Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company! discussion

I am. It is day one of a meditation course that begins that evening.

TPBM wonders if there really is a point in a course on meditating.

Unless there's a special technique involved with meditating, then yes, that would be strange.

TPBM has at least one character in his or her stories with the last name Menzies. And yes, I still have an obsession with character names.

Nope. I've never considered the name Menzies for a character.

TPBM knows sign language.

Nope, can't say that I do. Sorry!

TPBM feels old whenever they reminisce over something from the 1990’s.

I don't rememnber reminiscing about the 90s. Now, the 70s, thoughts of ten does make me aware that I am older than I feel.

TPBM writes best when they have bare feet.

Instead of wearing no shoes, I write best when I'm shirtless. It's funny how that works out.

TPBM enjoys seeing movies at the Imax.

Never been to an Imax.

TPBM likes to collect playing card decks.

Not at all.

TPBM has played the game Curses before.

Can't say that I have.

When it comes to his or her writing career, TPBM will never quit no matter how hard things become.

Hmm. I dop not have a writing career and so not witting it is a given. So to speak.

TPBM no longer waits for inspiration to write.

I only write as a hobby, so really I just write when I feel like rather than pushing myself.

TPBM writes stories that they know are silly/strange because it amuses them.

I can't say that I do.

TPBM is looking forward to seeing the new Star Wars movie.

No, only because I didn't know there was one.


TPBM looks forward to seeing the new Avengers movie.

I'd like to see it the day it comes out, if possible.

TPBM tries to read a book before seeing its movie version.

Whenever possible.

TPBM plays an instrument.

Does computer keyboard count? Or a calligraphy pen? Sigh. Probably not, and so at best I play at an instrument now and then.

TPBM knows that the shape of most the numbers comes from how our fingers and hands are shaped.

I didn't know that before, but now that I do, consider my mind blown.

TPBM owns a set of animal stairs for whenever his or her pets want to get on the bed.

My pets can jump up or they are not WORTHY of lying in bed with me!

TPBM's sleep schedule is vampirific.

Mine is, but only because I get bored at night and going to bed qualifies as a boring activity.

TPBM used to find physical comedy funny, but doesn’t anymore.

Depends on the type.


TPBM thinks there is no such thing as "true love".

I agree. Love is a promise and not an emotion. What people mistake for love is often just extreme infatuation. You can love anyone once you truly get to know them, and the greatest exhibition of love is staying devoted even when you're not FEELING in love. Ok. I'll get off my soapbox now.

TPBM is guilty of overeating when they're bored.

That's probably the reason why I've got a big belly right now. Not to worry, because tomorrow I get back on my schedule of water aerobics at the Y. Things are going to be different now.

TPBM enjoys dark humor.

Of course I do!

TPBM thought the book Allegiant ended perfectly.

Unfortunately, I haven't read it yet. But if it's as good as you say it is, then I'll have to stick it on my Media Wish List.

TPBM wants to learn how to play a bass guitar.

Or any guitar at all. Or harp. And cello. And flute. And drums. And accordion. Or just any instrument.

TPBM is disappointed with how the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight went last night.

I didn't watch it, I'm not into any of that.

TPBM watched the Kentucky Derby yesterday.

No. I didn't follow the fight or the derby.


TPBM finds weeding to be a nice stress reliever.

Seeing as how weeding requires bending over and being on my knees, it's actually more stressful because it's hard on my joints.

TPBM wonders what it is about musical groups that creates friction among the members.

I think it's mostly the shared fame. In any other area, celebrities are more or less famous of their own accord. But with music groups, you think of the group as a whole or one member in particular. The friction probably comes from a fear of obscurity if one of the members overshadows the others.

TPBM hardly ever has money to buy music/books, but when they do, they feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices.

I always feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices when I go to spend money. It is not specific to music or books.


TPBM can't wait for the lakes to warm up so they can go swimming.

Well, I live in Phoenix and it's been almost 100F every afternoon this past week. I'm not really looking forward to the heat.

TPBM is planning on finding a summer job.

My job hunts don't usually end with employers hiring me, so probably not.

TPBM knows that chess is more about board control than it is about piece killing.

Absolutely. It's about strategy and not force.

TPBM is confused with why jewelers like to advertise each of their items as "unique" when they have multiple sets of them.

They think if they use enough advertising buzzwords, someone might actually be foolish enough to buy the product. Think of "Gourmet Cuisine in a Can" and see if that makes sense.

TPBM agrees with Randal from Clerks when he says, “Title does not dictate behavior.”

If by that you mean that you shouldn't stereotype people based on their status, then yes.

TPBM knows that ants don't actually eat the crumbs of food they carry away.

I didn't know it before, but I know it now that you said it. Cool stuff, Angie!

Whenever TPBM edits a photograph, he or she crops it to unusual dimensions.

It depends. I usually crop photos to bring a specific subject into focus.

TPBM hates it when they study really hard for something they've been struggling with, only to find out it isn't even on the test.

That's part of the reason why I hated my geology class in college: my professor did the exact same thing (bait and switch). It's the most unprofessional thing a teacher can do.

TPBM feels sad when they hear about intentionally broken toys.

Yes. It takes a great deal of sadness or anger to break ones own toys.


TPBM sometimes feels like an fuel that will ignite if it gets to close to someone else's flames.

Depends on the day.

TPBM only watches professional sports to laugh at the way athletes over dramatize their injuries/fouls.

I only watch WWE and the wrestlers do that a lot. I used to laugh at the way Lex Luger screamed in WCW when he got hit even by the smallest attack. While it isn't the sole reason I watch wrestling, it is amusing to see sometimes.

TPBM enjoys certain small pleasures in life despite them being “boring” or “weird” to some people.

Yes that that is likely true can be inferred by my taking a small pleasure in that truth.


TPBM enjoys the time when they wait for ferries.

Provided the ferry terminal isn't clustered with...unsavory characters, yes, I can see how that can be enjoyable. Just me and my heavy metal songs on my MP3 player while I'm taking in the scenery. Mmmmm...

TPBM used to be creeped out as a kid by the intro to the 90’s show “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”

Yes, yes, YES!!! lol. That and a lot of small things scared me too.

TPBM can remember a story where a silly little thing scared them and they look back on them and laugh in retrospect (I have one too!).

Yes. I used to be terrified of the dark until I practiced walking around with my eyes closed.


TPBM finds very little on TV worth watching anymore.

Yes, I don't really watch it anymore.

TPBM could happily live without a TV, or at least with very basic, very-few-channel service.

The only shows I ever watch anymore are from the WWE and NCIS franchises. Most of my non-television time is occupied by reading and writing.

TPBM likes to unwind every night by surfing the internet and listening to music.

That sounds pretty accurate.

TPBM is always disappointed when they type a handwritten story because it looks so much shorter.

I use my computer for pretty much all of my writing, so I can't really relate. My handwriting is illegible, so I couldn't get a good story out of it anyways.

TPBM plays along at home when watching a game show (an example would be guessing a Wheel of Fortune puzzle or answering a Jeopardy question).

I only get sucked into them if my family's already watching, but yes.

TPBM has something planned for Mother's Day.