Rusted

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

rusted

Write anything you like about the word above.

We Have A Winner!!! 05/25/10

After his long journey with Dorothy through the land of Oz, the Tin Man and his new heart returned to his little house in the woods just off the yellow brick road. Many years passed and Tin Man started to notice his joints getting a bit stiff. He began using oil everyday, sometimes more than once a day to help keep him going. After a few years, Tin Man realized he couldn't even get out the door anymore without lubricating each joint a few times. That was when he knew he had rusted and it was time to go to the Lolly Pop Guild nursing home to live out his final days.

Winner: Melinda (@mstacer)
Reason: Maybe I'm a bit biased because I'm reading Wicked at the moment, but Oz references make me happy.

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.

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!

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.

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!

Vacation

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

Sangria, Lost, Monkey, Book

Tell me about your vacation.

Thanks to Marc for today's cue!

We Have A Winner!!! 04/22/10

Holiday Lemons

Winner: Monica Manning
Reason: Monica was correct in that her piece was a bit long. But it was well-written and didn't feel that long when I read it. It's definitely worth clicking over to check it out.

Troubled Teen

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

porcupine, mouthwash, gnome, arrow, galoshes

Why is your teenager in trouble?

Thanks to Bethany for today's cue!

We Have A Winner!!! 04/22/10

She thought she had been struck by cupid's arrow. She had never experienced the sensation she had when she looked at Josh. Maybe band camp wouldn't be so bad after all. She walked over to him and smiled weakly. "Ummm.... hi Josh," she said. Her mouth was dry. She would have been willing to drink a bottle of mouthwash if it meant her tongue didn't feel like sandpaper in his presence. She watched him tug a little harder on the head of a gnome, trying to pluck it from his camp counselor's garden. The counselor had nailed it to a stake and buried the end deep.

He looked over his shoulder briefly. "Hey."

She felt the heat rising from her feet, up her legs and into her abdomen. It made her feel nauseous, dizzy, confused. Is this what love felt like, she thought. She stumbled forward slightly. Her bright red golashes glowing bright against the slightly damp color of earth. "Hey." she responded, her vision clouding everything but Josh out of her sight. She felt herself sway. I'm weak in the knees. It's a fairytale!

Josh looked over his shoulder again. "Are you okay?" he asked, forgetting the gnome and reaching for her instead. She could feel the heat rising up her chest and into her face. She was having difficulties breathing. She couldn't believe what a strong effect he was having on her. She swooned. The last thing she saw was Josh leaning over her and the last thing she felt was his lips pressing against hers.

At least, that is the way she preferred to remember it when the other kids at band camp taunted her. She kept this story alive inside of her using it mentally fend off the taunts of the other kids who had learned what happened. Maybe one day, she would be able to use it as the opener to her explanation of how she found out she was allergic to porcupine quills.... and why she would never attend another camp in the mountains again. For now, she had to endure the teasing and hateful words that teenagers are so good at conjuring up.

Winner: Heather
Reason: I don't miss my high school years - but perhaps if I was more creative about writing off those embarrassing moments, my memories would be more pleasant.

MacGyver

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

You are handcuffed in the trunk of a car with only the following:

tweezers, breath mint, paper plate, plastic bag, emergency flares, jar of salsa

MacGyver your way out of the situation. (Yes, I think MacGyver IS a verb that means to manipulate an uncommon means of escape.)

Thanks to davidseven for inspiring this one!

We Have A Winner!!! 03/26/10

Well I’m useless with tweezers, so I’d open up the jar of salsa and dump it on my wrists. Hopefully that would make them slippery enough to escape the handcuffs.

Then I’d want to see what the heck I was doing, so I’d light the emergency flares. I’d quickly realize that was not the smartest move when the trunk filled with smoke. In the ensuing convulsions I’d probably hit the trunk hard enough, or in just the right spot, to pop it open.

