Inspirations, the Stories Space Coffee House: If you're reading this it just might mean I'm back, sorta. If you're not reading this, well, congratulations.

Quote by Mendalla

singing

Dance and spin and swing and twirl

Welcome to the new week, world!

stops singing

(So was that too perky or what?)

Maybe you need to cut back on the caffeine a little, Ape.

Good luck on the new writing Elyse.

Didn’t sleep well, still trying to wake up. Grrr. Hopefully coffee will help. I have a critique session tonight and am a little irritable about having to do it on so little sleep. I suspect I will skip my walk.

Haven’t seen Cora around in a few days. Hope you are well, Cora.

Coffee and, if there are any leftover cookies I would love one.

X-rays at (yawn) 8am this morning so no perky singing today 😊. Got this weird thing on my foot so doc wants a closer look. Seems to be a growth on the bone.

Good morning, folks. How's things?

Ape has some dark roast Nicaraguan coffee brewed. For teas, we have Cream of Earl Grey and Red Rose. Hot water is on if you desire one of our other fine teas or maybe some hot chocolate.

Actually got in walks the past two days. Weather is pretty good for November, just a bit chilly. Now we're into showers for the rest of the week so no more walking. Gets dark too early anyhow to do walks on days when I'm in the office.

No real writing happening, just toying with ideas that seem to fizzle out rather than develop. Part of that is lots of distractions and part is just me being in a slump.

Later, alligators.

Good morning all. I hope everyone is well.

Good news! I just got nominated for a Pushcart Prize for my memoir in Split Lip Magazine. It’s a small press award, and since every small press gets to nominate up to six stories, there are a lot of nominees. Still, it’s very cool - never happened to me before.

Anyway. Same old thang here. It’s snowing, though that may turn to rain. I have no reason to leave the house today, so that’s cool.

Coffee and something sweet please.

Quote by verbal
Good news! I just got nominated for a Pushcart Prize for my memoir in Split Lip Magazine. It’s a small press award, and since every small press gets to nominate up to six stories, there are a lot of nominees. Still, it’s very cool - never happened to me before.

Woo hoo! Split Lip clearly saw something in your story if they made you one of their six. Crossing fingers.

Still above 0C here, cloudy with showers. Or that was the forecast. I just went out to pick up some lunch and it was so bright, I almost put on my suns.

That is good news, Jeff. I hope it does well.

Another week of ongoing paperwork and phone calls. I keep thinking there can not be anymore, but something new keeps popping up. At least my father seems to be adjusting to his new surroundings. He's been surprisingly docile and has not shown any of the anger and belligerence he aimed at my brother and me. I am thankful for these things.

My son and daughter-in-law arrive from Germany on Thursday and will be here for ten days. I am happy to have something to look forward to. I keep running into reminders of my mother all over my house. I brought a lot of her favorite things home. I also still have her ashes in her urn. We had a funeral for her but her ashes will be interred in Arlington Cemetery, she was in the Air Force, but there is a wait of almost year before they have a time.

I hope everyone is doing well. Be kind to yourselves and stay healthy. Cheers.

Me: I'm not going to fall for any more classic rockers, I swear.

Also me: ...oh...oh no. What have I done?

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

Me: I'm not going to fall for any more classic rockers, I swear.

Also me: ...oh...oh no. What have I done?

Okay, who is it this time? Petty will be getting jealous. 😉

Quote by Mendalla

Okay, who is it this time? Petty will be getting jealous. 😉

No, he won't cause I'm keeping Tommy...but...Jon Bon Jovi.

Couldn't tell you why - just that my heart likes him.

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

No, he won't cause I'm keeping Tommy...but...Jon Bon Jovi.

Couldn't tell you why - just that my heart likes him.

Guess you're just ... 😎... Living on a Prayer.

Jon must now feel like he's ... 😎... Wanted Dead or Alive

I could continue but will stop before the tomatoes start flying. 😊

I do like Bon Jovi, even if they kind of peaked right at the start with Slippery When Wet. That was a dang hard album to follow up.

Quote by Mendalla

Guess you're just ... 😎... Living on a Prayer.

Jon must now feel like he's ... 😎... Wanted Dead or Alive

I could continue but will stop before the tomatoes start flying. 😊

I do like Bon Jovi, even if they kind of peaked right at the start with Slippery When Wet. That was a dang hard album to follow up.

Livin' on a prayer while learning to fly. 😏

I never liked guys with long hair till Tommy 'n Jon.

