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Tootsie roll pop or bubble gum pop?

Lovey dovey

Today I am tired because my favorite street was blocked off and I had to walk for way too long.

Thanks for all the emojis E, and Happy Valentime’s Day (what my kids called it) to all! frantically hangs all the emojis on the wall. Wait, there’s no coffee or tea! quickly whips up a percolator of brown bean water and fancy teas

Talia has some big news but I will leave it to her to tell you. No, she’s not pregnant.

Same old, same old, at least until T gets home and V Day commences. The cats want Valentine’s candy. Moochers.

Enjoy V Day everyone, whether you are in a relationship or not! Peace!

I think we’ve been abandoned for the cool kids, Cora.

Still, happy you got the teas and coffees going.

Same old day here. I hope everyone is well. A cookie would be great with this wonderful coffee.

Quote by etairay

Hey hey hello everybody!

Hey E! Nice to see you.

I guess I’ll rustle up the coffee and tea and cookies this morning. presto chango! Well, that was easy.

Super Bowl was a good game. I didn’t get to see much of halftime. Talia made pizza rolls, which made me happy.

More importantly, pitchers and catchers report in TWO DAYS. Let’s go baseball season (sorry, Red).

I’m adding new sections to my memoir of my crazy hitchhiking adventure through Canada. Anyone cares to read it, there’s three sections up now.

Enjoy the rest everyone!

Quote by Mendalla

Mine has always been shaky, at least for actually remembering "to do" items and dates and such. I'm good with facts and ideas, just not what I am supposed to do next week.

Don’t be dissing Tay Tay!

Good to see everyone is on the mend. I worry about cognitive issues too. My memory can be shaky, and I’m having a few neuro issues as well. Jeez, we’re a fun bunch. I kind of like having us feel free to talk about all this stuff in here. It feels like a safe space. I see you all as friends.

Snowy and cold here, and probably all weekend. We bought pizza rolls for the Super Bowl, which I am legally required to do as an American. We’ll watch the game, and hopefully it will be a good one. I get tired of the whole commercial watching thing, but Talia digs it

Same old day here. I have to critique stories for novel group tomorrow, which is particularly dull.

Have a great weekend friends! May I have a coffee and a football cookie?

I like the term dolly-bird. Thanks for that, Red.

Cora, I am sure no one here is bothered by your writing. I’d like to read any memoirs you have of that experience (I’m kinda into memoir lately). It sounds like an account of your courage and determination.

Supreme Court is, as I write this, tearing Colorado a new hole (rightly so, I think personally - you have to have everyone on every state ballot). Really interesting.

Wallace is fine after a vet appointment. He was following me around like a baby duck (or a wounded cat) after.

Can I have a coffee and a football cookie?

Quote by redwriter

Recent events have forced me to give up driving--after months of pleading from my dear lady and advice from my family (all ignored since I haven't had an accident for many years). I had to admit to myself that if what had happened at the breakfast table that morning, had happened when I was driving--WHOOMP!--more people than just myself could have suffered. So in the end it was my own decision.

Disposing of the red Mazda turned out to be easier than feared. When I approached my second son Gary, to see if his 18 years old son would fancy it--he thought if would not be BRUM! enough for him. But my son told me that his own partner Marina, was on the verge of learning to drive. She had always admired the Soul Red of my car. And to make the situation perfect, it happened to be her birthday on the 12th February. He rang her, told her I want to speak--well, when I asked about a special birthday present--told her what it was--she broke into tears of gratitude. Silly girl!

So, now--no car and legs that still don't work so well--I'm going to have to step up the exercises.

How does the song go? "Make just one person happy--"

Sorry about you losing your ability to drive, and a Mazda no less! Glad you were able to get rid of the car, and that your spirits are high.

Cat went to the vet early this morning. Tooth cleaning, which bizarrely is an all day thing - they even have to sedate him.

