A place to keep my entries for various contests and challenges |
This book is not only a place to create, keep, and store contest entries, it's also a log of items that may one day become something more. |
P10 Rant about annoying situations that keep happening First of all, I don’t “RANT”, if you knew me half as much as you think you did, you’d know that. Secondly, even thinking that I’d fit into a category with people who rant is just wrong. Putting people into groups of like-minded or lack-of-minded people is one of my pet peeves. I strongly dislike how people label other people about anything; each person is unique, just like everyone else! It’s like saying certain people have an accent because they talk normally; you have the accent. Now that I have that off my chest, let’s talk about what I would rant about if I did rant… It’s no use, I just can’t do it. I am not a ranter and no matter how much I try, I’m not going to be able to rant about anything. It’s like trying to read or write on the weekends when the kids are home, as soon as I get started, they show up and interrupt and distract me. I can sit and do basically nothing, entertain myself with some no-brain-activity required game or something and I don’t see them for hours, but pick up a book, my Kindle, or try and write, and “POOF” they appear out of thin air asking, telling, or needing something. About the closest I can come to ranting about something is this: Sandals and socks! I see people wearing sandals with socks on and it drives me nuts. Why put socks on if you’re wearing sandals? The idea of sandals is to be open and let air get to your feet, so putting socks on kind of defeats (pun not intended) the purpose. But, that’s not bad enough. No, not only do you drive me bonkers by putting socks on with sandals, but then you turn around and put your damn shoes on without any socks. Why? It makes no sense! I genuinely believe all the way to my very core, it’s done just to pet my peeves. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, there are those people (always the dreaded those) who not only wear socks with sandals, shoes with no socks, but flip-flops with socks… Yes, it is true, I have seen with great despair to my very soul, those people who have on socks and flip-flops. The very thought of that thing wedging a sock deep between the toes is enough to make me cringe and fill me with a burning, unquenchable desire to run my fingers between my toes. A proud member of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" "Reading soothes the soul, writing sets it free." T.J. |
P16. Complain about something in detail. Complain about what? Should I complain about the weather? It was nice yesterday, the sun was shining, there was little to no breeze, and the temperature got up to forty degrees Fahrenheit. I took advantage of the out-of-season spring day by shoveling snow, scraping ice, and enjoying being outside. Of course, Max was outside with me enjoying the day and helping in a way only a Husky pup can help. So today, it’s twenty degrees colder, windy, and the sky is littered with clouds. Every time I take Max out he wants to play and enjoy being outside, but I’m freezing my tush off. The wind, you know, goes right through my jacket, nips my fingers, and chills to the bone. But what’s to complain about, at least its twenty degrees above zero unlike a week ago when it was twenty below. Besides, it’s winter in Minnesota, what do you expect? No, there’s got to be something other than the weather to complain about. Like those morons who do not know how to operate their high-beam headlights. Of course, they’re likely the same buffoons who can’t figure out turn signals. Mayhap the powers that be should incorporate some night driving into the standard driving test. On second thought, never mind, they would still pass and soon forget how to operate these devices. The ones that really de-cream my coffee are the ones that ride within ten feet or less of my rear bumper, lights on high-beam, and no matter what speed I go, stay right there like they’re locked in a tractor-beam. They fly up behind at a fast rate of speed, then decelerate to match mine and just hang there. I drive a bit slower at night, about five miles per hour less than posted because there are a great many deer who have not figured out to cross at their designated, posted, Deer Crossing Area. So, since these people seem to be in a big hurry, I’ll be nice and slow down a bit more giving them the opportunity to zip around me and clear the road ahead. But they don’t pass, they just slow down and stay there. Why? Would it be bad to mount one of those one-million candle-power light bars on my back bumper with a light-activated switch? A proud member of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" "Reading soothes the soul, writing sets it free." T.J. |
P13. Crayons, finger paints, or colored chalk do you prefer? “I prefer a nice sharp #2 pencil or an easy-to-grip mechanical pencil equally as much as I prefer a smooth writing, fine-lined ink pen that creates a solid line that does not bleed onto the paper.” “What Andre meant was for artwork, not for writing’” “That’s what I’m referring to,” “What kind of pictures do you paint?” “I paint with words creating poetry and stories.” “Other than writing, what do you prefer to draw or paint with?” “The same, since about all my artistic qualities consist of stick people, the same medium works well for everything.” “But, if you were going to paint something, which would you desire more?” “If I’m painting it depends on what I paint. Sometimes I prefer a brush, sometimes a roller, and yet other times I’ll use a sprayer. With this in mind, I think you can see that chalk and crayons wouldn’t work worth a damn. I can also include finger paints for these forms of painting, but it would take a long time to paint a room with my fingers, and I doubt the finished job would be acceptable.” “Now, the finger paint does inspire me to want to paint, but not rooms, furniture, or other similar items. If I’m going to paint something with my fingers I prefer it to be someone. I think that answers your questions so I’ll go sharpen my pencils since I’m home alone and have nothing to paint.” A proud member of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" "Reading soothes the soul, writing sets it free." T.J. |
P9. Animals you shouldn’t have as pets: Top of the list would be a polar bear. Why? Because they don't do well in homes, they need it much cooler than most people can tolerate and they shed horribly. Actually, I don’t care what kind of animal “you” have as a pet as long as your pet doesn’t pose a risk to other people. If you want a big cat or a bear, go for it, but you better be able to care for it, provide adequate habitat, and not have it endanger others. Oh, and if you get killed, don’t be complaining to me. I’m a dog person. I have always connected to canines and may have a bit of wolf blood myself. I also love cats, not as much as dogs, but they rank a close second. Unfortunately, many years back, we had a female cat that became pregnant. I know, she didn’t just become this way, but I’m not going into details about how she got that way. She had the kittens in the winter, so we closed off the back porch for her, she had food and shelter, it was warm, and it was secluded for her. After she had the kittens, I became allergic to felines. I don’t understand it, but all those puddin-heads must have triggered it somehow. I know, I’m supposed to be writing about what animals shouldn’t be pets. Since the list is too long, I thought I’d list which two animals should be pets. For those of you who are responsible pet owners outside of these two, I do not intend to offend, and I know little of pets outside of these two critter types. I just voice my thoughts on what I prefer. A proud member of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" "Reading soothes the soul, writing sets it free." T.J. |
P17. Is government assistance just allowing people a free ride not to work? Growing up through the 70s I heard this used a lot, but at the time would have never guessed I'd be learning an important life lesson. But it is true; not so much the gas, grass, or ass part, the free ride part. In life, there are no free rides, someone has to pay. Who? In the case of shoplifting, the customer pays for the stolen items but most times it's the taxpayer who picks up the tab. It's the same for assistance, here in the United States, it's we the working people who pay assistance through elevated taxation. Now, before you go blowing a gasket and ripping into me, I'm not saying that assistance is bad, it's just expensive and someone has to pick up the bill. Does providing assistance give people a free ride? Damn straight it does. However, some people need a free ride for a short time to get back on their feet. Others aren't riding for free, they just earn too little to support their families. But, there are those, and I've known quite a few, who just take it as the easy way out because they are lazy. I would say the system needs fixing so those who are in need can get help, yet those who are able can provide some kind of work, or service, to help pay for assistance. I'm not talking about putting them out mowing ditches or removing roadkill from the side of the highway, I'm talking about having them do something they can use to get off of assistance. Then, it would not be assistance for a free ride, it would be investing in our future. A proud member of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" "Reading soothes the soul, writing sets it free." T.J. |