WAY too perky, Mendalla. "The marvel of the dancing ape is not how well he dances, but that he dances at all1"

Well, since it's Hump day, and no one else seems to be around, I'll get humpin'…

Coffee is Dark Affair from Balzac Coffee Roasters of Stratford, Ontario (not that far from where Mendalla lives).

Teas are Earl Grey and White.

Sodas (or "pop" as we Canajuns call it) in the cooler, hot water's in the kettle, and all's right with the world.

Or at least, this little bit of it.

Lady Jay and I have got visitors – my younger brother and his wife. Fortunately, they are late risers, so I thought I'd pop in (or should it be "soda in"?) to see how y'all are.

Anyone got a funny story?

So we go to the local farmer's market every Saturday morning. One of the merchants sells fresh eggs and poultry. Really good stuff, too. He's trying to get people to order their Christmas turkeys ahead, so for the last couple of weeks, he's been wearing silly things on his head to draw attention. Two weeks ago, it was a hat that looked like a cooked turkey.

This weekend past, he had a turkey head – googly eyes, wattle, big beak – on his head. So I walked up to him (we're on friendly terms) and asked, "What's that funny-looking thing sticking out of your ass?"

He broke up and a friend who was standing next to me also broke up. Then the merchant stuck his hand out and said, "That's gonna be the best comment all day!"

Thank you, folks, I'll be here all week! Well, half of the week, now that it's Wednesday and all.

Thanks, Bear, for getting things going. Good morning. Foggy day here, making for a (not) fun drive in. But I arrived intact and am settling down to work.

I have realized that two stories I keep plugging away at are basically the same story with different settings and details. A person in some form of exile get into a relationship/friendship only to have the past they were fleeing show up and the new friend/partner gets sucked into their struggle. One is more of a fantasy tale, the other is a modern drama/romance with maybe a light fantasy trim. One gets a bit dark (the exile was fleeing some pretty nasty persecution), the other less so. So now I have to decide whether to continue both, choose one, or see if there's a way to do a third that is kind of a hybrid of the two.

Elyse, Jon Bon Jovi is no Tom Petty.

It never snowed yesterday! There is a bomb cyclone, whatever the f that is, in Cali, so snow is expected to come soon.

Same old thang today. Except this: I'm doing a meet the writers thing on another site at 7 pm, Eastern. Show up and ask questions!

I hope everyone is having an excellent day. Coffee please.

Quote by verbal
It never snowed yesterday! There is a bomb cyclone, whatever the f that is, in Cali, so snow is expected to come soon.

Not just Cali. It nailed the whole West Coast right up to BC. I know someone on Vancouver Island dealing with it. Ten thousand households without power in BC alone earlier this morning though BC Hydro seems to be getting things back online from what I am hearing.

Quote by verbal

Elyse, Jon Bon Jovi is no Tom Petty.

Hmhm. My boyfriend says the same thing to me but we're even cause I don't get his love for Bruce Springsteen. Tommy is still my number one though - don't worry.

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic
I don't get his love for Bruce Springsteen

Baby, he was born to run. 😊

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic
Tommy is still my number one though - don't worry.

He was just being ... 😎 ... petty.

flees giggling

Quote by Mendalla

He was just being ... 😎 ... petty.

He got lucky when he found me.

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well.

Didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. Taking it easy today, though I should get some writing in.

Coffee please!

From the reports, the Left Coast is getting socked. Power outages, power lines down, trees down, cars crushed, roofs caved in… all worrisome.

I hate to think what will happen to the blue coastal states once a certain thing becomes president. "FEMA funds? For YOU? Ferget it - and next time vote for me in 2028"

We've got some Kick Ass Coffee from Kicking Horse Coffee Roasters today, plus Earl Grey Cream and Matcha Green teas for everyone.

Soda/pop coolers are full, lots of Coke Zero for those who want to avoid poisoning themselves with sugar and prefer other chemicals instead.

And we've got hot chocolate sachets for those who want it.

Folks, if you're on the West Coast, please help your neighbours. I have a feeling the authorities are going to have their hands full for a while.

Good morning everyone.

Sorry for everyone experiencing any rough weather on the West Coast. I hope the FEMA response isn’t politicized, but it’s a brave new world. Sigh.

I slept well at least, and am experiencing that mild euphoria I get when I get an excellent night’s sleep after a poor one.

Wrote a mean little horror story yesterday, just over the length of a flash. I will fine tune it today.

Thanksgiving approaches! Coffwe would be swell.

Oh, I missed you Tommy.

Aka I been hanging out (read: listening to) with Jon a lot but now I'm back in Tommy's arms where I belong.

