A good day today. Not that I was that productive. I basically worked on filing and paying bills, doing some laundry and went swimming two times at a friend's pool. That friend also took me out to eat for a late birthday celebration. It was pretty cool.
I had lots of things to do, but I just didn't do them. Watched an old movie on TCM, too. Lounged around in old sweats most of the day.
I realize this isn't normal for a busy man like me, but it was nice just to do nothing for a while, to drift aimlessly and think about nothing. I couldn't do it all the time. I think it would get boring quick, but it was good for a day.
I'm pleased with youtube.com. It allowed me to place video on the site easily. Check it out. Anyone can do it. It even generates the code for you. Uploading takes a bit of time, but not too bad.
And of course, the music is fun. I happen to really like that song ("I Believe I Can Fly") despite all of R. Kelly's legal troubles. It's uplifting in a time when most songs aren't.
Anyway, all that swimming has wore me out. My get-up-and-go has got up and went. So I'm going to call it a night. You have a good one, you hear? Night!
Monday, July 31, 2006
"I believe I can fly"
Today this sums up how I feel. Yeah, it's probably a cliche and lame, but it's how I feel today.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Have some cake
And finally to end our party, here's my cake. Have a huge piece! Thanks for spending my birthday with me. Cheers to all my blogging buddies. And now, I'm going to call it a night. Drive carefully, and see you tomorrow.
Party tux
Here is the picture of me in a tux. I'm disappointed. I thought I had a larger one so you could really appreciate the glorious awfulness of the blue tux that I wore to my Senior banquet. Just trust me when I say that it was stylin' at the time. And look at all that hair and those sideburns. Wow. I was hot ... or not.
Party Posting 2
Here is a video of a coral reef exhibit at the Oklahoma Aquarium. Since this is my first video posting on you.tube.com, I hope it works.
Party
Today's my birthday, and since I've had most of my birthday with my family and friends already, I thought I'd spend it with my blogging buddies. So I'm going to be posting a lot today with photos, a movie and yes, a picture of me in tux. So grab your party hat and horn and join in!
Let's start with some photos. Saturday I was in Jenks, Oklahoma, to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. Here are a few photos of the many exhibits.
A coral reef and a bright yellow fish.
Golden starfish.
A turtle pool.
A blue fish.
A catfish. I think.
A tidal pool.
A shark.
The movie is coming later as are more trip details and some other things I enjoyed this weekend. Stick around!
Let's start with some photos. Saturday I was in Jenks, Oklahoma, to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. Here are a few photos of the many exhibits.
A coral reef and a bright yellow fish.
Golden starfish.
A turtle pool.
A blue fish.
A catfish. I think.
A tidal pool.
A shark.
The movie is coming later as are more trip details and some other things I enjoyed this weekend. Stick around!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Thursday night at my computer
Sorry I missed posting yesterday. I've been working on getting the ads sold for the lobby of the local theater group. I've got a lot done, but there's still more to do. I'm trying to have it all finished by the end of next week so that it's not hanging over my head any more. And of course, I'm still involved in the patron drive -- going very well so far -- so I'm ready for August to be over and all this is done. After that, I only have the two plays to direct, one in October and the other in April. It will be nice to have my life back. I won't do this again. No, Crystal, I won't.
Otherwise no news here other than it's been hot. I'm two days away from my birthday and have been too busy to be depressed about it. A bit of trivia: I was born on a Sunday, and this year my birthday is on a Sunday, too. Don't know why that caught my interest, but it did.
Speaking of Crystal, she has left California, visited Vegas but didn't win a fortune, and is now back in Oklahoma for a while. I'm hoping I get a chance to see her and her son before they head off for other adventures.
I'm planning to visit the huge aquarium in Jenks this weekend. I'm taking my camera so I hope to have some pics to share. Everyone that's been there has told me that it's really cool. I'm looking forward to seeing it.
Murder at the Witch's Cottage is in trouble. I've realized that I have four storylines trying to be told at the same time. I've got to trim it back and focus on what's important. I've only got 90 minutes of stage time to tell the story. It's got to be clear and tight. Maybe someday I'll get to write a mini-series, and then I can tell a lot of stories.
And that's all I've got to say this Thursday night at my computer. How are things for you? Staying cool? What's going on your world? Share!
Anyway, good night and pleasant dreams.
Otherwise no news here other than it's been hot. I'm two days away from my birthday and have been too busy to be depressed about it. A bit of trivia: I was born on a Sunday, and this year my birthday is on a Sunday, too. Don't know why that caught my interest, but it did.
