It's good to see your post QOTKU. I think I can safely say many of us woodland creatures were worried and we're so relieved we wouldn't dream of smacking you around with a kale salad.
I'm just relieved there wasn't a sinister explanation. Over-enjoyment of the holidays and just plain forgetting is the best reason for a contest delay I can think of.
Worried? Who was worried? That swath of carpet was already worn down before the new year. And no need to even explain the Refresh button.
I can only assume you were stuck in Carkoon and missed the 8-minute window when a weak Internet signal dips in ... assuming the moon is in the right position.
I'll add my "so happy you're ok" to the mix. As a physician, you can imagine what I was thinking. I was ready to call the NYPD and send them to your apartment, which may have been a tad difficulty without knowing the address. New York's not THAT big, right?
:Hello, 911. What is your emergency? :Her Sharkiness, QOTKU, is MIA. You must investigate. : Uh, ok. What's the address? : *silence* Carkoon, New York?
No nativity pageant. St Luke’s is doing “The Bird’s Christmas Carol.” I’ll play “Carol,” but Mrs. Armbruster said, “Ha! More like Imogene Herdman.” Whatever that means. She never liked me.
Neither does my foster mom. So I wear long sleeves. Mrs. Armbruster’s rich. In the vestry, a big ring sparkles in her open purse.
That colly-rotten Jarrod snatches the ring. Thief! I tackle him. Mrs. Armbruster grabs me.
Flash Fiction Contest, New Year's 2017/2018. The infamous Round Four. Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. Even the birds were silent. What the devil was occurring on the Reef? Could the Colly have her Sharkiness in its evil grip? No, it's just a kale salad hangover. Whew. Sent us all into a panic, you did. What do you have to say for yourself? No comment(s)! (Glad you're okay:)
You know how you go through all sorts of explanations in your head?
It was so cold in New York, there was a power surge which fried Janet's computer.
She took a vacation where there was no Internet.
She was just plain tired.
She broke all her toes and can't hobble around, or all her fingers and can't type, or she's been in the ER for a hundred hours, or she's being held hostage by a crazed psychopath, or she slipped when she was shoving her Christmas tree in the garbage chute and fell in, or someone sent her a spiked bottle of bourbon, or the aliens have taken her to their ship and are doing experiments on her, or or or or or.
Phew. This reason is so much better! Happy New Year!
Some of you posted your Flash Fiction entry on this thread. Janet Reid may find them here, but to be safe you might post them in the December 30 thread.
I actually DID call the police once when one of my Imaginary Internet Friends went missing. Don't think I wasn't contemplating it. Holy fucking hell, Janet. I mean, I'm glad you got some down time and all. But let's not ever do that again, shall we?
Happy New Year! (she says convincingly, for the first time this year)
The hamster wheel was a-spinnin' here too. So glad you're okay, Janet. It all worked out for the good--gave us subjects an opportunity to say we care about our queen.
I must be the optimist of the group. I was only picturing you locked out of your account with no tech support available over the holiday, not lying helpless trying to convince the DoY to call 911. Anyway, I'm glad you're fine.
To everyone saying all of Reiderland was a-flutter--where did this happen? Is there a twitter/facebook group I don't know about, or was everyone worrying separately, in their own private hamster wheels (which, now that I type it, is just about the most writerly affliction I can think of) ?
So relieved you are safe and well! After losing several internet friends and acquaintances to the Grim Reaper, the hamster wheel turns to disaster mode rather easily. Filing some of the more interesting imaginings for future use! Wishing you a Happy New Year!!
The Noise in Space, if you search comments on twitter with Janet's handle you'll see the list of tweets (no group). There is an *unofficial* facebook group (which has nothing to do with Janet) but was started by, and is for Reiders (The Writers' Room).
Hi all, Just writing to mention something odd is happening today with the Round 4 comments. No new comments were showing up after 11:59. I posted my comment three times over the course of a few hours. The first two tries didn't show up, then I suppose as I was trying a third time, a bunch of entries showed up, including my first two tries. I deleted the last two of mine, but other people have multiple copies of their stories on the thread. Might want to check to see if yours showed up, and to delete extras. Ah, 2018 is starting off interesting!
