UnBlocking My Site With Social Media Buttons

 

For those of you out there with websites I have a very interesting piece of info for you!

Originally I was using Social Media Button Maker to help me create the coding for the social media buttons on my website. That is until I started getting reports from Avast Users that they were getting blocked from my website!

After weeks of googling for a solution, I finally sent an e-mail to Avast to report to them that all other antivirus software (including Kaspersky) were reporting that my site was clean.

Avast sent me back a fast reply telling me that the Social Media Button Maker code (they actually sent me the erroneous piece of code to assist in me finding the problem) was why my website was getting blocked. Back to my backend to figure out why.

I pulled up my code for that widget and found a link INSIDE the code to a shifty hotel site! That was my tip off! I don't remember that being there before! So I deleted the Javascript and sat down to find better buttons and write the html myself. This sent me to a google search where I found ALL of my buttons (including the ones the button maker didn't offer) on WikiCommons! SCORE!

And here's what the buttons look like!:

Buttons in use!

Just regular buttons! YAY!

Once I was finished I reported my fix to Avast and they promptly sent me a confirmation saying that my site would be taken off "blocked" in the next antivirus definition update! YAY!!!

Because I have so many friends that love building their own websites I figured I would offer the code here. They don't have counters, don't lag in loading, or do anything fancy. All you have to do is update the BOLDED links with your own social media links and paste the html where you need it on your site!

HTML Code for social buttons:

<div><a href="http://www.instagram.com/author.vl.jennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="WikiInstagram button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Instagram_icon.png" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a><a href="www.twitter.com/vljennings" style="font-size: 100%;">  <img alt="Wikitwitter button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Twitter_Logo_Mini.svg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /> </a><a href="www.facebook.com/vljennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikifacebook button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Facebook_icon.jpg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /> </a><a href="https://plus.google.com/+VirginiaLoriJennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="WikiGplus button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Google_Plus_logo.png" style="border: 1; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/vljennings/" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikipinterest button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Pinterest-logo.png" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/virginialorijennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikiyoutube button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Youtube_logo_stacked-vfl225ZTx.png" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/VLJennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikigoodreads button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Goodreads_%27g%27_logo.jpg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alien-Mind-V-L-Jennings/dp/1940812658" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikiamazon button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Amazon-mp3-store-source_Faenza.svg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vljennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikilinkedin button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Linkedin.svg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a><a href="http://www.virginialorijennings.com/feeds/posts/default" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="WikiRSS button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Rss-feed.svg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a></div>


<end code>

Once again these codes are completely clean! Once you replace the bolded links with your own there will be no further link back to me at all ;) 

If you'd prefer to take out some of the buttons or perhaps re-order them... here's the breakdown:

Instagram: <div><a href="http://www.instagram.com/author.vl.jennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="WikiInstagram button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Instagram_icon.png" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a>

Twitter:
<a href="www.twitter.com/vljennings" style="font-size: 100%;">  <img alt="Wikitwitter button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Twitter_Logo_Mini.svg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /> </a>


Facebook:
<a href="www.facebook.com/vljennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikifacebook button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Facebook_icon.jpg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /> </a>

Google+
<a href="https://plus.google.com/+VirginiaLoriJennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="WikiGplus button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Google_Plus_logo.png" style="border: 1; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a>

Pinterest:
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/vljennings/" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikipinterest button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Pinterest-logo.png" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a>

Youtube Profile:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/virginialorijennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikiyoutube button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Youtube_logo_stacked-vfl225ZTx.png" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a>

Goodreads:
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/VLJennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikigoodreads button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Goodreads_%27g%27_logo.jpg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a>

Amazon Author Page:
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alien-Mind-V-L-Jennings/dp/1940812658" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikiamazon button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Amazon-mp3-store-source_Faenza.svg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a>

Linkdin:
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vljennings" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Wikilinkedin button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Linkedin.svg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a>

RSS Feed:
<a href="http://www.virginialorijennings.com/feeds/posts/default" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="WikiRSS button" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Rss-feed.svg" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 42px;" / /></a></div>



I hope this helps someone out there! Thanks for stopping by!

***"Improving, Non-stop"photo credit: Broadway via photopin (license)

Find The Alien Mind on Amazon!

Did you like this post? If so you might enjoy my book!

For adults and teens alike, it is truly a science fiction adventure for the whole family!

