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.
Tim and Liz — Oh No!!
After all, EVERYONE has a story to tellââ¬Â¦ or a story that resonates with themââ¬Â¦ or a story they rememberââ¬Â¦ or a story theyââ¬â¢ve shared to make a point. Tonight we’re talking about Fables and Stories with co-host Tim Johnson!!
- What fable or story character describes you?
- What business fables do you know?
- Do you use fables and stories to to change behavior or motivate people?
- Which fable or story seems to repeat in your life?
and Tim’s bringing a special offer!!
And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)
Oh, and bring example links to share —
–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: Tim Johnson
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?
Hey Liz,
Hey Co-host Tim.
Hey Mr T and Liz!
Hey Joe,
It appears that the clock is off on my blog. The new server must be five minutes late.
How are you tonight?
Hi Glenda,
Come on it! Can’t wait only 9 days to BlogWorld Expo
Liz, the sidebar clock seems to be right, maybe there are gremlins in the works getting ready for Halloween! 🙂
Joe,
I think it’s the server.
yep, we leave Monday, so I’m trying to finish stuff and pack.
The gremlins are servers? We better watch what we eat then.
Okay, so who’s drinking what before we start?
Greetings all… No, Joe, your clock is not off… I was looking for this show to get on the road myself
Hello Miss Glinda.
Cookies are in the oven.
It must be story time!
I’m so excited. I got home early enough for story time. Who’s got the popcorn? 🙂
Sorry… I meant Glenda (with an E)… been doing too much “Wicked” and “Wizard of Oz” recently
Howdy and hello and did someone say popcorn?
BTW, I’ll take a cookie as well. 🙂
Hi Amy!
The snacks and beverages are in the sidebar.
Hey Glenda, Liz, Tim, Amy and more…
You know… I loved reading Aesop’s fables. They were always great to read and had great life lessons in them.
All the life lessons you will ever need to know are in children’s books.
Mixing up some Diet Pepsi on ice…anyone need anything?
Hey Todd!
Anything you want. Ice cream too!
are you implying something with Glinda, Mr T?
Sorry Todd… no popcorn on my end…. just put a batch of my wife’s famous chocolate chip cookie bars in the oven, though
Everyone meet Kym!
Joe send me over a Klondike bar. He’s in OZ probably never seen one before.
anyone like some slightly stale mini marshmallows?
Tim, be sure to send some my way. No sweets in the house much lately.
Howdy! I brought drinks, just in case Liz runs low. You know how it is when there’s a crowd!
Hi Kym
No implications on the misspelling, Glenda, except that your goodness overpowers evil and your beauty casts a spell against wickedness…
Hellllo dear people! Y’all are real, right? No make believe people here tonight?
Hi Todd, Glenda, Liz, Tim, Amy and all…I’m all cozy and ready for a story.
Social networking fail – 47 unchecked Twitter follows. 🙁
Ah, Kym,
I think Aesop was like O.Henry always too predictable for me.
Hey Todd!
Hey Karen. Good to see you. 🙂
I’ll give you all the recipe if you want, Todd…
It’s so easy a Geico salesman can do it.
Hey Rebecca P)
Hey Becky, can you whip me up a blueberry martini?
Hi Rebeccca,
Welcome! Nice to meet you!
So Tim, what’s the story tonight?
Hi Rebecca
I’m partial to Aesop and Grimm
Hi everyone! Thanks for the warm welcome. How are you all today/tonight?
Here Liz, Catch!
Klondikes for everyone! Eat up before the Popcorn and Chocolate Chip cookies are done.
Plenty of snacks to go around, hope we have enough stories to match. 🙂
((waves at Joe))
Karen, blueberry??? Sure! Let me dig out that blueberry vodka…
*looks through the sidebar but finds no snacks* 😉
Hiya Becky. 🙂
If anyone clicks on my link, they will be transported to a magical world of a story magnificently woven, lovingly crafted, carefully edited…. and then massively screwed up by a printer who doesn’t know how to add color to the cover design. 🙂
Hey Karen! Hey Becky!
Blueberry martini!! Sounds like a great one!
#43,
Amy, look with your imagination.
This is a saloonkeeper’s daughter’s blog. 🙂
Greetings to Karen and Becky….
Still seven minutes left on the cookie bars
On Fables, I’ve given up trying to share them with worker-cos. I do use them with my kid at times.
Stories work well to help explain things to my wife.
Hi Karen,
Don’t know about blue martinis, I can try…better with dacquiris.
Nice to meet you too Liz.
Tim, I like Brothers Grimm…with an emphasis on pretty fairies with iridescent wings and giants with kind hearts.
#45
Timothy Johnson has
transporation story links.
You heard it here first. 🙂
Howdy, Todd, Liz, Glenda, everyone!
I think Glenda is the only one already packing for Blog World! I can only claim to have considered packing.
Amy, Catch!!!…..
Right in your hands, eat up and enjoy that Klondike.
There’s more where that came from. 😉
Becky, blueberry martinis all around! Thanks for the Klondike, Joe. Klondike and martinis– hmm, what a mix! Will someone pick me up off the floor later?
#26 You’re sweet, Mr T.
Todd – when I wrote my first business fable, Race Through The Forest, my wife finally understood what project management was all about.
Before then, she thought my profession of project manager was just a code-name cover-up for the mafia
Rebecca,
That certainly points to the strong possibility that you liked the movie “Shrek.”
Tim,
I can relate. Being a programmer and continually struggling to explain coding and the work environment surrounding it is often best done by analogy stories.
Rebecca, do you go by Becky? Will we be causing confusion all night??
Liz,
You’re sure no donkey- Shrek’s my kinda guy.
Re: “code-name cover-up for the mafia”
I this where the code-writing donkey comes in?? 🙂
Todd,
What are unchecked Twitter follows anyway?
