Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company! discussion

Maybe in a way. Outside of controlling what comes in and what you spend I am sure there are other variables that are outside of what one thinks they can do.

TPBM has taken at least one class in Accounting.

No, it sounds extremely boring. I don't really know much about it, but that's its reputation.

TPBM has a hobby/interest that most people would consider boring.

Yes. I am sure almost everything I find day to day interesting to me boring to everyone else, lol.

One is studying.

TPBM has one shelf on this site that is unique (and won't mind telling and explaining the reason for it!~).

No, I'm afraid I don't. In elementary, one of my teachers had explained the purpose of categorizing and that if only one item can fit in a group, the group isn't very useful. I guess that I avoid unique shelves for fear of having a shelf with only one book on it.

TPBM wonders why UPS drivers close the doors of their trucks when parked, yet keep them open while driving.

That is kind of a mystery, isn't it. I'd hate to see what would happen if a particularly large package (like a washing machine) fell out of one of those open doors. Yikes!

TPBM has at least one character in his or her stories named Roman. It may be a suggestion, it may not be. ;)

No, and I don't think I ever will. I read a book that utterly ruined that name for me. Roman was such a horrible villain, not in the good humanly twisted and evil way. He was just aggravating and petty and possibly one of the most idiotic antagonists I'd seen.

TPBM will pause when reading a book if they encounter a character who shares a name with a friend/acquaintance.

I don't have a large number of friends, so if I ever did that, it would be with a celebrity. I do it all the time with the name Bryan (because of WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan) and Ray (because of TNA wrestler Bully Ray).

TPBM hates it when they’re in the middle of writing and the phone rings. It’s even worse for TPBM when the caller is a telemarketer, a debt collector, or someone with the wrong number.

Not at all. I feel no obligation to answer the phone with having a voice mail system. And if important enough the caller will call back.

TPBM enjoyed the old movie 'Dial M for Murder' with Grace Kelly.

I've never seen it before. Is that a Hitchcock movie? I think it might be.

TPBM has a low tolerance for pain and therefore refuses to be tattooed or pierced.

I have a decent pain tolerance, but don't find any appeal in having tattoos or piercings other than the ear piercings I got as a baby.

TPBM makes predictions out loud while watching movies.

My dad used to do that to me when I was a kid and he'd end up giving away the climax. I hated that.

TPBM is baffled by the fact that there are people on Good Reads who actually gave Mein Kampf five stars.

I may have been once, but no longer. The world is diverse. And the five start votes may be comprised of jokesters as well as those who really think it worthy of that. (And I haven't read it so have no basis on which to judge it as a piece of writing. Nor do I see myself reading it before I die.)

[[Garrison, indeed a Hitchcock movie. Here's the link to the trailer: DMfM. It's good, but Rear Window is better.]]

TPBM enjoys watching old black and white Capraesque movies.

The only black and white movie I actually enjoy is Clerks, which I've reviewed here in this group and on my blog with a passing grade.

TPBM has a rhyming affectionate name for at least one of their friends, family members, or pets (examples from my own life include Molly-Dolly, Saggy-Maggie, Luna-Tuna, and Brianna-Banana).

Nope. I seem to like using epithets though, with a few of my friends.

TPBM gives their cars names.

I don't, but my best friend Susan calls her car Jack. Then again, she's always had a thing for the name Jack. It shows up a lot in the books she reads.

TPBM believes science fiction books from the distant past did a good job of predicting our future.

Maybe, but I've seen some so far off it's funny.

TPBM would rather read books written decades or even centuries ago than modern books.

Not prefer, but not ignore. Good and not good writing has been extant for as long as there have been writers. Love Epictetus (2nd century AD) but Francis Bacon (16th century) is dreck.

TPBM finds that the philosophical observations Epictetus makes about Roman society has many parallels to contemporary society and may be presaging a similar 'fall' as that which happened to the Roman Empire.

I'm only somewhat acquainted with Epictetus and his philosophy, but from what I do know, I'd have to say I agree with you Guy.

TPBM wonders if the window washers of New York City are ever annoyed when Spiderman comes and leaves his webs everywhere.

Hehehe! Yeah, I'd say so. Those window washers better be getting overtime and benefits. :)

TPBM once thought about pranking somebody by putting mouthwash in their nasal spray (just like in the first Dennis the Menace movie).

No. I am not a prankster by nature and do not think of planking anyone in a any way.

TPBM thinks that the popularity of flatulence humour is proof about some fundamental aspect of being human, but has no idea what that is or could be.

The only humor I find in it is me farting and having it smell like a rotten refridgerator so that I can get an overdramatic reaction from my friend Susan. That's always fun to do.

TPBM would like to read a fantasy book sometime where hand puppets are magical weapons.

