This
meme was started by Delores a long time ago. Computer issues led her
to bow out for a while. The meme was too much fun to let go, and now
Words for Wednesday is 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, and mixing and matching is encouraged.
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.
Huge thanks to Messymimi who provided us with the prompts last month.
The prompts will be here this month but are provided by Margaret Adamson, and her friend Sue Fulcher. They will also include photographs taken by Margaret's friend Bill Dodd
Here are this week's prompts (some of which had me searching for the dictionary which will no doubt please Margaret).
- Stoic
- Veisalgia
- Fiasco
- Table
- Throwing
- Ilex
And/or
- Ferrule
- Gelato
- Brewing
- Indigo
- Irons
- Waterfall
And, as an unrelated aside. The recent changes to Blogger have made accessing my reading list a challenge (to say the least). If I have missed one of your posts I apologise. Profusely.
Rachel shuddered. There was trouble brewing. The ferrule on her mother’s walking stick was rapping the table impatiently. ‘If this Christmas is not to be (another fiasco) you are going to have to get your act together. Forget your job, forget your linguistic studies, they will have to wait. You have far too many irons in the fire and family takes priority.’
ReplyDeleteThe ilex and the ivy really doesn’t cut it as a Christmas song does it?
‘RACHEL!!! I warned you. Comments like that from you don’t help anyone. Yes I know that cooking a three course meal for men who will mostly be hungover is a waste of time and energy. It is tradition though and a tradition YOU. WILL. KEEP.
Calling their hangovers veisalagia impresses no-one. Whatever you call it, they will start the day throwing up.
And when they have finished they will be empty and ready to eat. You pride yourself on being a stoic. Well suck it up sunshine. You have work to do. If it helps you can dream of your holiday property and he waterfall falling into into the indigo pool below. You can even dream of celebrating the day with lemon gelato and salad.
Neither are going to be a happening thing. Turkey, baked vegetables, mince pies and Christmas pudding will be. And you are going to have to get busy to get it on the table in time.
Get to it. Now.
Superb! Poor Rachel. You have some interesting words here!
DeleteThat's a LOT of work, I hope Rachel has some help and gets the next day off to rest.
DeleteMy hope is Rachel has a friend who will take her in and get her out of there.
DeleteRachel's mother is a control freak who makes my mother look open-minded and supportive.
DeleteTough stimes, baby. But well written.
DeleteOkay, even though I'm a gun control advocate, I'd have to run out, buy a gun and shoot myself:)
DeleteWell done, my friend.
Now I know what a 'ferrule' is. :)
DeleteGood stuff, E.C.
Yikes, poor Rachel! Well done with your story. And I was thrilled to find a new word: "Veisalgia". Now, if I can only remember it long enough to trot it out next time someone has a hangover... ;-)
DeleteWell done - the Christmas fiasco looms nearer - love it ... xo
DeleteA great take on the words but poor Rachael with a Mother like that. Well I wonder what all our Christmases will be like this year.
DeleteGreat choice of interesting words. Made a fun challenge. Your story is great and I was really glad you didn't have the gelato melting.
DeleteWell written, EC. I don't think I've ever seen the word veisalagia before. Thank you for smoothly providing a definition.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Janie Junebug: Thank you. I don't think I had ever come across either veisalgia or ilex before Margaret sent me the prompts.
DeleteThat's a very prolific, true-to-life mother-daughter pre-holiday discourse. I could feel the tension.
ReplyDeleteHi, EC. Thinking of you as I know you're watching and thinking of us on Election Day.
Rawnknrobyn: I am assuredly watching (anxiously). And hoping. Fervently.
DeleteThanks for the fun honey 🍯.
ReplyDeleteThe stoic Veisalgia
Caused a Fiasco
At Table! Throwing the
Ilex
And/or Ferrule at the host carrying the Gelato.
We spent the rest of the evening Brewing Indigo Irons.
A Waterfall!
Cloudia: I love your fun take. Viesalgia sounds like the same for a goddess doesn't it?
DeleteWhat fun!
DeleteWOW! Cloudia Short but you were able to get in so many words Well done
DeleteOh my, I think Rachel will end up having veisalgia after the Christmas celebratory meal, lol. I had never come upon that word before this. I think I like the word hangover much better. Veisalgia sounds a bit more serious. lol.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and well.
Hugs, Julia
Julia: I think that many people (those who only have the flu and never a cold) could make good use of veisalgia...
DeleteSorry Blogger has messed you up. That's why I use Feedly to keep up with recent blog posts, plus many are in my sidebar for easy access.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: I may have to explore feedly. I follow so many blogs that there simply isn't room in my sidebar.
DeleteDo explore Feedly - it's easy ... and solves the remembering problem ... xo
DeleteVeisalgia?? Where's my thesaurus...
ReplyDeleteUh-Oh, it isn't in there, nor in my 35 years old dictionary either. Google, here I come.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I turned to Google too.
