wildone

Well that was not a chapter I should have read right before bed. Im curious though, what has he done that is so bad to be put in a place that only death seems like the best option

I want to send out a lot of love to Cia for stepping in for moi the past two weeks You may have been fooled and thought she only did last week's Weekly Update but she did finish and post the week before too Well it appears everyone forgot my birthday this year Just the way I want it. So let's talk about birthdays. What month is yours in? We don't want the day or we could be in violation of European Laws 😮 We don't want to be banned in Europe . What do you think of birthdays? I've never really cared for them to be honest, it is just another day and you are a year older. I feel like there is no real need to celebrate it the older I get. No, I'm not a crotchety old man, just a realist . I know some people dread and hate their birthdays . It seems like their mental health is tied into their age, which is not a good thing at all . It is only a number and you need to remember that only you decide how old you are. Unless you are like 20 in the US and you want to go for a drink, not supposed to happen 🍺. I'm sure I felt like I was 18 when I was 13. 18 is the legal age in my province. And I may or may not have started going to bars a year or 3 earlier than 18 . Oh ya, back to birthdays . So how do you approach your birthday. Do you celebrate the fact that you are still alive ? Do you dread it like a plague? Do you like others convincing you, you need to celebrate? Break down your feelings here, we are all here to support you Now onto the Wrap Up. Monday, the fabulous Cia wrapped up September with the CSR Discussion Day. Check it out, just even to see what Andy Cannon has in the hopper for an upcoming story . I might have a suggestion or two to help with his story : Tuesday, the magnificent Myr came in with a genre Deep Dive. Do you have the sleuthing skills to figure the genre out? 🔍 Then it was Valkyrie's last call for stories for the Anthology Stories. I'll tell you a little secret if your story is/was 99% done, write Val and see what she can do. Shhh. How about the Words of the Day. I looked back at last week. Lordy me, I didn't get any right 😮 But I was on holidays so I'm not counting it against me Now looking at this week, not much better . aporia, palimpsest, insouciant, saudade, perfidious, dalliance, verdant 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 week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Tainted Relic by Topher Lydon 7 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Revolution by Topher Lydon Take the Long Road Home by kbois USS Zodiac by Topher Lydon The Tainted Relic by Topher Lydon TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters Roping the Moon by Headstall 1 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories Love on Trial by Ronyx 1 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories Blades of Ashes by lilansui 42 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Drama Club Reunion by Sky Masterson Riding the Ridge by Soren Kraft How We Became Ourselves by Kevin Snell Another Role of a Lifetime by KKirk Robbie and Mark: Latest chaos by unilive From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson It’s All Baked Inn by Autumn Dream Pride and Pucks and Prejudice by andy cannon The Frat Dad by Evan S. Safe Distance by Tony S. Draft Dodgers by Jonathan E Didn't Know You'd Be Here by Boy Mercury X **Complete** Dad's Helping Hand by M. Harding What I Want by Paul Zhy The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus Bad Tutor by TabbyTales **Complete** HUMOR by Enoch **Complete** Begin Again by Kevin Snell House of the Moon by Albert1434 The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren Oliver & Julian: Family Matters by Robert Hugill Monstrum by Laura S. Fox Sapphire in the Stars by JujuTheDruid The Brotherhood: Awakening Book II by The Writer X Between the Two by Grayson Rose Stingy Jack’s Last Trick — A Halloween Tale by Mark Paren Aethan's Reign (returns 11/02/27) by ValentineDavis21 In the Barb by Vcs A fruitless Deal by Celian **Complete** Echoes in the Storm by Enoch **Complete** The Prince and Ai by W_L Noah's Quest by AquariusGuy Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite Blades of Ashes by lilansui Brian & Gordon: Doing their Damnedest by Robert Hugill The Mask by Enoch **Complete** Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox SOULMATE(s) by Tony S. Breaking Masks by Josh Aterovis turmoil by Paladin Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

I read that as the first home you built was in the 1860s. I was about to say 'You go Bill!! You look fabulous at 166!'

