Roman Fever Rewrite

11th grade I had this assignment. Read the short story "Roman Fever" by...i forget who, i will look it up later...And rewrite it from a modern perspective with males as the main characters. That was the extent of the instructions. Pretty much after that was up to us and our imaginations. So i took the basic ideas of 'Roman Fever" and came up with my own story. I was going through old documents and came across it. Thought you might like it.

[apologizing again for lack of posts, i have been busy and tired, you can still check out flickr though]

In matching plaid pants with dark green and khaki colored sweaters stood two middle-aged men. One steps forward and grabs a shiny club from a case of many. He walks towards a ball on the ground and lines up his club, the ball, and the hole. With a graceful swing he hits the ball, launching it into the air with a perfect arc. It lands and rolls into the hole with a plunk.

“Nice one old man. Remember what you used to be like back in the day. You couldn’t play for your life.” Remarked Chester with a chuckle.

“Hey, you weren’t much better Chester. At least I had all the girls watching me; they couldn’t see you as you chased your ball fifty feet off course.”  Harold countered.

After finishing their game the two men moved over to a bench under a nearby tree. The shade from the tree covered the bench and a slight breeze was blowing through the leaves. The taller thin man leans back and settles himself into his seat. Sitting on the bench the two men contemplated the scene before them, young and old alike, men throughout the course played the greatest pastime of all time, golf.

            “Remember when we were 18 and playing on this golf course with the big players for the first time Chester? I feel like it was just yesterday.”

            “It’s been a few good years since then huh, we’ve been through quite a bit together.” Chester replied.

            As Chester looked at everyone playing happily he began to remember those good times, and then what else they had been through. It had been almost 12 years since Harold’s wife had passed away and about 14 since his had. They had all met at a golf championship when they were 20 and had connected right away.

            “Hey Harold…remember when we first met?” Chester inquired.

            “Yeah, how could I forget it? It was the first time I met Katherine. I knew right away she was the one for me, and you met Julie. It was fate that we all ended up at the same place on that beautiful day. You don’t get many days like that anymore. I will always remember it.” Harold responded.

            “Yeah, the youth these days take everything for granted; they don’t appreciate what they have at the moment. It could be gone at any time.” Upon saying this Chester relapsed into silence.

Harold looked at him and realized what was going through his mind. He began to think of his wife Julie. She was a charm; you couldn’t find anyone else like her. She was a handsome woman with a great sense of fashion. Wherever they went people would watch her as she walked by them with grace and elegance. Katherine, Chester’s wife, was also fascinating. She could have the shyest people talking and laughing with her like they had known each other for their entire lives. She was always the life of the party. It was really a tragedy when they both lost them to sickness. Looking at Chester, Harold began to really see him for what he was without his wife. He was quiet and shy. He never partied anymore and rarely talked to his old buddies. Harold believed himself to be one of the only ones he did talk to still and that’s just because they shared a love of golf.

“Hey Chester, are you just keepin’ me around because I play golf?” Harold questioned.

“Why would you say that? Of course not, you’re my old buddy. I like to hang out with you; ya know spend some quality man-time together.”  Chester said to Harold.

“I was just thinking about our wives and about how ever since Katherine died you haven’t been the same. I’m like the only one you talk to and you never go out anymore.” Harold remarked.

“I’m out right now aren’t I?” Chester responded

“But it isn’t the same, because we always go out on Sunday afternoon to play golf, we have for as long as I can remember.”

“Are you trying to say I don’t like coming out with you Harold? I mean I could go home right now if that’s what you want!”

“No, no, no I just meant that…oh forget it Chester, we’re like old geezers fighting over a chess game. I’m sorry. I understand what you went through and I’m sure you’re still saddened by the thought of your wife, just like I am.” Harold said with an apologetic glance in Chester’s direction.

“It’s okay old sport, and who said I was sad, my wife told me before she died that she didn’t want me to stop living just because she did.”

“But…you’re not following her directions, so how are you not sad?”

“ Hey, you’re the one who said I never go out anymore, and I am following her directions,” He said as he glanced down at his watch, “as a matter of fact I have to get going now.”

“Where are you going?” Harold demanded.

