Play Power!

Would you like to avoid the fast-track from fun young hipster to fuddy-duddy old curmudgeon?

If you answered NO to this question, then sadly I did not get to you in time.

But if you answered YES, then come on out and…

PLAY!

Scientists say that nothing lights up the brain like having fun.

What’s more, if people or animals are deprived of play when they are young, their brains shrink up to the size of raisins.

Okay, maybe not actually the size of raisins, but trust me there are brain changes and those changes are not pretty.

Play is especially helpful for folks who work in the arts —

It makes you more flexible and adaptable.

It helps you solve problems.

It makes you grin — and frankly, if you need more evidence than this last point, then you’d better check your curmudgeon-o-meter.

So jump up and down and wiggle around.

Climb something.

Play ball, Frisbee, or spin the bottle.

If you can’t think of a way to play, borrow a boomerang…

Something’s sure to hit you.

Which reminds me —

Wordplay is always a great place to start!

So, think back to the time you didn't want to believe that your college roommate was stealing from his job as a road worker — but when you got home, all the signs were there.

Or puzzle over why some folks think of marriage as a word, while others consider it to be a sentence.

Then play on today!

And be sure to think outside the box...

It’s far too late once you’re in it.

PROMPT: Studies have found that children who are given play time before a creative task, produce more creative results. So today — play first! Unless, of course, your main character happens to be a grumpy old curmudgeon.

What a Croc!

This week in the Land Down Under, Cassius, the world’s largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, celebrated a monumental birthday…

His 110th!

And of course, they had quite a colossal wingding at Marineland Melanesia.

They sang croc-y songs.

They shed a few croc-y tears.

They even served up a great big croc-y cake, weighing in at 44 pounds!

However, most of the guests offered a polite “No thank you” when the pieces were passed around.

Apparently, chicken neck confections aren't very popular with the Aussies...

Who knew that the folks who brought us Vegemite could be so dang picky?

No matter, Cassius gave a “more for me” kind of grin and devoured the whole thing in 30 seconds.

By the way, I've seen the photos —

And I am pretty sure he ate the candles, too.

But hey, whatever a 1-ton crocodile wants, a 1-ton crocodile gets.

PROMPT: It is remarkable how often “cuddly” crocodiles show up in books for children. Go ahead and “sanitize” the Cassius birthday celebration if you’d like – complete with party hats, friendly hippos, and chocolate cake instead of chicken necks. Then again, you could go totally non-PC rogue like author Sylviane Donnio. Her adorable little crocodile story (illustrated by Dorothee De Monfreid) gives it to you straight. The title? I’d Really Like to Eat a Child.

Curses

It was Etiquette Week last week, and DANG we missed it!

But HECK, I didn't miss this —

New data reveals that those of us here in the great state of Washington curse much less often than the rest of you.

I know what you’re thinking—

The same thing I was…

Like, What The FUDGE!?

You see, it is not that we curse less. SHELL no.

Here in the Evergreen state we've simply perfected the pseudo-swear.

So don’t get our dander up.

Because if you choose to use those REALLY bad words —

like freshMANor penMANship —

Trust me, we will not hesitate to call you a SON OF A PEACH MOTHERTRUCKER right to your face.

And the state that’s chock-full of potty-mouthed pirates majoring in expletives?

Ohio

Oh. My. Oh.

No wonder they call themselves the BUCKeyes.

PROMPT: If your character needs to say something, but can’t because “there are preschool toys present,” then you need to learn the fine art of pseudo-swearing. Make a list of colorful ways for him or her to let it all hang out. Need some inspiration? Pick up The Craptastic Guide to Pseudo-Swearing by Michelle Witte.

Holy sheet rock, this is gonna be fun!

Action!

This morning my heart is aching for the folks of Oklahoma.

But I've got the written word, and that is a powerful tool.

Rather than sit and wring my hands, today I’m going to use my words to encourage you to take action.

Together we can create a lot of good stuff in the world.

For example, you can make a donation to any of the following organizations. They will be providing food, water, and emergency shelter, as well as emotional support for first responders and tornado survivors —

The Red Cross

Operation USA 

The Salvation Army 

Samaritan’s Purse  

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief  

But you certainly don’t need to make a contribution to this cause.

Instead, you can use YOUR words today in some other powerful way —

Spread the word about a cause that stirs your heart.

Write a letter to an old friend, a grandpa, or an aunt.

Send an email to your Representative concerning a political issue you feel passionate about.

Write a love note to your partner or child.

Accompany all of the above with hugs.

Yes, even the one to your Representative.

PROMPT: Great things can happen when you use your powerful words. Take some written action today.

And don’t forget the hugs.

You’re in the Money!

If you’re the person who won that gazillion dollar Powerball jackpot over the weekend, this is your second lucky day.

The rest of us are going to have to stretch our fiction muscle and pretend.

Yes, May 20^th is Be a Millionaire Day!

My research could not track down exactly how this holiday happened to get started, but heck, it is a great day to work on your what ifs.

And what ifs do wonders for creative thinking, you know.

What if you had that kind of dough?

Would you give it away?

Hoard it?

Buy something you've always longed for?

Or just rake it into a great big pile à la Scrooge McDuck and dive in?

Ah, the possibilities are such delicious fun to ponder, aren't they?

And yes, deep down inside we all know that money won’t buy happiness.

But hey, we also want to prove that theory ourselves…

just to be sure.

PROMPT: What would you do with a million bucks? What would your story’s main character do? A windfall can make for an interesting plot twist. Is it a big time blessing or crushing curse? YOU get to decide.