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JamesPBear
23 hours ago
Canada

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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.

Quote by verbal

Be careful of that delayed grief, Gill, dear. That can fire on you with both barrels. I am glad your boys will be around, that will lift your heart.

Here’s a pro tip, if you want a quick turnaround on a story, send it to Weird Horror. I was rejected within 12 hours, and 8 of that was sleep. Yeesh.

Nothing new here. I have a good friend who is moving to Ireland. She can’t live here any more. Makes me sad.

But at least there are cookies and coffee to help us through the day! Seize the carp!

.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

– Abraham Lincoln

"A house divided against itself cannot stand"

Likewise, Lincoln

A wise man, and, unfortunately, a prophetic one it seems.

Right now, where Lady Jay and I live, the nighttime temps are flirting above and below zero (that's Celsius for the uninformed). It has been unseasonably warm here until about now, but I suspect that's going to change.

They're saying we're going to have a La Niña winter, which means cold and snowy – yet the La Niña engine (in the Pacific off Peru) doesn't seem to be able to catch, just splitters.

So, climate-wise, the new normal is no normal, right?

Expect the unexpected – like the Spanish Inquisition…

Hey there, hi there, ho there.

Finally settling down to work on a story for another site. About time, too – in fact, almost out of time.

That, plus housework, plus my normal environmental research, plus trying to keep Bear and Girl moving is keeping me busy.

Gillian, sad and glad to hear your news. I know it's heartbreaking, but, as Mendalla said, take care of you, because if you don't, you can't take care of anyone else.

I'd like to try some of the Buddha's Blend, and a couple of peanut butter/Hersey's cookies, please.

Nice to hear that you've found a kindred spirit, Elyse! Good on ya, mate!

OK, so I have a new story up:

Henry and the Hunter

It is two of the characters from Bear and Girl, but set before the beginning of the Bear & Girl series.

Hope you enjoy it!.

I haven't been writing as much of late. I've been busy trying to figure out how to promote Bear and Girl. The free book promotion did goose interest, I've got a lot of nice ratings, and a few outstanding comments, which always help, but sales are drifting off again.

I find it interesting. There is an entire industry devoted to "helping" indie authors promote their books. It reminds me very much of the San Francisco gold rush – the 49'ers, well before the NFL team, and the actual source of that team's name. It wasn't, in general, the miners who made money off the gold rush, but the suttlers – the people who sold supplies to the miners.

There is a LOT of conflicting information about How to Make YOUR Book A Best-Seller! – for just $59.99! Or $29.99. Or $129.99. Or let us do it for you! $4999.99!

It gets confusing, especially as all the advice boils down to: Give us your money!

Perhaps, later, once I know something, I'll post a thread on how to promote a book. Maybe that will get some attention.

Meanwhile, since I'm gluten-intolerant, I brought some peanut butter cookies – GF! – for y'all!

I know Mendalla for one likes 'em, and hopefully everyone else will, too.

BTW, I know Writer Girl's life is complicated at the moment, and she's taking a bit of a break, but I'm sure she'll be back.

I was clearly wrong, very wrong, about the election, and you have no idea how sorry I am about that.

The lambs have voted for the slaughter.

Good-bye 19th Amendment and women's right to vote.

Good-bye Brown v Board of Education. "Separate but equal" will return for African-Americans.

Putin wins, America loses. The John Birch Society now rules the U.S.

Other losers include Ukraine, Gaza, and, to a lesser extent, Canada and America's allies.

Perhaps I'm being overly gloomy, but it feels like Germany in 1935.

And Canada may be Austria.

Welcome to Amerika.

And if I have but one wish, it is that I'm wrong about all of the above.

OK, so it's decision day in America.

Or, as St. Ronald of Raygun put it – It's Morning in America!

Although nobody knows, I strongly suspect Harris is going to win, and win big.

We will see, but if you're American, you owe it to yourself, to your country, and honestly, to the rest of the world to vote today.

I've noticed the decline in activity. It's hard to miss. I'm not writing as much simply because RL has become more active and demands more of my time and attention.

I write (occasionally) for another site, and the activity level there is lower, too – as well as the general level of quality, IMHO. I have one friend who reads everything, and she says that the good writers aren't writing as often, and there are a lot more not-very-talented people posting stories that are basically repetitive and derivative.

I suspect that it's people emerging from their pandemic shells, TBH. Writing and sites like this were a Godsend for me during the pandemic. They gave me something to do that I found fulfilling, and created a network of people whom I came to enjoy and care for. Many of those people have drifted away – as, I suspect, they would say about me. I've had people message me asking when I'm going to start writing again, and have at least three series going that I would continue.

But time is of the essence, they tell me. And time is as much the problem for me as anything else.

I'm not sure there is a cure. It may be that sites have a natural lifespan. I'm not experienced enough to know.

