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4 Aug 2021

Quote by Rumple_deWriter
Happy Hump Day to all Inspirators. The coffee pot has been rinsed and dried as has been the tea kettle. Today's coffee is from the Big Mamou Coffee Co. located near the fabled town of, Little Mamou. Water is from the nearby Atchafalaya River. Enjoy.

Some of the baseball teams Inspirators pull for won: Padres, Diamondbacks, Braves, while others such as the Mets Royals, and Nationals did not. Probably a great object lesson there but it escapes me.

Time to fill my mug, grab some of Sarah's cookies and wander over to the corner table to spend some time wool gathering.

Later, Inspirators.

The object lesson is: baseball is as much about losing as it is about winning. Life, too.

And that’s as philosophical as I am prepared to get today.

My youngest daughter and I are driving up to Denver today to see the Rockies play Roland’s Cubs. I don’t have a strong rooting interest in either team, I just like to watch baseball. And hang out with my daughter.

It’s a longish drive, so we might leave early. Those Coors Field games can get long. It’s a GORGEOUS stadium.

Enjoy your day all. I’m taking a vacation day.

Coffee and a snickerdoodle!

3 Aug 2021

Quote by rolandlytle

Jeff, you are going to love watching Baez play. He plays the game with the heart of a gladiator, the talent of a hall-of-famer, and the joy of a little boy. His defense and baserunning are gifts from Olympus. If you forgive him for his strikeouts, he is day in and day out the best in baseball.

Saw my brain doctor today, and he said over the last six months, I have shown only a minor decline in my tests. So I did not dare tell him I had not slept since Saturday night. I have had insomnia since high school. So I have been binge-watching 'Grimm.'

Have a great week, my friends.

He is a joy to watch! I love the abandon with which he plays. The Mets as a whole are still playing poorly, but winning isn't the only point of watching. Baseball is as much about losing as winning.

Really glad the doc had good things to say. We like to see you around here. I don't have anyone else to talk baseball with, so take care of yourself.

Lovely day here. Edit and write, long walk, eat supper, watch the game on time-delay around 7. That's my rhythm most days, and I really thrive doing it. Retirement has freed me in so many ways, and I am so grateful. It's a gift from Covid actually: CSU wouldn't have offered early retirement but for the huge losses in state revenue from The Covid.

I hope everyone is doing well! When's the next contest?

Anyway. Time to settle in.

I love a coffee and several snickerdoodles (I thought I saw some in one of the back jars).

2 Aug 2021

Quote by Tams
Wow... So many talented writers and so many excellent stories! I'm honored to be sharing the podium with Verbal and Thespian. Everyone who entered deserves a round of applause.

Thank you to everyone who read my story and especially those who scored and left a comment.

If I know Verbal, he's already blown his winnings on Godzilla posters for the ceiling above his bed.3Li3dQZ7qmCPZZpp So, a round of sarsaparillas on me!

Close.

Enough left over for a six-pack!

2 Aug 2021

Quote by Mendalla
Reading a graphic novel series called Once & Future. Basically, what if King Arthur's return was horror rather than fantasy. Arthur is what we would call a "lich" in D&D, basically an animated skeletal monster commanding a "round table" of similar horrors. Merlin just showed up but seems to be something else entirely. Arrayed against Arthur's evil are Bridgette Macquire, an elderly monster hunter who is supposed to be living in a seniors' home, her grandson Duncan and a historian named Rose (who kind of got sucked into the story by dating Duncan).

The underlying idea seem to be that it is not so much people coming back to life as their stories, with many variations possible on those stories. Beowulf has made an appearance, and the last chapter that I read (I am partway through volume 2) ended with the appearance of his foe Grendel. Beowulf is sent against Duncan and Bridgette by Arthur who describes them as "monster and mother", creating an allegory for Grendel and his mother. Not sure how Grendel is going to fit in, yet, but he is currently outside Bridgette's home. Good stuff. The last volume is up for a Hugo (one of the most prestigious sf and fantasy awards) this year and the series has picked up other awards and nominations as well.