I wonder if this is how the came up with the description of a blowhard I guess not I will go through the rest of my life though beleiving the term is derived from bloviate. New Example: "I'm such a bloviate in this post"

Sweet, sweet, sweet vacation I may have been whining like a little baby about how much I have been working of late but I'm really happy to say as you are reading this blog, I'm going on a jet plane, I don't know when I will be back again. Who sang that Actually I know when I'll be back again, the following Sunday Oh well, it is a week away from the grind so to speak. So, the 22nd is meteorological start of fall. Now this has me baffled, where and when did we get all these, I will say silly, technical names from? I mean you used to say first day of Spring is March 20th or Fall is September 22. But noooo, now you have to identify it as meteorological Spring or Fall, etc. Then other weather things, from we are looking at a huge cold front coming down and putting us in the frigid temps for a couple of weeks to there is an Artic Vortex about to hold our area hostage to extreme low temperatures. Gone from mild or cold winters to El Nino or El Nina. So what other ones have you heard that are making you shake your heads? I'm sure there are more that I'm not recalling off the top of my head. Now let's be careful here, we don't need to discuss the highly debated topic of global warming or natural evolution of the earth. If you want to talk about those, please exit stage right, right now and proceed to the Pit. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. You can discuss that topic to your hearts content over there . Or, am I just becoming a crotchety old man I am tuning another year older this year. I've been kind of avoiding the idea of turning 30! I mean, it is the end of my 20's. Enough of this silliness. Monday, the super duper Review Team via Gary L came in and presented a great story for everyone: Tuesday was time for Myr to look deeply 👀 into the History genre: Thursday, well I have to send out a extremely sincere apology to the Promotion team and our newly promoted Promising Author. I was supposed to publish last week, then I was supposed to publish on Wednesday this week, but I put my reminder in my phone on Wednesday night rather than Tuesday night. Remember that whole birthday thing? Actually no, I cannot blame that. All I ask is you stop by and leave a congratulatory comment in the blog and apologize for me being an idiot I deserve it. Well what I forgot, Myr never did forget! Here were the Words of the Day: supplicate, smitten, quiddity, pedagogue, lagom, caprice, bloviate Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - Find all the information right here. ONLY 11 days to make your intentions clear to @Valkyrie. 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 week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon Complete 10 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Hand by Topher Lydon In Process Take the Long Road Home by kbois In Process USS Zodiac by Topher Lydon In Process TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour In Process The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon Complete Carter's Bedtime by Topher Lydon Complete Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters In Process Blackwater by Topher Lydon Complete The Ride by Topher Lydon Complete Roping the Moon by Headstall In Process 1 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories Love on Trial by Ronyx In Process 2 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories Bold Desire by lilansui In Process Blades of Ashes by lilansui In Process 42 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Where Truth Stops Hiding by Enoch Complete It’s All Baked Inn by Autumn Dream In Process Another Role of a Lifetime by KKirk In Process Bold Desire by lilansui In Process Boymom by Boy Mercury X In Process The Blood Between Us by mastershakeme In Process Supernova by Thightide45 In Process I Sat Astride a Ladder by Yake 15_10 In Process All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 In Process The Lab Partner by KC Stone In Process My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy In Process House of the Moon by Albert1434 In Process IceBerg by J92 In Process The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Temporary Hold Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren In Process Safe Distance by Tony S. In Process Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Complete Monstrum by Laura S. Fox In Process Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud In Process The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus In Process turmoil by Paladin In Process Notice by AusGlitterati Complete Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 In Process In the Barb by Vcs In Process A Grave So Haunting by solemnity In Process A Grain in the Sands of Time by pDaisy In Process Pigsty by Jack Poignet In Process The Prince and Ai by W_L In Process Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad In Process Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite In Process Sapphire in the Stars by JujuTheDruid In Process Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath In Process Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian In Process Between the Two by Grayson Rose In Process The Field of Love by Enoch In Process Breaking Masks by Josh Aterovis In Process What I Want by Paul Zhy In Process Blades of Ashes by lilansui In Process Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox In Process Run, Hamster, Run! by Winged_Wolf In Process From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson In Process Against the Wall by Boy Mercury X Complete Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

