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Belated Salute: The Dignity of Labor

Of course, Labor Day was Monday, but we were busy with the serialization of one of my somehow unpublished novels. The NEXT serialization will be a collection of long fantasy stories which was rejected several times in the 1990s by publishers who suggested the world didn’t need more fairy tales, or, if it did,Continue reading “Belated Salute: The Dignity of Labor”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER, L

Two of the crew sat crosslegged on the floor of the Dragonshelf. Nubry, having donned a white Maintenance jacket, was reconnecting the console that would monitor pursuit, of which there had been strangely little so far. “Pass me the rakwet diagnostic.” “Racquet,” said Bott, pronouncing it “racket”. He handed her the smallContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER, L”

FICTION FRIDAY: Reflections

“Magic Mirror on the Wall, are you that most famous mirror of all?” “Yes, Mistress.” “And you answer truthfully every question I ask?” “Been doing it so far, Mistress. That’s two of two.” “Just a plain straightforward truthful answer? No ifs or hidden….” “Let me tell you about that, Kiddo Socko.” “What happened to ‘Mistress’?”Continue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Reflections”

Is Advice in Verse Adverse?

It has been a while since we have considered the motivational verse found on postcards of yore. Why should we bother to look again? I don’t know whether that’s any of yore business. I wish I had talked an acquaintance of mine, who had read every motivational classic of the last century, toContinue reading “Is Advice in Verse Adverse?”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLIX

His Imperial Worship shlurked at the straw, but not loudly enough to cover the screams from inside the glass. Then he shifted to his command seat in the control bubble of the Panoply. Lt. Veora, he decided, would have to have at least two of her arms removed. She had supplied the three pillowsContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLIX”

Phraseology Quiz

As I have been learning (and hope I have communicated) old postcards can be a great peek into how our ancestors talked. The slang of the day, plus whatever pop culture was up to, was grist for the mill of the cartoonists. They weren’t trying to preserve current speech for the future; they justContinue reading “Phraseology Quiz”

Panting for Phraseology

When I went picking postcards out of inventory for our last thrilling adventure in language and postcards (“Watch Your Phraseology”) I held back a couple when the article seemed to b running long. (See? I do think of the audience once in a while. Beyond wondering why you don’t buy my postcards, I mean.)Continue reading “Panting for Phraseology”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLVIII

“So a few of you did make it to the library ship. Accept my most disgusted congratulations.” ”It’s a recording,” Nubry whispered. She pressed a button to close the ramp. “It has to be.” “You will now be allowed a few minutes to fly free of the Drover before pursuit begins,” HisContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLVIII”

Gruff Times at the River

“Who’s that trip-trapping across my bridge?” “Trip-trapping? Would you call it trip-trapping? Ever since I started watching dance videos on YouTube, I kind of think of myself as mostly boot-scooting.” “Listen, I….” “If you want someone who trip-traps over bridges, you want my older brother. He’s had more classic dance trainingContinue reading “Gruff Times at the River”

watch Your Phraseology

There are numerous roadblocks to my intended series: “Is This Still Funny?” wherein I would look over the work of the stand-up comics of my boy days and figure out whether their work stands up. One is that a certain amount of comedy carries an expiration date. Jokes about Warren G. Harding, for example,Continue reading “watch Your Phraseology”