The Wordsmith's Forge

The general fund currently contains $50. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open until at least Tuesday midday. If there's a clear answer then, I'll close it. Otherwise I may keep it open a little longer.

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Based on an audience poll (and including some backchannel votes) the themes have been chosen for late 2016.  Next up will be August 2: "Unexpected SCIENCE Ensues."

Brixx, which I have mentioned before in April and May, continues to be a favorite pizza place. The last time we were there, we tried the 4x4 meat pizza.  This time we got the Hawaiian, which was bumped up a notch by the addition of fresh cilantro; that makes a surprisingly large improvement in an already good concept.  :D  Worth noting, they now have more desserts besides the s'mores pizza, which is excellent hot but doesn't reheat at all well so is only good when you have enough people to eat it all at once.  The sundaes are terrific -- we got a chocolate one, with a very complex sauce.  

Also, they're very responsive to feedback.  They've added NA beers.  We discovered this when my partner Doug spotted the St. Paulie Girl's on the menu.  They were out.  And instead of being either completely out of NA beer or offering a crappy version like O'Doul's, they had a replacement: Kaliber, one of Doug's other favorites.  Turns out one of the staff has been working hard to build a really top-notch selection of craft beers, not only the alcoholic but also the NA ones.  Since they already have a perfect-10 craft root beer -- which is my go-to beverage there even though I rarely get anything but water at a restaurant -- I also pointed out that there are a few small brewers catering to NA celebratory beverages with fancy sodas or sparkling fruit juices.  It was nice to see people who aren't looking at restaurant work as just a job, but as a passion, presenting edible art and hanging out with people.

It's kind of like a little slice of Terramagne.  \o/

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Sunday Yardening
People's Needs
Read "Dear Ms. Aquariana" by Thnidu
Thursday's Yardening


The Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, July 19 went well. Currently there's a poll open for the general fund.

The poll for upcoming themes is also done.  Next up will be "Unexpected SCIENCE Ensues" on Tuesday, August 2.  Donors can read the whole set here.


Poetry in Microfunding:
"Holding Hope and Love" belongs to Polychrome Heroics.  Cheersquad gives Zima some ideas for helping Lakia.  "A Hope and a Promise" belongs to Polychrome Heroics.  Aidan and Saraphina wrap up in the Wood Room.  "Bearers of Witness with Justice" belongs to Polychrome Heroics and has 7 new verses.  The Japanese whalers find out why it is a bad idea to provoke the traumatized superwhales.

Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Unicorns on Parade" "Spruce Deer" "Wandering the Heights" (poetry).  Back to me for edits: "Winterheart" (parts 2-3), "Stinging Like Nettles"  "Off the Clock" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board: "Ghost Bat" (nonfiction). Drafted: "Like Ash Before the Wind," "From Dark to Bright," "The Inappropriate But Useful Disposal of Lettuce" "A Thin Red Trail" (fiction), "Changes in the Wind" (poetry), "Southern Breads" "Tangleweed Article" (articles), Jularei (character sheet).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," "Raining Kittens," "Finding the Holes," "Broken Hopes," "Brewing Beauty," "Little Paws in the Licenses" (fiction), "The Smallest Invaders," "Raising the Future" "Beach Pies" "Unsolid Ground" "Riding from the Rescue" "To Ride Death" (poetry), "Rammer" (nonfiction).  Currently writing: "Catch of the Day," "A Cold Clear Night" (fiction).


The weather has been sweltering, with some rain.  It's like trying to breathe wet flannel.  Currently blooming: petunias, marigolds, million bells, moss rose, pansies, comfrey, echinacea, morning glories, yellow coneflowers, Queen Anne's lace, chicory, Shasta daisies, coreopsis, milkweed, blackberry lilies.  Large blackberries are winding down.  Crabapples and apricots have green fruit.  

This poem is spillover from the July 5, 2016 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from LJ user Paantha. It also fills the "soul bonding/soulmates" square in my 1-4-16 card for the trope_bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette. It belongs to the Calliope thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.

WARNING: This poem contains some intense topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes a bond gone awry, relationship problems, boundary violations, severe communication trouble, domestic violence in its more controversial mutual mode, injuries significant enough to require a trip to the clinic, messy medical details, social disapproval from various angles, ignoring sound medical advice, grudging assistance, acute stress response, and other mayhem. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.

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