30 Days of Gratitude - A Countdown to Thanksgiving!

Welcome to IWSG - the Insecure Writers Support Group - monthly meeting.

I cling to this monthly post. It reminds me that there are other struggling writers out there--and I'm very happy to have many of you as friends. Sometimes I doubt the effectiveness and purpose of my blog. I often wonder if I should give it up. There are days I lose faith in writing. As technology grows, it seems like less and less people in the world read books--video entertainment is so much easier to access and process. Am I wasting my time? Then I express my feelings at our monthly meetings and get encouragement from my writer friends. And it feels even better to encourage them right back. We're in this together! 

And to help encourage each other even more, I'm bringing back a blogging tradition!

Starting on Oct 27, I'm going to blog every day with something I'm thankful for. I haven't done a Blog Hop in quite a while, but I think it's time.

If you'd like to join me on this 30 Days of Gratitude Countdown to Thanksgiving, here's the sign up list... This way, we can encourage each other and spread the thankfulness and positivity -- something we definitely need more of these days!

I'm going to do my best to visit everyone who signs up each evening. The 30 days are: Oct 27-Nov 25. Using the prompts is optional, but could be helpful.

A special note: I have to share my inspiration for this. I didn't come up with it on my own--lots have done it in the past. But recently, I was inspired by my friend Patty who's doing a similar daily thanks on Twitter. And after I made this, I saw Tyrean is taking on an even bigger challenge - daily gratitude through the end of the year. I have awesome friends!

In other news:

If you need to rant, join our weekly #WedWrant Chat on Twitter: 7:30-8:30 PM est. We have fun complaining, supporting, and making each other laugh!

Thoughts and prayers to anyone struggling or affected by the Virus 

or any other tragedies from this crappy year...

Things have to get better soon!

#ShortStory Series - The Day Dave Broke the Internet - 12

     

Dave didn't know he was lonely until his friends pointed it out. But when he gives in and tries an online dating site, something catastrophic happens - talk about a bad omen.

(Previous episodes)

The Day Dave Broke the Internet

by Tara Tyler

RECAP 11:

Sharon smiled encouragingly and pointed for him to look.

His whole body shook and shivered as if he was standing out in a blizzard in his pajamas. Dave could hear the ransackers moving around in there breaking things as they rummaged. He feared they'd catch him peeking and shoot him between the eyes. Trying to soak up some of Sharon's confidence, Dave steadied his nerves, reigning in his terror. He was sure his face was twisted, exposing his fear as he searched for the gumption to even look in the window.

12

He couldn't stand there and do nothing. He trusted Sharon had his back. He had to, even though he doubted she'd been in an actual situation like this before. At least she seemed to have more training for it. And he didn't want to lose her for being a wuss.

Bracing himself for the worst, he pressed his back against the wall and inched up it. With minimal exposure, he dared to sneak a peek in the window. Two men were stealing the food out of the vending machines. When he saw their faces, he did a double-take. His fear slipped away and he walked in despite Sharon's glare.

"Tariq? Hey man, what's up?"

Sharon followed him in.

Tariq jumped like a spooked rabbit. When he saw his co-worker, his shoulders relaxed a little, but his face stayed apprehensive with his eyes darting from Sharon to his accomplice and back to Dave.

"Dave? Oh, hey man. Nothing. We're just, uh…"

With another glance from Tariq, the other man pulled out a gun and pointed it at Dave and Sharon.

"We don't want any trouble," he said. Tariq's friend shook as he aimed his firearm. He didn't look too confident, which made him even more dangerous.

Dave jumped and threw his hands up over his head. "Neither do we." He definitely didn't want to die over some stale Twinkies and Doritos.

Sharon moved up next to him and trained her gun on the men. How did the situation turn drastic and deadly so fast? His heart raced faster than his brain. He didn't want anyone to get shot, so he tried reasoning with them to calm everyone down.

"Wait. There's no need for violence. We're going to fix things." He knew he was being extremely optimistic, but he needed both sides to believe it.

"Not any time soon. We know what happened. My brother said we should take what we can. Soon there won't be any food around. Sorry, man. It's family."

