We are in the midst of triple digit weather. These days the apartment complex pool is in use seemingly from sunup to sundown (and beyond). Thankfully I got a new air conditioner installed recently as the compressor had gone out on the old one.

This past month I had a wart on my heel treated (it is virtually healed by now). Mom came down from Montana for a visit and I drove up to Montana to see my sister. Sis and I even bowled a couple of games, reminding me that I have certain leg muscles that I apparently don’t use all the time.

My ex in the nursing home/rehab center is learning the importance of following the nurses’ orders. For instance, she must be careful how she swallows or she risks getting food down into her lungs. And since she has yet to learn to swallow better she is being forced to go back onto an uncomfortable procedure where her trachea is blocked while she eats.

In the meantime, she is being reminded how her balance is still an issue. She has fallen several times, the most recent one occurring last Friday and resulting in a nasty cut on her head and bruises on her hand. She has a walker and must learn to be more careful and to understand that her body has certain weaknesses she must be constantly aware of. But she appreciates my visits and I’m glad I can go over from time to time to put a smile on her face and lift her spirits.

I continue to write new material while finding older stories I have never posted anywhere. And I’ve written several customs for certain individuals, although I haven’t decided if they will all be posted or not. Some may simply remain private projects while others might be suitable for the public if I make a few tweaks and changes to them. It is amazing how many stories I still have in my archives that have yet to be posted!

I hope everyone’s summer is enjoyable and that you are finding ways to keep cool…

I have been reorganizing the Categories page for ease of reading and less confusion. Instead of a number of pages popping up to refer to, readers can now scan the categories all on one page. Links have been added to take you directly to the listing of stories in each category starting with the most recent posting.

Several sub-categories are listed as a series of chapters I have written. I have grouped these separately and left a brief synopsis for each one. I have also included a link for the starting chapter of each series.

I had someone ask me about a series I am currently working on. Sometimes I like to wait until a series is completed before posting it. But the Mr. Wayne series is one I am also currently posting to another forum. I decided I would also post it here while I continue to work on it. But I have other stories still needing to be posted so I tend to mix up what I post in order to give readers a variety to choose from.

Actually I have two other series in my archives. One is incomplete and was partially posted to another forum before a server crash erased those posts. To date I have not finished it and it is not posted anywhere else. Another series is complete but I have yet to post it here.

I tend to think through what I should post next, in what order, and when to post certain stories. Naturally there are some topics that all my readers with their varying backgrounds and interests will not agree upon. Some stories may be objectionable to some but not to others. I am sensitive to those issues and I have stories in my archives that I am still contemplating whether or not to post. It is possible that with some editing I will feel more comfortable allowing the general public to read them, especially since some of them were specifically written for an audience of one.

On a separate note I am seeing a podiatrist today. It seems a corn or wart is growing in the heel of my foot, making walking more painful with each passing day. It is amazing how intricate the human body is and how a little thing can cause such discomfort.

At any rate I hope all of you are healthy and are looking forward to an enjoyable summer. Thanks for visiting the library…

It is one thing to call the courthouse every day to see if you are required to report for the possibility of jury duty. It is something else entirely when you are seated and end up serving. That is what happened to me on the 1^st of May.

A court case in real life is certainly not the same as one portrayed on TV, although there are some similarities. We were seated in the jury box, and during opening and closing statements the attorneys came over and spoke directly to us, similar to what is portrayed on TV. And during the trial the witnesses did wear gloves to handle evidence.

As jurors we were not allowed to discuss the case in any manner until it was given to us for deliberation. That was a challenge as we all had the urge at one time or another to vent what was on our minds. And it is true that a trail takes an emotional toll on an individual. We went home for the night and the next day many reported a mental exhaustion of sitting throughout the afternoon listening to evidence, even though we only heard testimony for little more than three hours.

Deliberations were interesting. All opinions were heard and voting in our case usually occurred by way of upraised hands. We heard a criminal case with two charges and we were pretty much in agreement on one of them. But there was much discussion on the second. Our foreman did a good job making sure each juror was able to speak what was on his or her mind.

