Welcome to the last Friday in July. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? Seems like children just got out of school for summer vacation last week, but some are already going back in the next week or two.
I might have to break down and get a calendar so I can keep track.
Happy “National Cheesecake Day” (if you’re reading this on July 30th). While a slice of cake won’t slow down time, it will make it pass in a tasty manner. Frankly, I was rather hoping for National Ice Cream Day, but that was a couple of weeks ago. Maybe I’ll just celebrate it again anyway, just in case I didn’t do a thorough job of it the first time.
Sounds like a plan, right?
In the meantime it’s “Not My Day Off After All Day” for me today. A big meeting has come up that I need to attend so, instead of puttering around the house today I’ll be in front of the computer with my headset on. At least I’ll be able to enjoy a view of the flowers blooming in the yard while I do that. Not quite the same as a day off, but it will have to do.
Once my meetings are over, I have some roses that are in desperate need of a trim. Then I plan to turn my recent lemon-tree harvest into a refreshing pitcher of lemonade and take a shot at today’s writing prompt and random words.
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: Lazy summer day
Feel free to interpret the prompt any way you choose (or ignore it completely) and include any (or all) of the following random words:
shack blissfully pale freewill
portal symbolic beeswax country
charismatic eraser almond feeling
crawling adhesive grounds twin
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’m sorry about your big meeting today when what you really wanted to do was nothing. I felt the dichotomy, now reflected in my sprint. 🙂
The Country Holiday
Oona Freebody leaned back in her Adirondack chair, feeling the calm that only a sojourn in the country could provide. She stretched her arms blissfully over her head and surveyed the manicured grounds with satisfaction.
“So, do you believe in destiny, or freewill?” she asked her twin.
“I believe that if you don’t put on some sun block, you’ll burn,” the always practical Astra said. “You’re as pale as beeswax.”
Oona took the almond-scented sunscreen and squirted some into her palm. “Do you think that the eyes are the portal to the soul?”
“If you don’t get off this philosophical bent, I think I’ll check out the snack shack.” Astra rolled her eyes. “What’s with you?”
“I got caught up in this article about the charismatics, and that led me to—”
“I’ll tell you what’s charismatic,” Astra said. “That pool guy. That’s who’s charismatic.”
“No argument from me. Although I think there must be something symbolic about the transference of—”
“No, there isn’t,” Astra said. “Nothing symbolic at all. Have you noticed the absence of tourists? Yesterday the place was crawling with them. Today they’re all gone.”
Oona grinned. “Like the universe took a giant eraser to their existence.”
“Or the weekend’s over.”
“Or that. So—I think you said something about the snack shack?”
Nice job, Kay.
Oona sounds like she’s having a very philosophical day. I definitely think she could use a trip the the snack shack . . . and maybe a refreshing G&T.