[For those of you just tuning in, this is based on the 301 Lists that Darren Rowse’s List Group Writing Project brought together. You’ll find Chapter 1 here –> A List Becomes 301 Links in Story ââ¬â Chapter 1 ]
Money Flowers
As the plane landed, Lizzie heard Fred finally snoring. The sound he made made her think of Five Happy Dog Movies. Fred wasn’t such a bad guy after all. He just wasn’t one who would be on her list to share the Asian Beaches to See Before I die.
Fred was still asleep as she got off the plane, but Lizzie left him a good-bye note that wished him well and offered a few things she had up her own sleeve: 7 Personal Finance Tips, Ten Ways To Spot A Scam, 5 Secrets to Fabulous Financials, 15 Government programs we donââ¬â¢t need, and How to Organize Your Debts.
She’d always thought of the last title as funny. Imagine little debts all in line just like soldiers.
Our creative young lady took a minute to fold those five sheet into an origami bouquet of flowers. She took the blue satin ribbon from her hair and tied them together just so. Then she added a note that said, “Have a wonderful life, Fred.” on the back of Top 10+ ways to Save Money and Help the Environment.
Then she made Fred a wallet from Your Very, Very Best Money Saving Tips. Inside the wallet she put Fifteen easy ways to save fifteen bucks. Lizzie is good at so many things.
Listless Lizzie was brightening a bit. She was finally at her destination.
Paris!
On to Baggage
Paris. This was Paris
As Lizzie went through customs with her documents, she had the typical Lizzie response Something Funny, Something New. As our young, tired traveler stood on the airport floors waiting her turn, she wondered about slipping How Not to Lose Your Ass – Customer Satisfaction in with her passport for customs, but somehow she knew that they wouldn’t consider it a helpful gesture.from an American. So instead Lizzie concentrated on 9 Steps to Transform Stress into Strength. By the time it was her turn, she was ready to give the nice looking man at the desk advice on How to Achieve Peak Performance and 10 Tips on Leading a Balanced Life.
Needlessly to say, our young lady was smiling a most charming smile.
Her smile was so charming, in fact, that folks were noticing and the French were deciding they might make an exception for this one American. .
Lizzie, of course, was clueless about this reality as she read a List of Important Financial Documents that Fred had given her. She stood baggage claim for more waiting and waiting and waiting.
“I liked Fred more than I thought,” Listless Lizzie thought as she considered her investments and her taxes and that she missed Fred. She had heard there were 3 Ways it costs more being a man.
“Ha!” Lizzie thought, “I can think of at least Three Reasons Why I Might Be Poor When I Retire.
She kept that thought with her. It was about then that she realized that her bags weren’t coming.
Lizzie checked her ticket, sure enough her ticket said Paris. Her bag claim said Milan. She referred back to her list on 10 steps to improve your ESP, healing and psychic abilites. Lizzie read it carefully in hopes of figuring out how to reconnect with her bags, but the only thought she had was 10 Reasons Why a 20-Year Old Hates Driving in Europe. She was in no mood to figure out what she had with her. She hated Listmaking – The ââ¬ÅOld Schoolââ¬Â Way.
That’s why we call her Listless Lizzie.
It was definitely time for a change of plan.
Lizzie went to work. Before she left the airport, she found the airline club, took out her computer, and confirmed her a room at the Paris Hilton.
“That’s right,” she said. “One room, King size bed, Listless Lizzie. I’ll be there as soon as a taxi can bring me. And you guarantee no Gawkers.”
Then she used her wireless connection to get one more thing —31 Emoticons to woo your online loves — not that she had any, but she didn’t like being bored.
“I’ll take a nap, and then I’ll wander aimlessly until I make some friends and have some sort of adventure. I’m good at that.” Lizzie thought, And sure enough she did all three, and she was.
But that’s what happens in ————————-Chapter 4.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related Articles
A List Becomes 301 Links in Story ââ¬â Chapter 1
301 Links in Story ââ¬â Chapter 2 Lizzie Meets Fred
The Problem with Writing . . . 25 Things to Know BEFORE You Write for a Living
My Blogging Goal
Joe says
August 20, 2006 at 5:01 PMLiz,
Are you going to make this into some kind of online novella?
You probably should, it’s really funny.
Joe
ME Strauss says
August 20, 2006 at 5:13 PMJoe,
I can’t stop . . I’ve got to get all of the links in. I can’t leave it unfinished. 🙂
Single Ma says
August 20, 2006 at 7:24 PMThis is so creative. I love it! Can’t wait to read the rest…
ME Strauss says
August 20, 2006 at 7:26 PMThank you, Single Ma,
It’s so much to do. It helps to know someone is reading it. 🙂 I appreciate your comment. Really.
Rick says
August 20, 2006 at 8:58 PMWe’re reading it, Liz, while smiling in glee at how you manage to fit them all in.
ME Strauss says
August 20, 2006 at 8:59 PMAs a publisher Rick, you must be laughing at my stupidity for even trying to do this. 🙂
In the nicest way, of course, because you’re not mean, just smarter than I’ll ever be.
Rick says
August 20, 2006 at 9:18 PMAww shucks, ma’am! I really hope you’re not being serious with your last comment. This story is a display of virtuosity and kindness to all of us. I appreciate the difficulty and know I couldn’t do it.
ME Strauss says
August 20, 2006 at 9:22 PMAw, heck, Rick, thanks for saying that. This is like a giant puzzle. It’s a left-brain/right-brain quest. All punctuation goes out the window trying to see the action and fit the links in. 🙂
The characters are really running the show . . .
Tim says
August 21, 2006 at 4:01 AMThank you for linking to my 7 Personal Finance Tips! 🙂 Great little story you put together here.
ME Strauss says
August 21, 2006 at 5:34 AMHi Tim,
I want you to know that I didn’t just link to each list. I also read them all. 🙂
Rico says
August 21, 2006 at 5:40 AMHi Liz,
This project is coming along well. How many more links to you have to use? 🙂
ME Strauss says
August 21, 2006 at 5:43 AMHi Rico,
I just finished Chapter 7 and I still have about two chapters or three chapters worth of links left. Who would have guessed. When I started out, I figured this would be a “knock out 2 or 3 posts” and have it done.
It’s a right-brain/left-brain inability to transition thing — I can’t write and count at the same time. 🙂
Rico says
August 21, 2006 at 5:45 AMWow, prodigious! I guess I should stop asking dumb questions about numbers, and just let you do what you do best: create. 🙂
Alvin says
August 21, 2006 at 9:37 PMHaha this is fun! 🙂
ME Strauss says
August 21, 2006 at 9:41 PMHi Alvin,
Welcome
I think it is a rule. If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right. 🙂
Kelly says
August 24, 2006 at 11:16 AMThis is a wonderfully creative idea! I don’t need coffee this morning, the laughing was all I needed to get going. Thanks.
ME Strauss says
August 24, 2006 at 11:36 AMHi Kelly,
Welcome to Successful Blog. I get kookie every now . . . 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it. Stay tuned there are at least 7 chapters need to get all of the links in. AND OF course I’m going for a big finish. 🙂
Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) says
September 16, 2006 at 12:42 AMNow that is creative! good for you girl! 🙂
David says
March 26, 2007 at 4:01 PMI see that you linked to my post over at my old blogger blog, and was wondering if you could maybe update the link to go to that posts new page? It is at http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2006/08/15/top-10-ways-to-save-money-and-help/
I would really appreciate it and thanks so much!
ME Strauss says
March 26, 2007 at 7:02 PMHi David!
Welcome! Glad to do that!