Hey Tim, I have your book sitting in my office. Think of you often!
Yes, Todd, I agree.
Once upon a time, little red programmer went walking through the network to deliver a basket of requirements to her grandmother.
Along the way, she met an evil user troll who kept changing the requirements when little red programmer wasn’t looking…
And Tim,
What is the story of Race in the Forest? . . . as if I don’t know. 🙂
i’d love to learn to be a better story teller. 🙂
Amy,
The code writing donkey, Basil, usually is too drunk to write code, and he’s often in jail.
Todd, I have lots of stories to share, but none can be told in mixed company. 😉
Becky,
Caught that after hitting send. Rebecca is the usual…let’s stick with that:-)
Tim, about this evil user troll, can we name it clueless
REbecca clueless makes them sound innocent, and evil troll users are far from that. 🙂
Well, Liz, since you asked… Race Through The Forest – A Project Management Fable is a retelling of the tortoise and the hare, set in corportate America (Forest Industries, to be exact).
Barry Tortoise is a run-of-the-mill accountant who is put in charge of project hickory. Biff Haire is a flashy salesman who is leading project birch. Not only are the two men competing to see whose project finishes first and best, each of their approaches are on trial by the company executives.
It’s a delightful romp for a 1-hour read.
I’ll have to check out O’Henry. What is a klonkie bar? o_O
The code version of little red riding hood sounds a lot like lawfirm life too… Hmm…
Tim, can you share a link or is a book for sale?
Todd,
Checkpoint…Evil Troll works.
Is there a place in the story for “creative”
Here is the link to Race Through The Forest. Amazon will tell you they are out of stock. They are lying. I sent more copies last week.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0977714608/sr=1-1/qid=1144098853/ref=pd_bbs_1?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books
Kym,
It’s a Klondike bar. We have them here as a tradition. I’ll get an image for you.
Thanks Tim!
Rebecca – creativity plays more a part of my job than one would think for a person who cuts/creates/repairs code.
Hi Tim and Liz! I’m busy getting organized for tomorrow’s classes but wanted to be sure and get one of those cookies!
I wasn’t much into fables when I was younger but there was one that I remember about a jar and something sticky on the bottom and someone found gold– does that ring a bell for anyone?
Now, as far as evil goes, that’s where my second book comes into play. GUST – The “Tale” Wind of Office Politics is a bit grittier than recycled Grimm.
It follows a beleaguered project team through their learning process of figuring out how to manage office politics proactively and strategically.
Kym — I asked that last time. It’s a chocolate coated icecream shaped like a square. No stick. Very silly.
Race Through the Forest sounds like a fun way to learn about project management!
Kym, I almost forgot since I haven’t had one since May on a little boat going up the Chicago river.
But here is a link to get you in the mood for a Klondike.
http://www.icecreamusa.com/klondike/history/
Thanks to Karen for tweeting about tonight – I totally forgot it was Tuesday.
Hi everyone!
You can also buy Race Through the Forest on the publisher’s website at: http://www.tiberiuspublications.com
like, the “creative” dept. I put it in quotes ’cause I question the concept of this department…from time to time:-)
Gust sounds exciting. And probably soooo relevant.
Hi Delaney – glad you could make it. Everybody else, Delaney is the one responsible for hooking me up with my first publisher.
Klondike bars
Char’s Klondike bar cake
What would you do for a Klondike bar video contest
Klondike bar
((waves to Delaney))
Nice to hear that Tim. Everyone needs someone. 🙂
Karen — The only gold story I know is the king dude of whatever who turned everything he touched into gold. Or, you know, Winnie the Pooh and the honey jar… 🙂
Hey Liz, I would love to host a Tuesday night mic is on session sometime…Something on teaching?
Ahh that Klonkie bar sounds really goooood.
The polar bear reminds meof the coke polar bear mmm…
I wonder if they have some in Australia.
Liz – who would have known my Klondike cake would be such a hit?
Amy, I don’t think that’s the one. This fable covered greed as a lesson. The dang title is on the tip of my tongue…
Todd – I really have a hard time referring to GUST as “fiction” – after 20-years of cubicle dwelling and what I saw in some of the places I worked, we’ll just say the names were changed to protect… well… me at least
Hi Tim,
I mailed your manuscript for SWAT back to you today with a few comments. Great Job!! I’m looking forward to seeing it published. Do you have a date from your publisher yet?
Hey Char!!
Hi Delaney!
Wanna host while I’m off to BlogWorld on the 23rd of September?
LOL Tim, if I give you some of my blueberry martini, will you name names?
Ooooh, yes, Liz… let Delaney host sometime… she would keep this rowdy group in line 🙂
Hi Karen… hope all is well in your world
Char,
That’s my kind of recipe!!
Karen, Amy, are you talking about King Midas?
Didn’t he make mufflers?
Liz, Yes Please.
Tim, all is well. My funk is over and the days look a heck of a lot brighter ahead!
Joe,
That’s another Midas fable. 😉
Karen, do you mean the midas touch?
Joe, tell me the story behind King Midas, not the muffler guy, the fable one. 🙂
Joe, yes King Midas touched stuff and turned it into gold. I am not sure which story Karen is thinking of. I’m not very up on my fables… 🙂
Karen… we’ll talk some time. I could be inspired to name names… off the record.
Now let’s see, where were we?
Oh yes, story telling.
It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning streaked its way across the sky, illuminating the shadows eerily.
“Damn,” Fredrick thought as his car sputtered and died on the lonely stretch of road.
“I told you to stop at that last gas station,” Felicity icily muttered as Fredrick, gas can in hand, held the car door for her in mock chivalry…
This is a lively crowd tonight!
