Howdy. The competition banner and link to all the entries has disappeared. In addition, the competition link in genres has disappeared too. Is there another way to see a list of the comp stories?

Hmmm… I wonder if the banner and links were programmed to be date sensitive? Here yesterday, disappear October 31, the competition deadline.

Hey all. Finally got it in. just submitted my story. Had started one about a psycho motorcycle serial killer who murdered people in their sleep, but it hit too close to home. So I went in another, similar but different, direction. 😉

I've only read one comp story. I'll get to the rest this weekend.

Take Care Everyone!

Quote by TheSensualLady

Old Henry

Never heard of it. I’d love to watch a movie about the making of my favourite chocolate bar. And now that Dairy Queen has an Old Henry Blizzard, I’m in sugar bomb heaven.

Quote by Molly

I'm excited for Dune

Curious about The Last Night In Soho

Surprised to see there is another Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin

I’m going to surprise the boy with Dune on the weekend. Second Dan black belt test then Dune to celebrate. Dune should look spectacular on the big screen.

Succession returned last night. Just an awesome show. HBO’s Emmy nod glutton replacement for GoT.

Goliath returned on Friday. Billy Bob Thornton is as nuanced and watchable as ever. Last season for this gem.

One last episode remaining this season for Nora From The Bronx. Fun and funny.

Still struggling through Sex Education. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s that all of these high school students are in their twenties. I hate that misrepresentation. But the lead was the lead in Hugo and the Boy In The Stripped Panamas. I love those connections.

Two actually…

No Time To Die and Free Guy. Both are entertaining but for very different reasons.

Quote by verbal

Ping, you magnificent bastard, I shall watch and judge Bond flicks by whatever criteria I like. If I base the qualities of the movies based on how the main babes affected my quivering, unformed, pre-adolescent yearning, then so be it. Although Talia (speaking of yearnings) has seen 2 of the Craig Bonds and considers him the best too. Balderdash, I say! Don't confuse me with nuanced discussion!

Yup. In Talia we trust.

Offering an undeveloped, uninformed opinion on something is akin to a guy mansplaining menstruation to a woman. Not qualified. Period. 🤭

That was honestly not intended as such, but I actually covered my mouth in awe when I proof read this before posting. Funny stuff.

Anyway, yours and hairy arse mountain primate’s efforts are null and void. Full stop. 😉

But seriously, you guys really need to start with Casino Royal ASAP. Things will get leaked about No Time To Die. You don’t want those spoilers spoiling your enlightening Bond experience.

It’s getting cold here. Winter is coming…

Quote by verbal

I don't have a lot of opinions on Bond, a middling fan at best, but that's never stopped me before. Best Bond was Connery, all the others are in a tie for second. Not even close. The most memorable one is Goldfinger, because of Oddjob, and the name Pussy Galore made me giggle, and the pure insanity of the plot (I remember incredulously asking my Dad if they could really kill someone by painting them with gold). I can't say it's good, but it's stuck in my head all these years later. I also liked Dr. No.

Best song: the instrumental Bond theme. I frikkin HATE Live and Let Die.

Mostly I remember Roger Ebert, predicting correctly about 20 years ago that the Bond equation was about to change, way less emphasis on sex, more emphasis on gadgets and tech. Depressing, but spot on true. I quit watching Bond movies after that.

Coffee and exactly three cookies please!

oh dude. Daniel Craig’s version is updated, and really, really good.

But I have an announcement: If a person has not seen all the Bond movies, their opinion on anything inclusive Bond is invalid. You’ve gotta see all to have an informed opinion.

You and ape butt are disqualified.

But seriously, watch Craig’s first Bond. The second is even better. Give it a try. It’ll change your world.

Currently watching Free Guy. A cross between Pixels and Ready Player One with a dash of Tron. It’s entertaining. Not great. But watching with the kids. That makes it better.

Verbs. Watch a Craig Bond movie. You cannot not like it.

Ah ha! Bond controversy. Eggs-cellent.

Best Bond: Daniel Craig

Second Best: Sean Connery (a distant second with the cancel culture mob moving his sexist and racist belief arse further down that list. Sadly, it’s been revealed to be more than just an era thing.)

Worst/Most Boring Unwatchable Bond: Pierce Brosnan. Just ick.

Best Song: Adele’s, Skyfall

Second Best: Many. But all I can hear in my head right now is Goldfinger.

