The Authentic Life: A quick read

Showing posts with label A quick read. Show all posts

This is the way

>> Sunday, May 13, 2012 – A quick read, love, Paul

This is the way I make the bed because this is where he will sleep.

This is the way I clean the kitchen because this is where he will eat.

This is the way I vacuum the floors because this is where he will walk.

This is the way I fluff the pillows because this is where he will rest his head.

This is the way I scour the shower because this is where he will wash his body.

This is the way I clean my face because this is where he will kiss me.

This is the way I watch the clock because he is not home.

This is the way I drive the car because his plane has landed.

This is the way I can't stop smiling because I see him.

This is way I love him because this is the way he loves me.

Giving Thanks

>> Wednesday, November 23, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, Norman Rockwell, Thanksgiving

It started with a single post.

One poorly written blog post.

Ones and zeroes circle the globe like the bits of stardust that collected to form life in the beginning. Electronic words on a virtual wall say “I am here.” However you find me, whatever strange search words that you type or links that you click bring us together.

During this season of Thanksgiving, from my family to yours I wish you the best and thank you for reading about my small life on this tiny planet hurtling through space. Our stories matter because we are all connected.

Happy Thanksgiving.

This week's prompt was The writing on the wall

Temptation

>> Tuesday, November 15, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, adam and eve, creation, Humor

“All right Adam, I’ve been working six days straight now and God is pooped! Listen, you be a good boy and pick some colors for all of these things I’ve created and I’ll give you a prize. Go ahead, you’ve got Carte blanche!”

“Well, how about we make this grass green?”

“Say now, that’s something! Go on, keep going.”

“OK, I’m thinking a nice blue for the sky, that’s going to contrast nicely.”

“Well, I’ll be a son of a monkey!”

“A little taupe here, some white to rest the eyes, just a smidge of yellow and a dash of red to make this apple pop!”

“Yikes, I’ve created a monster, quick, give me a rib, son. Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, Ha ha! And Voilà!”

“Hello, I’m Eve. Love what you’ve done with the place. But, I’m oh so famished. This looks yummy, but are you sure it should be that color?”

“NOT MY CENTERPIECE!”

This is a 158 word challenge, which must contain the phrase "are you sure it should be that color..." and should concentrate on dialogue.

Sticks and stones

>> Wednesday, November 9, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, Republican quotes, Sticks and stones

Michelle Bachmann-“If you’re involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it’s bondage. It is personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement.”

Jamie Hubley, 15 “You can’t break when you’re already broken”

Rick Perry –“Would you rather live in a state like this, or in a state where a man can marry a man?”

Tyler Clementi, 18, “Jumping off the gw bridge sorry”

Rick Santorum-“I love my children. I love my friends, my brother. Heck, I even love my mother-in-law. Should we call these relationships marriage, too?”

Seth Walsh, 13, “Hopefully, I become the universe”

Lest we forget.

Who's that Guy?

>> Tuesday, November 1, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, Guy Fawkes, Occupy wall street

What, me leave? Fuggedaboutit!

Occupy! Occupy! Wall Street we vilify

Anarchy camping, "No Fair!"

It is quite cramping this anarchy camping

In winter we shiVER!

This is a 21 word challenge that must include in winter we shiver, based on the following rhyme about Guy Fawkes:

Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot…

The emphasis must be placed on the second half of shiver. Say it as if you were freezing! OK, my Iambic beat is a little different, but I'm too tired to do anything else with it..There is smoke coming out of my brain.

You can find other entries here: http://jfb57.wordpress.com/tag/100wcgu/

Mrs. Green-Burger

>> Tuesday, October 25, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, Humor, School, Vegan, Vegeterian

Dear Shakahari Pre-School parents:

I think we can all agree that last night’s dialogue session on our “zero-tolerance” policy regarding meat products was beneficial. Remember, if it had a parent, we won’t eat it! Even though I’d love to eat up your adorable children! (Ha, Ha).

Warmest Regards,

Mrs. Green

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

Hello again Parents:

I sincerely apologize for yesterday's e-mail. As so many of you have pointed out, that last sentence was reprehensible.

Most Apologetically,

Mrs. Green

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

Parents:

Point taken: Would the parents responsible for constructing the “Mrs. Green-Burger” effigy promptly remove it from school property?

Mrs. Green

Mrs. Green-Burger

This is a 100 word challenge for grown ups. This week’s prompt was the photo above (with some photo-shopping....)
You can find other entries at:

http://jfb57.wordpress.com/tag/100wcgu/

October 18, 1999

>> Tuesday, October 18, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, Autumn Leaves, Contemplative, RIP

Talk to me Dad.
Here I am.
Everyone is here.

And we’re not leaving.
Until you go.
Time waited.
Uncap the bottle.
Mix a drink.
Now it’s time.

Let it go.
Each breath is a whisper.
All is said.
Voices fill the void.
Echoes in the darkness,
Sing you home.

This is a fifty word challenge for grown ups (we get fewer words this week). This week’s prompt is The Autumn Leaves.