When Beth mentioned the DoY, my head went immediately to DOL (Department of Labor) due to my work in benefits/retirement, which begs the question... is there’s Department of Yowl to go with the Dutchess? Or is it the DODoL? Or perhaps the DoDDTTDoY (Department of Destitution Due To The Dutchess of Yowl)?
Amy Johnson, I noticed my entry didn't post immediately and then I saw that Janet had the comment moderator turned on, so that's the reason for the delay.
Eileen you deserve a prize for such a quick, apropos, witty comment/entry!
Janet, keep this thread! If you're ever feeling alone or unloved, just read it again and again. How great that all these people, many who you've never met, care so much about you!
Wow; what a heart-warming post / comment thread! I've been offline for a little while too, and missed all the commotion. But I'm very glad everyone's well, and made it through to 2018 okay. I agree with the others, congratulations Eileen! And KD James, you crack me up :) Happy New Year everyone!
This just in. Previously reported hole in nature confirmed closed at 9:31 a.m., EST. Crowd of crazies, including this reporter, breathes collective sigh of relief.
Happy New Year all of you Reiders. Hope all of your resolutions are manageable and you succeed at them. I know what most of them are. Published.
Damnet Janet, you scared all the little woodland creatures on what was a horrible day for most of them. I hope you were safe and warm, though. Maybe refreshing yourself by catching up on your sleep. I am glad your Sorting Hat didn't wake you if that was the case.
I opted not to participate in the flash fiction because I have no flash fiction genes apparently. I might have done it for fun and thought about it, but...stuff. My heater went out. It's been far below zero here, so that made it interesting. The part may be in the end of this week. The car battery keeps dying. I'm out of gas now from letting it run to charge the battery and warm up. I hope it makes it to the gas station. When the heater tech got the heater running for a while (the gas valve is shot, but he jury-rigged it so it kind of runs until it doesn't) the pipes unthawed. We tried to let the water run the first day, but they had frozen within a couple of hours while I was babysitting. Pipes a busted from stem to stern in the house and the house is flooded.
So, creative thoughts may have flowed, but not creative writing.
Regardless, as usual, y'all have outdone yourselves. I admire you so much and envy your talent. Good job!
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A few too many whiskys or Duchess of Yowl demands before New Year's officially started, was it?
ReplyDeleteWe're all just glad you're ok, Janet.
Good Grief...!!! And Holy Hamster Wheel, Shark Lady. You drove everyone to distraction with worry. Glad all is well.
ReplyDeleteWhew! Glad everything is okay!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see your post QOTKU. I think I can safely say many of us woodland creatures were worried and we're so relieved we wouldn't dream of smacking you around with a kale salad.
ReplyDeleteI was actually beginning to panic. Glad you’ve made it to the New Year
ReplyDeleteI'm just relieved there wasn't a sinister explanation. Over-enjoyment of the holidays and just plain forgetting is the best reason for a contest delay I can think of.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2018, everyone! Let's make it a winner.
Welcome back to us, Janet. Glad to see you survived the New Years.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am so glad to see this. I was worried. (I'm reading Mindhunter, so...) :)
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI just hope Reacher made it out alive, day four of the hostage situation is the most dangerous.
Now to worry about something else.
Cheers and Happy New Year.
Reiderland was all a-twitter. So glad all is well. Happy new year Janet and all!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are okay. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're ok. Had us in panic mode!
ReplyDeletePictures of Ms Reid frozen to her keyboard dancing in my head! Glad you're okay, and what a way to start your New Year!
ReplyDeleteWe're all just glad you're ok.
ReplyDeleteA wave of relief just washed over me! Whew, and happy new year!!
ReplyDeleteGosh yes, Janet! I even begged Colin to find out if you'd been hit by a truck!
ReplyDeletePanic!!!
Worried? Who was worried? That swath of carpet was already worn down before the new year. And no need to even explain the Refresh button.
ReplyDeleteI can only assume you were stuck in Carkoon and missed the 8-minute window when a weak Internet signal dips in ... assuming the moon is in the right position.
Whew!
ReplyDeleteWorried to distraction? You bet!! So relieved you are well! Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteI'll add my "so happy you're ok" to the mix. As a physician, you can imagine what I was thinking. I was ready to call the NYPD and send them to your apartment, which may have been a tad difficulty without knowing the address. New York's not THAT big, right?
