tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814549442999798022024-03-20T01:06:34.416-07:00WordSmithShelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-3533291945660485692012-06-23T12:02:00.000-07:002012-06-23T12:02:17.729-07:00And His Eye-Guts Were Hanging OUT! (or All Parents Lie. ALL OF THEM!)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, it’s summer and Jaws is playing nonstop on cable. I guarantee that if you’re bored and have
200+ channels, you will find Jaws playing RIGHT NOW somewhere in the vast world
of cable TV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ll be honest with you:
Jaws is my all time favorite movie.
(Along with Jackie Brown. Oh, and
Galaxy Quest.) That was the first horror
movie I saw that I can remember. It’s
also where I came to the realization that parents lie. ALL PARENTS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I was 10 years old, my dad got it into his head that
he needed to see Jaws, and he needed to see it THAT day whether or not he and
my mom could find a babysitter. I can
only imagine – hope – that my mom said, ‘Oh, honey…I don’t think we should take
a 10 year old to see that movie…I mean, it’s about a killer shark that eats
EVERYTHING.’ Regardless, they decided to
go and to take me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I remember vividly the walk from the house to the
car. I remember my dad saying, “Just
remember. It’s a fake shark. It’s just some guy driving around in a shark
machine. There’s nothing to be afraid
of.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And I remember asking, “Why would he DO that?” I thought it was a plot point – and a stupid
one at that. Surely there were better,
more effective ways to kill people aside from building a shark suit and
cruising the beaches. It made no
sense! (This should have been the first indication to
my parents that I would be a writer.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So we went. And when
we got to the theater, my mom said, “If you’re scared, we can go home. Just say when you get scared.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That was about three minutes into the movie when poor
Chrissy took the last drunken skinny dip of her life. I hit mom with the high sign. I was ready to go, she had promised, and I
was calling in that marker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her response: “It’ll
be fine. Just close your eyes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And then she did what all moms do when something scary
happens on the screen. She plastered her
hand over my eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, that’s not very effective, now is it? Short answer:
No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I watched EVERY HORRIFIC MOMENT of that movie through the
mini-blinds of her fingers. I saw “that
poor Kintner kid” get it, also Boo-Boo
the dog, the poor sap who was rowing to the kids with his gawdawful New Yawk
accent – “Hey, fellas. Fellas! You guyse
okay ovah theyah?”, the Sunday roast, and
then ultimately poor Quint - “You all know me, you know how I make a living” –
and the Orca.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was devastated, not only by the movie, but also by the fact
that my parents outright LIED to me.
They said we could go home. I
remember being really PUT OUT on that drive home. And, of course, that night I had nightmares that
there was a beach in my bedroom, right under my sister’s bed, and after waking
the whole house, my parents made her sleep with me to get me to shut up. Take THAT, Mom and Dad. HA! (Sorry, sis.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the most vivid memory was sharing every gruesome
detail of that scary movie with the kids in my neighborhood. I specifically remember telling Donna Boucher
and her older brother John about it, especially poor Ben Gardner. “His
head popped out of the bottom of the boat and his EYE GUTS WERE HANGING OUT!” It was
gross and scary and wonderful! And they
were wicked impressed that I was allowed to go see a movie that they could
not. (Little did they know it would scar
me for life.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t really know what the magic combination is that acid-etches
memories into the human brain, but I can only assume it’s a combination of
terror-once-removed, abject-glee, and the shock of parental betrayal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In any case, Jaws is on right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m going to watch it for the hundredth time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-18447490370228197312012-06-21T05:50:00.001-07:002012-06-21T05:50:42.508-07:00Refreshing (or REFRESHING!)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am in love with my refresh key. I hear there’s a Function key that does the
same thing, but I can’t find it and every time I try, weird things happen to my computer. Not fun. And not refreshing in the slightest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some good things happened over these past couple of weeks
in the snail-paced world of writing. I
got a request for a manuscript from a query sent out in February. And then yesterday, I got another one from a
query sent out in March. It’s June, by
the way…almost July…but I’m not complaining!
I swear I’m not. It beats the
alternative, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, despite the fact that it took five months to hear
from the agents, I have convinced myself that they will respond quickly with
their thoughts on the project. (Because mine
is their ONLY manuscript right now.
What? No? Seriously?)
So I spend most of my day hitting that Refresh key and watching breathlessly
as the little message bar tells me I have two, three, four messages, and then,
as they dribble in, I am comforted by the fact that there are still sexy hot
singles in my area, and low-cost insurance for the likely disease I might pick
up from these sexy hot singles, or that there’s a sale going on at my favorite
store(s)…none of which I can afford for a variety of reasons. (If you want snail’s pace, try applying for
unemployment insurance.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh, I remember when I first started writing, lo those
many years ago, and how quickly I thought I would sell a book. Didn’t happen. And then, when I won a pretty decent writing
award, I thought, “This is it!” But it
wasn’t. And then, when I finished my
second project, I thought, “Okay, this FOR SURE is the one…” Only not so much…not yet anyway. So now…now I manage my expectations just a
little better. I take it all in stride,
or at least I try to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nowadays, I just sit back, hit that Refresh key, and pray
for a coupon for free dessert at Chili’s because that’s a good day, no matter
who you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-46193811795595461422012-06-17T10:24:00.000-07:002012-06-17T10:24:43.909-07:00Relax! It's Not All About YOU (or Why Facebook Kind of Sucks)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, here’s the thing.
I’ve got a lot on my mind. I’m
going to try and break it down as quickly and clearly as I can, but I may
digress, so be forewarned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first point I guess I want to make is that Facebook
is insidious, and Mark Zuckerberg is the devil.
Don’t pretend you haven’t thought this too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The second point I <i>know</i>
I want to make is that IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU.
Not always, anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A little backstory.
The other day I posted a rather innocuous message on my Facebook –
something a little deeper than “Gosh, I’m hungry!” and “Wow! Look at this funny
LOLcats picture!” though not by much. It
was something like, “If you play with fire at work, don’t be surprised if you
get burned.” Well, holy cow, did that
open up the floodgates. My email
notification didn’t stop pinging (or wheeeing – if you’ve been near me when
this happened, you’ll know what that means) all day. I got no less than eight messages asking who
I was talking about – the senders’ surreptitious way of asking, “That’s about
ME, isn’t it? ISN’T IT?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The short answer is no.
It is probably not about YOU.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">See, and this is the other thing: I work five different jobs. I work for three or four universities at any
given time. I work as a consultant for multiple
clients (both academic and corporate), plus I have a pretty good network of
friends and family who are bound to screw things up on an almost daily basis. (And I mean REALLY screw things up.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, over the past week or so, I’ve gotten the following
scuttlebutt:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone has gone beyond swiping Swingline
staplers and “really good pens!” </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">at work
to stealing thousands of dollars in actual cash-money.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone has been put on probation for poor job
performance.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone has stolen a work product – a serious work
product – and wrecked it.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They are now
in the slammer for this theft and destruction.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone has been outed for sleeping with students.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(By the way, the trouble with teenagers is
that they’re teenagers.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They have mouths
like torn pockets.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone has been stealing and selling proprietary
information to the competition.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone has been cutting a lot of classes – and it ain’t
the students, either – and the hammer is going to fall soon.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone has been showing up to work drunk, almost daily.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone died unexpectedly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone slept (and is probably still sleeping) their way
to the top.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone is going to call the spouse of their current
squeeze and spill the beans as a means to fast track that pending divorce.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These are just a <i>few</i> of the sordid tales that float
around during any given week. There are
more, lots more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So if you felt a surge of panic at reading that Facebook
message, I’m sorry. But honestly, it’s
FACEBOOK. Don't take it so seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And finally, if you <i>did</i>
get that little surge of panic when you read my post, maybe you shouldn’t be
doing what you’re doing. Spend more time thinking about <i>that </i>than thinking about Facebook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, for some truly valuable content:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-15935424144515759852012-06-15T10:19:00.001-07:002012-06-15T10:19:23.976-07:00Dirty Yellow Rat B******!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Okay,
so apparently I’ve been ratted out by a writerly friend’s blog.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Who knew that other people’s blogs kept track
of the last time you blogged?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">::shakes fist at the
Internet::</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
I’m back. I’m blogging. And I’m better than ever. (One of those things is untrue – I’ll leave
it to you to figure out.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
at Writers Camp (more on that another time), after I’d been told that I had
been “ratted out” I got to thinking about some of the best insults I’d ever
heard. The one that stuck with me is “Dirty yellow
rat b******!” Some Southie mobster was
being interviewed about the arrest and plea deal of one of his esteemed
colleagues and he called him that – right on TV! I laughed and laughed and laughed. Not only was the guy a rat, he was a
rat-b******. And he was not only yellow,
but a<i> dirty</i> yellow. How descriptive! (I’ll bet that guy has a book deal by
now. Dirty ******.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another
one that comes to mind is something a friend was called in a British pub. He got into a shoving match with some guy and
the guy called him a “big girl’s blouse.”
