Here is the Flash Fiction entry for this weeik. Had a bunch of fun with it. I think you'll be able to see that I was a child of the 80's here!!
Artifacts
“Holy cow, would you look at this mess!” Cassie took the final stair before stepping into the attic. She brushed aside a few cobwebs that were in her way before looking back to Joel who was following close behind her.
“Well,” Joel said, reaching to pull the string that hung from the light bulb above his head, “We promised your dad that we’d get to this mess today.”
Cassie sighed as she took a seat in the old rocker that stood in the corner. “I know. It’s taken Dad a long time to decide to move out of this house. He lived here with Mom for 40 years and now with Mom gone as well as all of us kids, well, I’m just glad we were able to finally talk him into getting another place.”
Joel pushed aside a few boxes, making a pathway from the top of the stairs to the window. He pulled back the curtains, dust flying everywhere but instantly illuminating the attic and making things much easier to see. “Your parents really lived here for 40 years? But you’re only 21 years old.”
Cassie laughed and pulled a box closer to where she sat. “Mom and Dad always liked to joke that I was their little ‘oops’ baby, born almost 16 years after my older brothers. I’ll tell you more about my fabled family history a little bit later. Let’s get to this mess first.” She looked at the label on the box in front of her. “This one says ‘the boys’ toys.’ They must belong to my brothers. I wonder what’s inside.” She pulled out a doll that was carefully stored in its original box. “Stretch Armstrong? I wonder what it does.” She pulled it out of the box almost dropping it but grabbing hold of the arm at the last second. “Joel? Look at this? This doll’s arms stretch. It’s totally cool!” Her mouth was wide open with fascination as she pulled the arms and legs of the doll and watched them easily stretch back into shape.
Joel didn’t answer but instead was pulling something out of another box. “Will you look at this? My dad told me about these. It’s called a record player. Awesome! It has all of these records to play on them but they’re small with kind of a big circle in the middle.” He picked up another record. “Oh, I get it. You pop one of these little plastic circle things in the inside to make it fit on the record player.”
Cassie walked over to where he was standing to check out the record player. “It has a cord and there’s an outlet. Let’s plug it in and see if it still works.” They plugged it in and saw a light come on. She began to flip through some of the records. “Joel? Listen to some of the names of these groups: Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Tommie Tutone, Mr. Mister, Huey Lewis and the News… Geez, I’ve never even heard of any of these.”
Joel had one in his hand and held it up. “We’re listening to this one first; it sounds like a gem: ‘She Blinded Me With Science.’ Geez, what in the world were they smoking back then anyway?”
He put on the first of many records they listened to as they began to go through all of the boxes, the contents of which never ceased to amaze them both. After a few hours they were no closer to organizing the attic than when they first started. Cassie shook her head in amazement. “I can’t believe all of these artifacts! I mean look: a telephone where you have to stick your finger in it to spin around and make it work, a Cabbage Patch Kid, a forgotten can of something called ‘Aqua Net.’ I think it was hairspray, I’m not sure though. There’s enough old stuff here to start a museum or something. I can’t decide which one of them is my favorite.”
Joel motioned for her to come and sit next to him. He put his arm around her and pulled out a photo album. “I think I know which one of these ‘artifacts’ is going to be your favorite already.” There before her on the pages of the album was the story of her life. There was one where she was a toddler and her older brothers were taking turns pushing her on the swings in the back yard. There was another one of the family all squeezed into the porch swing on the front porch. There was still another one of them on Christmas morning with everyone still in their pajamas, wrapping paper strewn everywhere and not a face that lacked a smile.
A lone tear rolled down her cheek after she was done looking at the last page. She closed it and put it back in the box sitting next to her. She stood up and looked around the attic. She then walked back in the direction of the stairs. Joel looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “And just where would you be going?”
She sniffed and smiled at him through her tears. “I’ve got to find Dad. There’s no way I’m going to let him give up this house. Too many artifacts and way too many memories.”
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Getting Back In Teacher Mode
Okay, so my first required day back isn't until next week but our principal said we could go in this week if we wanted to. Besides writing, I've been pretty much bored out of my mind so I decided to go in yesterday and today because after being in the same room for six years, I am moving rooms and changing grade levels. (I will be teaching first grade instead of second grade. Help me!)
Now, I'm sittting in a chair in my living room. My arms are sore from lifting. My legs are so achy that I think I might never walk again. My mind is racing because I'm trying to figure out just where everything should go in the room. I've already texted my husband and have asked him to pick up something for us to eat because if I have to get up and cook something, I might just die. (I'm not being melodramatic. I'm totally serious.)
It's official. The insanity has already set in and I'm definitely in teacher mode.
I wonder though: just how long will it take me to get back to "I wish I were a full time writer" mode?
Now, I'm sittting in a chair in my living room. My arms are sore from lifting. My legs are so achy that I think I might never walk again. My mind is racing because I'm trying to figure out just where everything should go in the room. I've already texted my husband and have asked him to pick up something for us to eat because if I have to get up and cook something, I might just die. (I'm not being melodramatic. I'm totally serious.)
It's official. The insanity has already set in and I'm definitely in teacher mode.
I wonder though: just how long will it take me to get back to "I wish I were a full time writer" mode?
Monday, July 12, 2010
Flash Fiction-- The Wheel
This is my flash fiction entry from last night. I had a really hard time coming up with something so I went with two characters I know very well for support. Thanks Ben and Louisa!!
The Wheel
Louisa opened the car door and sat down. Her breathing became shallow and her mind absolutely raced. She looked over at the passenger seat as soon as he sat down. “Ben? I don’t think that I can do this?”
“Nonsense. Of course you can.”
