avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters August 1, 2012 - 8:48am

Here we are again in our monthly role call/getting to know you thread.
This is the thread for all our lurkers, new friends, infrequent friends, and regulars to come in and let us know they are not only alive, but what they’ve been up to. 

We miss you.  We love you.  You won’t return our phone calls…  So…

Are you alive?

Anyone in your house returning to school this month?

Any August birthdays?

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Cake or pie?

How are your pets?

Is there anything you’d like to tell me?

How many hours of sleep do you get on average?

Are these questions starting to get creepy?

What are you writing these days?
 

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like August 1, 2012 - 9:15am

Are these questions starting to get creepy?

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters August 1, 2012 - 9:23am

One day, you'll all be really happy I have these detailed records under my bed...

 

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter August 1, 2012 - 9:27am

Are you alive? - For a spin, I'm going to say NO.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? - Absolutely not!

Any August birthdays? - I think my dad as born in August... I'm terrible for not remembering.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? - I've never liked ice cream much. I'm more of a sorbet girl.

Cake or pie? - The rhubarb pie with defeat all other cakes and pies!

How are your pets? - Fat and docile. That's how I like 'em.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? - How much do you charge? Like, per hour? Like, for talk therapy, not prostitution.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? - I dunno. Let's just say the full eight so I sound like a functional person.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? - Oh no!

What are you writing these days? - A sexy story, which I am always guaranteed to write. This one's a bit sad, though, because the main character is a guy who turns forty. When is that not sad?

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies August 1, 2012 - 9:54am

Are you alive? - Yes. A lot of things are in flux, and I've had a work gig that was supposed to turn FT turn into a total cluster, but in the end I picked up a booking for the rest of the year. Lots of irons in the fire.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? - My twins are eight, boy and girl. We're trying to find fun things to do this last month before they get back to school that don't break the bank. Lots of museums, lunches out, driving around the cornfields of NW Illinois, and movies. All good.

Any August birthdays? - Nope.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? - It varies from day to day. I used to love the Ben & Jerry's New York Super Deluxe Fudge Chunk Orgasm, but that's so intense, can't do it every day. I've been digging frozen Snickers ice cream bars. At an ice cream shop I tend to lean towards coffee and chocolate.

Cake or pie? - Baker's Square has some great pies, like a French Silk. Anything chocolate works.

How are your pets? - One of my cats, Quixotic, was put down a few months ago. He was a maine Coon cat, so cool. He was 15. I cried like a baby at the vets. Cancer. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, hold him while she gave him the shot, just feeling him go. Horrible. Still have the white cat, Snowball, she's hiding in the basement since we got our black Lab/Spitz mix, Casey, who is so sweet. They make me smile on a daily basis.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? - Your spirit and attitude will take you far.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? - About six.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? - Not even close.

What are you writing these days? - My second novel Disintegration is with my agent, at a few really cool presses, full manuscripts, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. That top secret project I can't talk about, Four Corners, with Nik Korpon, Caleb J. Ross and Axel Taiari is ALSO with my agent. If she passes, we have some really great presses already interested. Those guys are amazing, some of their best work ever. Just turned in a really weird story that is all love letters for this Flying House artist co-op project I was accepted for here in Chicago. Big party August 25th. It's going to be really cool, my painter kicked ass, all kinds of ghosts and scarabs and loss. Beautiful coffee table book being produced. And I'll be editing an anthology of edgy literary short stories for a pretty big press, can't say who yet, contract not signed, but it's going to be awesome. You'll recognize a lot of the names. Shopping five stories, getting frustrated with them not getting accepted, but most of the markets are <3% so, I have to be patient. SO, not much.

Sound's picture
Sound from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael Wehunt August 1, 2012 - 10:00am

Are you alive? Yup

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Nope, next. Including me...

Any August birthdays? Yes, my 25th bday's tomorrow 08/02.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Butter pecan.

Cake or pie? Both.

How are your pets? Good, although my mini schnauzer woke me up in the middle of the night because I failed to fill her water bowl. Today it's cute, last night I wanted to strangle her.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? What do you want to know.....?

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? 7

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Not yet, when you ask me what's my favorite place to put my ice cream then it might be creepy.

What are you writing these days? I'm trying to find time to edit...but I keep thinking of new ideas that delay this.

Mckay Williams's picture
Mckay Williams from Oakland, California is reading slowly... August 1, 2012 - 10:01am

Are you alive? - I'm only mostly dead. 

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? - I keep trying to talk my cat into finishing up his degree, but he's kind of a pussy. 

