Hey everyone.
It's a gorgeous day here. I'm feeling lazy, but plan to caffeinate my way out of it. Gotta write, gotta run errands, gotta tske my walk, gotta keep Talia and the cats entertained and happy! It's so stressful!
We went on an assemble-it-yourself furniture spree on Amazon - I've assembled a dresser and a coat-rack in the last few days. I love following the little pictures, making sure you have the right pieces, in the right arrangement. AND A BOOKCASE JUST SHOWED UP!!!
Clearly, I have work to do. A coffee and a ...wait, WHO STOLE ALL THE COOKIES!?
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Quote by DenimAngelhi peeps
A beautiful but yucky hot day today
A large iced tea sounds good
Not a much going.
Went to the store for bananas and they were all out
Then went to the library and picked up a couple of TV shows and a movie collection
Not much going on today
Might get some writing tidied up and ready to submit.
*peeking in the cookie jars* we are in good shape..
. Where are the cookie bandits??
* Giving the adorable critters that hang out here fresh water and treats*
Hope everyone is having a great day!
The cookie bandit JUST STOLE ALL THE COOKIES!!!
Sorry the Mets beat the Braves in the first game today. I'm waiting to watch the second game tonight.
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Quote by elizabethblack
I am still stunned. Stunned, I say. The Nats beat the Mets 3 out of 4 games in the series. I must not scream and jump around, but this was a real baseball game today with so much excitement. It may even move us from the bottom of the standings (for a short while).
Your Nats REALLY pummelled my boys this weekend! And they have to play a double header today! Elizabeth, I think the Nats are finally beginning to wake up! Only 5 games out of first!
In other news, FINALLY sold a story this year! It's a satire of the Nextdoor app, and I'm really proud of it. It'll be in next month's Dark Moon Digest!
I hope everyone had a good Father's Day.
Good to see you back as Ping, Ping! Looking forward to reading your story.
Cold day here today. A hot coffee would be swell.
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The One True Ping!
"A friend of mine became a father last night / when he spoke, in his voice, I could hear the light / of the sky in the river, the timberwolf in the pine / and that great jukebox out on route 39" - Bruce Springsteen
Happy Father's Day Dad, amd to all the Dads out there.
"A friend of mine became a father last night / when he spoke, in his voice, I could hear the light / of the sky in the river, the timberwolf in the pine / and that great jukebox out on route 39" - Bruce Springsteen
Happy Father's Day Dad, amd to all the Dads out there.
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Not that I can write micros for sh1t, ut I'd agree with Verity that the last line is the place to start. Good micros seem to all be really tightly structured: plot, plot, plot. You gotta know what you're gonna do before you get in.
Flash--which I like to think I'm pretty good at--are a different beast. The key, for me, is finding a tiny plot point, a small change in a character's attitude or situation, and focus entirely on it. If the plot of a novel goes from A to Z, the plot of a flash is from A to B - just one small step.
Flash--which I like to think I'm pretty good at--are a different beast. The key, for me, is finding a tiny plot point, a small change in a character's attitude or situation, and focus entirely on it. If the plot of a novel goes from A to Z, the plot of a flash is from A to B - just one small step.
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Scott, good luck on the micro thing - I think writing micros would GIVE me writer's block, since I find them so frustrating. I did find writing a flash a week, writing the Shards--anyone remember the Shards anymore?--and it really got me into a good rhythm. But I couldn't do it with micros.
Finished a story for the Site That Must Not Be Named. A light edit over the weekend and send it off. They are clamoring for your presence over there, Ping: join us, join us....
Starting a new one today, about a bucolic children's park in the middle of a wholesome, suburban neighborhood. But wait - are those geese by the pond looking at us strangely?
Talia is at physical work today - so it's just me and the cats again. Let's get into some trouble!
Someone pour me a coffee and fling me a frisbee shaped cookie. Wait, they're all frisbee shaped!
Finished a story for the Site That Must Not Be Named. A light edit over the weekend and send it off. They are clamoring for your presence over there, Ping: join us, join us....
