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.

There is no new snow here, just a few flurries, but it is windy and cold. My oldest son, who lives further south in Virginia, got over ten inches of snow. He and his wife are thrilled because they don't often get snow, so they are enjoying a few snow days.

I'm going out of town for a few days this weekend. I need to get away from the stress here; it's causing me too many physical symptoms. If I am far enough away, I don't have to feel guilty about not seeing my father for a few days. He isn't aware of time, or if I have been there, so I don't know why I feel guilty; he's adjusted quite well to the place. The staff loves him because, for whatever reason, he is very kind and docile now that he is there. It's not what my brother and I have experienced with him, but I'll take it as a good thing. Emotions are so complex to navigate at times. Okay, that is my complaint out of the way for now. Lol.

It's almost Friday, yay! Stay safe, warm and healthy, everyone.

Gillian, you and I are going through similar experiences right now, I think. My Dad is nicer too for the moment since we moved him to the advanced care floor. I hope you enjoy your getaway. Find something pretty to look at. Unplug. Hugs! ❤️

Gill and WG, if I said nightly prayers, you two would be in them. True heroes, in my mind.

Thanks for the props on selling to the Canadian mag, WG. Yes, it was a thrill to sell.

Lots of comp entires! I’m sitting comps out for a while, but it looks fun.

Snowing and sunny right now. Very pretty.

A coffee would be swell.

Shovelled again but it wasn't much. Did the whole driveway solo in 15 or 20 minutes. Last couple rounds, it took me and the Mrs. 40-45 min. working together. No plows yet but given the amount, they might not plow my street. We shall see.

Putting on some Fire Roasted Saint Drogo coffee. For the tea crowd, some Duke of Earl and English Breakfast await. Or, if you prefer some of our other selection of teas, the kettle is full and waiting. Hot chocolate (with mini marshmallows), too.

Later, alligators.

I don’t miss shoveling. Sold my home 5 years ago to move to help with my parents and am still in an apartment, so the shoveling falls on others. I’d thought I’d only be here a couple of years, but looking like it might be permanent, so I’m gonna start home searching later this year. I need to find a mate first, so he can do the shoveling, mow the grass, clean the gutters, etc. 🤣🤣🤣 I may as well put that on my dating profile. 😊

Have a great weekend, peeps! Hope more entries come rolling in! ❤️

Quote by WriterGirl
I need to find a mate first, so he can do the shoveling, mow the grass, clean the gutters, etc. 🤣🤣🤣 I may as well put that on my dating profile.

LOL. I am sure there's guys out there looking to be the "man of the house" in that way. Not I. I am getting closer and closer to saying "eff it" and outsourcing that stuff. I'm already outsourcing some of the yard maintenance (fertilizing, weed control). Lawn mowing goes next. As Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) said in Lethal Weapon, "I'm too old for this shit".

I like mowing the lawn. I even use a motor-less push mower (my terrible secret: I use an electric mower for the back yard).

I even like shoveling snow, though we don’t get as much as you Canadians. Sill, we got a few inches last night, so I will be shoveling today.

Coffee please!

No, I haven't died, but I do have a new poem out.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/poetry/lost-traveller <-------------------

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

No, I haven't died, but I do have a new poem out.

Welcome back. Nice to hear from you. Love the poem, too. Nice one for you to come back with. Hope all is well.

Good (groan) morning! They plowed our sidewalks last night and the plow drifts were packed tight and frozen. Ugh. That's the kind of shovelling I can do without for sure. But, it is done.

I'm sipping Yorkshire tea right now to warm up, but there's also a pot of Raspberry Royale. For you coffee lovers, there's some Jamaican Blue Mountain brewed. And hot water is ready if you're craving another variety of tea or maybe some hot chocolate.

Hopefully it's a writing morning from here forward. Just need to decide what I feel like writing.

Ok, I finally submitted my story! I'll start reading the rest of the entries now that mine is finished.

Quote by KatarinaTechgoddess

Ok, I finally submitted my story! I'll start reading the rest of the entries now that mine is finished.

That'll be nine. Can we at least get this comp to ten?

Here it is: https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/flash-fiction/the-dandy-lion-the-whiter-box

Hope ya'll will take a look. I'm still reading the rest of them little by little. So far, I'm utterly impressed!

So Kat's in. Come on, we need 10 so we can have, well 10. It's hardly a top 10 if there's only ten, I guess.

If caffeine will help, I've got some Deathwish Dark Roast brewing. Tea is also available, Scottish Breakfast and Black Currant for today. Hot water is on if you're preferring some other tea or hot chocolate.

I started something on Saturday but then felt like hell yesterday so it is kind of stuck. Should be for, you know, but I am debating how to make it work here. Time will tell.

I just finished reading all the other stories in the Writer's Block comp and see that I have some stiff competition. But I'm confident that I'll make the top ten. 🤣🤣🤣

Seriously, though, I love the different takes on this theme. Fun reading!

And I'm back with another new poem. Careful though; this one might require tissues.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/poetry/i-wish-i-could-call-heaven <------------------------

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

And I'm back with another new poem. Careful though; this one might require tissues.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/poetry/i-wish-i-could-call-heaven <------------------------

You did warn us… lovely writing!

