View of Sue

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Apocalypse Now!

This month's prompt:
Apocalypse Now!

Give us your take on the zombie apocalypse, be it a zompocalypse story, a zom-com, or a reflection on the genre and the films that inspired it. Write wherever the prompt inspires you, fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry. Do try and keep things at a PG-13 level, though.

Be sure to check out the rest of my blog chain buddies post below!

_________________________________

As we looked up to the darkening sky, a dingy, gnarled fog stretched over us and separated into murky orange tendrils as if grasping for something just out of reach. They appeared to be stagnant but as we gathered our survival packs and prepared to go underground, you couldn’t help but look back up and they were always a little further across the sky than they were before.

That was how it all began. Rumors ran rampant as to how it started but after several months it didn’t seem to matter anymore. Humanity was lost.

Those that chose to ignore the warning signs were the first to fall. The gruesome fog slowly descended upon anyone that hadn’t sought shelter. Perhaps they were the lucky ones with immediate death. Their decaying bodies littered the streets leaving a constant reminder of the day life as we knew it ended.

We found each other, my underground dwellers and I, on the internet. I knew there were others like me. Ones that can never be too prepared, planners, doers and survivors. We met weekly underground storing provisions. And always enforcing our plan to meet here if anything out of the ordinary happened. It was better to error on the side of caution.

The people in the middle, the ones that managed to miss the initial orange claw of fog were neither dead nor alive. We started to call them Zombies. They were trapped on the surface with the dead. We are able to communicate with others that have gone underground using car batteries to power up the internet. Those that have more technology than us have posted pictures of the middle people, the Zombies.

The orange fog didn’t kill them for they were able to seek some sort of shelter. But they came out and the residual effects are hindering their thought process. They wander, from what we’ve seen. And their eyes are what haunts me. When you look past the blot of gray under the red outline of their eyes they are lifeless and hollow. We are not even sure if they can see. So far they have shown no aggression.

Confinement in our small underground shelter has everyone on edge, some want to leave and take their chances into the unknown. But it has been made clear if anyone were to leave they would not be allowed back. We couldn’t risk being affected by the strange orange fog that fell from the sky. I sometimes find myself wishing someone braver than me would go out there and tell us everything is fine. Tell us we can go back to the way it was. But that can never be.

So I write my final thoughts now, it’s only a matter of time before our rations are gone. Our group is slowly crumbling, tempers flare and the tension is thick. Should I survive I will have my journal to look back on the dark days and perhaps write a novel. But if you find this journal my name, date of birth, family members and picture of them are in the final pages. I also included my last known address. If it isn’t asking too much would you go check to see if I left on my iron?
Participants and posts:
dclary - www.hardhobbittobreak.com (link to this month's image)
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
randi.lee - http://emotionalnovel.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast/wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
writingismypassion - http://charityfaye.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
dclary - http://www.davidwclary.com/ (link to this month's post)
SinisterCola - http://acgatesblog.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
PragmaticPimp - http://www.unfoldingmyth.com/ (link to this month's post)
magicmint - http://www.loneswing.com/ (link to this month's post)
SuzanneSeese - http://www.viewofsue.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
AFord - http://writeword.blog.com/ (link to this month's post)
J.W.Alden - http://www.authoralden.com/ (link to this month's post)
Nissie - http://www.paperheroes.net/ (link to this month's post)
MonkeyQueen - http://www.mylifewithmonkeys.com/ (link to this month's post)
areteus - http://lurkingmusings.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
pyrosama - http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
pangalactic - http://sonofflash365.blogspot.co.uk/ (link to this month's post)
Sweetwheat - http://gomezkarla.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Penelope - http://poet-slash-writer.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
kimberlycreates - http://kimberlycreates.com/ (link to this month's post)
Diana_Rajchel - http://blog.dianarajchel.com/ (link to this month's post)

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Dead Bunny

We've been having fun over at The Absolute Write Water Cooler. Our blog chain prompt for the month of April:

Dead Bunnies
I'm not even going to touch that one

Write wherever the prompt inspires you, fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry. Do try and keep things at a PG-13 level, though.

