The Birthday Shirt...

I had a birthday a few weeks ago and for my birthday a new shirt was among the presents. Check it out. It's blue and white and I liked it when I first opened the box.

So, why a blog post about a shirt? Good question. This is the type of shirt that, if I were walking by a display of these shirts in a store, I probably would not have even seen it. I would have said that this shirt is not my "style" even though I have no idea what kind of style I have. For work I wear cargo paints. I found the extra pockets are great for phones and iPods and such. And they're the most comfortable pants I can wear, since jeans are verboten at work (darn dress code...). For shirts, I wear buttoned collared shirts, but I don't usually tuck them in. Maybe that's my "style."

The person who gave me the shirt (my mom-in-law...) said that when she saw the shirt it wasn't something she would normally think would be "me" but she took a chance and I'm glad she did. I've worn the shirt several times since November...it's a good shirt, not too dressy and not too casual. Maybe I ought to expand the definition of "my style."

Making Mountains Out Of Snowhills...

It was time to bring out the heavy machinery. This morning a snowplow drove our street and did a masterful job at creating large mounds of snow. Before each house, it seems, a large snow monument stands like a testament to the need to escape one's snowbound prison.

We drove around and showed the kids just how high these snow mounds have become. They were impressed.

Why That Blog Post? It Stumps Me...

Several months ago I came across a blog where each week (excepting some of the holiday weeks...) a photo is posted and five words are listed. The reader's assignment--if we choose to accept it--is to write a short story of less than 500 words using both the photo and the five words. I have found this assignment to be a blast! I've had so much fun writing these little stories. They're like literary candy!

A few weeks after I started participating in the weekly writing prompts, the site posted the above photo and the five words to use were: Manners, Pin, Chameleon, Thermometer, and Birthday. I wrote one story, then I wrote two, each story completely different from each other. I submitted the stories, and that was it. When writing a daily blog post, sometimes the interest in a post only lasts until the next on is published.

And then, something strange happened. For some inexplicable reason, this post, this Two Stories In One Blog Post post has gone viral, and by viral, I mean, by my standards (a busy day for my post is over 100 views...). This post has become my most popular blog post ever. It's even eclipsed my The 1972 Buick Electra 225 blog post. That post gets a lot of views from Russia...I guess they like that car.

I've tried to figure out why the two short stories post has gotten so many hits and I can't explain why. I liked the two stories that I wrote, but I think there are other short stories that are better. Maybe there's a post somewhere spotlighting my blog post. If there is, I don't know where it is.

I wonder if the interest in this particular post will continue. If it does, I'm glad it was that one. There are a lot of posts I've written in the almost 2 years of continuous blog writing that I'm glad the interest in them is somewhat temporary.

DreamLab Industries...A Short Story

 Weekly Writing Prompt

It's that time again, time to submit a short story. Thanks to the gals, Nicole, Tena, Carrie, and Leanne for hosting the weekly writing prompts. They're a lot of fun. If you'd like to participate, here are the rules:

1) There will be one photo, and five words - both of those elements must be a feature in the brief story you create.

2) There is also a 500 word maximum.

3) You have until the next Wednesday to create your post.

4) When you have finished your post, go to the link: HERE and post your story.

5) We were going to tell you to not take this too seriously, but reconsidered it because we know full well that asking writers to write something means that they will take it seriously. So, take it seriously, but don't fret/panic/pass out/hyperventilate/lose sleep/run in fear over it.

The five randomly-chosen words for this prompt are:

Engineer

Muscle

Spider

Race

Machine

Here's my story. Hope you like it!

DreamLab Industries

 
 "Okay, just sit back into the chair and relax," Chad the lab technician said. He knew Sarah was nervous, and who could blame her, considering what happened the first time she came to DreamLab Industries? Sarah smiled at the cute engineer, but her eyes...they portrayed the true fear she felt.

"But what if it happens again? What if..." Chad cut her off with the tilt of his head. "Sarah," he said without a hint of condescension. "I know you're worried, but we've talked about what happened last time and, trust me," Chad said turning from his role as technician to focus solely on his customer. "Trust me, what happened last time will not happen again." Sarah took a deep breath, nodded, and sat back into the large comfortable chair.