Speaking of Crystal, she has left California, visited Vegas but didn't win a fortune, and is now back in Oklahoma for a while. I'm hoping I get a chance to see her and her son before they head off for other adventures.
I'm planning to visit the huge aquarium in Jenks this weekend. I'm taking my camera so I hope to have some pics to share. Everyone that's been there has told me that it's really cool. I'm looking forward to seeing it.
Murder at the Witch's Cottage is in trouble. I've realized that I have four storylines trying to be told at the same time. I've got to trim it back and focus on what's important. I've only got 90 minutes of stage time to tell the story. It's got to be clear and tight. Maybe someday I'll get to write a mini-series, and then I can tell a lot of stories.
And that's all I've got to say this Thursday night at my computer. How are things for you? Staying cool? What's going on your world? Share!
Anyway, good night and pleasant dreams.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Happy birthday to Frenzied Feline!!!
Happy Birthday to Frenzied Feline!!!
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Frenzied,
Happy Birthday to you!
Go by Frenzied's blog (Life Happens) and wish her a happy birthday!!!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Thankful
Where does the time go? I just looked up and discovered it was time for bed and I hadn't posted yet. So a quick post and then off to the land of dreams. Or snores. One of the two.
I'm very tired so I won't ramble on, but I did want to mention something. My sister and my brother-in-law were involved in a bad car accident Sunday afternoon. An elderly man rear-ended them. He was going very fast. It broke his neck, but he's still alive in the hospital. My brother-in-law got a couple of bruises. My poor sister got banged up good and several cuts, but nothing broken and she's going to be okay. I want to say how profoundly grateful I am that she's okay.
Rain does a cool thing on her blog -- which more of you should visit -- and that's to give thanks for the good things in her life. I hope it lifts her up to write it as much as it does for me to read it.
This idea of being grateful is a good thing, sadly underused in this day and age. We don't recognize the many precious gifts we are given. Somehow we have come to believe that we are entitled when really the only things we can be sure of is that we will live and we will die and go into the beyond. To cherish and be thankful for our joys is how we grow to be better people.
Good night.
I'm very tired so I won't ramble on, but I did want to mention something. My sister and my brother-in-law were involved in a bad car accident Sunday afternoon. An elderly man rear-ended them. He was going very fast. It broke his neck, but he's still alive in the hospital. My brother-in-law got a couple of bruises. My poor sister got banged up good and several cuts, but nothing broken and she's going to be okay. I want to say how profoundly grateful I am that she's okay.
Rain does a cool thing on her blog -- which more of you should visit -- and that's to give thanks for the good things in her life. I hope it lifts her up to write it as much as it does for me to read it.
This idea of being grateful is a good thing, sadly underused in this day and age. We don't recognize the many precious gifts we are given. Somehow we have come to believe that we are entitled when really the only things we can be sure of is that we will live and we will die and go into the beyond. To cherish and be thankful for our joys is how we grow to be better people.
Good night.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
My birthday suit is a tux
Crystal and FF, it (posting) was/is on my list of things to do. I just didn't get to it until now. For those of you who are curious, I got 33 of the items on my list done. Yes, that sure leaves a lot. We'll see how many I get done this week.
Work again tomorrow. I wish I could approach it with more ... well, joy might be asking for too much, but at least not as much dread. Lately I feel such reluctance to show up. Sigh. I must be having my mid-life crisis. Or something like that. Maybe it's the whole birthday thing.
A friend (?) suggested that for my birthday, I post a picture of me in my birthday suit. She meant, she says, a picture of me when I was a baby, but there are no naked pictures of me as a baby. Sorry. And there aren't any of me as an adult ... as far as I know.
Which reminds of one of my favorite stories. A friend of mine, the son of a minister, went to Jamaica when he was in his twenties. (Let's call him John.) He was traveling for his job. He was far from home and knew no one. Near his hotel was a clothing optional beach. After the third day, he decided to wander down there. Not to take off his clothes, of course, but just to look.
Well, John walked down to the beach, found a place for his towel and sat down to watch. He was surprised about how natural everyone seemed to take their nudity. Finally he gathered up his courage and took off his clothes. He felt quite proud of himself. And after all, it wasn't like anyone would ever know.
A road with a sidewalk ran alongside this beach. He had left his clothes near the steps that led down to the beach. After a while, he decided to return to the hotel. He walked up to his clothes when suddenly he heard someone ask, "John, is that you?"
Unknown to him until that moment, his father's church had sent a mission trip down to Jamaica. Around twenty or so people who knew him quite well were walking from the local mission back to their hotel.
