May 22, 2007
The Mic Is On: We’re Talking About Monsters!
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
Monsters and Monstrosities, that is.
Where do we find monsters? In literature and cinema, medicine, criminology, theology, and food. Here’s a few ideas to get us started:
- Shrek
- Dracula
- Freddy Krueger
- Godzilla
- King Kong
- The Alien
- Monster trucks
- Monster sundaes
- Monster drinks
- Monster burgers
And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey.
Oh, and bring a link about monsters, if you have one to share.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?
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234 Comments to “The Mic Is On: We’re Talking About Monsters!”
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Robyn said
Hi Liz, I feel that the worst monsters are the ones we create in our minds. I’d equate monsters with our fears.
Mike said
Robyn,
You’re so right!
Mike
ME Strauss said
Those monsters are pretty scary. So are the ones that my younger, older brother used to make up to get after me.
ME Strauss said
Hi Robyn!
Hi Mike!
Would like some Monsterous Beverage? What would that be?
Michael A. Stelzner said
Hey Liz;
I was recently in Maui and a Tiger Shark nipped at someone’s foot.
Does that qualify as a monster of the sea?
They will eat anything, including license plates.
Mike
Marti said
Do Sprint and Exxon count as monsters? LOL
Evenin’ - Liz, Robyn, Mike
BrainBasedBusiness said
Bank any Serotonin Today?…
Some people show up at work in great spirits and their tone suggests they seem to hold onto hope even when conflict comes. Their brains appear to be wired for zip and others reward them with promotions, and other incentives…….
ME Strauss said
Oh Mike Stelzner,
I think that definitely qualifies as a monster. Whew!
JAWS!!!!!
ME Strauss said
I’m with you, Marti,
Don’t forget AT&T.
Michael A. Stelzner said
Every time I snorkeled, I was on guard (not that I could do much)
Robert Hruzek said
Howdy Liz, Robyn, Mike, Michael and Marti (and anyone else who commented before this one showed up!)
Can’t believe I missed last week because I thought Tuesday was Monday!
ME Strauss said
That would certainly do something to a vacation. CAPE FEAR without the East Coast or Robert Dinero (how do you spell his last name?) The only saving grace is that you didn’t have to listen to Richard Dreyfuss whine at you.
Joe said
Hey Liz,
Hey All,
Sorry I’m late, I took the day off because I had the Biggest, Baddest Beast a Blogger can imagine…
The Blank Screen!?!@#>2$#>#?l
‘[gpksd[fh]
ME Strauss said
Hi Robert!
I can sure believe that about mixing up Tuesday with Monday. I came close to putting up the Open Comments post on the wrong day more than once. Ask Chris when he gets here.
Michael A. Stelzner said
Liz - I have to share this really funny link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZDXfB0Rd4Q
It shows the “relationship” between advertisers and consumers. The consumer wants a divorce.
Great satire!
Robert Hruzek said
I remember when I was a kid, there used to be a Saturday evening monster movie at 10:00 pm. My parents would sometimes let me stay up. The only problem I had was, if I didn’t see the ending where they finally got the monster, then I was always afraid it was still alive and in my room!
Michael A. Stelzner said
The monster is the advertiser here.
Marti said
In our continuing quest to expose our children to classic and/or unusual movies, we watched “Edward Scissorhands” with daughter (who is now 18 - how did THAT happen? lol) A Frankenstein-esque tale that made her laugh, cry and utter a curse word in front of her mommy (who had to frown severely, even while agreeing with the opinion - LOL)
Michael A. Stelzner said
Hey - So today is my anniversary. Going to eat fish (maybe shark!). Gotta run. - Mike
ME Strauss said
Mike
That YouTube is funny.
Marti said
Hi Joe! The blank screen! ACK! (runs screaming in terror)
Robert Hruzek said
I have to say, though, I NEVER liked scary monsters, like the critter from Alien. No thanks!
ME Strauss said
Robert,
I never was scared of monsters on TV — but then I don’t remember watching them. Boy I sure could invent a few that lived in my closet . . . I was too shy to tell anyone about them though.
Marti said
They will eat anything, including license plates.
Mike
Goats of the sea? Horrors!
lol
Becky McCray said
Monsters? Like monster tornadoes?
Hi, all, from stormy Oklahoma!
Marti said
Happy anniversary Mike!
ME Strauss said
Oh Marti!