If you'd prefer an autographed copy straight from the author you can buy one here as well!
Autographed Copy:$13.00 + Shipping

 

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XYZ: Dietary Needs During Intergalactic Travel- Flash Fiction

 Pam spotted her friend as soon as she walked through the mess hall doors.

 “When did you come aboard!” Pam asked.

 “Just a few hours ago. I had to get some things set up in my quarters first.” Gail replied.

 “Oh no worries! Where are you headed this time?”

 “Mmm, I’m thinking I’d like to be let off someplace warm and unindustrialized.”

 “Eros perhaps?” Pam suggested.

 “Yeah, Eros might do the trick. I dunno, I’ll know the planet when I see it.” Gail answered while signaling the ship’s concierge.

 “Yes, ma’am, what would you care for this evening?” The concierge asked politely.

 Gail shook her head, taken aback.

 “Evening?” She said with a sigh, “Great now I’ll have to readjust my sleep cycles again.”

 “Water please,” she added, remembering the concierge who promptly headed off to fetch her water. 

“Aren’t you the least bit hungry? Here try one of these apples, we just got in a shipment of them from the colonies!” Pam suggested as she grabbed a yellow apple from the basket on the table behind her. “Just smell the zestfulness of it!”

 Gail took the apple, and sniffed it hesitantly. Pam eyed her curiously.

 “What are you doing?” She asked.

 “Does this apple have xylitol in it? I’m highly allergic to xylitol.” Gail said.

 “What? What’s that?” Pam asked confused.

 “From the colonies huh; I’m assuming its host plant was genetically modified to survive in different environments. Ugh, nope, that means it does have xylitol in it.” Gail answered.

Pam laughed.

“Gail, almost all of the food we eat nowadays has been genetically modified! How do you survive if you can’t eat it?”

 “Your water ma’am,” The concierge said, offering Gail the glass of water which she promptly drank.

 “I am sorta hungry though, come on Pam, I’ll show you how I eat!”

 Pam followed Gail out of the mess hall and down to her quarters.

 “The captain was a little reluctant to allow me to bring my entourage but I told her that I would set it all up myself so the crew wouldn’t have to.”

Gail explained to Pam before opening the door into her quarters. The door swished open to reveal the fact that half of Gails room had been taken over by a plastic sheet room of some sort. Pam looked at her friend as though she was considering referring her to the ship’s doctor for a mental examination.

 Gail walked into the room and unzipped the door into the plastic tent and Pam followed her. Out of habit Pam fluffed her hair as the humidity rose once she stepped through the second doorway. She gasped once she saw what was on the other side!

 Trees and plants of all kinds! Carefully grown and manicured to produce just enough food for one person.

 “Now THAT’s zest!” Gail said, tossing a fragrant yellow apple from a nearby mini tree over to Pam. “No additives, no genetic tampering, and no xylitol!”

 photo credit: Greenhouse via photopin (license)

 ###

I am terribly sorry, I got behind on two days of stories this week and JUST realized that today is the last day for the Blogging From AtoZ challenge!

So, today's post was inspired by X Y and  Z!  X is for: Zylitol, Y is for Yellow Apple, and Z is for zipper   all part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letters to join on in the fun!

Every day this past month (excluding Sundays- and the past two days I also missed) I wrote a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time it was a sci-fi flash fiction piece and the occasional 5 sentence fiction.
* I've really enjoyed this challenge- but I've discovered that blogging every day may not be for me. I will certainly continue to bring you new flash fiction but I think I may be scaling it back to 2-3 times a week tops. WHEW!


For Readers: What is your favorite fruit? If you could bring its plant along with you on a space ship, would you?

P: Catalaide's Purple Miracle- Flash Fiction

The running lights of Catalaide Station glittered off of the shimmering rings of dust that encircled Saturn. A shining diamond in a sea of glitter. Ignoring the view, Inspector Cade poured over his reports while his ship docked with the station. The ‘blessed station’ is what the locals called it. Its reputation was reaching so far that shuttle tickets to get here had reached astronomical prices. His job was to find out why.

 Ignoring his pilot’s protests on social courtesies, Inspector Cade picked up his briefcase and left the shuttle as soon as the airlock seal hissed. He learned long ago that he would find out more about a place than he would if he had announced his arrival. He turned down a short hallway and headed toward the center of the station. As he neared the elevator doors he brushed the wrinkles out of his jacket, straightened his tie, and looked at his watch.

 Great! I’m late! 