He looked up to see all their shocked and staring faces. He stood there for just a moment. He turned and ran down the beach into the ocean. He says he seriously considered just letting the surf take him.
But a while later, he returned to his hotel. By the time he got there, his father and mother had already left several messages. As he tells it, he could hear his father without the phone. His father was that loud.
But not just young men can make questionable decisions regarding nudity.
About ten years ago, the daughter of a man I know went down to Florida for Spring Break. Having too many beers and being pressured by friends, she stood on in the back of a truck and lifted her t-shirt to men they passed. However, CNN was down there recording the excesses of the college students. The camera focused on her a good thirty seconds. CNN broadcast the video clip the next day, blurring the naughty bits, but leaving her face crisp and clear. She would have liked it if they had blurred her face because her parents were watching CNN that night. Her father flew down immediately to get her, and she never got to go to Spring Break again while she was in college. Now the family just laughs about it, except for her mom and dad who are still pretty upset about it.
And on that note I'm going to call it a night. Have a good night. Pleasant dreams.
Work again tomorrow. I wish I could approach it with more ... well, joy might be asking for too much, but at least not as much dread. Lately I feel such reluctance to show up. Sigh. I must be having my mid-life crisis. Or something like that. Maybe it's the whole birthday thing.
A friend (?) suggested that for my birthday, I post a picture of me in my birthday suit. She meant, she says, a picture of me when I was a baby, but there are no naked pictures of me as a baby. Sorry. And there aren't any of me as an adult ... as far as I know.
Which reminds of one of my favorite stories. A friend of mine, the son of a minister, went to Jamaica when he was in his twenties. (Let's call him John.) He was traveling for his job. He was far from home and knew no one. Near his hotel was a clothing optional beach. After the third day, he decided to wander down there. Not to take off his clothes, of course, but just to look.
Well, John walked down to the beach, found a place for his towel and sat down to watch. He was surprised about how natural everyone seemed to take their nudity. Finally he gathered up his courage and took off his clothes. He felt quite proud of himself. And after all, it wasn't like anyone would ever know.
A road with a sidewalk ran alongside this beach. He had left his clothes near the steps that led down to the beach. After a while, he decided to return to the hotel. He walked up to his clothes when suddenly he heard someone ask, "John, is that you?"
Unknown to him until that moment, his father's church had sent a mission trip down to Jamaica. Around twenty or so people who knew him quite well were walking from the local mission back to their hotel.
He looked up to see all their shocked and staring faces. He stood there for just a moment. He turned and ran down the beach into the ocean. He says he seriously considered just letting the surf take him.
But a while later, he returned to his hotel. By the time he got there, his father and mother had already left several messages. As he tells it, he could hear his father without the phone. His father was that loud.
But not just young men can make questionable decisions regarding nudity.
About ten years ago, the daughter of a man I know went down to Florida for Spring Break. Having too many beers and being pressured by friends, she stood on in the back of a truck and lifted her t-shirt to men they passed. However, CNN was down there recording the excesses of the college students. The camera focused on her a good thirty seconds. CNN broadcast the video clip the next day, blurring the naughty bits, but leaving her face crisp and clear. She would have liked it if they had blurred her face because her parents were watching CNN that night. Her father flew down immediately to get her, and she never got to go to Spring Break again while she was in college. Now the family just laughs about it, except for her mom and dad who are still pretty upset about it.
And on that note I'm going to call it a night. Have a good night. Pleasant dreams.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Ridiculously long lists
I just noticed that I haven't updated the meters for my various projects recently. I'll have to do that. Let me add it to my ridiculously long list of things to do. It is a long, long, long list as I discovered yesterday as I was updating my to-dos. 104 items for the rest of this week and the weekend.
Don't panic, I tell myself. Most of the items aren't hard. They just need to be done. Naturally I won't get them all done this week. But I'm aiming for a third of them. The others will have to wait. Only so many hours in a day, only so many days in week, only so many weeks in a year, only so many years in a life.
Time. Anniversaries. Holidays. Birthdays. When I was a kid, it was an eternity between birthdays. Now it feels like I had one just yesterday.
A friend of mine asked what I wanted for my birthday. I told him that a good meal is fine. But what I really want is to be out of debt. I will pay off a credit card in September or October. Wish I could pay it off this month. After that, it will be eight or nine months before I can pay off another one. Then I start on the large card, the monster debt that I paid off all those cards to focus on. I won't tell you how much it is, but it will take four years from today to pay off ... unless a windfall happens or I inherit money or the government decides to give me a lot of money just because I'm me. And they really should.
