Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award

Thank you to J R Vincente for this nomination. The blog is Adult Content, and is very fun to read when you're in a kinky kind of mood. It's gotten even better since Jayden has teamed up with Richard on the blog.

https://jrvincente.com/

Rules for the Award

1. Thank the person who has nominated you and provide a link back to their blog.
2. Answer their questions.
3. Nominate up to 9 other bloggers and ask them 5 new questions.
4. Notify the nominees through their blog by visiting and commenting on their blog.
5. List the rules and display the “Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award” logo.

The questions I was asked by Jayden and Richard:

1. How much do you like to snuggle?
• I freaking LOVE to snuggle. I'm affectionate. But I know other people aren't, so I tend to keep my need to myself, or I hug my purse, a pillow, a toy animal, or even just hold my own hand. 
2. What’s your favorite place to go on Vacation?
• What's a vacation? Oh right, that weekend adventure that happened the last pre-Covid weekend. That was, what, a million months ago? 
  Yeah, I don't know. I LOVE the beach, the ocean. But I can't be in the hot. So the beach in the late autumn or early spring, when it's too cold for all the normal people.
3. What is your favorite kink that you haven’t blogged about?
• I don't think I've blogged about this, but it is something a fair amount of people know about me. I'm really turned on by black leather boots. 
  See below.
  I'd like to tell you the boots at least have to be on a person... but no. The boot pictures below are sexier and more attractive to me than most people are.
4. Do you think Jayden should go for her Doctorate? (Or, do you see a value in getting a Doctorate?)
• I guess that depends on her goals. I think there's great value in learning just to learn. On the other hand, it's a funny thing about the word "value" because in America it means "astoundingly expensive," and she's got a fair amount on her plate as far as costs goes right now. So there would have to be a trade-off, Dr. JRV would need to be paid enough to cover the costs of that education. 
  Just for 💩🙴😆, I'll pretend that Jayden lives in one of those nutty countries where they give out education for free. Then yes, absolutely! Heck, get a double doctorate in math and language, with a minor in special education and a few sign languages. Go improve the world for the next generation. Then run for Congress or something. Run as the doctor who, unlike McGreevey, isn't going to resign for LGBTQ+ or Poly reasons, because you'll flat out announce that it's who you are and you're not hiding over it. 
  🤔 Wait, that might require you to move to a more populated area with way more Democrats. Then I'd have to miss you even more! Gah...
  But I'd still get to be super proud of you, even if you were just another person in my newsfeed for a dozen years. Go change their mindsets. Go make them care about others. Give them HE🏑🏒!
5. What do you hate most about blogging?
• I'm mostly talking to myself here. 
  But I generally blog things I don't want to say on Facebook or Instagram. 
  I'm mostly just leaving parts of myself in case anyone cares to glance at them one day.
  But unless I suddenly get super famous for something, I'm pretty sure this blog isn't going to matter to anyone in the future. Much like it barely matters to anyone right now. 
  Maybe it's okay that one day I'll be gone and the people my age and older will be gone, and there really won't be generations after who think about me long enough to dig this blog up. So I guess I hate that I have thoughts and experiences to share, but knowing that it won't matter. There's a peaceful emptiness in that. And I know the gut reaction is to argue "It's a Wonderful Life" style, but it's just an honest truth and not something I'm working toward changing. I'm only answering a question here, not pleading for help. 

😍

Nominations: 
All of my nominees commented on my blog during the April A to Z Challenge 2021.

• Author J Lenni Dorner https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com
• Jayashree Srivatsan http://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com/
• Brett Minor https://transformednonconformist.blogspot.com/
• Iain Kelly https://iainkellywriting.com
• Frewin55 https://how-would-you-know.com/

My five questions to my nominees:

1. If an employee under extreme stress says (verbally or written) something that is construed as insensitive to a group of people (age, gender, religion, orientation, etc), should that employee be terminated/ not have their contract renewed, or should they be given one more chance if they agree to some sort of approved sensitivity training reeducation program? 
2. At what age is it no longer appropriate to Trick-or-Treat for yourself? (Meaning exceptions are in place if accompanying a younger child, such as taking a younger sibling ToT so parents can stay at the house and give out candy.) 
3. Would you support or oppose a mandate that 75% of the human population be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2 including variants and mutations)? Would your answer change if this mandate were global, your country only, or your local area only? Is there a number or percent of deaths that would influence your support or opposition of such as mandate?
4. Should celebrities be given exceptions to laws, rules, and terms of service? If so, how famous does one have to be to get that exception?
5. What is your favorite recipe to use with leftover cooked turkey? Or, what is your favorite summer pasta salad recipe? 

PLEASE let me know if you make a post with your answers! I don't want to miss reading it.

