Active Ink Slinger
Right now the SS family seems to be growing and that makes me happy.
Find your next favourite story now
Login
rolandlytle
1 day ago
0 miles · Albemarle
Forum
Active Ink Slinger
Whoopie! I get a simple number.
Numerus simplex adepto ego.
CC
Numerus simplex adepto ego.
CC
Active Ink Slinger
Hi everyone!
I have been trying to catch up with all my reading. I came across a poem by Trayford (Tony). It was posted more than a week ago. Yes, I am always behind; all those big words I need to look up slows me down. (you are all so smart)
No one had scored or commented on his poem. I read it and it was a touching tribute to a deceased, furred loved one.
If you would like to take a look;
https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/poetry/-in-memory-of-tot-.aspx#scorebottom
Back to my reading.
I have been trying to catch up with all my reading. I came across a poem by Trayford (Tony). It was posted more than a week ago. Yes, I am always behind; all those big words I need to look up slows me down. (you are all so smart)
No one had scored or commented on his poem. I read it and it was a touching tribute to a deceased, furred loved one.
If you would like to take a look;
https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/poetry/-in-memory-of-tot-.aspx#scorebottom
Back to my reading.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by AnnaMayZing
I am no musician, Roland, but I imagine that it wasn't wired. Just a microphone somewhere. She does seem to be a very talented multi-instrumentalist beyond her amazing drumming. I also thought that it was a very clever video considering that there were actually only two of them!
I am an idiot. I did not realize that it was just two, superimposed. Thank you for letting me know.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by AnnaMayZing
Is there no end to this girl's talent? Posted today on YouTube. This is a fantastic rendition of a beautiful song.
That was excellent! Thanks, Anna. I would love to have seen how her 'Bongo' was wired up. The singing and music were exceptional. Did you notice the precision Sina had with her strikes to give just the right tone from her skin?
Active Ink Slinger
This is almost a bad weekend. The Cubs have lost three in a row to the Giants with one more game to go. I did not think the Giants would be better than a .500 club, but their actions have certainly proven me wrong. I realized that Tuesday, I will be going to Charlotte with my oldest son Chris to visit relatives (dad, sister, brother, and others) for about two weeks. I can hardly wait to see family and friends, but the change in my routine usually fares poorly. I will try to stay positive. I miss going to church! The one thing that has kept my spirits up is the kind and generous response to my new funny (hopefully) story. It is interesting that merely stating the obvious can be funny.
I am happy at how active and vibrant the Coffee House has become. So many incredible people are coming together to share views, ideas, and feeling, along with a virtual cuppa and sweet.
I am about halfway through a new story and hope to have it done before the end of August. Yes, I take forever to write now. This post has taken me forty-five minutes to write. Thank heavens for Grammarly!
I will have some of Scott's tea and rest a bit.
Have a great day, my friends.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Mendalla
Yeesh, all these old people on here (yeah, I am kind of included in that). So how many of you remember or had 78 rpm records? We had a few in the house but they were Mom and Dad's and dated back to their youth.
I played 78s, 45s, and 33 vinyls.
Active Ink Slinger
I had this quiz on SS several years ago and thought maybe new members would like a try.
Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about. Ratings at the bottom.
1. Blackjack chewing gum
2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside jukeboxes
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Party lines on the telephone
8. Newsreels before the movie
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax
11. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (there were only 3 channels... if you were fortunate)
12. Peashooters
13. Howdy Doody
14. 45 RPM records
15. S&H green stamps
16. Hi-fi's
17. Metal ice trays with lever
18. Mimeograph paper
19. Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns
23. Drive-ins
24. Studebakers
25. Wash tub wringers
If you remember 0-5 = You're still young
If you remember 6-10 = You are getting older
If you remember 11-15 = Don't tell your age,
If you remember 16-25 = You're older than dirt!
I might be older than dirt but those memories are some of the best parts of my life.
I had 18!
Meredith (James) added a few more, but I do not know how to change the scoring.
