Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company! discussion

If by forever you mean five days during a sabbatical to San Diego, then yes, I can agree with that statement, Kit-Kat.

TPBM believes just starting on the path to a goal eliminates negative feelings of having a long way to go.

Not really, it's still a long way. But at least it's not drifting aimlessly or avoiding the thing altogether.

TPBM knows what every Christmas gift they're getting is.

I don't have a damn clue and I prefer to wait until Christmas to find out. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of that particular holiday.

TPBM has a craving for Mexican food.

Why did somebody have to mention Mexican food? Now I’m starving!

TPBM likes Italian food, as well.

Oh, I love Italian food. Italian sausage subs. Bowtie pasta with butter and garlic salt. Pizza with stuffed crust. I could go on forever, but I'm afraid if I do that, M's stomach will growl loudly enough for me to hear it all the way from Washington state. Hehe!

TPBM has at least one character in their stories named Ethan.

No, but that's mostly because I try to avoid naming characters after people I personally know so that my characters can exist independently of my opinions of that person.

TPBM likes to slowly roast marshmallows golden when making s'mores.

Yes, is there any other way...? ;)

TPBM now has a craving for s'mores (haha).

A lot of people I know just like to stick the marshmallow in the fire and watch it burn before eating it.

I had four last night, so I'm actually all s'mored out.

TPBM loves looking at the stars, even if they don't know any of the constellations.

Yes, although I do know a few constellations.

TPBM has watched a meteor shower in the middle of the night.

I've always wanted to, but never gotten to. They're really hard to see in the city and my parents have never let me go with friends that late at night.

TPBM has seen an eclipse before (lunar or solar).

The last time I saw one was the early 90's, when I was just a little kid going to grade school. It was in Modesto, California and me and my family were camped out in the park to watch it. Good times!

TPBM doesn’t see the point in owning expensive jewelry.

Owning expensive jewelry just for the sake of saying it's expensive is completely pointless. But paying a little more for a higher quality necklace, etc. is a more understandable so long as it's not excessive. i.e. my parents got wedding rings that they knew would last but didn't spend a fortune.

TPBM has gotten a haircut in the past week.

I got a haircut several weeks ago. I always ask for the same style: a buzz cut with half an inch of hair remaining all around. Then it's usually followed by pointless small talk about my plans for the day or what I do for a living.

TPBM takes being called underrated as a compliment.

If by haircut you mean that I shaved my head then yes. Otherwise I've not had a haircut since 2002. Well except for a beard trim.

TPBM plans to bake something for Christmas this week.

I might if any one actually said that to me.

TPBM takes being called an arrogant ass as a compliment. Usually.

To answer your first one, no, I'm not cooking anything for Christmas unless it's a microwave dinner. My cooking skills are extremely limited, so my cheap attempt at dinner might be a blessing in disguise. As far as the second TPBM goes, no, I can't say I agree with that one, because high self-esteem is different from arrogance.

TPBM is fascinated by the life stories of inanimate objects (people will often refer to the “life of their car” or “the life of their computer”).

Not fascinated per se, but my sarcasm often entails some background story of an inanimate object.

TPBM wakes up automatically after a certain amount of sleep.

I do have a superpower: radioactive thunder dumplings. It's like Kryptonite for my best friend Susan. Hehe!

TPBM thinks cauliflower ears are a badge of honor.

Eww, I'm guessing those are what people get that box or do mixed-martial arts and the head-gear wears on them. Sorry I don't think so.

TPBM has broken at least one bone in their life-time.

Thankfully, I've never broken any bones in my life. Aside from my schizophrenia, I've had a clean bill of health for most of my existence.

TPBM has at least one character in their stories named Mario or Luigi.

Nope, those names are too easy to associate with the games.

TPBM likes antiheroes more than regular heroes.

I'm 50/50 when it comes to the antihero vs. hero debate. They both have qualities that make them likeable characters.

TPBM has the ability to create pieces of art despite limited resources.

Hmmm... Just because I consider it art doesn't mean that others would agree.

TPBM is amazed at how fast news can spread in a family.