Author is Kieron Gillen, a British comic book writer, and the art is by Dan Mora. Both creators are multiple award-winners.

That sounds amazing. Not only the Arthurian bit, but the Beowulf/Grendal thing too (I have a soft spot for mothers and monsters smile

smile

). Have you heard of the book Grendel, by John Nichols? It's the story from Grendel's point of view. Just wonderful. I think it was made into an animated film as well. One of my favorite books.

2 Aug 2021

Quote by rolandlytle
Hello everyone

Congratulations to all of the entries to the contest. Every story was excellent. I would have pulled out every hair on my head if I had to make those choices.

Sometimes, when I read a story, I can not think of a single thing about that story that has not already been said, and I wind up not commenting. I read every story in this competition, and everyone was excellent, but I did not comment on three of the stories. Two of those three non-comment stories won awards. Either that was a big coincidence, or the judges must think my praise is negative towards grading.

A couple of cookies and tea, please.

Bryant (SFG), Baez (NYM), and Rizzo (NYY) all hit home runs in their first game for their new clubs. I wish them well.

Have a great day, my friends.

Good morning all. Glad you had a fun birthday James.

Thanks for the set-up Larry.

Still waking up. Fun weekend. Great concert, great to be in a bar, great to travel out of town and hang out with friends. I'm going back up on Wednesday to see a Rockies-Cubs game with my daughter.

Speaking of the Cubbies, you are right about that fire sale Roland - but it also means you'll have fresh new talent and a smaller payroll to start fresh. Rosters get bloated after a World Series win. At least the Mets got a piece of that championship in Javy Baez.

Coffee would be swell. And a large handful of cookies! Hugs to all the animals and humans.

1 Aug 2021

Quote by Ping
Quote by verbal

Drinks are on me! And while no alcohol is allowed in the coffee shop, I hear a rumour that Ping is passing out limoncello shots from the trunk of his car out in the parking lot. It's that 1979 Monkey-sh1t green Ford Pinto out there. No, wait, that's my car!

You are unsafe at any speed, Mr. Ping. An honor to be in the contest with you. Dig that EP! Now, can I have a limoncello please? I'll wash that fine sports car of yours in payment for it.

1 Aug 2021

Happy birthday, James!

And congrats to all the winners and top tenners (that rhymes!) on the comp. I genuinely did not expect to win (that's not false modesty, trust me) and so it's a perfect cap on a lovely weekend.

A cold and rainy day here, but that just means I don't have to do yardwork, so you'll hear no complaints from me.

It was SO NICE to go to an actual bar and hear actual live music. Really good concert, and the whiskey went down smooth. Robert Earl Keen is a helluva storyteller, and told a lot of stories. Here's one he didn't tell on Friday, about his car burning up during the second annual Willie Nelson picnic. Followed by that song Bill loves so much.

Drink're on me today, and for the rest of the month of July!

1 Aug 2021

Sorry, couldn't resist, that's my favorite comic of all time.

What a cool contest, what a strong field, and I love that it is ultimately about the survival of StoriesSpace, and the continued camaraderie of all the writers here. I met a couple new writer friends here, and got into some extended conversations with others I'd not talked to much before. So here's to the writing community here, and to the hard work and skill of everyone who entered. Frankly, the strength of those early entries (I'm looking at you Verity) is what pushed me, and I'm sure many others, to do my best.

Also, HUGE thanks to Molly, who did so much verifying and clarifying, and kept us all up to date on who had entered. This would not have happened without the talented, hard-working, red-haired siren of Stories Space, Molly.

This really made my weekend, everyone. Thanks!

Drinks are on me! And while no alcohol is allowed in the coffee shop, I hear a rumour that Ping is passing out limoncello shots from the trunk of his car out in the parking lot. It's that 1979 Monkey-sh1t green Ford Pinto out there. No, wait, that's my car!

1 Aug 2021

It’s August 1st on the East Coast of the US. Just sayin’.

31 Jul 2021

Quote by Molly

Good book! I just cracked open his latest, Hail Mary. Good, nerdy, hard sci-fi.

