Moved To A New Place

Hi Everyone.. I have moved the blog to www.washthebowl.com gives me a bit more freedom to do things.. Check it out..

The blog will be gone the first week in May.....

Ma Was Proud

I added an intro to the daily 100 word story, if you have any thoughts on it let me know. Today's story is entitled Ma Was Proud, Enjoy.



Running full speed into the dark alley Rif heard his mother mockingly saying how proud she was of him. Trying to shake off the thoughts and guilt he ran faster.

Reaching the car, jumping in he aimed the car onto the wet street and floored the gas. Desperately crying “man I keep hearing ma in my head?” and answering himself “What ya talking about Rif man, ma’s dead 30 years.”

Anxiety overtaking him Rif jerks the wheel, the old Dodge careens through the bridge railings taking off like a crumpled paper airplane. Sailing into the gorge.

Ma sure was proud.

We Kept Walking

Today's 100 word story may be more of a social essay or it could be just some Sci Fi wraped up in 100 words. There is really nothing to worry about, now is there.



We trudged along, the rain filling every crack in the sidewalk. Cars diving into puddles sending sheets of water against our drenched bodies.

We kept walking.

Like Thanksgiving shoppers unable to help themselves people poured out into the wet dirty streets joining the throng of humanity. Stranded commuters abandoning cars joining the crowds.

We kept walking.

Lawns turned to mud pits gates torn from their hinges, voices came together in a rumble louder then thunder. Tired, hungry and soggy, we kept walking.

Tugging my sleeve a little girl asked “why”? I shook free and snapped “Social Media.”

We kept walking.

NXNE The Antidote

Today's 100 word story is a little verse for all those at Utterz who didn't go to SXSW this week.

The story is entitled NXNE (North by North East) The Antidote, Enjoy!



With diminishing hopes and racing thoughts Sally neared the bakery door, she peered into the darkened kitchen with hopes of seeing someone, someone who would sell her a cake.

Sally was near tears and about to decompose into a heap right there on main street when she noticed an envelop taped to the door, it just said Sally. Reaching out with her shaking hand opening the envelop she read the contents.

Dear Sally, Sorry we closed early please join us at NXNE (north by north east) the antidote for all those left behind. Sally then knew that not going to SXSW (south by south west) was really ok.

Sweet Guilt

Today's 100 word short story is entitled Sweet Guilt, Enjoy!



The invitation was waiting when Sally turned on her computer. Reading the email she thought “I need more then cake to chase away this mood”. Still, it was Saturday and a few sweet bites just might help.

Fork in hand Sally went to the bakery, headed to the sample table and went from one end to the other. With each bite her feelings of not belonging desolved just a bit more.

Leaving the bakery Sally walked six or seven miles assuaging her guilt, then hailed a taxi for home.

The bakery’s computer waited to send Sally a new sweet invitation.

Good Till The Last Drop

I can remember as a kid playing outside how my friends and we used to repeat the tag lines from TV commercials over and over as we played together. They were new and unique and we found great fun in repeating them.

Today's 100 word story is entitled Good Till The Last Drop, enjoy it!

On Saturday’s Dad cooked, what he cooked never surprised us, fried baloney, B&M baked beans, mustard, ketchup and vinegar on the side, no game to watch meant brown bread heating in the oven.

Cooking let dad feel like he was connecting with us, contributing to the family.

Curling up a piece of white bread Dad would push the beans onto his fork, smile at me and bite into the sauced covered bread.

One Saturday Dad poured me my first cup of coffee, cream no sugar like he drank it. Raising our cups we both said “Good Till The Last Drop.”

Red and Yellow

Today's 100 word story finds Ellen back in the middle of it all. She last appeared in Liquid Chocolate.

The story today is entitled Red and Yellow. Enjoy!

For a minute or two Ellen lingered at Macy’s exit, she then tentatively ventured out into the courtyard. Walking briskly looking from side to side she was sure she had not been recognized.

Ellen so hated this cloak and dagger routine she went through, but she had needs like everyone else.

Reaching the vending cart with it’s red and yellow menu, Ellen placed her order. “Two with everything” she intoned taking a fitful scan of her surroundings.

For now at least she was safe from discovery, even her guilt could not dampen her joy for these two juicy hot dogs.

Left Home

We all have points in our life where we shift to a totally different direction. Sometimes we pursue a dream and reality becomes so different or so difficult that the dream ends.

