Just finished novel critique group. Went pretty well. Weirdly--and I don't know if this is a compliment or an insult--the guy who runs it is starting a Youtube/Tiktok channels for writing, and wants to use my WIP as an example (among others). I said sure - he's gonna give me a free content edit when I'm done in payment. I choose to take it as a compliment, even though he's basically gonna be saying "You see what this guy did in his first draft? Don't do that!"

Sorry the Mets have been pounding on the Nats, Elizabeth. They really did totally dismantle that World Champion team of 2019. At least they kept Soto - that guy is a force of nature.

The rest of the days is laziness. We'll watch new episodes of WeCrashed and The DropOut and What's the Deal With Pam (or whatever it's called). As well as the Mets game, of course.

Just a cookie - I think it's too late for more coffee.

Good morning everyone.

Baseball season has begun! Good fun game, though I'm sure those rooting for the Nats probably feel differently. It'll be fun to see Scherzer get a lengthy ovation in DC tonight.

Back to writing after a day off yesterday. I've got 25k words to go. Time to push.

A coffee and a baseball cookie please!

Quote by redwriter

Quote by verbal
Red, your last story here was really powerful.

Thanks for that appraisal. Verbal, It's so rare to see work mentioned on this page . BTW Call me Jim, 'Red' sounds pretentious . My son bought me TWO bottles of Jack Daniels, for my birthday as he knows along with Single malts that is one of my favourites. I see that bourbon figures in your delights. I shall have a little toast to your generosity tonight. Pity I can't slip you a small sip!

It's nice to meet you Jim. I had an uncle everyone called Red, so I am fond of the name. The story stuck with me. Have you seen Fury? It's a really gripping WWII tank battle movie, with a really good Brad Pitt. I'd recommend it - seems like you'd like that sort of thing.

It's Opening Day! I love Opening Day. Sorry to keep droning on and on about it (pity Talia, who has to live with it).

Taking the day off writing to watch baseball, though I will probably do some editing. And I'll be here at 5 to settle in with coffee and a cupcake and watch the game. Elizabeth, will you join me? Sara, the Braves are playing tonight, come rest you rankle on the table and root for your boys. Larry, the Padres are playing. Ape and Bear and Pingu, you Canadians can root for the Bluejays. Let's have a party!

A coffee, a cookie, and a cupcake please. Lets Go Mets!

Quote by elizabethblack

Quote by verbal
Elizabeth, how about no wager, but we sit and sip coffee and watch the Opening Day game. The winner gets a cupcake! I'll even bring the cupcake!

Now that is exactly what I want. It's going to be hard to keep my spirits up. Thank goodness they overlooked Juan Soto, so I will have someone familiar to root for. Losing my all-time favorite, Trea Turner about did me in. And Max Scherzer, who's he, right? You better get a good report from the doctor. I hope nice people, btw, bought your house. And any kind of cupcake will be fine. I will probably be wearing gloves so I don't bite my nails off. 'Course I'm paying no attention to pre-season games so far. Weeping.

😢😢😢

Looks like the game is pushed back to 5 my time due to weather, but at least they aren't canceling it. We have a rookie on the mound, so you may have the advantage tomorrow. I wonder how the Nats fans will react to Scherzer taking the mound Friday? A standing ovation, I expect - a lot of lingering respect there.

Good luck to your Bravos too, Sara.

Nice people DID buy our house! We got offers from several leasing companies, but sold to a real human family.

Regardless, I will try to add a few baseball cupcakes to Sara's baseball cookies tomorrow.

Hey Red, hey Amelia, hey Sara, hey Ape.

Red, your last story here was really powerful.

Glad you are getting some help, Amelia, and hope it points you in the right direction. Congrats on All State for the kid!

Sara - 24 hours til baseball season! Though it is already looking like the first Mets game may be a rainout. I'll still watch baseball all damn day tomorrow. How's the ankle?

And where the frick is Ping!?

Quiet pleasant day. Time to face the page.

A coffee and a cookie please.

Going to the doc for a regular check-up today. I don't expect it to be very exciting - I feel pretty healthy. I'll read in th waiting room, now that I'm halfway through the monster that is Cryptonomicon.

I'll write on my return, but I won't get my 1000. I'm about 3/4 of the way through, and plot is driving most of my decisions. That's a good thing - I generally don't rely on plot as much as I should.

2 days til baseball season! Elizabeth, how about no wager, but we sit and sip coffee and watch the Opening Day game. The winner gets a cupcake! I'll even bring the cupcake!

A coffee before the doc, please.

Just started Dopesick. Really strong so far. Michael Keaton is excellent, and keeps reminding me of Ed Harris in it.

Happy birthday, Red, and many more. Your last story--Seeking and Finding--was excellent, btw. Really nice work. Thanks for sharing it.

