it is a pipe dream
to believe retirement’s
for working class fools like me
only top percent
elites will live the lives we have dreamt
~kat
So…I was perusing an online newsfeed and came upon an article that was titled, “What It Costs to Retire Comfortably in Every State”. I knew I should have just scrolled on by. But nooooo. I had to have a look. According to the numbers I should expect to spend more than I am currently earning per year for every year I am retired. And of course have a retirement nest egg of over $1 Million in the bank. Needless to say, I am never going to be able to afford to retire comfortably. If I do manage to downsize and outlive my menagerie of pets, I should be able to survive at least. If republicans manage to take back control and eliminate Medicare and Medicaid in the next several years, retirement will be out of the question. How a country cares for its young and the elderly, the most vulnerable, minorities and the disabled, says a lot about who they are. This is who we are. And I know I’m not alone. The older I get the less afraid I am of death. But retirement? That scares the crap out of me!
it’s the greatest thing
since, well, ever since before
we wrapped it up for selling
stale-cold at the store
as if slicing it warm is a chore
~kat
Did you know? Here’s a bit of history from Wikipedia.
Otto Frederick Rohwedder of Davenport, Iowa, United States, invented the first single loaf bread-slicing machine. A prototype he built in 1912 was destroyed in a fire[1] and it was not until 1928 that Rohwedder had a fully working machine ready. The first commercial use of the machine was by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, Missouri, which sold their first slices on July 7, 1928. Their product, “Kleen Maid Sliced Bread”, proved to be a success. Battle Creek, Michigan, has a competing claim as the first city to sell bread sliced by Rohwedder’s machine; however, historians have produced no documentation backing up Battle Creek’s claim. The bread was advertised as “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped.”
As commercially sliced bread resulted in uniform and somewhat thinner slices, people ate more slices of bread at a time, and ate bread more frequently, because of the ease of eating another piece of bread. This increased consumption of bread and, in turn, increased consumption of spreads, such as jam, to put on the bread.
During 1943, U.S. officials imposed a short-lived ban on sliced bread as a wartime conservation measure. After only two months amidst public outcry, notably from housewives, on March 8, 1943, the ban was rescinded. Officials claimed they did not reap the benefits they had hoped to by banning it.
The phrase “the greatest thing since sliced bread” is a common hyperbole used to praise an invention or development. A writer for The Kansas City Star wrote that “the phrase is the ultimate depiction of innovative achievement and American know-how.”
About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a photo prompt. Your mission, if you choose to accept the challenge, is to tell a story in 280 characters or less. When you write your tale, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale. If you would prefer to post your tale in the comments (some people have very specific blog themes but still want to participate), I am happy to post a link to your site when I post your tale in the Round Up.
A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com.
I will do a roundup each Tuesday, along with providing a new prompt. And if for some reason I missed your entry in the Roundup, as I have occasionally done, please let me know. I want to be sure to include your tale.
Finally, have fun!
And REMEMBER…you have 280 characters (spaces and punctuation included), to tell your tale…and a week to do it. I can’t wait to see what you create this week.
Before we start, an extra shout out to Kalpana who I accidently left off the roundup last week. I added her tale later, but I wanted to be sure everyone had a chance to read it. By Kalpana at Gemini in the Sky:The BakerHer wrinkled but deft hands moved creating masterpieces that melted in the hearts. Patrons would line up early morn . Technology changes people’s taste. Fancy shapes and packaging rule the market. It is time to down the shutters. The last batch of cookies would go into the oven.
Starting us off… “It starts with one word Charles. Do you know what that word is?” Sweat saturated Charles’ brow streaming down his face. He knew they were on to him. “Geeze, guys, you know me. What’s in a word?” “One word, Charles…” “Loyalty. Right? Am I right?” “Charles, Charles…you pain me.” ~kat 278 Characters
By Deepa at Sync With Deep: It starts with one word everything that comes after just that one little word ‘but‘ needs to be listened… rather just hearing…
By Michael at Morpethroad: It all started with one word. Hello. He took her to the river, wined and dined her in the finest pubs around. She took him to the swankiest restaurants, then took him home. They found solace in each others company. He enjoyed the beautiful girl. She, her delightfully playful gentleman. (280 characters)
By The Dark Netizen: It starts with one word.Then another and another, and they keep coming. The words continue until my fingers find it hard to keep up with them. And then it suddenly stops. Total silence. I never read what I’ve written. I only write. I only do what the voices in my head tell me to.. Character Count: 280
By Lady Lee at Lady Lee Manila: It starts with one word Help! Everyone needs help All we need is to ask Somehow, someone will come We tell them what was wrong Or we can call our Mum Help! Everyone needs help Old man crossing the road One asks for direction A baby needs her feed Cat on the tree, don’t run (240 characters)
By Reena at ReInventions: that one word “Did anyone ask you to start with that one word?” “Not really!” “Then why have you wasted reams of paper to get it right? Do what your mind tells you….” Shucks, why are we born followers, not trailblazers? I could have changed the world, only …. in absence of that word –compliance. (280 characters)
By Di at Pensitivity101: It starts with one word. Always the same word. Such a small word. A word that results in a multitude of others. Words spoken in anger, some leading to violence. What is that word? NO. 177 characters.