I’m not sure that I’ve heard my son curse yet. Darn, you beat me on that one. Well, girls are precocious. Edward Scissorhands would do that.
love those hands. They’re so artistic!
Joe said
Michael, I get it SHARK!!!
I couldn’t go into the water for months after seeing JAWS…
Marti, That Blank screen scared the bejeebies out of me today. A daytime Nightmare.
ME Strauss said
Hi Becky!
I guess this is when I say, “How’s the weather?”
Marti said
Hi Becky!
I admit, I was one of those children who was CONVINCED there was a monster under the bed, and slept in the dead center of the mattress, terrified of letting an errant hand or foot too near the edge, as I was certain it would be eaten - LOL
Ellen said
When I was a kid we lived in an old colonial house that had passage ways through it used during the underground railroad. In those passage ways were the boogie man. I used to run by the areas at night to go to the bathroom afraid I would be dragged in and tickled to death.
Becky McCray said
Liz, the weather is fine. Just a small chance of storms later.
Marti, do you do that trick my sister uses of having a “protector pillow” between her and the door?
ME Strauss said
Joe!
I can imagine. You must still be shaking from that blue screen. As a guy who’s seen JAWS it must be even more scary.
Robyn said
About a monstrous drink…I hate to say it Liz, but I’ve been curious about that new coke drink. I haven’t been brave enough to give it a try yet. What are your thoughts?
ME Strauss said
OMG! Ellen, Not tickled to death. Horrors!!
Marti said
Hi Robert! I forget what day it is sometimes too.
Yes Liz, ever since she turned 18, she’s been pushing all sorts of boundaries. I admit, the first time hearing her swear, was shocking
Ellen said
Liz, it was horrors. My older sisters used to tickle me and it was torture. I’m glad they don’t do it anymore!
The Dread Arachnid said
(Yawn)
What? is it Halloween already??
Oh Yum!
ME Strauss said
Uh-Oh!!
A monster among us. Creepy crawly one at that.
ME Strauss said
Robyn,
I’m so hopelessly clueless. I didn’t even know that Coke had a new one. What’s the flavor?
Marti said
“Marti, do you do that trick my sister uses of having a “protector pillow†between her and the door?”
ROTF!
I actually thought the sheet would protect me
Oh Ellen, I don’t like tickling - that would have been torture for me too!
Robyn, what new coke drink? I’ll try almost anything twice (That sounds so Mae West - lol)
The Dread Arachnid said
(creak)
Time to go trick-or-treating!!
(scuttle)
Marti said
(glances around nervously)
ME Strauss said
Marti,
Watch out. That arachnid is right between you and Ellen!!! Hope you guys have the protector pillows close by now.
Becky McCray said
Phew! That was close! I’m glad I missed The Dread Arachnid.
Joe said
(why does everybody use parenthesis?)
Are we hiding from the Spider?
Robert Hruzek said
Yikes! WHAT was THAT? (eyes darting back and forth nervously)
Marti said
I watched “The Birds” when I was a kid, and was terrified to walk to school when birds lined up along the power lines, after that. Hitchcock was a master - his movies STILL scare me
The Dread Arachnid said
Spider?? SPIDER???
DON’T YOU KNOW A GIANT SCORPION WHEN YOU SEE ONE???
(Looks around for this “Joe” person)
Robert Hruzek said
Marti, one of the great things about Hitchcock movies was that he let your imagination do most of the work. Very powerful technique.
Marti said
(looking for a protector pillow)
ME Strauss said
Here Joe,
[Liz throws Joe a king-size protector pillow]
Marti said
So true, Robert. I don’t like blood and guts scary movies. I get freaked out just seeing the commercials for “Hostel” or “Saw”
Joe said
Favorite Horror Movie… Physco (no monsters, but scarey)
Marti said
I do love Monster Energy drinks, though. Khaos has juice in it, so I can lie to myself that it’s healthy - LOL
The Dread Arachnid said
(Hmmmm….what’s that thing over there? It looks like…a giant pillow…..scuttle)
Joe said
My computer must be slow, I think there is an arachnid stalking me (spider or scorpion) that can kill…
OOoohhhh
Thanks for the protective pillow guys, I don’t think giant scorpions can surmount such an obsticle.
Marti said
scuttle scuttle
??
Marti’s wide eyes above
(Marti pulls her knees up to her chest, just to be safe)
ME Strauss said
Protector Pillow is the Mighty Mouse of the Scorpion World!
