No Cake?

So I Have This Friend: Give your best advice to this friend.

So I have this friend... At her wedding reception next month, she has decided to not have a cake. Instead, there will be fresh fruit and cookies. Could you address my concerns about the legality of this idea and whether or not it will have any bearing on if she is properly married?

05/07/10 - Another day with 4 great responses, just short of the 5 response minimum. No winner. But I love those of you who play so faithfully.

Ice Cream

Letters: Given either a first line or a set-up, write a letter appropriate to the situation.

Write a letter to an ice cream company explaining your idea for a new flavor and what to call it.

05/07/10 - No winner on this due to lack of response. Bummer, too. I liked this one.

Mommy Dearest

Now What?: Write what comes next.

Your mother forgot your birthday.

Uh oh... Now what?

We Have A Winner!!! 05/07/10

I call her up immediately at 9:43AM (one minute after my birth time during which she normally phones me), pout a lot and make her feel guilty, then plop myself in her kitchen until she makes me spaghetti and meat sauce and garlic bread and carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Then give her a hug. :)

Winner: Sassy Britches
Reason: Full of win - and yum!

Shopping Mall

Checklist: A list of words will be accompanied by a scenario in which to use them.

skateboard, sum, ant, drag, positively

Write about something you saw at the shopping mall.

05/07/10 - No winner on this due to lack of response.

Down Under

In the News: This category features news-related prompts.

Today is Hug an Australian Day

Which Australian would you like to hug - and why?

We Have A Winner!!! 05/07/10

Uh, Simon Baker, der. Do you really need an explanation?

Winner: Sarah @ My Drunk Monkeys
Reason: If you question why I chose Sarah's "Simon Baker" response, it'll be like you don't know me at all.

Titanic

Take Two: Given a second chance, how would this be different? Rewrite the ending to a book, movie, scene, fable, quote, etc.

The RMS Titanic sunk early on April 15, 1912. 1997, James Cameron made a film about it.

Write a new ending. Or if you aren't familiar with the ending (the boat sinks!), feel free to change up an element of the actual history.

05/07/10 - No winner on this due to lack of response.

Women at Work

A Thousand Words: Photo day!



What bizarre situation have these ladies been called in to take care of?

Source: Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park

We Have A Winner!!! 05/07/10

Their husbands had five alarm chili for dinner.

Winner: Marc
Reason: And now rather than thinking these masks are hideous, we all want one.

Tax Fraud

So I Have This Friend: Give your best advice to this friend.

So I have this friend... She just bragged to me about a bunch of ways she cheated on her taxes last week in order to receive a big refund. What, if anything, should she do?

05/07/10 - No winner on this due to lack of response.

Earth Day

Letters: Given either a first line or a set-up, write a letter appropriate to the situation.

Today is Earth Day. If you support this day, write a letter to someone and convince them to change their ways. Or if you don't support this holiday, write a letter telling someone why they are wasting their time.

05/07/10 - No winner on this due to lack of response.

Umm, Thanks...

Now What?: Write what comes next.

It's your birthday. You've just opened a box containing the most bizarre gift you've ever received.

What is it? Who is it from? What do you say?

We Have A Winner!!! 05/07/10

My birthday had been largely perfect. No fuss, no muss. My husband and I sat huddled up on the couch after having put my son to bed, my swollen belly taking up the most space.

"Did you get everything you wanted for your birthday?" he asked.

"I think so," I responded feeling content and happy. Our hands were intertwined.

He reached to the side of the couch and pulled up a smallish box. "Do you think you can handle opening one more present?"

I was immediately curious as to what was in the transformed shoe box. It stood up on it's end. The lid had been fashioned to look like little doors, complete with two small knobs to pull them open. It was the only gift I had received with the exception of the birthday card my son had picked out.

I opened the doors slowly and peered inside. I felt kind of guilty, as if I was spying on someone's life. Inside was a little bar and from it hung green things. I pulled the door open wider and reached in, pulling out one of the green shapes. It was a $20 bill folded into an origami shirt. There were pants and dresses too.

