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To read more blogs participating in the A to Z Challenge, click here.
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Linking up with Wordless Wednesday and Sandee at Comedy Plus.
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Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and has become a moveable feast of word or picture or music prompts to encourage us to write stories, poems, or whatever strikes our fancy.
This month, the prompts are being provided by me and can be found right here.
Please do not feel obligated to use all the words or prompts, or even any of them. This is supposed to be fun, a way to get the creative juices flowing.
If you do write a story on your own blog, please leave us a link so we can come read it!
This week the prompts are the following words
prize
conversation
smell
citizen
vegetable
fail
and/or the following phrases
mountain out of a molehill (to make a big deal out of nothing)
a cut below (something inferior to the surrounding others)
a cold fish (someone who lacks empathy or emotion)
About those Wordless Wednesday pictures up there...
Several months ago, a scrawny, hungry buff orange male cat showed up in Ms. G's back yard. She has worked in cat rescue for so long that she's wary but not A COLD FISH. She fed him and watched him, and figured she was soon going to go from two cats to three.
CatCat, as she called him, was no PRIZE when he first appeared, so she had to tame him down and turn him into a good cat CITIZEN before letting him into her home. This included trapping him and having him tested for disease, neutered and given all of his shots.
Meanwhile, Buddy, who believes himself to be the boss of the house, could SMELL trouble on the horizon in the form of a new cat in town. In his opinion, CatCat is A CUT BELOW, and he did not FAIL to voice his displeasure at having this interloper in the yard at every available opportunity.
Like so many cats, the appearance of a new feline in his territory was cause to make A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL. After all, it's not like Buddy is going to be turned out of his good home in favor of the new guy.
In fact, on more than one occasion, there was a CONVERSATION between them at the glass back door that made me glad not to understand cat-speak. Both of them were downright forcible in their language.
You'd have thought Ms. G was asking him to do the impossible, like eat VEGETABLES instead of meat or go wallow in the bird bath. All she wanted was for him to let her go back up to three cats, after all, he's adapted to new cats in the house before.
Angel, being the skittish gal that she is, just stays out of it all, as long as her meals are on time.
Over the course of weeks, CatCat became more and more interested in the inside of the house, and his forays in became more frequent and longer.
In an attempt to make it easier for Buddy and CatCat to get used to each other, Ms. G made sure they each have a bed/snuggle spot, there are more than enough toys to go around (never a problem in her house) and she bought the Feliway cat pheromone spray and the diffuser. The stuff is supposed to help cats calm down, and it does work to some degree.
Ms. G calls it "kumbaya juice." The two will probably never be best friends, like Buddy was with Baby (the one that died last year), but we're hoping for a truce, and it's starting to look like we're going to get it.
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Today is:
Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis -- Holy See (Vatican City)
Day to Give Thanks for Fish/Seafood -- anniversary of the US Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1976
Environmental Protection Day -- anniversary of the 1962 publication of Silent Spring
Feast of Rotten Endings -- because some stories just don't end well
Huguenot Day -- Huguenot Society of the US (anniversary of the 1598 Edict of Nantes, in which King Henry IV promoted peace between Catholics and Protestants)
Ides of April -- Ancient Roman Calendar; also
Festival of Libertas -- personification of freedom and political liberty
Festival of Jupiter Libertas
Festival of Jupiter Victor
International Plant Appreciation Day -- unsponsored by any but those who love plants
Laotian New Year's Eve -- Laos (celebrations of Pi Mai, the new year, last through the 15th and sometimes beyond; at the start of the monsoon season)
National Peach Cobbler Day
Poshui Jie -- Jinghong, China (Water Splashing Festival; a 3 to four day festival around this time)
Scrabble Day -- anniversary of the 1899 birth of its inventor, Alfred Mosher Butts
Songkran Festival / Chiang Mai Songkran / Tamil New Year / Bangla New Year / Bisket Jatra -- Bangladesh; Cambodia; India; Laos; Myanmar; Nepal; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand (New Year festivals, celebrated over the next few days, as the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries)
Squashing of Moonhopper Day -- Fairy Calendar
St. Hermengild's Day (Patron of converts; against drought, flood, and thunderstorms)
Thingyan Eve -- Myanmar (Water Festival Eve; through the 17th)
Thomas Jefferson Day -- US
U.S. Elephant Day -- marking the arrival of the first elephant in the US in 1796
Yayoi Matsuri -- Nikko, Japan (five-day spring festival)
Birthdays Today:
Jonathan Brandis, 1976
Rick Schroder, 1970
Garry Kasparov, 1963
Saundra Santiago, 1957
Max Weinberg, 1951
Peabo Bryson, 1951
Ron Pearlman, 1950
Al Green, 1946
Tony Dow, 1945
Lowell George, 1945
Jack Casady, 1944
Bill Conti, 1942
Paul Sorvino, 1939
Lyle Waggoner, 1935
Don Adams, 1926
Howard Keel, 1919
Eudora Welty, 1909
Samuel Beckett, 1906
Butch Cassidy, 1866
F.W. Woolworth, 1852
Thomas Jefferson, 1743
Guy Fawkes, 1570
Debuting/Premiering Today:
"Arcadia"(Play), 1993
Casino Royale(Film), 1967
Silent Spring(Publication date), 1962
"El Capitan"(Operetta), 1896
"Messiah"(Oratorio, HWV 56), 1742
Today in History:
The Seventh Crusade is defeated in Egypt with the capture of Louis IX of France, 1250
Henry IV of France signs the Edict of Nantes, granting freedom of religion and political rights to Huguenots (French Protestants), 1598
John Dryden, age 36, becomes the first English Poet Laureate, 1668
George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah makes its world-premiere in Dublin, Ireland, 1742
The first elephant seen in the Western Hemisphere arrives from India, 1796
The British Parliament grants religious freedom to Roman Catholics, 1829
Hungary becomes a republic, 1849
The first US Pony Express run is completed, 1860
