TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "PAINT"

Welcome! The word prompt this week is "paint". We are still on Harley and Shyla's story. Last week we learned that Shyla has been hired to do the set decoration on the TV show Marriage Minded where Harley is a contestant, looking for a wife. Their story continues...
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Helen, huh? Using Harley. What if he picks her, thinking she’s in love with him? I’ve got to warn him. But how? He doesn’t want to talk to me.

Shyla’s ability to focus on a book evaporated, pushed out of her head by a new obsession –save Harley from the grasping Helen. She got his room number from Sarah. After slipping a note under his door, she waited by the phone. She flipped the news on the television, stretched out, and fell asleep.

At one, the phone woke her. She yawned.

“Harley?” She yawned.

“I told you to leave me alone.”

“I need to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“About one of the women.”

“Oh?” The annoyance left his voice, replaced by curiosity. “And what do you know about them? Have you been meddling?”

“I overheard stuff. I was in the gift shop, getting world’s most over-priced bathing suit.”

“What did you overhear?”

Shyla sat up and crossed her legs as she recreated Helen's story about launching an acting career after she hooked Harley. He was silent, listening.

“Hmm. Helen, huh? Yeah, I know her. She keeps coming around. I think the other girls are beginning to get annoyed.”

“I just thought you should know what her motive is. Why she’s here. What she’s after.”

“I get it.”

There was silence.

“Thanks. Thanks for telling me,” he said.

“I don’t want you to get taken for a ride, Harley.”

“No one could give me a ride like you did.”

“It wasn’t a ride. I meant everything.”

“I know, I know. Forget it. Thanks again. Gotta go.”

“Good night,” she said. The set designer pushed up from her bed and padded to the bathroom where she washed up. After stripping off her clothes, she got into bed. She wasn't sleepy, so she

turned to peek out the window. Moonlight painted the palm leaves silver. St. Thomas is the most romantic place outside of Paris. The idea of the City of Light brought her obligations to her father and brother to mind. 

She closed her eyes and let her thoughts wander to the secluded condo where Harley would be having dinner with his next date on the morrow. Colors, fabrics, candles and scents swirled through her brain.  I’ll pretend he’s having dinner there with me. She drifted off to sleep.  

RAMBLINGS OF A ROAD TRIPPER - #2 - Adventuring in NYC, Sugar Hill, City College.

My friend, Jane Gerard, accompanied me on my first foray into adventures in Manhattan. We picked 135th Street as the place to start. It is the stop for City College...which brings me to a couple of interesting facts about the school. Did you know...

Was founded as the Free Academy of the City of New York in 1847? It was created to offer higher education to immigrants and children of the poor. Even today the tuition is still amazingly low - for resident students, only $3,165 per semester! 
   It was renamed The College of the City of New York (CCNY) in 1866. It was and still remains one of the most successful democratic experiments in the United States.
   Located in Harlem, CCNY's neo gothic buildings were designed by George Browne Post, the man who did the NY Stock Exchange. 
These stunning, imposing buildings rise out of the city streets like giant, majestic animals, larger than anything nearby, claiming the attention of anyone passing by. 

The history and learning happening inside these grand structures seeps out and into your bones as  you walk. You can't help but be affected by their size and beauty.
  

Huge, decorative arches call your attention to the fact that you are entering this mammoth center for study, leaving the outside world behind. The structures are perfectly preserved. Showing no signs of wear, the intricate details add to their artistic beauty. I was in awe. And it if hadn't been so cold, I would have sat on one of the benches and simply stared at it, taking in all the intricacies I missed passing by.

Each side has grand scale that simply dwarfed anything nearby. 

Spires and towers sparked my imagination, wondering what was housed in those circular structures. Although nowhere near the height of a skyscraper, these buildings commanded your attention and rose up to  dominate the neighborhood with ease.

The symmetry of the construction and the beauty of the dark gray stone contrasted with the white was striking. 
I felt like I was time-traveling, back to a more majestic time where neo gothic buildings ruled.

I was thankful we had chosen to visit during winter, when there were  no leaves on the trees to obstruct our view of these awe-inspiring creations. Just the idea of taking classes in such a place made me want to enroll and get another degree, just so that I could hang around here and feel part of the story that is CCNY.

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   I started the story backwards, so let me begin at the beginning here. We exited the subway and meandered up Broadway from about 137th Street, looking for a diner or coffee shop. 

   I was disappointed to see how run down that part of town still is. I guess gentrification hadn't arrived there yet. Most of the buildings were townhouses, grubby, needing a power wash. My sense of safety was rattled a bit. I don't know why crime is so linked with poverty in my head. Most people here wouldn't have much worth stealing, not like the folks in the tonier parts of town. 

