33 words | OldDogNewTits

{May 18, 2013} Of Pomp, Of Circumstance and Of Dean

He … has all the nerve.

He … stands firm on the ground underneath him.

I … am reticent.

I … am scared, needy.

How will I ever make it through?

It is quite the paradigm shift.

My boy and me on his 7th grade trip to D.C. last February. With Lincoln, with Washington & with the very residence where I’ll be visiting him about 40 years.

He’ll be the nicest one we’ve ever had.

Congratulations, Dean. Class of 2013.

* * * * * * * * * *

This weekend’s Trifecta assignment? “We are asking for exactly 33 words, 30 of your own and three of the following: topple paradigm underneath nerve honey loop”

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{January 20, 2013} Birds of Prey (TrifectaWriting)

Trifecta weekend writing assignment - “Choose one of the pictures below and give us a 33-word response to it.” Of the three they provided, I chose this one.

(Photo courtesy of ZeroOne / Foter.com / CC BY-SA)

* * * * * * * * * *

Birds of Prey

* * * * * * * * * *

(scanning area) “Mercedez windshield? Boooorrrring. Bronze Memorial? Soooo predictable. Black Armani? Mmmmaybe.” (sigh) “Come on, Sheldon. You can do this. Think bigger.” (jumps to feet) “Wait. Is that ….?”(sound of airplane spiraling downward)

* * * * * * * * * *

{January 12, 2013} Stolen Shoe Giveaway AND a Trifecta writing assignment

Anyone remember the mysterious shoes that showed up on my doorstep last month? And, more importantly, anyone remember when I learned they were purchased by my dumbass credit card thief and decided to give them away here at ODNT?

Well, ladies and gentlemen …. THE SHOES HAVE SPOKEN!!

So now, in a spectacular display of womanly multitasking, I will reveal the winner of the contest while also answering Trifecta’s current writing prompt: “This weekend we’re asking for 33 words about a new beginning.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Putting the Shoe on the Other Foot

* * * * * * * * * *

In an effort to cleanse the souls (or should that be soles?) of these ill-begotten shoes and give them new purpose, I have elected to award them to my daughter’s fifth grade teacher.

* * * * * * * * * *

Here she is now. Enjoying them in all of their newly-emerged-butterfly purity.

Screw you, thief.

{December 29, 2012} Flu … for @TrifectaWriting

The Trifecta writing assignment this weekend asks for “33 of your own words that exorcise a demon. One of your own, or one from your imagination.” My response is either perfect for this prompt or I’ve descended into hallucinatory, oatmeal-for-brains madness.

I can never be sure.

* * * * * * * * * *

Flu

* * * * * * * * * *

Her body stiffens. She is simultaneously hot and cold. The blanket antagonizes her skin. Breathing is labored. Involuntary attempts at expelling the impurity only heighten the pain.

And so she reaches for it.

* * * * * * * * * * *

{December 2, 2012} His Stand Against Brussels (for Trifecta)

The Trifecta writing prompt for the weekend was pretty straightforward. Write exactly 33 words about rebellion and/or revolt. Interpret it as you will.

I found an old picture and I just had to act on it. Thanks for the inspiration, my boy.

* * * * * * * * * *

His Stand Against Brussels

* * * * * * * * * *

Once upon a time, there was a little boy. He was an excellent eater. Until the day his mother tried Brussels sprouts. “NOOO!” he slammed his tiny fist. “I NOT eat that, Mommy.”

* * * * * * * * * *

{November 25, 2012} My Favorite Things (for @TrifectaWriting)

Trifecta gave a great writing prompt for this time of year. Well, in my opinion anyway.

“In 1959, Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the music for the Broadway production, The Sound of Music. One of the most famous songs from the musical is “My Favorite Things.” Since its inception, the song has been covered by countless artists, and we’re asking you to follow suit. Give us a few of your favorite things, in whichever form you want, in 33 words exactly.”

Easy. Feel free to sing along with me …

* * * * * * * * * *

My Favorite Things

* * * * * * * * * *

Christmas, theater, cheese, spa days and warm cookies

Family, friends, travel and writing a bookie

The love of my children and when my girl sings

These are a few of my favorite things

* * * * * * * * * *

A grainy albeit very special blast from my family’s Christmas Past.

{September 29, 2012} If At First You Don’t Succeed – Part II (for Trifecta)

Trifecta Writing Prompt for the Weekend

Take one of your former 33 word entries and build upon it with another 33 words.

I haven’t taken on Trifecta in a while but this weekend’s prompt spoke to me. It said …“Get off your fat ass and join the party, slack jaw. People are going to forget you even EXIST if you don’t get back into the game again. Seriously, freak show, put down that apple-sized ball of cheese and get out of bed.”

I know! That’s what I thought, too. This weekend’s prompt is a total jerk.

Still, it got me thinking. And the gears in my tired brain started turning. Rustily, yes. There was even a little smoke for a few minutes there. Then, it finally spat out the following idea: If At First You Don’t Succeed. I wrote it in July 2012 for the Trifecta prompt that asked us to “Give the first 33 words of your book.” Here’s how it went:

He woke to the smell of a hot breakfast. Opening his eyes, he saw the walls of his childhood bedroom. The Gong Show desk calendar said 1977. He was 8. “Not again,” thought Henry Beckett, 43.

It seemed like the perfect story to continue for this weekend’s prompt. And so I did.

He leapt down from the top bunk, panic-stricken. The deposition, his anniversary dinner, his son’s championship game … he’d miss all of them again if he didn’t think fast. “Henry … breakfast!” called his mother.