31 Jul 2021

DUNE!!!

Also, the Green Knight. Love all that Arthurian stuff.

31 Jul 2021

I’m kinda pumped, yeah.

Currently typing this in the Costco parking lot, almost home from Denver. Talia is picking up a couple things, I have a toothache (arg!) and a bit of a hangover so am waiting in the car.

The Robert Earl Keen concert was awesome (thus the hangover). He even played one of my favorite country tunes in the encore: an old Son Volt tune called Tear Stained Eye. I even got a little choked up. I am on an iPad and so can’t embed, but here is the URL (I think): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SIHtFySoo6U#

Enjoy the weekend, gentle Inspirators.

Coffee would be a boon.

30 Jul 2021

Quote by Ping
Quote by Survivor
We have been suffering under a heatwave that appears to be ready to break tomorrow. The highs have been in the 90sF/30sC degrees. When it gets down into the 80s/20s we may have a break. Rough on the little critters.

Iced tea with a blast of limoncello solves all heat problems. I left a pitcher of this good mix in the fridge.

Lovely Fryday to you all!

Actual footage of my days in NYC. smile

smile

30 Jul 2021

Good morning all.

The endless weekend continues. Off to Denver in a couple hours. I’m tired, didn’t sleep well, but Talia can shoulder the driving.

Bill, you are SO right about The Road Goes On Fovever. It’s ALL PLOT, and would make an excellent movie. Look forward to hearing it tonight.

The trade deadline is over in a couple hours. We’ll see if the Mets-Cubs deal ever happens. The Nats gave one of the best pitchers in the league to the evil Yankees. Sorry, Elizabeth.

I’d love a coffee and one of those deLISH cookies.

*yawn*

29 Jul 2021

Quote by Tams

Morning, fellow storiespacers...

Did you all know that yawns are contagious? It's true. Next time you are in a crowd, let out an unsuspecting yawn and see how many around you follow suit. NOTE: I've yawned three times while writing this!

What's the antidote? Thank you for asking! It happens to be some of Rump's fine brew. I'll take a cup, if you don't mind, kind sir.

Happy Thursday everyone...hold strong, the weekend's within reach!

Totally not making this up: I once had a cat who I could make yawn! I knew it was a social behavior, so when I yawned, I'd aim it at her, and SHE'D YAWN BACK!

Anyway. Still waking up. Birthday was chill and fun. The actual celebration is tomorrow, when we are going to see a Robert Earl Keen concert (GREAT country singer-songwriter) with some friends.

Talia took today off, so we are in weekend mode early. I LOVE weekend mode. smile

smile

Coffee and one of Sara's famous cookies please. Are there any shaped like ennui?

I'll leave you with a Robert Earl Keen song. The Highwaymen had a small hit with it, but Robert Earl Keen WROTE it. Great song.

28 Jul 2021

Thanks for the coffee, Larry, and the birthday wishes, and thank you especially for the stack of quarters. I'll put on a tune, and encourage others to do the same.

Thanks for all the birthday posts everyone. It'll be a chill day, doing pretty much what I always do, interrupted by lunch with my daughter, pizza and cake with my other daughter and Talia. Presents interspersed along the way. Talia got me season tix to a theater here!

Sunday, huh? It's been a good strong comp. Looking forward to the results.

Ping, is that birds changing their songs story really a thing in Canada? Is it an actual story there? What if birds started to speak? What if it turns out they can talk, but they're really boring? They mostly talk about worms and twigs.

Here's some birthday music culled from my misspent youth. Post a song representative of your younger days!

27 Jul 2021

Quote by Ping
https://youtube.com/shorts/QNf6yC6A7AQ?feature=share

Okay. Okay. I’m not a Tik Toker, but this lady and her hubby make me laugh. She’s from Montreal but I think they live in Boston. Parents of two. She sings and is an ‘influencer’. He’s a lawyer. He never shows his face but is known as the Real Indian Dad. They both of Indian descent but he uses a very thick Indian accent for his character. It started out as him heckling her off camera while she played piano and sang, while preparing a future video post.