She let out a deep sigh. “But that’s the thing, I can’t. I could never drive back home in London but now that I’m in the States, it’s going to be twice as bad. The wheel isn’t even on the right side of the car, it’s on the left.”
He put his hand on top of hers. “You’re worrying about it before we even start. We’ll just take it one step at a time, alright? You’re going to be just fine.”
She nodded, placing both hands on the wheel. “Okay. One step at a time. What do I do first?”
“First thing is to put the keys in the ignition.”
Something easy. Good. She took the keys and went to insert them into the steering wheel but kept jamming it into the side. “Where in the world is the ignition, anyway? It’s supposed to be here.”
Ben shook his head. “No sweetie, it’s there on the dash next to the radio.”
She turned a deep shade of red as she put the key in the ignition and turned on the car. This is not going to be pretty. I couldn’t even find the right place to put the key. I should run back inside right now. “Okay. Got that. Finally. Now what?”
“Louisa, I should have told you this before you even started the car but you should probably put your seatbelt on before we do anything else.”
Louisa pulled down the seatbelt but somehow got it twisted. She reached to put the buckle in the lock but somehow lost hold of it and it snapped back, hitting her on the cheek. “Ouch!” Her hand flew instantly to her face.
Ben reached across to move her hand. “Honey? Let me see if it left a mark?” He looked at it carefully, his head tilted to one side. “It’s just a little red, nothing that’s going to leave a mark. You going to be okay?”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. I might kill myself if I do anything else in this car.”
Ben pulled the seatbelt down for her and fastened it securely in the lock. “Okay. The car is on and you’ve got your seatbelt fastened; now, check your rearview mirror. Okay good. Put it in reverse and slowly back up.” Louisa began to back up but not before the car began to go off of the driveway and into the grass. Ben ran his fingers through his hair as he looked over at her once more. “Honey, you’re going crooked. Step on the break, pull forward and try again. Okay?”
Louisa’s shoulders slumped . “Sure,” she answered him, only she stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break, sending the car slamming into a tree just off the side of the driveway.
As the car came to a stop, Louisa looked over at her brand new husband: his eyes were closed and he was holding on tightly to the door handle. He slowly opened one eye and looked at her. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she turned away, ashamed to look him directly in the eye. She put her head down and rested it on the wheel. After a moment, she felt his arm wrap around her. “Are you alright, sweetie? We don’t have to do this now if you don’t want to.”
She looked up at him and smiled through her tears before turning her attention back to the wheel and giving it a slight shove with her fists. “Stupid wheel on the wrong side of the car. It’s all your fault.”
Ben began to shake with laughter. “Sure honey, the wheel was the problem.”
Louisa looked up at him with one eyebrow raised. “You know there might be consequences for disagreeing with your wife on this one. It could be lonely on the couch.”
In a mock serious tone, Ben pounded the steering wheel himself. “Stupid wheel on the wrong side of the car.”
The Wheel
Louisa opened the car door and sat down. Her breathing became shallow and her mind absolutely raced. She looked over at the passenger seat as soon as he sat down. “Ben? I don’t think that I can do this?”
“Nonsense. Of course you can.”
She let out a deep sigh. “But that’s the thing, I can’t. I could never drive back home in London but now that I’m in the States, it’s going to be twice as bad. The wheel isn’t even on the right side of the car, it’s on the left.”
He put his hand on top of hers. “You’re worrying about it before we even start. We’ll just take it one step at a time, alright? You’re going to be just fine.”
She nodded, placing both hands on the wheel. “Okay. One step at a time. What do I do first?”
“First thing is to put the keys in the ignition.”
Something easy. Good. She took the keys and went to insert them into the steering wheel but kept jamming it into the side. “Where in the world is the ignition, anyway? It’s supposed to be here.”
Ben shook his head. “No sweetie, it’s there on the dash next to the radio.”
She turned a deep shade of red as she put the key in the ignition and turned on the car. This is not going to be pretty. I couldn’t even find the right place to put the key. I should run back inside right now. “Okay. Got that. Finally. Now what?”
“Louisa, I should have told you this before you even started the car but you should probably put your seatbelt on before we do anything else.”
Louisa pulled down the seatbelt but somehow got it twisted. She reached to put the buckle in the lock but somehow lost hold of it and it snapped back, hitting her on the cheek. “Ouch!” Her hand flew instantly to her face.
Ben reached across to move her hand. “Honey? Let me see if it left a mark?” He looked at it carefully, his head tilted to one side. “It’s just a little red, nothing that’s going to leave a mark. You going to be okay?”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. I might kill myself if I do anything else in this car.”
Ben pulled the seatbelt down for her and fastened it securely in the lock. “Okay. The car is on and you’ve got your seatbelt fastened; now, check your rearview mirror. Okay good. Put it in reverse and slowly back up.” Louisa began to back up but not before the car began to go off of the driveway and into the grass. Ben ran his fingers through his hair as he looked over at her once more. “Honey, you’re going crooked. Step on the break, pull forward and try again. Okay?”
Louisa’s shoulders slumped . “Sure,” she answered him, only she stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break, sending the car slamming into a tree just off the side of the driveway.
As the car came to a stop, Louisa looked over at her brand new husband: his eyes were closed and he was holding on tightly to the door handle. He slowly opened one eye and looked at her. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she turned away, ashamed to look him directly in the eye. She put her head down and rested it on the wheel. After a moment, she felt his arm wrap around her. “Are you alright, sweetie? We don’t have to do this now if you don’t want to.”
She looked up at him and smiled through her tears before turning her attention back to the wheel and giving it a slight shove with her fists. “Stupid wheel on the wrong side of the car. It’s all your fault.”
