OK, so having little video making experience, and little uploading to YouTube experience, I realized that I published the post before YouTube did it’s processing thing.
So, if you tried watching the videos, and they weren’t working properly— apologies. I was a bit too eager to get them out.
But, they are now ‘processed’ … and are viewable.
Sorry ….
It’s been a struggle.
It’s been more than that. It’s been a battle. Of near epic proportions.
I’ll admit that I didn’t always play fair: I evaded the question, hid the remote, even flat out said “no.”
But, in the end, it was all for naught.
I’ve lost the good fight.
My mother has now become a member of the Faux… I mean Fox News audience.
Please, join me in a moment of silence to honor this tragic loss.
Well, of course, there are those who are offended by this ad… but, to them I say: lighten up! This is funny, funny, funny stuff!
It’s not that I don’t have things to say. I do. Last month I wrote lots of long, rambling posts.
It’s just that no one read them.
Maybe I need to rethink, and reexamine my writings and not publish any more on here for a bit.
So, you probably won’t see me here too much this month, while I give some thought to my writing.
Besides, I’ve got a few other things going on: NoonTime Photography, my (obviously) photography blog, which seems to be attracting likes and follows. And, I’m still working on getting my online Gallery set up, so I can try to sell one or two of my photos — actually, I did sell three on the new site, so this is happy news. Now if I can just sell enough to make $2,000 for the new Nikon D7100 that I want, I’d be super happy. (Dream big, right?)
And, I’ve got the new Poetry blog, which is going better than expected.
Many of you who read this blog are, I’m certain, familiar with NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month (November), where the goal is to write 10 pages per day, so you’ll have a 300 page novel at the end of the month. Well, April is National Poetry Month, and, not to be left out, there is also a NaPoWriMo, National Poetry Writing Month: 30 Days, 30 poems. A regular reader here, and wonderful poet, suggested that I give it a try, so, after some thought, I thought I’d go for it. I’ve written 2 so far. (More people might read the poems than my long babbling essays anyway. Since I’m not a poet, I can’t just crank out a poem — it takes awhile, so I will be working on that… I’m going to go for at least 15-20 out of the 30. I missed the first day, so at most, I can get 29. So, I’ll be busy with that.)
You’ll still see postings here, just not every day, and, probably nothing long — the long pieces I’ve been composing can wait. Maybe I need to find another outlet for those.
We’ll see.
Don’t think of me as gone — just think of me as on vacation with limited internet access for the next few weeks.
Sometimes, the sunniest spot is the best for a nap:
I’ve recently found a new blog, Broken Light: A Photography Collective. The submissions are all from people suffering from mental illness.
Today’s post featured this image, taken by a woman who suffers from bipolar disorder:
I find this photo, and essay particularly moving. While I am not bipolar, I suffer from chronic depression and anxieties, and I really found the use of the carousel as metaphor for mental illness resonated with me. She writes:
To me, however, they are hardly merry. They represent the cycles of the bipolar life. From the outside, the ride can look happy and fun, with brightly painted horses and seats, but in actuality it is a bunch of creepy chipped statues that keep going in circles, never moving forward. The same maddening song running over and over and over.
Don’t get me wrong, it can can be fun at times. I love the rush, feeling my feet flying off the ground, the wind in my hair, but the highs can quickly become overwhelming, leaving me dizzy and unsteady. Then comes the inevitable end. The ride stops. The rush becomes a crash – lethargy, sadness, depression.
Everyone leaves the carousel, gleeful and giddy, but I’m stuck on it, forever, only to start the cycle once again, and again, and again.
It’s a beautiful photo, and a fantastic website! Be sure to check out the post The Bipolar Ride, as well as the rest of the website.
via The Bipolar Ride.
Today’s snow, with maybe another inch or two expected tomorrow.
Will be good for getting all the flowers to start blooming… which will be not so good for my allergies. But, hey: flowers! Spring!
I often wonder why, when writing a blog post, the subject/title line box comes first. I find that it creates too much pressure. The subject line should be at the end. So many times when I start writing, I have no idea what I’m going to say. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Sometimes it’s a flicker of an idea. Sometimes just a sentence. Sometimes (very rarely), it’s actually a fully developed idea.
Most of the time though, when I sit down to write, whether it’s here in my little blog, or in a notebook, or on my laptop’s Word software, I have no subject in mind. Most of the time it’s just me and the empty page, staring at each other. It becomes this Psychological Staring Contest – who’s going to look away first? Me, or The Blank Page. As the page has no eyes, it’s usually me that looks away, while the blank page still stares straight ahead.
It’s not until the words start appearing on the page that the idea begins to take shape (to develop!) into something. Sometimes it takes many lines of nothing intelligent before something catches in my brain and the words and ideas begin to flow (perhaps not always intelligently, but at least their flowing and developing into something cohesive).
