Day: November 1, 2018

The Quarterly Board Meeting

Fandango10 Comments

9FCD1361-6429-4889-A6F4-6CBA33CBA5D3Jeffrey Adams, the CEO, was ranting about how the firm had missed its quarterly earnings target for the past five consecutive quarters.

“Jeffrey,” Eileen Anderson, the CFO, interrupted, “you need to take a breath. You’re sounding more like a petulant child having a temper tantrum than the CEO of a billion dollar company.

“Excuse me, Eileen,” Jeffery said in an angry retort. “It’s loose lips like yours that sink ships.”

“Okay, okay,” said Hal Goldsmith, “let’s stop roving all over the map here. We need to reinstate at least a modicum of civility to this meeting.

Aaron Jones, the head of technology, raised his hand. “What is it, Aaron?” the CEO said.

“I do have some good news,” Aaron said. “My team is ahead of schedule for the release of the latest upgrade to our gaming software and I believe that, once the marketplace get to see it, sales will skyrocket and it will prove to be a bonanza for our bottom line.”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” the smiling CEO said, as most of the other board meeting attendees rolled their eyes.

Written for these one-word prompts: Scotts Daily Prompt firm), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (tantrum), Ragtag Daily Prompt (loose), Word of the Day Challenge (roving),  Your Daily Word Prompt (reinstate), and Daily Addictions (bonanza).

Tale Weaver — Dance With Me Henry

Fandango14 Comments

129D7F7D-6AE2-4802-B92E-DAC897106666“Henry, the romance has gone out of our lives,” Mildred said. “We need to do something to spice things up, don’t you agree?”

Henry, sitting in his easy chair, didn’t look up from the newspaper he was reading.

“Henry, did you hear what I said? Henry?”

“Yes, dear,” Henry absently responded.

“What did I say?” Mildred asked.

Henry put down the newspaper and shot his wife an irritated glance. “You need me to pick up some spices at the grocery store.”

“No, Henry, that’s not even close to what I said.”

Henry could sense that his wife of 35 years was on the verge of tears. “You’re right, sweetheart, I wasn’t listening.” He stood up and walked over to the sofa and sat down next to her. He grabbed her hand and, in as earnest a voice as he could muster, said, “Tell me again what you said.”

“I want us to take ballroom dancing lessons,” Mildred announced. “It will be so much fun. It will be just the spark we need to get some romance back into our marriage.”

“But Mildred, my love,” Henry said, “you know I can’t dance. I have no rhythm and I am afflicted with two left feet.”

“That’s not true, Henry,” Mildred said. “We used to go out dancing a lot back in the day.”

“Yeah,” admitted Henry, “back in the day when everyone did the Twist or the Mashed Potato. That wasn’t dancing, that was gyrating.”

“Oh please won’t you dance with me, Henry?” Mildred implored, with a hint of a twinkle in her eye.

“Okay, dear,” Henry said, “if that’s what you want, sign me up.” He kissed Mildred on her cheek, got up, returned to his easy chair, picked up his newspaper, and hoped that she’d forget about the dance lessons before the day was out.

Written for this week’s Tale Weaver prompt from Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie. The challenge is to weave a tale that features dance.

#TMAT120 — My Perfect Thanksgiving

Fandango28 Comments

55290BDF-FD89-497B-8F11-4E69A2DCA33CThanksgiving at our house is never like that Norman Rockwell painting. Not even close.

It’s always a struggle trying to meet everyone’s dietary needs. My daughter is a vegetarian. My son’s girlfriend is vegan. My son doesn’t care for turkey. He prefers Cornish hens. My wife prefers duck. I hate duck. My daughter’s boyfriend likes to have lamb chops for Thanksgiving. Seriously?

Everyone loves sweet potato soufflé except me. I loathe sweet potatoes. Everyone loves pecan pie except me. I can’t stand pecan pie. Nor pumpkin pie. And who the hell came up with jellied cranberry sauce?0CF2D1EE-D070-4F56-B226-E02AAA47A333.jpegMy perfect Thanksgiving would be munching on Buffalo chicken wings dipped in blue cheese dressing, drinking a bottle of beer, and watching football.

(120 words exactly)

296A0255-83C0-428E-8792-FAF2C26EF152Written for this month’s Tell Me a Tale in EXACTLY 120 Words prompt. The challenge is to write about what you will be doing on Thanksgiving day.

In Other Words — Dress Up

Fandango14 Comments

1D4D37D6-D6EF-496D-B226-DA2D59780525Black leather shoes, black socks, and suit of gray

Pressed white shirt, Oxford striped necktie all the way

And then one day I decided to retire

Now I dress down and wear whatever I desire

T-shirts, blue jeans, and sneakers, hooray!

B4FB41F9-9B44-46CC-B6BA-9378D23258EDWritten for Patricia’s Place “In Other Words” prompt. This week, we are to “write a story or poem of five lines or fewer using the word “dress up.”

FOWC with Fandango — Tantrum

Fandango34 Comments

FOWCWelcome to November 1, 2018 and to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC). It’s designed to fill the void after WordPress bailed on its daily one-word prompt.

I will be posting each day’s word just after midnight Pacific Time (US).

Today’s word is “tantrum.”

Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.

Once you are done, tag your post with #FOWC and create a pingback to this post if you are on WordPress. Or you can simply include a link to your post in the comments.

And be sure to read the posts of other bloggers who respond to this prompt. You will marvel at their creativity.