Construction zone

Dust. Banging. Sawing. It’s a construction zone around here. This brings out the curious. My alley is now a major travel route for people wishing to sneak a peek at whatever is going on behind my house.
The owner of the rental next door has been over twice, more than I’ve seen him in three years, [...]

Read Full Post »

Choice coffee

The certified sustainably grown choice coffee was a couple of bucks more than my usual choice. But I got it anyway. Just like I decided on the bamboo floor instead of wood from trees. If consumers don’t buy the sustainable products, manufacturers won’t be able to continue making them. The power of the dollar in [...]

Read Full Post »

Spring Fever

In the midst of an afternoon letdown I’d rather attribute to spring fever than growing old, I sat down to do the accounts. I couldn’t concentrate well enough to add 7+8, so I soon abandoned the books and wandered over to the coffee shop on the corner.
As I mulled whether to have a chocolate covered [...]

Read Full Post »

Georgetown

Surrounded by the folds and humps of the Rocky Mountains, Georgetown was beautiful on that long ago summer day. Craftspeople lined the main street, peddling their wares. I bought a sand candle and admired the pottery. We wandered through the old opera house and ate Eggs Benedict at an outdoor cafe.
The mountains were magical [...]

Read Full Post »

Interview

It was a big interview. There were the normal number of administrators, but there were teachers and parents in on it, too. Part of the qualification seemed to involve understanding some sort of hand signal the parents were making. Apparently it related to football. Should I admit I didn’t know anything about football? Should I [...]

Read Full Post »

California Girl

I register sun-streaked hair,
Ribbed stretch pants–knee length,
Frilly blue velvet shirt,
Bizarre sunglasses that hide the eyes,
Leather brown skin crinkled like seersucker
And I think, a California girl,
Before I see the cowboy boots.
Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “California girl.”

Read Full Post »

Expert

Lori watched Jeff adjust the skis and settle into the water. Lori was eager to get the boat moving and cool herself down a bit in the stifling heat. Jeff signaled his readiness and Lori moved the throttle. Jeff rose to skim the surface of the water with expert grace.
She quickly took the boat away [...]

Read Full Post »

First 50 Words and Writing Prompts

For one reason or another, this blog has found some new readers and writers of late. I thought it might be time to review what this blog is all about.
The purpose of the blog is to supply a writing prompt and invite you to write something about it. I ask you to hold it [...]

Read Full Post »

Duck

Jerrod waddled like a duck, a handsome mallard, but still, a duck. “Why are you walking like that?” Marisa said.
“I got mugged today.” Jerrod sat with an agonized moan. “They hurt me. And they took my money and my iPod.”
“You got mugged?” Marisa could hardly believe her ears. Jerrod was 6 foot 2 and weighed [...]

Read Full Post »

Gingerbread

“So we were at that place off Burnet Rd., you know, the one with the gingerbread pancakes, when he waltzes in the door.” I paused in my storytelling to prop a foot up on the bridge over Barton Creek and retie my shoe.
“I was surprised. Shocked, really. You’d think the secret service or the FBI [...]

Read Full Post »