It is the second Tuesday of the month already, and that means the Super Duper Review Team has once again come up with a great review! @Gary L has come to let us know about a story that he immensely enjoyed. Why not check it out and come back and let us know what you thought! Also, if you are reading, don't forget likes and comments as they all are greatly appreciated! No going back by Robert Hugill Reviewer: Gary L Status: Complete Word Count: 91,937 Since joining GA in 2023, Robert Hugill has posted some 12 stories totalling over a million words. He has rapidly gained a very solid reputation as a great storyteller and possibly his most popular tale has been No Going Back. One of the things most commented on is that the author writes using an exquisite English prose. No matter whatever the story, there is a simple pleasure in reading such well-written English. Moreover, as the stories are all set in England or Wales, there are delightful regional words which an older generation might just remember and are there to tease a younger one. The second thing to stress is that Robert writes about, as one reviewer put it, “Ordinary mature men, with ordinary lives, getting on with the business of living.” (@summerabbacat) There are no billionaires, no luxurious lifestyles to fill the likes of me with envy, no stunning gym bunnies; no, here the emphasis is on how love can be found anywhere, for anyone, including middle-aged men. We are taken into the very different worlds, at first sight, that is, of Owain and Colin. We hear Owain’s own account of being rejected by his religious family in Wales after coming out, and of how he survived that and flourished. Going home for a funeral he gradually reconnects with his past, and especially with his sister, who has her own journey to make. Interspersed with that, we have the story of Colin the builder, a very much put upon son and brother, who needs to escape from the emotional stranglehold put in place by his mother and sibling and, more importantly, to escape from his self-imposed closet. Above all, for me, No going back is a delightful romance. The two men dance around their feelings for each other as if they were characters from a Jane Austen ball. There are no fancy clothes, though: just a pair of great blokes. There are moments of ‘will they, won’t they’, which makes the reader want to knock their heads together, but it is all part of the charm. As one reader put it: “Two ordinary guys in an extraordinary story make this tale unique.” (@Cane23) And that sums it up perfectly. Category: Fiction Genres: General Fiction, Romance Sub-genres: Drama, Contemporary, Romance, Literary Fiction Tags: Maturing Adult, Middle-aged, Gay, Europe, Coming Out, Light-Hearted, Parents, Contemporary, Friendship, Coming Home, Found Family, Theatre, Small Town Rating: Mature

