My new discovery for this month though YouTube has been foisting her videos on me for a while. Swedish-born Julia Westlin now lives in Canada due to falling for a Canadian many years ago. Her husband, who goes by David MeShow professionally, is a musician, too, and works with her on a lot of her videos and recordings. One of her own compositions.
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Crazy old ape
Quote by AnnaMayZing
Käsekrainer
A German (ok, Austrian originally) sausage which is stuffed with cheese and best served in a bun like a hotdog.
I love sausage on a bun but have never had that one, even on my one trip to Germany. Looks yum.
Back in my youth, I ate a lot of peanut butter & honey and grilled cheese sandwiches. Still make the latter occasionally today.
Quite fond of Italian panini sandwiches these days but there aren't many places to get them around here. Tim Hortons used to do a decent one but they are going downhill and I don't think it was even on the menu last time I was in one.
Crazy old ape
My high school Latin teacher. He also taught me French one year, but it's Latin that I remember him for. Very enthusiastic and engaged about the subject and great at conveying that to the students. I ended up doing my BA in Classics at least partly due to that experience.
I had a music teacher in grade 7-8 and an English teacher in Grade 9 who were similarly enthusiastic and capable.
Then there was the high school librarian. Wonderful gentleman originally from England. I worked for him on a volunteer basis during the year and for pay in the summer. He taught me as much as any of my actual teachers and I ended up being a librarian for my first career. Also got me into Gilbert & Sullivan. He was a key member of the local G&S Society at the time. His son was a classmate, too.
The librarian passed away a couple years ago and I went to the visitation, the only teacher I have done that for. He was that important to me.
As for bad ones ... better not to speak ill of the dead. At my age, most of my teachers are no longer with us.
I had a music teacher in grade 7-8 and an English teacher in Grade 9 who were similarly enthusiastic and capable.
Then there was the high school librarian. Wonderful gentleman originally from England. I worked for him on a volunteer basis during the year and for pay in the summer. He taught me as much as any of my actual teachers and I ended up being a librarian for my first career. Also got me into Gilbert & Sullivan. He was a key member of the local G&S Society at the time. His son was a classmate, too.
The librarian passed away a couple years ago and I went to the visitation, the only teacher I have done that for. He was that important to me.
As for bad ones ... better not to speak ill of the dead. At my age, most of my teachers are no longer with us.
Crazy old ape
Well, as a lifelong Canuck, I haven't lived in any states. Yet. My son is musing about moving South after he finishes his degree and we might follow eventually just to stay close to family.
Alabama
Alaska (V)
Arizona (V)
Arkansas
California (V)
Colorado (V)
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida (V)
Georgia (V)
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana (V)
Maine (V)
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan (V)
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana (V)
Nebraska
Nevada (V)
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York (V)
North Carolina (V)
North Dakota
Ohio (V)
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island (V)
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee (V)
Texas (V)
Utah (V)
Vermont (V)
Virginia (V)
Washington (V)
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming (V)
Just for fun, here's my roster of Canadian provinces and territories:
British Columbia (V)
Alberta (V)
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario (L)
Quebec (V)
New Brunswick (V)
Prince Edward Island (V)
Nova Scotia (V, almost L)
Newfoundland
Yukon (V)
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Alabama
Alaska (V)
Arizona (V)
Arkansas
California (V)
Colorado (V)
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida (V)
Georgia (V)
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana (V)
Maine (V)
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan (V)
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana (V)
Nebraska
Nevada (V)
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York (V)
North Carolina (V)
North Dakota
Ohio (V)
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island (V)
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee (V)
Texas (V)
Utah (V)
Vermont (V)
Virginia (V)
Washington (V)
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming (V)
Just for fun, here's my roster of Canadian provinces and territories:
British Columbia (V)
Alberta (V)
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario (L)
Quebec (V)
New Brunswick (V)
Prince Edward Island (V)
Nova Scotia (V, almost L)
Newfoundland
Yukon (V)
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Crazy old ape
The two above me have me beat, but I did a couple fairly long driving tours over the last couple years. One from Vegas where we rented a car and looped through Southern Utah and Northern Arizona visiting various national parks. We did have extended stays at Bryce and Zion, though. The other was this past summer. We drove from our home in London, Ontario down to Virginia, followed the Blue Ridge Parkway through that state and NC, then ended up at Gatlinburg Tennessee where we stayed a few days to hike and tour in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Finally drove back home up I-75.
Crazy old ape
Couldn't find my evil priest/wizard robe and hood so I'm sitting out Hallowe'en. However, I did write a new poem for the occasion!
Spooky People
Spooky People
Crazy old ape
Quote by BowTied
We have two options, since my spouse and I work together. Our tuxedoes are both hanging up nice and fresh from the dry cleaner, so we're tempted to wear them to work (it's a banking operations center) as the two grooms that we are, just like our legal and OFFICIAL wedding day. OR, depending on how much time he thinks it might take, he's thinking of wearing the bridal gown he wore for our first "wedding" (see below). Has to have the time to get the hair and makeup just right, along with the headpiece and veil, etc. In THAT case, naturally, I'll be in my tux as well. That's me in the photo off to the side. Either way, it looks like I'm wearing my tuxedo tomorrow!
That sounds like a fun dress-up. I'd go with the dual tuxes myself. Seems kind of classy but still work-friendly. Tux + dress is probably more fun, though.
