The Slide-Rock Bolter

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Slide-Rock Bolter

That thing definitely looks scary.  Also, it’s really big and in the open, which makes one wonder how it’s a mystery.  Where did this thing come from?

First, let’s go over what it looks like.  Clearly, the Slide-Rock Bolter is huge, especially the head and mouth. Yet, it has tiny eyes.  The tail is split and hooked, which it uses to grip onto the top of a slanted mountain.  Even though it’s found on land, it resembles a giant fish or eel.  Not sure what in the area could have inspired the lore, but what it does is rather frightening.

The Slide-Rock Bolter comes from lumberjack lore in the 19th and 20th century.  It is specifically found in the Colorado mountains around slanted mountains, which it uses as perches.  After hooking onto a steep slope, it would wait for a few days.  Then, it would let go and slide towards another mountain where it would latch on to get ready to go again.  It’s mouth would be left open to release a slick grease, which made it build up speed and go even faster with each second. With it’s mouth open, the Slide-Rock Bolter would devour everything in its path from people to trees.

A story talks about a park ranger who found a way to kill the Slide-Rock Bolter messing with his area.  He set up a fake tourist filled with explosives and put them in a spot that the creature would notice.  The monster took the bait and blew up along with half the buildings of the nearby town of Rico.  This place was known for mining, which could mean that the creature was blamed for a mine explosion.

That’s actually why the Slide-Rock Bolter might have appeared in legends too.  During the time it appeared in lore, more people were starting to move into the Rocky Mountain regions and explore.  Tourists would go missing and it was easier to blame a mysterious beast than anything else, especially if there was a high number.  You also had avalanches and mudslides that occurred, which is why the Slide-Rock Bolter goes down steep slopes and takes out everything.  If people weren’t there to see the event, but only find the aftermath, they might think it’s a monster.

Can you think of any other natural disasters that are blamed on legendary beasts?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

A Noble Bargain

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Let’s all welcome Jan Sikes to Entertaining Stories today. She is here to tell us about her newest release and it sounds like a good one. Leave her …

A Noble Bargain
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

What Writers Should Know! Part Eleven: Self improvement

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Hi SEers! Denise here with What Write Should Know! Part eleven dives into the importance of self-improvement while on our writing journey. In the …

What Writers Should Know! Part Eleven: Self improvement
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Happy Black Cat Day!

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Well, it is October and black cats tend to be popular as familiars and sinister omens.  Not sure why that superstition sticks around since I’ve heard orange cats are much more demonic in nature.  Anyway, I’m not going to pass up a chance to post funny pictures of cute animals.  Enjoy these guys crossing your path.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Goal Post: Pbbbbbbtttttt

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Next 3 weeks are only 4 days of work/school each.  Think I genuinely need it because this one was full on crazy.  Everyone was off and I ended most days . . . Look, I know I fell asleep because I woke up in my pajamas with my CPAP mask on.  How I got there and when isn’t important at this point.

As far as progress goes, I got all of the December posts done and began added stuff to January.  This is easy since it’s a bunch of old posts that did well over the years.  I want to do this and start 2025 off with more editing time.  Darwin & the Demon Game saw a little progress this week, but only part of a chapter.  Almost got more done, but evening appointments took longer and exhausted me quicker than expected.  Seems I know a lot of people who suddenly become active after 7:30 PM too, so my phone blew up a few times with things I couldn’t ignore without being rude.  At least I have this weekend to get through 1-2 chapters.

My slow progress on editing has me thinking about my own mind too.  When I edit, I’m really taking my time and absorbing all of the words to make sure I like how they fit together.  I go back for information too.  So, it takes me about 1.5 hours to get through 5 pages, especially since I take mental breaks.  Brain fog and fatigue is still an issue, which might be a life-long thing.  This results in me needing a full day to get an entire 16-18 page chapter done.  I’m sunk if I have any appointments or events that suck up most of a morning or afternoon.  That’s been the biggest issue this year because it seems my non-parenting weekends are seen as fair game for others.  Some I don’t mind, but others need to learn boundaries or accept that I don’t mind be left behind.  Alone time helps me recoup my energy and sanity.

This bombardment has also resulted in me getting my sense of progress and victory from a different source:

Pokemon Go

Sure, I’m 44, but this game has probably saved my sanity and sense of self-worth.  It’s become a small flicker of relaxing, success, goals, and father/son time during what really is the worst year of my life.  So, I try to go out after editing in the morning and catch a bunch before grabbing lunch.  I edit again for a bit and go out to catch before dinner.  This weekend might be a little more Pokemon than editing because I have an appointment this morning AND there’s an event.  I basically have until 10 am on Monday to catch 574 ghost types and 875 dark types.  They’re out for Halloween and they aren’t that common outside of the second half of October.  If I hit these numbers, I’ll get the platinum medals, which will help me catch stronger Pokemon and level up later.

All of that probably went over people’s head because it’s game stuff.  I’m sure at least one person is considering unfollowing me since I’m sounding like I’m giving up writing to play a ‘silly game’.  The reality is that I’ve been so battered by things this year that I can only write and edit in blips.  My creativity shifts mostly to anxiety spiraling about how things are still not going well and how it can get worse.  All of the positive energy in the world can’t help when one is trapped in a messy situation that is eroding their sense of self-worth and confidence.  Editing was supposed to help here and it was until certain changes happened and things got worse.  Now, I can only edit every other weekend or days off when I don’t have my son.  Not going to sacrifice what little one-on-one time I get with him to work on my own stuff, so I’m limited.