I've always wondered what happens when a dream ends and how can we benefit from looking at it, from spending time revisiting that dream and its ending. It is after all what helps to define us, right now.

Todays 100 word story is entitled, Left Home. Enjoy!

Just turned 18 cruising along main gawking at all the people. Dreaming of living and a job, in the big city.

It was dry and tedious as I trekked business to business but by the forth day I just popped my head in and asked “hiring”. Sensing hesitation or hearing no kept me moving to the next establishment. I was in rhythm, I had created the job hunting shuffle.

The fifth day I was cooking in an Italian joint, the sixth day got my draft notice.

I wonder, do we remember a dream ending or do we just start another?

Sylvia's Diner

Sometimes in the middle of a memory we find that little tid bit that takes our breath away and makes us wonder. Isn't the wonder the stuff that paints our world?

No I'm not talking about the fluff or sappy stuff that Madison Ave pours over or lives on a daily basis. I'm talking about the real wonder we experience when we understand something for the first time, really understand it.

Today's 100 word story is entitled, Sylvia's Diner

Bundles of newspapers waited impatiently for Sunday brunch customers at Sylvia’s Dinner, its tag” if it ain’t fresh we don’t have it.”

Talking was frowned upon, reading comics, reviews and the obituary's encouraged.

A table near a window was the goal, watching all the decked out church goer’s come and go the highlight film.

Fresh squeezed OJ was only an arms length away, even closer was Sylvia who roamed from table to table refilling everyones coffee and smiling with those cosmic eyes of hers.

I wonder did everyone have cosmic eyes then, am I too cynical to see them now?

Tick Tock

Even as children I think we are aware of the mystery of time. Some moments in our lives stand out and we always remember them. Today's 100 word story thinks about the passing of time.

Tick Tock

Whenever I visited my old Uncle Barney I’d rush up to his chair, ask to see his pocket watch holding out my small trembling hands.

Uncle Barney would always say “ I trust you” placing the watch in my hands. I felt so big so grownup, popping the cover and starring at time starring back at me.

On one of my visits my Aunt stopped me from running over to him. Uncle Barney was silhouetted against the window starring at his watch.

The next day dad told me Uncle Barney had died, he left me the watch and the trust.

Zen Dad

Yep here is my almost daily 100 word story. Earlier today I was wondering about how we often don't see the present but are caught up in the future or past. Today's story is a little thought about fathers and sons. It's called Zen Dad, Enjoy!

Just as the car reached the hilltop my dad would hit the gas and we would become airborne. Startled, I’d look up to see dad staring back at me in the rear view mirror his laughter filling the car, his eyes full of mischievousness.

Whenever he saw me drifting out of the now he would pull a rabbit out of his hat to shock me back to the moment.

It was too late when I saw his clumsy attempts to really be those of a struggling father, a struggling zen master, laughing with me all the way to the present.

Quiet Snow

I walk a couple of miles most days come sun or come snow. Many times my walk takes on a kind of meditation and from one of those walks I crafted this 100 word story and audio.

It's called Quiet Snow, enjoy!

Walking newly plowed roads with a bright sun on my back. Jumping onto the stone wall so I could better view the fields and hills of the golf course, all deeply covered in quiet snow.

Neither the fresh snow nor the cold air had yet been marked by the coming of sleds and saucers, the coming of voices.

Quiet snow muffled my thoughts and my heartbeat as I stood and watched moment upon moment folding and unfolding before me. Quiet snow stopping time like a hand gently brushing a cheek. Quiet snow laying flat like a picture postcard.

Liquid Chocolate

Last weeks subject was At My Own Funeral and 12 people ended up sending in their take on it. You can hear them all as 100 Word Stories.

This week the subject is Hemmorhage and though it's misspelled here and at the podcast site it means what you think it means. I have tried to take the meaning in a different direction then what is found in the dictionary.

My story and audio this week is entitled Liquid Chocolate. Enjoy!

Ellen walked straight to the back room of the old bakery joining the five of us already present. We sat hushed as the baker brought us the mythical liquid chocolate cake.

As Ellen sliced into the cake chocolate lava hemorrhaged from the center engulfing all six layers. Off in a corner the baker smiled and a dog barked.

Each of us was served a piece dripping with liquid chocolate. Savoring each bite we thought how poets lived for just such a moment and experiencing feelings boarding on rapture we all in unison smiled at Ellen, wishing her a happy birthday.