Me? Same old, same old. Still haven’t heard if I sold that stupid Band Box article.

A coffee and an M&M cookie!

Cloudy and coldy out. Same old same old.

The Mpls paper I tried to sell my story to has left me hanging for two weeks now. Grrr. Writers are the lowest rung on the ladder. Feels like that anyway.

Red has got some words up on the front page, as do I. Read em if you get the chance.

Boring editing work today. Coffee is several cookies please.

Quote by AnnaMayZing

Just popped in to inform you all that another long-standing member has passed. Sadly, JWren, Alan has passed away after fighting a long illness. Rest in Peace, Alan. 🪦🙏🏻

He was such a kind and helpful man. He was always really nice to me. He was a good and generous writer and editor. Talia put her hand to her heart when she heard - she really liked him as well. Rest peacefully Alan

Morning all!

Cold and sunny here today. Same old, same old. The cats are restless.

I'd love a coffee and a cookie.

Hey all. Usually not here on a weekend, but we're kinda snowed in. Talia is painting-by-numbers: a really cool, sorta psychedelic picture of a cat. I'm writing.

I just submitted the 2nd part of Continental Drift to SS (I also took down and re-submitted part 1). It's a long, intentionally rambling account of my hitchhiking trip through Canada, back in the day. When they come out, read them if you get the chance. After you read Red's chapters, of course.

Not much else going on here. Glad everyone seems to be doing well.

I’ll grab one of those m&m cookies, Cora. Hope you are feeling better today. My legs were a little wobbly yesterday but I am doing well today.

Nice to see you around Red. Soon you’ll have to start listening to me babble about baseball. For now I will babble about Red’s historical novel - it’s good stuff. I’m four chapters in. I think there are eight chapters up so far.

Cold and snow are moving in, just in time for the weekend. I’m not complaining!

Fancy teas and working man’s coffee and tasty cookies are out!

Wow, busy in here! Nice! Hi Cora, hi Red, hi Ape! And thanks for the cookies Sara!

Congrats on the top author/top writer status, Red. Sounds like you are quickly returning to old form.

Sorry you are still feeling poorly Ape. And Cora, sorry about the seizures in your legs. We are a sickly bunch this week.

Me, some old thing, different day!

Seize the day!

Yum!

Hope everyone is well. Same old, same old here. I’d love a cup of coffee.

I have the first segment of a very long hitchhiking saga up. Not spectacular writing, but I am getting the facts down. Read it if you are so inclined, it’s only about 1000 words.

Enjoy the day!

Hey everyone. Nobody set up yet? dumps yesterday’s flowerpot coffee in the percolator, sets up the SUPER fancy teas, displays the cookies on a silver platter

Not much today. Got the rest of the developmental edit back. I should dive into that, but it’s just so HARD! Wah.

At least it is a warm sunny day. And I have nothing to complain about.

Enjoy your day everyone!

Sorry you and the missus are down with the 19 and/or a regular cold. Hope you two feel better. I'll have a cup of that flowerpot stuff.

Looks like you are doing better, Red. That's good to see.

Bright sunny day, should be in the mid 50s. Should be a great day for a walk. I'm writing about hitchhiking again today. It's fun to excavate those old memories.

Enjoy your day everyone!

Quote by Mendalla
Cartagena, Colombia

This place looks too cool.

Sorry about the big 19. Doesn't sound fun.

Unseasonably warm, so I am gonna walk. Football on the radio - Baltimore is down by 7. Sorry Fuzz, my daughter lives near there, so I gotta root against the Chiefs.

Enjoy the day. One last coffee for the road!

Nice to see you back, Ape. I will try a cruise some day. My vacations for2024 are set though: total eclipse in April, and Gettysburg/Anteitem with my daughter in the summer.

Snowed all night, and it’s snowing a little now. Since I can’t walk on snowy days, I started weight training yesterday. Little five pound weights, but I want to get some exercise in every day.

Time to write.

