Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wednesday 15 January 2020

Words for Wednesday











This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Words for Wednesday is now provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. 

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...  We can use some or all of the prompts.

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, which includes cheering on the other participants.  If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.


The prompts will be here this month but are provided by Mark Koopmans.


This week's prompts are:


  1. Constipation
  2. Rivalry
  3. Occupation
  4. Sneeze
  5. Wishy-washy
  6. Diatribe

  1. And/or 
  2. Snot
  3. Beluga
  4. Emergency
  5. Qualify
  6. Coffee
  7. Butt
Have fun.

PS: Mark has indicated that he won't be writing anything from the prompts he has given us because it doesn't feel fair.  He has also said that he cannot remember the prompts (which he sent to me months ago) which I think negates any 'unfairness'.  I for one, would love to see how he tackles the challenges he set the rest of us.  How do others feel?


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165 comments:

  1. Yes, I'd like to see him use snot and butt!

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  2. Do-gooders whose occupation is to take the fun out of life often tell me 'you have champagne tastes on a beer budget' before launching into a diatribe about the necessity of living within my means. What is it about these people? Constipation defines them. Constipation of ideas, constipation of originality and a total absence of joy. I restrain myself and don't fart (or even sneeze) in their general direction and deliver a suitably wishy-washy response when what I really want to tell them is:
    Snot true. Butt out.
    Grey boring people, living grey boring existences do NOT qualify to tell me how to live my life.
    I don't have champagne tastes at all. Champagne is for conventional people. I will drink it - but only in an emergency, when my chosen tipple is not available.
    You start the day with a shot of coffee, while scanning your emails and antiSocial media. I start with a shot too. A single delicious shot of chilled Beluga vodka which sets me up for the day. A day filled with beauty, with whimsy, with fun.
    I don't have a career. I don't want a career filled with petty rivalry and a constant struggle to get to the precarious top. I work when I need to, for as long as I need to. And for not a day more. If opportunity appears she has no need to knock. I will gleefully take her hand and head off. There will be other jobs. I enjoy my life and wonder how many of you could honestly say the same.
    Hmmm?

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    1. Yes, live life true to what you want.

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    2. Really enjoyed this :)

      All the best Jan

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    3. Beluga Vodka? I didn't know there was such a thing. I have heard of Beluga caviar though. LOVE your story :)

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    4. Totally brilliant! I too didn't know about the vodka.

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    5. There is indeed a Beluga Vodka - and it is very pricy.

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    6. Great story. And a good use of Mark's challenging words. I too had to look up the Beluga Vodka.

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    7. Now *that* is one feisty chick I would love to have met in my twenties!! Brilliantly told and it's Snot true that I'm lying :)

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    8. Very much the kind of thing I am going to write, I think. Enjoyed it.

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    9. I really like this. Love the Snot and Butt references too.

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    10. T.Powell Coltrin: Thank you. Mark's prompts are always challenging and require a lot of out of the box thinking.

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    11. This is a top-notch list of words to work with, and I figured they'd spawn some fun writings. And boy, was I right! You did a great job with them, Sue. Made me smile... broadly. (Well, since I'm an old broad, that's only fitting...)

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    12. Love it! I was already giggling at "Snot true. Butt out.", and then you put the icing on the cake with "anti-social media". Still chuckling... :-)

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    13. Diane Henders: Good. My work is done.

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    14. Fantastic EC!!! I am applauding!!!

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  3. Sue, that is awesome! Good use of words.

    Strange words they are. Will think about these.

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    1. Susan Kane: I hope your thinking is productive - as it usually is in such creative ways.

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  4. It's perfectly fair, and i would enjoy reading what he has to say.

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    1. These words, and i do not believe in coincidence as i explain in the story, fit perfectly.

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  5. Hi Sue - wonderful take ... I think I'll have to be back for this one - you've really taken the bull by the horns and created a wonderful story ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Thank you. I look forward to seeing where these prompts lead you.

