Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin May 17, 2013 - 9:05pm

Guys I haven't checked the leaderboard in months until today, and I know that while working at Working America over the last year I've reviewed maybe five stories tops, and three of those in the last month. But I'm still number 4 on the leaderboard for points in the workshop. Don't you think you're better than that?

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series May 17, 2013 - 9:34pm

I'm not better than anyone. 

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin May 17, 2013 - 9:54pm

I'm not saying that a person with more points on the leaderboard is better than me, I'm just saying as a baseline points accrual-per-year... I'd like to think that you were able to accomplish more.

G. X. Bradbury's picture
G. X. Bradbury from Corvallis, OR is reading The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, by Paul Arvich May 17, 2013 - 11:54pm

I used to be a gravedigger. At the cemetery I worked at, they built a new section a mile and a half away from the entrance. New crypt walls. People were spending money to have their rotting or rotted loved ones moved from one section of the cemetery to another.

One day, we moved a guy who'd been in the crypt wall for two years. He was a motorcycle Nazi from Ohio. His family showed up in worn leather regalia, complete with SS symbolism and 1% patches. They wanted to bury his vest with him; have it put in the casket with him. After two years. So they gave the vest to the funeral director. We pulled the body from the wall crypt, which was as far from the new crypts as you could get, and we brought it into the garage where all the fresh caskets and not-so-fresh bodies were delivered for embalming and showcasing. This one guy, he was black, and he wanted to put the vest in. Just to be spiteful. A secret fuck you.

Caskets are air tight, so the lid had to be opened with a special tool that decompressed the nastiness inside. It was horrid, that smell. And the guy, the Nazi biker, looked as bad as he smelled. I mean, he looked good for having been dead for two years, but he was a pallid green-grey. His cheeks and around his eyes were fat and bloated from the Florida heat. It was a wonder that he hadn't yet exploded. (Most bodies in crypts explode, at least in Florida, because the crypts are like convection ovens. Drainage holes are built into the crypts so that they don't overflow with sticky brownish black goo, which they sometimes did when someone forgot to cut out the drainage plug when prepping a crypt, and we called those, "leaky bodies".)

So this black guy, he throws the vest over the biker. I mean, he literally throws it into the casket, and he mutters, "Piece of shit," while covering his nose and mouth with a silver satin hanky and coughing into it. Then they close the casket and transport it to the new crypts, where we have to re-inter it. Where this family of Ohio Nazi bikers is waiting, and where I'm waiting, contemplating the strangeness of such hateful people being so sorrowful.

We bring the casket up on a lift, about fifteen feet from the ground, and slide it home. Below us, I see the family. The women are weeping. The men are solemn and have their heads down, their ponytails slightly blowing in the sticky hot breeze. And the black guy, he's shaking their hands and giving his condolences.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated May 18, 2013 - 6:50am

Odd.

G. X. Bradbury's picture
G. X. Bradbury from Corvallis, OR is reading The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, by Paul Arvich May 18, 2013 - 7:37pm

Indeed.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like May 18, 2013 - 8:54pm

My block is full of cars, as if there were a party. But if it's a party, it's the most quiet party ever. Maybe it's a joyless silent film review. Maybe it's a seance. I'm thinking about knocking on some doors just in case it was a mass suicide or something.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like May 18, 2013 - 9:33pm

I hear them now. It's just some people.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated May 18, 2013 - 10:55pm

I went to a party with some people I worked with. It seemed normal at first and the hostess says hey come see this. She leads me to her finished basement and it seems normal until I see that it has a carving of a stylized skull about 2 feet in it with burn marks. She looks me dead in the eye and says, "This was here when I moved in. We keep trying to think of something normal that the last people could have done with this, any ideas?"

G. X. Bradbury's picture
G. X. Bradbury from Corvallis, OR is reading The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, by Paul Arvich May 18, 2013 - 11:24pm

That's neat.

G. X. Bradbury's picture
G. X. Bradbury from Corvallis, OR is reading The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, by Paul Arvich May 18, 2013 - 11:26pm

I once went to a party and forgot my girlfriend's name. Then realized I couldn't remember my name either. Then I heard the host slapping the hostess in the bedroom.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated May 19, 2013 - 8:41pm

I was sharing stories that really happened to me, I was hoping you were doing the same. Dang it.

G. X. Bradbury's picture
G. X. Bradbury from Corvallis, OR is reading The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, by Paul Arvich May 20, 2013 - 10:28pm

I was doing the same.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like May 21, 2013 - 8:07am

Mine was "creative non-fiction."

G. X. Bradbury's picture
G. X. Bradbury from Corvallis, OR is reading The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, by Paul Arvich May 21, 2013 - 10:56am

Mine was "blah non-fiction".

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated May 21, 2013 - 1:17pm

These things happen.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated May 21, 2013 - 1:17pm

These things happen.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like May 21, 2013 - 5:36pm

Nothing blah about that little story, G.X. (The one about the bikers, that is.) The prose was "workmanlike," but when the substance is strong, there is really no need to embellish. (Not trying to instruct here; just spilling a little opinion.)

