#MarquessaChallenge – “Missing You” #fictionfriday #music #prompt

Hey guys! Go check out Marquessa’s blog and her new challenge for Friday! I can’t wait to see your creative writing based on song lyrics!

#Fiction Friday and Song Lyric Sunday

I have some exciting news for everyone!  Marquessa Mathews of Simply Marquessa reached out to me and wants to join forces for a fun blogging adventure in September.  The best part is, it is all about music!  My life over here will pretty much stay the same with my Song Lyric Sunday posts, but she will be starting a #Fiction Friday Challenge on Friday.  Click on the link and check it out for yourself, but here is a small blurb from her post:

“I will be posting a song lyric as a writing prompt fr YOU. If you don’t like the lyric I post, you can simply use another you hear or just write according to the essence of the song. Flash fiction, regular fiction, poem…it will be up to you!

If you take the challenge, I’ll ask you to pingback to the post or drop a your link post in the comment box.”  

We’ve agreed to reblog each other’s weekly posts so we can all participate in sharing our love of music through lyrics and flash fiction/poetry.

Please go check out Marquessa’s blog and find her new challenge tomorrow.

I’m looking forward to all your creative writings, and as always, tune in on Saturday for the Song Lyric Sunday theme.

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Sunday Photo Fiction (on Monday) – Target Practice

© Dawn Miller

Staring down the barrel, I spot the china cups, pausing on each one to take a deep breath in through my nose and slowly blow it out through my mouth.

Too easy.

I take a few steps back and repeat the process, this time adding the additional target. The excitement builds in my gut and almost explodes out my fingertips. Shit! I almost pull the trigger, but I pull up just in time. The anticipation just might kill me, but it’s oh so sweet.

The air around me is still and I hear a bird singing in the trees above me. I can’t help but think it’s the perfect afternoon. I walk back to the table to take a sip of the tea I brewed earlier. It’s cooled down now, but it still manages to calm the blood that seems to be pulsing through my veins.

I hear a strange rustling and look up. The woman tied to the trellis next to the line of china cups is squirming. I can’t imagine why. The blindfold is still in place.

Smiling, I slowly place the cup on the table and pick up the gun.

Let the entertainment begin.

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The rules for Sunday Photo Fiction are to create a story or poem using around 200 words with the photo as a guide, although it doesn’t have to be center stage.  This one comes in at 198 words.

Click the blue froggy link to read other amazing stories!

Happy Monday!

Song Lyric Sunday – Fever by Family Force 5

I don’t really listen to this band much anymore, but whenever I click on their music, it honestly just makes me smile.  It brings back so many great memories of my daughter.  We used to jam to this song and many of their others, and I will always cherish those precious moments with her.

One of the things I love about this song is that you just can’t help but move.  I found myself thumping to the beat and almost got up to dance it out.  I decided it was about time for a fun song.

I believe it was written by the band members and the lyrics are in the video so I won’t re-post them here.

I hope you all enjoy!

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The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week was heat.  Please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 8/27/17

It’s crazy to me how fast time seems to just be flying by.  I was feeling rather forlorn about it until I realized that football season will be starting very soon.  I know that probably sounds odd coming from me, but I have my two favorite teams (one college and one NFL) that I follow religiously and I enjoy every minute of it.  Not that it has anything to do with SLS…

I didn’t really have a direction for the theme this week, so I honestly jumped at the first word I thought of today.  Luckily, it’s not one we’ve done.  We’ve done similar themes with “the sun” and “summer”, but not this one.  So, I hope you have fun rummaging through all your music.  I think this one could take us in lots of different directions.

The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is heat.  

As always, you can go your own way and post a song that has nothing to do with the prompt.  We’re all here sharing our love of music and lyrics, and most of all, having a great time!

If you would like to suggest a theme, I am open to suggestions.   Please either pop it in the comments or send me an email at helenvahdati@yahoo.com.

Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due and it’s honestly just a simple Google search
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to this post or my own Song Lyric Sunday post
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

Feel free to use the Song Lyric Sunday badge by copying it into your post or add it to your site to show you are participating.

Song Lyric Sunday – Simple Man by Shinedown

I usually try to do a search of the theme just to see what kinds of songs are out there based on the theme.  I think there’s enough out there to justify the choice, but I’ve decided to go in a slightly different direction.  However, my first pick of those songs would have been Desperado, by the Eagles – one of my favorites.