Not much up here - cool and gloomy now, though that is supposed to improve.

I tire of Spring Training baseball. Ready for the real deal on Thursday. Sara's Braves are predicted to do well. Larry's Padres are missing Tatis to begin the year, but when he returns they are a serious power. As for the Mets, we've already lost our Ace, but we have some game still. We shall see.

Time to face the blank page. I'm shooting to finish this Damned Thing by the end of June.

A coffee and a cookie please.

Hey all. Ridiculously lazy Sunday here. I just read a couple handfuls of stories here. Some excellent tales on the front couple of pages.

Mets have lost deGrom for at least 8 weeks. Sigh. The leader of the franchise, and the season begins in four days. Oh well, its a long season. Anything can happen.

We square off against Elizabeth's Nats for 4 games to begin the season. Care to make a wager, Elizabeth? A coffee and a cookie?

Off to read a little more. A decaf and an apple cinnamon cookie please.

Quote by Mendalla

Quote by DenimAngel
Ape thanks for the Nathan Fillion picture

That Fillion gif is so perfect so many situations. Now I need to actually watch him in something.😋

Apparently he's kind of a dick, but who isn't? Firefly and Serenity really are worth checking out. I like Castle too - that was weekly family viewing for quite a long time. My Dad was is LOVE with Stana Katic. She is pretty cute.

Going out to celebrate selling the house tonight!

A coffee and whatever crumbs are left in the cookie jar. Damn those Mets fans!

Wasn't sure where to post this, but I read this today, in an article called Writing Without a Plan, and it helped me.

"For me, the page is all I get, and the page is what makes the soup of the mind into something tangible. If there is no book in my mind, then the only way I can find a book is by writing it. This act of writing is how I get access to the material I might not readily know about. We cannot read each other’s minds, and the truth is, we often cannot really read our own.

There’s something sad in this—that we cannot replicate our idea, our perfect, imagined book in there, our brilliant ideas that seem so full and glorious when walking past the autumn leaves. But the amazing side, the truly amazing side, is that we might write something else, something surprising."

• Aimee Bender

Here's the whole article. https://lithub.com/aimee-bender-on-writing-without-a-plan/

Yeah, I checked the security footage, and the cookie bandit clearly licked every inch of the inside of the cookie jars. What a weasel. I tried to get a glimpse of his face, but it was entirely covered by a Mets cap. Maybe I should take all the cookie jars and cookies inside so I can study them for clues....

About to start writing. I'll break 70,000 today. Chill day. Going to the weed store later (it's legal, don't worry), for a chill evening.

A coffee and all the cookies (for security purposes) please.

I just finished Fury, an old school WWII movie about tank battles. REALLY good. Brad Pitt is really good in it. So is Shia LaBeouf.

Quote by Mendalla

Quote by redwriter
Is this the same rut I'm trapped in? Although I think mine will be deeper-for once, there's not a clear idea in my head.

I keep bashing stuff out, but none of it seems to stick so I end up deleting or archiving and moving on to something else. It doesn't help that I really want to start on part 3 of Tana's story but I am still not sure exactly how that plays out.

Coffee is brewing and there's Red Rose and Russian Caravan in the teapots. Hot water is ready and I've restocked hot chocolate, marshmallows, and the tea chest.

Later, alligators.

I keep bashing stuff out too. I honestly don't know if it's any good or not. I'm at 67k-ish.

No Talia Thursday. It's sunny and warm and I just got back from giving blood for my doc visit next week, so I have the remainder of the day to write.

Baseball begins in a week!

A coffee and omg I have turned into the cookie bandit and taken them all! HAHAHAHAHHA!

Quote by elizabethblack

Quote by Mendalla
I think verbal should use that as an avatar.

Giggle. Thanks. I loved it. Doesn't take much to make me laugh, huh?

That was a great way to begin the morning. Thanks for the Godzilla cartoons! '

Anyone remember the Godzilla cartoon show? I think the kids stayed safe in his mouth while he fought the bad guys. Sounds damp.

Seeing the cardiologist today, but it's always a bit of an ego boost, as I expect her to compliment me on my good health and lost weight (I've lost 25 pounds since moving in with Talia) (were Ping among us he would insert a joke right here).

Other than that, same ol, same ol. Write. Walk, if the weather cooperates.

Saw the first half of a GREAT old school WWII movie: Fury, with Brad Pitt. Tank battles. It's really good so far.

A coffee and a delicious cookie please. Glad the ankle is healing Sara.

Nothing new here. A series of beautiful days are coming to and end, with rain and snow starting to move in (sorry Sara). I've got to meet a junk hauler at the old house, but mostly I'm just writing today.

