Category: Conversations

Conversations with Teddy & Izzie

Izzie: Ā Fascinating, isn’t it?

Teddy: Ā I suppose so.

Izzie: Ā What do you mean, ‘I suppose so’? Ā Don’t you have any curiosity in your soul? Ā Don’t you ever want to know why?

Teddy: Ā Not particularly. Ā As long as there is food in my bowl I’m pretty content.

Izzie: Ā Gawd! Ā You and your kind are the reason we aren’t the dominant species on this planet.

Teddy: Ā That’s a little stereotypical, isn’t it? Ā Just because I’m not curious about water swirling down a hole doesn’t mean I’m not curious.

Izzie: Ā It’s not just water swirling down a hole! Ā They keep the lid down so we can’t see what’s going on in there.

Teddy: Ā Maybe nothing is going on in there. Ā Maybe they just don’t want you playing in the water. Ā Mom was pretty pissed the last time you played in there. Ā You mixed our pooper stuff in the water and flicked it all over the walls and floor.

Izzie: Ā It was an experiment! Ā I told you that already!

Teddy: Ā Hey, you’re preaching to the choir here. Ā I don’t care if you want to play in it, I just don’t happen to share your curiosity.

Izzie: Ā So why does The Viking pull his thing out and put more water in there only to swirl it down the hole? Ā It just doesn’t make sense! Ā What’s the matter with peeing in sand? Ā Why sand for us but water for them?

Teddy: Ā Maybe it’s because they don’t like digging in sand. Ā Have you ever seen them dig in sand for any reason? Ā Maybe it gets under their claws and they hate it? Ā My other sister never dug either because she didn’t like sand in her claws. Ā I was the one who had to bury her poo.

Izzie: Ā Of course you were. Ā So why does Mom sit to pee but The Viking stands? Ā Wait! Ā I just had a thought! Ā What if he’s just so proud of his thingy he wants to show it to me all the time. Ā Like when I kill mice and show them to him.

Teddy: Ā Maybe. Ā I’m impressed with it. Ā He’s got me beat by a mile. Ā I’m sure he wouldn’t mind a nod or a purr of delight when he shows it to you.

Izzie:Ā  I don’t really care about that. Ā I’m more concerned with what Mom is doing. Ā She sits all the time and I have a suspicion that it’s not just because she’s humble. Ā I think she hiding something.

Teddy: Ā What would she be hiding in the water?

Izzie: Ā That’s exactly what I don’t understand. Ā She does something, puts paper on top of it and then swirls it all down the hole before I can find out what it was.

Teddy: Ā Maybe it was just some poo.

Izzie: Ā So why won’t she let me see it? Ā Why hide it if it’s just a poo?

Teddy: Ā Then what do you think it is? Ā If it’s not poo then what is it?

Izzie: Ā I’m not sure but I think it might be Treats. Ā She’s obviously trying to keep it away from us and what is the one thing that we like more than anything else?

Teddy: Ā Treats?! Ā She wouldn’t be that cruel, would she?

Izzie: Ā Who squirts you with water when you claw things you’re not supposed to claw? Ā It’s not The Viking – he just yells. Ā It’s Mom who’s trigger happy. Ā Who knows what else she’s capable of?

Teddy: Ā Noooo! Ā But I liked Mom! Ā She scratches my chin and gives me massages!

Izzie: Ā That’s how she lulls you to sleep so you don’t catch on to her nefarious treat drowning scheme.

Teddy: Ā Wait. Ā She gives us treats though. Ā When we come home when she calls, when we bug her and stare at the treat cupboard, when we do something cute……she gives us treats! Ā There has to be another explanation.

Izzie: Ā Well, I can’t think of anything else that we really like.

Teddy: Ā What if it is justĀ poo but she just doesn’t want us to see it?

Izzie: Ā Well that’s just crazy talk. Ā Why wouldn’t she want us to see that? Ā The Viking doesn’t mind. Ā I know that for a fact.

Teddy: Ā Whatever, Iz. Ā I’m going to see if there’s more food in my bowl.

Izzie: Ā There isn’t. Ā You know the schedule and it’s not time for more food.

