Random posts from a writer who loves cats and coffee. An American Democratic woman with chronic illness (respiratory) who lives to read, write, and binge watch Netflix or Hulu. Married to a hot foodie who plays lots of video games. I'm not just a broken human, I'm also uniquely maladjusted but fun!
B 21 across — The first bride seen in Rocky Horror
I wake up, tend to my morning needs, then tend to Wren Noel, and then the cats and creatures.
"Sir Pusspuss slept on my lap last night. Most I've ever seen of that cat."
"Really?" I set Wren Noel's breakfast on the tray table, then look around. "He's gone again, isn't he?"
"Oddest cat. But I swear I hurt less this morning. I feel bad that I can't help with the cooking," they frown.
"Have I ever allowed you to cook in my kitchen? Leave me some function!" I feed them a bite of oatmeal.
"Thanks. Raspberries, almonds, and honey?"
"Yes. Do you like it? I love steel-cut oats." I'm impressed they knew the ingredients.
"It's exceptional. So, what's breakfast without entertainment? Perhaps a classic movie?"
I wink as I feed them another spoonful. "A cult classic? Rocky Horror!"
We both sing the theme song as I queue up the film.
"Most people forget how this movie starts. We should create a crossword clue based on these characters that barely get any screentime."
The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word.
My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com
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I pull the vibrating, ringing phone from my jeans' pocket. My friend Wren Noel appears on the screen. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Liv, I'm in the hospital."
"What? Are you going to be okay? Can I do anything?" I wheel to the window. It's stupid, I know, because it isn't as if I can look out my window and see Wren Noel or the hospital.
"Eventually. A nurse is holding the phone for me. They have casts on my arms and left leg. I'm feeling fairly useless. I have a choice of going to a nursing home, or, well, I can't really get around my own apartment, but if it were set up for accessibility, I could go."
I chuckle. "Sounds like we're having a slumber party at my place."
"The insurance is covering a visiting nurse and therapist, so I don't need too much help. But it would be for a few weeks."
"Seriously, it's fine. It'll be fun. We can binge-watch shows and movies while you heal."
"You're sure? I could go to the nursing home." They say nursing home as if it's Death Row.
"I've been in your situation. Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean. You'll heal better with a friend. Besides, I don't want to take the bus across town to a nursing home to see you every week. Much easier if you come here."
They laugh. "Glad to do you that favor."
I wheel around my house, setting up the living room for when Wren Noel comes. I message my roommates to let them know they'll be here. My roommates mostly keep to their rented floors, with private entrances to the basement and second floor, but I feel it's polite to give a heads-up.
"Fred, our buddy Wren Noel is going to stay with us," I tell my fluffy orange cat. He's more interested in his catnip mouse, but I've said it anyway. I look for Sir Pusspuss, but, as usual, the gray and white ball of fur is nowhere to be found. Next, I inform the other creatures residing here. Wren Noel is just unusual enough to be intrigued, rather than frightened or appalled, by the outcasts of mythology living under my roof. The world may call them monsters, but I know they can be kinder and more loving than many humans I've encountered, dead or alive.
I flip off the GOOD PSYCHIC COMMUNICATIONS neon sign. There are no appointments for the rest of the day, so I may as well seem closed. Then I roll to the kitchen and start on dinner. I'm not sure if they'll feed Wren Noel before transporting him here, but probably not. I make a roast chicken soup with lots of vegetables.
As the transporter pulls in my driveway, I press three buttons on the remote to turn on the television. The familiar percussive tudum sound fills the room as Netflix loads. I wheel out to greet Wren Noel. Their complexion is as pale as usual, but all of their signature piercings have been removed, including the neckbolts. Their long, black hair is tied in a messy ponytail at the back of their head, secured with a rubber band.
"Hideous, I know," they say as they see me.
"Well, there goes the plans for a magazine cover shoot. Darn," I say with a laugh.
They smile and wince. We continue with small talk and casual jokes until the transportation people are gone and they're comfortable in the living room.
"I can't thank you enough for saving me. Now, what smells so damn good?"
"Chicken soup. Figured I'd go easy on you the first night."
"Liv, you're a goddess among us. Did I mention I'm supposed to work on making a crossword puzzle?"
I raise an eyebrow. "With which hand? I don't see how you're planning that."
"You know that side-hustle job I got making puzzles and such for that entertainment magazine?"
I nod. "Oh yeah, sure." If I had a nickel for every side-hustle job Wren Noel has mentioned over the years, I could buy myself a new wheelchair.
"Well, if we come up with some clues related to shows and movies, I was hoping you could help me create it. Not a lot of pay, but it's not all that much work, either."
"As long as I don't have to do your regular job. Communicating with spirits is one thing, but I'm not going to embalm the dead for you."
They laugh. "Relax, you'd need a special degree and an apprenticeship, it's a whole big thing, to get that job. No, just this fun side job. Like, what were you planning to watch? I see Netflix is queued up."
"Atypical. Sam Gardner is an autistic teenager. Have you seen it?"
"All but the last season. Sounds like a great place to start. We'll come up with a crossword clue to match the show."
We eat our soup as we watch. I'm better at feeding Wren Noel than they expected me to be. They bite less than the creatures I've taken care of over the years.
As the night winds down, we come up with our first crossword clue. I get Wren Noel settled before heading off to bed.
19 Across - The continent where Sam Gardner's penguins traditionally reside
The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word.
My 2026 Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com
*Why stay with her instead of trying to get equipment? Totally not political at all, but:
The awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of the IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass! April 1 question - If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?
For this story, they're binging shows and movies, so there's not a soundtrack. If I had to pick a music genre for them, it would be Goth Rock. Lots of Type O Negative.
