Howdy Ho Good Neighbours!

I guess that is why they'd call it the blues....

Interesting, the holidays are over, the bills are coming in, back to work everyday of the week, the days are getting longer but still submerged in darkness for most of the day (in my longitude). 

They say the 3rd Monday of January is blue Monday, the saddest day of the year, but I think I've arrived a wee bit earlier . 

I just feel blah! 

So I need you all to give me something to do to cheer me up. Turn my frown upside down   ! What do you do when you are feeling down in the dumps and you can't really put your finger(s) on it. I'm sure there is a few of you feeling the same, so let's talk about it and see if it is cathartic. I should pop over into the Games and Humour Forum. Or do you have a favourite joke? Tell me!

I did have a busy week though. Someone, unnamed, wanted me to glance of over a nearly 25,000 chapter . Worked extra hours. Had a my first hour and a half massage that for reason I told my masseuse that I wanted a deep tissue massage and I hurt now.  

Now I've been watching Playdate on Prime, and I'm smiling  a wee little bit . I wonder if the makers of a certain 2006-2009 TV show found any similarities. 

Now let us get down to business. On to the Update.

First Monday of the month (and the year), means we get a whole new CSR story and author! Check them out:

Tuesday, Myr put on his one glove, his sparkly jacket, tighter pants and dancing shoes and did his version of Thriller (/Suspense) 😎 :

Thursday, Val had some great news! You may have noticed below that the Upcoming Writing Events has been blank the past couple of weeks. Not anymore :

Friday she was back again. Sharing results of a game that she got at Christmas from her thoughtful friends. Check it out:

We did get 7 new Words of the Day. I do want to know if you got 7 for 7:

shrill, pungent, voracious, pluck, insolent, searing, pervasive

Upcoming Writing Events 

2026 Poetry Anthology "Choices" - Find all the information right here.

Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!!

Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292

Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292

Here is the look at the past weeks postings on all our Authors and Poets!

3 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories

1. TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour
2. Learned to Lie by Krista
3. The Mardi Gras Murders by Mark Ponyboy Peters

5 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories

1. The Estate by Topher Lydon
2. Medellín by LittleBuddhaTW
3. The Asset and the Liability by Topher Lydon
4. Secrets 3: The Road to the Future by Bill W
5. Granny's Got a Plan by Topher Lydon **Complete**

44 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories

1. White Sheets by Celian
2. The Merge: Through a System of Control by astroguy
3. Jody and the Team by KKirk
4. Gabriel's Gambit: Contract Terminated by Jason Rimbaud
5. Misaligned by Laura S. Fox
6. I'm Gay: A Nifty Story by Jeff Burton
7. Hungry for Gains by Jack Poignet
8. Permanently Black and Blue by mastershakeme
9. The Story of Aaron and Brad by Odie
10. I'll Kiss You in the Rain by William King
11. The Parole Officer by Ticklishboy30 **Complete**
12. Backpacking by chris191070 **Complete**
13. The Other Side of Trust by ChromedOutCortex
14. Love in a time of hatred by Gary L
15. Love seeDz by Tony S.
16. Starfall by dragonthusiast
17. The Obsidian Order: Prince of Shadows by vanalas **Complete**
18. Out Of The Closet by RichardWrites
19. I Pity the Poor Immigrant by PlacidGuy **Complete**
20. Encrypted by Jeff Burton **Complete**
21. Snow? Never heard of it! by Kileoli
22. The Silver Tongued Scoundrel by ThePhallocrat
23. Bottles don't choose their shores by Kileoli
24. The Art of Living by Robert Hugill
25. Serenity by Albert1434
26. Life is Like a New Suit of Clothes, Charlie Boone! by Geron Kees **Complete**
27. Never walk alone- Walk on by Andre Delport
28. The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard
29. Re-Organizing by Justin4Fun
30. A salty drop of Magic by Celian
31. Rising Stars by Littlelovestories
32. Frosted Hearts by Jason Rimbaud
33. Older Hearts by ChromedOutCortex
34. Finding Myself by RichardWrites
35. Surrounded by the Darkness by Lupus
36. Family life, but not as we know it by Robert Hugill
37. Oceanbank by quokka **Complete**
38. A Jewel in the Dirt by Celian
39. Finding Liam by Nuno R.F.C. Rendeiro
40. In My Mind by ChromedOutCortex
41. Randy for Submission, Pursuing the One by BrokenBoundariesGayErotica
42. The Longest Third Date by LJCC
43. These Bloody Fists by gor mu **Complete**
44. Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox

1 Recently Updated 'Poet' Stories

1. Path Forward by Jean87

Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)