Welcome to the 6th floor.

Today’s contributors are: Ann, Sara, Tabitha, Billy and Scott.

Subject: Withdrawal

Recap:  Tabitha and Billy are Unplugged, spending a week without computers.

“I think I’m going through withdrawal.” Tabitha says, eyeing Sara checking her email on her phone at dinner with Billy, Scott and Ann.

“Not surprised.  I checked your Farmville earlier, all your watermelons are rotting away.”  Sara teases.

“I miss the cellphone, but I’m doing well.  I’ve read a couple of books I wanted to, and haven’t missed doing all those silly things you do on computers that take up time.  Following random links people send you that rarely end up being funny, reading webcomics that aren’t funny but are in your feed reader so you feel obligated to clear it out..”  Billy notes.

“You _can_ clear out your feed reader of junk you know.  I do an audit every couple of months to try to keep the clutter down.” Sara explains.

“I just accumulate everything and have hundreds of unread posts.  I add a lot of New York blogs that I want to read and possibility exchange links with, and many of them just suck.”  Ann says.

“Delete them!  You’d be better off working on the blog site, or the blog itself, than trying to get more links anyway.” Sara says.

“What? Actually write regularly?  What kind of writer does that?” Ann replies, sarcastically.

“Why do I always order this?  It always sounds good on the menu, and then I taste it and regret it.” Sara complains, pushing her meatloaf around the plate.

From Pictures

“It’s because they say they cook it with beer.  Gets you every time.  It’s one of the buzzwords that they use to try to sell food.”  Scott explains.

“What really gets me is my memory.  We eat here at least once a week, you’d think I’d remember that the meatloaf sucks.” Sara says.

Cindy: “You’re going to hurt the meatloaf’s feelings, insulting it like that.”  Cindy says, clearing away some empty plates.

“Another please Cindy.” Scott says, holding up his empty beer glass.

Cindy: “Certainly.  You’re going to hurt the meatloaf’s feelings, insulting it like that.”  Cindy repeats.

Scott sighs and clarifies.  “Another beer for me.”

Cindy: “Coming right up.  Are you done with that one?”  Cindy asks.

Scott looks down at his empty glass.  “No, I think I’ll try to lick the last drops out of this one.”

From Pictures

Cindy: “Okay.” Cindy says, walking away.

“I think she’s getting worse.”  Scott notes.

“Try working with her.” Ann says, shuddering.

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Welcome to the 6th floor.

Today’s contributors are: Ann, Sara, Tabitha, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: Thanksgiving is Coming

All six of the 6^th Floor Gang are out to dinner, It’s Sunday night, and they’re discussing the short week and Thanksgiving.

From Pictures

“Are we all staying here again this year? Or are some of you escaping to your families?” Ann asks.

“I haven’t actually decided yet. My parents invited me home, but I’m feeling lazy about making the trip.” Tabitha says.

“My parents stopped doing holidays years ago.” Billy says.

“Likewise. Now they just use the four day weekend for vacations. I think they’re leaving for San Diego Tuesday night.” Scott says.

“My brother John was going to come to New York with my sister, who’s never been to New York, but he couldn’t really take off of work to get here, and it’s a bit expensive. So I’ll be around.” Frank says.

“My family is actually celebrating on Saturday. So I’ll be free Thursday.” Sara says.

“Celebrating Saturday? That’s..just..wrong.” Frank admonishes.

“Yeah, everyone knows you can only be thankful on Thanksgiving. After that you’re required to go back to being a selfish, cruel American.” Billy says.

“Especially in New York.” Frank adds.

“Are we getting our party on Wednesday night?” Scott asks, hopefully.

“Actually..while I’ll be here for Thanksgiving, and even would be willing to cook a bird, I’m going home to Long Island Wednesday night.” Ann says.

“Long Island? Why would you do something like that?” Scott asks, confused.

“Couple of high school friends are getting together to go out. And you always run into other old high school friends at bars in our home town.” Ann explains.

“Boo! Tell them to come to Manhattan. You don’t really want to go to a trashy Long Island townie bar to run into classmates you hated when you were in school and probably still hate now do you?” Scott asks.

“We flipped a coin, and it was decided I would come there instead of the three of them coming here. I’ll just crash at my parents place, but I’ll be back in the morning.” Ann says.

“If you can stay vertical enough to board a train anyway.” Billy says.

“I doubt I’ll drink that much that I’m hungover until dinner…” Ann says.

“Then you’re doing it wrong.” Sara says.

“How about you come with me and show me how it’s done then? My parents have an extra bed you could crash on..” Ann invites.

“You’re on!” Sara says.

“Hey now, you’re inviting her but not us?” Scott complains.

“Girls only. Sorry.” Ann says, sticking out her tongue.

