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So we're stuck inside; that's if we're one of the lucky ones. For those who are forced to work outside on a day such as this, you have my deepest sympathies. Lemonade stand anyone?

Word spread through the Internet grapevine of a 'cool' game being played at one of the campus buildings yesterday and it sounded like a fun way to beat the heat and keep our brains from frying.

Post a sentence or paragraph of at least twenty words that are e free. Yes, leave out the E words and go for the other vowels. A I O U and sometimes Y. Y not? Have fun!

Local artist Stan Herd and son Evan Herd will be hosting a pre 4th of July party Saturday evening from five to midnight and you're invited. Only one problem, it's so large they're holding it at Abe and Jake's Landing - 8 E 6th St.

The event, which is from five to midnight, July 3rd, (tickets are five dollars - with one dollar from each ticket going to the Lawrence Community Shelter) will showcase a multitude of area bands including: Michael Paull - Big Stack Daddy, Frut Snaxx, Forest of Luxury, Yeti Speak, Atomic Blues, Quiet Corral, Katlyn Conroy, Yes 'ir, Rachel Black, and Elevator Action.

It sounds like there will be something for everyone! So my question: (since I'll be helping with tickets and juice bar) which bands should I be sure to catch? Remember, my tastes run the gamut from Beatles, blues and I love the poetry of rap music.

So, if any of the reading audience has any positive words about the bands, now is your chance to speak up! I hope to see you there - the event will be hotter than an exploding fire cracker, so beware!

Two work days to make it through before the explosive thought of July 4th, and the day following as paid vacation for most of us, so let's pass the time sharing some of our favorite performers and performances that have instrument solos with the letters 'har' in them. I'm thinking harmonica (a personal favorite), harp and harpsichord.

Who are your favorite 'har' pos, 'har' poons, and 'har' pers? Yeah, yeah, yeah - Lennon could really play a mean harmonica as can Dylan.

List your song and performer and share a link so we can enjoy. One post per comment, please.

Whether they're large, small, black and white, or in color, we all have them - dreams. They're what a large part of our waking and sleeping lives are about. They keep us going in the bleakest of times and give us something to focus and strive towards. Some people simply dream, never taking the smallest of baby steps towards making their dream(s) materialize. Others create through their dreams - allowing and encouraging themselves the ability to let the subconscious slip over them; envelope them, understanding that we can trust ourselves to know what is right for us. Still others deny any dreams.

I met Carol the Coach, as she's referred to in the Indianapolis area, when I began flying to and from Chicago to pursue my dream of becoming a Life Coach. (I wanted to work with people who had lost someone to suicide or homicide by helping them stay connected with their loved one by fulfilling that individual's dream.)

Carol Juergensen Sheets (LCSW PCC CSAT Motivation Speaker) is a mighty name for a woman of such small stature, but it suits her powerful spirit and her ability to dream large. Carol has already accomplished more than most of us hope to dream for. She is a columnist for Indy Metro Woman, The Daily Journal, Indy Sports-The Men's Magazine and Healthy Living with Teresa Tanoose, and she hosted a weekly hour talk show from 2007-2009 "Sex, Love, and Relationships". But Carol has a new 'old' dream. She has been contacting Oprah to no avail for eight years in an attempt to promote, "Group Work for Woman" which is Carol's dream to change the lives of women one step and one woman at a time.

I found out about Carol's dream a few days ago and thought it'd be fun to help her achieve her dream. You can help too! Carol will be coming on throughout the day and evening (between client sessions) to explain more and to answer any questions. Carol says it's been implied that since she is no "Barbie Doll" she doesn't stand a chance. Carol's response, "Dr. Phil is no Ken!" Let's prove 'them' wrong and give Carol our support. Carol has until the end of July 3rd to make her dream come true.

What are your dreams and which ones have come true? What is the most extreme thing you've been willing to do to make them come true?

Driving to and from St. Francis, Kansas this past weekend gave me the opportunity to enjoy not only the scenery, but many other things I truly love about our great state. I'm sure there will be more along that line coming from me in the form of poetry, but for today the topic turns to hot air and horns.

I could picture the Cavalry atop one of the russet colored bluffs and imagined I heard a lone soldier playing a bugle medley. I could also feel the hot wind that mid to western Kansas has flowing through it like the national treasure it has turned out to be. (think windmills)

So today, in honor of all the hot air that exists in our world - man made or natural - our musical Tuesday will be about musical solos in your favorite songs that include hot air and horns.

Please take the time to share a link to your song, the performer's name and the instrument that's causing all the stir. I realize you might think harmonicas, but lets do that one another time.

"Lattw Niwamh moved smoothly and confidently to the front of the packed auditorium. The poetess had given readings of her poetry so many times previously that it caused as much excitement as her morning cup of caffeine free tea. She didn't begin to realize until hours later, having removed her dramatic bright red lipstick, sheer foundation and deep magenta eye liner with matching mascara, as she climbed into bed that evening, that the poetry she had read that day was not her own.

At the exact same instant, another poet, Lyiem Kensocdin, crossed and uncrossed his legs impatiently. He was old fashioned. He was as computer savvy as any of the upcoming poets of the day, but he preferred to sit with his bottle of scotch on the balcony overlooking the courtyard where women and girls in multicolored skirts and peasant tops sashayed far below. Sometimes he could catch the faint odor of their perfumes as they mingled together and made their way to where he sat.