Worst Song: I can’t think of any I disliked

Best Bond ‘Girl’ (includes all woman that acted in a Bond picture): tie. Ana de Armas and Judi Dench. Dench because she is a great at everything everything human being. Love how she scolded Bond, and that Craig’s Bond still showed immense respect for her. Ana because not only is she a wonderful actor, but she is mesmerizingly beautiful. Her only flaw, she dated that f’n clown, that closed-minded ignoramus, Ben Affleck. So so glad she kicked his arrogant arse to the curb. Yah, sure. I’ve got a wee crush on her.

Best Q: no contest. Ben Whishaw. He is the epitome of wit and intelligence. He’s not a bumbling fool or an idiot savant. His portrayal is realistic and offers so much more depth to his character. He still had spots. Could do more damage with his lap top than Bond in the field with a gun. Spectacular stuff.

Best Bond Actor’s Real Life Spouse: no contest. Craig’s Rachel Weisz. Have been giddy for her since The Mummy. Plus, she is an immense talent unto herself. Okay, not so wee crush on her too.

So, my stupid insomnia has returned this fall with a vengeance. Almost like clock work, every night around 1:30 am, I awake. Can’t fall back asleep until 5ish. I suppose those are great hours for a cat burglar. Career change perhaps?

Okay.

Okay.

O-Kay.

Saw the Bond movie. Not everyone will agree, but given everything (not being specific at all), I think it was the perfect last film for Craig's Bond. It's not a perfect, or even the most entertaining of the Craig-Bond films, but it's a perfect finale for him and his role. It allows the new Bond to step in and write his or her own legacy. I love that. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Did not feel like almost three hours.

Yes, there are flaws. Yes, certain storylines could have been different, or many may wish were different. I too wished some where handled differently, but I see why they did what they did. Craig most certainly had a say. His finger prints are all over this script. But there was so much to unravel. And they even played with gargantuan ideas that have been bantered about, real and fictional. I won't say anymore for fear of leaking something I should not.

Oh, an aside. When I first heard Billy Goat Eyelash's Bond song, I was underwhelmed. After hearing it numerous times, I really wanted to love it, but I did not. Her whiny moan just became an earworm. But then I saw the movie. The song was perfect. As you may know, there is always a spirited first scene, some resolution, and then the theme song. Same thing this movie, and after that first scene, the song helped the audience catch their breath and decompress. Perfect. Or as near as perfect as Adele's, which IMHO, is the best Bond song of all.

Anyway... four day weekend for the kids. Looking forward to it.

Stay safe everyone!

Verbs, you know my thoughts on GoT. It started with Mr. Frost. It should have ended with Mr. Frost. Full stop. And a better ending would have been if them thar frozen zombies actually won. Can you imagine Cersei as a zombie? Soooo sexy. Come on. Let your inner ghoul hang out. It’s almost Halloween.

Speaking of witch (see what I did there?), I’ve told my kids they are too old for trick or treating, unless… they only trick. No candy. So far, my daughter is considering statue posing as a zombie ballerina on our deck. As the kids approach, she’ll punch them in the throat, push them down the verandah stairs, and take their candy. I told her to let everyone else do all the hard work. Let them go house to house and collect the candy. She sees the light. My girl has management potential. I should get some kind of frickin’ super parenting award. I’m awesome.

Anyway… CSI: Vegas is awesome. Gil Grissom. Love him and Sara. My son says I’m nostalgic. He’s right. I cried when Warrack died. I really missed that show but now it’s back.

It’s almost 2025. Where’s the space ship I was promised?

It’s almost time to make my spectacular pumpkin bread. It’s really, really good. Moister and more flavourful than banana bread.

Mochaccino for a weary traveler?

Good evening to y’all!

Quote by Rumple_deWriter

Well, let me tell ya, it's like this, somehow managed to login and and am now trying to create a post -- only to face the reality that I have nothing to say. (sigh)

Bottom line is sometimes I can login to SS, but that's never, ever doable on Lush. I'm thinking about asking Nic if I can park what is now not working on SS and Lush and create new profiles even though the Lush/SS policy has always been one account only. That way, if the current snafu is cleared up, I can go back to my oldies but goodies.

If anybody has any thoughts about any of this, let me know like, anytime.

:glasses8:

You’ve earned the privilege to do whatever the heck you want. I suspect no one would accuse you of duplicitous behaviour had you openly created a double rump profile. Do what you’ve got to do. Your peeps miss you, but careful, their aim is improving. An oldie but a goodie, just like you.