 The elevator took him down to level 7. Deep organ music trickled in through the doors and Cade took a deep preparing breath before the doors swished open. Light, music, singing and prayers filled the room that Inspector Cade walked into. Hundreds of people and no chairs, or aisles. Cade politely made his way to the front of the room to see what all the commotion was about.

 He couldn't believe what he saw as he neared the front of the throng. A purple shawl, surrounded by fog, hung in midair swaying ever so slightly. No one was holding it, no one touched it.

 “This is what people are paying their entire life’s wages to come see?” Inspector Cade asked a woman to his left. 

“Oh yes Sir! Isn't it amazing? It’s a miracle!” The spry young woman responded.

 “Is it always there or does someone take it down?” Inspector Cade prodded.

 “Oh no sir! No one touches it,” The woman answered, her blonde curls swaying as she shook her head in objection to his question. “It disappears before lunch and doesn't come back till next Sunday.”

 Inspector Cade looked around the room and noticed a large mirror hanging above the elevator doors.

 What an odd place to put a mirror.

 He stayed there till almost noon watching the purple shawl floating in the fog. Inspector Cade walked around the room, talking to different people, asking questions about the shawl. A few mentioned some rumors of miracles that had happened in the room, but most said the same thing. The fog collects, the shawl appears and stays for a few hours and then disappears again right before the fog dissipates.

 Convenient. Inspector Cade considered the location of the mirror again.

 Later after the fog had dissipated and the people all left the Inspector turned off his gravity boots and floated up to inspect the ceiling. It wasn't long before he found the small projector unit aimed down at the mirror.

 Just as I suspected... it’s all an illusion!

Today's post was inspired by the letter P. P is for: Purple  as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.



This post is ALSO part of the 52 week flash fiction challenge on facebook
Week 4 word prompt: Shawl
Word Limit: 20- 500
This one tops out right at 496 words.

Thanks for reading!

For Readers:  Would you expose the illusion or would you let the people continue in their delusion?


-> photo credit: Shawl via photopin (license) <-

J: The Jade Fox Mission- Flash Fiction

 Her ship set down on the warm black paved road in front of her great grandmother's house and a group of deer leapt from the nearby field to hide in the woods. The engines shut down and Tonya climbed out of her ship. Humans had left the planet long ago to give it a much needed break. A time to rest and rejuvenate itself. There were way more song birds in the area now than Tonya had seen on the vids and the vegetation had certainly taken over.

She waded through the chest high grass that had grown up through what was once a gravel driveway. The posts holding the porch roof had long since deteriorated and the back porch roof hung precariously out over the steps without any support.

The things I do for my mother, Tonya thought, gritting her teeth as she tiptoed up the steps afraid to disturb the hanging roof.

Tonya tried the handle on the back door and was relieved when the handle turned easily. Pushing the door open gave Tonya her first glimpse of the home her dying mother would give anything to see again.

The view would probably crush her, Tonya realized sadly, now appreciating why her father suggested she go instead.

Sunlight streamed in through the gaping hole in the roof above that had long since collapsed. Years of rain and rot inspired trees and weeds to grow up through the collapsed floor boards. Green leafy branches reached up to the sky through the living room roof where a ceiling fan had once hung.

I hope the back bedroom isn't this bad or else this trip will have been for nothing.

Carefully making her way around the debris and rotting floor boards Tonya reached the hallway and found it a little dryer. Her mother had visited here a great many times when she was a kid. She had spent summers with with her grandmother, Tonya's great grandma.

The first room off to the right was her grandmother's piano room. She recounted for Tonya how she had sat for hours at the old heavy upright piano while her grandmother patiently tried to teach her how to play. Warm sunlight on the music sheets and the smell of fresh snickerdoodles, the reward for a lesson well studied.

Tonya poked her head into the room today to find the upright piano poking our from a large gaping hole in the floor. Sunlight from the window now inspiring weeds to grow up around it from under the house. No doubt the floor joists had collapsed under the piano's weight years ago.

I wonder if it could still make the sweet music I heard on mom's vid. Tonya decided that it probably wouldn't and continued onto the next room.

Tonya pushed the door open to the guest bedroom and gasped in relief. There hanging from a chain on the ceiling fan, still intact, hung the jade fox her mother still so lovingly remembered.

###

->photo credit: JadeCrouchingOx via photopin (license) <- And yes I am very well aware that the picture is not of a fox... sorry, I'll keep looking. If anyone finds a public domain one or one that I can share with a link back let me know!

Today's post was inspired by the letter J. J is for: Jade as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.