George Westinghouse patents a steam powered brake, 1869
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded, 1870
J.C. (James Cash) Penney opens his first store, 1902
British troops fire on unarmed demonstrators in Amritsar, India, killing at least 379 and wounding over 1,200 more, 1919
Helen Hamilton becomes the first woman US Civil Service Commissioner, 1920
Lord Clydesdale makes the first flight over Mt. Everest, 1933
The Jefferson Memorial is dedicated on the 200th anniversary of his birth, in Washington, D.C., 1943
Van Cliburn becomes the first American to win the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, 1958
Sidney Poitier becomes the first African-American male to win the Best Actor Oscar for Lilies of the Field, 1963
An oxygen tank aboard Apollo 13 explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the spacecraft while en route to the Moon, 1970
The Universal Postal Union decides to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese representative, effectively expelling the Republic of China administering Taiwan, 1972
Western Union (in cooperation with NASA and Hughes Aircraft) launches the United States' first commercial geosynchronous communications satellite, Westar 1, 1974
Portugal and the People's Republic of China sign an agreement in which Macau would be returned to China in 1999, 1987
Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament, 1997
Former President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak and sons, Alaa and Gamal, are detained for 15 days of questioning regarding charges of corruption and abuse of power, 2011
The People's Republic of China and the U.S. agree to work towards eliminating nuclear weapons in the Korean Peninsula, 2013
The world’s largest plane by wingspan (117m/385ft), built as a flying launch pad for satellites and called the Stratolaunch, takes its first flight from Mojave, California, 2019
Australian super-horse Winx ends her extraordinary career with a 3rd Queen Elizabeth Stakes win in Sydney giving her 33 consecutive race wins, a world record 25 Group One victories and $26.4 million Australian dollars prize money, 2019
I am so glad that a truce appears possible. Jazz really doesn't like any other cats and I am pretty certain the things he says to them would get my mouth washed out with soap. I really like your use of the prompts.
ReplyDeleteMy less inspired effort is below.
The conversation in the coffee shop was all about Jerome. Again. He wouldn’t be surprised at that. Indeed he would count it as a fail if people were NOT talking about him. The self-described citizen of the world considered himself a cut above everyone else and, as Leonie added, probably didn’t think that his crap would smell of anything other than attar of roses.
‘He is a cold fish’ Rosie said,’ nothing and nobody matters to him except himself. He makes a mountain out of a molehill about his achievements if you ask me…’
Sara joined in. ‘ I agree with both of you. He wouldn’t ask you though. That is part of the problem We are nothing people to him and our opinions are as important as those of vegetables. If he did talk to one of us, we would be expected to consider that a prize…
A cut above? He has no kindness, no charity and no consideration for others. He is a cut below. Well below. Let’s just forget about him, and talk about more interesting subjects. When do you next see those precious grandbabies of yours Leonie?’
Well done EC, you made me dislike Jerome right away.
DeleteWe all, unfortunately, know people like Jerome. They, unfortunately, do not seem to recognize themselves when described this way.
DeleteExcellent use of the prompts!
Wow! I think I know a Jerome! Well done!
DeleteYou used your words very well with the cat story. I think a truce will happen between Buddy and CatCat.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know that the 2 cats are warming up to each other. Hope they will become best of friends soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a well written explanatory text to those pictures.I was mystifyed by the cat feromone sprayer :)
ReplyDeleteMore happy cats.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Cats are not as accepting of another cats as dogs are with another dog. They seem to be existing together pretty well, though.
ReplyDeleteWhat cute pics heheh!
ReplyDeleteGood to here of a truce heheh
Have a trucetastic week 👍
Love the kitties and love your use of the prompts. You're a wonderful wordsmith.
ReplyDeleteA truce is a good thing.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Big hug. ♥
Lovely pictures and a great bit of word-weaving!
ReplyDeleteDarling feisty cats! Feliway works wonders- but I do not think Lucy would go for us having 2 cats! hahah! Love the story!
ReplyDeleteI am glad Buddy is starting to give in. Sounds like Brody and my Angel Sammy. I always worry about the Feliway plug=ins because they get so hot. They do seem to help though.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that Kitty Wars are going to have a truce and settle in. Sometime it is hard sharing your space. I have great respect for those who take in the rescues and help them have a good life. ALways great photos here too.
ReplyDeletebest best fishez two ewe buddy and catcat; we compleet lee understand....catcat; we hafta say we iz BUZZED happee dood yur spending time INN SIDE now ☺☺♥♥
ReplyDeleteBravo to your story!! That was written really well and I am glad everything worked out so wonderfully for CatCat.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Wednesday!
Elza Reads
Terrific story! You just never know, the truce might end up in a peace treaty followed by a complete diplomatic solution!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like my Remy curled up in the chair there! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the cozy kitties sleeping positions ~ sweet photos ~ Xo
ReplyDeleteWishing you love and laughter in all your dsys,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
We just went back and looked at the A-Z (so far) EPIC! And we LOVE the cat shots! Thanks for visiting. Mom has said we can come and visit and post more now that some things are off her plate. We have our claws crossed!
ReplyDeletePurrs
Marv
Loved your story and the lovely cat photos. Sometimes I could do with some of that kumbaya juice. My two have a little play fight every evening but occasionally one or the other gets a bit carried away and it's all out war.
ReplyDeleteGreat work with the words! I think Ms. G should take up a career in international relations!
ReplyDelete