Lent: A second chance to fail at your most punishing and unreasonable New Year's resolutions.
Note: I believe in neither New Year's resolutions nor depriving oneself for Lent. Life is hard enough already! We should be adding on new experiences, trying new things and doing more of what makes us happy at every opportunity.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
the effects of too much crime docu-drama
Is that even a category name? In my limited spare time lately, I've been watching way too many TV crime documentaries, which inevitably leads me to dream of a life as a true crime novelist or biographer.
But I think that's too much serious business, and I should get back to writing about the stranger-than-fiction hilarity of my own daily experience. (And yes, I am also wondering when that is going to happen exactly, as I've not exactly been too good on the creative writing front lately.)
I guess this is one more support for the fact that violence/depravity/etc. in movies, TV and video games does not create criminals, if the proper upbringing (is that what I would call it?) is there. As desensitized as I have become to horror/sci-fi/fake movie violence (I can eat meat with wild abandon during the most flesh-noshing part of a zombie film), I was happy to find my stomach still turned a bit when faced with descriptions of real, grisly crime scenes.
And, now, my next topic of discussion will be how unfortunate it is when you really want to make mean but hilarious comments about someone on Facebook, then realize you have to censor yourself because that person is your Facebook friend. What a shame ...
But I think that's too much serious business, and I should get back to writing about the stranger-than-fiction hilarity of my own daily experience. (And yes, I am also wondering when that is going to happen exactly, as I've not exactly been too good on the creative writing front lately.)
I guess this is one more support for the fact that violence/depravity/etc. in movies, TV and video games does not create criminals, if the proper upbringing (is that what I would call it?) is there. As desensitized as I have become to horror/sci-fi/fake movie violence (I can eat meat with wild abandon during the most flesh-noshing part of a zombie film), I was happy to find my stomach still turned a bit when faced with descriptions of real, grisly crime scenes.
And, now, my next topic of discussion will be how unfortunate it is when you really want to make mean but hilarious comments about someone on Facebook, then realize you have to censor yourself because that person is your Facebook friend. What a shame ...
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Things for which I'm Thankful
Even though it's hardly Thanksgiving season right now and things are not so easy that I'm "thankful" for the myriad challenges I'm facing (just to spice things up), I think I need to get in a "thankful" mindset or I'm going to drown in negativity. So, this is the short list I can muster at the moment. Some things on the list are immediate, others are on-going. And some are probably pretty stupid/materialistic, but they are keeping me sane.
1. The large array of fantastic (and not so fantastic) British television shows on Netflix.
2. My one steady client and great friend, who is keeping me in electricity, internet, phone and up with my mortgage (even if I'm falling behind in other areas).
3. The fact that one of my short-term contracted projects right now is transcription of a tele-seminar surrounding how to get better at sales from a genius business and life coach I would otherwise not be able to afford, and that this is my exact area of most struggle. (And I better use that gift, or I'm just stupid.)
4. Friends who put up with me even during this time when I feel incomplete and unable to give all I want to give, and who spoil me with little, kind acts of generosity and humor. (I need to better learn how to see these acts as "points of thankfulness," as often I think I miss them while waiting for the grander gestures from the people I want to help me, but who are probably not capable of giving.)
5. A more hopeful and thankful future. If it isn't coming, this intense time that sometimes sends me into moments of annoying despair and obnoxious self pity has no point.
Also, I need to add that I started out titling this "Things I'm Thankful for" in an attempt to be informal, which is the purpose of this blog. But it just pained my grammar sensibility too much, so I had to make it right. And that makes me annoyed by myself. I'll try to get over it.
1. The large array of fantastic (and not so fantastic) British television shows on Netflix.
2. My one steady client and great friend, who is keeping me in electricity, internet, phone and up with my mortgage (even if I'm falling behind in other areas).
3. The fact that one of my short-term contracted projects right now is transcription of a tele-seminar surrounding how to get better at sales from a genius business and life coach I would otherwise not be able to afford, and that this is my exact area of most struggle. (And I better use that gift, or I'm just stupid.)
4. Friends who put up with me even during this time when I feel incomplete and unable to give all I want to give, and who spoil me with little, kind acts of generosity and humor. (I need to better learn how to see these acts as "points of thankfulness," as often I think I miss them while waiting for the grander gestures from the people I want to help me, but who are probably not capable of giving.)
5. A more hopeful and thankful future. If it isn't coming, this intense time that sometimes sends me into moments of annoying despair and obnoxious self pity has no point.
Also, I need to add that I started out titling this "Things I'm Thankful for" in an attempt to be informal, which is the purpose of this blog. But it just pained my grammar sensibility too much, so I had to make it right. And that makes me annoyed by myself. I'll try to get over it.
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