This one is kind of in the same realm as that… it’s about not getting caught up in the allure of money and living simply – “forget your lust for the rich man’s gold”.  I believe gambling can be very destructive and I think this song speaks to a better way of living. “All that you need is in your soul” and “follow your heart” are great lyrics that I think can speak to everyone.  I also love that this is a mother speaking to her son and hoping for the best for him in life.

I saw Shinedown in concert with my daughter a few years ago and while I haven’t listened to every song in their quite extensive library, there are many that I fell in love with and still love today.  I hope you enjoy!

Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this
It will help you some sunny day
Take your time…don’t live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
Go find a woman and you’ll find love
And don’t forget son
There is someone up above

And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Be a simple kind of man
Won’t you do this for me son
If you can?

Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this if you try
All that I want for you my son
Is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Be a simple kind of man
Won’t you do this for me son
If you can?

Boy, don’t you worry…you’ll find yourself
Follow you heart and nothing else
And you can do this if you try
All I want for you my son
Is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Be a simple kind of man
Won’t you do this for me son
If you can?

Written by Gary Robert Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week was gambling or taking a gamble/risk.  Please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 8/20/17

My father-in-law is back in town and one of the things he likes to do is go to the casino.  I’ve never been a huge fan of gambling, myself, because losing money just isn’t fun for me.  Money is hard enough to come by, why do you want to just give it away?

I suppose there is some element of fun if you take a specific amount of money with you and know you’re just going to lose it.  Perhaps you can look at it as paying for those free drinks?  I don’t know.  Somehow, I can never really convince myself it’s a good idea.  If I do end up going with them tomorrow, I’ll be going for the drive because I love road trips.

I’m sure you’re wondering what all this has to do with Song Lyric Sunday, but just in case you haven’t guessed already, it has to do with the theme this week, which is gambling or taking a gamble/risk.  

As always, you can go your own way and post a song that has nothing to do with the prompt.  We’re all here sharing our love of music and lyrics, and most of all, having a great time!

If you would like to suggest a theme, I am open to suggestions.   Please either pop it in the comments or send me an email at helenvahdati@yahoo.com.

Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due and it’s honestly just a simple Google search
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to this post or my own Song Lyric Sunday post
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

Feel free to use the Song Lyric Sunday badge by copying it into your post or add it to your site to show you are participating.

SoCS – Flippant in the best way

I’m not going to lie, I had something I wanted to post and when I first read the prompt I was worried because it doesn’t really fit. But, I’m going to make it work, even if it is a bit flippant.

Speaking of flippant, my thirteen year old son is pretty much a wiz at it.  He can say some pretty off-the-cuff things and has been known to turn something really serious into something down right funny.  I think it’s a mixture of being intelligent beyond his years with a dry sense of humor.  We had the strangest, most amazing conversation via text message the other day, and I’m going to let you all in on the awesomeness.

Also, I don’t consider this cheating because every response was stream of consciousness, as you will see.

Andru was looking for something in the garage and this is how it started:

Me: I’m a box on the back wall. On like the second shelf?
*In. I’m not a box. LOL

Andru: Are you sure you don’t want to be a box? That would be awesome. You could some square pants and stuff.

Me: It would be rather boxy…

Andru: But it would be a cool boxy.

Me: What if it’s hot though?

Andru: Well I mean if you borrowed some from spongebob they would be at right?

Me: But he’s a sponge…

Andru: But he’s also boxy

Me: I don’t know. I think I prefer Patrick.

Andru: So you only like stars?

Me: Stars are cool.

Andru: No they aren’t they are actually really hot.

Me: Yeah, but space… 🙂

Andru: But they’re still too bright and hot.

Me: It’s better than being a boring square box.

Andru: But square box’s are very fancy in their own special way.

Me: Describe one…

Andru: They have 6 sides while stars have none.

Me: But stars have cool points and they sparkle and shoot and blow up and shit. Way cooler.

Andru: Well actually all they do is pitifully fall down towards the earth and die. While boxes on the other hand can provide support when trying to scale walls and can hold stuff when you really need it.