Any August birthdays? - November. Presents can start coming now. 

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? - I can never decide between French Vanilla or Butter Pecan. I might secretly be an old man from 1947.

Cake or pie? - Pie.

How are your pets? - Besides wallowing in his lack of education, he's quite well. 

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? - I'm late to the party, so I don't have anything particuarlly insightful to tell you. You seem lovely though. 

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Not enough.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? - No mam.

What are you writing these days? - I'm editing a piece I wrote last year for a reading next month. I need to be writing new stuff though, s'why I joined back up. 

XyZy's picture
XyZy from New York City is reading Seveneves and Animal Money August 1, 2012 - 10:24am

Are you alive? For a change of pace, I'm going to say, Yes.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Nope.

Any August birthdays? My sister. Her birthday present for many years was, "First day of school!"

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? I like espresso gelato. Mint-chocolate-chip is a close second.

Cake or pie? I like pie, especially thick fruit fillings like cherry or apple. I think mostly because cake is now something served on styrofoam plates with plastic forks while dodging screaming five-year-olds, or on paper plates with plastic forks while dodging my boss that's looking for that report from last week during robert-from-accounting's birthday party in the "office break area". Pie has been somehow saved from that fate, and so is preferred.

How are your pets? Duh-duh-duh is the calico, and she's fine in her closet cubby-hole. Ninja Cat Incorporated is the tabby and unfortunately is at the vets with a rather serious bout with pancreatitis. They are optimistic and he is looking to make a recovery and return home at the end of the week. Marcus just got up and is heading to his cupcake-shop job. Erica left for work early in the morning, I assume she's fine.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? No, you'd just use it against me.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? wednesdays - saturdays I average 7 hours. sundays & mondays I get about 4 (total), tuesdays average about 11.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Does a baby need air-holes in its box?

What are you writing these days? Fifty Shades of Grey fan-fiction.

sean of the dead's picture
sean of the dead from Madisonville, KY is reading Peckerwood, by Jed Ayres August 1, 2012 - 10:31am

Are you alive? less alive than I was in July

Anyone in your house returning to school this month?  I plan on watching Back To School sometime this month.

Any August birthdays?  August birthdays?  no, December birthdays are the way to go.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?  no thank you

Cake or pie? probably pie, although I don't eat a lot of "sweets."  I haven't had a good fruit-filled pie in quite a while.

How are your pets?  I don't have any pets, but the wasps who built a nest outside my balcony door seem very busy.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me?  Soilent green is people!!!!!

How many hours of sleep do you get on average?  nowhere near enough, maybe 5 on weeknights?

Are these questions starting to get creepy?  I recently bought a new lock for my apartment door, if that tells you anything.

What are you writing these days?  I'm working through a couple of short stories that I plan on putting up in the workshop.  It'll be my first time, so I'm pretty excited.  I think I'm also going to do some revising of my Scare Us! story because a couple people gave me really great ideas just a couple days ago.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters August 1, 2012 - 10:43am

You guys are so awesome.

@Beka - I wrote the pie question for you.

@ Richard - I didn't know you had twins!  See people, we're learning, we're sharing.  We're family.

@Sound and McKay- My grandmother also love butter pecan.

@XyZy - I hope with all my heart you never abbreviate Ninja Cat Incorporated.

@sean - December birthdays!  This is why we get along (in case you didn't know, we get along)!

Michael J. Riser's picture
Michael J. Riser from CA, TX, Japan, back to CA is reading The Tyrant - Michael Cisco, The Devil Takes You Home - Gabino Iglesias August 1, 2012 - 11:44am

Are you alive? I keep pinching myself, but still not sure.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Me, for the first time in over a decade. A bit frightened and excited. Will probably have no time to write, which will likely drive me insane.

Any August birthdays? I'm sure someone, somewhere.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Ice cream is my favorite. Seriously. I never met an ice cream I didn't like.

Cake or pie? Pie, for sure. A good strawberry rhubarb or french apple always knocks me out.

How are your pets? Mitzi, my pit bull that I was fostering and who has since become my daughter, is awesome. She's sleeping right now after morning walk in extreme Texas misery-heat.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? You're pretty special. We're glad to have you around (I don't mean this sarcastically).

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Probably 6.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? They probably would be if anyone really cared, but I suspect no more than 2 or 3 people will actually read this, so not terribly worried about it. I'd be more worried if I was posting something about my secret plans for global genocide, but I'm not doing that.

