This and That...Writer's Workshop

Okay, I have to admit I struggled with Mama Kat's writing prompts this week...

1.) Choose a headline from The Today Show website and write up an opinion post based on the story you chose

2.) Write a poem about the last thing that made you mad.
3.) Write about a joke that did not go over well.
4.) Write a funny story involving socks.
5.) It happened on Facebook…write about a funny or awkward conversation you saw unfold on Facebook.


1.) I checked out the headlines on The Today Show and there was some interesting and even nutty stuff on there but nothing I really wanted to do a post on. I must say though, I am very disappointed in Mel Gibson. Where is the Mel we all know and love and who is this freak walking around in his skin? What tha hell, Mel?! Where's your head, man?


2.)The angry poem thing doesn't really appeal to me either because for one thing, I am not angry over anything much right now and honestly, I have never written an angry poem and not sure I could especially since I'm not angry.  Boy, that was deep!

3.)I'm sure I've witnessed jokes that didn't go over well but nothing is springing to mind.  I'm a horrible joke teller anyway which is why I try to refrain from telling them. 

4.)Funny story involving socks? Hmm...I got nothing here either.  Socks pretty much stay on my s*** list year round because they NEVER match up when I take them out of the dryer.  I keep a special basket for socks without mates and several more on top of the dryer.  It's really time for a sock intervention up in here but I'm just not feeling up to it right at the present time.

5.)And Facebook.  Ahhh, facebook. I love me some fb, I really do and I think it's a great way to reconnect and keep in touch but there really ought to be a facebook rules and etiquette book.  I've seen some straight up awkwaaard! drama unfold over the past 2 years or so since I've been facebooking. 

Here are just a few that I find awkward or just plain irksome:

~ the "oh poor me" status~...now I'm not talking about someone who really has a legitimate issue and is looking for prayer and support because I think that is perfectly acceptable and welcome.  I'm referring to the ones about being bored or hungover or having a hangnail.  In other words, whiiining!  Ick.

~the sappy PDAs between couples~  I'm a romantic myself and I know being in love is a wonderful thing but in my opinion the public facebook wall is not the best place to be whispering sweet nothings and pledging your love to your romeo or juliet...text/email/phone/lipstick messages on the bathroom mirror...there are countless other options.  Just sayin'.

~Breakin' red in your status.  In case you don't know what "breakin' red" is ...the red refers to redneck and it pretty much means that you've gone and shown your hiney in a great big and inappropriate way. Never a good idea.

I know there are more but those are my top 3 facebook pet peeves.

This has reminded me though of another story, something that happened to me a few years ago although it was via email not fb. I did online dating for awhile, beginning about a year after I was widowed.  It is, in fact, how I met my now husband, Charlie. 

I had exchanged a few casual emails with a man who lived several states away and who I never really had any intentions of meeting or dating.  It was more of an online friendship. I had a special email account I used when I didn't want to give out my full name. 

I used my first name, Diane, but the email account I had set up had Darcy in it.  Darcy was the name I had picked out for the little girl I never had and well, it was just the first thing that came to mind when I was setting up the account.

I had not conversed with this gentleman in quite awhile when I one day received an email from him though it was addressed to Darcy.  This poor guy was pouring out his soul to this Miss Darcy and it only took about two sentences for me to realize he had emailed the wrong woman!  Oh yes, he did! 

He had obviously had a relationship with this woman but things had gotten rocky and he was trying to patch them up.  I actually felt for the guy, really.  I responded, as gently as possible, and told him that he had emailed the wrong woman.  

He was mortified, as anyone would be, and apologized profusely. I was just thinking...better you than me, man...better you than me!    

(not Darcy) :)