26. 8-track tape players
27. Under the dash Record players
28. Duck tail haircuts
29. Poodle Skirts
30. Cloverine salve ointment
31. Henry J cars
32. Sock hop dances
33. Outhouses
34. Redball Jets
35. Shoe repair shops
36. Alleys behind houses
37. Waiting for a Radio to Warm-up
38. Cherry Cokes that had real bits of cherries in them
39. Black Cow floats
40. Car hops
Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about. Ratings at the bottom.
1. Blackjack chewing gum
2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside jukeboxes
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Party lines on the telephone
8. Newsreels before the movie
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax
11. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (there were only 3 channels... if you were fortunate)
12. Peashooters
13. Howdy Doody
14. 45 RPM records
15. S&H green stamps
16. Hi-fi's
17. Metal ice trays with lever
18. Mimeograph paper
19. Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns
23. Drive-ins
24. Studebakers
25. Wash tub wringers
If you remember 0-5 = You're still young
If you remember 6-10 = You are getting older
If you remember 11-15 = Don't tell your age,
If you remember 16-25 = You're older than dirt!
I might be older than dirt but those memories are some of the best parts of my life.
I had 18!
Meredith (James) added a few more, but I do not know how to change the scoring.
26. 8-track tape players
27. Under the dash Record players
28. Duck tail haircuts
29. Poodle Skirts
30. Cloverine salve ointment
31. Henry J cars
32. Sock hop dances
33. Outhouses
34. Redball Jets
35. Shoe repair shops
36. Alleys behind houses
37. Waiting for a Radio to Warm-up
38. Cherry Cokes that had real bits of cherries in them
39. Black Cow floats
40. Car hops
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by LeilaQuote by rolandlytleQuote by Leila
I'm Leila from Iran. I was a teacher in my country. I came here to publish my stories which mostly happened during my career.
I enjoyed your first story. It was an interesting mix of sexy and heroic. I am looking forward to reading more about your time in Iran and how you dealt with the daily hypocrisy in your life.
When did you move to Great Britain?
I will publish another story soon. I moved about three years ago.
I hope one of your stories will cover the changes you had to make, moving to a different culture. I always find the perspective of a new person to a culture on that culture fascinating.
On YouTube, I like to watch peoples' thoughts about the US and how things were different than they thought they would be. Unexpected adjustments to a new culture and views about how things were better, worse, or just different than they thought it would be.
Having been to several other places myself, I was always surprised about how truly uninformed I was about those places.
I would also be interested in your thoughts about what your homeland's future will be. I have known several people from different parts of Iran, and my wife's family has Iranian roots.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by MagnificentBastard
This is as true as 'Murphy's Law.' An idea to live your life by.
Parachuting is not often a problem for people that have acrophobia, as I do. When looking out a plane at hundreds or thousands of meters, the earth is so far below you that it does not look real and does not cause the typical fear response in people. You can work yourself up to trigger an acrophobic response. think of it like sitting in a room on the 80th floor of a building. That will not usually trigger acrophobia, but if the individual overthinks about it, they may cause themselves to react to their actual fear. Psychologically the best height to trigger acrophobia is approximately 10.4 meters/ 34 feet. (about three stories in a building) Militarys' around the world use that height to climate jumpers to landing and rolls.
BTW, when I said jumping was better than sex, I was referring to freefall, but the rest is great too. You can do what is called 'tandem jumping,' where expert skydivers carry you. You can experience freefall that way without a lot of training, but I do not know how it compares to being alone as you plummet to Earth. I have been told it is pretty amazing. You will reach speeds of 60mps/100fps, and that is fantastic.
I read a story from a new member, Leila. I thought it was quite good. Give it a try if you can.
https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/drama/-an-educational-leap-.aspx
Now I will sit awhile to watch last night's games.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Leila
I'm Leila from Iran. I was a teacher in my country. I came here to publish my stories which mostly happened during my career.
