Tag Archives: writing

I Gotta Be Lame

Oh my God, what I feared would happen is true!  I feared that if I stopped requiring myself to post every day (I admit, a standard I did not always meet), I would stop posting entirely!  I have not quite done that — regular readers may have noticed I posted this morning for Thursday — but I have not only made fewer posts, I am finding it dangerously easy to make no post at all.

That was not the best written paragraph I have ever done.  No matter.  It is Lame Post Friday.  Before I pecked out the above (one letter at a time with the stylus on my Tablet, which is the way I usually post these days only I do not always mention it), I almost said “To hell with it,” and put the Tablet away. Then I took stern hold of myself and started typing (by the method mentioned in the previous parenthetical comment).

I guess it’s an All Or Nuthin’ situation.  If I wait to post till I have a decent post to publish, I will publish sadly few posts.  I guess some people would not find fewer posts of mine to be at all sad (you know who you are).  I cannot worry about such people.

Of course I can and will strive to have more substantive posts.  However, for today, I am going to go with Yet Another Foolish Post and a warning that foolish posts will not entirely stop.  What more could we ask on a Lame Post Friday?

 

Who Doesn’t Love a Tired Tuesday Post?

OK.  First I had the Stare Blank-minded At A Blank Screen disease.  Then I had the Type It In Backspace It Out disease.  I am, in fact, struggling mightily with myself not to backspace out those two sentences.  I’ve had worse Tired Tuesday posts.  I think.

Now there’s a character!

I thought I would pep things up with a picture.  This is our good friend Tucker,  in a truly brilliant performance in Donate to Murder, the mystery we are reviving for a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society next month.  Earlier today I was going over the script and making a few changes. I love writing.  I can never understand why I don’t do more of it.  What the hell, me?

Another dramatic moment.

I certainly hope I can find that hat with all the feathers.  Finishing the re-polish of Donate is not the only writerly chore I have to  concern myself with. However, I do not care to write about everything I Am Going To Write.  Then again, it would make a change from writing about How I Can’t Write Anything.  Oh dear.

Bennie the Bootlegger was not actually shaped like that.

Well, maybe one more preview of coming attractions.  LiFT is reviving Rubbed Out At Ruby’s for a fundraiser for RCIL in April.  Who doesn’t love a 1920’s murder mystery?

 

Muddled Monsters? Or Just a Muddled Post?

This is not how I looked on my wedding day.

I thought I would start right out with a monster picture.  I am very tired, and annoyed with myself for being so tired.  How am I ever going to get anything done?  What the hell, me?  And how does any of this relate to the picture I just shared?  Could I be having a Non-Sequitur Monday?  Let’s call it a Muddled Monday.  At least it’s alliterative.

I did get something done today.  I finished writing and emailed two articles with pictures to Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I hope they publish them.  However, if they do not, it still did me good to write them.  No writing is wasted, because you learn something from writing it.  Also, I can always use it as a blog post.

“This is a good boy!”

Here is a Frankenstein’s Monster who had better luck with his bride than Boris Karloff had with Elsa Lanchester.  Oh dear, ought I to have included a spoiler alert?  Too late.

I can always use a little cuteness on a Monday.

I thought I would muddle things up a little more, veering into a cute little vampire.  I have absolutely no problem with cute monsters.

I guess this was not a particularly cute blog post, but it is over 200 words.  Did it do me good to write it?  I daresay it did.  I hope it was at least mildly entertaining to read.

 

Is It Really Lame Post Friday?

It is that awkward moment on a Friday when I do not even feel capable of a Lame Post Friday post.  On the one hand, I do not care.  We are having a FUN evening, drinking wine and watching television.  On the other hand, I feel guilty, because I am a supposedly daily blogger.  I have committed myself to publishing something at least mildly entertaining every day.  Can I do so today?  We shall see.

Earlier this week I posed a philosophical question I find appropriate to today’s post:  Do I cut myself too many breaks?  I am going to go out on a limb and say NO.  Not most of the time.

Obviously,  one could argue this.  One could argue that I deserve no breaks at all.  After all, if I was given no breaks, I would be obligated to make a decent post each and every day.  It is quite possible that I am indeed capable of such behavior.  By cutting myself said breaks, I am willfully keeping myself from living up to my full potential as a blogger.

There are a number of arguments against this stance.  The main one that attracts my present attention is:  Is living up to my potential as a daily blogger really such a worthy goal?

