The Game [url=http://www.gatchamania.net/thread.php?threadid=3905&sid=]Bradbury's Jar Information[/url

Originally posted by amethyst The Game http://www.gatchamania.net/thread.php?threadid=3905&sid=Bradbury's Jar Information

Hmm, will let this simmer in my head a couple days, see what comes of it...

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Can't pull up the prompt. Is there somewere else I can find it?

LW...the prompt is just "The game"...and we see what we can come up with. I like this idea...it's so open- and "the game" can have so many different connotations. LB- that was great! You said so much using such a small amount of words. This definitely left an impression with me!

Originally posted by Springie "the game" can have so many different connotations. LB- that was great! You said so much using such a small amount of words. This definitely left an impression with me!

I agree! LB, that was great. I liked how you happened to get several different connotations of what "the game" could be within the same short story. I just wrote mine up a few minutes. Tomorrow, I'll get it typed up and edited then post it.

LB, that was awesome!!!!!!! Gosh darn it, I just started writing something for this, and it turend out to be focused around an entirely different word. Dont know how that got into my head! Sigh. So I'll have to think of something different for this prompt.... let's see... 88888 His eyes narrowed as he stared at his opponent, assessing the man's every move. But no one was a match for the Commander of G-Force. Mark knew that as long as he remained focused, he would be certain of success. Carefully he mirrored his opponent's stance, while simultaneously taking on a defensive posture in readiness for the anticipated attack. Without warning , the other man surged forward, his hand flashing as he moved in for the kill. But Mark countered the action, striking back and putting his opponent on guard. Back and forth they sparred, the two well-matched. But Mark was better. All he had to do was wait for the other man to make a mistake. A glimpse of red and white was all it took, only it was Mark who made the mistake. The sight of Princess' hips as she bent over to pick up her guitar caused his mouth to go dry, and when the white ball sailed past him he barely noticed. "That's the game, Commander!" Jason smirked. "You owe me a Spaceburger!" "You're right, Jason, I guess I do." Mark agreed, smiling back at his friend. He could ill afford the unexpected expense, but glancing back at Princess, he knew it had been worth it. Some things were more important than the game.

Heh, nice use of the ready room ping pong matches -yes, Mark may have lost the game, but he's got a different prize in sight!

Hahahaha...we were thinking alike again, TJ! My first thought was of the everlasting ping pong match! (But then, I already drew that picture a long time ago!)

LB and TJ, thank you for a great start of the fanfiction year Here's my take on "The Game", which owes the plot to the fact that I recently watched "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy". First I had thought of doing another story about a golf game, maybe a singles match between Anderson and Zoltar, but then sanity prevailed and I turned to a different plot bunny. Also, for some reason, when I was growing up, I kept thinking of Anderson's first name as "Jack". Don't ask me why. //Anderson looked up from his desk to his friend Colonel Cronus, who was leaning over the desk as if trying to make sure that this time Anderson would not avoid his eye. "I don't see why you make it so difficult," Cronus said stubbornly. "You have been trying to stop me from taking up this mission for a long time. You know as well as I do that my work on Riga as an undercover agent is important for the ISO planning. So why are you pulling the rug from under my feet once again? I just received another email from President Kane, deferring the date of the mission, and I'm sure it's your doing". Anderson took of his glasses, rubbed his eyes. "Cronus, your son is only four years old. You cannot do this to him -- or your wife. If you go to Riga now, you might be stranded there for a long time -- or you may be killed, and then the poor boy will have to grow up in my care -- do you really want that for your son?" Cronus didn't know if his friend was joking or not, but decided to treat his last phrase as a joke. "Of course not, but all the other potential foster parents were taken. Seriously, Jack, you are the one person I can trust with the lives of my wife and my son." "But you don't have to trust anyone! Stay here! We have other assets on Riga! They can collect the information. It's not that the whole Federation spy structure depends on Colonel Cronus for its data." Cronus took a chair and looked pleasantly at Anderson. "Jack, do you know what 'tradecraft' means?" "Trade what?" asked Anderson, curiousity mellowing his frustration with his friend for a moment. "Tradecraft. In the twentieth century, this was how the game was played. It means the tricks that secret agents use to collect information, pass it on, stop enemy agents from acquiring it, eavesdropping, monitoring, dead drops, all those things our forefather spies did." "Right," said Anderson. "And your point is?" "My point is that I excell at tradecraft. Heck, I even know what tradecraft means. I'm the best agent you have, Jack. You can send any number of your agents to Riga, and all you'll get is weekly reports about the strength of visiting Spectran military delegation. Whereas I can offer you much more. I'm good at this game, Jack." Anderson sighed deeply, then turned to his computer, typed in a few words, clicked 'Send'. Then he turned to Cronus. "There. It's done. I've sent an email requesting President Kane to speed up the dates of your mission. But Cronus, if something happens to you...I'll kill you!" Then his face got serious. "Take care of yourself, Cronus. For the sake of your family. So that they don't have to suffer for your superiority complex." The look of regret on Anderson's face belied the harsh words he was using. Anderson was afraid for his friend. "And get us some good info while you're at it!" Cronus got up, flipped a salute. "That's the name of the game, Chief!"

