Posts
And another blog bites the dust... I AM CONSOLIDATING MY BLOGS (DELETING SOME), SO I WILL POST SOME OF MY BLOG ENTRIES HERE SO THEY AREN'T LOST FOREVER. ENJOY!
(i would give) MY WRITE ARM entries are below:
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
When Life Gives You Poetry...
Many years ago my Dad told me that I should never trust a man who writes poetry for me. Fortunately, this has never been a problem for me. He can rest in peace.
But what is it about poetry that awakens something in our hearts and creates an almost melancholy deja vu feeling? Although poetry often has a rhythm, I don't think that's it.
I believe it's the poet. We connect with that unseen person through their words. We can empathize with their emotions even if we haven't experienced things ourselves.
Poetry is fascinating. Nearly anyone can rhyme (not always well, but they can), but very few can write poetry that speaks to an audience.
Maybe someday I will write a poem that will touch hearts.
Actually, it's rather unlikely. I have fairly small feet.
But what is it about poetry that awakens something in our hearts and creates an almost melancholy deja vu feeling? Although poetry often has a rhythm, I don't think that's it.
I believe it's the poet. We connect with that unseen person through their words. We can empathize with their emotions even if we haven't experienced things ourselves.
Poetry is fascinating. Nearly anyone can rhyme (not always well, but they can), but very few can write poetry that speaks to an audience.
Maybe someday I will write a poem that will touch hearts.
Actually, it's rather unlikely. I have fairly small feet.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
A Reverence for Words
The ability to translate thoughts to language and then capture them in writing to share with others outside of your immediate location is unique to mankind.
English 101A is a required course at all universities and colleges. English is a required course in high school and junior high. Writing, spelling and reading are taught as early as nursery school, or even before in our own homes.
We know the value of communication, but we don't always take advantage of it - or worse, we abuse it.
We scream about the right to free speech, simply to have our voice heard not because we have an important message. Or we use profanity in a weak attempt to sound authoritative or adamant about something. Someone once told me that people swear when they can't think of anything better to say - I have never found a case where that wasn't true. The 'art' of cursing is not an art at all; it's an avoidance of meaningful, thoughtful communication. It makes light of important things. It's an insult to the listener.
Now, I am not claiming to never swear. I don't swear a lot, but I certainly do swear. I come by it naturally. My grandmother's favorite but rarely used curse was "Shit"! We would gasp and giggle and gawk every time my 5'2" 100 lb. Mimi would spat that word in anger.
But we also celebrate our unique ability to communicate. We write poetry that wrenches emotion from our audience.
We compose pensive letters (emails) to loved ones and friends.
We write articles for the paper, letters to the editor, columns for the PTA School News.
We scribble notes on napkins. We share lyrics on toilet paper. We sign contracts on the back of menus.
We are a communicative bunch and we like it so much we want everyone to know. It's not about a handshake and an "AYE!" any more. It's about permanence and global influence and instant information.
Do you remember the old adage about gossip? "Gossip is like a feathers, once tossed to the wind you can never gather them all up again."
What we say matters; what we write matters, and how the words we use can make or break someone or something.
We should be direct and honest and fair and kind in all of our communications. Sharing bad news, or expressing anger or disappointment does not have to be done in a hurtful, negative way. There is no need to sugar coat anything, but presentation is the key. Say good bye with a smile. Say hello with a smile.
And be careful what you say and write, because someone is listening and someday someone will read. Nothing is secret anymore; even those sacred things that were private are no long secret. The internet has given us access to instant data and information; anything we want. "Just Google it" is now the standard response when someone asks a question that requires more than a three word response. There is no incentive to share orally anymore and there are no secrets.
A certain reverence for information is something we all should appreciate and strive to cultivate, in ourselves and in our listeners.
So, listen, contemplate, communicate, share, be concise, choose your words carefully, speak well, write well, search well and smile...because you can be certain that someone somewhere is watching and listening, or will be.
English 101A is a required course at all universities and colleges. English is a required course in high school and junior high. Writing, spelling and reading are taught as early as nursery school, or even before in our own homes.
We know the value of communication, but we don't always take advantage of it - or worse, we abuse it.