Are Emojis Vital in Text 🤔😮

🤔

Now I wonder if tone plays a part. (Which, of course, tone is removed online.) 

For example, if I said 

"I'm miskmusha!" 

Online, you'd maybe look it up and realize it's not a word and then try to figure out my typo. And even Google is like "I got nothing." So you could click like or care and move on. Or ask what it means- maybe it's a fandom. 

But if we're in person, and I cry 😫 "I'm miskmusha!" 

Is the initial response just, "no you're not, <words of comfort>"? Even though you still have no idea what the word means, but you know I'm upset. 

Whereas if I'm all, 

😁🎉 "I'm miskmusha!" 

You might just give me a 🖐 high five and reply, "yeah you are!" Again, even though you have no idea what the word means. 

So basically, does this explain the popularity and perhaps even NECESSITY of mixing emojis with text in online conversations? Because typed words lack tone. 

"😁 I'm fat! 🎉💯💯💯❗✔🕺💗"

"😭 I'm fat! 😫☠💔"

With emojis there is now a base tone. The reader knows if the poster is looking for applause 👏 and celebration (...and is perhaps willing to even fight trolls), or if the poster desires comfort and maybe someone to offer help "I'll hit the gym with you." That sort of thing. 

🤔 This feels like it could be a great philosophical essay. 🧠

*Inspiration source:

Meme share from screenshot 

Twitter @showupforthis 5/28/18 8:43pm (plus two replies 2 hours later)

 

Law and Covid

 Let's take a moment to discuss what will ACTUALLY bring Covid to a hault in 'Merica.

Either:

1) The non-vaccinated anti-maskers all die from Covid or Delta.

Or

2) The lawyers come out of hibernation with a vengeance. "Have you or a loved one suffered or died because of Covid? Did an employer not provide safe working conditions? Did someone around you not follow CDC guidelines? Call our law firm today! Medical bills, pain and suffering, funeral costs, loss of income, hardships-- we will fight to get you the financial compensation you deserve. Call now." 

Once those ads start running nonstop, there's gonna be a change. Realizing money is at stake will change things. Human life? Meh, they don't care. But once they're getting sued into the ground by dozens of people... that's gonna cause change. 

Before you argue-- secondhand smoke. They started suing for damages from second hand smoke. What happened? Places went smoke free. 

"It's my business if I wanna smoke!" 🚬

Sure it is. But it's not okay for your choice to harm or kill another person. That's where we draw the line.

"It's my choice to wear a mask or not." 😷

Not if your choice results in someone getting Covid because you spread the infection, typhoid Mary. (And FYI, typhoid Mary didn't suffer from typhoid. She was peachy fine. But she infected so many people that history remembers her name. So you might be fine, not feel any Covid issues, but it doesn't mean you're not a carrier infecting others.) 

So there you go. 

You want it to end? Start suing. 

Rant About Lack of Masks and Caring for Others

Crossposting to my blog because I'm sure Facebook will take my rant away.

“Adding a layer of nylon stocking over the masks minimized the flow of air around the edges of the masks and improved particle filtration efficiency for all masks,” the authors wrote in the study.

The nylon outer layer was able to increase the filtering capability of homemade cloth masks to match or even exceed that of medical-grade surgical masks; however, not the in-demand N95 respirators.

The health agency recommends that masks be made of at least two layers of fabric. They will also be more beneficial if a paper towel or coffee filter is put inside a sewn-in pocket on the mask.

source

"When in doubt about the quality of your mask material, conduct the light test, Segal advised. Hold up your fabric to the light, and check if you can see the individual fibers in it. If you can, it's likely too thin to provide adequate protection."
- source

My other rant is about this mask in this picture. 😷 "I'm wearing a mask!" Yeah... you're wearing a stocking that wouldn't even cover you enough to confuse the facial recognition from a Facebook algorithm, much less block a virus. Just because you think you aren't a carrier doesn't mean you aren't. 

 

#atozchallenge Reflection 2021

My theme for 2021 was a Young Adult short story. A double-date in the 1990s. An established teen couple set up their best friends with each other, but it didn't go well.

---

What post should I use for the road trip?

A is Possibly for Assignation is where the story starts, so that's the most logical.

U is for Underwear got the second most views.

L is for Love, Lies, and Lori had a big cliff-hanger.

---

I LOVE the comments I got on the Y post! 💖 My writer's heart is overwhelmed with joy.

Maybe 90's YA should be the genre I write from now on? Is that a thing?

Should I finish the story as a novella? 

The thing I learned this year is that I shouldn't start taking a class online during April if I want to keep up with commenting. 😕

I ordered a shirt. Here it is against one my NaNoWriMo shirts of the same size. The A to Z shirt is cut a little smaller, especially in the arm/ chest area.