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  6. "Butt out Agnes." Cherly grated. "I've had quite enough of your diatribes against City Hall."
    Agnes took a tentatve sip of her coffee and grimaced. "Wishy-washy stuff as usual."
    "Don't change the subject." Cheryl said. "You need to curb your verbal diarrhea with a does of constipation or my ears will require a trip to the emergency department. You know so much about the running of the city and how it SHOULD be run you could qualify for the occupation of counsellor yourself. Why don't you give it a try?"
    Agnes stifled a sneeze and replied somewhat hoarsley, "I don't think I'd stand a chance against that baby Beluga Marth (dimwit) Greene. What a snot face. She's won every rivalry for the position for the past fifteen years."
    "Well," Cheryl said, "to me it's an and/or situation. Either you toss your hat into the ring this election term or you shut your trap about how things should be done."
    come on Mark.....all of us who provided prompts at one time or another also used them....let's see what you've got

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    1. only slightly confused: How lovely to see you hear and I really enjoyed your 'Put up or shut up' tale. I do hope that Mark is shamed into participating.

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    2. Excellent! And yes, all of us do use our own words, nothing wrong with that.

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    3. Great story Delores, it seems Agnes is all talk and no substance, unless she does take up the challenge and throw her hat in for the election.

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    4. Show them, Agnes. Go for that election, and wipe their butts ;)
      Great use of the prompts.

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    5. I'm like giddily clapping my hands because you even used "And/Or" I was going to do that, too, but didn't think anyone would get it. Well played!!!

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    6. Love it, Miss D! You made a clever use of the words, and oh yeah, you hit the annoying "know-it-all" type person nail right on the head. AND you even managed to toss the gauntlet to Mark at the end. Well done!

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  7. I look at the words some butt hole had left as writing prompts for this week. Really? Do these even qualify as prompts? WTH! I hate to not play along, but___really?
    I decide this requires some serious thought, and coffee__lots of coffee and/or chocolate. The good stuff. I am wishy washy about a lot of foods, but chocolate? Nope it has to be Godiva quality at a minimum . I keep a stash in my pantry for emergency fortifications or when I am required to think too much.
    Think, think, think. Right now my brain is static and no words are flowing. Is there such a thing as verbal constipation?
    I really dislike this prompt and dislike the evil mastermind behind them. Enough of this diatribe, Anne, just get on with the thinking. This occupation of negative thoughts is not going to get you anywhere.
    And knock off this fake rivalry feeling. You are competing with no one but yourself. Just get with the program and use these stupid words.
    Sit down at the keyboard and try to make some logical composition of this grossly incompatible assortment of words.
    Crap! A sneeze, now? Quick grab a tissue to keep potential snot off the screen.
    I only thought this could not get worse but that damn Raffi song Baby Beluga just came on the radio. Isn't this enough for one day?

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: That is telling him - and osc is right. This IS hilarious. And brilliant.

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    2. Heeheehee! Yep, sometimes i feel this way about the prompts, too.

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    3. Officially and for the record, I was in no way upset with these words, but taking a pissy stance seemed to be a fun way for me to use them. I only used my Name in it because I was writing it as a first person inner dialogue and thought it would cut down on any confusion.

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    4. Excellent take on the words, a nicely worded challenge to Mark too.

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    5. Hehe, this was hilarious. A much needed dose of laughter to set off our glum stories. Thank you. And roting for Mark to get back in the game ...!

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    6. Anne.... TOTALLY bowing down to your greatness... I knew you weren't being pissy, but LOVED that's the way you took the prompts... ya big Grumps :)

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    7. Who says she wasn't being Pissy Mark?? Loved this take too.

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    8. HA! I'd say you captured the Pissy Persona beautifully. Or maybe it's merely pre-menstrual Molly? At any rate, great job. (When I first started reading it, I thought you were being serious!)

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  8. I'd say go for it Mark :) I enjoy reading the stories you all write about but the muse has left the building for now. Hope to join in next time.

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    1. DeniseinVA: I hope you can join us again too, but really appreciate that you enjoy the tales even when your muse has deserted you.

