@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

The waitress had signed her name "Helia" and sketched a little smiley face on the check.
"*Helia…*" Cecelia said to herself. She liked the way it felt when she rolled it around on her tongue.
She left a silver miner on the table and got up. She was walking away when Helia came running up behind her.
"Wait, Milady! Your change!"
"You keep it," Cecelia said. 
Helia was taken aback. "Are you sure, Milady?" She clutched the handful of copper bits to her chest. "Thank you!"

#wss366

I spent Christmas morning in the ER with my mom, who has now been admitted to the hospital. Headed back in a few minutes with a care package before visiting hours over. Fingers crossed.

I attended a presentation by consultants advising my university about strategies for weathering the coming dark days. https://stevendbrewer.com/strategy-for-dark-days-ahead/

At bluesky I saw a reference to a couple of papers about the Marshall fire that I thought might be interesting to @elysegrasso https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00258 and https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00259

"Not so fast! I play a Squeaky Toy! That cancels your attack!"
"Tch!" Al said, and put the dice down. "Your turn."
"I'll use a Dog Leash and add a Night Mare Doggy Mup to my pack. I attack your pack of one."
"I'll play Barking Violation and remove your pack."
"Then I'll play Doggy Catcher!" 3/3

Al considered his own: a Hot Doggy Mup, a Rainy Day Doggy Mup, and a Noisy Doggy Mup.
"Whatcha gonna do?" asked Ben.
"I'll start a new pack with a Light Day Doggy Mup. Then I'll play a Doggy Treat to use the Hot Doggy Mup's special attack. My pack of three attacks." He got out three dice. 2/3

The two boys each placed three Doggy-Mup tiles on the table, looked up, and locked eyes.
"Ready?" Al asked.
Ben nodded and they both turned their tiles over.
Al studied Ben's pack: A Light Doggy Mup, a Dark Doggy Mup, and a Badly Drawn Doggy Mup. A good starter pack. #wss366 1/3

Now wonder they're so weird, if they let some beastkin pick them.

Did you know that Christmas Eve *always* falls on an even-numbered day?

What's not to like? Pretty girls wearing kimonos with tasuki playing hot R & B. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feQWsn5ZBjc

#uspol

Oh, yeah. These are *definitely* the qualifications to be Attorney General. At least, according to the majority of voters in the United States…

"It's lovely," Cecelia said. "Buẗ… What's the occasion?"
Kasseh held up another, twin to the one Cecelia was wearing. "Helia is coming to visit and I thought the two of you could match."
"Oh!" Cecelia breathed. "She will love that!" 2/2

"Well? What do you think?"
Cecelia had noticed Kasseh had been focused on making something. Raising her hand up, she inspected the bracelet Kasseh had fastened around her wrist. It was like a braided rope of #silver with an elaborate knot for the catch. 1/2 #wss366

I have published my *Year in Writing* post for 2024. It's nice to look back on the year and reflect on my accomplishments. https://stevendbrewer.com/year-in-writing-2024/ #WritingLife

#WordWeavers Do your characters ever stargaze?

Yes. although sometimes there are problems.

https://wandering.shop/@stevendbrewer/111097580465183469

#WritersCoffeeClub What Christmas treat will you enjoy while writing over the holidays?

I'm planning to get a turkey and bake it. We got a smoked turkey for Thanksgiving and my (vegan) son said we should get a regular turkey for Christmas so Tanuki-chan can have more. My wife found this logic absurd, but I will love sharing some turkey with my little hime-sama.

food with unidentifiable lumps that are reportedly meat and a can that might contain an alcoholic beverage.

Dinner of champions!

#SilentSunday #WortsUpDoc #Mosstodon

The fire crackled. Colorful flames danced hypnotically. Sparks traveled up into the air, vanishing into the smoke. Every so often the fire would pop, casting glowing embers out to #expire on the ground. As the fire died down, I added a few more pieces of wood and roused the fire up again.

#wss366

"That's what you get for not practicing how to squat." He squatted easily and picked up the coin. But when he went to straighten up, he suddenly said, "Ow. Ow! Ouch!"
"What's wrong?" Scott said.
"I think I strained my back! Can you help me up?"
"Sure. For a dime." 2/2

#wss366