My friend Val of QBG_Tilted Tiara came to my rescue just this morning. You see, I have been in a bit of a writing slump. I write and then hit “delete” faster than I can retype what I just cut. And since I was last clocked at 120 words per minute, that’s saying something.
Val explained in her most recent post how she had stolen pages from Oprah’s magazine and not only felt compelled to answer Oprah’s questions, but wants me to do so too.
Shit.
OK. Here goes. Please note that Val didn’t say that I have to answer them honestly. Or seriously. Of course, she also didn’t say I absolutely had to answer them.
I am so glad I learned the secret to… tooting my own horn. I realized decades ago that nobody toots your horn. You have to do it yourself.
And since nobody ever really listens to you when you are tooting (and that term can be taken literally, figuratively, or in the most juvenile way imaginable), it doesn’t matter so much if you do it repeatedly.
But I hope I never figure out… why opposites attract. I am happily married to my husband, John, and have been for 27 years and counting. But if I were to have described the man I’d marry 30 years ago, or 40 years ago, that vision would bear little resemblance to my actual husband. He is a serious, studious, intellectual and I am, um, frequently silly, often irreverent and not at all serious. I am incredibly lucky that I chose John and that he chose me. But I still often look over at him and say “HUH?”
When I need help with life’s mysteries, I turn to… three different people: my old friend Keily, who saw me through some of my most difficult days; my niece, Jen, who is wise and snarky and filled with common sense as well as my genes which is a cross she must bear; my friend Judy, who makes me laugh, has been my friend for decades and is as wise as she is a wise-ass. It is an invaluable combination.
I have been lucky in the friends I’ve fallen in with. Very lucky.
My next challenge is figuring out…what I will write about next …
Val, got any more bright ideas? I should post again in a few days and, ummmm, I’m dry …
FiftyFourandAHalf 
I have been a bit short on inspiration lately myself. My load at work has increased pretty dramatically and I just can’t seem to keep up my pace. I didn’t get very far in my NaNoWriMo this year – it may have been just too much. I decided to make posts I like and to post them when I feel like it – no more schedule. As you can see, I’m a bit behind in my reading too 🙂
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I didn’t get far in NaNoWriMo at all. It was foolish of me to attempt it given all I had to do in Nov.
I think it is so much easier to just post when you feel like it. It gives you the freedom to produce better stuff. Or to rant when you’re ticked off …
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I agree, and I am taking that approach to more of my posts. Not tying myself to a schedule – and hopefully doing a better job. My month was madness – I got about 8K words and never had a chance to move things along. I guess we really do have limits.
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If you’re really desperate (and I’m guessing you are if you are going to Oprah for ideas), check out the AARP. They have a shit-ton of material. Gold mine. I’m telling you…
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Actually, I am not really desperate for ideas. I liked this one of Val’s, though.
But it is writing anything more substantive than a rant that I’m struggling with. I can bitch well any old day!
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That’s what I love about the AARP articles. Some of them are so inane that they get my zany mind juiced up for hijinks!
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Lorna, I’m not so sure that women our age are allowed to say “hijinks.” I think it is right there with “groovy.”
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Aw, shucks! I like talking like that! 😉
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There is nothing not wonderful about this post and the line of following commentary. This brought joy to me.
Thank you ❤
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Thank you, Candy. I don’t know how I missed your comment.
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Not a fan of the big “O”, but I love your answers. I give that same look to He-Who, usually followed by a, “How the heck did this happen?”.
I am a fan of James Lipton so I would encourage you to tackle those questions as well. It seems there are a lot of your adoring followers requesting this that you may feel compelled. 😉
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How come He-Who stopped blogging?
I may go ahead with the James Lipton questions. They are pretty fun! You can do them too!
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He-Who hasn’t stopped blogging. He got caught up in a course he was taking and was studying all the time. He finished. He passed. He is looking forward to catching up with you and blogging again. How’s that for putting it in writing so he has to do it?
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That is a dangerous tactic, Michelle. I told everyone I was doing NaNoWriMo and then, ummm didn’t get far …
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You got further than I did.
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Toooooooooooooooot.
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Thanks, TwinDaddy.
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Excuse me.
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OK, I will this time. But don’t let it happen again.
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No promises.
