Life in progress


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122. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Sunday, December 31st, 11:47pm
Andrea (and Edward)

 

Andrea sits at the window. Edward takes the seat beside her.

Andrea: I can’t believe I’m stuck on this fucking bus at (looks at her cell phone) thirteen minutes to twelve on New Year’s Eve.

Edward: You’re not alone. I should be out drinking.

Andrea: Tell me about it.

Edward: I could take you out somewhere …

Andrea: I beg your pardon?

Edward smiles, showing his plastic fangs.

Andrea: Oh my God, are you kidding me?

Edward: No. Wanna ditch the bus? I could really go for a drink.

Andrea: Let’s go.

 

Next stop: Monday, January 1st, 5:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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Reminder for The Escapist Coloring Club Prompt and Happy New Year

As January 1st quickly approaches here (happy new Year to those whose clocks have already changed!), I just wanted to remind anyone who is interested that my other new prompt begins tomorrow for The Escapist Coloring Club. I’ve designed a badge in paint – it’s nothing to write home about, but it’s something. I’ll likely change it eventually to make it more fancy.

The prompt post will go up tomorrow with the rules, which will be slightly different as the prompt is, so far, only once a month. If you’d like to start preparing your posts today, I’ll be asking for one full shot of your colouring project, and at least one closeup of a part you’re particularly proud of, if there are any. Don’t forget, your prompt photo can be your own colouring, your kids’, or even your significant other’s if you’d like. The prompt will go live at 9:30am (-5 GMT), and entries will be welcomed all week, so don’t stress over it! The entire point of this prompt is to give yourself time to relax.

With that, I wish everyone a healthy, joyous, and prosperous new year. Cheers to 2018!


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121. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Saturday, December 30th, 7:00pm
Rocky and Arnie

 

Arnie: When I saw how your character was shot, I spilled my coffee. All down my shirt. (points to coffee stain)

Rocky: Sorry, man. I’ll wait and get off the bus with you.

Arnie: No. Go on without me. I’ll be fine.

Rocky: I can’t do that, man. You’re like a brother to me.

Arnie: I insist. Think about your family. Your daughter, she needs her drugs. Get to the Shopper’s.

Rocky: I won’t forget you, man. You’ll be at work tomorrow?

Arnie: (nods) I’ll be back.

Rocky hugs Arnie and gets off the bus.

 

Next stop: Sunday, December 31st, 11:47pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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#SoCS – Resolution

I have to say that the first thing to come to mind when I decided on the prompt word “resolution” was the talk around the Christmas dinner table of our friends’ new 4K television. I had no idea what “4K” meant until someone explained to me that it was the screen’s resolution. It’s apparently (the picture, that is) more real-looking than real life. Enough to make you wonder what, exactly, it would take to really make our eyes work to their fullest. Maybe there’s more than just corrective lenses.

Then there’s the resolution on the screen of my new laptop. Yes, I had to buy one. The old one keeps crashing on me, which means it’s unreliable. Also the internal battery is almost dead and I keep getting a message to say the display driver has stopped working. As I can’t work without a computer, I had no choice. … that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Windows 10 is going to take some getting used to, as well as the new mouse pad that I can’t seem to fix to stop opening things I just want to scroll past. I may have to contact tech support for that one, as it’s really annoying when I want to stay in the chapter I’m working on in Word. Grrr.

Speaking of chapters, I’m getting my second book in the The Great Dagmaru series ready for beta readers. I hope to publish it in February!

Which brings me to my new year’s resolutions. First, get book two and maybe even book three published. I’d like to make the time to take more courses this year, as I only have five years to get them all done for my editing certificate. Money’s an issue, as is time, but it’s a bit of a conundrum as I can make more money if I have the certificate. Kinda like not being able to get a job without the experience, and not being able to get the experience without a job. I’ve always found that to be extremely frustrating. Where was I? Oh yeah, resolutions.

I got a Fitbit for Christmas, so I’m going to try to use it as motivation to get moving a bit more. Since I started editing full time, my weight has gone up and my fitness level is in the basement. I have to change that for the good of my well-being.

I think it’s been three years now since I made the resolution (added to my wish-list?) the goal of spending one weekend alone in my house. It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m sure this will be the year! I’d also like to go on some sort of vacation this year, but I can’t see it happening at this point. Again, money (or lack thereof).

