Thanks, Beverly. I never would've known what to look up. I found this, which isn't even a long drive away: [link]

KEWl! Take earplugs. And sinus meds, if smoke bothers you. It's loud, loud. But once you get over the jumping, it's kinda fun.

I had the privilege of meeting a well-respected British writer fella once, who engaged me with tales of tracking down people who had very specific makes and models of pistols, rifles and shotguns, who would let him handle them, practice loading, and perhaps even fire, if that was allowable. He said it gave him an immense confidence writing from a character's POV that he never would have gotten otherwise. He's a big believer in research. And a hell of a storyteller.

ETA: (And forgive me if I come over all bossy. I tend to do that without meaning to, especially if I have a little knowlege or expertise in a given area.)

Actually, I like the looks of this group better: [link] I'ma try them first.

Bev, if it's the British writer I think you're talking about, he's well beyond a hell of a storyteller, and more the stuff of modern legend.

drabble

I peered at him as I waited for the coffee to transubstantiate into energy in my sleepy brain. "We are not watching 'Conan the Barbarian' before bed again."

"Why?" he grinned.

"Because your mind is strange enough in the morning as it is. 'Cromulant' does not mean, 'Works that show the influence of the god Crom', that's why."

"You're just jealous you didn't think of it first."

Hell, now I'm jealous that I didn't think of it first. Good one, connie.

Hee. "Cromulant".

Not in the same league as AmyLiz, Nutty, and connie neil, but here it is anyway.

Drabble

I hate insomnia. I hate looking at the clock and realizing it's already too late to get the eight hours of sleep I really need before the alarm goes off. I hate having to get out of bed while I'm still sleepy and know that I will be stupid and slow all morning.

Caffeine will help me get through the day after a bad night, but the only kind they have at work is coffee. I never learned to like coffee. Yummy smell, horrible taste. Dr Pepper is my caffeine of choice. I ought to buy stock in the company.

Drabble: The Atkins Lament

Mrmph. Sleepy. Coffee. That’ll help Start bacon, then coffee. Heat up the skillet, fire up the coffee grinder. What’s better than bacon for breakfast? But you can’t just eat bacon, so it’s bacon and eggs. Fry up the bacon, add the egg. Stare into the fridge. Maybe some kind of cheese will help. Stir cream into the coffee. Try to figure out something new. Spinach and cheese quiche, ham and cheese omelet, salsa and cream cheese scrambled. Maybe sausage for a change.

It sure sounded like a good idea when they called it a diet. But I dream of spaghetti.

Ah, the white food, Jesse. It calls me. And dcp, very nice.

The very one Deb, silver- haired silver-tongued raconteur and life-enthusiast.

My drabbler appears to be broken. I keep kicking, maybe one of these topics will click it over one day.

I'm probably not doing this one - the list thingies aren't my thingie, at all.

That silver-tongued raconteur wrote one of the best and most believable AU mystery novels in history, Bev. I adore the man.