#FridayFictioneers – Best Trip Ever

~ Russell ~ 14 Comments
PHOTO PROMPT © Jean L. Hays

Claude almost spat coffee, pulled socked feet from the RV counter-top, and sat bolt upright.  “Mabe, come look.”

Mabel pulled a pillow over her head.  “Sleeping,” she mumbled.

“Oh, you can sleep anytime.”

“Exactly.  Anytime is now.”

“You’re going to miss it.”

“Ugh.  Whaaaat?”  Mabel swung her legs to the floor and started for the kitchen.

“Careful.  Not so fast, you’ll scare it away.”

She stared daggers back.  “What is it?”

“Check out that cool bird.  It’s so close.  Isn’t this the best trip ever?”

“I see it.  It is.  I’m going to sleep.”

“Waste of a morning,” Claude grumbled.

WC:  100

Continue reading “#FridayFictioneers – Best Trip Ever” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare – Off The Wagon

~ Russell ~ 4 Comments

cappuccino on table

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I fell off the writing wagon, then I would forestall any questions you had until you decided on a beverage to sip while we talked.  Tonight, I’m having cinnamon spiced tea.  It is very good, and I can get a cup for you.  There is of course coffee and water around too.  What would you like?

Now that we’re settled in with drinks and Jimmy Buffett playing for us, “A Pirate Looks at 40” right now, we can talk.

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#FridayFictioneers – Hall of Warriors

~ Russell ~ 13 Comments
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Jude read the inscription, “Hall of Warriors,” and stumbled through the double doors.

Cool air enveloped him, evaporating sweat from sunburned skin.  Exposed skin turned to goose-flesh as he slumped against a wall and slid to the floor.

A giant warrior from an age long past dominated the room, glaring down on the small, soft, people who filled the room.

“Come on, come on!”  Sammy tugged at Jude’s arm.

“In a minute son.  You’ll see them all.  I promise.  Help me up.”

“What now?” Sammy asked as they edged along the wall.

“The concession stand.  I need something to drink.”

WC:  100

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#FridayFictioneers – What Cannot Be Taken

~ Russell ~ 23 Comments
PHOTO PROMPT submitted by Courtney Wright. © Photographer prefers to remain anonymous.

“Oh my,” exclaimed Lara.  “This is ghastly.  Ruins the decor.”

Jacob winced.  “You don’t understand,” he whispered.

“Understand?  What is Franco thinking?”

Franco cringed.  A haughty voice carried across the hall.  He started in that direction.

“Keep it down.”  Jacob scanned the room, noting every attendee.  “Please don’t let Franco hear.”

“Please.  Surely Franco fires the decorator.”

“You don’t understand, those shoes…”

“Those shoes,” Franco cut in, “made this possible.  They walked to school for years.  Secured my education.”

Lara turned horrified.  “I didn’t know.”

“You came from money.  But money can be taken.  What those shoes brought me, cannot.”

WC:  100 Continue reading “#FridayFictioneers – What Cannot Be Taken” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare – So, so tired…

~ Russell ~ 8 Comments

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you how tired I really am right now.  Then, I’d offer you a cup of this fine (not really) hotel coffee.  That’s all I really have right now, other than water.  It’s good water though.  So for that, I apologize.  There’s got to be a coffee shop around here somewhere, but again, tired.  And that bed is right there and, well, you know.

cappuccino on table

We ran a Spartan Super today, and let me tell you, there was some suffering going on out there.  Out weather has been mild lately, but today was nothing but hot.  Mid 90’s and humid turned what looked to be a good race into a struggle.

All was good, not great, at the 5 mile mark.  By the sixth mile the cramps came on hard, and they didn’t quit.  Not even after the race was done at about 8.5 miles.  You could say that it was a tale of two races.  There for a while, I thought that I would have a great, maybe my best, race ever despite not feeling my running legs early.  Then the last bit, when it all fell apart.

Since the race ended, I’ve hydrated like a madman.  We race again tomorrow after all, and it would be nice to do it without the cramps.  I’m not confident.  Tomorrow’s race is a Sprint so it won’t be as long.  So that’s good.  It should come in somewhere between 3 to 5 miles, and if I’m lucky, cramp free.

I do appreciate you stopping by!  But unfortunately, I’m going to put my head on that pillow over there, so I’ll see you next week if not before.  Have a great week everyone!

#WeekendCoffeeShare is an informal weekly link-up that is now hosted by Eclectic Alli. Check out her post for the week and maybe post a share of your own!

#FridayFictioneers – They Will Pay

~ Russell ~ 25 Comments
PHOTO PROMPT ©Jill Wisoff

Lon tripped, flew through the air, and skid to a halt, asphalt tore into palms, elbows, and knees.

Pushing himself painfully to his feet, he raised his eyes to the massive structure dominating the night sky.  The Tower.  Too late he realized as the Tower began to glow.

Once charged, his world would be gone.  Blasted to dust.  So many lives lost.  Just like that, and there was nothing to do.  Too late to save his world.  Not too late to make them pay.

Blood streaked his arms, tears his cheeks as he ran to the Tower.

They will pay.

WC: 100 Continue reading “#FridayFictioneers – They Will Pay” →

#WeekendCoffeeShare – Writing & Running

~ Russell ~ 3 Comments

cappuccino on table

If we were having coffee, I would offer you a nice cup of this fresh brew that I have.  Right now I’ve got the coffee maker set on the single cup setting in anticipation of my having to sleep at some point tonight.  If you’re not in the mood for coffee we have tea and water.  Sorry, we’re a little limited at the moment.

We finally made it out to see the new Avengers movie last night, and it was good.  I won’t give any spoilers here, but I will say that it did not end the way that I would have expected it too.

Wednesday threatened my writing streak, which is now up to 36 days today.  I really thought that it wasn’t going to happen that day since I was at work all day long.  Thankfully, we get a break ever now and again and I managed to tap out a few hundred words on my phone.  Whew! That was a close one.  With the streak intact, I was able to sleep well once making it home.

Other than writing this week, I wanted to get back on track with training.  It didn’t go quite as well as I would have liked.  I managed a couple of runs on Tuesday and Thursday, and they were good.  The only thing was that Saturday was supposed to be a long run day.  I was hoping for somewhere between 10 to 15 miles, but it wasn’t to be.  For some reason, my right hamstring tightened up, so I was scared to run on it.  Not wanting to completely skip out on the workout, I just rode the bicycle a bit.  The bike is a little easier on the hamstrings, working the quads instead.  I’ll be happy to have that work in when the mountain races get here this year, so it wasn’t a wasted day.

All in all, it’s been a good week.  Hopefully next week will be better.  I really want to get out there and run some more, so I’ll rest up some tomorrow and see what happens Monday.  And I’ll write either way, because I can do that even if I’m not capable of running.

Have a great week everyone!  See you next week!

#WeekendCoffeeShare is an informal weekly link-up that is now hosted by Eclectic Alli. Check out her post for the week and maybe post a share of your own!