I have no idea what that is, but it tickles my fancy. Another insult (same guy also in the UK), “You
stupid fist!” Where do they come up with
these things? Or, maybe more
importantly, how does my friend find himself in these situations?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
tell me, what’s the best <i>worst </i>thing you’ve ever called someone or been
called? I want to know!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh, and
brace yourselves…I’ll be blogging more often before that ******* blog rats me
out again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">PS: The writerly friend is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Penny Piva at </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://pennylou.blogspot.com/2012/06/arch-she-sways.html">http://pennylou.blogspot.com/2012/06/arch-she-sways.html</a>. Go there and read her blog too!)</span></div>
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<br /></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-47695900534956572662012-01-28T07:45:00.000-08:002012-01-28T07:45:33.911-08:00Welcome to the Dark Side<span style="font-size: large;">I was always one of those people who said, "I'll NEVER get an e-reader! I want to read REAL books. A Kindle just isn't the same." Well, that changed on December 25, 2011 when my mom got a Kindle Fire for Christmas. She, being the technically-challenged person she is, promptly handed it to me and said, "Here. Figure this out."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Oh, I figured it out alright. I figured out how to play this AWESOME game called "Bubble Shoot." And I also figured out that I can get books sent DIRECTLY to the Kindle. (I'll bet you already knew that, huh?) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I also figured out that I can blast through books much faster. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I spent some time thinking about that and figured out that when I read something in an electronic format, I don't take the time to savor every word as I might with a traditional book. When I have a paper book in my hand, I look at every sentence, read every single word. Sometimes I'll even go back and re-read a passage again, just to get the full value of the writing. It's a commitment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I read an e-book, I don't have that pressure. It's like reading a CNN article - I can skim over parts and linger only on portions that interest me. I can also read my e-book when the TV is on...something I can't do when I'm reading a paper book. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know. What I DO know is that I've read a bunch of books since Christmas. Here they are, in no particular order:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Darkly Dreaming Dexter </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5LzEmSkudIjJ6ugb5nFWSHX6LQu-27Z7OsElMcfNoYyl_sGP2JORfOYBpXbk7-Z-Fis_DaEef-iPnTj0AzAFLSdFECLXRj8XrqeGWzBHiVO5Dag7I7ZsfkCzW-QTHt224Hnw3ea6IM4V/s1600/ddd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5LzEmSkudIjJ6ugb5nFWSHX6LQu-27Z7OsElMcfNoYyl_sGP2JORfOYBpXbk7-Z-Fis_DaEef-iPnTj0AzAFLSdFECLXRj8XrqeGWzBHiVO5Dag7I7ZsfkCzW-QTHt224Hnw3ea6IM4V/s1600/ddd.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Not as good as the series...but maybe that's because I've loved Michael C. Hall, ever since he was David Fisher in Six Feet Under. The finale episode STILL makes me cry even though I've watched it about a million times. (And I'm still a little bitter about Keith. Just saying.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVh4oY_jq8M-Iq-dCCKt5Zk-ymheX0kzviBq3hi5t2S7eHj9261naVoXEYfOYzXOjK2DmHUxdzRZJeqAGkDdDeDehbiqrW0-IOXLxXUbcMbkfBn3t_yRn4SSSLGzox43HebM9Ibart76Gg/s1600/gwsfdpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVh4oY_jq8M-Iq-dCCKt5Zk-ymheX0kzviBq3hi5t2S7eHj9261naVoXEYfOYzXOjK2DmHUxdzRZJeqAGkDdDeDehbiqrW0-IOXLxXUbcMbkfBn3t_yRn4SSSLGzox43HebM9Ibart76Gg/s1600/gwsfdpic.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Didn't love it. Great concept, though. 'Nuff said. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Almost Moon</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgj47mjKMBs-56u6E1lRLhXaoIj8mUhySVQgU0cXomun4ygYO-VPWBw66obRJyu38Bp1LZqnvz2pa1ZLYC6n5n7ZJAazUHhSP-hJUQPdTd0WI4mjteYi67zMCRLECNGDpH3xkq4kZQEfy/s1600/almost+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgj47mjKMBs-56u6E1lRLhXaoIj8mUhySVQgU0cXomun4ygYO-VPWBw66obRJyu38Bp1LZqnvz2pa1ZLYC6n5n7ZJAazUHhSP-hJUQPdTd0WI4mjteYi67zMCRLECNGDpH3xkq4kZQEfy/s1600/almost+moon.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Not a feel good book. Fer realz. You've been warned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Looking for Alaska</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUUR7oNC9oa2BAnQ16asyJUUtEfUhB3NqsVxU8uQ8ySqma94Z-rWLEmU4ELojWd7qKiEtWv4FbbNV_E9gxh1-NUXLy2UtnJOlTiPLZdBawhU9xzNG7pV9D_BiXmQ5YLmxJz-JW6P7RQqK/s1600/looking+for+alaska.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUUR7oNC9oa2BAnQ16asyJUUtEfUhB3NqsVxU8uQ8ySqma94Z-rWLEmU4ELojWd7qKiEtWv4FbbNV_E9gxh1-NUXLy2UtnJOlTiPLZdBawhU9xzNG7pV9D_BiXmQ5YLmxJz-JW6P7RQqK/s1600/looking+for+alaska.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">This won an award!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where Men Win Glory</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EEoZSgpGuLum7KVnzNcD1eFwWo8136L1Xg2PGv1b8vYnyms_D4AHrPqLFaQeXGgvNSZCa-xKBwJEKEFMRHlU1Dm0V85fLUY9isJxUHpUQC3CRIYN5Z6A06bHFkEuSM9hJHUrPKaT_O5J/s1600/where+men+win+glory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EEoZSgpGuLum7KVnzNcD1eFwWo8136L1Xg2PGv1b8vYnyms_D4AHrPqLFaQeXGgvNSZCa-xKBwJEKEFMRHlU1Dm0V85fLUY9isJxUHpUQC3CRIYN5Z6A06bHFkEuSM9hJHUrPKaT_O5J/s1600/where+men+win+glory.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">This should be required reading for EVERYONE. Period.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>American Gods</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzBXKgAm5mxOmKGC457UW18GrvjKCzyQJj46BI6kuJGw0Xx2_dFW0ZXe-GCLfNkyoQPRxNx7qgQW2RL4ewzYV3iR8r-GDVZ4WjZIq3SSQLUNryH0NL9k2ChlUwDSkVv5eqcLY_yngbeOI/s1600/American+gods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzBXKgAm5mxOmKGC457UW18GrvjKCzyQJj46BI6kuJGw0Xx2_dFW0ZXe-GCLfNkyoQPRxNx7qgQW2RL4ewzYV3iR8r-GDVZ4WjZIq3SSQLUNryH0NL9k2ChlUwDSkVv5eqcLY_yngbeOI/s1600/American+gods.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Neil Gaiman. What's not to love? He had me at The Graveyard Book. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So now that I've got this nifty Kindle all figured out, what books do you suggest I check out next? </span>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-62953391249079715512011-12-15T09:09:00.000-08:002011-12-15T09:09:35.546-08:00Jeezy Creezy!<span style="font-size: large;">I've embedded one of my all time favorite SNL skits below. It's my favorite for couple of reasons.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1. It's got Jon Hamm in it. Hello, Jon Hamm!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. It's got Vincent Price (of a sort) in it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. It's funny.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The sad thing is that very few people in the current generation (or ones that come after) will understand why it's so funny and who these people are supposed to be. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Other things that this generation will be robbed of: Jim Croce and Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But for now, the happy!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7msii_saturday-night-live-vincent-price-s_fun">Click Here & Sorry in Advance for the 15 Second Commercial!</a></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-43550069078692308192011-12-10T05:28:00.001-08:002011-12-10T05:31:37.385-08:00Tidbits from the Trenches<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s a laugher for you:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Student had to make a presentation on Deutsche Bank. You know he called it “Douche Bank” throughout. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Or another:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“American Airlines should try to avoid bankruptcy by remaining profitable.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Or:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I know I may fail English 101, but I had to put my time and effort into my important classes.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And finally:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I used to be a nursing major. Then I switched to social work. But now I want to be an English major. My mom is mad, though. She said, ‘You’re climbing DOWN the ladder of earning – you’ll never get a worthwhile job with a background in English.’”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sigh.</span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-1747448861735660952011-11-27T07:08:00.000-08:002011-11-27T07:08:52.727-08:00Itchy Trigger Finger<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DoNotShowMarkup/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:DoNotShowInsertionsAndDeletions/> <w:DoNotShowPropertyChanges/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Itchy Trigger Finger.<span> </span>Do you ever get that?<span> </span>That urge to press “SEND” that cannot be denied.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I do.<span> </span>I did.<span> </span>I maybe shouldn’t have.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">See, I finished the revision of my manuscript, the one about which my <span> </span>agent said, “Hey…this is really ambitious…” which, as we all know, is code for, “Oh, god.