The Playground...

The bells rings. All the children bolted to the playground excited to be free of the constraints of the classroom. Finally. They are free to release their pent up energy. All of the sudden SNAP! The freedom is snatched away in an instant by a flying soccer ball. He drops to his knees. Ironically, this innocent game of soccer has cast a dark shadow to his upcoming baseball season. His parents exhaust their options. Surgery is scheduled for in the morning. Soon his little hand will be manipulated back to where they should be, and pins will be inserted. Nevertheless, we will all be cheering him on as he wakes at the hospital, rather than our normal perch at the baseball field.

                         

                                                 

EXHAUST (transitive verb)
1a : to consume entirely : use up
b : to tire extremely or completely
c : to deprive of a valuable quality or constituent
2a : to draw off or let out completely
b : to empty by drawing off the contents; specifically : to create a vacuum in
3a : to consider or discuss (a subject) thoroughly or completely
b : to try out the whole number of

Please remember:
Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.
You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.
The word itself needs to be included in your response.
You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
Only one entry per writer.
Trifecta is open to everyone. Please join us.

Unfortunately, this is based on what happened to my nephew. He went through surgery yesterday like a champ. 

V.M.C.P.C.

I was the new bartender trying to learn the ropes.

I was cramming all the info so I didn't look like a dope.

I made up funny saying to help me recall the ingredients.

Fifteen years later I can still recall one drink immediately.

Sex on the Beach...

Virgin

Monkeys

Chanting

Penis

Cramps

'KETCHUP WITH US' - PROMPT #12

In 57 words or less, tell us about the best drink you ever had. Recipes and pictures are encouraged. 

Sex on the Beach

Ingredients:

3/4 ounce Midori (Melon liqueur)

3/4 ounce vodka

3/4 ounce Chambord (Raspberry liqueur)

1 and 1/2 ounces pineapple juice

1 and 1/2 ounces cranberry Juice

Instructions:

Mix well and pour over ice.
Then enjoy like it's the 90's!

The tree and her apple

From a seed I was born.

I grew into a tree.

Then I had an apple that grew from me.

I want to nourish that seed that came from me.

Fertilize her to be the best she can be.

She's the greatest apple I could ever meet.

I love watching her become the tree she will be.

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

I know most people have overheard someone say this; or have said it themselves. It resonated with me differently this time when I was thinking about it.

When I see my girlie bust a move, I know that apple is sitting right next to the her tree. We've got our own special moves. Then I see her compassion, and love for life, reading, learning, music, and bubbly personality. Then I wonder how that little apple came from me. Her apples are so fresh and drenched in the juice of life. I'm just a tree who's bark has been harden by life.

I could never of imagined a better apple to have around me in my life. I often wonder . . am I the tree that deserves this apple? She must have been given to me to soften my bark.

There is no better apple to this old tree.

My little secret for getting the girl to sleep.

Some may ask . . . How do you do it? I have a hard time getting my daughter to go to bed when she's over tired.

Well, let me share a secret. Hold your breath.

I paint her nails.

This has been a godsend. When I feel her having a hard time winding down from a long day at kindergarten, I offer to paint her nails. She chooses the colors. ALL OF THEM, and I go to work. Within about five minutes she's out. Usually the process is pretty easy. Except tonight she wanted dots on them. Keep in mind, every nail is a different color; so the dots must be too.

So I forge on.

Tonight, the easy part was the initial painting. However the dots, proved challenging. But hey! She's got dots. Some smeared, some on point.

The end result is the same. SHE IS ASLEEP! And fully pampered.

I just wanted to share, because I never knew how much painting finger and toe nails would be my saving grace to a night time melt down.

Without further ado . . . My sleeping beauty. Fingers and toes and all.

Don't mind the polish on her face and arms. She had an itch.

As she grows

I start out slowly, and gain knowledge as I go. 

Usually this leads to confidence as I grow. 

However, being a mother this has not been so. 

As the years speed up, I feel more and more out of control.

It's so easy when they're little, but then she grows. 

I love being a mom. However, everyday it seems that I worry more and more if I'm doing it "right." This is the most important job I will ever have, and I know I don't get a re-do. I couldn't ask for anything else in a child, and I hope pray that she will look back and say the same about me as her mommy. 

Dammit! Someone hand me a tissue. 

'KETCHUP WITH US' - Prompt #10

In 57 words or less, tell us about WHO (or WHAT) 

you go head to head with every day.

Yep, I will break you

I'm going to be honest. I always make New Year's Resolutions. I don't want to, but it just seems par for the coarse. A right of passage, if you will. A yearly reset so to speak. With that being said, I will give you my usual run down. 

Be a better mom, Loose weight, Get healthy, Exercise, Blah, blah, blah . . .

However, I intend on keeping those. Hell, I've even signed up for TWO 5Ks so far this year. One of which will take place while I'm in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Side note, I might be running a bit tipsy. BUT, I will be running. 

This brings me to the resolution that I need to make, but I know I won't be able to keep it. I'm breaking it in my head as I sit here and type. 

With out further ado . . .

'KETCHUP WITH US' - PROMPT #9

In 57 words or less, tell us the New Year's resolution you 

want to make but know you'll break.

A whirlwind of a year for my girlie and me. 

We took many trips, we felt so free.

Made our way up the Northeast coast to see friends. 

Then headed down south so the journey wouldn't end. 

From there we went east, with New Orleans to see. 

We found we liked it best, my daughter and me.

Last year, Ry and I traveled all over the place. We went to New Jersey, NYC, Maryland, Philly, New Orleans, San Antonio, Austin, Tulsa, Arkansas, and some other more local places. I can not even begin to describe how much fun we've had over the last year. I'm so grateful for all of these experiences we've shared, and all of the friends and family we have been able to spend time with in person! I am also thankful to have a husband that has been supportive of all of our adventures. Btw, we've traveled without the girlie too quite a few times. I think Nola has become our second home. So, he hasn't been left out. However, I keep telling myself this year we need to do a lot less traveling. We were gone once a month, and sometimes twice. As I made peace with this resolution and vowed slow down this year, I found myself planning trips in my head. Needless to say, there will be no keeping this resolution. The hubs and I are headed to Mardi Grass in a few weeks (preplanned in 2012, thank you very much), and the girl is already asking when it's her turn to go back to Nola (can you say Jazz Fest?), and San Antonio (where her bff lives). What kind of mother would I be to deny her these learning experiences? 

Never mind, Don't answer that. 

Core Struggles

Dealing with inner struggles.

Trying to get to the core.

So many layers.

The top layer so thin.

Like a mask, easy to break.

The deeper, the harder to navigate.

Must break through.

                                                                  

On to the weekend challenge. As you'll recall from your elementary science class days, the structure of the earth can be divided most simply into three sections: core, mantle, crust. Here's a diagram.

                                                   

                                              Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Give us 33 words from it. Interpret the prompt however you wish--literal, metaphorical, or somewhere in between.