Teddy:Ā  I’d rather be looking for food than staring in the swirling water bowl.

Izzie: Ā Go ahead. Ā But some day I’m going to figure this out and then you’ll be worshipping the ground I walk on.

 

Support a starving author and share. Ā It will make you feel good.

I Can’t Just Wing It!

April 2017

The Vikingā€™s brother and his lovely partner Annette are coming for a visit from Denmark in July.Ā  For three weeks.Ā  And Iā€™m not concerned at all.Ā  Because Iā€™m an adult and have two and a half months to prepare. Ā As a matter of fact, when I told The Viking that I was a little stressed, he said “You have two and a half months to prepare, for fucksakes!”

I shouldnā€™t be worried at all.Ā  There should be absolutely zero stress involved.Ā  Iā€™ve been the Hostess with the Mostess before; itā€™s not like Iā€™m a rookie. Ā I’ve had the Boss and his wife over for dinner. Ā It was nothing! Friends? Easy-peasy! Ā The kids? Ā No problem! Ā You know where the linens are, help yourself. Ā If the chicken was a little over-cooked, who cares, right?

This time it’s different. Ā This time it’s The Viking’s Brother, Erik! Ā And Annette! Ā They had the most amazing bed linens and meals that were perfect and hot buns and cheese and cold cuts in the morning and a beautiful home and everything was perfect! Ā Most importantly, no one was losing their fucking minds trying to be perfect.

I can’t just wing this! Ā I can’t procrastinate until 3 days before they arrive and then panic.

Today

So guess what I did?

That’s right. Ā I procrastinated my way to 16 days before their arrival. Ā And now I’mĀ LIKE THIS!

I need to be fresh and relaxed so they will feel fresh and relaxed. Ā I can’t meet them at the airport in a full-blown hot flash, reeking of Windex and Bleach.

I should hire people. Ā Professional people. Ā Waiters and Chefs and Housekeepers and couriers and a Butler. Ā I wonder if Ramsay is busy? Ā No, scratch that! Ā I can’t have him telling people to fuck off and calling them donkey’s asses while I’m trying to be perfect. Ā Jamie Oliver then. Ā Yikes! What if he serves Squid Ink Pasta! Ā I’ve written an entire blog about my feelings involving Squid Ink Pasta! Ā If only Julia Child were alive and available.

A mature, experienced woman would start by creating lists to be completed in chronological order as the date of arrival approaches. Ā But I didn’t do that. Ā Sure, I scoured the internet until I found amazing linens but that is the extent of my preparations. Ā I still have so much to do!

  • Paint the family room
  • Hang family room pictures
  • Shampoo carpets
  • Re-Side the house
  • Re-Sod the front yard
  • Build professional flower beds and plant flowers
  • Re-plant flowers because the first ones died
  • Get a Pedi-cure and my nails done
  • Cut The Viking’s hair
  • Get MY hair done
  • Buy a designer water pitcher with matching glasses for the guest room
  • Transform the Office Cubby Thingy in the spare room into a Martha Fucking Stewart creation
  • Re-hang curtain rods in spare room because I fucked up the ones in there already
  • Get a complete make over
  • Make more Poo-Pourri – we only have one bathroom after all
  • Hang The Viking’s Battle Axe and Shield on a wall so he’s not tempted to use it on me
  • Lose 30 pounds
  • Hire a Look Alike so I can hide in a closet and have panic attacks
  • Get the car detailed
  • Buy a hand gun and shoot myself in the head
  • DON’T BUY A HAND GUN!

Crazy GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

There is a bat-shit crazy squirrel in my head playing every disastrous scenario possible. Ā What if they have allergies to my laundry detergent? What if I can’t think of anything to say? Ā What if I say the wrong thing? What if they notice my stress and hate being here? Ā What if they decide to go home early because I’m a mess?

Maybe I should get some Weed. Ā If I get stoned will I be like this…..

Apple GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

or like this?

Getting On GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Probably this, because it’s me we’re talking about. Ā And this is also the reason we don’t have a big fountain in the house – I don’t need to be wasted to fall into it.

