Raven's Challenge 52

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: Netflix, mortgage, skunk, flagrant, the New York Times, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, perpendicular, geometry, crabby, shoveling snow
Mini Challenge: pragmatic, crystal ball, laundry, safflower oil, Gregorian chants
I face another Raven's Challenge.

The Ten Word Challenge

The snow was coming down hard, and Matt Cain was becoming crabby, as he thought about shoveling snow again. His day had not gone well. His evening might also prove to be unkind. He was on call. His immediate concern was staying on the road.
There are advantages to having a nine to five job, such as sitting down and reading The New York Times, or watching a DVD from Netflix, or even reading the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.
But he did not have a nine to five job. Sometimes he would work from 7:00AM to 6:00AM. He had a well paying job, but he did have a mortgage, student loans, and car payments. Tonight he was on call, he could be called out to talk to someone thinking of ending their life.
What the job paid was not the important factor but the fact that you could help people. He enjoyed helping people, giving them back their lives. The work was slow and difficult. Some people did not want to get help. They thought they were OK. The court said that they needed help. In geometry a perpendicular line remained a perpendicular line. this is not so in mental health therapy.
Blocking his success was sometimes the agency itself. The flagrant reconstruction of the operating procedures proved harmful to both the clients and the clinicians. One day things were done one way, the next day it was done differently.
As Matt drove into his the snow covered driveway, he smelled the pungent odor of skunk. he hoped that the animal was now gone, for that driveway needed to be shoveled, and he didn't want any kind of smelly confrontation.
As he was clearing the driveway the pager went off, and it was back out into the storm to evaluate someone for possible hospitalization. Not even snow shoveling came before that.

The Mini Challenge

Sandy Shore put on a CD of Gregorian Chants, as she did her laundry. She was struggling to sort through the business of a penguin that would suddenly appear and change her life. She thought of it as bad, but this was not always the case. The fact is in most cases it was for the good. She was sure that even with a crystal ball she would not know when it would appear. Random appearances made it hard for her to be pragmatic. Would the penguin show up to disrupt her trying to eat healthy by using safflower oil in cooking?
It came time to leave the laundry and start her meal. She put in two tablespoons of safflower oil in a skillet and added chicken breasts. Her fear became realized for the penguin appeared adding brown sugar ,cinnamon apple slices and apple cider. As the chicken cooked the penguin basted it in the sauce that was forming. The penguin then vanished.
. It was a great meal but she ate alone.

Just News

I finished therapy today. I have been going for a very sore shoulder. I had difficulty dressing and doing cleaning. Putting on a seat belt was difficult for me.
Therapy has worked this time. Because of my posture I will always have trouble but with what I learned it should help strenghtening the muscles. I must keep doing it. If I feel that I can't take the pain I could get an injection.
I liked my therapist and we exchanged recipes. I got tee-shirt as a gift.
We had a storm tonight. Many in the mid-west had it. Lost the TV but not phone or internet.
Everyone in our family trying to lose weight is doing well except me. I am eating healthier, but not losing.

Quilly's Word Challenge#3

Quilly words: opprobrious abusive, offensive conduct.
quondam belonging to prior time
casuistry method of case reasoning


Matt Cain listened and waited patiently as Cori List continued her opprobrious behavior. This was no different than a quondam session. She would use casuistry to explain her choices. His job was to aid her in re framing her thinking to let her rejoin the community.

The room became silent, she leaned back in her chair, tilted her head up staring at the ceiling. Matt tried to engage her conversation to no avail. He was not sure if this was better than her quondam behavior. Her time was up, but she did not move. He was about to call for assistance in removing her, when she stood and walked calmly out the door.

He wrote up his report, and left for a meeting feeling confused. His job many times left him feeling confused.

Matt's supervisor began the meeting with a list of changes to be made. The list was long and complicated. He used his best casuistry trying to bring his employees into line. The supervisor became opprobrious toward the employees as his reasoning failed.
Matt left work hoping that tomorrow would be a better day.

