So wait, is the comp exactly 1000 words? No more, no less? Does that include the title!?

Hope everyone is well. So sorry about the Zoom funeral, Gill. That sounds depressing and rather soulless. My Dad's memorial was in the midst of Covid, so I get it: we almost went Zoom ourselves (we did try to have a Zoom stream of it, but we didn't have enough bandwidth).

Long week, heading into Christmas. Most of the chores are getting done though. Saw an EXCELLENT radio play of It's a Wonderful Life last night. It kinda kicked me into the Christmas spirit.

Workman at the house for the next several days. Erg.

A coffee and a cookie!

Dead battery

In a while, crocodile.

My daughter's 20th (!!!) birthday today. We are not celebrating because she just made manager where she works, after a month, and she has to work. We celebrated yesterday. She got an iPhone and a deeply cool framed Sweeney Todd poster form the 1978 Angela Lansbury production. ♫ Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd / He served a dark and a vengeful God ♫

Quiet day as a result. Talia's back is out so I am helping her all day.

Coffee, cookie, seize the day!

Thanks for the setup Ape.

Back from Cali.

Cold as f here, AND Talia’s car battery is dead, AND her back went out at work, so she is not having a good day. Me. I am lazing in bed with a cat in my lap. She had to take my car, so I can’t even drive up to help her.

Two rejection slips in two days. One of them was very nice and complimentary, but that only makes it sting more. I thought I had that one in the bag.

Coffee and a cookie please.

I am OFF to California!

Quote by gillianleeza

It has not been a good week. I sorted out my Mom's issues and was attending to my own home when my cat became very ill. He had a stroke, and we had to say goodbye. We lost his brother about six months ago. I hope they are together again. It's too quiet without him. I'm used to sleeping with him curled up next to me, so I can't sleep. They were both wonderful cats, very friendly, and so much fun to watch them play and interact together. Apollo enjoyed Thanksgiving with everyone fussing over him. He lived a good life for sixteen years.

I am so sorry Gill. Crushing to lose a pet.

Thanks for the set-up Larry. Long day today, and packing for Cali. I leave tomorrow to join Talia!

Coffee please, and a cookie!

Ooh, a contest! I’m bummed about my less than stellar recent effort at a comp on another site, but I do love flash.

That sucks ab the fraudulent bank accounts Gill. Sadly that behavior is everywhere. Happened to me about this time last year.

Lots of errand running today, getting ready for Cali. I don’t love busy days, but I am psyched for the trip.

Coffee would be wonderful,

Quote by Mendalla

Bit late but I am still first one in. Putting on a nice pot of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Teas are Irish Breakfast and Earl Grey. Hot water is ready for hot chocolate or other teas and hot beverages.

Need to reboot my writing process and refocus a bit. Actually got through two chapters of reading a novel last night, something that might get me back on track for writing, too. Pulling the plug on some social media (including a site beginning with L) for a while to help with focus.

Later, alligators.

Good for you Ape, for both the reading and the writing. And thanks for setting up!

Talia is in Cali, and I am joining her on Saturday. So I am being a good husband and cleaning the whole house over the next few days. I don’t hate cleaning, though vacuuming annoys me. Annoys the cats too.

I watched a movie with a couple online friends last night. It was really fun.

Finishing up a story this morning. Then let the cleanfest begin!

A coffee and a Santa cookie please!

No one in today. Coffee and tea and cookies are ready to rock.

Just found out my daughter's car needs a new transmission. Gah! That on top of the damn house sinking has me contemplating going back to work. Life is expensive.

Anyway. Coffee would be helpful.

AnnaMay, have safe travels!

Talia is off to Cali today too! I'll join her in exactly a week. In the meantime, my first official act as a bachelor is too...take a nap. It was an early flight, and I need some sleep.

I hope Saturday finds everyone doing something they love.

I'll skip the coffee, but I'd love a cookie!

Very, very windy night last night. T had a hard time sleeping, and I did only a little better. Plus, she's leaving for Cali tomorrow (I'm joining her in a week), and we are both exhausted.

Only a little less windy today. Want some wind, Sara?

Pushing through to the end of a story today. I get to describe an airplane crash!

Gimme coffee and cookies please.

We have a Keurig that I never use, Gill. We have a complex relationship. I will use it for a cup as I brew a pot.

Still reeling from a major home expense. We can take the hit, but it's a little scary. Today should be chill, after yesterday's inspections and decisions.

Glad you are feeling better, Sara, if slowly.

Time to make the donuts. Coffee and a shortbread cookie would be cool.

blinks I can do this. adds coffee grounds to thingy in percolator, plugs it in, sets up hot water and teas, puts out cookies after accidently eating 5 or 6 There.

I got woken up early by potential contractors, so I am irritable. More irritable that we are gonna have to spend a ton of money shoring up the foundation of the house. Meeting with two guys today to make the final decision.

So, I'll try to write til duty calls.

I hope everyone is well.

Molly, I do hope you got coffee and tea started when you came in to post this on the bulletin board! Ah, there it is.

Nice, snowy day here. I have therapy, but other than that, no chores. A difficult scene is coming up today (an airplane falling out of the sky). I don't know how to do it. luckily I have all day to figure it out.

A coffee and a star cookie (thanks for making cookies even while sick Sara!)!