It was a cold and blustery day here (I love that word)—the first proper winter day. It matches my mood. My life is feeling more settled now. My youngest son and his wife arrived last night. It will be fun having them here for ten days. I'm finally planning the Thanksgiving meal. It will be a relatively small group (twelve) this year, but it will be nice to feel something close to having a normal life.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Cheers.

Quote by gillianleeza
It will be a relatively small group (twelve) this year, but it will be nice to feel something close to having a normal life.

That's good to hear after the rough ride you've had recently. Have a good Thanksgiving. Glad the German branch of the family was able to make it over for the holiday.

And good morning world!! Weather is a bit blah around here, but I've seen worse. At least no bomb cyclones or hurricanes are involved as I've been hearing about from various online friends on other sites.

For coffee, let's keep it basic. A nice dark roast Colombian.

Teas? English Breakfast and Raspberry Royale.

Hot water is available if you want other teas or are craving a hot chocolate fix.

Sodas are in the fridge if you need something cold.

Later, alligators! Have a great weekend!

Oh well – it's Monday. Let's get some caffeine going.

Let's go with Black Bear dark roast coffee from Muskoka Coffee Roasters, Tetley's Orange Pekoe and Oolong teas.

Plenty of sodas in the fridge, plus hot water and condensed milk for those who want to make hot chocolate. You can also use the frother to heat the milk if you wanna.

And I've got some peanut butter cookies and spice bars to go with the caffeine.

How's everybody doing this (American) Thanksgiving week?

Good morning everyone! Thanks for setting up Ape and Bear.

Snowed big last night, but it’s already melting. A fine slushy mess out there right now. Talia is meeting an old colleague for lunch so she has to go out in this. Me, I am not moving.

Thanksgiving shopping is done for our small tight little group. I have the turkey thing down pat, and could do with in my sleep. I am glad, Gill, that your life is returning to normal. I imagine you will sigh heavily several times this Thanksgiving - an exhalation of relief and grief combined. At least that was my experience. Not the same situation of course, but related. Hugs.

Seize the carp!

Good morning all. Not a lot of traffic in the last 24 hours, huh?

Settling into Thanksgiving, Prepping food slowly today and tomorrow. Turkey is thawing in the fridge.

My fairy story got savaged by my critique group last night. Still, I think figured out a new ending (the third I’ve tried). I will work on that today.

Nothing new today. Too cold to walk, but I am getting lazy with exercising. I need to get back into the game.

Where’s Cora? Where’s everyone?

Coffee please.

Quote by verbal

Where’s Cora? Where’s everyone?

Hey, verbal. Hey, everyone. Here's Cora! Popping in and out.

Thanksgiving is going to be a small family gathering for me. Food has been bought and cranberries are being made today to chill in the refrigerator. Cranberries are my favorite. We had snow a couple times. The first snowfall was November 18 or 19; what fun! I hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving.

I have been talking about my birthday pretty early this year; birthday dinner, birthday dessert, and a new one--birthday breakfast. It will probably be a low-key, enjoyable day.

I hope everyone is having a beautiful day. 🍁

🌹Cora's Creations🌹 offers you these delicious treats.

Thanksgiving Week theme

Pumpkin Cinnamon Crumble Cookies

Mini Pecan Pies

Enjoy! 😊

pounces on the mini pecan pies

Well, to start. Those all look good.

Sorry I've been scarce. Just been running around a lot. I am writing. 5700 words into a story that I have been trying to write for years. Decided I had been approaching elements of it wrong and went at it a slightly different way and, so far, that seems to be moving along better. But I have said that before and then stumbled (literarily speaking).

Will try to come by more often moving forward. But I keep stumbling on that, too.

Nice to see you back, Cora and not just because of the desserts. Though that helps. 😋

Sorry I keep worry where everyone is, Cora. A deep piece of my psychology right there, that counting heads to make sure everyone is safe. Life can get…tricky. Plus, you make great cookies!

But hey, that’s what Thanksgiving is all about: being thankful for all the good that remains at the end of the year.

Chill day here. It snowed, not a lot. We’ll make a few side dishes but mostly hang out.

Stay safe and warm everyone! I hope you troubles are feeling better and there is much to thankful towards.

Coffee and a cookie please!

Chilly day here too. I'm happy all my kids are here for Thanksgiving. My morning visit with my father was a bit rough. He had packed all his belongings thinking he was coming to move in with me. By the time I left I had taken him swimming which he loves and was happily settled doing an activity. Tomorrow when he's at my house we might have a hard time getting him to go back. Hopefully not.

It's the first holiday without my mom, which feels a little weird. But every year she would make the same dish and at least four of us have said we are making it as well. A small tribute to her absence.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Take care of yourselves.