I had something funny to tell you all, but that was yesterday Think I can remember it now? No. Maybe it is time to look at the shiny brochures. So what is up in your neck of the woods? Nothing here other than the roads being busier at rush hour in the AM and afternoon with all the skewl busses and parents driving their kiddies to-and-fro, and university and college students rushing to make that first lecture of the day. Oh the good old days Okay, call me STUPID, but I'm going to open a can of worms that I will forever regret opening. I imagine everyone has a cell phone, or if you don't, say so I got a invitation to get an iPhone 18 today. Me, my first couple of phones were Motorola flip phones, but they were just cell phones. Then an actual Windows made phone, my first smartphone, shoot me if you make me relive that nightmare!. Then it was onto Apple, where I have probably been happily here for 17 years now. So what kind of phone do you have? 😮 Yes, I asked it. I shall run and hide now. When a friend or foe asks me if they think they should switch from an android to an iOS operating phone, I don't say, I yell, DON'T!! I think whatever type of phone you have, you are going to find nothing but problems or irritants with the new type of phone. I can understand there may be more of an ease of switching from a Google phone to a Samsung, but the differences I imagine would be much more minor switch, in my mind. In addition to what type of phone you have, have your ever tried to change operating systems? Did you survive? Did you eventually go back to your original? Now one rule, don't make stereotypical judgement calls against the other group I'll have to turn you over my knee, and none of you are too old for that. Wait, let's take the option off the table Now onto the wrap up! Monday, Cia came in like a lion and gave us the September CSR: Tuesday, Myr was more like a house cat with the Deep Dive, even though they hate water: Val was in like a, well I was going to say cougar but I think she is more a lynx, to get everyone squared up on submitting your Yearly Anthologies. Can you believe there is only 16 days to get your entry in 😮: We only had 3 blogs, but we had 7 Words of the Day. So I found a word I'd never heard of before and suggested to to Myr. Well he said he would add it to the list. Then I heard back he was about to do it and he found he did it back in like July of 2023. Darn him and his record keeping and search skills Oh, congrats Myr I only got 1 word this week ataraxia, caesura, bravura, asperity, boscage, zeitgeist, turbid Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - 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 week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon 14 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Hand by Topher Lydon Take the Long Road Home by kbois Blackwater by Topher Lydon Carter's Line by Topher Lydon **Complete** TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters Please take the Boy by Topher Lydon **Complete** Roping the Moon by Headstall Reunion by Topher Lydon **Complete** Charlie vs the Union of Doom by Topher Lydon **Complete** You Don't Have to Dance by Topher Lydon **Complete** The Prince and the Sorcerer by Topher Lydon **Complete** Carter's Asset by Topher Lydon **Complete** 1 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories Love on Trial by Ronyx 2 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories Bold Desire by lilansui The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui 62 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories The Lab Partner by KC Stone A Grain in the Sands of Time by pDaisy Alpha Awakened by Painawakened Another Role of a Lifetime by KKirk Against the Wall by Boy Mercury X Bold Desire by lilansui The Blood Between Us by mastershakeme Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy Old Dogs by solemnity House of the Moon by Albert1434 The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud Monstrum by Laura S. Fox The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus Safe Distance by Tony S. IceBerg by J92 In the Barb by Vcs Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad Under Amber Skies by Thightide45 At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson A Grave So Haunting by solemnity The Prince and Ai by W_L Worship Me by Littlelovestories Sapphire in the Stars by JujuTheDruid Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath Noah's Quest by AquariusGuy Between the Two by Grayson Rose The Field of Love by Enoch Breaking Masks by Josh Aterovis Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox The Saturday Boy: A Comedy of Manners by Boy Mercury X **Complete** Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson **Complete** Barnaby and the Temporal Miscalculation by chris191070 **Complete** All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 The Tor by andy cannon **Complete** The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui turmoil by Paladin Begin Again by Kevin Snell The Brotherhood: Awakening Book II by The Writer X Confounded: Part III by Andr0gene THROUGH IT ALL by vanalas **Complete** Shooting Stars by Littlelovestories **Complete** Love, Death & Lattes by Boy Mercury X **Complete** Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian Out Of Order by Nuno R.F.C.R Unraveled by jkwsquirrel Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite Strife by CryingCircusConductor **Complete** Broken Hate, Broken Heart by Celian **Complete** Always Tomorrow by AusGlitterati **Complete** Parallel Lives by Tomkin Watts **Complete** Dad's Helping Hand by M. Harding Arhavana 2 : The Price Of Redwaters by Hardianarcher A Riot of Roses by BendtedWreath **Complete** Jason's True To Life Stories by Jason Rimbaud The Frat Dad by Evan S. 1st Love: Past by Grayson Rose Repressed Mercy by Yeoldebard **Complete** Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

Have you had this used against you often? You seem to be talking from experience

No, Bill. that is so 2000's with the water skiing . Sort of like the last time I got on waterskies Nowadays, you buy like over a $100,000 a boat that makes huge waves. Wake Boarding, that is what is called. Back before the current time, you wanted a boat that planned out to not create wakes, now you want the wakes, the bigger the better. Then you jump on the board and get up with a rope and let go, then follow behind the boat on the board. The boat goes slow to generate a big wake.