Did anyone catch the amazing Aurora light show we northerners got via an explosive purge of solar nuclear matter? Two nights ago, Canada was mostly green skies. At night time, that’s good. If the sky is green during the day, that means Mister Tor Nado is considering an appearance. Been there four times. Unsettling.

Got snow the other morning. Melted fast. Been grumpy every since. Got to find a way to shuffle my three motorbikes; our four bicycles; tons o’ gardening, woodworking, & other tools, and two vehicles in our garage for the upcoming winter months. More grumpiness ensues.

I hope McDonald’s creates a McKraken meal for the newest NHL team in Seattle. And a mascot. Could call him, Phil McKraken. Just a thought.

Haven’t touched my demented entry for almost a week. Haven’t written anything more for the comp either. Whoa is me.

I’ve decided not to shave for a while. The kids are mocking me. I said good hygiene is for the unhygienic. They had to think about that one. So far, it’s a scattered and patchy mess. The longest whiskers are growing out my ears. I said I’ll let it all grow until my facial hair resembles something or I’ll shave it all off. To be continued…

Had my second facial surgery to remove what cancerous crap the derm missed the first time. Fingers crossed I don’t need to go again. If I do, he’s sending me to a surgeon who does the procedure with a microscope. Might be kind of cool to see, but I’d rather pass on that experience.

It’s October. Anyone seen Reggie Jackson?

Checking out the new Bond flick tomorrow. I’ll miss Daniel Craig. He was da Bond.

Dune looks awesome. I’ll take the boy. He’ll really enjoy it.

Oh. OH!!! The kids and I watched American Werewolf in London last night. My son couldn’t believe the lycanthropic transformation wasn’t CGI. I advised him we didn’t have personal computers, cell phones, or the internet then either. Well, very few did. The movie was campy goodness. Especially the Keystone Cop-type ‘disturbance near Piccadilly Circus’ at the end of the movie. Best five minutes of the show. We, wait for it, howled with laughter. I refuse to apologize for that there comedy gem.

Anyway, back to my Tim Bits and double double while I await my sons return. Currently, my daughter is at home practicing the flute. Good time to be out of the house.

House of Dragons can’t come soon enough. We need a GoT fix. 2022. Hurry now.

Take care everyone. Especially Verbs. Uncontrollably boisterous, balloon animal-filling flatulence is a tough sentence. Unless you can fart in shapes. People would pay to see that. However, that side hustle might be inappropriate for kids’ birthday parties. Or not. Give it a go. Some of those southern states would probably appreciate the show. Just don’t claim everything is a snake.

Later…

CSI: Vegas. Oh how I loved this show. The reboot picks up where it left off. New series premiere was excellent.

Billions. Sigh. Love the show. Will miss the man. But his kids are more important. Fuck cancer. His wife did not need to die so young.

Sex Education. Slow, uninspiring start to season three. I hope it gets better. Seems forced early on.

NOVA. THC, CBD, and colliders finding neutrinos. And that’s just the first two episodes. Been watching this PBS science gem since the ‘80’s.

Succession. Season three starts in a couple weeks. 

My kids had a heated debate about which King Henry killed his wives. Even though the girl was wrong, she continued to vehemently argue her position, even blaming the error (never admitting it was hers to own) on the source. In Kindergarten, her teacher said my daughter will be a lawyer. Currently, that is far from any reality, but I tend to agree she’ll be in a position of bully pulpit power. When she tells me I’m ready for Shady Acres ‘retirement home’, I hope it’s quick and painless. 🤣

Verbs sucks. Pass it on. 🤣

Speaking of said oral action, my daughter got her school instrument today - the flute. We proceeded to discuss not asking boys to show her their instrument, and she is now aware of what a skin flute is, as a matter of shielding her from school yard embarrassment. All I got was, “Thanks for ruining the flute for me, dad.”

Parenting is better done by others who are not as twisted as me. However, my daughter laughs at everything we discuss. I think it’s her way of showing her appreciation for learning the stuff at home. She then has learned leverage over her friends. I’ll go with that.

Mochaccino for the road, please. And I’ll just have a water.

Ba dum, dum.

Verbs still sucks. 🤣

I AM so soooo proud of my kids. Can’t say here why, but they dun good. Really good.

If you’re of a certain age that you remember before cell phones, before the internet, before HIV/AIDS, and even before computers, then you’ll get the melancholy message of this song. Give it a listen. You many have heard it before. It’s by a wonderfully fearless and creative Canadian band called Arcadia Fire.