LB ... that was just awesome! As Amethyst said, you managed to so ably put so many connotations of "the game" in such a short story, leaving us spoilt for choice! TJ ... you managed to trick me, at first! But, what could be so hardly fought than a ping-pong game between the best! You know ... I also think that Princess was kind of the real winner here, even though unaware of what was going on! Daniella ... lovely piece, incorporating so well the prompt "the game" into such a beginning of a well-known story! Apart from tradecraft, Cronus was even playing another game with life!

LB, I like the way you you used 'the game' and had Joe concentrating on the look on his face, which is hard to do when you're heart is breaking. TJ, the never ending ping pong game. I like how you don't let us know that's what it is until you near the end. Daniella, I always thought Cronus regarded his duty as a game. You showed that well. Lovely, ladies!

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So that's how it all started. It's the Chief's fault afterall. Great piece, Ame.

To keep the theme going: Princess walked into the rec room and glanced at the television. For the sixth day in a row, a football game was on. Her brothers didn't notice her entrance, they were so engrossed in the current game. Princess walked over to the cabinet, retrieved one of the ping pong paddles and with expert aim, threw it at the plasma screen. The ping pong paddle hit it right in the center and it exploded with sparks and hisses. Four heads turned her way in shock. "That's what you get for making me miss The Price is Right, again," she told them as she left the room.

Now that's funny, Becky. I can even hear the PMS remarks that the boys would make after she leaves the room (even though you left that completely open).

Oh love it Becky, ok my turn now!! Princess and keyop stared at their laptop, quietly sniggering to themselves, "Shh," wispered Princess, noticing the odd looks Mark was throwing her way, "Ok," Keyop answered, "let's try this." He tapped a few keys, then clicked. Whatever he had done had Princess bursting with laughter. Mark's curiosity was well and truly aroused, and he couldn't resist coming over. "What are you up to?" he asked. "We're playing the Gatchamania silly game"

KT, brilliant! Ame - That's what I've wanted to do since Christmas. I don't think there's been a day that hasn't had football and I'm soooo sick of it. Luckily, we have more than one TV.

Originally posted by Becky Rock Ame - That's what I've wanted to do since Christmas. I don't think there's been a day that hasn't had football and I'm soooo sick of it. Luckily, we have more than one TV.

Don't suppose that I should tell that I came up with that prompt on the spur of the moment, as I was sitting down to watch the 49er game, then. Luckily, we don't have cable or satellite, so if we want to watch a game, we have to plan ahead and go to Mom's. No over-kill that way. And I get to avoid all the silly bowl games that serve no real purpose than to give college sports more money to abuse.

Daniella- awesome! I love the way you described Cronus with a "superiority complex"! Amethyst- I love it! Now I know how they got their Ready Room stuff! My brother used to play drums so I know about the earplugs! KT- I'd love to know what they typed in! *grin*

Originally posted by amethyst Nicely done, Daniella. Though I am curious what a golf game between Anderson and Zoltar would look like, and would it get the same attention as the game between Obama and Boehner?