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Okay, okay, I thought. I'm not going to let that break me, so after a few days of turning that over in my mind (ie, worrying it to death) <span> </span>I took another look. She was right.<span> </span>It needed work.<span> </span>She said it needed more depth and stuff.<span> </span>Fine.<span> </span>It did.<span> </span>So what?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I cheerfully (fake cheerful, actually) promised to take another look, this time sans rose-colored glasses.<span> </span>I told her I would revise it.<span> </span>And I did.<span> </span>I revised the heck out of it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But now I’m not sure I made it any <i>better</i>.<span> </span>Oh, sure.<span> </span>I made it LOOOOONGER.<span> </span>But better?<span> </span>Eh…we’ll have to see.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Did that stop me from hitting SEND.<span> </span>Nope.<span> </span>Not me.<span> </span>Why reflect when I can act, right?<span> </span>RIGHT?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(pause for crying and chocolate)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So now it’s gone.<span> </span>And , sure enough, two hours after hitting that dreaded SEND button, I thought, “Oh, man…I could have made Chapter 48 better!<span> </span>Or even deleted it!”<span> </span>(Yes, there are at LEAST 48 chapters.<span> </span>Ambitious, you say?<span> </span><i>Oh, god,</i> I say.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But now it’s too late.<span> </span>The itchy trigger finger got the better of me.<span> </span>It’s off into the ether and when she opens that Word document tomorrow morning, I hope she is floored by the mastery of the words and scope of the storytelling, and not the sheer size of the document she must plow through.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And now there’s nothing left for me to do but wait.<span> </span>And I will…on pins and needles.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the meantime, however, I’m going to go chop off a finger.</span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-17840134609110220052011-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:002011-11-07T15:33:13.585-08:00Deep Thoughts on a Stressful Day<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;">What’s a soul worth to you?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;">Weird question, I know, but I was thinking about this. What would you sell your soul for?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;">Sure, we all say things like, “I’d sell my soul for a piece of cheese!” (Okay, that was me. I’m on a low cholesterol diet. Don’t ask.) Or things like, “I’d sell my soul if I could just get _______ (fill in the blank).” Published? Recognized? Rewarded? Laid? (Okay…me again. Sorry.)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;">Writers say they’ll sell their souls for a book deal. Musicians will sell their soul for a gold record. Students will sell their soul (and those of their grandparents, dropping like flies at this point in the semester) for a passing grade. Actually they want much more than a passing grade. They want a GOOD grade.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;">Now think of all the people who have done that. I mean it – they’ve literally sold their soul for something. The friend who knifed you in the back…now that had to have cost a pretty penny. The ex-significant other who cheated with your best friend? Cha-ching! The co-worker who gave directions to the driver of the bus that rolled over you? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;">These things happen every day and they have to cost <i>something. </i>Nothing in life is free.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;">So, with that in mind, answer the question. What would you sell your soul for? You can say the obvious things, of course: </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">To keep your kids safe from danger.<br />
To give a terminally ill loved one a few more years.<br />
To win the heart of your one true love.<br />
Ten bajillion dollars.<br />
Chocolate.<br />
</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;">But what else is your soul worth to you? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-63294146704924449262011-09-02T10:06:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:06:52.989-07:00I love this Guy.<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am taking this opportunity to declare, publicly and openly, my undying love for Sam Rockwell. Watch this montage of clips and tell me you don't love him too. I DARE YOU.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/SB7Vb2_QpA0/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SB7Vb2_QpA0&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SB7Vb2_QpA0&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Added bonus: He played Guy Fleegman in only the BEST MOVIE EVER MADE. Yes, that's right: GALAXY QUEST!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Check it out:</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LQfCyg7D1BU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-12191476926717038032011-07-06T07:52:00.000-07:002011-07-06T07:52:08.401-07:00Lying is Good<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DoNotShowMarkup/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:DoNotShowInsertionsAndDeletions/> <w:DoNotShowPropertyChanges/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Yeah, you read that right.<span> </span>Lying is good.<span> </span>Just ask Casey Anthony.<span> </span>Actually, don’t.<span> </span>I’m sure the media will and she’ll make millions…<span> </span>Ugh.<span> </span>I don’t even want to talk about it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">I came here today to tell you a story, a story about lying, and how it can actually be a good thing.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Lying is actually what got me into writing in the first place.<span> </span>I owe a lot to lying.<span> </span>Not my own, of course, but those of a “friend.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Here’s my story.<span> </span>You decide if it’s true or not.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Once upon a time I worked for a small company.<span> </span>I was the HR person which meant I got to interview everyone who passed through our doors.<span> </span>Well, one day, this pretty young woman comes in to interview for an Executive Assistant job, supporting our CEO, our Chairman of the Board, all our top execs.<span> </span>I asked about her college background because there was none on her resume.<span> </span>She said she attended one of the Seven Sisters, but had mistakenly left it off her resume.<span> </span>Word processing issues, you know.<span> </span>(Boy, do I know.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">She interviewed with our execs and they LOVED her.<span> </span>They hired her on the spot, despite the fact that I could not reach any of her references.<span> </span>When asked about it, she said one was on his yacht in the Mediterranean.<span> </span>Another was in treatment for a terminal disease.<span> </span>(You see where this is going, don’t you?)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">They hired her anyway.<span> </span>She became a very important part of our small company, with access to all our records, all our financials, everything.<span> </span>She was pretty, she was charming, she even got our Chief Operating Officer to say, “If I ever have a daughter, I’m going to name her after you!”<span> </span>Wow.<span> </span>I chalked it up to a comment the girl made to me once, “Well, the COO and I are tight.<span> </span>We get high every weekend at her apartment.”<span> </span>TMI, right?<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">She was willing to share other things with us, too.<span> </span>About her upcoming wedding at Trinity Church in Boston – and if anyone knows Trinity, they know it’s booked years in advance because it is STUNNING.<span> </span>She was planning her reception at the Ritz Carlton.<span> </span>Her family was wealthy and from the seashore, <i>dahling.</i><span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Then, one day, she abruptly gave her notice.<span> </span>She said she was going to pursue her Masters degree at Tufts.<span> </span>I was impressed, as we all were.<span> </span>That got me thinking.<span> </span>Here she was, a young woman with all her options laid out before her.<span> </span>She was quitting her boring day job to go back to school and pursue her passion.<span> </span>What bravery!<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>I thought about my own life.<span> </span>Here I was, stuck in a job I didn’t love.<span> </span>I loved the people – even her – but I didn’t love what I did.<span> </span>So I said, “Hey, I’m going to do that too!” <span> </span>and I applied to the Writing Program at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Then the other shoe dropped.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">The woman who had inspired me to pursue my dreams got fired before her notice was even up.<span> </span>Turns out, she was embezzling.<span> </span>A LOT.<span> </span>She was disclosing proprietary information.<span> </span>She was doing <i>bad </i>things.<span> </span>The Board demanded a full investigation.<span> </span>Here’s what it turned up:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;"><span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">She had been fired from all previous jobs for similar activities.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;"><span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Her parents had a lawyer on retainer, just to handle her infractions.