I was brought up to believe in the value of a meritocracy (my school’s motto was ‘Virtus non stemma’ – ‘Worth, not Birth’). It took me a very long time to recognise that the world doesn’t work that way. Far too many believe that our society is a meritocracy, and that rewards accrue to those most worthy; but the reality is an inversion, and a perversion: ‘Birth, not Worth’.
Toby’s insightful cartoon reminded me of a video by Veritasium on ‘the success paradox’, which questions whether success is luck or hard work. I’ve included that below, too (together with a transcription).
Another hat on the Flexee fine-gauge loom. This yarn is softer, but I still have a bit of the mohair to use up so I’m adding pinkish basket weave band above the brim.
And another pair of socks nearly finished with gifted yarn. I’m including the label of the yarn.
I may or may not finish my Inktober for the day.
It has been a busy day. We’re hitting 17 degrees tonight. We might have had flurries that didn’t stick last night. So we were too cold to be in the living room today.
All that sent me into packing up the summer shorts and looking for warmer clothes and my electric lap blanket for the living room. I didn’t finish that but I found enough to get through tomorrow. Snow is expected Wednesday. I forgot to take a picture of our nearly naked trees and leaf-padded driveway. Hopefully, the wild winds today didn’t get rid of all the leaves. Winter is rearing it’s head before Halloween. Isn’t that against the law?
Well, the story has taken some weird turns today. Wish I knew where it is going. Without further ado here’s today’s installment.
As Crystal stood in the fresh air behind the theater, she felt it happen. She knew what to expect. Time to choose. “I pick you.” She pointed to the fan who had assisted her in getting out.
The fan knew it meant she should protect Crystal at all cost. She stood proudly. There was no greater honor.
Finally, the pressure gave way in an explosion of sorts. The crowd of people surrounding them were instantly transformed into animals. Some the fan recognized, some were beings no one had ever seen before.
Crystal became small, a tiny lizard. The fan scooped up Crystal and held her carefully in her hands.
The animals wandered away. Most were hungry so they headed for the nearby woods.
Now isolated Crystal began to grow. Soon her protector couldn’t contain her. The fan wrapped her ward in her sweatshirt . Soon even that wasn’t enough. “Crystal what can I do?”
The lizard grew large enough to hold the fan on her back. Then she ran toward the candy-striped guard shack. Maybe her friend the watchman could help them.
Crystal nearly dropped her fan as the scene that awaited them was a pool of blood with a pick axe leaning against the shack wall. Where was her friend?
The fan pointed toward another building where the bloody footprints led.
“We need to find a safe place for you. Let’s try the warehouse over there until we feel safe.”
Crystal was now nearly as large as the guard shack. The warehouse would be best.
Though the door was locked, Crystal used her front legs as arms and broke the lock. They went in and found a corner to rest in.
~~~
Now for the #Inktober2021 ink.
Some scary stuff but at least a hero is safe for the moment.
I’m so glad I found this on Libby as an audio recording. The narrators, Heather Corrigan and Zach Appelman, made this story come to life.
At first, the book seemed to have a lot of aspects of things we face today. Not as heavily as the author’s other book I loved Jennifer Government. I highly recommend it also. I am going to need to read his other books now!
Reading this before going to sleep was problematic for sure. First of all, it was hard to put the book aside. Second, some scary concepts can keep you awake.
The most fun concept is the power of words and poets presented here.
This book might be too violent for some. It was for me at times. Still, it keeps you on the edge of your seat as you move through the story. Read if you dare!
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “lid.” Use it in the literal sense, use it in the metaphorical sense, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
I decided to combine #SOCS’s ‘lid’ with #Intober2021 where the prompt of the day is ‘pressure’.
Here’s the story’s continuation:
Trying to keep the lid on seemed to increase the pressure. The watchman clicked on his watch and scrolled to Crystal’s name and hit send. When her face came on the screen it was full of understanding. Her crystals were growing nearly taking over her irises. It made her look blind, but he knew it was the opposite. He warned her to get out while she could.
Crystal looked around at her fans. She felt the one who had whispered before, tugging at her arm. She whispered again, “Let’s get out of here, this way!”
Crystal let herself be pulled while bowing and thanking the enclosing crowd.
~~~
Shoot! Another cliffhanger! What is going to happen? I wish I knew! Anyway, here’s the #Intober2021 ink.
First of all, I like drawing with a pencil. I’m not doing well with the finality of ink when I am not at all versed in how. So sorry, not sorry. Besides, this is to encourage my writing. Having multiple words yesterday in trying to catch up was easier to pull out the story. But this is going more slowly. First the pic and then the bit I’ve written.
