The Cleanup (Wombats CCCXXX)

First???

Congrats to all the entrants, no matter where you placed. Some wonderfully crafted tales here, and a lot of fun! I had a terrible time choosing! And thank you again to Vivian for a great contest and a hilariously maddening reveal!

Yay for quick loading articles!

Oh, and also for our many talented writers, and our hard-working contest goddess, Vivian.

Hey, Beth! Friend me!

Viv, fine contest and excellent job in the reveal. This genre does push us out of our comfort zones; both as readers and writers.

James! good to see you buddy.

Congrats to everyone! See y'all later.

A good bunch of entries this year. Thanks again, Viv.

Bookmark! Off to Write or Die. Mwa ha ha ha ha!

I left a note about some factoids in Dead Ringer at the end of the last thread, if anyone is interested in that kind of thing.

Thanks again, 'bats! I wuv my furry widdle Wombats. Yes, I do.

I knew most of those facts, and do find them fascinating. One reason I want to be cremated. No chance of needing that bell!

I knew those facts too Jamie. Great story! I loved it.
Pat, me too for the cremation. Yup.

Beth -- answering your question from the last thread -- in Join the Faithful, the basic idea was that the congregation died out (from a pandemic?) as they were recruiting their new pastor. But God, in his wisdom, gave the congregation another chance to find the right pastor. And they found and recruited him.

During the storm on All Hallow's Eve, the false reality shattered and Friese confronted the reality of the empty church. But in the process of writing this story, other threads got pulled in and there were lots of ways this could be interpreted. The ending was ambiguous -- and the first part of the story that I wrote.

Curiously, this was one of two ideas I had for the original Phanta contest, but I just wrote this up recently. I'm sure it would have gone differently if I'd written it two years ago.

Laurie, we are friends.

James, thanks for the details. I knew I was missing something.

Well done, gang. Thanks for giving us something different this year. (Mom and morality tales win the day.) Thanks to new wombat Laurie for jumping right in. Vivian? Awesome job.

Howdy all! MS went to FedEx today. So. Very. Tired.

Yay for getting galleys done! Now open a bottle of wine and toast to a job extraordinarily done!

WOOT! When's your release date again?

June 1 2010.

PARTY TIME!!!! OR Trip to China time. :-)

Speaking of contests. Ken, I believe I wrote Peach-Flavored Kiss for one of your contests. If you still have it posted on Gather, can you remove it? I had it posted here myself, and just did the same.

It's gone I'm sure, but I'll double check.

That contest was not anonymous, so the only version ever posted was yours, which is gone. I still have the Story of Peach-Flavored Kiss up, but that's okay, right?

Yes, it is Ken.

Cool.

I don't think I ever got to read Peach-Flavored Kiss! Now I guess I'll have to wait for the magazine to hit the newsstands...heh!

Yeah, Lisa! A well-deserved break for you tonight? I know you're glad to get this stage completed.

I need to do some stuff. Remember that Gather's down for a while tonight.

Quick question: Is it 300 posts and then a new Wombat?

Yes, and you should get in...your last host duty was #2 unless I'm mistaken. It would be great to get you back in the mix.

Technically, Lisa "Queen Wombat" hosted six Wombat postings. She asked for others to give it a shot and I was the first one to host a post other than the other Lisa. The rest is legend.

It's been an interesting run here at The Hicken and Spleen, that's for sure.

Ty, yep. We used to do 400 but Gather. Got. Very. Slow.

Break...I'm gonna read some stuff and if I'm still awake at 11 PM, I'll try to write a few wurdz on my WIP.

Right. Didn't we try for a record once and Gather got so slow it almost broke altogether.

I do believe you're right! We topped 600, didn't we?

600 comments would definitely break teh gather these days.

Well, I still don't know who wrote Bedside Manner, Dying in a Dream, and Serpents Breath?

I wrote Mother Knows Best.

Lots of really great stories here. I enjoyed reading them and especially now finding out who wrote what.

Ah, so YOU were the other one with the murderous mother! I had mine half written when I saw yours and said "Oh, POOP!" (or words to that affect). Anyway, they were sufficiently different that I just went ahead with mine. Loved yours!

