Every Day I Write The Book

Robots, rockstars, a grieving parent, 100 Word Songs and my personal adventures as a man surrounded by women prompt a daily spectacle that over a hundred and fifty of you choose to click. Breaks at work, laying by the pool, watching sports, and stretched out on my bed on a saturday morning are how I provide something worth your internet surf. Four hundred and eighty five posts covering two years and three days later, blogging has made me a better writer and person . As Helene rocks her way into your hands and kindles, I’ll keep showing you my soul.

****blogger’s note****

May 23, 2010 I took my wife’s advice and staretd My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog. I decided to recognize it in 100 words through my friend Velvet’s 100 Word challenge. http://www.velvetverbosity.com/  Her word this week was “SPECTACLE” .Thanks for reading, commenting, tweeting, the facebooking, and allowing me into your consciousness. Happy 2, My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog.

Here’s the great Elvis Costello.

All My Life

Last time with Helene Troy: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/100-word-song-revolution/

Helene felt the ink residue of a fresh Village Voice newspaper while Sadie and Mara peered over her shoulders. Helene fought a smile while reading their concert review.

“Last night, for a CD release party at The Greek Rock Club, The Golden Apples gifted the capacity crowd. Her name is Helene Troy. Amid tosses of wavy brown hair, guitar virtuosity, and an unforgettable stage presence, the stunning twenty-four year old leader of the female trio, Slipper Socks Medium, stole the show.”

Helene knew the fragile egos surrounding her. She threw her arms around both women then smiled behind their backs.

***blogger’s note***

This is a new story episode of The Ballad of Helene Troy. You can find the rest of the story, so far, here: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/the-ballad-of-helene-troy/ This is my 100 word response to Velvet Verbosity’s “Fragile” -  http://www.velvetverbosity.com/ 

Today’s song is what was playing my head and in my computer, err, Helene’s head, as I edited this. Here’s Foo Fighters All My Life. Play it loud.

Hit Rock Bottom

Last time with Helene Troy : http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/sex-on-fire/

Helene woke to the chill of the bathroom floor on her bare back and the tickle of little tongues on her damaged fingers. Her head ached from whatever happened over the past few hours. Throwing her cell phone and falling out of a cab were only flashes of recall. She pulled the grey and white kittens to her chest then placed them in front of their food bowl.

“Oh God, what did I do?”

Helene gagged from thoughts of what her thriftless drinking may have done. She pushed sore hands through matted hair and walked naked into the living room.

****blogger’s note****

This is a new story episode of The Ballad of Helene Troy. It’s back to where we left off as opposed to the reworked opening. You can find the rest of the story, so far, here: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/the-ballad-of-helene-troy/ 

My friend Velvet is back after a four month hiatus with her 100 word meme http://www.velvetverbosity.com/2012/05/06/100-words-treasure-hunting/ word is “thriftless”. I changed worthless to thriftless and rejoined my old stomping ground at vel’s place.

I’ve been wanting to use Dandy Warhols Hit Rock Bottom for a long time. When I wrote this weeks ago, I realized it would be perfect for first 100 words of this chapter.

Message of Love

Last time with Helene Troy: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/thearticles/

Helene continued to admire her father’s 1981 record album cover. Ramona’s long, weathered fingers nudged strands of damp brown hair away from Helene’s face.

“Your dad’s no more full of shit than anyone else. He probably felt disconnected from his music. I’ll look at my old stuff and it seems foreign.”

Helene tilted her head into Ramona’s touch. She felt warm and safe, despite being soaked from the rain. Ramona pointed to a dresser.

“Open the bottom drawer and take whatever.”

Helene bent down and picked through bundled t-shirts. She settled on something white with black lettering that spelled out “Pretenders”.

*****blogger’s note***

This is my response to Velvet Verbosity’s 100 challenge around the word BUNDLE – http://www.velvetverbosity.com/2011/12/06/100-words-cone-wonderment/

This is also a new Helene Troy story episode. You can find the story, so far, here: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/the-ballad-of-helene-troy/

Today’s song has to be from Helene and Ramona’s hero, Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders. Message of Love fits what’s going on in this piece so….

Someday

Last time with Helene Troy: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/this-wicked-tongue/

The taxi splashed to a stop on a tree lined street with a quaint view of Central Park. This was the part of New York City Helene dreamed an escape to as a teenager in sleepy Mars, Pennsylvania. She stepped over a puddle and watched Ramona pay the driver. They walked up limestone steps and Ramona unlocked the oaken door..

“Excuse the mess. I hadn’t planned on your company, so soon.”

A wrought iron street light showed the way into a modest and comfortably decorated apartment. Helene stood, fixed in wonder. Ramona called from the bedroom.

“Leney, come in here.”

****blogger’s note****

This is a new Helene Troy story episode. You can find the whole story, so far, here: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/the-ballad-of-helene-troy/ It is also my answer to Velvet Verbosity’s 100 word challenge for “ESCAPE”. http://www.velvetverbosity.com/2011/12/02/100-words-escape-pod/

Today’s song doesn’t fit this story except for the last line of each chorus: “I ain’t wastin’ no more time.”….. I was listening to The Strokes when I wrote this and it’s my blog so I could imagined Helene saying to herself “someday, this will be me” I love this friggin song…… Here’s The Strokes, Someday….

Ready to Go

Millicent Stingley prepared her perp walk like a supermodel did for a runway. She spent almost two hours picking out something to wear. She settled on her lucky blue Chanel dress that accentuated curves. Tall, hippy and busty, Millicent knew what men saw when they looked at her and a 160 IQ didn’t show in this outfit. One carat diamond earrings that she’d bought for her birthday completed the presentation.