It’s not until I’m many, many, many sentences into it that I even have an idea of what the subject is. So putting the subject line right at the beginning seems daunting, almost making me not want to write at all since I can’t come up with a subject.
If the subject line were placed at the end of the template, it would be psychologically less intimidating. By the time you get to the end, you already know what it is you’ve written about. The obvious retort (I can hear many of you making it) is that you skip the subject line, write your little blurb, and then go back and type in the subject. Which is, of course, the most logical of workarounds. However, that still doesn’t make that blank box labeled “Subject:” any less daunting. Besides, it’s a logical workaround, and I’m more … artistic, yes, that’s the word.. artistic, rather than logical. Artistically, the subject line, in the writing phase, would be a little box at the bottom, or, even better, in a pop-up window. After one clicks the “publish” button, one would get a pop-up that said “Please add a Subject Line To Your Post”, and would have a blank to fill in.
Yes, it’s an extra step, but, again, what better point to add a subject to the line than after one has already written something.
I suppose some people see it as a challenge: “Oh, there’s a blank space! I need to fill it up before moving on to the text part!” And to those people I say: “Take a pill for your OCD!” If you’re that obsessed with filling in blank spaces in order, then you and I haven’t got much in common. If that’s your thing, fine and dandy, and more power to you. Me, I am not compelled to fill in the blank space right away, even though the blank space of the Subject line sneers at me, laughs at me, dares me to come up with words to fill in its blank.
And, that’s ok, because at this point the idea development has come to a screeching halt. I had no idea when I started this post what it would be about, and, perhaps it’s not about much of anything. Either way, the post seems to have come to an end.
At least I can say though: I now can fill in the subject line.
I know, I know…who needs another blog to follow? It’s tough keeping up with all your favorites already.
But, just in case you need one more to follow, consider my new photography blog: NoonTime Photography. I know many of you have enjoyed seeing my photos when I’ve posted them here, but, I’ve made the decision to keep my the main bulk of my photography separate from this blog. The choice was driven by the desire to turn my hobby into a small business.
That doesn’t mean there still won’t be a few photos on this site: photos of mom, of course; impromptu shots of whatever catches my fancy, yet isn’t quite professional enough to sell; and, I’m hoping to start adding photos that illustrate my blog posts, rather than using images from the internet (yesterday’s post of the Bukowski poem had a nice shot of a Bukowski quote, handmade by me — and, briefly published, until I realized I spelled his name wrong! Ooops!)
But, the bulk of my photos will show up over there. So, please feel free to follow me there as well, or, at least pop in from time to time.
I appreciate each and every one of you who follow me, and, to those of you who regularly interact, whether by liking or commenting on a post, I say a special thank you.
And, because I like you, and want you to know that I am a flawed individual, I will post my nice, quick, Bukowski quote photo — spelling error and all.
Yes, I am aware of the spelling error…
I’m just curious… and want to take an informal survey of sorts…
Does anyone else notice weird things around WordPress lately? I mean technical weird stuff. Like the “like” button not showing up, like notifications showing up in one place (your phone app), but not in another (your browser)? like weird notes?
I posted a photo on my photography blog, and this is what I saw… (notice the message on the side, about “no tags”, then look at the top of the post, and count…
Does it feel like people aren’t getting your posts, or that you’re not getting theirs?
Or, am I just drinking too much caffeine?
Blame it on The Dad Poet, this weird new addiction of mine: reading poetry.
Poetry and I have always struggled with our friendship — I have wanted to be thought of as a smart, literate person, and, that enjoying and understanding poetry was part of the key. Poetry, however, did not seem to feel an obligation to like me back — it has remained aloof, snobbish, and superior, rejecting my attempts at friendship.
In less poetic terms: I tried, but just didn’t get it. And, this lack of understanding has always bugged me. It’s made me feel as if there were something wrong with me. I am reasonably well-read, I can write an acceptable sentence, I have a larger than average vocabulary, and I love words. And, what is poetry but words? I can pick up any book, and, even if I don’t enjoy it, I can read through it and come away with a basic understanding of the book’s story.
But poetry?
I cannot even begin to guess at the number of poems I’ve read over the years, read, and then stared at, then reread, then pondered, then reread, then, finally, gave up in frustration, as its meaning was elusive,hidden among words I know the meaning of, but put together in such a way as to make understanding an impossibility.
I’d come away from these sojourns into the world of poetry feeling as if I was defective, as if there were something wrong with my intelligence. I felt stupid. I don’t like feeling stupid. So, for many years, I avoided poetry, shunning it, mocking it.