I do know that I miss the activity of the earlier days – even though I am, myself, guilty of being less active.

It's a quandary.

Quote by gillianleeza

I'm hungry now. All the cookies look amazing.

We had my mother's funeral last Friday, and on Monday, we will move my Dad into the memory care unit at their retirement community. I feel guilty about it but know it is best for him. He needs 24-hour-a-day supervision. Hopefully, he'll adjust well, but I know it will be a process.

I look forward to returning home and not having to stay with my father anymore. It's been over two months, and it has taken its toll on my mental and physical health. I can finally make plans to see my son and daughter-in-law in Germany.

I hope everyone is doing well. I'll be around more after next week. Take care of yourselves.

.

It's always tough to have to do that – but as I may have said before, you can't give what you don't have. If you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of your father – and you'll both be worse off.

Rule #1 – take care of you. But it can be damnably hard to do, especially with guilt hanging over you.

Thanks to those who have downloaded Bear and Girl and especially those who have left reviews. They make a world of difference!

Meanwhile, let's stoke the coffee pot with some Guatemalan beans, and brewed up some Darjeeling and Matcha green teas for everybody.

Cookies (courtesy of Molly) in the cookie tins, and all's right with the world.

Until next Tuesday, that is.

Fingers crossed, folks! It's going to be a bumpy ride.

As they say on a plane when bad things are happening, "Brace yourselves, bend over, and kiss your ass goodbye!"

Quote by verbal

Morning all. Thanks for the coffee and treats.

Glad the book is doing well, James.

World Series is starting up again today. It’s loo kinda over already - we’ll see if the Yankees can get a toehold the next three nights.

And the election is 8 days away. Quite the rally at Madison Square Garden last night. I won’t comment, other than Wow. It’s stark rhetoric, and a stark choice.

Coffee and a cookie please.

Watching from Canada, all a Polar Bear can say about the American electorate (or at least half of it) is…

WTF???

All good here. I had almost 6,000 downloads of the Bear and Girl ebook since last Wednesday.

Now, if I could just sell that many when it wasn't free, I'd be in business.

Still, since I'm not in it for the money, hopefully this will get the word out.

I'll have a mug of Earl Grey and mosey back to a booth to ponder the Witch-ness of What…

Quote by Mendalla

So now Molly is the cookie lady? We probably need a sign-up sheet or something to keep it all organized. 😀

.

Organized?? What kind of place do you think this is?

I made some gluten-free pumpkin spice bars, starting with a recipe from my grandmother – mom's mom – so treat them with reverence please!

Just a heads-up: I did an interview with an online magazine for Bear and Girl. One thing they asked is how readers could connect with me if they wanted to know more. I gave them an email address, but also said that I drop in from time to time and then could connect with me here. I also recommended StoriesSpace as a place where they could work on writing their own stories.

I would doubt that there will be a flood of groupies (worse luck!), but I did want to warn everyone of the (highly unlikely) possibility!

Bear and Girl is now available free of charge on Amazon as a Kindle ebook.

In the States you can download it here:

Bear and Girl US

In Canada, it can be found here:

Bear and Girl Canada

In the UK, find it here:

Bear and Girl UK

Elsewhere, it should be available through whatever your local Amazon website is. Search for Bear and Girl Behr, which is my pen name.

I would appreciate it if y'all could download copies, and, if you feel the urge, leave a review on Amazon.

Many, many thanks!

Quote by verbal

Ooh, Molly brought treats!

Thinking of you and your family, Gill.

Another day, another crushing Mets loss. It ain’t easy being a Mets fan. I have even been flying our Mets flag from the porch. If the Mets lose, I am flying it upside down, like Alito’s wife.

Coffee and a cookie please. I should bring in treats sometime.

.

I think I'd pay to see you fly Alito's wife upside down…

🤣

Costa Rican Gold coffee this morning, and I've made it in a French Press – Le Monde, to be specific, so if it tastes a little inky, that's why.

Teas are Orange Pekoe (a black tea, oddly enough), and Oolong.

I've emptied the lemonade, and replaced it with fresh-squeezed apple cider – YUM!

This year's crop of apples is outstanding so far, and Lady Jay and our family have discovered a new strain which is about the best we've ever tasted: Golden Gala. It's a cross between Golden Delicious, which are crisp but have almost no flavour, and Gala, which are sweet and crisp-ish. Golden Galas are very crisp, very sweet, have a thin skin, and can be used to cook as well as eat right off the tree! While they last, we're buying nothing else!

Hope Gillian is coping. Like Verbs, I can be a good listener if you want an empathetic ear.

Take care, everybody!

I'm good with Flash stories – you have to be skillful AND creative – but the question was: What would I like to see more of?

I'd like to see more humour stories. They're not easy to write, especially for someone like me who has no sense of humour.

