Flash Friday - Ferrets

Picture prompted flash writing is one of the exercises we do on the Writer's Retreat. We take turns posting a picture and everyone writes a flash piece in response (500 word limit). Here's an example, and the story I wrote in response to this picture prompt:


Title: WTF!

By: Kathleen Oxley

Word Count: 419

Well, I guess the grass really isn't always greener. I mean, really. All those months stuck in that fucking glass cage. Little fingers tapping on that glass - my god, the racket. Thump, thump, thump. I just wanted to sleep and chew on my pellets in peace for Christ's sake!

What'd I tell Ronnie? Just wait till we get outta here, Ronnie. Just you wait. Things will get so much better. Fuck, shows what I know.

Damn, I miss Ronnie. At least I used to have her to talk to. And I'll kill anyone who repeats it, but she was nice to cuddle up with too. She didn't hog the hammock either! Man, those were the days.

I don't even have a hammock anymore. And I'm still in a glass cage, but now it's like I've downgraded from a mansion to a fucking condo. I can barely breathe in that space. You really should not have to eat and shit in such close proximity, it's just not healthy. And she screams at me when I shit behind the sofa. But, truly, can you blame me?

At least I got that leash thing settled early. To think she actually thought I'd prance along all dignified on the end of a string. I'm not a freakin' dog, lady! Oh, and you see this bag? It's PINK! PINK?!?! Do I look like the pink kinda guy to you? I don't care if it is the hottest accessory, I look like a total fairy! I should be glad Ronnie isn't here to see this. Gads, she'd never let me hear the end of it.

The only thing I have to look forward to is the hope that we're going to visit that chick with the stupid cat. I mean, he's so fat and lazy and they think it's all cute that I can chase him around the house. At least I get some exercise and get to make someone else feel like the bitch for a change.

Oh god, no! NO! Anything but that - please, lady, save my sanity. Anything but Hannah Montana. Anything! Don't you have any musical taste at all? Where did they breed you?

Ugh! I give up. Don't you smile and sing at me! And don't you pet me either, you hideous demon spawn! Truly, you stick that hand in here one more time and I'm gonna bite off a digit. I mean it this time - fingers will be lost. A ferret can only take so much!

Thursday Thirteen - Games

My Thursday Thirteen...

13 Games I Like to Play... 1 - Monopoly 2 - Rummikub 3 - Spades 4 - Pictionary 5 - Scrabble 6 - Rummy 7 - Clue 8 - Apples to Apples 9 - Bridge 10 - Twister 11 - Taboo 12 - Cranium 13 - Quarters Games I don't really like include Risk, Battleship and Trivial Pursuit.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in other's comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Leave your link in a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Kaige's Thursday Thirteen

Word Trix's Thursday Thirteen

Adelle's Thursday Thirteen

Dawn's Thursday Thirteen

Eden's Thursday Thirteen

Gwen's Thursday Thirteen

Jennifer M's Thursday Thirteen

Jennifer S's Thursday Thirteen

Gina's Thursday Thirteen

Shelley's Thursday Thirteen

Paige's Thursday Thirteen

Tara's Thursday Thirteen

Ms. Menozzi's Thursday Thirteen

Tempest Knight's Thursday Thirteen
A. Catherine Noon's Thursday Thirteen

I Guess You'll Do...

This is really funny. And, as much as you hate to admit it, parts of it are pretty accurate.

Easter Resolution...

I recently realized that I need to get better at keeping up with the blogs I enjoy. I've got lots of sites that I visit infrequently, but always enjoy when I do get around to checking them out. I didn't think I had the time to visit them regularly to figure out if there's anything new or not. Until today.

Today I discovered the beauty of Google Reader. I can subscribe to all my favorite blogs and see the updated content at all of them on one page! I'm still new with it and my husband assures me there's all kinds of cool things it can do, but I know this is going to make my life better. Thank you, Google!!

Oh, btw, since I no longer have to be scared of having yet another site to try to keep up with, which sites/blogs would you recommend? List them in the comments so I can check them out and add them to my reader!