Maybe I’ll just try essential oils first. Ā Apparently lavender, rose, vetiver (whatever the fuck that is), ylang ylang, bergamot, chamomile and frankincense (I thought that was only for Jesus) are good for alleviating anxiety.

I can always go for the devil’s weed later if necessary.

 

 

Grab the Bag and Run – Friday Fictioneers

“I’m never working with you again, Mario! Ā My kid sisterĀ could do better!”

“It’s not my fault, Giovanni. Ā You picked her.” Ā Sullenly. Ā 

Sigh. Ā “She was the smallest person in the square and her man was busy with a map. Ā All you had to do was grab the bag and run. Ā I had the hard job keeping the man busy!”Ā Ā 

“Sure, she was small but she had a grip like your Mother. Ā She wouldn’t let go! Ā And she punched and kicked me, too.” Indignant.

“All that planning for nothing. Ā Not a single lira! Ā Well, come on. Ā Let’s find another mark.”

-word count: 100

Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers and for the lovely photo prompt.

To read more 100 word stories by great writers just hit the button below.

Mim’s Mine

Iā€™ve been teetering on the edge of depression for the past couple of weeks.Ā  I havenā€™t been feeling well and bills are piling up and my teeth are bothering me and Iā€™m really tired and have every reason in the world to just go to bed and not get out for a week.Ā  Of course I canā€™t get away with that which adds resentment to depression but thatā€™s life.Ā  Right?

But just when I was certain I was going down, Mim sends meĀ thisĀ on Facebook. (The rest of this post is gibberish unless you watch the quick video).

Mim: Ā  I think I’ve asked you almost all of these this year alone.

Me: Ā Ā Ā That just means you have an amazing Mom. And it also means that I have ALL the answers. You can pray to me if you want.

Mim: Ā Ooh If I rub a statue of you will it give me good luck? Or will a talisman of you keep evil away? What kind of chant do I have to utter while I pray? Oh! If I work my way up through the ranks can I wear a fancy costume like the pope!?!?

Me: Ā You just asked me 4 more questions. Yes – if you make a statue of me and rub the butt it will give you good luck AND keep evil away. I currently don’t have an official chant but now that you’ve brought it up I’ll get R&D to come up with something. If you can work your way into the higher echelons I promise to give you a very fancy costume. Do you like sequins? And what’s your feelings on mini disco balls?

From the video we moved over to a private message. Ā And so I don’t lose you, you should know that my cute little Mim is an Insulation Apprentice and is currently working on a Gas Plant site where every safety precaution is enforced. Ā Also, she’s the only female on a good sized crew.

So, the Viking comes in the house for a coffee and finds me weeping on my keyboard. Ā “What the fuck?! Ā What’s wrong?”

I suck air into my lungs. Ā “Mim!! Ā Oh my gawd!!”

I try to contain myself and read her message out loud.

“You wanna hear something funny? We have to wear personal gas monitors and I farted and it set off my monitor. Now everyone knows I farted!”

The Personal Gas Monitor vibrates, flashes and rings all at the same time!!

“Startled me at first and then I started laughing.”

The Viking laughed so hard he scared the cats! Ā So we were both weeping.

I sent Mim this….

Fart GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

“Hahahaha it wasn’t even a big fart! It was just a fluff. Just a “pff” but there’s a hole in the crotch of my coveralls and it snuck out!”

I asked what all the guys did.

“I guess they’re pretty used to setting off their own monitors so all I got was ‘ooh, somebody farted’ in a whimsical sing song voice.”

“I thought I was being all inconspicuous too cuz I knew it was going to be just a little bastard fart (a little stinker with no pop). Ā Didn’t think my stupid monitor would give me away!”

“I think the only reason I haven’t set it off before is because my other pair of coveralls don’t have a hole in the crotch. Ā Brad told me it makes him proud to have such a woman. Ā I think he was being sarcastic though.”

So I have a question that I need to ask when I have a minute. Ā Two questions now that I think about it.

  1. What are her coveralls made of that they can contain a fart? Ā Do farts accumulate in the legs and when you take them off at night a big green cloud of stink floats out? Ā Wait. Ā That kind of explains men’s locker rooms. Is all men’s apparel made of the same stuff?
  2. How do they know that an alarm on a monitor is a fart and not H2S? Ā I suppose maybe a billowy feeling in their under-carriage is a good indicator but what happens if you fart at the same time as H2S arrives?

