The exercise:
Welcome to the final day of November, the 2013 version. I hope that those of you who ventured into the Nanowrimo wilderness escaped intact, and perhaps even with a story to your name.
Let us mark the end of the month by writing four line poems about: art.
Work was rather hectic today, as I covered a birthday party in the alley in the afternoon while also covering the gym and dealing with the winery (and their caterer) who are having their Christmas party at the lanes tonight.
Then a group of ten high schoolers came in to bowl just as the party was wrapping up and I got to do that as well.
Thankfully the gym was very, very quiet today for whatever reason.
Mine:
Painted dogs, hair suits,
and frozen famous farts;
Isn't it amazing
what some consider art?
Friday November 29th, 2013
The exercise:
Write four lines of prose about: the renegade.
It would appear that the cold I've been pretending not to have for the last few days has finally insisted that it does in fact exist. Trying to get to bed early tonight so that work tomorrow is manageable.
Mine:
"What is the matter, master?"
"I cannot sleep tonight, Matthew... an ill wind blows against my window, bringing with it dark thoughts of betrayal and blood-soaked sheets."
"You are safe here, master; go back to your bed and dream the dreams of a man unburdened by the cares of the world outside."
"You are right as always, Matt... wait... you are not Matthew!"
Write four lines of prose about: the renegade.
It would appear that the cold I've been pretending not to have for the last few days has finally insisted that it does in fact exist. Trying to get to bed early tonight so that work tomorrow is manageable.
Mine:
"What is the matter, master?"
"I cannot sleep tonight, Matthew... an ill wind blows against my window, bringing with it dark thoughts of betrayal and blood-soaked sheets."
"You are safe here, master; go back to your bed and dream the dreams of a man unburdened by the cares of the world outside."
"You are right as always, Matt... wait... you are not Matthew!"
Thursday November 28th, 2013
The exercise:
Write about: winging it.
As I sit here writing this it's 12:30 am on Friday, and I just got home from work a bit over half an hour ago. Funny what can happen when a group of 12 (that was supposed to be 8) show up at the alley at 8pm (supposed to be 7:30) and head straight to the lounge before they start bowling.
At least they tipped well.
Mine:
So I've never actually been a bartender before. Sure, I've served drinks to friends at home and I can certainly pour myself a mean rum and coke, but that's about as far as I've gone with it.
Before tonight.
They started off easy enough, with the first three guys ordering beers. I learned pretty quick that the MGD was not a twist off while the Kokanee caps would not, in fact, shred my hands to pieces. Then two ladies came up asking what we had to offer, and there was something muttered about a Long Island Iced Tea.
At which point I began to sweat a little bit.
Thankfully they just followed the trend setters (bless their hearts) and ordered beers as well. Things settled in for a while after that, with my most difficult task involving having to figure out which glasses wine was served in.
Then? Then two of the ladies came up during the first game looking to have a shot. They were standing there looking at the bottles discussing what they'd like and I was like... I am not going to be able to wing this. So I went the honest route.
"Listen, I'm pretty new to this bartending thing. If you know what you want just point out the bottles you want and tell me what to do."
That went smoothly enough, and they seemed to like their drinks. Great.
Then it was decided that the team (they had three teams of four) that had the lowest total in the first game would buy shots for everyone. So I got to do 12 more.
Nothing quite like learning on the job.
Write about: winging it.
As I sit here writing this it's 12:30 am on Friday, and I just got home from work a bit over half an hour ago. Funny what can happen when a group of 12 (that was supposed to be 8) show up at the alley at 8pm (supposed to be 7:30) and head straight to the lounge before they start bowling.
At least they tipped well.
Mine:
So I've never actually been a bartender before. Sure, I've served drinks to friends at home and I can certainly pour myself a mean rum and coke, but that's about as far as I've gone with it.
Before tonight.
They started off easy enough, with the first three guys ordering beers. I learned pretty quick that the MGD was not a twist off while the Kokanee caps would not, in fact, shred my hands to pieces. Then two ladies came up asking what we had to offer, and there was something muttered about a Long Island Iced Tea.
At which point I began to sweat a little bit.
Thankfully they just followed the trend setters (bless their hearts) and ordered beers as well. Things settled in for a while after that, with my most difficult task involving having to figure out which glasses wine was served in.
Then? Then two of the ladies came up during the first game looking to have a shot. They were standing there looking at the bottles discussing what they'd like and I was like... I am not going to be able to wing this. So I went the honest route.
"Listen, I'm pretty new to this bartending thing. If you know what you want just point out the bottles you want and tell me what to do."
That went smoothly enough, and they seemed to like their drinks. Great.