Don't tempt me!!!!!!!

Amethyst -- let's hope Ms. Wade is not out to exact revenge on Anderson for what he did! KT -- The Gatchamania silly game will never be the same again, now that we know that the team may be lurking in the corners

(Doh) my bad!

Wow, I'm gone for a day and I come back to find that this thread has exploded! I guess everyone's in a writing mood... which is perfect! Daniella, I like the way you depict Cronus here... a little bit arrogant, and confident of his skills. That's how I see him in BOTP as well. Amethyst, you've done a great job of setting up the start of the Ready Room... but I have to wonder when Tiny's video games turned into Spaceburgers! Maybe his game should have been Burger Time? Becky, I'm not a sports person either. Fortunately, I married a guy who doesn't watch them on TV, so I don't have to suffer through it. But I grew up in a house where football was always on... it seemed all year! And I loved the Price is Right! KT, I can see how much you are enjoying the Silly Game! Now the question is, will Keyop be posting?

[i]Originally posted by Transmute Jun[/i Amethyst, you've done a great job of setting up the start of the Ready Room... but I have to wonder when Tiny's video games turned into Spaceburgers! Maybe his game should have been Burger Time?

I may steal that and edit it in, replacing the flight simulator. Tiny was the hardest the to come up with something for, and when I finally sat down to right, I had really just given up wrote something somewhat practical, though I may have stolen that from someone somewhere somehow. Oh, or as I'm writing this, PacMan suddenly came to mind. I think that would work, and I'm sure Atari or whoever was responsible for that wouldn't mind the use there of. Rushes off to edit ....

LOL, I thought of Burger Time because I really used to love that game. Hmmm... maybe Tiny gets a recipe book: Cooking the Perfect Burger'? And once he perfects the recipe...

there's another fic there somewhere!!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun LOL, I thought of Burger Time because I really used to love that game. Hmmm... maybe Tiny gets a recipe book: Cooking the Perfect Burger'? And once he perfects the recipe...

I don't remember that one. I do remember spending too much time with Pac Man and annoying everyone else in the room. However, my game was Space Invaders (and the music for that was almost as annoying; though I do believe Donkey Kong was worse). The cookbook idea is good too, though not as noisy.

for The Eagle Gatchaman released his sonic boomerang. He did not need to see it, to know it had arched true, slicing through goons in its wake. Simultaneously he thrusting out with his right arm , striking the nearest goon in the throat, using that momentum he propelled himself skyward, his left foot swept forward, striking two more goons in the face and breaking their necks. He reached out and retrieved his sonic boomerang as it arched back to him. With the athleticism and grace of a Danseur Nobel Ballerina he landed gracefully upon the floor. Honed on instincts born of experience and years of practice, he sprang forward again to continue his deadly and bloody dance. The adrenalin coursed through his body. He was aware that his team mates were also being successful in their assignment missions. He moved forward intent on his own. This was their game, their lives and they knew how to play it.

Wow, LW, very powerful! I love the imagery you create!

Two little words, so much inspiration!! who'd have thought?

LW, good visual and use of the prompt. Mark's right. It is like a game but it is their lives. Ame, I do believe this has been a success.

Originally posted by Becky Rock LW, good visual and use of the prompt. Mark's right. It is like a game but it is their lives. Ame, I do believe this has been a success.

It is a very good start. LW, I'll agree with everyone else, outstanding imagery. KT, sorry for not saying anything sooner, yours was real cute, too. It would be interesting to see what they added to the game.

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You really have a strong idea of what motivates each member of the Team, LW! It's fascinating to see!

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okay turning of the computer now! going to walk away, got other things to just post this and then count to three

Powerful stuff, LW! -especially comparing the Chief and the state of his conscience with Lady MacBeth. Much enjoying reading all the different ideas that everyone here has gotten from just a couple words. This is fun!

LW, this was great! I especially liked the ones about Jason and Keyop, very powerful and moving!