The Dread Arachnid said
(Flimsy excuse for a barrier)
(Swipe! Claw! Swipe)
(Feathers fly everywhere)
AHA! YOU are that “Joe” person!
Robyn said
Liz, the name of the over-the-edge coke drink is Blak.
Anyone here ever try it?
Joe said
(???) (confused by all the parenthesis being used. Are they protection from Monsters?)
Rick Cockrum said
Quick! Lure it into the trap?
Marti said
Ah! Coke “Blak”. Yes. Mind you, I am not a Coca Cola fan (I’m a Pepper, wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too?) but I did try it. It has a bit of a coffee flavor to it, and has increased caffeine, although I didn’t get the “kick” from it that Monster Energy drinks give me.
ME Strauss said
With a name like Blak, who would want to try it? Why didn’t they just call it YUK and get it over with? I’m confused. What is it supposed to taste like, Robyn?
Becky McCray said
Try baiting it with a Klondike! Or something from the sidebar!
ME Strauss said
Ah Rick! The Cockrum Cavalry!
Joe said
Hey Rick,
We got Scorpia now… There is No escape from That!
Robert Hruzek said
Not sure if this qualifies as a monster…
One scene from Ghostbusters, where the girl turns into this four-legged monster critter, I just love Bill Murray’s line:
“Okay. She’s a dog.”
ME Strauss said
I think maybe we should just bring a copy of the movie “Godzilla.” That would get the Arachnid’s attention.
Char said
Good evening everyone! I should be working on my monstrous to-do list, but I just had to stop in and say hello!
The Dread Arachnid said
(Especially not if you’re a game designer, but that’s another matter entirely
Marti said
Can anyone whistle? Whistling works around graveyards, not sure about its effectiveness against monsters
lol
ME Strauss said
Monstrosity of a to-do list. I like that.
We could make an office supply store musical. It would be like Little Shop of Horrors. 
Joe said
Marti, I should have tried that against the dreaded Blank Screen this morning… I can whistle and I like music so it may just work next time.
Scorpia said
Ah well, it’s been fun, but I must be going now. Sorry this is so short; have a bunch of things to do.
And you know, here I was waiting for someone to just say “But it’s not Halloween yet!”. No one did. I guess everyone was just too scared to think. Hehe.
Marti said
I is a’feared to look directly at the Dread Arachnid, so I’ll just be waving from over here while averting my eyes
Hi Char!
Robert Hruzek said
I used to LOVE all those really cheesy Japanese monster movies! Especially where the started giving them almost human characteristics, like having Godzilla a martial arts expert when battling Ghidra, the Three Headed Monster! Absolutely hilarious!
Marti said
“We could make an office supply store musical. It would be like Little Shop of Horrors.”
Oh, oh! Can I be the singing sheaf of paper?
LOL
ME Strauss said
Marti,
I always would get mixed up on the whistling and/or singing thing. See I would do this.
First I would figure that I would sing. But I would think the monster might like little girls who sing. So then I would plan to sing badly. Then I would consider the fact that the monster might want a gadly singing little girl so that he can “beat her up.”
I thought too much.
Marti said
Or the dancing stapler? No I don’t dance so good, let’s stick to singing
My dancing WOULD be monstrous - lol
ME Strauss said
Hey Scorpia!
Thank you for coming! I was convinced that it was Halloween. What do I do now?
Joe said
Yeah, but Liz, that imagination has served you well since, no???
Becky McCray said
We can always count on Liz for the monstrous puns and word play!
Marti said
Wait…it’s NOT Halloween?
bye Scorpia
Marti said
ROTF @ Liz
Robert Hruzek said
Back when I was going to Texas A&M in the summer semester, they used to show movies in an outdoor theater. Every Wednesday was monster movie night, and once they showed a double-feature: the original Dracula, and (what else?) the original Wolf Man!
The really great thing was, all night long there was a lot of heat lightning flashing all around the night sky. Talk about your perfect setting! Truly a memorable night!
ME Strauss said
Well, Joe, my imagination works well these days, yep. I guess so.
Rick Cockrum said
Good night, Scorpia. (note to self - next time bait trap with Klondike - Good idea, Becky
)
Godzilla was the king of monsters. (cue in Blue Oyster Cult background music). My son had almost all the movies and a 2 foot robot Godzilla.
