Gentleman, I feel we must commence blogging on new membership. We can discuss member criteria and potential candidates here. Do we have any criteria written down already? I would like to propose the Old Boy as our first elected member...Dad would be an immense contributor and enthusiastic member of our club. He would provide a new perspective full of experience and wisdom we do not yet have.
Also, I propose that we create some sort of initiation for our new members. Something that would form a bond of unbreakable proportion. Honestly I think a very discreet branding of the letters MOP would be excellent...something we could all do. Nothing flashy or visible, just permanent. Commence blogging!
P.S. Colin or Tys, still waiting on that next book selection...
17 comments:
Well Gentlemen,
I know I said I'd have the book selection by November 12, and here we are a week later scratching our bulging proverbial noggins wondering what book to pick up next.
I wanted to set up my own topic with a picture and all that, but I have a feeling only our Belfastian brother has the clearance to do that. So without further adieu, I would like to announce the third installment of the Men of the Parchment book club. The book is:
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, by Nick Flynn.
I picked this book for a couple of reasons. So far we have read a piece of wonderfully absurd, almost fantastical fiction, and a rugged travelogue. While Bear's book falls into the memoir category, I thought this would be our first real excursion into the memoir. Also, the book takes place in Boston, a nice locale after the Red Sox pennant and the Patriots/Celtics dominance. Cheap airfare from BWI and Philly, by the way. Also, a friend of mine at Wilkes, who was writing a manuscript similar to mine, said that this was her favorite book, hands down. That and just that I have a good feeling about it and love the cover, make Another Bullshit Night in Suck City the next Men of the Parchment selection. See the links below for some more information. I was thinking maybe we could take a jaunt to Borders and/or Barnes and Noble to pick it up over the Thanksgiving holiday, that is if our buxom wenches will allow it.
P.S. It won't allow me to do any cool html coding.
http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall05/032940.htm
http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall04/005139.htm
Brother Colin,
A fine choice for the next installment. I am extremely excited to get the book and start reading asap. I read the reviews and it seems like other 'seekers of the written word' enjoyed it too.
A potential trip to Boston sounds awesome. Maybe the weekend of Martin Luther King Day? Just a thought.
A trip to B&N's over thanksgiving would be splendid but I fear this might be hard to do with and the festivities and so many coxcombs to babysit!
Plus I don't think I'll beable to wait that long to start reading it!
I feel like I should address Squire Evan's original posting...after all that is the purpose of a blog!
I agree that we should seriously consider adding to the club, and I can't think of anyone better to bestow this honour upon than Bob.
As far as I know I don't think there has been anything written down as far as how to go about inviting a new member. Nothing official, just spoken words amongst the campfire.
I think it would make a perfect Christmas gift this year for Bob if he was to receive a wax sealed envelope with the words....'dear coxcomb; open only if ready to have your life changed forever'.
Thought I'd get some ideas flowing~
Excellent idea Warren!!!! That would be a perfect invitation.
who is sir readslot!? is that evan!?
An excellent idea from Warren...is there any other kind!?
Tis I, Evan.
you sneaky son of gun!thought it was you!
i thought for a second we had an intruder in our midst!
I would like to third the motion to include the Ol' Boy in the MOP. And I love the idea of the wax sealed envelope. But I'm not sure if Christmas morning is the best time for it. I was thinking something more covert and secretive. Like we slip something for him to find in his briefcase or leave a note in the hand of the wooden Indian at the cigar shop telling him what to do next.
And we should think of an equally secretive way for him to accept or reject our invitation. Maybe if he accepts our invitation he should burn the envelope and it's contents producing white smoke. If he does not accept he should burn the contents mixed with straw so it produces black smoke.
OK, so i borrowed that from some other, not quite as exclusive, organization. But we can use that or think of our own acceptance ritual.
I like where you're going with this Readie...I like it a lot. Maybe we should devise some sort of code for where the acceptance letter is hidden and only a worthy parchment member would be able to solve our secret code. For instance, he might have to answer some questions that only he knows, or only a man would know the answer to.
Some great ideas guys. I love the waxed sealed envelope, sent to him at work, or left somewhere where he will find it. Maybe leave it under his pillow for added effect!
Whatever we do I think it might have to wait till after Christmas. I think we're all way to busy to give this invitation the attention it deserves.
By the by how is everyone getting on with 'Suck City'? I'm about 1/4 of the way through so far. It's not that far removed from 'The Tender Bar'. It's written differently, but has a similar theme. It's certainly not a feel good story!
Sincerely,
Viscount Blayney
Who says white boys can't dance...
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1214911669
Gentlemen, I have finally ordered the parchment from Amazon. Evan beat me to the last copy at our Local Barnes and/or Noble whilst I was draining my insides of some disagreeable meat pies from the Ventura House the previous night. Borders didn't carry the title so I finally called Nick Flynn himself and had him overnight it to me. I'm kinda excited that our book is more of a cult classic, one that your average bookstore nerd might not have heard about. Anyway, I'm eager to let the reading commence. Brother Warren, I know you received the book, Tyson, have you managed to land yourself a copy?
Thats right Brother Colin...I purchased the one and only copy at my local Barnes and Chernobyl's. I'm about halfway through the book so far. It's well written. I'm excited to hear everyone's opinions over the Christmas break. And obviously we will have to discuss the 'new member' situation.
I'm loving this blog guys...keep up the good work!
Alas I am ashamed to say I have not yet acquired the parchment. Although I can't think of a good reason why since the last 2 weeks I've been averaging about 3 packages a week arriving to my house for the Christmas season. So far I have managed to do it all on the internet, mainly in my boxers. But I digress...I can easily add the parchment to one of my online orders or perhaps try to pick it up in my sure to come last minute trip to an actual store.
My parchment hath arrived!
Click on my name to see a fun picture...I think.
Count Von Pluma
Fantastical news on the arrival of your parchment. Wonderful.
I got a real giggle out of the picture. A fine mustache indeed...very Ignatius!
Lord Lloyd of Paper
Has anyone received a piece of colored parchment indicating a yeah or neigh from our first ever elected candidate yet?
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