Amethyst ...you've given us the origins of the Ready Room! So well planned out ... Becky ... I too have wished to do that many a time! My DH is obsessed with football, and now my son too, and poor he/she who interferes during a game! But, I've learnt to turn such time into a special girls' time for me and my daughter, and that works! KT ... brilliant idea! I wonder with what kind of words the Team could contribute! LW ... wow! Such imagery and sentiment in each and every individual piece!

Thank you all. My muse was on a roll. I am making a consious effort (this year) to include other members of the team in my musings, cause I realise in order to get to my Owl and Condor, I have to go through them first (and a few other people here as well) Oh and to treat the Eagle with more respect. (still can't imagine smut with him)

Originally posted by littlewolf Oh and to treat the Eagle with more respect. (still can't imagine smut with him)

That's okay, I'm happy to take on that task for you!

Have at it! your smut is always a lot cleaner and tasteful than mine. Although!!!! if next weeks Bradbury's Jar pulls out something "Dirty" I may have to convert to the Rubber room, my muse if feeling a very naughty at the moment.

Oh, Amethyst, I think we have a suggestion....

There is no reason why a thread can't be started in the Rubber Room or moved there for those so inclined. LW, great job on adding perspectives for the entire team. You've got me curious about what Zoltar would be thinking. Do you think we could convince you to finish off the series you've started with him? As for suggestions, see my post in the idea thread for this. With 52 weeks in a year, there's no reason why we each can't put up several prompts over that time.

LW, you got into everyone's heads. You were on a roll! Can you do Zoltar, too? Please?

Wow, this is great .... everyone is coming up with such different ideas to the same prompt. I am not sure if I have something niggling or not.

Remember, CD, it can be as short or as long as you want! And if nothing comes to mind, there's always next week, when there will be a new word!

okay, give me a bit to think up something for Zoltar.

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Will that do? my muse seems happy to do short outbusts. DT - I'm still working on the long story of the Holiday Challenge, thank you for your patience. I'm stuck on trying to get the middle bit of the story to work, the start and end are good, but the middle looks like a jumble of incoherent sentences. This thing won't beat me, I'm determined to start and finish a whole story, not just fragments Once again"Thank you" for your patience.

LW, that's great! You've really managed to do a wonderful job explaining the Spectran POV!

LW, all of yours are great, but I really like the Zoltar one the best it allows for sympathy and understanding of the Spectran people. I think you should bundle these all up and post them at Gatchfanfic or FF.net.

I agree. LW, that was incredible. I, too, felt some sympathy for the Spectrans.

Nice LW! I imagine it's tough to write from a Spectran POV! Very convincing! Here's my trib: Looks like Jun is a little too competitive!

That's soooo good Springie. Jun could be sitting in Ken's lap as she does to to even further get ahead.

Very nice work Springie. Becky is right, I am sure Jun could find a good way to distract Ken, and win.

I can tell who's winning at Tatsunoko vs. Capcom! I love Jun's competitive face and Ken's dismay!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I love Jun's competitive face and Ken's dismay!

That was what caught my attention, too, like she's going at the game as if it were a battle and he just wanted a relaxing game (as if there is such a thing). Great job, Springie!

Waaaaaaaah! (exclamation of surprise and admiration). Springie, this was wonderful!!!! LW, I agree with the others: pack your contributions together and post them on Gatchfanfic or FF!!!!!!! This weekly challenge is proving to be a winner!!!!

Originally posted by littlewolf In less than 200 years all their resources will be gone. They will be starving, deprived, desperate in order to survive. Will they do anything different than us?

Excellent food for thought, LW! Children's shows make everything so morally black & white, but we realize later that it's all too often shades of grey.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I love Jun's competitive face and Ken's dismay!

Me too! It's so much fun to beat a guy at at game. Springie, you really nailed their expressions -perfect!

what can I say that simply isn't repeating everyone else? Springie, it looks like Jun is already distracting Ken, since his head is tucked nicely into her chest!! Poor guy doesn't stand a chance Lol LW, some seriouse food for thought...perhaps we could be heading for the same fate as the Spectrans if things don't change pretty soon, it's just not something that will change overnight though...

