quirky – The Drabblecast

Drabblecast Director’s Cut: Jelly Park

On December 16, 2018

“It’s about getting on the bus…” Norm and author Aliya Whiteley talk double decker busses, double decker tacos, embracing weirdness for what it is and reinventing yourself. They also get into the in’s and out’s of the first ever Drabblecast People’s Choice Award Winner for “Best Story” back in 2007, for this “Director’s Cut: Jelly Park.”

We go over little ditty’s like this:

Keep your sponge cake, fling your flan
Stick your donuts, cream and jam
Leave your custard in its can
Give us all some jelly

In a trifle, from a mold
Rabbit shaped or ice cream coned
Nothing better, so I’m told
Then a lovely Jelly…

But we digress.

Story Excerpt:

“I’m not sure I belong here.”
“Then where do you belong?”
The others stopped chewing and looked at me expectantly.
What am I?…

Co-narrator, Dermot Glennon, also contributed to Episode #29, “Code Brown.”

Enjoy!

Drabblecast Director’s Cut: Jelly Park

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Drabblecast Director’s Cut: Charlie the Purple Giraffe Was Acting Strangely

By Drabblecast

On July 1, 2018

In Director's Cut, Drabblecast, Interview

As a part of the Relaunch Prelaunch we revisit a listener favorite with special insight from the author, David D. Levine. Enjoy the “Director’s Cut: Charlie the Purple Giraffe Was Acting Strangely.”

Our feature originally aired in Episode # 113 way back in 2009. It is a unique tale set inside a televised cartoon world. Our main character, Charlie the purple giraffe, has a disturbing and profound view of his world, one not shared by his best friend Jerry the orange squirrel. Floating question marks, colored word balloons, it may not be as light, airy, and humorous as appears at first blush.

Stick around or skip ahead to minute 22:00 for Part 2 of the episode, with Special Commentary and conversation with David and Norm.

Drabbleclassics 25 – Charlie the Purple Giraffe Was Acting Strangely (113)

By Charity Helton

On November 9, 2015

In Comedy, Drabbleclassics, Strange

A change came over Charlie then, like a cloud passing in front of the sun. He placed his hands flat in his lap, straightened his neck, and took a deep breath. “Us,” he said at last. “They read us.”

A delightful Drabble evokes a sage summation of the style from Norm: the mark of a good drabble is the rolling of the eyes and sounds of chuckling. The feature is a unique tale set inside a televised cartoon world. Our main character, Charlie the purple giraffe, has a disturbing and profound view of his world, one not shared by his best friend Jerry the orange squirrel. Floating question marks, colored word balloons, it may not be as light, airy, and humorous as appears at first blush.

Podcast (classics): Download

Subscribe: RSS

Drabbleclassics 14 – Jelly Park (43)

By Charity Helton

On December 25, 2014

In Drabbleclassics, Fantasy, Strange

“I’m not sure I belong here.”
“Then where do you belong?”
The others stopped chewing and looked at me expectantly.
What am I?…

As Norm detailed his Christmas plans, the common theme of this episode became apparent: that “Home” is not a place, but rather a choice. Before getting there, though, the Drabble News tracked through a pile of extremely rare rhinoceros dung or rather, four piles, collected by conservationists and auctioned on E-bay to raise money for preservation of the species. Norm speculates on the market timing of such a gift. Next, Norm reflects on the meaning of the holidays, from the point of view of various people, animals, and legendary monsters. The week’s Drabble, “Choosing Home” by noteworthy community member Josh Hugo, offers a story of love conquering danger. The feature story, “Jelly Park,” (consistently voted among listener favorites), is a deliciously absurd tale of a down-on-her-luck, unemployed secretary who discovers a strange welcome from the easily overlooked community of double-decker bus drivers. The episode’s author, published twice by McMillan Press, helped sing the charminly twisted story’s celebrations. Co-narrator, Dermot Glennon, also contributed Episode #29, “Code Brown.” Feedback for Episode #37, “Luna Springs,” is bittersweet and poignant. Norm and the staff close with a rousing rendition of the Jelly Park Celebration Song, showing off multiple voices and characters, ranging from scat-singing to lunatic opera.

