The lovely Delores at Under the Porch Light
has been running this meme for a considerable period of time, week
after week - even through the A to Z challenge. Sadly she is having
issues with her computer freezing on her (much as my brain does when
faced with some of her words). She has asked that someone take over on a
temporary basis and I have stuck my hand up.
Essentially the aim is to encourage us
to write. Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be
words, phrases, music or an image. What we do with those prompts is up
to us: a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with
ignore...
Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme. If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme. If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
This weeks prompts:
And/Or
Wary
Serve
Itchy
Mindless
Yard
Marathon
And/Or
Jog
Bless
Steadfast
Industrious
Sturdy
Skilled.
OK. . . . . GO! :-)
ReplyDeleteCloudia: And lots of people are playing. Which is lovely.
DeleteGiggling at your 'labels' line :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting mix, I'll have a read through everything I've ever written and see if I can give something short a chapter two boost. If not, I'll come up with something. It will have to be mostly from the subconscious, I'm out and about busy tomorrow.
River: I am amazed at how difficult I am finding this. More kudos for Delores. Looking forward to your words tomorrow.
DeleteNothing comes to mind but will think on it maybe have something tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteMerle..........
Merlesworld: I hope so. I have really enjoyed what you have done with the words in the last couple of weeks.
DeleteI will give it some thought. I have to say it looks like a lot of hard work! Ha!
ReplyDeleteLL Cool Joe: Sometimes it is. Sometimes the stories just flow...
Delete"The wary serve the itchy on the mindless final yard of the marathon". Sounds as if it should make sense, but no, not really. "Bless those who jog, for they shall be steadfast and industrious, sturdy and skilled" is better.
ReplyDeleteOhhh I like that a lot!!!
Deletelynners - and Deb: That second one is brilliant. The wary and the itchy has me thinking too.
DeleteI've become wary with those around me, and I refuse to serve anyone, for just the thought makes me feel itchy all over. I'd rather sit alone mindless in my yard and forget about trying to compete in the marathon that so many try to run.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to that.
DeleteLon Anderson: How right you are. I need to remember that more often.
DeleteI just incorporated the first set of words into my post today. Thanks for the challenge EC and Delores!
ReplyDeleteCraig: I loved what you did. And the video. Thank you so much.
DeleteMargaret suggested that I cut and post the words I used for those who don't click through. I hope that is OK....
DeleteA friend recently sent me a link to this animated video. I'm usually rather wary of animation as it's really not my thing, but I was bowled over by this.
The video is courtesy of the Melbourne museum so if you're located in that lovely part of the world, you may already be familiar with this (I'm thinking of you Andrew).
It's a bit of a marathon, but grab yourself a nice cup of tea, turn the sound up and watch the tragedy unfold over eight beautifully crafted minutes. The level of detail is quite remarkable, from the sounds of the birds, dogs barking, tiles falling off of the roof into the yard below, the ash building up, the cloud formations - there is a lot to see.
Much as I struggle with the weather here in Scotland much of the time, I don't miss living in an earthquake zone as we did in California. We lived through a fair number of minor earthquakes there, which did serve as a preparation for the large one we experienced - the 1994 Northridge earthquake. It "only" registered 6.7 on the richter scale but given the urban location, it caused a lot of damage and over 50 deaths. Our home was within seven miles of the epicentre and I found it very frightening, especially so as it happened in the middle of the night and so the severe jolt almost threw us out of bed. If I ever get itchy feet about living in a warmer climate, a study of the areas tectonic plates will be on the list to check!
Now imagine the terror the poor residents of Pompeii must have felt as that day unfolded with such devastating and mindless destruction.
The words in bold represent my effort this week to utilise the words set out in this weeks "Words for Wednesday" meme by Elephants Child for Delores.
Craig: Thank you. I hope lots of people do go to your site, and watch that incredible video.
DeleteOK here goes this week.
ReplyDeleteI was down at my old caravan last week and decided to walk up the Drumlins to the farmer’s cottage at the top of the hill. To do so, I do have to cross a number of fields and I am very vary of the cattle and in particular the bull and I amcareful to keep it at a distance. When keeping my eye on them, I accidently walked through nettles and my bare legs became very itchy. Then I was horrified at what I saw near a hedge. Rubbish! Some mindless people had had a picnic and left all their litter behind and I was very cross and annoyed and would have loved the police to serve a summon on them but they were long gone. I finally reached the farmer’s yard and felt as if I had run a marathon up all the hills and collapsed on to the hay bales..
