Saturday, October 3, 2009


As always please refer to the Raven's Nest for information about wordzzling.

The Ten Word Challenge: family, cheese cake, 20 years ago, refrigerator, laugh and the world laughs with you, bath brush, zombies, African violets, butterflies, holding hands

The mini: monsters in the closet, roughly, bowling, menu, Pennsylvania

My Last Wordzzle:

I will miss the weekly Wordzzle challenge. The people who read my work and whose work I read have become like an on-line family to me. And the words kept me guessing as to what would be on the literary menu for each week. Yet, like most goods things, this too must come to an end. After a year of a summer of my discontent (no job, 113 days in Phoenix over 100 degrees and still counting) and with my wife finally back to work and doing very well thank you; I have determined to fill my days with supporting her efforts, looking for work, writing seriously (if only I could) and generally being a 110% productive househusband till I am once again gainfully employed.

This effort leaves roughly zero hours a day and not many more a week to apply to internet writing. It might surprise some of you to hear this, but keeping house, fixing meals, shopping and the other varied pursuits necessary to provide comfort and care for your spouse is a full time job. I knew this before but was damned glad to be out of the house each day working. Now the joke (so to speak), is on me. I am keeping a good attitude and humor with the old adage in mind; "Laugh and the world laughs with you." It certainly beats the alternative.

No departure from the Wonderful World of Wordzzle would be proper without thanking the creator and literary hostess, Katherine at the Raven's Nest. I have greatly enjoyed my long distance relationship with her and consider her a great blog friend as well as a talented writer. Katherine resides in Hancock New York, a town just across the border from Pennsylvania. She is currently having her home remodeled and has graced us with progress reports and pictures of everything from her new refrigerator to a bath brush. (OK, maybe not a bath brush)

One of my favorite writers and readers is Dr. John. He writes from both his Castle and his Dragons' lair at Fandango. I have been consistently amazed at the exploits of 012 and the amazing poetic talent of his dragons.

There is no denying the imagination of Betty who introduced me to invisible Penguins and other hard to see animals. I always enjoyed the exploits of the various critters and their humans.

Speaking of imagination,Stephen has certainly shown me the depths to which a new world can be created in his writings. Jay at Bailey's Buddies entertains each week with tales of Phrog and the Salamander sisters. C.J. at Pro Atrz spins wonderful stories which leave me yearning to go on an archeological dig or some other adventure. Still no signs of Zombies yet, but who knows what she'll think of next. It's hard to tell what Monsters in the closet she has in store for us.

The folks at Reston Friends delight each week with a variety of poetry and prose. It's like getting coffee and cheesecake for the price of just one. Then there's Gabrielle at Wild Goose Scoops the Moon. (Man I love that blog title) and many others who have come and gone in the year or so I've been writing and reading the Wordzzle at the Raven's Nest.

I will often reflect on the varied styles and talents of the Wordzzle writers as Vicki and I, holding hands, take our evening walks now that the weather has finally cooled. In the past, perhaps 20 years ago, when Vicki still belonged to a bowling league and I coached the kids' baseball team, I would have never thought to write or meet people on the internet. Back then I would have gotten butterflies in my stomach just thinking about having to write something, especially weekly and with a deadline. My writing ability in those days paralleled my one experience with growing African Violets, which was sad indeed.

It has been a great experience for me to participate in Wordzzling. I can only hope that you get as much from it as I have. With all this practice at plot and character development, dialogue and narrative, perhaps I will find it in me someday to actually write a real book.


So, with no further ado, I bid you all farewell till next we meet amongst the electrons and packets of the ethersphere. Thanks to all for writing and reading.

RT




7 comments:

Dr.John said...

I feel like I'm at a funeral. You will be missed.
Of all the writers I read on the internet your writing came the closest to the mystery novels I like to read.
When you get your book published let me know so I can rush out and buy a copy.
Again you will be sorely missed.

Raven said...

Richard! How you will be missed! What a lovely tribute to Wordzzles and the participants. I have to say that you have ALREADY written two great books doing these challenges. Even if you want to edit them to de-wordzzle them, I think you should get an agent and submit both of them. They are brilliant.

Glad that your wife has found good work and hope that you'll soon make a bundle on your writing so that you can hire someone to do the housework and come play with us again.

You will be greatly missed. It has been a delight knowing you and reading both your wordzzles and your political pieces.

Oh - and what a brilliant final wordzzle. You rock!

Argent said...

Oh, Noooooo! I really enjoyed your weekly episodes. The ole place won't be the same without you.

Fandango said...

We dragons will miss you. You were an inspiration. One great writer among us pretenders. And you gave us such an edible villain
We will miss you.

Anonymous said...

Best of luck to you and your working spouse. Change is tough but it can be done!

You will be missed but I commend you on your new adventure. Congratulations to your gainfully employed spouse, Vicki!

MommyWizdom

Stephen said...

I will miss reading your Wordzzles each week. I really enjoyed your mystery story. I'm glad that your wife found a job, and I hope that you can find work, too, and that you can get your stories published. Thank you for the nice things you said about me and the other Wordzzle writers.

Stephen from Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
http://stephen-has-spoken.blogspot.com/

gabrielle said...

"He loved her, of course, but better than that, he chose her, day after day."
Sherman Alexie

Just to let you know how much I have enjoyed reading your stories. You truly have a gift.

To honor commitments and fully support those we love is a paramount focus. I hope things settle down and that you have the time and inspiration to write again. Til then, all the best to you and Vickie.