DeleteWriting, writing, will be back to link it up.
ReplyDeleteOkay, it's over here
Deletemessymimi: I loved the way you used these challenging prompts to continue your story.
DeleteIt's only 20 years old that's why :D
DeleteYou did excellently on weaving these words through your story.
DeleteA word there I don't recall of hearing have to go and check it out..
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: Only one? I had to look up two.
DeleteEveryone this week is learning a new word!
DeleteHave fun!
ReplyDeleteNatalia: Thank you.
DeleteEspero que haya grandes participaciones. Ya he leído la tuya y lo has resuelto bastante bien.
ReplyDeleteVENTANA DE FOTO: Thank you. I suspect (based on experience) that there will be some amazing entries.
DeleteThose words! I'm not familiar with several of them, but I really like your story.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
T. Powell Coltrin: There were words I didn't know either - which I have grown to expect when Margaret and her friends provide the prompts.
DeleteIt has been a long time, but I might give this a try.
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: I hope you will. I always really like your contributions.
DeleteI am waiting for your story
DeleteHola Hijo de elefante! Esta propuesta de jugar con algunas palabras que quizás no conocemos es interesante, mas que nada por el hecho en si mismo de JUGAR , justamente en estos tiempos en que la mayoría de las personas se encuentran con sus energías bajas por todo lo que acontece..
ReplyDeleteAquí te dejo mi aporte...
Allí a la sombra de la encina
el viejo se mostró estoico
Y a falta de mesa apoyo los restos de veisalgia de esa agitada noche., en un tronco.
Después de haberse tomado tantas cervezas en aquel bar
percibió que ese lanzamiento de su nuevo producto
(que supuestamente le proporcionaría tantas ganancias )era un terrible fiasco.
Pobrecito! Allí quedo dormido a la espera de un mejor día!
Saludos , un abrazo y a cuidarse!!!
eli mendez: You are so right. We do indeed all need fun. Always, and perhaps now more than ever.
DeleteI really enjoyed your contribution (and thank you for joining us).
Me complace que disfrutes que te desafíen con las palabras. Estoy seguro de que ese tipo tenía muy dolorida de cabeza al día siguiente.
DeleteA poem about what it's really like living large.
ReplyDeleteI Eat Myself
Ornery Owl: I will be over to check out your story very soon. The title is intriguing.
DeleteOrnery Owl: I have been and read your contribution. And ache for its painful truth.
DeleteWow what an angry - and apt - poem.
DeleteHere's my story. I had to look up Veisalgia and ferrule - and then I had to find out what it was, because it was translated into a word I never heard before in Danish either. Thanks for new words.
ReplyDeleteNo Susan-story this time, I've been busy looking up her ancestors in the internet. I hope to write more of this later.
"Sitting at the waterfall, the little indigo fairy felt left alone. Although she was very stoic about it - as all indigo fairies are wont to be - she was like a total fiasco. She and the other fairies had had a gelato-creating competition, and she had mixed some irons in her creation. It had melted, running down over the table, inundating the ilex and the gently brewing ginger ale. It had clogged the airlock, dislodging the ferrule and in general just ruining the brew. She just felt like throwing in the towel and call it a day."
Charlotte (MotherOwl): That poor indigo fairy. I suspect all of us have had (and will have) days like that.
DeleteA Susan family tree? I am looking forward to learning more about that.
Ah! Poor fairy
DeleteHated that the gelato melted before anyone could eat it. Love gelato! Loved you tale.
DeleteThe fiasco began after Brad, stoic to the end, dug up the huge ilex on his property line without consulting his neighbor. Seems his neighbor loved the bush and had buried the ashes of his cat there. He was throwing rocks at Stan, who hid behind a turned-over patio table, when both wives appeared to find out what was happening. Both went inside and returned with pitchers of sangria, taking them to the shade of a large tree. They chatted while the men drank. Stan didn't know about his neighbor but he hoped he had awakened with the same veisalgia. As soon as he felt better, he was off to the nursery to search for a replacement holly.
ReplyDeleteCarol Kilgore: I love it. And hope that Brad and Stan can be friends. I seem to remember (a loooong time ago) that Sangria's after effects can be truly vicious.
DeleteThis story gave me a laugh although the men probably were not laughing the next day when their heads felt twice their sizes but glad anew Holly bush was being bought for his neighbour
DeleteNothing bonds people like common misery. Hope this happens here as well.
DeleteSound like a case for Judge Judy:-)
DeleteI have to admit I didn't know what llex was, so I found a stock with that name. Whatever works, right?
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard to be a stoic after last night’s fiasco. Me sprawled on the table, throwing up a lot expensive brandy and other indescribables. But today’s veisalgia is quite small by comparison to the despair over the huge loss I took with LLEX. I may need more brandy to get me through.
cleemckenzie: I love your take. And am definitely NOT a stoic today. Ilex was vicious wasn't it. Margaret always throws a few 'difficult' words in. Google tells me that Ilex, or holly, is a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide
Deleteyes I love your take also and I have several forms of Ilex in my garden here in Northern Ireland.In fact I have one that is called Golden King and Silver Queen. You need both to have one pollinate the other to get berries but the interesting thing is The KING is the female and the Queen is the male!!! How about that.
