You worked all night on your flyer. It's got a picture of you smiling and holding a guitar. Underneath that is your headline.
"Guitar Lessons For Women."
Then comes the hard sell. "I will teach you how to play guitar in eight weeks, all in the privacy of your own home. Women only."
You're excited for your new business venture. You've looked around at the other flyers posted in the chinese takeout places and laundromats, and as far as you can tell yours is the first in-home guitar school that is specifically for females. You are certain that there are a lot of women out there who will be excited that there's finally a guitar teacher for them, a guitar teacher who will not just teach women guitar, but who will refuse to teach men the guitar.
As your flyer says, "If you're a woman and you want to learn the guitar, I'm ready to come over to your house. I will not teach mean guitar, nor will I give a woman a lesson if there is a man in the house. Absolutely private lessons guaranteed. No one else has to even know I'm there in your house."
All the baristas at the coffee shop who said your flyer is too creepy to post there, and the receptionist at the dance studio who said your flyer is too creepy to post there, and those first three copy shops who refused to xerox your flyers because they didn't want to get involved in the investigation that's sure to come, they're all just jealous that they didn't think of your idea first. This is the best business concept you've had since you opened your "Boys Under !2 Only Sauna."
Happy Guitar Lessons For Women Day!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Lantern Day!
Light your Pier One Imports decorative lantern and you will open a window through time to a place where wives sold themselves for money and husbands were fine with it, even proud. In the time before electricity, sex ruled the land and a husband whose wife didn't sell herself for money was considered miserly.
"Will all this descriptive stuff on the back of the tag really happen if I light this lantern?" you ask the Pier One Imports sales associate, who will shrug without looking up from her copy of People.
Your Pier One Imports decorative lantern will also light your way to a time when children over the age of six were forced to dig sewers. Many died there. They died heroes of sewage development.
"Do you have any lanterns that don't do this stuff?" you ask the Pier One Imports sales associate, who will go on her break.
The flame of your Pier One Imports decorative lantern will always flicker in the direction of the eldest virgin in the room, just like in the olden days, and if you look directly into the flame, you will see the faces of all of your deceased relatives who were sent to hell when they died. Cover all mirrors before lighting your Pier One Imports decorative lantern or else the walls of your home will scream with the anguish of sled dogs cut loose and left to perish alone when they grew too tired to cross the arctic.
"I seem to be having trouble letting go of this lantern. It's fused itself to the skin of my palm," you'll say to another sales associate who may or may not be there.
You are your Pier One Imports decorative lantern and your Pier One Imports decorative lantern is you. Burn always.
Happy Lantern Day!
"Will all this descriptive stuff on the back of the tag really happen if I light this lantern?" you ask the Pier One Imports sales associate, who will shrug without looking up from her copy of People.
Your Pier One Imports decorative lantern will also light your way to a time when children over the age of six were forced to dig sewers. Many died there. They died heroes of sewage development.
"Do you have any lanterns that don't do this stuff?" you ask the Pier One Imports sales associate, who will go on her break.
The flame of your Pier One Imports decorative lantern will always flicker in the direction of the eldest virgin in the room, just like in the olden days, and if you look directly into the flame, you will see the faces of all of your deceased relatives who were sent to hell when they died. Cover all mirrors before lighting your Pier One Imports decorative lantern or else the walls of your home will scream with the anguish of sled dogs cut loose and left to perish alone when they grew too tired to cross the arctic.
"I seem to be having trouble letting go of this lantern. It's fused itself to the skin of my palm," you'll say to another sales associate who may or may not be there.
You are your Pier One Imports decorative lantern and your Pier One Imports decorative lantern is you. Burn always.
Happy Lantern Day!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Turn Your Book Club Into An Anti-Government Militia Day!
Try and look distracted while your fellow club-goers are fighting it out over whether Lawrence or Ramsey is the better catch. When someone finally asks you what you think, throw your book down so that it shatters the glass top of the Noguchi knockoff coffee table and shout, "You all just wanna sit here and talk about chapter 9 of 'The Post Birthday World?' We are in the final chapter of the Post-America world people! And I am not just gonna sit here and find out what's in the epilogue while they tax us for every breath we expel! Who's with me?"
