Quote by verbal

The cats are hiding. 

Gee, I would have no idea why. 😨

I have pushed the fantasy piece into the simmerer with the comp entry. Not sure if I will pull either out again today. We shall see.

Right now, I am debating how far apart to space them. I am thinking the comp entry should go live first so there's time for people to read and appreciate it before the deadline. But how long should it be my "latest" and the focus of attention before the other one goes up, given that the other one has been stewing for weeks and I am itching to get reactions.

Quote by Verity

The hardest part about painting a picture is knowing when to put the brush down. If it feels good, it probably is. Publish and be damned. 

The coffee is on. The kettle is boiling. What's happening, folks?

My comp entry is "simmering" for today (i.e. I won't look it again for a day or two) so I am back to my new fantasy story that I have been working on for a week or two now. I keep resisting the ending that I have put on it (the denouement, not the climax of the story) but somehow it feels right every time I go to change it and I back down. Maybe it is time to leave well enough alone and let the readers be the judge. We shall see.

Quote by gypsy

Really evocative interpretation of Northwest Passage, and what a voice she has!

As for the song, I once used Northwest Passage in a church service (Stan's original recording in that case) many years ago. The theme was spiritual exploration and something felt right about it. I was UU in those days so had a lot of leeway on stuff like this.

Right now, I am listening to another metal band with a strong female vocalist, Italian goth metal band Lacuna Coil. The band's female singer (there's also a male lead) Cristina Scabbia is on of the oldest and best of the female metal singers.

I see there is now an upload tab when you click the camera to add media to a forum post so thanks for that. Have not tested it yet (well, until this post)

Just been catching up on Canadian power metal band Unleash The Archers. While they are from Victoria, BC, they are signed with Napalm Records, an Austrian label specializing in metal so I found them while exploring European metal bands. This is a cover of a favorite of mine by the late Canadian folk singer-songwriter Stan Rogers.

The cookies came early today. * grabs a pumpkin and a leaf *

Just watching some music by a Canadian metal band I just discovered and they have a song called "Abyss" (I think it is the title track of an album, in fact) and I realized that this is a word that I could use in my comp story and have not. Going to remedy that.

John Sanford I guess. Already tried Brown and found him lacking so at least Sanford would be something new.

Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Quote by Verity

The best Bond that never was, Patrick McGoohen. Apparently he was offered the part but turned it down. How cool is that. Way to go Number 6 BCNU

Honey garlic spare ribs and whatever veggie my wife decides to stir-fry to go with it.

Love the banner that up on the top of the home page now. Perfect promo for the comp.

Coffee! Tea! Come and get 'em!

Not to mention the ever wonderful Sara's cookies.

Getting happier with my comp story all the time. Still needs some refining, I think, but I like the flow and feel of it.

Quote by sweetsinner

Sorry if this has been covered but when I try to go to my profile or stories it’s taking me to red instead of my profile and stories here (from the menu itself, I can circumnavigate by using my name here for example). 

Quote by Ping

You many have heard it before. It’s by a wonderfully fearless and creative Canadian band called Arcadia Fire.

I’ve got my comp idea. Started my notes. It’s going to be a twisted, introspective psychological thriller of a mess. Based on an almost true story. Just like my life. I’ve got a feeling and it’s really freakin’ me out. 😁

https://youtu.be/xQuUN1HGa0c

And your life is a twisted, introspective psychological thriller? Cool. Well, maybe. Sort of.

Looking forward to your comp entry.

Never got into TWD. I have Haunting of Hill House and Haunting of Bly Manor on my TBW (to be watched) list so I guess Midnight Mass will be joining them.

Still mostly just watching documentary stuff on Youtube with the odd foray into Netflix.

Quote by verbal

Quote by Ping

 way Facebook is down worldwide, which is putting me in an apocalyptic state of mind.

Putting on fresh pots of both tea and coffee so we have something to sip while the (online) world comes grinding to a halt.

Card game. Haven't played cards in a while and I just got a new deck (courtesy of a software company trying to get in the door at work)

Stationary bike or regular bike?

My story is on first draft after a bit of a rocky start. And I basically set it in my own office just for lulz.

Oh, and did I mention that I am on vacation? No work. Not much else, either, just writing and relaxing. Travel still seems risky right now.

Hey, Ping, glad to hear you are home and mission was accomplished. Too bad about losing a friend but it sounds like it may have been for the better based on your description.

Good morning! Another week is under way. Another glum day here. Guess that provides the right atmosphere for doing some comp writing, though. Coffee is in the pot, kettle is boiling for tea. Irish Breakfast is the tea of the day.

Anyone needing to be caffeinated on this dreary Sunday morning (well, dreary where I am). I've put on a fresh pot of coffee and made a pot of Kenya Tinderet for the tea crowd.

I feel like I am on the brink of one of my headaches and I am trying to figure out if I can use that information to stave it off. Doing some stretches and other exercises I learned my physio a few years back to see if I can loosen up my neck before the tension goes over the brink.

Back from hanging out with my wife at the local conservation area. An hour and a half paddling, an hour hike, and lunch at their snack bar in between. Tired but happy. The exercise and fresh air will do me some good.

It is Saturday morning and sunny. Looking like a nice day here, then rain (or at least cloudy with showers) for most of the next week. Probably get in some cycling or canoeing since there may not be many good weekends (or days) left before the weather is permanently too cold or crappy. Then again, we went for a walk along the river just before Christmas last year so who knows? Weather has become rather unpredictable of late around here.

I'll put some coffee on and get a pot of Sunday Tea going (Ceylonese black with bourbon vanilla).

Fresh cookies! * Picks two at random *

And that's a wrap, folks. No more work for the ape until after Thanksgiving (Canadian version). Now to see if I can get a comp entry together while I am not distracted by my day job.

Quote by verbal

No Talia Friday. I'm going to dip the cats in paint and fling them against the wall to create an exciting mural for Talia's reuten home.

Quote by Ping

Great news on the spooky comp. I might have a story idea about an innocent but trapped soul in the purgatory walls of a small town motel…

Or a bed bug story…

Or the roadkill that came to zombie life and chased me down the highway…

Or the bison bull that charged me while I approached him on my motorcycle…

Or the little hole in the motel wall that a blood sucking spider comes each night to feed on motel guests…

***

And you got charged by a bison? 😲 We ended up stuck in a herd when we were in Wyoming several years ago. I was awed and impressed, but also just a wee bit nervous knowing how fast and strong bulls are.

Good morning, y'all. Coffee is on, kettle is boiling. The teapot has Cream of Earl Grey in it. There's a thermos here if Ping needs some for the road. 

So now I am thinking whether I should finish my fantasy story first or plunge right into my idea for the comp. I am officially on vacation at 5pm today (well, I am on-call for the weekend since everyone else is away, but that doesn't usually generate much work, if any) so might even be able to get both done by Canadian Thanksgiving on the 11th.

Yeesh, you're quick. I only just got an idea on the way home from work and probably won't start until the weekend.

I haven't seen it in a couple days, actually. The problem with the cookie theory is that I had it on a brand new computer with a "clean" user profile i.e. one that had never been on Lush. Which would seem to rule out cookies and caching issues. They have heard this from me already.