Starting a new one today, about a bucolic children's park in the middle of a wholesome, suburban neighborhood. But wait - are those geese by the pond looking at us strangely?
Talia is at physical work today - so it's just me and the cats again. Let's get into some trouble!
Someone pour me a coffee and fling me a frisbee shaped cookie. Wait, they're all frisbee shaped!
Kaiju-adjacent
Mets win again, but deGrom left the game after three innings. MUCH rather we'd lost and he was healthy.
Finished a story for another site. Quite a departure from earlier stuff. I may or may not post.
Scott, maybe figure out what makes that first bit so good, and center a smaller story around that. I've taken good bits from bad stories and turned them into flash before.
Tired. Coffee and a cookie would be excellent.
Finished a story for another site. Quite a departure from earlier stuff. I may or may not post.
Scott, maybe figure out what makes that first bit so good, and center a smaller story around that. I've taken good bits from bad stories and turned them into flash before.
Tired. Coffee and a cookie would be excellent.
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Quote by MendallaQuote by Dreamcatcher
The Natural
Major League
For the Love of the Game
Field of Dreams
Bull Durham
Trivia: Field of Dreams is based on Shoeless Joe by the late W. P. Kinsella, one of my country's literary greats.
He's a great writer. He wrote a book called The Great Iowa Baseball Confederacy that blew me away.
And the guy who wrote For the Love of the Game wrote a Civil War novel that's in my all-time top 10 faves of books: The Killer Angels. Astonishingly good. Haven't seen the Love of the Game movie though.
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Quote by gillianleeza
It is great news that the site can remain and all its features and data saved.
I usually try to be positive and rarely vent my anger, but I am making an exception, and I don't care if anyone thinks it doesn't belong in this thread.
I was appalled at the behavior and public airing of grievances and behind the scene communications. It was all ugly.
Think what you want about the site and the people who run it, but none of us deserve some of the things said and done.
I'm taking a break for a while. I have enough stress in my life that I don't need it here. This was the one place I could come to relax and feel welcome.
I wish everyone well and hope everyone can act like adults going forward.
I agree Gill, and I hope I didn't cause offense.
Can I buy you a coffee?
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Quote by MagnificentBastardQuote by verbal
Bull Durham is my fave ever, easily. Moneyball is good, a solid second. Field of Dreams a distant third - it's a little too touchy feely for me.
No, I wasn’t fortunate to be at the game. But at that time, I was a team manager for an athletics team. We traveled to TO and I arranged for the entire team to catch a game, beer, nuts, and all. It was magic.
Our top three are similar. Tougher question, what fills out your top five?
I’ll think on this but if Bad News Bears is on your list, you are dead to me. The Natural? So many others.
Funny isn’t it. For a guy who jokingly slams boreball, he sure does love baseball movies.
Just shook my jar of soaking coffee grounds. Twenty one hours to go.
If you can properly explain ‘scrapping pegs’ or some variation of that reference, I’ll give you the first taste of my Java elixir.
Shockingly, I've never seen Bad News Bears.
1) Eight Men Out
2) Bull Durham
3) The Natural
4) Moneyball
5) A League of Their Own
Glad the site is staying around. Perhaps we can get a liquor license now and celebrate in style!
I hope everyone is well.
The Big Man deGrom is on the mound tonight for the Mets.
I'd love a (spiked) coffee. And a frosted cookie!
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Quote by MendallaQuote by MagnificentBastard
Stop being so negative. Others offered to help. Like a dog with a rotting bone, you chose to go your own way. Don't take your frustration out on me or anyone else, ESPECIALLY in this thread.
If you really want to help, leave. Or at least start being constructive.
I think asking people to leave is over the top, and liable to jinx the project, or at least the good vibes and spirit of camaraderie associated with it.
Can we all chill out a little bit?
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Quote by MagnificentBastardQuote by verbalQuote by elizabethblack
Oh dear. No infighting here.
That's certainly fair. I'm just frustrated this cafe is going south just as it was getting fun. But Life is change, and perhaps the new cafe will be fun as well. My apologies.
3-0 Mets-Cubs in the 5th as I watch it on time delay. Roland, come talk baseball!