I know a very sturdy guy who is steadfast in going for a jog 365 days a year. Although I don’t think jogging is skilled, his industrious spirit would put me to shame. Bless him!
Sorry just read it again,and I mearnt 'wary of the cattle'!
DeleteThis is very good, Margaret.
DeleteMargaret Adamson: Love it. And yes, anyone who jogs every day is certainly industrious.
Deleteshe was wary about serving in the army but was itchy for new adventures; in boot camp however she found the exercises she was put through were mindless, just running around the yard like she was in a marathon.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: I really like this. I hope she finds better adventures to scratch that itch...
DeleteHmmm, I'll need to put my thinking cap on!
ReplyDeleteJacquelineand...: I hope you can play. I do like the way your mind works.
DeleteEC walks into the yard, mindless of the marathon weeding session awaiting her. Although wary of the pests plotting to leave itchy welts upon her person, EC lives to serve the beauty of her garden. ;)
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild. How true it is. EC lives to serve too many things. The garden, the cats, the skinny one, the family. Probably just as well she is mindless...
DeleteReally good efforts up here, glad so many of you are joining in. I'm sure EC appreciates it too, coming up with words that challenge isn't easy.
ReplyDeleteMy subconcious has thrown me a few sentences.
River: I do appreciate it. Lots. And am in awe at the myriad directions people's minds are taking them. I am finding with these words that having selected them it is like an elaborate dinner I have cooked - I just can't face taking part.
DeleteSome very nice ones this week, EC. Here goes: I am wary of attempting to serve the mindless ones that entered the marathon. They must pass through my yard which is filled with itchy nettles.
ReplyDeleteAh nice, and gosh I feel the itchy nettles too!
DeleteDJan: Marathon runners probably don't notice the nettles. At the time. And I wouldn't serve them either...
DeleteI think I got the gist of this....... I'm gonna give it a go!
ReplyDeleteAfter a long day of writing and debating over what’s a sin and what’s not a sin with other Christians, I became ‘wary'. It would ‘serve' no purpose to keep on arguing, but I felt ‘itchy' and went back to the dreaded debate that usually goes nowhere. It’s like - stop looking in my ‘yard' when you have enough trash in yours.
So I went inside the living room instead to watch Sex and the City ‘marathon'. I thought that maybe the distraction would ‘jog' my mind up with more of a creative rebuttal, but no such luck. God ‘bless' their little hearts, because they’re dealing with someone who is ‘steadfast' and determined.
When others mock my relationship, I always keep in mind that my relationship is built on solid foundation. My relationship is not only ‘industrious', but it’s ‘sturdy', even when the storms try to tear it down. There’s no need for ‘skilled' builders to come and repair things — only love, trust, loyalty and forgiveness will keep it together.
Oh what fun this was! I'm still laughing!
DeleteDeb: You most certainly did get the gist of this - and nailed it. I hope you play next week too.
DeleteThat was a lot of fun! Glad you liked it! Great ideas!
DeleteI have to say I am never Wary about stopping by your blog, EC :)
ReplyDeleteI do have an Itchy desire to finish my WIP - and while I know it's a Marathon, I do so *appreciate* your support over the last gazillion months :)
When I finish, I will Serve up notice and probably plan a Mindless party in my Yard, but I promise to take pictures and *not* post them on 719 different social media sites :)
Have a *great* week:)
Oh I like this clever way, had I not been on my lawn war-path I might have thought on these fun story lines! Cool.
DeleteMark Koopmans: Love this - and would love to attend that 'mindless party' too.
DeleteGreat words this week and I just couldn't resist option two....A one sentence wonder....
ReplyDeleteSturdy little Janice was a skilled and industrious worker, steadfast in her desire to bless everyone who loved to jog with beautifully handcrafted running wear.
option one
She was wary of the itchy yard goods supplied to her for transformation into marathon wear. Mindless idiots, she ranted, I'd like to serve them some 'running itch'.
Thanks girl...you're doing a fantastic job with supplying the words. I'm still fighting with The Widget...hopefully I'll get a fully grown computer shortly.
.
Oh this is clever too, maybe it's funny but I think itchy as a prompt word is like so perfect!
DeleteDelores: The running itch passed me by (thankfully). Love that Janice helps the unfortunates though.