Please make sure to read my fellow blog chain buddies posts (below) and see what they can do when asked to write a post about Dead Bunnies. They are very clever! I might be adding more as the month progresses.

Here is my submission, oh and I really wish this was a fictional piece, sadly it isn't:

__________________________________

The entity remained fixed on the side of her house. Weeds grew against its round concrete frame, every Spring they had to be removed. It was her task. She dreaded that side of the house because of the menacing entity that taunted her. Its foreboding black pipe reached out of its leaden lid and bent at an angle parallel to the muddy earth, it had just enough space around it to shake. And when it shook she would barely have time to run from it before the black hose erupted sending water from the dark depths of the unknown.

One particular year the round concrete frame cracked, a triangular piece went missing and no one could explain its disappearance. Nevertheless, the weeds at their fullest in the beginning of Spring still had to be cleared. Skittish and uncertain, she made her way to the right side of the house to finish the chore.

As she came closer, her body tensed. Something moved in the weeds. Had the entity amassed some new devilry? Had its evil presence seeped into the untouched soil? Had the weeds become alive? She was letting her imagination lead her down a frightening path, she nervously laughed at herself. Then saw movement again.

Taking a step backward, she surveyed her surroundings. Children were playing across the street, her husband was mowing the lawn and neighbors were doing exactly what she was doing, pulling weeds, she felt silly. She boldly stepped forward. She ever so quietly she peered into the mangled foliage. A smile came to her face. It was a bunny, so small that if you gently cupped your hands together the furry little animal would rest snuggly there.

She had no intention of scooping the bunny in the palms of her hands but she did stepped toward it to get a closer look. She startled the animal and it hopped away. But where? It seemed to have disappeared, until she heard the splash.

The birds stopped in mid song, crickets ceased their chirping and the cicada’s hum went silent. Her eyes grew wide as she realized the horror brought from her actions. The cute baby bunny jumped down the sump pump. She could hear more splashing as the bunny struggled in the deep darkness of the round, concrete cistern. The sounds of nature returned as if crying out to her to help one of their own. And she ran across the yard, she ran to the sound of the lawnmower. Waving her hands in the air, calling out to her husband. Having his attention, she ran back to the right side of the yard and he followed her, not knowing what to expect. He could not understand her incoherent babbling. The children across the street followed her husband. The neighbor’s heads snapped up from their yard work. She had successfully created a scene.

Once her husband caught up to her he found her kneeling next to the sump pump. She explained to him the horror that had unfolded. They both turned an ear towards the triangular opening and heard nothing but silence. He looked over at her and then the children that had gathered behind them. His face told her everything. He could not open it in front of the inquisitive children. The risk of having them mimic him in the future was too great. He had to use the situation to explain the dangers of the sump pump. He explained how deep it went down into the earth and how very heavy the cement lid was. She listened to him and she knew. She knew the bunny was dead. Forever entombed in the sump pump.

The Tomb

_________________________________

Monday, March 26, 2012

It's a major award

How awesome is this? I won an award. I was chosen by my new blogging friend from Absolute Write, Diane Carlisle. Thank you Diane! I am the recipient of the prestigious Liebster Award.
This has been traditionally awarded to honor those blogs which motivate and inspire us. It is also granted to those blog authors who have accumulated 200 followers or less. Its purpose is to summon new followers and increase awareness of other noteworthy blogs.
I accept and will follow the steps in order to promote a continuum of this worthy cause. Here is my list of chosen recipients for this award:

Relax Max < he changes the title of his blog every other day
Mike at Too Many Mornings
Reflections on a Middle-Aged Fat Woman
Venom
Lobo at Predator Press < I don't think you can even comment over there any more, but it's a good blog.

To Accept the Award:

Thank the person who nominated you on your blog and link back to them.
Nominate up to 5 others for the award.
Let them know by commenting on their blog.
Post the award on your blog.

So there you have it check these blogs out they are worth a look! And thanks again Diane.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Brewing Storms

This month's prompt:
Rainy Days

Write wherever the prompt inspires you. It can be fiction or non-fiction, all wet or high and dry, mushy mud or hard-packed earth. If you want to go with snow, hail, boiling hellrain, biblical frograin, or some other kind of precipitation, knock yourself out.
Here is my addition to the blog chain and don't forget to check out the other blogs and there Rainy Days prompts below.