Robyn said
Marti, if you didn’t get any kick from BLAK it’s certainly not a monster drink.
Joe said
Robert, wat the Wolf Man the one with Michael Landon or the Real one… Lon Chaney?
ME Strauss said
Robert,
Are you sure that Dracula and the Wolf Man didn’t make that heat lightning? ? ? ?
Marti said
Way cool, Robert!
(Oh gawd, I sound SO “old hippie” LOL)
Growing old isn’t as monstrous as I feared in my youth, though
Robert Hruzek said
Joe - the one with Lon Chaney, of course!
Liz - that just might explain it!
G’night y’all!
Joe said
Yeah, it IS Narti… All my bones ache, I look like my father (even my hands) and nothing works the way it used too…
).
I sure scares me.
(Ok, Liz, I’ll put a sock in it
Marti said
LOL Robyn. I drink a lot of caffeine. I usually have a cup or two of coffee at 3 AM, then a Monster Energy drink on the ride in with hubby, then another one at lunch.
I think if the supply ran out, my heart would just stop
lol
ME Strauss said
Rick,
That 2 foot Godzilla what was it made of?
Marti said
Awww…sends cyber-hugs to Joe
ME Strauss said
Aw, Joe I wan’t thinking “put a sock in it.”
But I’m touched you remember the phrase.
I can’t even remember what I was talking about when I said it.
Rick Cockrum said
Good night Robert. If anyone’s up for it, the Internet Archive has a copy of the 1922 Nosferatu, along with a lot of other films that are supposed to be in the public domain.
It was a remote controlled creature, Liz. We never took it apart. The skin was a soft, rubberlike plastic. It roared and would walk. It think it’s eyes blinked red.
Marti said
Bye Robert!
Rick, I remember Blue Oyster Cult “Don’t Fear the Reaper” played at the start of the TV mini-series of “The Stand”. It was perfect mood-setter music for that scary piece
{{shivers at the mental image}}
Marti said
1922 Nosferatu was a masterpiece!
Becky McCray said
The original Dracula movie was amazing, itself!
Listen to them, Children of the Night! What music they make!
ME Strauss said
oksy time for some serious link fishing
Marti said
Although I enjoyed the re-make from …(mind goes blank)…the ’90’s?
Joe said
Liz, just something you told me your G-mother used to say when someone complained too much.
I really did like “The Stand” although I don’t remember too many monsters in it, I think they were more Alienish.
Rick Cockrum said
It got quite all of a sudden.
Yes it was, Marti, except the very end. It paced well until they wrapped it up in about 2 minutes. I was bummed!
I have to go with Robyn. The worst monsters are the one we create in our minds. When I was little we slept with our doors open. I would wake up in the middle of the night and see this orange, fiery glow slowly moving in mid-air in the hall, and immediately dive under the covers. I was sure it was the eye of a monster. It took a long time to realize it was the glow of my dad’s cigarette.
Marti said
The Stand was the good vs evil storyline. After a mysterious flu killed almost everyone, the survivors broke into two camps, and the evil people followed Satan (known as Randy)to Las Vegas. The good people followed a little old black lady to Colorado.
Marti said
Satan (evil = Randy) was the only monster
ME Strauss said
Godzilla the movie = http://www.rialtopictures.com/godzilla.html
Marti said
Snorts and giggles, but nods empathetically to the frightening spectre of the father’s cigarette glowing in the dark.
ME Strauss said
Godzilla toys = http://www.toywiz.com/godzilla.html
ME Strauss said
more Gdzilla toys =
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&Go.x=0&Go=Go&Go.y=0&field-keywords=Godzilla&page=1&url=search-alias%3Dtoys-and-games
ME Strauss said
Sorry I got carried away there.
Monsters in my head. There are few people who would attest to that.
I’m one of them.
Marti said
“Link fishing” Liz?
Oh! I used to be really scared of fish! LOL My dad took me fishing, and I was terrified of that wriggling creature he pulled out of the water - lol
Joe said
Ok Liz,
This may not be what you’re looking for, but it WAS my Monster today, and I tagged You among others. Beating Back the Bain of Writers Block.
I Hate Memes but I was staring at a Blank Screen for so long I needed help.
Anyone can join in if they can Beat That Demon…
Becky McCray said
Hmmm…. that reminds me that I need to get to work on that next post.
ME Strauss said
Oh joe,
Anything to help. You might use a photo to inspire you. Take for example this one.
