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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Ever have one of those weeks where the prompt doesn’t spark a single viable idea? No thesaurus in the world can help. We all have them. Here’s the result of my brain freeze.
Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100
STREAM OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS
To Whom it May Concern,
I cannot write today. My imaginary friends won’t speak to me. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Mine are broken. All the duct tape in the world won’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again. The face in the mirror is blank. No reflection on you, of course. Have I reached 100 words? Nope. Thirty-three and a third to go. That’s an LP you know. They were vinyl CD’s back in the days before stereo was king. And nothing rhymes with orange. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
What fun! Glorious, Rochelle
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Dear Neil,
Thank you for such a glorious comment. 😀 You made me smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You know, I find it odd about duct tape and Humpty Dumpty. After all duct tape fixes EVERYTHING! 😊 Very good. It made me smile.💖
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My dear Lyneane,
I guess there are limits to everything. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Imaginary friends not speaking – this implies trouble.
Hope the windows of the eyes function well and the reflection is clear.
All is well.
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Not to worry, Anita. All is well. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Stream of consciousness is one of the best tools we have Rochelle.
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Dear Violet,
Sometimes one has to ‘freestyle it’ and let the mind go. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice little story but untrue. Your imaginary friends are never quiet. At least not for long. They are always speaking to you 24/7. I know these things. Carry on.
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You do have a special insight into the workings of Rochelle’s imaginary friends.
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Dear Alicia,
Maybe he does. And maybe he doesn’t. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Believe, I do have a special insight.
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Dear Jan,
I only do what the voices tell me to. 😉 ❤
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I find it very hard to do ‘stream of consciousness’ – you’ve done this well. Captured exactly how it is when nothing will emerge from the photo prompt.
I think someone has already given you ‘sporange’ though. This ‘nothing rhymes with…’ reminds me of someone who has a website that’s entitled “nothing rhymes with stanza”. And I keep wanting to tell him/her about ‘organza’.
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Dear Sandra,
When I wrote this piece of frivolity I had no idea it would lead to a discussion of rhyming with orange. This is something I dashed off for the fun of it and then decided to use it as my FF offering. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Your imaginary friends may be quiet, but your imagination is certainly not, Rochelle. Loved this little piece of creativity. Nothing rhymes with orange, huh! There’s something called sporange – just googled it! But again, nothing that can be used creatively.
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Dear Anshu,
What a very kind thing to say. Glad you enjoyed my bit of silliness. 😉 Perhaps one day I’ll write a poem with sporange and orange. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, as long as to stick to the routine and put those words together it is fine and in your case, we all know it… Next post we all shall welcome them together.
This is a good post too, looks as if you are talking to us…
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Not even in my long-ago unlamented days as a pink pachyderm did I ever feel the need to rhyme with ‘orange’.
But then I am colour blind.
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YOU were the pink pachyderm? I had no idea!!!
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AnElephantCant deny it
He metamorphosed into CE Ayr
He makes no more money
And he isn’t so funny
But apparently he just doesn’t care
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Dear CE,
Colour blind, eh? Perhaps the pachyderm was really orange and not pink. Or maybe orange is the new pink. Orange you glad I’m about to stop this nonsense?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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lol. What to do when we draw a blank on the photo… But it actually came out pretty good.
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Dear Trent,
True confession. My mind wasn’t completely blank. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m sure it wasn’t! It seems that it also wasn’t full of typical Rochelle Historic Friday Fiction 😉 I did enjoy your bit of muse, or imaginary friend, or whoever, finding…
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A person has to step outside her own box once in a while and stretch other writing muscles. 😉 No one wants to be a one-trick pony.
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I agree. 🙂
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Loved the creative wordplay! Interested in participating in the challenge soon!
