100 Word Challenge - Swollen

What follows is in response to the 100 Word Challenge, usually authored by the larger-than-life Velvet Verbosity, but temporarily hosted by me, here. The word today is "Swollen".

And I know exactly where your pervy minds went. Well, some of them, anyway.


The River

Each day beaks upon the shore
sweeping over us and we
little pebbles that we are
rise and fall on the beach
in rhythm

The river of time
swollen with pebbles
trapped in the current
rushes toward the great sea
where all mix together
and storms drive the waves
toward the shore
where pebbles are

And each day breaks upon the shore
washing new pebbles onto the beach
and sweeping old, worn pebbles away
to deep places and dark
where the rhythm of waves
is no longer measured

But the river of time
still swollen
still rages
to the sea.


Ndinombethe.

100 Word Challenge - Thirty

Please notice the feature, new to Blogger, I have implemented in the upper right hand corner. It's "Pages". The applet, which I have entitled (for now) "The Marketplace", has two links. One takes you to a static page of information - in this case, prints for sale, and the other link takes you back here. Simple. Quick. Easy. The next page I'm planning is a page where one can bring up every Haiku post or every 100 Word Challenge I've done. And every photo I've published. Stuff like that.

What follows is in response to hte 100 Word Challenge authored by the youngish Velvet Verbosity. The Word today is "Thirty".



The Old Man vs Youth

"Whatcha lookin' at, Pops?"
"Pops? Who are you calling 'Pops'?"
"You, old man. Who'dja think?"
"Smartass."
"So? Whatcha lookin' at?"
"Her."
"You got taste, Old Man, but she ain't gonna look at chew."
"How do you know she 'ain't gonna look at me'?"
"'Cause you are OLD, man. Damn. Are you stupid, too?"
"Boy, if I was younger I would kick your ass. Might anyway."
"Bring it on, Greybeard. I got YOUR ass covered."
"Nah. Your Daddy'd sue me for sure."
"That's right. He would. Can't hit a kid, man. Just how old are you, Old Man?"
"Me? I'm Thirty."

Ah the 'age of invisibility' keeps slipping backwards. Oh well. I was supposed to publish a photo of my iTouch in its 'Red Grippy Case' because a certain reader just bought an iPhone and it's Red. And she published a photo. But I've run out of time for posting and it's time to wrap this up - so I will publish the promised photo tomorrow. Promise.

Ndinombethe.

100 Word Challenge - Breakfast

What follows is in response to the 100 Word Challenge, authored by the delicious Velvet Verbosity. The challenge word today is "Breakfast".



"I don't want to go to school", Sally said.
"Why not", asked her mother. "Are you not well?"
"Oh, she's upset because Sissy Cooper got the cheerleading spot she wanted", said Junior.
"Oh Sally, I'm so sorry", said her mother.
"It's not fair", said Sally. "She bleaches her hair."
"And she's going out with the guy Sally likes", said Junior.
"Mother, can you make him stop, please?"
"Junior, eat your breakfast", said his mother.
"Besides, Sissy Cooper has got bigger boobs and can do the Chinese splits."
And Mother and daughter both said, "Junior!! Shut up and eat your breakfast!!"

Ndinombethe.

100 Word Challenge - Nervous

The following is in response to the 100 Word Challenge, authored by the skittish Velvet Verbosity. The word, today, is 'Nervous'.



"I don't know what's appropriate."
"Honey, for two hundred bucks, anything you want is appropriate."
"But I've never done this before."
"Look, Honey, you just sit down on the bed, relax, and tell me what you want. We'll do all the stuff she won't do."
"No, it's not that. My wife ... died ... and ...."
"And you've been alone ever since. I'm sorry, Honey."
"Look, maybe this isn't such a good idea."
"It's up to you."
"It's just that I'm so nervous. I've never been with another woman."
"Don't be nervous. Turn out the lights and close your eyes ... and just pretend."


Ndinombethe.

100 Word Challenge - Prefer

What follows is in response to the 100 Word Challenge (click on the Applet below) authored by highly favored Velvet Verbosity. The Word, for this Challenge, is 'Prefer'.




So what are you lookin' for, Dude?

Sorry?

What kind of music do you like? What tunes turn ya, man?

Bach. I prefer Bach.

Bach? Bach? OH!!! BTO! Right?

Bach. Johann Sebastian Bach.

Johann? Johann? Oh. John, right?

Yes, I suppose it is ....