It’s a photo from the movie Alien.
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0078748/IMG0100.jpg.html?path=gallery&path_key=0078748&seq=3
Marti said
The first monster movie I ever saw was “The Blob”
(laughing at myself, I mistyped Blob as Blog)
Are blogs monsterous?
ME Strauss said
Becky,
What’s your next post going to be about?
Joe said
Actually, I changed Meme to… A Chain Link of Ideas…
Marti said
The writers block demon…now THAT’s scary
ME Strauss said
The writer’s block demon . . . now THERE is a monster that is in our heads.
It’s just one we make up.
We just need to relax and get some inspiration from something new that we’ve not been looking at or thinking about. Maybe something like this.
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0198781/Ss/0198781/img0009b.jpg.html?hint=group
Marti said
I feel soooo guilty when someone tags me for a meme and I don’t have time to do it.
by the way, I’m really showing my ignorance here, but is that pronounced “mem” like rhyming with “them” or is it Me Me?
Becky McCray said
Liz, I haven’t decided yet. Maybe business ideas, or some new small biz tools I dug up. I’m reviewing my recent stuff to see what topic needs some attention.
ME Strauss said
Hi Marti,
It’s pronounced meme like dream.
ME Strauss said
Hey Joe.
How do you kill a unique monster?
Becky McCray said
(self restraint! Don’t spoil Liz’s joke!)
Becky McCray said
OMG! Made in America is in Shawnee, Oklahoma!!! Shawnee Mills! WOW!
Marti said
Argh - wrong on both of my pronunciations
I agree, the terrible things we can dream up in our heads are worse than anything they can capture on film
ME Strauss said
OMG! Made in America is in Shawnee, Oklahoma!!! Shawnee Mills! WOW!
Becky, where are you reading that?
Marti said
Phew. I thought I fell off the train, ’cause I didn’t get Becky’s reference either - lol
Becky McCray said
Liz, it’s on the air right now! You may have Shawnee’s Best Flour or mixes in your local store. John Ratzenberger was on site in Shawnee, Oklahoma, just down the road a bit. How cool is that?
Joe said
Oh, Liz,
Thanks, You know how I feel about Aliens… I even brought my Alien Friend to SOBCon, if you remember…
Becky McCray said
OK, folks. Have you got the Shawnee idea yet? Or do I get to go on and on explaining it?
ME Strauss said
Joe,
How could I forget? Joe and his Alien at Open Comment night.
It was a sight to behold.
Joe said
http://www.workingathomeinternet.com/images/alienandme.jpg
Link to my Alien Friend… I think I messed the other one up
ME Strauss said
I like having you explain the Shawnee, Becky.
Becky McCray said
Careful, Liz! You know how excited I get about small town small business!
Marti said
dancing with the stars is on now. Did you see John Ratzenberger when he was on it, Becky? Was he waltzing there in Oklahoma? LOL
ME Strauss said
I like small town biz, Becky. Go for it!
Or I’ll start telling jokes again!
Becky McCray said
Shawnee Mills is an old, old business that has survived in a small town. Starting with Oklahoma grain, they make flour and all sorts of mixes. Just the kind of story I love at my blog!
Here’s the link:
http://www.shawneemilling.com/about/
Marti said
That’s so cool, Becky!
ME Strauss said
Becky,
Did you see this? Shawnee Mills on Flickr?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nailmaker/501631356/
Karen said
The only monster I like is the Cookie Monster. Chocolate chip cookies, anyone?
::::Passing around a plate::::
Becky McCray said
That’s an odd pic of the Mills! Now, everybody look for Shawnee Mills stuff at your local store!
Marti said
Hi Karen!
Mmmmm, cookies
(drool)
Becky McCray said
Mmmmm Cookies!
ME Strauss said
Perfect Timing, Karen!
How did you do that?
Walk right in with a plate of chocolte chip cookies when we’re talking about Shawnee Mill?
Who wants a big glass of milk? Who wants coffee? Who wants something else?
Char, you coming back for this?
Joe said
Hey Karen,
Are there any Klondike Bars to go with the cookies?
I love Klondike Bars ever since Chris Cree started putting them in the sidebar and passing them around.
Speaking of Chris, where is he? Still dealing with the U-Haul truck?
Chriiiisssss…..
Becky McCray said
Folks, I’m headed off to the grocery store. I’ll be checking on those Shawnee mixes! I’ll bring back something tasty!