Raven's Challenge 51

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: spring fever, coyote, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, birds of a feather, broken camera, artificial flavoring, cane, garage, ask and it is given, gay

Mini Challenge: glorious, sugar and spice, premature baldness, gargoyles, campaign trail

Mark, the shape-shifting alien, looked at the diverse group before him. In the very back of the group were children with spring fever. Playing games with little curiosity for what was going on. Next were reporters jostling for position, the results were for one reporter a broken camera. Then there were the armed forces with ready firepower. Last were his father and Dr Peterson. He felt like a coyote in a trap. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid were often in this position and managed to become free. Could he do the same?
What were his options? He could with his firepower kill them all, but that for him was not an option. He could he thought, as he watched the flying red horse and flying pigs go by, transform himself into some kind of flying creature, after all ,birds of a feather flock together. Then that brought up the question could he fly fast enough to avoid the sharp shooters in the armed forces?
He again surveyed the scene before him knowing he had to make a decision soon. In the back of the crowd was a small lad coming out of a garage caring a tray of drinks containing artificial flavoring, and cane sugar, and water. The lad was happy and gay as he past out the drinks,
saying "Ask and it is given." He now he saw the solution. His being a shape-shifter was of more value than his power to destroy. Everything had to have perfect timing. He transformed himself into the liquid in one of the drinks. To those waiting to capture him he was just gone in a blink of an eye. He then caused ,by rocking ,the glass to spill. He then transformed into a fly and flew away. His final transformation was into his true self, a blue glowing crystal, after he was far away from the planet to be seen.


Mini Challenge:


Alfred Flink was a politician He was handsome young man with a winning smile. He did have some premature baldness but that was a plus for it gave an allusion of maturity. Sandy Shore became one of the many workers in his campaign. She enjoyed working and it seemed a glorious time.
On the campaign trail Alfred was all sugar and spice. He wooed the people, with his
smile and seemingly concern for their problems.
Sandy had a shock, when she saw her hero not campaigning. He was rude and mean to those that were working for him. He degraded the people he was trying to win behind their backs.
She was then not sure of her course of action. She no longer wanted this man in office.
The walk leading up to the entrance of the latest hall where Alfred was to speak was lined with gargoyles. Sandy thought that with all her experience with the penguin , one of these gargoyles had come to life and it was Alfred. She really disliked that man, and she was not alone from the rumblings of other workers. They even talked about Alfred doing illegal activities.
The hall was packed. She was very busy escorting dignitaries to their seats. She did not see any one tampering with the sound system, but someone did. Alfred was introduced and he walked to the podium and began his speech. He would make a statement, and following each statement came another voice seeming to interpret his statement with his true thoughts. He tried to talk faster to over ride the other voice. He failed and soon he was booed. The friendly crowd became hostile. Looking at the podium Sandy saw the penguin dancing on the microphone.
The next day Alfred pulled out of the race, and Sandy was happy but she had to look for another candidate.

Quilly's Words no.2

Words:

Quilly offered us a chance to write a story based on three words.

This week's words are Fracas, numismatic, and perspicacious

And here is my story.

Thief Caught?

Sandy Shore was watching the evening news. The reporters were interviewing Pam about her being tied up in the old bus on the resort property. Then the scene shifted to the local jail as police officers were leading a man into the jail. They caught the man.

Sandy was surprised at who the man was. He did not look like a thug or a thief. He was dressed in suit and tie. Suddenly a fracas broke out.

The man was shouting,"I am not a thief, I am a victim."

The reporters swarmed around him.

"Who are you,"they asked.

"Hudson Carne, I am a numismatic, and with perspicacious judgment I bought a rare coin for $1,600 dollars. I had it in a safe but thieves broke into my home, and stole it and other valuables.

"The police have evidence that you were the one who tied up Pam Stream and left her to die.

"Yes I was the one who tied her up , I thought she was one of the thieves. I had hired a private detective, who found that the old bus was a hiding place for their ill gotten treasure. I watched and waited until the thieves left the bus and I went in to get back my stuff. They apparently had removed the stolen items, maybe even sold them."