G. X. Bradbury's picture
G. X. Bradbury from Corvallis, OR is reading The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, by Paul Arvich May 21, 2013 - 8:11pm

That little story was the first thing that popped into my head when I first read what this thread was. So I typed it and left it at that.

What I typed about the party was the first memory that popped in my head about a party I attended. It might not include spooky B movie effects, but hey, these things happen.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated May 21, 2013 - 8:16pm

In my defense, it isn't my fault my real life seems to include b movie effects and some author intervention.

G. X. Bradbury's picture
G. X. Bradbury from Corvallis, OR is reading The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States, by Paul Arvich May 21, 2013 - 10:43pm

No. That isn't your fault. You're absolutely right.

 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters May 22, 2013 - 7:33am

This conversation bores me. 

 

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated May 22, 2013 - 10:26am

@Avery - Good, my plan to bore you to death is going well.

@G.X. - I'll admit I don't have to bring up my real life though, so you can reasonably blame me for talking about it.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner June 20, 2013 - 11:25am

I am resurrecting this thread simply to have a forum for whatever random shit falls out of my head. 

 

Here's a picture of my dog. His name's Trevor.

 

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series June 20, 2013 - 3:30pm

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner June 21, 2013 - 5:18am

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!"

Yes! Aw. He deserves that. Also, how ya been, Meat!

 

Edit: Also, here's another picture. Enjoy. You're welcome. 

Also, muh lady is wanting to go on vacation but, sadly I don't know very many couples to go with. Then I realized if that's one of my only problems in life, I'm doing alright. 

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series June 22, 2013 - 8:54am

That is a sweet puppy. As for Meaty, I'm doing ok, my city is underwater at the moment, but apparently I live high enough up to still have electricity, water, internet and a dry basement. Can't really complain, right? 

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner June 22, 2013 - 9:38am

I know. I have more, but alas, I don't want to spam, Trevor......yet. 

 

 

I digress, I heard about your water issues in Alberta. I feel like I should send you my kayak, or at the very least a beach towel. I suppose it could be worse. You could run out of bacon, then it would really suck. Truly a nightmare. 

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series June 22, 2013 - 11:12am

Please spam the puppy as much as you can. I LOVE PUPPIES! I might go tooling around later and go see the water for myself, haven't left the house in a few days, as my paint stained sweat pants might suggest, so  maybe... real clothes today? and... FRESH AIR? It's sunny out, so I might as well take advantage. :D

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner June 22, 2013 - 11:19am

MORE TREVOR! 

Also get the hell out of the house! Get on your best flip-flops and clean-ish sweat pants and then go canoe down to the store and get a beer! You've earned it. 

 

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series June 22, 2013 - 1:39pm

I went out. Took the girl to the playground. Started raining heavy again within 5 minutes. SORRY CALGARY, I WON'T GO OUTSIDE ANYMORE. At least I can feel like a bigshot making it rain.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated June 23, 2013 - 6:05am

 

My dog.

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series June 23, 2013 - 4:28pm

Heeeheeeeheee! What a cutie.

Dean Blake's picture
Dean Blake from Australia is reading generationend.com June 23, 2013 - 4:33pm

I LOVE LAMP.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts August 17, 2013 - 5:29pm

ViggyNash's picture
ViggyNash from New Jersey is reading various words August 19, 2013 - 1:17pm

I was going to post something about paintball and anime but then live action Captain Planet happened.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry September 3, 2013 - 11:09am

How did Captain Planet kill Battle for the Last Post?

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts September 5, 2013 - 6:21pm

Captain Planet kills everything.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated September 6, 2013 - 3:45am

It didn't kill it. We just had to stop and think, "Am I really this petty?" I've decided "Yes, yes I am."

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters September 6, 2013 - 7:32am

When we had Monica Drake on the show I made a Captain Planet reference.  And she said she didn't know what that was.  Renee and I went on a lengthy tangent about it, explaining the show.  Eventually she was like, "...yeah, I think I do remember that..." 

I think she just wanted us to shut up. 

 

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts September 8, 2013 - 2:09pm

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated September 9, 2013 - 1:41am

Good times.

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin September 16, 2013 - 1:52am

^^THIS is what has been appearing around Northampton, UK creeping people out.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/15/not-funny-creepy-clown-lingers-on-streets-of-northampton-in-middle-of-the-night-4012455/

"Want a balloon..."

Dave's picture
Dave from a city near you is reading constantly October 2, 2013 - 1:21am

For the win

 

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry October 2, 2013 - 1:06pm

^ losing

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated October 2, 2013 - 1:14pm

Ouch! 

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry October 2, 2013 - 1:18pm

Burn!

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters October 2, 2013 - 1:25pm

I have to go to the grocery store this afternoon and I'm totally excited about it. 

I HAVE A LIST!

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated October 2, 2013 - 1:39pm

Prove it!

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry October 2, 2013 - 1:41pm

Prove that you're not a dog with Asperger's Syndrome, Dwayne.