Thanks for the great comments, guys! It was a fun pic to draw! TJ...they are definitely playing Tatsunoko vs. Capcom! LOL

LW ... what can I say? I just wish to join in with the others in order to convince you into gathering all the contributions and post them elsewhere! They're so profound! Springie ... what a masterpiece! I love the expressions on their faces, which tell a lot! There must be some goons running around on the screen, somewhere!

Coming from such amazing writers and artist, I'm a little overwhelmed! I didn't think some random musing would get such a reaction. I'll post them on Gatchfanfic Looks like I get to take this goal of this years Bucket List a little earlier than I had thought. Once again thank you for your response and faith. DMD PS I'll need a proof reader and someone to help me with the Table of contents, so I list it correctly and the disclaimer.

Originally posted by littlewolf PS I'll need a proof reader and someone to help me with the Table of contents, so I list it correctly and the disclaimer.

LW, I'll be happy to beta read for you. Just send me the files or I can copy and paste from here and send you the suggested corrections. To be honest, I only noticed a few minor spelling/diction errors, so there won't be a many. You've really grown as a writer since you started posting here.

Thanks I have email you contents Thank you

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Oh my, Marie! Poor Katse! No wonder he's so irritable all the time! He's hungry!!!!!!! A great interpretation of 'game'! Now, where do the goons go hunting to get this game?

really don't know what to say to that...... wonderful!!

Marie, that was too funny! I love how it starts serious and turns just this side of ridiculous -- kind of like Galactor, itself. I really could see a goon doing that, too. Great job!

I can certainly sympathise with Katse...just this once! At least they didn't go hunting for Condors and other flying delicacies!

Marie, that was great. I was laughing out loud at the thought of what Katse was being served.

Marie, that was an example of be careful what you wish for. A few forgotten words set Zoltar up for what he'd asked for.

Thanks a lot for all your kind comments, guys! I was worried I would have made a flop with my insecurities about my writing in English! And, about the idea I was worried to, since I don't know why, but every time I thought about the prompt "The Game" wild birds kept coming to my mind! My bad too, since I've left a lot of time pass before I had the chance to write something down and all the good ideas had already been taken! And, having thought about this silly subject in the first place, I couldn't but base everything upon the ignorance of the goons surrounding Katse, giving Katse the opportunity to blame them for his failing in every attempt to win against Gatchaman, and look good in Sosai X's eyes!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Now, where do the goons go hunting to get this game?

What I do know is that they'd think twice before going anywhere near the Crescent Coral Base to take down certain "birds" ... at least, if not compelled to!

Marie, I just want to say that no idea is ever 'taken'. We're all different people, and even if you use the same meaning for the word 'game' (or any other word prompt) your story will be completely different because YOU wrote it. There is no 'claiming' of any sort with these prompts. Amethyst can correct me if I'm wrong, but it is my understanding that they are just writing exercises, to keep us 'limber'.

Originally posted by Transmute JunAmethyst can correct me if I'm wrong, but it is my understanding that they are just writing exercises, to keep us 'limber'.

That is absolutely correct! No time-frame! No right or wrong! No one is grading or keeping score. There is no due date. An idea born from the prompt is all we are looking for. A funny thing about ideas once they are fully completed (if there is such a thing) sometimes they look exactly how they were imagined and sometimes they look very different. I should have mentioned, or well actually thought, of this earlier. I hadn't even thought of that sort of game. Kudos for bringing us another definition. And one that I can fully sympathize with Katse on. The closest I get to game like that is the occasional wild trout from the trout farm (if that counts) and the very rare venison steak from my in-laws. I probably would have freaked just like he did. Could be why it was so funny.

You're both right, TJ and Amethyst, and I can understand well what you're saying! I only meant that, after having read or seen other work, it's in my nature to try and be original, and most of all not to offend anybody by maybe repeating things in some way! I'm also a person who always likes to put oneself to the test in everything I do! Maybe it's a drawback, or call it an obsession, but I can't help it especially when I know I could easily flop doing something which doesn't come out that naturally, like writing in another language as in this case, even if done so leisurely! LOL ... the truth is that I always put myself to the test in everything I do, and correct when I could, but then that's just me!