The police again took over and dragged the man into the Jail.

The TV reporter said" there is more to this story folks and we will keep on it."


Sandy called Pam. "Did you see the newscast? That money we found is probably from selling the stolen items. I wonder who has the coin?
I think we will have to make a trip to the police station and talk to them.

Together

Sandy and her new friend Ellen stood looking out the window of the resort and trying to find the source of the noise of the fracas that had interrupted their conversation.

"I want to see what is going on out there,"said Sandy hastily walking towards the door.
They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the penguin and miniature elephant fighting over a very old coin. Ellen looked at Sandy shrugging her shoulders,and making the sign of crazy by circling her finger by her head.
"Not so crazy if you can see the stupid penguin as well and what's with the elephant?" Sandy said sounding offended.

"Your not crazy. The numismatics are crazy.I didn't even know that elephant liked coins."

"Do you think that others see a penguin and miniature elephant fighting over a coin or just us?"asked Sandy.

" I didn't even see the elephant until that Mully or Molly or Melli person put this gypsy curse on me because she didn't like the paint I suggested she use for her kitchen. Now I see it everywhere." exclaimed Ellen.

The coin slipped out of the hand or flipper of the penguin and went sailing towards Sandy , who reached out and caught it. " I'm keeping this until the two of you learn to get along with each other which according to my most perspicacious judgment may very well be a long time"

Sandy followed by Ellen went down the path out into the woods.They should never have come in that stupid old bus as it broke down right at the summer cottage leaving them stranded with penguin and elephant. Sandy heard a snap and a scream. There was the poor little elephant stuck in a bear trap. "oh no, You stupid elephant we have to get you out of this trap," said Sandy as she tried to free the elephant, and succeeding found the coin missing. " Okay! who has the stupid coin . You have to give it back you know."Sandy noticed a silly grin on her pesky penguin, as he scurried toward the resort leaving the ladies and the elephant standing in the dust.

Because the penguin was looking back to watch Sandy's reaction it didn't see the resort worker carrying the bucket of vegetables . The penguin hit the worker head on, and vegetables flew in all directions. You know what would go good right now ?" Sandy said to Ellen, " Penguin and Elephant stew."

"I think your right, and I can get this coin appraised," said Ellen as she proudly held up the coin. All we need now are two more bear traps.

