Tag Archives: Easter

The Post about Honda, bugs in food & feeling gassy. (Plus some other stuff.)

Posted on April 18, 2014 | 8 comments

Each week, my friend MamaKat (I’ve never met her before but she seems like a nice lady) posts five writing prompts to inspire her readers to create something. As a change of pace, I decided that rather than choosing only one of the prompts I would instead try responding to all five (in a manner that hopefully makes sense) in the same post.

For your reference, here are the five prompts:

1.) What were you writing about last year at this time? What has changed?
2.) Things that make you happy.
3.) Something you bought this month that you love.
4.) 8 accounts you love following on Instagram.
5.) A blog post inspired by the word: Easter

(Taking deep breaths and stretching a bit) Okay. Here goes. … Expect nothing.

* * * * * * * * * *

On this day in 2013, I wrote about a horrible experience I had at my local Honda dealership (#1) and the complaint letter I sent them about it. In short, the service department was manned by a bunch of boobs who grossly mishandled me that day, but at least my letter scored me a free oil change.

I love free stuff. “We’re so sorry you found a roach in your soup, ma’am. Which was actually supposed to be a BBQ Chicken flatbread. Please allow us to purchase a round of drinks for your table.” Restitution makes me happy. (#2)

Of course, my children’s joy makes me the happiest of all. Which explains why, when I suggested that they each pick out a treat from the grocery today, I wound up purchasing these heart-healthy delicacies. (#3) I’m getting gassy just thinking about them.

Oh, and speaking of pictures of stupid things, let’s talk Instagram. I’ll admit … I’m a suckish Instagrammer. Where Facebook is for sharing pics of your delectable Beef Bourguignon and Twitter for throwing out the perfect one-liner, Instagram seems to be for people trying to combine the two. And, seriously … I CAN’T BE EXPECTED TO COME UP WITH ZINGY ONE-LINERS ABOUT FANCY FRENCH BEEF! Thus, I am a passive user. Although (truth) I did hurry to find MamaKat and follow her before I went live with this post. It seemed not only sensible and polite but also PC given the circumstances. So there’s one loved account. But I still need seven more. (#4) Leave your recommendations in the comments so I can catch up with them, too.

Did someone say “Ketchup?” (Well, no. I know it was “catch up.” Plus no one actually said it. It was typed. Duh, it was me who typed it so I’m totally aware of what happened. Just go with it.) Like Mrs. LosinIt (I’m not actually sure what part of MamaKatsLosinIt is her last name so I just broke it in half), I also run a blog hop. I co-host it with my friend Mel on the 1st and 15th of every month. It’s called KetchupWithUs (oh, now you get it) because it always features a picture of one of us in a full-body ketchup costume. I know. We’re a couple of geniuses. But it’s supposed to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and not take yourself too seriously. The current link-up is live right now and my chosen subject matter is Easter. (#5) Here’s hoping you’ll come check us out, too.

Until then, Viva la MamaKat. Thanks for the prompts, my friend.

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Tagged Easter, favorite instagrammers, ketchup with us, mamakat, mamakatslosinit, restitution at restaurants for bugs in food, something you bought this month that you love, what makes you happy, what were you writing about last year, writing prompt

Ketchup With Us #BlogHop 40

Posted on April 15, 2014 | 7 comments

It’s time for Ketchup With Us. Held on the 1st & 15th of every month, the link-up gives you TWO ways to play: (A) Set a timer for 10 minutes and write about whatever enters your head OR (B) Link up an old post. Mel and I are easy that way. For this link-up, I’m choosing A, the brain drain method.

Easter is just around the corner. As in this week. As in six days. As in who knows how many hours? I’m losing time just trying to calculate it right now.

And, speaking of time, where the heck has it all gone?!!? How did my kids get to be 14 and 11? I can still remember the Easter Bunny bringing Big Boy and Big Girl underwear back in the day. I’m pretty sure they were Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer. My kids would DIE if they knew I just wrote that. But they’re my babies. They’ll always be my babies. And I’ve already warned them both that I’ll still be calling them that when they’re fifty… and sixty … and even seventy.

“No, you won’t, Mom,” corrected my son.

“Oh, yes, I will, Dean,” I promised.

“No, you won’t,” he smiled. “Because when I’m seventy, you’ll be dead.”

My sentimental boy.

Maybe he’ll get it when he’s a dad. He’s going to be a great one. Sweet, kindhearted, calm. I don’t know where he gets that “calm” from. And my daughter is a natural. She’s clearly got a special place in her heart for tiny people. A special way even. And they seem to love her even more in return. She’s like the Pied Piper.

I love those kids more than anything in the world. Happy Easter, guys. Have I not embarrassed you enough yet? Then how about I include two of my favorite pictures from Easters past?

Yeah. That should do it.

Our esteemed Ketchup With Us Featured Writer from last time is …

Lady Goo Goo Gaga

BEHIND THE KETCHUP

Click here to read how this foolishness all began.

KEEP TRACK OF OUR STUPIDITY

Facebook (Michele/Mel)
Twitter (Michele/Mel)
Instagram (Michele/Mel)
Pinterest (Michele/Mel)

SPREAD THE WORD & POST OUR BUTTON … please!

olddognewtits.com

FINALLY … THE LINK-UP!