Sooo sooo funny.

RID: Did you hear about the two guys that stole a calendar?

DM: No

RID: They each got six months.

Iced tea, please. Some seed for the bird man of Colorado.

I’ve told this joke three times today. Got one laugh: Talia, predictably.

Sheena’s kinda cute.

Two meteor shores are peaking this evening. Might have to stay up late and watch.

A non-alcoholic limoncello please. And MORE COOKIES!

27 Jul 2021

Good morning fellow coffee and cookie lovers. Thanks for the set-up, Larry.

Guess whose birthday is in less than 24 hours?

We're not doing much for it. Ice cream cake and presents. And we're travelling up to Denver to see a concert with some friends this weekend. Other than that, just another pleasant day of writing and cat-ball and a Mets game in the evening.

I'm writing about an impossibly beautiful woman and her impossibly gorgeous dog, who hang out at the dog park, and the man who watches her from the kitchen window. We have a dog park visible from our kitchen window. There's NO beautiful woman. It's FICTION. Tell Talia. (Several gorgeous dogs though.)

Mets and Braves split the double header yesterday.

Coffee and a competition-shaped cookie please.

27 Jul 2021

Quote by Ping
Quote by CuriousAnnie
This comp has been a favourite of mine, the friendliness and community is so strong here and that brings out the best in us all.

Darn upload limitations. I have a funny penguin gif where one smacks the other to the ground. I wanted to juxtapose the tuxedo’d pairing. Penguins & Nuns. I sense a very hot South African catholic school story in the making or a very chilly one from Antarctica. But I don’t think there are any catholic colonies on the big berg.

Good comp. I concur. At the very least, we learned that Verbs was raised by wolves.

I'll have you know I was raised by milquetoast Southern Baptists in the middle of Iowa. I'm about as non-wolf as they come.

Now, raised by birds - that's something to aspire too. I had this idea last night: what if the birds started talking to children. All over the world. Just flew to them and whispered something. And none of the kids will tell anyone what the birds said.

It was a really strong, fun contest, I agree.

26 Jul 2021

(sorry for the f-word, Anna!)

26 Jul 2021

Quote by WriterGirl
Quote by verbal

Hey, when are comp results supposed to be announced?

It says August 1 in the Site news forum.

So it does! Thank you!

Hey Al Copeland, nice to meet you, I'll get to your story soon (as will others I'm sure).

Anyway, I stopped by AGAIN because I just read the Mets have a double-header today with their nemesis, Sara's Braves, AND not only that, but it's a five game series. AND not only that, but the Mets have so little pitching that they don't know who is starting 2 of the next 3 games. This series is one of the first BIG series to decide the NL East! Good luck Sara!

26 Jul 2021

Quote by Rumple_deWriter
Is it still Moanday? it is? In the immortal words of Winnie-the-Pooh, "Oh bother."

Larry thanks for the set-up and for giving WG proper recognition and greetings.

I was a bit 'off my feed' this weekend. Just felt punky and out of sourts. On the other hand, it let me stay piled up in bed knocking off a couple historical mystery novels.

Next up could be an in-depth analysis of the news that the universities of Oklahoma and Texas will probably be moving from the Big-12 conference to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) wherr teams such as Alabama, Georgia and my beloved LSU Tigers roam. Yep that could be next up except most Inspirators don't care and I'm not sure how I feel about the whole thing.

With a second mug of coffee in one hand while the other is filled to overflowing with Sarah's cookies, I'll go over to the corner table, sit in a dry confy chair, and speculate on just what in the heck-e-darn is speculative fiction.

Later, Inspirators.

Sorry you were off your feed Bill. Hope the coffee and cookies help. They help me!

I think speculative fiction just means a "what if" story: what if some aspect of the world was different than it is now. Like, what if the Russians landed on the moon first. Or what if they found giant robot monsters there? It's a huge category, and a big buzzword these days.

New story idea: any of you Canadians heard of a huge population of songbirds there changing their tune? Apparently white throated sparrows started singing a shorter song - "Oh sweet Cana, Cana, Cana" instead of "Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada." WHAT IF the birds had something more nefarious in mind!?

