Weekly Wrap Up (Dec. 17 - Dec. 23)

weekly update

Entry posted by wildone in Weekly Wrap Up December 23, 2023

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'Twas the night before Christmas, when all though the GA house
not a creature was stirring, not even a bear, penguin, wolf, eagle, zombie, tiger, cat, or Cindy Lou Who.

The stockings were hung by Steve's dryer with care.
In hopes that St. Myr soon would be there

The GA community were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of naked men, or women, danced in their heads.

And Valkyrie in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap
(in separate beds, of course)

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprung from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the surveillance app I flew like a flash,
opened it up on my iPhone, and selected the roof camera, recording it in case I could make me some cash.

The moon on the breast (eww) of the new fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature Mustang and sixteen tiny volunteers

With a little mid-age driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. @Myr

More rapid than eagles (unless it is Talonrider), his coursers they came,
and he whistled and shouted them by name:
"Now @Cia! Now @Graeme!
Now, @Reader1810! and @drpaladin!
On, @Aditus! On, @Valkyrie!
(when did she sneak out of bed?)
On, @Cole Matthews! On, @TalonRider!
On, @Timothy M.! On, @spike382!
On, @Parker Owens! On, @W_L!
On, @Comicality!, On, @astone2292!
On, @rec! On, @wildone!
(wait, I didn't sign up to pull St. Myr around the world!)
To the top of the porch!
To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away!
Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so up to the dwelling-top the coursers they flew
with a sleigh full of stories, and St. Myr too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little volunteer.

As I closed out of the app and was turning around,
down the dryer vent St. Myr came with a bound.
(who has a chimney anymore?)

He was dressed all in faux fur, from his head to his foot,
(no real fur as it might upset some members)
and his clothes were all tarnished with lint and a sock.

A bundle of stories he had flung on his back,
and looked like an owner just opening his pack.

His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how gay!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a sun ray.
(needed something that rhymed with gay)

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the day old growth was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
(not sure what he was smoking in his pipe)

He had a broad face and a little beer belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowl of jelly.

He was sturdy and strong, a right jolly middle-aged elf
and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
(did I call him chubby! I might have something to dread)

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled the stockings with stories, and turned with a jerk.

And laying a finger aside of his nose,
and giving a nod, up the dryer vent he rose.

He sprang to his Mustang, to his team he gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all at GA, and to all a good night!"

Original version Clement Clarke Moore. Original authorship claim in 1837.

Now for something that we really need some help from all our budding and seasoned authors, especially those that were fans of Carlos Hazday's vast collection of prose.

December 27th at 11:59 PM EST is the deadline to submit your tribute stories for Carlos Hazday.

All the information is here. It is not too late to start and submit.

On another note, there is snow on the ground this morning, but we are supposed to get possibly up to 0 today with sun and -1 tomorrow. I've cancelled my trip to the North Pole and the jolly old fellow has a reprieve once again this year!

Now to wrap up the past week!

Monday, it was Cia's turn to introduce us to a new Signature Feature:

Wednesday, Myr got out his flippers and snorkel and did another deep dive:

Wednesday, Cia checked back in with an all new Signature Author Excerpt:

Thursday, as mentioned above, was a call out to anyone who wants to get a story in for the Carlos Tribute Story event:

Friday was a surprise! Aditus introduced @Thirdly as a guest prompt provider:

Christmas Eve, Eve, was Comicality's turn to bring another Writing Article:

Now heading into Christmas week, lets see the Words of the Day that Myr has given us:

lupine, quixotic, scram, maharishi, aloft, raven, intrigue

Upcoming Writing Events

Long May You Run - A tribute to Carlos Hazday Entries due on Dec. 27, 2023. Details are all here.

Poetry Anthology - More information to come. Due April 1st 2024.