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  9. Mark, you are truly weird:

    Rivalry at the Wild Safari Zoo was strong with Jake and Brenda both pushing to be part of the elephant care program. An occupation like this would qualify her for an occupation up the ladder.

    Surprising them, both were part of the care program and today both were called to deal with an emergency with Eema, the elderly matriarch of the troupe. This was a true honor.

    Finding out the assignment took away all honor. Eema was stopped up with a constipation unlike ever seen with Eema. “Toss a coin? Heads, you take the front; trails, you take the butt.” Brenda ended up at the rear.

    Coffee enema was her job, oh boy howdy, while Jake examined the trunk. Each end exploded with Jake being covered in elephant snot and Brenda with elephant excrement. Cheers and laughter rose from other employees. Nothing wishy-washy was part of this honor.

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    1. Susan Kane: Weird is an anagram of wired (differently).
      Love your take - and am not certain which end of the elephant is better - or worse.

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    2. Not sure I would want to be on either end of the elephant...I think in this case size DOES matter lol.

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    3. Oh, dear. Well, if you are going to work with animals, you are going to deal with this kind of thing sooner or later. Well told!

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    4. Oh, I do hope they were both wearing HazMat suits, or at least something that could be thoroughly hosed down. it's a dirty job but someone has to do it and I'm sure Eema feels a whole lot better.

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    5. Coffee enemas ... really. Thanks for the giggles. Nothing a good bath, and maybe some coffee used as it's suppoesd to, be won't remedy.

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    6. Charlotte: The brother of a friend of ours was forced to undergo coffee enemas in his battle against cancer.

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    7. Susan, I take weird and wired to be a compliment, thanks!! But dear God, I hope I'm never at the butt end of an elephant in that kind of scenario.... Where's my shocked face emoji when I need it!!

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    8. Well, good for Eema, but not so good for her caretakers, eh? In this case, I don't think I'd want either the "head" or the "tail." (Think the coin could maybe land on its edge...?) Another fun take on this month's list of words.

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  10. The consensus seems to be in Mark. We all want you to share the fun/pain.

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    1. Thanks again. This has and IS, so much fun. Y'all have completely made my week.

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  11. Totally stumped for now.:) Will be back if I manage something. And I think the 'prompter' should chip in too.

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: I hope you do get inspired. I really hope it, but will understand if you don't.

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    2. I'm so impressed by the cleverness of the writers here. Aced a set of rather challenging words, every one of the flashes!

      Here's my take :

      Listen, this is Bhim’s idea of a family emergency. But he’s the one who’s turned up late. Obviously he had forgotten all about it. Some wishy-washy excuse. Well, I can’t stand their emotional constipation anyways. Nor am I going to be the butt of their ghastly jokes, haw-haw-haw. They’ve refined sibling rivalry into a full time occupation. Can’t put up with one more minute of that. Not with the matriarch’s diatribe either - free lessons on how to conduct yourself and yet another snot coloured sari as a gift. Which I'll never wear.

      It’s not as if they’re serving Beluga caviar and foie gras. Food’s inedible, conversation's awful, combined emotional quotient is probably deeply into the negative. They make it plain I don’t qualify. From my skirts to my sneeze to the way I drink my coffee, everything’s too loud for them. Do I care? Nope. I'm not going. Bhim can do what he likes. Are you free to come around and help me demolish a nice bottle of red?

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    3. Nilanjana Bose: I will very happily come and help demolish that red. And love (as I knew I would) your take on the prompts. A snot coloured sari? Shudder. Cafe Terrace is still freezing both my brain cells.

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    4. There's still time. And you have to admit - cafe and terrace are a cakewalk compared to the deadly cocktail of words here. :) If you can ace that as you have, then you can ace anything!! Looking forward to what your cells come up with once they unfreeze, as I'm sure they will.

      Hope your week is going well. And I'm so glad to see the news on the rainfall.

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    5. Oh yeah! Far better to demolish that bottle of red in solitude than to be subjected to so-so food and not-so-good company. Great use of the words!

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  12. Have a great one, Sue. Hope everyone parties down on your end this month.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: Thank you. Partying will be low key - which I hope yours are not.