I think that blueberry vodka is having an effect …
Why is it the car always dies on the lonely stretch of road?
as long as the vodka is ice cold, flavoring is just icing on the ice. 🙂
Delaney,
To set up for crisis. But in modern times, (ala the tipping point), perhaps having the car die on a busy street would work as well.
flavoring is just icing on the ice
I love that!
Delaney, a car doesn’t die in the city cuz there are gas stations everywhere.
Delaney — Just like in horror movies when they say “I’ll be right back” they’re the next to die.
So…have they checked to see if the back seat is empty?
Todd and Delaney… we could have the car die on the “Information Superhighway” – how appropriate for a blogospheric open mic night.
The one sure bet is by the end of the story, Fredrick and/or Felicity will be toast.
Glenda, a car doesn’t die in the city because the wife always remembers to fill it up since her husband only remembers when it hits E right as he’s approaching the station.
Tim,
Of course you mean toast in the metaphorical sense, but how much more challenging to have a story where they end up as virtual toast. 🙂
Karen, as Amy said, everything King Midas touched turned to gold. He got so greedy he touched everything he saw, turning it to gold.
Then he touched his Son…
Needless to say, the story did NOT have a happy ending.
Becky — This is me sober. Add alcohol and that might normalize me. 😉
Delaney,
The stories on busy roads are something like this.
Car died.
Guy didn’t look when he opened the door.
Wham dead.
Story over.
End of book.
Time for the Diet Pepsi fix….
No doubt, Todd.
Or it was his daughter, or wife, I forget, but the moral remains the same.
Short story huh?
So Fredrick and/or Felicity meet their demise at the hands of an abnormally sober Amy.
Hmmmm… I smell best seller
Oooops… no… my bad… I smell chocolate chip bars.
Joe, nope, that’s not the fable I remember…
Now see, that Frederick guy reminds me of my husband. He drives into gas stations riding on fumes.
Hey Amy,
Sure liked the story you left today.
The point of the fable of King Midas is that just because you can turn everything into gold, gold isn’t best for everything. Or money isn’t everything.
Becky, hon, go easy on the vodka. I just saw Joe drop a Klondike.
That’s OK, Karen. I brought Beau… he’ll eat it.
If car died on information superhighway, all Liz’s friends would send drinks, klondike bars, useful links, and funny stories to keep F & F happy until help arrives…
Now the fable about the evil troll user, the point there is that evil troll users are best served the key to exit door. Ha.
LOL Delaney
Class just finished! I’m off. Catch you later everyone! *waves*
Liz, that story is my favorite. 🙂 Probably not a fable though?
All this talk of blueberries and toasts is making me hungry.
Karen, do you remember anything else about the gold story?
Ok Karen, what version of King Midas DO you remember?
Driving down a lonley road, Felix/Felicity hits a bump.
The muffler falls off…?
OK, I’m off to work on lecture notes for tomorrow. Bye all! <>
Bye Delaney. Take care.
F&F were cruising down the information super highway, when suddenly the encountered a 404 page.
Who is Felix? Fredrick’s evil twin brother, whom nobody knows about but Felicity? Which is why she must be eliminated. BWUAHAHAHAHA
Bye Delaney. Nice to meet you. Happy lecturing.
Okay everyone, brace yourselves.
I think it’s time you all knew . . .
2-Snow White Never Kissed
Felix is the cat with the black bag. He’s a thug and lay about.
Bye Delaney… we’ll talk soon
Bye Amy and Todd. Liz, let’s talk soon if you want me to host!
Joe, I don’t think I even remember a King Midas story. This fable I’m thinking of came from a very, very old book that I found at my aunt’s house when I was about 9. I can’t remember anything else about it but I remember the story impacted me as a kid at that time.
Damn getting old. The brain circuits don’t fire like they used to.
You know what I could go for right now is a tasty gingerbread house. 🙂
Bye Tim! Is there a sequel to F. & F. ?
Or just a slow-running gingerbread man would also do.
Liz, I purchased the Grimms fairy tales a while back and was surprised by the actual stories vs Disney et al.
Disney spins stories to their own benefit? What next? Santa Claus isn’t real?
Yes Tim, Felicity really loves Felix, so she put a hole in the gas tank so that Frederick ran out of gas on the dark and lonely internet super highway so he would run over a bump and his muffler fell off leading him into a Midas Muffler shop where the car turned into gold and she and Felix lived happily ever after.
Its storytime in this house now – hopefully the little one will choose to read me a story I like 😉 Back in a bit.
Felix the cat,
The wonderful wonderful cat
Whenever he gets in fix
he reaches into his bag of tricks.
Joe,
But what happened to Fred?
The real Grimm stories were scary!! Most of the fairy tales were I thought. What kid needs to hear about wolves eating their grannies and piggies anyway? 😐
I liked the little match girl. Was that a fable? What makes a story a fable?
Todd,
The purpose of fairy tales, especially Grimm’s, were to keep kids in line.
The Hansel and Gretel tale of taking kids into the woods and leaving ’em was real . . . people couldn’t afford to feed ’em.
Hmmmm… Fredrick moved to Sweden and return as Frieda…
I’m good with scary. Kids today are even more handicapped by unreality than we were.
Todd, he was in the car, so by the process of osmosis, he turned to gold as well. The Other F &F had him melted down along with the car. 😉
Todd… that’s what was so brilliant about Hitchcock… he played with imagination amazingly. Kids today wouldn’t know what hit them.
Hi Amy,
To be a fairy tale things have to happen in threes, usually royalty is involved and good must triumph over evil.
All right, Becky, it’s official. Joe’s had too much to drink. He’s weaving all over when telling stories.
🙂
But to be honest, my mom has always said I live in a fantasy world.