Thinking of you, Red.

I’d love a cup of coffee.

The Magnificent Bastard returns! And in honor of Red, no less. A worthy reason. Hope you are having a good day Red. And good to have you back Ping. Stop by more often!

I’d also recommend Red’s historical fiction on the front page, up to chapter four now. It’s good writing.

Still waiting on the Band Box article sale. It must be too cold to work quickly up there in Minneapolis. Hope I find out today.

We have Costco beans a-perking, some General Patton tea steeping in honor of Ping, and some Courageous Cardinal in honor of Red. Plus football cookies!

Quote by redwriter

Here's is a horror story (true)-I'm not looking for sympathy but I need to seek your understanding for any language errors I'm might make in the came days (weeks)---until my brain beings to function as normal.

Fact is, last Saturday morning after finishing breakfast, I suddenly past out and ended up under the table. Neighbours finally got me on a sofa until ambulance arrived-I knew little of what was going on. My senses slow arrived during the hospital journey. Arriving there, I was placed in a bed and a consultant was there immedately saying, "It seems you've had a stroke!" A stroke? Me?

This was where the horror began. The questions. "Tell me the months of the year?" Easy--"Er, December, hum May" Panic was already rising. "Try days of the week." Again--hesitation, little input. "What about your address?" Now that was simple, "One, Earlington Court" Only that was my previous address. I could not recall the address where I had lived for past thirty years.

So it went on, saying sensless things , mumbling odd words. Despite countless reassurances it was a horrific twenty four hours. Overnight I talked myself into getting months of the year in the right. Even found that a could recite me mobied phone number. Sunday went well on the way to get most things right, and all most slurring add gone. This was due to some medication which dealt with a rogue cell in the brain. Not out of the woods totally but nearer the exit

For any one who begun "THE HIGH AND THE HUMBLE" that us up to Chapter Four ( a really exciting chapter). It had been intention to produce a new chapter at least every other day. Circumstances have informed with that plan. But it was written ready for publication. So I get on with that as I recover I'm mojo

Dude, that sounds so frightening! I’m glad you are finding your way out of the woods. Growing old is not for the faint of heart, and there is a great bravery in facing its sometimes scary grasp (I’ve been dealing with some scary neurological issues so I get it). We are thinking of you everyday Red. Hang in there. And if it helps to come in here and leave a message, please do so, so we know you are okay.

Everything else seems mundane in comparison. It’s cool and cloudy here. I took a winter walk yesterday in 48-ish degrees. It was pleasant.

I’m at pg 70-ish of the 200 pg edit. I am getting there. Slow work.

Coffee and teas and football cookies all available to anyone who cares to enter.

FEEL BETTER RED!

I'll take on of those Lions cookies Sara! Guess it's time to begin rooting for a team. Gotta be honest, the Super Bowl to me means it's almost baseball season. (Bah! Humug!)

Hope everyone is well! Teas and coffee await!

HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt. It’s good so far.

Quote by Mendalla

Aagh, he beat me to it.😁 Good that others are starting to post these kind of information. Thanks, verbs.

Happy to let you do it, I just took it for the month because you were on a cruise.

These magazines publish literary fiction; most also accept other genres, like nonfiction and poetry. Many, but not all, of them are open for submissions now, or have announced their upcoming reading periods. Some of them pay. They are listed in no particular order.

West Branch
They accept fiction (up to 30 pages), creative nonfiction, poetry, and translation. Payment is $100 per submission of poetry, and $.10/word for prose up to $200. The deadline is 1 April 2024. West Branch is affiliated with Bucknell University. Details here.

Southword
This well-regarded literary journal is published by the Munster Literature Centre. They will open for fiction (up to 5,000 words) submissions on 1st February until 31st March 2024. They are open for poetry until 29th February. They pay €50 per poem and €300 per short story. Their submission portal will open for short stories on 1st February. Details here and here.