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  13. I think Mark should take part … and I think everyone has done so well … with more to come I'm sure.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. Mark has been severely outvoted hasn't he?

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  14. Well they do open up possibilities but not good ones.
    Merle........

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    1. Merlesworld: There have been some fun takes though. Some day I hope the prompts will tempt you enough to join us.

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  15. If this were a competition with prizes I would say that Mark should refrain from participating, but since it is a friendly challenge with no winners or losers I cannot see how it matters if he contributes. I will try to give this a shot tomorrow.

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    1. David M. Gascoingne: Agreed. And I look forward to your prompts.

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  16. Mark my words! Mark is a chicken!! :)

    If we have to do it...so does he!! I can hear the chants..."Mark! Mark! Mark!" :)

    "It was with great difficulty Maggie got her butt out of the chair, but it was an emergency. There was not time to waste.

    In the last few days, she felt if anyone was going to qualify to be crowned the Queen of Inertia it was Maggie. She’d been feeling very lethargic, and uncomfortable. There wouldn’t be any rivalry for the crown, of that she was certain.

    Even that wishy-washy snot who lived next door wouldn’t stand a chance, she said to Whiskers, her cat, who sat curled up at her feet.

    Every day Maggie’s spinster neighbour’s main occupation seemed to be attacking whoever was within hearing range with her nasty, abusive diatribe.

    It was either from the banshee’s endless haranguing and/or the many cups of strong black coffee Maggie had drunk that morning, but the unexpected sneeze stirred up the constipation Maggie had been suffering for the past couple of days.

    With no time to waste, once out of the chair, she rushed down the hallway to the toilet!"

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    1. Lee: Better out than in. I hope Maggie's inertia is a thing of the past too.

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    2. Oh dear! Poor Maggie. but at least the coffee had the desired effect and perhaps the banshee's haranguing led hr to drink the coffee, so the neighbour helped too. Inertia is a time thief, and often present around here when the heat is on. (summer)

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    3. Haha, Lee!! Oh, God bless coffee and it's sometimes toooo powerful magic ability to bring one to one's throne of solid porcelain :)

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    4. Oh dear. Poor Maggie. Nothing like a rush call to kick her inertia in the behind! nice job with the words. :)

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  17. Mark my words, I accept the challenge and will submit my entry Wednesday afternoon (EST)

    On my Mark, set and I’ll be back to Mark my spot tomorrow... Go!!

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    1. It worked! It worked!!!! :)

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    2. Mark Koopmans: Oh good. We look forward to seeing what you create.

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    3. Mark, the trick how to not remember one single word you send to Sue is to quickly make up random words and quickly send her them 1 year a ahead of her needing them. That way there is no way you could ever remember them. When we see out own words, we laugh and say " whoever made up those words"!!!!

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  18. I would definitely love to see what Mark does with these challenges, whether they are his own words or those of any other challenger.

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    1. River: Me too. I have always enjoyed his take on the prompts.

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  19. Me is gonna mull and mull some more, these prompts are great....

    XO
    WWW

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    1. Wisewebwoman: Happy mulling - I hope the mix is rich and to your satisfaction.

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  20. Yes the MAN should write, indeed he should.

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: He has agreed to play, and we should see his take tomorrow our time, Wednesday afternoon his time.

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    2. OK... I was like a fewwww hours late, but it's waiting there, down below, just a little further on the old Scrollmobile...

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  21. I'll have to be back to comment ... first lot:


    She was sneezing again in the wishy-washy … but that allergy cannot have made her constipated; she was wondering if the rivalry with that beast of a woman for this job … had caused these malaises.

    She had ranted against the owner of the laundromat … her rival called it a diatribe … and then was offered the job over her head.

    Now she was here clearing out her things, and was desperate to get home to see how to de-clog her body … constipation is the pits.

    To change the subject back to Mark ... they are definitely not easy words to work with ... and keeping things politish! Cheers - I'll be back tomorrow probably ... Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: That poor woman. Allergies, constipating AND losing her job to a rival? I hope that she recovers quickly (and do believe that a toxic work environment can cause all sorts of unpleasant ailments).

