Life in progress

Monthly Archives: February 2018


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 17/18

Hey ho, it’s Friday again and time now for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. Sorry I’m a bit late today–it’s been a busy morning. Without further ado, here’s your prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “his/her(s).” Use one, use both, bonus points if you start your post with one and end with the other. Have fun!

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 new 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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Fill Out the A to Z Challenge Survey to Win

Many of you are familiar with the A to Z Challenge held every April. It was organized a little differently last year–a lot of people loved it, and a lot didn’t. Here’s your chance to weigh in and let the organizers know what worked for you!

There’s a survey to fill out here: https://goo.gl/forms/jXMnJKkwrdUt3y0o1

And you can find the original post here: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2018/02/2018-pre-challenge-blogging-from-to-z.html

Click on the link for the original post to see what you could win by filling out the survey and sharing the post, and to get all the details for this year’s challenge!

Best of luck, and happy blogging in April!


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168. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Thursday, February 15th, 6:00pm
Andrea (and Lacey)

 

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

Andrea: Oh. My. God. Lace, you won’t believe what happened.

Lacey: Lay it on me.

Andrea: You know that guy, right? That, like, Edward guy?

Lacey: The one you’re …

Andrea: The one I’m in love with, right. Anyway, I saw him on yesterday. Right here on the bus. Can you believe it? And so we’re making a date with it being, like, Valentine’s, and everything is going great, and then, get this: I mentioned going out for a steak and he took off!

Lacey: No!

Andrea: He jumped right … out … the fuckin’ … window!

Lacey: No. Way.

Andrea: WAY! Can you imagine? He’s, like, so scared of me now, that he jumps out the window of a moving bus!

Lacey: It was moving?

Andrea: YES! You’d think a vampire would be able to handle a little steak, so, like, it’s gotta be me.

Lacey: Wait, what kind of stake?

Andrea: (eyes wide) NO!

 

Next stop: Friday, February 16th, 6:00pm

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


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167. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Wednesday, February 14th, 8:00pm
Edward (and Andrea)

 

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

Andrea: THERE you are! I’ve been looking for you forever!

Edward: Who are you?

Andrea: (stares, open-mouthed) You … don’t remember me? I’m the one you were making out with on New Year’s. It was so … I can’t believe you don’t remember me! Look! (pulls down scarf to reveal her neck) You gave me this.

Edward: That certainly looks like mine.

Andrea: Who the fuck else’s would it be?

Edward: I am the only vampire around … Unless it was Lily.

Andrea: Lily? As in, like, a girl? EWWW! It was YOU! We made out! And you don’t remember!

Edward: Oh wait. I remember you now.

Andrea: (smiles) Well of course you do! Nobody forgets me. Especially guys I make out with. So, d’you want to, like, get together? It is Valentine’s Day after all.

Edward: I am kinda hungry. Wanna go for a bite?

Andrea: (giggles) Sure. I could go for some Italian.

Edward: (shakes his head vigorously) Too much garlic.

Andrea: What do you feel like?

Edward: Something bloody.

Andrea: Steak it is!

 

Next stop: Thursday, February 15th, 6:00pm

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


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One-Liner Wednesday – My Existential Fridge

As you probably know if you’ve been around my blog for a while, I have letter fridge magnets. I was taking something out of the fridge the other day, and one of the letters fell off the freezer door and landed on my forearm. I paused to think, then I laughed.

Because I was hungry. Don’t judge me!!

The letter was “Y.”

If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our very cool badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

#1linerWeds badge by Dan Antion

 


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166. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Tuesday, February 13th, 5:00pm
Brandon and Jordan

 

Brandon: So tomorrow’s the big day?

Jordan: Yeah. What are you planning to do for Valentine’s?

Brandon: I’m going to have a seizure.

Jordan: (stares) A … what?

Brandon: A seizure. There’s this really hot nurse at the hospital.

Jordan: You’re mocking me for breaking my ankle to get Marissa’s attention, aren’t you.

Brandon: Who me? Nah.

Jordan: Ass.

 

Next stop: Wednesday, February 14th, 8:00pm

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


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165. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Monday, February 12th, 5:00pm
Robert and Donald

 

Donald: So, what are we doing for Valentine’s Day?

Robert: Oh I don’t know.