“To go see my lady friend of course.” Chester said with a grin as he sauntered away, across the green golf course.

Harold sat back on the bench with a bewildered expression upon his face as he realized that, in actuality, he didn’t know his old friend as well as he thought he did.

If I Were A Duck

If I were a duck,
I would soar through the sky,
I would splash in the puddles,
I would quack at the humans,
I would feel at home in the rain. 

If I were a duck,
I would eat all the bread crumbs,
I would preen my feathers smooth,
I would cuddle in my nest,
I would feel at home in the rain. 

If I were a duck,
I’d have no care of money,
Nor of time.
I’d have no care of clothing,
nor of personal hygiene.
I’d be carefree,
I’d be happy.
I would feel at home in the rain

I wrote this because of all the rain we’ve been having. I wrote it while in physics class actually. As we talked about intercepting wave patterns. Yep…good lecture :) haha. I needed a new blog post and this makes me laugh so enjoy your day :D

365 Challenge

 

I’ve been absent. I know. I apologize. Its been busy. Very busy. I’ve got school. Coming up on midterms. I’ve got babysitting. Gotta save that money for Norway this summer. I’ve got wedding planning. Only a few months til June. I’ve got funerals. Two in two weeks. (oh and my fish just died but we didnt have a funeral for him). I have also been doing this thing called The Flickr 365 Challenge though. The point of this challenge is to grow as a photographer. You take a picture a day. Not just going out and taking a picture of whatever you happen upon but kind of planning it. So I should put more thought into this. If I can take a picture a day that is usually thought out, then write a description I should be able to write a few paragraphs for you guys. But if you are feeling Kay-withdrawal because I'm not keeping up with this and you want to see something from me then you can always head over to my Flickr page. www.flickr.com/photos/kaywalker I'm only on day 17 so feel free to catch up :)

So guess what I love. Sun, spring, wind. Today was one of those sunny windy, reminds you of what spring is days. I took Tina out and we made our rounds at Brooksvale. The wind was a bit chilly at times but 659 pictures later we were more then satisfied. We headed out to a wake then to Chili’s for dinner. Now I have to sit through all these pictures, see what’s good, what’s not. I think we may have a few stop motions in the works. Which, if i do, will be on Flickr or Facebook. If you have a care to see I could always inform you of those as well. I know this isnt an amazing blog entry or anything. But this is my way of bridging that gap between the last one and what will soon become, hopefully, a more steady stream of entries. Off to the pictures I go. Have a wonderful evening.

Oh and that guy who reminded me of my lackluster blogging that you should all be thanking and reading: Jacob the Awesomest Kid Ever

~Kay

Feels Good

So I am back on the QU campus and I must say it feels good. I had the perfect amount of break. I was just starting to hit that boredom feeling this weekend and I am ready to get back into the routine of school. This may shock some of you but i am looking forward to having homework to do. It makes me feel like I am actually doing something productive. And I like getting my brain to think.
Today is Tuesday which mean I have only 1 class. Physics. At 2pm. Til 3:15. Then maybe I will see some friends. Then I tutor Then delivering supper to a couple who just adopted 4 kids. Then perhaps some babysitting. Back to my busy days! :) And i am not sad about it, I am quite happy my days will be filed again. I've still got weekends. And apparently time enough to write in this blog haha. But once the homework, and tests, and projects start up I may not have as much, which is why you've gotten 3 recent entries. Because I dont know the rate they will be coming til about May.
Im like 2 hours early. Didnt really have to come til 2 for my class but i wanted to scope out parking so i came earlier. I see i may have some problems on Thursdays. I am supposed to babysit til 11, which means i would be getting here at 11:20ish depending on traffic. then i have a class at noon...sooooo seeing as how 11 is the hardest time to park...its gonna be interesting. But so far this year I have had great parking luck. Even today, with a completely full lot as the sign said, i had the luck of getting the 2nd spot in the second row. which is pretty impressive i must say :)
Well ima go browse me some Flickr now. New pictures of Tina are up. Im trying to take pictures every day to get into the habit of workin of my photog skills.

*Peace*Love*Photography* (courtesy of facebook flair)

Kay

What Now...?