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Dear Mpuppal,
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you will join us. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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HEHE! Just the way I’ve felt since Nov 1… Just been brain drained of inspiration. Have to stew on this pic today and get back later. Got some ideas stewing in the brain pot… 🙂 2 Shalom, ~Jelli
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Dear Beautiful Bear,
You really have had quite the season. I hope your head clears and you’re back up to snuff soon. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m up and running this week! 🙂 I’m also searching for a used prom gown for the “Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine” prom next month. So exciting to participate in this awesome event! 🙂 ❤
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Yeah, I hear you. Sometimes when I see a picture I just go back to my default set. There’s plenty of trauma to mine, but it seems cheap (a bit like eating cereal for dinner).
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Dear Josh,
Some days are like that.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice one, Rochelle. And I know what you mean about having trouble thinking of what to write for a particular prompt. Then, a couple hours or days later, a story unfurls in your mind. I remember the days of the LPs. I still have a bunch of them but no record player.
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Dear Adele,
Actually vinyl is coming back into vogue, but I really like the convenience of my iPod. 😉 I’m glad you liked my silliness. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What? My beautiful picture didn’t inspire you? Tee hee… you lie, lady, you lie! This was fun… reflection on me… shall we giggle together?
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Qui moi? Lie? BUSTED! We’ll always be able to reflect on this one, won’t we? 😉
Shalom and hugs, me friend.
Rochelle
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Now that was quite a take on the photo prompt!!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you, Susan. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If this what an empty mind produces then I would welcome such ’emptiness’ time and agai. When in doubt, just do ‘stream of consciousness’. Absolutely marvellous, dear Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
Sometimes the best cure for writer’s block is to just write out the storm. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha… I feel stumped when looking at the picture… A bit like running my head through a glass window maybe….
Love your lament to an absent muse.
When it comes to orange I would go with a slanted rhyme… like syringe. Hmm maybe that is what I will write something on.
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Dear Björn,
I’m just a bit gobsmacked by the firestorm this bit of silliness started over the word orange. It’s rather amusing in itself, isn’t it? I loved where you went with it, thought. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes, you just have to write whatever comes to mind. Free verse is a great way of discovering gems in between messy thoughts. This one, for example, is a fun little gem in response to the prompt, Rochelle!
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Dear Jade,
Sometimes one has to write out the storm, eh? Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, exactly! ^_^
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Hysterical Fiction, now that’s something new…
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Glad you liked, Bernadette. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I do hate it when my imaginary friends go all quiet like that. I’ve noticed that threatening them with rum or perhaps a strong beer seems to loosen up their tongues. 😉 Loved it Rochelle!
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Dear Eric,
Sometimes I make my imaginary friends swim laps with me. Seems to work well for us. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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These imaginary friends are trouble makers!
I have me a suspicion this prompt has been creating some havoc in more than one response … 😉 Here’s mine:
https://naamayehuda.com/2019/01/16/the-gift-2/
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
I seem to have started an orange firestorm. Never my intent. Actually, my imaginary friends are scamps and they might have whispered silly nothings to write this one. 😉 That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂 Well, that’s as good an explanation for it as anyone can give … 😉
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I know the feeling, Rochelle, but not today – mine came pouring out in minutes. Other times, of course, it’s a different story – or none at all!
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Dear Liz,
The muse does ebb and flow. Thanks you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hehehehe.This is the best reflection, what fun.
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Dear Gabi,
I did have fun writing it. 😉 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Streams of consciousness can be more fun than serious writing, for sure )
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Dear Linda,
I won’t lie. This was just plain fun. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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LOL! I love it! Silly girl. Sometimes the mind draws a blank, for sure.
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Dear Linda,
There’s nothing so fun as writing something when there’s nothing to write. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love it – and thank you for the kind comment on my blog – much appreciated!
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Dear Jennifer,
So happy you joined us this week. Reciprocation is half the fun of the challenge. I’ve made some wonderful friends through blogging. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Maybe your imaginary friends have a case of laryngitis? 😉 In any case, your wit is obviously still there. 🙂
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Dear Magarisa,
My imaginary friends like to play hide and seek. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are most welcome, Rochelle.
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This was a very creative way to knock writer’s block off its block. I’m am about to attempt my very first Friday Fictioneers. I hope my imaginary friends, the voices in my head, speak up not only loudly but profoundly.
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Dear Nobbinmaug,
Another hearty welcome to Friday Fictioneers. Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my non-story. 😀 I had fun writing it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love how you address your comments, with dear and shalom, like each one’s a little letter.
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Nice to have a peek inside your mind Rochelle, and reassuring that even the best can be stumped sometimes!
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Dear Iain,
I’ll bet even John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemmingway suffered writers block from time to time. I’m not so sure about Ray Bradbury. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Iain says it so much better than I can. I am stumped with that word orange, sometimes I can’t even spell it
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Dear Michael,
Don’t worry about orange. I never really intended to start a dialogue about it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Crazy lady, nothing rhymes with wolf either!! Love this nonsense tale!
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Dear Shrawley,
Nothing rhymes with purple either. 😉 Crazy? I much prefer eccentric, thank you. Glad you enjoyed my rambling silliness. Thank you for taking the time to say so. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Crazy in a good way! Not in a locking up way!!😉 eccentricity is a great trait
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😀
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You got there in the end although I must say I haven’t counted the number of words.
I didn’t know about orange. Tough on the poets, but then orange is not the only fruit.
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Dear Patrick,
Orange you glad I didn’t try to rhyme it. Word press counts the number of words. Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my silliness.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha! No words? No imaginary friends? You have plenty and this perfect piece proved it.
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Dear Lish,
Busted. I really had no trouble with this one. 😉 And, as you might have noticed, I’ve been apprised of sporange to rhyme with orange. Who knew? he he. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The story of my life for the past oh so many months…
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Dear Dahlia,
Hope the log jam breaks for you soon. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Your imaginary friends are the voices in my head. Should I have said that out loud? 🙂
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Dear Sascha,
You’re in for it now. They will only get louder. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A nice story, nevertheless.
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Thank you, Abhijit. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a clever take despite not having a story to work with. Well done, Rochelle.
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Dear Varad,
Well that actually was my story and I’m sticking to it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am going through a long dry spell of creative drought too, therefore, rummaging through my memory to dig out something worth telling/writing on these days. It’s a frustrating place to be in but your story still flows so well. I guess that’s the difference between a master storyteller and an amateur one (the latter is me)
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What a very nice thing to say, Piyali. Sometimes it just takes facing down the blank screen and writing the first thing that comes into your head. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Shall keep that in mind (facing down the blank screen……head) thank you
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A story that’s not a story! Simply brilliant Rochelle!
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Thank you for such a head-turning compliment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’d almost say this was a cop out, if it wasn’t so good! You captured what it is to be a Friday Fictioneer, and our creative processes.
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Dear Fatima,
True confession is that it not only wasn’t a cop out but it also wasn’t writer’s block. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha, fun ramble! I do think that Michael’s “sporange” is pushing it a bit even if it is technically a word 🙂
I had a different problem this week – I saw a Christmas tree in the tape and ended up having to do a story around it as my mind got jammed 🙂
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Dear Ali,
I hadn’t really given the shape of the tape much thought. I was a little bowled over by the discussion of things that rhyme with orange. Sort of missed the point of the whole thing. Ah well. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So fun and nice to see I’m not the only one! I thought I was. 😀
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Dear Brenda,
Everyone comes to this point sometimes. And it’s fun to write about not being able to write. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i don’t believe your imaginary friends left you. their voices are all over your story. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
Twixt you and me…they didn’t. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s sticking a finger in the eye of fickle Inspiration! Nice creation, with nothing but a door, a reflection, and duct tape!
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Dear Andrea,
A writer does what a writer has to do. 😉 Glad you enjoyed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS I’ve tried twice to comment on your story and it seems to evaporate into the blogosphere. The comments might be in your spam folder.
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Still a fun write, even if you couldn’t write! Right?
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Dear Russell,
Write you are. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Even if your imaginary friends have left you, you have concocted a humorous tale! So I am sure they are somewhere. I had fun reading it. 🙂
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Dear Kislaya,
My husband says my imaginary friends go to bed with us. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, I was expecting a story with a historical background and wow this was so fun to read. loved it.
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Dear Kalpana,
Every so often I have to veer off my own beaten path. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love a bit of daftness, Rochelle and there’s room for more of it, next week we could do turquoise, 🙂
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Dear Michael,
We could also do purple next week, the only thing I’ve ever heard rhymed with it is maple surple. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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At least you can handle your problem well. I often have a problem like that, but since I don’t have to be first it’s easier to overcome it
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Dear Larry,
Sometimes a problem is not a problem, but an opportunity. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Elizabeth Post-Toasties W(T)F,
Bet you’d given up on me, hadn’t you?
I never dreamed we’d see the day when you drew a blank. That’s worse than an empty wine glass. Sometimes you can say more by writing about nothing than when trying to teach an old dog not to sniff his own poop.
Now, back to the front of the bus. Keep you eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.
Solomon Estore’
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Dear Solomon Estoré,
You are late this week. I’m making note of that on the bus manifest. A confession is in order. My mind wasn’t so blank as one might think. It was a matter of weeding through orange sporange. Because roses are red and violets are purple, sugar’s sweet and so’s maple surple. I’ll leave the dog and his poop to themselves. BTW has Eliza Jane taken over your couch yet?
Now where did I put my Tom Thumb booster chair for the driver’s seat?
Shalom,
Elizabeth Post-Toasties W(T)F
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Dear Lizabeth,
Yes, Liza Jane has set herself up as Queen of the Castle and insists that Connie’s easy chair is now her throne. She did enjoy the snow yesterday (her first).
I have a note from Buster explaining how I was forced to go fishing on Wednesday and not permitted to write. It’s difficult to read due to all the muddy paw prints, but explains everything down to the last scratch & sniff.
Let’s hope you can reach the pedals (especially the brake).
Solomon
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Screeeeeeeeeeeeeech!
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LOL…I love this… cause it sounds like me.
So many Fictioneers were referencing this 100 words I couldn’t wait any longer to see what it was about.
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Dear Dawn,
Every so often I just have to go ‘there’. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Genre: hysterical fiction. Hahahahahaha oh that made me laugh out loud.
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Dear Suchita,
Your loud laughter is my high praise. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What you just demonstrated is an excellent way to shake things loose in your own mind only ever get stuck! And you’re right that nothing rhymes with Orange. What is orange? Just an orange. Shalom, Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
And next week perhaps I won’t rhyme with purple. 😉 Thank you, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think your imaginary friends have indeed been speaking to you. All of them at once. A fun piece, Rochelle.
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Dear Margaret,
My imaginary friends are an unruly lot. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You probably broke a record talking about vinyl 😉
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Dear Subroto,
Disc disc, you shouldn’t talk that way. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fabulous piece! I really enjoyed it 😊
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Thank you so much, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, we all have those days, Rochelle, never fear! Thanks for the amusing side note and heartening to know when I’m uninspired that even avid scribblers like yourself have flat days. All the best
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Dear Lynn,
Oh, yes indeed. I don’t know of any writer who doesn’t write him or herself into a stagnant corner. Thank you for your encouraging words. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure always
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I think we’ve all had days like these. Well done for rolling with it! Better to tell the story that is there than to force the one that is not. That’s my attempt at sounding wise but it may just be gibberish!
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Dear Thom,
Your comment came through loud and clear. We writers do have writers’ block in common from time to time, don’t we? At any rate, your comments are much appreciated and add some warmth to a cold winter’s night. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My imaginary friends have been silent for far too long, hope yours will be back soon. Nice save.
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Dear Loré,
How lovely to see you here. I can say in all honesty that my imaginary friends didn’t really desert me. I was having a little fun. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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