Maybe I should use markers to color in. I can’t seem to leave the sketch in black and white. And that bit at the upper left is the watch on the guard’s arm, not a pill bottle. Okay, the story installment:
The watchman looked at his watch. Panic set in his bones. He noticed the crowd closing in on Crystal.
How was he to rescue her while obeying her command to let her enjoy her fans? But midnight approaches, and he now what that means!
My friend was telling me how much fun she was having with Inktober. She is not only inking illustrations but also inking a journal or story to go with the picture prompt. That sounded like fun so I’m joining seven days late.
Here’s my days 1-7 #Inktober2021 submission and then the story that goes with it. Since I wrote the story long handed I felt it too personal to take a picture of my handwriting.
Arriving proudly at the ball, Crystal, dressed in a formfitting suit, grabbed the mic. “I refuse to be a vessel for another man!” She loosened the knot at her neck, as she continued, “No wonder guys are so cross! Ties are the worst thing since high heels!” At which point she kicked those glass slippers off the stage.
The belt was next, then Crystal squirmed out of the skin-tight pants. Her jacket was long enough to cover the goods or the raven-black panties covering said goods.
The crowd was cheering her on. This wasn’t on the itinerary but none would object. Still, the spirit wasn’t in her to continue. She bowed to wild applause and then descended into the audience.
In my #Inktober sketch above I made a close of Crystal’s eye a sneak peak, I think, is that she was born with a crystal in her eye and since then has developed several each gives her powers. The list of prompts is on the Inktober 2021 website. I’m hoping the writing part will spark something for NaNoWriMo some people call October Preptober. That last link was a Google search and there are so many there to help a person get ready I think I’ll keep it open and wade through them all later.
How many want to join me in either Inktober or NaNoPrep?
Dear WordPress, how is it I have 799 days of daily use yet you just awarded me, after 300+ post for having 3 in a row? (I DO BOTH one after the other EVERYDAY!) GRRR!
Just to update quickly my husband is fine. He had a few polyps that they removed. The cool part for me was I was able to show support in two ways. One was to drive him home.
Chris had to fast from midnight Saturday night until after his appointment 1 (or was it 2? Weird I can’t remember now) on Monday.
Anyway, Easy peasy. I did heavy Keto Saturday until my normal cut off of 8PM.
I have been trying to work my fast time to the health-inducing autophagy of a 36-48 hour fast.
By the way, here’s the definition of autophagy:
Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells, according to Priya Khorana, PhD, in nutrition education from Columbia University. “Auto” means self and “phagy” means eat. So the literal meaning of autophagy is “self-eating.”Aug 23, 2018
Funny now I think about it. Isn’t that what Autumn is about? Leaves fall to feed the tree next year.
So, after that crazy hour I usually give in as too hungry at hour 24/25. But this was easy sailing. Nothing crazy. No shakes or fainting. And if it is such a bad thing why did his doctor recommend such a fast for a diabetic who is on more prescriptions than I am. So this seemed a good time to try. I declared it to him. He gave me an out. But I knew love would get me through.
It was fun to watch us both as we gain a confidence in our bodies. We both knew tricks. He could cheat and have broth or even jello if sugar levels got bad. He did drink some broth.
I knew I could cheat with bone broth or even peanut butter. Though technically those break a fast it is okay for newbies.
No cheating for me. Drinking water, tea, and coffee helped keep me hydrated. I felt badly that my husband wasn’t allowed water or anything on the morning of the procedure. I had to sneak sips when he was busy driving.
I brought a jar of natural peanut butter and two clean spoons for after. We had a two hour trip back so I felt it wise.
We stopped at the Barnes and Noble on the way out. No. Not for the books. I knew they had a nice restroom. All that water needs to go somewhere. I might note, outside of the doctor’s office this was the cleanest and most protective spot I’d ever been to. I plan to go back soon!
My fast lasted 45 hours if you don’t count a spoonful of peanut butter. Today was feast day. Maybe tomorrow I’ll fast 36 again. Weight has fallen a lot since I began this adventure early this year.
Did you notice in the pictures above, that the smaller tree on the right has lost most of it’s leaves except up near the top some stubborn green leaves are hanging on for dear life!
Working on my series: Haven.
Doodler (zendoodle.com)
Music major: voice and piano
Mom of four great adults
Reiki II practitioner
I have been on disability/retired for 10 years now from depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.
Hi! my name is Sebastian (You can call me Seb!) ...welcome to my Blog. I'm a photographer from Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy my work.
Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.
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