Donald: I guess we should do something.

Robert: We don’t have to do anything.

Donald: We don’t?

Robert: Well, not together at least.

Donald: What are you suggesting?

Robert: I was thinking about going out with a friend.

Donald: A friend friend? Or …

Robert: Not … necessarily.

Donald: You mean you have a new lover?

Robert: I … might.

Donald: Huh.

Robert: You’re not upset, are you?

Donald: Not … well, not too upset. You could have told me though.

Robert: So what, you could fire me?

Donald: I’d never do that!

Robert: Pfft. Sure.

Donald: I wouldn’t! And anyway, I have a new boyfriend. Take that!

Robert: You do?

Donald: Yes. We’ve been seeing each other for weeks.

Robert: Then why are you still living on my couch?

Donald: Because I didn’t want to upset you!

Robert laughs.

Donald: What are you laughing about?

Robert: Just … nothing.

Donald: Huh. So you want to double date on Wednesday?

Robert: May as well. But you won’t be coming back to my place after.

Donald: Why not?

Robert: Don’t you think that would be a bit awkward?

Donald: Well I can’t go back to his place. He lives with his mother.

Robert: (slumps in his seat) There goes Valentine’s Day.

 

Next stop: Tuesday, February 13th, 5:00pm

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


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164. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, February 11th 1:00 1:20pm
Candice and Sandi

 

Candice: I can’t believe Madam called us in to work a double shift.

Sandi: We knew after the third movie came out the dungeon would get busier again.

Candice: (sighs) Yeah. Oh well. My favourite new client is coming in tonight.

Sandi: Justin?

Candice nods happily.

Sandi: Really like him, do you?

Candice: Kinda.

Sandi: I’m happy for you.

Candice: Thanks. So what’s going on with the preacher these days? Not working yet?

Sandi: Nope.

Candice: I’m surprised he hasn’t asked you to quit. Or have you brought him over to the dark side?

Sandi: (snorts) Whichever, I just wish he’d decide what he wants to do. I don’t mind being the breadwinner ‘n’ all, but he’s been miserable sitting around doing nothing ever since we got married.

Candice: Tell him to get involved with a group for wayward souls. God knows we get enough of those at work.

Sandi: The scared and the curious.

Candice: And now the Ana-wannabes.

Sandi: (rolls eyes) Yep. You may have something there.

 

Next stop: Monday, February 12th 5:00pm

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


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163. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Saturday, February 10th, 5:00pm
Misery and Gay

 

Gay: So whatcha doin’ tomorrow?

Misery: I don’t know. Sleepin’ I guess.

Gay: We should go out! Soak up some sunshine!

Misery: It’s supposed to snow.

Gay: Then we can go shopping! For boots!

Misery: I don’t have any money.

Gay: I’ll buy you some!

Misery: I take a size 18. (slides foot out from the seat in front) My shoes cost hundreds of dollars.

Gay: Then how about some new underwear? Nothing better than a new pair of panties!

Misery: Had a thong once. I lost it.

Gay: (frowns) You lost it? Wha … OH!

Misery smiles.

 

Next stop: Sunday, February 11th, 1:00pm

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


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#SoCS – Tail Tale

I’ve been asked to and even been tempted to write stories from the perspective of an animal in past. But I just can’t. (Disclaimer: I have a feeling I HAVE done it before, years ago–so many I can no longer remember–but I couldn’t tell you where that writing is.) The point is, I can’t do it anymore. Here’s why.

What if … This is what goes through my mind when I look at my dog and really contemplate what might be going through his head. What if he’s a past human, trapped in the body of a dog for the span of this lifetime? What if he really understands everything I’m doing and saying and he’s judging me?

I know this sounds paranoid, but it’s where my writer’s mind goes. My overactive imagination, if you will. So there it is. I’m afraid that if I start writing from his perspective, I’ll somehow disappear into a void of imagined conversation between the dog and the cat that will end up with me hiding in my room with the door closed, begging for forgiveness and mercy as they scratch and whine, trying to get in. Except of course it’s only because they’re hungry, my logical mind will tell myself.

But what if …?

 

This somewhat creepy post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday! Click the following link to find more posts in the comment section and add yours! https://lindaghill.com/2018/02/09/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-10-18/