Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
My sloppy and unscientific observations draw me to a bottom line that five minutes of writing in my head requires thirty to forty minutes of intense typing to put the scene into the ‘puter.
Your results may vary. Also, this only applies to this manuscript in progress. Also, beverages might play a role in the outcome. Like beer, wine, coffee.
Deeper study is needed for more insightful results. Donations are requested. Like beer, wine, coffee. Maybe a wedge of pie.
Floofmotif (floofinition) – 1. An associated melodic phrase or image, often only experienced in a mental state, that accompanies the reappearance of an animal. Origins: Circa 1880s, Floofmanic tribes.
In Use: “Howdy often raced into a room and slid to a halt, prompting a heroic floofmotif, such as the start of the old television show, The Lone Ranger, which he watched as a child, to jump into Diego’s mind.”
2. Decor dominated by animal imagery and items.
In Use: “A floofmotif of cat trees, dog and cat beds, various balls and chew toes, along with several bird cages, a terrarium and aquarium, and sculptures and paintings of animals, revealed the homeowners to be serious animal champions.”
Mood: bluestormrising
We’re bounding into the last week of August, 2024. Today is Monday, the 26th. Looks like 71 days until the 2024 elections.
It’s 57 F degrees in Ashlandia today. We’re seeing mostly blue sky and sunshine. Pouting clouds lurk around the distant horizons. They act like they’re planning something. We hit 80 degrees yesterday. Today’s high will be a more normal 88 F.
I drifted through the news stories this morning. Feeling a little battered by the disasters, campaigns, rulings, deaths, and general information. The never-ending cycle starts feeling a little heavy.
I was able to help out friends yesterday. We’d stayed together on vacation last week. They then drove home to Ashlandia on Friday, as we did. They insisted that they’d lost their key fob. Must’ve left it back at the vacation place.
Well, wait; how did they drive and charge their EV if they lacked a key fob? They insisted they had. They looked everywhere for it. Didn’t find it, so they must have driven home without it.
I researched that, and like, no way did they drive and recharge their Hyundai Kona EV SUV without the key fob or any key. I went over and found it in about a minute, under their passenger seat against the transmission tunnel. They were absolutely flabbergasted but grateful.
After I was looking for it, they mentioned they’d lost a cell phone. I’d notice one in their car, in the center console compartment. Yes, that was their missing phone. We suggested they might need to rest.
We’re dealing with home insurance issues. After being with Connect, which is Costco’s insurance program with American Family Insurance, for over fifteen years while living here, they’re dropping us. They’re worried about what the cost of insuring us for fires might do to their profits. Homeowners see this sort of things from insurance companies all the time. They’re there and willing to take your money until your place is too large of a risk for their profit margins. It’s not just us but all over town, and not just Connect. I’m hearing the same thing from friends and relatives in other parts of the state.
We’ve seen this before. Earthquakes insurance premiums skyrocket, and then the company announces they won’t insure you any more because you’re in an earthquake zone. Our flood insurance one year went from $300 a year to over $3000, because the city said we’re in a 100-year-flood zone. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, insurance companies bailed on paying for acts of terrorism. Of course, places that see regular tornado, hurricane, or flood damages already have felt the impact of insurance companies running away from them. That includes insurers leaving California and other states in droves after catastrophic wildfires. Capitalism at its finest. Yes, that is snark.
For us, our home insurance will go from $360 to $1140 a year. It will no longer be through Costco Connect, but to one of American Family Insurance’s feeder companies. Yes, we are looking for a new insurance company for home and auto. We don’t appreciate being passed around like a cheap bottle of wine.
And with extreme weather events happening more frequently as predicted by climate change models, expect more withdrawals by insurance companies. Soon, they’ll only be insuring the wealthy and powerful.
This week’s theme music concept remains time in the song title. There’s an abundance of such songs out there. Today, though, The Neurons pulled out one that they said is dedicated to Don Old Trump and his merry band of MAGAts. Yes, today The Neurons have the Guest Who song from 1969, “No Time”, thumping in the morning mental music stream (Trademark paused). The Canadian group’s opening line in this song is, “No time left for you.” Right on, Neurons. No time left for Trump. I like it.