I’ve got my comp idea. Started my notes. It’s going to be a twisted, introspective psychological thriller of a mess. Based on an almost true story. Just like my life. I’ve got a feeling and it’s really freakin’ me out. 😁

So great to see a couple old friends put idea to electricity - Lilly and SweetSinner. Do read. Both women have a way to hold and enrapture the reader.

I’m home now. Long ride. The cremains now remain for eternity. The only casualty - a friendship. Don’t ever passive aggressively pressure me to make a choice. In so doing, it’ll never be you. 

Stay safe everyone. I’ve got a bad feeling and it’s kinda freakin’ me out.

Let the Halloween story contest begin…

Quote by Molly

Quote by Ping

I may have missed the conversation, but I can’t figure out how to post a picture from my phone. The current set up only allows for a URL or YouTube link.

What am I missing? Or, is this one of the things that is on the techie honey-do list?

Thanks.

Unfortunately, at the moment if you don't have the URL you'd have to upload it into your media file to do that. That is something I have down to ask them about.

Thanks.

Ooh. Winter is coming. I might have time and gumption to submit. Thanks Verbs!

I may have missed the conversation, but I can’t figure out how to post a picture from my phone. The current set up only allows for a URL or YouTube link.

What am I missing? Or, is this one of the things that is on the techie honey-do list?

Thanks.

Quote by verbal

Quote by Molly

Quote by verbal

No gratuitous gore or graphic violence!? I'M OUTTA HERE!!!

I won't enter--I'm not sure I'm allowed--but I look forward to reading the entries. Good comp theme! 

Why can't you enter? Because you won the last one? Don't worry, that's not a thing here. If you get an idea we definitely welcome it. 

It's seems unsporting somehow. And Ape is right - I need to keep my eyes on the road for the next 8 months, no side trips to write short stories (though if I get blocked that may well change).

 

Quote by rolandlytle

Hi, my friends.

I was in the hospital for ten days and got home on Friday. Today is the first day I could get online.

I hope everyone is well. I wrote about my time in the hospital, and then today, I read it while having a semi-normal mind. Gosh, it was awful! I could not understand half of it myself. Maybe I should post it entitled 'The Ravings of Madness.'

Tomorrow, I am going to NC for my father's funeral. He was cremated, and they were waiting for everyone to get well and be able to show up. I am lucky I got out of the hospital in time.

I hope you all are doing well and have a wonderful weekend.

“It wasn’t Alaska but I hope you enjoyed the motorcycle ride.”

***

Verbs, good on you. Find that novel itch and scratch it. Or get some penicillin and a topical ointment 

***

Gill, Germany is no Vancouver but both are too far away. I’ve already told my kids that they can’t leave home, or they must take me with them if they do. I can’t imagine my life without them in it.

***

Rump, sooo glad you made it. We missed you and your off-brand kilter. I stashed some Louisiana moonshine under table eleven, next to the men’s washroom. It’s all yours.

***

It’s 3:00 am and we woke up. Couldn’t sleep. We were chatting about YouTubers and what makes some good and others not so much. I guess our voices carried. Someone just banged on (or in) the wall next to us. I interpreted the knock as either, “Help me! They’re keeping me trapped inside, forcing me to be their slave.”

Or, “Shut the fire truck up!”

And now I have that lovely ear worm, “… voices carry… “ in my head

***

Great news on the spooky comp. I might have a story idea about an innocent but trapped soul in the purgatory walls of a small town motel…

Or a bed bug story…

Or the roadkill that came to zombie life and chased me down the highway…

Or the bison bull that charged me while I approached him on my motorcycle…

Or the little hole in the motel wall that a blood sucking spider comes each night to feed on motel guests…

***

Larry, LARRY!!!

I’ll post a picture tomorrow of something that you know and appreciate. 

***

One piece of pizza left. It’s in the bar fridge. It’s haunting. It’s calling my name…

Quote by verbal

Quote by Ping

Ever wonder how social media algorithms work?

Falling Down and American Beauty clips have been popping up on YouTube for me as recommended viewing. An accurate reflection of my view of life or foreshadowing?

🤔

🤣 🤣 🤣

“May the force be with you,” the doctor said as he handed a stool softener prescription to the constipated woman.

