Let's Play a Game!
by Kerry Blair
It's Friday afternoon. It's a gorgeous spring day. (At least it is here in Arizona.) Nobody in their right mind wants to sit at a computer reading a boring blog. (And I know very well you were almost doomed to a very boring blog because I just finished writing/polishing/dumping it.) I mean, come on. If you're stuck at a computer somewhere instead of out frolicking in a dog park with your best friend (your best friend is a dog, I hope) you deserve a little fun. One of my favorite games (after Clue) is something my son bought called Bestsellers. The game comes with four pads of paper, four pencils, an hour glass that measures three minutes of time, and a stack of cards with faux book covers. Players look at the picture and then have exactly three minutes to begin writing the "bestselling book" to go with the cover picture. When the timer runs out, you must stop writing, no matter if you're in the middle of a paragraph, a sentence, or a word. The players then share what they came up with and vote for the best effort. (Winner gets the book cover.) The person who collects the most covers by the end of the game is the winner.
Now, since were playing this in cyberspace, you must provide your own paper, pencil (or computer) and hourglass. Otherwise, the rules are the same. Look at the picture below and then take exactly three minutes to write your entry. (Who is that guy? What is he doing? Why?) You can write in any genre, of course. We'll keep the game open through . . . um . . . Thursday and vote next Friday. (This plan will come in handy if next week's blog turns out as boring as this week's.) Winner gets a bestseller of their choice!
Ready, set, GO!
It's Friday afternoon. It's a gorgeous spring day. (At least it is here in Arizona.) Nobody in their right mind wants to sit at a computer reading a boring blog. (And I know very well you were almost doomed to a very boring blog because I just finished writing/polishing/dumping it.) I mean, come on. If you're stuck at a computer somewhere instead of out frolicking in a dog park with your best friend (your best friend is a dog, I hope) you deserve a little fun. One of my favorite games (after Clue) is something my son bought called Bestsellers. The game comes with four pads of paper, four pencils, an hour glass that measures three minutes of time, and a stack of cards with faux book covers. Players look at the picture and then have exactly three minutes to begin writing the "bestselling book" to go with the cover picture. When the timer runs out, you must stop writing, no matter if you're in the middle of a paragraph, a sentence, or a word. The players then share what they came up with and vote for the best effort. (Winner gets the book cover.) The person who collects the most covers by the end of the game is the winner.
Now, since were playing this in cyberspace, you must provide your own paper, pencil (or computer) and hourglass. Otherwise, the rules are the same. Look at the picture below and then take exactly three minutes to write your entry. (Who is that guy? What is he doing? Why?) You can write in any genre, of course. We'll keep the game open through . . . um . . . Thursday and vote next Friday. (This plan will come in handy if next week's blog turns out as boring as this week's.) Winner gets a bestseller of their choice!
Ready, set, GO!
16 Comments:
OK, you sucked me in, so here's my 3 minutes' worth:
The Grand Canyon was a sight to behold. And Bob, visitor from New York, had brought all the right equipment to capture that sight: binoculars, digital camera, and (of course!) his own two eyeballs.
But Bob had a problem: Bob's mind (and eyes) weren't on the Grand Canyon at all. His eyes were, for the moment, prevented from seeing it because his camera's lense cap cover was still on the camera. And Bob's mind was a million miles away, dwelling on the falling out he had had, three days ago, with Marge.
We used to do something similar in a poetry guild I once belonged to. We'd look at picture, and then set a few minutes to write a poem about it. Here's my attempt with regard to the picture you posted:
Cedric Delmar Puttner was a special kind of guy--
Something of an eccentric, he was a private eye.
Equipped for all occasions, binoculars and the like--
He pretended to watch cute birdies
while recording crooks about to strike.
His cameras caught guilty parties in compromising pose--
He once caught 88 year old Mildred, stealing pantyhose.
Another time he spotted an agile runner spreeing from a bank--
Capturing on film a bit of stolen hanky-pank.
The police believed him foolish when he shot a UFO--
Turned out to be a picture of a hubcap flying low.
Dubbed the village idiot by those who thought him odd--
Cedric was a hero, though he wore a geek facade.
Rhyming "facade" with "odd" probably gets bonus points right away...
Though, Scott was at one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, he wasn’t there for a vacation. The hot, humid air was making Scott’s bright yellow shirt stick to his back and all he wanted to do was go back to his hotel, change into his swimming suit, and take a nice long swim in the sparkling blue ocean but that was out of the question. He was on a mission and he was going to fulfill it, no matter how uncomfortable he was in the different climate.
He lifted his camera again and focused in on his subject. The man in the black t-shirt and khaki shorts sitting at the drink shack was not a normal tourist enjoying a day at the beach, away from the office. No, he was at work, but to the vacationers he was just like them.
Scott knew the truth and that was why he was there. He watched the man in the black t-shirt in his camera while pretending to take pictures of the ocean. If anyone was watching him closely they would think he were insane since, if he had actually been taking pictures, he would have taken about two hundred of the same section of ocean.
But his patience finally paid off. Another man slid into the seat beside the man at the shack. This confirmed everything the agency had suspected. Scott knew who it was and that meant nothing good the tourists flooding the beach.
He snapped a picture of the men before turning back to his little white sports car.
PS: If anyone thinks that is a lot for three minutes it really was only three(Maybe a few seconds longer because my brother doesn't know how to use a timer). I type about 90 words per minute. Yay for the 21st century!
