The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[Candy_Kane54]

For those celebrating another new day, I have a fresh pot of coffee brewing and some glazed donuts on the counter. I found a tin of shortbread cookies that TxRad had stuck back in the cupboard if anyone wants to indulge in one. The teapot is hot for those who want tea. There are several varieties of tea next to the pot.

I am over in the corner continuing my hot streak of getting some writing done so the amount of purple prose being uttered out loud is at a minimum at the moment ...

 

[Rustyoznail]

For those celebrating another new day, I have a fresh pot of coffee brewing and some glazed donuts on the counter. I found a tin of shortbread cookies that TxRad had stuck back in the cupboard if anyone wants to indulge in one. The teapot is hot for those who want tea. There are several varieties of tea next to the pot.

I am over in the corner continuing my hot streak of getting some writing done so the amount of purple prose being uttered out loud is at a minimum at the moment ...

Go Candy Go!

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I have a fresh pot of coffee for those just getting up. There are some ANZAC Biscuits with Almonds on the counter and the teapot is hot.

I'm done for the day. I got some writing done so it was a good day.

 

[dmallord]

For those celebrating another new day, I have a fresh pot of coffee brewing and some glazed donuts on the counter. I found a tin of shortbread cookies that TxRad had stuck back in the cupboard if anyone wants to indulge in one. The teapot is hot for those who want tea. There are several varieties of tea next to the pot.

I am over in the corner continuing my hot streak of getting some writing done so the amount of purple prose being uttered out loud is at a minimum at the moment ...

Good for you!

I'm staring at my 2025 'concept of a plan' for the Mike Hammer theme; up to 2,900 words over a week I guess. The last hour has been spent tinkering with this one paragraph to make it 1936ish. It should be an entry in the dictionary under 'procrastination.'

As I watched Brandi’s tantalizing hourglass figure disappear, I shook my head, thinking, “That dame’s fire and ice—the kind of woman who makes you fear the cold and crave the burn.”

 

[Rustyoznail]

Good for you!

I'm staring at my 2025 'concept of a plan' for the Mike Hammer theme; up to 2,900 words over a week I guess. The last hour has been spent tinkering with this one paragraph to make it 1936ish. It should be an entry in the dictionary under 'procrastination.'

As I watched Brandi’s tantalizing hourglass figure disappear, I shook my head, thinking, “That dame’s fire and ice—the kind of woman who makes you fear the cold and crave the burn.”

Yeah... I'm looking at converting my winter story into a Valentines story, but still not convinced I'll make it.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

There's a fresh pot of coffee brewing and for the Christmas season, there's a pot of hot apple cider on the stove. The teapot is hot for those who want a cuppa. There's a selection of candy canes and mint Hershey Kisses on the counter. I put up the Christmas tree TxRad had in the back room, but I'll leave it up to you to decorate it. The boxes of bulbs and lights are behind the counter if anyone gets ambitious.

I got some writing done although not as much as I wanted (I got distracted doing research on Corvettes) so I hope to get some more done today. I've got Christmas presents to wrap later today.

 

[NotWise]

The solstice is upon us, and now we start the slow march to springtime. (or autumn, depending on your hemisphere).

Speaking of procrastinating, @dmallord, I'm rewriting the same shower scene now for the 4th time, trying to get the right "atmosphere" which, being in a shower, should be wet.

 

[MillieDynamite]

We spend half a year with days getting shorter, only to have the other half occupied by them lengthening—a vicious cycle. I must write today. Someone inspires me. In the meantime, my coffee cup doesn't runneth over. Can I get a warm-up, please?

 

[ChloeTzang]

Whoa, I need a coffee. Started two story even threads this morning - the 2025 Geek Day one and the 2025 Hammered one!

Anyone want to volunteer to do the Heroism story event support thread this year - the Ogg memorial one. I don't want to hog them all, I don't have the time to do justice to three. Two's a bit of a stretch to be honest. If you want to do the Ogg one, pm Laurel and let her know. I'll do it of no-one else steps up but it's be great if someone else could take it on.

I actually have a story in mind for the heroism one too, it's one I talked to Ogg about a year or two before he passed away and he liked the idea - so I'll try and get it done ths year.

