Another hot day. I am lending my car to my daughter, and Talia works at the office now, so I will walk to anything I need. Luckily, most stuff--grocery store, liquor store, pizza place, Taco Bell!--is within walking distance.
Today: finish this story. Take a walk in 95 degree heat. Eat some Dijon chicken with Talia. Watch the game. It's not much, but it works for me. 
I'd love a coffee.
Well, that Costco pizza sure was tasty!
No one's been in here for two days!?!? Better wipe that pizza sauce off my hands and gets to work. Costco coffee is perking, Drowsy Dachshund and Tumultuous Tortie are our very special blends. Plus, cookies!
Mets actually won a game! I expect them to be BIG sellers at the Aug 1 trade deadline. I hope so. This team, as currently configured, is toast.
I'm critiquing stories all day for short critique tonight. Sigh.
A coffee and a cookie!
Thanks for the kitty cookies Molly!
Our trip to Denver got cancelled, a last minute illness, but all is well. Went out for a delish breakfast and then went to…wait for it…Costco! Hanging out at home now, a Costco pizza cooling on the counter. I’ve never had one, but have heard they are yummy.
An iced tea please!
Quote by gillianleeza
Good news, my husband and I have agreed that before the winter, we should get two cats. I dearly miss having pets in the home.
Two cats! I am in full agreement!
Costco coffee is perking, the Kitty Zoomies and Siamese Sleepies teas are steeping. Cookies are out. I'm on hold with the government for - checks watch - forever.
Enjoy the weekend! We are off to Denver to hang with friends!
EDIT: I've been on hold for 45 minutes.
Got my FB account hacked yesterday, and the beginnings of a larger attempt at stealing my ID. Frikkin annoying. Took hours to get back to normal. If you can call this normal.
Writing today, though I may take a day off from walking - I walked a TON yesterday in 90 heat (in part to burn off all that annoyance from the FB thing) and may have overdone it a tad. Gonna be another hot one today. I will take it easy.
No Talia, no baseball, heavy sigh. But we do have: Costco coffee, and a selection of teas: Sleepy Monkey and Kitty Zoomies! And cookies!
That looks fun, Gill.
Another hot and dry day here. I am learning to enjoy walking in the heat. I’m going out later in the afternoon to avoid the most intense part of the day.
No Mets played in the All Star game. 
Alonzo was in the home run derby at least (and dropped out first round).
Wallace the cat is acting all floppy, next to me, wanting attention. I clearly have been wasting the morning in his eyes.
Enjoy the day! A coffee and a cookie.
Ape, are you really off to Iceland!? There's a big volcano there, like right now! Will you get to see it? That sounds amazing, but be careful! Bucket list stuff.
https://apnews.com/article/iceland-volcano-eruption-tourists-e997b7293f20322033649e42236df2c0
Where is everyone? We'll get some Costco going in the percolator, some Drowsy Dan and Bavarian Marching Juice steeping in the pots. Meanwhile, an assortment of Sara's cookies on a plate. eats all the cookies
Hot and sunny out there. Gonna write, walk, and watch the the All Star game. It's prime grilling season, I may wander to the store and get some salmon and some steak. Last time we tried to grill we ran out of propane because I am an idiot It still turned out pretty well; I'm a salmon and steak ninja!
Enjoy the day!
This was hitch-hiking, so other people were doing the driving, but I hitch-hiked from Iowa to NYC TWICE! Once in college, with a friend, a straight shot that took maybe three days. A few years later I did it again, but by myself, and via Canada. That took me two weeks.
Deeply fun and no regrets, but I would never do it again. SO dangerous. I was lucky.
Thanks for the setup!
So, Talia has a new job! Starts August 1st! Pays better, but more importantly will treat her better too. Sadly, it means no more working form home. Small price to pay, but we haven't told the cats yet. We celebrated at our favorite patio bar/restaurant.
The window has closed for submitting to Cosmic Horror Monthly this year. They are my great white whale, and I sent them my best story this weekend. Wish me luck.
Watched the movie 65. My mind is still spinning from how dreadfully stupid it is. And I liked Moonfall!
Coffee and cookie please!
Quote by gillianleeza
I'm reading The Pallbearers Club by Paul Trembly. "A cleverly voiced psychological thriller about an unforgettable—and unsettling—friendship, with blood-chilling twists, crackling wit, and a thrumming pulse in its veins, from the nationally bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and Survivor Song."
I like some of his other books, and it's very entertaining so far.
I really like him. Have you read A Head Full of Ghosts?
It quit raining! Supposed to have scattered thunderstorms later. I'll try to sneak out for a haircut before it rains.
We have some good news, that I can't quite reveal, but I am taking Talia out to celebrate tonight at our favorite restaurant!
Other than than that, things are chill. Hope everyone is well.
Five wins in a row for the Mets! A coffee and a cupcake-shaped cookie would be excellent.
Iceland sounds cool.
Warm and overcast here. Weird weather all summer. But we are getting much needed moisture, so I am not complaining. Write, walk, eat some chili dogs, watch some baseball.
Talia is back at the office four days a week. Heavy sigh. I miss her. So do the cats, clearly. Regardless, I hope it isn’t too hard a lifestyle change, after mostly working from home for three years.
Four wins in a row for the Metros. We still have a losing record, sadly. But they’re watchable again.
A coffee and a cookie are!
Quote by verbal
So what then happens, when a supersoldier built only for war finds themselves isolated from their army with the war largely lost?
I start with character (which is why I'm so bad at plotting), and the idea of a lost lonely robotic soldier, post-war, yearning for a new purpose is really compelling.
#
I'm world-building now as well. Near future. There's a new drug on the street called Wax, which gives you a stupid grin when you're on it, like drooping lids on high people. The kids call the look Wax Lips.
I don't have much, yet.
Quote by Mendalla
So what then happens, when a supersoldier built only for war finds themselves isolated from their army with the war largely lost? Could they have a life that is not about fighting and killing? Could such a being learn to love in any meaningful way, esp. a "normal" being? I mean with sex gone, romance is likely gone, too, but "love" in an agape sense of caring for others more broadly.
Nice premise.
