InSanity~Normalize, Don't Stigmatize Mentall Illness.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Only in America, a Saturday Centus



Jenny Matlock

Note to self: Next time you take on the Saturday Centus challenge, read the instructions first - and I repeat, FIRST. See, if you do, you won't spend a chunk of time on a 100 word piece, post it, and then realize that Miss Jenny limited the class to 25 words. Further, do not - and I repeat, DO NOT - reveal this mishap to Miss Jenny or your peers. It's kind of embarrassing.

Okay, here's my 25. Those 75 words were awfully hard to swallow.  


Only in America

The formerly homeless man suddenly has it all: fame, fortune, and family.

But Ted rejected the lottery ticket, retreating to drugs.

Only in America.

Posted by Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com
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28 comments:

  1. JoJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    oh you and me both ... i had a whole different take on my 100 word version ...

    and your centus ... so true ... we have it all and toss it for our addictions ...

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  2. Powdered Toast ManJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:18 AM

    I find the 'z' and the 'x' the hardest to eat, very pointy.

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  3. Gorilla BananasJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    That's very pithy, Robyn, but I'm sure it could happen in Bolivia as well.

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  4. Oilfield TrashJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    I still want to know what he was drinking before the fame.

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  5. DeborahJanuary 16, 2011 at 12:29 AM

    Oh and it could happen too ... very well done!

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  6. Rek SeshJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:40 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Rek SeshJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:42 AM

    Your takes, as usual come from a different mind path....its the same everywhere, too much money and don't quite know what to do with it...Hope those 75 extra calories didn't wreak your system too much.... ;P
    Sorry I ate a few words in the first one... ;(

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  8. aspiritofsimplicityJanuary 16, 2011 at 3:07 AM

    Kind of sad that even when we are given great opportunity we still go back to our bad choices. I'm not sure this would happen only in America...I think it is a human problem.

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  9. KatJanuary 16, 2011 at 3:57 AM

    Ouch. I was at 40 words before I knew it, and it hurt like the dickens to cut them. If I'd had to chop 75 words I might have lost what little is left of my mind! Really great take on the prompt, I hope he gave that ticket to someone who would appreciate it! Kat

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  10. MarnieJanuary 16, 2011 at 4:35 AM

    Now that was brilliant. That would have been hard to do.

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  11. TerraJanuary 16, 2011 at 4:52 AM

    And yes, poor Ted...I wondered if they were trying to kill him taking him off the streets into fame...anyone could see he wasn't sober like he said...perhaps he will get the help he needs?

    Way to take a prompt and and link into real world news. Sorry about your 75 words...a hard lesson learned.

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  12. cj SchlottmanJanuary 16, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    I love the direction in which you took this prompt. And thanks for the reminder of the epidemic of addiction that plagues not only American but the entire world.

    Namaste..........cj

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  13. Donna VolkenanntJanuary 16, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    How sad.

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  14. georgia ~ gi giJanuary 16, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    Was it Ted from scrubs, that would make sense! Ah ha ha, no poor Ted, damn drugs!!!!
    Happy Sunday my wonderful bloggie friend!
    ps, don't YOU be embarrased! I have been called worse, he he!
    love ya
    gi gi

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  15. JudieJanuary 16, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    That guy! I wonder what his story really is. An article in the paper said that he had an argument with his daughter and it pushed him over the edge and back into the bottle. I guess Dr.Phil saved the day and stuck him in rehab. Your post is really clever, Robyn. I was going to write about that woman with two children who recently won the lottery, but couldn't remember all the details. Of course with only 25 worlds, I didn't really need the details. Oh well!
    xoxo

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  16. jeff campbellJanuary 16, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    The thought in your 25 word piece has the makings of a much bigger story...unusual...sad...I like it! Peace and blessings

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  17. IT (aka Ivan Toblog)January 16, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    "If you don't do what you're supposed to do, you're gonna do what you know how to do."

    That's preceded by:

    "Do the next right thing."

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  18. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    Thanks for all of the meaningful feedback, my friends. It's certainly true that we default to old patterns, as this is part of the human conditions. Do other countries have the lottery, though? I'm really wondering. I'll have to look it up.

    We're awfully lousy about taking care of our own in this country. Wouldn't you say?

    Ted williams rejected Dr. Phil's help last week, but we're told to stay tuned for Thursday's show. I'm not holding my breath.

    Oops, I guess I just added more than 75 words.

    PS Thanks for taking me to 300! Woohoo! Rawknrobyn Dance going on over here. Luv ya. xo

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  19. mrs. cJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Sometimes truth is so much sadder than anything we could dream up! I appreciate your story.

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  20. Alex J. CavanaughJanuary 16, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    But you made it work!

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  21. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    I read both and was impressed at the 25 words you came up with!

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  22. VikiJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:35 PM

    You are exactly right ONLY in America could something like this happen. I love that you took the prompt to something that was current news. Good job.

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  23. gayleJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    Great 25! I hope he gets the help he needs and a job!

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  24. TinaJanuary 17, 2011 at 2:13 AM

    oh know what a waste of 75 words you had to wipe! never mind! and yes only in america ... he can always give it to me if he doesent want it lol

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  25. LEATJanuary 18, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    There's a lot of European lotteries too (when I wrote mine, with reference to 6 numbers I did wonder how many are selected in US and if it would confuse tho!). I really like (having discovered through comments) that you wrote about a topical story. Reminds us all that to understand we have to see, and not just look - there's always more layers. Cool take :)

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  26. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    Sad how we often reject happiness. Nice take.

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  27. Susan AndersonJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Really good job on this one.

    =)

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  28. JennyJanuary 23, 2011 at 8:25 AM

    Still laughing over you swallowing those 75 words. I dreamed a story and when I got up and wrote it, it was 58 words. I was so annoyed, had to scratch the whole thing and start over.

    This is brilliant, though. Even at micro-fiction level.

    Thanks for linking.

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