comicfan

Thanks Jo Ann. I do take any project I do and try to make it the best I can. Family relationships are something I like to spotlight. The good and the bad.

Thanks for reading and commenting Mann. I think sometimes the best pieces in a story have something from real life in them. I worked in a restaurant for a number of years. Even there you would see the family blow ups. I really do have to give my beta team credit though. They kept asking for more which really helped bring this to life.

Krista turned the small ceramic bowl around on the table again. She did her best to hide the small imperfection. She had been so proud when she had created the bowl, painting it with a new glazing method. The finished result had been a spectacular bowl that moved from an egg shell white to sky blue to a deep purple. There was just one spot where the blue met the purple where there remained a small circular white spot half the size of her pinky nail. Even with the imperfection, she was proud of

This project came about due to a now defunct project. Authors were asked to pick a subject and write on it. The subject for this was a family get together.

The weather outside is a damn mess. They are expecting up to two feet of the heavy wet snow, but I don't care! My wife is getting married. I know that makes no sense. About 9 years Tracey started working with me. She was sweet kid who didn't drive. Occasionally I gave both her and her brother a lift home, but that was really about it. Then life does one of those things that brings you together. Her grandmother passed away. No one from work was going, but I felt I should. She was so grateful to have someone show up for her besides her boyfriend. We began to hang out together, go to movies, the occasional dinner. It gave her a chance to vent, and me time out. People at work couldn't understand what we could have in common. She is young enough to be my daughter, but she is a great friend. When people at work asked if we were dating she laughed, asked to borrow the silver ring I always wear and told everyone she was my wife. When my mother passed she left everything and came down to LI to help my family grieve and support us however she could. Last year, after many years together Tracey and her boyfriend finally became engaged. During the summer there was talk of what part she wanted me to play in her wedding. I told her as long as I got an invite I didn't care. Tonight they asked if I would be the best man. To put mildly I am over the moon. The daughter I never had, close friend, and all around buddy wants me to be a major part of her wedding. Beaming ear to ear here.

We are well stocked in case of snow Dad. And the tire needed to be replaced. It seems someone is mad at me cause they cut the tire. Just not having much luck lately.

Nope. Sitting here now waiting to find out if it is a fix, which with my luck I doubt, or replaced. Betting on replaced.

Alright, I don't know what I did in my past or former life, but lord am I paying for it now. Haven't been sleeping well, fighting with my father, worked an hour on a beta project only to have it vanish, and then the damn car. Last week on the way home the front left tire went flat. Woke up this morning, before I had even crawled out of bed, the front right tire is flat. Repairs are one thin , but my luck has been replacement. Seems I am not allowed to save a dime lately. Grrr. Sorry just needed to vent.

Depression takes so many forms and isn't the same for any two people. There are no magic cures and things are solved slowly. My thoughts and best wishes go out to all. Mark hang in there.

Aww, Jo Ann. I know how important family is to you. That is some move your daughter is facing I know it isn't easy to let someone you love leave you behind, but while you might not have the location but you will always have that close spot in each others hearts. Here is you need me. Wayne

I try not to get upset or bent out of shape, but today was really screwed up. On Friday I left work all excited. I had Saturday off and I was opening Sunday. I really don't follow football, yeah my brother thinks I'm daft but when did the Jets last win? Anyway for me the Superbowl simply means I get to see friends, eat, and have fun. Right? I got to work early to find the schedule I had was wrong and had been completely rewritten. I was now closing instead. Needless to say I didn't even walk in my door at home until after eight pm. The party was an hour away. So the first chance I had to reconnect with friends was gone. I had missed every Christmas and New Year's party so I guess this is just par for the course. I made one joke today about being nominated (Thank you to those who did) but the comments I never even got to read cause my new phone glitched and instead of pulling them up it erased them. So I will work on a few beta projects and hope my friends enjoyed the game. I miss them, but guess my luck holds. Hope everyone is having a good February. Wayne

Gee and I was beginning to think people were getting tired of my crazy prompts.