The other book clubbers will stare at you in silence. Then that week's host will get up and pull on a margarita glass in the sideboard, which will make the sidebar spin out to reveal a hidden weapons cache.
"Let's get to the woods," your book club host will say. "America still lives in the trees."
The rest of you will jump from your chairs and cheer. Then you'll each grab a weapon, pick up your kids from soccer, and then rendezvous at the compound in the north.
Happy Turn Your Book Club Into An Anti-Government Militia Day!
The other book clubbers will stare at you in silence. Then that week's host will get up and pull on a margarita glass in the sideboard, which will make the sidebar spin out to reveal a hidden weapons cache.
"Let's get to the woods," your book club host will say. "America still lives in the trees."
The rest of you will jump from your chairs and cheer. Then you'll each grab a weapon, pick up your kids from soccer, and then rendezvous at the compound in the north.
Happy Turn Your Book Club Into An Anti-Government Militia Day!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Your Strength Is In Your Nosehair Day!
You're like Samson, except disgusting. All of your strength and endurance is tied into the length of the hair that grows out of your nostrils. When you trim your nosehair, you find you can barely lift a glass of water without getting winded. But when you let it grow, you can lift couches over your head without taking a breath.
"I like that you're really strong," your girlfriend is going to tell you today. "But I hate that when I kiss you I often catch one of your nosehairs on my tongue and then I have to stop kissing you so that I can throw up for like an hour."
"I'm sorry," tell her. "But if I trim my nosehairs I will be vulnerable."
Your girlfriend will complain that you work in accounting and you don't need to be so strong. Tell her that advancing hordes only remain at bay because they know you're presently invulnerable.
"Break up with me if you ha--" You'll say, but she'll have already left screaming because she'll have spotted a some ants ascending the vine of your nosehair towards your chin and it will have shaken her to her core. GUESS WHO'S SINGLE AGAIN!!!
Happy Your Strength Is In Your Nosehair Day!
"I like that you're really strong," your girlfriend is going to tell you today. "But I hate that when I kiss you I often catch one of your nosehairs on my tongue and then I have to stop kissing you so that I can throw up for like an hour."
"I'm sorry," tell her. "But if I trim my nosehairs I will be vulnerable."
Your girlfriend will complain that you work in accounting and you don't need to be so strong. Tell her that advancing hordes only remain at bay because they know you're presently invulnerable.
"Break up with me if you ha--" You'll say, but she'll have already left screaming because she'll have spotted a some ants ascending the vine of your nosehair towards your chin and it will have shaken her to her core. GUESS WHO'S SINGLE AGAIN!!!
Happy Your Strength Is In Your Nosehair Day!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The Waste Of Society Day!
Society as a whole got together last night and elected one person to be THE Waste. The biggest waste of potential, of effort, and of space in all of western culture. That person's name is Leon Blatz. You came in second.
"I will murder Leon Blatz if it is the last thing I ever do," you say out loud to your homemade egg sandwich (scrambled eggs on untoasted wheat bread).
As runner up Waste of Society, you win new storm windows.
"I will accept my award of new storm windows and I will leave my storm windows in a pile on the floor, uninstalled for the rest of my days, while I pursue Leon Blatz to the ends of the earth. His life will be mine," you say out loud to the couch pillow.
As runner up Waste of Society, you also will receive a phone call from Thandie Newton, but she will have dialed the wrong number.
"I'll take it," you say to a six year old empty soda bottle sitting on one of your bookshelves.
Also, as runner up Waste of Society, your life is in danger as Leon Blatz knows he must defend his crown with blood and he has taken an offensive stance against you. Specifically, there is a rifle sight trained on your head as you talk to the items in your home about what you plan to do to Leon Blatz. The trigger will be pulled presently, and your conversation will end, and Leon Blatz will move on to the third runner up, and then the fourth, and then the fifth, until he has wiped out the entire human race, truly earning the title "Waste of Society" (HOLY SHIT THAT WORKED OUT GREAT!).
Happy The Waste Of Society Day!