"There is $250 for you to go buy a new wardrobe. I know it doesn't do you any good now, but I thought you would want new things after the baby was born."

I couldn't stop admiring the little wardrobe. I was so moved by the amount of time it must have taken to create. It was beautiful in artistry and rich in love. Sometimes, money can buy happiness.

Winner: Heather
Reason: Completely touching.

Travel Packing

Checklist: A list of words will be accompanied by a scenario in which to use them.

Supply a list of odd items you would pack for travel. Feel free to explain.

We Have A Winner!!! 05/07/10

Always pack earplugs.
Not for me, for the others;
I've been told I snore.

Winner: Inspired Dreamer
Reason: There's your Day Two win! I like that your item was something specifically benefit those around you. I wish all travel companions were so considerate!

Food Fight

In the News: This category features news-related prompts.

NJ cafeteria workers punish food-fighting students

What was the punishment?

We Have A Winner!!! 05/08/10

The kids were required to wake up extra early each morning for a week and prepare hot breakfast for the local homeless shelter.

*we did something like this to fulfill our NHS service requirement in high school. Bought the ingredients, made the breakfast at home, and served it before school started.*

Winner: Isabella
Reason: Maybe not the funniest response, but I absolutely love the idea. It definitely teaches a lesson that apparently is not soon forgotten.

Vacation Redo

Take Two: Given a second chance, how would this be different? Rewrite the ending to a book, movie, scene, fable, quote, etc.

You've just returned home from vacation. Given a second chance, what would you have done differently? Maybe there's something you didn't buy, somewhere you didn't eat, a place you didn't have a chance to see.

I would've eaten more chorizo.

We Have A Winner!!! 05/08/10

Vacation to the place I grew up in:
I would have got drunk, just once, with the people I grew up with. I think at least the first time, thats the way it should be.

Winner: Alchemy16
Reason: Probably for different reasons than you, I totally agree with this. Everyone I grew up was so goody-goody at the time. I get a real kick out of their Facebook statuses now - we could totally meet for a drink now that we've gotten past the stuffiness.

Runaways

A Thousand Words: Photo day!



What's going on here?

We Have A Winner!!! 05/08/10

They just had the previous cue ("Unresponsive") read to them and, unwilling to come up with any new ones, they are running for their lives!

Winner: SparkleFarkle (@WishMittens
Reason: I wouldn't blame them at all!

Unresponsive

So I Have This Friend: Give your best advice to this friend.

So I have this friend... She says she's not going to bother posting a new cue today since there are so many old cues with fewer than five responses. Being the 5th response on an old under-answered cue let's me cross it off my list, which makes me happy. It also gives you a one in five shot of winning!

• Day 2 - Troubled Teen
• Day 4 - Advice
• Day 2 - Vacation
• Day 3 - Overnight
• Day 4 - Biggest Fan
• Day 5 - Neighborhood Watch
• Day 6 - Easter Bunny
• Day 7 - Easter Basket
• Day 1 - Biography
• Day 4 - Not a Stalker

If you think those cues stink, suggest some new ones.

Not a Celeb

Letters: Given either a first line or a set-up, write a letter appropriate to the situation.

Convince someone that you are NOT a famous person and that they should stop writing letters and stalking you.

We Have A Winner!!! 05/08/10

Why would I do that? I'm totally famous. Keep stalking me.

Winner: Ryan Ashley Scott (@ryanashleyscott)
Reason: It's always good to feel loved. Depending on the level of stalking, I might have to agree with this!

Free For All

Now What?: Write what comes next.

I didn't schedule a cue for today. That means you're sitting there, cue-less, and you can write about anything you want, completely unsupervised. Now what?

Two winners today - I'll give a Day 3 and a Wildcard. Because I'm generous to make up for my lack of planning.

We Have A Day Three Winner!!! 05/07/10

Oh my. No cue. Carte Blanche to write about anything. What an opportunity....

So....


Nice weather, isn't it?

......

Oh look. A squirrel.

.......

Uh.....

Can I have a cue, please.