I am gonna read the entries tomorrow. I seriously think I'm too wiped out to focus right now.

That was my 10 Wanda! Loved it.

Jamie, thank you! And I want you to know that I first had carotid artery and then for some unknown reason changed it to jugular vein!

Yeah Pat, the murderous Moms. heh

I got so into Nano that I missed the entire unveil. Congratulations Rand, Jamie, other winners!!!

We missed having an entry from you to enjoy, Dale.

actually, I thought we had. LOL. Turns out it was Ken's.

Stopping by before Gather shuts down. I hope to see you all again in the morning. Now off to work on ch. 2 of my NaNo....

Wicked awesome! I had a blast. See ya tomorrow.

Hey, we're back!

And Ty, yeah, please feel free to host!

Seconding that, Ty! It's been too long!

Sounds good. I've missed writing. I'm making a new years resolution (only I decided the time change seems more practical as a new year) to start writing again and my homies on Gather inspire me the most. That's right, I'm talking to you Pat and Lisa.

:)

Wanda, Serpent was Paul. Who wrote Belief, and Dying in a Dream?

I wrote Belief, Pat (evil stained glass)

Shoot. Now I remember you saying that last night! I have lots of stain glass, and that one seriously creeped me out!

Good morning!

Wanda/Pat - and here I thought I was edjumacating you. lol!

I breeched 4300 last night without resorting to Write or Die. While it can get 2000 words out of me in an hour, I end up having to rewrite them all, so I'll only use it when desperate this year. Which will prolly be every other day.

Good morning. It's Tuesday!

Does anyone here subscribe to Publisher's Marketplace?

Good morning all. Wow! That contest swept through 1 1/2 posts in record time. You blink and you guys have run on to another thread.

Congratulations to the winners. I'm sorry I missed out on this one.

6:15 here and out the door to pick up a candidate sign to wave at half-asleep motorists. Trying to remember why I agreed to do this.

Have a great day all. As Mork would say, NaNo, NaNo.

Oh heavens, John, I'd totally forgotten about Mork! And um, are you sure it's a good thing to be waving stuff at drivers who are prolly barely more awake than you? Does NOT sound fun! But I'm sure you'll find some humor in it!

Of course I did and composed a column in my head about it so it wasn't wasted time.

Up for hours, but not a thing done. I am becoming an expert at frittering! Off to see if I can untangle any of the Nanomess I made yesterday, or if it's better just to go make pumpkin cookies and call the whole thing temporary insanity. If I could just figure out where the story starts, it would be helpful!

It starts with when she first puts on the Tears of Venus and feels a weird emotional vibe. I see the dressing room now -- lots of mahogany furniture, an old highboy, Battenburg lace curtains, soft lamplight. She's standing in front of the mirror, and she hooks the necklace behind her. It glitters against her black velvet dress ...

Oops, sorry. Your story, not mine. ;)

Excellent suggestions, Laurie! And I'm delighted to see that "tears of Venus" made enough of an impression on you that you remember it a day later!

Many of you have heard the sad story of my grandson. He's turned up here at Gather. Stop in and offer any words of wisdom or advice, if you will. Thanks.

Alex Kennedy Checks In

Good morning, wombats. So John's out early, encouraging the vote. Yeah for the civic minded. Maybe some nice person will bring you coffee and doughnuts.

Thanks again, Vivian, for the contest. Rand? Well done. To all, well played.

Off to visit Ken's grandson.

A thousand Nano words later, I'm back. Off to take a shower, bring in a few things from the car, run to the post office and the grocery store, and then back here to Nano some more.

Ken: $62,000 in three months? Yikes.

It's a depressing story. He gets another insurance installment when he turns 21, so his plan might be to hang in until then. I would love to help him, but it always works out as enabling a dysfunctional lifestyle. 18 years old...to get going right he'll have to give up drinking, there's no other way. That's as sad a thing as I know of.

My heart goes out to you and to him.

Maybe he'll get a little maturity in the next three years. It's a shame that he's gotten so much money so early. I hope he does Ken. It's hard to keep a level head with money at a young age.

So, Ty. How's life been these past 2 years? What's new and different? What's happening? What are you writing?