Thanks!
~Kat

WRB - sexyjack site review

Today kicks off our rotating schedule of blogging over at the Writer's Retreat Blog. We've got nine authors contributing to the site, so it should be a great mix of styles and topics. I'll be rambling over there every other Monday. For my first entry I reviewed a great photo compilation site, sexyjack. You can read my review here.

Excellent Blog Award

Catherine from A. Catherine Noon honored me with an Excellent Blog Award today. I really appreciate the shout out, Catherine! Her blog is always filled with interesting stories, craft projects and market information, so be sure to check it out!

The Rules: By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you agree to award it to 10 more people whose blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want but please award at least 10. You deserve this! Feel free to recognize blogs that have already received this award.

I'm still finding my way around the blogosphere, and I'm not so good at regularly visiting blogs, even the ones I love. So, coming up with a list of ten is a bit difficult. I'd like to give a shout out to all the gals on WR and to The FFC, all of which I thoroughly enjoy!

1. Gwen Mitchell's Fiction
2. Eden's Eternal
3. A Catherine Noon (shout-back!)
4. The Elizabethan Collar
5. Eaton Bennett
6. Muffiny Blog
7. The Daily Dawn
8. Unhinged
9. Flash Fiction Carnival 2008
10. Writer's Retreat

FFC - Spring

Sorry I'm a little late with this one. This is my entry for the FFC 2008 Spring edition.


Easter Eve (408 words)
By: Kathleen Oxley

It was Saturday night and Cynthia was tucking one of the last eggs behind a pillow on the sofa. She glanced around the room. Under and around the furniture, bright little plastic eggs peeked out at her. Tomorrow morning was Bryan's fourth Easter and she knew he was going to love running around the house finding the eggs until his basket was full.

Cynthia sighed and sat down on the couch. It was late, almost midnight. She'd checked on Bryan before getting started and he was snoring softly in his room. She had enjoyed filling each of the eggs. There were some with the typical Easter candy, but not too many. Her son was hyper enough without the help of excessive amounts of sugar.

Many of the eggs held small toys - a bouncy ball, matchbox car, etc. Inexpensive trinkets that she picked out carefully, even knowing that Bryan would play with each briefly before moving on to the next item. A few of the eggs even held money - about ten dollars total split up into some singles and some change, with one egg holding a five dollar bill. She planned to take Bryan to the toy store next week to allow him to pick something out for himself.

She silently wished she could do more for him, to give him a big fancy Easter basket filled with new toys. But, she couldn't. This was the best she could do. She knew it would be enough, that Bryan would enjoy hunting for the eggs and that he would get excited about each one and what it held inside. But, she always wished she could do more.

She also hated that Bryan's dad couldn't be here to see him and to celebrate with them. She would take lots of pictures and email them to Martin next week, but it wasn't the same. He was in the Army and had shipped out to Iraq a little over a month ago. He would be gone almost a year this time, and already she felt lost without him. Holidays were always difficult, but she would put on a smile for Bryan and make the best of it.

Tomorrow they would go to church and pray for his safe return, but tonight, Cynthia would go to sleep alone in their bed. She looked around one more time to make sure everything was in place before creeping down the hallway to her room.

Massive Meme

So, this is a meme we're doing on the Writer's Retreat. It actually took me much longer to complete than I had expected. But, finally, here it is. More information about me than you ever wanted to know...

Three screen names that you've had
1 - Jean
2 - Kathleen
3 - TooCute

Three things you like about yourself
1 - My intelligence
2 - My sense of humor
3 - My skin

Three things you don't like about yourself
1 - My legs
2 - My sensitivity
3 - My impatience

Three parts of your heritage
1 - Wits from my dad
2 - Looks from my mom
3 - Sense of entitlement from my grandma

Three things that scare you
1 - snakes
2 - disappointing people
3 - outliving my children

Three of your everyday essentials
1 - water
2 - internet
3 - smiles from my daughter

Three things you are wearing right now
1 - jeans
2 - socks
3 - glasses

Three of your favorite songs
(I had a really hard time picking three, but here are some of my faves...)
1 - Loving Cup, by the Rolling Stones
(http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ex1nxuM1fU8)
2 - Power of Two, by the Indigo Girls
(http://youtube.com/watch?v=lQPd1RFwDgo)
3 - Experimental Film, by They Might Be Giants
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH2l0LaTi4U)