Shit! Ā Now I’m worried. Ā I need to know stats – what are the odds? Ā See?! This is why we need science!

I was feeling better because of the laughs but now…….well……I’m right back to square one! Ā I read an article today that said intelligent people are less likely to be happy than stupid people because of blah, blah, logical conclusions, blah, blah, blah analytical thought processes blah, blahĀ serious contemplations of fact and if that article is anything to go by I’m a damned genius!

Even so, I do feel better. Ā The Viking has been cursing the Gawds lately – at the top of his extremely effective lungs – about dirt and time and junk and people and air …….

Shrek GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

……but I’m still okay. Ā I guess you lose again Life Obstacles! Ā Also, scrolling through Giphy looking for farts is enough to make anyone feel better.

But mostly, it was Mim. Ā And she’s mine.

Celebrity Meow

Hi, Iā€™m Puma Thurman reporting for The Celebrity Meow and Iā€™m here with the glamorous Izzie and her handsome brother Teddy.Ā 

Ā Ā 

These two felines were CAT-apulted into stardom from appearances on the Mrs. Completely Blog.Ā  My readers have been clamouring for news about the duo so weā€™ve managed to pin them down for an interview.

Thanks for joining us, Izzie & Teddy.

Izzie:Ā  I almost didnā€™t come but Teddy insisted.

Teddy:Ā  Well, Iā€™m happy to be here.Ā  The buffet in my dressing room was very good.Ā  Especially the Caviar.Ā  I love Caviar.

Haha!Ā  Iā€™m glad you liked it.Ā  So, itā€™s been 5 months since Teddy was rescued and moved into the Completely Viking home.Ā  Tell usā€¦..was there tension at first?

Izzie:Ā  Yes.Ā  Lots and lots of tension.

Teddy:Ā  For sure.Ā  There was tension but I believe in making friends and treating each other with love.

Thatā€™s just wonderful.Ā  It sounds like you won her over fairly quickly.

Izzie:Ā  He didnā€™t.Ā  I barely tolerate him at the best of times.

Teddy:Ā  Haha!Ā  Izzie likes to tease.Ā  Weā€™re best friends!

Oooookay.Ā  So what is your biggest Pet Peeve?

Teddy:Ā  An empty food bowl.Ā  I went hungry a lot when I was on the streets and now I canā€™t stand a bowl that isnā€™t heaping full.

And how about you, Izzie?

Izzie:Ā  Teddy.Ā  Teddy is my biggest Pet Peeve.

I can see Teddy is right about your sense of humor, Izzie.Ā  So tell me, what pet would you like to have?

Ā Teddy:Ā  Good question!Ā  Hmmmā€¦.well, I would like something that would play with me so maybe a Bearded Dragon.Ā  I love the way they run!

Izzie:Ā  A sheepā€™s skin.Ā  Itā€™s soft to lie on and I donā€™t have to play with it, share my food with it, or tolerate its smell in my litter box.

Haha!Ā  Thatā€™s funny!Ā  So whatā€™s your most prized possession?

Teddy:Ā  Iā€™ve gotta be honest, Puma.Ā  Itā€™s my food bowl.Ā  I donā€™t need much in this life but I need a good food bowl.

Izzie:Ā  My intelligence, my freedom and my ability to contemplate the meaning of existence. Ā Albert Camus said: The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion. Ā Every action I take is toward that end.

Umā€¦..well thatā€™s veryā€¦.um.ā€¦veryā€¦ā€¦deep. Ā Okay. Ā Ā Hereā€™s an easy one:Ā  what is your favorite movie?

Teddy:Ā  I like a good love story that involves food because Iā€™m all about food and love.Ā  I would have to say my favorite movie would be Chocolat with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche. Me-ee-Oww.

Izzie:Ā  Kill Bill.Ā  Both volumes.Ā  That lady takes shit from No One.

Teddy:Ā  Geez, Izzie.Ā  Couldnā€™t you pick something nice like 50 First Dates or something?