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I think a blog is real work (I’ll confess that my writing hobby is much more difficult than my paying gig) and I have to force myself to just start typing and, like you, I almost always I wind up deleting a whole mess of paragraphs but eventually I work around to something that is (at least, I think so) worthwhile. I think the physical exercise of moving my fingers across the keyboard inspires creativity, and also a whole lot of crap that I wind up tossing 🙂
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You’re absolutely right. A blog is work. But it’s mostly fun work.
I find I either type out something and hit Publish without too much thought or tinkering, or agonize for days when I’m trying to tell a story (as opposed to ranting about something). Some days words just flow and sometimes they are more like molasses. Which stinks!
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Don’t worry, Elyse. Before you know it, the 2016 campaign season will be in full swing and you’ll have too much to write about.
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That means I will get to use all my favorite swear words at once! Oh Joy!
I’m actually rolling my eyes at the 2016 news stories. We have 3 years folks! And no one has ever chosen the winner this far out. (Except when, at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Obama gave his We Are Not Blue States, We are Not Red States … speech. That’s when my husband and I turned to each other and said — “Can we have HIM.” Damn we were good.)
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I’m looking forward to your straightforward unbiased campaign coverage.
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“Unbiased” goes without saying in my writing. Right?
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Of course.
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I loved this! I want to know what your favorite curse word is now.
Confession: part of the reason I do my little blogger interviews is I know it guarantees me at least ONE post a month I don’t have to write. (well, and because I just love finding out what bloggers think God will say at the pearly gates, etc.)
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For obvious reasons, Darla, “SHIT!” must be my favorite swear word. And I often mean that literally …
I love your blogger interviews. Especially since mine was the very first one ;).
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1) There are always daily prompts. Or do you intentionally avoid them, like I do?
2) You can read weird news articles for post ideas (yahoo, newser, daily mail are some good sources – but there might be something even better out there).
3) You can wait for the next Republican politician to make some insane statement, and pounce on it. I think this suggestion is the most promising.
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Yes, X, Number 3 is the most likely, although after my daily rants leading up to the recent election here in Virginia, I am happily taking a break. (My followers are no doubt breaking into cheers at this news.)
I don’t do daily prompts, but I don’t really avoid them intentionally either. I don’t think that the world needs a post from me every day. I write sporadically when I think of something I want to say. Trouble is, I haven’t been writing well on non-rant stories. It’s getting on my nerves… But I will rant on that soon, I expect!
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Then you could try #2 – there’s plenty of stupidity in the world, and it’s not limited to politics.
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Actually, I do that a lot. Reuters.com has some great stuff … Then again there is so very much stupidity in daily life that topics are plentiful!
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My favorite part of Oprah’s magazine is always her What I Know For Sure article at the back of each issue. Do you have any of those up your sleeve? And it can be totally made up. You did great with this piece!
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Thanks, M2M. I never read Oprah’s magazine, actually. And I never watched her show. What I know for sure is that she made gazillions off of her personality, which is great work if you can get it! But then you might be looking for a more thoughtful response. I will think on this one too. I have only so much philosophizing per week!
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I love your answers! I think you should simply carry on with the tooting, you do such a great job of it and if you ever tire others can come along with an assist. You are loved by many.
I think Guap’s idea is smart, try the 10 questions.
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Just in case, here they are for your next entry (if you do it I will).
1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on?
4. What turns you off?
5. What sound do you love?
6. What sound do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
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Hmmmm, I will keep these and give them a try anon. It’s not that I can’t think of anything to write, it’s just that what I’m writing isn’t very good … unless I am ranting. Then I’m fine!
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Thanks Val! Yes, tooting my own horn IS one of my greatest talents …
And Guap is great, isn’t he? I may try the questions. I can film my answers and put them next to my Oscars!
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Maybe its the elementary school teacher in me, but how can “tooting” be interpreted other than in the most juvenile way possible?
Well done here; I had to go see what you were referring to and now I, too am pondering these questions!
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It’s definitely the elementary school teacher in you saying that ..
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Can Oprah give me ideas too?
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Probably. But I think you still red to go through Val. But she is pretty cool , Val is. And she rarely bites.
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I gave my answers over on Valentine’s post, so I won’t repeat them here. But I’d just like to state for the record that I hope you never stop being silly. Toot toot.
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NEVER!
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You should take a shot at the 10 questions James Lipton asks his guests on Actors Studio.
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Not a bad idea. But he didn’t personally ask me to do that. I feel slighted by James …
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Just drop him a line about your Oscars.
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I’ll do that. It is an irresistible story! Guap, you are a pal and a block buster …Assuming I get beyond the block, that is.
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