Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company! discussion

The latest season of NCIS: Los Angeles wasn't over, but something did happen that pissed me off. I played the episode on my Roku and there was no sound. To top it all off, it also had a "media error", whatever the hell that is. I'm missing out on my Deeks and Kensi romance. :(

TPBM used to think that Penfold from Danger Mouse was a mole.

I think I may have heard a small squeak from something vaguely resembling a dangerous mouse and isn't Penfold what happened when Teller oops one day during their magic show?

TPBM laughed at Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno saying things like "I know I am a cow" in The Electric Company.

I've never seen it.

TPBM has played the game Psychiatrist before.

I play it all the time with my therapist Rachel, except it's not a game and she really does give me pills for my schizophrenia.

TPBM suddenly has the urge to quote Dylan Thomas’ poem “Do not go gentle into that goodnight.”

Not really. But I always did find that line beautiful.

TPBM is going out to dinner tonight.

Truth be told, I don't know what my dinner plans are. If I am going out to dinner with my family, I'd probably like to go to the Thai Orchard or China Sun Buffet.

TPBM thinks Sam is a good name for a kitty.

Ehhh... It's alright. But for me, the name Sam for a pet will always remind me of the German Shepard in I am Legend.

TPBM has had a pet parrot before or currently.

My mom had one named Autumn and her ex-boyfriend Art had one named Issa. Those birds would have been easy to live with if they didn't squawk at the top of their lungs all the time, especially in the early morning.

TPBM takes pleasure in making their bed every day.

It only takes about thirty seconds to make, so I don't know what there is to enjoy.

TPBM keeps the closet door open in their bedroom.

Absolutely, I do. That's mainly because the sliding doors on my closet are broken and don't want to move without me using brute force.

TPBM believes that enemies can become friends simply by getting to know each other better and developing empathy.

Some enemies, yes. It depends on what one did to the other or how deep the disagreement runs.

TPBM can write decently with either hand.

I wish! I write like death himself with my left!

TPBM what kind of short stories do you like writing?

A little bit of everything from epic fantasies to tearjerking dramas to heartwarming animal stories. As far as the latter of the three goes, I've had a lot of pets over my lifetime and I'd like to solidfy their legacies with my creative writing skills.

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

No, not yet. Maybe in the future.

TPBM is always amazed at how men can carelessly toss fragile glassware into moving boxes and still pull them out undamaged.

That would amaze me if I had seen it.

TPBM is amazed at how much stuff gets accumulates in a household between moves.

Very much! Heck, I'm amazed how much crap I accumulate in the months between cleaning my bedroom out every semester.

TPBM has a way of organizing their belongings that makes no sense to anyone else.

I live in chaos when it comes to my bedroom, so I wouldn't know. Making my bed every day helps, though.

TPBM values thoughtful comments over “faves” and “likes” when it comes to their writing.

Always. A like or fave isn't going to help me improve my writing very much. Constructive criticism is always helpful!

TPBM has fallen asleep during good movies just because they were in a comfy position.

I haven't done that before, but my mom does it all the time. It might have to do with the fact that she's 66 years old, but she does it nonetheless. Her most noteworthy nap was during a theater showing of "Capitalism: A Love Story". Her own snoring woke her up.

At one point in their writing career, TPBM used to think thesaurus abuse constituted good writing.

Yes, I think many authors go through that phase. One of the hardest writing skills to develop is balance.

TPBM will outline as much of their potential plot out as possible before starting the actually write the story.

For short stories, all I need is a synopsis and a character list. For novels, I need a chapter-by-chapter analysis. I'm a plotter through-and-through. In fact, I just might earn the nickname Harry Plotter before life is over.

TPBM thinks hyperbole is the greatest thing in the world (hint, hint, wink, wink).

Haha I'm actually a lot fonder of irony in my writing, but use hyperbole on a more casual basis.

TPBM does their hair the same every day.

My hair is only a half inch tall, which is how I prefer it so that I don't have to style my hair in the morning. Although, I would be open to having a short mohawk like a lot of heavy metal singers have.

TPBM uses song titles on their music player of choice as contributions to the Weekly Topic Suggestions thread.

Nope. I usually just start writing and then hope I can get a decent title for my story by the end of it XD

TPBM passed their learner's permit test on the first try.

Considering I'm too scared to go driving on account of being ticketed or getting into a collision, I haven't even started that test yet. I'm 29 years old and I still bum rides from my friends and family. What a life.

