One-Minute-Writer: 2011-07

Monday, February-14: Refrigerator. What (if anything) is hanging on the front of your refrigerator?
I'm single with a typical single household. You can be happy to find something in the fridge, let alone something on front of it!

Tuesday, February-15: Devil's advocate. Think of an issue about which you feel strongly. Without sarcasm or satire, argue the other side of the issue.
In 99,9% I prefer the books to the movies, nothing on screen could ever be so detailed than described in the book or as visual as your own imagination. At the moment I'm rereading 'The Lord of the Rings' and I might admit, that Peter Jackson's movies might be the 0,01% exception, where I began to like the movies more than Tolkien's books. Somebody might use that to argument, if there is one movie there might be others?!?! (Honestly, I don't think so!)

Wednesday, February-16: Upgrade. It's 2011. Cell phone networks are 4G; razors have five blades; and Starbucks is introducing a 31-ounce drink. What will be "upgraded" next?
I hope for human's brain 2.0. An advanced understanding, that violence is not the answer or a better environmental awareness or more humanity for the unprivileged people or whatever our poor planet is suffering from.

Thursday, February-17: Crazy. What makes you crazy?
People's bigotry, in whatever manifestation!

Friday, February-18: Strings. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Strings".
When my mother died I inherited from her a basket full of handiwork stuff. In that case you would have never guessed, that we're even related. While she was simply brilliant in knitting scarves and socks, I have two left hands. Anyway, I've kept that basket, even if I had no idea what do with it, and put in a hidden corner of my living room.
A couple of days later, I can't remember what I was doing, I saw a kind of red flash hitting the corner of my eye, followed by a sharp hiss and an angry growl. Curiously I followed that 'thing' into the other room ... where I didn't know, if I should be angry or simply laugh out loud. While I've almost forgotten, my little, four legged, purring room mates have discovered the secrets of the basket and found ... you might guess right, balls of yarn! With the effect that one of them was helplessly caught in a mess of red strings. I should have known, that there was at least someone, who would use this inheritance of my mother very well! =^..^=

Saturday, February-19: Six Word Saturday. Describe your life in six words.
Played the good little housewife, unbelievable!

Sunday, February-20: Contagious. What do you wish was contagious (instead of germs)?
Health! Wouldn't it be amazing to heal someone, just by touching him/her?

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One-Minute-Writer: 2011-02

Monday, January-10: Number. Write about a number that's important to you, and why.
I would say, '2' is simply a part of me and my personality. First, my zodiac is Pisces, 2 fishes. Then I always see both of the 2 sides of a medal, even if my own opinion is clear. My whole life I constantly feel, that there are 2 souls living in my breast.

Tuesday, January-11: Like. Complete this thought: It's hard to believe that I used to like...
It's hard to believe that I used to like ... oh, do I really have to say that? That's so embarrassing! Okay, you provoked it: It's hard to believe that I used to like David Hasselhoff. First in 'Knight Rider' than in 'Baywatch'. Well, some sins or x-files of the youth should better stay closed, right?

Wednesday, January-12: Healthy. In what way would you like to be healthier on December 31 than you are today?
At the moment I'm dealing with the matter of balance. Speaking, when I focus on one particular goal I neglect several other things. As for the end of this year I hope to find a balanced way in doing whatever I do.

Thursday, January-13: Fame. What is the most likely reason you might become famous?
The obvious answer would be 'becoming a famous author', but I'd consider an alternative: I simply love my job and would like to be appreciated and honored in that area. My big idol is the great management trainer and non-fiction author 'Vera Birkenbihl'.

Friday, January-14: Saw. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Saw".
The thin white fabric could only block the view, but not the noises and the smell. Our emergency tent was located on a far end of the camp, in order to give our patients a little silence. It could have also been straight in the center, once you landed here, you were so far beyond everything, you cared nothing but your pain. As long as you were able to fight, you fight. War is always ugly. Always. Within my last 576 years this was my ... I've stopped counting a long time ago. Every time I thought now mankind had learnt, that war was good for nothing, I was disappointed in the end. But now I had other things to concentrate on. There was a young man freshly from the war field waiting. With no sedatives left, I hoped he would loose his consciousness very quickly, when I gripped my saw and pulled the thin fabric aside.

Saturday, January-15: Six-Word-Saturday. Describe your life in six words.
Excited about coming February Journaling Challenge.