You can find other entries at:
http://jfb57.wordpress.com/tag/100wcgu/

A Brief Count

>> Tuesday, October 11, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, ABC's, Beacon Street, Contemplative, love

Along Beacon Street I think of you. Walking through the circle I practice my car-dodging. Eventually forgetting our warm days are fading. The sun warms my face during October’s golden hour.

It’s just not the same without you. These are our streets, and so I’ll keep listening. My name haunts the air.

Did you leave it there on purpose?

Quick, run the light is still green!

Another week begins and you start travelling. Unknown variables in the points between us flip the equation. Where X marks the spot, it is the intersection of my heart; these streets and your Z-axis.

This is a one hundred word challenge for grown ups. This week’s prompt is the Alphabet.

Did you figure out the pattern? (Hint: The first two words of the sentence and the last two words of the next, until the equation flips)

You can find other entries at:

http://jfb57.wordpress.com/tag/100wcgu/

Finally Home

>> Monday, October 3, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, Boston, mbta

Ah, finally home. After a long weekend of travelling we slump into our seats on the "T", suitcases wedged between us. The unseasonal weather causes beads of sweat to roll down our backs as we hurtle through the dark city night.

North Carolina, the home of my childhood seemed so foreign: smiling faces, single syllable words as sweet as taffy stretched into unimaginable lengths. I glance across the aisle at my fellow strangers. These are my people: The people of Boston.

I nod to the man across the aisle. He starts barking at me like a dog. Ah, finally home.

This is a one hundred word challenge for grown ups. This week’s prompt is the unseasonal weather... You can find other entries at:

http://jfb57.wordpress.com/tag/100wcgu/

Hands

>> Tuesday, September 6, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, grandmother's hands

Her hands moved with a young woman’s grace but they carried the memories of harsh prairie winters and sun drenched days. How many times I watched them smooth unseen wrinkles from her grey woolen skirt and coax silver wisps of hair back into place. When my grandmother Mary thought of me did her hands remember the shape of my face?

They rest over her heart now just as they did when she watched my hands glide over piano keys: The echo of her heartbeat in my heart. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a writer. Her hands were strong.

The section above is part of a 100 word challenge for adults, brought to you by The Head's Office. You can find other entries at http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/. The prompt for this week was ...Mary thought....and the genre chosen was non-fiction.

Fo shizzle!

>> Tuesday, August 23, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read, fo shizzle

This is a one hundred word challenge for grown ups. This week’s prompt are the words "Brabble", "Growlery" and "Foozle". You can find other entries at:

http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/

He always wins at Jeopardy, always. Before Alex Trebek has even finished reading the question, my boo is shouting out some answer like “Brabble”, “Growlery” or “Foozle”. What do those words even mean? Who has space in their head for such words? Not me.

I’m keeping it real, Yo. While he uses that antiquated bullshit, I’mma stick with phat words that have lasting power, for real. My vocabulary is bomb diggity! All ya’ll h8ters can keep on shoutin’ out your Jeopardy answers and this G will stick to the classics. Words that will never go out of style, fo shizzle!

Divorce

>> Wednesday, August 17, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read

This is a one hundred word challenge for grown ups. This week’s prompt is the sun shone but. You can find other entries at:

http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/

Can I stop the clock?

I see them breathing, but there is no air. Through the open windows the sun shone but they were still sleeping. It is time to go now but my feet won’t move. I’ll count to ten; kiss them on the forehead and go. That’s it. I will pretend that I am just going to work and at the end of the day I will be home.

One kiss for Katherine and one kiss for Taylor. But my heart knows better. It beats but there is no blood. The sun shone but there was no light.

Comfortable in my own skin

>> Thursday, August 11, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read

This is a one hundred word challenge for grown ups. This week’s prompt is the picture listed below. You can find other entries at:

http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/

Browsing through the online profiles, I begin to notice a formula. Amazingly, they are all well-adjusted, travelled, “comfortable in my own skin” men. They all seem so complete that I begin to wonder why they would possibly want to screw it up by including someone else in their lives.

But then I begin to meet them and it becomes clear that aside from being pathological liars their profile pictures were merely an approximation. Let’s just say that the right lighting and certain angles can make even Quasimodo look like George Clooney. But nothing could prepare me for this profile picture.

It's just me (100 word challenge)

>> Friday, August 5, 2011 – 100 word challenge, A quick read

This is a one hundred word challenge for grown ups. This week’s prompt, 5 words: ripple,brood, evocative, lilt and untoward (which can be used in any order). You can find other entries at:

http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/

“Hello sweetie, it’s just me.” This is the beginning of his every voice mail; always in that sing-song lilt. The first part is good enough; it’s the second part that seems so untoward.

“It’s just a million dollars.”

“It’s just a Renoir”

But that is Paul; never recognizing that his existence has sent a ripple through my life. We sit silently on the T as it carries us through the warm summer night.

“You are not ‘just me’” I don't mean to brood.

“But that is who I am.”

“You are everything” is my evocative reply.

But that’s just me.