Z : ZOMBIE DANCE

     Today's post is about a fun thing I took part in a few years ago -- Thrill The World.
     I had fun going to the (FREE!) lessons to learn Michael Jackson's Thriller Dance. You can learn them online from videos at different speeds, & you can order a DVD, or find a class near you. It was a free exercise class and camaraderie of interesting people. You can search You Tube for instructions & to see posted videos of groups doing the dance as well.
     On Saturday, October 26 of this year, all over the world groups of fun-minded people will join in the dance, all at the same time (times adjusted for each timezone) to try and set a new world record.
     Check out the website for a class & event near you.
     Maybe you will find yourself in zombie threads this year!
     My feet still want to start moving whenever I hear Thriller start up. It always makes me smile. I am sure everyone that ever took place in this feels the same way. Maybe they will come up with a syndrome for all us Thriller dancers!
     Just remember at the end of the dance to HOLD THAT POSE until Vincent Price stops laughing!

Y : YARDWORK

     The dreaded understory of gardening: cleaning the yard up after Winter's tantrums & maintenance. Cleaning up the fallen branches, regularly watering the precious seeds & plants -- i hate watering! It's really a hassle when the grass grows too. Eventually we will replace it with ground cover plants.
     As for weeds, hey, I live in the country. If it flowers, it is ok with me! As the saying goes, "all my weeds are wildflowers."
     I totally decimated the woodpile, winter wimp that I am. So, somehow, we have to get it re-stocked.
     Anyone have any extra garden gnomes around?

X : XANADU

     Ok, so I might sound like a geek, but I liked the movie Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John. In this movie, she portrays a rollerskating Muse linking up a past recipient with a present recipient to create a strange schizophrenic nightclub.
     I always wished I could skate like that, with such skill & joy. Oh, believe me, I tried. I had both regular skates & rollerblades. I used to alternate them as I found they worked different muscles.
     But I was slow, and in the end it all came down to the fact that I was afraid to fall.
     So I'll keep enjoying Xanadu, and skate along in my mind.

W : WOLFINGTON ARMS

                         This is a one-act play I wrote.

                                 WOLFINGTON ARMS

     CAST
     *Desk clerk/Manager
     *Bellhop
     *Customer

SETTING
A high class hotel in a dark part of town. Luxurious & elegant. Bellhop is reading a newspaper, as the Manager straightens things behind the desk.

          BELLHOP: "Full moon tonight."
          MANAGER: "Are the rooms ready?"
          BELLHOP: "As well as the cellar."
          MANAGER: "Good."

They continue in silence. The door opend with a "ding" & a very well dressed businessman comes in, carrying a briefcase. They both snap to attention as he comes over to the desk.

          MANAGER: "Good evening, Sir. How may we help     
          you?"
          CUSTOMER: "I'd like a room for the night, please."
          MANAGER: "First class or Subterranean?"
          CUSTOMER: "First class."
          MANAGER: "Very well. Please sign the register."

The customer signs the register with an expensive pen from his breast pocket. He opens a wallet stuffed with credit cards & pulls out some large bills.

          CUSTOMER: "I trust this will be sufficient?"
          MANAGER: "Quite.. (looking at register) ...Mr., ah,
          Wolf."
The Manager snaps his fingers & the bellhop presents himself to the customer.

          BELLHOP: "May I carry your briefcase, Mr. Wolf?"

The customer hands over his briefcase.

          BELLHOP: "Follow me, Sir."

The Bellhop taps the walls as he passes.

          BELLHOP: "Soundproof."

The Customer follows the Bellhop as he unlocks a door to a heavily padded room with chains on the wall. With great dignity & nonchalance, the Customer removes his clothes until he is standing in his underwear. He folds them neatly & places them on a chair.
The Bellhop stands waiting with the chains.

          BELLHOP: "Your arms, Sir..."

Customer allows himself to be chained to the wall.

          BELLHOP: "Will you be requiring anything else, Sir?"
          CUSTOMER: "No thank you."
          BELLHOP: "Very well, Sir. Thank you for choosing the
          Wolfington Arms for your shapeshifting needs. We
          hope you enjoy your stay."