I don't know what to do with this blog. I love my pictures, I love to ramble, but I also like to keep people up on my life. Idk what to do though. I read a blog such as Jacobs and he always has something witty to say, even my mom mulls over deep thoughts sometimes, or brings to light a concern. I feel like mine is more a journal entry of what I did in the day, or at least recently since I don’t write every day. I read Jacobs and wish I could write like him but that's his style, not mine. I know everyone has a different style, I just don’t know if i have found or accepted mine yet. So bear with me while I work through this.

Well the other day my sister and I were pretty bored after having skated on a pond for over an hour. So we called up some neighbors trying to find an adventure. And find an adventure we did! We went out to Lake Wintergreen to take pictures. Before we knew it we were actually traveling all the way across the lake. Walking across the ice was awesome and I got some beautiful shots. I was very pleased with how our adventure turned out. Here are a few shots from the day:

I wish I had more inspiration for photos, I mean I have ideas I just have troubles posing people. So Kyle is great and poses himself but other times I am kind of at a loss what to do. So the first new projects I will be doing is those with inanimate objects :)

Tomorrow is a day off school. Who knows what kind of adventure we may happen upon. I cant wait to see. And sorry for those of you who have a Facebook and hear repeats of stuff when I write it on here.

On another note I would just like everyone to know how proud I am of myself. Remember when I said I procrastinate about laundry? Well in the past 2 days I completely cleaned and organized my room, caught up on a good amount of laundry and actually hung and folded everything! I was so happy and my aim is to live 2010 a more organized person. I’ll keep you updated how far I get on that one…

Fact of the Kay for the Day: I love music boxes. Its a newly discovered love. I guess I always have been attracted to them but I was just listening to one the other day and with all its simplicity I could listen all day. :)

“What's the best day to tell someone horrible news?…Yesterday”

~KAY~

Hiatus

So I took a brief hiatus as you can see. It was crazy holiday time which meant insane babysitting and seeing friends and family and snowy days spent outside, etc etc. I just got a comment though on my blog which reminded me its been a while and i owe it to my few readers to keep up to date. So in the first line of business: I went to Poughkeepsie, New York this past week and it was so much fun! Great photo opp too. I took lots of pictures. They are on my fb or a few are on my flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/kaywalker. So check it out if you feel so inclined.

I am supposed to be heading to bed now…i have to be up early to go babysit. its an all dayer…does that work? you can say all nighter but how do you say it if i am doing it all day and “all day” is too boring or not in the right tense? Idk…oh well, i like to make up my own words, its good for the brain! haha. I am in a rambling mood, which is great, since I am writing a blog of course. Oh guess what, that other story I said i would upload…well i cant, cause i cant find it. I will try to remember most of it to share it with you guys, its shorter then the previous one though. Which will probably make some of you happy to hear.

I went ice skating yesterday. I wish I were better. Its the one place i cant stand kids, well maybe the one other cause i think i mentioned in my other post about a place I don't. anyways. they zoom in front of you and when you’re not an amazing skater that can be prettttty dangerous…for me, not them. My sister got yelled at for texting while on the ice haha. Just like driving, keep your eyes on the ice people!!

I wrote a poem for my friend today, its this cool thing we have going, where we write poems back and forth. Paste em on fb. I do it with a story too with my sis and Liz. Its fun, but 3 people is harder to keep track of then 2. Ok enough of the rambling, I need sleep.

As far as my parting remarks go I just want to say:

1. Thanks for continuing to read although these posts lack some inspiration sometimes.

2. I wish you the best for this new year, I hope we can all make it out alive! I sure do plan on it! Where there is a will there is a way! (wow lots of exclamations! haha)

3. Eat your meat! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat you meat??!! (Pink Floyd quote incase you didn't know)

4. A poem, for you:

Farewell for now,
Sending my love,
I take a final bow,
And fly away like a dove.