Brewing Storms

“Your mom is having chest pains.”

“Dad, please call an ambulance.”

“Nah, I’m just going to take her to ‘our’ emergency room.”

“WAIT. I’m going with you, pick me up.”

Dad then hung up the phone. I knew I had 5 minutes tops to call my brother, get my purse and shoes, remember 10^th grade CPR class, explain to my husband and boys that if I ever have chest pains it’s okay to call 911 and not to do what grandpa does and would you please run to the driveway with me to try to stop him. While I was rambling on, running through the house like a chicken with its head cut off, I was also on the phone with my brother, who was talking to me,

“Don’t let them out of your driveway. Just call 911.”

And I was whispering to my husband,

“Have you seen my shoes?”

My husband threw up his hands,

“Jesus Christ.”

A crackle of thunder put a slight pause on our chaos. We all looked up at the midnight blue horizon. Clusters of gray and black colors found each other and gathered above us. And as if the sky knew it had our attention, flashes of lightening followed the forming ominous clouds. Mom and dad pulled into our driveway.

I ran to the car waving my cell phone as the first raindrops began to spill out of the swelling clouds,

“I can call 911 right now, you can just stay in the car and they will be here in less than ten minutes.”

I had inadvertently hung up on my brother. I also realized that mom and dads windows were up. By the time I made it to the car dad was in reverse. So I jumped in the back seat as the car rolled out of the driveway. I started to explain to my parents, which wasn’t the first time for either of them,

“You can’t fool around with chest pains, we really should call 911.”

Their come back is always the same. The emergency room they frequent when there is anything to do with the heart is the one that they will eventually be sent to because chest pains and heart related aliments mean a 24-hour evaluation. And this emergency facility has overnight accommodations. So they’re saving a trip. While they are explaining this to me I’m sitting in the back seat and dad is shooting me looks through the rear view mirror, I was quite certain he was ready to say,

“Don’t make me pull this car over.”

I called my brother to tell him that I too, was now in the car settling in for a half hour drive.

“Jesus Christ.” He exclaimed.

He hung up on me.

The rain that was just starting to fall when I was waving around my cell phone was now beating down on the cars windshield. The sky that once held the bright shining sun was enveloped in darkness. The clouds had burst open unloading their heavy burden upon us with a rain and hail mixture. I sat back in my seat and let dad give his full attention to the road. While others pulled over under bridges to wait out the downpour dad continued. My brother called back,

“When you get there make sure you tell them mom is having chest pains, they have to take her right away.”

“Of course I’m going to tell them that, I know to tell them she’s having chest pains.”

“Oh.” Mom interrupted. “I’m not having chest pains now.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone. I couldn’t tell if I was hearing the hail pounding on the roof of the car or if my brother was banging his head against the wall.

I assured him that I had this and he said he would meet us there. We made it through the storm and to the favorite emergency room door. Mom and I walked in and out of the side of my mouth, under my breath, I told her,

“I’m going to hold you by the arm, look sicker, so they take us right away after I tell them you are having chest pains.”

They took mom to a room and dad joined her. While a nurse helped mom settle in I left to wait for my brother. When he arrived we just looked at each other and shook our heads. We stood in silence for a few minutes and watched the raindrops fall in the puddles outside the windows of the waiting room. The dark sky that hung over us just minutes ago began to clear and the sun found a gap in the clouds to take a peek at what it had missed.

“That was a big storm.”

“Yep.”

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Because of what you said

This months blog chain assignment.

This month's prompt:
Second Chances

Again, go wherever the prompt takes you. It can be fiction or non-fiction; the second chance in question can be a mushy valentine or a 1-up in Super Mario (or anything in between).

Long ago I was given a clear message by a total stranger. I think of her more and more as the years go by and wonder if she has any idea how she impacted my life. I don't think she does. I write about it often, this is my short and sweet version:

_____________________________________

It’s been at least 30 years since last we spoke, your face has faded in my memory. Did you have short brown hair? I think you did. I would not be able to pick you out in a crowd and I don’t know your name. But I would like to thank you because of what you said.