Bellhop walks out & locks door. Customer waits patiently for full moon to rise.
                    THE END

V : VAMP.COM

Here is a little one-act play I wrote. 
                  
                     VAMP.COM

          CHARACTERS:
          Vampire 1
          Vampire 2
          Vampire 3
          Wanna-be Girl

Setting: Gothic room, dark & heavy atmosphere, candles everywhere. Characters dressed as gothic Vampires.
Characters enter room, Wanna-be trailing. Lead Vampire holding paper application. The Girl is excited, the Vampires are silent.

     GIRL: "Hey, I wanna thank you all for accepting my 
     application. I think it's cool that you advertise online for
     new clan members. (LOOKS AROUND) Hey, where's the
     rest of you? Will I get to meet them after the interview?
     How many are there?"
     "I am like so into the whole vampire thing, it really turns
     me on. And, like, I love the night, it's so mysterious, and
     um..."

VAMPIRE 1 beckons GIRL to sit in chair. The vampires lounge around. 

     VAMPIRE 1: "And did you tell anyone where you were
     going? We do have to maintain our privacy, you
     understand."
     GIRL: "Oh sure! I understand! No, I didn't tell anyone. I
     don't have any friends anyway, I mean, this podunk town I
     come from? It's like so... colonial or something. The people
     there are just like too normal, you know? No, I just
     sneaked out after my parents were asleep and got on the
     bus. It was real easy, just like you said. But what a trip! I
     swear I never want to travel by bus for any distance again.
     I'm stiff and sore all over!"

VAMPIRES come closer, stroking her hair & skin, restless, circling...

     VAMPIRE 2: "And you haven't contacted anyone since you
     left?"
     GIRL: "Nope, just like you asked." (VAMPS EXCHANGE
     GLANCES.) "I want to prove my worthiness to you. I've
     made my life's decision, left it all behind. There's no one
     I'll miss anyway, except maybe my little sister. She's
     alright sometimes. But mostly she's like a real pain, ya
     know?"
     "Yeah, I'm sure about this. I really want this. So how does
     this go, huh? Do we all live together? Do we sleep in
     coffins? That would be so cool. Is the rest of the house all
     decorated like this?" (LOOKS AROUND).  "You really set
     the atmosphere, this is awesome. Do you really drink
     blood? Where do you get it?"

VAMPS still stroking , bending closer. GIRL shifts nervously.

     GIRL: "So am I accepted or what? When will I find out? I
     mean, I don't have anyplace to stay or anything..."
     VAMPIRE 3: "And what is your bloodtype, child?"
     GIRL: "Uh, I don't know. Does it matter?"

VAMPIRE 1 stands behind GIRL, pulls out small dagger.

     VAMPIRE 1: "Blood always matters, little one. Our website
     may have been a little... misleading. You see... We're
     accepting applications for..." (BENDS DOWN AND
     LOWERS VOICE) "...blood donors."

VAMPIRE 1 neatly cuts GIRL's throat before she can react. We see the surprise on her face.
The other VAMPIRES take out their own small daggers and slice a wrist each. All 3 bend to drink.

     VAMPIRE 2: "Mmm. Hot and salty, just the way I like it."
     (LICKS LIPS). "O Positive, do you think?"
     VAMPIRE 3: "Definately O Positive."

They feed. Fade to black.
          THE END.
--by Shayla Kwiatkowski

    

U : UNDER THE SEA

another little ditty...

                    UNDER THE SEA
Under the sea
Far away and long ago
A little girl lived
My mother told me so

She was but a child
On that very fateful day
The sea was quite wild
When she went out to play

She fell into a spiral
And spit upon a shore
She didn't think it real
It wasn't her home any more

A little girl giggled
And asked her to play
She whiled away the time
But was not asked to stay

She was sent back alone
To try and find her beach
And soon enough her home
Was back within her reach

But she never forgot
The new friend that she met
She thinks of it alot
The place where all was wet.
     --Shayla kwiatkowski, 2013

T : TRADEWINDS

   Today we have the letter "T", so I will offer my short story TRADEWINDS for free starting today April 23 until April 27.
   It is a story about a boy who moves to Florida from Wisconsin, and how he learns to love his new home and nature with the help of an old man.