My Cardboard Balcony

Monday In The North Bay by Belinda Roddie I remember the days when the world wasn't literally on fire, and the grass rose in hairy tufts without fear of angry embers settling their twisted, aching bodies into the creases of the earth's dry skin. There was plenty of rain to soak up Mother's palate, and if you were lucky, you got to drink the bay breeze without ribbons of ash getting caught in your mouth - a most unwelcome garnish atop the natural cocktail you were served. I thought about all the things I would throw into my car if given the time, if given the moment, just in case the embers decided to greet me at my front door. Photos in frames and albums, a cloudy chest filled with sentimental values and past dreams. The books would stay. Most of the clothes would, too. Elsewhere, further north and west, the stranded didn't have time to think about their options. All while the vineyards and stores and houses burned down and left people with nothi...

I was the writer, the editor, and the publisher in this world. I ran the companies and the distributors and all of the bookstores. I used every single pseudonym I could think of to cram the shelves with tomes all of my own. And no one reading them - no devourer of words, no so-called scholar or pendant of literature - would be able to tell the difference. They said that books were a lost art. I had revived them. And now I brought every existing page to life.

I got a haircut just for my anniversary. I took her out to a nice dinner and ate enough for three. Sweet cake and champagne to make the night that much better. Top it off with city life with really nice weather. I am stronger from the marriage that I have with my wifey, and I hope she'll stick with me for the rest of my lifey! Happy Anniversary, babe. Love ya!

by Belinda Roddie The blarfenburgers are very good this season. Their meat is very tender, and they leave your intestines dancing for joy. Blarfens are raised in herds along the shores of Griffenmarf. They are considered a delicacy because they don't procreate much and they die quickly and very young. It might explain the deliciousness of their flesh - once you strip the spikes and fur away, of course. They sort of look like a cross between a yak and a stegosaurus. Beautiful, tasty creatures. If you are from Griffenmarf, you should know that blarfenburgers go very well with a pint of Nibbergribber Stout. Nibbergribbers are, of course, a blarfen's favorite thing to eat. The beans are harvested to make the stout rich and filling. It will also make you laugh. And remember things. And dream very strange, vivid, colorful dreams. This week's prompt was provided by Arden Roddie.

Happy Saturday! No OneWord update on the website today, I'm afraid.

This week. Oh, good  Lord,  this week. I just...where do I even start? Do I even  want  to start? Beginning with a record-breaking tragedy in Las Vegas (and not a good record to break, either), my week ultimately culminated in a string of dramatic moments and altercations at my job, leaving me no choice but to make incredibly tough decisions regarding some of my students. Said decisions will ultimately cause an inevitable administrative mess, so that does  miracles  for my anxiety. Speaking of which, don't watch the "White Bear" episode of  Black Mirror  if your anxiety's already on the fritz. Seriously. That story was  fucked up. But at least there's a light at the end of this very, very dark tunnel. I got to see my wife play Hippolyta and a velociraptor-fairy (you had to be there) in  A Midsummer Night's Dream,  so that was fun. Tomorrow, I'ma get my hairs cut in my hometown and see my family. And Sunday is - you might ha...

The Week From Hell by Belinda Roddie Satan got seven days of fun. He drank Moscato, too.