Podcast (classics): Download

Subscribe: RSS

Drabbleclassics 12 – Gifting Bliss: Fifteen Years Later, Jason Avery’s Magic is Still Saving the World (91)

By Charity Helton

On December 2, 2014

In Drabbleclassics, Strange

“When I first met Jason he was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the studio, surrounded by burning candles. The air smelled like flowers and a sort of a fog hung in the room and I’m thinking- this dude is a little off…”

This podcast begins with a content warning, beware the “f-bomb.” Norm takes the occasion of Thanksgiving to politely thank civilization and his listeners. The feature is a faux documentary from Josh Roundtree, a contributor to “Realms of Fantasy.” Its subject is a record called “Gifting Bliss” from fantasy musician Jason Avery, whose band “Broken” has a magical healing power to listeners. The reading includes fake commercial breaks and Norm’s hysterical imitations of several sub-standard bands and clueless musicians. Lastly, Norm reads the feedback for the recent Halloween story, “The Box Born Wraith.”

Podcast (classics): Download

Subscribe: RSS

Drabblecast 113 – Charlie the Purple Giraffe Was Acting Strangely

By Drabblecast

On May 6, 2009

In Comedy, Drabblecast, Strange

This episode brings you Charlie the Purple Giraffe, by David D. Levine.

It is a unique tale set inside a televised cartoon world. Our main character, Charlie the purple giraffe, has a disturbing and profound view of his world, one not shared by his best friend Jerry the orange squirrel. Floating question marks, colored word balloons, it may not be as light, airy, and humorous as appears at first blush.

Drabblecast 103 – Out of His League

By Drabblecast

On February 18, 2009

In Comedy, Drabblecast, Sci-Fi

An influx of uniformed combatants filed into the room, some mumbling, others grumbling– the sure sign of another loss. In moments the place smelled of dirty socks and planetary jocks…

This episode opens with a reminder to vote for the Drabblecast People’s Choice Award on the Drabblecast discussion forums, which neatly segues into a Drabble News segment about a New Jersey couple who claim that their child’s Tickle me Elmo toy telephone asks “who wants to have sex?” In the Drabble, defeating gravity is a very different experience for a professor and a small boy. The feature story, Out of His League, puts a humorous spin on Pluto’s reclassification from planet to dwarf, envisioning it as a player on a celestial baseball team who has just been sent down to the minors.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Cover for Drabblecast episode 91, Gifting Bliss, by Kelly MacAvaney

Drabblecast 91 – Gifting Bliss: Fifteen Years Later, Jason Avery’s Magic is Still Saving the World

By Drabblecast

On November 26, 2008

In Drabblecast, Strange

“When I first met Jason he was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the studio, surrounded by burning candles. The air smelled like flowers and a sort of a fog hung in the room and I’m thinking- this dude is a little off…”

This podcast begins with a content warning, beware the “f-bomb.” Norm takes the occasion of Thanksgiving to politely thank civilization and his listeners. The feature is a faux documentary from Josh Roundtree, a contributor to “Realms of Fantasy.” Its subject is a record called “Gifting Bliss” from fantasy musician Jason Avery, whose band “Broken” has a magical healing power to listeners. The reading includes fake commercial breaks and Norm’s hysterical imitations of several sub-standard bands and clueless musicians. Lastly, Norm reads the feedback for the recent Halloween story, “The Box Born Wraith.”

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Cover for Drabblecast episode 86, Half Sneeze Johnny, by Bo Kaier

Drabblecast 86 – Half-Sneeze Johnny

By Drabblecast

On October 22, 2008

In Action, Comedy, Drabblecast, Drama

If he ain’t comfortable, he can’t sneeze proper to save his life…

During the Drabble News, Norm introduces us to the cutest little tongue-biting-then-tongue-impersonating parasite that one could ever hope to meet. The Drabblecast then ticks off another row on its scorecard for “Bodily Functions Bingo” by delivering fiction about the act of sneezing. In the Drabble segment, Peter Wood tells the story of an unfortunate sufferer who finds that even death is no surcease from the problem of allergies. During the feature story, “Half-sneeze Johnny” which originally appeared in “Kaleidotrope” print magazine, the gentle sound of a half-sneeze, which sounds like chickadees being crushed to death, serves as an unlikely truth detector for a pair of mobsters. The author also contributed the story for Drabblecast #54, “Unholy Fruit.” Feedback from Episode #81, “Snuffles,” and #82, “Overgrown Clump of Narcissists,” rounds out the episode.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Cover for Drabblecast episode 79, Low-Carb Cheesecake, by Jonathan Wilson

Drabblecast 79 – Low-Carb Cheesecake

By Drabblecast

On September 3, 2008

In Comedy, Drabblecast, Fantasy, Strange

“Just one thing,” I said, nodding towards the cheesecake. “How do you do it?”