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;"><span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">She never graduated from college, nor from the preparatory school she said she attended.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;"><span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">She never worked for the multinational peacekeeping body, as listed on her resume.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;"><span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">She was never engaged.<span> </span>There was no Trinity Church.<span> </span>There was no Ritz Carlton.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;"><span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Her parents were remarkably average.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;"><span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">And, of course, there was no grad school.</span></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Luckily for me, the stars aligned just right and a layoff loomed.<span> </span>Our Chairman of the Board sat me down and said that if my passion was writing he would certainly help pave the way for that.<span> </span>He paid for my first course in my Masters program, then “eliminated” my position, with a nice severance package.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Two years later, I walked across the stage to collect my Masters degree.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">All of this came from a lie, a lie that inspired me.<span> </span>I still shake my head at the thought.<span> </span>Amazing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">How's THAT for a story?</span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-82471189710145219802011-06-19T06:24:00.000-07:002011-06-19T06:24:37.325-07:00Happy Father's Day!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hey, Dad! Look what I got you for Father's Day!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEigepakzXm6sp0o3BuMTNGGmTL8WxKYDOD4VCbEAmttJe9_qya2TULpKGDBSn9tG1UJEKsmHZSs_spbmFVj2ibI_poFdSRxcLZ3zlt5qMkjMhf3Ipy84VT_4rs-qcKkGsphVjpUuIBdEK/s1600/stanley+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEigepakzXm6sp0o3BuMTNGGmTL8WxKYDOD4VCbEAmttJe9_qya2TULpKGDBSn9tG1UJEKsmHZSs_spbmFVj2ibI_poFdSRxcLZ3zlt5qMkjMhf3Ipy84VT_4rs-qcKkGsphVjpUuIBdEK/s320/stanley+cup.jpg" width="244" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, okay...maybe <i>I </i>didn't get this for you. I had some help. From these guys.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4PqGlrpFxdYQfaS3lDZdFpmB0ejv_IGVmy-u0bhT2Q7nN9mq9SV1X7u22Nov9P261_x6RzawEZxojX9x2FHD2SGxUBEr_nISbTa7gWOGvUwWY2CN5ixi4Y8L2-31elGoiaKEFdcqH041/s1600/bru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4PqGlrpFxdYQfaS3lDZdFpmB0ejv_IGVmy-u0bhT2Q7nN9mq9SV1X7u22Nov9P261_x6RzawEZxojX9x2FHD2SGxUBEr_nISbTa7gWOGvUwWY2CN5ixi4Y8L2-31elGoiaKEFdcqH041/s320/bru.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But they were happy to pitch in to get you something you really, really, <i>really</i> wanted.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Father's Day, Dad. I know you would have loved this.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-70873525286597250282011-06-04T18:35:00.000-07:002011-06-04T18:38:47.107-07:00Do You Remember?<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you may or may not know, the Boston Bruins are playing the Vancouver Canucks in the playoffs. Of course the B’s will win – I can’t imagine otherwise. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see, I grew up in a hockey household, watching the Big Bad Bruins. Gerry Cheever, Phil Esposito, Derek Sanderson, and, of course, Bobby Orr. There was no escaping hockey-fever. I remember when I was young once asking my dad, “Dad, I’ll bet you don’t know where Bobby Orr was born.” I thought I’d stump him. His response: “Pffft. There are two birthplaces you remember. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, and Bobby Orr was born in Parry Sound.” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tonight I watched team captain Zdeno Chara take a hit that would pulverize any normal human, and it occurred to me that players used to actually play without helmets. Can you imagine? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">No helmets, no plexiglass face shields, no cages, no teeth guards. If they got hit in the face with the puck, they shook it off, skated to the sidelines to get stitched up, and hurried back into play. If you don’t believe me, check out Slapshot, a great film with Paul Newman, where (if memory serves) a player gets stitched up IN the penalty box without Novacaine! Ah, the good old days.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it also got me thinking about all the other things we used to do in the good old days. Some things I remember:</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Waiting for food to heat up on the stove or in the oven – there were no microwaves.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Playing outside and never wanting to go home, not even when the streetlights came on – now I can’t wait to get home and to bed. The clock hits 9:00 and I ask myself, <i>Is it a little sad if I go to bed now?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Watching TV until the test pattern came on – programming actually ended sometime around midnight. The National Anthem would play and then the screen would turn to snow. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Roll up car windows, manual steering, and non-power brakes – talk about a workout!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Busy signals and never knowing who was on the phone until I picked up – no caller ID meant it was always a surprise (sometimes good, sometimes bad).</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also remember the banners being lifted into the rafters of the Boston Garden. Some memories are sweeter than others. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those are just a few of the things I remember. What do you remember? What do you miss?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-78807597754674493712011-05-01T16:09:00.000-07:002011-05-01T16:09:47.504-07:00The Breakup<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wow, this is awkward, a lot more awkward than I thought it would be.<span> </span>I see you looking at me expectantly.<span> </span>You’re waiting for me to say something<i>.<span> </span>I’m</i> waiting for me to say something.<span> </span>But what is there to say?<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s over.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s been a fabulous run.<span> </span>I mean it, really.<span> </span>It was <i>great</i>…a real rollercoaster ride!<span> </span>I remember the first time we laid eyes on each other, sizing each other up.<span> </span>You looked nervous.<span> </span>I’ll bet I did, too.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And then we started to talk…at the same time!<span> </span>How funny was that?<span> </span>You had a million questions for me, I tried to give you answers, but let’s face it:<span> </span>Most of my answers didn’t make you happy, not really.<span> </span>Well, sure…<i>sometimes</i> you were happy, like the times I told you how wonderful you are, and how smart and funny, and how I loved seeing you every day.<span> </span>The good times.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But there were bad times too.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All the times you didn’t listen.<span> </span>Those happened more frequently as we spent more time together.<span> </span>Then there were the times you forgot I even existed.<span> </span>You ignored my emails.<span> </span>And then I’d ignore yours –they didn’t <i>always</i> go into my spam folder.<span> </span>(I guess since we’re being honest now, I can tell you that some of them made it into that folder with a little help from me.<span> </span>Sorry about that.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’m sorry about a lot of things, actually.<span> </span>I’m sorry you felt disappointed during the bad times, and I’m sorry the great times didn’t last longer, but this kind of thing is hard work!<span> </span>You don’t just <i>stay </i>great – that’s reserved for relationships like Kate and William, for crying out loud, and things like Godiva chocolate.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And now it’s over.<span> </span>You’re looking a little tired, a little sad, but there’s a glimmer in your eye, too.<span> </span>Is it excitement?<span> </span>Deep down inside, you’re happy we're done.<span> </span>You’ve already got your eyes set on greener pastures, the fabulous future stretching out in front of you.<span> </span>You hope the next one will be better, nicer, kinder to you.<span> </span>I hope the same.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s okay if you’re happy.<span> </span>I’m happy it’s over too.<span> </span>And a little bit sad.<span> </span>Despite our ups and downs, I’ll miss you.<span> </span>I’ll miss the way you made me laugh, the way you made me cry, the times I gritted my teeth to keep from throttling you.<span> </span>You could be so infuriating.<span> </span>And so great.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But it’s time to move on.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You can smile as you leave, and I’ll smile too.<span> </span>That doesn’t mean I won’t miss you.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We’ve been through this before, you and I.<span> </span>It’s just the end of the semester.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There’ll be another one along sooner than we think.