Tag Archives: writing

Is Jerry Lewis Still Alive?

I went running twice this weekend.  I could write a heck of a Running Commentary today instead of Wrist to Forehead Sunday, couldn’t I?  Well, maybe I could and maybe I couldn’t.  As Fats Waller famously queried, One never knows, do one?

Regular readers know I have been struggling to begin running yet again.  Yes, I have started and stopped running many times.  As long as I keep beginning again, I am reasonably content with myself.  After all, as I have often observed, beating oneself up doesn’t burns calories, build muscles, increase aerobic health or even keep one reasonably entertained for any length of time.  Running can potentially accomplish all of the above.

So I ran on Saturday and again on Sunday.  They were not great runs, more like plods, especially Saturday’s.  No matter.  I got out and did it.

And I really don’t feel like writing about it.

No matter, it is Wrist to Forehead Sunday as well as my birthday.  I am now playing with a full deck, 52 years old.  I stole that joke from Jerry Lewis.  He used it at the beginning of one of his Labor Day Telethons, back in the day when it was quite the thing to watch the telethon.  Well, they say plagiarism is the sincerely form of flattery.  At least, I say it.

So that is my post today.  I told you I ran but didn’t tell you about my run, then I shared a lame, stolen joke.  And it took me over 250 words.  I’ll call that OK.  Gee, I hope I still have readers by tomorrow.  Happy Sunday, everybody.

 

Is That an Excuse, or Are You Just Happy to See Me?

I wrote one paragraph of a blog post while at work today, and it wasn’t very good.  I had a title I thought was pretty good, but I don’t want to use it till I have a half-way decent blog post to go with it.  What I’m saying is, welcome to Non-Sequitur Thursday.

One can’t really take a nap at 5:55 p.m., unless one is planning on staying up quite late, which I am not.  I personally don’t care to take naps after 3 p.m., although I love them at almost any time prior to that.  Sleep, ah, wonderful sleep.  According to Shakespeare it knits something or other (I probably could think of the actual expression if I tried, but I thought it would be funnier if I did not).

Am I babbling?  Ooh, that might make a good headline. Or not.

I am waiting for Steven to come home and we are supposed to head to the monthly dinner meeting of Ilion Little Theatre.  I made guacamole and hummus to bring.  I had planned to make the guacamole, without benefit of recipe.  I told a work friend about it as we were walking out.

“I’ll put some stuff in, then mush it, taste it, mush it, taste it,” I said.  “Then I’ll write a blog post about it.”

Of course it did not go as planned, although the adventure did include mushing and tasting.  I thought it would, in fact, make a pretty good blog post.  Only I am too tired to write it.  How embarrassing.

On the other hand, I am now over 250 words, and I call that respectable.  Now I just need a good, non-sequitury title, and I’m in business.   Tune in tomorrow for Lame Post Friday, when Mohawk Valley Girl says, “And the reason I did not write a blog post today is that…”

 

Who, Me? Have a Life?

That’s it.  Wuss-out Wednesday it is.  I just typed in two sentences and backspaced them out.  I will not do it again.  It is getting late (for me) and I am tired (as usual).  I want to make my post and go to bed.  Maybe after looking at Facebook, which I haven’t really had time to do today (I’m a little bit addicted).

Why, you may be asking, did I not write a post earlier, perhaps while on break at work or while waiting for a doctor appointment?  I will answer, with a trace of defensive smugness (if you can be defensive and smug at the same time), I was writing something else.  I worked all day on an article for Mohawk Valley Living.  I hope it was good.

I often say that writing begets more writing, and I think in general it is true.  But sometimes I get tired.

One problem is that I have been straight out between stage managing the play at Ilion Little Theatre, working overtime, dealing with homeowner-type chores, and in general trying to have a life.  I guess that’s my whole problem.  Who ever said I could have a life?  I guess nobody, I just thought I could have one.  Wrong again!

One encouraging thought (for me anyways), is that it looks as if writing really does encourage writing, because tired as I am, it is kind of fun to type this in now, and I am thinking how I would REALLY like to have an hour or two to sit and work at the novel I haven’t done a thing with in months.  I positively must carve out time in my silly life to do so.

And perhaps tomorrow I can carve out time to write a better blog post.  Happy Wednesday, everyone.

 

Lame to You and More of It!

For today’s Lame Friday Post, I bring you another edition of Common Expressions Revisited.  Warning!  This post may become somewhat vulgar.  If you don’t think you’ll like that, don’t read. And regular readers KNOW how I feel about the expression TMI (hate it, Hate it, HATE IT!!!).

Kiss my ass.  No, no, I’m not telling you to do that.  That’s the first expression I want to talk about it.  Think about all the people you have told, directly or remotely to kiss your ass (by remotely, I mean, “He/she/they can kiss my ass!)”   Now consider the wear and tear on your buns if everyone, or even a portion of that number availed themselves of that generous invitation.  Yikes!

Bite me.  This is sometimes said as “Bite my butt,” which I kind of prefer, as it has the charm of alliteration.  Obviously, this could be even more painful than kissing.   In the “Bite me” version, I worry that one does not specify the body part.  I feel it leaves one vulnerable.