Z is for Zero Days Left to Live #atozchallenge #ShortStory

My theme for 2021 is a Young Adult short story. A double-date in the 1990s. An established teen couple sets up their best friends with each other, but it doesn't go well.

---

Today's word count is approximately: 660 words

Z is for Zero Days Left to Live

Nothing feels real. Lance practically falls into the chair beside the bed, his legs shaking under him. The quake runs through him, finally breaking the damn at his eyes. He buries his face against me, soaking my shirt. I hold him as best I can. 

Madelyn went straight for the anger phase of grief. She blamed me for letting it happen, her parents for sending him away that night, Lance for suggesting Chinese food, and herself for not planning a date with a sit-down meal built-in. There was screaming, praying, and crying. I don't know which she did more. I tuned out at some point.

I kept replaying Lance driving to the hospital. I was accustomed to his speeding by now, but this was different. From the backseat, Yohann's head in my lap with a cold rag against his face, I swore the car was flying. Red lights and stop signs were all ignored. I half thought the Chevy was going to drive into the hospital instead of stopping at the curb. 

Then there were the questions. So many questions. Was Yohann's family from the Mediterranean? Why couldn't we reach his mother? How did his father die? 

Yohann vomited. Lance screamed at the doctor to quit asking questions and help already. He grabbed the young man by his white jacket and then threw-up all over him. He apologized and sat down, putting his head between his legs and crying. 

I held Yohann's hand while a nurse put an IV in. Lance used the bedside phone to call Yohann's mom, again, and leave yet another frantic message.

"They think he has Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. I don't know what the hell that means! Please check your damn messages and call back."

Yohann whispered to me, "business trip," before he passed out.

Lance and I went to Yohann's house this morning. The name of the hotel Yohann's mom was supposed to be at was on the fridge. Lance called, but there was no record of her. After digging through some things, he found an address book with the number for her work. He called and asked where the company sent her. They said she was on a personal vacation with her son.

"He's laid up in the hospital, so I doubt that. If she checks in, tell her that her son is dying and ask her to call Lance." He slammed the phone down on the receiver. Then ripped the whole thing off the wall and smashed it.

I decided not to give him crap about the mess. What kind of irresponsible parent doesn't leave a way to be reached? Anything could have happened! 

Anything did happen.

I used another phone to call the number in the address book that Lance was pretty sure was Yohann's cousin. It turned out that cousin was more of the loose term, as their dads had been best friends, but not actually related. 

"His parents are both siblingless. Unlike my dad, who has six brothers and three sisters. The grandparents got down in their day, you know what I'm saying?"

I laughed uncomfortably and ended the call. The phone rang in my hands.

The woman on the other end said she was calling from the hospital and asked for Yohann's mom.

"We're here looking for her. Has there been a change?" I mouthed to Lance that the hospital was on the line.

"I can't release that information. Please have her call as soon as possible." 

Lance grabbed the phone. "I'm the family he's got right now. Is he okay?"

He dropped the phone.

"We have to go."

I don't remember the ride here. I don't know where we parked. I barely remember being in the elevator, holding on to Lance, feeling water running down my face.

Now there's the smell of bleach and lemon. A motionless lump under a white sheet. A bag with Yohann's name. 

And machines that are too quiet. 

---

Did you enjoy this story? It's currently about 10,000 words. It could become longer and turn into a novel. Is there a market for YA fiction set 25 years ago?

JamieWriter7 on Pinterest

Right now, it looks like he died for the shock value. (Or to teach you about fava beans killing people - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which was slightly exaggerated in timing during these last two letters.) But the death might be motivation if the story continues. 

---

Thank you for reading! 

If you're on mobile and can't see my sidebar:

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/uniquely-maladjusted-but-fun-13546807 - My Bloglovin link

My Twitter would be @PenMinion - but I'm suspended right now. I used a quote from a comedian to threaten my self-critical inner voices. I didn't know that voices in my head were protected by Twitter's TOS. But they are. And even though the comedian has a Twitter account, and the quoted joke is available as a gif on Twitter, it was still a violation of the TOS. (And possibly racist?) Feel free to scroll this blog to learn more. I have several posts about it. In the meantime, never threaten inner voices of self-doubt, because you can be kicked off of social media for such an action. 

💰
Get Stash, an app that makes investing easy. If you sign up with my link and add cash, we both get $20 of bonus stock. https://get.stash.com/jamieejv28 💵

Please let me know who you are on the Master List if you're doing a to z-- I'd like to visit you too!

Have a puuuurfect day. 🐈

Y is for Yohann Did Not See This Coming #atozchallenge #ShortStory

My theme for 2021 is a Young Adult short story. A double-date in the 1990s. An established teen couple sets up their best friends with each other, but it doesn't go well.