WE give you a picture to inspire you to KetchupWithUs.

All YOU need to do is link something up.

And, for the love of Henry, TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Why post of a picture of the Gorton’s Fisherman? Well, I have been eating a lot of fish lately. It being Lent and all. And, seriously, what’s goes better with fish sticks than Ketchup? Am I right?

Oh, and please excuse my butt cut. You’d be surprised how difficult it is to manage a decent hairstyle when dressed as a Ketchup bottle.

Wait. Why are you still reading this? Shouldn’t you be writing … or finding the perfect post to link up? And, gosh, look at me just blathering on when you have work to do. Go. Go now and do your thing!

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Tagged according to mags, blog hop, Easter, gorton's fisherman, ketchup with us, link up, link up an old post, love my kids, mel, pictures with the easter bunny, prompt 40, two women wearing ketchup costumes, what goes better with fish sticks than ketchup, where does the time go, woman wearing a ketchup costume, write for ten minutes without stopping, writing prompt

Just in time for Easter – The Waiting is the Hardest Part (for Trifextra)

Posted on April 7, 2012 | 26 comments

Trifextra Weekend Challenge + Easter = Today’s post

The rules this weekend are a little different. All entries must be between 33 and 333 words and need to include the following three words in the order provided:

cacophony
soap
insects

I based my entry this week on a single photograph. And I’m dedicating it to the child in that photograph.

* * * * * * * * * *

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

* * * * * * * * * *

The cacophony of children could be heard throughout the mall. Melissa approached the intimidating line. “Maybe it won’t take that long,” she thought. “And I’ll be glad to have this picture when he’s older.”

She parked her stroller in the designated area and stepped into the line. It snaked back and forth through a maze leading up to the Great Rabbit. “Please make it move fast,” she thought, content that her son was distracted by all the festivity. She trudged along mindlessly until she heard the first whimper.

“Alright, buddy. Let’s see what Mommy has in her bag,” she said, trying to sound upbeat. “Ooh, look!” She pulled out the brightly-colored soap set she’d just purchased at the department store. They looked like six-legged insects. She knew they were just the thing to make bath time fun for her little man and his bug obsession.

Excitedly, he took one and examined each of its legs, antennae and wings, passing it from one hand to the other. Moving through the line, Melissa reveled in her ingenuity … until he put it in his mouth. And his face went immediately sour.

She knew she had about ten seconds before the crying started. So she tossed him his sippy cup, mercifully filled with apple juice, and began searching frantically for another distraction in her bag of tricks.

Then, she struck gold.

His orange pan. His Bear in the Big Blue House pan. He took it everywhere. He’d given it to her at lunch and must have forgotten about it. “Ta-da!” Melissa announced triumphantly.

His face broke into a huge smile that ran from one adorable cheek to the other. “Pan!” he shouted.

She handed it to him, puffed with pride at her quick action, until he asked for its accompanying ‘patula,’ which she remembered seeing on the kitchen floor as they ran out the door that morning.

“Well, crap,” she thought, surrendering her now crying child to the stupid bunny.

Click! went the camera.

* * * * * * * * *

Easter 2001

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

The story is fiction, but the picture is real. Thanks for serving as my inspiration today, my boy. Happy Easter to you and to your sister! Oh, and props to Tom Petty for helping me out with my title.

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Tagged 33 to 333 words, Bear in the Big Blue House, cacophony, Easter, Easter Bunny, insects, picture taken with Easter Bunny, soap, The Waiting is the Hardest Part, Tom Petty, trifextra weekend challenge

That’s it … Greeting card copywriter is my next job.

Posted on March 1, 2012 | 5 comments

Today’s Weight … 123.0

Two tenths of a freakin’ pound?!!? Well, alert the damned media. That can be accomplished with a good nose blowing.

I was sifting through the greeting cards at Target recently when I came across some pretty hilarious copywriting. Of course, I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised. The store’s mission statement reads “Expect more of everything. More great design, more choices and more designer-created items that you won’t find anywhere else.“

Well, maybe not the Merona terry swimsuit coverup you’re going to see on half a dozen other women every time you head to the pool. But these card designs are pretty unique. (Please forgive the crappy photo quality. ODNT can’t afford to hire a professional photographer … yet.)

I’ll lead with these two … both of which simply say ‘Happy Easter’ inside … since I already tweeted them earlier. I’m a Catholic girl, born and bred, so I think it’s okay that I’m laughing. Or maybe now I’m going to hell. Just remember, if you laugh, you’re going with me. (Please bring sunscreen. Ooh, and beer.)

And there were others with humorous covers and insides. Again, if I had a photographer (Holly!), the presentation here would be much lovelier. In retrospect, I should’ve probably put the outside and inside of the card together in the same picture. Oh, well. Hindsight is 50/50 … or 20/20 … or whatever. Anyway, until I can afford a staff, you’ll have to settle for a mindless stream featuring outside-of-card then inside-of-card shots. For most of you, it should be pretty easy to follow along. Enjoy!