Happy “Feast of the Donkey Day” (if you’re reading this on the 14th) or “Strawberry Ice Cream Day” (if it’s the 15th). Who comes up with these things? Although strawberry ice cream does sound pretty good about now.
I recently finished “Laughing Hysterically Day” after I got cost estimates for doing a “refresh” of my kitchen cupboards and a “replacement” of my living room sofa. It’s not that I’m not willing to pay for quality and for the value of worker time, but the quotes definitely outside of the realm of that. Also, I’m pretty sure the kitchen-estimator-guy mocked my “that style is so yesterday” tastes, and who wants that. I like to think of my tastes as “classic” or “timeless.”
Time for Plan B.
Youtube, here I come. I may not be able to completely remodel my kitchen that way, but maybe I can at least learn how to repair the drawers (my biggest pain point) and install a couple of sliding shelves in one of the hard-to-get-to cabinets. I’ll let you know how it all turns out.
In the meantime, I think I’ll take a creativity break and give today’s writing prompt and random words a try.
Care to join me?
For those of you working away on a story (whether a first draft or a polished version on its way to publication), if you’re not feeling random, we’d love to hear a bit – whether it’s a scene, a paragraph, or even a phrase that you are especially pleased with and would like to share.
If you don’t have a story in progress, or just want to work on something new, I hope either today’s random words or writing prompt will catch your creative fancy.
Ready?
Prompt: Moving to a new house
Feel free to interpret the prompt any way you choose (or ignore it completely) and include any (or all) of the following random words:
downtown lemon barbarian attic
wreckage abilities juvenile chaos
grape horseplay ballroom essential
drench granite picnic industrial
I look forward to seeing your stories in the comments. If you’re not feeling in the writing mood today, or don’t have time, feel free to post suggestions you might have for future “what-if” prompts. Ideas are always welcome.
Happy writing to all!
Eight Ladies Writing 
I too an thinking about doing a bit of a construction refresh on my apartment, Elizabeth, and I have to say that your story is scaring me a little. I’d thought it would be a good time, since I’m not spending any money to go anywhere, and I have little extra right now. But maybe not. 🙂 However, I can have people changing house in my sprint, absolutely free.
The Big Move
“You’ll love it downtown,” Four Rivers assured her husband Charles. “The place has a ballroom. Granite countertops in the kitchen. And all that industrial chic!”
“Barbarians in the attic,” Charles grumbled, wrapping his vintage golf clubs carefully in newspaper. “Chaos in the universe. Wreckage in the hallway.”
“Now, Charles, we talked about this,” Four started, but then the doorbell rang. “That must be the movers now.”
“Horseplay in the china cabinet,” Charles said, wrapping his nine-iron, getting into the spirit of the thing.
“Maybe you could direct your considerable abilities to something a little more essential,” Four said, getting to her feet.
“Juveniles in the porn collection!” Charles called as she left the room. “Ants in the picnic!”
Standing on the front porch, drenched from the thunderstorm, stood two stout fellows. Another two pulled open the back door of the moving van.
“Four Rivers?” the shorter of the two said when Four opened the door. “What’s that? The destination? The paperwork’s messed up.”
“That’s my name.”
“That’s a lemon of a name,” the taller one said.
“I like to think of it more as a grape,” Four said.
Charles is delightful. I can understand just how he feels. Hope their move turns out okay.
As for construction work, don’t give up all hope; just maybe be prepared for a little sticker-shock. I’m currently revaluating what’s “nice to have” compared to what’s “you should have fixed this a long time ago.” Good times.