Hiya peeps

I’m lovin’ writing here. It’s just what I need right now!

Have a lovely day! ❤️

Quote by WriterGirl

Hiya peeps

I’m lovin’ writing here. It’s just what I need right now!

Have a lovely day! ❤️

I think I need to do more writing here, too! 😎

Nice to see so many folks hitting the comp! I will get to the entries soon. Just not feeling comps lately.

I hope everyone is well. My therapist finally reared her head! I was worried about her. A death in her family, it appears.

Warm and sunny today. Yesterday too - I even took a walk outside!

Coffee please. Any cookies?

Here are some beach cookies! After months of nothing happening in the way of repairs to our decimated grounds, the past 6-7 weeks have been buzzing with contractors. Unfortunately, nothing happens quickly in Florida. But besides the fact that the pier looks like a giant chunk was bitten off, the beach seems to be a normal, happy place again. Hence, beach cookies! (Don't worry, that's not sand, it's brown sugar on the plate).

The frustration I have is that so many projects are partially done. I just need something to get finished. 🙄

Ok, I'll be tenth. Just written and posted. Took me two hours and it probably shows.

Evening all, there is just the faintest hint of autumn in the air, but the beach was once again on today for what seems like the hundredth time this summer (himself is a bit of a three year old water fanatic.) I have managed a competition entry, so we are at eleven. It's appears funny (well hopefully is) but what I describe as that becalmed feeling mid way through a story is so typical for me. How To Procrastinate And Get Away With It.

Good morning!! Election Day in Ontario, but it's probably going to be boring. The odds of a change here are slim given we have a two-term premier who is fairly popular and, unlike some conservatives I could name, handled the pandemic and other crises quite sanely. Sadly, it's his more routine policies, like building unnecessary highways instead of supporting alternative, low-carbon means of transportation like transit and biking, that will keep me from voting for him.

For coffee today, some Muskoka Lumberjack. Teas are Canadian Breakfast and Vinyl Cafe. Hot water is on if you're craving something else hot.

Looks like the comp ended with 13 entries. Not bad but I would have loved to see it go higher. Now the countdown to the big decision begins. Who will it be? Who will it be?

Well, Mr Ape, I bet it’s a writer who didn’t eat cat food in the story. 😳🤣

Happy Thursday, peeps! I’ve been scribbling again. Submitted another glimpse in history. Now, I’ll try for something longer. 😊

Quote by AnnaMayZing

Ok, I'll be tenth. Just written and posted. Took me two hours and it probably shows.

Yours was great!! 😊

Quote by WriterGirl

Yours was great!! 😊

Aww... thanks, WG. So was yours. 🤗

Morning peeps!

Busy weekend here. My sister and I are sorting through all of Dad’s stuff we didn’t move. Where we are minimalists, Dad is a hoarder. 🙄

I’ve decided to create a book of my favorite scribbles to give to my son. I can easily (and cheaply) do it on Kindle Publishing. Create the doc, upload it, don’t publish, but have Kindle print me the unpublished writer’s copy for me to review. I’ll give it to my son, and probably print one for myself, maybe my sister, too. I’m calling it “My Imaginary Friends”

Have a great weekend! ❤️

Quote by WriterGirl

Morning peeps!

Busy weekend here. My sister and I are sorting through all of Dad’s stuff we didn’t move. Where we are minimalists, Dad is a hoarder. 🙄

I’ve decided to create a book of my favorite scribbles to give to my son. I can easily (and cheaply) do it on Kindle Publishing. Create the doc, upload it, don’t publish, but have Kindle print me the unpublished writer’s copy for me to review. I’ll give it to my son, and probably print one for myself, maybe my sister, too. I’m calling it “My Imaginary Friends”

Have a great weekend! ❤️

Giving your son a book of stories sounds like a cool idea. Good for you! And cool for him.

I dipped a toe in the comp entries but haven’t read many. I’ll hit more of them this weekend.

Not much going on here. Same old thing. Talia got me a treadmill for Christmas and I’ve been digging it. I’m binging on Brooklyn 99 and The Good Place while I “walk.” Did I spell binging right?

I hope everyone is well. Coffee!

Quote by verbal

Giving your son a book of stories sounds like a cool idea. Good for you! And cool for him.

I dipped a toe in the comp entries but haven’t read many. I’ll hit more of them this weekend.

Not much going on here. Same old thing. Talia got me a treadmill for Christmas and I’ve been digging it. I’m binging on Brooklyn 99 and The Good Place while I “walk.” Did I spell binging right?

I hope everyone is well. Coffee!

Omg, I have a treadmill story for you! And a warning! I had a treadmill and it backed up to the edge of an old piano with pointed decorative wood on sides. I decided it was okay to text and jog. 🙄 Lost footing and flew backwards and pointed edge of piano rammed into my butt crack. 😳😳😳 I immediately fell off and couldn’t move my legs. I started screaming, “My Butt! My Butt!” Within a few minutes I felt my legs again but was in soooo much pain. My son rushed me to the Dr. I didn’t break my tailbone but badly bruised it. Like a knot the size of a peach formed and a two doctors were all up in my crack checking the damage. I had to sit on a donut for weeks. Haven’t been on a treadmill since!