I left my corporate job two years ago because I was so bored and I truly believe that corporate jobs are where the soul goes to die! Over the past two years I've worked twice as hard for only slightly more money. Although the economy has taken a toll the last three months. I'm not worried though.

My new idea for a novel... the writing I'm about to start... is about a guy with a secret gambling problem that is medicated with an alcohol problem both of which mask his real problem. This story will detail his rise and fall and the inevitable collateral damage involved.
The feel good story of the year!

Great to hear that you're not worried and not dying in the corporate world any longer. I know some thrive in corporate (my sister is one), but it's not for everyone.

Can't wait to read some of your new stuff. And it is good to have you back.

Looking forward to seeing what you're writing, Ty. I'm not longer in the corporate rat race either (completely involuntarily). I'm finding that the adrenaline is an addiction like any other, and it takes awhile to get it out of your system. Good luck with new directions!

Thanks Pat. Someday it may draw me back in but for now... It's better working for the family business.

Hi Ty. I enjoyed your writing in FC1 and I'm sure you've got more to write based on the experiences of the last 2 years.

Morning, 'bats.

Side-tripped to Ken's grandson.

Now getting ready for a designer-type-guy to come and tell us how he's going to decorate the condo for the upcoming Christmas wedding. My son's getting married, in case some people don't know.

I see the professional decoration as a great way to get rid of most of 40 years' accumulation of Christmas decorations. Just no room to hang onto 'em all year after year. We'll keep the best and donate the rest. (Oooh! I should write a poem. No, wait, I already did that.)

How 'bout them Phillies? Hanging on by their cleats. I'm an old Yankees fan, having grown up with Mantle and Berra et. al., but since those guys aren't playing any more, I've lost my NY-ness. These days, I'm just for seeing a good game.

I hated that game. It was too edge-of-my-seat. Why Charlie took out Victorino... And Shane called it! If he'd been in center, francisco in left, Raul out, those runs wouldn't have happened.

I watched the whole thing then was so keyed up I couldn't sleep so I watched a show I had on DVR. Got to bed too late, slept late, and have YET to start writing anything b/c I'm blogging all over the place today for release day and I still want to get to bookstores to see it on the shelves!

Congrats on the son's upcoming wedding, Rand. Watch for the womenfolk in the house to be a bit nutsy for awhile. You might want to find a hideaway somewhere safe, before you find yourself decked in tinsel. Or just decked.

Congrats on the son's wedding! A Christmas wedding should be fun.

Congrats on your son's wedding Rand. And this has been a fine series so far for true baseball fans, regardless of team allegiance. It's not the same without Mantle and Maris, but this Yankee team has character.

Congrats Rand! I didn't know about your son but a Christmas wedding sounds lovely and a great time to clear out lots of outdated stuff.

Laurie! For God's sake, STAND UP!!!

To clue you in to what a living hell my life is, here's what my daughter told me this morning...

"Just do as I say and I'll continue to let you feel like you're in charge...."

Oh, there are so MANY things wrong with that sentence ...

Still haven't gone to the post office or the grocery store, nor have I brought in anything from the car. Nor have I risen and taken a shower.

Off to do all that ...

No, really. This time I mean it.

I think.

Actually, that sentence sounds just about right to me.

I raised her to be independant and think for herself. Oh, what a horrible mistake that was.

(Someone tell Laurie I'm not serious--I'm goofing around.)

Don't worry, Ken. I once told my father to cut the bullshit in front of one of my high-school friends, who was horrified. I said, "But he wants me to say that."

Let's hear it for Dads who teach their daughters to be independent. ;)

Snork!

Personally I think that sentence reads just right. Not that I'd ever made it past the first word or two in my father's house. Wouldn't have bothered finishing it either, as I would have been speaking from the floor. Hurray for all the Dad's who encourage independence!

Ken, the line reminds me of Bono's words from Vertigo, which themselves were no doubt borrowed from somewhere.

I'm all over the place today - and hopefully I just mean the internet. It's RELEASE DAY for WILD BLUE UNDER!!! Woo hoo! Maybe I'll actually get to a bookstore to see it there!

