My Cardboard Balcony

How many of you believe that vaccinations harm more than help? And how many of you believe that the Earth is flat? And how many of you are delusional enough to question the moon landing or 9/11? I'm used to conspiracy after conspiracy, and lemme tell y'all, it hurts my head so badly that I debate getting a lobotomy. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to circumnavigate the planet while interviewing Neil Armstrong and simultaneously administering him a tetanus booster.

by Belinda Roddie That whale's being lazy; she's not showing her tail. She'd rather sink all the way down to the bottom of the ocean. She'd rather sleep and snore and store krill in her baleen for another day. She'd prefer not to entertain the stupid pink flesh machines who crowd around her in their little boats, taking pictures and exposing her to social media. She'd rather dream of Mother's Day, of a time when her children could be fed, and they weren't starving as the oceans got hotter. Sure, you may say she's being lazy, but ultimately, wouldn't you rather not put on a show in front of strangers when your belly aches with sad music? This week's prompt was provided by Arden Roddie.

Hear ye, hear ye, friends! Behold: My 400th Introspection! I will say, anxiety remains a friend of mine, and I continue to be haunted by its "persuasive" efforts. But! I will focus on the positive here. I had a blast with my sister and brother-in-law, the latter of which opened my mind more to whiskey than I ever thought possible. That, and the fact that I got to see my first Broadway musical ever was so cathartic and affirming: Who knew that I just needed to see lesbians falling in love and going to prom to feel validated? I am amazed, day by day, by how much my English students love me and appreciate me...and by that same token, several of my Yearbook students do not. I've definitely dealt with some unnecessary sass and "Someone pissed in my cereal" mentality from my staff, and I will say, it does sober me up a bit, considering how I have a confirmed new school to work at. I often wonder if, should I have simply been hired as an English teacher, how succes...

Damn These Hiccups by Belinda Roddie My diaphragm's writing out its will, leaving nothing to me.

My Wallet by Belinda Roddie My wallet likes to hide itself, it's true; it seems to be quite intuitive when I try to spend my hard-earned cash on you, because it slips into the void. And then, as I attempt to pay for groceries, or if I try to pay utility bills, it reemerges, somehow at ease by my life decisions. And yet, you see, when I am buying a gift or spending money on a restaurant jaunt, there it conceals itself again! I swear, a thing such as my wallet shouldn't care a bit about my habits, yet it stows away, as if to encourage more frugal days.