Anyhow, hope you can all write for ALL of them - big cheesy smile

And now.....I got 2 weeks off and a pile of backlogged stories and four novels - gulp! Wish me luck! Coffee....I need coffee.... LOL

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

There's a fresh pot of coffee brewing and for the Christmas season, there's a pot of hot apple cider on the stove. The teapot is hot for those who want a cuppa. There's a selection of candy canes and mint Hershey Kisses on the counter. I put up the Christmas tree TxRad had in the back room, but I'll leave it up to you to decorate it. The boxes of bulbs and lights are behind the counter if anyone gets ambitious.

I got some writing done although not as much as I wanted (I got distracted doing research on Corvettes) so I hope to get some more done today. I've got Christmas presents to wrap later today.

Thanks, Candy. I've dragged in a Yule Log, and then cleared out the flue in the fireplace. (Cue an endless array of 'Yule Log' jokes, and, from more persistent folks, some 'cleared out the flue' jokes.) I've finished a draft of the fourth part of the series, and I've scribbled a sequence of events (can't really call it an outline) for the fifth part, so it would end with the sixth part, but what's in that might be an anticlimax. The main value of this is that it has me writing. If I had actual ideas, I could have finished a bunch of standalones by now.

 

[MrPixel]

Ach! I just drained the carafe. Sorry, guys. I'm putting on another pot. Give it about five and it should be fresh 'n' ready.

I'll leave it up to you to decorate it. The boxes of bulbs and lights are behind the counter if anyone gets ambitious.

Uh... I'll leave that to the others. I long ago realized that the work of decorating for the holidays, joyous as it may be, is equalized, even bested, by the effort required to take everything down and put it away, all in the coldest, meanest weather of the season. The closest we get these days is a menorah in the front window, celebrating C's distant Jewish heritage, on her maternal grandmother's side. Obviously we have no grandchildren who will be visiting. One has to have children first.

At this moment I'm taking a break, literally a coffee break. What I have going now is emotionally draining. The swinger "fourple" I've been writing about since 2023's Nude Day event has just spent the night at a fancy hotel with another couple they thought were good candidates for their swinger group. The overnight was a blast and they're lingering over breakfast. It turns out in their afterglow the wife is gung-ho and wants more, but he is suddenly doubting everything after being told he was falling in love with the FMC, given his and her three preceding dates leading up to the assignation. It's a minefield at the moment. Wow.

 

[MrPixel]

Writing domestic discontent is hard! I'm going to stop for a while and ask C what she wants to do about lunch.

 

[dmallord]

There's a fresh pot of coffee brewing and for the Christmas season, there's a pot of hot apple cider on the stove. The teapot is hot for those who want a cuppa. There's a selection of candy canes and mint Hershey Kisses on the counter. I put up the Christmas tree TxRad had in the back room, but I'll leave it up to you to decorate it. The boxes of bulbs and lights are behind the counter if anyone gets ambitious.

I got some writing done although not as much as I wanted (I got distracted doing research on Corvettes) so I hope to get some more done today. I've got Christmas presents to wrap later today.

I volunteer to point out the holes as the lights go up!

Coincidently, last night, I researched 30s Plymouths and Dodges for a few details for my Hammer story. It accounted for some of the procrastination in writing, too.

Be sure to wrap one for yourself...

This year, it will be easy: gift cards for everyone since I'm locked up in hospice care.

If we don't cross paths before Christmas... May all your Christmas Days be bright and cheerful!

 

[Rustyoznail]

Whoa, I need a coffee. Started two story even threads this morning - the 2025 Geek Day one and the 2025 Hammered one!

Anyone want to volunteer to do the Heroism story event support thread this year - the Ogg memorial one. I don't want to hog them all, I don't have the time to do justice to three. Two's a bit of a stretch to be honest. If you want to do the Ogg one, pm Laurel and let her know. I'll do it of no-one else steps up but it's be great if someone else could take it on.

I actually have a story in mind for the heroism one too, it's one I talked to Ogg about a year or two before he passed away and he liked the idea - so I'll try and get it done ths year.