Ben began to shake with laughter. “Sure honey, the wheel was the problem.”
Louisa looked up at him with one eyebrow raised. “You know there might be consequences for disagreeing with your wife on this one. It could be lonely on the couch.”
In a mock serious tone, Ben pounded the steering wheel himself. “Stupid wheel on the wrong side of the car.”
Saturday, July 10, 2010
On Quitting Smoking
So, today marks the three week mark of my battle with quitting smoking. Now that things are going a little easier, I have a few observations/musings/general quips about the whole process:
1. When I first quit, it seemed like I had cravings constantly. My sister in law said, "Don't worry. It will only last for 30 seconds before it passes." To my sister in law, I affectionately say, "Bullocks!" It doesn't pass in 30 seconds. It doesn't pass in 5 minutes. It's simply torturous!!
2. I bought some Nicorette gum to help me deal with said cravings. The directions on the box say to use 8 to 9 pieces a day. I decided to ignore this advice and just take a piece when I felt like I needed it. If I had followed their advice, I would have had to spend a whole lot of money on the gum while remaining addicted to the nicotine. I'm still on my original box that I paid $50 for. I only have a bad enough craving once or twice a day and have plenty of gum left.
3. My sense of smell has definitely improved. I smell cigarette smoke everywhere and it almost makes me throw up. However, if anyone reading this blog ever catches me being one of those annoying ex-smokers who complains about the smoke, you have permission to lay me out with an open handed smack in the mouth. I HATE those people.
4. My husband is still smoking. It made it twice as hard to quit being around him but I did it. I will mention that I wanted to kiss him a lot on that first day so I could have a cigarette by proxy.
5. I don't ever want to start again. I can take a deep breath and not feel like I'm going to collapse because I can't breathe.
6. If I can do it, anyone can do it!!
7. The only thing that triggers a craving now is stress so if you're around me, don't do anything to tick me off!!
1. When I first quit, it seemed like I had cravings constantly. My sister in law said, "Don't worry. It will only last for 30 seconds before it passes." To my sister in law, I affectionately say, "Bullocks!" It doesn't pass in 30 seconds. It doesn't pass in 5 minutes. It's simply torturous!!
2. I bought some Nicorette gum to help me deal with said cravings. The directions on the box say to use 8 to 9 pieces a day. I decided to ignore this advice and just take a piece when I felt like I needed it. If I had followed their advice, I would have had to spend a whole lot of money on the gum while remaining addicted to the nicotine. I'm still on my original box that I paid $50 for. I only have a bad enough craving once or twice a day and have plenty of gum left.
3. My sense of smell has definitely improved. I smell cigarette smoke everywhere and it almost makes me throw up. However, if anyone reading this blog ever catches me being one of those annoying ex-smokers who complains about the smoke, you have permission to lay me out with an open handed smack in the mouth. I HATE those people.
4. My husband is still smoking. It made it twice as hard to quit being around him but I did it. I will mention that I wanted to kiss him a lot on that first day so I could have a cigarette by proxy.
5. I don't ever want to start again. I can take a deep breath and not feel like I'm going to collapse because I can't breathe.
6. If I can do it, anyone can do it!!
7. The only thing that triggers a craving now is stress so if you're around me, don't do anything to tick me off!!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Persuasion
I started writing for my own enjoyment in November of 2009. The story I'm currently working on is that same first story, a modern retelling of the classic Jane Austen novel, Persuasion. I always had the idea in my head that I would like to retell one of my favorite author's stories in a modern setting but I wasn't sure how it could be done.
Well, in October of last year, I went to a NASCAR race in Martinsville, Virginia. I had a pretty good view of the pit stalls from our seats. I remember watching one crew member sweeping out the stall with a push broom and I thought, "You know, he must be the low man on the totem pole. Then it hit me. He would be just like Captain Wentworth but before he became Captain Wentworth and made his fortune that is. My hero was born and he was going to be a racecar driver. Once I had him,, the other characters just fell into place: Anne would be the daughter of a race team owner, Benwick/Harville could be his crew chief and best freind and so on. The story came together faster than I knew what to do with it.
I started writing and the rough draft was done in only two months. I thought, "Hey, I actually finished a book. I should see if I can publish this." Well, I started to learn more about writing and let it rest a few weeks. When I picked it back up, I saw a million things I could have done better. Well, I've since repeated that cycle a few times and am on my third revision right now. Every time I pick it back up after letting it sit, I see things that can be better.
I love writing but I guess I'm done taking a "break" this morning from working on it for now. I'm on chapter 22 of 29 right now. I put a deadline of finishing the round of revisions before I have to go back to school. Wish me luck!!!
Well, in October of last year, I went to a NASCAR race in Martinsville, Virginia. I had a pretty good view of the pit stalls from our seats. I remember watching one crew member sweeping out the stall with a push broom and I thought, "You know, he must be the low man on the totem pole. Then it hit me. He would be just like Captain Wentworth but before he became Captain Wentworth and made his fortune that is. My hero was born and he was going to be a racecar driver. Once I had him,, the other characters just fell into place: Anne would be the daughter of a race team owner, Benwick/Harville could be his crew chief and best freind and so on. The story came together faster than I knew what to do with it.
I started writing and the rough draft was done in only two months. I thought, "Hey, I actually finished a book. I should see if I can publish this." Well, I started to learn more about writing and let it rest a few weeks. When I picked it back up, I saw a million things I could have done better. Well, I've since repeated that cycle a few times and am on my third revision right now. Every time I pick it back up after letting it sit, I see things that can be better.
