Category: blog

#FridayFictioneers – No Fingers, No Play

~ Russell ~ 22 Comments
PHOTO PROMPT © Anshu Bhojnagarwala

Old Elroy had two passions in life.  Music and woodwork.  Oh, how he could tickle those ivories, and build the bench to sit on while doing it.

You know, he could have been famous playing that old piano.  We told him to focus, but he would have none of it, being of two minds as he was.

And so, when the tablesaw took his fingers, the music died as well.

You can still see his piano though.  He couldn’t sell it, even though his playing days were done.  Turned it into a planter, he did.

Darndest thing I’ve ever seen.

Continue reading “#FridayFictioneers – No Fingers, No Play” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare – 02-02-2019

~ Russell ~ 7 Comments

cropped-cappuccino-on-table

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that it’s been a long week and that I’m so happy that it’s the weekend.  We would be here, listening to music, (a playlist on my phone that’s playing Round Here by the Counting Crows right now) and sipping fresh brewed coffee.  It feels good to relax for a day or two.  I’m thinking we have this whole work week thing backwards, working five days and off two.  Who came up with that?  Oh well, I’ll sip my coffee and be thankful for the downtime that never seems to last long enough.

Wow, I feel like I’m rambling already.  Most rude of me.  Perhaps it’s because my writing this week has been nonexistent.  The long days at work, and the cold weather (not Chicago cold, thank goodness!) had me feeling tired and unmotivated.  I hate that feeling.  There were a couple of nights I fell into bed around 8 o’clock to read a bit, only to fall asleep shortly after going down. Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – 02-02-2019” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare – 01-26-19

~ Russell ~ 5 Comments

cropped-cappuccino-on-tableHello and welcome to my virtual coffee room!  Please help yourself to a coffee, freshly brewed, or a bit of tea if that’s your thing.  There’s a few other things available as well, do feel free to grab whatever floats your boat, blow up your skirt, etc, etc…

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I am so close to finishing the very rough first draft of a vampire story that I think will be novella length if I can keep focus long enough to get it there.  Of course it may be longer, I won’t know that until I start filling in all the details that I left out, skimmed over, and blatantly ignored while trying to get through a skeleton of a completed story longer than a thousand words or so.  The longer things never seem to work for me, though I try, OMG, how I try. Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – 01-26-19” →

#FridayFictioneers – Shiner Car?

~ Russell ~ 18 Comments
PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

“What happened Ted.”

“Um, we were hiking.  Saw the car and Susie said maybe it was an old shiner’s car.  They used to run moonshine all through those hills, you know?”  Ted looked at the woman.

“Yes, I’ve heard.  Go on.”

“Well, we checked it out you know.  Thought that maybe there’d be some shine in there.”

“Okay.”

“We didn’t do nothing wrong you know.  Where’s Susie?”

“Susie is with Officer Alvarez giving her statement.  Same as you.”

“Oh.”

“Continue please.”

“We pried open the trunk… and… and,” his voice broke as he said, “that’s where we found the bodies.”

WC:  100

Continue reading “#FridayFictioneers – Shiner Car?” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare – 01-20-19

~ Russell ~ 1 Comment

cropped-cappuccino-on-table

If we were having coffee, I would apologize for not having much to offer.  There is some hotel coffee down in the lobby (that always seems to do in a pinch) and a Starbucks just down the street, so perhaps we will get out in a bit.  You know, if the hotel coffee is unbearable.  I do have some good cold water in the room fridge if that would do you better.

We would be watching the first of today’s football games, the NFC Championship, here in the room while sipping our drinks.

Looking back on the week, I’d say it was a pretty good one.  I did some writing on a thing I hope to make into a book one day, some editing on a thing that should be close to submitting, and posted a 100 work story for #FridayFictioneers on the blog here.  All things considered, a good week. Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – 01-20-19” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare – 01-12-19

~ Russell ~ 17 Comments

cropped-cappuccino-on-table

If we were having coffee, I wouldn’t tell you that the week was a busy one because who couldn’t say that?  I would instead offer you a cup of something hot on this cold morning and we could talk.  Maybe about where our warm weather went!

Earlier this week I was running and biking in 70 degree wonderfulness, and now we’re hanging in the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s.  I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of the cold and so it’s a good day to sleep in and drink coffee.  If you happen to be one of those cold weather loving people, God bless you!  I don’t know how you do it. Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – 01-12-19” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare – Writing & Reading

~ Russell ~ 4 Comments

cropped-cappuccino-on-table

If we were having coffee, we would be watching NFL playoff football and drinking some nice Seattle’s Best Breakfast Blend.  Never mind that it’s nowhere near breakfast.  I’ve also got a few different teas and some apple cider if that’s more your thing.  What can I get you?

I’d tell you that it was a pretty good week as far as writing goes, with words being written almost every day.  Friday is typically an off day for writing, as it tends to be busy at work and lots of times a night out for dinner or a movie.  I’ve been writing during lunch at work, then coming home and trying to get a little more done at some point in the evening.  With all the rain we’ve been having, there’s little else to do anyway. Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – Writing & Reading” →