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/07/bird-song-sparrows/613768/

Anyway. Mets won. Larry's Padres got a BIG bat at second base right before the trade deadline. They're still in the hunt, and would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

Starting a new story today. Maybe the bird one, maybe one about a dog park with somewhat mysterious dogs and owners.

Hey, when are comp results supposed to be announced?

Coffee and a bird shaped cookie please.

25 Jul 2021

Yeah, what everyone else has said: an excellent group of stories. I'm proud to be part of this field!

24 Jul 2021

Quote by Violet_the_Verbose
This read like the philosophy of writing. Thank you for sharing; it's left a lot to ponder over.YuKixINQMQcbYd28

That well put, it's almost about living a writer's life than it is about actual writing. How to best observe the world.

And then you come across quotes like this:

"Writers don’t need tricks or gimmicks or even necessarily need to be the smartest fellows on the block. At the risk of appearing foolish, a writer sometimes needs to be able to just stand and gape at this or that thing—a sunset or an old shoe—in absolute and simple amazement."

The best gift writing has given me is the capacity for simple wonder.

24 Jul 2021

I got offered early retirement during lockdown (as a result of lockdown!) and it has brought positive changes to nearly every aspect of my life. My Dad died about 2 months before lockdown hit, and as deeply unnerving and painful as that was, I was thankful the whole world went kind of quiet for the next year, and allowed me to grieve in calm, isolated and strangely surreal surroundings.

24 Jul 2021

Quote by Mendalla
Quote by verbal

Talia is at the office, so today the kitties and I are going to learn to juggle, to surprise Talia on her return home.

Talia:

I DO get this look from Talia on a fairly regular basis. smile

smile

Kinda gloomy day today, which I don't mind, it keeps the heat down. Talia got a raise so I may take her out in celebration tonight.

Mets won again. A five game lead, and they still don't have a full pitching rotation. If any team in the NL East decides to rise up, the division is theirs (hint hint Sara and Elizabeth).

Hey Roland, I'm going to a Cubs game next week! My son-in-law is taking me out to a Rockies/Cubs game for my birthday!

Okay off to a day of pure laziness (and intermittent editing).

23 Jul 2021

Justified

23 Jul 2021

Thanks for the coffee Scott.

Happy birthday Verity! Have an excellent birthday weekend! I suspect you will. smile

smile

Hey, the contest is still open! Maybe a few more entries will trickle in. It was (is) a fun comp, with some seriously strong entries. Thanks to everyone who read mine and said such kind things.

Talia is at the office, so today the kitties and I are going to learn to juggle, to surprise Talia on her return home. I'll do the juggling, they just have to stay chill and not scratch me.

We signed onto one of those crazy phone plays again, where you buy a ticket and you get a call at a pre-specified time, with some interactive story (last time we were pretending to man a hotline, and someone calls in with a demon in their house). It's about a birthday party this time. Trippy stuff. Candle House Collective - look them up if you're curious.

Let me snag a cup of coffee and one of those bat cookies of Sara's and peruse the paper before I begin to write.

23 Jul 2021

Quote by TheSensualLady
Quote by verbal
I see more entries! Plus the Sensual Lady and the One True Ping. I look forward to reading and commenting. Really happy to be part of such a strong group of stories.

Thanks for posting that in here. I was seriously about to give up a time or two. But, since you posted it inspired me and I felt a duty to charge through and finish. I did it.

That’s awesome to hear, and you are most welcome. I’ll go read it now, before the contest closes!

22 Jul 2021

Quote by Ping
Quote by verbal
Last day! And I think we're still awaiting entries from the Sensual Lady and from the One True Ping. I TOLD you all we'd break 10 handily!

I'm all caught up with reading them, until the last few come in.

When are results announced?

Ugh. I did it. OTP's story is in the house.

Sorry for the delay. Just such a busy time right now. I'll start reading the remaining stories tonight.

Yay! Looking forward to reading it. And it's horror!!!