I’ve always been a Cinderella fan–even put the whole thing into an (unsold) novel … with a few twists, of course!
So the bears and the pigs were threes, but was there royalty?
Hi –Deb,
Almost every culture in the world has a Cinderella story.
Amy, I’d say the wolf was a royal pain
Threes is a magic number and occurs frequently in stories and such of the past.
Karen, the common thread is Gold, just like that Grimm tale about that Rumplestilskin (sp?) guy.
Spinning hay into gold… 😉
Liz I love this:
ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢m delighted to hear that,ââ¬Â said a prudish school librarian. ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢ll be able to put the fairy tale back in the school library. We had banned the book for blatant sexuality. No one had actually read it, of course, because everyone knew the story.ââ¬Â
I know–Cinderella is everywhere. Isn’t that the definition of “universal?”
Stories are awesome no matter how they are told… I especially like singers and song-writers who weave great stories into their songs.
Billy Joel
Elton John
ABBA
Christine Kane
Collin Raye
Some of my faves in that list Tim.
Amy,
In the 1990s the state of North Carolina banned the Wizard of Oz . . . NOT because it had a witch, but because there’s no such thing as a GOOD witch. ahem.
I’m back. Luckily she picked one of my favorites – Mr. Tall & Mr. Small – a cute story about a giraffe and a mouse who start the story noting each other’s differences but face a challenge – a fire in the jungle – and find a way to use each other’s differences as strengths and escape the fire and alert all the jungle animals.
Hi Liz, hi Tim! Wow we have an interesting topic tonight! 🙂 I’d like to be sleeping beauty. To just wake up and find my prince charming. That would be divine! =)
Timothy — ABBA? Really? 😮 <– that is shock
Amy,
Usually royalty.
I wouldn’t mind a goose that lays golden eggs, either!
For me, it’s being the golden goose. They just keep squeezing and promising a respite. It never comes.
Liz — In North Carolina a LOT of things are banned. Lesbianism, for example. A friend of mine was arrested there for exposure (even though nothing was exposed) for kissing a woman in public in the late 90’s. I would not be a good witch in North Carolina.
My grandmother, the reading teacher, had a full set of Grimm Fairy Tales, and they were SHOCKING!
Amy,
I looked in my old educational notes . . .
Begins with Once Upon a Time, Once long ago, Long, long ago etc.
Story setting is usually in a castle, forest , or town
Story has good / nice characters
Story has mean / bad characters
Many of the characters are animals or members of royalty
Story has magic
Story has the numbers 3 or 7 in it
Problem in the story is solved
Good wins
Ending is “happily ever after”
In order to be a Fairy Tale it must have most of these
Fables have a moral, are short and are mostly action. They are based in deeply human themes.
Hmm, Liz, my life has some of those qualities, but not sadly yet enough good winning, problems solved, and happily ever after. But I’m greedy. 🙂
Amy – have you seen Mamma Mia (stage or screen)? You’ll never listen to an ABBA song the same way again.
(Especially if Pierce Brosnan is singing it… you’ll want to put sharp objects in your ear)
I would like to be the shoemaker who had all the elves who did his work for him. 🙂
#179 and Rod Stewart! just realized he has been singing all day with no intermissions.
Pierce Brosnan is just wonderful at so many things (I still swoon over Remington Steele.) But singing? SOOOOOOO not one of them!
Timothy — I have seen Mamma Mia. I am too much of a theater snob to enjoy it. (Sorry!) But I’ll still read your books. 🙂
Liz — That is very interesting about the fairy tale qualifications. See, I learned something here. I feel very accomplished. 😉
…And now I can’t get the Remington Steele theme song out of my head…
Liz–incidentally, have you noticed that I’m getting the hang of Twitter? Are you proud of me?
Hey –Deb,
No worry about you doing just fine ever. You’re a star!
Amy – I’m more of a theatre snob myself… no apology necessary.
The highlight of my theatre experience was seeing Judi Dench perform live in London.
Timothy — Oh, I’ll bet that was fabulous! I can’t call myself a “theatre” snob without folks assuming I like Shakespeare. Which I don’t. Ugh. Dreadful man. LOL So I stick with “theater”. 🙂 Where do you live??
I think my best theater experience is still . . . seeing Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof!
I’m bowing out for the evening. Need to take a break. Best to all of you. Tim, thanks for cohosting. Liz, as usual, a swell Tuesday night hang out. 🙂
Hi Amy… I’m in the booming metropolis of Des Moines, Iowa.
P.S. Timothy — “Chief Accomplishment Officer” is the best title ever.
I love musicals–great music, enjoyable (usually) stories, and dancing. How often do you really get to see dancing these days? Of course, it’s been years since I got to a Broadway show.
Oh dear. What’s the theatRE like in Iowa? 🙂
Liz, where did you see Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof?
Wow – we have moved to theater – the last theater show I saw was Shear Madness in Washington DC. But have seen Cirque du Soliel in Vegas twice and it was worth every penny. Those of you going to BWE in Vegas need to take in a show or two while you are there.
My best “theater” experience was actually a high school production of Brigadoon.
Those kids were great and they did a fabulous job with sets etc.
Not professional, but it was just a fun experience.
Amy,
It was Fiddler in Chicago when I was a kid. 🙂
Amy – thanks, I had a great branding consultant who helped me create the whole “Carpe Factum” accomplishment brand.
Deb – I saw a fun musical on Broadway in February called Curtains starring David Hyde Pierce of Frazier fame.
Char, I saw Shear Madness in Washington DC on an 8th grade field trip. 🙂
Char, I just can’t talk myself into going to any shows in Vegas! I guess I don’t fit in with this crowd tonight.
@Amy – It has been about 20 years since I saw it too.
@Becky – there are so many great shows in Vegas – really something for everyone.