By Kate at Everywhere and Nowhere: It starts with one word…but I can’t seem to find the right one. My agent will be breathing down my neck soon ‘we need the pages for the editor’, still nothing seems to be coming. I’m trying not to think about the word that will make it feel like it’s actually happening…block. Characters: 280
By Fandango at This, That, and the Other: Off to a Good Start George sat down in front of his Smith Corona typewriter. “Okay, George,” he said to himself. “It starts with one word.” He thought for a moment and then pounded out “It starts with one WORD” on the keyboard. He stared at the paper. “Around 90,000 more and my novel will be done.” (278 characters)
By Neel at Neel Writes Blog: it all starts with one word It starts with one word. ‘Hello. Next, three words—“how are you”? “You have a sweet voice”. All of five words. Before you digest it, the next lot’s in, this time seven words “I would love to know you better”. By now you know where this is heading. The online dating game’s begun.
By Sadje at Keep It Alive: The love letter He was staring at the paper in bemusement It starts with one word that he wants to say But not everything else that was in his heart Could be put in black and white for all eyes to see How could he word it, how can he explain that The love that burned in his spirit was all consuming 280 Characters
By Jo at A Creative PTSD Gal: June’s Integrity It starts with one word, integrity. It’s the truth between the moment of awareness and a final decision. June saw hate begin to rumble towards the crone once trusted with healing, ‘MURDERER!’ The child had died from fever, nothing more. June stood shielding the crone, ‘COWARDS!’ 279 Characters
By Kristian at Tales from the Mind of Kristian: Mountain Block They say a book starts with one word. Just as a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. However nice the words they don’t make it so. He stared at the nearly blank page. On this journey, there was a mountain blocking his path. He prayed for inspiration. Then it came. [277 characters]
By Willow at WillowDot21: Blowing away the dust I saw an old typewriter. There was a piece of paper with five words upon it. Bending down I read. ‘It starts with one word.’ I typed in a word and so it began. (180 Characters including: It starts with one word)
By Regina at Help from Heaven: Words are Powerful It starts with one word, the destruction of a person’s sense of value and worth. Realize that life and death are in the power of the keys. What we write sticks! People deleting of the words doesn’t help, for they have already penetrated that person’s soul and did their damage. 278 characters
By Teresa at The Haunted Wordsmith: Ghostwriter “It starts with one word.” Jardon stared at the paper in the typewriter and repeated his grandfather’s words. It wasn’t possible. He said it was magical, but Jardon assumed he meant his stories were magical. It’s just a typewriter, isn’t it? By dawn, he had a complete manuscript.
By Joe at The Diary of a Country Bumpkin: It starts with one word and I’m ready for that word, all you have to do is admit you did it. I know you did it, you know you did it, come on son you’ll feel better when you get it off your chest, you know you want to. This was your idea don’t forget but my conscience won’t let me do this, just say, “Yes.” “I killed him,” and I’ll write the story.
By Anita at The Explorer of Miracles: Endangered He pulled her near. Embracing her, he asked, “It starts with one word. What is it?” With her eye closed, she replied, “Excitement?” He tightened his grip. No passionate kiss followed. He repeated his question. Maya saw her secret laptop. The word that came to her mind was “Endangered”. 280 Characters
By Anita at For the Love of: Waiting for Spring Why so anxious, we know not why Phil said,”There’s more to come by” We stare at the radar as more winter is coming As rain and sleet start falling and icicles are forming So closing our eyes, we dream of far warmer places With a healing warmth of sunshine, for our toes and our faces.
By Deb at Twenty Four: It had been coated in dust when they found it in the loft, but after a little love and attention they finally realized the treasure they had discovered and now it held pride of place in the store. Who would have thought Charles Dicken’s typewriter would be left here of all places.
By Anurag at Jagahdilmein: You Can Do Magic It starts with one word, add a few more, and you can do magic, I said. They didn’t look convinced. Why don’t we give it a go? I asked. They nodded tentatively. The first word, I said, is Do. Do, they repeated. And together, we watched the hills come alive with the sound of music. 280 characters.