The bailiff was extremely helpful, the judge gracious and professional. The attorneys treated us extremely well, even as they tried to present their particular side of the issues. The members of the jury were considerate of each other and I found the whole experience educational and enlightening.

As I listened to the testimony I found that as a writer I was able to listen actively to the presentation of the case. As witnesses presented their testimony I was able to picture it in my mind. And even though it was a case involving something I might have had a natural opinion about in general, I treated my role seriously and focused on the facts presented by the evidence.

Things are not always as cut and dry as they appear, and that went for us as well. What appeared to be obvious to begin with soon resulted in some major discussions as to the evidence and the question of guilt or innocence. Even today I have been deliberating the case in hindsight and I suspect that is what the other jurors have been doing as well.

To sum up, now that I have served on a jury I have a greater appreciation of some of the more notable cases we have heard about in the media throughout the years. Outside the courtroom we have the media reports to sway our opinions. But in the courtroom we are given testimony and must deliberate based on the facts at hand.

There may be some flaws in the system and some verdicts might not come out the way we desire. But in the end we are tried by a jury of our peers based upon the facts presented in court. We took our roles seriously and I believe we treated the defendant with the respect he deserved. If for some reason I find myself in court in front of a jury, I pray they too will give me the same respect…

I did a little tinkering with the categories. I think it’s a male thing… “If it ain’t broke, tinker with it until it is!” My goal – whether I succeed or not – is to make the categories a little more user friendly. We’ll see how this works.

I reorganized the Snuff Club stories, renaming them into a set of series so they lay out together in a little easier format. I starred the original series that started it all so it is placed at the top of the Snuff Club listings. I also set up a separate category for the recent series I am working on.

I may also reorganize the underwater stories. Right now I have a drowning category listed near the top and then farther down I have underwater categories. It might group things better to have all the underwater story categories listed together.

I added a beheading topic and shifted some stories into that category. It is surprising how many people enjoy reading a beheading story. It is not my favorite thing to write about, as you can tell by the number of stories posted here that I lean heavily on drowning and underwater situations. But it is good to branch out and write about other topics. I’ve gotten positive feedback from the people for whom I written the more unusual stories. It encourages me to try a different type of story from time to time.

I appreciate those of you who have taken the time to rate the stories using the ratings system, especially the stories you have enjoyed. Comments and feedback are always welcome. And if you have any thoughts as to how I can better organize the site using categories and tags, feel free to send those as well. You can leave comments in the General comments/contact me page or you can contact me at contactriwa@riwaslibrary.com.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you continue to enjoy the site…

Things tend to not get done much when one has a cold or the flu, especially in the muscles. I have not felt like uploading anything as sitting at my computer desk can be quite uncomfortable. But I am drinking lots of fluids and I hope to be feeling better soon. It really sucks when you like to write and you don’t even feel like sitting at the keyboard and writing.

Oh well… this too shall pass. At least you now have an explanation for why the library has had posts uploaded so infrequently this past week…

Excluding blog entries I have just hit my 600^th post with the uploading of Apartment Neighbors. JustPaul was kind enough to provide a number of renders to illustrate it for me. For that I am grateful as he has provided a number of great renders to help illustrate some stories I’ve uploaded. I really think it adds to the tale when there are pictures to help one visualize the scene.

I’m not just writing stories now. I’ve begun writing scripts for MMP Studios/MMP TV. They do great underwater scenarios related to drowning and scuba diving. I believe this is a good first step toward eventually earning an income based on my writing.

Who knows? Someday I might end up writing scripts for television and movies! I must admit, I’ve seen some movies for television on Cable that I thought I could have written a little better. I suspect it’s just writer’s ego. But who knows? Maybe someday I might even write a book! I think it would be great to make a living based on something I enjoy doing!

As always, I appreciate you stopping by to check in on my stories or to read my blog. With all the places one can visit on the Internet, I am thankful you have chosen to stop here. I hope you enjoy yourself and that you find several stories to your liking…

I wonder how many times a reader asks that question after reading something I have written and posted. It’s a fair question.

