Monday, April 10, 2006

This Keeps Up I Might Turn Into a Hyrax

Okay, here it is. The idea is that I have 30 minutes to use all of the words given to me in the order that they were given. I cannot edit, I cannot change anything. I can only write (although doing this in Word means that I simply cannot ignore the little red squiggly line that screams at me "Misspelled Word") The words you gave me are in bold. I did this in 29 minutes. It's raw, real raw - but I love doing them. It gets my juices flowing whenever I feel a mental block. And I did have some interesting words this time. I can, and did, use the plural form of a couple of the words (they are my rules after all). In case anybody is curious, duckbilled platypus was a word given to me the last time I did this. If you would like to see the result of that one click on the link to "Eve's old archives" and go to Jan. 5 "Revenge of the Duckbilled Platypus". I really enjoyed that one. Anyway, here it is.

The tabby crouched low to the ground as it moved through the bushes, its orange coloring resembling its tiger ancestry, stripes visible through the greenery. Annabelle smiled as she watched it approach the small bird standing in the middle of the yard. Cats, ya gotta love ‘em. The smile became a laugh when, in a burst of orange it sprang from the bushes towards the bird, which promptly flew off leaving the puzzled feline behind. That rascal. You’d think it would figure it out someday. The birds a damn lot smarter than him. She glanced up at the ruins of the old castle on the hill overlooking the bay. I’ll have to check that out tomorrow. Lights would appear mysteriously at night, and that didn’t bode well for her business here. Turning away from the window, she finished stirring the fudge. Pulling out the spoon, she grimaced as a bit of chocolate splattered onto her shirt. Damn, that’s gonna leave a stain. And I bought this shirt on my last trip to Hawaii.

“That’s what you get for cooking with chocolate while wearing white, sweetheart.” Pouring the fudge into the pan, she put it into the fridge, dropped the sauce pan and spoon in the sink and headed towards the back of the house. Passing the small statue of a lion, she gave it a quick rub on its porcelain head for luck and entered her bedroom. She’d been doing that since she got out of the hospital, taking advantage of every single good luck charm she’d ever heard of in her trips around the world. After changing her shirt she walked over and picked up the binoculars from the small table in front of the window. A quick survey of the bay and the beach front property showed no sign of life and she replaced the glasses to their place next to the book on ornithology, her cover if anyone wondered why she kept looking through the glasses. Nothing. For two days there’s been no sign of activity on the beach or out in the bay itself. Annabelle hoped this foray to Nova Scotia would all pan out because she had passed up the opportunity to spend some quality time with an F-18 pilot and the worlds best orgasm for this assignment.

“Definitely a trip to the castle tomorrow” or maybe even tonight if her insomnia reared its ugly head again. “I’ve got to play this one by the book if I’m going to catch those pirates in the act.” Turning around, she nearly tripped on the tabby that had quietly moved up behind her. “Baby, we have got to get a bell on you.” Leaning over, she picked the now purring animal up and walked out of the room and back into the main part of the cottage. The distant sound of thunder echoed from outside. “Rain. Just what I needed right now. They won’t be doing anything in the rain.” Dropping the cat on the couch, she walked over to the door and opened it to see the gathering clouds. Damn. The brush of fur against her leg startled her as she watched the cat run out into the yard. “And stay out there this time.” At least he was more company than the hyrax she shared quarters with on her last assignment in the Middle East. She watched him dart across the grass, tail straight up in the air. In the glow of the setting sun he didn’t look quite orange, but rather a maize color, sort of like the teosinte she’d seen in Central America. Annabelle was about to close the door when movement out of the corner of her eye stopped her in her tracks. She stood motionless, eyes squinting at the line of trees that led to the path to the castle. I know I saw something. She grimaced as a streak of lightning flashed across the sky. Great. Out in the rain I go. Why didn’t I pick that F-18?

31 comments:

Brandy said...

Great! What a wonderful excercise to bring out the imagination! Did it work on the mental block?

Bailey Stewart said...

Not really. And you will note (or maybe not depending on the time stamp) that it is 11:25 p.m. here and I'm still not in bed!

Revenge of the Duckbilled Platypus was better.

Lis said...

Very cool. I'll have to try that sometime myself.
Hope you can fall asleep soon!

Bailey Stewart said...

Well it's 12:41 now. Doesn't look good. I do plan to sleep the day away on Wednesday. Afternoon naps aren't very good since I have to medicate Devlin at 2:30 then start supper around 4:00. But if I give mom her breakfast Wednesday morning and don't blog (except for Jill's because I can't pass it up) than I could possibly sleep from 8ish to 2:30 - that would be good. And maybe a sign on the door telling mother not to wake me up for phone calls unless its an emergency might help too.

