A Health Update…

I think that I could most likely write a book over my recent visits, yes more than one, to the local hospital. There were moments of hysterical laughter, with some good natured nurses, aides and Dr.’s. There were moments of sheer terror of all the needles. So far, so good. One day at a time.

The list of things wrong with me kept getting bigger, so did the list of medications and their lovely side effects. Do you remember the lyrics to the song from decades ago entitled “Go Ask Alice?” Same name and performed by Jefferson Airplane. I am reminded of the line, “One pill makes you larger…”

Boy, did it! This one pill gave to me about twenty pounds in a week.

Fat feet and legs

Remember that post I did a while ago and there was that question of “Can you imagine getting sick at the airport and having the terminal Dr. wait on you?” I forgot to include “Why is it that we see Dr.’s that just practice medicine?” I think I met a few that still just practice.

Some of the patients whom I shared the rooms with were great, and others not so. Miss you Janet!

I am now 8 days into radiation, 2 days of chemo, and I think I am pretty good so far. The side effects could be worse, and I knock on wood that are not. While I have wanted to write for this blog, I have had to put it off and have just worked on the Mondays Finish the Story blog.

Arnold said in one of his movies, one of the Terminator movies, “I’ll be back.” I will be with some updates every now and then.

Be well… ^..^

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The Rig – Sunday Photo Fiction

Rig – Photo by Alastair Forbes

Upon looking at the big rig, the front part of a semi-truck, which is to be the subject of this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction challenge, thoughts brewed through Barb’s mind. “How does this photo inspire me?” A series of questions came to mind.

Why do they call them semi-trucks?

What do they deliver in semi-trucks? Occasional furniture.

What do they call occasional furniture the rest of the time?

Why do we call it a hamburger when it is made of beef?

Can you imagine getting sick at the airport and having the terminal Dr. treat you?

If cannibals ate clowns, would they taste funny?

Aren’t all babies new?

Why do Dr.’s practice medicine?

Looking again at the rig, I realize that for today, this is as good as it gets.

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Thank you Al for the photo and for hosting Sunday Photo Fiction. And to you dear reader, I thank you for stopping by today. Be well…. ^..^

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The Gamberetto – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you write a story using between 100-150 words and that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. The opening line of the challenge is in bold and italics. Here is my story.

Photo taken of an old photo in 2014 Barbara W. Beacham

The family had no idea that little Luigi would grow up to be not only a well known cheese artisan, but also shortest mob boss on record. For years, the kids teased him calling “Gamberetto.”

From outward appearances, Luigi was just a regular guy who had a passion for making string cheese. He had a store on Fordham Road in New York. Cheeses hung from hooks in the window, and the smell of the cheese shop drew people in by droves. Samples were always available to anyone who wandered in.

Where the operations took place was, of course, in the back. Hidden underneath one of the workbenches, if you stepped on a particular brick on the floor of the cheese making area, a door swung open revealing a huge office. This is where Luigi’s conducted the family business. Little did anyone know that the Luigi the Gamberetto, or shrimp, was also the big cheese.

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Mondays Finish the Story

I hope that you enjoyed my little bit of flash. 😀

You too can take part in this weekly challenge.  Get creative!  I challenge you!  To get to the challenge click HERE!

Thanks for dropping by today and be well… ^..^

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Time – Sunday Photo Fiction

It has been a while since I have written for the Sunday Photo Fiction, and I am ready to start getting back into the swing of things. Here is the photo prompt for this week and my story entitled “Time.”

Watch – Photo by Alastair Forbes

As soon as he finished whispering into the watch, he looked up and noticed that the world shifted. The air in the park smelled fresher, and the walkways were free of litter. No sounds of the 21st century existed here. Women adorned in long Victorian dress held onto the arms of men properly attired in suits. They strolled arm in arm. Jeremy looked down at what he was wearing and was happy to discover that he blended in.