A part of the answer can be found in who I wrote the story for. That information is listed at the bottom of the text along with the date I originally wrote or finished editing the story. Sometimes I write a story for myself. But more often than not I write it for someone in particular.

Sometimes a story comes in the form of a request. Someone has a desire to read a story containing a particular scene or peril. Maybe it is just an interest they have or maybe it is some sort of wild fantasy.

Other times that information comes out during a chat or a series of emails sent back and forth. I find out something about the individual, something they find interesting or – dare I say – arousing? Sometimes it triggers a story idea. I usually find out after writing a particular story just how much the person I wrote it for really enjoyed it.

For example, my friend jqpublic likes accidental drowning stories that often involve a favorite celebrity of his. In the tales I write for him there are certain characteristics he likes me to include. One of the two big ones involves some sort of task involved – a swim, fixing something underwater or trying to open or close something. The other is some sort of remark about how long she can hold her breath to accomplish the task. These are things he likes to read about so I try to incorporate them into his stories.

On the other hand Emma works as a scuba diver during the summer months. She enjoys reading about scuba perils both real and imagined. But she also likes being roughed up and manhandled and reading about how she is put into other perils or scenes of bondage.

She has shared some of her real life adventures with me, some of which have been converted into stories. She is always thrilled to read about herself being mentioned specifically by name as she is put into another peril which she may or may not have gotten into all on her own. She doesn’t seem to mind if she lives or dies in any particular story. For her it is the thrill of the peril.

I have gotten other requests from other individuals, some of which have become stories and some which are still simmering on a back burner. Needless to say I have several files of story ideas, some by request and some of my own making. But I don’t always know what idea will strike my fancy and give me the energy to sit down and type. Because of my perfectionistic tendencies each one takes time and thoughtfulness to write.

Naturally some stories are more of a challenge to write than others. Some stories fit my interests while others do not, making it easier to work on some and harder to work on others. If the interest or enthusiasm is not there then I get concerned that I will not give a story my full attention. I do not wish to shortchange myself or my readers so I won’t always work on a story until I know I can give it my best effort.

Many times I find myself Googling for background information in an attempt to make a story more plausible and enjoyable. There is a lot of time and energy involved in the writing process and even I forget that sometimes. But at the end of the day when I’ve written something that I’m proud of that people enjoy it is a satisfying feeling, even if the story is not one I am accustomed to writing.

So the next time you find yourself wondering why I wrote THAT? Just check for the name at the bottom of the story and know that I tried to give a good effort for that individual or that I was writing with a certain audience in mind. Then look around and find something else. I firmly believe that you will find a story somewhere on this site to your liking. And even though it might not specifically say that I wrote it for you? I hope you will enjoy it so much that it FEELS like I wrote it just for you.

Thanks for stopping by…

It has been a couple of months since my last post. I apologize but I wasn’t sure I had anything relevant to post. But I guess I have something now to talk about…

A year ago today I opened up the library and made my first blog post. It is 567 posts later (excluding the blogs) and a year has gone by. Most of my stories have been posted from my archives, leaving me to decide of those remaining what to post and what not to post. There are some customs I might be able to upload if I change names and such.

I have enjoyed uploading my stories to the library, grouping the various themes and such into one location. And as you have noticed I have branched out into other topics besides the one I like most – underwater. I think by doing so I have added more readers, perhaps exposing them to different tastes and interests.

I realize some folks might prefer a certain type of story over another or might not like to read about certain things. I do my best to try to categorize and tag them in order to assist you in finding what you enjoy reading. So I understand if everything may not be to your liking. We all like what we like and some things we just don’t like reading about.

As the year comes to a close I’ve become somewhat contemplative, thinking of what I have. With my ex-wife in the rehab center with a couple of bags coming out of her belly, I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to be in relatively good health. It’s made me appreciate the ability to go out for walks and drives and the ability to get around. It’s also made me see how much it means to her to have me drop in to see her and bring her smiles and encouragement.

In talking to some people who have lost their mothers over the years it has made me appreciate that mine is still here. We’ve enjoyed taking day trips together to sightsee. We have similar interests in seeing lakes and rivers and scenery and we have always had a good time together. It makes me appreciate having my mother around that much more.