Anyhow, hope you can all write for ALL of them - big cheesy smile

And now.....I got 2 weeks off and a pile of backlogged stories and four novels - gulp! Wish me luck! Coffee....I need coffee.... LOL

View attachment 2450317

Mmm... Coffee and what looks like a baked cheesecake. Maybe not for breakfast, but definitely an afternoon tea item.

I'll look after the Heroism event this year, @ChloeTzang. It might start ideas happening for me.

 

[Rustyoznail]

So, 30s Plymouths and Dodges, @dmallord? I had 40 Chrysler I was planning to restore, and Dad had a pair of 29 Plymouths. Anything you were specifically looking for?

 

[dmallord]

So, 30s Plymouths and Dodges, @dmallord? I had 40 Chrysler I was planning to restore, and Dad had a pair of 29 Plymouths. Anything you were specifically looking for?

The research was for some authenticity elements for that era to insert into the Mike Hammer 2025 event. I wrote a generic paragraph as a starting point but wanted to add some details about driving in the fog with/without high beams. I recall later driving Hudson's in my time with vacuum wipers, but the details about earlier models are 'foggy' at my age. LOL. I don't know if the elements are correct about manual chokes and defrosters, etc.
~~~
I choked my ’34 Plymouth and trounced the starter; it coughed awake. With my glove hand, I wiped at the fog on the windshield, cursing the extra time it took since my defrosters were cold as ice. I pulled out the headlight knob and shifted into gear, letting out the clutch as they drove past me. Trying to be discreet, I tailed Muller’s new ’36 Packard with its V12 engine and that redheaded tomato onto the fog-laden blacktop. I gritted my teeth, knowing it wouldn’t be to his home since his wife and kids were there.
~~~
My 'tomato' would later peel out onto the blacktop laying rubber. I don't know if it is an appropriate 'ladies' car for her, but it was what came to mind:
~~~
I tailed them back to the bar and watched as Muller escorted her to her car. She blew him a pouty kiss as he waved and observed her accelerate that 1932 De Soto 3-Window Rumble Seat Coupe and burned rubber. I knew he would head home after his fling with Brandi. The bimbo, however, I needed to follow to learn more. In hot pursuit, I sped back onto the blacktop, white-knuckled, as I trailed her candy-apple De Soto through the fog to a flat on Ninth Street. I took the steps in two strides and made it just in time to stick my foot into the door as it closed.

Any technical advice to add or delete to add to the authenticity and drive/feel of the motor vehicles would be appreciated. Thanks for asking.

 

[JGittes]

The research was for some authenticity elements for that era to insert into the Mike Hammer 2025 event. I wrote a generic paragraph as a starting point but wanted to add some details about driving in the fog with/without high beams. I recall later driving Hudson's in my time with vacuum wipers, but the details about earlier models are 'foggy' at my age. LOL. I don't know if the elements are correct about manual chokes and defrosters, etc.
~~~
I choked my ’34 Plymouth and trounced the starter; it coughed awake. With my glove hand, I wiped at the fog on the windshield, cursing the extra time it took since my defrosters were cold as ice. I pulled out the headlight knob and shifted into gear, letting out the clutch as they drove past me. Trying to be discreet, I tailed Muller’s new ’36 Packard with its V12 engine and that redheaded tomato onto the fog-laden blacktop. I gritted my teeth, knowing it wouldn’t be to his home since his wife and kids were there.
~~~
My 'tomato' would later peel out onto the blacktop laying rubber. I don't know if it is an appropriate 'ladies' car for her, but it was what came to mind:
~~~
I tailed them back to the bar and watched as Muller escorted her to her car. She blew him a pouty kiss as he waved and observed her accelerate that 1932 De Soto 3-Window Rumble Seat Coupe and burned rubber. I knew he would head home after his fling with Brandi. The bimbo, however, I needed to follow to learn more. In hot pursuit, I sped back onto the blacktop, white-knuckled, as I trailed her candy-apple De Soto through the fog to a flat on Ninth Street. I took the steps in two strides and made it just in time to stick my foot into the door as it closed.

Any technical advice to add or delete to add to the authenticity and drive/feel of the motor vehicles would be appreciated. Thanks for asking.