I love writing but I guess I'm done taking a "break" this morning from working on it for now. I'm on chapter 22 of 29 right now. I put a deadline of finishing the round of revisions before I have to go back to school. Wish me luck!!!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Flash Fiction --"Too High or Too Low"
Since there wasn't a flash fiction exercise last night, I thought I'd post one of my favorites from a few months ago. Hope you all like it.
“Where are we going tonight?”
“It’s a surprise. You wouldn’t want me to ruin it, would you?”
“Well, I kind of already figured that since you put the blindfold on me as soon as I got into the car. Please tell me?” she whined once more.
“You’re just going to have to wait. You trust me, don’t you?”
She smiled when he reached over and squeezed her hand. “Of course I do. I’ll stop complaining now.”
“That would be great. Thank you,” he teased.
They continued driving for at least another half hour or so until she felt the car turn off the paved road. “Are we there yet?”
“Almost. Just another minute. I can’t wait to see the look on your face.”
She sighed impatiently. “What are you up to?”
“Me? Up to something? Never.” She couldn’t see his face but she could hear the laughter in his voice.
She smiled reluctantly. He was always up to something.
The car finally came to a stop. As he turned off the car, he turned to her. “Wait here. Give me just a minute and I’ll be right back to get you.”
She could hear the trunk opening while he fidgeted with something. She could hear him walking, his steps accentuated by what was probably some tall grass. After what seemed like ages, he returned to the car to get her. He led her by the hand for maybe fifty feet or so before they came to a stop. Impatiently she asked, “So, can I at least take my blindfold off? You’re driving me crazy.”
He stood behind her. She could feel his breath on her neck and his five o’clock shadow as his face brushed against hers. He leaned in to kiss her neck and whisper in her ear. “You drive me crazy every single day.” She giggled as she reached back to cradle his face with her hand.
He went to untie the blindfold. “Now, keep your eyes closed until I say to open them, okay?”
“Okay, but this better be good,” she said as she wrinkled her nose in anticipation.
He untied the blindfold and tossed it on the ground. He was still standing behind her and she could feel him reach up and lift her chin upward. “Now, open you eyes and tell me what you see?”
She opened her eyes and gasped. It was a clear night and the sky was full of stars. “Oh Rick, it’s beautiful.”
He reached around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “You said growing up in the city that you never got to see the stars. Now, here they all are. Look, there’s Orion.”
She wrinkled her brow and pointed to the sky. “Over there?”
He kissed her cheek. “No, sweetie. You’re looking too high.”
“Is that it there?”
He chuckled and kissed her again, this time lingering a little longer to nibble on her ear. “Now you’re looking too low. Look right there. Do you see the three stars sort of in a row?”
“Oh yeah, I see those.”
“Well, that’s Orion’s belt. Do you see the rest of it now?”
She nodded her head as she continued to gaze upward. After a few more minutes, she turned to face him. She kissed his lips gently. “Thank you. You always seem to know exactly what will make me feel absolutely, positively at peace. Now, what was it you were fiddling with in the trunk of the car?”
He kissed her once more, hesitant to let her go. “I was getting all of this.” He turned her around once more and she saw a blanket with a picnic basket and a bottle of wine chilling in a bucket next to it. “You wouldn’t want to spend a night with me under the stars, would you?”
She turned around and hugged him tightly. “You are too good for me. Is there anything you didn’t think of?”
They sat down on the blanket. As he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they looked towards the heavens once more, he said, “I didn’t think I could ever love you more than I did yesterday. I guess I was wrong.”
“Where are we going tonight?”
“It’s a surprise. You wouldn’t want me to ruin it, would you?”
“Well, I kind of already figured that since you put the blindfold on me as soon as I got into the car. Please tell me?” she whined once more.
“You’re just going to have to wait. You trust me, don’t you?”
She smiled when he reached over and squeezed her hand. “Of course I do. I’ll stop complaining now.”
“That would be great. Thank you,” he teased.
They continued driving for at least another half hour or so until she felt the car turn off the paved road. “Are we there yet?”
“Almost. Just another minute. I can’t wait to see the look on your face.”
She sighed impatiently. “What are you up to?”
“Me? Up to something? Never.” She couldn’t see his face but she could hear the laughter in his voice.
She smiled reluctantly. He was always up to something.
The car finally came to a stop. As he turned off the car, he turned to her. “Wait here. Give me just a minute and I’ll be right back to get you.”
She could hear the trunk opening while he fidgeted with something. She could hear him walking, his steps accentuated by what was probably some tall grass. After what seemed like ages, he returned to the car to get her. He led her by the hand for maybe fifty feet or so before they came to a stop. Impatiently she asked, “So, can I at least take my blindfold off? You’re driving me crazy.”
He stood behind her. She could feel his breath on her neck and his five o’clock shadow as his face brushed against hers. He leaned in to kiss her neck and whisper in her ear. “You drive me crazy every single day.” She giggled as she reached back to cradle his face with her hand.
He went to untie the blindfold. “Now, keep your eyes closed until I say to open them, okay?”
“Okay, but this better be good,” she said as she wrinkled her nose in anticipation.
He untied the blindfold and tossed it on the ground. He was still standing behind her and she could feel him reach up and lift her chin upward. “Now, open you eyes and tell me what you see?”
She opened her eyes and gasped. It was a clear night and the sky was full of stars. “Oh Rick, it’s beautiful.”
He reached around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “You said growing up in the city that you never got to see the stars. Now, here they all are. Look, there’s Orion.”
She wrinkled her brow and pointed to the sky. “Over there?”
He kissed her cheek. “No, sweetie. You’re looking too high.”
“Is that it there?”
He chuckled and kissed her again, this time lingering a little longer to nibble on her ear. “Now you’re looking too low. Look right there. Do you see the three stars sort of in a row?”