"I will murder Leon Blatz if it is the last thing I ever do," you say out loud to your homemade egg sandwich (scrambled eggs on untoasted wheat bread).
As runner up Waste of Society, you win new storm windows.
"I will accept my award of new storm windows and I will leave my storm windows in a pile on the floor, uninstalled for the rest of my days, while I pursue Leon Blatz to the ends of the earth. His life will be mine," you say out loud to the couch pillow.
As runner up Waste of Society, you also will receive a phone call from Thandie Newton, but she will have dialed the wrong number.
"I'll take it," you say to a six year old empty soda bottle sitting on one of your bookshelves.
Also, as runner up Waste of Society, your life is in danger as Leon Blatz knows he must defend his crown with blood and he has taken an offensive stance against you. Specifically, there is a rifle sight trained on your head as you talk to the items in your home about what you plan to do to Leon Blatz. The trigger will be pulled presently, and your conversation will end, and Leon Blatz will move on to the third runner up, and then the fourth, and then the fifth, until he has wiped out the entire human race, truly earning the title "Waste of Society" (HOLY SHIT THAT WORKED OUT GREAT!).
Happy The Waste Of Society Day!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Heart Donation Day!
Your wife needs a new heart and only yours will work out.
"I'll do it," you tell the doctor.
"Sweet!" your wife shouts.
The doctor will tell you that if you donate your heart, you'll die. You and your wife just stare at the doctor.
"Uh huh," you say.
"What's taking so long?" your wife shouts.
The doctor says he just has to scrub in.
"It's been a great 22 years," you tell your wife.
"Yup," your wife says. "Pretty sweet."
You high five. You make one last inside joke about that Seinfeld episode you both like, then you lay down and have your heart surgically removed and reinstalled in your wife's body and that's the end.
Happy Heart Donation Day!
"I'll do it," you tell the doctor.
"Sweet!" your wife shouts.
The doctor will tell you that if you donate your heart, you'll die. You and your wife just stare at the doctor.
"Uh huh," you say.
"What's taking so long?" your wife shouts.
The doctor says he just has to scrub in.
"It's been a great 22 years," you tell your wife.
"Yup," your wife says. "Pretty sweet."
You high five. You make one last inside joke about that Seinfeld episode you both like, then you lay down and have your heart surgically removed and reinstalled in your wife's body and that's the end.
Happy Heart Donation Day!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sectional Couch Day!
You sit here and she sits there.
"Weapons?" she asks.
"Sure," you say. You reach under your cushions for a hunting knife and some throwing stars. She reaches under hers and pulls out two handguns, different ones, you don't know what they're called, but one looks like the kind Riggs would carry and the other would look good in Murtaugh's hand.
"Clothed or naked?" you ask.
"Tops and bottoms?" she asks.
You take off your bottoms. She takes off her top.
"Okay, let's do this," you say.
She takes a deep breath. "I feel scattered."
"I feel heavy," you say. "Like everything inside me is made of wet cement."
She laughs. "Can I write the Van Halen VH on your insides with a stick?"
You don't laugh. You throw one of your stars and she dodges it.
"I hate November. Always have," she says. "More so since you."
You tell her she's just scared of getting older. She shoots the Murtaugh gun and the bullet slices the skin of your left bicep.
Suggest a compromise.
"Let's both get on buses going in opposite directions. First one to jump off the moving bus to sprint after the other person's bus apologizing for everything and begging for a second chance loses," you say.
"Deal," she says. "You're gonna go down in flames."
You tell her you're well aware of that. Then you put on your tops and bottoms and go to the bus station.
Happy Sectional Couch Day!
"Weapons?" she asks.
"Sure," you say. You reach under your cushions for a hunting knife and some throwing stars. She reaches under hers and pulls out two handguns, different ones, you don't know what they're called, but one looks like the kind Riggs would carry and the other would look good in Murtaugh's hand.
"Clothed or naked?" you ask.
"Tops and bottoms?" she asks.
You take off your bottoms. She takes off her top.
"Okay, let's do this," you say.
She takes a deep breath. "I feel scattered."