When I found you sitting on the windowsill at the top of the stairs you told me you had to rest and asked me to join you. Out the window the sun was shining at it’s brightest just before it set. I had the choice to squint into it or look down the dark stairwell. But then you began to speak, drawing my attention to you, having me look neither left or right but straight ahead. That was why I was there, to listen to what you had to say. Because sometimes when we are young a stranger will tell you things you already know but they can find the crack in the wall you’ve put up to ignore those that love you.

My life was going in the wrong direction and I didn’t think I had the strength to stop it. The words of your journey mirrored mine, you couldn’t have been much older than me but you had made the mistake I was about to make. I don’t know what brought us together that day but because of what you said, you change my life.

More second chances to read!
Participants and posts:
Turndog-Millionaire - http://turndog-millionaire.com/ (link to this month's post)
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
magicmint - http://www.loneswing.com/ (link to this month's post)
Tomspy77 - http://thomaswillamspychalski.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
LilGreenBookworm - http://themayhemofwritingsahm-style.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
LiterateParakeet - http://lesliesillusions.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
AFord - http://af12.webs.com/ (link to this month's post)
writingismypassion - http://charityfaye.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Bogna - http://bemaslanka.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
kiwiviktor81 - http://storygenerator.net/ (link to this month's post)
randi.lee - http://emotionalnovel.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
These Mean Streets - http://ohno-anotherwritingblog.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
areteus - http://lurkingmusings.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
Domoviye - http://living-working-in-china.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
pyrosama - http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
SuzanneSeese - http://www.viewofsue.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
julzperri - http://www.fishandfrivolity.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Nissie - http://www.paperheroes.net/ (link to this month's post)
in_one - http://quirkythomas.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
sambgood - http://www.samanthabagood.com/ (link to this month's post)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Winter's Nightmare

This month's prompt for the January Blog Chain at Absolute Write:
Winter Nightmare

Another broad one: go wherever the prompt takes you. It can be fiction or non-fiction, the nightmare can be Cthulhu or just a struggle with a troublesome New Year's resolution (or anything in between).

I go where my mind takes me and this post turned out to be fiction and I'm hoping the beginning of a short story. It's also creepy, for me anyway.
This story started from two post on my humor blog. I know, I have a weird brain. Sorry if I creep you out.
Here and here are the posts if you are interested.
Be sure to check out my fellow blog chain buddies and what they did with the Winter Nightmare prompt below.

_____________________________________

The trees were the first to feel the impact of the raging winter storm. Their branches that were covered in the morning rain began to freeze as the temperature dropped. Ice crystallized and weighed them down. The weaker branches snapped from the weight and those that struggled to support the cumbersome burden gave way to the wind that whipped in frenzy. As the rain turned to snow, visibility became difficult for the neighborhood. The radio stations alerted the community to stay indoors and wait out the blizzard.

While most took heed to the warnings, one of the few drivers out on the roads was only blocks from his house. Delayed by a meeting at work he slowly drove on the unplowed roads seeking the safety of his home. Barely able to see five feet in front of the hood of his car, he gripped the steering wheel tightly. With only 500 feet or so left to his driveway he almost let himself relax, until he felt a thump. First at the front of his car and then he knew his back tires drove over something.

Looking out the review mirror he could barely make out an object on the road. He cursed and stopped his car. The wind and snow made it almost impossible to see as he made his way around the back of his vehicle. The creature lay there in the road unmoving. The man surveyed his surroundings. No one was in sight, everyone was safe in his or her warm home. He dragged the creature into a wooded area and haphazardly covered it with snow. The man then continued his short journey home to wait out the storm.

The man, in his haste, didn’t see the shallow breathing of the creature. It lay to wounded to move in the freezing snow as night fell. Small insects from the earth seeking warmth burrowed in to the skin of the dying animal. They fed on its flesh and burrowed in deeper, feasting on its organs.

Power lines were the next to succumb to the ice and blowing snow. Isolating the community during the night. As the clocks told them it was morning the people emerged from their homes to access the damage. Although it was still snowing the wind had subsided. The sound of chainsaws and snow blowers hummed as the clean up began.