I enjoyed your first story. It was an interesting mix of sexy and heroic. I am looking forward to reading more about your time in Iran and how you dealt with the daily hypocrisy in your life.
When did you move to Great Britain?
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by MagnificentBastard
The Five Secrets To A Man’s Happiness
1. Find a woman who can make you laugh
2. Find a woman who is a good cook
3. Find a woman who is compassionate
4. Find a woman who is great in bed
5. And most importantly, ensure these four women never meet.
That is funny, Ping.
Elizabeth, I believe the Nationals will show improvement this year. I would be surprised if they finished last. I even think they will end the season with a winning record.
By the way, since so many of you have mentioned eating bugs, I would like to know the most unusual food you have ever eaten? In Honduras, I ate monkey brain fresh from the skull. They used the head and cut a hole in the top, and then you use a fork to get a piece of the brain out and eat it, ala tartare. I did not like it, but I ate four pieces so that I did not seem rude. The people who fed three friends and me were proud to provide us with that rare delicacy.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by verbal
The Padres are the best team in baseball and beat the Metros 4-3 in a game much less close than it sounds. Another game tonight, though I think we'll be going out to an actual restaurant. Good game, Larry!
Still looking for a replacement for Justified. We're considering lobotomies, to cut out our memories of the show, so we can watch it again.
Yes, the Padres are a good team, especially since Tatis is back, but the Mets faced their best pitcher in that first game. The Cubs are in a four-game series with SF, and then they have three more games in SD.
There are several TV series that you may like to fulfill your 'Justified' fix. 'Longmire' and 'Banshee' are pretty similar. Also, there is 'Wynonna Earp.' That show is an entirely different genre (supernatural), but I found the style of humor that made 'Justified' so good. There is also 'Deadwood.' The only fundamental differences between those two shows are that 'Deadwood' is based in the old west and a more ensemble cast. If you have not seen it, 'Deadwood' is worth the time. I like your new avatar.
The weather is nice today. I fell into an episode today when I was startled by a Plummer that I had forgotten was due. My son helped me out.
'Caveman' is an excellent movie!
I will have some Earl Grey today and read a few more stories.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by MagnificentBastard
HALO?!?
Come on. Tell us a bedtime HALO story. Please. You’ve got plenty of skydiving ones too.
I’m curious, were you offended by the song referencing someone being poured out their boots? You know the one I’m referencing? I actually love it. I’d want that blast of reality if I was airborne brave. I grew up around a bunch of paratroopers. Sadly, that band of gnarly men was disbanded for poor behaviour. I wasn’t condoning their behaviour. It was bad. But Jesus, these guys jumped for our country. Brave, stupid men of the Canadian Airborne. I remember on military days seeing hundreds of army men floating down from the sky, just like the image on their burgundy t-shirts. Yup. Those were the days before being able to control the shutes. Sigh. Good childhood memory.
Grandpa Roland, tell us a HALO story. Free beer if it includes Rachel Welch.
Ping, I am very rarely offended by anyone.
I do not have any interesting stories about the few HALO jumps I did. A good jump is by its very nature, routine. If jumping at 6,100 meters or more is not routine, then you will often end with a splat. The feeling is unbelievable, better than sex! It might make a good poem. Rachel Welch was one of the most talented, intelligent, and beautiful woman ever.
Active Ink Slinger
Hi Inspirators and Spacers alike!
Padres are a good team. I hope Tatis is back from injury soon. Padres/Cubs series was a lot more competitive than the scores indicated. The Cubs were lucky to get the sweep. Next Monday-Wednesday, the series in San Diego could go the other way.
Ping, I get you about the proper safety equipment. I loved skydiving. The type of safety checks and equipment is obviously paramount. I skydived, even did HALO jumps, but I would not ride a motorcycle. You can be safe, but other drivers seem to hate motorcyclists. Most of the motorcycle accidents I have seen or heard about were car drivers being stupid. I knew a lady that had the handle 'Sugar Tits' back in the days of CB radios.