"I feel heavy," you say. "Like everything inside me is made of wet cement."
She laughs. "Can I write the Van Halen VH on your insides with a stick?"
You don't laugh. You throw one of your stars and she dodges it.
"I hate November. Always have," she says. "More so since you."
You tell her she's just scared of getting older. She shoots the Murtaugh gun and the bullet slices the skin of your left bicep.
Suggest a compromise.
"Let's both get on buses going in opposite directions. First one to jump off the moving bus to sprint after the other person's bus apologizing for everything and begging for a second chance loses," you say.
"Deal," she says. "You're gonna go down in flames."
You tell her you're well aware of that. Then you put on your tops and bottoms and go to the bus station.
Happy Sectional Couch Day!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Deli Racist Day!
Today you're the deli racist. You're the guy in the corner deli who is openly raving about how much you hate the race of everyone who walks in the store. If you see an Asian person walk in, march up and down the aisle barking about how the Asians are walking on thin ice with you and they better watch it. If you see a black person walk in, march up and down the aisle barking about how the blacks are gonna get what's coming to them one day and you're gonna see to it. If you see a Hispanic person, march up and down the aisle talking about how Mexicans better not climb that wall cause you'll be waiting on the other side.
The customers will ask the deli owner why he keeps you there and the deli owner will explain that you ward off pests. That's when you'll see a mouse crawling out from under the soda fridge and you'll stop in your racist rant and drop to the floor to catch its tail in your teeth. Spend the rest of the day playing with the mouse until it's dead. Then expound a little bit on the Arabs.
Happy Deli Racist Day!
The customers will ask the deli owner why he keeps you there and the deli owner will explain that you ward off pests. That's when you'll see a mouse crawling out from under the soda fridge and you'll stop in your racist rant and drop to the floor to catch its tail in your teeth. Spend the rest of the day playing with the mouse until it's dead. Then expound a little bit on the Arabs.
Happy Deli Racist Day!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Pictures From Your Mom's And Dad's Wedding Day!
If you look closely at the photos of your Mom's and Dad's wedding, you can see the dark, monstrous face of someone standing in the background.
"That's Satan," your Mom says.
"Yeah he was there," your Dad says.
You ask them why Satan was at their wedding.
"Your mother summoned him," your Dad says.
"It was before I met your father," your Mom says. "I was just a kid. I gradually grew out of all that but we were still in touch on occasion. When it came time to send out invites, it would have been rude not to invite him."
You say that it kind of looks like there's a dark, angry spirit hovering over their nuptials.
"Yeah. Because Satan was at our wedding," your Dad says. "Hello? You in there?"
"You'll see," your Mom says. "When you get married you'll have to invite people you don't want to invite."
You make a vow right then and there to begin cutting off ties with Steve the Malevolent Angel Whose Arrival Portends The Coming Judgment of Man. He'd bring a date and you know EXACTLY how that would play out.
Happy Pictures From Your Mom's And Dad's Wedding Day!
"That's Satan," your Mom says.
"Yeah he was there," your Dad says.
You ask them why Satan was at their wedding.
"Your mother summoned him," your Dad says.
"It was before I met your father," your Mom says. "I was just a kid. I gradually grew out of all that but we were still in touch on occasion. When it came time to send out invites, it would have been rude not to invite him."
You say that it kind of looks like there's a dark, angry spirit hovering over their nuptials.
"Yeah. Because Satan was at our wedding," your Dad says. "Hello? You in there?"
"You'll see," your Mom says. "When you get married you'll have to invite people you don't want to invite."
You make a vow right then and there to begin cutting off ties with Steve the Malevolent Angel Whose Arrival Portends The Coming Judgment of Man. He'd bring a date and you know EXACTLY how that would play out.
Happy Pictures From Your Mom's And Dad's Wedding Day!
Monday, November 09, 2009
The Bikini Car Wash Is Going To Be Shut Down Day!
There's a greedy, evil developer who wants to build a giant strip mall in town and they're going to try and shut down the Bikini Car Wash that's been dispatching bikini clad girls to wash the town's cars for the past three decades. If the Bikini Car Wash doesn't raise ten thousand dollars over the next week, they'll be done for.