To my last statement, some of you are no doubt saying, “Well, it goes without saying,”  and that is another common expression I take exception to.  Very few things actually go without saying.  Oh yes, there are a few things we can and do take for granted, like, for example, gravity.  But my observation is that people still say them.  In other words, “It goes without saying” is usually not the end of the sentence.  Usually it’s, “It goes without saying THAT…”  Ah yes, there is the variation that it is said in answer,  “That goes without saying.”  Well, it didn’t go without saying if I just said it, now, did it?  I’m just saying.

OK, I guess the first two examples could be considered vulgar, but I feel there an be no possible exception to the third.  On my next grammatical excursion, I may discuss the expressions “I think,” “I believe,” and “I feel.”  I hope you are all having a delightful Friday.

 

Webster Is Not Much Help

Do you suppose that MRI sucked out my brains and that’s why I’ve been so stupid all week?  Yes, yes, I know you’re asking what my excuse was before the MRI.  Must you make such obvious jokes?

Welcome to Non-Sequitur Thursday.

It really is a brain dead feeling.  It doesn’t seem like Writer’s Block, because that implies that there is something behind the block struggling to get out.  It isn’t exactly Writer’s Blank, either, because my brain does have a kind of, well, cluttered feeling to it.  But I can’t think, I can’t write, and it is very distressing.

Having said that, I remind myself that I just now wrote two paragraphs and one sentence worth of words and am embarking on another paragraph.  That does make me feel marginally less distressed.

The sentence that has been sticking in my head this morning is, “One must have a topic.”  It seems that sentence should include the phrase “in order to write,” but I’m not sure whether to put it at the beginning or the end of the sentence.  Any thoughts?

I realize that at times this blog seems dedicated to disproving that sentence.  How many posts about nothing at all have I written?  Anybody opening his mouth to say, “All of them,” can just close it (you know who you are).

This brings us, actually in a kind of a sequential fashion, to my philosophical question for the day.  Then again, half-baked philosophy is the purview of Lame Post Friday, so that makes it a kind of a non-sequitur once again.  Be that as it may, the question is:  Is it inherently better, worse or the same if I compose a post about nothing at the keyboard or if I write it in my notebook while at work (on a break OF COURSE)?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

Bonus question:  When was the last time you saw the word “purview” used correctly in a sentence?

Note to self:  Look up “purview” and see if I used it properly.

 

Sorry, Folks

I’ve got the dreaded Type It In And Backspace It Out.  I didn’t want to have a Wuss-out Wednesday on Veteran’s Day!

We went out to a nice dinner at PK’s Pub in Herkimer.  Then I went to the pick-up rehearsal for Lunch Hour at Ilion Little Theatre.  These are two perfectly blogworthy activities.  And here I sit, wanting to go to bed and trying NOT to look at the television.

And feeling like I really ought to backspace out the preceding paragraph.

All day at work I knew it would be a good idea to write a blog post.  My brain just would not seem to do it.  My brain still will not seem to do it.

This is what happens sometimes to people who try to write a daily blog.  We screw it up.  It’s embarrassing.   Humiliating even. We hit Publish anyways, but we don’t feel good about it.

Sorry, folks.

 

At Least I Got a Blog Post Out of It

Early on today, I knew I was going to stop by Ilion Free Public Library.  You see, I am attempting to write an article about Russell Park for Mohawk Valley Living magazine and wanted more background.  So far I have the story of me and Steven walking through the park and a work friend’s reminiscences of boyhood visits there.  I wanted more background, especially about the park’s history.  Another work friend said they probably had a whole file in the local history section of the library.

What a great idea, I thought.  The library will hook me up, and I can also write my blog post about the visit.  You see how I utilize my resources for multiple purposes.  I felt pretty pleased with myself.   And that should have given me my first clue that things would not go as planned.

When I walked in and made my request to the librarian, she said, “Let me look up the hours the history section is available.”

Oh dear.

I had already missed the hours it was available today.  Tomorrow they are closed for Veteran’s Day.  Thursday evening I can come in between six and eight.

Feeling as foolish as I usually feel, I explained how I do not have my act together and my deadline is fast approaching.  In my defense, I had planned to write an article about quite a different topic, only that fell through (long story, may make another blog post).  One of the VERY nice librarians volunteered to go upstairs and see if there was anything they could photocopy for me.

While she was gone, I couldn’t help noticing the ongoing book sale on a couple of carts right next to where I stood.   Ooh, that one looked good… oh, I already have that book.  Then I found one I hadn’t read.  By the time the lady returned, I had two hardcover, two softcover and a book on CD by Bruce Campbell (I adore Bruce Campbell).  She had not found anything. I thanked her for trying.

“Hang on, let me go and take one more look,” she said.

I paid for my purchases while she went.  She still did not find anything, but I told her how much I appreciated all the effort.   My deadline is on Friday.  There is a chance I could go Thursday night and still get it together.  As an added incentive, I noticed the library is having a pie sale on Thursday.  I do like homemade pie.