A great source of automotive information is a YouTube channel called Jay Leno's Garage. He has an incredible car collection and has hundreds of videos about those vehicles. Just search within the channel for something close to what you're looking for. Watch out for the time sink, though.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I'll look after the Heroism event this year, @ChloeTzang. It might start ideas happening for me.

Great and thanks - my backlog is building by the event LOL

 

[Candy_Kane54]

There's a fresh pot of coffee brewing and the teapot is hot is hot for those who want a cuppa. There's some hot cocoa on the back burner and there are some mini marshmallows on the counter along with some crullers.

Thanks to everyone who helped decorate the Christmas tree. I found a box of stockings and put them next to the fireplace so anyone can put their names on them and hang them up. Just don't get burned by the Yule log while doing so. Thanks to @JuanSeiszFitzHall for taking care of that.

 

[dmallord]

There's a fresh pot of coffee brewing and the teapot is hot is hot for those who want a cuppa. There's some hot cocoa on the back burner and there are some mini marshmallows on the counter along with some crullers.

Thanks to everyone who helped decorate the Christmas tree. I found a box of stockings and put them next to the fireplace so anyone can put their names on them and hang them up. Just don't get burned by the Yule log while doing so. Thanks to @JuanSeiszFitzHall for taking care of that.

Is anyone taking care of the dragon down in the old dungeon? I haven't heard about it for a while now. I'm guessing its fire must be getting stoked for the holiday season, so be careful wandering around the place looking for stuff to put out!

 

[MrPixel]

Happy you guys got the tree done. Very festive, thank you. Nobody managed to drop any of those thin glass ornaments, did you? Or at least swept up really well...

Got a lesson last night in doggie meds. We've been keeping our fella in check with Trazodone therapy, 200mg spaced a precise 12 hours apart. It's done wonders for all of us, and we have managed over the course of two years to rein-in his many anxieties and develop a great relationship with him. But late last night he was acting out. Wouldn't settle down, constant requests to go outside, not all "productive", Daddy would cover him with his blanket but he'd get up 10 minutes later when he'd normally go right to sleep, and he'd stand there staring at me in spite of my requests for "Sky? Dog bed!" I was up and down with him all night.

There was a reason. It so happened that he spit out his evening pill without detection. I found it on the living room floor at 4 a.m. C has a less "hands on" approach to administering his meds, letting him take it from a spoon, and she didn't catch it. (What dog wants to take pills? Ours does, usually, and will remind us when we don't do it on his schedule!) So we had an "Oh, wow!" discussion over breakfast in having seen the obvious correlation between the missed dose and his acting-out. Just amazing. We've resolved to be more attentive.

And I could use a nap right now.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Is anyone taking care of the dragon down in the old dungeon? I haven't heard about it for a while now. I'm guessing its fire must be getting stoked for the holiday season, so be careful wandering around the place looking for stuff to put out!

Candy? You've been so diligent with baking and beverages. Did you throw the odd clump of coal down the stairs for the dragon?

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Candy? You've been so diligent with baking and beverages. Did you throw the odd clump of coal down the stairs for the dragon?

I will make sure to get some coal to the dragon since I had to get some for the stockings of those who have been bad (and I don't mean the good kind of bad).

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I've baked some cranberry butter tarts, if anyone is interested. They're great with tea or coffee.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Had a similar night to @MrPixel, only with a small overwhelmed human. And it took its meds, but that didn't compensate for sleeping in a different place. And not getting enough daytime walkies.

I do have a dragon-whisperer staying, should the dragon also be struggling with Christmas disruption.

The time a child actually asked for a lump of coal in its stocking was actually one of the most difficult presents I've ever had to source, given London is a Smokeless Zone nowadays. Ended up with a friend of a friend of a friend in North Yorkshire being visited, and the precious lump transferred to my mate who was coming south on Christmas Eve and was able to pop in...

All the food is here, the shed is doubling up as a fridge, and I've only got 4 little things left to wrap. Lots of tidying up needed, which may be achieved if I'm well enough - I may have overexerted myself at a party yesterday (that's by standing up - don't get too excited!). And get remaining decorations out the way so we can use the table again!