Sunday, January-16: Hero. What fictional hero would you hope would come to your defense if you were in trouble?
I hope I'll never be in such trouble to be in need for a SUPER hero, that would include worst case scenarios like earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis or meteors. Thanks, but no thanks! But I wouldn't say 'No!' if someone like the good looking adventurer Rick O'Connell ('The Mummy') would come to my rescue! *sigh*

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One-Minute-Writer: Week 50 & 51

(Note: These are writing prompts of "One-Minute-Writer-Blog")

Monday, December-13: Decoration. Write about a holiday decoration that holds particular meaning for you.
I have two little, very neat holders for tea candles. I bought one, the other my Mom at the Christmas market in Salzburg/Austria three years ago. The last one before she died, so these two objects are very precious for me.

Tuesday, December-14: Holiday. It's your job to create a new holiday, one that will be observed worldwide. What new holiday will you create?
"The World Day Of Peace": On this day any kind of weapons have to be laid down, including guns, fists and words. Everyone should have the possibility to meet everyone in silent harmony without any prejudices and mistrust with the hope that on the following day weapons aren't needed anymore.

Wednesday, December-15: Guilty. Write about the last time you felt guilty.
To escape all that Christmas-sugar-and-cinnamon-sweets I bought a bag of Cheese Nachos, of course with sharp cheese dip. Well, I simply couldn't stop and ate EVERYTHING! Did I get rid of the sweet taste? What do you think? Did my mouth, tongue and stomach feel fuzzy after that? Oh yes! *yummy* Did I feel guilty? Absolutely yes! But I think I would do it again ... it was simply too seductive and delicious!

Thursday, December-16: No. Write about a time you said no.
Oh, I say 'No' every single morning. First of all to my damn alarm clock. These days additionally to the dark and the cold, not to forget a very, very heavy 'No' to the snow. I'm simply no morning-girl, I hate getting up early, even earlier because I had to check on the snow! Thanks, but NO thanks!

Friday, December-17: Frozen. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Frozen".
A few years ago I escaped the German winter and fled to Kenya. Have you seen pictures of Kenya? After the dry winter the country supposed to have shades of beige and brown, but not this time. It was a January after 'El Nino', a quasi-periodic climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean. (Thanks Wikipedia!)
The transfer from the airport to the hotel already was a challenge for the eye, everything was so extraordinarily green. It hurt in the eyes like the glittering white snow at home. The nature sucked in all the rain and transferred it into the most colorful flowers and plants I've ever seen. All my senses were challenged. Slowly I could follow the intriguing fascination for that country.
In the first night my room mate was laughing at me, despite the warmth outside I needed a second blanket, my teeth were clattering, I was frozen ... the chambermaid thought us a good deed to turn the air condition as far as it will go. The room was simply f... freezing cold! I hadn't expected that! Well, these are things you'll never forget!

Saturday, December-18: Six Word Saturday. Describe your life in six words.
'Snow is falling all around me.'

The-One-Minute-Writer is on vacation: 12/19-12/27.

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One-Minute-Writer: Week 45

(Note: These are writing prompts of "One-Minute-Writer-Blog")

Monday, November-08: Who. Who are you?
I am the image of a person, that you can see from the outside.
I am the figure of a personality, that you combine from my point of views, my interests, all the things you know from me or believe to know.
But is that really ME?
I don't think so! I myself am not always quite sure Who I am, how should anybody else can?
I am what I am, sometimes more, sometimes less, but always a unique me!

Tuesday, November-09: Worth it. Write about something in your life that's worth it.
Dreams. I have a list of dreams. A list containing points, that afford quite some time or a lot of money or plenty of courage or all of them. Like backpacking in India for at least three months. This dreams are so strong, no matter how worse I feel or how bad a situation gets, if anything else seems to fail, I know I can continue, just because I want to make these dreams one day real. This list is my most worthy inner mainspring.

Wednesday, November-10: Fear. What do you do when you're afraid?
Ah, depends where I am, who's with me and what I'm afraid of! I scream and giggle watching a horror movie with friends. I shiver and search for a big newspaper to kill that horrible spider. I try to wake up from my worst nightmares and search for the warm embrace of my partner. I pull myself together and face the 'enemy' called boss. I close my I eyes, clack my read shoes and say 'There's no place like home'!

Thursday, November-11: Never. Complete this thought: I would never ...
I would never stop dreaming or learning. If I ever do you can call myself (brain)dead!