The thing is, I wish I was out of debt now. I'd like to be free of the worry now. Of course, I know that my world doesn't work like that. I don't have anything that I didn't work for. I don't think I'd have it any other way ... I don't think I would, but let's see what happens if I ever get an offer.
If you read much 17th and 18th century literature, you'll find that in the old days, the Devil went around making deals all the time with humans. Their souls for fame and fortune or whatever. It's worth noting that rarely did those stories have a happy ending, at least not for the humans. One assumes the Devil had a good time for the most part, but that was a long time ago before he joined the Republican party and became rather dour. Not that he doesn't have his agents among the Democrats, of course. Edward Kennedy has broken at least seven of the Commandants that we know of. I'm sure he's working on the other three; he's always been an overachiever.
Still, I see the Devil as a Republican now, if only because I suspect he makes sure he's in the ruling party. He's that sort of guy ... or being ... or whatever. As I imagine it, he has a huge to-do list, too. Besides the major items like disease, war, starvation, etc., he also keeps track of smaller annoyances that help keep life frustrating. Such as:
1. Credit card companies. The Devil is very proud of them as well as the whole idea of outrageous interest rates. After all, paying for sins after you die has to be the ultimate installment plan.
2. Styrofoam cups. Why this one? Well, who else would create a piece of litter that won't degrade naturally and thus will be around for centuries?
3. Air conditioning repairmen who don't repair anything. Yes, that's right. My house still has no air conditioning. Sigh. The fan and maybe something else needs replacing. They have to come back again but probably not tomorrow, which means I will be holed up in bedroom most of the weekend, only venturing out in the early morning before the blazing sun climbs into the sky and attempts to grill us.
4. Blogger. Which hasn't been letting me blog. Or comment.
5. Gas prices. I'm thinking horses are going to be real popular soon. And not just for meals, either.
6. Weathermen who keep smiling and talking about how the skies are clear and "We'll have a bright, sunny day tomorrow" when the tires on our parked cars are melting. Of course, they probably have air conditioning that works. Vermin.
7. Roaches and other pests like Congressmen and telemarketers and those cute Girl Scouts who push those cookies even though lemon creme cookies are as addictive as crack.
8. I was going to write more, but it's FIVE THOUSAND DEGREES IN MY HOUSE! ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!! My keyboard is melting! I'm melting! What a world! I'm retreating to my bedroom. Have a good ... COOL ... night.
Don't panic, I tell myself. Most of the items aren't hard. They just need to be done. Naturally I won't get them all done this week. But I'm aiming for a third of them. The others will have to wait. Only so many hours in a day, only so many days in week, only so many weeks in a year, only so many years in a life.
Time. Anniversaries. Holidays. Birthdays. When I was a kid, it was an eternity between birthdays. Now it feels like I had one just yesterday.
A friend of mine asked what I wanted for my birthday. I told him that a good meal is fine. But what I really want is to be out of debt. I will pay off a credit card in September or October. Wish I could pay it off this month. After that, it will be eight or nine months before I can pay off another one. Then I start on the large card, the monster debt that I paid off all those cards to focus on. I won't tell you how much it is, but it will take four years from today to pay off ... unless a windfall happens or I inherit money or the government decides to give me a lot of money just because I'm me. And they really should.
The thing is, I wish I was out of debt now. I'd like to be free of the worry now. Of course, I know that my world doesn't work like that. I don't have anything that I didn't work for. I don't think I'd have it any other way ... I don't think I would, but let's see what happens if I ever get an offer.
If you read much 17th and 18th century literature, you'll find that in the old days, the Devil went around making deals all the time with humans. Their souls for fame and fortune or whatever. It's worth noting that rarely did those stories have a happy ending, at least not for the humans. One assumes the Devil had a good time for the most part, but that was a long time ago before he joined the Republican party and became rather dour. Not that he doesn't have his agents among the Democrats, of course. Edward Kennedy has broken at least seven of the Commandants that we know of. I'm sure he's working on the other three; he's always been an overachiever.
Still, I see the Devil as a Republican now, if only because I suspect he makes sure he's in the ruling party. He's that sort of guy ... or being ... or whatever. As I imagine it, he has a huge to-do list, too. Besides the major items like disease, war, starvation, etc., he also keeps track of smaller annoyances that help keep life frustrating. Such as:
1. Credit card companies. The Devil is very proud of them as well as the whole idea of outrageous interest rates. After all, paying for sins after you die has to be the ultimate installment plan.
2. Styrofoam cups. Why this one? Well, who else would create a piece of litter that won't degrade naturally and thus will be around for centuries?