“Oh yeah, I see those.”
“Well, that’s Orion’s belt. Do you see the rest of it now?”
She nodded her head as she continued to gaze upward. After a few more minutes, she turned to face him. She kissed his lips gently. “Thank you. You always seem to know exactly what will make me feel absolutely, positively at peace. Now, what was it you were fiddling with in the trunk of the car?”
He kissed her once more, hesitant to let her go. “I was getting all of this.” He turned her around once more and she saw a blanket with a picnic basket and a bottle of wine chilling in a bucket next to it. “You wouldn’t want to spend a night with me under the stars, would you?”
She turned around and hugged him tightly. “You are too good for me. Is there anything you didn’t think of?”
They sat down on the blanket. As he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they looked towards the heavens once more, he said, “I didn’t think I could ever love you more than I did yesterday. I guess I was wrong.”
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Independence Day!!!
Today we celebrate Independence Day here in the United States. Many Americans will celebrate by grilling and getting together with friends and family. They might have a hot dog or hamburger, drink a beer or two and then settle in to watch some fireworks. Most will not even give a second thought to those who wanted freedom badly enough that they laid down their lives in order to secure it for you and I.
As I wrote the above, I couldn't help but think that this is exactly what I hear from at least two or three other people every Fourth of July, Memorial Day or Veteran's Day. I know it's shameful but I hear these words and I say inside my head, "Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, heard it before, yada, yada,yada..." Maybe a better question that we need to be asking ourselves is this: What are we doing with our freedom that they fought so hard to give us? Are we content to sit on our behinds, just take take take from everyone and let the world pass us by or are we active participants in the world around us, questioning when things aren't right and putting the needs of others ahead of ourselves? I know I sometimes fall in the trap of that first kind of person but I sure do want to be that second person.
Happy Fourth of July everyone!!
As I wrote the above, I couldn't help but think that this is exactly what I hear from at least two or three other people every Fourth of July, Memorial Day or Veteran's Day. I know it's shameful but I hear these words and I say inside my head, "Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, heard it before, yada, yada,yada..." Maybe a better question that we need to be asking ourselves is this: What are we doing with our freedom that they fought so hard to give us? Are we content to sit on our behinds, just take take take from everyone and let the world pass us by or are we active participants in the world around us, questioning when things aren't right and putting the needs of others ahead of ourselves? I know I sometimes fall in the trap of that first kind of person but I sure do want to be that second person.
Happy Fourth of July everyone!!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
NASCAR Thoughts
Okay, so I'm a big fan of NASCAR. I haven't been a fan all of my life, just since I met my husband. When he explained all about it some thirteen and a half years ago, he said, "You can like any driver you want except for the number 3 or the number 24." Well this was just an open invitation to like one of the two drivers now wasn't it? I ended up picking the number 3, Dale Earnhardt. I was only able to cheer him on for four years because he tragically lost his life doing what he loved in February of 2001. After he died, I sort of lost interest in watching racing at all because I felt like I had no one to root for and nothing to look forward to, that was, until July of that same year. My husband was watching the race from Daytona Beach, Florida. I got interested in the race when I saw that Dale Earnhardt's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr, was doing well and eventually won the race. I was a fan once more and I was going to root for Jr.
Well, a lot has happened over the years. I'm still a fan of Dale Jr. but my favorite driver is Tony Stewart. I've always watched Jr. and wondered how he even stood up under the enormous pressure to live up to all of the expectations that he do as well as his Hall of Fame father. He hasn't won in a while and people even make fun of him for not doing well.
Well, last night I saw something that just lifted my spirits. Dale Jr. was running in the Nationwide Series race in the number 3 car once driven by his father. Again, the track was Daytona. He won the race and as they interviewed him afterwards, he smiled such a genuine and real smile. It was something I hadn't seen from him in a long time. For just one brief and shining moment the pressure was off and he was simply allowed to enjoy racing. Congratulations, Jr. You deserve it!
Well, a lot has happened over the years. I'm still a fan of Dale Jr. but my favorite driver is Tony Stewart. I've always watched Jr. and wondered how he even stood up under the enormous pressure to live up to all of the expectations that he do as well as his Hall of Fame father. He hasn't won in a while and people even make fun of him for not doing well.
Well, last night I saw something that just lifted my spirits. Dale Jr. was running in the Nationwide Series race in the number 3 car once driven by his father. Again, the track was Daytona. He won the race and as they interviewed him afterwards, he smiled such a genuine and real smile. It was something I hadn't seen from him in a long time. For just one brief and shining moment the pressure was off and he was simply allowed to enjoy racing. Congratulations, Jr. You deserve it!
Friday, July 2, 2010
AW Flash Fiction: The Code From 5/30/10
The Code
“The meeting for our club will now come to order,” eight year old Ruthie announced to the other two girls gathered in the clubhouse that day. “The first order of business is that we need a name for our club.”
Her cousin Lexie raised her hand. “Ooh, ooh! I know the perfect name.”
“What is it?”
“The ‘I Hate Boys Club.’ That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?”
Ruthie nodded her head. “That’s not bad, not bad at all but I think we need something a little less obvious than that.” She rubbed her chin with her thumb and forefinger, deep in thought. Suddenly her eyes lit up. “I’ve got it. The CODE: The Core Order for Dealing with Enemies.” Lexie nodded her head in approval. Ruthie looked at them both seriously. “Are we in agreement then? We’ll call ourselves the CODE? All in favor raise your hands.” Ruthie and Lexie both raised their hands but the smallest and youngest of the group did not. Ruthie called on her. “Rebecca? You’re not raising your hand. What seems to be the problem? Don’t you like the name?”