As the soft hum of the machine filled the small white room, every muscle in Sarah's body seemed to tense immediately. The sensors attached to Sarah's body registered her reaction and Chad read the results on his computer display. "Come on, Sarah," Chad whispered to himself. "You're so close..." Then, just as quickly as Sarah's first readings displayed, they changed and the two people in the room knew this time would be different. "There we go," Chad said through a smile. "Good girl."

Sarah closed her eyes as visions began to race to her mind. A myriad of beautiful landscapes with accompanying sounds and tastes and smells overwhelmed the young college student, each vision connected to each other by a gossamer of light as delicate as a thread from the web of a spider. Sarah searched for the perfect picture, the perfect spot to help cure her of of the terrifying nightmares that plagued her for the past five years, something DreamLab Industries said they could cure.

Finally, it arrived and Sarah knew the moment the scene flashed before her that this was indeed the place, a place for her, a place to stop the pain. The sound of the waterfall brought life to the warm humid air and sweet pollen of the fauna filled Sarah's lungs as she inhaled. This, Sarah thought to herself...this is finally what I need.

Word Count: 359

A Trip With Gandalf...

The big storm hit around 2 p.m. our time and its full glory was on display just about time for the afternoon commute. I found out later the storm that greatly delayed my trip home was named after arguably the most famous wizard in literature, Gandalf (unless, of course, you're counting Harry Potter, which I'm not...). I really don't know why they're naming inland storms like this...maybe it increases viewership on The Weather Channel...I'm sure that's it.

Here's what the storm looked like before I left work.

I consider myself lucky. My 15-minute commute only took an hour. The only thing that didn't work out (for me...) is my car did not have the traction, or an extra 2 powered wheels to make it up my hill. I haven't parked at the bottom of the hill and walked home for years.

The storm from the comfort of my office...

How things looked before I left work...

The long line toward home...

25 m.p.h. on the freeway...not bad

This car didn't make it up the hill...like a dead animal at the side of the road.

Basically, this is a photo journal of my trip. Even though it was sort of a pain, I love the snow. And not having to go to work tomorrow morning doesn't hurt, either. Seeing home after the excursion was a wonderful sight. It sure is beautiful out there right now.

Vertical Challenge Giveaway!

For several years Marker has been one of the Vertical Challenges best corporate sponsors. Last year each participant who completed the Vertical Challenge received a Marker Zip T ski jacket.

And now we're giving away one of these jackets! Just go to the Bob's Vertical Challenge Facebook Page (Link can be found: HERE) and Like the page. Do this between now and midnight, mountain standard time on Saturday, January 19th, 2013 and you'll be entered to win.

But jackets and giveaways are not what's truly important when it comes to the Vertical Challenge. We do this for the boys. All proceeds go to Scoutreach, the charity arm of the Trapper Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. By registering and participating in the event held on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at Snowbasin Ski Resort, you will be helping kids have experiences that can literally change their lives.

Please consider Bob's Vertical Challenge as a corporate event, a family outing, or just a great time on the slopes with your friends. You won't regret it! For more information, please contact Andrea Abbott at: abbott@knoxcap.com, or call: 801.447.4200.

 

Happie Birthday, Sweetie!

Everyone has a birthday. Today these famous people were born. Some you know; some you might not know. If you're bored, google some of those you don't know and you'll probably go, "Oh, that's who that is..." There's even a Dr. Who among those listed.

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

Steven Hawking 71

David Bowie 66

R Kelly 46

Larry Storch 90

Bob Eubanks 75

Soupy Sales (1926-2009)

Charles Osgood 80

Garry Spence 84

Ron Moody 89

Jason Giambi 42

Graham Chapman (1941-1989)

Jose Ferrer (1912-1992)

Gaby Hoffmann 31

Harriet Sansom Harris 58

William Hartnell (1908-1975)

But none of these people (even Elvis...) mean more to me than my beautiful, loving, and supporting wife. Today's her birthday and I'm so glad she picked me. Happy birthday, Honey!