Life in progress


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309. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language.

Friday, July 6th, 7:00pm
Andrea (and Drommen)

 

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

Drommen: Hey. You changed your hair.

Andrea: Yep. I went blonde.

Drommen: What’s the occasion?

Andrea: I’m hoping to meet Edward tonight. Do you think he’ll like it?

Drommen: You’re not serious. The guy’s a nutcase.

Andrea: (frowns) He’s just, like, a bit misguided.

Drommen: And you’re going to guide him in the right direction?

Andrea: Fuck yeah.

Drommen: Well I’ll give you one thing: you’ve got something in common. You’re both persistent.

Andrea: (smiles, showing a mouthful of fake fangs) That’s not all.

 

Next stop: Saturday, July 7th, 9:00pm

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 July 7/18

Hey there! Welcome to the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. Having a busy week this week trying to organize the release of my next book. Details (wonderful, exciting, amazing details!) coming soon. Here’s your prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “sup.” Use it as a word or find a word that contains it. 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 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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They Like Me. They Really Like Me!

I have a big announcement. Another one of my stories has been accepted for a new anthology by Transmundane Press!!

You might remember back in January when I had my big health scare. I went into a restaurant and started to write a story and found I couldn’t spell. This is that story! Apparently I did a good job of spelling after all.

This exciting new anthology is all about dreams, nightmares, visions and hallucinations. My contribution is the story of Jacob, a man whose dreams prove to be precognitive. Here’s a short excerpt.

SNOOZE

 

“I’ve never been much of a dreamer.”

No, I can’t say that, I thought as I looked in the mirror and straightened my tie. She’ll assume I’m talking about my hopes for the future.

I couldn’t afford to fuck up this date. At best, I was in a position to have the relationship to end all relationships. At the least, I’d save her life. The tricky part would be not coming across as a nutcase. Something I wasn’t totally convinced of myself.

 

~~* * *~~

“Jacob?” She approached me with an outstretched hand and I plastered a surprised look onto my face. The dating site I’d “found” her through was this newfangled deal where the guy’s photo was visible to the lady, but the woman’s face was a mystery. It was meant to ensure true love or some such crap. That I’d actually managed to choose her was proof enough for me that she was the woman of my dreams. We were fated to meet.

“You must be Susan,” I said as I shook her hand. She took the lead toward the restaurant’s door, confident in her ultra-high heels and black raincoat. Susan looked every bit the reporter—light on the makeup under black-framed glasses. I’d have taken bets there was a notepad and pen in her purse, even if I didn’t already know what her job was.

“I feel like I have an advantage over you,” she said as she settled into her side of the booth in the Japanese restaurant. “The website told me everything about you, but it said they told you next to nothing about me.”

The urge was great to “guess,” but she’d think I’d been stalking her somehow.

“They gave me a few of your interests,” I said. “I know you like to write.”

“But I bet they didn’t tell you I’m an investigative journalist.”

I raised my eyebrows, hoping for the second time she wouldn’t see through me. “Really?” I said. “That must be exciting.”

She shrugged. “It has its moments. And you? What does Jacob do for a living?”

“I’m a … I used to be an elementary school teacher.”

“Used to?”

“Yeah. I got kicked out of school for missing too many days.”

Because I slept in. Because I had to find out what was going to happen to you.

 

 

Here’s the anthology’s official back-cover description.

A parallel dimension exists below the surface of reality.

Its doors swing open every time we sleep, allowing us passage into the land of DREAMS, a plane rich with exotic fantasy and limitless bliss. Within this wonder world, however, lurk dark corridors and terrible creatures—some unfortunate travelers never escape the NIGHTMARES waiting in the shadows.

Many have tried bridging our worlds. Seekers and wise men have meditated for VISIONS and ingested intoxicants for HALLUCINATIONS in hopes that the veil between our realms will thin, allowing access to all the thrills, joys, and horrors beyond our senses.

TRANSCENDENT is an open gate, a gangway linking our realm to the shimmering sphere where nothing is certain and anything is possible.

It’s gonna be a good one! The release is set for this fall. I’ll keep you up to speed on the launch and all the goodies that will be available.

Thanks for reading!


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308. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Thursday, July 5th, 5:00pm
Genie and Ross

 

Genie: I found a peanut.

Ross: Oh yeah? When was this?

Genie: Last night. It was rotten.

Ross: Huh.

Genie: But I ate it anyway.

Ross: Why’d you do that?

Genie: (shrugs) So I got a stomach ache. I should probably see a doctor.

Ross: Well, I doubt it’ll kill you.

Genie: Right? What are the chances?

 

Next stop: Friday, July 6th, 7:00pm

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


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307. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Wednesday, July 4th, 5:00pm
Cary (and DeeDee)

 

Cary sits at the window. DeeDee takes the seat beside him.

DeeDee: Oh my God, I don’t believe it.

Cary: What?

DeeDee: It’s you! Can I get your autograph?

Cary: Whatever for?

DeeDee: You’re the guy!

Cary: What guy?

DeeDee: The guy who wrote that book. You know the one … that book!

Cary: I didn’t think anyone had read my book. (smiles) Do you have something I can write on?