Then it was decided that the team (they had three teams of four) that had the lowest total in the first game would buy shots for everyone. So I got to do 12 more.
Nothing quite like learning on the job.
Wednesday November 27th, 2013
The exercise:
Write about: the prize.
Ran some errands around town this morning with Max. He made new friends pretty much everywhere we went.
Mine:
As they enter the room, each man drops a piece of paper into a waiting box. On every scrap is a name and an address, both provided so that should their name be drawn for a door prize it could be mailed to them.
That is what they have been told, at any rate.
The conference they are attending is three days long and it has only just begun. If any of them had given the instructions they'd received upon arrival any thought they would have realized there was plenty of time to pull names and hand out prizes in person.
But the bartenders were waiting and ready for them, happy to let them know the first five drinks were on the house. Glasses had been filled and emptied many times before any of the attendees had even begun to look for the conference room.
So each man had dutifully completed his entry, placed it in the box, and taken his seat. Prepared to learn, prepared to make new contacts, prepared to enjoy a few days away from the cares of work and home.
However they, apparently, were not the least bit prepared to have those very same homes emptied of all of their valuables while they were at this bogus conference of ours.
Write about: the prize.
Ran some errands around town this morning with Max. He made new friends pretty much everywhere we went.
Mine:
As they enter the room, each man drops a piece of paper into a waiting box. On every scrap is a name and an address, both provided so that should their name be drawn for a door prize it could be mailed to them.
That is what they have been told, at any rate.
The conference they are attending is three days long and it has only just begun. If any of them had given the instructions they'd received upon arrival any thought they would have realized there was plenty of time to pull names and hand out prizes in person.
But the bartenders were waiting and ready for them, happy to let them know the first five drinks were on the house. Glasses had been filled and emptied many times before any of the attendees had even begun to look for the conference room.
So each man had dutifully completed his entry, placed it in the box, and taken his seat. Prepared to learn, prepared to make new contacts, prepared to enjoy a few days away from the cares of work and home.
However they, apparently, were not the least bit prepared to have those very same homes emptied of all of their valuables while they were at this bogus conference of ours.
Tuesday November 26th, 2013
The exercise:
Write two haiku about: the trial.
Had a pretty good night at bowling, compiling my best triple so far this year (other than what I bowled on Sunday). Average is up to a pretty respectable 170, which I'm happy to take. For now.
This morning Kat worked her first substitute teacher job since Max was born. I think we were all grateful that it was only a half day.
Oh, today's prompt? After yesterday's topic, just consider it a test to see who's paying attention.
Mine:
Their lawyer's crooked,
the judge has been bought; the truth
will still set me free.
* * *
I watch the jury
as they watch the witnesses,
hoping to see doubt
Write two haiku about: the trial.
Had a pretty good night at bowling, compiling my best triple so far this year (other than what I bowled on Sunday). Average is up to a pretty respectable 170, which I'm happy to take. For now.
This morning Kat worked her first substitute teacher job since Max was born. I think we were all grateful that it was only a half day.
Oh, today's prompt? After yesterday's topic, just consider it a test to see who's paying attention.
Mine:
Their lawyer's crooked,
the judge has been bought; the truth
will still set me free.
* * *
I watch the jury
as they watch the witnesses,
hoping to see doubt
Monday November 25th, 2013
The exercise:
Write about: the trail.
I shaved this morning for the first time in... months. I'm not actually sure when the last time was, to be honest.
Anyway, Max spent most of the rest of the day laughing at me. Hard to tell if it was because he was just so pleased to see me without a beard again, or if he just thinks I look funny.
Maybe I'll be able to give him a chance to get used to it.
Mine:
From this vantage point the trail of black smoke rising up from the plains splits the horizon right down the middle. The air is so still this morning that the smoke does not wander left or right, it just reaches straight up. As though it is grasping for the stars or the moon, though they are long out of sight.
They were up there when the fire began, watching as the flames forced their way out of windows and onto the yard. There were a few moments there when it looked as though the blaze would spread to the neighbour's property but it clung to its source through calm currents and prayer.
It has been burning ever since, which surprises me I must say. I had expected it to have been brought under control long before I reached this overlook. The walk that brought me here was not a short one, nor had I hurried. But the smoke is as thick as ever and shows no sign of dissipating.
It would appear that I was not the only one who wanted that home to burn to the ground.
Write about: the trail.
I shaved this morning for the first time in... months. I'm not actually sure when the last time was, to be honest.
Anyway, Max spent most of the rest of the day laughing at me. Hard to tell if it was because he was just so pleased to see me without a beard again, or if he just thinks I look funny.
Maybe I'll be able to give him a chance to get used to it.