Re: Rhyming "odd" with "facade"---perks of owning a rhyming dictionary. =D
Cheri: you wrote a poem AND looked up "facade" in a rhyming dictionary all in 3 minutes?! You are beyond amazing.
Very fun entries, people. I'm going to try it myself as soon as I find three spare minutes!
Please keep them coming!
Actually, I looked up the sound\syllable: "od." Took all of about 3 seconds, since I keep that little handy dictionary in my computer desk. =)
Incidentally, my entry doesn't count, since as we all know, books of poetry are not bestsellers. =D I did this just for fun. The contest should be between the actual storylines that are shared. (This means I just disqualified myself)
Now get those creative minds out there working. (This is a hint)
Fred aimed his camera at the amazing site of the grand canyon sweeping before him, as his wife, Frieda, humphed at his side.
"Fred!" she groused, "Hurry up! The donkeys is leavin'"
"I'm hurrying, woman!" he growled back, wanting to capture the site of the red swirled rocks in front of him.
They had tried to come to this spot for vacation for years, bring the kids, the whole bit. They never made it until now - when they were both old and grumpy and dumpy. He knew he stood out as a tourist, Frieda didn't need to point it out every five minutes.
"Fred, do you know how goofy you look?" she said every morning when he donned another pair of shorts with his white socks...
But he didn't care. He'd been dreaming of this vacation since he was a teenager, and his grouchy wife wasn't going to spoil it.
The guide called to them all, confirming Freida's complaint and he sighed, putting his camera down with regret. He just hoped he didn't run out of film.
okay, I had my daughter time this for me, so it was only 3 minutes...I type fast too.
LOL
Cheri, you may NOT disqualify yourself. Did I forget to mention that rule in the fine print?
Come on, people. There are three more days! If I can find three minutes to give this a try, you can. I'm about to turn over the hourglass. Here's my entry:
After fifty years of an often turbulent marriage, Fred Finkleberg had become the perfect husband: solid, quiet, undemanding -- and a great listener.
Frieda stood next to him in the garden, her eyes brimming with tears of affection. How handsome he looked! She'd love it if he could stand under the willow tree forever.
He couldn't, of course. The neighbors would talk . . . eventually. She'd have to wheel him back into the shed. (Thank goodness for those cool shoes with wheels in the soles. What would they think of next?)
As she pondered, Frieda smiled. Maybe this afternoon she could replace the cameras with a book and ease him into the hammock while she ran into town for her afternoon art class.
Frieda simply loved the local community college. Pottery. Weaving. Botany. (Who knew there were so many poisonous plants in the world?) Taxidermy. Frieda had taken them all. She'd liked that last one best of course.
She looked around the yard. Where was that mangy old dog of Fred's anyway?
Fred and Frieda, huh?
Of course, it's not really as "fair" for you, Kerry; you posted it, so you already have a head start. =P
Very nice entry, Kerry. I think you win. =) (Even if you did "stuff" the ballot.)
--FHL
I'm really, truly not eligible to win. (Read the fine print.) You're right, Jon, of course. But not only did I have a head start, I stole character names instead of thinking of my own. :-)
Two more days to enter! Anything goes. (Well . . . almost anything.)
No one would belive that Tom Myers was really a space alien working for the C.I.A. the old man tourist disguise always worked the best.
His advanced spectroanlyzer, disguised as a camera allowed him to take x-ray photos of top secret installations as well as scan the dna of canadates for later abduction. Still life wasn't all fun and games the fbi agent and his annoying red headed partner was alwyas after Tom to get him to reveal the truth about the vast alien conspiracy even though no one really cares about that.
Kerry, I just had a chance to read your version of "Fred." Despite the rules, I say that entry wins. It's a killer. (Pun intended) =D Truly a much needed laugh for the day. I'll have to look for this game. My kids would love it. (And no, my poem still doesn't count)
“An Adventure of a Lifetime” The bold add proclaimed, buried in the middle of the Sunday paper among an old futon for sale and kittens for free.
“An adventure…That’s just what I need!” Ted decided as he read it. What better way to find adventure than an African safari?
Ted liked to throw himself into everything he did, full-heartedly. Into his work, his hobbies, and, now, his vacation.
There was nothing like wildlife to thrill and excite an amateur photographer like Ted. He wondered why he didn’t go to Africa before. Among the acacia trees and zebras, Ted and his camera felt at home.
However, trouble was brewing. For although Ted and his camera were one clicking and framing Ted himself had not yet discovered his group was gone and he was lost.
(this may have been a little cheating, but I did correct some of the spelling after my three minutes...but...too bad!)
"Work it baby, now pucker those lips and give me pouty!" Phil Bransen has been an amateur photographer at the local senior citizens center for the past two years. He has worked with several local models, most of whom are residents at the care center. He is celebrated for his majestic black-and-white nursing station landscapes and the always awe-inspiring death bed photographs. His work evokes certain surrealist depictions of everyday life for many geriatrics. One of his favorite models, Mabel Ann Jensen, has been posing for him for the last 7 months. She says, "Phil is an artist in the true sense of the word. Although his photographs are documentary in style, they convey an almost mystical sense of the place. He can take pictures of me in my robe any day!"
We would like to thank Phil for putting the Milwaukee Senior Citizens Living Care Center on the map. May other follow his shining example and make the most of their dreams no matter where they live or who feeds them.
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