Month: March 2018

Three Day Quote Challenge — Day 1

Fandango16 Comments

A256859B-C0BA-4AD9-BC40-4FDDEEB8FA63So Kat Myrman over at Like Mercury Colliding tagged me for this Three Day Quote Challenge thingie.

What you’re supposed to do is:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you. Thank you, Kat.
  2. Post a quote for three consecutive days (1 quote for each day).
  3. Nominate three bloggers each day.

I suppose the first thing I need to do is select my quote for Day 1.

Okay, here goes. I’m calling this quote “Why I refuse to watch the ‘Roseanne’ revival.” It’s actually a quote of a Roseanne Barr tweet.

Here’s what she tweeted:

“President Trump has freed so many children held in bondage to pimps all over this world. Hundreds each month. He has broken up trafficking rings in high places everywhere. notice that. I disagree on some things, but give him benefit of doubt-4 now.”

WTF, Roseanne? Tweeting your support for a right-wing conspiracy theory?

If you haven’t heard about this “theory,” it alleges that high-profile Democrats and other famous people are involved in child sex-trafficking rings, and that Trump is breaking them up and arresting those involved in their operation.

Crazy, huh?

Normally I can separate the actors from characters that they portray, but based upon this tweet, and others by Roseanne Barr, she is, in real life, just as fucked up as the character she portrays in her sitcom. And the last thing I need, for my own health and well-being, is to watch another crazy person on TV who goes around promoting right-wing conspiracy theories. If I wanted that, I’d watch Sean Hannity.

Okay. So now to nominate three other bloggers. Hmm. Let’s see.

Jim Adams at A New Title for Me.

Leigha at Leigha Robbins.

Michael at Morpethroad.

Okay, I’m done for Day 1. You three take it from here.

MLMM Saturday Mix — B&B

Fandango6 Comments

D4B36CCB-6344-4622-AF98-0A0574AE1BAEThe fire alarm sounded the warning for all the guests at the quaint Bed and Breakfast to leave the building. The B&B’s host, Mr. Stevens, made sure everyone was out of the house by the time the fire department arrived.

Fortunately, it was a grease fire that was limited to a small part of the kitchen in the back of the large, old house and the firefighters were able to get it under control before it did too much damage.

Still, the B&B’s kitchen would be out of commission until the damages could be repaired. So being the good host that he was, Mr. Stevens contacted a local caterer and arranged to have both solid foods and liquid refreshments delivered for his guests to enjoy. He also told them that they would not have to pay for that night’s stay at his B&B.

This post is a twofer. It is written for both today’s one-word prompt, “warning,” as well as for today’s Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie’s Saturday Mix Opposing Forces challenge using the two opposite pairs of words “guest” and “host,” and “liquid” and “solid.”

Time To Write — Baby It’s Cold Outside

Fandango4 Comments

8033D4CA-A8FE-434D-B22C-7379C44A330B“Come on, hurry,” Veronica called out to her husband.

“Why, again, are we doing this?” Tim asked.

“I told you. It’s for my blog,” Veronica said. “Do you ever listen when I’m talking to you?”

“Yes, I listen. I just forgot what you said.”

“But you just asked me why I needed my camera,” Veronica said, “and I told you I have to get some pictures for my blog.”

“So what is your post about that we need to go out in the freezing cold?” Tim wanted to know.

“It’s in response to a photography challenge,” Veronica explained. “We’re supposed to post pictures that reflect all four seasons. I already have some that I took when we were at Virginia Beach last summer. And remember when we were in New Hampshire last fall and I took those stunning pictures of the autum leaves?”

“Yeah,” said Tim.

“And for spring I’m going to use one of the pictures I took of the cherry blossoms on the Potomac during our trip to DC a few years back,” Veronica said.

“So now you need a shot to show a wintry scene,” Tim said.

“Exactly,” said Veronica. “I was thinking of something artistic, like bare, snow-covered branches contrasting against the deep, blue sky. That would really depict winter well, don’t you think!”