</span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-83102685602295559352011-03-17T05:12:00.000-07:002011-03-17T05:12:24.408-07:00Top o' the Mornin' To Ye!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So, obviously I’m Irish, what with a name like Shelagh and all…although I’ve been called everything in the book aside from Sheila.<span> </span>She-lag.<span> </span>She-laughs.<span> </span>She-lagla.<span> </span>Shelga.<span> </span>I’ve got a list somewhere.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">And being as how it’s St. Patrick’s Day, I would be remiss if I didn’t at least acknowledge my roots, of which I am very appreciative.<span> </span>The Irish have such great blessings:<span> </span>“May the road rise up to meet you…” and all that.<span> </span>“May God keep you in the palm of his hand until we meet again…”<span> </span>You get the idea.<span> </span>Poets, they are, every blessed one of them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Without a doubt, the one phrase I hear most is “You have the luck of the Irish!”<span> </span>Luck of the Irish?<span> </span>I’m thinking maybe the Irish weren’t really all that lucky…well, aside from being born Irish, that is.<span> </span>That’s pretty lucky.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">But, let’s look at the history:<span> </span>potato famine, political unrest, snakes needing to be driven out of Ireland, the oppressive Catholic church, etc.<span> </span>Those are just a few.<span> </span>I’m starting to think that we really aren’t that lucky after all.<span> </span>Or, maybe we just say stuff that we <i>think </i>we know, when really we don’t know much.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span></span><span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Kind of like my students.<span> </span>For example, during a vocabulary drill in class, here are some things I heard:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Who knows what Esperanto is?” I ask.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Student’s hand shoots up.<span> </span>“I know!<span> </span>It’s coffee!”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">My reply, “No, that’s espresso.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Or:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“What does infidelity mean?”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Student, oh-so-excitedly:<span> </span>“It’s when you can’t get pregnant!”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Me:<span> </span>“Um, no.<span> </span>That’s infertility.<span> </span>Good try though!”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">And my favorite:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“What’s desiccation?”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Student throws hand in the air, bouncing out of his chair:<span> </span>“I know that one!<span> </span>It’s like when you have sex in a church!”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“No, that’s desecration.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">God love ‘em, they do try; and I can say that at least my students are funny, take everything in good humor, and make me laugh every single day.<span> </span>Much like the Irish.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!</span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-56629839414967361292011-03-09T05:59:00.000-08:002011-03-09T05:59:35.601-08:00David Cassidy vs. Idi Amin - Steel Cage Match...or My Irrational Fears<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Ever wonder where irrational fears come from?<span> </span>You know the kind I’m talking about, like my sister’s fear of the word “tribunal.”<span> </span><span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span></span>I started thinking about that the other day when my friend mentioned David Cassidy was on Celebrity Apprentice.<span> </span>Just the mention of his name brought flashes of terror.<span> </span>I saw myself in a dark room – specifically the living room of my old childhood home –burgundy carpeting, the light from the TV casting an eerie glow, and “HEY!<span> </span>I think I LOVE you!” playing in the background.<span> </span>I don’t know exactly what happened that night while watching The Partridge Family, but I know <i>something </i>did, and I know this because my older sister was babysitting me.<span> </span>Like any teenager, she was resentful of her chore and so I’m sure she took it out on me, all while The Partridge Family played innocuously in the background.<span> </span>Scarred me for life.<span> </span>(Thanks, sis!)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">But that got me thinking about my other irrational childhood fear:<span> </span>Idi Amin, the African general who staged a coup in Uganda in the 1970’s.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Really?<span> </span>Idi Amin, you ask.<span> </span>Yes, Idi Amin Dada, to be perfectly correct (Thank you Wikipedia!).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Now, you have to understand I was much younger than my older siblings, so some of the stuff they watched was really not appropriate for a delicate child such as myself (yes, I typed that with a straight face).<span> </span>Well, one night my other older sister was watching the news and a piece came on about Idi Amin’s takeover of Uganda and the terrible things he did to his own people. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Scared the bejeezus out of me.<span> </span>I made the mistake of asking my sister about him and her answer was:<span> </span>“He’s an insane maniac who kills a lot of people.”<span> </span><i>Insane,</i> I gulped. <i>Maniac?</i> <span> </span>I guess I should have better articulated, “But WHERE is he?” because at the age of eight, I had no idea where Africa was.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">I mean, how did I know that the chances of Idi Amin hopping a Jeep and DRIVING from Uganda to our tiny house in Massachusetts were pretty slim?<span> </span>No one shared that tidbit with me.<span> </span>I spent YEARS terrified of him.<span> </span>I would cringe whenever I saw him on the news and wonder just how far away he was and when he would get to our house.<span> </span>Stupid fear?<span> </span><span> </span>Most definitely…but a vivid one to this day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">I guess most irrational fears come from misinformation…well, all except the David Cassidy one because I’m SURE my sister must have tied me up and poked me with pins or something while the Partridges boarded their multicolored bus to head to their next gig.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">But that Idi Amin thing…that was real.<span> </span>Now I look at it and laugh (kinda).<span> </span>I can tuck that one away and say, “Heh.<span> </span>You’ve got nothing to be afraid of.<span> </span>That was just a stupid scary thing from when you were a kid.”<span> </span><span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Rationalizing is a wonderful thing…when you can do it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Just don’t talk to me about killer bees.</span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-54772720681565665512011-02-26T13:39:00.000-08:002011-02-26T13:39:49.422-08:00Flawed Characters<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Why are we drawn to them?<span> </span>You know the ones I mean.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Don Draper from AMC’s Mad Men comes to mind.<span> </span>Super hot, suave, and deeply flawed…but in all the right ways.<span> </span>It’s hard to find anyone who hates him or isn’t at least captivated by how far down he can go.<span> </span>Maybe it has something to do with just how good he looks in a suit.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Walter White from AMC’s Breaking Bad is another one.<span> </span>Not so hot, but seriously screwed up.<span> </span>It’s exquisite torment to watch his character slide ever further down that slippery slope from good to evil.<span> </span>Pair him with Jesse, his counterpart and similarly flawed sidekick, and you have a storytelling masterpiece.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quint from Jaws.<span> </span>Crazy as a loon, tormented by his past.<span> </span><span> </span>Let’s face it:<span> </span>He needs more than a bigger boat, if you know what I mean.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Iggy from Joe Hill’s novel Horns.<span> </span>Poor guy woke up one day to find out he was turning, quite literally, into a devil, complete with horns sprouting from his head.<span> </span>Talk about a bad day!<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I guess I’ve always been a fan of characters with deep personal flaws.<span> </span>That’s what makes them interesting – on paper, at least.<span> </span>On paper, they can be fixed, fiddled with, made good or bad with the flick of a pen or a liberally used Delete key.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Just don’t get me started with those flawed individuals we meet (and often date) in real life.<span> </span>There’s only so much you can do with those characters.<span> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span>:)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-67405756224018804942011-02-12T06:46:00.000-08:002011-02-12T06:46:18.883-08:00Thanks, Mom & Dad<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I thought of my parents yesterday, my mom still with me and my dad gone for six years now.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They raised five kids and worked full time, but that never stopped Mom from losing herself for a few minutes every day in a novel.