Happy “National Dive Bar Day” or, if you prefer something a little more specific, how about “National Gin and Tonic Day”. I’m not much of a drinker, but I’ve always like the sound of a G&T. I remember a series of mysteries I read when I was much, much younger, where the characters always seemed to be sitting on the porch sipping G&T’s, which sounded both relaxing and refreshing.
Now that I think about it, they probably should have been off solving mysteries, but who knows.
These days I’m more likely to be sipping a cold-brew coffee while working away on the computer, which sounds far less relaxing or refreshing. Ah well, it’s apparently also “National Almond Cookie Day”, so maybe I’ll put down my coffee, step away from the computer, and whip up a batch. That sounds like a delicious alternative.
For now, since it’s my Friday off, I’m going to be focusing on a bit of relaxation for at least part of the day. There are still those pesky backyard sprinklers that need to be repaired, but I think I’ll need to build up to that much activity by reading a book (or two?). Somewhere between the almond cookies and the backyard sprinklers I plan to grab my favorite notebook 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: Getting Out of the 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:
encounter corduroy pigeon finger
jewel surgeon creeper poetic
original hairy brigade formula
lavender arrival bowling key
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 writing prompts. Ideas are always welcome.
Happy writing to all!
Eight Ladies Writing 
I think National Almond Cookie Day sounds like a must-try holiday! And one that is worthy of a long weekend. Alas, for my heroes…
Monkey Business
“Come here, my little pigeon, my little jewel of the kingdom.” Ambrose Dexter-Smith, fifteenth earl of Riggensbotham, crooked a finger at the original hairy pet, a rare Celebes crested macaque, who seemed bored by the encounter.
Dexter-Smith believed that he’d discovered a winning formula to cure baldness, a mixture of lavender and a secretion of this macaque’s saliva. The Celebes crested macaque, as its name would suggest, enjoyed a bushy growth of hair on the top of its head.
The macaque’s arrival had been celebrated by a brigade of assistants, beginning with a monkey dental surgeon, Angus Creeper, who was employed to extract the macaque’s saliva, but whose career had otherwise been handicapped by his penchant for lawn bowling and a selection of unfortunate corduroy suits.
“The key thing is, we’ve got to tempt him out of the tree,” Creeper said, watching the animal’s poetic flair as it danced across the fig tree, snacking as it went.
“Easy for you to say,” Dexter-Smith said. “What do you have that he doesn’t?”
Great Job, Kay. I loved the “penchant for lawn bowling and a selection of unfortunate corduroy suits” line.
You definitely deserve an almond cookie for that.