He was giddy with joy because his invention worked. He did need to keep it concealed because no one in the 1870’s wore anything of its kind. With the camera hidden in the upper pocket of his waistcoat and the wire hanging down to his side, he snapped off photos.

Jeremy noticed a younger man watching him. Turning quickly he walked the other way and looking back he realized that the man was following him. He ducked into a courtyard of one of the many buildings and hid. Taking a deep breath, he pulled up the sleeve on the jacket and began whispering into the watch.

It was then the man grabbed his wrist.  And, they both fell into the future.

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Thank you to Alastair Forbes for hosting this delightful challenge, and to you too dear reader for taking the time to stop on by! Have an amazing week and be well… ^..^

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Today Was a Good Day – WP Photo Challenge

Hello my dear readers. I have been absent for far too long and have missed posting to this blog. Illness crept around the corner, grabbed my by the lungs, squeezed me, and landed me in the hospital, where I still am today. I managed to contract an odd variety of pneumonia. Never had this before and do not ever want to have this again either. Today, I am actually feeling a lot better and felt like creating a post.

The challenge for today’s WordPress Photo Challenge, Cheri has chosen the topic “Today was a good day.” Because I am stuck indoors, with a tiny window allowing me to see the tops of pine trees, I decided that I would share some favorite photos with you of what I would much rather be seeing. This will make my day a good day.

Seeing my dog Astro.

Astro

My cats….

Madison.

Missing Ms. Madison

Toby.

Toby

Scrappy and Toby.

Is it OK if we play with this box?

I would include my husband in these photos but I do get to see him every day when he visits.

I have missed you all! I am not sure how I will be feeling tomorrow, and if I can do it I will post again tomorrow. You take care and be well. Thank you for stopping by! ^..^

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Snow in July – Friday Fictioneers

Snow in July – Photo by Dee Lovering

Snow in July? I guess anything is possible. I put on some winter clothes and headed to the park.

I grabbed a hot chocolate and went inside the pavilion. Sitting on a bench, I looked at the happy faces of the children on the merry-go-round. They always make me smile.

After sitting for a good hour, I put my mittens back on and headed for home. I turned on the news. “Scientists today are giving us a bit of alarming news. Climatologist Dr. Radovich of NOAA reports that the earth is heading for an ice age.”

So much for global warming.

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Thank you Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and to Dee Lovering for the photo that inspired this story. And, thank you dear reader for taking the time to stop on by for a quick read. Have a fantastic day!

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An Odd Job – Sunday Photo Fiction

Today I am taking part in Sunday Photo Fiction hosted by Alastair Forbes. This is a flash fiction challenge where you use the photo prompt provided and write a story that goes with the photo. The challenge requires the writer to create a story using about 200 words. Here is the photo and my story entitled “An Odd Job.”

As the sun sets – Photo by Alastair Forbes

The sun was low on the western horizon. I watched and waited patiently for it to dip below the horizon. Soon she would be awake.

I am a caretaker of one of the walking dead. It was an unusual job to say the least. I work from dusk to dawn. I prepare meals, enjoy the nightlife, and I travel. It’s a blast!

The vamp that I take care of, Arminell, is a real beauty. It was in the 1600’s at the young age of 17, when she was turned. She has raven hair, flawless skin, and eyes the color of the sky. I was lucky because even though I work for her, she is my friend. Other caretakers are not so lucky.

Ah, there she is. “Good evening Sally,” she says in greeting. She is wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt, her hair in a French braid. “What are we going to do today?”

“Let me get you something to eat, then let’s hit the city.”

“Splendid! What’s on the menu?”

I have created a food bank, you see. It works perfectly. Folks think they’re auditioning for a new stage play. “How about starting with a spicy Spaniard, and finishing with a cool Norwegian?”

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Sunday Photo Fiction

Thank you Al for the amazing photo that inspired my story. And, to you dear reader, thank you for taking the time to stop by for a quick read. Have an amazing day and be well. ^..^

 

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Let’s Have Some Fun with Spam!

