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Wednesday, November 7, 2018

IWSG Nov. 2018 Bones and Bridges


Welcome Readers and fellow Writers, to the November 2018 online meeting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh and comprised of writing members just like you (and me), featuring writing tips, resources, articles, contests, and IWSG swag! See what we’re all talking about here and join us as we share our writing journeys.

*We meet on the first Wednesday of every month – join us and enjoy!

Visit our gracious Co-hosts, and let them know you’re here: Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Ann V. Friend, JQ Rose, and Elizabeth Seckman!

Today is National Tongue-twister Day! Can you say Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers three times, fast?
Here’s one for National Young Readers Week: Big black bugs bleed black blood! I may as well eat large marshmallows for that one ;-)

By now, many of you have submitted your stories for the annual IWSG Anthology contest – Best Wishes! Are you well into your November Novel or Memoir (in a month) project yet?

In honor of Historic Bridge Awareness Month, I decided to check out my own state of Arizona, since I happen to be aware that The London Bridge spanned the River Thames in London in 1831 - before being moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona in 1971. 

That should count, right? It didn’t.  

However, my search led me to one right at the northern edge of one of my favorite non-places! The Canyon Diablo Bridge (part of the National Old Trails road in 1914) was a handy accessory for the old Route 66 as occasionally; the river does run like a herd of startled gazelles. And sure enough, the people came. Once Mr. and Mrs. Cundiff built a store, gas station, and a campground the people started to stay awhile too. One of those people was a Mr. Miller who thought he could make the little town called Canyon Lodge an even hotter spot on the map with a Zoo and a couple of shacks from which he sold fake artifacts. 

Business was booming right along until Mr. Miller dug up some authentic old skulls from a nearby “Death Cave,” where a group of Apaches lost a game of hide-and-seek with a group of Navajos several hundred moons before, and things took a sinister turn for the worse. Mr. Miller became obsessed with the idea of changing the name of the town to “Two Guns”; a name he liked to call himself. After a name-change was repeatedly denied, and the zoo animals inexplicably revolted, Mr. Miller marched over and murdered Mr. Cundiff.  Mr. Miller pleaded self-defense and was acquitted, though wounds from a vicious mountain lion attack left him near-death himself. 

Meanwhile, Route 66 was re-routed, and the town all but dried up and blew away. Some call it “Death by Highway” others wonder why a weather-beaten sign still reads “Two Guns.

Are there any historical bridges where you live? Do you have a favorite tongue-twister?

By the way, Happy Movember, guys! Did you know the average man touches his mustache 760 times a day? Can this be true?

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

17 comments:

  1. Hi, diedre!

    Happy National Tongue-twister Day, dear friend! You reminded me that one of my favorite songs of the mid 60s was the Len Barry single "Lip Sync (To The Tongue Twisters)."

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABDcyp35Uec

    Four years ago Mrs. Shady and I traveled portions of Route 66 in Arizona. I enjoyed your story about a tiny town that sprang up, suffered an identity crisis because residents did not share the same vision (sound familiar?) and was ultimately "ghosted" by the famous highway.

    Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend diedre!

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    1. Hi Shady!

      Ha! I forgot all about Fuzzy Wuzzy! Thanks for the giggle ;-)

      Ah, but I think it was the curse of the unearthed skulls that fuzzied Mr. Miller's mind to begin with. I rather like the name 'Two Guns'
      The rerouting of Route 66 (I-40) shut down more than a few towns, though many were doomed when mining camps moved. Subsequent entrepreneurs, thinking as I would, that a stop off the beaten path might be a good idea, put up a sizeable KOA facility of which every square inch has since been vandalized. Not sure whether to attribute that to the 'curse' or just people.
      Thanks for stopping by, my friend ;-) Enjoy your week as well!

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  2. The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick! I'd love to travel Route 66 someday. Tacoma, Washington is famous for Galloping Gertie, the bridge that collapsed during a windstorm. We do have a few picturesque bridges in the North End that are now open only to pedestrian traffic. Happy writing in November.

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    1. Hi Rhonda!

      Ha! My tongue tied up just trying to read that twister!
      Gosh, I did recently read about Gertie's spectacular collapse. A historic lesson in engineering.
      I've only seen pictures, but you do seem to have some of the loveliest bridges this side of the Mississippi ;-) Considering it was once dubbed "The most walkable cities in the country" I bet your pedestrian bridges are absolutely charming.
      Happy November!

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  3. Tongue twisters get me every time (smile) Blessings!

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    1. Hi Ann!

      I love that they are so timeless. My grandson still tries to recite the first one he ever learned. But then, so do I ;-)
      Happy writing!

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  4. Howdy, dIEDRE ~
    "Two Guns" -- Wow! That sounds really familiar. I wonder if I've been through there before. That's in Arizona somewhere near the old Route 66? Because I've driven portions of the original Route 66.

    >.... By the way, Happy Movember, guys!

    Movember? What does that mean? Do a lot of people traditionally move in November, or something like that?

    Speaking of moving, I hope to move to Carson City in early 2019. What will you call me then? C.C.? ;o)

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'

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    1. HiYa Reno!

      You probably have been through there! The old 66 went right through it - the Canyon Diablo Bridge being already in place was likely an irresistible bonus. Nowadays, I-40 takes you outside and around Two Guns,though there is an exit ramp.
      Moving to Carson City? For work, I presume? Are you looking forward to the move?
      Mo-vember is when guys let their mustaches grow for a month to draw awareness to men's health. I hadn't known the actual reason until recently. I just thought that since it was winter... ;-)
      I'll call ya whatcha want, my friend. Long as you don't mind if I do.
      Happy November!

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    2. dIEDRE ~

      I looked it up on my road atlas, which has all the USA roads I've driven highlighted in green or yellow, and indeed I have been through Two Guns, just as I suspected.

      Actually, I'm moving to Carson City to get out of Reno (and because it seems really nice there - slow and quiet).

      C.C. seems like what I THOUGHT I was getting when I moved to Reno almost 4 years ago.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...

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  5. That's quite a story! Wonder what happened to all the animals?
    Sorry I'm late - this just now showed up in Feedly.

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    1. Hi Alex!

      Since the only animals he had were captured from the nearby wild, I imagine they either escaped or were released back into the wild. I would like to have seen a Lynx ;-)

      Ack! I've really got to get a handle on this technology stuff! Thanks for the heads up - and for coming by!

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  6. I remember loving tongue twisters when I was a kid :-) Have a great month and a wonderful Thanksgiving, Diedre

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    1. To you and your venturesome crew as well, my friend! Happy sails ;-)

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  7. You've inspired me to spend some time exploring my home state of Utah. I think I'll skip the Great Salt Lake though. It's pretty smelly.

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    1. Hi Ryan!

      Ha! I was there once, and you're right about the smell ;-)
      I hope you write about your adventures. I'd enjoy reading about Utah.
      Happy November!

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  8. I'm not sure if there's a historical bridge close by, but down south there's the Seven Mile bridge, which is built next to the old bridge that's all broken up. It's neat to drive on the newer bridge and see the fall down bridge right next to it. It used to be open for bicyclists and walkers, but it's been closed and won't be reopened until 2021.

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    1. Hi Chrys!

      Interesting fun fact: The original bridge was/is (?) among the longest bridges in existence and connects the Knight's Key (Ha!) in the middle keys to the Little Duck Key in the lower keys. Funny you should mention it ;-)
      Happy December!

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Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!