😳 

😆

Ping, you Magnificent Bastard, glad to hear the carcinoma is not Ping-threatening, and seems to be only mildly Ping-disfiguring. Life does take chunks out of you, like a hungry, cantankerous, half-blind, old, feral pig.

Yikes on the algorhythms. They know you better than your own dreams. I thought American Beauty was wildly overrated, but I really liked Falling Down. That scene with the little kid and the rocket launcher is lodged in my brain. 

No Talia Wednesday. Today I am going to coat the kitchen floor with oil and slide the cats across it. They love it! And clean-up should be a breeze!

I really did teach David Foster Wallace (the cat, not the dead writer) how to play fetch. About once a week, he'll bring one of his little cat toys to one of us, and set it down. Sometimes he'll shake it to get your attention. And then, if you throw it, he brings it back! He'll do it 5-6 times before he decides he has more important things to do, like lick his butt.

Off to write. Coffee and a maple crunch cookie please.  

 

Oot ‘n a boot on the adventure bike today. Just stopped for a break where the bison, incorrectly called, boofalow, roam. Beautiful day. But it doesn’t feel like 20 C when cruising at 120 kph. 

Verbs, formally known at Princess Poppycock, has his devil’s workshop in fully swing mode. What could possibly go wrong?

“Hello PETA?”

Hot chocolate, please. 

Ever wonder how social media algorithms work?

Falling Down and American Beauty clips have been popping up on YouTube for me as recommended viewing. An accurate reflection of my view of life or foreshadowing?

🤔

🤣 🤣 🤣

“May the force be with you,” the doctor said as he handed a stool softener prescription to the constipated woman.

😳 

😆

Bourdain. Damn I miss him. Loved his shows. Loved his story. Combined his passions of food and travel. Sigh. Cool dude. But his demons got him. Double sigh.

Basil cell carcinoma is not deadly, usually. It’s really more of an inconvenience than a concern, but it’s still cancer. Plus, it’s better than the alternative.

Stupid f’n Trudeau. What a schmuck. Just wasted another six hundred million of our colourful Monopoly money on an election that was called three years too soon, resulting in a minority government. The only bright side is that his party does not have a clear mandate, or the power to enact one. They are forced to work with other parties to get the votes needed to do any governmenting. There will be posturing. Stuff will get blocked. A vote of confidence looms. And another election. Egad.

Politicians are like diapers; they need to be changed often and for the same reason. They get dirty.

Quote by WriterGirl

Hi all!

Mmmmm, may I have some maple crunch cookies, Sara? Yummy!

And Ping, would you mind getting my ball out of the sandtrap for me, please? It's by the gator. I'm sure he won't bite  

Gotta go back under the knife. Recently informed the scalpel didn’t carve out all of the cancer. Sheesh. The scar was just healing nicely too. Oh well.

Stupid federal election. Idiots. I hate them all. Well, hate’s too strong of a word and I don’t loathe all of them. There is potential for a surprise. People are pissed. Election was called too soon by a duplicitous and manipulative PM. If the vote splits between the liberals and conservatives, the NDP may capture a lot of the frustrated vote. It has happened before. Regardless, a minority government is most likely which means another ‘election-of-confidence’ will be called in eighteen to twenty-four months at another six or seven hundred million dollars. What a frickin’ farce.

Nothing for me, thanks. I’ll just lick the excess sanitizer off of my hands. A quick micro-buzz is all I need to get me through the night.

Quote by verbal

Tiny lizards...in the wine. Tiny lizards...make me feel fine.

Sorry, wrong song. I used to have 2 anoles when I lived in NYC. Nurse Bill and Dr. Lizardo. The best part of the deal was buying crickets every couple weeks - the apartment was filled with cricket chirps! My roommates were less thrilled than I. 

Slow day, errands and such. I'm in the mood for a movie theater, but nothing good is playing (until DUNE! IN FIVE DAYS!). I'm sure we'll find something fun to do.

Coffee and a happy face cookie! 

Mochaccino with whip, please. 

Thank you, Ma’am. May I have another?

Quote by verbal

Good morning all.

No Talia Wednesday. The cats and I shall be creating a short blunt human/cat pyramid today.

Not much going on. Doing another reading on Youtube. I plan to say "nipple" again, just to give Ping a cheap thrill.

Still writing stories, but am trying to draw out a novel plot on giant sheets of art paper.  It's fun but kinda scary. 

Fall was in the air yesterday. I love that feeling. 

Gotta get to work. Coffee and ten thousand cookies please.