Okay, we'll switch gears a little. All those of you who have been ducking your heads under water until the poetry is over, you can come up now!
But before you read this week's challenge, can you please do us a favor? if you will look around the upper right corner of the page, you will see a place where you can let us know what kind of writing challenges you kind of prefer. Can you go vote on that and then come back? Blogmarm, and the young Blogglings who help her out, will wait right here.
Now that you've given us your vote (or at least tried to.... if cyberspace or your computer doesn't want to cooperate with you for some reason, you are excused), .....
I'd like to hear about your pet peeves.
Wait, it isn't that easy. Your PET peeves. In other words, what does your dog do that drives you NUTS? How does your goldfish act that makes no sense at all? Be sure you tell us your pet's name, what kind of animal, and what the baffling habit is.
Oh, and don't worry if you have no pets. Or if your pet is perfect and simply never peeves you. You're not off the hook. (Thought you were, huh?)You get to tell us about an imaginary pet. It might be your pet - oh, I don't know - walrus. Picture the big fella, name him, and decide what strange or irritating behavior you might have to contend with, if he were really yours. Consider it a very-mini-novel for us to read.
And if you just feel like picking an imaginary pet instead of your own trusty-true Fido (maybe you don't want to publicly embarrass him : ), that's okay, too. Hopefully we'll be able to tell the difference between the non-fiction reports and the works of literary art. (So if you go fictional, you might as well make your pet far-fetched, to help us out!)Okay, peeves, anyone?
It can be .....
a declaration of love or some other feeling or state of mind...
a marriage proposal...a math or logic problem...
an observation... a poem or song, or neither...something that rhymes, or doesn't....
a question or riddle...
long or short....profound wisdom....
sheer fun....But it HAS to contain 4, 8, 12, 16 (multiples of 4) lines....
It HAS to be original (except where it obviously isn't, if that makes any sense)...,
and It HAS to start with these two words:
"Roses are...."
Have fun.
Oh, and Happy Heart Day.
Okay, thanks to both of the history buffs.... : ) In case that rather academic assignment scared anyone off, here's another easy one. Answer some of these questions: 1. Did you watch the Super Bowl?
2. If so, with whom?
2b. If so, did your team win?
3. If not, what did you do instead? (You can also tell who you did that with, if you want.) Easy enough to get you to write? (And in case you are even LESS into football than I am, the Super Bowl was Sunday afternoon, the 3rd of February : )
Okay, a challenge for the history buffs (well, that leaves me out).
It's getting close to election time (in case you hadn't noticed), and you can't really get through a day without hearing about it. Maybe you have already chosen your perfect candidate (or your he-or-she-will-be-better-than-the-other-choices candidate). Or maybe not. So here is your chance to make your choice easier.
If you could bring back one great leader or thinker (political or otherwise) from the past to run for President (or maybe it's someone present-day who just isn't running), who would it be? Don't feel like you have to dissect or research it to death. I am completely happy with your gut feeling or quick thought on this. And you really don't have to be a history expert at all. Who? And, if you want to add why, go right ahead.
As always, this challenge is open to kids, parents, grandparents and anyone else who wants to join in!
(Thanks for the poem, Catherine : )
Okay, here's an easier one, guys.
Rack your brains (just a little, you don't have to write any poetry today) and tell us about a purchase you made that you'd love to go back and undo. In other words, WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU BUY IT???
I could probably tell you about at least one per week, but if you can, take one from the past year. Or if you need to, you can use any year at all. Just tell us about it..... It can be a car, a pair of boots, or maybe a candy bar. You name it.
And if you want, you can tell us what you'd do with that money if you - sigh - had it back.
I love the cartoon characters! I have a plan for another challenge later on. But for now..... It's poetry time again.
This time, I want you to come up with a few lines of poetry with an AABB rhyme scheme. This means that every pair of lines rhyme. The twist is that the first letters will spell either your subject or something connected to your poem. I'll compose a couple of quick examples (remember I am not spending much time on these and don't expect you to either : )
Fins fanning with grace and poise
In a wet world that has no noise.
Swimming your way, and going where?
Happy in your tank, with scarcely a care.
Happily sipping from my cup
Only till my drink's used up.
The smooth concoction slips right downCanceling many a worry and frown.
O happy remedy for winter's chill
Comforting cold bones with a toasty thrill!
Outside I can dream of the warmth that I'll find
As I take off my mittens and leave winter behind!
You can do this! Have fun!
Your friend is back!
He (she) , your friend -- the cartoon character, fictional literary figure or nursery rhyme star -- has come back over to show you all the rest of his presents, the stuff he got after he left your place. Now he needs your help with something. It's almost New Year's Day. Can you help your friend to come up with a fitting new year's resolution? It's okay if you didn't post on the first one, or if you want to pick a new friend....
Just a short question about your Christmas morning.What time did you get up?
I am guessing the answer will be more than one or two words (for example, getting up & staying up are two different things.... or maybe someone wouldn't let you GET up, but you were wide awake....)So we'd love to hear your response! And then, go on back and enjoy your family.May your Chistmas Day be blessed by the One whose birth we celebrate, and may He be honored in all we do today.
Hey, I loved your responses to that one! And such a successful challenge is pretty hard to follow, but I'll try.
Okay, step one: Think of a cartoon character, fictional literary figure, or nursery rhyme star. Tell us your choice (you might want to read ahead before you choose) .
Step two: The character you've chosen has just called you, and he/she is going to spend Christmas Day at your house! Planning for the day, and desiring to make him / her feel completely at home, you want to come up with :
a) Something yummy (entree, dessert, etc. ) your friend would love to sit at your table and share,
OR
b) A fitting gift,
OR
c) A great game to play while he /she is there.
Think hard.... I can't wait to hear your great ideas!
A snowman.
A toothbrush.
An exercise bike. A goldfish.
A calculator.
A combination lock.
A dictionary.
A volleyball.
An orchard.
A piano.
Monkeybars.
A zipper.
Bagpipes.
A CD.
Fingernail clippers.
A picture frame.
A beluga whale.
A toaster. 
Okay, ready? Here is your challenge. Pick 2 of the above. You may not pick the same pair someone else has picked, but you may choose one that's been chosen, just not the same combination.
Now, tell us what you have chosen, and then list 5-10 things that those two things have in common. If you are feeling particularly clever, you may also list one or two (or more!) important differences.
Okay, got your thinking cap on?
Go!