I want to send a hello out to Rudy Judy Now that is out of the way, I get to explain that I was away from home all week. I went up to the lake and stayed at the cabin (cottage to you Eastern North American folks). I worked my job all week up there, but it was more tolerable with looking out the window at the mountains across the lake. The lake was quiet most of the week but all the jet skies and boat surfing (is that what they call it ) made it noisy on Friday and brought back memories to when I was 14 and first started going up there. It is the Labour Day weekend so most people are going to make one last go of it no matter what the weather. Had to head home today so I can attend the Pride Parade in Calgary tomorrow 🏳️‍🌈 My rain coat isn't in rainbow colours Maybe I can convince a friend that has a rainbow umbrella share it with me at the parade Or, put my pride T-shirt on over my rain coat . So I know a lot of the pre-post-secondary students and post secondary students all headed back to skewl this past week. Except in the south of the States, they do their own thing . Now if you are a teen member, and I think you are out there , or maybe some Uni and College students, when did you go back to skwel? Remember you shouldn't post your age! Another way to hide that is that I'm going ask all the oldtimers around if the schools and unis are back to school already in their areas. In my little town, the public, and Catholic skewls are all back as well as the Universities and Colleges. I guess I have to ask too, for those of you living on the bottom of the world, are you starting summer break yet? Or is that in November and December that you all are off. Speaking of that, what if in the whole thinking of space and orientation, What if actually the top of the world is the South and the bottom is the North . Oh sorry, saw something shiny and got distracted I need to know this as my best friend's oldest boy is going to start college in New Zealand in January! I don't think he will be flying home for all the holidays anymore Maybe I should go visit him. @Stellar are you still in NZ? Any others we can have an impromptu GA meetup with? What the heck, @Graeme and @Mark Ponyboy Peters can yous get something lined up in Australia. I'm coming from Calgary, AB, so should I plan a couple of days to fly out, attend and fly back The great thing of doing the Wrap Up this week is the fact that I wasn't around this week So doing the Wrap Up I will see all that went on in the GA Blogs and the Words of the Day! Monday, Cia took a well deserved day off Tuesday was Myr's turn to go diving around to find a genre to review in his Deep Dive: Thursday, Val was back to check in on the progress of the Anthology and clear up some questions on procedures : Friday, The Aditus (I was going to call him the Big Kahuna, but thought The Aditus would suffice) was back with a couple of Prompts. These don't need to be a secret : Hey people, let me know how many of the Words of the Day did you know? I only got 3 . I need to ask @Myr, how many he knew before posting them . serenity, grounding, alpenglow, beguile, anagnorisis, bonhomie, brume Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - 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 week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon 9 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Line by Topher Lydon Take the Long Road Home by kbois Blackwater by Topher Lydon TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon Reunion by Topher Lydon **Complete** Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters Charlie vs the Union of Doom by Topher Lydon **Complete** Roping the Moon by Headstall 2 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories Bold Desire by lilansui The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui 39 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Alpha Awakened by Painawakened Another Role of a Lifetime by KKirk The Saturday Boy: A Comedy of Manners by Boy Mercury X Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson **Complete** Barnaby and the Temporal Miscalculation by chris191070 **Complete** Bold Desire by lilansui All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 Safe Distance by Tony S. From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy House of the Moon by Albert1434 The Tor by andy cannon **Complete** The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud Monstrum by Laura S. Fox The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren turmoil by Paladin At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 In the Barb by Vcs Begin Again by Kevin Snell Sapphire in the Stars by JujuTheDruid The Brotherhood: Awakening Book II by The Writer X Between the Two by Grayson Rose Confounded: Part III by Andr0gene The Prince and Ai by W_L THROUGH IT ALL by vanalas **Complete** Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath Breaking Masks by Josh Aterovis The Field of Love by Enoch What I Want by Paul Zhy Shooting Stars by Littlelovestories **Complete** Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox Love, Death & Lattes by Boy Mercury X **Complete** Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

So, alpenglow isn't what you have after having sex on a mountaintop? I wonder what happened to that cut scene from the Sound of Music

Grounding is also a penalty in North American Football for just throwing the ball away to prevent a sack and loss of yards 🏈

I don’t know if I should tell you this but I have a friend who treats me like you say you treat your friend. Every Christmas I get 1 sock. He says it is cheaper to buy a pair and then he has two Christmases covered with one trip to the store. 😉

