Life in progress

Author Archives: Linda G. Hill


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One-Liner Wednesday – This is your Brain

When you’ve only had two hours of sleep in each of the last two nights, and you know you’ve got to come up with something for One-Liner Wednesday, but you’ve got nothing and then you think, Oh, I know–I’ll write something witty on the fridge!”

This is your Brain on Lack of Sleep.

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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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68. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Tuesday, November 7th, 4:00pm
Mr. Big and Henry

 

Mr. Big: When is Heath meeting us?

Henry: Not until after eight. And then we’re off to Mars.

Mr. Big: Yep, the three Musketeers ride again.

Henry: To the Milky Way! Skor!!

Mr. Big: Seriously?

Henry snickers.

Mr. Big: Oh Henry …

 

Next stop: Wednesday, November 8th, 4:00pm

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


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67. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Monday, November 6th, 8:00am
The Darkness (and Phil)

 

The Darkness sits at the window. Phil takes the aisle seat.

Phil: My car broke down. Again.

The Darkness glances at him and turns to look out the window.

Phil: I hate taking the bus. So many weirdos.

The Darkness snorts.

Phil: But at least now that the clocks have turned back, it’s not as dark in the morning.

The Darkness: (mumbles) I am The Darkness.

Phil: I know, right? So depressing in the morning when it’s dark out.

The Darkness: I am The Darkness.

Phil: I get it. So not looking forward to Christmas time. That’s when it’s REALLY dark in the morning.

The Darkness: I am The Darkness.

Phil stares at The Darkness.

The Darkness: I AM The Darkness! I AM THE DARKNESS!!!

The Darkness gets kicked off the bus.

 

Next stop: Tuesday, November 7th, 4:00pm

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


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66. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Sunday, November 5th, 10:00am
Moses (and Hannah)

 

(Moses sits at the window. Hannah takes the seat behind him.)

Moses: (mumbling to himself and bouncing in his seat) Hurry up, hurry up.

Hannah: (taps him on the shoulder) Are you okay?

Moses: I’m going to be late for work!

Hannah: This bus only goes to the mall …

Moses: (eyes wide) Yeah! I know! I work at the mall.

Hannah: But it doesn’t open for another hour.

Moses: There was a time change last night! Didn’t you know? (mumbles) Stupid bitch.

Hannah: (frowning) Yes. I do know. I changed my clock.

Moses: (beside himself with agitation) Then why do you think the mall’s not open? How stupid are you?!

Hannah: (changes seats, mumbling) I’m smart enough to know what time of year it is.

 

Next stop: Monday, November 6th, 8:00am

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


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65. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Adult theme.

Saturday, November 4th, 4:00pm
Drommen (and Lena)

 

Drommen sits at the window. Lena takes the seat beside him.

Drommen: Hi.

Lena: Hi.

Drommen: Nice day today.

Lena: It’s a bit chilly.

Drommen: Do you mind if I masturbate?

Lena: Not at all.

Drommen smiles, opening his fly.

Lena: Do you mind if I knit?

Drommen: Not at all!

Lena smiles and pulls out a large pair of shears.

Drommen: (grimaces, doing up his fly) Maybe another day.

 

Next stop: Sunday, November 5th, 10:00am

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


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#SoCS – Shortcut of my Youth

In what was the little town of Newmarket, Ontario, where I grew up (it’s a city now, so don’t go there looking for something quaint) there is a small lake, called Fairy Lake. It really was never much more than a place where the river got wider, I realize now, but something tells me it used to be much more.

Every day, I walked to school from my house on Lundy’s Lane, up Red Deer Street to Patterson Street where both my primary and secondary schools were approximately situated. I walked that way except when I took the shortcut. You see, there is (or probably was, now) a large storm sewer under Red Deer with a teeny tiny creek running through it. I used to catch crayfish there and keep them in a bucket on the front steps of my house until they died. (I was a horrible child, looking back.) But back to the shortcut.

I can only think that storm sewer existed for when Fairy Lake flooded, because it was the only body of water around. Farther down from the storm sewer was a swamp (now has baseball fields on it) and a lock for boats that dried up long before I became a teenager. I digress yet again.