Fantasy is always fun as it opens the door to just about anything you want to do – although most people seem to devolve to werewolves, vampires, and other such. Hunh. About as believable as a talking Bear, right?

Long stories are hard to write, and even harder to write well because the plots have to be so intricate that there are a lot of moving parts. They're also harder to read – unless they're truly gripping.

I love science fiction. After Dr. Seuss, it's what hooked me on reading. But I'm desperately intimidated by the great SF writers of my youth, notably Heinlein and Clarke, and, more recently, Spider Robinson. That makes it hard for me to write.

Horror is really not my thing, although I have written a couple of horror stories. I don't like being scared, nor being scary. I'm the cute, cuddly type, y'know?

Crime is an interesting genre. I'm not very good at it, but it does seem to bring out the creativity in people. Hmmm…What does that say about us?

Historical fiction is a little rare around here, but very popular in published works. It requires some research to make it work, and that's often the least enjoyable part of writing. By comparison, with Fantasy, you just make it up and let 'er rip.

Not sure if any of that rambling helps, Molly, but that's my stream of consciousness, and I'm sticking to it!

Quote by gillianleeza

I hope Sarah is okay too.

My Mom died on Sunday, which by then was a relief. But my father can't process anything because he can't remember if she is alive or dead. I'm drowning in paperwork related to dealing with death and trying to arrange a funeral and my father's upcoming move to memory care. At least things are moving towards some goals. But it's all so heartbreaking.

I feel guilty that all I can think about is returning home. I am currently only there on the weekends when my brother takes over. I miss my husband and my own space. I know moving my father is the right thing to do; he'll be safe with people who can be infinitely patient with him, but it's hard since the last thing my mother said was not to put him in a memory care unit. Once he's moved to that unit, we must deal with their two-bedroom apartment and its contents.

But the worst thing is not being able to grieve my mother because when I cry or act upset, my father does not respond rationally. I cry at night mostly.

Sorry for the ramble, but hopefully, I'll be home soon and can return to normalcy, whatever that is.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the fall weather. Take care of yourselves.

.

Life is a bugger at times, and no mistake. All I can say is that I'm sorry, Gillian, and that it will pass – eventually.

Or as my wife, Lady Jay, is wont to say in such situations – "When you find yourself in hell, don't stop! Keep going!"

Morning all. (checks coffee urn, tea kettle)

Hmmm…

OK, Guatemalan mountain beans for coffee, and Earl Grey and Darjeeling teas available.

I doubt if anyone's that interested in lemonade right now, but the soft drinks seem in pretty good shape.

(checks cookie jars) Anyone been in touch with Sara recently? I sent her a couple of things, but haven't heard anything back.

Quote by verbal

How’s things you ask? Mets won! Day off today, big day tomorrow. My fear now is having to face the Yankees in the World Series. I don’t think my heart can handle it again.

.

I don't think the Yankees are any scarier than the Dodgers, and so far, the Mets are holding their own.

It doesn't look like Cleveland, the only low-budget team in the playoffs now, has much of a chance, but we can hope. I'm sure the networks would rather have Yankees vs Dodgers as the biggest draw, but I think a Cleveland vs Mets World Series would be interesting. A kind of underdog series – if the team with the highest payroll in baseball can be considered an underdog.

I was sorry the Tigers lost, but they can certainly hold their heads up. Everyone said they had a young team and would take another year or two before they were contenders.

Still working on promoting the book, so…

--------------

FREE COPY of "Bear and Girl" PROMOTION!

You can download a free Kindle copy of the complete book of Bear and Girl from October 23rd until October 27th, inclusive.

Please feel free to do so – and please take the time to leave an Amazon review!

And pass the word, please!

Thank you! ❤️

Quote by gillianleeza

Hello, I'm just checking in for a bit. I've missed all of you. Last week was quite awful. My father got Covid and I had to quarantine with him for five days and not see my mom. Covid is awful for someone with dementia. Just keeping in the apartment was a nightmare especially at night. I woke up one night to the door opening at 1:30 and my dad was going down the hallway in a bathing suit headed for the pool. My mom was so confused as to why we weren't there and that was the worst. Thankfully she is now so medicated she doesn't know what's going on. I never thought I'd be grateful for that.

I hope everyone is doing well. At least some pretty fall weather has arrived and I can be outside again. Take care of yourselves. I hope to be back around soon.

There's nothing that prepares you for the disassembly of those whom you love.

My younger brother is in the early middle stages of early-onset Alzheimer's, which means he often stumbles and reaches for words – and it's clearly getting worse.

I can only imagine what it's like living with it as it gets worse. My SIL has my support and love – but I'm not there.

Yet, I find it reassuring that there are people, here as well as elsewhere, that we can lean on.