Me: The box would have to be full in order to offer support when trying to scale walls, so really, it’s just a place to put things. A star, however, is ALIVE!

Andru: But the stars are made of gas. Like fumes gas. Also that’s the greatness of the box, you can change it and shape it however you want. Stars just burn you to death and blind you.

Me: Yeah but that’s still way cooler than a boring, old box. I’d rather die blinded by a star than huddling cold and alone in a box.

Andru: But boxes can warm you and love if you treat them right. And whoever said that a box couldn’t be cool. Also with a star, the star would most likely be the reason you died while the box would be trying it’s best to keep you alive.

Me: Well, a box could possibly keep you somewhat (barely) warm in winter if you have nothing else. But it could also be suffocating in summer. It is also a fire hazard. I also think there’s more of a possibility to die from a box than a star. Boxes are everywhere and could catch fire or crumble underneath you. A star just minds its own business out in the vastness of space, while providing a delightful spectacle.

Andru: But boxes are closer, they provide a strong bond. A star can’t do that. They just sit out there like douchebags laughing in your face because they are bigger and brighter than you.

Me: Those elitist assholes. But honestly, as I said before, they’re cool as shit and they know it, so I’l give them a pass. Boxes only provide a strong bond if they themselves are strongly bonded. Otherwise it’s just crumbling cardboard which is usually just in the way and in need of recycling.

Andru: If they are not very strongly bonded than you can just fix them up. Yeah boxes do come with a little baggage but anyone would prefer a little baggage over something that’s only good is that it looks cool.

The debate was pretty much done at that point, but I’m curious about what you think. Boxes or stars?

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday  is hosted by Linda G Hill.  Today’s prompt is “pant”. 

  

Friday Fictioneers – The Scene of the Crime

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“Was this door open or closed when you came in here?” Detective James asked his partner.

“I… Um, I don’t remember.”

James ground his teeth and clenched his fists.  “Get out,” he finally whispered.

“But… you can’t! I mean, you don’t have the authority… Do you?”

James took a step forward, but shook his head and stopped. More violence wasn’t worth it. “You screwed up the last crime scene and now a murderer is walking the streets.  I don’t give a shit who you’re related to, I’ll make sure you never work in this town again. Now, get out!”

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Friday Fictioneers is a weekly flash fiction prompt where we are given a photo and asked to write a 100 word story – beginning, middle and end.  This one came in at 99 words.

Click on the blue froggy to read other amazing 100-word stories!

Song Lyric Sunday – Drops of Jupiter by Train

So, I decided to go with the very first song I thought of when I came up with the theme, but I just did a search for these types of songs and I almost changed my mind.  Bad Moon Rising by Credence is one of my all time favorite songs; however, I’m sure it will get picked, so I will “stay in my lane” and stick with more current songs.  Although, “more current” is relative these days, since this song was released in 2001.  Holy cow, has it really been that long?

I saw Train, Maroon 5 and Matchbox 20 in concert way back before Maroon 5 was even known (they were actually the opening act), and I still remember it as one of my favorite concerts.  It’s just hard to believe it was over fifteen years ago!

I just listened to this song again, and I’m now wondering if it isn’t a bit snarky.  The singer is perhaps a little bugged that someone they love decided to “go find themselves”, but that isn’t how I originally thought of the song.  It was just a fun song that made me think of spreading my wings and getting away.  Perhaps I’m that annoying person that has always been trying to find myself, but hey, why not join me rather than sitting around being hurt that I’m off in the milky way somewhere?

I still love the song though.  Train has always been hit and miss, but this one was always a hit.  I hope you enjoy!

Now that she’s back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there’s time to change, hey, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated

Tell me, did you fall from a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Now that she’s back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation, hey, hey
She checks out Mozart while she does tae-bo
Reminds me that there’s room to grow, hey, hey

Now that she’s back in the atmosphere
I’m afraid that she might think of me as plain ol’ Jane
Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back to the milky way
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you’re wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone
Conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had, and me

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way

And are you lonely looking for yourself out there?

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the milky way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated

Tell me, did you fall from a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Songwriters: Charles Colin  / James W Stafford / Pat Monahan / Robert S Hotchkiss / Scott Michael Underwood

Drops of Jupiter lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week was outer space.  Please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.