DeleteAnd I am so grateful for all the months that you have hosted this challenge. I am finding it v challenging.
EC, would you mind very much dropping me an email with your address/? ournest@live.ca thanks much
DeleteDelores: My ISP is having conniptions and refusing to allow me to send or receive emails at the moment. When it relents I will email you.
DeleteSo absorbed with the day’s upcoming marathon, he mindlessly ate the breakfast his wife served that morning. She’d laid out his clothes, and he dressed without a word to her. As he approached the starting line, he became wary. He was itchy. When the race started, he’d barely made it a yard before the itch turned into a burn. What had she put in his underwear?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not very good at this...
Oh I'd say you are very good, you remind me of the good old days when my mama very often laid out my daddy's clothes! Seriously, but as far as his underwear went, she was good, and always ironed them, straight from the clothes line! Still serious!
DeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: False modesty. Love this. And hope he remembers to talk to his wife (and thank her) or he will have more cause to be wary...
DeleteOkay and just because you are so able in lending a helpful blogging hand, I'm going to join just for your diligence! Now to figure where to put my words! Back soon with that answer.
ReplyDeleteOkay I'm back as I promised and I'm in and you can view my post here.
ReplyDeletehttp://twincitiesblather.blogspot.com/2015/06/words-for-wednesday.html
Thank you for hosting this, it let me rant (rather delightfully) for a bit about my free day being rainy and not much lawn work getting finished!
ReplyDeleteKaren S.: I have read and loved the direction the words took you. I am always amazed at the different things sparked from the same source...
DeleteGreat word choices. As always I need to give them thought, will post them at my site.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: I look forward to it. As I do each week.
DeleteFinally, I could give this a shot!
ReplyDeleteI was nervous about running my first marathon. My body was in shape, I was eating a bushel of protein, and mentally I was strong and ready. The day before the race, I was in need of mindless work. I went out to the flower beds dotting the yard like butter pats served on pancakes. Although wary of spring snakes, I pulled wines, raked away brittle leaves, and uncovered tiny sprouts. It was a good release—until the next morning when I awoke to severe swelling of my eyes and radically itchy skin. I wouldn’t be running anywhere that day except to the ER!
Bookie: This is great. Ooooh. As someone who welts and itches in the garden all too often, I felt the pain.
DeleteGreat choice of words to let your imagination roam free! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: My imagination refuses to be caged.
DeleteMary was 'wary' at first. She doubted she’d be able to 'jog' a 'yard' let alone run a 'marathon'! However, she was 'itchy' to 'serve' her community in the charity run. To stand on the sidelines and be a 'mindless' observer as she felt she’d been in the previous years, Mary, 'bless' her, was 'steadfast' in her resolve. Her exercise programme was as 'industrious' as any 'sturdy', 'skilled' seasoned competitor.
ReplyDeleteLee: Mary is considerably more diligent and industrious than I could ever be. Mindless observer seems a good role to me. I could probably man the drinks stand though...
Deletelol Same here, EC! We'll keep each other company! Hahahaha!
DeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteSorry that I've been unable to keep up. I've spent the last two days commenting all over the place and I'm getting dizzy.
However, just before I attempt to get some sleep and maybe even do a post on my own site, Have fun with the words, whatever set you choose. I could think of a few choice words right about now but I'd better hold back! :)
All the best to those who get involved. I'd rather crawl back under my rock....
G'day! :)
Gary
klahanie:
DeleteDear Gary, I hope your rock comes equipped with a doona and a pillow. Look after your important self. Hugs.
I'm laughing at Alex's. It's really good. These are hard combinations of words, EC. Oy, I must try...
ReplyDeletePrior to going for a jog, I make it a ritual to bless my bra. For only an industrious and steadfast brassiere with sturdy under-wire, or a form fitting, skilled sports bra, could keep these girls from bruising my nose or rib cage.
Rawknrobyn: I am so pleased I had finished my cup of tea before I read your contribution. Smiling so broadly my face hurts. A much classier version of 'my living bra has died and my cups runneth over' than I have read before. Thank you.