“Can’t you just use one of the pictures from that week we spent skiing at Taos? I know you have pictures from that trip.”

“Yes, but I just wanted something unusual, unique, and interesting,” Veronica said. “And we are here in Montreal, aren’t we?”

“Fine,” Tim said. “But let’s make it quick, okay? Because baby it’s cold outside.”

Written for Rachel Poli’s Time To Write prompt.

SoCS — Parenthood

Fandango8 Comments

BERJAYAMy wife and I were bundled up one night last winter in our bungalow by the lake when she told me the news that she had a bun in the oven. Let me be abundently clear when I tell you that I was thrilled. Yes, my wife and I would shortly be bringing our first little bundle of joy into our family.

Of course, I admitted to my honeybuns that I was worried. This would be our first child and I was worried that I might bungle things, being a new dad and all. But she assured me that I was not a bungler and that I would handle the responsibilities of being a new father quite well. She was not at all concerned about me bungling things.

And with that, we bunched up next to one another and cuddled, as we sat there in front of the warmth of the fire savoring our future together with our new baby.

Written for the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt from Linda G. Hill. The challenge is to find a word that contains “bun” or use it as a word all by itself.

Either Way

Fandango10 Comments

D6C24017-E5D3-41DD-87C6-95412B07D8CCHow do you pronounce the word “either”? Do you use the hard ē, as in ee-ther, or the hard ī as in eye-ther?

And what about “neither”? Rhymes with nee-ther? Or nigh-ther?

I was raised to pronounce both words with the hard ē sound, and that’s how I still pronounce them: ee-ther and nee-ther.

The reason I’m asking is because I’ve noticed lately that a lot of people who use either of those words, particularly on some TV shows that I watch, are pronouncing them using the hard ī, saying “eye-ther” or “nigh-ther.”

I Googled the pronunciation of both words and found out that, whichever way someone chooses to pronounce these words, they shouldn’t have trouble being understood. Both pronunciations are correct. However, the way people say these words depends on their upbringing, their region and their preference. It seems that the British are more likely to use eye-ther as the pronunciation, and the Americans use ee-ther.”

I think there are two possible explanations for why I’m hearing the hard ī pronunciation more frequently than the hard ē pronunciation.

First, a lot of actors on American TV shows are actually British, Canadian, or Australian (or even New Zealanders), who are playing Americans but use the British way of saying either or neither.

Second, every American seems to think that speaking with a British accent makes the person talking sound more refined and intelligent than their American counterparts.

Or maybe there’s a third reason. It’s me. Maybe I’m the one who is saying these words wrong.

So are you a hard ē or a hard ī person?

Betrayed

Fandango8 Comments

D5830554-DD0D-4317-A27B-B60D9B9E9F2DI feel betrayed…

By those who deny climate change.
By those who deny science.
By those who deny evolution.
By those who don’t care about the environment.
By those who put God and the Bible before the U.S. Constitution.
By those who put party over country.
By those who cast a blind eye at poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia, intolerance, and injustice in America.
By those who believe they should have domain over the healthcare and bodies of others.
By those who believe war is always the best answer.
By those who believe there should be no restrictions on the purchase of military-style assault weapons by anyone at any time.
By those who cheat, lie, and deceive in order to achieve their own unenlightened self-interests.
By those who don’t know the difference between facts and opinions.
By those who hack into computers and steal other people’s personal information and identities.
By those who show little regard for human life.
By those who mistreat animals.
By most politicians.
By the current President of the United States.

Written for today’s one-word prompt, “betrayed.”

Friday Fictioneers — The Book Club

Fandango14 Comments

img_0987Marvin pictured his wife Martha and her close knit group of lady friends seated around the white wrought iron table at her weekly book club teas.

He smiled, knowing that, rather than talking about books, they spent their time gossiping about the latest news of the townsfolk. The juicier the scandal the more boisterous their voices.

Martha loved her weekly teas and now, months after her passing, Marvin just couldn’t bring himself to pack up and store his wife’s beloved garden set.