Sitting up while hacking up a lung, I’d start waving frantically at the car travelling behind me. They, understandably, would be rather confused. A moment of inspiration would lead to me using the tweezers to carve out the word HELP in the paper plate and holding it up for them to read.

Their comprehension secured, they would phone the police while I tidied up after myself, sticking the used flare, torn up plate, and spilled salsa into the plastic bag. My Momma didn’t raise no dirty boy.

Once the cops arrived and pulled over my would be kidnapper, I’d offer the Good Samaritan who helped rescue me their hard won reward – a breath mint.

Hey, it would be all I had left.

Winner: Marc
Reason: Marc wins for his original and unselfish use of the mint.

First Job

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

lawn, robot, yellow, spork

Tell us about your first job.

My first real taxable job was as a student aide at the University. No sporks allowed.

We Have A Winner!!! 03/16/10

My first summer job was to cut the grass at a nursing home, in Arizona. It was 99 degrees when I woke up at 8am and I don't particularly care that it was a dry heat because so is a freakin' oven and you don't see people crawling into those for a vacation. My father said I had to work this summer, something about being a spoiled rich brat, but he never said anything about having to do the manual labor myself. So I made a quick trip to Gadgets 'N Things and bought one of those top of the line robotic lawnmowers. I tried to get one in green so it would blend in with the over watered lawn more but all they had was yellow. So I charged that robot up and then set it loose on the perfectly flat and perfectly out of place green lawn in the middle of a desert. As it cut the lawn, I relaxed in the air conditioned rec room of the nursing home. Hey, they have Wii in those places now and I was deep into a bowling battle with some old guy when I heard an old woman screaming about a UFO on the lawn. Oh crap! I dashed into the kitchen to find a group of old ladies gathered around the window watching my bright yellow lawnmower working. I tried to distract them with the awesomeness that is a spork but I failed miserably. Finally the director came in to see what all the fuss was about and I was caught red handed (or yellow roboted). After a call to my father, the robot was confiscated and in punishment I was given an antique push mower - you know the ones that do not have an engine. Apparently the residents are not the only antiques kept there. I earned that check, only to have to turn it over to my father to pay for the robot I put on his charge card. The same robot that now cuts our lawn so he does not have to go out in the heat.

Winner: Bethany (@Auburnrose)
Reason: Great scenario crafted with this list of words. Nice job!

List

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

Let's try something a little different this week.

duck, chair, elbow, banana

You find the following items on a list. What do they have in common? What kind of list might this be and why?

Example: If you found a list that said "onion, carrots, potatoes, beef", it might be a grocery list and perhaps the list-maker was putting together a stew.


We Have A Winner!!! 03/10/10

The producers of The new adventures of MacGyver really wanted to top themselves for bizarre escape scenarios.

Winner: davidseven
Reason: I'm not sure I want to imagine what the duck would be used for - here's hoping it's more of a verb and less of a noun!

Dance Machine

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

candle, rocky, spinach, yellow

Make up a new dance move.

We Have A Winner!!! 03/03/10

1) Partners (boy and girl) face each other.

2) Each places hands palm together overhead, making the shape of a candle flame.

3) They sway from side to side.

4) They then do-si-do, promenade right, sashay left, then swing right, because that's about as spinachy as anything else could be.

5) The boy suddenly remembers he's eskeered of girls and runs from the dance floor in total embarrassment.

6) The girl shrugs and goes to talk with her friends. But not about boys. They're really not very interesting.

Winner: JazzBumpa
Reason: I'm not sure how new this dance move is - I remember doing it years ago. But it still made me laugh for the honesty of it.

Jealous

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

garble, private, breathe, joy, wild

Write about a time you were jealous.

We Have A Winner!!! 03/01/10

I'm a Private in this war so wild.
I hear your garbled call to your child.
I breathe a sad sigh--
And ask, "Why can't I
Have that joy you had when you dialed?"

Winner: C. Beth (@cbethblog)
Reason: I just liked it a lot. So it wins because I said so.