<span> </span>My dad got home from work each day covered in soot from working in a metal shop, and, after washing up, he would sit and read the newspaper, cover to cover.<span> </span><span> </span>Later, he’d retreat to his room and devour any and all nonfiction books on the subjects that interested him.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This is where my love of reading and writing came from.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This past week I started tutoring at a local community college.<span> </span>It’s been an eye opening experience.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On my second day, an older guy walked in.<span> </span>He was probably in his late forties, his hands were calloused and scarred from years of hard work.<span> </span>He carried a briefcase full of books.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When he sat down, he didn’t know where to start.<span> </span>He fumbled with his papers, his syllabus, his textbooks, a writing journal.<span> </span><span> </span>We sorted through each assignment, but he still couldn’t put into words what exactly he needed help with.<span> </span>He asked me to look at an essay he had turned in, but didn’t have it with him.<span> </span>He asked me to look at his journal, which had received high marks, though he didn’t know what – or if – he should change anything in it.<span> </span>Then we looked at his syllabus.<span> </span>He wasn’t sure which assignment was due on which day and which book he needed to look at first.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After about fifteen minutes, he sat back with a frustrated sigh and said, “I’ve been working with my hands for thirty years.<span> </span>I drove a truck my whole life, so I only listened to the radio, I never had the chance to read before.<span> </span>I have a lot of thoughts.<span> </span>I just don’t know how to get them out of my head.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It made me think of my parents.<span> </span>It made me realize how lucky I am to have grown up in a home where reading was important.<span> </span><span>My parents taught me </span>how to get my thoughts out of my head. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Not everyone gets that chance. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There’s a popular bumper sticker that reads, “If you can read this, thank a teacher.”<span> </span>I think it should say, “If you can read this, thank your parents.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So that’s what I’m doing now.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mom & Dad, thank you. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-39040943831939459932011-02-03T15:53:00.000-08:002011-02-03T15:53:15.938-08:00Be Gentle, It's My First Time<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">I remember the first time I went to a critique group. It was agony. Not only did I have to share stuff I wrote, I had to read it <i>out loud. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">I was panicky, short of breath, my voice cracked. It was terrible. When it was over, there was a moment of quiet before anyone spoke. It was the longest fifteen seconds of my life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Comments started slowly: “I like <i>this, </i>but what about doing <i>this </i>instead?” What? Did the reader really say she liked it? Yay! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">And then, “The voice is strong, so strong that it might overshadow the plot. Would you think about toning it down a bit?” Hmm, that sounds about right. That’s really helpful! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">And finally a derisive laugh, followed by, “Rube? Seriously, you couldn’t think of another way to say it? You had to use the word ‘rube’ ten times in one story? I mean, come <i>on. </i>What am I reading here?” Ouch, dude. Harsh. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">I remember it like it was yesterday. I still remember my face getting hot, what I was wearing, the feel of the table under my hands, and the name of the person who figuratively pushed my face in the mud. That was six years ago. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Critique – and accepting critique – is an important part of writing. No one gets better without it, but feedback delivered without kindness can be crippling. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">A dear friend had the opportunity to attend a writing conference this week where her work was critiqued by some folks in the Big Leagues. She had one good experience and one not-so-good experience. She came away feeling as though she had been personally attacked. She came away doubting her amazing ability.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Not cool.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">To those in writing groups, remember that there is a person on the other side of that page. Be honest, but kind. Your words will stay with them for a year, or six, or longer. Don’t cripple them, encourage them to be better, because better is always underscored by the idea that their work was good to begin with.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">For the past couple of years, I’ve had the good luck to be part of a writing group that is kind and talented and funny and, most importantly, honest. I couldn’t ask for more. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">To them I say thank you – you’ve made me a better writer and a better person. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">And to my friend who got her writerly feelings stepped on, don’t give up. Don’t let the naysayers win. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">You are better than that – which means you were pretty darn good to begin with.</span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-14661073210607427332011-02-01T15:57:00.000-08:002011-02-01T15:57:10.859-08:00Getting Better<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So I was thinking today that there are things I probably should be better at.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On the way to school this morning I heard the DJ say that some study (surely designed to make women feel bad about themselves) said that women today are not as good at domestic skills as they used to be…you know, back before we had JOBS and stuff.<span> </span>Well, duh.<span> </span>We had more time then.<span> </span>And husbands.<span> </span>And we wore chiffon gowns and pearls to vacuum while we smoked cigarillos and drank martinis.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But after three hours navigating snow-covered highways (I guess I am a pretty good driver), I had plenty of time to think about that report.<span> </span>It was right.<span> </span>I’m not good at a lot of stuff that I probably <i>should</i> be good at, and not just domestic stuff.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I can cook a few things, but was thinking I would like to know how to bake a pie.<span> </span>No, not one of those frozen jobs you toss in the oven for an hour because I always end up burning them.<span> </span>I want to make a REAL pie with a GENUINE HOMEMADE crust that flakes when you pluck it with a fork.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I also want to be able to sew better.<span> </span>Just think of how much money I’d save if I sewed buttons back on instead of buying new sweaters.<span> </span>I mean, buttons actually come with most of the things we buy.<span> </span>There has to be a reason for that, right?<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And I want to be a better at math and science.<span> </span>I want to know how to do fractions – I want to know why some letters equal numbers.<span> </span>(I hear that really happens!<span> </span>Numbers AND letters – imagine!)<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And I want to know more ‘stuff,’ especially stuff that goes on in other countries.<span> </span>I want to know more about the Middle East.<span> </span>I want to know how to speak Arabic.<span> </span>I want to know their history.<span> </span>Oh, and I want to know more about South America, too, specifically Che Guevara.<span> </span>Don’t ask why – I have no idea.<span> </span>I just do.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OH – and religion!<span> </span>I probably should know more about that than what I pick up from the monthly Watchtowers dropped off at my door while I’m hiding in the bathroom.<span> </span>(Oh, okay…like<i> I’m</i> the only one who does that, right?)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Those are just a few of the things I want to be better at.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What do YOU want to be better at?<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And what do you think is stopping us?</span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-45136403045853761352011-01-25T13:53:00.000-08:002011-01-25T13:53:24.328-08:00Sisu<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you’re a Finn, you know the word<i> sisu</i>.<span> </span>According to Wikipedia (which is NEVER a reliable source), <i>sisu</i> loosely translates to “strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity.”<span> </span>It also means “not a momentary courage but an ability to sustain an action against the odds.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Growing up, I heard the word a lot, usually from my mom (a Finn if ever there was one) and her mom (straight from the old country – or in her case, the<i> cold</i> country because she came from way up where Santa lives with his reindeer).