Alternative Milk Magazine
They want “your most gorgeous, nostalgic, ruthless, relatable, sardonic, lush, and bruising work.” They accept fiction (up to 4,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and art. They pay, and are reading submissions for Issue 3 until 28th February 2024. Details here.

Hedge Apple
This is the literary magazine of Hagerstown Community College. They publish fiction (up to 2,000 words), poetry, and art. They are reading unthemed work, as well as themed submissions, on ‘Once Upon a Dream’. The deadline is 1 March 2024. Details here.

The Downtime Review
Part of their mission is to “Publish works of impressive creative expression from folks who don’t have the time to make creative work their day-to-day”, and “Subvert the ingrained belief that you must choose between creative work and a career by spotlighting the work done by those making both happen.” They also say, “If our system necessitates that we become more like our machines while our machines become more like us, could we find some camaraderie in the fact that we both need rest, we both need downtime?” You can read more about them here. They accept flash and short fiction (500-7,000 words) and creative nonfiction. They’re accepting submissions for the Spring issue until 15 February 2024. Details here.

The Ampersand Review
This magazine is affiliated with Sheridan College, and they may prioritize work by Canadian writers (see guidelines). They accept fiction (up to 4,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and pitches for reviews. Pay is $100 for prose, and $50 per poem/page up to $100. They are reading submissions for issue 6 until 31st January 2024; see the announcement here. Details here.

Blink-Ink
This is a print journal of microfiction. They usually have themed issues; they are now reading submissions on the ‘Money’ theme. “Money. Is it the root of all evil or a reward for solving problems? If you build a better mousetrap will money beat a path to your door? Joan Rivers said, “ Money isn’t the key to happiness but I always figured that with enough money, you could have a key made.” Their general guidelines say, “Send your best stories of approximately 50 words in the body of an email … What we love most is writing that has found that preternatural detail of thought or thing that cracks the story open and allows it to matter or to reveal a truth.” They’re reading fiction on the Money theme until 30 January 2024. They are always open for visual art. Their general guidelines are here and theme details are here.

Miracle Monocle
This journal “is university-affiliated, so our publication cycles are determined by the academic calendar. We begin reading for our Fall issue in August and publish in December; we begin reading for our Spring issue in January and publish in May. We will never hold submissions for more than one semester.” They are affiliated with the University of Louisville; you can read about them here. “We pride ourselves on serving as a home for flash and micro fictions of all varieties, as well as works with genre indeterminacies, fresh collaborations, and re-invigorations of more traditional forms.” They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, hybrid/experimental works, and art. For fiction, “We accommodate traditional realism and experiment alike. Please do not submit excerpts of novels unless the piece can stand alone.” Send fiction of 1,000-10,000 words. The deadline for this cycle is 31 January 2024. Details here and here.

Bennington Review
They publish fiction (up to 30 pages), creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, cross-genre work, and translations. They are affiliated with Bennington College. All work will be considered for the print journal; some work will additionally feature on the website. “We aim to stake out a distinctive space for innovative, intelligent, and moving fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. In the spirit of poet Dean Young’s dictum that poets should be “making birds, not birdcages,” we are particularly taken with writing that is simultaneously graceful and reckless.” Pay is $120 for prose of six typeset pages and under, $250 for prose of over six typeset pages, and $25 per poem. The deadline is 8th March 2024. Details here and here.

The Wild Word
They want fiction (up to 1,000 words) and poetry submissions on the ‘Love’ theme. You can read about them here. They’re reading submissions until 31 January 2024. Submission is via a form. Details here and here.

Slippery Elm Literary Journal
This print journal publishes fiction (up to 5,000 words), poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual art. It is affiliated with The University of Findlay. General submissions are fee-free, and contests have a fee attached. The deadline is 1 February 2024. Details here.

The Forge
They accept a limited number of fee-free submissions of fiction and nonfiction during most months. They re-open on the 1st of next month once they hit a submission cap (see guidelines). They prefer works up to 3,000 words, but accept up to 5,000 words, and pay $100. Details here.

