SILVER LINING #12
Greetings, Cloudheads! It was just so fortunate that Chapter 12 was my 2,000th post here on Steemit, as this marks the halfway point of the story. I'm not one for making milestone posts, so I'll just mention it briefly here. Since last week was a week filled with good vibes and gratitude, I've already thanked the people who've made my time on Steemit a lot of fun. @dreemit, @verbal-d, @meesterboom, @ryivhnn and all my constant supporters! If I could give you guys all the votes I would!
I know that the first 2,000 posts were quite a rollercoaster experience, so I hope the next 2,000 has already levelled out trending positive. @lukestokes had helped me realign my expectations, and my mind is in wholly healthier place now in terms of approaching the platform. This milestone seems like such a distant memory for many of the more prolific members here, but I'll celebrate it all the same. Celebrate the little wins in your life! :D
Onto the discussion!
This chapter continues the blissful ignorance arc that I've been trying to tell. Previously, Ledd encountered the mysterious kibo, now he's up against a more unwielding adversary, damaus.
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If it's still not evident, I love playing around with words and how they sound like. To someone who doesn't know what some thing is, the imagination tends to run wild when initially confronted with a foreign word. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Try to think back to something in your childhood (or in your adult life) that turned out completely different from what you first imagined it to be.
If I were to list the ones I imagined having a different purpose, I would be writing all day, so let's just leave it with almost everything in my childhood.
I don't know about you, but when I first learned how to use a computer, the mouse still had the roller thing which gets stuck because of dust. My first encounter with a computer was magical. It was love at first sight. Previously, I had been using this mini Casio ... I don't even know what it was anymore. It's like a digital organizer that's way more advanced than a calculator. As soon as I tapped that mechanical keyboard, it's like my future flashed before my eyes. True enough, I've spent my entire professional life in front of one.
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When I first started using a computer, I imagined myself being this elite hacker that could get into any computer system he wants. Mind you, this was early 1990s, and we didn't even have internet back then, but a boy could dream. Sure enough, I grew to be someone who dabbled in hacking (the good kind, white hat only, I swear :/ ) but I'm far from elite and I couldn't get into any computer system. Just the ones that are easy to break into.
The wonder really fades when you learn more concrete information about something. It used to be that I was enamored about computers and the mysteries of the digital world. But, once I learned that it was all ones and zeros, my fascination depleted. Sure, I'm still amazed at the different algorithms used, but it's a different kind of awe. I guess the same goes for every other profession. Less woah, more oh.
The one exception that I can think of is writing, specifically fiction. It's true what they say about the imagination being its only limit. Since science still hasn't explained everything (ugh! what's with the delay, science?) there's still so much room for our imagination to roam. One day, future people would read our work and laugh about our simple-mindedness, but until that day comes, we can all bask in the wonder that our imagination can take us :D
With that being said, please support all the wonderful stories in the #fiction category. Comment on them, leave your feedback, show your support. During these turbulent times, interaction is key to strengthening that sense of community. Don't just reply on comment on your posts, branch out and drop a line on other people's posts. If people get discouraged and leave, and you'll be the only one left in the platform, what fun would that be, right? So, go out there and comment comment comment :D
Thanks for reading! Follow me, @jedau, if you want to live.
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Halfway Point Hijinks
Ha! You thought the post was over, didn't you?? Some of you may have even already left. If so, please come back :'( I'll wait...
Since we're at the halfway mark, I wanted to give a quick analysis of the series so far. While I have the exact numbers, I'm not going to publish an in-depth analysis here. Originally, I plan to publish one after the very last payout, as a retrospect of sorts. I just wanted to use this opportunity to mention a few key observations.
@verbal-d's recent catch-up blitz allowed me to reminisce a bit about my journey with this story so far. SILVER LINING #7 set an unprecedented record of 637 votes, making it the most voted (and downvoted) installment of the series. Chapter 1 is the highest earning chapter, which ... I really don't know how to feel about that :/ Chapter 11 has the highest number of comments thanks in large part to @verbal-d's catch up. Since I'm replying to every comment, divide the totals by two to come up with the number of comments by other people.
I really wish Steemit would have an analytics platform, much like Medium's. Perhaps a future update? In any case, I really don't want to delve on the analysis and just enjoy and appreciate the support that I'm currently receiving. I don't know about you guys, but the people who comment on my posts are the friendliest and most awesome on Steemit :D They may not be whales, but they sure deserve to be ones, in my opinion.
Thanks for reading! For realz this time.
