Seeking submissions!!!
I want to put together a compendium of really funny one-liners because I love them and I can never remember them. To get the group started...here are a couple:
1. I thought about being a pessimist, but I figured it wouldn't work out.
2. If everything is coming your way, get in the other lane!
I'm sure you know some too...maybe we can even write some new ones!
Showing posts with label GeekUnderling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GeekUnderling. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Overview of things to come
This might not be a good idea, but in order to answer the questions in response to my creative piece in the class, I'm going to try to answer with a minimum amount of details.
The piece was actually chronologically the 7th of 25 chapters in my story of stories, but is the first chapter in my book. Although this was submitted as a creative piece, the creativity is only in the telling. The stories themselves are as true as the breath you are taking. No..not the one you are exhaling..the one you are about to take..no..wait..okay, you need to keep up with me here! :-)
After telling us we were adopted, Mom told us about our dad being a crooked man, threatening my mother to the point she got scared and left - but left my sister and I with him. We traversed the country avoiding capture by the authorities, "hooking up" with his new girlfriend and our now believed-to-be-mother, and eventually he was arrested by the FBI and removed from our lives. This was a traumatic event for me (age 4+ at the time), which caused me to lose memory of everything prior to the day he was taken away by train. The rest of the story deals with discovering the whereabouts of my birth mother, discovering a brother, losing that brother again, our decision, disappointments and whole process of adoption of our children and much, much more.
The piece was actually chronologically the 7th of 25 chapters in my story of stories, but is the first chapter in my book. Although this was submitted as a creative piece, the creativity is only in the telling. The stories themselves are as true as the breath you are taking. No..not the one you are exhaling..the one you are about to take..no..wait..okay, you need to keep up with me here! :-)
After telling us we were adopted, Mom told us about our dad being a crooked man, threatening my mother to the point she got scared and left - but left my sister and I with him. We traversed the country avoiding capture by the authorities, "hooking up" with his new girlfriend and our now believed-to-be-mother, and eventually he was arrested by the FBI and removed from our lives. This was a traumatic event for me (age 4+ at the time), which caused me to lose memory of everything prior to the day he was taken away by train. The rest of the story deals with discovering the whereabouts of my birth mother, discovering a brother, losing that brother again, our decision, disappointments and whole process of adoption of our children and much, much more.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Writer's are like redwood trees!
Weak analogies here we come!
Beginning Writers are like redwood trees. Individually, our roots are shallow, and we can be pulled from our foundation rather easily. However, when we cluster together, we grow together. Our roots will inter-twine, and provide each of us the support we need to grow tall in our endeavors and shade our communities of influence with leaves of creativity and enlightenment.
Beginning Writers are like redwood trees. Individually, our roots are shallow, and we can be pulled from our foundation rather easily. However, when we cluster together, we grow together. Our roots will inter-twine, and provide each of us the support we need to grow tall in our endeavors and shade our communities of influence with leaves of creativity and enlightenment.
Rejoicing at life.
(No quality writing here...simply a rant!)
Sometimes when we think about issues, we take a very narrow perspective based solely on our own experiences and understanding. Is it helpful to take an opposite approach in our minds, if not on paper, to find flaws in our thinking? Personally, it is helpful for moral issues. The following is an example that can be loaded with emotions on all sides.
Do you think that if there is a higher power, however it is embodied, that higher power cherishes little children? Are those little children that are so young they don't have the capacity to think and decide for themselves bound for Hell before they make their own decision which will lead them elsewhere? I've always held them "Heaven-bound" until they make the conscious human decision to "bite the apple". Certainly infants and younger would be covered in the protective hands of that higher power, which I know to be, and will heretofore call, God.
If a woman dies while pregnant in a car accident, and the baby also dies, won't that child go to Heaven? I believe so...we don't know about the mother...but God does...and the decision will be made based on her life and decisions.
If a baby of a pregnant mother dies in an accident, will the baby go to Heaven? Will the mother? What if the mother took steps to cause the accident to happen knowing the baby would die and she wouldn't, and no one else would be the wiser. Will the baby go to heaven? Again, I believe so. Would the mother? Depends on the events that would follow. Would she be "judged" by God? Yes, but she can also find forgiveness, right.
Whether the rest of the world knows about such a thing or not...the baby will go to Heaven, and the mother (and father if involved) will be judged by God appropriately...and possibly eternally. Left to humans, the mother and father might not receive the appropriate judgement and penalty. In any case...the baby who dies, is safe for eternity.
This makes we wonder, and I've not yet cemented in my mind, whether the amount of money, energy and effort that we as a people put forth trying to permit, outlaw, control things such as abortion really have an eternal payoff - or are they strictly to make US feel better about US.