Salt Hill
They publish fiction (up to 30 pages), poetry, nonfiction, translations, interviews, and art. This is a print journal, and they are affiliated with Syracuse University. Their website says, they publish work “by people at various stages in their literary and artistic careers. We publish new and emerging writers alongside those with long, illustrious careers in the literary arts.” They have two submission periods for fiction and poetry: December through January, and July through August. They accept nonfiction and art submissions year-round. Details here and here.
10 By 10 Flash Fiction
They publish flash fiction stories, of 100-500 words. They accept all genres of stories, including literary. Each issue has 10 stories. Details here.

Split Lip Magazine
Split Lip Magazine is a voice-driven literary journal with a pop culture twist. They publish online monthly and in print annually – flash fiction, short stories (up  to 3,000 words), memoir, poetry, and art, as well as interviews and reviews (for interviews and reviews, query first via webform – see guidelines). Fee-free submissions for all writers are open during certain months, including January; these can close earlier by category, if their Submittable cap is reached. Fee-free submissions for Black writers are open till mid-June. Pay is $75 for web contributions, $5/page for print, $50 for interviews/reviews, and $25 for mini-reviews for their web issues. Details here and here.

Literary Heist
Their tagline is, ‘Taking Back the Arts’. They publish online quarterly, and as an electronic book yearly. They publish fiction (300-2,000 words) – “any topics will considered (as long as there is character dialogue”. They also accept poetry, interviews, articles, book reviews, and art. Details here. Submission is via a form, and they close when their quota is reached.

Berkley Fiction Review
Their website says, “The Berkeley Fiction Review is a UC Berkeley undergraduate, student-run publication. We look for innovative short fiction that plays with form and content, as well as traditionally constructed stories with fresh voices and original ideas.” They accept short fiction, as well as art and comics. They pay $25 for fiction, and a copy of the print issue; they accept stories year-round. Details here and here.

The Ana
Their website says, “The Ana is a quarterly arts magazine. We are a collection and celebration of humanity.” They publish fiction (up to 5,000 words), as well as nonfiction, cross-genre work, poetry, poetry in translation, and art. The deadline for Issue 15 is 30th March 2024. Details here and here.

Toronto Journal
This journal publishes in print and sound. You can read about them here. They accept short stories (up to 7,500 words) from anywhere in the world, and nonfiction pieces about local history (Toronto, the GTA, or surrounding areas – see guidelines). They are reading now for their Summer issue. They pay $50, and the deadline is 1 April 2024. Details here.

The Amphibian
Their website says, “We welcome writers, poets and artists of all genders from all different backgrounds, we have a special love for the marginalised, the refugees, immigrants and the lost.
Our main inspirations are the thoughts and impressions of people who write in English and live in two cultures at once. There is no limit on how you experience two cultures, it can be countries, gender, language, ancestors, neuro-divergence, any way that you experience your difference and explore it using the themes of the issues.” They accept flash (up to 300 words) and short (up to 2,000 words) fiction, as well as poetry. The theme for their next issue is ‘Healing’, and the deadline is 1 February 2024. They also publish in print. Details here.

The Threepenny Review
This quarterly journal accepts fiction (up to 4,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and submissions for their ‘Table Talk’ column. Pay is $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. The deadline is 15 April 2024. Details here and here.

Valparaiso Fiction Review
Their website says, “Founded in summer of 2011 as a sister publication to Valparaiso Poetry Review (VPR), Valparaiso Fiction Review (VFR) is a publication of Valparaiso University and its Department of English.” They want fiction of 1,000-9,000 words. Excerpts from novels are acceptable only if selected piece operates as a stand-alone story. Details here.

