Life in progress


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TIME TO VOTE for the 2018-2019 One Liner Wednesday Badge!

The time has come! All the entries–all nine of them!–for this year’s One-Liner Wednesday badge contest are in. The designs are fantastic, so make sure you have a look at all of them before you vote. It’s going to be another close race this year.

Please note the descriptions I’ve given them: they’ll be what you vote for on the poll. Here they are, in the order they entered the contest. Just click to visit each one:

Shoreline by Frank Hubeny

Don’t say no by Jim Adams

Bird on a Post by Bethany K

Connection by Wire by J-Dub

Take My Card by John Holton

Giraffes by Myrna

Blue Sky and Clouds by Hip to be Snark

The Waving Girl by Melissa

Peace, Love, and Please by Cheryl

I encourage the contestants and all their supporters to share their choices for best badge far and wide. Get all your friends to vote!

The poll will be available until Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at noon EST (GMT-5), so get your vote in while you can! The results will be posted Tuesday afternoon.

Best of luck to all the contestants! Thanks for participating!!


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262. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, May 20th, 11:00am
Trevor and Gloria

 

Trevor: You know what tonight is, right?

Gloria: Oh no, what now?

Trevor: It’s 70s night.

Gloria: Lovely.

Trevor: I found you the perfect pair of bellbottoms.

Gloria: No.

Trevor: And platform shoes.

Gloria: I said no.

Trevor: And heart-shaped glasses.

Gloria: And don’t tell me – an Afro wig.

Trevor: Oh yes.

Gloria: (sighs) You’re killing me softly.

Trevor: Gonna play that funky music.

Gloria: My sweet Lord.

Trevor: Gonna walk on the wild side.

Gloria: Dream on.

Trevor: Imagine!

Gloria: Let it be!

Trevor: Fine. Go your own way.

Gloria: (stares out the window) I will survive.

 

Next stop: Monday, May 21st, 8:00pm

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


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#SoCS – Empty – My Whoa Moment of the Week

This is really what stream of consciousness writing is all about, isn’t it? Emptiness.

Every time I’ve thought about writing this post today (and in the end I almost forgot to do it–imagine that), the only thing that has come to me has been the Taoist philosophy on emptiness being useful. A room with no space in it isn’t livable. Take things out of it–make space–and the emptiness makes the room useful.

For a long time I’ve endeavored to, once in a while, empty my mind. The largely western idea of the purpose of meditation–to sit and think about something, or to meditate on something–is the opposite of the eastern philosophy. I meditate to empty my mind. To clear out all the thoughts and regrets and worries for the future–and stress. Because once my mind is empty, I can fill it up with new ideas, better solutions, and calmer thoughts.

So how is writing stream of consciousness about emptiness? It’s a form of meditation. It’s the act of emptying our minds onto the page.

All together now– WHOA!

This mind-blowing-out-the-cobwebs post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click the link and find all the post links in the comments! https://lindaghill.com/2018/05/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-19-18/


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261. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Saturday, May 19th, 8:00pm
Simon (and Lily)

 

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

Lily: Hey, good lookin’.

Simon: (smiles) Well, hello there.

Lily: Nice night to be out on the prowl.

Simon: It is, indeed.

Lily: Wanna go out for a bite?

Simon: Funny you should ask that. I was going to say I’d like to eat you. Whole.

Lily: (grins widely, showing a mouthful of fake fangs) Beauty.

 

Next stop: Sunday, May 20th, 11:00am

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


I’ve Been Happy

Hey, everyone! Our friend Wes is back, and he has some great news!

nearlywes's avatarNearlyWes

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Most of you might recognize this photo, for those who don’t it’s the photo that I use as my header image to my blog. I’ve used it ever since I took the picture. However, since that photo and now, my life has change in wonderful ways.

I’ve been gone for quite some time and I apologize for that, life gets in the way of many things when we let it. When I left it was due to a lack of purpose in my writing. I was putting down words but they never really meant anything to me, I didn’t feel like it was the best I could do. Thus I stopped, but it’s different now. The world and myself are different than before, I’m actually happy.

The reason I am happy is a multitude of things, my family, me accepting myself, actually having a decent job. Also realizing that just…

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260. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Friday, May 18th, 5:00pm
Miles (and Drew)

 

Miles sits at the window. Drew takes the seat beside him.

Drew: Nice afternoon after all that rain we had yesterday.

Miles: Uh huh.

Drew: Makes me think of the age-old question, why did the duck cross the road?

Miles: Shouldn’t that be a chicken?

Drew: It makes more sense that it should be a duck, don’t you think? A duck is a wild animal and more likely to be waiting at the side of a road, rather than a chicken, which would be penned up on a farm.

Miles: (stares at him for a moment) Do you have any toilet paper?

Drew: Hmm … (contemplates the question and nods slowly) I see what you’re saying.

 

Next stop: Saturday, May 19th, 8:00pm

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


The Escapist Coloring Club – mid-month May 2018

One of these months I’ll actually do this in the middle of the month. But which day is the middle when there are 31 days? Hmmm… Anyway, I’m here with a gentle reminder that there’s still time to link your colouring projects to the original prompt from May 1st, here. The comments in this post are turned off to ensure all pingbacks go to the original post.

Our entrants so far, are:

Barbara at Teleportingweena

Janet at Janet’s Smiles

and Willow at Willowdot21, with her second update of the month

Please visit them to see their wonderful colouring projects. And join us! It’s fun and relaxing.

Here’s what I’m working on this month:

I’m three-quarters done already!

 

 


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS May 19/18

Although I keep thinking it’s Saturday, it’s actually Friday. That means it’s time for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. The reason for my confusion: Alex is home from school. Four day weekend (Monday is Victoria Day here in Canada). Must focus! Here’s your prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “empty/hollow.” Use one, use both, entirely up to you. 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 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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259. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Thursday, May 17th, 5:00pm
Aaron (and Rachael)

 

Aaron sits at the window. Rachael takes the seat beside him.

Rachael: (combing her wet hair back with her fingers) Whew, is it ever raining out there!

Aaron: Great day, isn’t it?

Rachael: Sure, if you’re a duck.

Aaron: Or if you’re me. I’m going to see my kids.

Rachael: Been a while?

Aaron: Yeah. My ex has been keeping them away from me. The whole lawyer thing, you know. I’m finally seeing them for the first time in a year.

Rachael: You must be excited.

Aaron: I am. One of them just had an operation.

Rachael: Oh dear. Nothing too serious I hope.

Aaron: Nah. He was just neutered.

Rachael: Wait … I thought you said they were your kids …

Aaron: They are.

Rachael: Oookaaay…  (nods slowly and looks away)

 

Next stop: Friday, May 18th, 5:00pm

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


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258. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Wednesday, May 16th, 5:00pm
Drew (and Zoey)

 

Drew sits at the window. Zoey takes the seat beside him.

Drew: (points out the window) There is a bird in a tree.

Zoey: I’m sorry?

Drew: There is a bird in a tree … Or is the tree simply there for the bird?

Zoey: I think the bird …

Drew: (holds up a finger) You are going to say that because the bird moves and the tree does not, that the bird is the one who must be the subject, the one who provides the action, and the tree is merely awaiting the bird’s arrival. BUT! Does not the tree live longer?

Zoey: (nods slowly) It does …

Drew: So again, I ask, is the bird in the tree or does the tree exist for the bird?

Zoey: Errr … Both?

Drew: (frowns) I must contemplate this further.

Zoey: You’re welcome.

 

Next stop: Thursday, May 17th, 5:00pm

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