DeleteBless you, doctor, but may I speak my mind, now that you have spoken yours, loudly and in prolonged prose, too. I hope you will not judge. No, it is true, as you claim, I do not jog as you do, doctor, because my knees are not sturdy as once they were, when I worked, industrious as a beaver, hard, although my labor was not skilled as yours is, doctor. I am old and I am not perfect. Do you require physical perfection in all your patients? How hard that must be, for them, and for you. I am steadfast in my opinion, however. You are wrong and I am leaving. How for one so educated can you also be so arrogant and lacking in common sense and general kindness? I do believe a rock would make a better doctor than you.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: You are talking about several of the doctors I have had dealings with. Most of them believe they are demi-gods (at least) and have egos big enough to think they could get knotted. And I wish they would.
DeleteMe too, EC, have had these types too often.
DeleteDan wants you to run a marathon with him? What could be more mindless than a marathon. You run like a zombie for what, 26 miles? Who does that? Really stupid people! Got itchy feet? Well, get some foot spray, don't run a marathon and pay out a fee to do it, too! Go clean up the yard. Make Dan help! If he even mentions that race, be wary. He's not a jogger. I'll serve you up some misery if its misery you're after.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: I love this one too. My eldest brother was a marathon runner. Once, when his children were teenagers they all ran together. Brother raced ahead, finished and then ran back to finish with his children. Nooooo brain cells. Lots of physical prowess but no brains.
DeleteIt's a zombie thing, the marathon running, something I can see a person might want to do once in their life, but why put oneself through that kind of misery over and over. For what purpose? I don't know.......
DeleteThe marathon on my scooter, you can't beat it.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: A marathon on a scooter sounds a MUCH better way to go. With photos too...
DeleteWhen my kids were small, I would clap when they used a big word and used it properly. Anna now claps when her BF uses a big word. Mind you, he has his degree and got a 30 on his ACT. He's a smart guy but our habits are hard to break.
ReplyDeleteSonya Ann: If I used a big or a new word my family asked me how it was spelt... This is a habit I never got. Fortunately for my friends.
DeleteI am just popping in quickly and this looks fun but have no time to 'think' right now :) Thank for commenting on my blog. I have a quiet morning after hectic few days on holiday, and wifi is good at present so I am trying to return a few visits.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: I hope your holiday was lovely. And there will be more words next week.
DeleteWriters can go in all sorts of directions with those words. Can't wait to read everyone's!
ReplyDeleteStephanie Faris: I have loved reading all of the contributions. A myriad of directions, some of them very, very funny.
DeleteWell, I choose mindless because sometimes I feel like that is what I am ... that said the real thought that comes to mind is the mindless politics in America. How money has skewed the process and stolen our democracy because our so called representatives are beholden to the billionairs who have bought their election. Our Supreme Court opened the gates of hell when they passed Citizens United and our country is crashing into mindless oblivion ... our greatness soon to be out of reach and controlled by a small percent of the top 1 percent of the weathy theives who will live thier glorious lives while the rest of us struggle to survive. God Bless America ... hmmmm!
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Andrea Priebe: Sadly the greedy and the self interested seem to be in power in far too many countries. Mine included. We were told that 'the age of entitlement is dead', but they only meant it was dead for the people at the bottom. The upper level perks continue.
DeleteMemes hurt my brain, lolol! Creating them anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice thing to do for your blogging buddy! Comments were interesting to read. :-)
Sia McKye Over Coffee
~Sia McKye~: I have been grateful to Delores for this meme for a long time. My gratitude increased exponentially when I tried to fill her very big shoes. The comments have been a delight though.
DeleteLove what everyone is coming up with! It's Friday night and my brain is feeling weary. I had something about feeling wary of an alien marathon in my yard but whether they serve lunch to mindless emus or itchy kittens, I don't know!
ReplyDeleteChristine Rains: Love what your tired brain concocted. I hope that they serve lunch to both - and not of either.
DeleteI missed this post this week- but such fun to read what everyone else came up with. It really is a great exercise for the mind. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
DMS ~ Jess: Not to worry, there will be more words this week. And I do love seeing the directions that people's minds and imagination take them - and us.
DeleteDon't hate me, but it is TOO HOT here for my brain to handle words like "itch" and "marathon." I'm itching already!
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: Not a problem. In hot weather I turn into a sad, soggy (and grumpy) mess.
DeleteHaiku...
ReplyDeleteindustrious work
itchy mindless marathon
will make one wary
Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): Love it. You add haiku writing to your talents? Wow.
DeleteI've really enjoyed these! I hope you make this a regular feature.
DeletePaper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): At least until Delores gets her computer fixed/replaced it will be a regular Wednesday feature here. After that, it will continue at her blog.
Delete