"It's not as bad as that. They'll get things back up and running soon." Dave wasn't so sure, but he wanted to talk his friend and his nervous looking brother out of their panicky reaction. How many other normally decent people would resort to stealing and worse?

While Tariq considered Dave's rationality, Nathan burst into the cafeteria.

"Hey guys. Guess what!"

Bang!

Dave grabbed Sharon and dove to the floor under the tables.

Nathan howled in pain.

While they lied on the floor, Dave watched Tariq's brother escaped through a side door with its window broken out.

With a frown at Dave, Tariq ran after him. "Sorry, man."

Tires squealed, and they were gone.

#ShortStory - The Day Dave Broke the Internet - 11

    

Dave didn't know he was lonely until his friends pointed it out. But when he gives in and tries an online dating site, something catastrophic happens - talk about a bad omen.

(Previous episodes)

The Day Dave Broke the Internet

by Tara Tyler

RECAP 10:

As she stood there in that sleek, black outfit with her hands on her hips, she looked like a super hero. Fantasies threatened to invade his mind, but Dave reigned them in. He had to stay focused and not think like a love-struck stalker.

11

Nathan went inside. "Come on. The brains are in the basement. Our server should be protected from an EMP blast, and our emergency lines are reinforced. That's why I was able to hotwire the lock. We can see what works and if we can connect with someone from the processor room."

With a flashlight in front, Nathan led them to the stairwell, and they went down. Dave had only been in the processor room a couple of times to deliver some paperwork. Hearing the hum of the fans, Dave was relieved that it was working. When they entered, the huge room full of giant server towers still awed him. The blinking lights made him think of Christmas time. A beautiful sight.

"How long will the backup generator keep it running?" Sharon asked.

Before he could answer, something made a loud thump overhead.

Dave looked at the ceiling. "What was that?" They weren't alone.

Nathan answered. "I wonder if it's looters. We're under the cafeteria. Maybe they're looking for food."

"Already? And how did they get in?"

Sharon pulled out a handgun from a holster inside her vest and headed back to the stairs.

"I'll go check it out."

Dave's jaw dropped. He was impressed and intimidated at the same time. He couldn't decide if he should stay and help Nathan or go upstairs with Sharon. He'd be more useful downstairs, but didn't want to look like a coward letting her go up alone.

"Want me to come with you?"

She shrugged. Great. That probably meant yes. Dave had no experience interpreting women's body language, never mind aiding a damsel in distress, though Sharon wasn't the one in distress.

Dave turned to Nathan who was typing up a storm on the access computer.

"I'm going up with Sharon."

Nathan answered without looking at him. "Okay."

As he jogged to catch up to his pistol-toting mama, Dave pictured two burly guys with bazookas tearing through the large kitchen pantry. He tried to shake the image and wished he had a gun of his own. Not that he would know what to do with it. He was more of a target than a protector. Maybe he could help by being a distraction.

Peeking into the hallway, Sharon waved for Dave to follow her as she stepped out. She paused and raised her eyebrows at Dave. It took him a few seconds, but he finally realized she probably wanted to know where to go so he pointed down the hall. She nodded, and they scooted that way.

When they reached the cafeteria, Sharon pointed at the door and widened her eyes at Dave. He nodded, hoping he wouldn't trip and lose the element of surprise.

When she slipped under the door's window to the other side, she put a finger to her lips. Then she eased up and peered inside. Lowering back down, she made some hand signals, pointing to the cafeteria and showing two fingers. He figured that meant two guys were in there. Just as he thought.

Dave didn't know what to do so he nodded again, letting her lead. He tried to keep his cool, but inside he was freaking out. He'd never confronted anyone before, and he didn't want to start by disrupting a couple of possibly armed intruders.

Sharon smiled encouragingly and pointed for him to look.

His whole body shook and shivered as if he was standing out in a blizzard in his pajamas. Dave could hear the ransackers moving around in there breaking things as they rummaged. He feared they'd catch him peeking and shoot him between the eyes. Trying to soak up some of Sharon's confidence, Dave steadied his nerves, reigning in his terror. He was sure his face was twisted, exposing his fear as he searched for the gumption to even look in the window.