HEY. ELMO! We got ANYTHING BY A JOHN BACH?

Nah. nobody by that name

Awww, too bad, Dude. If Elmo says no, that shit don't EXIST!!

Really. Here. Listen to my iPod.

Duuuuuude! Smokin'!! .... What IS this?

Fugue in G-minor.

Wow. Is there more of this stuff?

Yes. Hundreds.

Dude. That's radical. I thought 'Fugue' was fish!

Ndinombethe.

100 Word Challenge - Hope, and a Book Review

What follows is in response to the 100 Word Challenge authored by the inspiring Velvet Verbosity. The word, today, is "Hope".



No Hope

"Just what did you expect, MISTER?"
Uh-oh. She called me Mister. She only does that when she's seriously pissed.
"Aw, c'mon, Babe. Honest. I've never seriously looked at another woman."
"Why do ya look at all, Joey? Ya got ME! Ain't I good enough?"
Oh, good. She's gonna calm down. Whew. That was close.
"Of course you are. You're the only girl for me."
There. That oughta do it. HOLY COW. Look at the Rack On THAT!!
"JOEY!! You are a PIG!!! There is no hope for you."
"But Baby!!"
Crap. She's gone. Double crap. The blonde is gone, too.



Now, for the book review.

A short while ago I volunteered to read and review a new book, written by a WWII P.O.W. The book was to be a recounting of his three escapes from prison camp and his subsequent recaptures. The unique aspect to all of this was (and is) that the man was a German Flier shot down over England, his prison camp was in Western Canada, and one of his escapes took him into and across part of the United States.

The second unique aspect to all of this is the format of the book. It's actually a fairly short book at 125 pages, including the short appendix. But each page in the book is half German, half English, laid out side by side, so the text matches up. But back to that in a minute.

The story, in English, is an almost literal translation from the German. For a native English speaker, this represents a novel look into the way the way a non-English person thinks and speaks. The story itself is gripping, in parts, fascinating in others, and overall, well done. There are times, however, when the story gets to be a bit tricky to follow - due to the literalness of the translation. But still, well done.

Now about that side by side text. For the student of German, this is a novel way to explore the language as it is spoken by a native German speaker - for a German speaker, it also represents a novel way to see their language explode into English.

The book is "Canadian Escapades" by Klaus Conrad. Translated by Maximilian Franck
and Scott S. Lawton. Published by Germancosm. Visit can-esc.com for the latest news and links.

Ndinombethe.

100 Word Challenge - Give

The following is in response to the 100 Word Challenge, authored by the generous Velvet Verbosity. The Challenge Word is "Give".


Give

But I don't know what to give her!

I keep trying to tell you, it doesn't matter. She won't care.

What do you mean 'she won't care'? Of course she'll care. I know I would.

But that's you. It's not her way to care.

Fine, then. I won't give her anything.

I wouldn't do that. She'll know.

But you said she won't care. So why should I give her anything?

She will not care what you give her - she WILL care that you gave. It's the thought of giving that has the value, not the value of what you give.

Ndinombethe. And a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

Friday Haiku - The Challenge Alive

Velvet Verbosity has a post up and in it she lays out the next 100 Word Challenge. Pleased. Me, and the Word.



The 100 Words
is alive and well again.
The challenge renewed.

Comes again the time
To squeeze the generous thought
to five, seven, five.

To twist and bend it
hammer it into the mold
of five, seven, five.

The amazing feat
One hundred words, will here be
said five, seven, five.

I've done that once before - a 100 Word Challenge in Haiku. I think Velvet was pretty surprised. Shocked, even, if her reaction was any measure. So was I. I intend, however, to do it again - this time in honor of her return to us and the return of the 100 Word Challenge.

Yesterday was not the relaxed and easy day it WAS to have been. I wound up going to the office to work on some pressing issues and I never made it to that 'dog and pony show' put on by the hardware vendor. Oh well. Next time.

I did, however, pick off another of the little Gremlins that have been bugging me - and the side benefit, I suppose, is increased functionality for Luscious (for those of you who don't know, Luscious is my new(ish) MacBook Pro) now that I have the SSL VPN setup working for the Macintoshes just as well as it works for Windows. Now, all I have to do is trade in my Air Card (a pcmcia card) for a USB Modem from Verizon and I've got it licked and I can totally use my Mac for all of my support efforts from remote locations. One reason to do that is that my Windows laptop (an elderly Compaq Presario) only runs about an hour on battery, whereas Luscious runs for four hours - and that includes wireless access, full time. Apple rules!!

