All these birthday wishes are premature - it's on Friday. In case you wanted to bake a cake, smiling or otherwise.
Glad to have you back Ape. Iceland sounds like a marvelous adventure! Tell us more when you have time.
Things are unchanging here. The cats and I are trying to get used to No More Talia on weekdays.
But we are coping. Hot af today. Yet I will walk! I kinda enjoy walking in the heart. I make sure and take it nice and slow.
A coffee and a cookie would be swell!
Thanks for the setup James.
Nothing new here. Hot and sunny, write and walk, watch the Mets lose. I grilled salmon chicken and corn last night - we are noshing on that all day. Or rather, I am, Talia is at work. 
Just me and the cats.
It’s my birthday this week!
Enjoy the day everyone.
Quote by Molly
In honor of me watching Godzilla (1954) here are some cookies.
A religious movie then: the birth of our savior, Godzilla.
Talia is home today! I won't get used to it, it will become rarer and rarer. But nice for today.
Write, walk, a nice dinner and maybe a movie. Sounds like a plan.
Coffee and a Zilla cookie please!
Quote by DenimAngel
Off to Phoenix its gonna be freaking 117°F ... yay for hotel pool and ac
Why would anyone voluntarily go to Phoenix during this heat wave!?!?
It's hot here, bug rain, this afternoon, what else is new?
Ape, I hope that volcano didn't swallow you up. I hope you are able to get close.
I have therapy in 5 minutes, so must wrap this up. A coffee and one of those doggo cookies would hit the spot.
slaps some yummy Costco blend into the perk, steeping up some Languorous Lemur and Bubbly Baboon, serving some delish cookies from Molly and Sara
Warm-to-hot today, and an afternoon of sporadic thunderstorms I will be dodging my way through as I walk. Just finished writing a nasty story about a guy killing his father-in-law (who has more than a little in common with my EX father-in-law). He uses a circular saw.
And on that sunny note, off to nuke up some (not making this up) Costco lasagna up on the microwave.
Coffee and cookie please!
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.