It depends on the size of the family and how distant the relatives are.

TPBM never carries cash or change on them when going out in public.

The opposite is true of me. Old school. Will, just old.

TPBM has never use a debit card.

I use my debit card all the time.

If TPBM has children, he or she will think twice before getting them a drum set for Christmas.

No, I'll just get sound canceling headphones for myself and my partner.

TPBM is currently watching a television show they really like.

A few hours ago, I got done watching WWE Monday Night Raw, so yes, I can get onboard with that sentiment.

TPBM wants a digital camera for Christmas.

No, as I have three. Well two and my wife has one she doesn't use which means I have access to it.

TPBM misses the old days of film cameras.

Not at all. I like not having to wait until the film's used up and developed to see how each picture turned out.

TPBM can't wrap presents to save them.

Some days I can, some days I can't. What gets me every time is determining how much paper I need to get the job done. I either use too much or too little.

TPBM laughed their ass off when they first heard the phrase, “Rest in pieces.”

I haven't been quarantined yet, so I guess not.

TPBM has at least one character in their stories named Finn.

Surprisingly, no. Maybe I should get on that. XD

TPMB is drinking soda right now.

Diet Mountain Dew, to be exact. Good stuff! In fact, I think it might be my lifeblood right now. Hehe!

TPBM has eaten at Benihana and had a chef cook the food at their table.

No.....

TPBM likes Sushi?

I love Sushi, especially if it has crab meat in the center. Mmmm-mmm-mmm!! Yum!

TPBM thinks golf is boring to watch on TV.

I only like mini-golf XD

TPBM has an apple phone?

I have a generic cell phone and a generic MP3 player. That's all I need. But if Apple wants to get me an iPod or iPhone as a gift, I'd be more than willing to accept it.

TPBM wonders how certain fonts get the names they have (Times New Roman, Courier New, Chicago, Arial, etc.)

I've thought about it, but I just assume there's a reason and let it go.

TPBM knows a lot of completely useless trivia.

No, I don't. If it's useless, what's the point?

TPBM watches massage videos on You Tube because it feels like they’re getting one too.

No. I've seen those kinds of commercials on TV and they just make me feel agitated because I can imagine getting a massage, but feel tense and stiff.

TPBM plans to give someone a plant or flowers for Christmas.

I've already done my Christmas shopping for the year, so there won't be any plants in anybody's future. Gift cards? Books? CD's? Legos? Absolutely. All of those things.

TPBM put one of their character’s full names into the Wikipedia search engine to see if there were other people with that name already (I did that with Wes Edwards and it turns out there’s a country music producer with that name).

I tend to write fantasy stories with strange names, so not really. When I do write realistic fiction, I try not be too generic, but not too unique either. There's a fine balance in finding a special name.

TPBM likes to cut out paper snowflakes for winter decorations.

I can't even cut wrapping paper in a straight line, so paper snowflakes would be a disasterous attempt on my part. Then again, so would open heart surgery. Hehe!

TPBM once referred to making a big mistake as “shooting yourself in the foot”.

Yes, I have, more than once but more often in reference to other people's mistakes.

TPBM has not only practiced calligraphy, seriously, but studied the history of calligraphic writing too.

I don't have much of a passion for calligraphy. It was hard enough learning how to write in cursive in third grade. These days, I deal in a completely different kind of handwriting: cacography.

TPBM firmly believes that money can’t buy happiness.

The worst thing I've ever done in my life is key somebody's car. I never went to jail for it, so I guess all is okay.

TPBM has a future in standup comedy.

I have no skill in manipulating my tone and my humor is incredibly dry. Only a select group of people find me funny, so standup comedy is a dead end for me.

TPBM wonders how the Christmas tree can fit in the tiny little box every time they must clean up the decorations.

My family turns our trees into yard waste and recycles them every year, so I wouldn't know. It's good for the environment.

TPBM thinks small pupils on a cartoon character’s face are creepy.

It makes it look like they're in this constant state of terror. But I'm not sure if it's better or worse than them just having dots for eyes.

TPBM hates it when they finally have time to watch TV and their show's season ends.