Things learned from apocalyptic/monster/alien invasion movies:

Wikipedia, God bless 'em

New York always gets destroyed.

Monsters stomp down skyscrapers.

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People get out of their cars and stare up at the monsters.  They always wait until the monster is almost upon them.

People in the monster movies continue working in the offices, oblivious to the monsters plowing through.

If New York is being destroyed, then London and Paris are next.

Giant monsters must cast shadows in real life.  In movies, they do not.

Yay for Wikipedia

Tarantulas are blind and deaf. They are sensitive to vibrations.

Female stars used to be cast on their ability to scream loudly and look good wet. They usually trip just when it appears they will get away.

Source

Sharks cannot jump 35,000 feet to grab an airliner.

Tornadoes form over land.  Hurricanes form over the ocean.

Source

People should not run down a road to get away from monsters.

The most famous actors:  one will be the hero and the other will be the villain.

Empty warehouses are used repeatedly, with shots from different angles.

If the movie always shoots in broad daylight, that is a good indication that the movie is low-budget.

Casts of 10-20 also tell that the movie is low budget.

 

The script is limited to single sentences per actor, now and then.  The hero always makes the sacrifice but somehow survives.

Can you think of some truly awful monster movies?  What are they?  Why are they so awful?

How were these things learned?  Since NetFlix, my husband has access to the worst monster movies imaginable.  Yes, he saw “Sharknado”.

The Bottles on the Top Shelf

1st Writes Photo

Over the years, Helen had dusted the shelves for her Great-Aunt Elspeth.  At first Helen could reach only the bottom shelf, and Aunt Elspeth had praised her. 

“Oh, what a magnificent job you have done!  Someday,” Aunt Elspeth had pointed to the very top shelf, “you will reach that shelf!  I will let you choose the bottle you love the most!”

Each time Helen polished and cleaned the shelves, she gazed at the bottles so far out of her reach.  ‘Someday…’  One time Helen would favor the green bottle, but the next time she dusted, she desired the pink bottle.

Years stacked up in numbers as Helen grew and she could dust the next shelf, and then the next.  Which one would she choose?  The blue?  The violet?  So lovely, so hard to decide.

When Helen could just almost reach the shelf, Aunt Elspeth dropped dead right in front of her. 

 By this time, Helen was now grown as much as she ever would; she was a mother with a small child.  As she closed the eyes of her now-deceased aunt, Helen smiled gently.

Then Helen found a sturdy stool and a box.  She stepped onto the stool and stood level with the shelf.  Gazing fondly at each bottle, Helen sighed.  

Reaching tentatively, Helen spoke, “One?  Hell, I’m going to take them all!” 

This is a re-post of one done in 2011.  Click on the site beneath the photo to visit the creative blogger who posted this photo as a prompt!

Wednesday Words: Hold Your Positions

Source: micromoth

From his blind in the big tree, Paul had contrived a basic plan: provide reconnaissance for his troops and escape detection.

Conversation came from behind the garden.  The seething woman called out.  Paul crouched down in his hiding place, spinning possible escape plans to elude the woman below.

She called again.  “Paul, get down here right this minute!” 

Paul clutched his toy soldiers.  “Alright, men.  This is serious…” Mom had discovered his location.

  

“Paul, we have to leave for downtown right now!  AND I promise the dentist will NOT use needles!  This is just a check-up.   And we’ll see a movie after…”

Paul dropped the toy soldiers, and climbed down.  “Hold your positions until I return, men…” 

Source: vierdie

Thanks, Delores, for you words this week!  Good selection as always.  To readers:  Please go to Delores @thefeathernest  to discover what other wordsmiths had done with these underlined word above.