<span> </span>Kids would pick on me in school and mom would say, “Quit your crying.<span> </span>Where’s your <i>sisu</i>?”<span> </span>My sister’s husband divorced her, and she got, “Where’s your <i>sisu</i>?”<span> </span>After cleaning up the millionth puddle from an old dog’s leaky bladder, I’d hear, “Where’s your s<i>isu</i>?” followed closely by “Hey, here are some paper towels.”<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Well, I’ve started thinking about that word a lot lately, mostly when faced with the half dozen students who sleep (or text) through class, but also as it applies to pursuing a writing career.<span> </span>There are very few jobs that contain more constant adversity than writing.<span> </span>It’s an uphill battle <i>all the time.<span> </span></i>There are no easy roads, no quick fixes, no Oprah-is-my-half-sister surprises that make life easy for a writer.<span> </span>It is butt-in-the-chair, nose-to-the-grindstone, flex-that-mental-muscle work that may not ever pan out, no matter how hard you try.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But I still can’t imagine doing anything else.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Writing is wonderful and exciting and even fun sometimes.<span> </span>So for anyone struggling to get those stories on paper and out into the world, don’t give up.<span> </span>It will happen.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That’s what I’m telling you, and that’s what I’m telling myself.<span> </span>Don’t give up.<span> </span>Don’t get discouraged. <span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’ve got enough <i>sisu </i>for the both of us.<span> :)</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-43483047990355506752011-01-18T06:55:00.000-08:002011-01-18T06:55:56.652-08:00Back in the Day<span style="font-size: large;"></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As a teacher, I hear that phrase a lot.<span> </span>And I mean A LOT.<span> </span>It’s in papers all the time, usually in the first line.<span> </span>The paper will start, “Back in the day, people didn’t understand that things were better.”<span> </span>And I’ll write, “Back in the day?<span> </span>What day?<span> </span>Saturday?<span> </span>Yesterday?<span> </span>New Year’s Day?”<span> </span>Usually that breaks them of that bad habit.<span> </span>The other thing I see a lot is “XYZ is one of the most important things on this earth” to which I respond, “You mean there’s another earth?”<span> </span>But I digress.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I not only hear “back in the day” in writing, I hear it from people all the time.<span> </span>“Well, back in the day, things were better because Roosevelt was in office…” or “Back in the day, kids were required to go to school and come home and do chores…”<span> </span>Sometimes I hear it from people who enjoy things like Renaissance Faires or historical re-enactments (which are totally cool, by the way):<span> </span>“If I had my choice, I’d live back in the day when knights defended the honor of ladies!<span> </span>It would be awesome!”<span> </span>You get the picture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, just about a week ago, I had the opportunity to live ‘back in the day’ – back in the day before oil heat, furnaces, and electricity.<span> </span>My power went out for twelve hours during a blizzard.<span> </span>It was totally NOT awesome.<span> </span>I sat in the dark, reading by a drafty window, huddled under a pile of blankets and cats.<span> </span>By the time my power came back on, the temperature inside had dropped to a balmy 46 degrees.<span> </span>The sun was just going down when the lights came up and not a moment too soon – I’m pretty sure my old brown dog was sizing me up, thinking she could use me for warmth and then eat me if the power didn’t come on in time for me to use the electric can opener.<span> </span>(I still don’t quite trust her – she’s a crafty one.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">So for those of you who write historical fiction (like I do) or those of you who enjoy Renaissance Faires or historical re-enactments (like I do), you might think twice about wishing for those things most people enjoyed “back in the day.”<span> </span>Your wish might just come true.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Twelve hours ‘back in the day’ was about all I could manage.<span> </span>I’m now a fan of my friend JK’s response to someone who once asked if she wouldn’t rather live back in olden times.<span> </span><span> </span>She said, “No thanks.<span> </span>I’d much rather have tampons and antibiotics.”<span> </span><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me add electricity and oil burners to that list.<span> </span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-18293598036582081302011-01-09T15:12:00.000-08:002011-01-09T15:12:59.445-08:00Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Just back from a wonderful visit to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem – I’ve passed the museum dozens of times in my quest for the special kind of weirdness that can only be found in Salem, but have never gone in.<span> </span>Today was the last day of the exhibition “Emperor’s Private Paradise:<span> </span>Treasures from the Forbidden City." </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I have to say I’m sorry I passed by so many times before.<span> </span>I will be a frequent visitor from this point forward because the artistry on display there, both in this exhibit and in their standard offerings, was amazing.<span> </span>The special exhibit was described as:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“An 18th-century compound in a hidden quadrant of the immense imperial complex, the Qianlong Garden (also known as the Tranquility and Longevity Palace Garden), is part of a decade-long, multimillion-dollar conservation initiative undertaken by the World Monuments Fund in partnership with the Palace Museum, Beijing.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ninety objects of ceremony and leisure — murals, paintings, wall coverings, furniture, architectural elements, jades and cloisonné — unveil the private realm of the Qianlong Emperor (r.1736-1796), one of history’s most influential figures. In his time, he was among the richest, most powerful men in the world. A connoisseur, scholar and devout Buddhist, he created a luxurious garden compound to serve throughout his retirement as a secluded place of contemplation, repose and entertainment.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With the staggering number of people there today, peace and tranquility were a bit hard to find – but overall, it was worth it!<span> </span>Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4AbTTQZUuquobH5A0_y5PGz-BR-AJKC-UdB8mOjIgKspWJqvTO5CyZZaRpAdfxec-Af_NOQIAWVJcStXRSIr8vOj-RXi1qcVWa3lh5xE040tXItJjRyaA9OE0CjQio-j1oz_aS6Wd8Hu/s1600/Cheryl+%2526+Indian+Goddess.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4AbTTQZUuquobH5A0_y5PGz-BR-AJKC-UdB8mOjIgKspWJqvTO5CyZZaRpAdfxec-Af_NOQIAWVJcStXRSIr8vOj-RXi1qcVWa3lh5xE040tXItJjRyaA9OE0CjQio-j1oz_aS6Wd8Hu/s320/Cheryl+%2526+Indian+Goddess.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Okay, so technically this was not in the Forbidden Treasures, but it was still a pretty cool goddess from India, just hanging out with BFF Cheryl.)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMzw6PXlDmIvXk80rElGsKTt9DFkUY656MsKsmW3v6eQT3fjppySKg4MnLSjQq4M-2PKo-i_STeQiPVA9xxHkaafNLi0Szbz-ANtsgpcxQMuS5VX9kjTS6WuPjtH8xg-N0V0EzPACe0Za/s1600/Chinese+Crab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMzw6PXlDmIvXk80rElGsKTt9DFkUY656MsKsmW3v6eQT3fjppySKg4MnLSjQq4M-2PKo-i_STeQiPVA9xxHkaafNLi0Szbz-ANtsgpcxQMuS5VX9kjTS6WuPjtH8xg-N0V0EzPACe0Za/s320/Chinese+Crab.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A funky Chinese crab. Who doesn't like crabs?!?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95ildGWfX0v3ZafYh6Yg4l0cwWQk4Eld8IK6hp55QHfq9vqjMnzqh0jc2yyihF_99cM27x7PdLIlYj89-iD4C2n5Pe8uyK3-6aZ9JzsnC5fhVJzO7jRix_aP2u-veH2BlinVR4VEdWJjX/s1600/Chinese+Frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95ildGWfX0v3ZafYh6Yg4l0cwWQk4Eld8IK6hp55QHfq9vqjMnzqh0jc2yyihF_99cM27x7PdLIlYj89-iD4C2n5Pe8uyK3-6aZ9JzsnC5fhVJzO7jRix_aP2u-veH2BlinVR4VEdWJjX/s320/Chinese+Frog.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Ditto the blue frog.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu8yWWfhcwM_Bl3Oc4-37IK0d7ScaLiL8tyx_29c4HQZ6JWf88XK6EkILZ42Ybnwci_LY-divyObUKEBhkFxfb83VZ1gTzIZX8mxqC0_cLrbQltKtkm9rPFjo2xcPwMmo8nV01aArE-6p/s1600/Chinese+God+of+Scholars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu8yWWfhcwM_Bl3Oc4-37IK0d7ScaLiL8tyx_29c4HQZ6JWf88XK6EkILZ42Ybnwci_LY-divyObUKEBhkFxfb83VZ1gTzIZX8mxqC0_cLrbQltKtkm9rPFjo2xcPwMmo8nV01aArE-6p/s320/Chinese+God+of+Scholars.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was the Chinese god of scholars. Look how angry he is. I think he just finished grading 350 essays. No judgments, grumpy. I feel your pain.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxRvTMTHA6aT1war4h1Nv2VQmDDTcOLJ9xadnzk71Orb9mjgIMVzNRC1DWdcir3XO8fLyV_x20qMU75KN_X3J-n-QRfElwaw86HkMkoqWfVOrIqTLEH_cZMgH93YS7PG54DkPCG5zV6pU/s1600/Doorway+Guardians.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxRvTMTHA6aT1war4h1Nv2VQmDDTcOLJ9xadnzk71Orb9mjgIMVzNRC1DWdcir3XO8fLyV_x20qMU75KN_X3J-n-QRfElwaw86HkMkoqWfVOrIqTLEH_cZMgH93YS7PG54DkPCG5zV6pU/s320/Doorway+Guardians.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How cool are these guardians? Carved from solid pieces of stone.