Every blogger out there is bombarded with Spam. Some person writes scripts for these folks and they comment on a photo that has nothing to do with their comment. So, let’s take a moment to laugh at how ridiculous these can be, shall we?

First will be the photo from the blog I wrote, then a random comment. I do have a disclaimer to this post, just in case someone might think that I am naming them or their content. It is this:

“This post is a work of FICTION. Names, characters and incidents are the product of this author’s imagination, or is used in a fictitious manner. Actual resemblances to actual persons or businesses living or dead, or actual events are purely coincidental.”

Now for the photos and the spammers comments.

Repel from here

The comment for the photo above: “The text in your article seem to be running off the screen in Opera.”

Wild Weekly Challenge #4 Award!

And the comment is: “proЬɑЬly it is tɦe very first toսcɦ սpon yoսr ѡeЬ site, inɑdvertently…” That makes sense doesn’t it?

Pre-cooked hot Italian sausage

And the comment is: “Ridiculous story there. What happened after?” What?

A developing strawberry

And the comment is: “They were on hand to see and support Barack and Hillary.” This one has me scratching my head. How about you?

I am green with envy!

The spammer says: “Life in the Foothills is the most effective.”  Most effective what?

What caught my eye

Now, does this one make sense? “Your post shows other health benefits of viagra.”  Hmmm…maybe they need to take a class to learn about anatomy.

All I have to say to the spammers is this:  Really?  And, thanks for the laughs!

Enjoy your day, and thank you for stopping by.  Be well…   ^..^

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The Biosphere – Mondays Finish the Story

It is Monday again, and this is the day I devote to the other blog that I write, which is the Mondays Finish the Story flash fiction challenge. This challenge gives an opening line to a story that the writer must use and that they write a story that goes along with the photo. The word limit is 100-150 words, not including the opening line. Here is my contribution to this week’s challenge. The opening sentence is in bold and italicized letters.

The Biosphere – Photo by Barbara W. Beacham

“At first, it looked like an ordinary marble, but it was far from it.” They saw it from a distance. They continued on heading to the biosphere. It had been there now for 45 years.

“Are those fractures?” asked McClary.

“I don’t know,” replied Smith.

They got to the biosphere and circled it looking for a way in. The surface did look fractured.

“Where is the door?” Smith asked.

“Over here.”

Gaining access, they went through the locks. Not knowing what they would find inside, they left their suits on. As they walked through the last lock, they saw the hydroponic garden. Fish tanks were bubbling, and cows looked up at them.

Heading into the building, they found themselves in the dining hall. The people turned to see who was coming in.

Smith and McClary were surprised to see humans and greys eating pizza, drinking either wine or milk, while a band played music in the background.

“Welcome!” they both heard in their heads.

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I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash. Thanks go out to Eric from Momus News for helping out this week with the opening line for the challenge. If you would like to take part in this fun and unique flash fiction challenge, then just click HERE!

Thanks for dropping by and have a magnificent Monday! Be well… ^..^

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Memorialized – Friday Fictioneers

Memorialized – Photo by Douglas M MacIlroy

He had found a rift in the time continuum, which allowed him to travel back through history. Dressed in scuba gear, he jumped through the rift.

Light as a feather, he found himself floating in the sea. Whooshing towards him was a huge creature. It slowed as it got near. John was dog paddling. The Plesiosauria leaned forward as if smelling him. He reached out his hand. The nose of the creature touched his hand. He stroked her face. What a thrill!

When John came back to the present day, he created a sculpture to memorialize his unique encounter.

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Thank you to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting Friday Fictioneers, and to Douglas MacIlroy for the photo that inspired my short story!

And, thank you dear reader for taking the time to drop by for a quick read. I hope that you have a terrific Thursday. Be well…. ^..^

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