DeleteLet me suggest you not try for fear of a worse veisalgia next time. Good use of the words!
DeleteCool prompts! I think writing is a good way to escape all the "world" stuff.
ReplyDeleteMy post is over here today: https://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/
Tyrean Martinson: Very cool prompts. Huge thanks to Margaret and her friends.
DeleteOh so inrteresting words
ReplyDeleteSakuranko: They are aren't they?
DeleteGlad you found the words we chose interesting AND challenging
DeleteHe was always such a pompous ass. That was about the only thing you could be sure off.
ReplyDeleteLike the time he claimed to be suffering from VEISALGIA, and oh my god wasn’t he being so STOIC about it? Nobody knew what it was of course, and the way he was THROWING the word around, it sounded like an erotic hangover or something. And then we found out that it was just a plain old hangover like we’ve all had.
His wife had always told him to be happy with BREWING his own beer not tasting it ad infinitum to be sure it had the right je ne sais quoi until he collapsed on the floor like a pool of melting GELATO., sliding down the TABLE .
He had an ornate walking stick with a FERRULE. Nobody knows where he got it or why he needed it, but somebody should have rapped him with it. In one way or another his whole life was a FIASCO.
And he brought most of it on himself. Who the hell calls a common garden variety holly an ILEX? When we first heard the term most of us thought it was an East African antelope.
Who calls “Rhapsody in Blue” “Rhapsody in INDIGO?”
His whole life is a WATERFALL of pomposity, serving only to elicit ridicule from others. I think his wife would clap him in IRONS if she could.
David M. Gascoigne: I love this - and clapping him in irons is far too generous.
DeleteGreat story David I love the line " he collapsed on the floor like a pool of melting GELATO" I can just see that happening and laughed. Believe it or not, I dop call Holly Ilex here in Northern Ireland and if you would like to know about 2 of my Ilex bushes, read what I wrote on cleemckenzie's reply above
DeleteGreat story and use of all the words. You are a clever fellow.
DeleteThis was hilarious. Wonderful job.
Delete......sure of not sure off
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Nice to see that someone else suffers from finger dyslexia.
DeleteWhat fun David ... so true at times ... love the phrase 'waterfall of pomposity' ... it might be easier and safer for his wife just to leave him! xo
DeleteLOL, such talent! Have fun everyone! Wish I could join you but I'm working on my WIP during the NANO.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sue - we're winning - I think. LOL
Yolanda Renee: I hope your WIP is going really, really well.
DeleteYes the figures look encouraging at the moment but I am very scared about what the orange buffoon will attempt next.
Oh WOW...very well done all of you intelligent souls who have attempted this one!👍👍
ReplyDeleteSome of these words I hadn't even heard of...but then I'm definitely NOT the "brain of Britain" Lol 😉
Say no more about the Blogger changes...they have really messed me up too!!😕
Do hope you are well and happy...and Jazz too!
Lots of love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Ygraine: You are underestimating yourself severely. Again. Your poetry is always evocative and often thought provoking and beautiful as well.
DeleteHuge hugs to you my friend.
Hi EC - blogger's a pain ... in the but or butt. So I'm into murder she wrote:
ReplyDelete"Murder or stupidity they found her veisalgiaed on the ilex … she’d last been seen stoically hanging on to the table before throwing up."
I'm now going to read the other entries ... stay safe - Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: Blogger is indeed being a pain in the fundament at the moment. A big, big pain.
DeleteLove your take and am glad you joined us. I hope your lockdown isn't too trying - and please stay safe.
Very creative, Hil!
DeleteSorry about blogger.
I love Murder She Wrote:)
So she was eating the holly? It would make me have a hangover also. LOL. Good job HMB.
DeleteGosh as if it was not bad enough she had a veisalgia and then you impaled her on an Ilex OUCH!!!!
DeleteAm sure that's a quite fascinating and creative way of improving one's skill too. Here in England we have communities, adults, and elderly people meeting up in the community library and participating in different activities and this meme is something quite suitable.
ReplyDeleteSteve: It is also a heap of fun. Many of the participants (me included) are not writers but enjoy flexing our creative muscles. I hope you will join us sometime.
Delete😊 Hopefully someday i will kind regards!
DeleteWell I did it. Mine is posted on my Fools Rush In page as Words For Wednesday On Friday. It has been a long time since I tried this.
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: It might have been a long time but you still have the knack. I have read (and loved) your story.
DeleteWell done and a great story Granny Annie. Thanks for contributing
DeleteVery well done. I can see the family as I read. And oh for lemon gelato and salad instead of the big meal. :)
ReplyDelete