Life in progress

Author Archives: Linda G. Hill


by 1 Comment

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.


by 78 Comments

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!


by 151 Comments

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)


by 34 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – Not a Fan of Christmas

For his third Christmas on earth, Winston decides this holiday isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

You’re not seriously planning to put this thing on my head.

This whole Christmas deal sucks.

___________________________________________________________________________

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

 


by 3 Comments

117. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Monday, December 26th, 10:00am 11:30am
Jocelyn and Jody

 

Jody: Mommy?

Jocelyn: Yes?

Jody: Why do they call it Boxing Day?

Jocelyn: Maybe because it’s the day you throw out all the boxes things came in for Christmas.

Jody: Then why don’t the stores just sell things without boxes?

Jocelyn: I don’t know. Maybe when you’re bigger you can find a better way of doing things.

Jody: I’d just sell things in bags. Then we can call it Bagged Day.

Jocelyn: That’s a good name for it anyway.

 

Next stop: Tuesday, December 27th, 8:00pm

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


by 8 Comments

116. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Monday, December 25th, 3:00am
Cass (and Mortimer)

 

Cass sits at the window, second seat on the left. Mortimer takes the seat at the window, second seat on the right.

Cass: Oh God, not you again.

Mortimer: Who else would show up today?

Cass: Haven’t I been through enough without you pestering me again and again about how I shouldn’t have gone out with that guy?

Mortimer: The one who stabbed you seventeen times to death?

Cass: (rolls eyes) Don’t remind me.

Mortimer: You think you’ve got it bad. I died of a heart attack on this very… you’re mocking me.

Cass: (ceasing to mime his words) As if I hadn’t heard it all before. Do you have any idea what it’s like to get haunted by a senile ghost every Christmas?

Mortimer: And do you have any idea what it’s like for me to have to come back every Hallowe’en and relive your murder?

Cass: (snorts and looks at his reflection in the window. Speaks sarcastically) Oh look. There’s Scrooge.

Mortimer: (mumbles) Humbug.

 

Next stop: Tuesday, December 26th, 10:00am

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


by Leave a comment

115. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, December 24th, 2:00pm
Damien (and Flora)

 

Damien sits at the window with his head in his hands. Flora takes the seat beside him.

Flora: Hey! How’s it goin’?

Damien: I can’t believe I did it.

Flora: Did what?

Damien: You know I’ve been working shifts, right?

Flora: Yeah.

Damien: I worked ’til six this morning, went home and passed out, and I had this dream. I dreamt I hadn’t got any of my Christmas shopping done. So I jumped out of bed, and I literally ran to the mall.

Flora: And then you realized it was a dream?

Damien nods, his head still in his hands.

Flora: You got time off at Christmas?

Damien: Yeah, I don’t go back ’til the 29th.

Flora: Sounds like you could use a break. Want to go for a coffee?

Damien: (looks up at her) You buyin’? I don’t get paid ’til next week.

Flora: Sure. But how were you going to do any shopping if you don’t have enough for coffee?

Damien: (shakes his head and chuckles) Thank God it was just a dream. Would’a been a nightmare if I’d actually tried to buy something.

 

Next stop: Monday, December 25th, 3:00am

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


by 29 Comments

#SoCS – Yul log?

You’ll forgive me, won’t you? For missing my own prompt again? Though technically it is Sunday, it’s still Saturday to me because I haven’t gone to bed yet. It’s very very late Saturday night … so late, it’s Sunday morning. 😛

I’ll have to forgive myself, actually, for making the mistake of trying to find a picture of Yul Brynner tied up so that I could say Yul tied … because what I got instead was to be treated to a photo of a young Yul Brynner with no clothes on. Full frontal. So for my efforts to find a festive Yul tied, I ended up with a Yul log … errr … okay, a Yul average-size stick? Umm … did you know Yul Brynner was a brunette? Neither did I, until today.

So, where was I? Oh yes. I was busy today. I think I’ve finished my Christmas shopping, apart from the food. And most of that is done, too. Turkey’s thawing, veggies are bought, as are the potatoes and all the other stuff … yes, the stuff-ing too. So I’ll be able to mow down on a nice drumstick on Christmas … aaaand, I just got a flashback of good ol’ Yul. NO, I am not buying a Yule log for dessert this year!

Oh dear, can you tell I’m tired? No, I’m not drunk. But I do have to put the white wine in the fridge – thanks for reminding me.

And on that note, I’ll wish everyone a lovely Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and a wonderful holiday all ’round.

Now you can go Google Yul Brynner naked.

Cheers!

This silly post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click the link to find all the other entries in the comments! https://lindaghill.com/2017/12/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-23-17/


by 10 Comments

114. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Saturday, December 23rd, 6:00pm
Brandon and Jordan

 

Brandon: What did you get Marissa for Christmas?

Jordan: (pulls a small box out of a bag) I got her a ring. Wanna see it?

Brandon: Sure.

Jordan opens the box.

Brandon: Holy shit, man, is that an engagement ring?

Jordan: Yep.

Brandon: It’s been what, two months since you started dating?

Jordan: Yep.

Brandon: And you’re that sure you want to, like, settle down and shit?

Jordan: Yep.

Brandon: Is she pregnant?

Jordan: (frowns) No. We haven’t even gone all the way.

Brandon: You’re nuts, man.

Jordan: Whadda you mean?

Brandon: Isn’t that like putting the cart before the horse? Buyin’ the goods before they’re tested or something like that?

Jordan: And what’s wrong with that?

Brandon: I dunno… (shakes head) I always said you were a bit loose in the head.

Jordan: (smiles) At least I might not have to break anything else.

Brandon: Fuck, yeah. I forgot who I was talking to for a minute.

 

Next stop: Sunday, December 24th, 2:00pm

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


by 5 Comments

113. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Friday, December 22nd, 5:00pm
Morris (and Andrea)

 

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

Morris: Ugh.

Andrea: Excuse me?

Morris: I still don’t have my Christmas shopping done.

Andrea: And this concerns me how, exactly?

Morris: It doesn’t. I just wanted to …

Andrea: Why does everyone on this freakin’ bus want to tell me their problems? Like, I can’t get a minute’s peace on this freakin’, fucking bus! First I’ve got people flashing me, spitting at me, telling me their problems …

Morris: I’d watch it, if I were you. I’m Santa.

Andrea: (stares at him) You’re what now?

Morris: Santa Claus. And with a mouth like that, you’re not likely to find anything in your stocking, young lady.

Andrea: (frowns) Wait. Didn’t you just say you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping? Doesn’t Santa MAKE the toys?

Morris: No, the elves do that. I have to go out and buy all the supplies.

Andrea: You’re fucking crazy.

Morris: (shaking his head, mumbles) Whatever is the world coming to?

Andrea: (mumbles) Exactly.

 

Next stop: Saturday, December 23rd, 6:00pm

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