Mood: Sundenergized
Good morning and welcome to a chilly Ashlandia day. It’s Sunday, August 25, 2024. Right now it’s 54 F outside at my house. The computer is showing Bing’s Accuweather info, and that shows that it’s 58 F outside in Ashlandia. Alexa — source unknown — informs me that it’s 66 F outside. She also says that it’ll be 80 F today. Bing says the day’s high will climax at 77 F. Whichever it is, we’re under clear skies, with good air quality, and plenty o’ sunshine.
I’m pleased to report my floofs did well in my absence. Tucker (pronounced Tuck-ah) seems to have gained weight. He’s not obese by any means but has a big frame and needs to carry some weight IMO. And Papi the ginger blade stayed his young, fit self. Fur on both is gleaming and soft.
Ah, the news. Harris surges. Trump attacks. States sue Biden. Astronauts stuck in space. Israel launches missiles at Lebanon. Sigh. Maryland’s Supreme Court upheld their handgun permit law.
Fire updates show that the Park Fire in California, which started July 27 of this year when an idiot pushed a burning car into a ravine, is now 429,000 plus acres and 57% contained. The Durkee Fire in eastern Oregon has swallowed 295,000 plus acres and is 95% contained. The wet weather is helping but experts remind us that fire season is not over and to remain vigilant.
Time in the song title remain’s this week’s theme. In response to the idea, The Neurons loaded “Tulsa Time” from 1978 into the morning mental music stream (Trademark split). Although Don Williams had a hit with it and I’m familiar with it, I went with the Eric Clapton live version.
Stay positive, remain firm, lean forward, and vote blue in 2024. Coffee is percolating through my body so here’s the music video.
Cofloofinate (floofinition) – 1. To arrange household activities with an attitude that the animals living in the household must be kept safe, healthy, and happy.
In Use: “Whenever Doris planned a get-together with friends coming to her house, she cofloofinated with her dogs to ensure they had a quiet place with food and water where they wouldn’t be disturbed.”
2. To arrange a room or building with animals’ needs in mind.
In Use: “Hoping to keep her kitties happy but safe, Karla cofloofinated the house with several cat trees and bed, along with a floofio accessible from inside the house.”
Mood: satisbeached
We’re passing through another day. Today is Thursday, August 22, 2024.
I’m still on the Oregon Coast on vacation. The weather continues favoring us with sunshine, chill temperatures, and clear air. Some friendly clouds pass by with a wave. Right now it’s 60 F, just two degrees from an anticipated high of 62 F. The tide is coming in, so I’ll be going out for a walk along the water.
Rain fell last night. Hearing it, I headed out onto the uncovered patio at a few minutes after midnight, letting it fall over me, breathing in the fresh air, solitude, and sound.
The Internet was mostly down yesterday. While others napped, I wrote or walked along the shore, breathing in the air, enjoying freedom, and thinking, sometimes writing in my head. It was about two miles in each direction. I rarely encountered another. When we did, simple nods and smiles were exchanged, acknowledging the other’s presence. The net returned in time for us to catch the DNC, watching and listening to it as we worked on a jigsaw puzzle.
I continue with the theme of a color in the song’s title today. The Neurons wavered between “Tequila Sunrise” and “Orange Crush” this morning. The 1988 R.E.M. song won my morning mental music stream (Trademark woke). Its energy today just felt right.
Be strong, remain positive, and Vote Blue. Not because I say so but because it’s better for more of us than the alterntive offered by the other party.
Coffee is playing with my body in a welcome way. Here’s the music. Cheers
All Don Old Trump can do is con and grift. He shows it once again by using AI generated deep fakes of Taylor Swift supporting him.
What a sad loser.
Fortunately, social media like X immediately identified as fake and took it down. Yes, that is snark. You know they can’t be trusted to take down Right Wing disinformation.
Michael Seidel, writer 