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    2. Glad you're here, Hilary, and sorry (with a little hint of mild cackling:) if the words are out there... it's not me, it's EC... she made me do it [now I'm looking for the Angel emoji... where did those things go...]

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    3. Oh dear. What did that poor lady ever do to you, Hilary? You've given her a triple whammy of misery! Great job with the words.

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  22. What fun you are! And what everybody else said.

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    1. https://nothoughtsnoprayersnonothing.blogspot.com/2020/01/wednesday-words-coffee.html

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    2. nothoughtsnoprayersnonothing: I will be over to check out your take shortly. And yes, W4W IS fun.

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  23. Yes, I do wish he would write...it would, I'm sure, inspire us all!! 😊
    I hope all is ok with you...

    Love and hugs ❤️❤️❤️

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    1. Ygraine: He has promised to join us and I am looking forward to seeing his creation. I am indeed ok and hope you are too.

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  24. So cool! Have a lovely evening ☺

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    1. natalia20041989: Thank you. It is early morning here now, and with luck we will get some very welcome rain. I hope your day is also lovely.

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  25. Thanks everyone again for the lovely words of encouragement. I've had one of those weeks, and you've all cheered me up to no end!!

    Here's my take on the words. As promised, I wrote this in the last hour and didn't prep ahead of time.

    "Free Willie"

    Willie wasn’t feeling well. Not at all. In fact, his stomach was so bad, that he would have given his kingdom for a bout of Constipation, never mind a horse. He looked in the mirror and knew he should’ve listened to Momma.

    “Willie, come out of there already,” shouted Momma. “Haven’t I always said you needed to be careful with different foods while we’re on vacation?”

    Willie put his head down. He didn’t feel like he had a Rivalry for his independence with Momma, but he was 43 now. That’s why they’d come to Curacao for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

    At least it was for him. Momma had been here many times as a youngster, that’s what she always liked to remind him.

    Willie came out of the bathroom, waited for a minute, felt his stomach wobble then settle and he walked to the outside living room with the infinity pool right there and the ocean only a hundred yards away.

    What a wonderful Occupation it would be to build and constr—

    “WILLIE!! I’m going to Sneeze. Get me a tissue and stop being so damn Wishy-washy, boy!”

    Willie knew a diatribe was imminent, but he stood there just a moment longer, fascinated how Momma’s frame was held above the water by that floating bed thing they’d bought in the store.

    It’d been for him, but, of course, once Momma manoeuvred herself onto the thing the next morning like a German tourist stealing the best sunning bed, it had been Willie’s job to make sure Momma was happy these past five days. (Sure, she’d given birth to him, as she liked to remind her only son, and he’d nearly been the death of her, hadn't he?)

    Grabbing the box of tissues from the counter of the open kitchen, Willie wandered the edge of the large pool trying to miss the waves of water spilling over as Momma worked her way closer to the edge, like a ship coming in to port minus the tugboat and captain.

    She might fall into the deep end if she isn’t careful and Momma can’t swim, Willie knew that. Momma knew that, too, but she also liked to remind him that he’d always be there for her because of the birth sacrifices she'd made on his behalf.

    “Snot! Willie. I got snot!”

    Willie looked at Momma. She was starting to thrash around a little bit. Side to side she went as she tried to grasp the side of the pool, but it was too slippery.

    He’d never seen a Beluga whale in real life, and the only other thing he knew, apart from its obvious bigness, was it made caviar.

    He’d never tried the delicacy, but it was on his wish list. Maybe, one day when he had something to celebrate.

    Oops.

    He’d not meant to push down on the floatie as Momma reached over, now on the edge of her balance and she tumbled under the water in one smooth motion and was soon at the bottom of the pool.

    Her mouth moved and her fists shook at him and Willie realized this was an Emergency.

    It was such a beautiful day, though. Even his stomach had settled down. Willie looked past the edge of the infinity pool and wondered if this would Qualify as a celebration. Probably later, he reckoned.

