover Image". That will open a "File open" window where you can click on the file, then click Open. This will upload the picture and set it as the cover picture.

It would be mine, all mine. Mwahahaha! I would keep the knowledge as limited as possible until I had plans in place. After that, people would get their gifts (probably immediate and some extended family, depending on amount maybe some organizations I support) and then anyone can know because the money will already be spoken for.

WYE try living "off-grid" (ie. generate own electricity, water from a well or lake, etc.)?

Quote by verbal
It's -8 here now, a little snow. I'm sure it's worse where a lot of you are.

We aren't due to get hit until overnight or tomorrow now. Not bad out at the moment. I went out to pick up a falafel wrap for lunch, and it was 5C and cloudy. Not even showers even though there's a 70% probability according to my weather app.

Well, I imagine they put some kind of trackers in those now (probably something more sophisticated than an Airtag) so I would hand it in assuming they would probably be able to find it anyhow. Would rather not inadvertently SWAT myself.

WYE join a "secret society" (Masons, Rosicrucians, etc.)?

Sorry I'm a bit late. Had to see my doc. Need to book an ultrasound of my hernia so he can put that with the referral. And got some new scrips. I am starting to need one of those little drug boxes that has a slot for each day. 😕

I am caught up on my comp reading (one of the benefits of the 1000-word limit is that it is easy to burn through a few before bed each night) and have dropped comments on all of them. Now awaiting more (taps foot and looks at watch😜).

Coffee is a Jamaican dark roast. Teas are Red Rose and Earl Grey. There's still some homemade instant cappuchino and latte mix along with the usual hot chocolate. Kettle is boiled and ready.