What are you writing these days? Haven't seemed to find much time lately, and I don't know why. I've mostly been busy with the Clevenger intensive, which has been awesome so far. Both homework assignments so far have turned into seeds for decent stories, I think.

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig August 1, 2012 - 11:52am

Are you alive? I will be after I have some coffee.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Nope.

Any August birthdays? My mom and aunt.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Ben & Jerry's has a new "Late Night" something or other...it's ridiculously good.

Cake or pie? Depends on my mood.

How are your pets? My dog's got arthritic hips. Which sucks. The cats are fine. The fish...swims...which is what fish do. I think he's happy.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? Uh...no.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Not enough.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? I'm hard to fluster.

What are you writing these days? Taking Lidia's course so whatever she assigns :)

Grigori Black's picture
Grigori Black from US is reading Radium Girls by Amanda Gowin August 1, 2012 - 12:01pm

Are you alive? Jury's still out. 

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Technically no.

Any August birthdays? My father.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Who wants to know?

Cake or pie? What? I have to choose?

How are your pets? Held hostage. 

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? The blackmail photos are ready. 

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? What's sleep?

Are these questions starting to get creepy? If you had to pick a type of luggage to be detained within for an indeterminate period and unclear purposes, what would you choose?

What are you writing these days? An in-depth, detailed analysis on how many levels '50 shades of gray' is wrong and why it's an accurate reflection of the decline of western civilization with regard to our lack of cohesive culture and values. Abstract: It sucks. And... I'm done. 

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines August 1, 2012 - 5:18pm

Are you alive? BP 115/60, 12 BPM, temp 36.5C

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? I'm in my fifth writing workshop since November (cough *whore* cough)

Any August birthdays? My republican uncle who wears an eagle belt buckle 

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? All of them. Ice cream is people. 

Cake or pie? YES

How are your pets? My chausie cat is a total spazz and escaped while I was high on scotch only to come back after I declared on facebook I was giving her up to the universe this time and not looking for her beyond a preliminary back alley skim. 

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? Gosh, Avery. I feel like I should be doing more in the non-intensive community here on LitReactor and write and review in the workshop, but some days, I struggle to find time to floss properly twice a day. 

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? 6. Not enough, I don't think. 

Are these questions starting to get creepy? If you asked if we are circumcised or not, that may be crossing a line or two. 

What are you writing these days? I've got about fifty (honestly) solid pieces started since last November and am giving myself a full year to play with the beginnings before I hunker down with revisions and edits with a bent to submitting. I've got a 3500 word essay about being publicly naked with Cheryl Strayed and her family (and subsequently 17 of my co-writers) and my first "formal" writing class in the hot file and 600 words of a 2000 word piece where setting is King, due Friday. Weeeeeee! Oh, and is this a trick question, because I am writing this reply? Right now, which is soon to become the past. 

 

sean of the dead's picture
sean of the dead from Madisonville, KY is reading Peckerwood, by Jed Ayres August 1, 2012 - 5:22pm

@sean - December birthdays!  This is why we get along (in case you didn't know, we get along)!

Of course we do!  And please keep this in mind, now that you're the ruler of this kingdom.  I am aiming to become your right-hand man.  (I would also accept human footstool).

As far as December birthdays, we should start a street gang.  We'll all buy matching colored nylon jackets and put a patch of our logo on the back.  People will step aside as we walk down the street.  We will demand respect.

When is your birthday?

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters August 1, 2012 - 6:02pm

The 7th! I always wanted a cool nylon jacket.

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) August 1, 2012 - 7:42pm

Are you alive? very much so

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? my 4 yr old starts preschool. he has a Batman lunchbox. he's thrilled about it.

Any August birthdays? my mom

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? mint chocolate chip

Cake or pie? pecan pie. no other pie. no cake.

How are your pets? cat is still evil. dogs are still dumb. horses are finally getting along with the baby mule.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? this is my favorite thread. i always read all of it.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? 7-8 every damned nighton account a the pills i'm sposed to take.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? nope

What are you writing these days? working on a novel and 3 shorts at the moment.

 

also, lovesick sigh:

If you had to pick a type of luggage to be detained within for an indeterminate period and unclear purposes, what would you choose?

 

 

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest August 1, 2012 - 7:43pm

 

Are you alive? Obviously

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Nope

Any August birthdays? Nope

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla, yeah boring.

Cake or pie? Pie. Apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

How are your pets? My cat rocks! And the bird. He says Go Steelers and fuck, among a million other things. He rocks too.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? You're doing a wonderful job as our Defender.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Varies between 4 and 10 a night.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Not yet.