If "Susie, Sally, or Jane, and Fred, John or Marty" make a decision to abort a child before it is born, and no one in the world knows but them...the baby will go to Heaven. Whether WE think it is right, wrong or indifferent makes no eternal difference! God will judge each and everyone of us based on the lives we've lived.
One additional question that plagues me is...what if 'we the people' decide the baby can not be aborted and we force them to give it birth to this world. There are no guarantees that the child will be safe and secure for eternity, for the parents and the child's eventual choices and decisions will play a major role.
So my point is not that abortion should be legal or not, or that any other moral issue should be left to my discretion. Simply stated, let God decide what God should decide...and let the rest of us concentrate on living a life worthy of the judgement we hope He'll make about how we lived - NOT how our neighbors lived.
Did I just open a can of worms?
Sometimes when we think about issues, we take a very narrow perspective based solely on our own experiences and understanding. Is it helpful to take an opposite approach in our minds, if not on paper, to find flaws in our thinking? Personally, it is helpful for moral issues. The following is an example that can be loaded with emotions on all sides.
Do you think that if there is a higher power, however it is embodied, that higher power cherishes little children? Are those little children that are so young they don't have the capacity to think and decide for themselves bound for Hell before they make their own decision which will lead them elsewhere? I've always held them "Heaven-bound" until they make the conscious human decision to "bite the apple". Certainly infants and younger would be covered in the protective hands of that higher power, which I know to be, and will heretofore call, God.
If a woman dies while pregnant in a car accident, and the baby also dies, won't that child go to Heaven? I believe so...we don't know about the mother...but God does...and the decision will be made based on her life and decisions.
If a baby of a pregnant mother dies in an accident, will the baby go to Heaven? Will the mother? What if the mother took steps to cause the accident to happen knowing the baby would die and she wouldn't, and no one else would be the wiser. Will the baby go to heaven? Again, I believe so. Would the mother? Depends on the events that would follow. Would she be "judged" by God? Yes, but she can also find forgiveness, right.
Whether the rest of the world knows about such a thing or not...the baby will go to Heaven, and the mother (and father if involved) will be judged by God appropriately...and possibly eternally. Left to humans, the mother and father might not receive the appropriate judgement and penalty. In any case...the baby who dies, is safe for eternity.
This makes we wonder, and I've not yet cemented in my mind, whether the amount of money, energy and effort that we as a people put forth trying to permit, outlaw, control things such as abortion really have an eternal payoff - or are they strictly to make US feel better about US.
If "Susie, Sally, or Jane, and Fred, John or Marty" make a decision to abort a child before it is born, and no one in the world knows but them...the baby will go to Heaven. Whether WE think it is right, wrong or indifferent makes no eternal difference! God will judge each and everyone of us based on the lives we've lived.
One additional question that plagues me is...what if 'we the people' decide the baby can not be aborted and we force them to give it birth to this world. There are no guarantees that the child will be safe and secure for eternity, for the parents and the child's eventual choices and decisions will play a major role.
So my point is not that abortion should be legal or not, or that any other moral issue should be left to my discretion. Simply stated, let God decide what God should decide...and let the rest of us concentrate on living a life worthy of the judgement we hope He'll make about how we lived - NOT how our neighbors lived.
Did I just open a can of worms?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
My Creed
Too many years ago to remember, while some of the events in the "Story of Stories" were unfolding, I needed to work out who I was and would be about. No current bow existed to trace the source of my arrow of life, thus came a calling to define a target so the arrow would have a place to land. So the following is...My Creed.
It is my right to be decidedly me;
not a creation of those around me -- provided I will!
I look for chances to explore -- rather than to snore.
I want to risk; to dream and to build,
to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to trade favors for favors in order to get ahead.
I prefer the challenge of life to the guaranteed existence;
the thrill of accomplishment to the stale calm utopia.
I will not trade my dignity for a handout.
I will never cower before any master,
yet offer all praise, glory and respect to my God in Heaven.
It is my decision to stand erect, proud and unafraid;
to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit
of God's creations and those created through my hands,
and to face the world boldly and say, this I have done.
All this is what it means to be me.
It is my right to be decidedly me;
not a creation of those around me -- provided I will!
I look for chances to explore -- rather than to snore.
I want to risk; to dream and to build,
to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to trade favors for favors in order to get ahead.
I prefer the challenge of life to the guaranteed existence;
the thrill of accomplishment to the stale calm utopia.
I will not trade my dignity for a handout.
I will never cower before any master,
yet offer all praise, glory and respect to my God in Heaven.