3. Air conditioning repairmen who don't repair anything. Yes, that's right. My house still has no air conditioning. Sigh. The fan and maybe something else needs replacing. They have to come back again but probably not tomorrow, which means I will be holed up in bedroom most of the weekend, only venturing out in the early morning before the blazing sun climbs into the sky and attempts to grill us.
4. Blogger. Which hasn't been letting me blog. Or comment.
5. Gas prices. I'm thinking horses are going to be real popular soon. And not just for meals, either.
6. Weathermen who keep smiling and talking about how the skies are clear and "We'll have a bright, sunny day tomorrow" when the tires on our parked cars are melting. Of course, they probably have air conditioning that works. Vermin.
7. Roaches and other pests like Congressmen and telemarketers and those cute Girl Scouts who push those cookies even though lemon creme cookies are as addictive as crack.
8. I was going to write more, but it's FIVE THOUSAND DEGREES IN MY HOUSE! ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!! My keyboard is melting! I'm melting! What a world! I'm retreating to my bedroom. Have a good ... COOL ... night.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Cool
Now I have an eighty dollar air conditioner from Wal-Mart in my bedroom window now. Ahhhh ... And a repairman is coming Thursday to look at the house's unit to see what it needs. I'm afraid it's shot, but I'm hoping it just needs some small part. I should be so lucky.
My roomie is going to tough it out until Thursday and see what the repairman says. If the repair is beyond the budget right now, he's going to get a small unit for his bedroom, and we just may make do for a while.
Anyway, I'm very tired. I haven't slept well the past few days in the heat so I'm going to go to bed now in my cool bedroom. Y'all take care and stay cool. Night!
My roomie is going to tough it out until Thursday and see what the repairman says. If the repair is beyond the budget right now, he's going to get a small unit for his bedroom, and we just may make do for a while. Anyway, I'm very tired. I haven't slept well the past few days in the heat so I'm going to go to bed now in my cool bedroom. Y'all take care and stay cool. Night!
Monday, July 17, 2006
Heat
My job is driving me crazy. It's grinding me down. Every day I wonder how much longer I can do it. But then I remember my bills. And yeah, I can keep on doing it. And will. Because I pay my bills.
I sent my first payment in on the new computer today. I didn't have enough saved to pay it off, but I made a large dent in the bill. If I keep working at it, I think I can have it paid off by October or November. That would be cool.
And I should have another credit card paid off by November. So I'm making progress. Slow but steady. Just call me Mr. Tortoise.
It's hot here. Temp hovered at 104 degrees today. I couldn't get any air conditioner repairman to come out so my house is quite hot. I'm hoping to get in touch with one tomorrow. I called and left messages with several companies, but no one returned my calls. They're swamped with business and repair calls.
Tomorrow I intend to go to Wal-Mart and buy a window unit for my bedroom. It's been hard to sleep at night due to the heat. Some people associate heat and sweat with sensuality. I don't think I can agree with that.
Prevention Magazine is reporting that cherries are a fantastic cancer fighter. They say that cherries are loaded with perillyl alcohol and quercetin, both of which are apparently potent anti-cancer agents. Cherries taste good, too.
By the way, I did NOT do anything for the local theater group tonight. I should have written story for the local paper about the patron drive and the upcoming season, but I didn't. I gave myself the night off. I'll write the story tomorrow night.
And now it's time for bed!
I sent my first payment in on the new computer today. I didn't have enough saved to pay it off, but I made a large dent in the bill. If I keep working at it, I think I can have it paid off by October or November. That would be cool.
And I should have another credit card paid off by November. So I'm making progress. Slow but steady. Just call me Mr. Tortoise.
It's hot here. Temp hovered at 104 degrees today. I couldn't get any air conditioner repairman to come out so my house is quite hot. I'm hoping to get in touch with one tomorrow. I called and left messages with several companies, but no one returned my calls. They're swamped with business and repair calls.Tomorrow I intend to go to Wal-Mart and buy a window unit for my bedroom. It's been hard to sleep at night due to the heat. Some people associate heat and sweat with sensuality. I don't think I can agree with that.
Prevention Magazine is reporting that cherries are a fantastic cancer fighter. They say that cherries are loaded with perillyl alcohol and quercetin, both of which are apparently potent anti-cancer agents. Cherries taste good, too.
By the way, I did NOT do anything for the local theater group tonight. I should have written story for the local paper about the patron drive and the upcoming season, but I didn't. I gave myself the night off. I'll write the story tomorrow night.