    First things first. He set up the Coffee machine and got off his Butt to call the police in his best-scared voice.

    While he waited, he grabbed his phone, found the website of the local grocery store and typed in c-a-v-i-a-r. He could see why Momma loved Curacao so much now. Willie sighed. It was just so damn quiet and peaceful here.

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    1. Aha! See! I knew you could do it! You marked my words after all, Mark! :)

      Top marks to you! You cheered us all up...and you made me realise, I failed to use "beluga" in my own little tale...and I had meant to use it...I wanted to use it...so it's off to the Naughty Corner for me!!!

      Well done, Mark...keep your chin up. I hope a better week is in store for you. :)

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    2. *Thanks* Lee, and rest assured... thanks to EC, you and everyone here (plus a set of lovely writers elsewhere) one is most definitely having a better week.

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    3. I love your story, although I personally hate mothers who continually bring up the "I gave birth to you.." shtick. I'm glad Willie has independence at last and hope he is able to cope without mother telling him what to do every five minutes. I'm sure he will work it out.

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    4. Mark Koopmans: Woo Hoo. I have had a cow of a day and am now smiling all over my fat face. I am so grateful you succumbed to our subtle persuasion.

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    5. Mark Koopmans: PS - I think this is the best free Willie story I have read.

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    6. There's more than one way to drown a whale it appears....great job...now don't try to procrastinate next week okay?

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    7. Uh-oh a naughty Willie. Loved it. Welcome back.

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    8. What a fortuitous "accident". Nothing like a bit of the macabre with a tropical twist!
      Brilliant!

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    9. You know that commercial where the guy says, "I'm not just the president of the Men's Hair Club; I'm also a member."? Well, you not only came up with this list of words... you OWNED them. Your piece is beautifully written, and you incorporated some very clever bits of humor. Bravo!

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  26. Very strange words to create sth :)

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    1. Kinga K.: I think they made us all put our thinking caps on - which is never a bad thing.

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  27. I can't compete, but I will try tomorrow. Love the fact that Willie didn't rescue the old nag. Get what you deserve.

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    1. Jo: Don't put yourself down - I love what you did with Mark's prompts.

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  28. Well, it's not tomorrow and this isn't much but...

    I normally drink COFFEE, decaf of course, all day, but occasionally I like to drink something stronger. I usually drink champagne on Sunday mornings and wish I could enjoy some genuine BELUGA caviar with it. My mom had the real stuff a few times, but it costs so much money. What she ate and what I got to try caused a kind of RIVALRY between us. but it wouldn’t QUALIFY for real antagonism.. Now my husband and I have disagreements over food, he likes to use pepper on everything which causes him to SNEEZE and sometimes there is SNOT too which really grosses me out and I ask him to get off his BUTT and clean up. Of course we both drink liquor and I find this a marvelous antidote to CONSTIPATION although it does sometimes create an EMERGENCY in my system. This is somewhat of a WISHY WASHY DIATRIBE on my part but bearing in mind I have no OCCUPATION AND/OR means of earning my living, I guess I have to justify my existence somehow.

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    1. Jo: I like it lots, and after the days/weeks you have been having you definitely deserve something stronger. AND the very best caviar as well.

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    2. Nice diatribe, and you used all the words - even the and/or. Funny.

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    3. Not much? Au contraire! You did a great job with the words!

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    4. Lol!!! Never heard of liquor being an actual cure for constipation, but it does work and/or I’m loving this one, Jo:)

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  29. I've never been here before but this looks like fun, so here's mine:

    Is constipation an occupation?
    I think not.
    Is a rivalry an emergency?
    I think not.
    If I'm wishy-washy, do I qualify?
    Possibly.
    Does a Beluga snot?
    Possibly.
    Can I sit on my butt, sneeze and/or drink coffee?
    Definitely.
    Can I use diatribe in a sentence to finish this poem?
    Definitely.

    Bobi

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    1. Was this a fine first try?
      Certainly!