ReplyDelete:Hello, 911. What is your emergency?
:Her Sharkiness, QOTKU, is MIA. You must investigate.
: Uh, ok. What's the address?
: *silence* Carkoon, New York?
Jennifer Delozier - Ha!
ReplyDeleteI was half-expecting one of your colleagues to post terrible news.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
No nativity pageant. St Luke’s is doing “The Bird’s Christmas Carol.” I’ll play “Carol,” but Mrs. Armbruster said, “Ha! More like Imogene Herdman.” Whatever that means. She never liked me.
ReplyDeleteNeither does my foster mom. So I wear long sleeves.
Mrs. Armbruster’s rich. In the vestry, a big ring sparkles in her open purse.
That colly-rotten Jarrod snatches the ring. Thief! I tackle him. Mrs. Armbruster grabs me.
“It wasn’t me!” I fought it, but started bawling.
I’m wrapped in bosomy hugs. She smells good.
“I saw,” smoothing my hair.
“My lawyer sent this today. Adoption papers.”
I love her.
(all from my own entry)
ReplyDeleteI really started to worry when the NYT was reporting that it was so cold that even sharks were freezing to death
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/us/winter-weather-erie-cold.html
Glad you're okay. Happy New Year!
Thank the deities. I was getting worried. *mom finger*
ReplyDeleteTerri
Flash Fiction Contest, New Year's 2017/2018. The infamous Round Four. Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. Even the birds were silent. What the devil was occurring on the Reef? Could the Colly have her Sharkiness in its evil grip? No, it's just a kale salad hangover. Whew. Sent us all into a panic, you did. What do you have to say for yourself? No comment(s)!
ReplyDelete(Glad you're okay:)
You know how you go through all sorts of explanations in your head?
ReplyDeleteIt was so cold in New York, there was a power surge which fried Janet's computer.
She took a vacation where there was no Internet.
She was just plain tired.
She broke all her toes and can't hobble around, or all her fingers and can't type, or she's been in the ER for a hundred hours, or she's being held hostage by a crazed psychopath, or she slipped when she was shoving her Christmas tree in the garbage chute and fell in, or someone sent her a spiked bottle of bourbon, or the aliens have taken her to their ship and are doing experiments on her, or or or or or.
Phew. This reason is so much better! Happy New Year!
Ah! So glad you're okay. You left a group of imaginative writers to imagine the worst. (And we did.)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, everyone.
ReplyDeleteCold is the word to bring in 2018. I have a cold and it's cold outside.
Some of you posted your Flash Fiction entry on this thread. Janet Reid may find them here, but to be safe you might post them in the December 30 thread.
ReplyDeleteI had also assumed you'd frozen solid. This is a relief.
ReplyDeleteHa, I was wondering! What a relief. Happy New Year! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Glad all is well on the Reef. Talk about a new way to torment (your Reider) writers!
ReplyDeleteEileen that entry just cracks me up.
Seriously, glad you're OK Janet. Happy New Year, everyone!
Glad you're okay, Janet. Happy New Year, everyone.
ReplyDeleteI actually DID call the police once when one of my Imaginary Internet Friends went missing. Don't think I wasn't contemplating it. Holy fucking hell, Janet. I mean, I'm glad you got some down time and all. But let's not ever do that again, shall we?
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! (she says convincingly, for the first time this year)
The hamster wheel was a-spinnin' here too. So glad you're okay, Janet. It all worked out for the good--gave us subjects an opportunity to say we care about our queen.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to all!
Love it, Eileen. ;D So glad all is well, Janet. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI must be the optimist of the group. I was only picturing you locked out of your account with no tech support available over the holiday, not lying helpless trying to convince the DoY to call 911. Anyway, I'm glad you're fine.
ReplyDeleteRelief. Glad you're okay. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteTo everyone saying all of Reiderland was a-flutter--where did this happen? Is there a twitter/facebook group I don't know about, or was everyone worrying separately, in their own private hamster wheels (which, now that I type it, is just about the most writerly affliction I can think of) ?
ReplyDeleteSo relieved you are safe and well! After losing several internet friends and acquaintances to the Grim Reaper, the hamster wheel turns to disaster mode rather easily. Filing some of the more interesting imaginings for future use! Wishing you a Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, let me try this again, after having to delete my post from my WORK account. Shark, you're in good company lol
ReplyDeleteWe are glad you are alive but we do know you had a very busy year. Why would the end of the year be any different?