A decaf would hit the spot.
I’ll talk baseball. Joe Carter. Toronto Blue Jays. Back-to-back series champs. I saw them at the Skydome. It was awesome.
Moneyball is the BEST baseball movie ever. Bull Durham and Field of Dreams tie for second.
I watched EVERY PITCH of that 93 series! I loved that Phillies team--John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra. Mitch Williams gave up the losing run to Joe Carter AND HAD TO LEAVE TOWN! You were at the actual World Series games? Too cool.
Hot sunny day, and I'm on point to finish a new story, if I can get a little headwind behind me.
Mets are on a roll, baby.
Bull Durham is my fave ever, easily. Moneyball is good, a solid second. Field of Dreams a distant third - it's a little too touchy feely for me.
Coffee and cookies and lil monkey hugs please.
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Quote by elizabethblack
Oh dear. No infighting here.
That's certainly fair. I'm just frustrated this cafe is going south just as it was getting fun. But Life is change, and perhaps the new cafe will be fun as well. My apologies.
3-0 Mets-Cubs in the 5th as I watch it on time delay. Roland, come talk baseball!
A decaf would hit the spot.
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Quote by MendallaQuote by verbal
I see infighting is beginning to leak into the threads. I'd love to be able to find a lasting internet home again. A simple thead, people just talking about their day, and maybe talking about writing a little, without animosity or attention whoring.
Wouldn't that be this thread??
I was hoping so, yeah.
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The Padres really DID put a number on the Mets. Tatis and Pham are the real deal. On to the Cubbies.
I see infighting is beginning to leak into the threads. I'd love to be able to find a lasting internet home again. A simple thead, people just talking about their day, and maybe talking about writing a little, without animosity or attention whoring. It's exhausting.
Okay. On to the day. Editing the coyote story. I really like it, but it's kind of long and wooly right now. The ACTUAL coyotes I've not heard from in about a week. I think I scared them a few houses down, which is all I really wanted to do. Of course, now there is a family of raccoons in the back yard of the other house, where my daughter is currently living.
See ya tomorrow, everyone. A coffee and a cookie would be swell.
I see infighting is beginning to leak into the threads. I'd love to be able to find a lasting internet home again. A simple thead, people just talking about their day, and maybe talking about writing a little, without animosity or attention whoring. It's exhausting.
Okay. On to the day. Editing the coyote story. I really like it, but it's kind of long and wooly right now. The ACTUAL coyotes I've not heard from in about a week. I think I scared them a few houses down, which is all I really wanted to do. Of course, now there is a family of raccoons in the back yard of the other house, where my daughter is currently living.
See ya tomorrow, everyone. A coffee and a cookie would be swell.
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The Mets game has been on for a couple hours, and the question of the day is: can I stay ignorant of the score for the next 8 hours? Seems unlikely, but if i do I'll be watching it tonight. Regardless, the Mets are rolling. Boy that Tatis is a force of nature though. I really like the Padres this year.
Saw The Conjuring 4 (I think that's the right number). Started out loving it, got a little bogged down toward the end, but I'd still recommend it. Seen it yet, Gill?
We finished the first season of Top of the Lake too, and really enjoyed it.
Lazy day. Edit, organise Talia's office for her, grocery shop, pet the cats, take a walk.
Coffee, cookies, and monkey hugs please. Hope your doggo is doing well, Larry.
Saw The Conjuring 4 (I think that's the right number). Started out loving it, got a little bogged down toward the end, but I'd still recommend it. Seen it yet, Gill?
We finished the first season of Top of the Lake too, and really enjoyed it.
Lazy day. Edit, organise Talia's office for her, grocery shop, pet the cats, take a walk.
Coffee, cookies, and monkey hugs please. Hope your doggo is doing well, Larry.
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Hey all.
So weird to be just settling in here, only for the site to leave.
I hope things work out for the new site.
Larry, I saw your first sentence and "passed away" and "Victor" and thought your dog had died. My heart jumped! So glad to see I read it wrong, and that he's doing better.
deGrom on the mound tonight, against the best team in baseball.