Timothy — I saw that!! I had never heard of the play but got the tickets because I love David Hyde Pierce. He’s an amazing actor, I think. Oh and the only latin I know is “in omnia paratus” and I learned that on Gilmore Girls. 🙂
Amy, actually, given the size of the town, we have a fairly robust theatre community here. Our Civic Center gets some great Broadway tours. This season we’re getting Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia, Color Purple, and Wicked. We also have a couple of smaller theatre venues which bring in and/or create amazing productions
My parents saw Curtains–they bought tickets for my niece and my sister as Christmas presents last year. (We’re only about 35 miles from NY.) I haven’t made it to a show in about 8 years, though, and have only been to NY ONCE since then.
Becky — No one could pay me to go to Vegas. 🙂
Char — It was maybe 16 years for me. I think it’s still playing though, isn’t it?
Becky, I’m with you. I’ve gone to a few plays but could never really get into them. Vegas shows aren’t my thing either.
My only criticism of Curtains was DHP’s inconsistent Boston accent… he kept slipping in and out of it. Other than that… the production was really fun… I downloaded some of the songs to my iPod.
Becky, You ALWAYS fit in around here, you should know that.
Here, have a Klondike and tell me a story. 😉
Deb — That is sad. Next time I go to NY I’m coming to kidnap you (and your little dog too). Bwah ha ha. 😉
Timothy — I am surprised. I guess it’s not just corn after all, eh? 🙂
Aw Becky,
I’ve been to a show or two in Vegas, some are good, if they’re someone you want to see. But they’re so expensive . . . I’d rather spend time with my friends.
Amy, sadly, I’ve never liked NYC. There are good things IN it, but I absolutely detest crowds, and I like being home at night, so … not many opportunities!
Deb — I don’t really like crowds either. But I would still like to pupnap Chappy. 🙂
Actually Amy, Des Moines is becoming more and more cosmopolitan all the time. Our downtown is amazing…. lots of lofts and green space and shopping.
Do you have many local clients?
Aw, thanks, Joe. Let me tell you about the time I was in Africa, and …
Amy, he’s MINE. And, you’re allergic, remember? But you may VISIT with my adorable dog.
🙂
Cool, Joe!
My best theater experience was in my Shakespeare class in university. I played Lady Macbeth, Ariel, and Hippolyta. =)
It was a time of my life that I would never forget!
Deb — I could drug up for the
pupnapvisit. 🙂 I just couldn’t sleep with him.Amy Derby,
I think someone puts a quarter in you somewhere around 8pm every night. 🙂
Deb and Amy, I have to say, for this small town Iowa boy, Times Square at night was absolutely intoxicating. But I was glad to leave.
Liz — LOL!! Ok, I’ll shut up. 🙂
Amy,
Don’t you dare!
Who said small town?
Every town I’ve ever seen has always been a whole lot bigger than I am. 🙂
Becky — I was just looking at your blog. Where do you live? (I promise not to stalk you.) 🙂
And my best theater experience as an audience was when I watched Miss Saigon with our very own Lea Salonga as lead! 🙂
When my Dad was around 20, he and some friends went to New Year’s Eve at Times Square, but they were so early and it was so cold, they decided to catch a movie …. and it got out at 10 minutes AFTER 12:00!
(No, no idea why I just told that story, but it’s still a good one.)
Hi Deb – theater and movie, they’re related, so yeah it’s a good one! 😉
Amy, my store is in Alva, Oklahoma, population around 5000. I live in Hopeton, Oklahoma, population about 25. (Yes, 25.)
My ears burn whenever anyone mentions small towns, because that is one half of my focus at Small Biz Survival.
In fact, I’m collecting some rural links, because I’m lobbying Neenz to make a Rural page at Alltop.
Hi Liz, Tim, and everybody – What a great topic. I love NYC!
Deb,
Theater, movie, and Time Square . . . not mention Tim talking about being overwhelmed there. 🙂
Meikah — Was it amazing? I’m jealous.
I can’t figure out where to put a quarter in Amy.
Hey everyone . . . looks like a lively conversation going on here!
Jumping in with a link to share:
http://www.aesopandtheceo.com/
Like to give this book as a client gift.
Looking forward to BlogWorld!
Hi Liz!
How are ya! How’s that boat?
Becky — Small town life fascinates me. But with the internet I suppose it no longer matters where a business is physically located, eh? I’m now reading the safari blog. 🙂
Liz Williams — Questions and comments of that nature will illicit inappropriate responses. You’ve been warned. 😉
Becky look, I found some stories:
http://www.fultonclassicsafaris.com/stories.htm
🙂
Amy, I repeat it often. Use technology to work, and then live where you want. I happen to love small towns and rural areas!
Hi Liz! The boat is great. We’ve had a big run of sun here in the Bay Area, so I’ve been feeling like I’m living THE life: sun, ducks, bat rays, pelicans.
And now: fog.
Becky – you have a store in a small town in OK? Wow! My father grew up in Clinton OK. With his dog, Captain Puck.
Hi Liz W… awesome talking to you today.
Thanks for buying the books.
Hi Barbara!
Thanks for the link to that story!
Amy: warned and chastened.
But undeterred.
Great to talk to you too, Tim – and more to come. Can’t wait to dip into GUST. 900 nurses need our help.
Liz #2 — You’re in the bay area? I SO BADLY want to move back there. Please go to Seal Rock for me and inhale deeply. 🙂 Then stop in to Brainwash. I miss it there.
Liz, Clinton, OK, is straight south of me, about two hours. 🙂
Amy, it was AMAZING! An experience of a lifetime! 🙂
Amy – Seal Rock? Brainwash? So this is what you meant by inappropriate responses…
So we had two Becky’s and two Liz’s tonight… I’m almost as confused as chatting in Gtalk with a certain ME Liz, where it shows the two names as ME and me.
