Life in progress


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS June 16/18

Today is Friday, I’m told, so that means it’s time for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. I’m going to make this quick because my coffee is calling me. And let’s face it, when you hear coffee calling your name, you know you need coffee. Here’s your prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “reservation.” 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!


It’s Release Day!

Congratulations, Don, on your new release! Sounds like a great read. 😀

Unknown's avatarDon Massenzio

SAMPLEWell, I’m a bit nervous today. I’m releasing my new book, Extra InningsIt’s my ninth fiction book and tenth book overall.

So, why am I nervous, you might ask?

Well, this book is a major departure from my usual crime/detective drama genre. It has elements of supernatural/paranormal devices and really isn’t at all about crime.

The beta readers were very positive about the story premise and the book overall. I hope that those of you that choose to read it, enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed dreaming it up.

You might be asking: What is it about?

Here is a blurb that sums it up:

Joe McLean hates his life. A lonely, divorced, middle-aged man, stuck in a cramped apartment, the only bright spot in Joe’s life is cheering on his hometown baseball team.

Now, the local stadium, the place of many childhood and adult memories…

View original post 125 more words


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287. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Thursday, June 14th, 1:00pm
Simon (and Verne)

 

Simon sits at the window. Verne takes the seat beside him, grocery bag in hand.

Verne: (to bag, soothingly) That’s a nice chicken. (looks sideways at Simon and turns back to bag) I’m going to take you home and eat you all up. (looks sideways at Simon)

Simon smiles.

Verne: (to Simon) What? Haven’t you ever seen anyone talk to their food?

Simon: No, it’s okay! I talk to my food all the time.

Verne: Do you like the wings too?

Simon: (shakes head) I’m more of a leg man, myself. Maybe the occasional finger.

Verne: Ugh. I hate chicken fingers.

Simon: Me too.

Verne: And fish fingers.

Simon: (smiles) Me too.

Verne changes seats.

 

Next stop: Friday, June 15th, 9:00pm

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


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286. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Wednesday, June 13th, 5:00pm
Fred (and Rachael)

 

Fred sits at the window with a large cloth bag. Rachael takes the seat beside him.

Fred: (looking in the bag) Ooohh moomoomoomoo. Ohhh mommomooomooomoo.

Rachael strains to look at him with her eyes, without turning her head.

Fred: (looking in the bag) Oooohhh mooomooomoo. You’re just so cute! Ooohh moomoomoo …

Rachael: (leans over to look) What you got there?

Fred: Its a bag full of kittens.

Rachael: (in a high pitched voice) A bag full of kittens? (looking in the bag) Ooohh aren’t you cute!

Fred: Want one?

Rachael: What, you’re just giving them away?

Fred: Not really. What do you got to trade for ’em? Any dope?

Rachael stares.

Fred: (snickers) Just kidding. They’re all mine. (looking in the bag) Ooohhh moomoomoomooo.

 

Next stop: Thursday, June 14th, 1:00pm

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


44 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – We speak the same language. I think.

Conversation between my best friend and I:

John: Hey, have I told you what happened since the last time I talked to you?

Me: No … I haven’t talked to you since the last time I talked to you …


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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285. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Tuesday, June 12th, 4:00pm
Zoey (and Bradley)

 

Zoey sits at the window. Bradley takes the seat beside her, carrying a large cloth bag.

Bradley: SHHHH!!!

Zoey: Are you talking to me?

Bradley: SSHHHH!!!!! (in a stage whisper) I got the stuff!

Zoey: I’m sorry, I don’t know you. And I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Bradley: (whispering) Look!

Bradley opens his bag. Zoey peers inside.

Zoey: Awww!!!

Bradley: SSSSHHHHH!!!!!

Zoey: But it’s a bag of kittens!

Bradley: It’s a what? (looks in the bag) Damnit! I got the wrong bag!

Bradley gets off the bus.

 

Next stop: Wednesday, June 13th, 5:00pm

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


Book Launch: The Contract by John W. Howell & Gwen M. Plano

John Howell has teamed up with Gwen Plano for a new edge-of-your-seat thriller. Check it out!


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284. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language.

Monday, June 11th, 5:00pm
Kyra (and Sean)

 

Kyra sits at the window, rocking. Sean takes the seat beside her.

Sean: Are you okay?

Kyra: I gotta pee.

Sean: (reaches into his pocket) I got a plastic bag here if you wanna go in that.

Kyra: Are you nuts? I’m not peeing in a plastic bag.

Sean: Suit yourself. (reaches into the other pocket and pulls out a bottle of water) Want some?

Kyra gives him a dirty look.

Sean: (takes the cap off the bottle and drinks loudly) Man! That’s good!

Kyra: You’re a real asshole.

Sean: (offers her the bag again) You sure?

Kyra: (mumbling and rocking, looking out the window) I hate this fucking bus.

 

Next stop: Tuesday, June 12th, 4:00pm

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


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283. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, June 10th, 10:00am
Drommen and Phillipa

 

Phillipa: That was one hell of a night, Trigger.

Drommen: I know that’s the name of a horse, but it doesn’t do much for appearances when it comes to longevity.

Phillipa: Oh you’ve got that. At least after the first three times.

Drommen smiles self-satisfactorily.

Phillipa: And you make one hell of a breakfast.

Drommen: Thank you. What time do you get off work?

Phillipa: (shrugs) Later.

Drommen: Do you want to get together?

Phillipa: Already? Next thing you’ll be asking me to meet your family.

Drommen clasps his hands on his lap.

Phillipa: Cool it, Sport. I’ll give you a call sometime. (kisses him on the cheek. Whispers:) Thank you.

Phillipa gets off the bus.

 

Next stop: Monday, June 11th, 5:00pm

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


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282. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Saturday, June 9th, 8:00pm
Drommen (and Hillary)

 

Drommen sits at the window. Hillary takes the seat beside him, holding the iPad he gave her.

Drommen: Hey there.

Hillary: Hi.

Drommen: Enjoying your iPad?

Hillary: Yeah, thanks again for that. It’s great. So you want to do something?

Drommen: Actually, I’ve got a date tonight.

Hillary stares for a few a seconds, then blinks back tears.

Drommen: Look, I need to be honest. I’m never going to change, and nobody’s going to make me.

Hillary: But I thought …

Drommen: I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I’d like to be friends if that’s okay.

Hillary: (stands and throws the iPad in his lap) FUCK YOU! You’re just an asshole like all the other guys I know. FUCK YOU!

Drommen: I’m sorry.

Hillary slaps his face and storms off the bus.

 

Next stop: Sunday, June 10th, 10:00am

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