He felt frustrated; he'd been trying to write a poem that he couldn't seem to push out of his mind all day. It wasn't until he closed his eyes for a brief moment that it became clear what he was going to write. He was delighted with the final product - it had flowed out of him as a vessel; the way poetry is supposed to come. It was good, really good and he was excited to share it with his mistress of the past six months - Lyiem went through women like most men consume wine or cigars.

He rang Lattw on his iPhone. No sooner did he begin to recite his poem when she joined in, completing word for word everything he had just written.

What they didn't know, but were about to find out, was that every poet in the world had just written the same poem. There would be many more to come, but where were they coming from. Were they a message from God delivered through the poet to the masses in order to save humanity, or were they something more sinister? Perhaps, they were simply another sign of the poet - that madman."

The previous paragraphs are from my science fiction piece, "The Poet - That Madman"

Rules for the contest:

Submit your original science fiction short by August 1st to ronda@sunflower.com (or via ljworld at random)

Your submission must not be longer than 999 words, but it can be shorter.

There will be a panel of five judges from varied backgrounds. Please submit one story only.

Prizes include gift certificate to Borders (supplied by our Fiction 500 winner Roe), and a $50.00 gift certificate to your favorite restaurant.

Top winning stories, along with names of the author, will be published online during the month of September.

Have fun - make it 'unreal'!

We've been playing solos from our favorite performers and songs. So far, we have had the guitar string us along and we've had the doldrums beaten out of us by the old drums. Today, sit back, smile and show your ivory! We're going to share our favorite songs that include a piano solo - it might even be an instrumental.

There are a lot of fabulous performers with multiple talents - some play all the instruments we've discussed, but there are several who really stand out as stand up piano players.

Please list one song choice per post and do include the performer's name, link for easy listening and any memorable experiences you have to share about your choice of performer or song.

Did you grow up with a piano in your home? Were you forced to practice?

It seems many performers got their first love for music seated on a piano bench surrounded by family. Who is your favorite piano player?

So I'm sitting in R bar (Treasure Island, Florida) a couple of weeks ago and I'm with my cousin Janelle. I've mentioned her before - she's the Angie Dickinson blond who has men approach her and ask if they can buy her dessert if she'll dance with them.

She's a natural beauty, vivacious and lots of fun. She doesn't have to resort to fluffing long auburn hair and propping her breasts up in catchy low cut, red t-shirts. We order our favorite - which has switched from crunchy grouper to crunchy catfish - and we decide to split it since we always know she'll be bribed with dessert later.

The entertainment for the evening is Mike Calzone. I'd heard him play a couple of years previously at the same location and am happy because he's good, real good. Not only does he play other people's material nicely, but he interacts well with the audience and writes his own material. It isn't long before I notice the black t-shirts hanging close to where he performs on a make-shift stage.

The shirts have the eye catching (and self identifying phrase), "I Love You...But Not Enough To Ruin My Life". I realize that not only must I own one of those shirts - I also wish I'd written the saying.

Here's what Mike has to say about his catchy phrase - "One night as I'm getting ready to start performing,... the owner of the bar asks me how 'we're' doing. I said, 'I love her, but not enough to ruin my life'. The light goes on in my head and I keep hearing it over and over. I sat down and wrote the song in 5 minutes."

The song he is talking about has the title I'm referring to and is a catchy, bluesy number. Mike had a chance to visit with us during break, but he had a rough break recently, literally. He was hit by a car while riding his bike and had surgery the Monday following the performance I saw.

Here's where the blog topic comes in. What sayings have you heard that you identified enough with that your eyes turned green with jealousy and you said to yourself, "Damn, I wish I would have written that line!"

Thanks, Mike, for letting me share your great line. We wish you a speedy recovery and hope you're writing plenty of new material to perform once you're back on your feet.

Go ahead and string me along. It is hard to find better listening music than a guitar - regardless of what type of guitar or music. Be it rock and roll, blues, country western, Spanish, those guitar solos really stand out in our favorite tunes.

Today we are going to string each other along by posting our favorite songs that include a guitar solo. Additional commentary you wish to include explaining why your guitar playing hero is tops is welcome.

I remember a time when we had to cast our vote in one of the teen rags of the era for best guitar player. Our choice was between George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Boy, what a tough decision that one was!

Play us your favorites - give us your fantabulous guitar solos. (One song and link post per comment, please)

It's Tuesday, but it may as well be Monday. It was hard to start back into the swing of the work week after having a relaxing and fun three day weekend. I hope you all had a great break as well.

I'm feeling the doldrums of the beginnings of a hot and humid summer in good ole Kansas. Not that I mind - my thoughts had been up until about a week ago - "Will Summer Never Come".

I can think of a way to get in good spirits, wake up and enjoy the day. Let's play a musical blog of our favorite drum solos. It doesn't have to be only drumming - just that somewhere in your song there needs to be a drum solo.

Please post one link per comment and do share the performer, song title and any personal experiences you may have experienced with a favorite drummer or his/her performance.

Let's get out the old drum songs...and get out of the doldrums.