It is my decision to stand erect, proud and unafraid;
to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit
of God's creations and those created through my hands,
and to face the world boldly and say, this I have done.
All this is what it means to be me.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Pen names
Like SF in the class, I'm concerned the quantity of my posting may get annoying, so please don't hesitate to let me know. I've grown a very thick hide over the years, so its very difficult to offend me.
Ann Garci, in explaining the root of her pen name, inspired me to ask you all how you arrive at, or determine if you need, a pen name? Are there rules to follow, suggestions on rythym or sylable count or anthing at all? My moron meter is peaking here, can you tell?
GU
Ann Garci, in explaining the root of her pen name, inspired me to ask you all how you arrive at, or determine if you need, a pen name? Are there rules to follow, suggestions on rythym or sylable count or anthing at all? My moron meter is peaking here, can you tell?
GU
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Plug for the Tub
If I don't provide a prelude, this might seem really odd. This was written many years back when I was remembering the past and gnashing my teeth over the future.
The hands have spun a million times or more, and the clock continues to tick. The gala tour is over, and the mortgage remains mostly unpaid. But though the gears in the timepiece of existence still turn, and my knowledge of the house is strong, I must find the restroom to flush the waste of other times. Oh great...where's the plunger?
My skin is crawling with parasites of experience. My feet are soiled by the sands of many streets. While I draw water from the future to wash away the past, the faster the flowage, the more rapid the drainage. Has anyone seen the plug for the tub?
The hands have spun a million times or more, and the clock continues to tick. The gala tour is over, and the mortgage remains mostly unpaid. But though the gears in the timepiece of existence still turn, and my knowledge of the house is strong, I must find the restroom to flush the waste of other times. Oh great...where's the plunger?
My skin is crawling with parasites of experience. My feet are soiled by the sands of many streets. While I draw water from the future to wash away the past, the faster the flowage, the more rapid the drainage. Has anyone seen the plug for the tub?
Green
Oh, pray I, that when I've been,
I'll naught have missed the color green,
Her hue's of life when brought in spring,
Cause even the rocks to sing.
She tells us true when winter ends,
And gallantly the browns defend,
Her undergirth of strength they be,
Though ne're as beautiful as She.
So, say I, now that I've gone,
Live, you, to adore her lovely gown,
For though a promise She may not be,
A sign of a keeping, that is She.
I wrote this in 1993 one early April morning when I was awestruck by the greens of Spring. Its always been one of my favorites, and thought I'd introduce with a question as to how much interest there is in poetry here, too. Let 'er rip, folks, I'm ripe for comments.
GU
I'll naught have missed the color green,
Her hue's of life when brought in spring,
Cause even the rocks to sing.
She tells us true when winter ends,
And gallantly the browns defend,
Her undergirth of strength they be,
Though ne're as beautiful as She.
So, say I, now that I've gone,
Live, you, to adore her lovely gown,
For though a promise She may not be,
A sign of a keeping, that is She.
I wrote this in 1993 one early April morning when I was awestruck by the greens of Spring. Its always been one of my favorites, and thought I'd introduce with a question as to how much interest there is in poetry here, too. Let 'er rip, folks, I'm ripe for comments.
GU
A bit more blog bizness....
First, a big hello to GeekUnderling! Our group is going to be great!
I wanted to let everyone know, in case you missed the message, that Ann had to delete a couple of posts where I included my email address and asked others to send theirs to me if they wanted to join. As part of the school's policy, exchange of emails addresses is not allowed on the discussion boards due to liability issues. However, we can direct people to the site itself (http://www.beginningwritersunite.blogspot.com/) and tell them that information on how to join is on the right-hand side of the blog.
Also, I've included the links Ann has shared with us on the right hand side...if there are any other links you would like added, just let me know. That's why I picked Blogger...the layout and changing thereof is incredibly easy. We can add all types of information and columns on the right.
Okay, this old woman is going to bed. Talk to everyone soon!
I wanted to let everyone know, in case you missed the message, that Ann had to delete a couple of posts where I included my email address and asked others to send theirs to me if they wanted to join. As part of the school's policy, exchange of emails addresses is not allowed on the discussion boards due to liability issues. However, we can direct people to the site itself (http://www.beginningwritersunite.blogspot.com/) and tell them that information on how to join is on the right-hand side of the blog.
Also, I've included the links Ann has shared with us on the right hand side...if there are any other links you would like added, just let me know. That's why I picked Blogger...the layout and changing thereof is incredibly easy. We can add all types of information and columns on the right.
Okay, this old woman is going to bed. Talk to everyone soon!
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