But REJECT funding for ICE until the very basic terms are agreed to.
1. Warrant Requirements
Require a judicial warrant before federal agents enter private property. As is required for other agencies.
2. Detention Verification
Verify a person’s citizenship status before detaining them, to avoid wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens. This includes protection for birthright citizenship.
3. Enforcement Conduct & Transparency
No masks; standardized uniforms so agents look like civil law enforcement (not cartel/gestapo/carjacking looking... terrorizing communities)
Body cameras + clear ID (agency, unique number, last name). As is required for other agencies.
4. Sensitive Location Protections
Ban enforcement near schools, medical facilities, childcare, churches, polling places, courts, etc. There must be sanctuary.
5. Anti-Profiling Rules
Stop tactics based on race, language, accent, appearance, or location. As is the law for other agencies.
6. Operational Limits
Large-scale actions must have state/local consent; restrict roving patrols and warrantless raids, as with current agencies.
7. Oversight & Accountability
Allow state/local governments to investigate/prosecute misconduct by federal agents and impose stronger internal conduct standards. No denying oversight!
8. Use-of-Force Standards
Require reasonable use-of-force policies, expanded training, and officer certification, as with other agencies.
9. Access to Counsel
People detained must get immediate access to appropriate lawyers.
10. If someone becomes pregnant while in ICE custody, DNA testing must be done, and any and all agents or persons who have used their authority as a means of sexual misconduct, including rape and pedophilia, must be imprisoned and permanently banned from ever holding any government position.
11. No forced sterilization. This is a human rights violation similar agencies have previously committed. It must be FORBIDDEN.
12. Guaranteed accommodation of safe, adequate, and clean water, food, clothing, bedding, and restroom facilities (including feminine hygiene and incontinence such as diapers). The same standard expected for a US Congressperson to get through a day and night as the base for this budget.
There's no reason for ICE to operate without meeting these reasonable and lawful restrictions.
Other agencies should receive funding in the meantime. As one agency crying about having to obey basic and reasonable laws should not be permitted to starve and destroy other branches and their Unions.
One is a Republican. The other is sponsored by the Democratic party but has obviously aligned with Republican interests.
So I reach out, knowing that they will NOT represent the interests of their constituency.
But I do it anyway. Because I can control MY actions, my choices, my hopes -- even if they ignore it.
Or if they toss the Constitution in the shredder and start assassinations on more United States citizens for practicing the Free Speech we're currently guaranteed. Yeah, well, better to die for something.
So, I have this crazy idea. I have two characters from a story I haven't worked on in a few years. Liv Good (the main character) and Wren Noel (first introduced on this blog https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2019/04/time-for-change-atozchallenge.html in 2019 A to Z letter T) are friends - yes, friends only - hanging out and watching movies and shows together. And they're creating a crossword to go with it.
It's going to be a slice-of-life fiction.
Pronunciation: Noël is pronounced "No-el" or "No-elle," the dots are often omitted in English-speaking contexts.
The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word.
My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!
Liv Good
Wren Noel
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com
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The awesome co-hosts for the March 4 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre! Remember, the question is optional!
March 4 question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?
I haven't launched a book. I'm in the editing, writing, or querying stage of everything. I ghosted for a book. I heard it sold well in Germany. (It was written in English. No idea if the author had it translated. It was a wolf story, and that's all I can say.)
I'm instead going to use this opportunity to discuss the short story I'm working on for the #AtoZchallenge.
I grabbed two characters from another story I was working on a few years ago. Two of my best friends and I were going to write a fiction book together. It never got off the ground. We had the first few chapters. One friend sorta lost her passion for writing. I still hope we'll go back to it someday. ANYWAY.
My main character in that story is Liv Good (yes, she enjoys the punny name reference), a psychic-medium who has inherited the rather large family home. The downstairs has been reconstructed for her needs, as she's mostly wheelchair-bound. It's also the home to a few mythical creatures she cares for, making it a paranormal story. Being a psychic-medium doesn't pay all that well, which is why she rented out the basement and the upstairs to the characters my friends were writing about.
One of Liv's friends is Wren Noel. He's this quirky goth guy who is just so fun to write. Totally non-romantic friendship, seriously.
In my upcoming April story, Wren Noel will be injured after a car crash. He's going to stay with Liv for a bit while he's in a wheelchair healing, and it's way easier to be at her place (which is accessible) than at his apartment.
[It wasn't long ago that my husband and I were both unable to walk- briefly, for different reasons, and not simultaneously. But wow, let me tell you how fun stairs are when you can't use your legs. Much less trying to navigate the rest of our tiny apartment.]
Anyway! So the story is just the two of them hanging out and binge-watching. They're making a crossword puzzle because one of his side jobs is creating a monthly word game for an entertainment magazine.
But... I mean... it's not about anything. There's no great conflict. It's a slice-of-life narrative.
"From its inception, audiences loved that slice-of-life fiction was authentic and relatable. Known for capturing the essence of human existence (even when stories take place in fantastical worlds), slice-of-life fiction resonates with audiences for its ability to convey the beauty and suffering of daily life."
I've never written a slice-of-life story before. I wasn't even aware of the genre until I sat down to write this post and did a search on stories that aren't about some conflict. (Person versus __ ) I have no idea if it'll be any good.
That's what is making this writer insecure at the moment!
Pretty sure that actual Jesus would be ashamed to have anyone dare to use his name, and any part of his belief structure or teachings, or his Father's name, used in conjunction with any of this.
🤮
It's disgusting.
Gonna need a whole other religion. Keep the Jesus, but ditch the hate. This "hate thy neighbor" and "thou shall make big boom to eliminate thy neighbor" commandments just aren't my kind of religion. Nope! Sorry. Not for me.
