Quote by verbal
Crazy night! 75 mph winds came blowing through, all night long. The house was shaking. I went and secured things as best I could at like 4 a.m. and almost blew away! Our front glass door was shattered and we lost 4 sections of fence! Lots of trash and debris in the yard too. Gonna be a long day, clearing the yard and calling insurance and setting up handyman calls. Arg.

Ouch. We had a day of heavy wind a few weeks back but I didn't see any damage of that degree. I've seen a couple fences under repair in the neighbourhood but not sure if that's from the storm or just fences that needed mending to start with. I have a tree that's going to have to come down but its location means its really only a threat to other vegetation and possibly a fence.

Thanks, Cora. I'll see what happens. It's just I have been rather bitchy about the activity level here of late and, yet, not really doing much about it myself given my current state of writing. So I was really hoping to be in this comp for that reason, if nothing else. And seeing that there is still only one entry after two weeks or something like that isn't helping that.

Back to the thread topic.

Mountain biking or mountain hiking?

You know, even after 3 years, I still feel weird saying "son's wife" and "daughter-in-law". Due to circumstances, we weren't at the actual ceremony so that's probably part of it. And part is just realizing he's all growed up, I guess.

Quote by Cora
I'm also very happy you got to see your son via .

And his wife, too!! She doesn't always join our calls but she did for this one (we had some news for them).

Quote by Cora
a local famous ice cream place that also sells candy in rows of large glass bowls

I don't think we have one of those in London. Some of the more touristy places have candy stores with ice cream bars but no place around here does that I know of. Sounds totally yummy and totally dangerous to my blood glucose but, hey, I had a slice of pecan pie for my dinner on Saturday and it didn't kill me. 😊

And a good morning to y'all.

Coffee is Tobermory Flowerpot Island. I've put some English Breakfast and Raspberry Royale in the teapots. Hot water is on to make other teas or hot chocolate. And the cold drink pitchers are washed and refilled with unsweet iced tea and lemonade.

Later, alligators!!

Quote by verbal

Start in the middle, with a good scene, one you know will be good, then work your way back.

O, I've done that one, too. Sadly, my writing mojo has not been great of late. Just look at how long it has been since I've posted a story here (Nov. 2023). And I think I only managed one elsewhere in that time. It's not that I have not been writing, just that I keep losing momentum.

Quote by Cora

I think it would have to take some serious research and thought before getting a reptile. That same friend of my sister I aforementioned later in life had a small snake. I couldn't handle that, especially after I saw it eating mice.

The graphic artist at my office has a Burmese python along with a couple dogs. Needless to say, she keeps the two separated. Her dogs are small and pythons have big mouths...😲

As I understand it, though, the biggest risk with pet reptiles is bacterial contamination. They are prone to carry salmonella or something like that.

Our old beagle bit me once or twice in the heat of a wild play session. Nothing malicious. If I was going for a dog again, I'm inclined to something like a golden retriever. Fairly popular around here and seem pretty chill as dogs go. I find larger dogs are less high strung than small ones (though a friend had a vizsla and it was pretty high strung and prone to biting as larger dogs go).

Had Warriors, the new collection from Feuerschwanz in celebration of their 20 years in the music biz, on.

Mums are always a favourite around here.

Dandelions. To some a weed, to some a salad fixing or tea.

Hello. Had a nice day. Midday dinner (too big to call it a lunch) and a walk in the park with good company. Now get to see my son via the miracle of . Hope others are doing well.

scarfs a tulip and a sunflower

Stars sometimes come with planets.

Bluebells

I had a dog and a cat in my youth and very much am a cat person based on that experience. Though something like a bearded dragon could be interesting. A kid who used to live across the street and was friends with my son had one.

Quote by Cora
One-hour conversation with Jane Goodall or one-hour conversation with your favorite author (deceased or alive)?

One hour conversation with Jane would kind of fall into the other as well. I loved reading her stuff in National Geographic back in the day. And I think it's no secret that I am fond of apes. So her. (though a conversation with Neil Gaiman would be fun as well).

Stick with my current comp story or write something else? (yeah, I'm not really sold on this story but it's progressing better than the others)

Quote by Cora
lilies and peonies are my two favorite flowers

Mine are coming up even as we speak.

Succulent. Some of them are quite interesting.

Rhubarb pie or apple pie?

Day comes along after night.

Aaaaaaand it is coffee and tea time!

The coffee pot has some Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.

Teas are Irish Breakfast and Buddha's Blend.

Water is boiled for other hot beverages.

Cold beverages are looking good.

Off to lunch with my beloved soon.

Have good one!!!!

So on my way to work this morning, I got very pumped up hearing Devin Townsend's "Spirits Will Collide" (see upthread) and now I'm making an "Energize My Day" playlist on my Amazon Music account. Besides that, I've got a couple Nightwish tunes (Elan and Alpenglow), "Energize Me" by After Forever, "Fire" by Floor Jansen (who is also the lead singer on the Nightwish and After Forever tracks), and "Bii Biyelgee" by the HU (Mongol folk rock/metal). I'll post that last one. It's a lively danceable tune based on a traditional Mongolian dance (the "biyelgee" in the title).

Trying to come up with more songs in the metal/rock space that have that pumped up, filled with joy effect on me to add to the list.

Quote by WriterGirl
My kitty Buttercup, and I are helping two Cardinals pad their nests with fur. Butters sheds in clumps of the softest balls of yellow fur. I brush her then drop balls of fur on balcony and we watch as a pair of cardinals fly off with the fur balls in their mouths. Hahaha! Their nest is in a big evergreen less than twenty feet away. 😀 Little baby birds will hatch into softest nest ever!

I don't seem to have anybody building nests in the tree outside my office this year. Maybe they've noticed me now. Last year, when I set up that room as my office, there were cardinals in that tree. And I know we've had robins in it in the past, too, back when it was still my son's bedroom.

CD. Vinyl is more of a nostalgia thing in the end.

Plant perennials or annuals?

Visit the wilderness of Africa. Not a swimmer to diving ain't for me and I love wildlife, of which Africa has plenty. Including GORILLAS!!!! YAY!!!!

WYR ride a horse or ride a bike?

Wow. The boards are active enough to push this thread on to the second page of the New Posts. Actually, we have a second page now, which was not always the case.

Good morning from a rather moist Southern Ontario. Not complaining. I put some new plants down yesterday so saves me watering them.

How are you all doing?

Coffee of the day is La Chicas Yellow Catuai Dark Roast.

Teas are English Breakfast and Raspberry.

Washed the cold drink pitchers and made fresh unsweet iced tea and lemonade. Sodas are stocked up.

Hot water is ready for other teas and hot chocolate.

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!!

Battle of Evermore - Led Zeppelin

Jack

Either, really, given how long it has been since I've been to either, but probably a movie since I can do that at home

Learn a martial art or learn a non-martial form of exercise?

Ahead lies our next destination.

Sold - Gold

Yakety-Yak - The Coasters

Angel Shark (which are physically similar to wobbegongs but not really closely related)

Quote by OpheliaTusk

YAY !! Another comp! I was wondering when there would be another one.

Wonder no more!! Spend that wondering time writing!!

😊

And while I am committed to this comp, I am finding this a real uphill battle. I thought writing for a comp would help me focus things and get my writing back on track but, dang it, I'm still having trouble getting past the first few hundred words. Basically I start a story but can't get past the opening. Latest attempt is past 1000 words, though, so maybe I have this licked now.

Where or When - standard written by Rodgers & Hart