What are you writing these days? My novel

Mess_Jess's picture
Mess_Jess from Sydney, Australia, living in Toronto, Canada is reading Perfect by Rachael Joyce August 1, 2012 - 7:56pm

Are you alive? Yes! Though feeling a carb coma coming on. Ate vegetarian pasta with shitloads of pesto a little while ago.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? No, thank goodness. Not ready for kidlets yet.

Any August birthdays? Um, my Aunty in Australia turned 45 yesterday.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? I don't feel strongly enough about ice cream to have a favourite. I know... I know...

Cake or pie? Er, depends. If it's vegetarian pie, pie. If it's meat pie, cake.

How are your pets? Missing them terribly :( My lab x border collie Louis, terrier Scully and goldfish Nikki Sixx are at home in Australia with my parents. I'm worried my parents are forgetting to feed Nikki Sixx.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? There's probably not much I have that wouldn't come across as an over share right now.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Nine hours a night. I grow fangs and eat souls with less. Probably why I was such a good lawyer. Little sleep, maximum soul eating.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Not yet.

What are you writing these days? Feedback for the horror challenge here! Next week I'll get cracking on revising drafts of short stories I did for the horror course here in June/July.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts August 1, 2012 - 10:02pm

Are you alive? Entirely.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Is this like in that movie Scream?

Any August birthdays? I would have no freaking clue even if there were.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Ice cream is gross and evil, it's Satan's stoolwater. It's Beezleburb's butt-gravy. Keep away.

Cake or pie? Crab cake, motherfucking yeah.

How are your pets? Snoring.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? Am I getting arrested or something?

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? I quit drinking a short while ago, which apparently means I've also quit sleeping.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? I always find participation in answering these kinds of questions slightly more creepy than the questions being asked.

What are you writing these days? A couple stories about an IAB investigator character and a couple non-genre stories with a different character, about summertime and that sort of bullshit.

cosmo's picture
cosmo July 20, 2014 - 12:42pm

.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated August 2, 2012 - 12:15am

Are you alive? Yes.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Sort of. They are returning but aren't roommates yet.

Any August birthdays? No.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Strawberry. 

Cake or pie? Cake.

How are your pets? Wonderful, love my dog.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? ​So much.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? 6 most nights, but about 1 day a week 20ish.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Hit that long ago Doll, long ago.

What are you writing these days? Alternative history about legal assassins. 

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin August 2, 2012 - 2:07am

Are you alive? ~ Yep.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? ~ no, not till September.

Any August birthdays? ~ Nup.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? ~ something with vanilla, chocolate, nuts and caramel...mmmmm!

Cake or pie? ~ oooo cake, coffee cake, black forest gatau, victoria sponge, lemon drizzle, fairy cakes, muffins, almond slices, brownies, do doughnuts count... mmmmm

How are your pets? My cat Ziggy has just been really really ill :(  He came back from the vets bag-of-bones thin and with loads of bald patches from his operation. We couldn't let him outside for two weeks and he became evil angry cat, and jumped out of the bedroom window in a bid for freedom. He's feeling much better now, although still quite bald ~ total vet bill just over £2500 ~ thank god for pet insurance!  

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? ~ not just at this moment...

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? ~ 6 and a half, sometimes less, rarely more.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? ~ not yet, keep trying

What are you writing these days? ~ Scare us reviews and a few other little projects I've started.

 

@Richard ~ Sorry about your cat, I had to take our cat to be put down 4 years ago, she was terminally ill too. She was 12 and had a good life with us (we got her from a rescue Centre, she had been horribly abused) It was heartbreaking and I grieved for weeks afterwards. She was a lovely fat tabby and white cat who was a complete softy
  

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts August 2, 2012 - 2:16am

Hm, I never even considered before that such a thing as pet insurance existed.

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics August 2, 2012 - 5:28am

Oh, pet insurance is a must if you are a regular animal guardian. We had two guinea pigs, Selma and Patty, and one named Lingling. The three of them had allergies of all fucking things, and it took us about twelve hundred dollars before we even got that diagnosis. After that, a constant diet of children's Benadryl was the trick. We learned our lesson and got pet insurance for our cat, Hazel, and it covers ALL of her preventative care, so we're saving HUGE amounts of money.

Wow, I sound really pathetic now...