Good Luck

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

discount, faulty, compose, half, cabbage

Tell us about a good luck charm.

We Have A Winner!!! 02/20/10

Dear Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Assorted Fairies and Leprechauns,

I have paid my big brother all of my allowance to help me compose this letter, so you know things are serious. I have tried everything in my power, but I have failed. I desperately want a Cabbage Patch Doll, but all my parents will buy me are cheap knock offs from the discount store. I don't care if they are half the price of a real Cabbage Patch Doll, they are faulty. Instead of a signature on their butt cheek it just says Made In China. Their hair is not yarn but unravelled rope. Worse of all, they do not have bellybuttons!! In exchange for a real Cabbage Patch Doll I will leave you my lucky rabbits foot. It worked well in the past when I asked for a raise in my allowance, when I got an A on my spelling test, and when I wished for a snow day. The only time it has failed was for the rabbit.
Thank you for your help with this serious matter.
Susie

Winner:Bethany (@Auburnrose)
Reason: I enjoyed her plea for a Cabbage Patch Doll. I can remember my mother buying me a cheap replica. Devastating.

Weekend

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

tutor, fourth, equate, regrettably

Tell us about your weekend.

By the way - Beth and Inspired Dreamer are BOTH just one win away from having all seven. And they both are missing Day Two! Don't go easy on them!

We Have A Winner! 02/09/10

"We should have stopped when we had our fourth", I regrettably told my wife on Saturday. In school, they don't teach you how to deal with large families. You don't get a tutor to tell you when you stop when you're ahead. The constant noise, smell and mess my living room has become does nothing but equate a hole in my wall. Not to mention a boxing fracture on my dominant hand. My wife has been crying all day. She said that I am mean and hurt her and the children. All because I can't control my anger.

Who the heck calls cats "their children" anyways?

Winner: Eric
Reason: In addition to including all words in the prescribed scenario, he included a bit of a twist at the end. I do SO love a twist!

First Day of School

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

candle, Connecticut, juicy, chair, plaid

Write about the first day of school

We Have A Winner!!! 02/03/10

It was a beautiful fall day. At least it would be if it was Connecticut and not Arizona. For September 4th it was hot. 104 degrees and it was only 8:00 in the morning.
Emily was ready fro her first day of school her plaid uniform skirt and crisp white pressed blouse looked darling on her 5 year old frame. I was packing her snack a ripe juicy pear I wrapped it in a white soft napkin to keep it from bruising and put it in her new pink lunch box. She stood bouncing by the front door waiting for me.

I walked her to the corner with the other moms and girls, all dressed alike. The little girl had all grown up together many had gone to the St. Augustus’ preschool together. Today they all started Kindergarten together. We stood waiting for the bus we would then drive to school and meet them there.

The girls all bounced with excitement Kindergarten was a such a big deal for them. They were so exited to go. The school bus pulled up as I remember it, a brand new bus. The girls got on the bus and waved to us once the were in their seats. The bus driver shut the door. And the girl started to bounce in their seats and face forward. Emily gave me a big smile and waved one more time.

We watched the bus pulled away and then quickly followed Jeanine to her mini-van like the bus it was brand new. Jeanine started the mini-van and went the opposite way It was faster and a straighter shot to take the highway. We got to St. Augustus’ in about 15 minutes the bus would take another 15 or so minutes.

We went to the classroom where other mothers and a few children were waiting. Miss Penfold greeted each of us and made small talk. I remember the first time that she checked her watch. I thought nothing of it. The second time made me wonder if this was the worst day of school for her She asked us to find our child’ chair where she had written their names on a card in such precise way that each child should know how to properly write their name. She talked a little about the day at which point I noticed other parents checking their watches I checked mine it was 8:50. I looked a Jeanine she looked at me in a quizzical manner. Then as I looked at her face fell seeing something behind me. I turned to see the Principal, Sister Alice, standing in the door tears streaming down her face.