That could be interesting, if done well.

TPBM is still getting Thanksgiving plans in order.

No, my family has our meager plans finished. All of our relatives are still in the Philippines, so we don't have to coordinate with a lot of people. It's just me, my parents, and my sis usually.

TPBM doesn't actually have turkey for Thanksgiving.

I do have a turkey for Thanksgiving and I hope it gets smothered with brown gravy. Mmmm-mmm-mmm!!

TPBM can actually see the point in playing a pencil and paper RPG version of a preexisting videogame.

LOL! I do, given that I am of that generation and the only RPGs I've played I played with pen, paper and dice.

TPBM loves receiving real pen and paper letters in the mail, especially when they are unexpected.

As long as those letters weren't from The Unibomber, I'd be fine with that. Hehe!

TPBM has a positive attitude toward the editing process.

Editing is actually my second favorite part of writing. I enjoy adding layers to my stories or smoothing out my essays.

TPBM should really be going to sleep right now but has decided on logging onto Goodreads first.

The only reason I'm awake right now is because I was watching Survivor Series on the WWE Network. Too bad the damn thing had to freeze on me during the main event.

TPBM thinks Pop Evil is a good name for a rock band.

Not but, but it would, perhaps unfortunately, inspire in me the satirical rock band 'The Bad Daddy Band.'

TPBM watched the AMA show last night, and thought the only memeorable performance was by Lorde.

I didn't watch it last night since I was busy with WWE Survivor Series. But from what you've described of it, I'm glad I didn't watch the AMA show.

TPBM organizes his thoughts by talking to himself (hopefully when nobody else is in the room).

Yes, I can even argue with myself.

TPBM can do this also.

I have conversations and arguments with myself on a daily basis. I like good company. ;)

TPBM enjoys the fine art of genre-mixing.

I do. Very much so.

TPBM is intimidated at the challenge of writing from the 1st person point of view of someone who is the opposite of their gender.

I've attempted to do that once and my female hero talked like a dude. The short story she was a part of, needless to say, was a complete failure.

TPBM once considered dyeing their hair in a color that doesn’t occur genetically (blue, green, pink, etc.)

No. I did put more than one earring in my left ear though.

To TPBM, they were surprised at how liberating it feels to shave all the hair off of their head.

I have wondered about it, but find that I'm too attached to my hair to part with it voluntarily. I'm also not sure how disorienting it would be to suddenly lose all three feet of my hair.

TPBM ate themselves into a food coma today.

I left about half an inch on my head, but yeah, it's pretty liberating. Figuritively, the same is true. I've got a new project going on and I'm not looking back.

TPBM is craving New Orleans food (don’t say Popeye’s, because that doesn’t count).

Yes, crawfish etouffee (ugh, French spell check anyone?) would be lovely, if it weren't 9pm and if it wouldn't give me indigestion at 3am.

TPBM is wishing they could go on Xmas vacation somewhere warm AND have a Christmas tree and snowball fight with their best friend.

No. I live in Arizona where it is still 80 degrees even though it's December and this is technically winter. I would love for it to actually be cold enough to wear a sweater. For not, I have to settle for being able to run outside without getting a sunburn or heatstroke.

TPBM is looking forward to the holidays mostly because the days off will allow them some time to read.

Not really. I sort of read all the time and I hope to spend Christmas and some break with people I don't see often or ones that have become like family.

TPBM has a Christmas tree horror story.

Yes. My wife has five trees, and at least two dozen sets of lights that she has woven and glued into them. The trees are beautiful, but when the lights fail it is my worst nightmare.

TPBM has written their own Christmas Story story for and about their family.

No, that's never occurred to me.

TPBM is very nervous when a family member gets them a Christmas gift and won't tell them what it is because "it's a surprise".

Not at all. Christmas surprise gifts are good even when they are bad.

TPBM thinks that re-gifting is a great idea!

Of course it is! I don't see the point in letting something go to waste because you don't want it.

TPBM sees gift wrapping as an art.

It can be if and when it is done by an artist. Otherwise it is just colorful paper.

TPBM has completed most of their Christmas purchasing.

A little more online ordering and I'm set.

TPBM has friends/family that are impossible to shop for.

There are three kids we used to babysit who are. Both of their parents are doctors and they have pretty much everything they want. It makes it incredibly difficult to find something they don't already have.

TPBM has a list of things they need to finish before the New Year.

Yes, yes, and yes! Many things in my schedule.

TPBM knows how to be considerate for what to buy for others as gifts.

In my own mind I am, but the proof might be in the secret re-gifting after the fact.

TPBM has actually received back a gift they gave to someone.

Fortunately, no.

TPBM hasn't been on Goodreads in forever. XD