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics August 2, 2012 - 6:00am

Are you alive? Despite the Aghamuloch's repeated efforts otherwise, I am indeed still alive.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? I am about to go back to college after 17 years. I am terrified. Not scared of not being smart enough for the coursework, but not being calm enough not to beat the living shit out of the stupid kids who think they're grownups just because they're in college.

Any August birthdays? My mom turns 55. As much as I tease her about being wicked old, she still looks like she's 40. It's part of the Aghamuloch's curse. I'm only now starting to look like I'm out of high school and I graduated half a lifetime ago.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Homemade peach. Or strawberry.

Cake or pie? My woman's double fudge chocolate cake with strawberry preserves in the middle.

How are your pets? Hazel Hassenfrau is doing well. Just as clingy as usual. We've had storms lately, so she curls up at my feet and doesn't leave till the rain stops. We're convinced she is a reincarnated Vietnam vet because anytime she hears jets from the nearby Air Force Reserves base, she gets this PTSD vibe going. Oh, and she has her own twitter account now.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? There is no spoon.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? When I was young, I was so used to nurses checking vitals every hour that by the time I got to live a normal life outside the hospital, I was used to only sleeping in tiny increments and averaged about 3-4 hours a night till I was about 30. Now, I get about 6 or 7and feel like I've overslept.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? I like them. There's always something so endearing about an invasive, stalkery-type girl.

What are you writing these days? Nothing. My muse and I have had a really bad breakup and it's left me a bit dishevelled mentally. I have dozens of ideas, but without her love and support and stamina, I'm but a shell of my former literary self.

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies August 2, 2012 - 6:35am

thanks, voodoo

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics August 2, 2012 - 6:43am

@ Richard: I'd have said something too, but just reading what you wrote about it made me start to cry.

Emma C's picture
Class Facilitator
Emma C from Los Angeles is reading Black Spire by Delilah Dawson August 2, 2012 - 8:12am

Are you alive? Sometimes

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Husband is back to law school in 2 weeks.

Any August birthdays? My two coonhounds will be 3 and 2 on the 22nd.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? salted caramel

Cake or pie? BOTH AT THE SAME TIME

How are your pets? Coonhound Rikku is enjoying the hot weather and napping a lot. Coonhound Kenobi has decided she hates bedtime and throws a fit when we turn off the TV at night. New mutt puppy Yuffie is finally getting the hang of this potty outside business. Cat NOLA is fat and happy. Cat Voltron is spending more nights upstairs while we sleep. Guinea pig Hattie is keeping us all in line. 

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? You're very nice and smell like strawberries. 

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Too much lately. Like way too much. 

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Not at all. Don't be so self conscious.

What are you writing these days? I finished my novel MS two weeks ago. Since then I wrote my Scare Us submission, another horror piece about Marcel Proust, and I've started three other short stories. 

@Richard so sorry about your cat. I have a Maine Coon (Voltron) who hides in the basement. He's gorgeous but feral. His big adoptive brother Loki died April 1 this year after a long battle with FIP. Loki was my writing partner and editor and is missed daily. Saying goodbye never gets easier.

@Em I hope your cat's health continues to improve. Cats have such delicate systems, but they're the toughest animals I know.

 
XyZy's picture
XyZy from New York City is reading Seveneves and Animal Money August 2, 2012 - 9:01am

@Avery: That is the abbreviation. His full name is That Corporate Fat-Cat; Ninja Cat Incorporated, "I'm not a tabby, I'm a tubby." which was funny at the time, but seeing as he actually has dietary health problems, and may end up with a feeding tube, I'm thinking he'll just be Ninja Cat Incorporated from now on... Although, I do refer to him as Ninja L.L.C. from time to time, to spice things up.

And mostly it was just to spite my sister, who proclaimed that pets should only have, at most, two-syllable names. Ha!

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies August 2, 2012 - 3:21pm

thanks for the kind words about my cat. lately i've been crying all the time—my cat, the olympics, you name it. seriously, what is wrong with me. i guess killing and maiming all of the people i do in my stories takes a toll, yeah?

this is what he looked like:

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On August 2, 2012 - 3:54pm

Are you alive? In the physiological sense, yes.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? School did you say? I'd be happy if one of them would pick up a book other than to use it to balance a fern, or chuck at the cat when he scratches at the couch.

Any August birthdays? My best friend. She would not appreciate the date nor the age released however.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Anything with cookie-dough in it.

Cake or pie? The edge goes to pie, unless it's cheesecake.

How are your pets? Ornery when not sleeping.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? It's too hot outside, too cold inside. I'm feeling challenged by everything right now and not finding it too unpleasent.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? 6-7

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Not even close:)

What are you writing these days? A couple of shorts and starting to outline a movie.