Jeff's Photo Story

Sandy Shore had a dinner meeting with six of her friends at The Fortress at Pigeon Falls. One of her friends did not show, and had left a message to meet her at another resort some distance away. Sandy called and never got in contact with her friend Pam. Pam had not returned any of the calls. A day had passed, and Pam's friends were worried. The friends drove to Pam's home and she was not there.
Sandy and one of the friends Sidney decided to drive to The Harpers, the last place they had heard from Pam. The drive went smoothly until they were within a few miles of the resort, when the car began choking. Sandy looked at the gas gage and noticed the gas light was on. She pulled over to the side of the road. She asked herself why she did not look earlier. There were no gas station any where around. Sidney was using language none too lady like to express her frustration with Sandy. Opening the car trunk, Sandy pulled out some boots. They were not dressed for hiking through the woods but the boots should help.
How to get to the resort was the next issue. Sidney wanted to walk on the side of the road to the resort with the likelihood that someone may come along to offer a ride. Sandy wanted to get there quickly, and the quicker way would be through the woods in a straight path to the resort. Sandy won the argument, and they headed into the woods. The shortest distance between two points may be a straight line,but it is not necessarily true. They had to trudge through and over brush. Climb over trunks of downed trees with Sidney loudly and persistently complained over Sandy's choice.
As the sun was beginning to set, the resort came into view. With a scream Sandy grabbed Sidney as she was about to step on a sprung trap. The trap was covered with cobwebs, maybe it had been sitting there awhile. Lying in the trap was a piece of paper. Sandy carefully picked up the decaying piece of paper. She studied it,trying to make out a message from the faded ink.
"What is it?"asked Sidney
"I can't read it," answered Sandy.
"I say we move quickly forward to that resort, "said Sidney. Sandy put the paper into her pocket.
The front door of the lobby was finally reached. Sandy looked at their reflection in the glass door, they looked like they had been sleeping in the woods. She took a deep breath and opened the door. The lady at the desk, had a startled look, but recovered and asked if she could help them.
"In so many ways," said Sandy. "First my car ran out of gas, and I need a gas station and a ride there and to my car. Second have you seen this woman?" Sandy took Pam's picture from her wallet, and showed it to her. " Third we need a room, so I hope you have one available."
The lady replied,"To the first problem Ronney will give you transportation to the gas station. We have a room available that will take care of your third problem. The second problem about seeing the young lady Pam Stream. I saw her yesterday." The desk clerk checked the computer and said,"she has not checked out. I will call the room. There is no answer."
"Sidney you go into the bar and I will take care of the car and join you later. Maybe you can read this note in more light,"said Sandy.Sandy gave Sidney the note.
Sandy went with Ronney and Sidney went into the bar and ordered a drink. She moved to a table with light and studied the note. Sandy returned and got a drink and joined Sidney.
Sidney said," I know what it says. I hid the money in the old junky bus. "Do you know of an old bus?" Sidney asked the bartender.
"Out way back in the woods there is a junk pile, and one of the items left is an old school bus."
"Do you have a flashlight?" asked Sandy.
"Yup" He handed a flashlight to her.
"You are not really going out there at this time? You are going out looking for hidden money based on an old note? You really are crazy Sandy."
"Coming?"
They made their way to the dump based on the directions from the bartender.
They squeezed into the partially open door. Sandy shone the light, around and was surprised to
find a tied up and gagged Pam. As quickly as they could they removed the gag and untied her.
Pam sat and cried for awhile. Then she said over and over how thankful she was to see them, and she had no idea how they found her.
Pam told her story how while out walking she came across this old bus. The bus had the same number as the one they use to ride to school, so she climbed in. She was sure that this was their bus, and she found the pencil box she hid so many years ago. She was about to pull it free when she felt someone behind her. They grabbed her and tied her up, and they searched the bus. They did not find whatever they were looking for. They left her there. She was sure no one would find her, and she would die there. She turned around and reached for the pencil box. She opened it, and to all of them was the surprise of a bundle of 100 dollar bills. That was big return on a couple of marbles.

Raven's Challenge 50

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: ubiquitous, do you see what I see, getting a word in edgewise, wild goose chase, grandmother of five, Freemasons, Pacific Paradise, everything and nothing, insanity prevails

Mini Challenge: shortening the distance, it’s all about bloggers, the Fortress at Pigeon Falls, finding Pam, a raven’s nest

The news was ubiquitous. A species new to this universe with great power needed to be found and stopped. Councils of many planets and established alliances were meeting in emergency session to plan for it's capture and removal, using Dr. Peterson as advisor. Many vigilante groups were formed, and flew off on wild goose chases. The Free Masons offered a reward for the capture of a Zonic. Captain Clark attended as many of the meetings on capturing Zonics as he could on behalf of his son Mark, but many times he could not get a word in edge wise. Insanity prevailed.
The news That Mark was a Zonic did not seem to rattle Mrs. Hanson, as Mark had expected it would. Mrs Hanson only softly commented "I think you did not tell us something." "I told you everything and nothing,"Mark replied. They watched as a grandmother of five being interviewed kept saying ,"Do you see what I see?" Hoping that the reported would agree that she had found the Zonic. She was pointing to a stump, it could have been but it was not a Zonic. Another report came that there was evidence that a Zonic was found in the resort on Earth called Pacific Paradise.
Couldbe offered a perfect haven, it was remote, and on a small planet that had no influence on universe affairs. He had friends, and a mysterious tower to explore. The fact that he had been in Couldbe for awhile meant he fit in. As long as he did not do anything to draw attention to himself he probably was safe.
Mark could not rest with that thought. He would leave his father having to defend him , and not knowing that he was safe. People could be hurt or killed by ignorance of other in their search for him. Could he get news coverage and tell his story?
There was no need for contemplation, as he step out of the door he faced Dr. Peterson, and an army of officers and news media.