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    2. Anonymous Bobi: Welcome and thank you for joining us. I really enjoyed your poetic take on Mark's challenging words.

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    3. I enjoyed this. I think so.

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    4. Great way to use this odd assortment of words!

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    5. A fun one. I loved it.
      Definitely
      Could I emulate it
      Unlikely

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    6. HA! Yet another fun take. Well done.

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  30. I think I'm going to pass this week.

    Mark could totally use his words :)

    I hope you're doing well, EC.

    Elsie

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    1. Elsie Amata: You have a HEAP of your plate this week. I hope the migraine is gone and that your book goes really, really well.

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  31. Using Mark's words one or two or even three at a time, I slowly continue the story of Mary & Allan - this link leads to the first chapter, not to the newest.

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    1. Charlotte: I am loving the continuing story and the way the words you choose are sooooo right for the installment.

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    2. I cannot seem to find the next part of the story Charlotte. You've really got me hooked.

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    3. I'll update the "... to be continued" under the chapters, It might take a few hours, but it should work soonish. Here's a link to the next one

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  32. Wishy-washy is a funny word. My foreign students always look at me like I just made it up. Then they google it and find out it's a real word...

    Hope you're doing fine,
    Blue

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    1. Blue Grumpster: English is packed with funny words. Some we have borrowed, some we have stolen, and some are our very own oddness.
      I am ok and hope you are doing better. Much better.

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  33. I would LOVE to see what story Mark could come up with with these words. Mark is as creative as they come- if you can get him to put the iron down. hehe

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    1. Liz, his take on his own words is up above your comment. Do read it, it's good. He must have put the iron down for a bit.

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    2. Elizabeth Seckman: Welcome. Jo is right, after a little gentle persuasion Mark did come to the party, and his brilliant effort is just above your comment.

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  34. It is no doubt a bit of a redundancy to state that CONSTIPATION is a pain in the BUTT, but a greater truism was never spoken. It's not a problem that I have dealt with often, so I will resist the temptation to enter into a DIATRIBE about it. After all when your OCCUPATION is that of a food critic for a leading epicurean magazine it might reasonably have been more of a hazard than I have experienced so far. Thanks goodness BELUGA caviar doesn't give me constipation AND/OR diarrhoea because I get to enjoy a good deal of it – and they pay me to eat it. Now that's nothing to SNEEZE about. There is probably a good deal of RIVALRY for my job, but most of these pretenders don't QUALIFY anyway. There are those who think that COFFEE and a doughnut is a gourmet treat. And there are other WISHY-WASHY types who can never make up their minds about anything. They wouldn't be able to pair a fine wine with the appropriate cheese if they tried. An EMERGENCY for them probably means that the buffet line at the local food court is too long and the extra wait may impinge on the little time they have away from their desk to have lunch. The noodles at the Chinese food booth (they call it emporium!) usually look like addled SNOT, but these poor pretenders and know-nothings eat it anyway.
    Thank goodness that smugness, verging on gloating, is an inherent part of my character, and I can confidently bask in my superiority. Pass the caviar please, and make sure it is Beluga not that Sturgeon crap. A 2014 Chablis should go nicely with it.

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    1. David M. Gascoigne: Love this. While I don't warm (at all) to your character sadly he is right on too many fronts. Dinners squeezed in over the lunch break are often not even food by my standards (and I am not an epicure). I am not a fan of donuts either. Thank you for joining us again.

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    2. He's a spizzard, but I like your sescription of him.

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  35. Un sereno fine settimana per te.

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  36. These are quite the prompts. I have been cracking up at the responses. ;)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~Jess: There are some beauties aren't there. Huge thanks to Mark.

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  37. I do believe that Mark should participate, especially since he claims amnesia. Mine has finally been posted here: the occupation

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    1. Cindi Summerlin: He did participate, and I laughed rather a lot at his entry. Off to read yours now.

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  38. I would definitely love to see what Mark does with these challenges, whether they are his own words or those of any other challenger.

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    1. Tarequi: Welcome and thank you. Mark did join the party, and I hope he joins us again this week.

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