You are such a sweet guy, Teddy!Ā  What theme song would you say fits your life?

Teddy:Ā  Peter Gunn Theme.Ā  Hands down.

Izzie:Ā  These Boots are Made for Walking.Ā  Itā€™s self-explanatory.

Okay.Ā  Last question.Ā  What Super Power would you like to possess?

Teddy:Ā  It might not be a Super Power but Iā€™ve always wanted Opposable Thumbs, Puma.Ā  I could get those treats Mom hides in the cupboard. Ā I could get into the bedroom at night so I could sleep on the bed.Ā  Yeah.Ā  Opposable Thumbs.

Izzie:Ā  I would want the power to increase or decrease my size at will.Ā  No one would fuck with me if I was the size of a small elephant.Ā  There would be no more of this picking me up and kissing me crap, Iā€™ll tell you that!Ā  Ā Iā€™d have claws like Wolverine.

Well, thank you so much for your time.Ā  Itā€™s been a real thrill to interview you both and Iā€™m sure my Readers will love it.

Okay boys!Ā  Letā€™s blow this popsicle stand!Ā  Thereā€™s a warm bowl of cream with my name on it somewhere.

Teddy:Ā  You knowā€¦.it wouldnā€™t hurt you to be a little nicer.Ā  Kill Bill?Ā  Really?

Izzie:Ā  Pfft!Ā  I just have no tolerance for bullshit and Puma Thurman is full of it.

Teddy:Ā  And Iā€™m your biggest pet peeve?Ā  I thought people who touch your tail was your biggest pet peeve.

Izzie:Ā  That was before you ate the food I was saving for a bedtime snack.

Teddy:Ā  OH, COME ON!!Ā  That was 3 weeks ago!

Izzie:Ā  Revenge is best served cold.Ā  Havenā€™t you heard that before?

Teddy:Ā  When we get home you are going to get the biggest licking ever!

Izzie:Ā  Donā€™t threaten me!Ā  I hate the lickings.

Teddy:Ā  I know. Ā That’s why I put you in a headlock first.

Izzie:Ā  Whatever.Ā  Whereā€™s Mom?Ā  She owes me treats for doing this.

Is it dangerous?

It’s time for Friday Fictioneers. Ā Tell a story based on the picture below in 100 words or less.

 

ā€œJust a peek for now, we canā€™t risk being seen.Ā  Poor Jacques learned that the hard way.ā€

Pascalā€™s eyes grew round.Ā  ā€œIs it dangerous?ā€

ā€œNot if you know what youā€™re doing.”Ā  Louis boasted.Ā  “Relax! Ā Iā€™m the best!ā€

ā€œUmā€¦ā€¦okay.ā€Ā  Hesitantly, not totally convinced.

Louis grinned mischievously.Ā  ā€œYouā€™re not in the country anymore, cousin.Ā  This is the city – you can find anything you want!ā€

ā€œIs there cheese?Ā  I love cheese.ā€

ā€œOnly about 10 different kinds!ā€

ā€œAnd toast?Ā  Toast is wonderful.ā€Ā  Pascalā€™s tummy rumbled.

ā€œLetā€™s grab a nap now so we can eat all night!ā€ Louis said, his whiskers dancing in anticipation.Ā 

-100 words

Special thanks toĀ Roger Bultot for the cool photo and to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers.

For more short stories, click the button below.

An Alien Broke the Car – Friday Fictioneers

ā€œCHERYL!!ā€

She looked at the clock ā€“ heā€™s right on time.

He was standing beside the car, hands on hips, a fleck of foam at the corner of his mouth.Ā  ā€œWhat the hell happened?!ā€

ā€œHappened?ā€

ā€œTHE CAR!Ā  THE MIRROR!!ā€Ā  Steve jabbed violently toward the side mirror.

She had considered pleading ignorance but the broken, dangling mirror was hard to miss, or going on the offensive, blaming him, but for that to work she should be the one hollering and pointing.

She settled for, ā€œOh, that?Ā  Well, it all started when I went for groceries and an alien spacecraft landed in theā€¦ā€¦ā€

 

 

Huge thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers and for this week’s photo prompt.
Like this? Ā Find more wonderful 100-word stories here:

What Do You Mean Itā€™s Not Your Birthday?