This post is ALSO part of the 52 week flash fiction challenge on facebook
Week 3 word prompt: Fox
Word Limit: 20- 500
This one tops out right at  497 words.

For Readers: What is one thing from your grandmother's house that you would love to have as a keep sake?

I: Icy Explosion- Flash Fiction

"Drill one to drill two" Issac called over the radio. "I'm about finished here. I need to head back to base to drop off this shipment of ore boss."

 "Sure thing, drill one," Henry answered, "I think this asteroid is all mined out anyway.

"Before you head back you two might was to look at these readings." Annette called over the radio from the other side of the asteroid.

Henry pulled up Annette's stats on his ship's dashboard.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing boss?" Issac asked Henry.

"Annette, from what I'm seeing, this looks like water. Is that what you are reading?"

"Yes sir, it looks to be a rather large deposit of it too."

"Liquid or solid?"

"Not sure boss,"

"Ok, you both be prepared to drop your loads if we find liquid water. The station will pay handsomely for fresh water." Henry instructed.

Annette watched the stats on her console as she continued drilling down through the rock to get to the water deposit. The pressure started building down inside the drill line. arning lights flashed on the console.

"Keep going Annette," Henry advised.

Light tremor readings began building on Issac's side of the rock.

"Boss... I think we have a problem." Issac warned.

"No problem, this rock's just going to fight us for it's spoils that's all." Henry replied.

"Almost there!" Annette called out.

"There!" Annette cried out.

The ground shook the drill ships and the team's instruments were flooded with information. Issac threw the switch to fire his thrusters as the mining tunnel beneath him collapsed and almost swallowed his ship.

"We gotta get off this rock!" Issac yelled even though no one could hear him through the din of their own instruments.

Moments later all three of their ships were thrown back into space by flying rock debris. Large chunks of the asteroid smashed into the three drill ships from all sides. Damage and proximety alarms rang out as the three of them tried to maneuver their ships out of the paths of the debris.

Annette's instrument data disappeared off of Henry's dashboard as a particularly large chunk collided with her ship.

"Dangit!" Henry swore through his teeth.

He steady his ship and eyeballed her stat center for signs that she was ok.

"Boss... Is Annette," Issac asked quietly once he found a safe zone on a nearby asteroid.

"I don't have sights on her, do you?"

"Saw the whole collission Sir, She's adrift now. No stat data coming in." Lewis answered, choking over his words.

"GREAT!" Annette shouted over the radio. "Dead as a doornail! My ship's engine took major damage from that hit boss."

"Cesar's ghost Annette! What's your status? We can't read any stats from you over here." Henry called out, relief crackling through his normally level voice.

"I'm ok sir, but you have to see this to believe it!" Annette answered.

The debris slowly cleared to reveal a solid chunk of ice floating where their asteroid had been.

->photo credit: BENNU’S JOURNEY - Heavy Bombardment via photopin (license) <-

Today's post was inspired by the letter I. I is for: Ice    as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding Sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.

*For Readers: 

As always... if you have something that starts with the letter J that you would like me to try to incorporate into tomorrow's short story, I'm always open to suggestions!

***

Find The Alien Mind on Amazon!

Did you like this post? If so you might enjoy my book!

For adults and teens alike, it is truly a science fiction adventure for the whole family!

If you'd prefer an autographed copy straight from the author you can buy one here as well!
Autographed Copy:$13.00 + Shipping

 

H: Husbands- Name Game

photo credit: Count & Countess Armfelt (LOC)
via photopin (license)

Why Do Husbands get to keep their names but we don't?- (A just for fun, not to be taken seriously, post)

Ok... because I needed a little bit of a breather from writing sci-fi flash fiction posts, today I thought we could play a little game instead.

 In many cultures when a couple gets married the wife takes the husbands last name. However, many wives have grown so accustomed to their maiden names that they don't jump for joy in letting go of it. I've also heard the excuse that "they didn't want to become just another Mrs. soandso" - in the case where the husband had been married previously.

Hey, it happened to me... it didn't bother me much. Sure I was glad to take my husband's last name! My NEW problem I was also already published under my maiden name. Twice. Sure... I could jump through hoops and have my publisher reprint the covers (LOTS of hassle). But even then my married last name is a bit bulky for a book cover. So whats a woman to do?

Wait a minute... who says it should always have to be the woman that worries about this?

Then it struck me... we need a new fad! Instead of the woman hyphenating her name or taking her husbands name there is ANOTHER choice.