I'm writing and running several tons of errands - Talia is physically at work today, so it's just me and the cats.
Coffee and cookies and monkey hugs please.
So weird to be just settling in here, only for the site to leave.
I hope things work out for the new site.Larry, I saw your first sentence and "passed away" and "Victor" and thought your dog had died. My heart jumped! So glad to see I read it wrong, and that he's doing better.
deGrom on the mound tonight, against the best team in baseball.
I'm writing and running several tons of errands - Talia is physically at work today, so it's just me and the cats.
Coffee and cookies and monkey hugs please.
Kaiju-adjacent
Quote by MagnificentBastard
Well, I did it again. Nude bacon frying. Why do it? Just like climbing Everest, because it’s there. Off to emerg shortly for some ointment. Treatment for pigs is called, oinkment. My daughter laughs every time I say that. I’ll probably get the same British nurse who likes to make spotted dick jokes.
Anyway, none of this is true. What is true is the Mochaccino I made and am currently sipping.
Easy Mochaccino: Get your favourite hot chocolate powder mix and use as the sweetener. Make coffee a little stronger than usual. Add powder to coffee to desired taste. Add some sugar if you fear drink becoming too chocolatey, or choc-latte, if you want to generate a daughter’s eye roll and smile. Add cream or whip cream to soften flavour, making drink creamier. Delish.
Hope to go for a little ride this morning before the day gets too busy and the skies open.
When the hell did, “Have a good one,” become the standard cashier saying. I hate it. Have a good day is better. Have a good one is lazy language. Have a good what? Visit to the bathroom after eating at Taco Bell? Have a good divorce? Have a good fall after tripping on some guest’s kid’s toy left on the floor.
Have a good one is synonymous with See You Next Tuesday. If you don’t know what that means, best look it up. It’s not a kind way to say goodbye, but it is satisfying.
Anyway, have a good one everybody.
See you next Tuesday, Verbs.
I had to look that one up - my inner 12 year old boy is out mowing the lawn.
What's wrong with have a good one? Rabble-rouser. Talia is currently learning the sheer number of non-specific nouns i use in an average day, primarily: dealer, delio, thang, and thanger. As in, Would you take that delio and put it in the thanger?
No baseball today. Rematch with Larry's Padres on Friday.
Time to write. Coffee please.
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Quote by gillianleezaQuote by verbalQuote by gillianleeza
I've tried watching Tenet on HBO max a few times but can't get into it. I got lost in the beginning and didn't have the patience to continue. Maybe I'll give it another shot one night when I can't sleep.
We saw this in the theater, and Talia leaned into my ear and said "I have absolutely no idea what's going on." She hated it. I didn't understand it any better, but I kind of enjoyed trying to figure it out. I even watched it again. Talia made fun of me. I still didn't understand it, but it made a LITTLE more sense the second time around.
Looking forward to the new Conjuring movie. Not a big fan of sequels, but this series is better than most.
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Hey all.
HUGS
Nice to see all the love pouring out for Stories Space. Let me know how I can help. It's nice to know we'll all probably have a way to keep in touch, and read each other's work. I have nowhere else to talk about baseball! Or fiction!
Speaking of: the Mets got pummelled last night, by (I think) the worst team in baseball. It's so hard to tell if they are any good or not.
Tired. Did not sleep well last night. Slow day. It's nice out. Grilling tonight!
Coffee and a cookie please. Now where's that goofy lil monkey?
HUGS
Nice to see all the love pouring out for Stories Space. Let me know how I can help. It's nice to know we'll all probably have a way to keep in touch, and read each other's work. I have nowhere else to talk about baseball! Or fiction!
Speaking of: the Mets got pummelled last night, by (I think) the worst team in baseball. It's so hard to tell if they are any good or not.
Tired. Did not sleep well last night. Slow day. It's nice out. Grilling tonight!
Coffee and a cookie please. Now where's that goofy lil monkey?
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Quote by MagnificentBastard
With Mandalla’s past and current experiences, Sara’s cookies for fuel, and Verbs’, I don’t know what he’ll contribute ðŸ¤, something might work to save and/or revive the space of stories.