The creature remained buried in a blanket of snow as the insects ravaged its body. They had made their way to its brain, driving it mad. Foam formed in its mouth and its eyes rolled back in its head. It lay in a heap where it had been dragged waiting for death.

As the days went by the power had been restored, temperatures rose enough for the children to play in the snow. A boy and his dog went to explore the woods, forbidden to do so by his parent, he went anyway. He and his dog ran through the woods, he threw sticks for his dog to fetch and threw rocks at the frozen creek trying to crack the ice. When his dog didn’t return with the stick the boy went to look for him. He could hear the dog barking in the distance and he followed the sound. He found the dog wildly barking at a lump in the snow. Curious, the boy got closer. He saw movement. The dog wouldn’t stop. As if he was warning the boy. The boy ignored the dog. He moved closer. Close enough to reach out. He began to brush away the snow. His hand came back red with blood. Wide eyed, the boy began to move away. But before he could, the creature with all the strength he had left lashed out at the boy and bit his hand. The creature’s misery ended there and the boys had just begun.

__________________________________

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Slithering into uncharted territory

From the confines of the saturated planet the earthworms surfaced, freeing themselves from their underground world. Taking a risk to be on land only to be stranded on the wet pavement. They waited there, squirming between the mailbox and me.

The rain had abated to only a fine mist, under the cover of my overwrought umbrella, I made my escape from the building that holds me hostage Monday through Friday.

The slight incline of the parking lots blacktop to the mailbox seemed to be moving. The rain made it look like a sheet of glass, adding the worms gave it the appearance of the very beginnings of a horror movie and I, walking into the unknown, was about to become the first victim.

Someone with a vivid imagination could say the ground came alive on that rainy day. The clever worms had plans to take over the world one receptionist at a time. Turn around you fool, turn and run before the worms crawl up your legs and burrow into your skin. Yes, that thought did come to mind as I tiptoed through the gazillion worms.

While I did not want worm goop on my shoes, I also didn’t want to upset them. But most of all I didn’t want to hinder the earthworm’s progress. They had exposed themselves to the dangers of the world. The sun was bound to come out eventually, if they didn’t make it back to their muddy existence they would surely shrivel up and die, that is if a hungry bird didn’t swoop down on them first, because to a bird they were merely breakfast.

I admired the worm’s tenacity. They were breaking away from the normalcy of their lives and take a giant leap into the unknown. Some of them were going to fail in their venture, many obstacles awaited them. Yet there they were out of their comfort zone and slithering into uncharted territory.

__________________________________

This was one of my class assignments from early summer last year.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Light One Candle

This is my second attempt for the monthly blog chain over at Absolute Write. A fictional Hanukkah story. Blogger has been driving me crazy with the paragraph spacing. I have to check my settings, but that is why there is so much space in between paragraphs.

This month's prompt:
Home for the Holidays (not associated with the real Holiday).

This one is broad: write about a holiday memory. It can be fiction or non-fiction, and the choice of holiday is yours (fictional holidays are okay too). Perhaps you can invent an annoying relative. Maybe you knew someone who got an actual lump of coal in their stocking. Or there's always the tale of Nilatir, Sword-Hero of Evinrude, and the Feast of Sam'x.

Light One Candle

“So, you drink the Arcaffe coffee now?”

“I like the Arcaffe coffee. What is wrong with the Arcaffe coffee?”

The playful banter between Alice and Jacob had been off and on most of the afternoon.

“The coffee at McDonalds is a good coffee,” Alice argued, “I don’t understand why you have to have the fancy Arcaffe coffee, it’s so expensive.”

“Alice, enough with the coffee.” Joseph, Alice’s husband, saved Jacob from is wife’s immutable nagging. “If Jacob wants expensive coffee, he should drink expensive coffee.”

Aunt Rose sat at the end of one long, makeshift table. If there would be a prize for the oldest person in the food court she would be in the running to win. To look at her you would have to wonder where her glasses were, her eyes looked out of focus and watery. She wore a white blouse with muted beige, yellow and brown stripes. She pretended to listen to Joseph, Alice and Jacob, but she was lost in her own thoughts. She didn’t care about coffee, no one did for that matter, it was a way to pass the time, 1:00 p.m. was fast approaching.