   Jane consulted her phone and tracked down a cafe, not far from where we were. She directed us East and we left the questionable neighborhood behind. The area took a noticeable step up as we approached Convent Avenue. 

   The townhouses went from run down to spruced up. We were impressed with the signs of gentrification creeping in. Here are a few we found especially unusual and attractive.

I've always been a sucker for rounded rooms, turrets and towers like this. New  York City has some of the most interesting architecture and such individual creations. 

 I love how everything isn't the same, although here some of the architectural features are repeated on three houses in a row. 

Too bad they "modernized" the front door. This building has some charming details.

   Some are colorful, too. And look at that roof? It needs work, but how lovely. The tiny windows on the top of the turret make me wonder what that room looks like. 
   Unusual homes like this always make me want to go in and poke around. I never get the chance, but my imagination gets fueled by the prospects, strangers and unusual things to be found inside.




Jane's ability and phone led us to a delightful spot downstairs in the basement of a townhouse, The Sugar Hill Cafe. 

We plopped down for a brief rest and refueling. We had fabulous, home-made tomato bisque soup and sandwich halves. Mine was egg salad. The food was excellent and they didn't mind if we sat there and kibbitzed, which we did. So much to catch up on as we hadn't seen each other for several months.
The cafe was charming, the service good and the staff low-key and cheerful. 

   I'm already planning a return trip. I called my son and told him about the place as he and his girlfriend live only a block away. 

  Jane and I walked and chatted after lunch, stopping to enjoy the CCNY campus and the neighborhood. I spied this church and had to snap it's front door. So beautiful!
   At two o'clock, the giant bell in the school bell tower chimed. We headed back to the subway to return home. 
   This was an enjoyable trip, despite the fact the temperature was below what I'd usually venture out in. 
   Jane is planning our next NYC Rambling outing, to take place next month. 
   I am contemplating a trip to Delaware for the day as well as another car trip to Pittsburgh to visit my son. I'll let you know when future plans are solidified.  Thank you for stopping by and joining us on our subway and foot road trip in Manhatta. Please leave a comment. I love feedback. 

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT -- MOON

This week is picture prompt week. We had our choice of picture. We are restricted to only 300 words, as well. Harley Brennan's story continues. Here's the picture I chose...

She sighed as she slipped the key card into the lock.  It had been a hard day. In spite of her reputation, she’d had to prove herself to people she’d never worked with before. With her efforts to forget Harley failing, Shy’s nerve were shot.

 She toed off her shoes and padded over to the huge window overlooking the beach. Would the moon be that beautiful when Harley and some chickie were out there, trying to fall in love? 

Penny, Mark Davis’ wife, called.

“How’s it going?”

“Well, it’s…uh, it’s.” Tears clouded her eyes. Her shoulders sagged.

“What’s wrong? Shy? Shyla? Talk to me.”

Emotion had closed her throat. She wiped furiously at her eyes. 

Stupid crybaby. It’s your own fault!

“Are you there?”

After a deep shuddering breath, she found her voice. “I’m here.”

“What the hell? What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

“I thought this would be a piece of cake, kind of like a joke, with me behind the scenes where Harley can’t see me.” She grabbed a tissue and blew her nose.

“Isn’t it?”

Shyla shook her head, even though her friend couldn’t see. “No way. It’s horrible. I’m going to be creating all these sexy, seductive settings so Harley and some girl can get the hots for each other and fall in love. I hate it.”

“Oh, Shy!”

“And the producers doubt everything I say. Whatever made me think I could do this?”

“You can’t leave now, can you?”

“I signed a contract. I’m in. Damn it.”

“It’s only two months.”

“It seems like a lifetime.”

“You can do it. You’re a professional. Just stay way behind the scenes, pretend you’re doing it for someone else and show those people you’re the best designer in the world.”

“Easy for you to say.” Shyla finished the bottle.

Thank you for coming. Don't forget to visit all the talented writers on Tuesday Tales. 

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MEET AL "TRUNK" MAHONEY, DEFENSIVE LINEMAN!

Meet Trunk Mahoney, ace defender for the Connecticut Kings. If you've been reading the series, you know something about Trunk. To enlighten further, I gave him the new 20 Questions Quiz. Here are his answers:

TRUNK MAHONEY

20 QUESTION QUIZ

  1.     Blonde, brunette or redhead?

I never discriminate. I like them all.

  2.     Tall, medium or short woman?

  Again, no  discrimination here.

  3.     Favorite meal?

Blue cheese burger and sweet potato fries. (wink, wink)

  4.     Favorite sport?

You’re kidding me, right? Football, of course. What idiot thought up this question? Oops. Sorry, Jean.

  5.     Favorite color?

Red, the color of a certain woman’s lipstick.