But then, one day last year (exact date unknown), I stumbled upon a blog about poetry that has forever changed my view of poetry. It wasn’t one post, or one sentence that changed my attitude towards poetry, but, rather, a successive series of well-written, thoughtful posts.
David, The Dad Poet, has taken on the poetry world, and presents poetry with the belief that poetry should be accessible to all, that poetry does not have to be shrouded in images so mysterious that only The Chosen Few have any hope of understanding it.
It’s been about a year that I’ve been following his blog, reading his posts, and the discussion that often goes on in his comments section. I’ve visited the blogs he’s referenced. Most importantly, I’ve opened myself to learning.
He’s taught me many things, and I owe him a debt of gratitude.
If you have even the slightest interest in penetrating the haze of Poetry, I’d recommend stopping by his blog and taking a look around.
I’m glad to have discovered his blog, and, more importantly, over the corse of the year, I’ve been honored to get to know him, and call him friend.
(He has, however, cost me a few dollars: I’ve been buying books of, and about, poetry like crazy!)
Seems that the viral gastric buggy thingy that has given me several fine hours in the bathroom over the past few days has also drained me of my manners…
Many of you left comments wishing my mom and I a speedy recovery, and many other kind words.
I admit, I’m going to be a tad lazy, and not reply individually… but, to each of you who left comments. They were much appreciated!
This is for all of my readers and followers — not just the regulars who click “like” on my posts, and the regulars who leave comments, but, this is for anyone who reads this, whether you Follow my blog, or just randomly come across this post.
And, if you stumble upon this post a week from now, a month from now, however long from now, feel free to share your thoughts.
Consider this a survey, a request for thoughts and opinions on blog following, and one or two other questions I have.
Obviously, you do not need to leave me answers as long as my post — though, if you do, I certainly won’t complain. Mostly, I would like to get a sense of what others think about the etiquette surrounding following and commenting.
I ran across this graphic the other day, and was rather pleased to discover that I actually use quite a few of these words , some more than others. What made the list even more delightful was the inclusion of two of my absolute favorite words, which, sadly, are not commonly used: balderdash, peckish.
Mayhap, if more of us include these words, the world might be more beautiful.
P.S. Using the word ‘scrumptious’ only counts if you use it in a sentence, not if you’re singing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang songs.
P.P.S. I could possibly have come up with more delightful sentences, using more of the words from the list, but, that would require I contemplate my writing more; but, then, I thought of the enormity of the task, and realized I was just too discombobulated, and a bit peckish, and felt laking in gumption to take on such a great task. Regardless of my lousy audacity in trying to cleave together some likely, yet pompous sounding phrases in order to enthrall you, my precious readers, I am loath to undertake a task of such enormity. Mayhap, after some time in lovely solitude at my residence, I might find some purpose in trying to mimic a writer of old, and secure my words together in a fetching and winsome manner. For now, I will simply give you a thankful embrace for reading this, and then I will skedaddle.
Because you know we love Sweet Brown here at Johnbalaya!
Apropos of nothing, if you’re on Tumblr, I can be found at:
My blog posts show up there… and, you’ll find some other odds and ends that I reblog.
When I was going to school, in the 1970s, I always got a new box of Crayola Crayons.
The Big Box. Sixty-four colors, and a sharpener on the back (which really did nothing other than break the crayons). It was a status symbol, because not everyone got The Big Box.
I’m rather ashamed to admit to being a kid who looked around on the first few days of school, looking to see if anyone else had The Big Box, and, feeling rather superior to those who only had small boxes of Crayola’s.
As an adult, I would like to say to all my classmates, I’m sorry for my smugness. Not having The Big Box of crayons really is not a reflection of who you are.
I think I was a bit slow to learn that lesson.
But, nostalgia aside, I’d like to share the following with you. It’s slightly wrong, but, still, rather amusing.
So many things come to mind as I read this, and I don’t even know which of them to say.
I get that some personal information was shared, and that’s not a good thing, but, really, I suspect the pastor is making a fuss because she’s embarrassed she was caught and called out(as well she should be!). If she were a true practicioner of the “Do Unto Others” philosophy, she’d call the restaurant, and ask them to rehire the waitress. A reprimand is in order, not a firing.
My vote is she’s not going to make that call.
The story is from NBC News:
My birthday is Friday. The First Day Of February.
I don’t normally make pleas for birthday gifts. Well, at least not on my blog.
However, there’s a gift I really would like. If you’ve got extra cash, I’d be more than happy to accept this gift from you. You can email me at noontimeone at gmail dot com to tell me where I can pick it up:
My first car was a used, 1973 VW bug, so, while this isn’t a bug, it makes me a bit nostalgic.
For my friends who read this, and always ask what I want (you know who you are!)….. Amazon gift cards are most welcomed, and can be emailed to the above email address.
But… still… the scooter would be soooooo cool.