One of TPBM’s many favorite things about starting a new book is using it to play “The 55th Page” in the Games thread of this group.

Sometimes. But often, I'll be reading an ebook and forget to post on "The 55th Page".

TPBM can solve a Rubik's Cube.

Not in this lifetime. I'd like to think I have the brains for a lot of things, but solving a Rubik's Cube is not one of them.

TPBM facetiously uses the phrase “dinner and dancing” whenever they go to a fast food place for supper.

That's a good one. ;) I should try it on someone or my brother just to mess with him!

TPBM feels this group is perfect training for when publishing they are given a "dead-line."

This group can be perfect training for anything writing related, deadline or no deadline. In fact, I've probably learned more about reading and writing from this group than I did studying English at WWU. So thank you, everyone! :)

TPBM rarely uses the word “quasi” for anything.

Yep. In fact I don't think I've ever used it!

TPBM wonders why some people find hobbies a waste of time as the mind needs a break from things every once in a while.

I wonder the same thing, CJ. I know that artistic passion is a strong thing, but even the best in the world need to have an off switch. I love to write, but every once and a while, I'd like to sit down and watch WWE.

TPBM one time took Jeff Foxworthy’s comedy routine about Sigourney Weaver and meatloaf and replaced the names of the female celebrity and food when entertaining friends.

No, but I've used other jokes like that.

TPBM sees a house full of relatives as crowded and chaotic rather than festive and sweet.

Most of my family lives in another country, so I've never really seen that chaos before.

TPBM prefers small gatherings of close friends rather than massive get-togethers.

Smaller gatherings ensure that everybody gets the attention they need and that everything will be cool and calm. Yes, I prefer smaller gatherings.

TPBM actually knows other people aside from the former MMA fighter named Chael.

Do book characters count?

TPBM can run a mile in 10 minutes.

No running for me, not even for a full minute. I can walk on a hill for ten minutes as long as it's just a walk, but that's about it. And yes, Angie, book characters named Chael count. I'd love to hear about them. :)

One of TPBM’s bad habits is peeling hangnails off of their fingers.

I don't get them often enough to form a habit.

TPBM has watched Firefly.

I can't say that I have. I'm currently watching the Christmas episode of WWE Raw. Awesome match between John Cena and Seth Rollins.

TPBM thinks it’s cool to spell words using military phonetics (for example, the word “blood” would be spelled Bravo, Lima, Oscar, Oscar, Delta).

I don't know if this counts, but my brown and white dog Molly earned the nickname of The Necromancer when she dug up the grave of one of my cats. Molly might also be a grave robber, we never know. Hehe!

TPBM thinks it’s cute whenever a mother cat nurses a baby animal from another species.

Absolutely. I remember watching a special on Animal Planet years ago about a lioness who had lost her pride and adopted baby gazelles (three total) and had to protect it from other lions.

TPBM is going to bake cookies sometime this week.

I already had my Aunt Ruth send my family cookies in the mail, so no need to bake any. And they were gooooo-ood!!

TPBM once tried to pan fry beef jerky.

Can't say I have.

TPBM was displaced on Christmas Eve because family members were staying the night in their bedroom.

I was not, although one year the infection in my ears exploded on Christmas Eve. I ignored it and spend the day after Christmas in an ER and then was on an IV drip twice a day for the next 10 days.

TPBM enjoys giving gifts more than receiving them.

I value giving and receiving equally, though giving is definitely important to do.

TPBM doesn’t see the point in a company being known by an orphaned acronym.

I don't have an opinion either way, marketing is marketing. Whatever name is easier to work with works, regardless of if it's the official name or just an acronym.

TPBM is going to wait until after New Years to pack up their Christmas lights and decorations.

That seems like the perfect time to do it, so yes, I agree with Angie's sentiment.

TPBM likes their spaghetti with butter, shredded mozzarella cheese, and garlic salt exclusively.

No. I'm pretty game to try my spaghetti in any variation. Can't guarantee I'll like it, but I'll try it.

TPBM likes putting chips in their sandwiches.

Lol all the time :D

TPBM likes to try food from different countries?

Absolutely! Sometimes I'll spit it right back out, but I'll give it a try.

TPBM knows what food category mushrooms go under.

I do not, but I cook with them frequently.

TPBM has cooked with both dried and fresh shitake mushrooms.