A Drabble

I stumbled across a lens on Squidoo called Drabble and was delighted to have found it. A Drabble turns out to be a story that is exactly 100 words in length and there are groups that showcase the work of writers using this format. One blog/podcasting site is called 100 word Stories and has inspired me to create my own stories and podcasts in this format.

This weeks subject is At my own funeral.

At My Own Funeral

Hunched in the locked confessional booth fearful of discovery, holding my breath I squint through the cracked stained glass.

Sitting directly in front of me wearing a black floppy Hedi Lamar hat was Delilah. Animated as always her head bobbing to and fro blocking my view of the mourners.

Sure, I wasn’t dead but I felt like I was. That damn Delilah was causing me as much grief at my funeral as when we lived together.

I whispered pleadingly “please Delilah take off your hat.”

Mourners came and left my funeral. Tell me, how can I ask who they were.

Bose-Einstein Does Zazen

Watching NOVA the other evening I experienced Kensho. Sure it may only be a moment of enlightenment but in that moment I saw where I was going as I travel down the path of Zazen. And yes once the moment wears off my understanding will be mostly intellectual, still I have seen for that moment a synergy between the effort which is Zazen (meditation) and the moment in which enlightenment is present.

I won't attempt to explain the Bose-Einstein Condensate, NOVA and other online resources do a great job and you don't need to be a physicist to understand the basic point being made. I do encourage everyone to watch the NOVA series Absolute Zero for a fascinating explanation of cold and of the Bose-Einstein Condensate.

For many of us who practice Zazen by ourselves it is moments like this that compensate for not having a teacher. Moments like this can help shake off the shackles and beliefs that we are all prone to develop, to create in our practice. Just for a moment emptiness is just emptiness and then we go back to painting colors on the windows we view ourselves through.

Tomato Jane

Jane was looking for a way to make money working for herself. As she was looking out her studio window across the fields to her neighbors farm stand the view transported her imagination into the store and what she saw started a rolling epiphany in her life.

Jane saw a farm and gift store that stopped selling fresh fruits and vegetables after thanksgiving, she knew they stayed opened all through the winter and did a really brisk business selling candles and baskets.

Without having to ponder the ramifications of what had unfolded in her imagination Jane walked over to the farm stand and told the owners she wanted to supply them with fresh veggies in the winter months. Jane went on to discribe the cutting edge hydroponic garden she would construct in her studio. They loved her enthusiasm and made an agreement to accept gourmet salsas packed fresh and bottled along with fruit pies for the first year and revisit the agreement during the summer.

Now two years since she produced her first salsa from her lovingly grown tomatoes, Jane has 3 part time employees and delivers not only salsa and pies to 23 stores but also fresh veggies she grows to 6 restaurants year round.

The epiphany Jane had has less to do with what she produces and more to do with the fact that she produces something that is her own. Creating your own product or array of products is not a new idea, but it may be a somewhat forgotten idea. You can't turn around on the internet without being bombarded with marketing and affiliate ads washing over you. It seems everyone wants you to sell their ideas and products and for doing this they will pay you almost nothing.

The key to this story is as old as marketing itself. Find what you love and produce your own unique product or service. Who knows maybe others will sell it for you and you can keep most of the cash.

*this story is an amalgamation of a number of people I have known.

Value Merchants

If you stop just for a second and look around you'll see the benefits of complexity being hawked and praised from every direction. Generally those touting complexity do so as a way of build their own niche into one that appears to have value. If it appears to have value then naturally they can charge you large sums for the perceived value.

Value really needs to be measured by "what you need". A group may create a spectacular presentation at your office that highlights what you can achieve by exploiting the value they are offering. Their perception of the value they are offering, may have nothing to do with what you need to achieve your business goals or meet your projections.

Before you engage any company or group that is selling their value, make sure you know what it is you need. Spend time mapping out your questions and the direction you want your business or organization to go in and stick to it when you meet with the value merchants. It is always possible to add extra value to your plan after the basic one is implemented but rarely is it possible to erase the extra value after you have already paid for it.

Rarely do the value merchants see the needs of your business like you would. Instead they see your needs through the colored glasses of maximizing their value.

As the short story that follows shows, value is everywhere.

A monk told Joshu, "I have just entered this monastery. I beg you to teach me." Joshu asked, "Have you eaten your rice porridge?" The monk replied, "I have." "Then," said Joshu, "Go and wash your bowl." At that moment the monk was enlightened. Zen Flesh, Zen Bones