I’m really loving this new laptop screen. Suggestions for Netflix movies are welcome.

This post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click the link and join in today – it’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2017/12/29/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-30-17/


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120. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Adult theme

Friday, December 29th, 5:00pm
Robert and Ivan

 

Robert: Donald should be out looking for a place to live, but if he’s home, you and I are just friends.

Ivan: So, why are we going to your place anyway, instead of just going out for dinner?

Robert: He’s gotta know that I’m going to bring guys home.

Ivan: I don’t know why you don’t just tell him to get the hell out.

Robert: I can’t. He might fire me.

Ivan: He can’t do that.

Robert: Maybe not. But I don’t want to take a chance.

Ivan: So instead, you’re flaunting me in front of him?

Robert: I’m hoping he’ll get the hint.

Ivan: You mean, without actually coming out and telling him you’ve got a new boyfriend.

Robert: Right.

Ivan: (shakes head) Remind me never to have an affair with my boss.

Robert: (frowns) Remind me that it’s a bad idea to sleep with an unstable boss just to get a promotion.

 

Next stop: Saturday, December 30th, 7:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Dec. 30/17

It’s the last Friday of 2017! How did that happen so fast? As always, Friday means it’s time for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. For the next four weeks after this one, your Friday prompt will look slightly different as it will be part of Just Jot it January as well. I hope you’ll join in every day! Here’s your prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “resolution.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!

 

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,'” or simply a single word to get your started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!


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119. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Thursday, December 28th, 3:00pm 3:20pm
Hillary (and Bella)

 

Hillary sits at the window. Bella takes the seat beside her.

Bella: Excuse me, haven’t I seen you on the bus before?

Hillary: Probably.

Bella: I’m looking for a guy, about six feet, dark hair, pretty good-looking. He’s on this bus a lot.

Hillary: He usually sits here?

Bella: That’s the one. Have you seen him lately?

Hillary: Jake’s actually a friend, kind of. I’m looking for him too.

Bella: (frowns) I thought his name was Drommen. Maybe that’s his last name.

Hillary: (frowns and turns up lip) We can’t be talking about the same guy then. I heard that Drommen guy is a pervert. Jake is really nice.

Bella: No way. Drommen is really nice. He can’t be a perv …

Hillary stares out the window. Bella gazes down the aisle.

Both: (turning to speak to each other) Always wears a black trench coat?

Hillary: Shit.

Bella: Shit is right.

 

Next stop: Friday, December 29th, 5:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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118. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Wednesday, December 27th, 8:00pm
Bella (and Edward) (and Lily)

 

Bella sits in the aisle seat. Edward takes the seat behind her.

Edward: I have a confession.

Bella: Oh God, not you again.

Edward: I’m serious, Bella. I have something I need to tell you.

Bella: Leave me alone.

Edward: I fooled around on you.

Bella ignores him.

Edward: With another vampire.

Bella ignores him.

Edward: Bella, I can see this is tearing you up inside and I apologize. I was weak.

Bella continues to ignore him.

Edward: I’m not surprised you’re not talking to me. I wouldn’t talk to me either. (gets up and sits back down abruptly) Oh no. That’s her. You have to pretend you don’t know me.

Bella: (laughs and turns around) Are you serious? Now you want me to ignore you so your little vampire girlfriend doesn’t know you’re in love with someone else?

Edward: (ducking down behind the seat, stage whispers) Don’t talk to me!

Bella: Oh come on, Edward. You know me!

Edward: Stop it!

Lily: (approaches) Edward get up!

Edward sits stiffly, staring forward.

Bella: (to Lily) He’s pretending he doesn’t know me … Oh God, not another one.

Lily: (showing a mouthful of fake fangs) Bitch!

Bella pulls the bell cord and hurries to the front of the bus to get off.

 

Next stop: Thursday, December 28th, 3:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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Prompt Me, JusJoJan 2018

Hey, all! You’re used to getting prompts from me; now it’s your turn!

Just Jot It Januaary is not only a fun way to meet people, it’s a great way to inspire writers to keep writing once the holidays are finished and life is returning to normal. Prompts are an incredible device to get the imagination going. Wouldn’t you like to inspire a bunch of bloggers to write? Of course you would!