Three things you want in a relationship
1 - appreciation
2 - emotional stability
3 - physical expression of feelings

Two truths and a lie
1 - The next sentence is true
2 - The next sentence is a lie
3 - This sentence is true

Three things you can't live without
1 - oxygen
2 - food
3 - water

Three places you want to go on vacation
1 - Europe (all over)
2 - Alaskan cruise
3 - African safari

Three things you just can't do
1 - eat cauliflower
2 - make my ass be the size I want it to be
3 - find enough hours in the day to get done everything I'd like to

Three of your favorite movies
1 - Practical Magic (http://imdb.com/title/tt0120791/)
2 - Sweet Home Alabama (http://imdb.com/title/tt0256415/)
3 - X-Men (http://imdb.com/title/tt0120903/)

Three kids names
1 - Grace
2 - Ian
3 - Socrates

Three things you want to do before you die
1 - Say goodbye to the people I love.
2 - Know that the people I love will be taken care of/provided for.
3 - Be at peace with how I've lived my life.

Three celeb crushes
1 - Johnny Depp
2 - Patrick Dempsey
3 - Gina Gershon

Three of your favorite musicians
1 - Emily Saliers (of the Indigo Girls)
2 - Freddie Mercury (of Queen)
3 - Ian Anderson (of Jethro Tull)

Three physical things about the opposite sex that appeal to you
1 - shoulders
2 - smile
3 - hands

Three of your favorite hobbies
1 - scrapbooking
2 - knitting
3 - playing cards

Three of your favorite people you've known in your life
1 - my dad
2 - Jackie
3 - Donnie

Three things you really want to do badly right now
1 - Change clothes.
2 - Cuddle with my dogs.
3 - Take a nap.

Three careers you're considering/you've considered
1 - Accountant
2 - Geneticist
3 - Stay-at-home mom

Three ways that you are stereotypically a boy
1 - I don't wear makeup.
2 - I don't wear skirts.
3 - I don't understand high heels.

Three ways that you are stereotypically a girl
1 - I love to shop.
2 - I have more beauty products under my sink than I could possibly use in the next year.
3 - I'm vain about my hair.

Three people that I would like to see post this meme
1 - Gwen
2 - Dawn
3 - Nic

Thursday Thirteen - Male Artists in Concert

My Thursday Thirteen...

13 Male Artists I've seen perform live in concert... 1 - Elton John 2 - James Taylor 3 - Brad Paisley 4 - David Wilcox 5 - Santana 6 - Tim McGraw 7 - Billy Taylor 8 - Kenny Chesney 9 - REM 10 - ZZ Top 11 - Blake Shelton 12 - Derek Trucks 13 – Peter Frampton

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in other's comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Leave your link in a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Kaige's Thursday Thirteen

Word Trix's Thursday Thirteen

Adelle's Thursday Thirteen

Dawn's Thursday Thirteen

Eden's Thursday Thirteen

Gwen's Thursday Thirteen

Jennifer M's Thursday Thirteen

Jennifer S's Thursday Thirteen

Gina's Thursday Thirteen

Shelley's Thursday Thirteen

Paige's Thursday Thirteen

Tara's Thursday Thirteen

Ms. Menozzi's Thursday Thirteen

Tempest Knight's Thursday Thirteen
A. Catherine Noon's Thursday Thirteen

Staying busy...

Real life really has a way of taking over sometimes, whether you like it or not. My hours have recently increased at my job. The money is nice, but it leaves less time for my writing. I am still doing the March Flash-a-Day, trying to keep up with the daily prompts. I'm a few days behind at the moment - but I've got ideas for most of them, just have to find the time to actually sit down and write. I've got several longer stories started that I'm hoping to get back to soon. But, like with anything new, I'm just trying to adjust to my new schedule and find the balance of it all.

Wish me luck!!
~Kat

Thursday Thirteen - Female Artists in Concert

My Thursday Thirteen...