Hey!Ā  How are you?Ā  Itā€™s been a couple of weeks since we last had coffee.Ā  I couldnā€™t get my shit together last week which is nothing new to those who know me.Ā  I start one thing, get interrupted with something more important, get side tracked and then forget where I was with the first thing. Ā My mind isnā€™t an orderly, organized mind.Ā  Itā€™s a mass of jumping beans dancing to a Mariachi Band.

On Friday, I planned a Happy Birthday phone call to my Father.Ā  Heā€™s a busy man, always gadding about, bullshitting with friends:Ā  coffee at A&W, crib at the Seniorā€™s Center, lunch with friends, bowling, curling and other sundry events.Ā  My call was timed for 1:30pm which should be after lunch but before naptime.Ā  I missed that deadline (surprise!) becauseā€¦.wellā€¦.shit happens around here; it was almost 2:00 when I called, but at least I hadnā€™t forgotten altogether.

Dad:Ā  Hello?

Me:Ā  Hey Dad!Ā  Happy Birthday!

Dad:Ā  What?

Me (louder):Ā  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Dad:Ā  Well, thanks, Lor.Ā  Even if it is 4 days early.

Me:Ā  What?

Dad (louder):Ā  ITā€™S NOT MY BIRTHDAY!

Itā€™s sad when a parent starts going downhill.Ā  Theyā€™ve always been the strong, wise person you can depend on no matter what happens. Ā I guess age has finally caught up with the old guy.

Me:Ā  Of course itā€™s your Birthday, Dad.

Dad:Ā  It is not!

Me:Ā  Dad!Ā  Itā€™s the 5th of May!Ā  Your birthday!

Wait.Ā  5th of May?Ā  Thatā€™s not right.Ā  Whoā€™s birthday is on a 5th?

Gawd Dammit!!!Ā  My older sister is born on March 5th!Ā  Dad is on May 9th!Ā  Fuuuuuuuuuck!!

I started to laugh.Ā  What else can I do, right?

Dad:Ā  The bastards moved my Birthday, hey?Ā  Maybe I should call you on March 29th next year.

Me:Ā  Hahahaha!Ā  You can if you like.

He shouldnā€™t have been surprised.Ā  I find calendars challenging and itā€™s not a new thing.Ā  Birthdays, holidays, special days, week days, weekendsā€¦ā€¦it clutters up my chaos.Ā  And thereā€™s no rhythm to most of them.Ā  Easter can fall anywhere from the end of March to the middle of April.Ā  How am I supposed to work with that?

And Birthdays!Ā  Gawd!Ā  Everyone has to have one!Ā  Canā€™t we just schedule the 15th of every month to celebrate Birthdays?Ā  Bakeries wouldnā€™t have to be baking damned cakes every dayā€¦..they could just make a whole shitload on the 14th.Ā  The staff at Swiss Chalet could just hire a few local singers to stand in a corner annoying everyone all at the same time.Ā  No need to embarrass the staff and force them to hold Sparklers which may or may not light their hair on fire.Ā  They could have a 6:00pm song and an 8:00pm song.Ā  Done!

Motherā€™s Day & Fatherā€™s Day ā€“ why canā€™t these days be celebrated on the same day?Ā  All the women can go to a Brunch Buffet and all the Fathers can gather at a Sports Bar for beer and chicken wings. Ā Or vice versa – this isn’t a stereotype exercise. Ā Mothers in the morning, Fathers in the afternoon.Ā  Done!

We also have Remembrance Day, Labour Day, St. Patrickā€™s Day, Canada Day (4th of July for my American friends), Valentineā€™s Day, Groundhog Day, Family Day, Naked Gardening Day and Thanksgiving and thatā€™s just the main days I have to keep track of.Ā  Who planned this mess?Ā  Canā€™t we just designate the 1st weekend in every month a Special Whatever Day and give everyone the Friday and the Monday off work?

And letā€™s make a law about commercialization.Ā  I walk into the grocery store on the 16th of February to find an explosion of Easter shit.Ā  I think ā€œHOLY SHIT!!Ā  Is it Easter already?Ā  Cripes!Ā  I donā€™t have a plan!Ā  I donā€™t have a turkey or ham!ā€ Ā My blood pressure skyrockets and I feel faint.