Friday, November-12: Jar. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Jar".
He was dozing, the sun warming his coat. Suddenly his long whiskers began to twitch. A tiny little bit he rose his head, wrinkled his nose and took a deep breathe. Yeah, there it was again. This wonderful whiff in the air. So warm and creamy, watering your mouth. He got on his four legs, gave his slender body a soft stretch, arched his back and gave his talons a little exercise. Well, well, well, some short strokes with the tongue for the looks and then strolling elegantly to the barn's backdoor. There it was, every day a wonderful jar of fresh milk. Yeah, live treats you well if you are a cat.

Saturday, November-13: Six Word Saturday. Describe your life in six words.
NaNo can completely suck you up!

Sunday, November-14: Books. How do you treat the books that you read?
I love books, they are one of my most precious gifts. I would NEVER (Oh, that I could have also used on Thursday's prompt! *g*) hit on the idea to treat my books badly. My books have no scribbling, no stains, no dog ears. As far as avoidable, my paperback books have an intact spine. Even my exercise books are treated well with fine notes and neat post-its. Books, I don't use or like anymore, were sold on Ebay or given to friends. If I kept every single book, I would soon get lost in my own apartment.

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One-Minute-Writer: Week 41

(Note: These are writing prompts of "One-Minute-Writer-Blog")

Monday, October-11: Discovery. Write about a good discovery you've made (big or small!)
Myself. It's surprising, what sometimes my body is capable of. It's amazing, which hidden talents suddenly break free. It's interesting, what different topics I'm obviously interested in. I'm the biggest quest for myself, to discover all the unknown sides of me. Okay, these discoveries are not all the time 'good', but always exciting!

Tuesday, October-12: Compliment. How do you react when someone compliments you?
Honestly, I'm not the type of person, who gets compliments very often. But, if honestly given, I've learnt to simply accept them, I'm enjoyed and pleased, and I say 'Thanks!' with a likewise honestly smile.

Wednesday, October-13: Animal. If you could have one skill that a particular animal has, what animal/skill would you choose?
I've always been a cats' person. I adore the pliableness of their movements, the strength of their bodies, their ability of night sight, their fine sensibility. It's difficult to select just one skill, I want to have the full package! And talking about that ... isn't there any feline creature in mythology, that has wings, too?

*hmm* I think, that's the point! It's not a single skill that makes you unique, but a good combination of several ones!

Thursday, October-14: Lost. Write about a time you lost something.
There was a dark time in my life when I'd almost lost myself. It's hard to think of that era, it felt like a pitch black darkness with no interests, no feelings ... nothing. But like early morning dawn defeats the darkness, the light has come back into my life. And now I understand the words of a wise man: "You can't appreciate the light, when you've never experienced the darkness."

Friday, October-15: Castle. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Castle".
Once upon a time there was a prince. He was a very handsome man with a splendorous figure and a lovely face. As beautiful he was from the outside, as ugly he was from the inside. He was selfish, moody and cruel to everyone. His mother didn't see his bad behavior, because she loved him too much. His father didn't see it either, because he was a great knight, very often gone fighting in war.
One day the prince had gone too far. He insulted and mistreated an old bondmaid very badly. But the old woman wasn't just an old woman. She was a powerful witch. As punishment she transfigured the prince into an ugly gargoyle, damned to stand on the highest tower of the castle. Once a year the witch granted him to come down as a human and spend one day among his people.
After the first year the prince's behavior hadn't improved, on the contrary. He was full of anger and terrorized everyone in the castle. The witch, who had watched everything secretly, decided to prolong his time as a gargoyle to five years.
The next few times the prince became a human, he tried to control his bad temper, but it wasn't really any better. His mother couldn't stand this no longer, finally she died out of grief. His father followed her shortly. The prince, still narrow minded, blamed not his own behavior, but only the witches' curse. This made the witch to prolong his time as a gargoyle to ten years.
The decades went by and everyone the prince once know were gone. A century later the prince heard some rumors the witch had died. He hoped with the witch gone her curse would be gone, too. The day came for him to become a human, but the following day, he found himself again as the ugly gargoyle. This made him slowly change his mind and think of other ways than cruelty how to break the curse.
Ten years ago, exactly on the day when he was a human, the prince attended a masquerade in the castle. There he had met a young girl. He told her the 'fairytale' of the prince and the gargoyle. The girls sympathy and her lovely, soft attitude caused a sting in the princes chest, he had never felt before. On the end of the day, he told the girl, that he had to go abroad for ten years, but he wished to see her again. She agreed.
In a few days these ten years would be over. The prince could hardly anticipating the day. But he was also full of fear. Ten years could be a very long time. The girl would be a young woman now. Would she be there at all? For the very first time in his whole life the prince felt something else than fury and anger, the first time his thoughts concerned not himself but for someone else.
Will he see her again? Could there be any change in his life? What would this day bring? ... What do YOU think?