The girl stood up. “The name is fine. I just don’t think we should hate all boys. What about Daddy? We shouldn’t hate him, should we?”
Ruthie rolled her eyes. “Of course not Uncle Matt or my daddy or anyone else’s daddy, alright? Just boys. Boys who annoy get on your nerves and spoil everything.”
“Um, Ruthie? Speaking of boys who annoy and spoil everything, we have a problem,” Lexie said, looking out the window of the tree house and pointing to the ground below. “That kid Christopher who lives next door is walking down below with a couple of his friends, sneaking around.” All of the girls quickly ran over to see what Lexie was pointing at. Sure enough, Christopher and two other boys were walking along the pathway, armed with a box. “What is that they have in the box, Ruthie?”
Ruthie’s eyes narrowed as she took a closer look courtesy of her binoculars. “I’ll tell you what they’ve got. They’ve got a box of water balloons. I knew it. I just knew it which is why I’m prepared for just such an occasion.” Ruthie walked back over to where she was sitting earlier, reached under the seat and pulled out a large bag. She unzipped it and pulled out three water guns. “My dear cousins, you always need to be prepared. Now, I have one for each of us. We’ll wait until we see them walk the other way, climb down the ladder very quietly and carefully, then sneak up on them from behind. Alright?”
“Alright!” Lexie and Rebecca agreed. The girls waited until the boys were out of sight, climbed down the ladder and reached the bottom. Ruthie was in the lead, moving her head from side to side, aiming her water gun in every direction she looked. They had only walked a few feet when they felt three splashes hit their feet. They jerked their heads around to see three boys standing, tossing water balloons in the air and smiling sadistically. “You actually thought you could get away from us, didn’t you Ruthie? Why don’t you admit defeat now and save us a whole lot of trouble.”
“Never give up! Never surrender! Let’s get them girls!” Ruthie shouted. With that they started firing water guns and balloons at each other at a rapid pace. The boys had exhausted their supply of balloons and began to retreat back up the pathway. Ruthie turned to Lexie and Rebecca. “Come on, let’s go get them.”
Rebecca pouted. “I don’t really want to, Ruthie. I’d rather just play with my dolls.”
Lexie nodded her head in agreement. “Yeah, I don’t really want to get my new outfit dirty. Let’s go back inside the tree house and do something else.”
Ruthie scowled and let out a deep breath. “You guys are no fun. I’m going by myself.” With that she ran after the boys. She quickly caught up with them and had one boy in her sights. She leaped forward and jumped on the boy’s back, bringing him to the ground. She flipped him over and got back on her feet so that she now stood above him menacingly, her super sized water soaker pointed at his face. “Christopher Nichols. We meet at last. I ought to blow you away right now.”
Christopher smirked. “Go ahead. I’m not scared of a girl.” That was all the encouragement Ruthie needed as she threw her head back and laughed, firing another round of water into his face.
Christopher held up his hands, waving them in surrender. “Alright, alright. I give up. I give up!”
Ruthie looked at him with a gleam of victory in her eyes. “Now, Christopher. I want you to say something for me.”
“Anything. Just don’t fire that gun at me again.”
“Say ‘Long live the CODE.’”
“What the heck is that?” he asked while a look of confusion spread across his face.
“Just say it or I let loose on you again.”
“Long live the CODE. Are you happy?”
Ruthie held her water gun securely at her side and nodded her head. “Extremely so. You’ve been a worthy opponent.” She tilted her gun in his direction. “Until we meet again.”
As she walked back up the pathway in the direction of the tree house, she thought you know Daddy says there’s going to come a day when I don’t hate boys so much and I might actually want them to be around. Daddy knows a lot of things but he doesn’t actually have a clue about that, does he?
“The meeting for our club will now come to order,” eight year old Ruthie announced to the other two girls gathered in the clubhouse that day. “The first order of business is that we need a name for our club.”
Her cousin Lexie raised her hand. “Ooh, ooh! I know the perfect name.”
“What is it?”
“The ‘I Hate Boys Club.’ That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?”
Ruthie nodded her head. “That’s not bad, not bad at all but I think we need something a little less obvious than that.” She rubbed her chin with her thumb and forefinger, deep in thought. Suddenly her eyes lit up. “I’ve got it. The CODE: The Core Order for Dealing with Enemies.” Lexie nodded her head in approval. Ruthie looked at them both seriously. “Are we in agreement then? We’ll call ourselves the CODE? All in favor raise your hands.” Ruthie and Lexie both raised their hands but the smallest and youngest of the group did not. Ruthie called on her. “Rebecca? You’re not raising your hand. What seems to be the problem? Don’t you like the name?”
The girl stood up. “The name is fine. I just don’t think we should hate all boys. What about Daddy? We shouldn’t hate him, should we?”
Ruthie rolled her eyes. “Of course not Uncle Matt or my daddy or anyone else’s daddy, alright? Just boys. Boys who annoy get on your nerves and spoil everything.”
“Um, Ruthie? Speaking of boys who annoy and spoil everything, we have a problem,” Lexie said, looking out the window of the tree house and pointing to the ground below. “That kid Christopher who lives next door is walking down below with a couple of his friends, sneaking around.” All of the girls quickly ran over to see what Lexie was pointing at. Sure enough, Christopher and two other boys were walking along the pathway, armed with a box. “What is that they have in the box, Ruthie?”
Ruthie’s eyes narrowed as she took a closer look courtesy of her binoculars. “I’ll tell you what they’ve got. They’ve got a box of water balloons. I knew it. I just knew it which is why I’m prepared for just such an occasion.” Ruthie walked back over to where she was sitting earlier, reached under the seat and pulled out a large bag. She unzipped it and pulled out three water guns. “My dear cousins, you always need to be prepared. Now, I have one for each of us. We’ll wait until we see them walk the other way, climb down the ladder very quietly and carefully, then sneak up on them from behind. Alright?”