Well it finally happened, all If you are thinking I finally ended the streak of being a 57 year old virgin, I'm not talking to you anymore I guess the 1st of September is the start of meteorological fall. Today, I got my first sunburn of the summer 😮 Yes, I had sunblock on, and yes it was only 22 C/72 F out, but there was nary a cloud and I was sitting watching a flag football game for about a hour and a half. It doesn't hurt and it isn't too bad but when I jumped in the shower a few hours ago, and turned the water onto my normal temperature, I nearly jumped 3 feet in the air. I only have one full leg and was sitting on a shower bench, so jumping 3 feet in the air was quite a feat I know we have talked about those of you that burn and those that don't in the past, so if you want to tell us how your body's toaster setting is set for low or high, feel free. Instead, I want to talk about a little kid that came up to me at the football game that was quiet fascinated with my prosthetic leg. I always encourage kids to ask questions, as if they don't they will grow into a parent that says, "Don't stare, it is rude" while staring themselves At least If I let them look and ask questions, I think I might be normalizing it to them. Unlike their parents. So I'm wondering, are you missing and digits, limbs, or any other body parts? If you want to share how, feel free. Me, car accident with semi truck and then catching flesh eating disease in the hospital. 😮 I say I won in that accident as I'm still alive. Maybe you know someone who is missing something. How did you react when you first noticed? Did you stare or did you just act like it was normal and then work it into conversation on what happened. Or do you still pretend nothing is missing? I know this is a difficult topic, as maybe I might react to being asked then what someone else might. What I don't like smartass comments. When I was in the rehab hospital fresh after losing my leg, I made friends with some other amputees. The 3 of us were going down the hallway to physio in our wheelchairs, all missing a leg, and an older gentleman said to wife, "Look out dear, it is the Amp Dumpling Gang!". That still bothers me to this day. Yes I know about the Apple Dumpling Gang, but it was just rude IMHO. So from that uncomfortable topic, let's see what happened this week Monday, the month of fun came to an end Finally the final blog came out for GA's Secret Author Contest. It was interesting to see after all the guessing, the fibbing (as suggested by @Mikiesboy, instead of lying ), the reversals and backhanded conniving to not let people guess who wrote what! It was marvelous! Two shout outs, @Gary L won the contest for most popular story. This was his first year participating 😮 We need to keep an eye out on this guy 👁️. Second goes to the goddess @Cia who does all the planing, the executing, the tabulating, the teasing, and everything else to do with this contest. She went above and beyond again Oh, there was a blog on this : Tuesday, Mry was back with a yuk, yuk or 2, with this weeks Deep Dive: Myr brought up a blog from a week or 50 weeks ago, to remind everyone that there is only around 4 weeks to get in your yearly Anthology Entry: Here were the Words of the Day: patience, strengthened, resolution, equilibrium, continuation, calmness, hope Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - 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 week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon 10 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Line by Topher Lydon Take the Long Road Home by kbois Charlie vs the Union of Doom by Topher Lydon TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon You Don't Have to Dance by Topher Lydon **Complete** Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters The Prince and the Sorcerer by Topher Lydon **Complete** Roping the Moon by Headstall Carter's Asset by Topher Lydon **Complete** 47 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Alpha Awakened by Painawakened From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson Love, Death & Lattes by Boy Mercury X The Blood Between Us by mastershakeme Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson The Tor by andy cannon Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren What I Want by Paul Zhy Out Of Order by Nuno R.F.C.R Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad Unraveled by jkwsquirrel My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite Sergeant Rick by DamonDarg All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 House of the Moon by Albert1434 Strife by CryingCircusConductor **Complete** At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Broken Hate, Broken Heart by Celian **Complete** Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Always Tomorrow by AusGlitterati **Complete** Parallel Lives by Tomkin Watts **Complete** Safe Distance by Tony S. Shooting Stars by Littlelovestories Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud Monstrum by Laura S. Fox The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus Dad's Helping Hand by M. Harding Arhavana 2 : The Price Of Redwaters by Hardianarcher THROUGH IT ALL by vanalas A Riot of Roses by BendtedWreath **Complete** Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 Between the Two by Grayson Rose In the Barb by Vcs Confounded: Part III by Andr0gene Jason's True To Life Stories by Jason Rimbaud The Frat Dad by Evan S. Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian Noah's Quest by AquariusGuy turmoil by Paladin Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath 1st Love: Past by Grayson Rose The Field of Love by Enoch Under Amber Skies by Thightide45 Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox Repressed Mercy by Yeoldebard **Complete** Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

I thought Cia was up to tricks, and she was 😮 I got 2 correct by just listing the authors she listed in order of the stories listed @Gary L and @Mikiesboy, I was so onto you both Congrats to everyone who participated not only in the writing and editing, but participating in the blogs (should we call it the blog of liars 😮). A huge shout out to @Gary L, swept the floor with his first Secret Author contest. Take a bow Huge thanks to @Cia who always does this as a one woman show. Even though other staff beg and plead to help her out, she treats this like it is the national reserves in Fort Knox. You, Cia, take a bow yourself