The small tables were pushed together to accommodate most of the group that were in their advanced years. A younger couple, Sara and Eric, were there talking to Albert. They weren’t talking about coffee, it was something more serious and they were keeping it to themselves. Someone that didn’t know Albert would more than likely stare at his left forearm. Although it wasn’t polite to stare, one couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Is that what I think it is?’

“We have to go now Albert, good conversation.” Eric and Sara got up to leave.

“You have to leave now?

”It’s getting to be that time.”

”Yes, yes, go already.” And he waved them off with his left hand, giving people another glance.

“Shalom everyone, we shall see you soon.” And the young couple was gone.

This center of the food court seemed to become a meeting place, for the old and the young. The older would pull up a chair and stay.

“Robert, you are late.” Alice pointed out. “What is that stick you have?”

“It’s my new cane, you like?”

“It looks like a stick from my back yard.”

The cane was very fashionable and you could tell Robert was proud of it. It had twists and knots, like the branch of a tree and was lacquered to fine polish.

“I will get coffee.” He says.

“What kind of coffee? Jacob …….”

“Alice, this is a peaceful day and you will have it ruined by coffee?”

“I will go with you Robert.” And Albert stood up to help his friend.

The younger friends and family would stop by and give Aunt Rose a kiss, ask her how she was and she would politely answer, but said very little. They exchanged pleasantries with others in the center of the food court and then would be on their way after checking their watches.

Albert and Robert came back with coffee, from McDonalds, and passed the piping hot liquid around. Everyone stopped to close their eyes and let their noses come alive with the aroma of fresh brewed coffee.

That is when they heard the first notes of the music in the food court. You could hear mumblings from the surrounding tables,

“Is it a Flash Mob?”

“Record it, I think it’s a flash mob.”

Excitement grew in the air and the people became very still. Cameras and cell phones popped out. Then the young people that had stopped by to pay their respects to their elders began to sing,

Light one candle for the Maccabee children
With thanks their light didn't die;
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied;

“Light One Candle.” People exclaimed.

Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand;
And light one candle for the wisdom to know
That the peacemaker's time is at hand!

Although the song is fairly new, it’s meant to remind the young and old the importance of Hanukkah. Aunt Rose beamed with joy as she witnessed the young and the old come together. She lifted herself out of her chair with the help of her walker, stood proudly and began to sing,

Don't let the light go out,
It's lasted for so many years!

Don't let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Something Wicked This Way Come

Looking into the early afternoon sky I couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency. Up above me in the space that once held the warm, bright sun gave way to an ominous darkness that enveloped my little world.

With several errands on my list yesterday I was distracted by the colors of impending doom. Black and gray with midnight blue mingled together and spread across the horizon. They slowly crept across the skyline as if they were trying to sneak up on us. The colors rolled together forming threatening tufts of clouds.

Each time I left the safety of my heated car the air outside felt colder. The wind swirled around me and the damnable clouds started to break apart bringing frigid raindrops to the earth.

This was it, it was rolling into our lives. Whether we wanted to see it or not, it would stay with us, like an annoying out of town relative overstaying their welcome. Winter has arrived.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Back Cover Blurb

Assignment from Absolute Write Blog Chain:
Write up a back cover blurb for a book you have written or would like to write. It should be short, sweet, yet give a sense of people and events without totally spoiling the ending. NaNoWriMo participation is not required, and the blurb may be for fiction or nonfiction as you see fit.

Being a new member on the Absolute Forum I couldn't help but gravitate to the blogging threads, it's where I'm most comfortable. But I'm jumping out of my comfort zone and unleashing my first book. I have entertained the idea of writing a book but haven't shared the idea with too many people. Unfortunately the idea in my head, the one that must come out, requires quite a bit of research. Don't look for this book to be done any time soon.
Below is my blurb and also a list of the the other participants in the blog chain:

_____________________________________

Niles O’Brien sat in the back of the prison van locked in his seat and he waited. For almost two years Niles had waited and continued to believe he would be set free. He was innocent after all and the military would see that, he was a good soldier and this was all a mistake. He would soon be out of maximum security, have his name cleared and be back with his team. Holding on to this hope got him through each intolerable day.

