Ergo, the Ogre

Embracing the Absurd Since 2011

Recent Posts

  • 3TC #MM609 | The Second Job

    This is a daily challenge where you can use your imagination and creativity using three words. You can write a poem, a prose, a short story, or anything else, in any length and style, but use all of the below words somewhere.

    Every day, there will be three new words. They will be published daily at 8:00 AM Eastern European Summer Time. You can join in here.

    Your three words for today are:

    • VALUABLE
    • WIRING
    • YEARS
    Three pink and white peony flowers against a dark background

    Jason Porterfield learned about wiring bombs from watching his dad at his ‘second job’ in the garage. Mr. Porterfield worked as an automobile mechanic during the day but couldn’t quite make ends meet. So, he went online and learned a new trade and ends started meeting in a big way.

    His dad’s valuable second job is what made a college education possible for Jason. Rather than taking advantage of this opportunity for a lucrative career, he concentrated on girls and parties rather than studying. Jason graduated with some priceless memories, a degree in English, and 2,3-grade point average.

    “What’s the matter with you??” His dad boomed as he popped the top of his first breakfast beer. “I risk blowing myself up in that stinkin’ garage for years so you can go to college and be somebody.” He waved a hairy arm in the direction of the garage. “What kind of job do you expect to get with a crummy GPA and an English degree? You gonna teach people how to talk or somethin’?”

    Jason cleared his throat. “I’m gonna be a writer, Dad,” he explained. “Some of my instructors think I’m gifted.”

    “Gifted?” Dad repeated. “Ain’t that special.” he drained his can of beer and opened another. “What happened to Business Administration? “

    Jason shrugged. “I dunno. It was hard…”

    “Hard? Of course it’s hard. Everything worthwhile in this life is hard!”

    With that, Mr. Porterfield let the screen door slam behind him and hopped in the family’s old Chevy, shaking his head. He rolled down the window and shouted as he roared away, “Get a real job, kid!”

    Jason sighed. He opened his computer bag and got organized at the kitchen table. “It was a dark and stormy night.” After being stuck for an hour, he smiled to himself. “When wiring a bomb, it is important to remember…”

    His instructors had always said to write what you know.

  • A Trace

    This week at Song Lyric Sunday, Jim has asked us to find a song that references image, picture, scan or view. I chose Traces by Classics IV. I never get tired of this song and the way it breaks my heart,

    The Story

    According to Wikipedia, “Traces” is a song by the American rock band Classics IV. Released as a single in January 1969, the cut served as the title track off the album of the same name. Written by Buddy Buie, J. R. Cobb, and Emory Gordy Jr., the song peaked at No. 2 on 29 March 1969 on the Hot 100,[4] as well as No. 2 on the Easy Listening music charts, making it the highest-charting single by the Classics IV.[5]

    “Traces” was listed at 32 in BMI‘s Top 100 Songs of the Century.[6] The song is also known as “Traces of Love” due to the lyrics.

    There certainly are a lot of covers. Liberace, even.

    The Lyrics

    Faded photographs, covered now with lines and creases
    Tickets torn in half, memories in bits and pieces
    Traces of love, long ago that didn’t work out right
    Traces of love


    Ribbons from her hair, souvenirs of days together
    (Things we used to share, souvenirs of days together)
    The ring she used to wear, pages from an old love letter
    Traces of love, long ago that didn’t work out right
    Traces of love, with me tonight


    I close my eyes and say a prayer
    That in her heart, she’ll find a trace of love still there
    Somewhere


    Traces of hope in the night that she’ll come back and dry
    These traces of tears from my eyes
    Traces of hope in the night that she’ll come back and dry
    These traces of tears from my eyes

    Songwriters: Emory Gordy, Buddy Buie, James B. Cobb Jr.. For non-commercial use only.

    Data From: Musixmatch

    The Video

  • 3TC #MM608 | Career Move

    3TC #MM608 | Career Move

    This is a daily challenge where you can use your imagination and creativity using three words. You can write a poem, a prose, a short story, or anything else, in any length and style, but use all of the below words somewhere.

    Every day, there will be three new words. They will be published daily at 8:00 AM Eastern European Summer Time.

    Our three words for today are:

    TEXTURE

    SLIPPERS

    UNDER

    Tag your posts with 3TC, TTC, or #threethingschallenge. If you want, you can also use the below lovely picture somewhere in your post:

    SusanWritesPrecise

    Sylvia’s alarm clock buzzed just as she was drifting off to sleep.

    Crap! Another night of hot flashes and cold sweats. This ageing thing is getting old.

    Sylvia’s feet felt around under the bed for her slippers but ended up with a bunch of dust bunnies instead. The cobweb-like texture made her want to vomit.

    Gross! Screw the slippers. She rubbed her feet against the dusty rose carpeting. It was practically brand new and up until a few minutes ago, she loved the color. Now she hated it.

    What a stupid color. What was I thinking? It doesn’t go with anything. I oughtta just rip it up.

    She stumbled downstairs to make coffee and a pop tart. Sylvia sat at her tiny kitchen table to figure out whether to call out sick or not. She hated her job as a data entry specialist and feared her brain would rot from lack of usage.

    It’s time to write! Now or never! Sylvia had always wanted to be a writer. She wrote short stories and submitted her work to various literary publications, but they failed to recognize her talent. Idiots! I will make them pay attention to me!