Norm Sherman gives us more of the Mega-Beast Death-Match. The Drabbles for this episode depict lawn ornament assassins and a man’s true form. The feature story describes the horrible price others pay for your health foods. Feedback from “Witchcraft in the Harem” by Aliya Whiteley (Episode 74) and episode 75’s Trifecta IV.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Cover for Drabblecast episode 78, Panel Discussion, by Jonathan Wilson

Drabblecast 78 – Panel Discussion

By Drabblecast

On August 25, 2008

In Comedy, Drabblecast, Sci-Fi

“So, where do you get your ideas?” he asked.
“I get my ideas from thinking about things.”
“Like what?”
“Like this panel.”

In this episode of the Drabblecast, we listen in on a convention panel sidetracked by the Sci-Fi version of “Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner?” The Bbardle is a hard rock tale of a geeky, sexy lady-stalker, the “Cougar at the Con.”

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Drabblecast 46 – The She-Wolf

By Drabblecast

On January 9, 2008

In Comedy, Drabblecast, Fantasy

Leonard returned to his home circle garrulous about his Russian strike experiences, but oppressively reticent about certain dark mysteries, which he alluded to under the resounding title of Siberian Magic…

Norm details numerous urban legends about revolting items found in fast food as an introduction to this week’s Drabble, a terrifying story about moldy fast food, circular breathing, and ghosts. The feature story showcases the work of 19th-Century author “Saki,” the pen name for Hector Hugh Monroe, heard earlier in Episode #19, “Sredni Vashtar.” Saki describes an encounter with Siberian magic, which Norm acts out using a dazzling variety of male and female caricature voices. An unreliable travelogue inspires skeptical table turning and an elaborate drawing-room prank. Feedback for Episode #40, “Marbles,” shows the depth of discussion among the listener forums. Finally, Norm announces the year’s “People’s Choice” Drabblecast poll, soliciting votes for the listeners’ favorites. He reminds us that the First Annual Nigerian Scam Spam contest is still accepting entries.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Drabblecast 43 – Jelly Park

By Drabblecast

On December 20, 2007

In Drabblecast, Fantasy, Strange

Drabblecast #43 presents “Jelly Park“ by Aliya Whiteley.

In consideration of the holidays, Norm begins to see a common theme to this Drabblecast season: celebrating relationships.

Take, for example, the relationship between the holidays and a pile of extremely rare rhinoceros dung. Four piles, actually. All collected by conservationists and auctioned on E-bay to raise money for preservation of the species.

Norm speculates on the market timing of such a gift… A thousand dollars and you could have your very own rhino scat to accompany that Elf on your shelf. Which leads us to reflect upon the meaning of the holidays for all manner of people, animals, and legendary monsters.

But we digress.

Drabblecast 11 – Black and White Animals Part 1 : Secret Weapons

By Drabblecast

On May 2, 2007

In Action, Comedy, Drabblecast, Sci-Fi

A day at the zoo turns into humanity’s ultimate struggle for survival…

Episode 11 of the Drabblecast brings us Secret Weapons – the first chapter of the Black and White Animals trilogy. Norm and Kendall Marchman share this story of a trip to the zoo turned strange and terrible. Drabble News reports on recent research involving dinosaur veins. Norm again encourages listeners to vote, and jump into the final week of the Super Animal Deathmatch.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Cover for Drabblecast episode 5, Guardians, by Rodolfo Arredondo

Drabblecast 5 – Guardians

By Drabblecast

On March 21, 2007

In Action, Drabblecast, Fantasy

A terrible accident on the highway brings about an even greater collision of forces…

A problem with Norm’s planned story for this week results in him falling back on one of his own – Guardians. This tale explores a world where guardian angels exist. Norm also reports on one of his favorite personal topics – cryptozoology – with news of a Colossal Squid being caught in Antarctic waters.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Cover for Drabblecast episode 2, Longing for Love A Unicorn's Story, by Bo Kaier

Drabblecast 2 – Longing for Love: A Unicorn’s Story

By Drabblecast

On February 28, 2007

In Drabblecast, Drama, Fantasy, Strange

Not your average fairy-tale about an obese squirrel and a unicorn with back acne….

In episode 2 Norm brings us the quirky story of Gregory, a unicorn cursed with bad health and worse luck. This is also the first episode in which Norm introduces the show as: “strange stories by strange people, for strange listeners.”

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Tag: quirky

Story Excerpt:

Drabblecast Director’s Cut: Jelly Park