The vans door opened and another man was half dragged in, sat down and locked in place across from Niles. His new companions head was down, his chin rested on his chest and blood trickled down the lip and nose of his face and formed a small puddle on the vans floor.

Niles studied the silent man for a half a minute before he broke the silence. He cocked his head to the side.

“Looks like you put up quite a fight. Did you think you had any chance of getting away?”

After he said it he knew he sounded like a smart ass and from the menacing look he received as the man across from him slowly rose his head and made eye contact with Niles, it kind of confirmed the question came out wrong. So much for first impressions, Niles quickly realized his people skills were sorely lacking during his time of incarceration.

The van began to move, breaking the awkward moment of their first meeting. Their stare continued though and each saw the overwhelming, uneasy feeling that rested in the other’s eyes. They did not know where they were going, nor would they want to.

What Niles and the beaten, bloodied man across from him didn’t know was that they had been targeted for a top-secret military mission from which there was no return. Because of the sacrifices made for this assignment, no one would want to volunteer. No, the time Niles spent in Leavenworth was the preliminary adjustment to his new life. A new life so deeply undercover that he would be dead to the world he knew, his family, friends and his brothers in arms.

Join Niles O’Brien as he struggles with lines he believes have been crossed in the world of advanced scientific discoveries. As he is forced into objectionable partnerships and learns more than he wants to of the threat to our world, the world he has been unwillingly recruited to save.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

In transition

This blog is in a transitional phase. From entertainment to a writer's blog. It's been stagnate long enough. I plan to post some of my other writing here, serious stuff that doesn't fit on Farvel Cargo the humor blog. If any of you writers want to be added to my blog roll let me know.
I've joined a writers forum called Absolute Write and plan to use this blog for writing prompts and their blog chain prompts. I'm excited. I still watch too much TV but haven't the time to blog about it. I have to go work on my header now.

Up coming post: A Book Blurb - I have to write a blurb for a book that I have wrote, I am writing or want to write, then post it here. I have just started on a book and I will be posting the blurb when it's my turn. I'm really nervous. Mommy.......

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Once Upon A Time

Remember back when you were a little kid, before you could read? I know it's difficult but try to remember those stories our parents read to us. That's what ABC's latest Fall Show, Once Upon A Time is doing to me. It's making me search the dusty, cobwebbed corners of my brain, trying to remember who the hell is Rumplestiltskin. I recall the name but can't remember his part in my childhood stories.

I remember reading to my kids before they could read right before bed. You want them to go to sleep, you're tired, so you skip a few pages. It happens, everyone does it. Our parents must have done it because I can't remember most of this stuff going on in this show. I've been googling Story Book Stories since I decided to invest an hour of my week every Sunday.

My theory is our parents skipped some pages to get us to go to bed quicker and to save us the nightmares from these conniving, heart stealing, black market baby racketeers. Along came Political Correctness and the pages were taken out. So now that we are old enough to handle the cruel world that is Snow Whites, there is no documentation to back it up, it's been erased.
We can march into our parents house and demand to know the whole story on this Rumplestiltskin or we can watch Once Upon A Time on Sunday nights. Because these people aren't afraid of the truth, they are filling in the blanks and I'm loving this show. I didn't think it would suck me in the way it has, the fact that it's executive producer and creator Edward Kitsis is a former producer of LOST might have something to do with it. If you are aware of the LOST connection then you can't help but see the numbers everywhere and it sends chills up my spine. "Oh my God the evil mayor's address is 108!"

Monday, May 30, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen was that boring or what?