Saturday, October-16: Six Word Saturday. Describe your life in six words.
Days are passing at fast rate!

Sunday, October-17: Ruler. If and when you become the Supreme Ruler of the World, who will be your top advisor?
Honestly, I'd prefer someone else to do that job. And please, let ME be the top advisor!

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One-Minute-Writer: Week 35

(Note: These are writing prompts of "One-Minute-Writer-Blog")

Monday, August-30: Forget. What would you like to forget?
For sure I have memories I wished to be erased out of my brain. But considering the quote "Without the darkness we can't appreciate the light" I also honor my bad memories. And thinking in a much greater scale: Do we really want to forget tragedies like the Holocaust?

Tuesday, August-31: Family. Write about someone you know/knew who was not related to you, but was like a family member.
I'm the one my family entitles "the black sheep", because I did not what was expected and stood career over marriage, children, house and tree, because I had "uncommon" interests and dared to expect more from life and tried to reach out for the starts. So sorry, when I don't give much about something like "family".
BUT there are close confidants I can talk to about my concerns, there are friends I can share my laughter and tears with, there are pen pals, I can ask about all my various interests. Even if some of them I've never met in person, they give me what my family was never able to: They let me be me! And, in my opinion, that's more worth than something like a biological family!

Wednesday, September-01: Necessity. Think about something you enjoy that is not a necessity. How much would you miss it if it were no longer available to you?
*shaking-in-Balu-style-and-singing*
"Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife..."

Oh, I love that song! Okay, okay, I should better focus:
*hmm* *thinking* I would say, everything I do is a "necessity" for me, that's why (have to) I do it! *lol* Something like eating chocolate. Oh lord, I love chocolate, I'm a chocoholic. But is it REALLY a necessity? My brain says "absolutely yes", my hips say "definitively no"! So, I THINK, as there is no substitute drug, I have to go on a heavy rehabilitation when there is no more chocolate. Better not thinking on that, better not! *g*

Thursday, September-02: Transportation. Write about the type of transportation you hope people are using most in 50 years.
First, I was also thinking on something similar like cars driven by sun energy, flying and teleportation ... but then another thought manifested in my mind: The way mankind develops, and speaking not in a good way, the trend would be completely oppositional. Everything would be virtual: Living, working, communication, traveling, etc. Everything we need would be brought into our houses by robots. We won't need any transportation at all!

Friday, September-03: Prompt. What should tomorrow's Writing Prompt be?
Question. What do you think is the most important question in life?
Eyes. Complete the sentence: "Eyes are not only the entrance to your soul, but also ..."
Body switch. Imagine, one day you wake up and found yourself to be the leader of your country. What would you think/do?
Time switch. Imagine, one day you wake up and found yourself back in the Seventies. What would you think/do?
Intriguing. Write a short bit of dark, sarcastic fiction using the word "intriguing".
Over night. Where would you be pleased to find yourself locked up over night?
Fairy tales. What character of a fairy tales would suit to you?
Elevator. With which famous person would you like be trapped in an elevator? With whom in absolutely no case?

Saturday, September-04: Six Word Saturday. Describe your life in six words.
Sometimes six words are not enough! *sigh*
(*sigh* is NOT a word! *g*)

Sunday, September-05: Salt. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Salt".
I love to go to the movies, but I'm not enough fan of Angelina Jolie to see her latest movie "Salt".

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One-Minute-Writer: Week 31

(Note: These are writing prompts of "One-Minute-Writer-Blog")

Monday, August-02: Motive. Imagine you have the ability to discern one person's true motive for one action he or she has done. What person/action will you choose?
As a person, who works with NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), I believe in the aphorism: "all human action fulfils a positive intent at some level." I try to find something positive, even if I don't agree with the action. At least I really try ... but every time I read headlines like "Mother neglects her baby and let it die with thirst", I just want to grab the woman, shake her and shout at her: "What on heaven's earth were you thinking doing that???"

Tuesday, August-03: Buffet. All-you-can-eat buffets are popular. Write about a non-food-related "buffet" you'd like to experience ... an "all-you-can-_______ buffet."
A bit more of my private "all you can books buffet" would always be nice, but I think my menu there is quite satisfying. Else, a real blast would be an "all you can travel buffet". You pay once and can travel by plane, train, bus, whatever all around the world as long and as often as you wished. What a wonderful thought!