We are making plans to visit Chicago for a wedding this summer - by pure luck, the Mets will be in town, so I may well see a Cubs/Mets game at Wrigley!

Hope Ape's peepers and Sara's Uncle Wiggly are healing nicely.

A coffee and a baby chick cookie please.

Where's Ping? He's like the Waldo of SS.

The house is sold.

Remarkably painless - the signing at closing took all of 15 minutes. It used to take hours and hours, but I guess the ritual has lost some of it's authority. At any rate, I am DONE, and should have a big honking check in my account this afternoon.

Beyond that, nothing new. We'll celebrate with a fancy dinner this weekend, and a drink tonight at the neighborhood bar down the street. I'll spend my day writing, like I try to always do.

Sara, STAY OFF THAT ANKLE! I'll refrain from cookies until your return to the land of the walking.

Coffee and a mini Milky Way bar I stole from the title company this morning!

Quote by gillianleeza

A rainy Thursday here, but at least spring is on its way. My complaints about aging were not about living longer but dealing with assorted maladies that come along with getting older. Dementia is the cruelest. My father is perfectly happy because he is unaware of how socially unacceptable his behavior is and some of the things he says. Everyone around him suffers. I'll try to be more positive.

Sarah, I'm glad your surgery was successful. Nerve blockers are great until they wear off. Take care of yourself.

I hope everyone is doing well.

I walked in on my cats like this. Not sure what they were doing. At least they are amusing and good company.

Those cats are taking readings and will soon beam it up to their home planet for analysis.

Demntia really is the cruelest. My heart goes out to you, Gil.

Glad Uncle Wiggly is healing, Sara. I assume the peepers are doing well, Scott.

Today is warm and sunny, and few errands stand in the way of me and writing. And Monday, at 9 a.m., I'll begin signing papers for the sale of house! It's been a long time coming.

Coffee and ALL THE COOKIES ALL AT ONCE!!! runs away

Quote by Mendalla

Quote by verbal
Hey, Ana da Armas' next movie is NC-17. She plays Marilyn Monroe. Hubba hubba!

An NC-17 Marilyn Munroe film? Poor Norma. Still being exploited decades after her death.

It's based on the Joyce Carrol Oates novel; it might treat her gently and with empathy.

Quote by DenimAngel

Hi peeps

A beautiful day here

I'm home and recovering from the surgery.

The SURGERY WAS A SUCCESS!

My nurse was so sweet and said I was so very brave .

We have enough cookies until I feel up to making cookies in a few days .

Thanks for the well wishes everyone

Stay safe

Happy to hear it, Sara. I'll cut back on the cookies until your return.

No Talia Thursday. Where the men are men and the cats are scared.

No writing today. I'm taking the last of our crap out of the old house for the closing on Monday morning. Bittersweet and exciting.

Hey, Ana da Armas' next movie is NC-17. She plays Marilyn Monroe. Hubba hubba!

It's so fun to watch baseball again, even if it is Spring Training. Season starts in two weeks!

Coffee and half a cookie please. Don't wanna run out while Sara is down.

Sunny and windy today. Nothing new. Listening to Senate confirmation hearings and preparing to write.

That dumb rule about extra innings starting with a runner on second is back. Apparently just this year, though.

A coffee and a cookie please.

Quote by Mendalla

Quote by verbal
It's demise? I hope not. I haven't heard anything about this place closing.

I think she's referring to the lack of activity. Outside a few of the game threads and Inspirations, there's not much happening. And that's mostly from the same half dozen to ten people, some of whom only post in those threads and don't do much else. Most of the stories on the front page have maybe 1 score at most and 0 or 1 comments. My latest is up to one score and two comments. A lot have 0 for both. So, yeah, I have noticed it being rather quiet here, too.

That said, Wondercafe2 (my site) has been kind of sleepy since the New Year and has picked up a bit of late so maybe this is a similar lull.

Oh, well there's some truth in that. I'm a culprit - I haven't read anything here since the last comp (in my defense life has been wildly busy of late). I'll try to get to the front page soon. I do a lot of critiquing for the two writing groups I'm in, as well as folks who have asked me to read their stories (he said defensively). Not an excuse. I'll try to get there soon.

Quote by Verity

Although I no longer write for this site, I am genuinely sad to see its demise. It seems that the only time it gets any real attention is when they have a competition on. Then you get the usual interlopers from the sister site looking for glory. This is a shame and I honestly don’t know what the answer is. Perhaps as I no longer write on here I am in no position to say anything. If you think that, I really don’t blame you. There are some very good writers on here but they are not getting the recognition they deserve. I see a couple of new faces, one of which looks to have a bright future in writing. So today I am going to go through the front page and give everyone on it a 5* rating. Call me mad, call me bad. Whatever you think of me, I wish you all well. Yes, even you.