I guess I should post one last review of Dancing With The Stars lack luster final. I'm really not sure if anyone is reading this but I'll do it anyway.
Here's the thing, I think Kirstie has a bigger fan base than Hines Ward but I couldn't vote for after seeing that God awful cartwheel that had no place in a Dancing With The Stars Final and I don't think I was alone on this, just look for yourself:

So I didn't vote for her. And I don't think I'm alone when I say, again, I can't stand Mark Ballas. I'm sad for Maks not getting his Mirror Ball Trophy but he really needs to step it up with his final freestyle dances. Get flashy like a Broadway Show, their costumes didn't even have any sequence on them. Kirstie looked like a monk at first and then she took her brown robe off, they looked they were dressed for rehearsal. Very disappointing. Maks just never delivers on the last dance, the dance that counts. You'd think he'd have learned by now.

A new season starts in September and of course I'll be watching. This season had a nice bunch of stars with no ringer, but it was still apparent who the judges wanted in the finals. I've learned to just be entertained by the dancing and ignore the judges. It's just a stupid Mirror Ball Trophy.

Hopefully I can continue to post on this blog through the summer. I'm going to try to catch the reruns of Raising Hope, I saw a few episodes of it and it's really funny.

I have 2 blogs, www.skirt.com that I blog for and I'm trying to get published. But I'd rather be writing than almost anything.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen this is getting dangerous!

I'm going to post the video of that Pittsburgh Steeler trying to break Kim Johnson's neck, very scary and hard to watch. They will probably win the Giant Mirror Ball Trophy now. I would like to see Kim win but not a Pittsburgh Steeler. If he wasn't on that damn team I would vote for them. I'm trying to decide if their perfect scores were sympathy 10's or if they deserved them, but I'm so anti-Pittsburgh Steeler I just can't make the call.

Here is the video:

There is no way they will be going home tonight. I think Ralph is done, that's my prediction. I really want to see Mark go. Go, go, go. Before I hit you in the face. I'm sure he will be around for the finals, damn. Kirstie and Maks have a huge fan base and should come in third.

So the Pittsburgh Steeler gets the Giant Mirror Ball Trophy, cute little Disney Star Chelsea Kane who got stuck with "what the hell is he on?" Mark, he yelled at her in rehearsal, will be second. Pretty sure Kirstie third and the Karate Kid goes home tonight. I could be wrong, if I am, I'll be surprised.

Now let's get to the real fun last night. How many people over the age of, let's say 10, need to have the concept of a coin toss explained to them? Really Brooke Burke, how many?

Is there a female equivalent of Tom Bergeron out there? I think not. But is there someone just a little bit smarter than Brooke, yes. Dancing With The Stars, please go find her.
And then Bruno got bleeped. I think he went too far, this is a family show Bruno! You can tell Karina was offended and pissed.

I usually don't watch much of the "Somebodies going home tonight" Tuesday episode, actually just the last 5 minutes. I especially won't be watching tonight because Cheryl and Nick Lachey, I don't even care if I spelled his last name right, are dancing their stupid Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy dance again, Gah!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen We're Down to 5

I'm just not going to vote anymore. I'm happy with this final 5 but can not cast another vote. At this moment I don't care who wins the Giant Mirror Ball, they are all just about even, I'm okay with the chips falling as they may.
There is no way I can vote for a Pittsburgh Steeler. I was raised to hate them, I am a Cleveland fan. I know, one of the hardest things in the world to do is be a Cleveland Browns fan but I'm stuck with this legacy. I blame my ancestors for migrating to Northeast Ohio and staying here. Thereby sealing my fate, destine to cheer on losing teams for all eternity.
I'm not going to vote for the over dancing Mark, cause I hate him, as I've said before, sorry Chelsea.
How can I justify voting for someone rolling on the floor in pain? Ralph's day are numbered and I'm not going to be part of the crowd that feels sorry for him and votes for him to stay in the stupid competition and be a part of the reason he becomes crippled. Can't do that to the Karate Kid, who for some reason has decided to finally do something with his hair and use guy-liner the last 2 dances.
Um, when I saw Kirstie bounce down the stairs in practice I decided as much as I love to watch Maks, I have YouTube. Let's put them both out of their misery. Something didn't sit right with me after watching them last night, something changed in their relationship/partnership. Maybe Kirstie hit her head, I don't know but that's all the speculating I'm going to do.
And then I really had to sit and think who is the 5th dancer and celebrity? Oh that Romeo kid and whatshername. I wouldn't mind if they won it all just to piss off Mark. Muh ha ha.