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines August 2, 2012 - 5:17pm

Richard - so sorry about your cat. x

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter August 2, 2012 - 10:39pm

@Richard - It's your hormones. You're probably pregnant. Congrats!

For real, though, I'm sorry about your cat. One of my cats, Higgins, is a Maine Coon. I'm pretty sure he is anyway. Maine Coon's are awesome.

Boone Spaulding's picture
Boone Spaulding from Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.A. is reading Solarcide Presents: Nova Parade August 2, 2012 - 10:50pm

I've become an "infrequent friend." It happens. Beating life into a schedule that works more "me" time in...

Are you alive? Despite evidence to the contrary, yeah.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Not until September...

Any August birthdays? Nephew, who was born August 9, which usually falls during the week of the county fair. Lucky kid.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Pistachio. Very difficult to find. Why does every grocery store have pistachio-flavored pudding but not bother with pistachio ice cream? I've seriously considered just buying the pudding and freezing it...

Cake or pie? Or?!? What's this "or" sh*t? I'm not an "either/or" guy. I'm an "and/both" guy. Key-lime pie and chocolate-mint cake.

How are your pets? Idiosycratic. Even my dead cat (four-year-old shorthair black cat, named Q, died around July 4th) passed strangely. He drowned in the lake or channel. Much speculation as to how he died, but very mysterious, since many cats live here and many have encountered the water, and they all apparently swim (very quickly too). My guess? He clawed a carp or bass or channel catfish and was dragged into the water and drowned as he fought to keep the fish. He was a weird little shit, and I loved him. I tell everyone that he died as he lived - as a water-loving adventurer. Cashed in his 9th life...

P.S. to Richard - much sympathy. Love those giant Maine coons...they have giant personalities.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? Congrats on the Defender of the People promotion. Don't go power-mad. And, miss ya.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Tough. Let's calculate this...five hours a night, five nights a week; ten or eleven hours a night for the remaining two, 25 + 10 + 11 = 46, divide 46 by 7 and that equals 6.571 hours of sleep a night. Wow. But that's just the average lately... 

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Nah. Are the answers creepy yet?

What are you writing these days? Progress notes for folks who progress very precious little. Stalled on novel. Want to write treatments for comedy screenplays and horror short stories. Finish little. So I've progressed little myself. I've actually regressed some. Hmmm. Am I stuck? Am I getting somewhere? Am I learning what I don't want to write, with all these uncompleted projects? Am I question-talking? Why am I doing that?!? I hate it when people question-talk!

 

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies August 3, 2012 - 7:42am

that would explain a lot, Rebecca.

thanks for all the kind words, guys, about my cat. when you've had a relationship like that, hundreds of nights of petting a warm, furry sweet monster that sits in your lap and gives you unconditional love, it's hard to lose them. Quixotic will be missed.

@avery - obviously nobody is getting creeped out yet. you need to up the ante, yeah? :-)

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series August 5, 2012 - 12:13am

Are you alive? 
Yessir. Late, but alive.

 

Anyone in your house returning to school this month?
MEEEEEE!

Any August birthdays?
Not that I can think of off the top of my head.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
I had some with the wee one today that was fluorescent and called "cotton candy". It was tasty, for damn sure, but I think my favourite might still be Ben & Jerry's Funky Monkey. So. Good.

Cake or pie?
OH MY GOD DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE! I love eating cakes, baking pies, baking cakes and eating pies. I'm a sucker for a sweet round face.

How are your pets?
My big boy is mad at me for taking in a couple homeless kittens. Turns out I don't make a good cat lady. 

Is there anything you’d like to tell me?
I think it's nice that you care about our vital signs enough to ask us personal questions in a public way.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average?
Between zero and six, depending on the level of nocturnal animal activity, toddler related incidents, and other assorted terrors.

Are these questions starting to get creepy?
I think they could stand to be creepier. 

What are you writing these days?
Lists. Phone numbers. More lists. The alphabet. Hippopotamus erotica. Lists of future lists to write. Recipes. Prescriptions. Lists of prescriptions I wish to aquire. Retorts.

underpurplemoon's picture
underpurplemoon from PDX August 5, 2012 - 9:40pm

Are you alive? Yes.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Yes. Me.

Any August birthdays? Youngest nephew just turned two.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla.

Cake or pie? Pie.

How are your pets? Don't have any.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? No.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? 4-6.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? No.