Why, my expertise on kaiju and late 50s sci-fi movies, of course!
I've got some web game. I don't know much about web BBs, but I imagine there's a lot of building out of pages for stories, members, yadayadayada, and I'd be happy to help. I imagine there's a lot of boring grunt work in terms of editing a TON to text, and I could help there too.
I'm not a very good proofreader, but Talia is, and she might come help too (Ping I know you miss her avatar). Encourage her!!!
HUGS Hang in there everyone.
Anyway. We now have a new grill!!! Made some amazing sausage and pepper and onion sammies yesterday. Pork medallions and a mushrooms sauce are on the horizon.
Beautiful day out. Mets play the Os at 5. The coyote story is finally done, ready for some HEAVY editing, and I have a newsletter to write.
Coffee and a database-shaped cookie please.
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Quote by rolandlytleQuote by Mendalla
If/when we move to a new site, we definitely need to make sure the cookie jars get packed. And the coffee maker and kettle.
We just had a horrific act of white supremacist terrorism (or at least that's how many of us are reading it) here. A guy drove his truck into a family of Muslims out for a walk. Four dead (grandmother, parents, teenaged child) and one child in hospital. Guy has been charged with 4 counts of murder one and 1 of attempted murder. May also face hate crime and/or terrorism charges. The cops are still working that file with help from the Mounties. Meanwhile, my city is in mourning.
I do not understand how so many people believe this type of heinous act is right. I do not believe people are generally evil, but as the last decade has played out, I am beginning to think I may be wrong. My prayers go out to the victims and their loved ones, the man who did this, and everyone affected by it.
I have to say that the news of Stories Space's closure is a huge blow. I am home-bound for the most part and my time with you here on this site is my only person-to-person contact, except for my wife. I cried this afternoon and had to take medication for when I have an emotional break.
I leave in the morning for N.C. to see my family. I will not be able to be online very much over the next two weeks due to the trip. Everyone stay safe.
I am getting the sense that there will be a new stories space somewhere. Such a nice outpouring of affection for the space - I think folks'll put together a new one. And I need someone to talk baseball with! So if the site goes we'll finD someplace else to talk about baseball.
Enjoy your trip, and we'll see you in a couple weeks!
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Quote by Mendalla
So here is a story.
In 2014, the members of a board called Wondercafe that was run by the United Church of Canada learned that the church planned to close it down and force them on to a Facebook group. The site used custom board software built on top of their website content management system and upgrading to a new version was going to cost an ungodly amount of money. There was almost universal dismay at this plan but the church felt the site had run its course and did not want to spend the money.
So three members with suitable backgrounds (2 in IT, 1 had run forums before) realized that the board could be recreated much more cheaply using off-the-rack software and set out to create what is now called Wondercafe2. They had support, but not wholehearted, from the owner of Wondercafe but definitely had the support of the community. They drafted rules, found a host, chose software, appointed the first moderators and, almost exactly seven years ago, wondercafe2.ca went live.
The punchline is that I am one of those three members and am still the principle administrator of the site. And I have emailed my interest in helping keep this place going in some form to Nicola. Unfortunately, I may not have the time to spearhead an effort, but I am game to help.
Cool story. And encouraging enough so that Talia and I have volunteered our services to Nicola as well.
Any cookies left?
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Sigh.
Most good things fall apart eventually. Doesn't mean they weren't good. I'll keep coming in to talk baseball and grab a cup and a cookie (and a hug from that lil monkey) til the doors close. I'll keep reading any stories that anyone posts too, and post a few of my own. Maybe there can be a comp on How the End Comes to StorySpace!
Personally, I blame Ping. We had NO problems til Ping showed up.
I hope efforts to save this place pay off - thanks to those who are trying.
Anyway. Great Mets/Padres series this weekend, each team won two games. Good pitching duels in every game. I'm liking the Padres this year (unless they're playing the Mets).
A cofee and cookie and a wistful look at the soon to be closing doors.