Ndinombethe.

100 Word Challenge #6

He feels such guilt. Another commitment not met, another injury to her psyche, another shot to the solar plexus of their love. And he tried to cover up, tried to smooth it over, but he lied and he was caught and she is so hurt and he feels so incredibly dumb .... and lost. And panicked. What if she leaves him? What if this one lie was the last lie, what if this one error was the one that brings it all to an end. He feels as though he is split down the middle of his soul. He seeks atonement.

This NON-AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL piece of fiction is in response to the 100 Word Challenge authored by VelvetVerbosity. The challenge word today was 'atonement'.

100 Word Challenge #5

Home from the hospital just a few days before. Our son, named after me. He was so small and helpless. And Annie was nursing. They would lay abed. And she would suckle him. And I would be shushed to silence. I was seldom there when he was awake. I ached to hold him, to touch him, to bond with him. Finally came the call. "Will you change him?" At last. My time with him, alone. Diaper off. I turn away for a moment, reaching for a diaper. I feel warm wet falling on me. Just one of life's little lessons.

This in response to the 100 Word Challenge issued by VelvetVerbosity, where the subject is 'Lessons'.

100 word Challenge #4 - Generation

Before we get into the 100 Word Challenge, go over to Lotus's site and check out my guest post. It is a Thursday Thirteen covering why one should OWN rather than RENT - given in support of Veronica's move into her new home. And thanks to Sandy and Nicole for linking in.


Generation one
Fought the Civil War, he did
Died in nineteen ten

Generation two
Rough Rider at San Juan Hill
Died in fifty nine

Generation three
Came home from war in Europe
Died Two Thousand Two

Generation four
Fought the fight in Viet Nam
Not dead yet, Thank God

Generation five
My sons, will not go to war
If it is my choice

Four Generations
Have given more than enough
We will War no more

This generation
Has a larger task at hand
Than the ones before

The generation
Of more kind and gentle souls
That will war no more

The above is a Haiku of 100 words on the subject word 'Generation' as put forth by VelvetVerbosity here. It details (sort of) the history, in this country, of the men who bear my family name. I guess over time I have evolved from Gung Ho Marine to Hard Chargin' Pacifist. And I'm proud of it.

100 word challenge #3 - precise

You know, you're a real jerk. (ambiguous)
Why, what did I do now? (attempt at clarification)
I shouldn't have to tell you. (still ambiguous)
Did I forget something? (a further attempt at clarification)
When do you ever remember anything? I ALWAYS have to remind you. (perhaps a bit less ambiguous)
What? Is today something? (digging a little deeper)
Why do I have to tell you? You are such a JERK! (still stuck in ambiguity)
Open the drawer by the bed. (heading toward precision)
What's this? Oh, my God. (getting closer)
Like it? (eliciting precision)
I love you, you jerk. (precise)

The above is this week's response to VelvetVerbosity's 100 Word Challenge.

Friday Haiku-100 Word combo

Words are bold, sometimes
writ large so we don't miss them
they shout loud to us

young people are bold
sometimes brazen and foolish
bold without wisdom

our leaders are bold
and their bold has brought us war
where is the wisdom?

little kids are bold
they try to do things and learn
from things that don't work

the things that cause pain
become that which they avoid
bold becomes a tool

what tools do they use?
those we have chosen to lead
what things do they learn?

discipline? respect?
humbleness? One thing well done -
they shout loud to us.

The above is a Friday Haiku and 100 Word Challenge (the subject of the challenge is 'bold') all rolled into one. I don't usually get political - or apolitical. As a Viet Nam Veteran, I saw too many young men die. At the time, I thought there was a reason to be there. As a now older man I see little reason for war and no reason to sacrifice the lives of our young men and women. I suppose my objections will fall on deaf ears. I will not be able to make any difference. Man has always fought wars. And I guess they always will. And young people will die. You would think the 'older, wiser' people who lead them to war would know better. I do.

100 words about fire

A meme from Velvet Verbosity:

Funny thing, fire. We use the word for so much. He's on fire, but we know he's not. He has a fire in his belly, but we look and see nothing. His loins were on fire, when he was really just horny. He's burning up, when really he's ill. You're fired, when all you've done is fuck up and lose your job. But to HAVE fire is to have passion and drive and desire, things we cannot see but in the result. The danger is in being consumed by fire, that result can be visible also. Fire that's uncontrolled kills.