Bobby Darnell’s – ‘Plug-In Play Collaboration Modules’

I have been very fortunate in my life to be surrounded by very creative people.  Several of my friends make their living by being creative, others like Dr. Michael Kinsley, a friend since childhood, express their creativity on a part-time basis.

Years ago, Michael started ‘Center Stage For Christ’, a local theater group, and has written several plays that have made it to the stage.

As much as I would like to have a few screenplays under my belt, time seems to be limited. However, Recently I was able to carve out some time and created something to help scratch that itch.

Introducing – Bobby Darnell’s ‘Plug-In Play Collaboration Modules’

(Get it!?  Plug in Play!)

Since I don’t have time to write an entire play, I created these small tidbits that can be used in a play, movie or whatever.  They will not disrupt the feel or mode of the scene but will add a bit of flavor beyond the main author.

Let me know what you think:

Pencil Please

Character A:  “Oh, by the way, do you have a pencil I could borrow?”

Character B:  “A pencil…how about a pen?”

Character A:  “Well, I know beggars can’t be choosers but, yes, a pencil if you have one.”

Character B:  “I could be wrong but I am pretty sure I don’t have a pencil.”  (Looks around for a pencil)  “Nope, sorry, no pencil, here’s a pen.”

Character A:  (With a furrowed brow and a shrug)  “Uh, OK…thanks.”

Windy Day

Character A:  “Oh, excuse me, but real quick…before I forget, did you notice how windy it was yesterday?”

Character B:  “Windy…not really.”

Character A:  “Are you kidding me, it was pretty amazing!”

Character B:  “Well, I really only went out during lunch.”

Character A:  “I am not kidding you, it was very, very, unseasonably windy.  Now, what were you saying?”

Guess Who?

Character A:  “Don’t let me forget to tell you who I saw last week.”

Character B:  “Go ahead and tell me now because I doubt I will remember to ask.”

Character A:  “Carol.”

Character B:  “Carol, Carol who?”

Character A:  “You know, Carol from the Office Supply store.”

Character B:  “I have no idea who you are talking about.”

Character A:  “Hmmm…I thought you knew Carol.”

So, feel free to have me as a co-writer anytime, royalty free!  Pretty cool eh?

(We can hash out the credit details later.)

To learn more about Michael’s Group click here

As always, feel free to hip me to any typos…thanks!

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The Bulldozer

We all have seen them, sitting by the side of the road, patches of rust scattered here and there, day after day after day…all alone at some apparently stalled construction project.

When I see one of these I cannot help but to think of the following scenario.

Setting: A small conference room table at a small, but growing, civil contractor’s office.

Ned – Owner: “Well guys, I have some good news! I just got back from our accountant’s office and it looks like we are going to be able to buy that new bulldozer.”

Sam – Foreman: “This is great, now we can price more, and larger, projects.”

—————-

Fast forward to the local bulldozer dealer and we see Ned and Sam looking over the latest models, eagerly asking questions, soaking in all the information and learning about all the latest features.

Hours go by and, buzzing with excitement, they finally pull the trigger on a new bulldozer!

—————-

Fast forward to the first day on the job for the shiny new ‘dozer: Ned, who rarely ‘gets dirty’ any more puts in a full 9+ hours running the new machine. He is thrilled!

The day ends and Sam and the crew help Ned get the new bulldozer situated back on the trailer to return to the shop where it will be hosed down and put under cover much like a prized thoroughbred.

From Showroom Floor to Forgotten

Fast forward to today, where we see what was once a shiny new bulldozer, sitting on the side of the road so far removed from the ‘fresh off the assembly line’ look of days gone by. Sitting alone with just the elements as company.

I like to think about how many jobs that bulldozer did, how many weeks passed before Ned found his ROI, how many stories are now told because of this magnificent piece of equipment.

Then…what I like to think about is this: There was one day, one single, solitary moment, when Sam, after a finite number of projects and long days and much effort of guiding the new machine back on the trailer to return the shop finally said, “Ahhhh…fergit it, let’s just leave it out here, no one’s gonna do anything.”

And then…they left the bulldozer on the jobsite for the first time.

The day that happened, I wonder what Ned had for breakfast that morning.

To Be A Sparrow

Though this is not always an annual event, every few years it seems we have a group of turkey buzzards stop and hang out here in the ‘hood on their way to wherever they are going. These birds are huge and for the most part don’t cause any problems unless they decide to congregate on your roof.

(Source: http://www.wikipedia.org)

So, each morning, out behind our house, anywhere from 20 – 40 of these huge birds begin their day by gathering in the trees, drying their wings on damp days but mostly, just hanging out before they begin scanning the ground for some breakfast.

(Source: My cell phone camera)

As I watch these enormous birds sit in the tree, chatting amongst themselves, I cannot help to but think how cool it would be if I was a tiny little sparrow and I flew amongst them, perched right in the middle of everyone, looked around and said, “So, what’s going on?”

I would just love to see the look on their faces when I did that!