What I need is 22 single words to use in the Just Jot It January challenge. Read the rules carefully! This is how you can be included:

  • The first 22 comments on this post that include a single word will be the prompts for the 22 days in January that I won’t be writing my own prompts (aka One-Liner Wednesday and Stream of Consciousness Saturday).  If you write more than one word in your comment, for example, “My word is antidisestablishmentarianism,” I’ll ignore it. Same thing if you try to slip in two, even in two different comments–I’ll only accept the first. If I get the same word twice, I’ll only accept the first person who got to it. If you’re the second, feel free to try again. And please, remember this is a relatively G-rated blog, so nothing too risque.
  • I’ll link back to the blog of whomever gives me a prompt on the day I use it.
  • Make sure you get your comment in early. You don’t want to miss out!
  • Please don’t bother entering a prompt if your blog is inactive. If you haven’t posted in over a month and you’re only looking for clicks, your prompt word will be rejected. If, on the other hand, you’re planning to use JusJoJan to inspire you to get back into the swing of things, let me know immediately in a second comment — NOT the one you give your prompt word in. Remember, that’s ONE word only.
  • I observed last year, with all the turmoil going on down south of the Canadian border, that many of our prompt words were negative in nature. I found they didn’t do as well as the more positive words. I don’t want to limit you, but please keep in mind that if your word is on the sadder side, your prompt may not get as much participation.
  • If you provide a prompt, I encourage you to join in as much as possible throughout the month.

Please see my previous post for the Just Jot it January rules in detail.  As I receive prompts here in the comments, I’ll list them over there for easy access. Here’s the link in case you missed it: https://lindaghill.com/2017/12/27/what-is-just-jot-it-january-2018-rules/

Okay. Are you ready? Aaaaand… prompt! One word!


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What is Just Jot It January 2018? – Rules

It may be my love for writing or it might be my joy in sharing my passion, but I love to inspire people. Writing is one of the best ways of expressing ourselves, and certainly a wonderful method for organizing our thoughts and putting things in perspective. I find the latter to be essential to many of us here in the north in January, while we’re stuck inside and deprived of sunshine.

For these reasons plus one more, I developed Just Jot it January. Whether you write a story, a poem, an anecdote, or your plans for the future, JusJoJan will, I hope, give you an excuse to jot something down every day in the month. What’s the one more reason? Writing is fun!!

In the post following this one I will ask for you to give us all a prompt, one of which will be posted on each of five days of every week in January. Hard to explain here, but it will be clear in the prompt post, where there will be another set of rules.

Here are the general rules to follow for Just Jot it January:

1. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list) counts as a “Jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

2. This year, I’ll be posting prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt word every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. There will be a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday. Each prompt post will include the rules. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section.

3. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

4. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

5. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompt words below. Remember,  you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you.

6. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

7. Have fun!

I’ll fill in the prompts as I have them, along with a link to the blog of the person who supplied the prompt:

January 1st – Drama ~ Ritu
January 2nd – Boisterous ~ Dan Antion
January 3rd – (One-Liner Wednesday)
January 4th – Passionate ~ Rosemary Carlson
January 5th – Memories ~ Cage Dunn
January 6th – (SoCS – “eco”)
January 7th – Indelible ~ Ruth
January 8th – Pants ~ pensitivity101
January 9th – Coffee ~ Barbara
January 10th – (One-Liner Wednesday)
January 11th – Humiliate ~ Jim Adams
January 12th – Aggravate ~ Fandango
January 13th – (SoCS – sixth, seventh, and eighth word)
January 14th – Ultimatum ~ Itinerary Planner
January 15th – Justice ~ Barb
January 16th – Contemplation ~ Cheryl
January 17th – (One-Liner Wednesday)
January 18th – Revolt ~ Sandra
January 19th – Darkness ~ Kerry
January 20th – (SoCS – “oc”)
January 21st – Silence ~ Willow
January 22nd – Liberty ~ Capt Jill
January 23rd – Colour ~ supernaturalsnark
January 24th – (One-Liner Wednesday)
January 25th – Prediction ~ Dar
January 26th – Address ~ John Holton
January 27th – (SoCS –
January 28th – Knight ~ Leta Hawk
January 29th – Fantastic ~ Jill (J-Dubs)
January 30th – Scrumptious ~ Judy
January 31st – (One-Liner Wednesday)