I would love to be a whale and up vote your stuff bro! And yes the technology chapter was comically intriguing from Ledd's perspective. Such a harmless device in the possession of a small child, but a powerful weapon in the hands of a fully mental-equipped hacker! Thanks for the analytics rundown, very cool to see you break down the stats. Hoping for more support for your posts after HF18
Sadly, HF18 hasn't been good to me. Though I try to not think about it and just focus on the positives. My continued supporters (yourself included, bro) are what keeps me going, so I just try to appreciate all of the good vibes.
In the future, kids will be more amazed at all the antiques that we currently use in our every day lives. But, until that day, I do believe that technology will be a continued source of awe for those that aren't aware of their function.
Yeah HF18 has been a tough utensil to handle. We are either at the table, or on the menu! (that's a company slogan of Al Capone Cigarillos) it came to my mind just now, I don't smoke but they are advertised on the URLTV on youtube channel when I'm watching rap battles
I hope the rewards increase for us both bro. And yeah kids will be using transparent smart technology and holograms and all that in the future, so everything we have now will be antique, obsolete and "old school" lol
That's a great slogan. Brief and very motivating haha! No worries if it doesn't for me, but I'd be livid if you don't get the recognition and compensation you deserve, bro!
Definitely aiming for you to receive the same recognition and compensation bro! Glad you liked the slogan, man I'm falling behind on replies, this is no fun! lol
No worries, bro! We're on the same boat lagging behind life. We'll catch up with everything, I just know it.
Hey there, my bro!
Long time since I've been on Steemit but I'm over the moon to see how well you are doing here. Looks like I'll will be needing pointers in story telling from a seasoned master as yourself from now on! Well, after a particularly stressful period in my life, I've finally got things together and got my head in an okayish place. I'll be starting your phenomenal literary work from the first chapter and catch up quickly to where we are right now. Please accept my deepest apologies for just leaving and taking some time out all.of a sudden. Some important personal matters needed my urgent attention and I just didn't have time for anything else, was so tired at the end of each day. Missed you greatly as well as your blogs though, but now I feel privileged enough to read through everything in one good old marathon fest. Can't wait to get stuck in!
Hope you are keeping great and I'll be on here more regularly from now. All the best, my awesome @jedau!
What? Did you think you can just leave and expect everything will be the same when you return?! Did you think that we would hang on and wait until you made your way back?! It's not like we check your profile every now and again to see if you have any new activity. It's not like we re-read your stories from time to time in preparation of new chapters that we don't know would eventually come!!
I don't know if it embedded correctly, but I intended to include only the line "Screw off! I'm joking, man! C'mon!" haha
No apologies necessary, brother! You're sorely missed here, but I try to keep your flame alive by giving you a shout out now and again. You'll see it when you catch up on SILVER LINING. I just knew that you're going to make a triumphant return here, so I always held out hope and made it a point to check on your profile at least once a week.
I wouldn't say I'm doing well, as I'm losing money and not gaining a single cent from my story haha None of my chapters really ever trended, and many people I reached out to just ignored me. I'm getting a steady set of supporters though, and they're a bunch of the most awesome people I've come to know :D That's what I'm truly grateful for. One might argue that it wouldn't have been possible without you. So, my thanks go out to you, my bro!
We've all been there. I should know, as I'm going through one right now as well. Tired and sleepless nights really make for an awful combination. I'm a familiar (and unwitting) patron of that. As I always say, real life should always take precedence. In the past, I've had bouts of leaving this platform, and you always made it a point to welcome me back with open arms. Expect the same treatment from me, brother!
I just wish that the turbulent time is over now, you have everything sorted out and only great things lie ahead for you! Know that I am always here if you ever need an ear (yes, I rhyme now) For serious, bro. Beyond blockchain, beyond everything. Trust that our friendship shatters miles!
I just realized that Anna has Ledd's viento, super healing, super strenght, lol!
The word confusion that sticks out in my memory the most comes with a little story. I was four years old, had just begun really reading things for myself (rather than just reciting books I'd memorized from people reading them to me) and my older cousin, who at the time was like a hero to me, had gone to a carnival and brought me back a present. It was a brown stuffed animal dog with fluffy ears and a heart hanging from its mouth that said I love you. Anyway, I read the tag, and what my eyes saw was applesauce. So I named him Applesauce. Then sometime later, maybe even a year though it's hard to say because time works so differently back then, I looked at that tag again and realized what it actually said was Applause. I didn't change his name though.
I had Applesauce for years, I wonder what ever happened to him? Hm.
It also brought back memories of my first mouse with a roller, that thing was so frustrating, lol!