Mine:
From this vantage point the trail of black smoke rising up from the plains splits the horizon right down the middle. The air is so still this morning that the smoke does not wander left or right, it just reaches straight up. As though it is grasping for the stars or the moon, though they are long out of sight.
They were up there when the fire began, watching as the flames forced their way out of windows and onto the yard. There were a few moments there when it looked as though the blaze would spread to the neighbour's property but it clung to its source through calm currents and prayer.
It has been burning ever since, which surprises me I must say. I had expected it to have been brought under control long before I reached this overlook. The walk that brought me here was not a short one, nor had I hurried. But the smoke is as thick as ever and shows no sign of dissipating.
It would appear that I was not the only one who wanted that home to burn to the ground.
Sunday November 24th, 2013
The exercise:
I figure it has been long enough since the last time I used it (plus I'm fresh out of prompt ideas at the moment), so we're making use of the first line prompt today.
We all get the same opening line, but each of us shall take it in a direction of our choosing. If that's as hideous a description as I think it is, feel free to click on the label at the end of the post to see how previous installments have gone.
Our first line this time shall be: Congratulations, you have won a free, one-way trip to Mars!
Bowled in a team pins over average tournament at the alley this afternoon. I'm happy to report that I did my part in the three games, finishing at +104. The other four guys on my team had a little less luck but that's all right - I despise letting my team down, so I was just pleased that our less than ideal result was not my fault.
That sounds rather silly, now that I've typed it out.
Mine:
Congratulations, you have won a free, one-way trip to Mars!
"What in the...?" Albert glanced up from the letter just long enough to make sure no one in the coffee shop was watching before continuing on.
We have been keeping close tabs on you in recent months and believe that you are a perfect candidate for this voyage. Having been without a job long enough that you are, essentially, unemployable...
"Oi!"
... and having no skills or knowledge which might lead to the opening of your own business (not to mention a complete lack of motivation to do so)...
"That's taking it a bit far!"
... you are ideally situated to leave this planet behind with no regrets whatsoever! Toss in the fact that you're fresh off your girlfriend dumping you...
"It was mutual! Sort of."
... on Valentine's Day...
"Unlucky coincidence, that was!"
... via text message and honestly, what could possibly be keeping you here? And, just for the record, we had nothing to do with the termination of that relationship. Just because her new boyfriend works for our company...
"He what?"
... and had been assigned to your case for the preceding six weeks, that doesn't mean it was planned, or that we had a hand in how things concluded between you and the lovely young lady. It's all circumstantial, really.
"You sons of..."
At any rate, please do get back to us with your response as soon as possible! There are a limited number of seats on this flight and we'd hate for you to miss out simply because you were too slow in replying!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
NASA
I figure it has been long enough since the last time I used it (plus I'm fresh out of prompt ideas at the moment), so we're making use of the first line prompt today.
We all get the same opening line, but each of us shall take it in a direction of our choosing. If that's as hideous a description as I think it is, feel free to click on the label at the end of the post to see how previous installments have gone.
Our first line this time shall be: Congratulations, you have won a free, one-way trip to Mars!
Bowled in a team pins over average tournament at the alley this afternoon. I'm happy to report that I did my part in the three games, finishing at +104. The other four guys on my team had a little less luck but that's all right - I despise letting my team down, so I was just pleased that our less than ideal result was not my fault.
That sounds rather silly, now that I've typed it out.
Mine:
Congratulations, you have won a free, one-way trip to Mars!
"What in the...?" Albert glanced up from the letter just long enough to make sure no one in the coffee shop was watching before continuing on.
We have been keeping close tabs on you in recent months and believe that you are a perfect candidate for this voyage. Having been without a job long enough that you are, essentially, unemployable...
"Oi!"
... and having no skills or knowledge which might lead to the opening of your own business (not to mention a complete lack of motivation to do so)...
"That's taking it a bit far!"
... you are ideally situated to leave this planet behind with no regrets whatsoever! Toss in the fact that you're fresh off your girlfriend dumping you...
"It was mutual! Sort of."
... on Valentine's Day...
"Unlucky coincidence, that was!"
... via text message and honestly, what could possibly be keeping you here? And, just for the record, we had nothing to do with the termination of that relationship. Just because her new boyfriend works for our company...
"He what?"
... and had been assigned to your case for the preceding six weeks, that doesn't mean it was planned, or that we had a hand in how things concluded between you and the lovely young lady. It's all circumstantial, really.
"You sons of..."
At any rate, please do get back to us with your response as soon as possible! There are a limited number of seats on this flight and we'd hate for you to miss out simply because you were too slow in replying!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
NASA
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