So, if you feel like some Nano procrastination, please feel free to stop by:

What do Judi Fennell and Johnny Depp have in common?

Judi Fennell's Mer food for Thanksgiving


So Many Books, So Little Time (although that one's not up yet, but her review is. Guess she wasn't kidding about the little time thing)

YAY JUDI on RELEASE DAY! And I'm all for anything that mentions Johnny Depp!

I have to second that whole Johnny Depp thing.

I should be getting my copy tomorrow... YAY!!!!!

Oh, I'm not supposed to be here, I know, but I can't help wondering what people think of the night's site changes. I kind of feel like I woke up and found all my furniture rearranged. Is anything missing? Not that I've noticed. What's that ugly painting doing in the dining room? There's a reason it was in the hall outisde the powder room where no one would notice it.

I only see some little stuff, Beaker. I know there's supposed to be a new format for something, but I'm not sure what or where.

I'm with Beaker. Too neat. I liked the creative chaos better. ;)

Got the shower, BTW, so you no longer have eau de unwashed wafting at you.

I do like that now my mail shortcuts and stuff are right at the top of whatever page I'm on. Not so sure about the home page, but I've been here so long, I just rol with the punches and wear shinguards so I don't get hurt bumping into the newly arranged furniture!

Anyone talked to Sia? Sending you and the family more hugs, Sia.

I just had the best smoothie. Frozen banana, apples, mandarin orange slices and their juice, a cup of good-for-you yogurt, and a dash of vanilla ice cream swirled with strawberry. Yummy. Best ever.

I was thinking about them last night.

(hugs) sia!

I've bee thinking of her, too, but don't want to call. Her time with her family is most important now.

woo hoo! only 84,006 words to go!

woo hoo, only 94,884 words to go!

I'll have what Beth's having.
Actually, I'm having "diet" soup. It's very good on a cold day, and I think today qualifies.

Also thinking of Sia and family.
And where's Wendy? Hopefully, she's having too much fun with her charming new grandson to worry about us.

As soon as I finish my soup, I'm off to Nano. Luckily I have no meeting today, but I want to get my wordcount done before my night class at 6. That leaves me 5 hours, assuming I just leave the kid at school until tomorrow and forgo dinner. Tempting...

I too am thinking of Sia.

Congratulations contest winners! And Jill, OMG! Peach Flavored Kisses is a favorite of mine. This is so, way, entirely cool! Smiling like a fool.

Smoke em Nano writers.

Me? I got sucked into the Sinners. Almost done on the first pass. Cold shower anyone?

Gotta run

Already!? You sure do read fast. Bless you. :-)

Actually, I came over here for a cold shower myself. Jace's Submission threatens to set my laptop on fire. Oh my... Brian and Sed ain't got nothin' on little man (as Eric likes to call him). What he lacks in height he makes up in... uh... This cold shower ain't working very well.

You guys and Lady guys are hard to keep up with, good lord, I miss one day and three threads later, I find you.

Congrats to the phanta writers and the top contenders. Oh yah, and the winner, :-)

Been incredibly busy. Yes I'm writing and talking to publicists on book reviews. I'm having Dana Canedy, A Journal For Jordan, on my blog November 27. Wow, what a lady. She's amazing. Not everyday I get phone calls from authors wanting to talk to me about blogging or having 45 minute conversations. I made some contacts and she will be coming to Fort Leonardwood for a speaking engagement. Tres cool. Now her publicist is linking my blog to her website as a blog of note. Okay, I'll take it.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Roland came home yesterday. Very happy to be in familiar environment. His Cats are thrilled to see him. His silly gander, Franz, trumpeted a warm welcome and came over and laid his head on Roland's leg. Let me tell you, this is not a nice goose, but he sure loves Roland. Hospice and the respiratory tech is on hand and 8 canisters of oxygen--20hrs per canister and heavy suckers.

Roland's kidneys are failing quickly, so it's only a matter of time. Life measured in minutes and hours, rather than weeks and months. I just want him to fall asleep and peacefully let go. I don't want to see him suffer.

Give him a big Wombatian hug for all of us, Sia! Just stay away from Franz.