Her attorney Reeve Mattox, her chemist friend John Clemenson, and a bodyguard named Gunny waited in her living room. She smiled in the bathroom mirror and opened the door.

***blogger’s note***

I’m writing a four thousand word short story titled Cinnamon Girl and entering it in a writing contest in December. This is the story’s first (edited) 100 words.  I inserted Velvet Verbosity’s 100 word Challenge prompt of “Lucky” so I could participate http://www.velvetverbosity.com/2011/11/23/100-words-and-the-sap-runneth-over/ this week.

Today’s song is from Republica. I know this has become a stable for people workout mixtape and some sporting events but for about 5 minutes I liked it as a real song. It kind of sets an arrogant mood, and Millicent is an arrogant mood. Here’s Ready to Go…

Breathe

Last time with Helene Troy: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/bring-me-some-water/

The late summer New York thunderstorm knocked out cable service to Mickey’s Bar. The sight and sound of television snow fouled customers’ moods. 

Helene stared at the clock, hoping Ramona Gallery would soon save her from a rough night. She delivered beers to a table of college guys. One of them ran his hand up her blue jeaned left leg, reaching the back of her thigh. She dropped the metal tray she carried, then mumbled to herself.

“Please get here, Ramona.”

She grabbed her guitar from the bar, walked onstage and played the first popular song her fingers could remember.

****blogger’s note****

This is my answer to Velvet Verbosity’s 100 word challenge of “SNOW” http://www.velvetverbosity.com/2011/11/15/100-words-insert-clever-title/. It is also a new Helene Troy story episode. You can read the story, so far, here: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/the-ballad-of-helene-troy/ 

Today’s song is a bit of a surprise. I like a few pop songs that my wife and teenage daughter, dig. Anna Nalick’s 2005 hit is pretty typical of most female singer -songwriters. It’s the kind of thing Helene would have play to get her mind off things and soothe a savage beast of a crowd on a rainy Saturday night. Here’s Breathe, all acoustic, and everything,

Today

Her cell phone alarm repels me from bed. The darkness is thick but I find pants. Our golden retriever knocks me over. I get up and out the door to feed him. Stumbling through the house I kick every shoe and toy. After climbing a few stairs, I stop to savor the silence.

The doorknob feels like ice. I turn it slowly. I want to wake them myself. I sigh. It’s my favorite moment of each day. The epic quiet before I wake my children is when I appreciate my life, the most.

Then, the chaos of the day begins.

****blogger’s note***

This is my response to velvet’s 100 word challenge at http://www.velvetverbosity.com . The one word prompt is QUIET. What you are reading is the start to my day EVERY day, Monday through Friday. I’m a morning person so I volunteer to take out the dog and get up the kids.

Today’s song is from Smashing Pumpkins. Most of Billy Corgan’s songs are dark and depressing masterpieces. This is upbeat tune about taking advantage of who and what you are and living each day to it’s zenith. The guitar is amazing. Here’s Smashing Pumpkins’ Today.

How Soon Is Now?

I notice what I don’t see. One daughter’s karate, no fathers. Another daughter’s school event, few fathers. My oldest daughter’s cheerleading competition with hundreds of parents in attendance, and you can count the fathers on one hand.

I’m not better than anyone. I am there. Where are the others? Don’t they know that’s how strippers are made?

The children know when you aren’t involved. The girls forget nothing. Work is important but nothing exceeds your kids’ happiness.

“It’s just one thing”.

That’s the lie some tell to feel satisfied as a parent. How Soon is Now? Now is when they need you.

*****blogger’s note****

This is my response to velvet’s 100 word challenge http://www.velvetverbosity.com The One word prompt is SATISFIED.

Today’s song is one of my favorites. It’s a way to interpret the post. Laziness, lack of attentiveness, avoidance, it’s all an excuse. The Smiths once asked How Soon Is Now? to explain their feelings about politics, relationships and life. I use it to ask about fatherhood.

Here’s one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time….

Leaving Las Vegas

I’ve never been to Las Vegas but I know what it’s like to leave. Your dreams shattered, your principles compromised, and your will choked. You went all in because adrenaline played games with your head.

“Such a muddy line between
The things you want
And the things you have to do”

There’s love still in your hand. You’re just too blind from the lights and glam to see. The warm body next to you, the smiles upstairs, the widened gap between what you think is winning and what you’ve already won; they’re your high stakes.

*****blogger’s note*****

This is my weekly pep talk reminding me of what I have. It’s also my response to http://www.velvetverbosity.com ‘s 100 word challenge. This time the word is WIDENED.

Today’s song is an anomaly in my CD collection. I despise Sheryl Crow but love her first album. It was written mostly by a bunch of musicians calling themselves the Tuesday Night Music Club. Bill Bottrell, David Baerwald, David Ricketts, Brian Macleod, and Sheryl’s boyfriend at the time, Kevin Gilbert; wrote and produced almost every note on Crow’s first album. Crow then took most of the credit for the record and even called the song, Leaving Las Vegas, autobiographical even though the title from the novel by John O’Brien, a friend of Bottrell’s. So yeah, I’m not a Sheryl fan. My favorite line in the song, referenced in the 100 words post, was taken from a paraphrased quote by O’Brien. It’s brilliant. I love this song. I wish someone else sang it. Here’s Leaving Las Vegas