I really like the way you handled the whole situation. Nicely done.

I always like to know what my readers think of what I am doing. I have had many who simply write they like a story. I've had readers write to my email or even pm when they feel a story is wrong or they just don't like it. Whether a reader loves or hates my story, the feed back is nice. However there are things in a review that help. "I just love your story. It was so great." While nice it doesn't help me focus on whatever appealed to the reader this time. Was it the right balance of show and tell, the way the story flowed, or the simple lack of mistakes (for which my beta and editor teams have my gratitude for making it look as good as it does). "This story really bugged me and I won't be reading any more of your work." Again this tells me I struck a nerve, but I have very little to go to attempt to improve my writing. It is the reviewer who tells me how or why a story touched them or missed the mark that I love the most. "I loved your poem about your grandmother. Reading it I couldn't help but think of my own and how she has touched my life. Thank you." That fact that the reader loved my poem is nice but knowing I made it universal so the reader could relate to it shows me that I need to keep those details in my writing. "I hated your story. You don't give enough details and I hated that you had no real ending." I know I will never appeal to everyone, but the fact that I didn't have enough details is something concrete I can focus on. I can also look at the ending of the story and see if it is too open ended or not. Those comments, while negative, at least point me in the direction to improve my craft.

Wow Dolores, you really wove a bunch of different prompts into one story. Nicely done. Glad you enjoyed the ideas.

I haven't been to DC since I am an adult. Had planned to go last year but my car ate my vacation plans. Oh well. Glad to hear you and the family are enjoying yourselves. I enjoyed watching the swearing in, thought I had to catch it in replay cause I was working. We had our first snow on Long Island with the past storm. Tonight the temps are to hit single digits with the wind chill. Hope you are all warm.

Well I hope everyone is doing well so far this year. I have been busy doing a lot of things so far this year. Just not sure where I will end up. 1) Doctors- been keeping up with the foot dr. He has gotten me supports for my shoes and hopefully that ends the pain in the feet for now. I did have a cold which made me cancel the dentist so need to reschedule. 2) Beta- Been working with some talented authors lately. I am not sure when they plan to begin publishing their latest stuff but Billy Brat, Sid Love, and Andy all have some really interesting stuff heading out soon. 3) The Fiscal Cliff- I am not one to point fingers, but will say all of those elected didn't stop to consider those who put them in office so now we all pay. The jump in taxes,while not enormous, was enough to cut into my meager savings, and may end up costing me my hotspot. I really am pushing for a new job at this point. 4) Writing- I am in a funk. Working on seven projects, but haven't finished any of them. Opps. 5) Postcards- stupid I know but I so enjoy mail that isn't junk mail or bills. Hopefully my friends are enjoying mine as much as I am theirs.

Happy Birthday Bleu. Here is to another year of wishes and great times. Enjoy.

Joann is turning into a nice writer with some interesting twists to any given topic. Now if we can only get her to write more and publish. Would be nice to see what sort of response others have for her abilities outside the circle of those who regularly read the prompts.

Hi all, Sorry haven't been around much. Cold pretty much put me out of commission. Tim if you need to talk this is the place. Rob all I can say is hang in there and if you need to talk we are here. Wayne

Ashes- feel free to talk. That is what this thread is for. Yettie - There are a few of is who have become the caretaker to parent. We just have to remember to take care of ourselves as well.

At least someone knows who he is. Still like Dick though- whether he is Robin, Nightwing, or Batman. Although my two favorites are Wonder Woman and her sister, Donna Troy.

Welcome Ryan. Glad to have you here. Hope you enjoy it. Greetings as well to the many others who have joined. I'm a bit behind on my welcomes.

DC is where my heart has always been. I think anyone who knows me could tell you that.

Thanks for the review. Glad you found it interesting NNN.