Yearly Archives: 2012

Donny’s Pawn Shop

Posted on by February 25, 2020

“Three hundred dollars? But the chain is worth a thousand!” Mrs. Gordon tugged at her coat sleeves.

Donny said, “If you’ve got a buyer, go elsewhere.” He stood back from the counter.

Mrs. Gordon leaned in. “You’re offering me less than a third of its appraised value.”

“I’ll be able to sell it for barely half. This isn’t Tiffany’s.”

“That kind of casuistry is exactly what’s wrong with this country.”

“Take it or leave it.”

Mrs. Gordon laid her hand on the chain but didn’t pick it up. Finally, quietly, she said, “I don’t have much choice, you thriftless bastard.”

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I’m SO HAPPY.… Read the rest

Uprinting Business Card Giveaway (Abridged Moby Dick)

Posted on by February 25, 2020

Today,  I’m using a rafflecopter link to give away an order of Uprinting.com’s  business cards. As I said yesterday, this is a prize worthy of any blogger or writer. Or, come to think of it, literary character. These cards aren’t so non-standard that they’ll be hard to hold or store in a card container. But they aren’t just squares, either. They’ll stand out when presented at conferences to colleagues, agents, editors, and, hey, potential sponsors.

There are five styles, illustrated below. You can customize what information appears on the card and where you put it. You can also include images from your computer.… Read the rest

SITS Girls Spring Fling

Posted on by February 25, 2020

Welcome to the Jester Queen for a second time this Monday. Sorry, I couldn’t leave the first post up on the front page for very long. And I have some exciting news to replace the Monday blues. Starting tomorrow, the Jester Queen is holding her first ever giveaway. I don’t anticipate transforming my blog into a different kind of place. I’m just adding some fun to the mix. Is it advertising? Yeah. It is. But it’s FUN.  I heavily weighed this. And I ultimately decided in favor of it.

I will never write content that is less than honest. (Yes, I know.… Read the rest

Thank God For the Fireflies

Posted on by February 25, 2020

The super moon has turned Sam into a super monster. Seriously. He’s been on a rampage today. He isn’t normally all that talkative, but today? It’s been nonstop words. We took him to the zoo this morning, and I swear to God he woke up every snake in the reptile house bellowing “HERE I AM,” as he ran in the door.

When we got home, we tried to slow things down with a viewing of Wall-E. Scott and I enjoyed the movie. What little we saw of it between “hug attacks” and “What’s that?” bombardment. (NB: This is a kid who can follow Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen so I know he’s full of piss and vinegar when he claims to be unclear about a Pixar plot.… Read the rest

Take care you lie well

Posted on by February 25, 2020

 

Engine thunder preceded the motorcycles. One, two, three, the machines curved into the lot.  The first rider, a big man in a leather coat, unholstered a pistol as he jammed down his kickstand. He took a small glass vial out of his breast pocket.

 

“I warned him.”

 

“True.” The second rider took the vial, sniffed it, then sniffed the air.  “Go up the back. Watch out for Flori.”

 

Upstairs, a young woman not much larger than a child stepped out of a door.  Flori said, “Cal’s down here.” When none of the riders moved, she said to the group’s lone woman, “Leave the men to mind the hall.… Read the rest

Guesting at Cameron D. Garriepy’s Story Circle

Posted on by April 27, 2020

Good morning, everyone. I couldn’t stand to leave the letter to Fudge on the front page more than a few hours. Fortunately, I didn’t have to! I have a guest post up today. I’m starting the May Story Circle over at Cameron D. Garriepy’s web home.

I can’t even begin to say how thrilled I am. I first read something of Cameron’s when she posted a Linky over at Write on Edge. Proving that I live under a ROCK, I didn’t realize that she is one of the Write on Edge site editors for several weeks after that. What I did realize was that this woman is a writer.… Read the rest

A letter to my dog, who is dying

Posted on by February 25, 2020

 

Dear Fudge,

Thank you for eating today’s hot dog. You’ve bought us all twelve more hours until the inevitable. And maybe twelve more after that, if you’ll let me feed you another. This morning, when it took two of us to guide you to the door, and still your legs splayed out four times, I thought we had run out of time. But you revived. Found your footing. Ate the hot dog. The walking, at least, would be simpler if you stayed on the carpet or your bed.

You are old. Eleven. You have dysplasia in front and back. And yet, you will sleep on the hardwood.… Read the rest

The Jester is Temporarily unavailable

Posted on by May 2, 2012

Sorry folks — I’ve picked up a computer virus. The machine is in the fixing stages. Should be back to normal tomorrow.
… Read the rest

A week in pictures

Posted on by February 25, 2020

So, the last time you heard from them, our caterpillars had just arrived. They came with a note that said they would start to form chrysalides (John Wyndham fans kindly note the extra ‘e’) in five to seven days. Clearly, somebody informed these guys of the meaning of “make them wait in anticipation”.

To remind you, here was day 1:

Not the greatest picture, but I’m sorry to say none of them with my big camera have been. (Aside. Scott, I know we never exchange whatever day gifts. BUT. If you were so inclined, a fisheye lens for my rebel would be just the perfect mother’s day gift.)… Read the rest

The Summoning

Posted on by February 25, 2020

This weekend, those madcap editors at Trifecta want us to write the same exact scene from three different viewpoints, each only 33 words long.  So. This scene follows several hours after this one, from another extremely short Trifextra prompt.

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“Remove the cats!” I shrieked. “By the third thunder, the demon box should be empty until I finish the casting!” I raced to finish chalking the sigil that would keep the monster trapped.

When the demon arose choking and spluttering, the child and I dashed around the wizard’s studio madly gathering kittens. But the mama cat arched her back and hissed, ready to battle her foe.… Read the rest