Mini challenge:

Sandy Shore went to The Fortress at Pigeon Falls to dine with friends. Her group of friends was seated, but Pam ,one of her friends, had not been seated and the rest of the group had not seen her. Finding Pam was Sandy's objective as she excused herself and moved toward the front door.
The door opened, and the light highlighted a female figure. Sandy quickened her steps, shortening the distance to the door. The woman was holding a rather thick book, and it was not Pam.
Sandy was embarrassed as she was about to hug the woman,and she had no idea who this lady was.
The lady hugged her and said, "Are you Sandy Shore?"
"Yes,yes I am. I thought you were someone I know, Pam Stream.
"I do not know Pam Stream, but I know about you Sandy Shore."
"You do? How do you know me?"
"We have a mutual friend, not human. He gave me this book for you."
After giving Sandy the book, the woman turned and left.
Sandy looked at the book. The book was titled A Raven's Nest. She called after the woman but she had gone out the door. Apparently the penguin was not gone out of her life. She sighed and looked to see if Pam had come in. She did not see Pam, so she took out her cell ,and gave a call to Pam. She got an answering machine saying she was at The Harpers and the girls should meet her there.
Sandy returned to the table and related what had happened. She did not say anything about the penguin. The ladies looked at the book and Mary said "It's all about bloggers." The ladies did not want to travel all the way to the Harpers but said if Sandy and Sidney wanted to go meet with Pam they would understand,but they were staying at The Fortress.
Everyone was a little upset with Pam. If she changed plans she should have let them know. Sandy and Sidney choose to stay and eat with the other ladies. Sandy called back and left a message that they were at the Fortress and were going to eat there.
Gnawing at Sandy during the meal was why had Pam changed her mind, and why did she go to
the Harpers? The Harpers was a resort out in the woods a great distance away.

To be continued on Monday.

Raven's 49

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.

Next Week's 10 Word Challenge: author, Wall Street, rage, lemons, channel changer, cookies and milk, candelabra, Pine Cone Motel, illusory, fluffer-doodle.

Upon hearing that Mark was living in Couldbe without his parents, Mrs Hanson began to take over the mother role. There was not enough room at their small home, so she arranged for a room at the Pine Cone Motel. She brought him cookies and milk in the evening. Mark was content in being mothered in his illusory shape.
Mark found that the Pine Cone Motel was unusual. Couldbe was dated but this motel looked like it was thousands of years old. A candelabra sat on a grand piano which was played by a young woman in a formal,in the evening hours. People who were not staying came and sat and listened with the guests. His room was clean and cared for. On an old fashioned TV the Universal Channel could be picked up. Using the channel changer he flipped through the channels, and everything was available.
Mrs Hanson in her usual habit, came bringing cookies and milk. Carol joined her and they would visit with Mark. Mark had grown a taste for lemons, but with the cookies and milk his newly created stomach produced, what Carol called fluffer-doodles. This evening they were watching watching TV, a talk show. They began by interviewing a broker from Earth's Wall Street. Their attention was not focused on the show, but the next guest drew Mark's full attention. He was dressed in the science officer jump suit of the Horizon. They introduced him as world renowned author , and scientist . The book he was selling was titled "Zonic Threat" Dr. Peterson related his story about his capture and torture, and his escape. He took questions from the audience. The audience was sceptical. The host of the show threw in his questions in a ridiculing manner.
"Surely Doctor you can't expect us to believe that there is a species, not humanoid, that can shape-shift,read and control minds, and mentally destroy objects from miles away? Do you have someone to verify your information? What makes you think that they have any desire to come and conquer our world?"
The questions at first irritated him, then he grew more and more angry at those who would not understand the danger they were in. He answered the last question in a rage.
"Ask Captain Clark of the Horizon. His adopted son is a Zonic. He had no control over him and he is roaming free in our universe. He can destroy every planet, and every species. His name is Mark Clark"
Mark had told the Hansons the truth about his father being a captain of the Horizon and his mother a councilor on the space ship. That he was alone in couldbe. He had not told the full truth. The truth that he was not human, but a crystal. The truth that he could shape-shift into any form. The information he had not shared now blew up in his face.
The TV was turned off, and the room fell silent.