In conclusion, Ilion Free Public Library is a great resource with extremely helpful people.  As for me, I mean to begin earlier to write my articles and do my research in a more timely fashion.

The library is located at 78 West St., Ilion, NY.  Phone number 315-894-5028.

 

Oh Yeah, I Have to Vote, Too!

I knew early on today that is was Bad Attituesday.  I’ve had worse attitudes.  I think.  But have I written worse blog posts than this one is turning out to be?  I’m no judge.  Come to think of it, don’t you judge me either! (You know who you are.)

Yes, it is All Lunch Hour All The Time.  Opening night is Friday at Ilion Little Theatre.  I think it’s going to be a really good show.  The set looks wonderful.  If you’re curious you can probably see some photos on Ilion Little Theatre Club’s Facebook page.  Or you can come see the show.

So, as you may guess, I do not have a lot of time to compose a blog post.  I wrote other things during breaks at work.  Oh, OK, I also talked to my husband on the phone during lunch.  I’m not apologizing for that; husbands are important.  After work I was typing in my articles for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I need to work on them more, and deadline is fast approaching.

And I just remembered, I’m supposed to bring something to rehearsal.  If only I could remember what it was, that would probably improve my attitude considerably.

I hope to see you again on Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

Write, Write Again

So you may have noticed that I have been going through some crisis about writing or rather not writing.  Too many foolish posts, not enough writing otherwise.  What’s a blogger to do?  Seriously, I’m asking.  What do other bloggers do?  Never mind, I probably couldn’t do what they do anyways. We all must find our own path, or something profound like that.

All that by way of saying here is another Monday Mental Meandering, BUT… I actually wrote something other than a blog post.  I need to get my articles written for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I tried to work on them over the weekend, but, well, if you read my blog posts you’ll know that didn’t work out too well.  I went to work early this morning and tried again.

At first I failed. I sat at my little table (there is a little table near my work area I can sit at during breaks.  It is most convenient) and stared at a blank page.  I just couldn’t get the lead.  I could just hear some superior type saying, “Never mind getting the perfect lead, just write SOMETHING.  You can always revise it later.”  Well, I have found that that method — if I can even do it and I can’t always — is only effective some of the time.  I turned back a page and worked some more on a letter to a friend.  One could argue that that is at least writing something, I suppose.

Anyways, I made no more progress than that until lunch.  When I wrote two perfectly good pages!  Yes!  I’m back!  Fist pump!

I went back to work feeling better about everything.  As usual, my mind began to wander.  I thought in a vague sort of way about writing this and writing that.  I thought about some totally unrelated topics such as a doctor’s appointment, the upcoming holidays, and the present I have to get for my great-nephew’s first birthday (not sure the exact date; must check that).

And then I started to think about a story.  I liked the idea (NO, I’m not going to tell it to you now!).  Suddenly the first sentence was in my head, and I liked that. I grabbed a piece of scrap paper and wrote it down.  I wrote another sentence or two as I continued to work.  Then when I finished my clean-up and still had a few minutes before time to punch out, I sat at my table, opened my notebook and wrote some more.

It was fun!  I LOVE to write!  I want to write some MORE!

I see that there is one small problem with this blog post.  I think writing about writing is much more interesting when you actually talk about what you are writing.  Well, sorry about that, but if I do that I may never write it.  However, once I actually finish something, I may write a more interesting blog post about it.  I’ll include a Spoiler Alert.

 

A Modicum of a Blog Post

I realized earlier today why I keep having Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  Many years ago, I recognized that I was not wired to take advantage of Sunday as a productive day. I used to say to myself, “There’s no point in trying to get anything done on a Sunday.”  So I let myself off the hook.

Well, lately I have not been letting myself off the hook.  Oh, I have not been being productive, obviously not.  However, I have been TRYING, sometimes with gritted teeth, to get something, anything done.  It has not worked out for me.  What was I thinking?  You can’t go against nature!  At least, I guess you can sometimes.  For example, when it gets cold and snows, you can go inside and not freeze to death.  That is not the kind of sensible act I am talking about.

I actually did get a couple of things done today.  When Steven came home from work, he wanted to finish the outdoor work I started yesterday.  I went out and got to work while he changed his clothes, and we finished it together.  Well, technically, he finished it, because my sister Cheryl called while we were working, and as you may know, I feel it is important to talk to family members when possible.  Still, I helped (and if you just flashed on the old Shake-n-Bake ad, sorry).

A little later, Steven and I drove to Ilion and took a nice walk in Russell Park.  I must write a blog post about that place.  I had never been there, and it is really cool.  When we got home, I started cooking supper.  Yes, I said cooking; getting us dinner did not involve dialing a phone (which I always make Steven do anyways).

Now I have composed some semblance of a blog post.  I call these things a modicum of usefulness (and I have the added advantage of using the word modicum in a sentence, something most of us don’t get to do every day).

And what of my plan to become more productive and finish that damn novel?  I’m still working on it. Right now I feel it is time to move on to the movie-watching portion of the day.  After all, there’s no point in trying to do anything on a Sunday.