998 vs. 915

Source

Halloween was over, the chocolate candy consumed, and empty wrappers told the tale.

Only the good stuff was eaten, leaving mini-Lollipops, generic copies and Jolly Rogers in candy collecting containers. The order had been given to toss the losers away.

The challenge began when ten-year old Lily handed me a Cherry Mini-Lollipop, and kept the grape for herself.  “How many licks will it take to get to the chocolate center?”

We both looked at the candy on a stick, judged how small the round candy was, and made predictions.  Me: 75, Lily: 50.  How long would this competition take?  Me: 30 minutes, Lily (bravado of a 10 year old): 20 minutes, for sure.

Ready, steady, GO!

20 minutes in, I had done 120 (cherry). And Lily was up to 100.

25 minutes in, I was up to 200, and Lily was leading with 220.

30 minutes in, I had moved to 308, and Lily was all purple smiles at 315.

As the minutes mounted, my jaws cramped, the type of cramp one gets after eating a bag of Sweet Tarts.

We struggled with sore tongues.  “You’re going down, Grandma…”

600 to 582---653 to 690…would it ever end?

The end slipped in at 45 rough minutes.  Me: 915 and Lily: 998.

Lily danced around the kitchen, hands in the air, singing “Eye of the Tiger”.  Me?  I went to look into a mirror.  Sticking out my cherry red tongue, sweet and sour zones in the tongues had worked themselves raw.

Rule of tongue: eat all the chocolate stuff and dump the rest.  The Lollipops are not a single lick.

The rules of this are rather vague.  But I wouldn’t dare to contest them to a 10 year old dancing around the kitchen singing “Eye of the Tiger”, and knows all the words.

...and Heeeeerrrreee's the A to Z....

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Heeeeerrreee's Johnny.....

These were the words we heard long ago before we closed up the house for the night.  Familiar words.  Even now, they stir up smiles at Ed McMahon and Johnny Carson memories.

But, wait.  Where am I going with this?  A Johnny Carson homage? 

No, it is an attention grabber... 


....and a reminder that the 2014 A to Z Challenge will be starting on Tuesday,  April 1st.  

My posts range all over the topics, but mainly focus on people and events.  People change history.  Events make history.  Together it can be quite...interesting.

See you 'round the weekend.

Heeeerrrreee's April!

Wednesday Words: Regina and Reginald

Source: stevek

The twins had lived their eighty years in the same house, each claiming their own half. 

Source: xymonau

Regina was inclined toward the luxurious while Reginald preferred the “house in decline” style.  Her rooms were divine in their pink and purple valentines.  Reginald preferred manly pine walls where the heads of leonine and bovine animals were stuffed and preserved.

Source: midwest

Unknown to both, clandestine termites were burrowing through the supports with machine dedication and engine –like industry.

Source: TACLUDA

What once had been a place enshrined by money and obsession soon fell into ruin, collapsing into a ravine.  Regina’s screams and Reginald’s roaring obscenities disappeared in the rubble.

Delores @thefeatherednest really made this week's words a true challenge.  But...I do love a challenge!  Check out her post!  Participate in her weekly words!!

Band Aid Courage

We have all been here.  Go to See*Photo*Write

Quick!  You can do it!

James heard Dan’s voice.  He trusted his friend and followed him blindly.  Whatever Dan said was the law.

Dan shifted from foot to foot, his breath coming out quickly.  “Come on!  We gotta go!  Just do it!”  Dan watched as the backs of his pack of boys disappeared around the corner.

James hesitated.  He heard Dan hiss, “Coward!”

James stared up into Dan’s eyes.  Without breaking contact or even blinking, James grasped the loosened edge of the band aid.

The Crusader Challenge

 We went to the Getty Art Museum north of Los Angeles on the day of the huge rainstorm.  We sat restaurant, eating our sweet potato fries, and watching the water. 

My husband John bloviated about natural disasters, rambling on about weather. We told the waiter Henri that we would like the braised rabbit and deep fried fuliguline to be served now. 

My son-in-law Richard perused the wine list and selected a nice Sonoma Valley merlot.  “It will cut through the gaminess of the rabbit like a hot blade,” Richard explained in his refined English accent.  We nodded in understanding. 

John’s napkin fell unnoticed to the floor.  I watched that napkin, almost shaking with my compulsive nature to pick it up and strangle him with it.  He finds this compulsive habit annoying.

The wine came, and Richard did the oenophile thing.  He nodded his approval.  Henri came with the heavy tray of our order and prepared to place the steaming plates on the table.  That was when he stepped on that damn napkin and slipped, falling to the carpet with the entire order.

It is my nature and an essential character trait to help and be compassionate.  So I leaped from my seat, and began mopping up the floor with my own napkin.  I picked up every last morsel; call it a quirk, but once I start something, I have to finish it.

With a new order on the way, my daughter Mary commented on a William Hopper piece in the gallery.  Visiting an art gallery is my idea of heaven, and we began talking about the different paintings.  She noticed I was squirming uncomfortably.  “What’s wrong?” she whispered.  Looking around, I whispered back, “ Hemorrhoids!” I answered.  There, she knew my secret. 

I may have revealed something about me that isn’t true; can you guess what it is?

Susan Kane