Ah, time for me to round up the kids and toss them in bed. It was great chatting with you all tonight.
Becky, I’m done drinking.
Hi Barbara and Meikah… you snuck in while I was distracted.
Yes, the stories and conversation are lively tonight.
Becky – you’re the only person I’ve ever met who’s heard of Clinton. Even though it is the “largest town in Western OK” At least that’s what the sign used to say.
Liz #2 — No, I meant body part references. 🙂
Meikah — Where do you live?
[sitting here, enjoying the conversation, while readying another guest post for next week]
Good night Karen
Thanks for the blog comment.
Good night Karen. 🙂
Okay, folks … signing off for the night. It’s been fun!
Amy – you have bunnies! I used to. I miss them. But not all the hair and, uh, you know…
G’night Deb. Thanks for stopping in
Goodnight, Deb! See ya next time 🙂
Good night, Deb!
See you! Thanks for coming!
Goodnight Deb. And Chappy. 🙂
Liz #2 — I have 3 bunnies. Ginsberg, Kerouac and Burroughs. They are litter box trained. 🙂 I am allergic to cats and dogs, or I would have those. But rabbits are cool. And less scary than lizards, which freak out certain landlords….
Amy, on behalf of the lizards, landlords make scary pets as well
Hi Tim! =)
Amy, I’m from Manila. Glad to meet you here! 🙂
Liz #1 — Have you ever done pets as a topic for your open mic? We could all show pet pictures (or livestock, whatever we’ve got) and you could adopt that virtual (non-walking) dog. 🙂
Amy – Literary bunnies – of course. Bunster was my last house bunny. I finally had to admit I travelled too much to have a pet, and cleaned too seldom.
Bunster was also litter box trained. She went to work with me every morning I was at home. I worked at my desk, she remodeled her cardboard box underneath. Bonked my ankles if I was late to my desk. A lovely companion.
Meikah — Are you on twitter?
Timothy — the landlords are WAY scarier than the lizards.
Liz #2 — I love Bunster. LOL I smuggled Ginsberg onto a greyhound bus when I moved to San Francisco, and again on the way back to Chicago. I don’t travel very much anymore. And I never clean. I haven’t seen my carpet in years.
I have a conventional pet… a dog… a shih tzu named Zorro. He’s very sexist.
Amy,
I’m not sure that we have done pets. I can’t remember, but actually the other night, you got me thinking we should.
Thanks for all the fun and the stories tonight, all!
See some of you soon, at Blog World!
Tim – are you projecting on Zorro?
Amy – thanks for pointing out my mistake about the cleaning. I see the error of my ways.
Meikah – from Manila? Is that where you are now?
A shih tzu named Zorro? I’d be sexist too. 🙂
Gremlins attacking the start up clock
And Klondikes, and popcorn begin to pop
Stories of Oz and Grimm Brothers brim
Over the top so the good Witch can swim
On top of the Blueberry Vodka and Diet Pepsi
So the bad Witch misses and can not get thee
Ginger bread kids and houses do flourish
Once eaten they do so nurish
Fred and Felix and Felicity did ponder
If on the dark road it was wise to wonder
Flat tire and muffler did turn to gold
At least that is what King Midas has told
There are many stories we have yet to tell
But when they are scary, please don’t yell
Burma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Liz #1 – what are you up to these days?
Excellent Joe!
Zorro came already named (he was five when we adopted him).
And his previous female owner doted on his every need.
So he expects my wife to do his bidding… even if I’m there and available and willing.
Good night Joe, the Poeticizer. 🙂
Good night Becky.
Liz #1, do you have pets? We SO need a pet night. The non-pet people can adopt a virtual pet or, you know, a human pet if they want to. 🙂
Tim, Zorro sounds hilarious. What a character.
Timothy — I have heard rumor that tiny dogs get used to the sex that raised them. But most of them yap so much, I’ve never gotten close enough to one for fear I might be tempted to dropkick… I’m sure Zorro is a good boy though. 🙂
Great idea, Amy. Perhaps after mid-October, if things go as I’m scheming them!
Liz, if you do a pet night, I’ll bring my landlord. He’s 83, and one of a kind.
Good night, Joe,
Sleepy Swell!
Liz,
I’ve got three great company clients doing some spectacular things. I’m having a blast with them. 🙂
Glenda — Are you getting a pet in October?
Nah, Amy, Zorro has a high drop kick factor (not that we’ve ever executed it)
Good night Joe. Hug the alien for me.
Liz – spectacular things? Shiver me timbers, that sounds thrilling.
Poor Zorro!!!!!!! 🙂
Amy, no new pet, but my cat is going to start doing something! 😉
Glenda, maybe Tim could drop kick Zorro your way. Or Amy could put Ginsberg on the bus.
I’d be happy to ship you my landlord.
Glenda,
I think your cat should blog!
Liz #2 — We could trade landlords. Mine needs a smackin.
I’d never really drop kick Zorro… he’s the only other male in this house.
My wife, on the other hand…
Not so fast, Amy. Mine is at least slow moving, predictable and easy to control. The ideal pet, now that i think about it.
Glenda — I’m intrigued. My bunny blogged for a while, but I started to feel a bit schizophrenic. 🙂 I found out yesterday that some pets have their own twitter though, so I feel better now. 🙂
Geez…Liz…nothing like letting the cat out of the bag!
Liz #2 — Keep yours them. Mine is loud, a drunk, and hits on me. And my mother. Very charming. The good of it though is I’ve told him off many times, and he doesn’t understand English well enough to know what I’m saying, or if he does he is in a blackout and doesn’t remember by the next time he sees me.
But Glenda… I love bagged cats… they taste so much better than the canned or frozen ones.
