Ice Queen - 160

The ice queen couldn’t understand
why people weren’t getting over it.
The real question was,
will they grieve
or remember her ice cold heart
upon her own death?
_______________________

For the original Sunday 160 post click here.
If you wish to take the challenge, here is a quick look at the rules.
The Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces).
Keep on schedule - post Sunday.
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site.
Visit at least one other Sunday 160.
_______________________

Summer 55

Lounging lazily on his back yard chaise,
he dozed to the drone of summer.
Dragonflies searching the skies for prey.
Pollen baring bumble bees
changing fragrant flowers to fruit.
Soft breezes rustling trees,
making them lean together
in a whisper of secrets.
Swaying in agreement.
Each contributing its feeling
to the poetry of the season.

____________________________

This is a Flash Fiction Friday 55.
If you want to know what the hell that means visit g-man.
The challenge is on.
____________________________

Or if you want yet another challenge write a Sunday 160.
Like a text message, the Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces)
Keep on schedule - post Sunday
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site
Visit at least one other Sunday 160

What the Hell Wednesday - Anger Management and Explosives

In order to find just the right kind of story for WTHW, I read through a lot of material. As a matter of fact, even Mrs. MM is hooked on finding stories and, believe me, she is unbelievably good at finding stuff on the internet. She located an amazing site that led me to this story.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A former priest and anger-management counselor who pulled a gun in a traffic dispute on two men who happened to be U.S. Marshals has been sentenced to a year in prison. Fifty-seven-year-old Jose Luis Avila of Annandale pleaded guilty earlier this year in U.S. District Court to assaulting a federal officer.

In January, Avila was driving by the marshals near his home. He honked his horn because he believed they were standing in the road. When he thought one of the marshals made an obscene gesture at him, he pulled out a loaded handgun.

The 12-month sentence was in line with what prosecutors had sought. Defense lawyers wanted probation or time served; Avila has been jailed since January.

Avila has also been ordered to undergo anger management.

Alrighty then, Jose, you were obviously napping during your own anger management counseling and didn't hear a thing you said. Either that or absorbing all that negative energy in your classes was just more than you could handle. In any case, what are you doing flashing a loaded gun on some guys who may or may not have given you the ultimate "you're number one" hand sign? Guess you have 12 months to think about it and hopefully can learn something from an anger management class taught by a real counselor. One that won't leave two marshals looking at each other asking "What the Hell?" just before they put the cuffs on you.

But wait! There's more. We also have a July 4 Holiday Bonus WTHW. Taken from the July 6, 2010 issue of The Oregonian.

Vancouver -

Man, 41, loses fingers to altered fireworks

Altered fireworks contributed to a July 4 accident in Vancouver that cost a man some fingers and injured a nearby child.

Vancouver Fire Department spokesman Capt. Chris Moen said fire officials responded to an explosion with traumatic injuries just after 10:30 p.m. at 7413 NE 121st Ave.

A 41-year-old man at the house reportedly had several broken bones and severe injuries to his fingers.

Moen said he did not know how many fingers the man lost.

His condition was not disclosed.

An 8-year-old at the address was treated for minor injuries.

Their names were not released. Both were taken to Southwest Washington Medical Center.

The Clark County fire marshal's office determined that altered fireworks played a part in the blast.

He did not say how the man modified the fireworks.

"We want to remind folks how robust fireworks are and even used properly, they can be dangerous," Moen said. "This was definitely a serious and out-of-the-ordinary event." - Molly Hottle

First, I want to commend Molly Hottle on her use of hyphens and the shear number of paragraphs she fit into this story. She must be paid by the amount of space her stories take as opposed to the number or words. REALLY....I kid you not....every lonely sentence you see in that story was a paragraph in the paper. I was going to type in the edited version, then thought it would be more fun to dis Molly's writing style. (Molly - if your editor did the whole hyphen and paragraph thing, I apologize. If not, go back to school.)

Now, on to the story. What kind of life lesson was mister "41-year-old" trying to teach this poor "8-year-old"? If it was "Fireworks can be very dangerous, son" then great job. But just a tad dramatic. I would think blowing up a G.I. Joe or his sister's Barbie might make just as big an impression as maiming yourself for life.