Last year they were hanging Halloweā€™en costumes beside Santa suits.Ā  Thatā€™s just wrong on so many levels itā€™s hard to pick just one beef.Ā  Theyā€™re killing me with conflicting messages.

As for Dadā€™s Birthdayā€¦..wellā€¦.he might be irritated but heā€™ll get over it.Ā  If it makes him feel better to do unto me what I have done unto him, itā€™s all good.Ā  I totally deserve it for being such a useless User of Calendars.Ā  And if he forgets to call on my birthday I probably wonā€™t even notice because Iā€™ll be in a panic about Easter.

So how has your last couple of weeks been?Ā  Anything new and exciting?Ā  Spill!

 

As always, a special thanks to Part-Time Monster for Weekend Coffee Share and Nerd in the Brain for hosting.Ā  You rock.

Steve & Cheryl – Lost Again!

It’s been a blah week for me. Ā I can’t seem to get enough sleep. Ā Usually my pain meds knock me right out – I wouldn’t hear a bomb go off – but lately I’m waking up 2 or three times every night. Ā And it’s hard to be creative when I’m a zombie.

Actually, if I were a real Zombie, I could probably make a fortune in movie deals. Ā That’s the only kind of movie they make anymore, isn’t it? Ā TV series are even worse.

So, I’m glad I have Friday Fictioneers & Rochelle Wisoff-Fields to help with the creative juices. Ā And Sandra Cook’s photo made it easy for me. Two years ago, The Viking and I spent 7 wonderful weeks driving through Europe. Ā I kept a journal of our adventures which I will write out into a full Travel Book soon-ish but, in the meantime, I poached a typical moment for Friday Fictioneers.

Steve & Cheryl – Lost Again!

ā€œFor Gawdsakes, Cheryl!!Ā  Thatā€™s our hotel!Ā  Weā€™re right back where we started!ā€

Cheryl looked from the hotel to the map.Ā  Once, twice, three times.Ā  ā€œI donā€™t understand.Ā  The Cathedral should be here!ā€

ā€œAre you holding the map upside down?ā€

ā€œNo, Steve, Iā€™m not!Ā  Itā€™s all these twisty streets and palazzos every second block!Ā  And why wonā€™t they put proper street signs up?!Ā  How am I supposed to know where we are without street signs?!Ā  Aaaagh!!ā€Ā  She hit the map with the back of her hand and it ripped in half.

ā€œOkay.Ā  Calm down.Ā  Letā€™s get a coffee and start again.ā€

Word count: Ā 100

To read other 100-word stories, click the link below and have fun! Ā There are some great writers here!

Competitive Sleeping

Hey!Ā  Nice to see you again.Ā  I missed last weekendā€™s Coffee Share because I was busy watching The Viking electrocute himself.Ā  Happily, despite fiddling with wires that should have been full of electricity, he is still alive and grumbling.

But enough of that.Ā  How are you doing? Ā Is life treating you good?Ā  Help yourself to coffee and tiny Pecan Tarts that were made for Dwarfs, or maybe Elves or possibly Leprechauns.Ā  Iā€™m just guessing but I think they were meant to be ā€˜Bite Sizedā€™ but they arenā€™t.Ā  They are, at a bare minimum, two bites but are actually an awkward three bites where the last bite crumbles in your hand and you end up having to suck the crumbs out of your palm like a Hoover.Ā  Itā€™s not elegant but it is amusing to watch guests try to be polite.

My week was fairly dull, and by dull I mean boring.Ā  Nothing much happened.Ā  Until this morning.Ā  And then it happened before I even got out of bed.

No.Ā  Not that.

We stayed up too late last night so this morning when the Cat Alarm went off at 8:30 I was completely unprepared to get up.Ā  So I shouted ā€œIZZIE!!Ā  SHUT UP!ā€ which seemed to work for about two and a half minutes.Ā  There were several more shouted threats and curses and a giggle from The Viking who apparently found all this amusing.