One day, I think I may have been in Grade 2, I was late for school so I took the shortcut. Something I never did at the time. I was a responsible 8 year old, after all. But this day I decided to dawdle. They had the police looking for me by the time I arrived at school with not a clue what the big deal was. Because of course, when they went to look for me on Lundy’s Lane, Red Deer, and Patterson Street, I was no where to be found.

I understand now the terror that I must have caused by stopping to pick weeds along the path behind the houses. And I suppose I must have kept my shortcut hidden from the adults, because they didn’t go there to look for me.

I’ve never told anyone this story before. There are no adults left who would remember it, nor any children of that time who I associate now with who would.

Thanks for the memories, stream of consciousness. And thank you to you, who have read my story. 🙂

Google map satellite picture of my walk to school. The creek is still there.

The locks, part of what is now the Global Pet Foods Dog Park.

This post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Join in, and maybe you’ll take your own trip down memory lane! It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2017/11/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-417/


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Nov. 4/17

It’s Friday and I almost forgot about SoCS! How did that happen?! Anyway, it’s time now for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. There are so many things I’ve wanted to blog about recently, but I haven’t had any time. Hopefully that will change soon. In the meantime, here’s your prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “shortcut/cut short.” Use one, use both, whatever strikes your fancy. 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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64. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Friday, November 3rd, 2:00pm
Sammy and Leroy (and Zoey)

 

Sammy sits at the window. Leroy is in the aisle seat.

Sammy: I bet you can’t go five minutes without saying something.

Leroy: Of course I can.

Sammy: Okay, try it.

Leroy: When do you want me to start?

Sammy: Now.

…

Leroy: I can do this, you know.

Sammy: That was a whole 30 seconds.

Leroy: I wasn’t ready.

Sammy: You’ll never be ready.

Zoey approaches.

Zoey: (to Sammy, pointing at the aisle seat) Do you mind if I sit here?

Sammy: My friend is sitting here.

Zoey: (frowns) That’s a ventriloquist’s dummy.

Leroy: Hey! Who are you calling a dummy?

Zoey: (to Leroy) You! (shakes head and looks at Sammy) Would you mind moving your doll so I can sit?

Sammy: Leroy’s not a doll. He can’t even shut up for five minutes!

Zoey: You mean you can’t shut up for five minutes.

Leroy: Of all the nerve! You can’t talk to him like that!

Zoey: I’m not talking to you, I’m … (mumbles) Oh never mind. (moves to the back of the bus)

Leroy: (to Sammy) Do you believe that? Some people!

 

Next stop: Saturday, November 4th, 4:00pm

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


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63. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Thursday, November 2nd, 3:00pm
Jordan and Brandon

 

Brandon: How’d your date with Marissa go Tuesday night?

Jordan: We did the whole dress-up thing and walked around the block with her little sister.

Brandon: And? Was it fun?

Jordan: Other than the fact I had to walk around on crutches?

Brandon: Kinda gets in the way of holding hands, I guess.

Jordan: Uh … yeah.

Brandon: What’d you dress up as?

Jordan: An injured basketball player, what else? Went well with the cast.

Brandon: And Marissa?

Jordan: (smiles) A nurse.

 

Next stop: Friday, November 3rd, 2:00pm

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


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62. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Wednesday, November 1st, 7:00pm
Andrea and Lacey

 

Andrea: So you’ll never guess what I heard at work.

Lacey: What?

Andrea: Christmas music. One fucking day after Hallowe’en. Can you believe it?

Lacey: No way!

Andrea: I wouldn’t have even noticed it if this guy hadn’t been whistling to it when he came in.

Lacey: Like he …

Andrea: … liked it or something. Exactly! I mean, who likes Christmas music the day after Hallowe’en? Like, we haven’t even got all the decorations down. But at least the guy was hot.

Lacey: Pfft. Too bad.

Andrea: What do you mean “too bad”? (shrugs) I flirted with him a bit.

Lacey: No!

Andrea: Yep. And I asked him out. We’re getting together next week.

Lacey: Seriously? What are you gonna do if …

Andrea: If he starts whistling Christmas music again? What do you think? Dump his ass!

 

Next stop: Thursday, November 2nd, 3:00pm

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