It's demise? I hope not. I haven't heard anything about this place closing.

Sara, that operation is TOMORROW! Good luck! I assume it's outpatient, and you'll be home that night? We'll be thinking of you.

You are most welcome, Elizabeth - it was a sweet piece of description.

Thanks for the coffee, Ape. I'm back to my old tricks, writing today, baseball tonight. Still insanely windy here, and a chance of snow, but sunny now.

Time to face the page. A coffee and a monkey cookie please!

Quote by elizabethblack

It has been windy and cool (55F) today after 75F yesterday. But Spring is here and the blush of green is on so many trees and bushes. Forsythias starting to bloom along with the daffodils and other early flowers. Birds are nesting. Two Carolina wrens (the bane of my existence) have already built nests on my back porch. Such rascals. I have had generations of them feel the back porch belongs to them.. They have already thrown big plastic greenery bushes out of a wall planter so they have room for their nesting. And they have taught all their young to come on the porch when they need to poop. And they yell and scold me for daring to even set foot on the porch. But, they are adorable and I love to hear them.

Sara, take care of your poor ankle.

This is a beautiful piece of description, Elizabeth.

Gill, life sounds draining, and I'm sorry it's taking so much from you. growing old is not for the faint of heart, and the fact that you are caretaking for your parents in addition to dealing with your own issues has got to be a sometimes crushing responsibility. God bless caretakers.

Not up to much here. Writing, a trip to the dentist later. Planning a trip to Chicago this summer for a wedding that looks like it might be Big Fun.

Sorry about all the wind, Sara. My bad.

Coffee and a sugar cookie please.

Hope Uncle Wiggly feels better soon Sara.

Sunny and warm here. Light errand running, followed by...wait for it...a televised Mets game! With Elizabeth's Nationals! I'm psyched.

We saw Deep Water last night. I liked it quite a bit, though it was too mean spirited for Talia's tastes. She's right, it's pretty mean-spirited, and kinky, and dark. Sad Ben Affleck is reasonably good in it, but Ana de Armas is frikkin electric! Like, deeply, mind-meltingly hot. Ping, take notice. She's on fire in this. The character is very twisted, but very sexy.

Coffee and a Ana-de-Armas-shaped cookie please.

I barely noticed St. Patrick's Day this year. No festivities whatsoever. I did watch several hours of baseball though, and struggled with the novel. Getting some serious Imposter Syndrome. But I'm in the last third, at this point I'm just pushing through as best I can. Fix mistakes in the next draft.

House closes in 11 days. Very little left to go wrong now. Yay!

Writing and baseball, all day today. Science Friday on NPR at 1 - always a highlight of the week. Absolutely nothing planned for the weekend but laziness.

Congrats on selling 50 stories Verity.

How go the new peepers Scott?

Coffee and a snickerdoodle cookie please!

Quote by Ping
But the better news is that a major news outlet commissioned me to write some stuff. I know, right? Me, FFS. I don’t know if I can finagle a regular writing gig out of this, but anything’s possible. Even if it’s one or two and done, it’s pretty cool

Too cool, Ping! Good luck with it.

I didn't know Russian Doll was gonna get a second season. Great first season! I've only watched the first two season on Eve, but may jump back into it.

Baseball on television today.... Yay! D-backs vs. Rockies is my pick, though I may watch a bit of whatever game is on at 11.

Other than that, appraisal and inspection went fine, so we are very close to having a done deal on the house. Writing again. Life resumes its normal rhythms.

I love my walks, Ape. Nice to see you enjoying yours.

Coffee and a cherry shortbread cookie please!

Good morning all.

Not much going on here. More snow tonight - this is snow season in Colorado - March and even April we always get a ton. I'm not complaining, the signs of Spring are in the air, so I can wait. Talia saw a robin last week! Televised baseball starts tomorrow. First televised Mets game is Saturday, against Elizabeth's mighty Nats.

Time to face the page.

Coffee and a stawberry shortbread cookie please!

We just completed ALL the items mentioned in the inspection of the house. So, it should be smooth sailing from here on in. The appraisal is next.

First televised spring training game is on Sunday!

As for me, I've got therapy in about 5 minutes, then some errands, then a slightly truncated writing day; I'm shooting for 750 words.

Congrats on the new story Ape. I'll get to it eventually.

Where the frick is Pingu? Do we need to send out a search party?

A coffee and a therapist-shaped cookie please.

It's sunny and warm, the house closes in two weeks, and there are Spring Training games this week! I'm writing again! What's that feeling? Could it be...hope? The thing with feathers? It's the season for it.

More critique group tonight - short story group, and I'm thankfully not under the gun. But I do have a lot of critiquing to do today.

Anyway, I hope everyone is well. A coffee and a baseball cookie please!