Today's Word: Fixing
Jeb was fixing to fix the truck, but just then the water heater let loose with a sound like a hissing turtle that like to made every fainting goat in the yard kill over. Mama fixed some tea while we closed up the main valve, making sure to fix the wheel with a bungee cord so as to keep it locked in place. We was just fixing to bail out the basement when Cal came by, bragging on his new television with the flat screen and 3D sound. Jeb just fixed that old boy with a stare for a long moment, then we left for Cal's house in Cal's new pickup. Wrestling was on.
-- david j.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Today's Word: Perorate
Seven clean-cut men -- seven suits of varying shades of black -- filled a small section of the auditorium chairs, listening to Peter Wesell pontificate on the matchless benefits of Wesell Global's univeral marketing strategy. At the end of forty minutes, one of the suited men raised his hand and stood when Wesell called on him.
"Your marketing success is fine, I'm sure, Mr. Wesell, but what does this have to do with a cadre of former CIA assassins like us?"
Wesell smiled, not an altogether pleasant expression when formed on his face, and said, "Why, my dear fellow, every good draftsman owns erasers."
-- david j.
Seven clean-cut men -- seven suits of varying shades of black -- filled a small section of the auditorium chairs, listening to Peter Wesell pontificate on the matchless benefits of Wesell Global's univeral marketing strategy. At the end of forty minutes, one of the suited men raised his hand and stood when Wesell called on him.
"Your marketing success is fine, I'm sure, Mr. Wesell, but what does this have to do with a cadre of former CIA assassins like us?"
Wesell smiled, not an altogether pleasant expression when formed on his face, and said, "Why, my dear fellow, every good draftsman owns erasers."
-- david j.
Sunday, March 21, 2004
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Today's Word: Anathema
Sometime around midnight we saw the first of them. Anathema. Winged reptiles the color of wet sand their elongated snouts bejeweled with seven rows of serrated teeth. They swooped and dove toward our ship, several even striking the cockpit window with leathery wings. The sounds they mad were unearthly. They brayed warbling songs like the cough of an aged man losing a lung. Simpson guided the ship close to the canyon walls, our exterior lights picking out myriad crevices where the anathema made their homes. We might have caught sight of a broodling nusery, had the fool not moved too close to one of several dozen queens attached to the wall like an old-style jumbo jet suction-cupped upside down on the stone. The giant lifted its maw and bit through our nosecone. With its boulder-sized teeth still embedded in our now dead ship, the queen gave us a good shake and sent us tumbling toward the canyon floor.
That is where my memory grows hazy.
-- david j.
Sometime around midnight we saw the first of them. Anathema. Winged reptiles the color of wet sand their elongated snouts bejeweled with seven rows of serrated teeth. They swooped and dove toward our ship, several even striking the cockpit window with leathery wings. The sounds they mad were unearthly. They brayed warbling songs like the cough of an aged man losing a lung. Simpson guided the ship close to the canyon walls, our exterior lights picking out myriad crevices where the anathema made their homes. We might have caught sight of a broodling nusery, had the fool not moved too close to one of several dozen queens attached to the wall like an old-style jumbo jet suction-cupped upside down on the stone. The giant lifted its maw and bit through our nosecone. With its boulder-sized teeth still embedded in our now dead ship, the queen gave us a good shake and sent us tumbling toward the canyon floor.
That is where my memory grows hazy.
-- david j.
Friday, March 19, 2004
Today's Word: Roll
We rolled in on a green wave that sparkled at the edges where sunlight drizzled it with shine. The longboat bumped against the beach -- slid a bit on the sand making a gritty swooshing sound -- then came to a restive stop, seeming eager to be about its voyage; annoyed at this forray onto dry land. Men debarked, forced the bow higher onto the beach with stout ropes and stout arms, dragging it inches then feet, assuring the ocean wouldn't take hold of our ship and suck it into void. Savages appeared. First among the nearby green vines, then high up on the only hill, among the thick-plated trees there, seeming for all the world like monkeys, the way they took to the upper canopy. We burned them out of their havens, took their heads for trophies and some of us even ate of a few. Even their taste was savage.
-- david j.
We rolled in on a green wave that sparkled at the edges where sunlight drizzled it with shine. The longboat bumped against the beach -- slid a bit on the sand making a gritty swooshing sound -- then came to a restive stop, seeming eager to be about its voyage; annoyed at this forray onto dry land. Men debarked, forced the bow higher onto the beach with stout ropes and stout arms, dragging it inches then feet, assuring the ocean wouldn't take hold of our ship and suck it into void. Savages appeared. First among the nearby green vines, then high up on the only hill, among the thick-plated trees there, seeming for all the world like monkeys, the way they took to the upper canopy. We burned them out of their havens, took their heads for trophies and some of us even ate of a few. Even their taste was savage.
-- david j.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Today's Word: Wizened
Old King Card gripped his sword with a wizened hand, lifting the blade above his head where it shook like dry leaves on a windy day.
"To me!" he cried, and started down the green hill at a gallop, only to topple from his horse and roll into the enemy's front line.
For a moment there was silence on the field, as men on both sides watched the golden lump of ornate armor lie still on the grass. Then a cheer rose, from both sides of the battleground. Card's Lord General, Faragain, rode forward, cast his sword before Castel, his heretofore mortal enemy, and said, "Thank God that man is dead. We surrender."
-- david j.
Old King Card gripped his sword with a wizened hand, lifting the blade above his head where it shook like dry leaves on a windy day.
"To me!" he cried, and started down the green hill at a gallop, only to topple from his horse and roll into the enemy's front line.
For a moment there was silence on the field, as men on both sides watched the golden lump of ornate armor lie still on the grass. Then a cheer rose, from both sides of the battleground. Card's Lord General, Faragain, rode forward, cast his sword before Castel, his heretofore mortal enemy, and said, "Thank God that man is dead. We surrender."
-- david j.
Sunday, March 14, 2004
Today's Word: Content
We traveled towards the ocean across hot sand that spilled into our shoes like water. The wind was cool off the waves and it smelled of something dead. I posted an umbrella, one of the large kind that shades a spot large enough for a wooden lounge chair and two towels. Naddie read her book, some romance deal, while I reclined in the shadows, content to let the ocean rumble before us, and the wind pass us by.
We traveled towards the ocean across hot sand that spilled into our shoes like water. The wind was cool off the waves and it smelled of something dead. I posted an umbrella, one of the large kind that shades a spot large enough for a wooden lounge chair and two towels. Naddie read her book, some romance deal, while I reclined in the shadows, content to let the ocean rumble before us, and the wind pass us by.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