And now it's time for bed!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Roundup of a weekend
Friday, I worked all day. That night I watched Stargate: SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis. That was the notable things.
Saturday, I worked on finishing the patron drive. I also went to Wal-Mart and did laundry and other housework, but mostly I worked on preparing over 600 mailings for the patron drive. It basically took all day, but I got almost all of it done. In bad news, apparently the house central air unit has broken. My house got hot.
Sunday, I woke up with lower back pain and a stuffy head. I watched my church service on TV. I finished the patron drive and drove to the post office and mailed the patron invitations. Then I came home and basically vegged. House is still hot. I hope I can get a repairman out to work on it this week.
Now you're caught up. Not all interesting, eh? Well, what else can I tell you about?
Saluton. Kiel vi nomigas? Mi nomigas Tech. Gis revido. Pacon.
That is Esperanto. An invented language that the makers hoped would become an universal language. I ran across a mention of it in a book and thought I'd research it a bit. Look it up and see what you think of the idea.
Esperanto seems to be a fairly difficult language to learn, however. I think I'd devote my time to Spanish if I were going to learn a new one. I have a feeling that knowledge of Spanish will become more and more important as our nation gains more Hispanics.
In college I took both Spanish and French. Now I've lost almost everything I've learned. Just a handful of words remain.
Tomorrow I will be dieting in a strict and terrible fashion. I have to get my weight under control. Period. I refuse to spend the rest of my life like this. See the Great Slim Down for more details of the weight war.
I'm going to bed now. I have a fan blowing on the bed. I hope that helps. Last night wasn't very pleasant. Have a good night and a great tomorrow.
Saturday, I worked on finishing the patron drive. I also went to Wal-Mart and did laundry and other housework, but mostly I worked on preparing over 600 mailings for the patron drive. It basically took all day, but I got almost all of it done. In bad news, apparently the house central air unit has broken. My house got hot.
Sunday, I woke up with lower back pain and a stuffy head. I watched my church service on TV. I finished the patron drive and drove to the post office and mailed the patron invitations. Then I came home and basically vegged. House is still hot. I hope I can get a repairman out to work on it this week.
Now you're caught up. Not all interesting, eh? Well, what else can I tell you about?
Saluton. Kiel vi nomigas? Mi nomigas Tech. Gis revido. Pacon.
That is Esperanto. An invented language that the makers hoped would become an universal language. I ran across a mention of it in a book and thought I'd research it a bit. Look it up and see what you think of the idea.
Esperanto seems to be a fairly difficult language to learn, however. I think I'd devote my time to Spanish if I were going to learn a new one. I have a feeling that knowledge of Spanish will become more and more important as our nation gains more Hispanics.
In college I took both Spanish and French. Now I've lost almost everything I've learned. Just a handful of words remain.
Tomorrow I will be dieting in a strict and terrible fashion. I have to get my weight under control. Period. I refuse to spend the rest of my life like this. See the Great Slim Down for more details of the weight war.
I'm going to bed now. I have a fan blowing on the bed. I hope that helps. Last night wasn't very pleasant. Have a good night and a great tomorrow.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Post 2 of 2
I haven't been talking about writing much lately. That doesn't mean I'm not writing. Darkness, Oklahoma continues to consume my writing time with Murder at the Witch's Cottage a close second. Both aren't really at a stage where I can talk much about them. I'm in a place where the characters really matter to me. They're mine in a way that's hard to explain. I don't want to lose that yet. Right now they belong to me, and I need to hold them close as we work out their story and how it ends and how it changes them and their world. Eventually I will be so sick to them that I will be forcing them on total strangers, but not yet. I'm not sure I ever really finish a book. I just sick of working on it, and so I end it and move on to the next obsession.
Another reason to keep mum is that talking about the events in the book and in the play lessens my desire to write them. Part of the reason I write is to tell a story. Once I've told it to someone, then that impulse is somewhat satisfied. I've always wondered how many books have died in writing groups because the authors told their stories and those tellings defused their writing desire. Obviously some people flourish in a writing groups. I'm not one of them. Besides, when I share a piece of writing, I actually just want someone to praise it and tell me that I'm on the right track. I'm shallow. Happy, though.
So, yes, I'm writing. I'm hoping to finish Darkness, Oklahoma before November. (National Novel Writing Month is in November, remember?) Murder at the Witch's Cottage has to be finished by the first of October when we go into rehearsal. Deadlines, gotta love them.
But I will be posting excerpts later this month. I have a couple of scenes that are fairly contained and won't confuse a reader too much without having read the whole book. Just remember that I'm looking for praise, and we'll get along fine.
