It’s great to see what everyone is doing. I’ll have to pop on here when I have more time. Let’s see, I cut my ankle-length hair, and now it might be an inch in length. Yoki-Bear turned two years old today, and I have a few knitting projects that I’m working on. I’m finishing a hat: a simple project to keep my hands busy and an excellent de-stressor.
We’re currently experiencing a tornado watch. It seems like we’re mainly getting rain, and I think I heard sleet.
I did it!
I completed the full 24 hour Poetry Marathon!
And while I would happily share my work here, that would mean I likely wouldn’t get to publish it elsewhere; so,…I hope you’ll forgive me for not posting it for now. If, however, it gets accepted somewhere, you’ll all be the first to know it.
I will admit that it didn’t feel that difficult, but I really did plan everything out fairly well. At the end I was on a caffeine-completion high, but I was barely managing to keep myself upright in the shower before bed. Still kind of recovering from lack of sleep, I think. But I’m really proud of what I accomplished.
I dedicated my marathon this year in Bill and Jonas’ honor; they’ve encouraged me in so many ways to keep going and keep writing, and this accomplishment belongs as much to them as it does to me.
Anyway…I just wanted to share that bit of good news with you all. I hope you’re having a wonderful beginning of your own summers, too.
Love, hugs, and friendship bugs 
~~ Jenni (and Chani)
congrats and /salute
Congratulations to my friend and adopted “little sister” Channyn for this great accomplishment! I know now that since you have immersed yourself in Poetry, you will do well in all kinds of writing. You and Nightsong are only two of many writers I know, and I will enjoy reading your poetry/prose whenever you choose to share it with us. 
Grats and Hugs from
Bill and Ol’ Jonãs
Anybody notice any narcissism in me? I’ve been told I am narcissistic, and after reading what it meant, am inclined to agree.
I won’t go into what I think makes me that way, but I grew up with a *mother who worked at the Cologne Opera, in Germany so I got a healthy dose of it there, I imagine.
So I’m going to wax narcissistic AND nostalgic on ya.
I’m not going to run the Peachtree Road Race on July 4th in Atlanta.
Just can’t be done. She… would be left on her own if I took the car, and she doesn’t trust me to drive.
Riding with someone else? No one I know is going and my wife would be left by herself, because the people who were coming over to cook out with her, have “wimped out”.
Registration is paid, but I insured myself against not being able to run, so that isn’t a problem, and after considering it, I realize now it couldn’t be helped, and maybe it was my narcissistic side what made me want to train for it.
“Look at him running! He’s 74! Can you believe it! Look at them calves! AIn’t they purrrdy?” 
You see what I mean, right? Just showing off. Same with the drumming, my cycling, etc.
I tried not to show her just how disappointed I was, but she made it all better when she told me she was proud of me anyway.
So if you suspected I was narcissistic, here ya go - I freely admit it. But maybe there’s a tiny speck in my brain which allows me to know that some things are just not comfortably possible. And that instead of trying to do that thing anyway – I wouldn’t enjoy it, and I would be asking a lot of some people who wouldn’t give a tinker’s bell, if I ran on that hot July 4th.
"And you’re supposed to want to be home with She Who Must Be Obeyed anyway, you old fart!*" ---- Jonãs in my head.
*Just wanted to point out that my mom was a seamstress for the opera, not a soprano. She sure could yodel, though.
Congratulations.
Also, I can totally understand not wanting to risk losing out on something like getting published. Hopefully others see in your work the value you bring to this world.
All in all, the heatwave aside, it’s going alright.
I was going to write up a thing on why that might not be a bad thing… but the definition I found doesn’t match up with my understanding of the concept of narcissism… so that’s interesting but it has been several decades since I took a psychology class. Like all the sciences the field tends to advance.
I will point out though that a key trait is the lack of empathy for others. You don’t seem to lack that.
I have a certain amount of it, I think, Nightsong. But when I feel it overtaking me, either my id, ego, or superego pulls me back, and then there’s you, and all my other friends there to help me figure it all out.
Thanks
Hey, everyone!
It’s been a while. I finished my poetry marathon (as I think I mentioned earlier), and have been gearing up for a trip in August, when I will be gone for most of that month. What a time to be away, right? All the things launching, but…
I did get a new laptop to take with me; so, I imagine I’ll be around a bit here and there.
I’ve been playing a ton of Remix lately. Trying to get “all the things” before it goes away soon. I’m also looking forward to the new pre-patch to TWW, as well. Since I’m leaving the house for a whole month, I’m finally cleaning it up and getting it organized. We have so much stuff to give away, especially with me continuing to lose weight and inches everywhere.
I’ve had to put the poetry stuff on the back burner for the time being, but that’s all right, too. Getting through a lot of the stuff at the house has been liberating, as has organizing what I’m keeping. Sometimes you just need to let go of things, and I’m glad to be able to be doing that.
I hope the rest of you are doing well, and the offer above still stands if you’d like to join me on Discord. I have a writing channel. There’s also a Writers of Azeroth Discord, which if you’re not a part of it, I’m happy to send out an invite, too. We have a small but dedicate few there.
Mostly, though, I’m excited to see the beginning of the next chapter of WoW. I expect this will be taking us to level 100 again, which I think is where, back in the day, they said they wanted to eventually stop level-wise. Perhaps they’ll finally do that, and maybe just iterate on different ways to make us more powerful outside of levels then. That would be cool. I also hope we get housing at some point, but I’m not going to hold my breath. Still…a girl can hope.