  6.     Hobby?

Gardening. No wisecracks!

  7.     Dog or cat?

Dog. Pug. Two to be exact.

  

  8.     Dream vacation spot?

Anywhere with a certain female.

  9.     Dirty little secret?

You think I’m gonna tell you, so you can post it on your blog? You’re effing crazy.

  10.  Best friend?

Bull Brodsky in the male department and a certain brunette in the female.

  11.    Ham or Turkey?

Both. Never met a meat I didn’t like. Hey! Watch your mouth.

  12.    Burger or fried chicken?

Best burger in the world at The Savage Beast, of course. Wouldn’t throw a piece of fried chicken off my plate, though

  13.    Swimming or Skiing?

Swimming. Can’t break anything in the water.

  14.    Greatest fear?

A career-ending injury. And, before you ask, no. I’m not going to give you anything more than that. This is for publication. Besides, I need to keep it clean,, right?

  15.    Number 1 dislike in a woman?

     Let’s see. Hard to pick only one thing. Whining and money-hungry. That’s two? Okay, a whining money-mad woman. Heh heh. Yeah. Still two. Deal with it.

  16.    Number 1 like in a woman?

You want me to answer this question and keep it clean? You’re joking, right?

  17.     Bacon or sausage?

Both.

  18.   Favorite ice cream flavor?

This is tough. It’s a toss up between cookies and cream and chocolate chip.

  19.    Beer or vodka?

Both. Beer with vodka chaser. But I don’t drink much anymore, since I’ve been hanging out with a certain woman.

  20.      Train or Plane?

     Both. Train if I have the time, which I never do. 

     A bit about the book

    When his wife walked out on him, Al “Trunk” Mahoney’s plans for the family he’d never had went up in smoke. A top-ranked defenseman in the NFL, Trunk’s success on the gridiron didn’t translate to the rest of his life. Hooking up with women was easy for the sexy lineman, but Trunk’s secret closed the door to marriage. Would the happiness he yearned for always be just beyond his reach? 

Beautiful Carla Ricci, bar owner and independent woman had her choice of men. A love-‘em and leave-‘em lady, she’d made a decision that ruled out 99.9% of men for marriage. She didn’t care. Then Trunk Mahoney came along. Carla resolved to remain true to herself. Could her willpower hold indefinitely, or would she settle for an affair that would break her heart?   

AVAILABLE NOW HERE

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OR read it now in PAPERBACK! (only $8.99)

TUESDAY TALES - WIRED

Welcome! This week the word prompt is "wired". We have more of Harley Brennan's story. Thank you for coming. Scroll down to go back to Tuesday Tales and read the excellent stories there. 

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Sitting next to her on the plane, he was drawn to her, again, like metal to a magnet. Her makeup was perfect, she wore a silk tank top in aqua that showed enough cleavage to tempt him. Her nails were perfect, her blonde hair, just long enough, but not too long, styled, not hanging like a mop. Her appearance screamed success, cool sophistication, movie-star beauty. She could have her choice of men.

Harley had noticed each man they passed couldn't take his eyes off her. Being the envy of every man on the plane felt good. He raised his glass.

“To old friends,” he said.

“To old lovers,” she countered.

“Touché,” he replied. They drank and nibbled on the food. Shyla filled his senses, her beauty, her unique scent, the softness of her skin. Simply sitting next to her had him wired. Harley had no idea what he was putting in his mouth, but he wished it had been a certain part of Shy, instead of a cheese puff.

“So you won the Super Bowl, now you’re looking for a wife?”

He nodded. “That’s about it.”

“I can’t believe you can’t find one on your own.”

“All those groupies in bars aren’t exactly the girls I want to take home to mother.”

“That would be quite a trip, since your mom’s been gone five years now.”

He almost spit out champagne. She laughed and handed him a napkin.

“Nice way to talk about my mother.”

“It’s the truth. None of your teammates can fix you up with the perfect girl?” She arched an eyebrow.

“If they could, would I be sitting here?”

She shrugged. “Guess not. Well, they can’t all be me.”

He grinned. “You got that right.”

ESDA

The steward brought out caviar on toast, which they gobbled down and pate, which they turned their noses up at. They dined on filet mignon, cooked medium. Harley thought he’d lose it when she pulled out the same book that he had finished the month before.

“Damn it, Shy. Why do you have to be so much like me?”

“A man-whore?”

“You know what I mean. I read Grafton’s latest book last month.”

She laughed. “My male twin. Oops, that would make us incest.”

He smiled before replying, “Is there an ‘us’?”

Color crept up to her cheeks. She looked away, out the window, even though it was dark out.

“I guess not. Not if you’re on the quest for connubial bliss with someone else.”

    “Did you want to get married?” His eyebrows shot up.


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