Well, I'm totally gobsmacked at the response to my little entry in the double dip contest. 134 Kudos ! That's basically 1 kudo for every 2 words of the story!

wow.

Just ... wow.

I need to apologize. Until I actually posted my entry in the double dip contest, I hadn't really registered just how short it was. Its basically little more than a drabble. I really hope enough people enter the contest that I wont have to worry about winning with such a tiny piece.

I have another piece I'm working on that might be acceptable for the "music" part of the contest, but no guarantees I'll have it ready before the contest closes.

Again, I'm sorry.

So I've been having teeth pain the last couple of days, and finally screwed up my courage and went to a dentist.

Today all I got done was x-rays, so I will have to go back Thursday for the first part of the work that needs done, and chances are it will take 2 visits to get everything accomplished.

So anxiety levels are not going to be lowered for a while, sadly ...

When I posted a link to my story "The things we do for love" here, I wasn't expecting more than maybe a couple people clicking on the link and enjoying the story. But Erin and the elves here decided I needed a present, so they not only put the story back on the top of the front page, they added a beautiful image to it as well.

Thank you ever so much. After grinding out my latest down time, to get this kind of generosity ...

I'm ... overwhelmed ...

I only wish I could do something in return ...

I've got a bad case of the sads right now. hugs appreciated.

I am attempting to do something totally different for my next story: do it as if it was a script for a play. If anybody has any experience in that format they are willing to share, I'd love to get feedback ...

The fourth and final chapter of "Branded" is up:

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/75450/branded-chapter-4

Well, my muse brought me a little snippet, so I'm sharing it with you, my friends. Hope you like it!

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/75371/gibraltar-falls

you may or may not remember that a few years ago there was a documentary called "super size me" in which a man decided to eat nothing but Big Mac hamburgers for a year. In the documentary, the man's doctor begs him to stop half-way through the year because of the damage he was doing to his organs.

Well, I am in basically the same situation as that guy.

I have been told in no uncertain terms I have to change my eating habits and my lifestyle, or I wont have either style or life, or at the least I'll be unable to enjoy what life I have.

When I was little, I had this rather bad habit of trying to lecture bullies on why it was bad to bully. Of course, that usually resulted in me getting pounded, me running for my life, or my brother trying his best to protect me.

All these years later, I still jump in when I see people getting hurt, even though there is nothing I can do except lecture people from behind my computer, and it has cost me more than I would like.

But I dont know how not to fight for what I think is right.

In Pathfinder terms, I guess I'm a Paladin, whether I want to be or not ...

Well, a week from today, I am going to have the opportunity to meet with a group of local women writers of speculative fiction. To say I'm nervous is putting it mildly. So send extra huggles this week, if you can spare them?

Birthdays have always been a bit strange for me. Growing up, it never worked out for people to be available on the actual day, so if I wanted a party, it would always have to happen a couple of days later, to the point I started joking about "unbirthdays" like in the cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland.

Usually the actual day of my birthday was a quiet one spent alone, and this year is no exception.

I dont mind so much now, especially since I do get nice messages online from friends to keep me company.

Oh, if you havent guessed, today is my birthday ...

I saw this amazing compliment on a blog here: "Dorothy is not just a great soul but has one of the most inventive storytelling minds on this site. Her Chekovian economy with words means a whole lot of story with very little investment of time. "

Wow.

I'm ... stunned, and flattered.

Thanks Laika (aka Veronica) !

Just wanted to pass along an update on my writing.

"E-Girl - the gift" - work in progress, I'm hoping this weekend to maybe get close to finishing the final chapter.

Staycation story: work in progress, should be finished or close to by the time the contest opens

Pathfinder story: gotten started, gonna be a while.

"The secret of M.Y.T.H.": kinda stuck. hoping for inspiration

"Jaci and Dottie go to Whately": started. we'll see how this one goes.

"Branded": Stuck. I need a mastermind character. any suggestions appreciated.

Caution: Discussion of suicide