13 Female Artists I've seen perform live in concert... 1 - Indigo Girls 2 - Aimee Mann 3 - Lisa Loeb 4 - Natalie Merchant 5 - Sara Evans 6 - The Cover Girls 7 - Stevie Nix 8 - Reba McIntyre 9 - Amy Grant 10 - Sarah Harmer 11 - Regina Carter 12 - Brandi Carlile 13 - Sarah McLaughlin

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in other's comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Leave your link in a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Kaige's Thursday Thirteen

Word Trix's Thursday Thirteen

Adelle's Thursday Thirteen

Dawn's Thursday Thirteen

Eden's Thursday Thirteen

Gwen's Thursday Thirteen

Jennifer M's Thursday Thirteen

Jennifer S's Thursday Thirteen

Gina's Thursday Thirteen

Shelley's Thursday Thirteen

Paige's Thursday Thirteen

Tara's Thursday Thirteen

Ms. Menozzi's Thursday Thirteen

Tempest Knight's Thursday Thirteen
A. Catherine Noon's Thursday Thirteen

FFC - Letters & Numbers

The March topic for FFC was letters and/or numbers.

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

Flight 1580 (600 words)
By: Kathleen Oxley

"Flight 1580, service to Memphis, now boarding gate B2."

Paul had his arm around my shoulder and he squeezed, letting me know that was us. We stood up and walked toward the gate. I had my ticket in my hand, but nothing else. This trip wasn't exactly planned.

We'd driven home the day before to visit my dad in the hospital, not expecting it to be a lengthy stay. But, it hadn't turned out that way. He died within an hour of our arrival, barely enough time to say good-bye. Now we were headed home to pack a bag for the week and grab clothes suitable for the upcoming 'events'.

Paul and I boarded the plane and found our seats. I sat numbly next to the window, oblivious to everyone talking and moving around us. I stared out the window, stared at the seat in front of me, but didn't see anything. None of it mattered now. It didn't matter where I was going, who I was with, what people were saying.

The plane took off and I watched the world slowly shrink away. The view matched how I felt - detached, removed, no longer grounded on the earth.

Paul grabbed my hand in his, squeezing in reassurance. I looked at him and he smiled at me. I smiled back, but didn't feel it. He could tell, but still we went through the motions. Trying to pretend that our entire lives weren't changed forever. But, they were. Whatever we had been before, it would all be different now. I would be different. I couldn't feel much, but I felt that.

I turned to look back out the window. Blue skies and fluffy clouds filled my vision. I imagined angels in the sky, peeking over the clouds to look down at the earth. I'm not a religious person, but the notion of the ones we love sitting together in the sky looking down on us is one I just can't escape. I guess that's my way of not letting go of the people I've lost.

"Daddy," I whisper, my hand against the glass. I know he's not there, but still I can't release the feeling that if I look hard enough, I'll see him. If I can just find the right cloud, he'll peek out at me, smile at me.

Tears begin rolling down my cheeks as I stare harder, completely intent in my purpose. The rest of the plane totally falls out of my awareness. And, finally, something feels right. This feels right. The solitude, loneliness, hopelessness fits me so comfortably. I wrap it around me. The tears continue to fall and I'm alternately talking to myself and to the angels.

Memories roll through my mind. Our last Christmas together, his last breath, my favorite picture of us where we're smiling twin smiles. I think of things said and unsaid, questions unanswered.

I'm startled as Paul grabs my hand again. I open my eyes to see the airport now outside my window.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to welcome you to Memphis, where the local time is now nine fifty-five a.m."

I sigh and wipe my cheeks. Paul smiles at me again, gives me that 'I don't know what to do' look. I don't know what to do either. Except to get off the plane, go pack my bag, take the next steps one at a time. I know there's a new journey ahead of me, one I can't anticipate and don't know where it will take me. But Paul holds my hand as we take those next steps together.

I got tagged!!!

Kaige tagged me for this new meme! *hugs*

Did you ever play the game Telephone when you were a kid? It’s sometimes called Rumor or Gossip. You sit in a circle, the bigger the better.

The ring leader will tell a “secret” to one person. That person turns to the person on their left and whispers it. Each person hears the “secret” on one side and tells it on the other until it goes all the way around the circle. The last person says out loud what they were told, then the ring leader says what everyone started with. Most of the time it isn’t the same thing, and can be quite funny.