DeeDee: Yeah! (searches through her purse and comes out with a pen and paper) Sign it to DeeDee please.

Cary signs her paper. DeeDee looks at the signature.

DeeDee: Thank you so much, Mr. …

Cary: Thomson. Cary Thomson.

DeeDee: (stares, confused) Wait, what book did you write?

Cary: The Strange Disappearance of the Hippopotamus on the Night of All Hallows Eve.

DeeDee: Not that other one? About the War of 1812?

Cary: Sadly, no.

DeeDee: Never mind then. (crumples up paper)

Cary turns to the window, dejected.

 

Next stop: Thursday, July 5th, 5:00pm

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 – On a Personal Note

They opened up a spot for Alex to go to camp all summer. I’m free! I’m free!

A woman obviously in need of coffee.


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 lovely new badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

#1linerWeds badge by Cheryl, at dreamingreality646941880.wordpress.com/


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306. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Tuesday, July 3rd, 5:00pm
Morag (and Zoey)

 

Morag sits at the window. Zoey takes the seat beside her.

Morag: (pulls headphones out of her ears) Man, that was a good book.

Zoey: Cool. Which one were you listening to?

Morag: Oh, I was listening to music.

Zoey stares at her.

Morag: I was just reading the last Harry Potter book to myself. I have them all memorized.

Zoey: Wow. You must have read them a lot of times.

Morag: Oh yeah. Did you know Dumbledore killed Snape in the last book?

Zoey: No …

Morag: Oh, I’m sorry. I should have said “spoiler alert.”

Zoey: But even if it were true, it’s not in the last book.

Morag: (frowns) Look, lady, do you have the books memorized?

Zoey: No, but …

Morag: I rest my case.

 

Next stop: Wednesday, July 4th, 5:00pm

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


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305. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Monday, July 2nd, 5:00pm
Simon (and Murray)

 

Simon sits at the window. Murray takes the seat beside him.

Murray: Excuse me, can I interest you in a potato?

Simon: I don’t eat vegetation.

Murray: That’s odd … you only eat meat?

Simon: Yes. I prefer organs, actually. A slice of liver with a nice Chianti, for instance.

Murray: So no fava beans?

Simon: It’s where our similarity ends.

Murray changes seats.

 

Next stop: Tuesday, July 3rd, 5:00pm

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


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The Escapist Coloring Club Prompt – July 1, 2018

Hey there, and welcome to The Escapist Coloring Club prompt!  Sorry I’m late today–I just finished colouring my calendar page fifteen minutes ago!

To join the club, all you have to do is post pictures of your own colouring, your kids’ colouring, or that of anyone you know and have permission to share. This is a month-long prompt, which means you have all of July to link back here.

Most of the pages in my Secret Garden colouring calendar have leaves. This month I had none to colour, so I had to get creative with green flowers. Here’s the before picture.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

I think my favourite part of colouring this one was coming up with the contrasting colours to go into almost each flower. I think I learned a thing or two.

Here’s the whole thing.

This time, the artist messed up one flower. Hint: it’s near the bottom.

I look forward to seeing all of your amazing projects in the coming month!

Please find the “rules” below.

1. This prompt is designed for relaxation. As such, I encourage you to take your time to link your own post here, BUT, when you comment, please click the “Notify me of new comments via email” button. That way you’ll receive a notification when someone else links their project and you won’t miss anything. As with all the prompts, the more you visit others, the more your community of like-minded people grows.

2. Ping back! It’s important so that I and other people can come and read your post. To execute a pingback, just copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into the body of your post. 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.

3. There will be a prompt on the first of every month. I will try to post the prompt here on my blog at 9:30am -5 GMT. The prompt will simply be photos of my own colouring project. If you would like to host this prompt on your blog on another week during the month, either once, occasionally, or on a regular basis, please e-mail me at hilllindagmaru at gmail dot com and we’ll get you set up. All I ask is that you have an active blog and that you regularly reply to comments and visit other blogs.

4. Feel free to use The Escapist Coloring Club badge in your post.

5. Have fun!


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304. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, July 1st, 1:00pm
MoJo (and JoJo)

 

MoJo sits at the window. JoJo boards the bus.

JoJo: (yelling down the aisle) DUDE! Happy Canada Day!

MoJo: (stands) DUDE! What in the heck are you wearing, dude?

JoJo: (approaches MoJo) It’s a suit made of maple leaves, man! I saved ’em from last fall!

MoJo: Come and sit by me, dude!

JoJo: (sits and leaves begin to crumble) This is gonna be the best Canada Day ever!

MoJo: Dude! You’re naked!

JoJo: (looks down at himself) No way! Lucky I have a flag! (smiling, holds up small flag and waves it)

MoJo: That’s no way to fly our flag, man.

JoJo: Darn it, dude, you’re right! What am I gonna do?

MoJo: Here. (takes off t-shirt to reveal body paint in flag design) Tie this around your waist.

JoJo: But, now you’re more patriotic than I am, man.

MoJo: Wait! (turns to face him and presses his chest against JoJo’s) There! Now we’re wearin’ each other’s maple leaves!

JoJo: Cool!

MoJo: (stands) Happy Canada Day, everybody!

 

Next stop: Monday, July 2nd, 5:00pm

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