What are you writing these days? Love spam to my dream woman.

Chris Johnson's picture
Chris Johnson from Burlington NC is reading The Proud Highway August 6, 2012 - 8:27am

Are you alive? Sure.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? My daughter Zoe.

Any August birthdays? None that I'm aware of and I keep track of birthdays, so...I think my friend's ex?

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate

Cake or pie? Depends on what kind. Chocolate cake yes. Apple pie yes. Cherry pie yes. You know, the good stuff only.

How are your pets? Just got a haircut, he's looking superbly malti-poo again.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? Good job on the Defender of the People title. Did I put the capitals in the right places?

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? 3-4 per night

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Never. I'll cross that line long before you get to it.

What are you writing these days? A short project about a young woman that goes crazy (I always stick myself writing about dese broads and I dunno how to go about it properly) and a longer narrative nonfiction about a little girl that was friends with my brother who was killed by other little kids in 1998.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters August 6, 2012 - 8:45am

Are you alive? Yes

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? My son is in preschool.  So...sort of.

Any August birthdays? My uncle, and I think my mom's husband, but I need to confirm that somehow.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? It depends, although I cuurently like strawberry a lot.

Cake or pie? Generally cake, but I can't turn down pumpkin pie.

How are your pets? I have a pug named Gatsby, but he lives with my mom now.  He's good, but he gets ear infections fairly often.  You have to watch that.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? I'm pretty surprised people took this as ME specifically.  Although that makes sense because it's what I said. 

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? about 6 or 7 right now. 

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Nah - you worry too much.

What are you writing these days? Something. 

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life August 6, 2012 - 8:55pm

Are you alive? Are you?

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? Nope.

Any August birthdays? There are, literally, millions of August birthdays.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? I don't know--the stuff made with other things. 

Cake or pie? I like cake better, but I don't eat either often.

How are your pets? Pet-rified. Because they are dead! Yuk yuk! THANK YOU! TIP YOUR WAITRESS!

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? Whatever you want to hear.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Sleep is so fucking lame. God I hate to sleep.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Starting?

What are you writing these days? I'm doing lots of research on kitchen knives and Russian mythology.

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) August 7, 2012 - 9:05am

my friend had a mini schnauzer named Gatsby - he ate all the Vonnegut books in his apartment (the dog ate them i mean, not my friend)

misskokamon's picture
misskokamon from San Francisco is reading The Moonlit Mind August 12, 2012 - 11:20pm

Are you alive?

 

Yes. Yes, I am.

 

Anyone in your house returning to school this month?

Nope! School's for chumps.

 

Any August birthdays?

 

Not for me! But my dad is an August guy.

 

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Birthday Cake Ice Cream. Duh.

 

Cake or pie?

Cake!

 

 

How are your pets?

Well, I haven't kept pets for about half a year now... all my ratties have passed on to the big cheese in the sky. My roommate's cat, though, has been going through some problems. (I'm his guardian if something happens to my roommate, so he's practically mine, too.) 

 

Is there anything you’d like to tell me?

 

I haven't disappeared! Work has been busy, so I don't get a lot of time to post, but I creep on everyone's threads from time to time. And, well, I need a break from writing... or, rather, I need a break from telling myself I should be writing. I'm working on a comic instead, which marries my love of writing with my desire to improve my art skill, and I'm allowing my novel ideas to stew on the backburner. This has been a great decision. Without the added pressure on my creativity glands, they're gushing with creative juices! I write the ideas down as they come, organize them in Scrivener, and add them to my novel's outline. I don't feel stuck or stressed about my writing projects now that I'm no longer thinking of writing as my future career, and I'm paying more attention to my CURRENT career. 

How many hours of sleep do you get on average?

5 hours a night. I get up at 7am, commute to work (that takes about an hour), work till 7PM, commute home, work on freelance junk, eat dinner, watch Xena: Warrior Princess, and get to bed about 1 or 2AM. 

I miss sleep.

 

Are these questions starting to get creepy?

 

No. 

Then again, I'm a bit of a creeper, so...

 

What are you writing these days?

I'm currently writing notes for this comic I'm working on. That's the project I mentioned a few questions ago, by the way. I've been working on a couple outlines on the side, though -- a fantasy and a scifi/fantasy, both YA, both very different stories from one another. 

Flaminia Ferina's picture
Flaminia Ferina from Umbria is reading stuff August 13, 2012 - 3:20am

Are you alive? Muscular pain says Yes.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? I wish my boss's customers would.