And you can, Gillian. Lean on us when you need people who are not judgmental, who want to be supportive, who will listen and empathize without sympathizing.

We're here.

Quote by verbal

Good morning all! How bout those Mets? Big win last night! The missus and I went to a bar (at three in the afternoon!) and watched the game! We felt so decadent! Nachos and beer (actually Talia had a lavender gin fizz).

Anyway, if the Mets win today we advance to play the winner of the Dodgers/Padres match. Pretty psyched.

Hey James, the Bear and Girl book looks nice on Amazon! Maybe buy an ad somewhere? It works, if you want readership. I wouldn’t change the title - it fits the story so well.

Cookies look awesome! One of those with a cup of coffee.

.

Thanks, Jeff. Yes, I have been buying ads, but getting no traction. I'm going to have to step back and think about what to do next.

If you do buy a copy (Kindle or otherwise) it would help a lot to leave a comment. I'm planning on doing some free promotion, but I've got to work out optimal timing.

Quote by Cora

Mendalla, congratulations on Top Author and Top Story for the month! 🥳

I didn't see that. Well done, Mendalla!

I've been MIA for a while, still working on promoting Bear and Girl.

It's not going well.

I'm considering renaming, designing a different cover, and reissuing it.

Considering "Spirit Bear and the Woman Who Fell From the Sky"

Perhaps some Assam tea for inspiration.

And, yes, the Mets are still alive in the playoffs. They beat the Phillies, and lead 1-0 in a best-of-5 series.

I guess they might, once again, be Amazin'…

Hey there, everybody,

Elyse, that's great news, and thanks for sharing it!

I sent Sara a PM some time ago, and haven't heard back. Perhaps she's bored with us critters. Or perhaps something has befallen her. Hope she's OK.

Meanwhile, it's cool here, but VERY humid, which means if you do anything active, you get sweaty – then when you stop, you get chilly.

It's actually a strange kind of Autumn weather.

Well, the Blue Jays season ended with a resounding THUD. They lost to the lowly Miami Marlins.

Sheesh. What a waste this season has been. And the prospects for next season aren't a whole lot better.

Well, at least I can enjoy the playoffs and see some GOOD baseball for a change.

And tonight's the Debate.

Not sure how this is going to go. Vance is a smart cookie – but often lets his ego interfere with his brain.

I hope Walz mops the floor with him, but doubt that will happen.

But, as Howard Cosell used to say, "That's why they play the games."

Kat was due to fly to Michigan to visit with off-spring on Thursday, leaving hubby home to mind the beach condo. Hope she made it – and that their home is OK!

Visiting friends in Toronto today. Glad we're no longer living here, but do miss the folks we left behind.

OK, so Cage au Folles was an excellent production, the cast, costumes, and set design were all amazing – as expected.

The storyline isn't terribly interesting, IMHO, but they did it in such a way that it was more of a character study of the principal characters, which worked. However, the first act was about 20 minutes too long, with musical production numbers that had nothing to do with advancing the storyline, but seemed to be plopped into the story just to have a musical number in a musical comedy.

It's interesting – since I started writing my own fiction, I've looked at other people's fiction with a more critical eye.

Which is a good thing.

I've given up following baseball for this season – and perhaps next as well. The Blue Jays General Manager and CEO were supposed to build a vibrant farm team, which would develop home-grown superstars, which would make them affordable perennial competitors. Instead, after 10 years, they have one of the most expensive teams in baseball, a farm system in tatters, and are finishing in last place in the AL East.

That's not the players' fault, nor the manager's fault. The General Manager and CEO should be fired, and the club sold to an owner that has a vague idea what the heck he's doing.

Unfortunately, the last step is the more important, and is highly unlikely.

It's enough to make a Blue Jay fan weep.

😕😢

Quote by verbal

James, I’d be happy to write a review. It’s a good story. I will even reread it - I think I missed a couple chapters in the middle.

Cora, it is indeed a big series. I wish Sara was around to enjoy the competition. Or Red to be bored by my talk of baseball. And Anna! Where did they go? I still have to read your poem, Cora!

My Weird Western story is coming out on Halloween! And I have a chunk of memoir coming out by the end of the year. It’s been a good year (though I almost quit writing in the middle of it).

Seize the carp, everyone!

.

Thank you, and there are several more chapters than the ones I posted here. I appreciate the offer, and will keep you posted on timing.

AND…good morning campers! How's the tea looking today?

(checks the coffee and tea pots – not a sausage)

OK, so we'll use some Costa Rican dark roast for the coffee, and Darjeeling for tea.

Lady Jay and I are going to Stratford (Ontario) to see La Cage au Folles tonight, and staying with friends.

And no, I'm not going to be starring, so please – no autographs!

(crickets)

Hmmm… gotta work on my star power charisma!

Okey-dokey folkies … take care of each other, OK?