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The first sentence, the first paragraph...
Posted: Jul 14 2005, 05:58 PM
It was a dark and stormy night... nope, scratch that...
The snow was piled up to the eaves... nope...
The sudden summer heat was affecting everything exposed to it. The blacktop in the parking lot was sticky. Ligths seemed to get dimmer and dimmer by the minute as commuters arrived home and cranked up air conditioners and fans. Plastic water bottles were bulging like a shook-up beer can. Lawn sprinklers barely trickled on kids at play as the water pressure dropped across the Valley.
A fresh hot cup of coffee felt like a cold tropical beverage to the "beautiful people" hanging outside Orchard Valley, the ink of their tatoos seemed to be oozing down their arms and legs as if made of bits of colorful gummie bears. Black was no longer a fashion statement, but a badge of courage and a sign of indignation. If it weren't for their battery-operated laptops and iPods they'd be totally disconnected from a world they choose to stand on the edge of rather than immerse themselves into.
"Old world" rock music blared from the nearby green as kids played in the tubs of ice that were attempting to chill cans of soda pop. Oldsters actually took off their wool sweaters, wishing they could off their support hose as they fanned themselves with pamphlets offered by local merchants and those with a message of self-serving purpose to share.
Bike cops tucked under nearby tree branches for a piece of shade. No doubt the patrol cars were in a corner of the parking garage, windows up, engines running to keep the AC going, pretending to be checking out suspects. The 'cool' kids with their roller-skate cars and boom-boom stereos had their windows rolled up as they cruised the avenues.
Yes, it's hot in downtown Campbell. Not as hot as Phoenix or Alberquerque or Vegas or Bakersfield, but hot enough.
Venturing out through the neighborhoods you could catch a scream and a splash and tinny-sounding boom-boxes beyond the homes lucky enough to have pools. Those whose temper was normally heated were even more agitated and vocal in their dislike of the world around them - and didn't care who knew it from blocks away.
Standing room only at King's Head, Katie's and Rock Bottom, as gallons of amber brew tried to keep up with the aggressive thurst of patrons. Not a beer truck in site the drivers afraid of being hijacked. I heard Baskin-Robbins sold out and ColdStone was packed.
Basketball courts empty, an abandoned ball seemed to ooze into the playing surface. Dusty trails devoid of joggers and strollers - perhaps they all went to dip their feet in the cold trickling stream?
Time for a refill, my glass has run out. Add to this story or give us a shout!
- jim
The snow was piled up to the eaves... nope...
The sudden summer heat was affecting everything exposed to it. The blacktop in the parking lot was sticky. Ligths seemed to get dimmer and dimmer by the minute as commuters arrived home and cranked up air conditioners and fans. Plastic water bottles were bulging like a shook-up beer can. Lawn sprinklers barely trickled on kids at play as the water pressure dropped across the Valley.
A fresh hot cup of coffee felt like a cold tropical beverage to the "beautiful people" hanging outside Orchard Valley, the ink of their tatoos seemed to be oozing down their arms and legs as if made of bits of colorful gummie bears. Black was no longer a fashion statement, but a badge of courage and a sign of indignation. If it weren't for their battery-operated laptops and iPods they'd be totally disconnected from a world they choose to stand on the edge of rather than immerse themselves into.
"Old world" rock music blared from the nearby green as kids played in the tubs of ice that were attempting to chill cans of soda pop. Oldsters actually took off their wool sweaters, wishing they could off their support hose as they fanned themselves with pamphlets offered by local merchants and those with a message of self-serving purpose to share.
Bike cops tucked under nearby tree branches for a piece of shade. No doubt the patrol cars were in a corner of the parking garage, windows up, engines running to keep the AC going, pretending to be checking out suspects. The 'cool' kids with their roller-skate cars and boom-boom stereos had their windows rolled up as they cruised the avenues.
Yes, it's hot in downtown Campbell. Not as hot as Phoenix or Alberquerque or Vegas or Bakersfield, but hot enough.
Venturing out through the neighborhoods you could catch a scream and a splash and tinny-sounding boom-boxes beyond the homes lucky enough to have pools. Those whose temper was normally heated were even more agitated and vocal in their dislike of the world around them - and didn't care who knew it from blocks away.