Winner: davidseven
Reason: That's almost exactly the thought process I went through trying to think of a cue when I realized I hadn't posted one.

We Have A Wildcard Winner!!! 05/07/10

Haiku must follow
Five-Seven-Five syllables;
Should note season (Spring!)

Winner: Inspired Dreamer
Reason: She is nothing if not true to herself.

Stranded

Checklist: A list of words will be accompanied by a scenario in which to use them.

You are stranded on an island with only the following:

spoon, ukelele, yarn, hand sanitizer, feather boa

How do you use them to survive until help comes (or until you are killed by a smoke monster)?

We Have A Winner!!! 05/07/10

Here I am stuck on this stupid island. All I have with me are the following: a spoon, my ukulele, a ball of yarn, hand sanitizer, and a pink feather boa. So what do I do now?

It is pretty chilly here after the sun goes down so I will use that boa for warmth later. Meanwhile I am going to use this yarn to help me make a little shelter.

So, there! My little shelter is done. That multicolor yarn does work well with the green from the leafy branches I used to make my little casa.

Hmm...what's that in the distance? I looks like smoke. That's weird. Maybe it will go away if I play that ukulele a little. My playing sucks so it should ward off anything that might be out there.

Ack! What's happening to me? That smoke is all around me now!

Well, it appears that I am dead. I am floating above my body now, and I see a really bright light. Hmmm....I guess I shouldn't have drank the hand sanitizer. Who knew it wasn't like drinking alcohol?

Winner: Melinda (@mstacer)
Reason: Very nicely done. And an important lesson to all - ukeleles do NOT stop fires. Nice try though.

Name That Critter

In the News: This category features news-related prompts.

National Zoo names octopus

Actually, they allowed the public to vote on the octopus. Always risky. What would you suggest naming him?

We Have A Winner!!! 05/07/10

Bill

Winner: Mike Trippiedi
Reason: That's a great no-nonsense name for such a handy creature.

Surprise Arrival

Take Two: Given a second chance, how would this be different? Rewrite the ending to a book, movie, scene, fable, quote, etc.

We arrived safely home from our trip yesterday with nothing out of place at the house. Given a second chance to leave us a surprise for our return home, what would you do?

We Have A Winner!!! 05/07/10

You had fun on vacation; I guess that's fine.
But I can't help but wish the vacation was MINE.
I hope you don't care
(It's only fair)
I came over and drank all your wine.

Winner: C. Beth (@cbethblog)
Reason: Good thing we drank a lot of wine on the trip!

Traveling Clothes

A Thousand Words: Photo day!



A snapshot of me and Joe (no) on our travels home today. Dare to caption us?

Source: George Eastman House Collection

We Have A Winner!!! 04/28/10

The future parents of Susan Boyle leaving on their Honeymoon.

Winner: Mellodee
Reason: Yikes. And is her arm at the most awkward angle you've ever seen? How uncomfy!

Sitter

So I Have This Friend: Give your best advice to this friend.

So I have this friend... He's hired a cat-sitter while he's away on vacation but he suspects the sitter isn't stopping in to take care of the cats every day. Without staying glued to his security cameras online (because the point is to enjoy his vacation), what do you suggest he do to make sure his pets are being properly cared for?

No worries for my kitties while I'm away but it made me think "what if..."

We Have A Winner!!! 04/28/10

Hire a cat-sitter-sitter. Or, save half the money and hire a kid (one whose parent's encourage responsibility) to sit the cats. You get a two-fer. The parent's will make more of a point to make sure the kid is doing his/her job.

Winner: Ryan Ashley Scott (@ryanashleyscott)
Reason: A cat-sitter-sitter. There really IS a job for everyone.

Not a Stalker

Letters: Given either a first line or a set-up, write a letter appropriate to the situation.

Write a letter to your favorite famous person (musician, actor, politician, etc) convincing them that are NOT a stalker and that you had a legitimate reason for being outside their home at 2am with a camera.

We Have A Winner!!! 04/28/10

Dear Miss Bar Refaeli,

So, uh, about last night. I can explain, alright? In fact, that's what I'm about to do! So read on, won't you?