Of course there are a number of other arguments to consider.  For example,  how many breaks do I deserve?  If I did not cut myself any breaks, would I in fact live up to my full potential as a daily blogger?   Am I in fact capable of never cutting myself a break? What in fact is my full potential as a daily blogger?

OK, it is fairly clear that I can continue to ask any number of questions.  I have read the advice that it is OK to ask questions in writing,  but one should immediately go on to answer them.  Do I always follow advice?  We know I do not.  Was it even good advice?  That is a question deserving of its own Friday Lame Post.

 

I’m Late, But I Ran! And Blogged!

So the idea of writing while on breaks at work was not successful.  After writing and crossing out three or four phrases, I flipped back a few pages and worked on my latest attempt at a novel.  However, I had the plan that I would go running after work and could do a Running Commentary post.  Perfect!

Well, I was half right.  I ran, and it did not go too badly.  Then I was too damn tired to do anything but lounge on the couch watching Snapped and go to bed early.  Perhaps I could have forced my body and brain to do something, but I felt so deliciously relaxed and comfortable, I decided to cut myself a break.  Do I perhaps cut myself too many breaks?  That is a philosophical question better suited for Lame Post Friday.  This morning my purpose is to do a late Wuss-out Wednesday post.

The weather was not too cold (for February) and dry.  At least, the sky was dry.  The sidewalks were dreadful and the roads only really good in the middle.  I kept to streets less traveled but even so met with some traffic.  I dodged up onto the sidewalk only once, when a car was coming and I saw a bare patch of walk.  It did not last and I had to dodge over deep puddles and slushy ice to get back into the road.  Ugh.  No matter, just keep going.

My breathing was not bad.  My legs were not particularly happy, but that was to be expected after two weeks off.  Was it two weeks?  Yikes!  I’ll try not to do that again.  My legs eventually settled into it, and by the end my whole body was pretty happy I ran.  I plowed through snowy, slushy, wet sidewalks on my cool down walk, feeling fairly pleased with myself.

Oooh, look, 300 words.  I rock!  OK, not really, since this is a late post and not very descriptive of my run.  Still, I must celebrate even small wins.  Belated Happy Wednesday, everyone!

 

Ah Truman, You Were Right

I tried, I really tried to make my Saturday blog post on Saturday.  I wrote this much:

It is way past the time I usually make a blog post, and past my usual bedtime as well.  I went to a fundraiser for Team Rebecca of America’s Greatest Heart Run and Walk. We danced our butts off to our favorite local band, The Posers.  Now I am tired.

I wish I had some pictures to share, but I did not bring my Tablet.  I knew I would want to dance a lot and did not want to worry about leaving a device unattended.

Oh dear, I don’t know that I can make a full blog post now.  I am SO ready for bed.  Additionally,  I did not do much of anything else today so cannot make a Scattered Saturday post.  What the hell, me?

And that was as far as I got. As Truman Capote once said, that’s not writing, that’s typing.  Anyways, I realized it was after midnight so I would be making Saturday’s post on Sunday anyways, so there you have it. I am out of bed much later than usual, even for a Sunday, and I have a full day of chores ahead of me.  Will I do them all?  Will I do any of them?  A little suspense adds adds interest to my day.

In the meantime,  I am going to call this a Slacker Saturday post and drive on.  I shall drink some more coffee, and I hope you are all having a delightful weekend.

 

But Is This a Tiresome Post?

I am over halfway through the week and pretty damn happy about it.  But what to write about for my Wuss-out Wednesday post?  I have many things on my plate these days: two or three murder mysteries, summer Shakespeare, St. Baldrick’s Day, the Boilermaker 15K,  AND cleaning my dirty house, making daily blog posts, writing that novel…

Amidst all this, I am still battling my health or lack thereof.  I am becoming more familiar with Genesee Street in Utica from driving to specialists for diagnostic tests.  More I must not say, because, you know, HIPAA.  Also, as I often point out, it can be tiresome to hear people go on about their health and other problems.

You know, I say that, and I fear I do get tiresome sometimes, but there are other times when somebody tells me about their life, and I am quite interested.  Sometimes I learn something about diagnosis and treatment, or get some insight into family dynamics.  In short, I like to hear stories about people.  That is one reason I listen to gossip (judge me if you are so inclined).

Ah, now I have made this a Mid-Week Middle-aged Musings post.  I haven’t had one of those in a while.  Perhaps tomorrow I can give an update on one of my above-mentioned projects.  If I make any progress.  A little suspense adds interest to my week.