There's a lot to be said for the shallow end.
Another reason to keep mum is that talking about the events in the book and in the play lessens my desire to write them. Part of the reason I write is to tell a story. Once I've told it to someone, then that impulse is somewhat satisfied. I've always wondered how many books have died in writing groups because the authors told their stories and those tellings defused their writing desire. Obviously some people flourish in a writing groups. I'm not one of them. Besides, when I share a piece of writing, I actually just want someone to praise it and tell me that I'm on the right track. I'm shallow. Happy, though.
So, yes, I'm writing. I'm hoping to finish Darkness, Oklahoma before November. (National Novel Writing Month is in November, remember?) Murder at the Witch's Cottage has to be finished by the first of October when we go into rehearsal. Deadlines, gotta love them.
But I will be posting excerpts later this month. I have a couple of scenes that are fairly contained and won't confuse a reader too much without having read the whole book. Just remember that I'm looking for praise, and we'll get along fine.
There's a lot to be said for the shallow end.
Post 1 of 2
Did you think I forgot? No, little campers, I didn't. I've just been busy working on the patron drive and the ad sales for the local theater group. Whee. I'll tell you right now that both have taken much more effort and time that I expected and planned for. Live and learn, I guess. Which doesn't make sense since I'm not sure dead people learn things. Well, I guess they might, but then what do they do with the knowledge? Not that I'm dissing dead people, mind you. I've seen too many episodes of Ghost Hunters to feel comfortable doing that. I guess you can tell what mood this afternoon has put me in. I'm discussing dead people. "I discuss dead people."
Anyway, how was your day? Anything exciting going on? Share! We don't have enough to talk about. Do your part. Give us a topic. Preferably something personal that you don't want the world to know, but we won't tell. Only the people who have the good taste to read this blog will know, and they don't repeat gossip ... so you better listen close the first time. (Redneck points if you know what TV show that came from.)
Have I mentioned my birthday is at the end of this month? Yes, I get a year older. I don't feel older. Except, of course, in my knees. And my back. And my memory's shot. And my eyesight is going bad. But other than that and many pounds, I'm the same guy that graduated high school all those years ago but with less hair. I wonder if that guy back then would recognize me now. Would he be pleased at how I'm turning out? Would he be appalled? Would he laugh? Would he understand?
Why I should I care? He didn't know anything back then, the little snot. I have all these years behind me to take me toward the years to come. That's a gift that we all have to give ourselves: a past that lets us believe in a future. So yeah, I get a year older, thank God.
Michelle said in a comment on the previous post that it may be getting too late for two posts. It's never too late. Even after the fabulous lady sings, there's still time for one more moment.
Be back in a bit. You're on the edge of your seats, aren't you? Yes, you are.
Anyway, how was your day? Anything exciting going on? Share! We don't have enough to talk about. Do your part. Give us a topic. Preferably something personal that you don't want the world to know, but we won't tell. Only the people who have the good taste to read this blog will know, and they don't repeat gossip ... so you better listen close the first time. (Redneck points if you know what TV show that came from.)
Have I mentioned my birthday is at the end of this month? Yes, I get a year older. I don't feel older. Except, of course, in my knees. And my back. And my memory's shot. And my eyesight is going bad. But other than that and many pounds, I'm the same guy that graduated high school all those years ago but with less hair. I wonder if that guy back then would recognize me now. Would he be pleased at how I'm turning out? Would he be appalled? Would he laugh? Would he understand?
Why I should I care? He didn't know anything back then, the little snot. I have all these years behind me to take me toward the years to come. That's a gift that we all have to give ourselves: a past that lets us believe in a future. So yeah, I get a year older, thank God.
Michelle said in a comment on the previous post that it may be getting too late for two posts. It's never too late. Even after the fabulous lady sings, there's still time for one more moment.
Be back in a bit. You're on the edge of your seats, aren't you? Yes, you are.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Bedtime
What? You were expecting a post? Well, there's nothing here. Just move along.
Go ahead. I'm not going to be posting tonight. I'm tired. Nothing happened in my day at work other than the usual soul-destroying incidents. I didn't do anything this evening except work on the patron drive for the theater group. So nothing to say.
You're still here.
Yes, you are. I can see you.
You're reading this right now, aren't you? You are, too. Don't you lie to me or you're going to bed without dinner!
Well, be that way. You can just sit here and read this, but it's not going to be a post. I'm not posting tonight.
Don't look at me with those sad eyes. I'm not moved.
You do look pitiful, though ...