Mashup your last name!

So here's the game...  take your hubby's last name and your maiden name (or your last name and your wife's last name if you are a guy) and combine the two to make up a new last name!


In my case... Instead of V.L. Jennings... I'd be V.L. Yarninngs

*Cue Laughter

Today's post was inspired by the letter H. H is for: Husbands   as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding Sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.

*For Readers: Mash up your last names! Tell me what they are in the comments!

As always... if you have something that starts with the letter I that you would like me to try to incorporate into tomorrow's short story, I'm always open to suggestions!

F: Fire- Burned Into Memory- Flash Fiction

photo credit: Agni- The Fire God- Free Texture
via photopin (license)

The stars around Davis swirled as he attempted yet another run through the asteroid field. It was important to maneuver the ship around the asteroids quickly to keep from getting hit. He could see the edge of the field in front of him. He was almost out!

Suddenly his skin felt dry and hot. Flames flickered in front of his vision. Pain shot through his extremities. The smell of burning flesh and plastic assaulted his nose.

Cummon Davis! It’s just in your imagination. You KNOW that. You can push through this! He thought to himself.

A few more asteroids later and the pain became so intense that he lost his focus. One wrong move and he found himself careening into the nearest rock. His vision went dark and the smell dissipated, but the pain didn’t.

 Light rushed into the cockpit as a technician opened the simulator’s hatch.

“You almost had it that time Davis! Good Job!”

“Almost isn’t good enough if I get my ship destroyed and its cargo lost again!” Davis growled.

 He climbed out of the simulator and left the technician staring at him as he left.

 They called it PTSD. Nightmares and visions of being burned alive had plagued him ever since the accident four months ago. Until he passed the simulations without a hitch he wouldn't be allowed to fly a shuttle again. Sure, being a pilot wasn't the only thing he could do but even a job on base was proving difficult to keep with these visions creeping up on him at the worst moments.

He neared the Kitchens just as the fire alarm went off. Hearing shouts from the kitchen he charged through the door and grabbed two fire extinguishers from the wall. A grease fire had started on the grill and set the fryer alight as well. The roaring flames reached the ceiling. The kitchen staff had jumped back but the fire was too hot for them to get close enough to turn on the fire suppression system.

Davis jumped into the fray and passed one of the fire extinguishers to the nearest staff member. He pulled the pin on his own and they both suffocated the fire in foam. The station’s firemen ran into the kitchen just as the fire was dying out. Seeing the fire was under control the firemen clapped Davis on the back.

“Man, we are always looking for more brave souls who would like to take on firefighting if you’d be interested!”

Davis shook their hands and politely left the men to their work. It wasn't till he was on his way back to his quarters that he realized that he hadn't had any issues that time. Even though he was face to face with the fire he had stayed in control.

Control, maybe that was the key, he thought. Perhaps the fire didn't concern me because I knew I had something to fight back with!

Today's post was inspired by the letter F. F is for: Fire  as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding Sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.



As always... if you have something that starts with the letter G that you would like me to try to incorporate into tomorrow's short story, I'm always open to suggestions!

B: Bedtime In Space- Flash Fiction

photo credit: P1070326 via photopin (license)

The end of a long day, it's finally bedtime, Andrea floated over to her sleeping bag on the side of the space station.

"I'm ready for a good nights sleep!" Jack said, zipping himself into the sleeping bag on the opposite wall.

He was asleep within minutes.
Andrea hung inside her sleeping bag trying to calm her restless mind, trying to get comfortable.

I liked sleeping on my stomach on earth, maybe it would help if I turned towards the wall.

Andrea turned over inside her sleeping bag just to realize that the problem wasn't the way she was turned but more because she didn't have the bed to snuggle onto or the blankets weight around her. They had warned her that the first night could be like this. They had even sent her and Jack with medicine to help them get to sleep.

Mom always told me, if you start down that path you run the risk of always needing pills to get to sleep. But what do I do!

Andrea thought for a few minutes, examining her surroundings. Lights from various control panels blinked softly back at her and a few objects still floated around the room. A pen still tied to it's string had come unvelcroed from its place on the wall, and apparently one of her socks had managed to get left behind when she packed away the day's laundry.

UGH, maybe that's why I can't sleep. Aundrea thought.

She unzipped her sleeping bag and floated over to the pen and sock putting both of them back where they belonged. As she shut the sock back inside the clothes cabinet she suddenly came up with an idea.