I’m also looking forward to the new stories, though I’m a bit frustrated they aren’t coming out on Kindle (or e-book) at the same time. I’m just not into the physical media, but the e-books are great. Hopefully they’ll start doing more of this.
What’ve y’all got planned for August, though? Are you looking forward to anything? Got any plans for Labor Day? Tried anything good or new lately?
I should say we recently became members of Cellador (a local beer company that does a lot of sours). We’re still members at the Bruery (another local beer company), and we went to events at both of those. One was a Firestone-eseque affair, though smaller at the Bruery. It was fine, but nothing too exciting. The second was a beer and cheese pairing over at Cellador. The new owner there used to be the cheese monger for their old tap room; so, we got to have some fun (and stupidly good) pairings there. We’ve also been playing a lot of DnD with friends online, as well as cracking into some Cthulu board and card games which have been a lot of fun. We’ve also had friends over for a game night and dinner and more shenanigans ensued. We’ve stopped in over at Detention a few times, and we decided that we aren’t going to Luxor for the 6 1/2 minute total eclipse in 202x. Just too much other stuff that needs our money right now. Also, I just have a funny feeling about going–gut feeling. Not sure what’s meant to happen that year, but …I guess I need to be here for it.
And now you’re all caught up on what’s going on with me!
Cheers to all of you, and I hope you’ll post your thoughts, loves, adventures, and more here when you have a moment. Until then, stay safe and stay hydrated!
~~ Jenni
Thanks, Jenni.
Hello, Channyn / Jenni.
It’s been a while. Glade to hear you’re doing well in losing weight, sadly I’ve plateaued, and pushing past this point is proving difficult. Gotta love how often I feel like I’m being pulled in too many directions, due to my knees being damaged working out is… interesting… even though I need to work out to reduce the load on them. Good thing I have a high pain tolerance.
Sorry to hear you likely won’t get to see that eclipse. I know for a lot of people such things are very impressive. It’s neat for sure, finally daytime when it doesn’t hurt my eyes, but that’s about it, I’m not really wired up for anything else.
I can appreciate that the likely hood of me being alive during a time when the Moon/Luna was just far enough away from the Earth/Gaia to block out just the surface, but not the atmosphere of the Sun/Sol. In ages past the Moon was close enough that it would have blocked the Sun fully and potentially for even longer, never bothered looking into the math on that, it also would have had a closer orbit so the time scales might have been similar. In the far future the Moon will be far enough out that the Sun’s surface will not be fully blocked and eventually it will enter geostationary lock, the point at which its orbit equals the Earth’s rotation… but that’s very far into the future.
Anyways… it’s nice to see/hear from you.
May your days be many and filled with the happiness you need.
Nightsong
Hi all. Hope you are doing well. I’ve been playing a lot of remix and otherwise surviving. 
Been a while here as well. She Who Must Be Obeyed (or just She*) is issuing her orders from her bed as she can now no longer move on her own without holding on to the bed and her movement (when she feels like moving at all) are limited to her bathroom or the living room where she enjoys watching her shows on Food Network.
I have had to learn how to do some things that she has been doing for us, but so far, so good. I haven’t burned the place down at least.
As far as dialysis goes, sometimes she feels like going, sometimes she doesn’t. At those times we discuss and let her decide. Her biggest problem is dealing with the devilishly cold. When she feels like it, we order out (or in - is “pick-up”/“delivery” out or in? I never can remember - guess it has to do with where one lives.
She sends her best to my friends here, and asks you to make me behave myself. Since taking over more of the household chores, I haven’t had much time for gaming, so as planned, have not bought the expansion. When I do play, I work with my hunter, Longschanks. He’s a little low on the “Common Sense” spectrum, but since we lost Jonãs, he’s been good to fight with. I like when I can make him use those multi-shots with the bow.
I miss y’all and, of course, the music, but am following the band Scarlett XIII. My friend Joe Carpenter is the lead guitarist and they have some stuff on the Tube - “Secrets” being the latest. They are planning a tour next year, and I have volunteered to help with PR.
That’s all, as AL Roker says, from “this neck of the woods”. I hope everyone is well and staying hydrated and well overall.
Bill and Longschanks
It’s great to hear from you, Jonãs. Please know that you and Dondra are in our hearts, Bill. 
I’ll have to check them out. 
The band is in the style of “Goth Rock”, Pharazon. If you like Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - they are an influence. Thanks for the reply and thanks for remembering our names. It made me smile, and smiles have been few these past few months.
Hey, everyone.
I know it’s been a while since we all last spoke here, but I wanted to get an update out for our friend, Bill.
Last weekend, She Who Must Be Obeyed was admitted to the hospital by her own decree. There she and the doctors had some important discussions, and after talking with Bill about it, they are going to start her in hospice care.
She’s currently still at the hospital where friends and family have been coming to visit her while they get her medications right before sending her home.
Bill wanted me to make sure that you all knew and asks that you please think of them and send your thoughts and prayers their way while they’re on this current leg of their journey.
I’ll be sure to update you all as I know more, and thank you for being here for She Who Must Be Obeyed. I know Bill and his whole merry band appreciate it.
So on behalf of them all, Dankeschön.
~~ Chani
Please let Bill know we love him and that we are thinking of him and Dondra and that they and the family are in my heart.
Hey, Pharazon!
I’ll be sure to let him know. Thank you!
She who must be obeyed
May your days be peaceful, painless and plentiful with all the happiness you need.
Nightsong
Bill
I know something of what you’ll be going through. Remember it’s ok to ask for help and to admit how much it hurts.
May your days be many and filled with the happiness you need.
Nightsong
I’ll pass these along to him, Nightsong. Thank you!