E and Linda, it is great to have you both drop-in.
I will have a wee bit of the herbal, sit down, and read some stories.
Padres are a good team. I hope Tatis is back from injury soon. Padres/Cubs series was a lot more competitive than the scores indicated. The Cubs were lucky to get the sweep. Next Monday-Wednesday, the series in San Diego could go the other way.
Ping, I get you about the proper safety equipment. I loved skydiving. The type of safety checks and equipment is obviously paramount. I skydived, even did HALO jumps, but I would not ride a motorcycle. You can be safe, but other drivers seem to hate motorcyclists. Most of the motorcycle accidents I have seen or heard about were car drivers being stupid. I knew a lady that had the handle 'Sugar Tits' back in the days of CB radios.
E and Linda, it is great to have you both drop-in.
I will have a wee bit of the herbal, sit down, and read some stories.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Survivor
Every sailor in the US Navy learns to swim in boot camp. You are tested in the first week of an 8 week recruit training period. I was tested and passed because I knew how to swim. When I pointed out my name on the testing sheet, I dropped a drop of water on it. I got a stare from the petty officer recording the scores. The next day I was told I had failed the test and needed to go to swimming classes. I took the class one session, passed it again, and that was that, learning a lesson in petty tyranny in the process.
During the next weeks, the current companies in training took part in typical physical competitions, including swimming. I was placed on the 4 man freestyle swimming relay in the final position. Our team won that competition. In addition, that swimming win was added to other wins, and our company was awarded a pennant for that training period. From then on, as the yeoman and guidon bearer for the company, I carried that pennant along with the company banner whenever we marched as a company to any new training classes.
My learning to swim before that is a different story.
https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/micro-fiction/learning-to-swim.aspx
Wow, Larry! I was also the guidon bearer for my boot camp company. It was common for the guidon bearer to be yeoman, but I was the marching/military training specialist in my case. I had been on the drill team in ROTC and knew the drill manual by memory. I made sure everyone was at their best at marching and keeping a proper bunk and locker. I taught everyone how to spitshine their shoes too. Our CC even loaned me out to two other companies to teach them proper spitshine techniques. He then gave me shit when one of those companies beat us in a personnel inspection, but later, when everyone else was busy, he gave me a big smile and attaboy because he ragged on that CC that a boot got them first place. I loved boot camp. I did notice in my time in the navy that most sailors were not good swimmers. You can not dog-paddle in five-foot seas. The Padres/Cubs series should be a good one. I am going to watch the first game (from yesterday) after I finish this post.
Verity, I have not seen your new story yet. Has it been posted?
BTW, today is Rick's (Snoop) birthday. I have not heard from him lately, but I know he still pops in from time to time.
Getting some green tea today and am sitting down to watch the game.
Active Ink Slinger
There is so much going on in the coffee house now that we go through a whole page in a day or two. It is so good to have so many Inspirators.
Ping, would you like some fine cheese to go with your whine? I have not enjoyed camping since my days in Central America.
Today is a day of remembrance for more than one reason.
Memorial Day is a day I never look forward to, but I am lucky. I personally only know a dozen people that died in the service. I do know others that have known far too many dead brothers-in-arms, especially from the Vietnam era. That was a different time in the US. I knew people that would tell stories about being harassed when they return to America because they were in Vietnam. One story about departing a plane in Atlanta in uniform and being called baby killers stands out. Things are not like that now. Military members and veterans are treated much better. On this day each year, I have a drink for all the people I knew and those I did not know who sacrificed themself for their nation. "To fallen friends and comrades!" Cheers.
Today is also the one-hundredth-year anniversary of the beginning of the Tulsa Race Riots. It is hard to believe that so many things have improved in a century, yet that same hatred that caused that horrible event and so many more like it still exists in so many people today. I went to high school in Charlotte, NC, while it and Boston were in the courts about busing, including the Supreme Court. The busing of students to integrate the school systems was a divisive issue at the time. There were regular protests near the school, and often our courtyard would fill up with blacks at one end and whites at the other. I was not popular with certain people due to having several black friends. It was especially bad for me when I began dating a black lady in my senior year. I was ostracized by many, both black and white. I even got beat up three times and almost a fourth time, except a friend helped me out. (That is a great story that I should share on this site) Racism has always been a cause that I step up to fight because of my background.
