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.

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Like, toy ones or the real thing? 😂 Because there are still dinosaurs around of the avian variety. Saw some pelicans in Orlando the other day and they are one of the birds that really brings that home.

Thanks for looking after the place Mr. Bear.

The real thing! We got him three velociraptors. They all escaped and are currently terrorizing the Great State of Colorado! Turn on the news! Lock your doors! Aaaaahhhh!

Knee doctor today. It’s much better but I still have some pain. Cold day out though. Other than that, a chill day. Still writing about eldritch doings in the cornfields of my childhood.

Hope the cruise is treating you well, Ape. I’m liking the whole book and and a deck chair vibe. Limitless horizon. The sea has no memory.

And Ping, I feel you lurking as I write this, you Magnificent Bastard.

Coffee and teas are up. I have brought cinnamon rolls, but no pictures, so you will have to use your imagination. But we are all writers! We have imagination to burn!

Coffee please, and a leftover spice bar!

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And Ping, I feel you lurking as I write this, you Magnificent Bastard.

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Quote by Ping

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I clock sheep?

Morning everyone. We are going out shopping today to prepare for The Big Freeze over the weekend. Dipping into the negative digits. Sigh. I am not leaving the house.

Sad news about Elliot Lacey. I am unexpectedly moved by it, and by the idea of the words you leave behind when you go. He has a bunch of crime stories here I didn’t know about. I will read some over the weekend.

And 42. 42? Sigh again.

Hug everyone you care for. Let them know.

Coffee and tea have already been made. I’ll have a cup.

That news about Elliot is awful. He was such a kind and talented person.

We are expecting bitter cold and some light snow this weekend. I think I'll be staying in.

I finally finished reading all of the comp entries. They were all good with such different takes on the theme. It was fun to read them.

Now, back to the never-ending paperwork associated with my parents. Trying to initiate a claim for my father's long-term health insurance policy has been challenging. I'm convinced they make it hard so that you will give up, but I am not. These premiums were paid for years, and they need to keep up their end of that policy. Sigh...

Stay safe and healthy (if possible), everyone. Cheers.

Glad to hear you're having fun, Mendalla on your cruise! We've been to the USVI as well as the BVI, and enjoyed both, although truth to tell, we prefer being at sea to all these annoying hop-and-stop cruises.

Our favourite cruise was a Panama Canal transit, from San Diego to Port Canaveral in Florida. It was a 14-day cruise, with what was supposed to be 4 stops, including the tip of the Baja Peninsula, and Puerta Vallarta. However, instead we went through two Pacific hurricanes and a tropical depression. One of the hurricanes hit both Baja and Puerta Vallarta, so both of those port visits were canceled. Instead, we had 9 straight sea days – and loved it.

Well, on one of the days, the waves were kinda rough, which didn't bother me, but Lady Jay, just that once, stayed in our cabin when I went to dinner. Only about half of the passengers wanted to eat, for some reason.

I had no trouble because I worked on a ship for a year between high school and university. I've been sea sick once, on the second day of that year, and never since.

It was a wonderful cruise, and we truly enjoyed the Canal transit.

I've put on some Columbian dark roast beans for coffee, and we have Darjeeling and Lapsong Souchow teas available in the pots on the sideboard.

(checks cookie jars) Hmmm… we're running a little thin. I'm not much of a baker – anyone got any ideas? I miss having Sara refill the cookie jars.

I'm with you, Bear, in that spending the entire trip on the boat sounds fine to me. We're eyeing it.

Big Freezy Mega-Cold weather moving in tonight. We are setting in with leftovers and movies. Gonna get cold out there. And then comes Inauguration Day on Monday. We are hunkered down.

I miss Sara's treats too. Coffee please.