Good night!
ME Strauss said
Looks like John’s going to be hack in Shawnee on June 02.
Jun 02, 3:30 pm
(30 minutes)
Remind Me John Ratzenberger’s Made in America
Round House Overalls
TV-G, CC
Tonight we visit Shawnee, Oklahoma, to try on a pair of authentic Roundhouse overalls. Then it’s out to Columbus, Ohio, where Franklin Art Glass puts the art in glass. Finally, we sample a Zinfandel at the Sebastiani Winery in Sonoma, California.
ME Strauss said
Hey Joe,
Plenty of Klondike bars in the sidebar. What flavor do you want? I’ve the Reese’s closest to me now.
ME Strauss said
Good Night, Becky!
Thanks for the tour of the Mills.
Karen said
Hmm, I had no idea what Shawnee Mills was about.
The daughter made a plate of cookies and I’m munching away here. Just had to share, of course.
Just checked the freezer, no Klondike bars. I have some vanilla ice cream– want a homemade cookie sandwich?
GP said
The real monsters are our inner demons… But I’ll admit to a good shriek when I lived in NYC and upon emptying the garbage, lifted the lid only greeted by a rodent peering out that was at least squirrel size… A shriek heard down second avenue
GP in Montana
Joe said
Liz, YOu know I like the Strawberry…
)
Please throw me a Strawberry Klondike.
Mmmm, my favorite. And Chocolate Chip Cookies and milk. I don’t play favorites (Right,
Marti said
G’nite Becky
Marti said
Hi GP! Rodents creep me out too!
ME Strauss said
Oh, it’s okay, Karen, about the Klondike bars. We keep them in the freezer under the sidebar of the blog here. There are always free snacks and beverages there. It’s part of the standard at Successful-Blog. Part of the heritage of being a saloonkeeper’s daughter and all.
Joe said
Ok guys,
Here is my new dilemma.
There is Chocolate Lava Cake or Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream for a midnight snack (I always have something sweet before retiring)
Which do I choose, or do I try to have a combination of the two?
HELP, I can’t make up my mind…
Karen said
Good gosh Joe, you put the Cherry ice cream over the cake and munch away!
Mike said
Was GP referring to rodents of unusual size? Where have I heard that before…
Ah yes. My college days in Boston where we used to play rat hockey in the alley (make sure to tuck your pants into your socks first)!
Marti said
go for the conbo, joe
Joe said
Karen, I knew I liked you from the very start.
Joe said
You too, Marti…
Marti said
awwww
ME Strauss said
GP and Mike,
Discussing rodents of unusual size. hmmm
Reminds me of a guy I knew who had a field mouse run up the leg of his pants — the guy was up in a silo at the time — and this mouse ran up the leg of his pants, bit him on the butt and ran back down.
No kidding. Raally happened. The guy’s nickname was Fruit. Things like that always happened to him.
Marti said
I used to work at a funeral home and GROWN people would say to me, “Aren’t you afraid of monster?”
Marti said
great story, Liz!
Mike said
Liz,
That’s why the first rule of rat hockey is to tuck in your pants! And having seen racoon-sized rats around the dumpsters in Boston, I took that rule VERY seriously when taking out the garbage!
Mike
Marti said
I won’t make any crude jokes about fruit and nuts, that would just be wrong
*snicker*
Mike said
Marti,
They puts fruit in Snickers bars in the Show Me state? Cool!
Mike
Marti said
(see I csn say stuff like that now ’cause I’m old as dirt so it’s just “eccentric”)
ME Strauss said
Hey Mike,
I grew up by a river. Once I walked down our basement stairs and stepped on a dead one. Ewwww. He got in because my younger, older brother (the one who had me trained to a whistle) left the lid off the open drain to the back. I wasn’t very happy.
No not very happy.
ME Strauss said
Thanks Marti,
All of my stories are true, even the ones that really happened.
Marti said
Mazoorah is in the Bible Belt, they get real uppity when you start talking about putting anything in anything - lol
Joe said
*sincker* Marti, that was funny, and your timing is great.
Mike said
Liz,
The only thing nastier than a dead varmint that I ever stepped on was a board with a rusty nail sticking through it.
At least you didn’t need a tetanus shot!