Instead, he would take his coffee out to the yard and sit at her table remembering his Martha.

(100 words)

Written for this week’s Friday Fictioneers prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Photo credit: Fatima Fakier Deria.

Butch

Fandango11 Comments

D6412E13-9A86-4B52-BB14-C573C2BFF151When I was a very young boy, my father gave me a nickname. He called me “Butch.” It was wishful thinking on his part.

Back when he started calling me Butch, the name didn’t have the same connotation it has today. Back then it meant manly and masculine.

But the meaning of the word has evolved considerably over time. These days, according to the Urban Dictionary, Butch means an especially masculine lesbian who is often the dominant partner in a lesbian relationship.

While I know my father didn’t think of me as a masculine, dominant lesbian, I think he was a bit disappointed that I wasn’t more manly. I was the nerdy, studious type of kid, more likely to be on the debate team than on the football team. I was not very coordinated. I was skinny, wore glasses, had braces on my teeth, and pimples on my face. I was more of a Sheldon than a Butch, which also meant that I was more likely to be beaten up than to beat up another.

I even think there was a time when my father worried that I was gay. I wasn’t, but I have no doubt that it had crossed his mind.

Eventually my father stopped calling me Butch. In fact, I think he even stopped calling me by my given name, as well. He basically just stopped speaking to me at all.

#writephoto — Oil and Water

Fandango15 Comments

CF98EFDE-D133-4766-855F-1C248DADB800“Oh, this is simply breathtaking, don’t you think?” Alicia said.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s beautiful,” Stan, her fiancé, said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“You sound disappointed, Stan. I thought you’d love the view from up here,” Alicia said.

“Yeah, the sunset is nice, and all,” Stan admitted. “But you said we’d be able to see the skyline and the city lights. All I see is a thick fog bank.”

“Well, you’re right,” Alicia admitted. “When the fog settles over the valley, which it often does around this time of the year, you can’t see the lights of the city like you can on a clear night.”

Stan folded his arms across his chest. “So why did we even bother to drive up here?” he asked.

“You can still appreciate the stunning sunset, can’t you?” Alicia asked.

“You know what I can appreciate, Alicia?” Stan said. “I can appreciate sitting on the hammock in your folks’ backyard, smoking a Cuban cigar, and drinking a beer.”

“My mother was right,” Alicia said.

“Your mother? What was she right about?”

“Oh, did I say that out loud?” Alicia asked, a blush coloring her cheeks.

“Yes, you did,” Stan said. “So what did she say?”

Alicia sighed. “Fine. She called us oil and water because she doesn’t think we mix well together.”

Written for Sue Vincent’s Thursday Photo Prompt.

Time to Panic

Fandango19 Comments

84ECF722-551E-4538-9059-E0A67DAF3E7B“What the hell’s the matter with you?” Clyde asked his daughter. “You’re acting like a maniac.”

“I’m frantic, Dad,” Lilith said. “I can’t find my iPhone.”

“Where did you leave it?” her father asked.

“If I knew that, Dad, I would be able to find it,” Lilith responded. “Duh!”

“When did you last use it?”

“When I was at Betsy’s last night. We were studying for the history test together.”

“Okay,” Clyde said. “Don’t panic.”

Lilith rolled her eyes. “Right, that’s easy for you to say. My whole life is on that phone.”

“Okay, calm down,” Clyde said. “Let me call your number.” He pulled out his own cellphone, an antique flip phone model, and dialed her number. “It’s ringing.”

But the sound of a ringing phone could not be heard anywhere near where they were standing. Lilith became even more frantic.

“Wait, someone answered,” her father said. “Hello? Can you tell me how you’re answering my daughter’s phone?” There was a slight pause and then Clyde said, “I see. Okay, thanks. I’ll let her know.”

“So?” Lilith said, impatiently.

“I thought you said you were studying for your history test at Betsy’s place last night,” Clyde said.

Now it was time for Lilith to panic.

Written for today’s one-word prompt, “frantic.”