Originally posted by amethyst The closest I get to game like that is the occasional wild trout from the trout farm (if that counts) and the very rare venison steak from my in-laws. I probably would have freaked just like he did. Could be why it was so funny.

I know people, especially elderly ones who have been brought up during the war, when any food couldn't have been scrapped, who just adore scraping flesh out from cooked heads of game, especially rabbit! I know it sounds gross ... it's yucky for me too, and also creepy, and nothing like that would ever be found on my table! Well ... we do eat turkey and rabbit, but only the body! But, some call them delicacies, and here you could find pigeon, rabbit, horse meat, etc, easily at a traditional restaurant! No heads though, at least if not requested!

Not quite so yucky, but my Mom was in the UK as a small child during WWII, when there was a lot of food rationing. She remembers being 5 years old three years in a row at Christmas, because all kids 5 and under were given an orange. I guess it was a special treat! Sugar was heavily rationed and in her family, her Dad had a sweet tooth and ended up getting most of the sugar. So when they had French toast, they had it with salt! To this day, my Mom still salts her French toast.

Out here that kind of survival eating is more associated with the Great Depression. The war had very different repercussion on our culture as it did on Europe, obviously as no battles were fought here. However, I know people who do consider brains, head cheese, tongue, etc. delicacies. While inside I shiver at the thought of having to eat something like that, let alone enjoying it. I try to treat it with the same cultural respect I do when walking through Chinatown in San Francisco and pass the markets that have the turtles or other live animals in front, and do my best not to think that the creature is not there to be sold as a pet but to go home as dinner. But then I'm funny that way with food. For the first time ever this weekend, I cleaned a crab (I usually have butcher do it), and nearly regretted it. I don't like to know where it came from and what else is in it. Something I had to learn to push past considering that my in-laws liked to raise a cow for meat. The closest my family ever got to something like that was buying it from a rancher in Nevada who had it already slaughtered and butchered for us when we went to pick it up. As for stories being similar to others, I think we kind of need to expect a little of that considering the nature of the prompts. So I wouldn't worry too much, you could also acknowledge the similarities as either coincidental or being an inspiration. But, as I type this, I'll admit to avoiding the second thread, for the same reasons, I have my story in my head and just haven't had the opportunity to get it out, uninfluenced by the others. Hopefully today, if not I'll read the others and get mine out when I can, with apologies or acknowledgments to those who had similar ideas but were quicker.

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My father was born in 1930 and he'd eat anything. We lived in West Virginia, so use your imagination.

Originally posted by amethyst However, I know people who do consider brains, head cheese, tongue, etc. delicacies.

We do tend to use many interiors in our cooking here, always coming from past traditions! I, myself, don't since, as you're saying, Amethyst, it's a different thing finding something ready in your plate from the whole, crude process of preparing it! LOL ... my dear mother used to cook me various parts without telling me what they were in the beginning, like pig's tongue, tripe, liver etc ... and, believe me they were really yummy! When knowing what they are it's a different case, even if I got used to the taste after being tricked! But, on the other hand, my DH would immediately get nausiated as soon as he sees something like so, so these things are banned from our house! I do clean fish myself, though, but that's where I stop! ... other things like poultry, etc, need to be totally cleaned and ready for cooking! And you having mentioned brains ... the grossest, weirdest, and even IMO cruelest thing I've seen was whilst watching a documentary on tv ... it was based on different delicacies of different countries, and it was the country of Turkey's turn! A chef brought a monkey to a table of six, adventurous foreigners (the monkey btw being still alive), beat it on the head to death, and extracted the brains whilst still warm and fresh for them to eat! Needless to say, they all ended up vomiting and I really don't know if they even tried to taste it since I remember changing the channel immediately cause I couldn't see more!