A side note: I know you're generally busy on the weekends, but if you get a chance to post tomorrow...guess who's going to be htooms for the night? Yup. Of course I would get this opportunity when the rewards are all messed up, hahaha. Though son-of-satire suggested that maybe the money will all be added at the end of the week or something like that, so it will still ultimately end up mattering. I hope he's right.
Ahaha! Hilarious story, buddy! In honor of that, I shall name a future real brown dog Applesauce. It's so fitting because of the color hahaha! Kids really do say the darndest things haha Is the cousin you're referring to Heather or a different one?
You're right, Ledd and Anna can be seen in the same vein (AHH see what I did there?) Ledd just doesn't have superhuman libido and bloodsucking tendencies. Maybe his vanilla honey pheromones haven't kicked in because he's so young.
WOW! :o I'll comment on that post in a bit, but that's huge, my friend! I'm so happy for you! :D
I really do love Ledd's awkward sense of time. damaus permanently scarred his vision! Fortunately he "heals faster than everyone else" so it did clear up. I was snickering that bit XD
I remember those Casio things, I had a similar kind of one. It didn't help me with anything much and I have no idea what happened to it XD
On the words not necessarily meaning what you think they mean, I did have a very similar thing happen recently. 12yo had a friend sleeping over and we were having dinner and asked him if he wanted some sauerkraut. This kid is known to be a fussy eater, and he declined. My partner asked him if he had ever tried sauerkraut to which the kid repled along the lines of "no but it sounds sour" and he doesn't like sour things.
We then told him it was a German word and was just fermented cabbage. He likes cabbage so agreed to try some. We gave him three strands and moments later he was dipping into the jar for more along with our kids (who all love the stuff). I was then able to tell his mother that he did in fact like sauerkraut XD
Also congratulations on 2000 posts :D
YES! His temporary blindness is no match for his healing viento!
Those Casio things were my gateway to my current profession haha Back then I thought I was already hacking our old CRT TVs unlocking channels that aren't available for all bwahahaha!
Cool story about the sauerkraut! Haha It made me laugh for realz. I remember when I was a picky eater and really didn't want to sample any food served to me. It's funny how he judged the food's taste based on the name. I wonder what he'll think of when he sees these:
There are a lot more NSFW sounding ones, so I chose not to include them haha! Now that you've opened up his tastebuds to sauerkraut, I won't be surprised if he opens up a restaurant that specializes in that years from now :D
Thank your for your continued support, my friend! Your feedback is invaluable :D
I have seen a couple of those and other similar ones but they still make me :O every time XD
I really hope I could see one in person so that I could try it out! hahaha
I used to go to Singapore every year when I was a kid. There was this soft drink there that I couldn't be convinced to try (didn't really help that I don't like soft drinks to begin with).
ahaha! That looks better as an alcoholic beverage!
We demand all the votes!!!
;0)
Great post man!! I remember those mice with the dust and fluff attracting balls inside them! Ah, memories!! An analytics platform. That's a great idea isn't it!! Do a post on it!!
And you all shall receive all the votes! Just give me a sec while I put my house up for mortgage and sell my least favorite kidney (oh, you know who you are). I'll have ALL THE STEEM in no time!!
I used to dismantle those mice and play with their balls. Boy, that sounded wrong real quick :/
I really want to make a post about it, but the computer scientist in me prefers to have a working prototype of it first before posting. AH SO CONFLICTED!
Thanks for tirelessly stopping by, dude! You really know how to make someone feel appreciated :D
You have been visited by droomits
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh I hope you had fun riding on the back of a whale, my friend! A preview for everyone of when you eventually become one. I'm so grateful to you for bestowing upon me a vote :D
I actually had to unvote you and revote you for that, LOL. And don't be silly, voting on your post is a given. I actually signed up with steemvoter for my first time. I only put a handful of people on it but obviously you're one of them. But I decided to go with that because soon, when the weather stays nice, I will be spending a bit less time on here, and I never want to miss posts by certain people. Though of course the new seven day schedule probably makes that unlikely, but then again I don't want to be in a position where I'm voting up a bunch of backposts at the same time and killing my vp. I'll just feel comfortable knowing my friends posts got my vote and then I can come and comment without ever having that feeling that I'm rushed.
I've actually been using Steemvoter for more than a month now. It's great for catching posts as they are, well, posted. It takes the hassle of logging in to catch everything out of the equation. That's how I've been able to not miss voting on any posts. I just browse my frequent supporter's list when I log back in, enjoy their posts and leave comments :D