Don't know how many fingers were lost? Must have been an ugly, bloody stump with indistinguishable remaining digits. This is truly sad and tragic. "41-year-old man's" life is permanently changed and poor "8-year-old" will never enjoy another Fourth of July as long as he lives. Haunted by the explosive, er, "robust" nature of the event. Robust? This makes fireworks accidents sound like some sort of wine tasting. "Oooo, that was a robust explosion with just a fine whiff of sulfur and an acrid after taste."

I am sure any number of people not dialing up 911 at the time were simply asking "What the Hell?"

Sunday 160 - Fireworks

Excitement built with anticipation
of the big event.
His heart pounded.
Fireworks exploded.
It was his first kiss
and far better than he ever imagined it to be.
_______________________

For the original Sunday 160 post click here.
If you wish to take the challenge, here is a quick look at the rules.
The Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces).
Keep on schedule - post Sunday.
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site.
Visit at least one other Sunday 160.
_______________________

Happy Fourth of July!

Pheromone 55

There was something in the air

that had him churning

with a passion he hadn’t felt in some time.

He reacted as if exposed

to a pheromone

that burned through to his very soul.

He found himself grabbing and groping

unable to get his fill.

Pushing away he muttered,

“God, I love fresh popped Popcorn.”

_______________

This is a Flash Fiction Friday 55.
If you want to know what the hell that means visit g-man.
The challenge is on.
______________

Or if you want yet another challenge write a Sunday 160.
Like a text message, the Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces)
Keep on schedule - post Sunday
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site
Visit at least one other Sunday 160

Theme Thursday - Blue

Images of glory had filled his head when he signed on to be the boy turned into a man. He had no idea what was to come. They broke him down and built him again from the ground up. His loyalties were fierce. He would fight for country with his brothers.

He saw things to which no human should be subjected. Lives of friends snuffed out in an explosive pink cloud of violence. Wide, wild eyes of a stranger before lack of life turned stares blank as he maliciously stopped their time on this world. Shivers of fear as mortars whumped from distant tubes and exploded all around while bullets whined overhead and plowed the earth before him. He drove emotions so deep he might never recover them. His patriotic fantasies turned to dirty, hardened reality.

Once back home in the world, no one could understand how a survivor could feel. Why his heart ached. He was told to suck it up. Forget the past. Ignore and never speak of it to anyone. He tried burying his feelings deeper. Ignoring the night terrors, dreams of brutality and ghosts of his pain and suffering. But he wanted freedom, an escape. A way to silence the demons that haunted his head and his heart. He was good at killing and felt this would be no different. So joined his fallen comrades.

In the aftermath, a tearful mother was left to say, “We had no idea. We just thought he was blue.”

What the Hell Wednesday - Marked Men

Is it Wednesday already? Boy, I bet you are all just giddy waiting to find out what other kind of stupidity lurks in the minds of everyday man. Well this one is a doozie. Even though it was dated last fall, I couldn't resist.


Police Nab Marked Men
Pair of alleged Iowa burglars opted for black Sharpie disguise


OCTOBER 28--Meet Matthew McNelly and Joey Miller. The Iowa men were arrested Friday night on attempted burglary charges after a 911 caller told cops that two hoodie-wearing males were trying to enter his apartment. During a subsequent traffic stop (McNelly, 23, and Miller, 20, were traveling in a 1994 Buick Roadmaster), Carroll Police Department officers collared the men, both of whom had their faces painted. Police Chief Jeff Cayler is unsure why McNelly and Miller, pictured in the below mug shots, opted for the Sharpie marker look, but surmised that they may have been trying to intimidate the apartment's occupant. Or perhaps ski masks are a bit pricey. - The Smoking Gun



I love The Smoking Gun's humor. The way I see it, not only were ski masks too pricey for these high class citizens, but I am sure they would have no idea how to access a pair of hose to pull over their heads. Yup, these boys might have had a bit of trouble getting a girl...even before the Sharpie tattoos.

Can you imagine the conversation?

Matthew: We'd best disguise ourselves. What we got, Joey?