Maybe it is the weight of the blankets I am missing which is why I can't get comfortable enough to fall asleep!

Andrea floated up to her clean laundry cabinet and dragged out a few shirts and pairs of cloth pants. She pushed them over to her sleeping bag and zipped herself halfway in. She stuffed her pants and shirts down inside the bag and around the inside of the sleeping bag's hood before zipping the bag back up around her.

AH! Andrea rubbed her face against the shirt balled up beside her head. This is more like it!

Within moments she was fast asleep.

Andrea woke to Jack's laughter the next morning.

"What's all this?"

Andrea looked him over through bleary eyes.

"How did you sleep?" She asked.

"The meds got me to sleep but I kept waking up all night." Jack admitted. "This sleeping in space business is going to take some getting used to."

"Well I may look like the stay puffed marshmellow man, but I slept great last night!" Andrea said with a cheeky smile.

Andrea unzipped her sleeping bag and unleashed all her shirts and pants to float through the cabin as she pushed away from the wall.

"It may look silly but I might just have to try that tonight." Jack laughed.

Today's post was inspired by the letter B. B is for: Bedtime  as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.





For Readers: What do you do to help you get to sleep in a new environment? 


Here's some fellow bloggers I have visited today:

B is for Book Characters or Blackmyst 

B: Beethoven’s fifth- the meaning behind the music

All Things Geeky

B is for Boxers (no not those kind of boxers)

A is for Aussies


Stop by and leave some encouragement! This blogging challenge can be very daunting!

A: Acid Rains Of Enzor- Flash Fiction

photo credit: IMG_3640 via photopin (license)

Jody walked along the creaking halls of her ship inspecting the damage. She wasn’t sure how much time she had left but she knew it wouldn’t be long. The engines were damaged beyond repair in the crash and the acid rain in Enzor’s atmosphere was quickly eating through the hull. Jody knew her suit would offer her some protection from the acid but it wouldn’t last long.

To be burned alive by rain. Jody shuddered.

Ahead of her the metal of her ship had twisted and deformed before rending itself in two during the crash. The rain fell like a haze through that gaping maw and sizzled as it ate away the metal floor below. She eyed the damage warily and used the light on her suit to make sure she was well away from the rain.

I could make a run for it and try to find some caves somewhere. Jody thought.

She reached out and gently touched the side of her ship, the sensors in her gloves allowing her to feel the walls as though she wasn’t wearing any gloves at all. She could feel the sensations of the ship sizzling through the walls as the acid ate away at the metal outside.

Yeah, that sensor would have to be shut off if I ventured outside!

Making one last sweep of the hall she headed back up towards the cockpit of the ship where the least damage was. The airlock and the environmental controls still worked there. Even still, in the center of the ceiling a rusty colored circle was starting to form over one of the dents. The roof here wouldn’t last much longer, and when it gave way there wouldn’t be many other spots on the ship to hide.

Jody sat in her seat in the cockpit and unlocked her helmet, pulling it off and shaking her hair free in one movement. She yanked a metal box from under the console and unlatched the top. Inside lay a days worth of rations. The rest of her rations had been destroyed when the rust collapsed the living quarters a few days ago.

Jody eyed the rusty circle above her head and noted with dread that condensation had already started to form. She decided to pack the rest of the rations in the pockets on her pants leg just in case. She tore open the last ration pack with her teeth and hastily ate the ration bar.

No sense in good food going to waste.

Another ominous groan from the ship around her was joined by the airlock failure and the hull breach alarm.

Crud! Jody hissed between her teeth as she hurried to lock her helmet back on her head.

Jody backed away as the acid droplets fell from the ceiling with a sizzle.

A pinging sound on the console told her that her buoy had been received.

“If they get here in time,” Jody mumbled, “I will never complain about the rain again!”

Click the A to join the fun!

Today's post was inspired by the letter A. A is for: Acid  as part of the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 challenge! Click on the letter to join on in the fun!

Every day (excluding sundays) I will be writing a post about something that begins with the letter for that day. Most of the time you will find a sci-fi flash fiction piece here.





For Readers: Would you make a run for it and try to find better shelter or try to wait it out on the ship like Jody?

Blog posts I visited today:

A: Arizona Sunset

On Art

A Man For All Seasons

http://www.birdcagefreelance.com/ But they didn't have their challenge up yet- looks like an interesting blog though.

A: All About Dog Shows

Stop by and leave them a word of encouragement... posting every day can be a big challenge!