@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

The Saintess reached up and allowed the Hero to lift her lightly up behind him.
They set out, the goat following along as before.
"What's the goat for?" she asked.
"Oh," said the Hero. "That's my para-mount. It just runs alongside."
"But why do you even have one?" she pressed.
"Why, it's of paramount importance!" he laughed. (2/2) #wss366

The Hero rode his mount through the city streets with a goat capering alongside, next to the mighty charger. They arrived at the Temple at the appointed hour.
The Saintess descended the many steps. She looked back and forth between the Hero, the horse, and goat.
"What am I supposed to ride? The goat?"
"No," the Hero said. "I thought you'd ride behind me." He swung up onto the saddle and reached an arm down. (1/2) #wss366

I bought one of those PurpleAir air quality sensors. It's pretty cool. https://stevendbrewer.com/tracking-air-quality/

Did you know that, instead of spending money for tokens, you can program computers yourself FOR FREE?

"You just have no taste, my friend," said Joe.
"I have good taste!" protested Bob. "I like beer. And dogs. I just don't like cats or noise."
"Or women."
"Oh, I like women well enough. I just don't understand them."
"Point," Joe said, and raised his glass. "To all the things we don't understand!"
"Cheers!" replied Bob clinking glasses. (2/2) #wss366

"Know what else I don't get?" asked Bob.
"Cats?"
"Well them too," said Bob. "But what I don't get is #jazz. It sounds like four dudes all playing different songs at the same time."
"Really?"
Bob nodded and took a sip of his beer.
"I mean, some isn't too bad. But a lot is just cover-your-ears bad." (1/2) #wss366

Author scams are everywhere these days. I've tried to identify the characteristics I use to recognize them. https://stevendbrewer.com/how-to-recognize-author-scams/

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you consider yourself a writer, an author, an artist, something else? Why?

I've always considered myself a polymath: jack-of-all-trades, master of none. I am a writer (I write a lot), an author (I complete substantive works for publication), and an artist (my books of haiku, for example, include original artwork). I'm also a doctor of science education, an ecologist, hydro-geologist, unix and technology guru, #Esperanto author, etc., etc. I am large, I contain multitudes.

A pretty Amanita mushroom, maybe a Destroying Angel, gowing under oak trees.

And will this wind… be so mighty… as to lay low the Queen Anne's Lace of the earth?

He took another sip of his beer and continued, "'Will not!' she says. 'You washed and dried them. Those spots will never come out now.' And I'm like, 'If I keep wearing 'em, the spots will be gone in six months top.' And then she looks at me like *I'm* the crazy one."
"Women!" said Joe and raised his glass.
"Right?" said Bob, clinking glasses. (2/2) #wss366

Bob and Joe sat in the bar. Bob took a sip of his beer and sighed.
"What is it?" Joe asked.
"I don't understand women," Bob said.
"They are a #puzzle," said Joe.
After several seconds of silence, Joe continued, "So what brings this on?"
Bob heaved another big sigh. "So my wife throws two shirts at me and says, 'These are RUINED!' And I'm like, 'wut?' So she says, 'There are spots on them that won't come out!' And I'm like, 'Sure they will.'" (1/2) #wss366

#ScribesAndMakers "How wholesome do you consider your creative work? What does wholesome mean to you?"

When I pitched *A Familiar Problem* as "cozy fantasy" I got pushback from a publisher: "We were concerned about the overt themes of sexual abuse and sexual coercion. […] While we recognise that abuse can be a theme in cosy fantasy, a synopsis whereby the protagonist ultimately marries into their abusive situation is more fitting for dark fantasy than cosy."

So I called it "cozy dark fantasy."

A reflection on being thoughtful about how many things I try to pay attention to. https://stevendbrewer.com/how-many-things-are-competing-for-your-attention/

I got some notification from Google: 'Americans increasingly disillusioned by "AI."' I went to look at it thinking it was an article. It was written by AI. I closed the window.

Why did they call it "horror" and not "screamwriting"?

#WritersCoffeeClub What’s the most challenging thing you've written?

Oh, that was my dissertation: 259 pages, 15 tables, and 79 figures. *An Account of Expert Phylogenetic Construction from the Problem-solving Research Tradition in Science Education*. Woof.

"Yes!" she said. "And they have long, pointy ears."
The bear looked at her. "Like a rabbit?"
"Yes!"
"And is their name Harvey?"
"Oh!" she squealed. "You know him!"
"Ah. So your friend is an *imaginary* friend," the bear said, returning to all fours.
Just then his stomach rumbled.
Brunhilde suddenly pointed. "There he is! Thank you for your help!"
The bear watched her run off then, shaking his head, ambled off to lunch. (2/2) #wss366

The bear spent a busy morning in the Volpex Picnic Park and was about to go to lunch when he heard a voice calling him.
"Hey! Hey!" Brunhilde said. "Can you help me find my #friend?"
"Is your friend lost?" the bear asked, concerned.
"I don't think so," she said, shifting from foot to foot. "I just don't know where they are."
"What do they look like?"
"Well… They're about two meters tall."
"Two meters!" the bear said. He stood on his hind legs and held a paw waist high. "Like this?" (1/2) #wss366

I fixed myself a snack (sesame sourdough bread from a local bakery and some Italian dressing to dip it in) to get myself to write more queries this afternoon.