Using the power of the Internet, let’s give it a try.

I’m going to write a paragraph. Your job is to make a change. It can be as little as one word or as big as twenty words. You can change names, plot and setting, but don’t change it so much that we can’t tell how it relates to what (Alice) started with. Post your paragraph on your blog with a link to Alice’s post. She will link back to you. Then, pick three people to whom you will “whisper” your modified version. Let them know they are up next. Link to them and to the person who passed it to you (me).

Here is my paragraph for the three people I’m going to tag:

“Jocelyn and Will went up Knob Hill to find some privacy. Jocelyn fell down and knocked her crown and asked Will to kiss the owie. Will was happy to oblige Jocelyn’s innocent desire without further bruising, but his kisses weren’t enough. If he hadn’t already lost his heart to Jocelyn, he would have that night.”

I’m whispering to Gwen Mitchell, Gina Ardito and Ms Menozzi. You can still play this game even if I didn’t tag you. Anyone can play if you follow the rules. Come back in a month and see what happened to our little rumor.

~*~*~*~*~

The rules for this meme:
1. Change something in the paragraph you received; a minimum of 1 word, a maximum of 20 words.

2. Link to the post at http://aliceaudrey.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/alice-calling/ and leave a comment so we can keep track of what happens to the paragraph. Alice will link back to you.

3. Link to the person who tagged you, preferably to where ever they posted their version of the paragraph.

4. Tag three people you think might enjoy this game. Let them know they’ve been tagged. Link to them.

5. Include these rules in your post.

View Other Participants Here

Have fun!!

~Kat

Thursday Thirteen - Groups in Concert

My Thursday Thirteen...

13 Groups I've seen perform live in concert... 1 - Pink Floyd 2 - New Kids on the Block 3 - Rascal Flatts 4 - Journey 5 - Dave Matthews Band 6 - They Might Be Giants 7 - Modest Mouse 8 - Allman Brothers Band 9 - Barenaked Ladies 10 - Phish 11 - The Decemberists 12 - Solas 13 - The Monkees

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in other's comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Leave your link in a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Kaige's Thursday Thirteen

Word Trix's Thursday Thirteen

Adelle's Thursday Thirteen

Dawn's Thursday Thirteen

Gwen's Thursday Thirteen

Jennifer M's Thursday Thirteen

Jennifer S's Thursday Thirteen

Gina's Thursday Thirteen

Shelley's Thursday Thirteen

Paige's Thursday Thirteen

Tara's Thursday Thirteen

Ms. Menozzi's Thursday Thirteen

Tempest Knight's Thursday Thirteen
A. Catherine Noon's Thursday Thirteen

March FADness

I am participating in the March FADness AW Flash-a-day competition and am super-psyched about it!!

What is March FADness, you ask?

Everyday in the month of March, a prompt for a flash fiction piece will be posted here. You write a story either using the prompt or not. It's your choice.

At the end of the month, you have five days to choose your favorite story and polish it. Submit the stories, including word count and title. The stories must be previously unposted, written during the month of March, and they must be under 1000 words. The stories will be posted and then opened up for a board-wide vote. The winner will be offered a contract and publication in Coyote Wild Magazine.

Happy Flashing to everyone who's participating!!

~Kat

Back on My Feet

So, it's been a crazy week. My entire household was sick last week with the flu and a stomach bug. A bad combo, and one we're glad to finally be getting over. I didn't even have the energy to post my TT, but guess that just puts me ahead for next week.

In other news, today Oysters & Chocolate announced the winners for their 2008 Erotic Poetry Contest. Of which, I was not one. This is my first rejection so it stings a little. But, I'm moving forward. Lots of other logs in the fire to keep me busy. Not sure yet what I'm going to do with the rejected poem, but I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Being sick also pretty much screwed my writing schedule for the week - not much got done. I was running close on the two contests I was aiming for anyway, and the sickies pretty much threw me totally out of the running. So, I'll just keep tweaking away at my story and will find another place to submit it in the future.

Hope everyone else out there is staying healthy and having luck with their endeavors.

*hugs*
~Kat