But no, I'm not going to give in. No post tonight.
Seriously.
Don't whine. It's very annoying.
Don't cry either. You're a big blog reader now.
Look, tell you what. I'll post twice tomorrow. How's that? Two post tomorrow, but you have to go to bed now and sleep so that tomorrow will come faster.
I promise. Now let's all go to bed and have a great night and a wonderful night.
Good night.
Sweet dreams.
Go ahead. I'm not going to be posting tonight. I'm tired. Nothing happened in my day at work other than the usual soul-destroying incidents. I didn't do anything this evening except work on the patron drive for the theater group. So nothing to say.
You're still here.
Yes, you are. I can see you.
You're reading this right now, aren't you? You are, too. Don't you lie to me or you're going to bed without dinner!
Well, be that way. You can just sit here and read this, but it's not going to be a post. I'm not posting tonight.
Don't look at me with those sad eyes. I'm not moved.
You do look pitiful, though ...
But no, I'm not going to give in. No post tonight.
Seriously.
Don't whine. It's very annoying.
Don't cry either. You're a big blog reader now.
Look, tell you what. I'll post twice tomorrow. How's that? Two post tomorrow, but you have to go to bed now and sleep so that tomorrow will come faster.
I promise. Now let's all go to bed and have a great night and a wonderful night.
Good night.
Sweet dreams.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Song 51313
And sometimes you have to know
the world don't love you today
but you don't love it right now
so that's okay
And sometimes you're on top
spinning like the wild wind
but today you're know you're not
and so you bend
Bend like the willows
on the river to the bay
waves sparkle in the sun
and so you know you're okay
Even though you're over your neck
hoping that boat will come by
treading water like crazy
you'd like to fly
Fly away from this place
that holds you down
into the endless sky never
looking back at this dirty town
So bend like the willows
on the river to the bay
Baby, it happens to all of us
It's okay to have a bad day
Settle back in my loving arms
as we watch the sun fall down
Baby, it happens to all of us
Let me make you a better day.
Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
the world don't love you today
but you don't love it right now
so that's okay
And sometimes you're on top
spinning like the wild wind
but today you're know you're not
and so you bend
Bend like the willows
on the river to the bay
waves sparkle in the sun
and so you know you're okay
Even though you're over your neck
hoping that boat will come by
treading water like crazy
you'd like to fly
Fly away from this place
that holds you down
into the endless sky never
looking back at this dirty town
So bend like the willows
on the river to the bay
Baby, it happens to all of us
It's okay to have a bad day
Settle back in my loving arms
as we watch the sun fall down
Baby, it happens to all of us
Let me make you a better day.
Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Hit and miss
I know the entries here have been hit and miss over the past couple of weeks. I've been wrapped up in catching up on my various projects. I'm still not caught up from the time I lost when I was ill, but I'm getting closer. Of course, I realize that I'm setting the schedule and I could adjust to accommodate the disruptions. But the pressure keeps my juices flowing. Or something like that.
I've been asked why I fill my days with so much activity. My brother has said that we are a "compulsively busy family." I guess that's true. My siblings and I always have three or four things going on at the same time. We are not leisure people. Even our downtime is filled with activity. But for the most part, we're not harried. It's our pace. It's how we live. We're not happy unless we're concentrating on something.
Every now and then, I'll sit down in the back yard and watch the clouds. That seems to be enough to keep my battery charged most times. Perhaps that will change as the years roll along, but I know many people who are active in their 80s and 90s. I can see myself being one of those if I'm lucky and my health holds.
A lot of people who blog seem to be active people. Maybe it's an indicator of bloggers. A way to tell them apart from the regular population. Or maybe it's just that we're all a little crazy. Could be.
I'm going to call it a night now. Y'all have a great night and wonderful tomorrow.
I've been asked why I fill my days with so much activity. My brother has said that we are a "compulsively busy family." I guess that's true. My siblings and I always have three or four things going on at the same time. We are not leisure people. Even our downtime is filled with activity. But for the most part, we're not harried. It's our pace. It's how we live. We're not happy unless we're concentrating on something.
Every now and then, I'll sit down in the back yard and watch the clouds. That seems to be enough to keep my battery charged most times. Perhaps that will change as the years roll along, but I know many people who are active in their 80s and 90s. I can see myself being one of those if I'm lucky and my health holds.
A lot of people who blog seem to be active people. Maybe it's an indicator of bloggers. A way to tell them apart from the regular population. Or maybe it's just that we're all a little crazy. Could be.
I'm going to call it a night now. Y'all have a great night and wonderful tomorrow.
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