Poor Zorro! Is he barking now?
Run Zorro, Run!!!
Glenda — If your cat blogs, can my bunnies respond? (They like to type.)
Funny Mr T!
No, Liz, Zorro is lying on the rug like a comotose dustmop
Timothy — Cat is NOT the other white meat. Shame on you. 🙂
I want Zorro pics!! Tim are you on twitter? I can’t find you.
definitely, Amy! Watch my blog next week for a teaser!
Amy, I agree with you whole heartedly. The feline dark meat is so much more flavorful and gamey.
Strong preference for the freeze-dried cats myself, Tim. Crunchier.
Amy – How did you get an entire post-modern country-western song in a single comment? Brava! Perhaps for next week you could set it to music?
Joe left too early…
Here is a post with a Zorro pic
ok, some of you will be banned from commenting on Faith’s blog!
Glenda — I am very excited for blogging cat!!
Liz #2 — Find Joe and bring him back. I want my song!
Tim — He’s cute. But I pictured him all black. Got paint? 🙂
Young Timmy,
You are cracking me up!!
Oh, that kind of dog. My neighbor has one too – it rushes at me barking, tail wagging – then bites!
I think it’s saying it wants to go swimming…
Liz W – I think a couple great cookbook ideas could be
1. How to WOK your cat – getting a leash on dinner
2. Herding cats – effective means of feeding a crowd
others?
Thanks Amy. I think I’m crazy!
Amy -I’ve got the title: “My Landlord is Charming”
I’ll accompany you on ukulele. Really.
Amy… hmmm… never considered doing a custom job on Zorro…
Pimp my pooch?
Tim – “Herding cats – effective means of feeding a crowd” is genius – perfect for these troubled times.
Glenda — I am the President of Crazy. 🙂
Liz — I have a ukulele. 🙂
I’m getting out the ukulele right now – pimp my pooch – LOL
Tim — He needs to be all black if he wants to keep the rep…… Right now he’s looking like an Oreo, which isn’t a very sexist name.
I should probably log off… it’s after 10 and I’m obviously getting punchy
(and I’ll probably be punched by the cat lovers around here)
SOBCon09 featuring Amy and LizW on the ukulele while Tim and Glenda dance the dog and cat dance.
Tim -You gotta give Zorro the white x on his chest though.
Amy – wanna form a band?
Awesome Amy!
But I actually did my homework for this blog. In Adsense, catnip is a ridiculous amount!
Oh and just for the record, Glenda, I don’t eat cats. 😮 I’m vegan actually, so for me tofu is the other white meat. 🙂
You had me at “woof”
Liz – I’m there! SOBCon 09. Tim, Amy, Glenda – what do you say?
; ) Mr T!
Right now I’m planning on doing SOBCon09… any chance to see Christine Kane in concert.
Tim – I like you punchy!
I’m a vegetarian, so I don’t eat cats either. Unless there is absolutely nothing else in the fridge.
Lizzy — I didn’t say I could PLAY the ukulele, just that I have one. 😉 I could probably learn by May though, especially if there’s a dance involved…
Liz — the only instrument I play really well is the cello. Not band material. I can also play clarinet. If you want to start a dork band, I’m game. 🙂
Glenda — Catnip? Really? I never would have thought…….. Hmmm….
Liz W, I’ve started saving already for Sobcon09.
wow, Liz S, the conversation has been really fun and wild tonight… I haven’t seen an OMN like this in a long time.
Amy, I’m not sure how to tell someone who plays the ukulele from someone who doesn’t.
Liz, I hear cats taste just like chicken.
Probably my fault. Too many quarters…
Amy, go figure. Watch how many times Faith works catnip into a post!
xlnt! We’ll be a sensation. Zorro and the Catnips, a dork band.
I’ll sleep peacefully tonight.
Lizzy — I shall help you. Lucille Ball could play the ukulele. I cannot. (Better?) xxxooo
Glenda — Everything time you start a new paragraph, just go
*plays with catnip*
😉
LOL Liz W.
Featuring guest artist, Meow See Tongue.
Zorro and the Catnips. I love it.
Liz – I’m writhing here. You’ve hit on the utter beauty of the ukulele: there is no way to tell the difference.
I’ve heard that’s how Diana Ross and the Pips got their name, too.
#353 – LOL (over the groan)
Diana Ross wasn’t with the Pips. She was with the Catnips. Gladys Knight was with the Pips
I stand corrected, Liz S. I need to “bone up” on my Motown
Amy – 351. Perfection.
Bring the clarinet. We’ll play jazz.
Me too, Liz, regarding #353.
Tim, you’re genius.
Oooo – copyright infringement. Zorro and the Supremes then.
Genius? hardly. Goofy due to lack of sleep. probably.
Can Goofy sit in with us?
I hear Goofy plays a mean washboard with a wooden spoon.
He plays by ear.
I love cats. I think they are especially delicious in stir frys.
You got it, Liz W.
OK, I’m going to bow out and let the Liz S – the blogospheric goddess – wrap up the conversation. I have two adorable little girls to get off and running to school and day care in the morning.
Once upon a time there was a royal queen named Lizzy who had a band of loyal followers. They traveled in multiples of three (or seven). One day, nine (or twenty-one) of the followers ate too much catnip, and they wandered frantically through the woods playing various instruments badly.
Lone Zorro, the multi-colored sexist pup, heard the music and was lured in with hope of a cat-breakfast. He smelled the faint aftertaste of catnip on their lips and ran fast, barking all the way. He was dropkicked.
The nine (or twenty-one) wandered far into the magical woods, where Queen Lizzy told tales of wild success. But the followers were too hopped up on catnip to learn anything. Still, they all learned something: never try to learn something while on an overdose of catnip, except how to play the ukulele. Despite their idiocy, the nine (or twenty one) lived happily ever after. You know, because they had Queen Lizzy.