Standing room only at King's Head, Katie's and Rock Bottom, as gallons of amber brew tried to keep up with the aggressive thurst of patrons. Not a beer truck in site the drivers afraid of being hijacked. I heard Baskin-Robbins sold out and ColdStone was packed.
Basketball courts empty, an abandoned ball seemed to ooze into the playing surface. Dusty trails devoid of joggers and strollers - perhaps they all went to dip their feet in the cold trickling stream?
Time for a refill, my glass has run out. Add to this story or give us a shout!
- jim
Posted: Jul 14 2005, 06:15 PM
The sky started to darken, and large, black clouds started to cover the sun. Sea gulls appeared and performed aerobatics for all to see.
Squawk! Squawk! could be heard throughout downtown.
The seagulls continued to cartwheel and flip flop in the air until a bright light smacked the sky and a clap of thunder roared across E. Campbell Ave. Suddenly, the seagulls went into a nose dive and, one by one, crashed into the water tower. Thump, thump . . . thump . . . thump . . .
"Isn't that weird? I mean, what's up with these bird?"
People were standing, mouths ajar, and watching in horror as these seabirds performed hari kari right in front of their eyes.
I couldn't answer. I had no idea.
The rain started pouring down, well, like buckets (to use a completely boring simile) and people who were one second earlier drinking their nonfat iced soy decaf lattes and eating their organic arugula and artichoke sandwiches, rushed back inside the Sonoma Chicken Coop.
"What the hell are all these chickens doing in here?"
I just so happened to follow them in the Coop since I am the omniscient author, and answered.
"I don't know."
I know, brilliant response.
So . . .
Squawk! Squawk! could be heard throughout downtown.
The seagulls continued to cartwheel and flip flop in the air until a bright light smacked the sky and a clap of thunder roared across E. Campbell Ave. Suddenly, the seagulls went into a nose dive and, one by one, crashed into the water tower. Thump, thump . . . thump . . . thump . . .
"Isn't that weird? I mean, what's up with these bird?"
People were standing, mouths ajar, and watching in horror as these seabirds performed hari kari right in front of their eyes.
I couldn't answer. I had no idea.
The rain started pouring down, well, like buckets (to use a completely boring simile) and people who were one second earlier drinking their nonfat iced soy decaf lattes and eating their organic arugula and artichoke sandwiches, rushed back inside the Sonoma Chicken Coop.
"What the hell are all these chickens doing in here?"
I just so happened to follow them in the Coop since I am the omniscient author, and answered.
"I don't know."
I know, brilliant response.
So . . .
Posted: Jul 16 2005, 09:26 AM
"I just so happened to follow them in the Coop since I am the omniscient author, and answered.
"I don't know."
I know, brilliant response."..............................
and then, like a slow hazy dawning of a hot, humid day, my body began a slow, upward spiral from the paralyzing dream I found myself in. Arms stiff as starched sheets reached for the everpresent pencil on the nightstand and I began writing on tattered pieces of paper thoughts that swirled through my mind.
Birds became moving words, flying across the pages of my imagination, as remembered heat became watercolor splashes of dull orange letters and swarms of people transformed into upside down commas skipping in unison on lines resembling cracks on the downtown sidewalks. A poem began to gather in translucent form and quiet strength. This wingless creature that invaded my mind and soared high above the horizon of a smoggy sleep......
"I don't know."
I know, brilliant response."..............................
and then, like a slow hazy dawning of a hot, humid day, my body began a slow, upward spiral from the paralyzing dream I found myself in. Arms stiff as starched sheets reached for the everpresent pencil on the nightstand and I began writing on tattered pieces of paper thoughts that swirled through my mind.
Birds became moving words, flying across the pages of my imagination, as remembered heat became watercolor splashes of dull orange letters and swarms of people transformed into upside down commas skipping in unison on lines resembling cracks on the downtown sidewalks. A poem began to gather in translucent form and quiet strength. This wingless creature that invaded my mind and soared high above the horizon of a smoggy sleep......
