

Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not

Flooftorian (floofinition) – 1. An imperial animal bodyguard.
In use: “The big German Shepherd was friendly as all get-out until someone raised a voice or a hand at Robby. Maxwell was then immediately a Flooftorian, ready to destroy anyone threatening his person in any way.”
2. A human who fights for animals and their rights and defends animals.
In use: “The little girl became a Flooftorian when she was five when she stopped older kids from mistreating and abusing a puppy. Though she did not know it, her course for the future was set.”
3. An animal from the planet Floofto.
In use: “After the Flooftorian exited the Floof Exchange, arriving on Earth, she began looking for a place to call home. Her appearance resembled a T-rex, so it surprised many. They thought the species was extinct, and didn’t realize that it had just gone off to other worlds.”
Sunshine kicked out the clouds at 5:34 AM on this blue spring day in Ashland, Saturday, June 12, 2021. Temps immediately jumped up ten degrees and cheered. The back door was thrown open to warm air. Tails up, the cats jaunted out and sniffed, whiskers moving with appreciation for what the day had brought. The temps tell me they’ll be testing the upper edges of sixty (maybe seventy, a few whisper), before the sun gives a final glance over the valley and walks away at 8:47 PM.
Dreams of gold kept awakening me. It rained gold in one dream segment. Surprised by the golden shower, I put my hand out and looked up into the forbidding dark sky. I didn’t feel threatened, just non-plus by this change. Why was it raining gold. Then I laughed. It’s raining gold. And awoke.
Out of that and another gold-themed dream came echoes of “Gold Dust Woman” by Fleetwood Mac, 1977. Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax. Cheers

The Earth rolled over. The sun’s first feeble rays hove into view.
5:34 AM.
“Morning has broken. Like the first morning.”
Too early for nonsense.
Thought processes were engaged. Thursday? No, Friday. June something. Eleventh. Still 2021.
Rain fell outside. The sunshine drooped. Clouds barged in. The heater kicked on. Cats slumbered. He would slumber on, too. What time was sunset today? Eight something. 8:47 PM, he remembered, eyes closed, breathing deepening. He returned to his dream. Better there anyway.
Dream songs enter. “All I want to do is dream.” “All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray.” “These dreams go on when I close my eyes.” “Sweet dreams are made of these. Who am I to disagree?” “Runnin’ down a dream. That never would come to me.” “Dream weaver, I believe you can get me through the night.” “Dream on.”
He sleeps and dreams. Awakens. Half-hearted sunshine lights the bedroom. Coffee, he thinks. The list. Things must be done. He heads into the bathroom. Songs walk with him. “Stray cat strut, I’m a ladies’ cat.” “In the year of the cat.”
The coffee pot beckons in the kitchen. Sunshine withers to a softer shade of pale. Let it rain, rain, rain. Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head. The sky is crying.
He sips his coffee. Enter Ringo Starr. “It don’t come easy. You know it don’t come easy.” Uriah Heep responds. “This is a thing I’ve never known before, it’s called easy living.” Charlie Daniels strikes back with “Uneasy Rider”. He needs to write. “Paperback writer,” the Beatles sing. A truck rolls back outside. “Truckin'” by the Grateful Dead begins. 1970. He heads for the other room. “It’s raining again.” Supertramp. There’s a song for every thought. “I think we’re alone now.” “Do ya think I’m sexy?” “You better think. Think!” “Did you think it’s alright if we leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?”
Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get that vax.


Thursday, June 10, 2021. 5:33 AM struck. The sun cleared her throat and pushed a little light into Ashland, Oregon. Not too much. Knowing how much light to deliver was a large challenge inherent to her task. Everywhere was different. Every day was different, despite its sameness.
Today, she struck a soft balance. Gray and blue, playing some rays off clouds, sprinkling wayward flashes on rainy blades and leaves. With great caution, she brought up the luminescence, throwing shadows over the land. Not too hot today. Agreements were in place with wind and clouds. She abided…today. Some days, she didn’t, but this was today. Fully flowing over land, she headed west, continuing the opening of the days. Her long coat of light and heat trailed behind her. It would stay, slowly dwindling, until it disappeared at 8:46 PM.
Today’s song is weather related. Hit last night. Soft, steady rain was slinging sharp slaps across the dark land. I stepped out to smell its perfume and appreciate the sounds. Three cats accompanied me. Chilly air kissed my flesh. I turned to return inside. The cats were seated. “Are you staying out in the cold?” I asked. Two said yes.
My query was a summons to the 1991 song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Out in the Cold”. Technology lets me share it with you. Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax. Cheers
àlafloof (floofinition) – With animal.
In use: “It’s not fashionable but many people who live àlafloof end up with a furry look to their clothing to their great dismay, but accept fur on their clothes as preferable over being sansfloof.”
The hump day cometh and the hump day goeth. Daybreak began at 5:34 AM in Ashland, Oregon. Most of the flowers have lived their life of color in my neighborhood, fading to leafy remains. Thanks to cooler temps — highs have dropped from the standard 90 – 100 degrees F days to low 60s — and a splatter of rain, lush greens dominate. Nightbreak (hey, we have daybreak) will come at 8:46 PM. We’re fast approaching that longest day, meaning the longest period of sunshine, in the north. In the southern hemisphere, they’re hurrying toward their shortest day of the year. Then, the northern hemisphere minutes of daylight will start declining while they start adding up to longer days south of the equator. It’s the great circle of seasons, the revolution around the sun.
Out walking yesterday, I encountered a handsome silver tabby. Meowing with urgency, they ran to me. A collared adult, a heart-shaped metal tag informed me the friendly feline was named Rajah. Rajah was very healthy and enjoyed my fingerwork. But a truck backing up sent Rajah racing back up the lawn he came down. I wrote Rajah’s phone number on my hand (always carry a pen — it’s my talisman), then wondered, what’s the name of this street, with an eye toward looking up lost cat reports on our local neighborhood posts. As I went through that process, U2 fired up “Where the Streets Have No Name”, a U2 fave of mine from 1987.
I wasn’t planning on using it for today’s theme music, but the theme of being in a nameless place in a dream where I was searching for a street sign came up in a dream. As I thought about that dream, “Where the Streets Have No Name” was revived in the mental stream.
So here we are. This is the official video of the song, with U2 playing on top of a building. Think the Beatles did that once. Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax. Cheers