There was the inevitable tipping point though.Ā  That moment when I didnā€™t immediately fall back to sleep immediately after threatening death and dismemberment.Ā  And thatā€™s the moment when Competitive Sleeping happened.

Me:Ā  I should get up and make the coffee.

Me:Ā  Heā€™s awake.Ā  Heā€™ll get up any moment.

Me:Ā  He was up later than I was.

Me:Ā  Thatā€™s not my fault.Ā  He made his choice.

Me:Ā  Actually, I think he was trying to fix something with the Kodi Box.

Me:Ā  He loves doing that.Ā  Itā€™s like play time for him.

Me: Ā Iā€™m pretty sure he wasnā€™t enjoying himself.

Me:Ā  How would you know?Ā  You were asleep.Ā  He might have been Naked Break Dancing for all you know.

Me:Ā  Come on, now.Ā  He would never do that.Ā  He was trying to fix it so tomorrow I wouldnā€™t have to wait while he tried finding an available stream for a half hour.Ā  Thatā€™s how he shows his love.

Me:Ā  Pfft!Ā  He was probably watching porn.

Me:Ā  He doesnā€™t need to watch porn!Ā  Geez!Ā  Where do you come up with this shit?!

Me:Ā  Iā€™m just saying.

Me:Ā  Donā€™t.Ā  Just donā€™t.Ā  Iā€™ll get up and let him sleep in.

Me:Ā  WAIT!Ā  Heā€™s moving!Ā  Maybe he is getting up and will make the coffee.Ā  Wouldnā€™t that be awesome?Ā 

Me:Ā  Yes, that would be awesome but heā€™s not moving anymore.Ā  He went back to sleep.

Me:Ā  So wiggle around a little bit!Ā  Snore!Ā  Then heā€™ll think youā€™re sleeping.

Me:Ā  But Iā€™m not sleeping anymore.

Me:Ā  He doesnā€™t know that for sure! Ā A little snore would convince him heā€™s more awake than you are.

Me:Ā  Do you even remember last weekend when he got up early and went out to buy fresh buns and cheese and doughnuts?Ā  Getting up and making coffee is the least I could do.

Me:Ā  Well, if youā€™re going to bring up every obsolete act of kindness every time you want to be selfish, I canā€™t see any point of me even being here.

Me:Ā  That might be construed as a good thing, you know.

Me:Ā  So you want to get up?Ā  Ā Ā 

Me:Ā  No!Ā  Of course not!Ā  But someone has to make coffee and Iā€™m the first one awake.

Me:Ā  Heā€™s awake ā€“ probably more awake than you are!Ā  Do you hear any snoring?Ā  Then he isnā€™t sleeping and if youā€™d just make a few sleeping noises, heā€™ll goĀ make the coffee!

Me:Ā  Iā€™m getting up! Ā I need coffee if I have to keep arguing with you!

Me:Ā  Well, youā€™ll have to do the dishes too because you didnā€™t do them last night.Ā  Still want to get out of bed first?

Me:Ā  Bah!Ā  I forgot about that.Ā  Thereā€™s every chance that heā€™ll just make the coffee and Iā€™ll have to do the dishes myself anyway.

Me:Ā  But!Ā  Youā€™ll have coffee ready for you.

Me:Ā  Iā€™ll just do the dishes while Iā€™m waiting for the coffee to brew.

Me:Ā  You are such a pussy!Ā  I want to stay in bed!Ā  Gawd!Ā 

Me:Ā  Stop being so melodramatic.Ā  Youā€™re just getting out of bed, not inventing the wheel you know.

Me:Ā  Youā€™re not going to wear that are you?Ā  It makes you look fat.

Me:Ā  Youā€™re just cranky because I wonā€™t stay in bed.Ā  You loved this shirt last week.

Me:Ā  Ā Well, I had more sleep last week.

I consoled myself by committing to a nap this afternoon.Ā  I love Saturday afternoon naps when I can curl up in my happy place and spend time with just me.Ā  Sure, itā€™s a weird place sometimes but thatā€™s okay, nobody needs to know.

Thanks, as always, to Nerd in the Brain for hosting Weekend Coffee Share and Part-Time Monster for inventing it.