“Alright!” Lexie and Rebecca agreed. The girls waited until the boys were out of sight, climbed down the ladder and reached the bottom. Ruthie was in the lead, moving her head from side to side, aiming her water gun in every direction she looked. They had only walked a few feet when they felt three splashes hit their feet. They jerked their heads around to see three boys standing, tossing water balloons in the air and smiling sadistically. “You actually thought you could get away from us, didn’t you Ruthie? Why don’t you admit defeat now and save us a whole lot of trouble.”
“Never give up! Never surrender! Let’s get them girls!” Ruthie shouted. With that they started firing water guns and balloons at each other at a rapid pace. The boys had exhausted their supply of balloons and began to retreat back up the pathway. Ruthie turned to Lexie and Rebecca. “Come on, let’s go get them.”
Rebecca pouted. “I don’t really want to, Ruthie. I’d rather just play with my dolls.”
Lexie nodded her head in agreement. “Yeah, I don’t really want to get my new outfit dirty. Let’s go back inside the tree house and do something else.”
Ruthie scowled and let out a deep breath. “You guys are no fun. I’m going by myself.” With that she ran after the boys. She quickly caught up with them and had one boy in her sights. She leaped forward and jumped on the boy’s back, bringing him to the ground. She flipped him over and got back on her feet so that she now stood above him menacingly, her super sized water soaker pointed at his face. “Christopher Nichols. We meet at last. I ought to blow you away right now.”
Christopher smirked. “Go ahead. I’m not scared of a girl.” That was all the encouragement Ruthie needed as she threw her head back and laughed, firing another round of water into his face.
Christopher held up his hands, waving them in surrender. “Alright, alright. I give up. I give up!”
Ruthie looked at him with a gleam of victory in her eyes. “Now, Christopher. I want you to say something for me.”
“Anything. Just don’t fire that gun at me again.”
“Say ‘Long live the CODE.’”
“What the heck is that?” he asked while a look of confusion spread across his face.
“Just say it or I let loose on you again.”
“Long live the CODE. Are you happy?”
Ruthie held her water gun securely at her side and nodded her head. “Extremely so. You’ve been a worthy opponent.” She tilted her gun in his direction. “Until we meet again.”
As she walked back up the pathway in the direction of the tree house, she thought you know Daddy says there’s going to come a day when I don’t hate boys so much and I might actually want them to be around. Daddy knows a lot of things but he doesn’t actually have a clue about that, does he?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Flash Fiction Entry for This Week
One website that I visit on almost a daily basis is www.absolutewrite.com. It contains a wealth of information that has helped me to grow as a writer. Every Sunday, I participate in the writing exercise known as Flash Fiction. We are given a prompt and have 90 minutes to write, revise and edit a short fiction story. This past Sunday, the prompt was "procrastination." Here is what I came up with. Hope you enjoy it.
I hate going to the DMV to get my license plates renewed. Now, I don't know anyone who actually loves it but I truly, truly, from the depths of my soul, hate it. There are a plethora of reasons why but the main reason I hate it is the long wait in line which usually lasts anywhere from one to two hours: one to two hours of my life that I'll never get back.
Well, this afternoon I finally went. It should have been six months ago but of course, like everything else in my life, I procrastinated. Don't judge me. You do it too and you know it. Well anyway, I got into my car and made the trek across town to the happiest place on earth. You thought it was Disney, didn't you? I should have known it would be a stellar day when I saw the line stretching out of the door and down the sidewalk. I took my place in line behind a woman and what looked like a little boy who was no more than four years old at most. He was stuffing his face with a hot dog. I thought not a bad idea kid. We'll probably need nourishment since we'll most likely be here for five or six HOURS standing in line. His mother looked down at him and yelled. "Stop eating that thing so fast! You'll make yourself sick." I instinctively took a step back only to step on some poor guy's feet. "Sorry," I muttered and looked into the deepest blue eyes I think I've ever seen.
"Oh, don't worry about it. It could happen to anyone." He was smiling. I didn't know why anyone would actually have a smile on their face in this line but I figured the heat of the day was already getting to him and he'd started to lose his mind. He looked at me. "So, you here to get your tags renewed?"
I rolled my eyes. "No. I thought I was in a line for free bags of cash. This isn't it?"
He laughed. He actually laughed at my stupid, on the spot, pull it out of my ass joke. He's got to be mental or something. He continued. "That's what I'm here for too. It's not due for another month but I figured that there was no time like the present. Why procrastinate, right?" Yep. He's mental alright.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Sure." I turned around to look at the toddler and his mother once more. The kid had a sippy cup of kool aid now that was dripping down his cheeks and sticking all over his shirt, his hands and everything else. Figuring that the cute mental case behind me might be a better chance of finding some intelligent conversation, I turned around. "I hate standing in line. Don't you?"
He tilted his head to one side. "No. Not really. I usually get to have a conversation with someone new. It's not the worst way I can think of to pass an afternoon."
I was caught by surprise. "That was a really nice answer. I hate standing in line. I actually put this off for six whole months so I wouldn't have to stand in line."
"Well, you're here now. Why don't we make the best of it?" Over the next hour we talked about everything under the sun: our jobs, our favorite music, our families, everything. Before I knew it, we were inside and there was only the mother and her little boy in front of me.
"Wow. We're at the front of the line already. Thanks for the conversation."
He smiled at me. "You're welcome. Hey, do you think I could ask you something?" He started running his fingers through his hair.