~Kay~

Storytime

*I am apologizing in advance for the length of this post*

So as some of you may or may not know I love to read books. I love to read to children. I love children's books specifically. I will read them to myself while a child ignores me, i could care less that I am a teen reading a toddlers book because I love them. But I also like to tell stories to said children. It is quite fun and they seem to enjoy it too. But there is this one person that I also tell stories to. His name is Chris (one of the most awesome guys i know) and although he admits he reads “most of what I write”, he does read and like my stories. He is my inspiration for many of the stories in my head. When talking to him, and only him, i get the urge to tell a story.  I will just start off with “Once upon a time…” and then just make up a story. I will just type and basically he is finding out what happens next at the same time I am. None of them are planned, they just flow out my fingers onto the page. Tonight, after telling him a story I decided that maybe I should share them with you fellow bloggers out there. I daresay you do need to be somewhat creative at writing to have a blog. So here is the story I wrote for him tonight. Oh and on a side note, almost every single one ends with a moral haha, it must be the fact that most children's books do too :) So here is story number 1…no name yet…maybe you have a suggestion? and i would also like to note they are the raw unedited ones he got, fresh out of my mind. They are not fleshed out, and could use some editing, which i may get to some day but they are basic storylines. Enjoy :)

Once upon a time a girl lived in a land of sherbet. Every morning she woke up and opened her eyes to a frosty windowpane. She would make a clear spot with her warm breath and peer upon the deliciously colorful terrain of beautiful sherbet. It was a chilly, frosty wonderland of an icy delicacy. Having lived there all her life though she was pretty immune to the cold, it was just a part of her life and she couldn’t imagine it any other way. She would walk down the lane with her spoon, passing fellow neighbors with their spoons and they would choose their morning treat. Near the large orange tree in the middle of town was a pile of freshly harvested orange sherbet. Near the grape school were piles upon piles of grape sherbet. Standing next to the lemon grocery store was a fresh batch of lemon sherbet. But the most popular and beautiful mound was that of the rainbow sherbet. It was a luscious mound that towered over everything at the end of the crystallized lane she walked upon. There people from all over the town could be found having sherbet ball fights in the middle of tasting each and every color of the rainbow. It was an amazing world to live in, imagine having sherbet every day! Everyone was happy because who isn’t when surrounded by a world such as this. All they needed to make it even more perfect was unicorns.

One day the girl and her friends overheard someone having a discussion about these unicorns over afternoon tea with their sherbet. Wanting the best for the town they decided to make everyone even more happy by going to find those unicorns. They set out on an adventure encountering more worlds then they could have ever fathomed. They passed through chocolate chip castles, sugar cookie cottages, and candy cane lanes. Finally they reached the end of the fantasy worlds and there they found unicorns. They were hidden among the sugary gumdrop trees in the forest of candy land. The girls set out rounding up a group of 12 or so then they headed back to Sherbet land. Upon their arrival they were greeted with cheers because everyone had heard of their endeavors to make this a perfect world. They were more then happy to finally have those unicorns, they would make everything complete. The girl and her friends were carried down the crystallized lane to the rainbow sherbet hill upon a frozen block of sherbet. It was a joyous time for all. Sherbet was shared and enjoyed by everyone as the festivities raged on.

The next morning, after a refreshing sleep the girl woke up, looked out her frosty windowpane, and gasped in horror. The piles of delicious sherbet had be demolished. Where there were once mounds of the yummy stuff there were little puddles left. She left her house and headed down the crystallized path. Slowly others began to awake and come out of their houses. People all up and down the lane were gasping and crying and shouting because of the dismal state of their town. The girl could not believe it. Neither she nor anyone in the town had any idea where the sherbet had gone. Then she looked over to rainbow hill and saw the 6 unicorns! They were munching on the sherbet like it was their own gumdrop trees. They had been awake all night and wreaked havoc on the towns piles of sherbet. Everyone charged at the  unicorns once they realized they were the source of the trouble. They were mad, but they were not mad at the girl and her friends. She had only tried to bring the complete happiness that everyone had craved. They had all encouraged her. They were all at fault for being so greedy.  Finally a  group of adults took the unicorns and returned them to their proper home in the gumdrop forest. The townspeople made a quick decision to ration their servings of sherbet until it all the sherbet was replenished and the town went on its merry way, no worse for the wear.

As the little girl looked around she realized that you should be happy with what you have because you don't know how good you have it until its gone.