 

Misunderstood on Monstrous Monday

I felt better enough to get through the day at work today, but I do not feel better enough to do more than a Monstrous Monday post.  How disgustingly whiny of me.  Quick, bring on the monsters!

That’s it! I should have a beer!

It wasn’t really all that bad of a day.  Last week was much harder to get through.  So I’ve got that going for me. And it’s only Monday.  I have four more days for things to improve.  How’s that for a good spin on it’s being Monday?

“What do you mean I have to go to work again tomorrow?”

I think Nosferatu looks surprised.  And scary.  Regular readers know he’s my favorite.

“This is a good monster!”

Actually, I think in the movie Gene Wilder calls Peter Boyle a “good boy.”  Like Frankenstein’s monster, I am misunderstood.  One might think this blog would explain me, but that is not likely to happen.  Never mind that now. We are not talking about me today; we are looking at monster pictures.

Most of us don’t, Monster.

I happened across this quintessential Monstrous Monday picture.  Yes, I have used it many times.  What can I say?  Some things bear repeating.

 

Not Too Crappy to Contemplate Murder

I feel less crappy than yesterday!

But crappier than tomorrow!

You know,  to the tune of “I love you more today than yesterday.”   I didn’t know that was a song for the longest time.  I noticed that lots of people (girls, mostly) (not to buy into gender based stereotypes, but such was my observation) would use it in the Valentine messages you could put in the newspaper.  Imagine my surprise to learn they were quoting a song.

Be that as it may, my aching head is saying, “I can’t write a blog post!”  Yes, in a pathetic, whiny voice.  I am sufficiently disgusted with myself.  And I know for a fact that it isn’t so.  I just kind of sort of wrote something.  I could probably share it here.  For one reason, it would up my word count.

You see, our friends at the Herkimer County Historical Society asked us (meaning me and my murderous actor friends) to revive a murder mystery we did some time ago at the Herkimer Elms Lodge.  I think Caryl referred to it as “the one with Tucker and the bugs.”  Kind of sounds like an episode of Friends, doesn’t it?  Today she messaged me asking for a few specifics for their newsletter.

First I had to find the script, which I had unaccountably not saved in the same place as the other murder mysteries in my laptop.  It too some clicking, but eventually I located it.  Luckily I had already been thinking about some modifications to make the script more suitable for the historical society.  Here is what I managed to send to Caryl:

Eric O’Chevsky, who describes himself as an organizer and community builder (although some call him a shady wheeler dealer, or so I have heard), has discovered that the Herkimer County Historical Society recently received a major grant. He organized this dinner for his associates to pitch their ideas for good uses for the money. Some of their ideas may seem to have a tenuous connection to local history, but you know, people have to follow the money.

The people vying for a donation are:

Meryl Barrymore, a community theatre actress, wants to do a historical play (assuming she can find one with a glamorous enough lead). Flora Fortenza, who is something of a flower child, wants to plant lots of flowers around the Suiter House and perhaps all around the Historic Four Corners. Phoebe Larkspur wants to place bird houses all around, perhaps patterned after historic buildings. Dudley Turnbull wants to place poop bags for people walking their dogs. Isn’t that corner a popular dog walking place? Harold Greene, an environmentalist and brilliant scientist, is partnering with Dudley’s project and wants to invent a biodegradable poop bag. Renwick Spaulding is hoping to mount a display of bugs. Historic bugs of course.

The title is Donate to Murder.  It will be presented on March 27 at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls.  More information to follow!

Looks like a suspicious bunch to me!

 

 

I Think I’ll Go Back To Bed

So yesterday was a Blogger’s Sick Day.  I am afraid readers of Sunday’s post may think I was hungover, what with the picture of the lady pouring booze into a blender.  Then again, we’re not supposed to worry about what other people think of us.  Some people may think less of me for worrying that other people are thinking less of me.  Then yet again, I just imagine most people have other things to think about than me. Why would I think anybody is thinking anything about me?

This is not helping my headache.

Last night I just could not bring myself to type a word.  I did not even feel up to lying on the couch and looking at a DVR’d Dateline, even though I was interested in the case.  I felt even worse in the morning, yet dragged myself through eight hours of work.  In my defense, how can I know that I won’t feel even worse tomorrow?

OK, I am not going to make my usual quota of 200 words.  Then again, who wants to listen to me whine about how sick I feel?  I wonder what people will think about this post.  Oh yeah, probably nothing.

199 words!  This paragraph brings be over 200.  Score!