Mike
Marti said
LOL Liz
How Twain-esque
Joe said
Mike, I did that once when I was about 8. The needle hurt worse than the Nail…
ME Strauss said
Oh Marti,
I bet we took all of the Fruit and nuts jokes out and tried them for a spin at the time. We were in high school. It was mandatory that we do.
Mike said
Marti,
Sorry about that! I meant to say “so they grow fruit-flavored snickers there in the Ozarks?”
Mike
Marti said
Marti smiles her sweet old lady smile
Marti said
No backing out of done-said comments allowed, Mike
LOL
ME Strauss said
Hi Mike and Joe,
I’ve never had a tetanus shot, but every time my younger older brother got one he described it to me in ugly detail . . . so I feel like I’ve had more than one.
Mike said
Joe,
You got THAT right! And that nail popped out of the top of my sneaker and scared the H-E-double hockey sticks out of me!
Mike
P.S. I only used the hockey stick reference as a callback to my previous comments.
Marti said
I was in the ER for tetnnus shots so often as a kid, they had a syringe with my name on it - LOL
Mike said
Marti,
I stand by every single comment - until I come up with a snarkier one!
Mike
ME Strauss said
Ozark spelled backwards is Krazo.
Marti said
LOL @ Liz!
Marti said
and LOL @ Mike!
ME Strauss said
I think I beat out Mike in the comment crusade tonight!
Marti said
Well kids, I sure hate to go, but 3 AM rolls around awful dang early….
So the Mazoorah Krazo bids you all adieu
Fabulous conversation!
Peace and joy to all!
Mike said
And I’m sure we could come up with some classic anagrams for Branson, but we seem to have completely forgotten about monsters.
My vote for scariest ever: Alien. I took my girlfriend to that movie, and I think she did not cover her eyes for about 10 minutes. It scarred her for life, which I credit for her agreeing to my proposal of marriage years later.
ME Strauss said
Mazoorah Krazo! That’s too funny!
Sleep well. It was fun to see you.
Mike said
Night, Marti!
GP said
when i was doing a stint at the NY Restaurant school, we took a tour of one of the downtown hotels in NY . The F&B Director was telling us that these rodents were so insidious, they laughed at any extermination attempts. No sooner had he said that, one came running out of the woodwork. Hmmm… methought… that’s one place I’ll never stay.
GP in Montana who has to come up with a Klondike type recipe for next week’s gathering
ME Strauss said
So, Mike,
You’re saying that it was Alien that got you a wife. And if I’m correct, you now also have a fine family of daughters. Is that right?
Mike said
I don’t know, Liz. We’re going to have to agree to ground rules.
You have the great rat story.
I have the obscure movie reference and an obscure college pastime. And a hockey stick intercomment callback.
You have the fact that you are the host.
DANG! Never bet against the house.
Timothy Johnson said
Hi everybody… sorry I’m late. Hope that doesn’t make me a monster.
Timothy Johnson said
And I’m with Karen, the cookie monster is more my speed, although I do remember having nightmares about him when I was 4.
ME Strauss said
Hi Tim,
No you can’t be a monster. You’re company.
Which is also why Mike gets to win. Company always gets to pick and in a tie company always wins.
Mike said
Liz,
So many ways to respond…
Okay, maybe it wasn’t ALL about Alien. Then again, the travails we’ve been dealing with lately would be much more cleanly explained that way…
Let’s just say that I am a FIRM believer in that old saying “the Lord moves in mysterious ways”.
Mike
Joe said
As a result of all the Monsters we’ve seen
Our eyesight in darkness has grown quite keen
Whether there where covers or sheets or pillows in bed
That we had pulled up tight all around our heads
We had ways to deal with the terror through night til day
So scary and freightening and bone shaking, we dealt our own way
As we grew to adults our parents would profess
that we had nothing to fear ’sept fear, no less
Now that we are grown-up and see the light
We can sleep well, sleep tight and have a good night.
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Mike said
Joe,
Touche! and thanks!
Mike
Timothy Johnson said
Quite frankly, I’ve always thought the best monsters were the ones that weren’t seen. Give me a Hitchcock movie any day to scare the bejeebers out of me.
ME Strauss said
Good Night, Joe.
Sleepy Swell.
Mike said
Hi Tim,
Hitch is tough to beat! Your unseen monster theory is one of the reasons I can watch Signs many times. It’s not about the monsters, it’s about the people’s reactions.
Mike
ME Strauss said
When I was a little kid, I thought Hitchcock himself was pretty scary. I sure didn’t ever want to be alone with him.