Sia, I'm so glad Roland's home with his kittehs and his, erm, goose. Seriously, a goose? And said goose missed him? Seriously? That's just cool.

Sia, I'm so glad to hear that Roland is at home with his critters and his family. And, the goose?! That is hilarious! Who'da thunk?

Hugs to Roland and to you, my dear.

Sia, what a mixed bag. Congrats to you on your success with the blog. You've worked hard and really making a name for yourself with it.

And the goose made me laugh, and cry at the same time. Poor thing will miss him.

And of course, I continue to send heartfelt hugs and peaceful wishes to you all. I'm with you in wishing a gentle passing for Roland. And thank you for letting us know. We'll be with you in spirit.

Yes, Sia, thanks for the update. You are family and we love our family.

A huge hug from us all to Roland. And for your family as well. I hope he passes easy with his family and his critters surrounding him.

Um, the goose is amazing! Your brother must be one amazing man to inspire love from a goose. They are notoriously grumpy critters.

Oh.... that is so sweet. Huge hugs to you, Roland and all his critters... even the goose.

You can win a copy of WBU and IOHH for commenting here. It's live.

Ohhh hope I win. ;o)

Judi, I tend to stay away from Franz, although he doesn't *flock* me as he has done others. Might have something to do with the last *conversation* we had, I, um, discussed a whole new way of Franz seeing Christmas--involved parsley and chestnuts.

Oh, no! You mean Franz sensed ... dare I say it? ... that HIS GOOSE WOULD BE COOKED????????

;)

Hugs to you, Roland, your family, the kittehs, and, yeah, even old Franz.

oh, good God, no.

Laurie's now officially one of us.

"One of us! One of us! One of us!"

Oh, heavens, Laurie!! I think that's the fastest we've ever turned a newbie to the dark side! High fives all around!

Glad to oblige. ;)

Wait, are we saying Laurie has a weird sense of humor?

Gibble gabble, gibble gabble...

Laurie a weird sense of humor?? Not for this group. She's much faster to blend in than I was. She's a natural 'Bat. lol

Dale, oh DAY-ale. Don't look now. Someone is gaining on you.

Oh yeah, it's me.

Can I write another 1200 words in the next 30 minutes? Doubtful, but I'm going to try.

For non-Nano-ers, I'm currently at 6484 words, and Dale is the ultimate Nano-writing stud with 7644. I think that plotting "thing" is really working for him.

Damn, my stupid night class!

I got zero Nano words written yesterday. Once Vivian's tortur...oh, I mean...once Vivian revealed our wonderful Phantasmorgia winners last night, my mother called and asked if she could spend the night. She saw a mouse in her house. Upon further speculation, more like MICE. Neighbor set four traps for her, and she had a bad case of the creepy crawlies. Yeah, I'da been at her house for the night if it happened to me. She went home at some point today to find three dead mice, and called an exterminator. I told her if she feels too creepy crawly again tonight to come back. But, until then, going to eat some dinner and try to play Nano catch up.

but were they blind?

Why the exterminator, then? Why not just break out the carving knife?

Spew Alert! Gasp, cough, choke..wheeze, lmao

because that only cuts off their tails and they can still run around willy nilly.

Or is that wee willy?

Do they have wee willies?

Um... sorry about that. I've been reading Sed again.

Wee willies conjures thoughts of Sed? Are you reading the right book? Just askin'....

Yes, but if they're blind, they'll think they're dead when the tail goes and that will make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

They must have wee willies, otherwise there wouldn't be wee mousies.

Wonder what mouse sex is like ...

I mean, like, do they feel the need to smoke afterward?

Welcome to The. Dark. Side.

Hicken soup and lime wedges on the bar. Help yourself, Laurie.

Dark or Dork?

I'm sitting here LMAO

good. We want you laughing.

Hmm. Lime wedges in my hicken soup. There's a taste sensation.

And does the female mouse want to cuddle while the male mouse says, "Damn it, I hate to cuddle"?

Here I sat, innocently working on my Nano, and missed all the talk of blind mice and wee willies. Can't leave you alone for a second. LOL.

Total Nano count 4,729 words.

My kids used to raise mice. Its fast, no snuggling, over before they know it started! Aint' romantic at all laurie!