Bailey Stewart said...

Oh sheesh - I just read this carefully for the first time, before I just went over it quickly and hi-lited the words. It,um, has some potential for later. But its really God-awful. But I got all the words in!

Unknown said...

Duh, I forgot to leave my noun. That's great, Eve, and a brilliant way to kick-start the imagination.

Diane said...

Good work - doesn't matter how it reads so long as you get something down to play with.

Michele said...

Hey, Eve, don't knock it! You did just fine considering you used some unusual words. I thought for sure I'd stump you. Not that I knew what you needed a "noun" for anyway.... Give
yourself credit for cleverness!!
"You'll GET me??" , LOL!!!!
Too bad I didn't choose topgallant!!! It would have been perfect!!
OH, I LOVE my Word Verif...Very Elmer Fudd
FWIIEDS = Friends!! Cool

Joely Sue Burkhart said...

Wonderful!! *claps*

Denise McDonald said...

I love it - that is such a great way to get going!

Meretta said...

Cool exercise, Eve.

Have you ever heard of Jenny's? I think her professor used to give it to the class...oooh, how did that go?

Working through the alpahebet (starting with A, of course) and having to use each letter for the beginning of each word. So that you have a paragraph with only 26 words. Nothing used twice or left out.

This is how she got the idea for Tell Me Lies (which happens to be my favorite).

Bailey Stewart said...

Oooh, that's my second favorite Crusie book. That exercise sounds really hard.

Bailey Stewart said...

Thanks gang. I re-read it again and there's a few things that I could probably use for another story. That's the other marvelous thing about these exercises.

Shesawriter said...

I need to exercise more myself. Sounds promising.

Anonymous said...

I thought you did a wonderful job! *Applause*

Jennifer Crusie is also one of my favorite authors. Thanks to you I think I have read all of her books. I can't wait to get her latest.

How is Devlin doing today?

Bailey Stewart said...

Devlin isn't doing too well right now.

Anonymous said...

Great job! I think it was good...And of course you used every word which was the exercise :)

I think you should try the alphabet paragraph! That sounds VERY difficult!

OK...did you not get a nap???

Dev's not doing good?? How long will it take to get over the virus or whatever it is??? Are you just now more aware of the issues or are they still that bad? I am soooooo sorry!!!!!

OH and by the by....I ALWAYS come here before I go to any other blog :) :) :)

Toni Anderson said...

Very good job!!!!!! I'm proud of you!!

Anonymous said...

Great job, Eve! Really fun exercise, and you found a wonderful path.

So sorry about Devlin. Many hugs to both of you.

Bailey Stewart said...

Devlin is gone. I can't talk about it any more right now.

Toni Anderson said...

(((((((((((((EVE)))))))))))))))

Diane said...

Eve, I am so, so sorry about Devlin. I know words won't help. Have some hugs instead. (((((EVE)))))

Brandy said...

Oh, sweetie. I am heartbroken for you. I know how much he meant to you. Know that each of us care about you and are sending support and prayers your way.

Anonymous said...

Eve - Sorry to hear about Devlin. It doesn't get much worse, I know.

And teosinte? C'mon, it's not like anybody's going to know that. I mean, it's not like teonanacatl.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that makes a good beginning for a book! But, hmm, uh, excuse me, but I'm ignorant. Some people have obviously played this game before. I was in the Republica Dominicana on Jan. 5.

But exactly *is* a hyrax. Yeah, yeah, I know I can look it up but that's too much bother. My legs just won't take it any more today.

Oh, Eve, I'm so sorry about, Devlin. I hurt for both of you. Great big hugs and love and prayers for comfort. I hope you hear all the comforting words we're sending you. May God be your perfect comfort and help.

I'm so, so sorry. I wish I could give you a shoulder to lean on and cry on.

Denise McDonald said...

(((((HUGS HUN)))))

Christa said...

(((((Eve)))))))

catslady said...

{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}



I thought the story was marvelous and want to read more! I was so wondering how you were going to use some of those words and I think the story flowed beautifully.

Anonymous said...

I think - well, there's the problem. I think. But to get back to the story/exercise... I like this one. Potential for a spy-thang & we all know I like my spy-thangs! And I agree, I think she should have gone w/ the F-18 pilot! Although, I like my castles too...

Love you big...

Unknown said...

Oh, Eve, words are just inadequate now. So very, very sorry about Devlin. I know how special he was to you. (((((Eve)))))

Anonymous said...

That's a great story. You are so good at that writing thing. You just sit down and out come the words. Amazing