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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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?

Quote by Cora

Edit: Anna was online one day ago. Maybe she has just been checking in, possibly reading some posts, maybe stories, but staying quiet.

Jim has been gone two months, more or less. He never responded to my message I wrote him. I certainly hope he is doing alright.

James, it is good to see a post from you. I thought you had left. I am glad that is not the case. 😊

.

No, I'm here. Some days I just check and see what's going on, but life has been complicated of late, mostly because of the book.

I have barely written a lick since the last comp.

😕

Morning all! A gloomy day here, but we got some much-needed rain.

Lots of stuff to do, and not much time to write, alas.

One of the things I'm doing is trying to promote the Bear and Girl book. I'll be offering free downloads of the Kindle edition to those who want one, and would appreciate people doing so and then posting a review on Amazon.

Meanwhile, I'm surprised at how much detail is involved in promoting a book these days. I've published seven books before, six of them through publishers. I did author tours for those, but that's pretty much gone by the board these days. Instead, there's social media – which I don't particularly enjoy or approve of.

And how's everyone doing?

Alas, there's no point in putting up any Blue Jays cookies – first, because they aren't even in the same time zone as a playoff spot, and second because I'm gluten intolerant.

😕

Despite that, it's a beautiful day here, and I'm feeling good after my morning yoga!

How's everyone else doing?

YEA Kat, Jason, and verbs! Way to go, guys (well, gal and guys, but … you know).

And congratulations to everyone who had the audacity to enter. It turned out to be a rollicking competition.

So, tonight's The Big Debate. I suspect trump will do as he did against Biden – talk non-stop nonsense when it's his turn to speak, ignoring questions, and trying to deliver memorized one-liners against Harris.

For Harris' part, the memorized one-liners will also surely be there. I've read several "analyses" with recommendations for how she should approach this, including ignoring trump's presence and establishing her expertise.

I doubt there has been a public event where the stakes have been higher in many years, perhaps even in my lifetime.

Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed for the outcome!

Quote by WriterGirl

Woohoo! Twelve!!

I’m taking a short getaway next week/weekend and will unplug, but best wishes to all who entered. I’ll check out the judges’ choices when I return. You are all worthy poets!

Well maybe, but my feet sure show it … They're LONGFELLOWS!

Oh Gillian – what a horrible thing to have to deal with. That's heartbreaking, and I'm so sorry you have to go through it.

My younger brother is going through early-onset Alzheimers, but I'm not his caregiver, so I can't really know what it's like.

Best wishes, and thoughts of comfort to you.

💔😢

Dark roast Costa Rican coffee in the urn, Darjeeling tea in the pot, and all's right with the world!

How's everyone doing today?

Brought some peach cake to go with the cookies! Peaches have been delicious this year! Best I can remember.

Since you ask, Bear and Girl has finally been published, after a LOT of hassles with Kindle. They had some kind of "technical glitch" which caused the ebook to be hung up for 23 days!!

NVMD, it's been published now. Here's a link to the site:

Bear and Girl: A Story of Hope, Friendship, and Strength

And here's an earlier version of the cover, but most of the other versions I have are too big to upload here.

So Verb's poem has been published, and it is lovely.

It reminded me of a Zen saying…

But you'll have to read the poem first:

Rainbow Geometry

Death brushes by me,

While, disfigured by its touch,

I wait for falling snow…

Quote by CuriousAnnie

Poetry? Seriously!

Lol, well I channeled that Welsh git, you know the one ...

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And there's a villanelle loaded under my name which I will tinker with over the next couple of days. It's not Dylan, but that's not surprising, after all I'm no poet. Many new writers start with poetry; why, I ask, it's literally the hardest writing task of all?

.

So true, Annie! I always struggle with poetry – but then, perhaps that's how it's written: as a struggle.

Except limericks, of course.

I love Haiku, but trying to write one is … a struggle.

.

Death brushes by me,

While disfigured by its touch

I wait for falling snow…

Hey there, hi there, ho there!

Busy time here. Bear and Girl – the book – is almost published. I say almost because Kindle can't seem to get their shit together and publish the ebook version of the paperback and hardcover they've already approved.

We'll see what happens, and I'll make a formal announcement when it's all done.

Take care!

Good morning, campers!

Costa Rican dark roast in the urn, Red Rose in a pot on the sideboard.

Poetry comp is heating up nicely!

Lots to do today, so I'll steep and run!

Quote by verbal

There is too much rejection in writing.

Coffee please.

Jeff, there's too much rejection in life.

OTOH, if everything were accepted from everyone, there would be no simple way to tell good from bad, and we would drown in too much information.

Which, come to think of it … we are!

(checks coffee urn, sniffs) WHEW

I think we could use a new brew.

(Empties old coffee, rinses out machine, refills and resets, the hits ON)

OK, it should be ready in a few.

Meanwhile, try some tea. A much more civilized infusion beverage!

(checks cookie stash) Hope Sara comes in soon. Looks like we're getting kinda low here.

BTW, I finally got off my furry rear end and posted my competition entry.

It's weird. Just sayin'…

Dreaming…

OK, so let's say four and a half…

I just submitted my entry…called…

Dreaming…

(scratches chin, trying to think, but nuttin' happens…)

🙄

Good morning campers!

I see Mendalla hasn't wandered in yet, so let me get some fine Guatemalan coffee going, plus some Earl Grey tea.

(checks the cookie jars) Seems like we're OK for now. If anyone sees Sara, ask her if she has some more cookies cookin', OK?

I'm going to take a Bear-sized mug of Earl Grey back to WriterGirl's corner and see if I can't get her to inspire me with some poetry. Maybe that'll make it easier for me to think of something for the comp!

Oh man – POETRY!

About the only poems I'm any good at are Limericks.

.

An unpoetic Bear name of Jimmy

When asked to write poems would shimmy

Then stutter and stare

Look off into thin air

And beg to be let off with a gimmie!

.

Beyond the veil, eh?

Maybe a bridal story??

Hmmm…