Wednesday, August-04: Learning. Write about something you decided to learn, that was more difficult than you expected.
I was good in school, even in math and I not just because of my adorable teacher. But then there came that math text problems, like "A farmer has cows and chicken. All his animals have x legs. How many cows and chicken does the farmer have?". Oh, come on, please! Why on heaven's earth shall I count legs? Is this really necessary? Okay, I didn't get that logic - NEVER! Of course on that special exam I failed - totally! But what I remember most, was the reaction of my teacher. The only explanation for my failure he could imagine, that I must have problems at home or something else. He really cared for me. I think, on that day I've learnt something much more precious than just math.

Thursday, August-05: Change. What kind of change is scary to you? What kind of change is exciting?
A change is scary when it comes like a sudden lightning out of nowhere and completely out of your control, like the sudden, unexpected death of a beloved family member.
A change is exciting when it makes you smile thinking of it. You're looking forward to it, maybe you are even counting the days. It's an event that includes something good for you, like a wedding, a birth, a new job, a special holiday.

Friday, August-06: Sheep. Instead of counting sheep, what's something more useful or interesting that an insomniac could count?
Actually, it's an exercise, not one bit interesting, but it works pretty well on me, IF I'm thinking on it: You are counting stairs. As a result of breaking my ankle on a staircase, I imagine my stairs are fluffy white cloudy ones. Slowly step by step you are going down the stairs and count: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. Then you go up some stairs and count: 10-9-8-7-6-5. Again going down: 5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15. And so on, every time 5 up, 10 down. The deeper you get the calmer you become and suddenly ... you're snoring!

Saturday, August-07: 6-Word-Saturday. Describe your life in six words.
Another rainy Saturday afternoon, that sucks!

Sunday, August-08: Train. Write about a competition you've trained for, or would like to train for.
Learning is not training, right? Okay, well then ... I would like to fast forward time until I can train how to use my new backpacking equipment. Which means, while training this, I know, my trip to India is about to start! ChackDe! India.

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Unbelievable!!! This was my 50th post! *big-smiles*

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One-Minute-Writer: Week 26

(Note: These are writing prompts of "One-Minute-Writer-Blog")

Monday, June-28: Water. Write about a memory you have of playing in the water.
I've always loved water. My Mum had quite a hard time with me to get me out of the pool or the bathtub. But I think my most intense memory is when we were in Hurghada/Egypt. We'd made a boat trip and had a stop in the open water of the Red Sea in middle of nowhere. It's hard to describe the feeling within only one minute. To know that between you and solid ground are several hundreds of meters. It's wonderful and exciting and thrilling and scary ... simply just *wow*.

Tuesday, June-29: Introvert/Extrovert. Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert? How does this compare to how others see you?
In our life everyone of us plays different roles. The role in my business life demands characteristic like frankness and sociableness, that's why I'm more extrovert there. In my private life I play a whole different role: There I prefer to be introvert. I'm more the silent observer.

Wednesday, June-30: Name/verb. Turn your name into a verb. Give a definition and/or an example of its use.
Nofretiri. Synonym for doing something with passion. Example: The painter Michelangelo had nofretiried the ceiling of the Sistine.

Thursday, July-01: Delegate. What responsibility would you like to delegate to someone else? What responsibility would you have a hard time delegating?
Delegate. Definitely every kind of housework. I'm not really the best housewife. Hard to delegate. For sure everything I enjoy doing, like reading, traveling, etc.

Friday, July-02: Spill. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "spill."
The heat these days doesn't help my creativity. The only thing that comes into my mind is that one instruction of my Wreck This Journal, which says: "Pour, Spill, Drip, Spit, Fling Your Coffee Here." (Haven't done that page yet!)

Saturday, July-03: Six word Saturday. Describe your life in six words.
Quote: "Like a box of chocolates!"

Sunday, July-04: Silly. Write about a time you felt silly.
To make it short: Every time I fell in love! *smiles*

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Creative Writing: Six-Word Stories

(Note: This is a finger exercise of "Schreibwerkstatt.de")

THE CHALLENGE
AKA as Flash fiction. This principle, taken to the extreme, is a six-word flash by Ernest Hemingway: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
What Hemingway can, we can already! Go tickle the ivories - at least for six words!

MY OUTCOME

• Avalanche. Dog found four people alive.
• Fortune cookie: Tomorrow you will die!
• She knew, one mushroom was poisonous.
• Last will: The cat gets everything.
• Lottery won: Tickets for the Titanic.
• Cancer. She lived another 60 years.
• Her last discovery: a suicide bomber.

QUESTION
Wow! Not the most easiest challenge!
What other Six-Word Stories do you have?

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