The Paris Review
They will open for prose submissions on 1st February 2024, and will accept submissions via Submittable until they hit their submission cap (which is early on during their reading periods). They will continue to accept postal submissions of prose until end-February (postmarked). Translations are welcome. They are open to prose in February, June, and October, and open to poetry in January, April, July, and October. Details here.

Flash Frontier
They are currently open to international flash fiction submissions, of up to 250 words, on the ‘Quiet | Marire’ theme. The deadline is 29 February 2024. Details here.

McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern
They publish fiction and nonfiction, and pay $400 for short stories. Watch for their next submission period. Details here and here.
(Also see the guidelines for their humor site, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.)

Zyzzyva
This award-winning journal publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from around the world. Watch for their next submission period. Details here.

riddlebird
 accepts literary fiction and personal essay submissions. For fiction, “Our favorite writers include authors like George Saunders, Souvankham Thammavongsa, and E.C. Osondu.” They pay $100 for works of 650-5,000 words. They are scheduled to reopen on 1st February 2024, and will stay open until they hit their submission cap – their submission guidelines are here, and the submission portal is here.

The Stinging Fly
This respected Irish print journal publishes short fiction, novel extracts, nonfiction, and poetry. They pay €45 per magazine page, but with a minimum/maximum payment of €300/€1200 for fiction and nonfiction, €150 for flash Fiction/shorter essays (1 – 2 pages), and €40-60/poem. Their next submission period is May 15th-May 29th for the Winter 2024 issue. Their submission portal will open during the reading period. Details here.  

One Story
This magazine publishes one literary fiction story per issue, of 3,000- 8,000 words. They also accept reprints, if the story has appeared in print only, outside North America. They pay $500 and 25 contributor copies. They will reopen in Spring 2024. Details here.

Epoch
This magazine is affiliated with Cornell University. They accept prose, poetry, and comics. Postal submissions are free, and are open till 15 April 2024. Electronic submissions follow a different cycle, are charged, and offer one fee-free weekend during each cycle. They pay $100-500. Details here. 

A Public Space
They have occasional reading periods for fiction, essays, translations, poetry, as well as graphic and hybrid work. (A Public Space also accepts readership, internship, and fellowship applications periodically – and currently, they are open for their Editorial Fellowship, a paid position for those who can live in New York for the duration of the fellowship.) Details here and here.

Kennings Literary Journal
This journal is affiliated with Hanover College. They accept fiction (500-3,000 words), poetry, creative nonfiction, art, photography, and other media. The deadline is 14 February 2024. Submission is via a form. Payment is a contributor copy. Details here.

Fusion Fragment
This Canadian magazine publishes science fiction or SF-tinged literary fiction. They also publish one reprint story per issue. Length guidelines are 2,000-15,000 words, and pay is CAD0.04/word, up to CAD400. They will open for submissions on 29th January 2024; usually, they have a brief submission period. Details here.

The Fiddlehead
This Canadian literary magazine is accepting for general submissions of fiction (up to 6,000 words) and nonfiction via Submittable; poetry is currently open for Canadian writers only (see guidelines). Postal submissions are accepted year-round. They have some submission periods for Canadian writers only. Pay is CAD65/page. The deadline is 31 March 2024. Details here and here.

The Argyle
This online magazine publishes short fiction (up to 3,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, articles, interviews and reviews, art, and some themed work. They also publish an online micro-chapbook – “Every issue will include an online, vanishing micro-chapbook of poetry, fiction, or non-fiction that will last only one issue (after which, it will disappear into the vastness of nothingness). We will also consider hybrid manuscripts.”  Published micro-chaps will include fiction (1,000-3,000 words), poetry, nonfiction, and hybrid works. Details here.

Fahmidan
Their website says, “Fahmidan comes out four times a year online. Send us your thought-provoking existentialism, your phobias, your darkest moments.  Entrance us with your whimsical fantasy. Move us to tears with your truth in a world of suffering. Captivate and intrigue us with your hopes and dreams. A broad range of styles, forms and voices make any journal truly representative in the 21st century and we are no different!” They accept fiction (flash up to 800 words, short fiction of 1,000-2,500 words), nonfiction, and poetry. They are open for submissions year-round. Details here.