Actually, the title is ironic when you consider the fact that I’m taking a second shot at writing the same story. Thanks, Trifecta. You’re helping me finally get moving with this writing thing. I’ve got 66 words under my belt now. And the average novel length is only about 80,000 words. (laughs like a buffoon) Shoot. I should be done by Tuesday.

{September 9, 2012} She Traded her Meal for a Window (for Trifecta)

Says Trifecta - “For this weekend’s challenge, we’d like you to read the 33 words below and then add 33 of your own words to move the story along.”

Says Me – So that you can read it fluidly, I’m not separating the 66 words. Just know that the first 33 (in italics) are theirs and the last 33 are mine.

The last strains of sunlight lingered in the corners, grasping every available point of refraction. She slid her fingertips along the glass wondering if this was all there ever was. Or could be.

And, as she watched her final sunset, she heard the guard slide the door open. “They’re ready for you,” he said. And she stood, to begin her walk down the hall of retribution.

{August 26, 2012} The One Where I Grouse About Monkeying Around with Trifecta

Trifecta time.

The assignment? “Write a 33-word response using the name of an animal as a verb.”

The response? The latest installment in The ODNT Smart Ass Collection.

* * * * * * * * * *

The One Where I Grouse About Monkeying Around with Trifecta

* * * * * * * * * *

“DEER” Trifecta,

Please stop badgering us into outfoxing each other so you can fawn praise on three of us. I can’t bear to flounder through another assignment and I’m crawfishing out.

“Sin-SEAL-ly,”

ODNT

* * * * * * * * * *

{August 17, 2012} The Simple Life of Anna Fiorella (for Trifecta)

But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing. – A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner (1928)

- – - – - – - – - -

Famous last lines. They can wrap things up or they can leave us hanging. They can make us laugh or they can make us cry. They can stir up warm, wonderful feelings or they can make us want to scream obscenities and beat the book repeatedly with a hammer until we ultimately throw it out the window.

But, most importantly, last lines can be inspirational. And they’re exactly what we’re talking about at Trifecta this weekend. Participants are asked to write an “amazing closing line to a story in exactly 33 words.” Well, Trifecta, I have no idea if my submission is “amazing” but I do know that it’s the first thing that popped into my head. And sometimes I think you need to jump at these moments.

So here goes …

* * * * * * * * * *

The Simple Life of Anna Fiorella

* * * * * * * * * *

She turned to look over her shoulder one last time but he was already gone. And she was a child again. Her marriage? Her career? Her son? Had it all been a dream?

* * * * * * * * * *

He … has all the nerve.

He … stands firm on the ground underneath him.

I … am reticent.

I … am scared, needy.

How will I ever make it through?

It is quite the paradigm shift.

My boy and me on his 7th grade trip to D.C. last February. With Lincoln, with Washington & with the very residence where I’ll be visiting him about 40 years.

He’ll be the nicest one we’ve ever had.

Congratulations, Dean. Class of 2013.

* * * * * * * * * *

Trifecta weekend writing assignment - “Choose one of the pictures below and give us a 33-word response to it.” Of the three they provided, I chose this one.

* * * * * * * * * *

Birds of Prey

* * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * *

Well, ladies and gentlemen …. THE SHOES HAVE SPOKEN!!

* * * * * * * * * *

Putting the Shoe on the Other Foot

* * * * * * * * * *

In an effort to cleanse the souls (or should that be soles?) of these ill-begotten shoes and give them new purpose, I have elected to award them to my daughter’s fifth grade teacher.

* * * * * * * * * *

Here she is now. Enjoying them in all of their newly-emerged-butterfly purity.

Screw you, thief.

* * * * * * * * * *

Flu

* * * * * * * * * *

Her body stiffens. She is simultaneously hot and cold. The blanket antagonizes her skin. Breathing is labored. Involuntary attempts at expelling the impurity only heighten the pain.

And so she reaches for it.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The Trifecta writing prompt for the weekend was pretty straightforward. Write exactly 33 words about rebellion and/or revolt. Interpret it as you will.

I found an old picture and I just had to act on it. Thanks for the inspiration, my boy.

* * * * * * * * * *

His Stand Against Brussels

* * * * * * * * * *

Once upon a time, there was a little boy. He was an excellent eater. Until the day his mother tried Brussels sprouts. “NOOO!” he slammed his tiny fist. “I NOT eat that, Mommy.”

* * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * *

My Favorite Things

* * * * * * * * * *

Christmas, theater, cheese, spa days and warm cookies

Family, friends, travel and writing a bookie

The love of my children and when my girl sings

These are a few of my favorite things

* * * * * * * * * *

A grainy albeit very special blast from my family’s Christmas Past.

Trifecta Writing Prompt for the Weekend

Take one of your former 33 word entries and build upon it with another 33 words.

Trifecta time.

The assignment? “Write a 33-word response using the name of an animal as a verb.”

The response? The latest installment in The ODNT Smart Ass Collection.

* * * * * * * * * *

The One Where I Grouse About Monkeying Around with Trifecta

* * * * * * * * * *

“DEER” Trifecta,

Please stop badgering us into outfoxing each other so you can fawn praise on three of us. I can’t bear to flounder through another assignment and I’m crawfishing out.

“Sin-SEAL-ly,”

ODNT

* * * * * * * * * *

But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing. – A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner (1928)

- – - – - – - – - -

* * * * * * * * * *

The Simple Life of Anna Fiorella

* * * * * * * * * *

She turned to look over her shoulder one last time but he was already gone. And she was a child again. Her marriage? Her career? Her son? Had it all been a dream?

* * * * * * * * * *

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**In an effort to cleanse the souls (or should that be soles?) of these ill-begotten shoes and give them new purpose, I have elected to award them to my daughter’s fifth grade teacher.**

*** * * * * * * * * ***