Happy New Year, everyone!
Best blog post to wake up to EVER.
ReplyDeleteThe Noise in Space, if you search comments on twitter with Janet's handle you'll see the list of tweets (no group). There is an *unofficial* facebook group (which has nothing to do with Janet) but was started by, and is for Reiders (The Writers' Room).
Hi all, Just writing to mention something odd is happening today with the Round 4 comments. No new comments were showing up after 11:59. I posted my comment three times over the course of a few hours. The first two tries didn't show up, then I suppose as I was trying a third time, a bunch of entries showed up, including my first two tries. I deleted the last two of mine, but other people have multiple copies of their stories on the thread. Might want to check to see if yours showed up, and to delete extras. Ah, 2018 is starting off interesting!
ReplyDeleteOops--I think I meant interestingLY.
ReplyDeleteEileen wins!
ReplyDeleteWhen Beth mentioned the DoY, my head went immediately to DOL (Department of Labor) due to my work in benefits/retirement, which begs the question... is there’s Department of Yowl to go with the Dutchess? Or is it the DODoL? Or perhaps the DoDDTTDoY (Department of Destitution Due To The Dutchess of Yowl)?
ReplyDeleteEnd of year does terrible things to the mind.
Amy Johnson, I noticed my entry didn't post immediately and then I saw that Janet had the comment moderator turned on, so that's the reason for the delay.
ReplyDeleteEileen you deserve a prize for such a quick, apropos, witty comment/entry!
Janet, keep this thread! If you're ever feeling alone or unloved, just read it again and again. How great that all these people, many who you've never met, care so much about you!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the biggest virtual hugs I've seen in a long time. And well deserved.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Janet. We're all so glad you're okay. :)
Wow; what a heart-warming post / comment thread! I've been offline for a little while too, and missed all the commotion. But I'm very glad everyone's well, and made it through to 2018 okay. I agree with the others, congratulations Eileen! And KD James, you crack me up :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year everyone!
This just in. Previously reported hole in nature confirmed closed at 9:31 a.m., EST. Crowd of crazies, including this reporter, breathes collective sigh of relief.
ReplyDeleteMore at 11.
Happy New Year everyone!
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show, you do make real connections on the interwebs. who knew?
Happy New Year all of you Reiders. Hope all of your resolutions are manageable and you succeed at them. I know what most of them are. Published.
ReplyDeleteDamnet Janet, you scared all the little woodland creatures on what was a horrible day for most of them. I hope you were safe and warm, though. Maybe refreshing yourself by catching up on your sleep. I am glad your Sorting Hat didn't wake you if that was the case.
Jeez Louise girl. Way to fluff everybody's feathers. I guess this means you're human after all.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you had us all worried. That happens when the woodlands, normally noisy, grows eerily quiet.
ReplyDeleteAnd if this had been The End, that cliffhanger of your last post would have annoyed me for the next fifty years.
Glad you took some major time off and ignored the Internet for a few days. I'm an advocate of Time Off.
ReplyDeleteYour Grace, I kept eyeballing the last two words of her previous post (Sat. Dec. 30, 2017)....as well.
They proved ominous and true....."not yet."
I opted not to participate in the flash fiction because I have no flash fiction genes apparently. I might have done it for fun and thought about it, but...stuff. My heater went out. It's been far below zero here, so that made it interesting. The part may be in the end of this week. The car battery keeps dying. I'm out of gas now from letting it run to charge the battery and warm up. I hope it makes it to the gas station. When the heater tech got the heater running for a while (the gas valve is shot, but he jury-rigged it so it kind of runs until it doesn't) the pipes unthawed. We tried to let the water run the first day, but they had frozen within a couple of hours while I was babysitting. Pipes a busted from stem to stern in the house and the house is flooded.
ReplyDeleteSo, creative thoughts may have flowed, but not creative writing.
Regardless, as usual, y'all have outdone yourselves. I admire you so much and envy your talent. Good job!
I may have checked Shark adjacent social media accounts, you know, just to make sure all news was good.
ReplyDeleteWith that, Janet rushed to open the comment closet door and in seconds, was buried by a comment avalanche.
ReplyDelete