Any August birthdays? My dad, today. My yougest uncle, tomorrow. Cheers!

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Dark chocolate orange cynnamon. Yes, it's just one flavor. Brutal.

Cake or pie? Ciambellotto.

How are your pets? Pedro the dog looks like a little black piggy. He's fine. We love him that way.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? yes, Hi Jess!

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Too few.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Yes, but I know you can do better.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Nah - you worry too much.

                                                                                      Like this^
 

What are you writing these days? I'm rewriting my ScareUs! story. A hell of a job, but I'm having fun.

Jack Campbell Jr.'s picture
Jack Campbell Jr. from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp Meyer August 13, 2012 - 7:19am

Are you alive? Yes.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? I have two graduate classes coming up. Studies in the Novella and Ways of Knowing: A Comparitive Perspective. My son is also going back to pre-school.

Any August birthdays? My sister's was on the 8th, my niece was born on the 10th this year, and my son's birthday is the 23rd.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate or Peanut Butter

Cake or pie? Pumpkin Pie with a little whipped cream is better than anything.

How are your pets? My dog is getting up there in age and has been crapping on my floor at seemingly random times. I need to figure out what is wrong with her or if it is just age.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? I was not the second gunman.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Six or seven, although less on weekends than on weekdays. My son gets up the same time regardless of what day it is.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Creepy is relative, really.

What are you writing these days? I have a couple of editors that have requested I rewrite a couple of things and resubmit them. I am working on that, as well as the normal blog type stuff.

NikKorpon's picture
NikKorpon from Baltimore is reading Book and books and books and August 21, 2012 - 12:02pm

I like this.

 

Are you alive? Pretty much.

Anyone in your house returning to school this month? I am. Though I should be more positive as the semester starts up. It's going to be really long if I'm already not looking forward to my classes. 

Any August birthdays? My dad's.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Lactose intolerant, yo. Though my wife started getting me the B&J Fro-Yo and it's amazing. The Greek Yogurt one, too.

Cake or pie? Brownies and doughnuts, though I'm pretty much defenseless against all baked goods except cookies.

How are your pets? Fat and neurotic. So, pretty much normal.

Is there anything you’d like to tell me? Come closer...

How many hours of sleep do you get on average? Been seven-eight during the summer, which has been awesome. I'm sure it will quickly evaporate once I have three feet of papers to grade.

Are these questions starting to get creepy? Not creepy enough.

What are you writing these days? Still shopping a novel. Re-editing Stay God for Phil and Perfect Edge and writing a new novella to go with that. Working on a couple stories, one of which is YA that will be pretty fun, for some people. Lots of to-do lists as the summer dwindles to twilight, but on the upside, hurricane season will be picking up and the waves will be good.

 

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig August 21, 2012 - 12:23pm

Whoa..I totally forgot I did this month's already. I mean, I was CONVINCED it was the beginning of August despite being unhealthily attached to my calendar.

Oh my GAWD it is almost September...

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig August 21, 2012 - 12:24pm

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters August 21, 2012 - 12:27pm

It is nearly September.  Which means I have to prepare some new personal questions. 

This month has been crazy and just got away from me completely.  I wanted to respond to so many of these and never got a chance, but I'm really happy to see so many people enjoying this and not finding my obvious invasion of your private lives as creepy.  That makes me happy. 

 

sean of the dead's picture
sean of the dead from Madisonville, KY is reading Peckerwood, by Jed Ayres August 21, 2012 - 5:11pm

@Jessica: i think you should make it your September goal to be creepier in your questions.

Stacy Kear's picture
Stacy Kear from Bucyrus, Ohio lives in New Jersey is reading The Art of War August 21, 2012 - 6:32pm

Alive? Dead inside some days but alive by medical standards
School this month? Just me, finish this week :-)
August Birthdays? Boyfriend mourning turning 31 and daughter celebrating turning 16. I am mourning the loss of all the money this is costing me.
Ice cream flavor? Coffee, banana, cinnamon, pumpkin pie swirled together
Cake or Pie? I'm more of a tart
Pets? A mut that clings to life as we speak, peeing and shitting all over the house but too spunky to let him go.
Is there anything you want to tell me? Your southern accent is super sexy
Hours of sleep? 6
Creepy questions? Not at all, I expect full out creepy invasive and downright offensive questions for September, I want to know where the freakiest place someone has masterbated. I want to know if it was to your picture. Bring the creepy woman!
Writing these days? Just finished four stories for the class, sex, drugs, robbery, skinning and coon dogs, you know, the usual.