"But how do we raise money to save a Bikini Car Wash?" wonders Mama Fredricks, the owner of the car wash. "It's not like we can just hold a bikini car wash. That's just our daily grind."
"The town usually comes to us to raise money for the about-to-be-shut-down orphanages and recreation centers," says Frida, the hottest girl at the car wash. "Maybe it's about time the town paid us back."
"What could this town possibly have to offer that could make people empty their pockets the way they do for a bikini car wash?" wonders Leona, the fifth hottest girl at the bikini car wash.
That's when it hits them all at once. They all throw silk robes over their bikinis and they run to the women's prison to ask the warden if she'll force the inmates to put on a sex show for which they'll sell tickets.
Happy The Bikini Car Wash Is Going To Be Shut Down Day!
"But how do we raise money to save a Bikini Car Wash?" wonders Mama Fredricks, the owner of the car wash. "It's not like we can just hold a bikini car wash. That's just our daily grind."
"The town usually comes to us to raise money for the about-to-be-shut-down orphanages and recreation centers," says Frida, the hottest girl at the car wash. "Maybe it's about time the town paid us back."
"What could this town possibly have to offer that could make people empty their pockets the way they do for a bikini car wash?" wonders Leona, the fifth hottest girl at the bikini car wash.
That's when it hits them all at once. They all throw silk robes over their bikinis and they run to the women's prison to ask the warden if she'll force the inmates to put on a sex show for which they'll sell tickets.
Happy The Bikini Car Wash Is Going To Be Shut Down Day!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Hate The Show "Psych" Day!
There's a show called Psych on TV and you've never seen it, but today's the day you're going to begin hating it.
"What's it about?" you ask.
Psychic cops maybe? Or cops hunting psychics and rounding them up because they can't be trusted? People just messing around with each other who then shout "Psych!" Maybe?
"What do I get if I hate it?" you ask.
One million dollars.
"Really?!" you ask.
Psych!
"Holy crap. I hate you right now," you say.
No, you hate the show "Psych."
"No I don't," you say. "I hate you. I hope you lose a family member today. One of the ones you like seeing over the holidays."
Don't say that.
"Just did," you say.
Look, this was supposed to be about the show "Psych."
"You made it about you by being the worst entity in existence. Get set on fire," you say.
So are you going to watch the show "Psych" just to spite me?
"Every episode. I'm going to rent the DVDs to catch up on the plotlines. Just to make you feel like you failed at something."
What if I told you I'm on the marketing team for the show "Psych?"
"Oh shit are you serious?"
Psych?
"I have no idea whether to watch Psych or not now," you say. "My life has come to a halt."
Because of the show "Psych." Told you it was worth hating.
(You don't say anything because you have lost your will.)
Happy Hate The Show "Psych" Day!
"What's it about?" you ask.
Psychic cops maybe? Or cops hunting psychics and rounding them up because they can't be trusted? People just messing around with each other who then shout "Psych!" Maybe?
"What do I get if I hate it?" you ask.
One million dollars.
"Really?!" you ask.
Psych!
"Holy crap. I hate you right now," you say.
No, you hate the show "Psych."
"No I don't," you say. "I hate you. I hope you lose a family member today. One of the ones you like seeing over the holidays."
Don't say that.
"Just did," you say.
Look, this was supposed to be about the show "Psych."
"You made it about you by being the worst entity in existence. Get set on fire," you say.
So are you going to watch the show "Psych" just to spite me?
"Every episode. I'm going to rent the DVDs to catch up on the plotlines. Just to make you feel like you failed at something."
What if I told you I'm on the marketing team for the show "Psych?"
"Oh shit are you serious?"
Psych?
"I have no idea whether to watch Psych or not now," you say. "My life has come to a halt."
Because of the show "Psych." Told you it was worth hating.
(You don't say anything because you have lost your will.)
Happy Hate The Show "Psych" Day!
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Your New Sweater Pillow Makes You Dream About Things Wearing Clothes That Shouldn't Day!