To this day I don’t remember what she said I just know the chaos of crying and the police van smelling of vomit taking us to the hospital.

That was six years ago. Jake was born 7 months later. Today he is in Connecticut with his father getting ready for his first day of school. I am sorry to miss it but I needed to be here in Arizona with Jeanine and the others lighting a candle at St. Augustus’ for each of the children that died on the bus when it was hit six years ago today. I take the card that Miss Penfold had written Emily on all those years ago and place it by her candle.

Winner: Vicki
Reason: Such a sad story. Not at all what anyone would expect on the first day of school.

Roadtrip

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

cowboy, red, Friday, Wichita

Write about a roadtrip

We Have A Winner!!! 01/29/10

I hadn't been out to a bar on a Friday night in a long time - not since my college days in Witchita. I scanned the room and quickly found what I was looking for. I knew it was him from his description, "I'll be the one in the cowboy hat at the end of the bar." I felt my pulse quicken and my cheeks flush as I approached. All I could muster was a lame attempt at "hey," all the while silently cursing myself for wearing a red turtleneck. I was certain I looked like an awkward tomato.

Our conversation stayed pretty superficial. Under normal circumstances I would have been completely uninterested, but not with this man. We had already established our relationship, even if we had never met in person.

"So, where to next?" He asked with a half smile.

"Well, I've a got a car. Do you have the time?" I was finally finding my confidence again.

He stood up and offered his hand, "I don't know. Should I be traveling with strangers?" he teased.

And so began the road trip I would never forget.

Winner: Isabella
Reason: So very dangerous...

Superhero

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

bird, panties, geranium, scissors

Write about the death of a hero

We Have A Winner!!! 01/20/10

Captain Underpants had a super-hero grandmother nobody knows about. She didn't realize her powers until late in life, hence her super-name, Granny Panties.

Her arch nemesis wore a bird costume and decorated himself with geraniums like a parade float. He was kind of a big kid. She would have seen him speeding down the street if that darn boy scout hadn't hit her up for "helping an old person cross the road" badge.

Rest in peace, Granny Panties.

Winner: Ryan Ashley Scott (@ryanashleyscott)
Reason: I don't even care that she left out 'scissors'. Granny Panties is funny!

Old Lady

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

door, light, book, caramel, ragweed

Using the words above, what was the old lady across the street doing outside at 2am?

We Have A Winner!!! 01/13/10

The lady who lived
across the street
was watering her flowers
in her caramel colored robe;
She twirled slowly in the light
of the streetlamp
just outside my window.
I watched for a while, a smirk on my lips;
then I put down my book
and walked to the door -
and called out, "You're watering
the ragweed, you whore!"

Winner: Cindy (@GeminiWilder)
Reason: It seemed almost magical and endearing. Until the last line. :)

Winter Memory

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

train, sofa, skim, picnic, satellite

Write about a winter memory.

We Have A Winner!! 01/07/09

Train travel sure isn't what it used to be. The seats are no longer as comfy as my sofa. Instead of a classy dining car, all you can get to eat is a cold picnic box lunch with lukewarm skim milk. And worst of all the train only stops at out-of-the way satellite stations on alternate Tuesdays!

Winner: Mellodee
Reason: Travel by train sounds beautiful during the winter. Even if the milk islukewarm.

Treat

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

robot pink turkey styrofoam

Leave a treat for Santa.

Winner Time! 12/31/09

Silently, stealthily, Santa falls down the chimney, landing on the pile of styrofoam my son has placed there, so Santa doesn't get hurt. His face is all pink, and his nose is red. He leaves the robot under the tree, ready for the child to find in the morning, then sits in the chair by the fire. There is a mincepie, a milk drink, and a note. "Dear Santa, please put the oven on at 200 degrees, or the turkey will never cook!"

Santa obliges, then zips up the chimney to carry on his Important Night.

Winner: s'me
Reason: I love a man who will help with dinner.