This last year I got to see my sister more. She is doing better and it has been good to be able to spend time together, especially when we were estranged just a couple of years ago. She still has health issues and there are medical concerns. But for now the relationship is better and I appreciate it more, especially since I know there are those out there who do not have good relationships with their family members. So that is something else I have to be thankful for.

2012 lays before us like a package about to be opened. I do not know what the New Year holds for me, although I still plan on writing. Naturally there are uncertainties and I won’t bother making resolutions I might end up breaking anyway. But I’m determined to move forward with a positive attitude, wondering what blessings are about to come my way.

I hope all of you have a New Year filled with abundant blessings. And I hope I post a story or two this next year to your liking. Thanks for stopping by…

Last week was a very sobering week for me. A couple I knew who were helping my ex-wife during her medical situation and subsequent stay in a medical facility were killed in a terrible car crash on the Interstate highway. It was one of those situations where they had no chance and were probably killed instantly.

It made me realize how precious life really is… and how fragile it can be. It also made me introspective, especially since I do a lot of driving to go up to see my mom and sister. I must admit to a few pangs of anxiety when I got back behind the wheel and just drove around town. But the feelings have passed and driving for me is back to normal for the most part. Mary is doing ok but for the both of us it seems surreal and will probably seem like that for weeks to come.

On a lighter note I got a haircut today. Then I went to the mall and walked around for approximately 30 minutes or so. Walking served a dual purpose in that 1) I need the exercise, and 2) isn’t there some unwritten law that says once you have gotten a haircut you need to go out in public and display yourself as looking more normal than the shaggy beast you looked like the day before? Maybe the young woman who took my order for lunch today smiled at me because I had a nice haircut. Or maybe not… but it doesn’t hurt to think positive.

My story postings may become a bit more sporadic as I am starting to pick and choose what to put up next. At times I might not be posting each and every day. But there are still a few series of stories with 8 to 10 chapters each that will be going up in the coming weeks. So when I’m uploading those I might be posting more often.

It is very encouraging for me to get indications that my stories have hit a particularly good spot with readers. Seeing the votes and thumbs up are helpful, especially when a story has gotten several votes. Every now and then I go back through and look to see what you have enjoyed reading. I can often tell by how many votes a story gets.

What really encourages me are the comments left on particular stories. It is this kind of feedback that lets me know what stories are greatly appreciated or what I included in a particular story that you really enjoyed. I still have a multitude of ideas and suggestions (and they seem to be growing in number). But sometimes it can be a specific comment or encouragement that motivates me to work on a particular theme or genre.

I regret that you must now be registered in order to leave a comment. I was getting a lot of spam and was forced to change the settings. I guess running a website and dealing with spammers is a fact of life. (sigh)

Thanks for stopping by; enjoy your visit. And remind someone today who you love just how much you appreciate them. After all, you never know how the rest of the day will unfold…

I see I’m about to upload my 500^th post, not including my blog entries. I didn’t realize I was such a prolific writer. I guess they all add up pretty quickly when you don’t pay attention or keep count.

I guess I’ve been able to write so much because I have not needed to work outside the home because of the ex-wife’s inheritance. And when our relationship sadly declined I found an outlet that I enjoyed very much. Writing is something I really like to do. And when the point in time arrives where I do need to go back to work then I fervently hope that some sort of writing will be involved.

Most of my underwater stories are up. But I still have a few short series that need to be uploaded. I also have a few customs I believe I can post if I make a few minor adjustments to them. I still have some Aquafan picture stories as well as a scattering of other stories I have written that do not necessarily fit the underwater or peril/snuff genres. It will just be a matter of deciding what to post and when to post it.

I was hoping to post a celebrity-in-peril story I’ve been working on. But sadly it is not ready yet. However I found another custom story I wrote awhile ago that I’ve never posted before so I will upload that one. I’m always questioning which stories I should upload, hoping you will find something to your liking. So with that in mind I’ll let you read one I wrote for jqpublic called Private Lessons.

Enjoy…