November | 2015 | Auntie B's Wax

Archive for November, 2015

Learn By Example, Or Not

Posted in Writing, tagged James Michener, reading, The Novel, writing on November 17, 2015| 3 Comments »

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I picked up James Michener’s The Novel because 1) I’ve never read Michener before, and 2) I thought a book about a novel might inspire me.

I found out that 1) Michener is way into detail, which can be kind of distracting, and 2) I’m more resistant in my aspirations to publish than ever because of this story.

When I lie in bed tonight with my eyes going back and forth across The Novel’s pages I’ll wonder what will be the thing that puts me to sleep ~ the book, or the toll my day has taken on me.

If I ever write a book will it put people to sleep? If it’s anything like this post it will.

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So, So Sleepy

Posted in Everyday on November 16, 2015| 1 Comment »

I’ve been trying to write this post all day and I don’t even have the energy to find words. Any words. On top of that WordPress pulled a boner on me (sorry for my harsh words WordPress, but you kind of did) and made the appearance of my writing screen different. I don’t want different! I’m too tired for different!

Oh, the exclamation points. I’m not agitated enough to use exclamation points. My fingers must have slipped.

The thing is, I just spent a very weird week of being awake for 24-36 hours at a time and then getting 10-11 hours of sleep. Today I had to get into my regular routine at the day job.

After a week away from the day job it was anything but regular or routine. My last few days will be the most busy, draining, and psychologically exhausting I have ever encountered. But that retirement light is shining brighter than ever, and the mess that’s left after my departure is no fault of mine. I’ve given it my best shot, passing of the torch that is, but the administration has mucked it up so badly that my efforts are of no consequence.

On top of all that I’ve got my personal life, the usual things that come with being middle-aged (or more) with parents, being a wife feeling like I’m not pulling my load at home, a sister and friend who feels I’m not giving enough.

Ugh, it’s all just, so…tiring. I’m trying to be at the top of my game, but feel like I’m performing at mediocrity.

Sleep. That’s what I need right now. Tomorrow I get another chance. But right now? Sleep.

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Getting To Know The Person You Were, Or Will Become

Posted in Everyday, tagged Stoney Emschwiller, video on November 16, 2015| 3 Comments »

You hear a lot about writing letters to your younger self or older self. It’s an interesting concept, but quite frankly I don’t know how much good it does. If you write a letter to your younger self it’s not going to make a bit of difference because that self and so many years ahead of it is now in the past and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. If you write a letter to your older self it might be interesting to read when you get older, if you can find the letter those many years after writing it, and if it hasn’t been thrown away as drivel.

But like I said, it’s an interesting concept and perhaps the exercise helps with, I don’t know, something.

Recently I was introduced to a video that is just about the coolest thing I’ve seen in a really long time. This guy, at age eighteen, filmed himself asking questions to his older self. Nearly forty years later he filmed the answers as his older self and edited it all to be one man’s interview with himself. I don’t know why I think this is so much better than writing letters; maybe the visual quality makes the “interview” seem more valid and worthwhile.

Check this out – it’s only about four minutes long and will give you a smile if nothing else.