By Radhika at Radhika’s Reflection: The Proposal Sam and Maya were in love, and had a long courtship. A hard-core romantic, he proposed to Maya over candle light dinner by the sea one evening. “I’ll let you know tomorrow” said she, much to Sam’s dismay.Next morning, a type written letter came from her, with one word…
By Maranda at Maranda Russell: New to the Challenge, Maranda wrote two tales. One for the previous week’s challenge and one for this past week… TT#121: Hearts and stars. Hearts and stars. Simple shapes that any preschool child could identify, but symbolic of so much more. The heart…love, obsession, passion, heartwarming, heartbreaking, blood pumping. The star…cosmic, mysticism, alchemy, popularity, holidays, holy days. TT#122: It starts with one word: Helium. A harmless word? Parties. Balloons floating around the room. Rough, gruff voices becoming chipmunk squeaks. Or do you picture tragedy? Helium tanks hooked up to hoses. Bodies lying still with bags over their heads. Voluntary euthanasia. The end.
By Jan at Strange Goings On in the Shed: It starts with one word, sears my soul with a ferocious fire, plunging me further into an eternity of bleakness. The gods allow no peace. I rue the day you came into my life Jason of Iolcos, forever feel love and hatred in one anguished breath. I, Medea am diminished by Betrayal. (280 characters)
By Peter at Peter’s Pondering: It starts with one word bt can’t contine mch frther becase this keyboard is tterly seless. Jst how can I seflly se it? Have yo not heard? Some stpid person called Trmp has decided to ban one of the letters! He says it is nconstittional, and shold not be sed. It’s jst pre rbbish. Fck! (279 characters)
By Ron at Reading 4 Fun: it starts with one word… Is this better than pencil and paper? They sent me to this remote village to serve my sentence. No electricity, they let me have this infernal machine to write censored stories and poems. Very cruel, they know I can’t use English. Tell me, where is the key to change language? 276 characters.
By Ponnz at The Swan Song: One Word “I have never yearned for words.They fail, I know.I’ve seen it in your eyes always, a thousand times.However, could I hear it from you? All gonna start with your one word, love. Everything! ” gleamed his eyes. Yes, YES! She repeated. He knelt at her feet reaching out for her hand. Character count :280
By Namitha at Discover When Lost: Word! It starts with one word, A word powerful enough to make you..‘Yes’ A word mighty enough to break you..‘No’ A word so valuable but gratis..‘Smile’ A word that everyone craves for..‘Appreciation’ A word that keeps everyone going..‘Hope’ End of silence begins with a word! 268 Characters
By JP at the Wide-Eyed Wanderer: Disaster This day was a disaster and it started with one word. “FIRE!” A lot of disasters start with fire, not usually a demon-spawned stroke of brimstone and hellfire but still it could have been worse. Or so I thought, until I looked down at my smoking hands. Oh crap what did I do? character count 278
By Hayley at The Story Files: Beginning He wrote the first line of the story that had been in his head for awhile then stopped, not sure how to continue. He read what he had typed then tried again but his fingers were frozen above the keys. Perhaps, being an author wasn’t his calling after all.
Another fantastic round this week. We have several newcomers. So glad to have you join us. Some of you were very clever in your use of the prompt phrase. Well done. For this week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, Candy Hearts (photo by Skeeze on Pixabay.com). Pick one or more of the “messages” printed on the candies and include the words in your tale. Your tale does not have to be valentine’s day related, or love and romance related for that matter. The only rule is that you use a word or two or more from the photo and tell your tale in 280 characters or less. I’ll see you at the Roundup! Have a great week. And as always, have fun! 🙂
Twittering Tales #123 – 12 February 2019 – Candy Hearts
photo by Skeeze on Pixabay.comSecret Admirer
“Whoooh, someone has a secret admirer,” Amy teased.
“I know,” Jan sighed, “at first it was kinda fun. Little message hearts on my desk each day…time 2 dance, angel, wink wink…”
“That’s so sweet. What’s wrong?”
“I found one this morning on my night stand. It said, crazy 4 you.”
it’s a portmanteau
with breakable, too short tines,
and plastic bowl, too shallow
spoon and fork combined
good for neither, needs a redesign
~kat
Can you tell I’m not a fan of these clumsy hybrid utensils. I’d rather eat with my fingers than fight with one of these things! I should note that there have been a number of redesigns since it first came on the scene in the late 19th century. They all look rather odd, and equally useless. Though some have been given longer tines (apparently I’m not the only one bothered by that design flaw!) which does, I suppose improve the fork function. But…what’s wrong with toting a spoon and a fork if that’s what you need? It’s not like they take up a lot of space. Just a thought. 😉🤣
So it is easier for you to find all the parts/chapters of my ongoing fiction series, I created a new page that lists all the links. You can check it out HERE!
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