Before he could say anything, I felt this tugging on my hand. The hand was sticky. I looked down and saw the toddler I hadn't given a second thought to for the last hour. I was in such a good mood, I bent down to ask, "Hi sweetie. Are you okay?"
His eyes rolled back in his head as he swayed unsteadily on his feet. "Lady, my mom's up there." He motioned to the counter. "I think I'm gonna be sick." He spewed the hot dog, the kool aid, and whatever else he had managed to stuff into his face all over my clothes. His mother ran over, issued a hasty apology and dragged him out the door. I was absolutely humiliated. I couldn't even look back at my new friend. I made my way to the counter, paid for my tags and headed out the door without a look back.
As I fiddled with my keys, I knew, I absolutely knew, that if I procrastinated just one more day I could have avoided all of this. I turned the key in the lock and was about to sit down in my front seat when I heard someone call out, "Hey! Wait!" I looked up and saw blue eyes walking towards me. When he got in the car, he said, "Hey. I'm sorry about what happened." Then reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a business card and handed it to me. "I know you must be in a hurry to get home and get cleaned up. Give me a call some time. Maybe we can have a cup of coffee or get something to eat or take in a movie or something?"
I nodded my head and said, "Sure. I'd like that." I sat down on the front seat and as I watched him walk away towards his car, I had three thoughts: Number One: He must truly be mental to want to have anything to do with me, covered in toddler spew. Number Two: I don't hate the DMV anymore and Number Three: I knew, I absolutely knew, that if I had procrastinated just one more day, I would have missed all of this.
I hate going to the DMV to get my license plates renewed. Now, I don't know anyone who actually loves it but I truly, truly, from the depths of my soul, hate it. There are a plethora of reasons why but the main reason I hate it is the long wait in line which usually lasts anywhere from one to two hours: one to two hours of my life that I'll never get back.
Well, this afternoon I finally went. It should have been six months ago but of course, like everything else in my life, I procrastinated. Don't judge me. You do it too and you know it. Well anyway, I got into my car and made the trek across town to the happiest place on earth. You thought it was Disney, didn't you? I should have known it would be a stellar day when I saw the line stretching out of the door and down the sidewalk. I took my place in line behind a woman and what looked like a little boy who was no more than four years old at most. He was stuffing his face with a hot dog. I thought not a bad idea kid. We'll probably need nourishment since we'll most likely be here for five or six HOURS standing in line. His mother looked down at him and yelled. "Stop eating that thing so fast! You'll make yourself sick." I instinctively took a step back only to step on some poor guy's feet. "Sorry," I muttered and looked into the deepest blue eyes I think I've ever seen.
"Oh, don't worry about it. It could happen to anyone." He was smiling. I didn't know why anyone would actually have a smile on their face in this line but I figured the heat of the day was already getting to him and he'd started to lose his mind. He looked at me. "So, you here to get your tags renewed?"
I rolled my eyes. "No. I thought I was in a line for free bags of cash. This isn't it?"
He laughed. He actually laughed at my stupid, on the spot, pull it out of my ass joke. He's got to be mental or something. He continued. "That's what I'm here for too. It's not due for another month but I figured that there was no time like the present. Why procrastinate, right?" Yep. He's mental alright.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Sure." I turned around to look at the toddler and his mother once more. The kid had a sippy cup of kool aid now that was dripping down his cheeks and sticking all over his shirt, his hands and everything else. Figuring that the cute mental case behind me might be a better chance of finding some intelligent conversation, I turned around. "I hate standing in line. Don't you?"
He tilted his head to one side. "No. Not really. I usually get to have a conversation with someone new. It's not the worst way I can think of to pass an afternoon."
I was caught by surprise. "That was a really nice answer. I hate standing in line. I actually put this off for six whole months so I wouldn't have to stand in line."
"Well, you're here now. Why don't we make the best of it?" Over the next hour we talked about everything under the sun: our jobs, our favorite music, our families, everything. Before I knew it, we were inside and there was only the mother and her little boy in front of me.
"Wow. We're at the front of the line already. Thanks for the conversation."
He smiled at me. "You're welcome. Hey, do you think I could ask you something?" He started running his fingers through his hair.
Before he could say anything, I felt this tugging on my hand. The hand was sticky. I looked down and saw the toddler I hadn't given a second thought to for the last hour. I was in such a good mood, I bent down to ask, "Hi sweetie. Are you okay?"
His eyes rolled back in his head as he swayed unsteadily on his feet. "Lady, my mom's up there." He motioned to the counter. "I think I'm gonna be sick." He spewed the hot dog, the kool aid, and whatever else he had managed to stuff into his face all over my clothes. His mother ran over, issued a hasty apology and dragged him out the door. I was absolutely humiliated. I couldn't even look back at my new friend. I made my way to the counter, paid for my tags and headed out the door without a look back.
As I fiddled with my keys, I knew, I absolutely knew, that if I procrastinated just one more day I could have avoided all of this. I turned the key in the lock and was about to sit down in my front seat when I heard someone call out, "Hey! Wait!" I looked up and saw blue eyes walking towards me. When he got in the car, he said, "Hey. I'm sorry about what happened." Then reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a business card and handed it to me. "I know you must be in a hurry to get home and get cleaned up. Give me a call some time. Maybe we can have a cup of coffee or get something to eat or take in a movie or something?"
I nodded my head and said, "Sure. I'd like that." I sat down on the front seat and as I watched him walk away towards his car, I had three thoughts: Number One: He must truly be mental to want to have anything to do with me, covered in toddler spew. Number Two: I don't hate the DMV anymore and Number Three: I knew, I absolutely knew, that if I had procrastinated just one more day, I would have missed all of this.
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