Next week is Halloween, so it’s going to be primarily getting to Thursday.  I might get a little editing in on Thursday night after my son goes with his mom.  Don’t have any thoughts on what I can watch that is Halloween-related.  I’m not a horror movie fan and will only have maybe 3 hours since I have to wake up early on Friday.  Eh, I’ll figure something out since it’s more important to rest and edit.  Maybe I’ll get lucky and finish 3 chapters by next weekend.

Goals of the week:

  1. Catch tons of ghost and dark type Pokemon.
  2. Spend time with son after weekend.
  3. Take son trick-or-treating on Halloween.
  4. Edit some of Darwin & the Demon Game
  5. Work on more January posts during the parenting days.
  6. Puzzle time if too stressed.
  7. Test out thermal gloves with phone screen friendly fingertips.
  8. Think I want pizza for lunch today.
Posted in Goal Posts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

The Kinderhook Blob

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Kinderhook Blob

Found in New York, this creature was first spotted in the 1960’s.  Two children saw it first, but all those afterwards were adults.  All of them encountered the Kinderhook Blob while walking in the woods.  So, what did people see?

Well, the name pretty much suits this creature.  It is found in the woods of Kinderhook, New York and it’s a blob.  It is white and floats through the area like a ghost, but doesn’t seem to be considered one.  It has no features, so people can’t tell if it’s staring outside of a ‘feeling’.  Some say that even though it floats, it still makes noise as if it’s stomping on the ground.  It might make a creepy whistling noise as well.

That’s pretty much where the information ends.  I found this one interesting only because it was somewhat consistent in description, but no other stories.  A white blob floats through the woods and chases people or makes them so scared that they go running away without a second thought.  It really makes me think of ghosts, but it’s called the Kinderhook blob instead of the Kinderhook ghost.  Maybe I just missed that name when looking around.

So, what do you think about this kind of creature?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Writing a Great Opening Line!

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Greetings to one and all. Beem Weeks here with you again. This month, I am tackling opening lines! All stories have an opening line. It’s sort of a …

Writing a Great Opening Line!
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Poetry Day: Monster City

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

The Orc Disaster (That Time I was Reincarnated as a Slime)

(A fun little poem about a city living on top of a giant.  Pretty sure this stemmed from the first ‘God of War’ game where you reach a temple on a Titan’s back.)

Metropolis up high
On a monster’s flattened skull
Kept above the clouds
As the giant plods along

 

People walking slowly
As their world sways every day
No cars or buses to be found
For fear they will roll off

 

All ignore the stench of sweat
That wafts off the monster’s flesh
Over time they do not notice
As their noses have passed on

 

The city trudges on
With its buildings clothed in spikes
Long enough to pierce a hand
That may try to scratch them off

 

This city standing tall
Has no clue where it has been
As it tries to live its life
Atop the ancient titan

Posted in Poems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Menehune: Dwarves of Hawaii

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Menehune

So, I really wanted to showcase something from Hawaii since I wasn’t seeing a lot show up in searches.  This is mythology and folklore more than cryptozoology though.  It should still count as far as I’m concerned.

The Menehune are dwarves who live in the wilderness of the Hawaiian islands.  They do their best to stay away from human settlements.  At the very least, they don’t want to be seen even though they leave evidence of their existence.  In terms of size, stories have them as either two feet or 6 inches tall.  Some believe they are actually an adopted version of the European brownies due to them not existing until after contact.  The only problem here is that they supposedly had only oral traditions before Europeans showed up to do what they always do.

A big thing that the Menehune did was crafted impressive structures overnight such as ponds, temples, and houses.  For example, it is said that they created the Kikiaola, which is an irrigation ditch connected to the Waimea River on Kauai.  It is said that they have to finish before sunrise or they will have to abandon their creation unfinished.  Another variation had it that they will continue working every night unless they are discovered by a person.

One story with these beings and their work involves the Alekoko Fishpond, which is about 1,000 years old.  They only worked at night and were promised by the royal family that nobody would watch them work.  This structure was for a princess and her brother, who decided to sneak out to watch them one night.  The pair fell asleep and were discovered, so the Menehune turned them into two stone pillars that you can find there today.  The fishpond was left unfinished as well, but the two gaps were filled in later by Chinese settlers.  You can still see the difference in construction.

There are many other additions to the Menehune legend, which comes from different regions:

  • Their favorite foods are bananas and fish.
  • They love dancing and archery.  One story says they will shoot a magic arrow into the heart of an angry person to make them feel love.
  • One origin story has them come from a floating city called. Kuaihelani.  Their home came close to one of the Hawaiian islands, so a bunch jumped off to explore or make a settlement.
  • Another has the sorcerer named Kahano-a-Newa brought them over by stretching out his hand to the outskirts of the world.  They walked over to inhabit several islands.
  • A third origin tale has them coming over from a flooded continent along with the Mu and Wa, which they wiped out.  They would then intermingle with the native Hawaiians until they were driven away.

A theory about who they really are says the Menehune were the original inhabitants of the Hawaiian islands from long ago.  They left these structures and the oral traditions eventually phased them into a more legendary status.  It’s entirely possible given how much history has been lost over time.  What do you think?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Guest Post – Jan Sikes – #newbook – A Noble Bargain

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Jan Sikes is a talented writer and musician I have known for as long as I have been blogging and writing. Her books are award-winning and have …

Guest Post – Jan Sikes – #newbook – A Noble Bargain
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments