11 August 2023

Published August 9, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Alicia Jamtaas

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Genre: Anecdote
Word Count: 100

HOKEY SMOKE!

One summer I went with a group to Alaska. It took time to get used to the sunlight streaming through our hotel window until 11:00 PM. The weather was incredible. Nothing like the summer heat and humidity in the Midwest.

My friend and I decided to take a stroll through a nearby neighborhood that looked like any other US suburb. Until we came face to face with Bullwinkle.

“Back up slowly,” said Clint. “Don’t let him know you’re afraid.”

“Too late.” I trembled, fascinated by the moose’s stature and enormous antlers. “Something tells me we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”

This is a true story. Although the quotes might not be totally accurate. 😉 If you’re familiar with Rocky and Bullwinkle you might recognize Rocky’s favorite esclamation “Hokey Smoke.”

Rocky and many of the other characters were voiced by voiceover legend June Foray:

7 July 2023

Published July 5, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © AJ Wilson

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Genre: Historical Faction
Word Count: 100

WOODSMOKE AT TWILIGHT

Had it not been for scouting, I might never have seen the great outdoors beyond my backyard. My parents adhered to the eleventh commandment—“Jews don’t camp.”

Overnights were the best. Following an afternoon hike, we’d gather round the campfire. Our mouths and fingers gooey from roasted marshmallows, we topped off the day scaring each other with ghost stories.

“My uncle found a man’s head in the grass,” said Lucy in a loud whisper.

Margo added, “His golden eyes glowed.”

Back home in my own bed, I wouldn’t sleep for a month without a nightlight.

I miss those good times.

23 June 2023

Published June 21, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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There are days and weeks when inspiration is a snap. The ideas flow and stories leap onto the page. Without boring you with the details, I’ll just say this hasn’t been one of those weeks.

Genre: All too realistic and hysterical fiction
Count: 100 Uninspired Words

UNINSPIRED

Shelly typed a line from a familiar childhood story, “Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me. I’m the gingerbread man.”

Outside her window, birds chirped, heralding the dawn.

“Nope, not the least bit inspiring.” She backspaced over the sentence and tapped out. “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

“There. I’ve used every letter of the alphabet. Now what?”

Downing the last of her coffee, Shelly pressed the backspace key again and stared at the photo prompt.

She leaned back and pouted. “I hate it when my muse gives me the silent treatment.”

9 June 2023

Published June 7, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

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Genre: Hysterical Faction
Word Count: 100

CHILD’S PLAY

The TV shows I loved as a kid are now retro footage on YouTube.

When did Paul McCartney, the cute Beatle, become an eighty-year-old, albeit nice-looking, grandfather? Man from U.N.C.L.E.’s heart throb David McCallum is pushing ninety.

My favorite toys such as Chatty Cathy and the little red spinning wheel are considered vintage and are available on eBay for three times the original price.

Somewhere along the line I stepped through Alice’s looking glass. Help me! I’m a child trapped inside an old woman’s body.

“Age is only a number.” I shrug. “Growing older is inevitable. Growing up is optional.”

I had the blonde version. My mom once sat down with her and wrote down all eleven of her sayings. 😀

26 May 2023

Published May 24, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © Amanda Forestwood

Genre: Anectdote
Word Count: 100

LIFE HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS

After 15 hours of cumulative flight time and layovers, we made it to our hotel in Tel Aviv. I stowed my luggage in my room and boarded the elevator to join my companions in the lobby.

Just before level L the elevator stalled. In desperation I banged on the door.

“The technician’s on his way,” a serviceman told me. “But he’s stuck in traffic.”

I sank to the floor and played video games on my phone; grateful claustrophobia isn’t one of my problems.

An hour later, I was released from my 6-by-6-foot prison.

From now on I’ll use the stairs.

The management was quite apologetic about my ordeal. I told her I’m a writer and would have to write about this. I promised not to use any names. She just laughed and said, “Free publicity.” At any rate, she said they would treat me nice. She was true to her word. Later when I went to my room, this was waiting for me.

A few more pics from the trip. I’ve way too many to share. The lady with the two-towned hair and beautiful smile is my cousin Wendy who lives in Tel Aviv. Could’ve been the highest point of my trip. ❤ One of our missions as a humanitarian group was to take stuffed animals to hospitalized children. (will never forget the smiles).

21 April 2023

Published April 19, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart

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Genre: Anecdote
Word Count: 100

TITANIC BLUNDER

Remember renting VHS movies in the 1980’s? We’d make a big bowl of popcorn, put the cassette in the VCR and settle back for cheap entertainment on the small screen.

One Sunday, my husband, a huge John Wayne fan picked up a copy of “The Conqueror” starring his hero as Genghis Khan, infamous Mongol conqueror.

As the Duke uttered his lines, he sounded more like a Texas cowboy. “Your treacherous head is not safe on your shoulders—(Pilgrim).”

“Are you into this?” asked Jan, remote in hand.

“Are you?”

I’ll never know how the movie ended… Nor do I care.

***

Here’s the trailer for this miscast disaster:

To read more about this epic failure of a movie and the deadly consequences of shooting location CLICK HERE

17 March 2023

Published March 15, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Pure Fiction
Word Count: 100

YOU CAN GET ANYTHING YOU WANT

After fifty-five years Alice still missed Johnny who’d been drafted and died in Vietnam. Their daughter Sunshine, a successful lawyer in Manhattan had little time for Alice.

One day, Alice texted Sunshine. “Leaving for Australia. Going to open a restaurant.”

“Mom, are you smoking weed again?”

***

Pushing a lock of long white hair from her forehead, Alice flipped veggie burgers on the grill in her thriving café. She gazed at the mountains kissing the cerulean sky outside the window. Her town—peaceful Alice Springs—three hours or less from anywhere in Australia and thousands of miles from the Divided States.

Alice Springs, Australia

And if you have 19 minutes to spare CLICK HERE to enjoy Alice’s Restaurant.

10 March 2023

Published March 8, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DOMESTIC GODDESS

After reading the book Fascinating Womanhood, Shelley prepared a special candlelight dinner.

In anticipation of a romantic evening, Shelley fixed her hair and put on her sexiest dress to greet her husband when he came home.

At 5:30 she heard him pull into the garage. Heart thumping, she opened the door for him.

Walking past her, Greg surveyed the dining room. “Did we have a power outage?” He flipped on the overhead light. Then he flopped on the couch and turned on the television.

After hitting him over the head with it, Shelley decided Fascinating Womanhood made a dandy doorstop.

You may or may not remember this book. Maybe it worked for some. 😉

3 March 2023

Published March 1, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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March is upon us, but I couldn’t resist adding one more neglected African American. She made laundry a little easier for the average housewife back in the 1800’s.

Genre: Washable Ficton
Word Count: 100

OVERHEARD AT THE LAUNDROMAT

Dale reached into the washing machine. “Laundry is such a pain in the tush.” She tossed wads of damp clothes into the dryer. “I suppose it’s better than scrubbing them on a washboard.”

Rochelle folded a T-shirt. “Well, ya know—now that you mention it.”

“Uh-oh. She’s bringing on the history lesson.”

“We can thank Ellin Eglin who invented the wringer in 1888. She sold the plans for it for $18.00. When asked why, she said, ‘You know I am black and if it was known that a negro woman patented the invention, white ladies would not buy the wringer.’”

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10 February 2023

Published February 8, 2023 by rochellewisoff

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This week I did something I rarely do. Due to the concern many readers had for poor jilted James, I decided to share his side of the story. 😉 If you haven’t read my story from last week or just want a refresher: CLICK HERE.

Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

HAPPILY EVER AFTER PART II

James gazed at Hattie’s note. His fiancé was on her honeymoon with David?

Perhaps he should’ve seen it coming. Hattie and his best man had been good friends since childhood.

Now what?

The caterers had been paid. Flowers and streamers festooned the reception hall where an elegant three-tiered cake awaited the happy bride and groom.

Twirling Hattie’s engagement ring around his left pinkie finger, he typed in a number on his phone with his right index finger.

“James!” said a woman’s voice. “I didn’t expect to hear from you.”

“Hi Kate. As it turns out I’m free tonight after all.”