Joey: There lotsa garbage in the back seat. Beer cans, empty cigarette packs, fast food wrappers and a Sharpie I stole. Hey! Pass that joint back here. You're bogarting.

Matthew: Sharpie? We could draw on scary masks and wash later. No one will ever know it was us.

Joey: That's genius.

Mrs. MM thinks they did each other. Clearly the dude on the right was always envious of the other guy's beard so he inks one on - but up to the eyes? And what's with the second layer of eyebrows? Is this some failed Clockwork Orange make-up?

The other guy....Pumpkin head envy?? Was he trying to draw Charlie Brown's shirt on his face? Why didn't he try to add a little more hair? I can imagine their stay in jail was quite 'playful'. They certainly garnered lots of respect from their fellow inmates, who probably took one look at these two and muttered, "What the Hell?"

Sunday 160's First Aniversary

I wrote the very first Sunday 160 on June 28, 2009.
So, today being the 160's first anniversary,
I am posting the original (which had no comments) in its honor.
_____________________________________________

(Just for the sake of staying within the rules of the Sunday 160, the intro you just read was written with 160 characters including spaces - yes, I am that anal.)
_____________________________________________
The Original 160 -






_______________________

For the original Sunday 160 post click here or just read the above (kidding).

If you wish to take the challenge, here is a quick look at the rules.
The Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces).
Keep on schedule - post Sunday.
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site.
Visit at least one other Sunday 160.
_______________________

Is it Summer yet? 55

Summer Solstice came and went.
They huddle beneath the gray skies
in cold drizzle.
Animals committed suicide
out of deep depression.
Photosynthesis was next to impossible.
Movement was only in super slow motion.
Eye contact avoided.
But when the summer sun finally appeared,
they bitched about the heat.
Such is summer in the Pacific Northwest.
_______________

This is a Flash Fiction Friday 55.
If you want to know what the hell that means visit g-man.
The challenge is on.
______________

Or if you want yet another challenge write a Sunday 160.
Like a text message, the Sunday 160 only uses 160 characters (including spaces)
Keep on schedule - post Sunday
Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site
Visit at least one other Sunday 160

What the Hell Wednesday - New waiting period for Mayo?

We are back to the left coast for this edition of What the Hell Wednesday. This week in Boise, Idaho a woman was arrested for one of the most unusual crimes I have ever heard of. Here is the original story:

Boise, ID
Condiment vandalism: Woman, 74, arrested

Police said a Boise woman was arrested after mayonnaise was poured into the Ada County library's book drop box is a person of interest in a yearlong spree of condiment-related crimes.

Joy L. Cassidy, 74, was arrested last week at the library moments after police say she pulled up to the drive through and dumped mayonnaise in the box of reading materials.

Cassidy was booked and released from the county hail on a misdemeanor charge of malicious injury to property. Police did not disclose a motive.

Boise police said Cassidy is under investigation in at least 10 similar cases of vandalism since May 2009. Library employees have reported finding books in the drop box covered with corn syrup and ketchup. - The Associated Press (as printed in The Oregonian on 6/20/2010)

Oh My God, Boise. Your police are staking out the local library for the "Mayo Bandit"? Slow day down at the precinct? I bet. How close do you think they were to calling in the SWAT Team? Big time police operation to be sure. It was either catch this crazy or legislate a five day waiting period on all Mayo purchases.

But how about this woman? Look, lady, when I check out a bad book, I just stop reading it and remember the name of the crappy author. But I don't prep it like some ham on rye. It was my lousy choice and not the library's fault. Of course, then again, perhaps the woman had been "shushed" just once too often and, not being a gun owner, thank God, she went to her pantry and plotted revenge. I would hate to see what happens if she rents a bad movie that she actually had to pay good money for. Return the DVD in a magnetic case? This sort of behavior probably started with her not rewinding back in the old VHS days. She's baaad.

I bet her favorite book is Fahrenheit 451. I also bet she went to the University of Idaho - nickname - (yup) Vandals. Clearly all those loose Vandals in Idaho keep the local authorities quite busy and if all of the Vandal shenanigans are like Joy Cassidy's the cops will find themselves repeating - What the Hell?