Most good things fall apart eventually. Doesn't mean they weren't good. I'll keep coming in to talk baseball and grab a cup and a cookie (and a hug from that lil monkey) til the doors close. I'll keep reading any stories that anyone posts too, and post a few of my own. Maybe there can be a comp on How the End Comes to StorySpace!
Personally, I blame Ping. We had NO problems til Ping showed up.
I hope efforts to save this place pay off - thanks to those who are trying.
Anyway. Great Mets/Padres series this weekend, each team won two games. Good pitching duels in every game. I'm liking the Padres this year (unless they're playing the Mets).
A cofee and cookie and a wistful look at the soon to be closing doors.
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So, I watched baseball til about 2:45 in the morning last night. I started watching well after midnight, figuring I'd just catch a few innings of deGrom's start. What a great pitcher's duel. Couldn't quit watching! I fast forwarded through some middle innings but call all the action. 2 p.m. start today, maybe we can turn what looked like a sweep into a split.
In his first nine games deGrom has given up one run or less. It's the best start for a pitcher in over 100 years of baseball history.
In other news, Talia and I bought a grill yesterday. Tonight: pork medallions and a mushroom bourbon sauce, and corn on the cob. Yum.
We also started Top of the Lake, as a post-Mare of Easttown binge. Good show.
Later gators. Coffee and a cicada cookie please!
In his first nine games deGrom has given up one run or less. It's the best start for a pitcher in over 100 years of baseball history.
In other news, Talia and I bought a grill yesterday. Tonight: pork medallions and a mushroom bourbon sauce, and corn on the cob. Yum.
We also started Top of the Lake, as a post-Mare of Easttown binge. Good show.
Later gators. Coffee and a cicada cookie please!
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Quote by gillianleeza
The Woman in the Window on Netflix.
I had read the book but thankfully had forgotten the ending. It did not get great reviews but I enjoyed it. I love Amy Adams.
I know! The critics really blasted this, but we enjoyed it a lot! Amy Adams and Juilianne Moore (dreamy sigh) are both really good.
For a good story, google the book sometime. The guy who wrote it is quite a piece of work. He's a Talented Mr. Ripley level liar.
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Gill, are those cicadas wearing SUNGLASSES!?
The Padres are the best team in baseball, and beat the Metros 4-3 in a game much less close than it sounds. Another game tonight, though I think we'll be going out to an actual restaurant. Good game, Larry!
We also just got our first tix to live music is well over a year. Robert Earl Keen! During my birthday weekend no less! I'm very psyched. Feels like the world is opening up.
Pingalope, GoT starts with the WW, it has to end with them too. That battle is good but goes by SO FAST. They really overly rush it. Still, Khaleesi's 'moment" on the dragon at the end is stunningly cruel, and the endless hots of death and destruction after really bring it home. I also find the way they get to the Night King very satisfying.
Still looking for a replacement for Justifed. We're considering lobotomies, to cut out our memories of the show, so we can watch it again.
I have literally one paragraph to write today to finish the coyote story. And it's all pretty much pre-written in my head. I may start a new on up today.
Lovely, lovely weather today, and the weekend.
Coffee and a banana cookie. *throw my own poop at the monkey and run away*
The Padres are the best team in baseball, and beat the Metros 4-3 in a game much less close than it sounds. Another game tonight, though I think we'll be going out to an actual restaurant. Good game, Larry!
We also just got our first tix to live music is well over a year. Robert Earl Keen! During my birthday weekend no less! I'm very psyched. Feels like the world is opening up.
Pingalope, GoT starts with the WW, it has to end with them too. That battle is good but goes by SO FAST. They really overly rush it. Still, Khaleesi's 'moment" on the dragon at the end is stunningly cruel, and the endless hots of death and destruction after really bring it home. I also find the way they get to the Night King very satisfying.
Still looking for a replacement for Justifed. We're considering lobotomies, to cut out our memories of the show, so we can watch it again.
I have literally one paragraph to write today to finish the coyote story. And it's all pretty much pre-written in my head. I may start a new on up today.
Lovely, lovely weather today, and the weekend.
Coffee and a banana cookie. *throw my own poop at the monkey and run away*