“Tab? Want to come as well?” Ann asks.

“No thanks. I’ll just stay here, maybe I’ll bake a pie or something.” Tabitha says.

“Guess it’s just us guys here in Manhattan.” Scott notes.

“We don’t need no stinkin’ girls anyway.” Billy says.

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Welcome to the 6th floor.

Today’s contributors are: Ann, Sara, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: Zombies Want Your Brain

Ann, Sara, Frank, Billy and Scott are walking out of the movie theater and headed home.

From Pictures

“That was an awesome movie. Best zombie movie I’ve seen all year.” Frank says.

“Makes me want a Twinkie.” Billy says.

From Pictures

“How about a Snowball?” Ann asks.

“I agree with Woody Harrelson. Don’t like the consistency of coconut.” Scott replies.

“The ending in the amusement park wasn’t so good. It was so stupid that they went in there, and then on the ride.” Sara says.

“I guess it might’ve been a little contrived, but it worked.” Ann says.

“It was neat how they plastered the zombie rules actually into the movie as things happened. Gave it a video game feel.” Frank observes.

“The narrator aspect of it left no doubt that it was meant to be comedic.” Billy comments. “That was nice.”

“It wasn’t a movie where everyone was frantically trying to find a ’safe’ area, or find a cure. It was just about life moving on really.” Sara says.

“It didn’t try to raise any difficult issues like repopulating the earth, or running out of gas, or wondering what they would eat.” Ann says.

“I don’t think he was trying hard enough to find the Twinkie. They’re in like every store!” Scott exclaims.

“They were so stupid for letting those girls con them over and over again.” Frank observes.

“Emma Stone is hot. I’d let her con me too.” Scott notes.

From Pictures

“Good point.”

“Hang on guys.” Billy says, entering a deli.

“Where’s he going?” Sara asks.

“Where do you think?” Frank says.

“Twinkies, of course.” Ann says rolling her eyes. “Oh well, hope he gets enough for all of us.”

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Welcome to the 6th floor.

Today’s contributors are: Sara, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: That Bacon Smell

Sara walks in to the apartment, it’s 8am and her nostrils are instantly assaulted with the smell of bacon.

From Pictures

“Oh! This place reeks! What have you guys been doing?!” Sara exclaims.

“I’d have thought it’d be fairly obvious.” Frank replies from the kitchen.

“We’re cooking bacon!” Billy replies happily.

“You guys are seriously up at 8am just to cook some bacon?” Sara asks.

“It’s bacon!” Billy replies happily.

“Actually, I haven’t been to bed yet. I was running hot last night, all the cards were hitting and I just couldn’t turn the computer off.” Frank says.

“What were you doing out at 8am anyway? You don’t work anymore..” Billy asks.

“Oooh..is this the walk of shame?” Frank asks, looking Sara over. “Was that what you were wearing yesterday?” Frank turns to Billy. “Do you remember what she had on yesterday?”

“I wish it was as exciting as that. I just went to get coffee because I was too lazy to make it.” Sara says, hoisting her coffee cup.

“You were too lazy to make coffee, but shuffling out of the apartment, down five floors, and down the street was okay?” Billy asks, incredulous.

“I went in a daze. Getting the coffee down, filling the damn pot with water. Cleaning the pot first because I didn’t clean it yesterday..” Sara shudders.

Scott wanders in looking more than half asleep. “I smell bacon. I’ll get up for bacon. Where’s the bacon?”

“Wow. Better than an alarm clock for Scott, bacon.” Sara says.

“Just about ready Scott. Have a seat.” Frank says.

“Just about is good enough.” Scott mumbles. He walks over to the stove, snatches a piece of bacon of the griddle, hisses in pain and drops the bacon onto the counter. Scooping it onto a plate with his other hand, he takes the plate and sits down.

“Smooth one.” Sara says.

Scott just grunts.

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Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today’s contributors are: Ann, Frank

Subject: Spaghetti Pot

Ann arrives home to Frank making himself lunch.

“Spaghetti for lunch eh?” Ann notes.

“I love me my pasta.” Frank replies, stirring the pot.

“Are you making for everyone?”

“No one else is home.”

“Then why are you using the giant pasta pot for one serving?”

“Because the spaghetti fits better.”

From Pictures

“Can’t you just break it in half?”

Frank gasps. “Break it in half? If it was meant to be broken in half, it’d be sold broken in half!”

“All right, geeze. You going to baked zitify it? We’ve got mozzarella and ricotta in the fridge right?”

“Didn’t think we had ricotta, but I didn’t check either.”

“Lazy as usual.” Ann opens the fridge, digs around a little, finds the ricotta cheese and hands it to Frank.

“Uhh..Ann?” Frank asks, peering at the package. “It says it expired in January.”