Quote by gillianleeza

I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving had a good one. Mine was wonderful but busy and hectic. We loved having my youngest son and his wife visiting from Germany. It was her first Thanksgiving. We had 18 people for Thanksgiving dinner. My middle son and girlfriend were able to say a few nights, and my oldest son and his wife made it up for the day. Everyone left yesterday, so today, I am doing nothing, mostly. Have to do all the laundry. Christmas will be a smaller affair.

I hope everyone's week is off to a good start.

Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was much smaller, but very chill and enjoyable.

We are now starting to gather ourselves to pack for a trip to LA! It should be fun, but it's gonna be a hectic week (Talia is leaving a few days before me to be with her Mom) (the cats are trembling).

A coffee and a cookie would be awesome.

Quote by DenimAngel
Feeling like a truck ran me over today .

Are you sick? Hope you feel better.

Thanks for the set-up Mr. Ape. Sunny and mid 50s today, so I suppose I need to go out and rake leaves, though I really want to stay inside all day. Duty calls.

Thanksgiving was small and chill. Eating leftovers for days.

A coffee would be nice. And a turkey cookie!

Hello James and Sara.

Apparently, according to my wife, I "farted like a machine gun" in my sleep last night. Oh well. With several more days of turkey and stuffing, she might want to get a gas mask.

Normal day today. Leftovers and writing. Maybe a little digital Christmas shopping. I too an not leaving the house.

Coffee would be swell. Happy Thanksgiving! There's much to be thankful for.

blinks confusedly

It's noon! No customers for 24 hours, and no staff! plugs in the percolator, sets up the tea, eats a ton of cookies while putting them out for display

Whew. That's better.

Another rejection this morning. At least they said nice things. Bastards.

A coffee and a(nother) cookie please!

It's a natural anti-deppressent

Glad to see you around on the daily again Sara.

Turkey Day will be pretty small--5 of us--so the menu is easy and the food is all bought.

The Club Q shootings are still dominating my news feed, but the community response has been lovely.

Today, same ol, same ol. Time to hit the keys.

Coffee! Cookie!

Ape, thanks for the set-up.

Gill, that's so cool about your son visiting for Thanksgiving. Truly something to give thanks to.

Sara, thanks for the cookies. I REALLY want deGrom to stay with the Mets. He's the franchise - Sherzer hasn't proved himself yet. If he goes, I just hope he doesn't go to the Yankees, or anywhere in the NL East.

Snowy and cold out. Talia had a tricksy drive into work this morning, but she's fine. I'm chomping at the bit to finish a story I've been working on for 2 weeks.

A football cookie please. And coffee!

Snow here too. But it's kinda nice. Thanks for the set-up Ape.

Dentist appointment today, and I'm trying to finish a story. Grrr. It might suck, and at 8000 words it's probably unsellable, but I sure do like it.

Anyway. Is it just me, or is the site getting a little bit more traffic lately?

A coffee and a cookie (thanks Sara!)

Twenty four hours with no customers. Yikes! hurriedly makes coffee and sets up tea and displays cookies after eating six or seven

Finishing up my ghosty version of Our Town today and tomorrow. Hard but rewarding story to figure out.

Cold and snowy out. Fine with me. I don't plan to leave the house.

The frikkin cat sat on my lap in bed this morning like nothing ever happened. What a little freak.

Coffee and yet another cookie would be swell.

Excellent poem Fuzzy!

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/poetry/bitch-called-nam

Slow day today. Still wrestling with this stupid story. I think it's a little too ambitious for my abilities right now.

I have cat scratches ALL OVER my arm, from wrestling the cat from the back of the closet. I'm tempted to post pictures. Anyway, we both emerged, not unscathed, but we survived. He was scared of me for a few hours, now it's like it didn't happen.

A coffee and a shortcake cookie would be cool.

The last leftover grilled salmon of the year (I winterized the grill this weekend).

Ape, being in a critique group was the best thing to ever happen to my writing. And I avoided them for years! Ah, the stupidity of youth.

I have to take the cat to the vet again, though nothing to worry about. It'll cut into writing, but who knows, maybe I'll get a story idea.

Current story is turning into a weird Our Town vibe. Or maybe Under Milkwood. Dead people sitting around commenting on the living. Trying to graft a plot onto it.

Cold and sunny, with snow expected later. Yikes!

Stay warm everyone. Coffee would rock!

Quote by gillianleeza

We watched it last night as well. I enjoyed it, and although I knew something was off, I didn't see what happened coming. It has a beautiful look, and Florence Pugh was fantastic. I was pleasantly surprised by how well Harry Styles did in his role.

He was really good! And the CLOTHES!!!

We watched Don't Worry Darling last night. It was REALLY good. Forget all the gossip about stars having affairs and such. It's just a well-made, thoughtful movie - great acting. Crushing a little on Florence Pugh at the moment. Talia approves.

Quote by JamesPBear

I thought you normally looked lumpy! My mistake.

I'll take a mug of Scottish Breakfast tea, and a couple of GF cookies. You'll find me (if anyone wants to) in Sara's corner, munching quietly – as is my wont.

I emerged still standing. It'll be nice to not be savaged once a month. Now I get to savage others! (Actually it's a very nice, supportive group of people.)

Leftover takeout sopes from last night.