Mini Challenge: war, wooden shoes, flabbergast, chimera, vodka martini



The rain hit the window pane hard. The wind could be heard wailing. Sandy Shore decided this would be the perfect day to look through her grandfathers old trunk, which she was storing in the storage room in the basement. Putting on a sweater to keep her comfortable in the cool damp basement, she descended the stairs.
She unlocked the trunk, and looked over the contents. There were pictures from world war two. He had brought home a pair of wooden shoes. The thing that flabbergasted her was some photos in an worn envelope. There was an article and pictures of a chimera. Along with the pictures was a photo of a penguin. Could the penguin be a chimera. That got her thinking about doing more research on chimeras, and wishing for a vodka martini.

Quilly's Word Challenge

The large room was filled with energetic people. Boxes were being filled with house hold goods, and can food items. Marta as she sorted items into the correct boxes over heard Sharon say" Isangelous Marta always gets the job done even if it seems impossible." Marta debated whether she should correct Sharon or not. She was not an angel but an individual who believed that the volgivagant should be cared for.
Prince was not a large community, but that did not prevent some self serving people from getting into office. The cynicocratical council ignored her pleas for help for the people who were harmed in the last bad storm. Shelter, and basic needs had to be met but the council did nothing. Harold Smith was the hero who provided the means for her to act.
Harold was wealthy business man. He began his grocery store by selling farmer goods at the road side. He came to own a chain of food stores. He felt he was a hard worker and deserved the nice home and the perks. He gave his employees a fair wage. There was no reason why others could not do the same.
Harold had a dream. The dream began with a storm, a tornado was traveling and in its path were his food stores. Each one was leveled. He wanted to rebuild but there was no way to receive financial aid. His holdings were being sold off and he was left homeless. He awoke and was so very glad it was a dream.
When Marta approached the council, which he was a part of, it was before the dream. After the dream Harold gathered the members and began a campaign for aid to the volgivagant. Marta provided the organization.

Super Bowl Sunday at the Linna'a

We started out the day at church. They do a rotation type of instruction at St Marks. This Sunday my daughter had the kindergarten, and no students came. So we went out and visited with people as they came in. There is a lot of illness, which may have hurt attendence.
I listen to a man tell the reason why he has lived so long. He is soon to be 90. He always walked, and did not have a car until he was thirty. He then told the story of one morning he was running on his way to work. It was still dark and a police car pulled up. The police asked him why he was running. He said he liked to run. They then asked where he was running to. He said work. They asked if he would like a ride, and he agreed. He told them where he worked and they drove him there and waited until he went inside. There had been some break ins and they were not sure about him.
The church youth were selling pies and soup to raise money for camp. I bought a lemon pie for Dr. John to have at lunch. I had put on a roast for lunch. Pat had to go back to Madison to bring his boys back to their mother. We played canasta and watched tennis until 3:30. My daughter made Whoopie Pies. They taste so very good and they only have 100 calories. They are a sandwich cookie. The two out side cookies are chocolate cake like and the center marshmellow creme. Dr John retired to the bedroom and we watched the President and Matt talk. Then came the Super Bowl. We wanted the Cardinals to win. We watched the game and had the soup I made. At the half I went and did my visiting of the blogs I had missed on Raven's Wordzzle, so I missed out on the half time entertainment.
When I came back I said to my daughter that I think we jinxed the teams we want to win. First we were for the Packers, then the Eagles and now the Cardinals. Lets I said cheer for the Steelers. That seemed to be the answer, the Cardinals caught up then went ahead and then it fell apart. I said to Pennie we were not convincing enough cheering for the Steelers. We have such power!