Timothy Johnson said
I sort of liked the old “bird” myself, Liz. Thought he looked sort of comically scary.
ME Strauss said
He was a bird-like sort. I think it was the shadow thing of the way his old TV show started. My imagination made too much of it.
Mike said
Liz,
You’re right about the man himself. And he played it up to the hilt!
I’ve got to run a couple of errands, and will probably return after the festivities are over.
Thanks as always for hosting the fun.
Mike
ME Strauss said
Thanks, Mike for adding your stories to the fun! Enjoy the rest of the night!
Timothy Johnson said
So, speaking of monsters, has anybody mentioned monsters as the good guys? Sully and Mike from Monsters, Inc? The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
ME Strauss said
No Tim,
No good monsters have really come up. Not even Shrek got his day in court.
Timothy Johnson said
Oh man… how can you neglect the heroic monsters? Beauty and the Beast? King Kong? As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my new favorite musical is Wicked. Thinking about the Wicked Witch of the West as just a misunderstood animal rights activist and the victim of bad spin doctoring puts a new view on a very “villainous monster”
Mike said
Tim,
I wasn’t paying close attention, but I don’t think so. The thing I really loved about the concept of Monsters, Inc. was that someone made use of the energy in our fear. As was mentioned in several previous posts, the most fearsome monsters are of our own making. What a great concept to think of harnessing that energy!
HEY, DOES ANYONE HAVE AL GORE’S CELL PHONE NUMBER???
Mike
P.S. Liz, no fair letting guest win! Bending the rules for us is proper etiquette, of course.
ME Strauss said
Tim,
I’ve always felt that way — ever since I saw the Shirley Temple version of Heidi and folks thought the Grandfather was mean. I couldn’t watch it again after they took her away from him. I was 25 before I took the risk.
Timothy Johnson said
Mike - your comment tying Monster’s Inc to Al Gore has me rolling on the floor. What a hoot!
Speaking of monsters of our own making, I suppose one only needs to look at the batch of 2008 candidates (and I do mean from both parties) to start shivering a little in fright.
Mike said
Okay,
I peeked as I was heading out of the house. Liz, I have been thinking the same thing for months. The fact that we have been ruled for the last 20 years by 2 families is kind of unnerving. So I’ll leave my political prescription for another Tuesday, but you’ve to to think that there’s a virtual Mt. Everest of comedic material in the next several months of campaigning!
Mike
troy said
You aren’t talking politics are you, Tim?
ME Strauss said
So how do we keep it funny . . . and fun?
That’s the problem to sleep on.
I think it’s time to pack in.
Good night you guys.
Mike, you still win.
Tim, Thanks for being here.
Timothy Johnson said
Sorry, Troy… not the doctrinal philosophical politics of Democrat vs. Republican. More in the tune of “us normal people” vs. “them politicians”
ME Strauss said
Troy!
Great to see you!
This infection is knocking me out. You guys take the keys, help yourselves and enjoy.
Timothy Johnson said
Well, if the grand dame of conversation is calling it a night, I suppose it’s time to hit the hay myself.
And Troy… if you ever want to have a really fun discussion, you know how to reach me.
Mike said
Tim,
I agree with you. I’m about to get into full “THROW THE BUMS OUT” mode. Neither party in Washington is representing anyone 4 miles from the Rotunda.
Mike
Timothy Johnson said
Mike - the college professor in me has always wanted to add “none of the above” to every ballot. If that choice won, then both parties had to go back to the drawing board to select a candidate. It would certainly add some spice to elections.
Timothy Johnson said
Well Mike and Troy (and any others lurking in the dark corners of Liz’s site), have a great night. I’m off to snuggle into bed with my night light on to keep the monsters (real or perceived) away.
Have an awesome night and an even better tomorrow.
Carpe Factum, y’all!
troy said
Us vs. Them. I get it. Power to the people!
Rick Cockrum said
I’m sorry I disappeared last night. My daughter was attacked by the monster of finding the solutions to systems of linear equations by graphing. It took quite a while to banish the monster.
Marti said
Thanks to all of you for a “monstrously†good time last night!
ME Strauss said
Rick,
It sounds like you had a monster of a problem to handle. Thanks for the time that you gave us. It was great to have you around.
ME Strauss said
Marti!
You were such fun! It was wonderfully unscary to have you here.