The End.
hahaha Tim! 🙂
guess his are long enough to play by ear. Or is that Pluto?
Hey Kym,
Welcome back . . . great to hear that cats are appreciated tomorrow still. 🙂
Good night, Tim!
Kym – got any recipes? For the SOB Con 09 cookbook.
Amy – utterly brilliant… I’ll be laughing all day tomorrow about this conversation.
good night Tim!!
Good night all! Thanks for a wonderfully engaging evening.
excellent amy!
All of this time, Amy,
You had the fairy tale thing down pat.
Oh wait, was that a personal narrative?
Not at all, Queeny. 🙂
@ Liz Williams and Struass
Thank for the welcome back! Cats doused in a mixture of 4 parts lemon juice and 1 parts crushed anchovies so it forms a lemony paste served on a bed of purple steamed brocolli tossed with two teaspoons of that sauce, seasoned with sea salt and crushed black pepper and a healthy drizzle of pure virgin olive oil really hits the spot sometimes.
Amy – the perfect fairy tale! I love it!
370 – now I get it 🙂
#370.
Glenda,
Thank you for getting that. 🙂
Kym – what spot is that, exactly?
Why, Liz, the spot where the quarters go, of course!!
Liz, 383 is why you are the Queen. Now I understand how it all fits together. But it’s fleeting.
; ) I did get that one, Liz. Sometime going with the flow works much better.
The cat-spot? (Oy.)
Amy,
It’s all about finding ways to connect the dots. 🙂
One of my neighbors just knocked to see if I was ok, because I’m laughing so hard he thought I was crying. I’m blaming the queen and her loyal subjects.
386 Oy, indeed.
The spot – it is a saying… how should I put it… when something hits the spot, it hits it just right.
Gives you that satisfied feeling where the world is at peace don’t you know?
387 – or is that the spots…
Amy, I’m calling 911. Leave the door unlocked.
Kym – now that’s a recipe worth preparing.
Amy, is that what is by the c-spot?
Yeah, Kym,
We say that too. We’re just playing with the words. Which spot is that . . . Maybe we should paint that spot.
“Out, out, damn spot!!”
“See Spot. See Spot Run.
Run, Spot, Run”
Don’t get me started about Dick and Jane. 🙂
Glenda — I think so!! Right between G and F.
Liz — Ironically, last time I had the cops called on me for causing a disturbance it was for playing the ukulele. My friend was playing the accordion. Neither of us can actually play, which was probably the disturbing part. My neighbors are bores.
Dick and Jane was a great movie. I miss the old days when people were called Dick and Fanny and people didn’t realize the hilarity of it.
What is that? It’s a cat! Get the bat. Just like that.
I will not eat cat here or there. I will not eat cat anywhere. Not with a moose or with a goose. Please let it loose.
Ok, someone take the quarters back out…….
Amy, Accordion and ukulele? What were you thinking? I bet there’s a restraining order too.
Do you like green eggs and cat?
The F spot? Haven’t found that one yet either.
Liz, we don’t drink either. We just need to be medicated.
Glenda — Me neither. That’s why I’m gay.
Yeah, tonight I think we’re all off our meds.
We need a spot finder in da house. Or, are those spots fables too?
[on the floor, clutching her belly, writhing}
Glenda — I have a friend who is an orgasm consultant. No lie. (And no, I don’t know how she does it. Too afraid to ask.)
Lizzy — new topic idea………
Amy,
This is PG rated blog. 🙂
[now screaming…]
Liz,
I’m so laughing.
Everyone now be nice.
Catnip has taken over the building. I’m sure of it.
But Lizzy, you’re very creative. You could do it in metaphor.
An orgasm consultant? I won’t ask, but watch Liz’s search traffic go way up.
Glenda — I think Liz will ban me from here eventually. 🙂
Amy,
I’m already getting search strings every weekend because of this innocent post.
300 Naked Women Feared Lost [Branding The Onion]
sorry Liz.
I would tell you some of the search strings I get at my blog, but that would just bring you more scary traffic. 🙂
Glenda, I’m reading your blog now. I love it. Where do you live?
thanks Amy. I’m on the westcoast of British Columbia.
Liz, I need to go for lunch! Thanks for having me here. Take care always! *hugz*
I doubt it, Amy.
I’m a saloonkeeper’s daughter.
Purple is my favorite color too. 🙂
Bye Meikah!
For once we outlasted you!
I’m a drunk’s daughter. An equal match. LOL
Yeah, Amy, never thought of that, but I guess it makes us a pair. 🙂
I need supper, so time to remove myself from this spot. Liz et al, see you next weekend in Vegas! G’night all.
I think it’s time to pack up the bar stools and say good night!!
Wow! What fun was that!
Amy, your story was awesome. You ROCK!!
Glenda — That little dog in the picture on your book, is that your dog? It looks like Eddie from Frasier, and I love him!
Liz — My dad lived above a bar when I was six. I had my own Smurf darts and could beat most of the drunks at pool by the time I was seven. I thought all kids drank kiddy cocktails. 🙂
Good night chicas. 🙂
A saloonkeeper’s daughter, Liz? Oh, the stories!
And Amy – That country song just got another verse.
Isn’t it interesting that when the catnip takes over, talk turns to ssss-eeee-ecks. Invariably. It’s gotta be hardwired in us somewhere, like the need for intoxicants. Or stories by the fire.
OK, y’all – I’m turning off the lights too. G’night and thanks for a fun evening, Liz and you all. Thanks to Tim, too.
You’re all so wonderful.
I’m one very lucky blogger.
Don’t think I don’t know that. 🙂
Sweet dreams.