Embark
This is a literary journal for novelists. They want the opening of your (unpublished) novel, of 2,500-4,000 words. They also want an author’s statement (250-500 words); “You can interpret this however you like, discussing the book’s plot, themes, aims, inspiration, etc. Whatever your focus, though, the statement should give the reader a good sense of what the novel is all about and why you chose to write it.” Submissions received until 1st March 2024 will be considered for the 20th issue. Details here.

Collateral
They publish work concerned with the impact of violent conflict and military service beyond the combat zone. Their website says, “we provide a creative platform to highlight the stories of those existing in spaces surrounding combat, including the military family, veteran, service member, close friend, protestor, refugee, teacher, and advocate. These voices sometimes go unheard, and we’d like to capture the “collateral” impact of military service.” They encourage submissions from artists of historically silenced backgrounds. They accept fiction (up to 5,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, art, and reviews. They read year-round, and the deadline for their Spring issue is 1 March 2024. Details here and here.
(And Consequence Forum publishes work around the themes of war and geopolitical violence, including fiction. They pay $20-50 for writing, and $40-150 for art. They’re open till 15 April 2024. Details here and here.)

Liars’ League
Stories for Liars’ League are performed by actors, and also published in anthologies and broadcast on YouTube and their podcast; you can read about them here. They want themed fiction, of 800-2,000 words. Two of their upcoming themes are: ‘Dreams & Reality’ (ambitions & imaginings, VR & AI), deadline 3rd March; and ‘Sports & Leisure’ (Paris Olympics & all that …), deadline 5th May. Their general submission guidelines are here; story theme and deadline, as well as future event details are here.

Salamander Magazine
This respected magazine is affiliated with Suffolk University. They publish fiction (including flash), nonfiction, poetry. They pay. Details here; you can submit by post, or via their online manager here.

Good morning everyone! Sorry about the family issues popping up everywhere - I've been there.

Going through the developmental edit is really difficult work. One careful page at a time.

Doctor appointment today, with the neurologist. Fingers crossed folks.

Coffee (Costco), teas (Kitty Zoomies, Dazed Dodo), and cookies (Sara's animal creations) are all out for your enjoyment.

Quote by Mendalla

Hey, nice to have you back. I remember you well.

I am on a cruise ship in the Caribbean right now so not onlining much. Or writing. Thought about packing along my personal laptop for sea days but Mrs. Mendalla talked me out of it. Having some ideas, though.

Been reading Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez a bit since one of our port stops was Cartagena, Colombia where he lived for a chunk of his life and where he died and is buried. Interesting writer but a bit depressing, at least the material I have been reading. Couldn't get his famous novels from the library in time so reading shorts instead.

We play with the idea of going on a cruise. I think one up to Alaska from Vancouver would be awesome. Actually the train trip up the West coast to Vancouver looks equally cool.

Not much going on today. Lazy Sunday. An important doc visit and a possible story sale are on the agenda tomorrow. I could use some crossed fingers on both accounts.

Coffee (Costco), teas (Kitty Zoomies, Dazed Dodo), and cookies (Sara's yummy creations) are all out for your enjoyment.

Welcome Cora! I hope your battle with writer's block goes well. We've all been there.

Started out the day driving in the snow for a blood test - fasting, of course, meaning I...wait for it...couldn't drink coffee! Enjoying my first cup now as I shake off the snow.

Dove into the beginning of the developmental edit yesterday. Not easy work - it's a slog, a paragraph at a time (Red can, I assume, relate lately). It's how you make the donuts, I guess.

Coffee is a-perking, Kitty Zoomies and Slovenly Salamander are our teas. Sara's cookies and Gill's cake are on a platter.

Enjoy the weekend!