---

Today's word count is approximately: 770 words

Y is for Yohann Did Not See This Coming

We get back in Lance's car. He bursts out laughing as soon as the engine starts.

"Sweet Princess? Make them dinner? Very much like to spend time with them? Bull." 

I groove along to Little Miss Can't Be Wrong by the Spin Doctors. "Poor Yohann. They're never going to like you."

"Hey, I got us out of there, didn't I? And is she crying right now? No. Even though we had to ditch her. Now can we please go somewhere to eat this? I'm starving."

I realize, as Lance turns at the end of the street, where he's most likely to drive. "We didn't get food for Mike."

"He has his own food. It's his place." Lance turns the radio up.

I turn it back down. He frowns. "It's rude to show up without food for him. We could go to a park or something."

"They close at sunset," Yohann says.

"They can't close a park. There's no fence or gate. How are they going to close nature? You think the trees all move together? The squirrels gather their forces and demand the humans keep out?" I cross my arms.

"No. I think the cops drive by and if they see a car, they stop to throw people out. Besides, we can't watch the movie in a park," Yohann replies as he finger-drums along to the song.

"Mike can have my egg roll," Lance offers. 

He already had your girlfriend, why not give him an eggroll? But Lance doesn't know that. Yohann does. And this is going to be his revenge.

"Babe, we know exactly one person with their own place. Mike had the good fortune of graduating and inheriting that apartment complex. A job and a place to live, all in one swoop. And he shows his gratitude for his windfall by having his old team members over whenever we want. Making sure we always have a place. Yeah, Yohann and I are the ones that visit most often. But that's because our families suck the most."

"Preach it," Yohann chimes in from the back seat.

I sigh. "I'm just saying, if we're going over, we should bring him food too. It's rude to show up without some for him too."

Lance spins the wheel, pulling a U-turn at the light. He floors it back toward the mall. 

All the speeding and road-rule-breaking that Madelyn's mom had threatened about. At least she's not with us now.

*******

Mike's food is the only container that's hot by the time we get to his place. 

"You brought me something? That was nice of you." Mike pulls out his wallet and hands Lance a fifty-dollar bill.

"That's more than the whole meal." Lance holds up his hands in protest. "Besides, it was her idea."

Mike looks at me. "Was it? Well, it costs time and money to bring the food. What'd you bring to put in my mouth?" 

He shoves the fifty in Lance's shirt, never breaking eye-contact with me. I look at the floor, but when I glance up, he's still staring. I feel naked, despite my clothing.

Yohann pulls the food out. He yanks the metal handle from his container before popping the food in the microwave. Gotta love meals that come with their own plates. 

Ten minutes later, we're all in the living room with our food, the movie playing on the tv. I'm wedged on the yellow couch between Mike and Lance. Yohann has taken the beanbag chair alongside the coffee table. There are fingers running along my legs on both sides, as both guys are touching me.

I want to move to Lance's lap. Or put him in the middle. Except this is the normal configuration. If I make a big deal out of it, Lance will know something's up. 

Mike isn't just his friend. This is his refuge. He can never know what happened. 

"I feel sick," Yohann says as someone dies on-screen.

"Wuss," Lance says as he takes his last bite of broccoli. 

"No, seriously," Yohann doubles up and rolls off the beanbag chair.

"What's wrong?" Mike pauses the movie.

Lance gets up and goes to Yohann's side.

"My stomach. And my head." Yohann has Lance help him up a moment before he runs for the bathroom.

*******

I cling to Lance's hand as we walk into the hospital room. The machines are all quiet now. A white sheet covers a lump on the bed. There's a white plastic bag on the table, Yohann's name written in black letters. Everything smells like lemon and bleach. Lance's cologne can't disguise the scent. 

---

Thank you for reading! 

If you're on mobile and can't see my sidebar:

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/uniquely-maladjusted-but-fun-13546807 - My Bloglovin link

My Twitter would be @PenMinion - but I'm suspended right now. I used a quote from a comedian to threaten my self-critical inner voices. I didn't know that voices in my head were protected by Twitter's TOS. But they are. And even though the comedian has a Twitter account, and the quoted joke is available as a gif on Twitter, it was still a violation of the TOS. (And possibly racist?) Feel free to scroll this blog to learn more. I have several posts about it. In the meantime, never threaten inner voices of self-doubt, because you can be kicked off of social media for such an action. 

💰
Get Stash, an app that makes investing easy. If you sign up with my link and add cash, we both get $20 of bonus stock. https://get.stash.com/jamieejv28 💵

Please let me know who you are on the Master List if you're doing a to z-- I'd like to visit you too!

Have a puuuurfect day. 🐈