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.