Sunday March 7th, 2010

The exercise:

Your assignment today: tell me a travel story (preferably a real one).

Mine:

Yesterday's big purchase has got me reminiscing about the first and only other "car" I ever purchased. Hmm? Oh yes, those quotation marks are quite intentional.

When I decided to go backpacking in New Zealand toward the end of 2003 I thought it would be best to get around in a car (no quotation marks there, I'm sure you've noticed). This was a bad idea for several reasons and the way I went about it only made it worse.

You see, I knew absolutely nothing about cars. And I didn't have a whole lot of money to spend on one. Pile on top of that the desire to get a car before I left Auckland and hit the countryside and I might as well have tattooed Sucker across my forehead.

So there I was, the day after I arrived from Vancouver (I believe it was about a 14 hour flight from LA but it's been a while and I can't be bothered to double check), going car shopping. Sadly, I was unable to find a car. I did, however, find a very nice lemon.

It was cheap. It was old. It was small. I only needed something for six months so I thought it was perfect.

When it stopped being able to go faster than 60 km/h I began to suspect I had chosen poorly.

When the engine began overheating so badly I had to pull over every fifteen minutes I thought maybe I should have shopped around a little more.

When the reverse stopped working I had to admit defeat (I still kept driving it for another month or so).

It was quite the experience though. I met a lot of very nice locals along the side of the road who stopped to see if I needed help. I could do a lot more sightseeing since I was forced to travel so slowly. It really did transform the first two months of my trip into something I could have never predicted.

But... been there, done that. I'm hoping this one will go much more smoothly :)

Also: in searching the blog to make sure I hadn't told this story before I came across this other car-related New Zealand post. Man, I need to get back there one day. I'm absolutely positive Kat would love it there.

Saturday March 6th, 2010

The exercise:

Feeling better today. Had a good sleep last night, so that helped.

Also this:

That's a 2006 Saturn Ion. Kat and I thought it looked unhappy at the dealership so we decided to give it a new home. It seems happier here.

Your four line poem prompt this week is: a new addition to the family.

Mine:

Our little family

Has grown from two to three:

Two members organic,

One needs a mechanic.

Friday March 5th, 2010

The exercise:

It's a beautiful, sunny Friday outside... so of course I'm not feeling very well. Sigh.

Anyway, your four lines of prose this week, partially inspired by Kat starting Spring Break today, shall be about: breaking point.

Mine:

We all knew Ernesto was close. We just didn't know what would be the final straw.

But we should have at least known better than to continue carpooling with him.

Now as we're stuck in yet another traffic jam and he's pulling a gun out of the glove compartment, I guess it's safe to say he's finally reached his breaking point.

Thursday March 4th, 2010

The exercise:

Today's prompt is inspired by a story that Dark recently posted on Protagonize. I'm quite excited about the whole thing and hope that I'll be able to join the fun. If not I'll still enjoy following its progress, I'm sure.

Anyway, the prompt: hunting humans.

Mine:

She walks the streets,

Night after night,

Looking for a face

Shaped just right

So that she may

End a life.

And while she hunts,

Others hunt her;

But not by choice -

They're no monsters -

Just normal folk

Whose lives were upturned.

The winner of this game

Wins their chosen prize.

But as they play

With madness in their eyes,

Do any of them see

That all ten souls will die?

Wednesday March 3rd, 2010

The exercise:

I have to admit, I quite enjoyed the chapter of Lessons in the Dust that I worked through last night. I'd take that as a good sign, but I seem to recall the quality dropping off pretty quickly. We'll see.

The exercise today is to give a caption or two (or more!) to this bit of concept art from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, which hits movie theatres this Friday:

Mine:

"Go to your room or I'll have my makeup artist do his worst with your dog."

*     *     *

The Red Queen was not impressed with her guest's opinion that dinner 'tasted of skunk spray' and insisted that they leave immediately.

Tuesday March 2nd, 2010

The exercise:

I managed to survive the opening segment of my NaNoWriMo novel last night without having an aneurysm, so I guess it wasn't that bad. I think the most galling thing was seeing words that had been left out.

Kat and I are in the beginning stages of shopping for a used car.

So this week's Two Haiku Tuesday is brought to you by: car shopping.

Mine:

I can't believe it!

This one's totally perfect!

... Does it come in red?

*     *     *

The greasy salesman

says it's a steal. The police

would seem to agree.

Monday March 1st, 2010

The exercise:

Tonight I open up Lessons in the Dust, my NaNoWriMo novel, for the first time since the end of November. Let the rewrite begin!

Assuming I survive the experience, I shall be back here tomorrow to let you know how it goes. Until then, your prompt today was inspired by the light-hearted theme of the closing ceremonies last night: fun with stereotypes.

Mine:

I've got me a pet beaver,

I went and named him Bucky;

He helped me build our igloo

And he brings me good Lucky!

Every night for dinner

We have us some baby seal;

Some people think that's so cruel

But I laugh and say, "Get real!"

Don't be so down on this dish,

Y'all really need to cheer up;

Try a bite and if you like,

You can add maple syrup!

Well it's time for me to go,

I got me some wood to chop;

Then it's time to play hockey

With our bright red mounted cops!

But feel free to come over,

We'd love to show you our ways;

And if you behave yourself,

We'll throw in a couple "Eh"s!