You bought a brand new, soft, supercomfy sweater pillow from West Elm. It's a big puffy down pillow covered in the kind of fabric normally reserved for cableknit sweaters. You love to nap on it, except whenever you do you start dreaming about mailboxes wearing dresses, refrigerators dressed up in tuxedos, cartons of eggs that are sold wearing little pairs of jeans, a car with a giant bowler hat on its roof, and trees wearing sexy leather miniskirts which is especially unsettling as it makes you dream of having sex with trees. These dreams are weird but your dreams are always weird and your new sweater pillow is too important so deal.
Happy Your New Sweater Pillow Makes You Dream About Things Wearing Clothes That Shouldn't Day!
Happy Your New Sweater Pillow Makes You Dream About Things Wearing Clothes That Shouldn't Day!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Tara's Home Day!
Tara's home. It's 8 AM and she wants to come in.
"Come on Jeff! Open the door!"
"Not again Tara! That was the last time!"
Every night your neighbor Tara leaves the house to go out and get her drink on and maybe a few dudes, and every morning she shows up home again demanding that her boyfriend buzz her in. She stopped carrying keys because she always loses them.
"Jeff! It's cold!"
"I can't Tara! I owe it to myself to not let you in!"
You threw away your alarm clock a long time ago. A few months after moving into your new place you learned you can always count on Tara's shrill, newly sober voice and Jeff's weak-kneed heartbreak would be there every morning at 8 AM to shake you awake and send you to the shower. Occasionally you push the snooze button and wait for Tara to walk down to the corner deli to buy a loose cigarette, then come back and put the icing on the cake.
"Jeff! I love you! Please don't do this!"
"I swear to God Tara, this is the last time."
Buzzzzzzz!
Good morning!
Happy Tara's Home Day!
"Come on Jeff! Open the door!"
"Not again Tara! That was the last time!"
Every night your neighbor Tara leaves the house to go out and get her drink on and maybe a few dudes, and every morning she shows up home again demanding that her boyfriend buzz her in. She stopped carrying keys because she always loses them.
"Jeff! It's cold!"
"I can't Tara! I owe it to myself to not let you in!"
You threw away your alarm clock a long time ago. A few months after moving into your new place you learned you can always count on Tara's shrill, newly sober voice and Jeff's weak-kneed heartbreak would be there every morning at 8 AM to shake you awake and send you to the shower. Occasionally you push the snooze button and wait for Tara to walk down to the corner deli to buy a loose cigarette, then come back and put the icing on the cake.
"Jeff! I love you! Please don't do this!"
"I swear to God Tara, this is the last time."
Buzzzzzzz!
Good morning!
Happy Tara's Home Day!
Monday, November 02, 2009
Elder Army Day!
You and the other women in your nursing home are sick of sitting around all day doing nothing.
"Let's form an army," say to them.
"What?" one will ask.
"An army," you'll repeat, louder into her good ear.
All of the other residents will look at each other for arguments against, then they'll all shrug and nod.
"Which one of your sons can get us weapons?" ask them.
Four of the women will raise their hands. Their sons are all members of domestic terrorist groups who are worried about health care reform.
"Who will be the target of our first assault?" one of the residents will ask.
Spin the rocking recliner in which you're seated slowly on its base so that you're facing all of them in such a position that the buzzing florescents above light your face in the most sinister manner.
Tell them, "Whoever gets in our way."
When an orderly shows up to give you all medication, strangle him to death with your catheter and flee.
Happy Elder Army Day!
"Let's form an army," say to them.
"What?" one will ask.
"An army," you'll repeat, louder into her good ear.
All of the other residents will look at each other for arguments against, then they'll all shrug and nod.
"Which one of your sons can get us weapons?" ask them.
Four of the women will raise their hands. Their sons are all members of domestic terrorist groups who are worried about health care reform.
"Who will be the target of our first assault?" one of the residents will ask.
Spin the rocking recliner in which you're seated slowly on its base so that you're facing all of them in such a position that the buzzing florescents above light your face in the most sinister manner.
Tell them, "Whoever gets in our way."
When an orderly shows up to give you all medication, strangle him to death with your catheter and flee.
Happy Elder Army Day!