I know this will be hard to believe, but it's true - lying is not something I do! Out of my bum is not where I'm talking - I really do suffer from sleep walking!

Oh, you want to know about the camera? I was asleep, how should I know... ha ha?

In closing, may I make a suggestion? You might want to clear up your garden's congestion. I did not appreciate having to do the Poison Ivy Dance - especially since I wasn't wearing pants.

Your not stalker,
Phast Tawker

Winner: Marc
Reason: I will admit I had to look her up but it was worth the search. And I have a soft spot for excuses that rhyme.

Pirates vs Ninjas

Now What?: Write what comes next.

It is inevitable that someday there will be a battle between pirates and ninjas.

Which group will claim victory and why?

We Have A Winner!!! 04/26/10

The Ninjas will certainly win. Their suberb, kickass ninja moves will dominate the handicapped pirated.

Handicapped pirates? Why, yes! Those damn pirates, as underhanded as they are, can only see out of ONE EYE!

Winner: Donnetta
Reason: Beyond the one eye, most pirates also have the peg leg. I say that puts them at a real disadvantage.

Wildcard: One Minute

Wildcard: This category can be absolutely anything. Absolutely. Anything.

The premise behind the writing prompt site The One Minute Writer is that you have 1,440 minutes in the day - use one of them to write. After you use one of them to write, what thing could you do for just sixty seconds each day to improve your life?

We Have A Winner!!! 04/26/10

Snuggle. With my dogs, with my husband, with anyone (well, maybe not a stranger). There is something that makes life so much better with a hug or a cuddle!

Winner: Heather
Reason: I agree. It doesn't take long for a good snuggle and things seem so much cheerier after!

Biography

In the News: This category features news-related prompts.

Jennifer Love-Hewitt's recently released biography is called Day I Shot Cupid: Hello, My Name Is Jennifer Love Hewitt and I'm a Love-Aholic. Why, exactly, I do not know.

What would be the title of your biography?

We Have A Winner!!! 04/26/10

I've got hobbies--I read, and I jog.
(I also cook, then eat like a hog!)
And I write about me.
My autobiography
Is an ongoing one, called C. Beth Blog.

Winner: C. Beth (@cbethblog)
Reason: Guess shes'a already ahead of the rest of us. Again. ;)

Easter Basket

Take Two: Given a second chance, how would this be different? Rewrite the ending to a book, movie, scene, fable, quote, etc.

Instead of candy, what would you use to fill an Easter basket?

We Have A Winner!!! 04/26/10

Fish

Winner: Shark Bait
Reason: It makes perfect sense that candy would be inappropriate with a name like Shark Bait. I just hope there's some provision for water that may seep through the basket.

Easter Bunny

A Thousand Words: Photo day!



Caption this Easter Bunny scene.

Source: Library of Virginia

We Have A Winner!!! 04/26/10

"The hat has spoken - GRYFFINDOR!"

Winner: Isabella
Reason: Not being familiar with Harry Potter, I didn't get this one at first. But once I did, I decided to pick it. Because I can.

Neighborhood Watch

So I Have This Friend: Give your best advice to this friend.

So I have this married friend... Her neighbor is extremely hot and often runs through the neighborhood, occasionally shirtless. What kind of excuses can she make up to be in a decent viewing position? Also, any way to subconsciously influence him to remove his shirt more frequently?

Totally a hypothetical situation, folks.

We Have A Winner!!! 04/26/10

"Oh wow. Did I spray you with my hose-pipe again. Sorry about that."

Winner: davidseven
Reason: Hmm, this response just may work. It addresses both the need to be in the yard AND the shirt removal. I'll be sure to pass it along to me, umm, friend.

Biggest Fan

Letters: Given either a first line or a set-up, write a letter appropriate to the situation.

Your favorite famous person (musician, actor, politician, etc) is running a contest that will reward their biggest fan with a special one-on-one dinner. Write a letter convincing them to choose you.

04/28/10 - Not enough entries to name a winner for this one. It's a shame since we were only one entry short and the four here are great!