Now I step off my soapbox and get a cookie with some milk if I can find some. I have not dunked a cookie in a while.
I got a few more stories/poems read today. I am impressed by the overall quality of the writing posted here. It makes me proud to be a part of the Stories Space family.
Larry, the three-game series of the Padres at the Cubs, starts tomorrow. It should a great match. I am glad the Padres will not be sending Darvish to the mound during these three games.
Ping, would you like some fine cheese to go with your whine? I have not enjoyed camping since my days in Central America.
Today is a day of remembrance for more than one reason.
Memorial Day is a day I never look forward to, but I am lucky. I personally only know a dozen people that died in the service. I do know others that have known far too many dead brothers-in-arms, especially from the Vietnam era. That was a different time in the US. I knew people that would tell stories about being harassed when they return to America because they were in Vietnam. One story about departing a plane in Atlanta in uniform and being called baby killers stands out. Things are not like that now. Military members and veterans are treated much better. On this day each year, I have a drink for all the people I knew and those I did not know who sacrificed themself for their nation. "To fallen friends and comrades!" Cheers.
Today is also the one-hundredth-year anniversary of the beginning of the Tulsa Race Riots. It is hard to believe that so many things have improved in a century, yet that same hatred that caused that horrible event and so many more like it still exists in so many people today. I went to high school in Charlotte, NC, while it and Boston were in the courts about busing, including the Supreme Court. The busing of students to integrate the school systems was a divisive issue at the time. There were regular protests near the school, and often our courtyard would fill up with blacks at one end and whites at the other. I was not popular with certain people due to having several black friends. It was especially bad for me when I began dating a black lady in my senior year. I was ostracized by many, both black and white. I even got beat up three times and almost a fourth time, except a friend helped me out. (That is a great story that I should share on this site) Racism has always been a cause that I step up to fight because of my background.
Now I step off my soapbox and get a cookie with some milk if I can find some. I have not dunked a cookie in a while.
I got a few more stories/poems read today. I am impressed by the overall quality of the writing posted here. It makes me proud to be a part of the Stories Space family.
Larry, the three-game series of the Padres at the Cubs, starts tomorrow. It should a great match. I am glad the Padres will not be sending Darvish to the mound during these three games.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by verbal
Ooh, good thread!
Kurt Vonnegut
Larry McMurtry
Shirley Jackson
John Irving
Stephen King
Honorable mention:
David Foster Wallace
Neil Stephenson
Toni Morrison
John LaCarre
Cormac McCarthy
The problem of picking a top five of anything is that you always leave people out. I did not even think of Steven King, or he might have been on my list too.
Active Ink Slinger
The Mets put a beat-down on the Braves yesterday and got rained out again today. Sara can be happy with the continued good play of their young catcher William Contreras. He is the 23-year-old younger brother of the Cubs All-Star catcher Willson Contreras. Larry, I am looking forward to the Padres at Cubs three-game series starting tomorrow. The Cubs have broken their franchise record by using 41 different players by the end of May, but five other teams have used more this year than the Cubs. Injuries are running rampant throughout baseball. By the end of the season, injuries may impact division standing more than any other factor.
With the help of a double dose of anti-anxiety meds and Liz by my side, I made it through our cookout. It went much better than I thought it would.
I will have a Miss Moneypenny cookie. They are said to be extremely sweet, especially when they are warm.
Cheers!
With the help of a double dose of anti-anxiety meds and Liz by my side, I made it through our cookout. It went much better than I thought it would.
I will have a Miss Moneypenny cookie. They are said to be extremely sweet, especially when they are warm.
Cheers!