Saturday, June 7, 2008

Wordzzling on a Hot Summer Saturday


It’s time for another Wordzzle. Please check out all the Wordzzlers at Raven’s Nest

I went for the Mega this week.

Ten Word Challenge: spaghetti, larkspur, Prilosec, roaring lion, adamant, green green grass of home, paradox, filibuster, face cream, trout fishing

Mini Challenge: jury of ones peers, barking dog, a wing and a prayer, liver, sprained ankle

The Senator would never admit it to his wife Cindy but he was thrilled to have a sprained ankle. It was so much better to be enjoying the green green grass of home at his ranch in Larkspur than to be on the campaign trail, trying to come off like a roaring lion when he felt like a barking dog. He had been adamant that Cindy go back to DC on her own, she loved the city and its social life. He had watched her pack up her usual piles of clothes and shoes and her case full of lotions and face cream. He thanked her for making him dinner and for setting out his pills – he always forgot his liver meds and after Cindy’s spaghetti sauce he’d need the Prilosec. Now he was alone in the house and the quiet was both calming and startling. He moved slowly to his study and sat by the bay window. Cindy had redecorated the room and there were photos and mementos everywhere. A photo of him and George W trout fishing – Christ that moron had ruined it for him. A newspaper clipping from his first filibuster – he looked so young and strong, he remembered being idealistic. He smiled at the photo of his law school graduating class. He and Tom Somebody had talked about opening a bar near campus – they were going to call it ‘Jury of Ones Peers’ - that might have been a fun way to make a living. He gazed at a stunning photo of Cindy – she was christening their new sailboat – she had named it ‘A Wing and a Prayer’ - when it hit him. He was too old and too tired to lead a country. He was losing himself – the strong and brave straight talking man had been replaced by a bumbling bullshit artist. He chuckled at the paradox that presented itself to him and poured a stiff Scotch. He really hoped the young Senator won in November.

26 comments:

Raven said...

I love this. You dig George W. - always good in my book - and you create a character with depth that gives me hope that some of the fools leading the country into ruin at the moment actually do have souls. This is beautifully done. You are a wordzzle master (mistress?). You're such a good writer.

Linda Murphy said...

WOW! This is an amazing insight wrapped into a Wordzzle!

And the moron part cracked me up.

I agree with Raven-is there some semblance of a soul in there? Hmmm.

Jeff B said...

You were even able to bring a bit of a Bush-Bash into wordzzling. Of course with so much material to work from it's pretty easy to come up with something, right?

You painted a nice mental picture of the Senator. I could see him sitting there in his study.

Dianne said...

raven - most of my exposure to Senator McCain has been from talk of him with my VFW buddies - especially the Nam Vets and from his many appearances on The Daily Show.

I always thought there was a real and often decent person in there who has contorted himself into the crap before us today.

snoopmurph - the word moron is just so perfect for W! I suggest he incorporate it and Village Idiot into the naming of his Presidential Library LOL - actually I think he should forgo the library and have a Presidential Circus instead.

jeff b - yeah it's really too easy with W. and thanks - I do try to see McCain as a person, not an enemy - I'll live through the campaign that way - plus I do hope this election does more bringing together and less dividing. OY!

Leighann said...

Dianne that was really really good! I love how you were able to turn him into such a REAL person.

Odat said...

If budding politicians opened up bars instead of bullshitting the people, they'd probably make a lot more friends. Hehe. Great story!
Peace

Mom Knows Everything said...

I really enjoyed this one, one of my favorites so far.

Gene Bach said...

Hey there! Thanks for the visit. Your story was a very good one. I think I'm gonna like this excersize.

Dianne said...

leighann - thanks!! and I'm so thrilled you joined in!

odat - LOL lady. Peace and thanks.

thanks so much tammy.

you're welcome gene and thanks to you too. I find Wordzzle relaxing and fun. and the other stories are great to read.

Mary said...

Dianne,

I loved this story and your use of the words. You did a great job. I always enjoy visiting with you.

Blessings,
Mary

Jay said...

Great job Dianne. I always love to come over and see how you are able to stick it to Dubya! LOL

The young senator is going to win big in November!!

Betty said...

I love the way you never let your personal opinions get in the way of a good story. :-) Just kidding, of course. Great use of the words.

Kimmie said...

Dianne, your story was wonderful! I also liked how you stuck it to GWB! You did a very nice job of putting this into a great flowing story.
Smiles,
Kimmie

Unknown said...

Dianne: Here we go!...Gregory Peck wasn't available for me to comment on a jury of ones peers, as I wanted to ask him about his film, "To Kill A Mockingbird". Jon Bon Jovi agreed with me that Rick Springfield has a barking dog over in Malibu. However, Jon acknowledges that his career was built on a wing and a prayer. I asked his wife (who has a sexy unmarried girl in mind for me), "What am I? Chopped liver?". As I was looking at her while walking forward, wouldn't you know it? I suffered a sprained ankle! :D

Schmoop said...

I know it was a bonus kinda thing but unless I am incredibly drunk, you left out liver. I am one of those freaks that LOVES liver. Cheers Di!!

the walking man said...

see liver pills Matt-Man.


Unfortunately Dianne the aging boob does read his own press releases taking them as truth.

BUT...you on the other hand have written a hell of a short. Purely fiction in that the senator in question has not the necessary humility to see his own shortcomings.

bobbie said...

Super one, Dianne.

225 more days!

Akelamalu said...

That's an excerpt from a novel if ever I read one Dianne - Fabulous!

Dianne said...

thanks Mary!

jay - dubya just makes it so easy and I bet McSame is cursing the day that idiot entered the Republican party. as for the young senator - Oh Jay let it be so!

betty - who!? me!? personal opinions!! NEVER ;)

kimmie - thank you so much!

Michael - I always knew you'd hurt yourself for a pretty woman! You should just Wordzzle officially!! This one (and others) was a great offering.

matt-man - Liver and booze? or am I confused? hey that rhymes!

mark - thanks for sobering up matt-man ;)
and of course you're right. I'm trying to be Zen about McCain - my passionate anger and disgust stays focused on W and my passionate hope stays focused on Barack.

bobbie - seems like forever but I'm counting hopefully.

wow akelamalu - thanks. the inner workings of a politicians mind! that would be a great novel.

Shelly said...

There is a best selling novel lurking in that brain of yours girl. I know it. Another fab wordzle.
I used to like John, but these days he's creeping me out...kinda makes me sad.

Dianne said...

shelly - thanks!! hope it presents itself sooner than later LOL
I always respected McCain for his service and I enjoyed his visits to The Daily Show. Jon Stewart clearly was fond of him. Now he's just a shell of anything I respected. I always disagreed with his politics, now I just think he is - as you said - sad and creepy. And dangerous if he gets elected.

Richard said...

Are you channeling John McCain?

Great story.

Rich

Dianne said...

rich - if only I could! the things I would convince him to do - or not do actually.

Jo said...

You're such a clever lady---that was so realistic, I think he might need several Scotches if he read it!

Bobkat said...

This was so well written! One of your best yet, Whimsical, poignant, and carrying a strong political message! I love the way you weave words to create an emerging picture in my mind. I can see this man sitting there right now and I can see him as a young man too with his hope and dreams in his photograph. You really should write a book y'know!

maryt/theteach said...

I sure hope this story is about John McCain thinking he's too old to run! I sure would like to see the young senator win in November. Dianne, you write so well and fit the word into the story perfectly! :D