Crazy old ape
Quote by hayleyQuote by MendallaQuote by hayley
Awww.. you are very modest... you don't heed to downgrade to his level ... you just stay above the pack!
I was thinking mostly of the toned abs that appear to lie beneath that shirt. I'm not quite a beer gut but definitely not a six-pack either.
And that outfit above me? Kill it. Kill it with fire.KVsuAALbcc4RW9zp
Toned abs????
Don't be fooled
LOL.
And those Doritos socks would likely sell well in Canada now that weed is legal.
Crazy old ape
Quote by Adagio
When a site becomes all about badges. Its loses legitimacy. It becomes a club for a few. SS should be about writing and not bragging. People seem to lose sight as to what SS is. Do you want writing or glitter? All that glitters, is usually man-made by personal opinions and wafts of deceit.
No one is suggesting it become all about badges, but we are suggesting that if we are going to have them, then the standards for them should be reasonable.
Crazy old ape
Quote by gypsyQuote by magnificent1rascal
Finally, it is apparent that I need to read more Shirley Jackson.
Yes, do. One of the most chilling and perfect stories of all time, in my opinion, is The Summer People.
https://www.bustle.com/articles/200133-10-shirley-jackson-short-stories-for-fans-of-the-queen-of-horror
The Summer People is linked on the above page.
Good list. Just reading through the stories listed would be a good intro to her short fiction.
Crazy old ape
Quote by Survivor
Famous story: 3,000 views.
Legendary story: 10,000 views
Famous Member: 10,000 views
Famous Vocalist: 5,000 listens
Millionaire's Club (Change to "Viewers' Club"): 100,000 views
Bumping Larry's proposal yet again since nothing seems to have happened in the past year. These may actually be too high, to be honest (perhaps 2500 and 5000 for famous and legendary story), but they're a good start IMHO. My oldest story on her is barely over 500 views but I have stories elsewhere that are proportionately similarly view-challenged so that's not unusual for me. Famous Story seems to be a difficult ladder for me to climb.
Crazy old ape
Quote by magnificent1rascal
Finally, it is apparent that I need to read more Shirley Jackson.
Please do. You won't regret it. I have a collection of her shorts (The Lottery and Other Stories) and The Haunting of Hill House on my bookshelf and crack one or the other fairly regularly.
Crazy old ape
Quote by hayley
Awww.. you are very modest... you don't heed to downgrade to his level ... you just stay above the pack!
I was thinking mostly of the toned abs that appear to lie beneath that shirt. I'm not quite a beer gut but definitely not a six-pack either.
And that outfit above me? Kill it. Kill it with fire.8c4SdA51UUytAq4E
Crazy old ape
Quote by hayleyQuote by Mendalla
The last two are a good example of why I ignore fashion shows. They are more about clever creativity than clothing I'd actually wear.
Now I can see you in this....
Yeah, that's more my style to be sure. Wish I looked like him, though.
As for the "all over sweater" above me, I'll need that in about 2 months, maybe less.
for feeding dragons pizza when we all know that fair maidens and noble knights are more to their taste. Crazy old ape
Quote by Survivor
Shirley Jackson could write in so many voices and worlds. Humor and suspense and horror. She is truly inspiring as a writer.
I'd count Jackson as an inspiration at a broad level but I could never hope to write like her. The subtlety of something like "After you, my dear Alphonse" or The Haunting of Hill House, which has to be one of the subtle works of horror ever, is so difficult to achieve.
Crazy old ape
So, I imagine most on here who write (which is, indeed, most of us) have writers we've read over the years that we consider inspirational, whose ideas or style have slipped into our own. So who are your literary inspirations?
A couple for me:
H. P. Lovecraft - leaving aside his racism and classism for a moment, HPL's ideas about horror and creating a kind of dark background to reality that we explore at our peril definitely inspired me. Just look at "Voice of Ice" on here if you need to see that. I probably had some of his style at one time, too, and may still have some of it but I've tried to get away from some elements of it (repeated emphasis of rather odd, obscure adjectives like "squamous").
Clark Ashton Smith - less well-known than his friend Lovecraft, CAS wrote "weird fantasy" that is definitely an inspiration for my fantasy stories (not so much "Night of the Wind" but definitely the sequel I'm toying with). His short stories and occasional novellas (he never did write anything that would really qualify as a novel) paint word pictures of strange exotic worlds, usually with a dark edge to them. He also borrowed from Lovecraft (and vice versa), frequently bringing his friend's cosmic horror into the mix. Like Lovecraft, his stuff his now mostly Public Domain so just search him up on Project Gutenberg or other PD literary sites.
A couple for me:
H. P. Lovecraft - leaving aside his racism and classism for a moment, HPL's ideas about horror and creating a kind of dark background to reality that we explore at our peril definitely inspired me. Just look at "Voice of Ice" on here if you need to see that. I probably had some of his style at one time, too, and may still have some of it but I've tried to get away from some elements of it (repeated emphasis of rather odd, obscure adjectives like "squamous").
Clark Ashton Smith - less well-known than his friend Lovecraft, CAS wrote "weird fantasy" that is definitely an inspiration for my fantasy stories (not so much "Night of the Wind" but definitely the sequel I'm toying with). His short stories and occasional novellas (he never did write anything that would really qualify as a novel) paint word pictures of strange exotic worlds, usually with a dark edge to them. He also borrowed from Lovecraft (and vice versa), frequently bringing his friend's cosmic horror into the mix. Like Lovecraft, his stuff his now mostly Public Domain so just search him up on Project Gutenberg or other PD literary sites.