“Probably not good then huh?” Ann asks, lifting the lid a bit.

“Oh, ewww! Throw that out!”

“You throw it out! I’m cooking!”

“I didn’t buy it! It’s your cheese! You throw it out!”

“How do you remember it’s mine? Who cares! Get rid of it!”

Ann carefully lifts the lid of the garbage can, and knocks the cheese into it. “Gross!”

“Hey, I didn’t tell you to dig around in the fridge for old cheese. I can just imagine what’s in there.”

“Someone really should clean it.”

“Not it!” Frank exclaims.

“We’ll make Tab do it…she’ll clean.”

“Just show her the cheese. It’ll gross her out enough to clean the fridge.”

“Definitely.”

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Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today’s contributors are: Ann, Sara, Frank, Billy.

Subject: Frank’s Fortune

“I always feel so comfortably full after Chinese food.” Frank says, pushing his plate away from him.

“I always feel overfull. I don’t think I should’ve had that egg roll.”

“I told you I would’ve eaten it.”

“I know, I know. I should’ve let you.”

“There is always room for fortune cookies though.” Sara says, handing them out.

After opening and eating his cookie, Frank reads his aloud.

“The conclusion is the place you get when you’re tired of thinking.”

“Is that really a fortune?”

“Not really.”

“The conclusion is the place you get when you’re tired of thinking in bed. Doesn’t really work.”

“I dunno, it’s kinda zen.”

“I don’t think that’s zen. Just lazy. It’s not a conclusion if you don’t actually conclude anything, no matter when you stop thinking.”

“And who keeps thinking after you come to a conlcusion? That’s just redundant.”

“I think you’re over thinking it. It’s just a silly phrase.”

“It’s just making a statement that you can never know everything and once you stop thinking you stop learning.”

“Bah, this is too much learning from my dessert. Someone get me some Jello.”

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Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today’s contributors are: Ann, Sara, Tabitha

Subject: Cupcake Temptation

Sara walks in after work, and immediately pauses.

“What’s that smell? I smell…sugar!”

“Ann made cupcakes.” Tabitha explains, with a mixture of desire and disgust on her face.

“How am I supposed to lose weight with cupcakes in the apartment? Ann!”

“Just don’t eat them?”

“Yeah. That’ll work.” Sara says sarcastically.

“Maybe you could burn them a little?”

“If you can hold off until Scott and Billy get home, I’m sure you won’t have to resist for long.”

“You can do what I’m doing. I’m drinking as much water as possible so that I don’t feel like eating.”

“She’s also spent 10 minutes of every hour in the bathroom.”

“Small price to pay. There are probably three hundred calories in one of those things!”

“They do look good though.” Sara stands in the kitchen, mentally debating whether she should have a cupcake or not.

“These have strawberry icing, it’s slightly pink.” Ann says, indicating a group of cupcakes on the counter.

“Chocolate cupcake, strawberry frosting…I think I’m sold. I’ve been good today..I’ll go for a walk later. Yeah..” Sara grabs a cupcake.

“Nooo!!!”

“Delicious! You’ve got to try one Tab.”

“Fine. I give in. Who needs to be thin anyway right?” Tabitha consents.

“Here, vanilla cupcake, chocolate icing.”

“Mmmmm!” Tabitha moans while chewing.

“Great cupcakes Ann. And the apartment smells great too.”

“I’m surprised it hasn’t woken Frank up yet. Or is he not here?”

“You can never tell with that one.”

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Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today’s contributors are: Sara, Frank

Subject: Happy Green!

Sara is drinking coffee and browsing Google News in the morning before getting ready for work, Frank is brewing a second pot of coffee.

“You’re up early Frank. You going to the Parade?”

“Nah. Too crowded. I just ended up in bed early, so I’m up early. Going to make some Irish coffee..you want any?”

“No, I’m good..probably should get to work anyway.” Sara looks at her watch. “Got a couple of minutes..maybe a travel mug of Irish coffee..”

“Or a flask? You’ll fit right in with the homeless guys on the train!”

“A flask of Irish Coffee? I don’t think they make flasks insulated for heat.”

“Oh. True.” Frank says, pushing ‘on’ on the coffee pot.

“I’ll pick up some Guinness on the way home. We can drink them tonight.”

“Green eggs! That’s perfect! Want some?” Frank says, squeezing drops of green food coloring onto his eggs.

“Gross! I don’t think that’s what they mean by green eggs..”

“I’m just going to get a green bagel on the way. I’ll trust my food dyes to the professionals.”

“You’re missing out..”

“Eggs aren’t really my thing anyway. Take a picture though, I’m sure Billy will find it appetizing.”

“Billy finds everything appetizing.” Frank says, as he pours Irish Cream into his coffee.

“Exactly.”

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