Was a chef by trade for almost 8 years (plus 4 years for my apprenticeship) Would try almost anything, (easier sometimes if you didn't know what it was till after you ate it) drew the line at deep fried baby mice ( one of our chinese chefs said it was a delicacy in his province (dead first) loved chocolate coated grasshoppers, ants, witchety grups and other weird delicacies Best trick they played was with Japanese strawberrys ( made of very strong moulded wasabi) or they lie to us after we tried something, like saying it was chilled puree brains, when we though it was a desert or send us out for chickens teeth to flavour soups lucky I have a cast iron stomach (not as adventurous now)

I've watched some of those Food Channel shows and can't believe what some cultures eat, but then again, they probably look at some of the stuff we ate and think the same thing.

Originally posted by Becky Rock they probably look at some of the stuff we ate and think the same thing.

Heck, I think we say the same thing about ourselves sometimes. I had a great uncle (I never met the man), but my father always quoted him as saying: "If you want mustard on your pie, you put mustard on your pie."

Following in others' footsteps, I'm going to try and write a piece for each of the prompts for my Totally G-Force AU, just to try to keep my creative juices flowing, as they've been hiding too much lately. Sam sighed deeply as she pretended to watch the pro basketball game she had allowed Jason to drag her to. She didn't care for basketball, but her teammates Clover and Alex and even Princess had told her one way to keep your boyfriend happy was to accompany him to sporting events, regardless if you hated the sport. Jason was cheering or geering, depending on what was happening, just like many of those seated around them. Sam looked around and spied another bored looking woman. They shared sympathetic looks. Jason grabbed her arm and she turned to him, quickly smiling to keep up the premise she was enjoying herself. "Gotta go," he said and pointed at his left wrist. Sam nodded and rose. She pretended to be disappointed, but was never so happy for an alert.

nice one Becky! It's never too late to join in, just proving there's no time limit to posting on these prompts. Good luck with the challenge, you've certainly made a promising start!

Originally posted by Becky Rock Following in others' footsteps, I'm going to try and write a piece for each of the prompts for my Totally G-Force AU, just to try to keep my creative juices flowing, as they've been hiding too much lately.

Yay! It's a fun exercise, to figure out how to fit each prompt. And if you can't fit it into the story, just do something else, no law says you can't do a little one-off.

I'm going to skip the ones I already did write to.

Love it, Becky! And FWIW, my mother told me the same thing about sports: that I had to at least pretend to like some of them or I'd never catch a man. I was very happy to prove her wrong!

I put up with some sports, but I draw the line on soccer and weight lifting. I can't stand them.

I take it you are not watching the world cup then Becky. That is all the rage here at my school, especially the Italy Portugal rivalry. I have to admit I really don't pay much attention to most sports, but if I want to make connections to some of the boys in my class then knowing a little about the major sport being played at the time certainly helps.

Originally posted by Becky Rock I put up with some sports, but I draw the line on soccer and weight lifting. I can't stand them.

Weight lifting I don't mind, soccer I tolerated long enough for my kids to play pee wee. Fortunately they grew out of it. The one I never understood, and still don't is golf. You hit a little ball, chase it, hit it again, chase it again, and then try to hit it into a small hole in the ground, and the one who does it with the fewest strokes wins. Never got into tennis either, but I don't mind raquetball for some reason. Maybe because it irritated my parents when we played against the garage door, which was fun because we had a downward slooping driveway and we also tried to see who could hit the ball across the street and into the hillside, or make the shot from the middle of the street.

Amethyst, for me I feel the same about Snooker, Billiards or Pool - depends on which part of the world you are in and how many balls you are using. When I lived in England for a couple of years, my parents drove me crazy watching this on weekends. Now I have to put up with golf, when I stay with my parents. I think playing either is probably more exciting than watching it. I often wonder if the reason I do not enjoy either sport is because I can not play it well enough to make it exciting.

I like to watch golf, but don't play it. I also hate tennis, especially the women who moan and grunt every time they hit the ball. I swear it sounds like they're either going to the bathroom or having sex. They should outlaw it as beyond annoying.