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7S9kYmRduMfJnP4JgG_7nw8elFzhqPAvTCJkeN7UL9ApPdTPZrr0QE_3oT2r0Va_kcNtr3LWDLR7TJ-c1UbAPIu9BiuOXrxtLP7Jtcm9P8n_bmYE99_sPyhfNPnFJ3oW8jHN4BhIinxL/s1600/Moon+Bed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7S9kYmRduMfJnP4JgG_7nw8elFzhqPAvTCJkeN7UL9ApPdTPZrr0QE_3oT2r0Va_kcNtr3LWDLR7TJ-c1UbAPIu9BiuOXrxtLP7Jtcm9P8n_bmYE99_sPyhfNPnFJ3oW8jHN4BhIinxL/s320/Moon+Bed.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Moon Bed.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeOo4foKY2TReM8JEdSgHPnxySfy8cCvMfqVmIhHZ9KF5PNE6gWT56Ik3Jqayaw5Ydt4tVd-VrNe0O56HqY1HVULvZn99Gn8FkTeWPoQ8A3JSHv3b5HuJ_GKHE94YuJd5ZHIQHBNf-pud/s1600/Family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeOo4foKY2TReM8JEdSgHPnxySfy8cCvMfqVmIhHZ9KF5PNE6gWT56Ik3Jqayaw5Ydt4tVd-VrNe0O56HqY1HVULvZn99Gn8FkTeWPoQ8A3JSHv3b5HuJ_GKHE94YuJd5ZHIQHBNf-pud/s320/Family.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two of four lovely statues - more pics of the others will come later.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8kH9Bi9qlSSHLZ7eqysTJfqboXQpJSnz11ftMjElA6vOHj1epuzyk_17jkKjW2SCNI7PYFAyrGRgYklqtShPzmyncP0HML14DQbeMVClc9Rk99oeAPxXIKRgyXk-S19yQ5N7PbAznknB/s1600/Indian+Exhibit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8kH9Bi9qlSSHLZ7eqysTJfqboXQpJSnz11ftMjElA6vOHj1epuzyk_17jkKjW2SCNI7PYFAyrGRgYklqtShPzmyncP0HML14DQbeMVClc9Rk99oeAPxXIKRgyXk-S19yQ5N7PbAznknB/s320/Indian+Exhibit.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And because they were sparkly, another photo from the Indian exhibit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the Forbidden Treasures exhibits were not allowed to be photographed, but this is just a small sampling of the wonders on display. I hope you enjoyed them!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-90710825698664671712011-01-04T06:37:00.000-08:002011-01-04T06:37:17.034-08:00News from the Weird, or Cue Creepy Music!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So, I’m not a big believer in all things supernatural…okay, let me start again.<span> </span>It’s the new year, and I’m trying to be as honest as possible.<span> </span>I’ll confess right now:<span> </span>I DO believe in the supernatural.<span> </span>If you knew my family, you’d understand why.<span> </span>More on that later.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The reason I tell you this is because something disturbing happened to my sister’s grandson a few weeks ago.<span> </span>His name is Monk – not really, and not for any of the reasons you may think.<span> </span>He’s about 9 years old and a bright kid, good natured, and adored by his Nana (my sister).<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Anyway, Monk was playing football at recess and things got rough and he fell and hit his head.<span> </span>The teachers thought he just been shaken up, so they didn’t pay much attention.<span> </span>Later that day, he fell asleep, woke up, and then vomited.<span> </span>The teachers sent him home at the end of the day (that’s a whole OTHER blog post!).<span> </span>When his mom saw him later that night, he was sleepy, still vomiting, <span></span>but now screaming that his head hurt.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They rushed him to the hospital where it was discovered he had a brain bleed.<span> </span>They found this out when he became completely unresponsive during a CT scan.<span> </span>They med-flighted him to a trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery.<span> </span>It was touch and go for a bit, but he turned out okay.<span> </span>No lingering effects, the worst thing that happened is that he can’t play sports for one year.<span> </span>A fair trade off, I’d say.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But that’s not what’s strange about all this.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Last weekend, Monk visited my sister and she told him how much he had scared her with this accident.<span> </span>His response made all the little hairs stand up on the back of my neck.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He said, “Don’t worry, Nana.<span> </span>When I was in the hospital, I was ready to go to heaven, but there was an Indian Chief waiting for me and he said it wasn’t my turn.<span> </span>I had my ticket, but he took it away and tore it in half and said I had to go back home because I wasn’t ready yet.<span> </span>So I had to come back.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My sister (whom I will write about in depth at a later time) has always had a little special ‘something.’<span> </span>She’s very <i>intuitive</i> (among other things).<span> </span>It didn’t shock her at all that her grandson told her that.<span> </span>She was surprised, but mostly relieved.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I, on the other hand, was dumbfounded.<span> </span>All the usual things went through my mind.<span> </span>Is there an afterlife?<span> </span>A Monk AND an Indian Chief both say so.<span> </span>Are all those near-death experiences we hear about true?<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My friend said it quite astutely when I was hashing this out with her.<span> </span>She said, “It’s interesting that we are able to translate the experience of dying into something familiar to us.<span> </span>Your great-nephew saw an Indian Chief. <span> </span>And he had a ticket to get in.<span> </span>What do other people see?”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That shocked me all over again.<span> </span>First, no one ever said we needed a ticket, and second, I always thought we’d see St. Peter or someone in white, flowing robes.<span> </span>Do we get to choose?<span> </span>If so, I want it to be exotic, like a Shaolin monk, or maybe one of those glittery Bollywood dancers, or how about an Aztec warrior!<span> </span>How cool would that be?<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And if it can’t be that exotic (because maybe there are rules), I’d settle for Tom Brady, wearing all of his very sparkly Superbowl rings.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I could get into that.<span> </span>Now I just have to figure out where I get one of those tickets.</span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481454944299979802.post-75122032092263014092010-12-31T12:51:00.000-08:002010-12-31T12:51:34.948-08:00Tribunal<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So, I said last week – or maybe it was two weeks ago (time has a way of getting away from you when you’re grading 350 papers) – that I’d talk about favorite words.<span> </span>Here are some of mine:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chocolate</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sparkly</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Soffit</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Okay, so the word ‘chocolate’ doesn’t really do much for me, it’s more the chocolate itself.<span> </span>But words like ‘sparkly’ and ‘soffit’ (and I don’t even know what that is, just that it goes on my house) please me, probably more than any word should.<span> </span>For some reason, I smile when I hear them.<span> </span>I always said that if I had a kid, I would name it Sparkly Soffit…unless it was a boy, then I might have to rethink that whole thing.<span> </span>In any case, I started to wonder why that is, why I have favorite words.<span> </span>What is our affinity for certain words all about?<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And are there ever words that repel us, the same way that words like ‘sparkly’ and ‘soffit’ attract me?<span> </span>I think there must be.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For example, my sister Kathleen is terrified of the word ‘tribunal.’<span> </span>She doesn’t know why, she just shudders whenever she hears it.<span> </span>And really, how often does one hear that word?<span> </span>Not too often, I suspect, unless a pesky younger sister wants to bug an older sister, then you hear it pretty darn often.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However, the word itself:<span> </span>Tribunal.<span> </span>What’s that about?<span> </span>A friend of mine pointed out that the word ‘tribunal’ isn’t a good word because no good ever comes out of using it. <span> </span>And he’s right, of course.<span> </span>When have you ever heard the word ‘tribunal’ used in a positive fashion?<span> </span>“Hey, come on over tonight – it’s New Year’s Eve and we’re having a tribunal with a few friends!<span> </span>It’ll be a blast!”<span> </span>Eh…not so much.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So after much thought (hey, don’t judge – I have little to do now that those papers are graded!), I came up with my own word that I’m not too fond of.<span> </span>It’s the word “but.”<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Think about it.<span> </span>When have you ever heard the word ‘but’ used for the purposes of good.<span> </span>NEVER!<span> </span>I’ll give you some examples:<span> </span>“I really like you, <i>but…</i>I just want to be friends.”<span> </span>Or, “This lasagna is great, <i>but…</i>it would be better if you used more cheese.”<span> </span>Or, for my writer friends, the ubiquitous rejection letter that starts out with, “This manuscript is great…” and ends with, “BUT…it’s not for me.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So for my New Year’s resolution, I am going to drum that bad word right out of my vocabulary.<span> </span>No more ‘buts!’<span> </span>Not even that old chestnut, “Do these pants make my butt look big?”<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And by the way, that does not require an answer…I already KNOW.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Happy New Year, everyone!</span></span></div>Shelagh Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09818792692247479142noreply@blogger.com1