    With that, Sylvia dialed the office on her cell.

    “Jenny? It’s Sylvia. Yeah. I’m not coming in today, or any other day. I’m quitting.”

    “You’re what?”

    “Ive wasted enough time over there. I was meant to write and that’s what I’m gonna do!

    “Did you make an appointment with Dr. Avery? He’s a miracle worker when it comes to menop —”

    “Do tell!” Sylvia interrupted, rolling her eyes. “Who needs hormone replacement when you’ve got a good bottle of wine?”

    “Sylvia, wait. Think about what you—”

    Sylvia hung up the phone and turned her attention to her pop tart, coffee, and future … and that ridiculous dusty rose carpeting.

  • Fibbin’ Friday | 11/13/2026

    Hello and welcome to Fibbing Friday where I’m inviting you to be outrageous, silly, cheeky, or whatever takes your fancy (as long as you keep it family friendly). Fib your socks off when answering the ten questions set below but remember, truth is not an option, whereas having fun is.

    Colorful graphic featuring Pinocchio-like cartoon character with text "FIBIN FRIDAY," "LIES," "HALF TRUTHS," "TALL TALES," and "FORRIES."

    1. What is a tapestry?

    Decorative tape you can stick on your walls.


    2. What is a travesty?

    Decorative tape with which to jazz-up your travel trailer.


    3. What is a conservatory?

    A place for Republicans to hang out


    4. What is a monastery?

    Where Mona Lisa lived before she became a work of art.


    5. What is a patisserie?

    A rotisserie owmed by Patricia.


    6. What is hyphen?

    A chicken whose rooster has hyped her up.


    7. What is a conundrum?

    The opposite of a pronundrum


    8. What is a neanderthal?

    An ancient humanoid who meanders.


    9. What is an ingot?

    A designer brick.


    10. What is munchkin?

    Family dinner in the south.

  • Octopus Hell

    Can you tell a story in 44 words? Join in here Thanks, Esther Chilton!

    Here’s your new story challenge. Can you tell a story in 44 words using the following words in it somewhere:

    • RASPBERRY
    • CHASE
    • ATTIC
    • OCTOPUS

    Johnny was poking around in the attic when he saw it: a faded, raspberry-colored stuffed octopus someone had tossed among the cobwebs. Upon closer inspection, he saw one of its tentacles move. Then another and another. The octopus chased Johnny until he caught him.

    Pink textured octopus plush toy with black eyes and white-lined tentacles on a wooden table
    Pinterest.com

  • 3TC #MM604 | Blown Away

    This is a daily challenge where you can use your imagination and creativity using three words. You can write a poem, a prose, a short story, or anything else, in any length and style, but use all of the below words somewhere. You can join in here

    Every day, there will be three new words. They will be published daily at 8:00 AM Eastern European Summer Time. I hope they generate some amazing pieces.

    Your three words for today are:

    • GNOMES
    • HOPPING
    • INTERRUPT
    SusanWritesPrecise

    It was a crisp, autumn day, perfect for Lucerne, Switzerland’s first annual Gnome Olympics. The gnomes came from all over the world via subterranean mystical pathways. It was beyond incredible how they began popping out of the ground all over Lucerne upon arrival. Dogs and cats found the gnomes particularly amusing. They were cautiously curious meaning they looked with their eyes not with their paws.

    The snail racing event was first. Gnomes had trained their snails to move at warp speed, so the race was over almost before it started. Next, came the mushroom hopping competition. All was well until one adventurous gnome decided to sample the mushrooms rather than hop over them. Once they saw their friend’s silly grin and mellow disposition all the gnomes followed suit. These mushrooms were of the magical variety, and the hopping part of the competition was forgotten. In fact, the remaining games were canceled until the following morning.

    As soon as the sun came up, the leaf sledding competition was set to begin.

    Suddenly, the dreadful rumble of a leaf blower sounded in the distance,

    It was the trolls, arch enemies of gnomes everywhere. Trolls are not known for their intelligence and thusly hadn’t bothered to practice with the leaf blowers prior. It wasn’t long before the leaf blowers got away from the trolls and blew them back to Scandinavia.

    The Gnome Olympics continued withut interruption. That evening, the gnomes celebrated with Mead Dew, a drink made from fermented honey and water, vegetable kabobs, and fermented raspberries.

    Colorful fantasy scene of bearded gnomes in pointed hats gathered among oversized mushrooms in an enchanted forest.
    https://mythicalencyclopedia.com/gnome/

  • Toni’s Fountain

    Written for Rochelle Wiseoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers.

    Illuminated blue fountain at night in a city roundabout with buildings, palm trees, and streetlights
    Image courtesy of Nancy Richy

    Thirty-seven years ago, to the day, Wanda was born. Tonight, she sat in front of Toni’s favorite fountain smoking a cigarette trying to talk herself into celebrating.

    Her family was gone. Her cousin and best friend passed away three months ago. It was a car accident in which Toni was the drunk driver. Wanda knew she should’ve taken Toni’s keys and driven them home herself, but she wanted to avoid the drama that would’ve surely ensued.

    Wanda turned her wheelchair around and headed home to pore over her memories and a bottle of Chardonnay.

    94 words.