We scream about the right to free speech, simply to have our voice heard not because we have an important message. Or we use profanity in a weak attempt to sound authoritative or adamant about something. Someone once told me that people swear when they can't think of anything better to say - I have never found a case where that wasn't true. The 'art' of cursing is not an art at all; it's an avoidance of meaningful, thoughtful communication. It makes light of important things. It's an insult to the listener.
Now, I am not claiming to never swear. I don't swear a lot, but I certainly do swear. I come by it naturally. My grandmother's favorite but rarely used curse was "Shit"! We would gasp and giggle and gawk every time my 5'2" 100 lb. Mimi would spat that word in anger.
But we also celebrate our unique ability to communicate. We write poetry that wrenches emotion from our audience.
We compose pensive letters (emails) to loved ones and friends.
We write articles for the paper, letters to the editor, columns for the PTA School News.
We scribble notes on napkins. We share lyrics on toilet paper. We sign contracts on the back of menus.
We are a communicative bunch and we like it so much we want everyone to know. It's not about a handshake and an "AYE!" any more. It's about permanence and global influence and instant information.
Do you remember the old adage about gossip? "Gossip is like a feathers, once tossed to the wind you can never gather them all up again."
What we say matters; what we write matters, and how the words we use can make or break someone or something.
We should be direct and honest and fair and kind in all of our communications. Sharing bad news, or expressing anger or disappointment does not have to be done in a hurtful, negative way. There is no need to sugar coat anything, but presentation is the key. Say good bye with a smile. Say hello with a smile.
And be careful what you say and write, because someone is listening and someday someone will read. Nothing is secret anymore; even those sacred things that were private are no long secret. The internet has given us access to instant data and information; anything we want. "Just Google it" is now the standard response when someone asks a question that requires more than a three word response. There is no incentive to share orally anymore and there are no secrets.
A certain reverence for information is something we all should appreciate and strive to cultivate, in ourselves and in our listeners.
So, listen, contemplate, communicate, share, be concise, choose your words carefully, speak well, write well, search well and smile...because you can be certain that someone somewhere is watching and listening, or will be.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Blogemma
It's a dilemma. Blogging is a dilemma, that is.
Serious bloggers need to blog regularly to create a presence online, but we should have something to say to justify the blog entry. Blogging just to blog seems a bit blogacious.
But what if you don't have anything to say?!?!?!? And that is my situation in a nutshell. I am tired, I am stressed, I am working my tail off. I have been going a zillion miles a minute for the past 36 hours and I really don't have anything to say even if I had the time.
Don't forget me Google (and all other search engines); I am still here! Please don't deblog me!
OK, done. I blogged, or maybe I nonblogged, whichever.
Dilemma solved.
Serious bloggers need to blog regularly to create a presence online, but we should have something to say to justify the blog entry. Blogging just to blog seems a bit blogacious.
But what if you don't have anything to say?!?!?!? And that is my situation in a nutshell. I am tired, I am stressed, I am working my tail off. I have been going a zillion miles a minute for the past 36 hours and I really don't have anything to say even if I had the time.
Don't forget me Google (and all other search engines); I am still here! Please don't deblog me!
OK, done. I blogged, or maybe I nonblogged, whichever.
Dilemma solved.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
My Right Foot
I would give my right foot away if someone wanted it. You should see it. A normally decent looking foot is now purple from mid-toes to the base of my leg where my foot attaches.
I was stepped on. Hard. Without an apology.
It's true. I was in a crowd, a man stepped back on my sandaled foot, took a quick glance at me (presumably to see if I was sobbing) and then kept going (presumably because the sobs had not yet begun, I was still in suck in air and widen eyes mode).
OH MY GOSH it hurt! It hurt so much I couldn't run after him, or even yell after him, to say "Thanks a lot, you jerk!"
Anyway, today my write arm is blogging about my right foot. And that's all there is to that.
The moral of this story: Always wear steel-toed boots. (Especially when in a work environment that might require them, and this includes social activities. They might slow you down on the dance floor, but you won't be wearing purple the next day).
I was stepped on. Hard. Without an apology.
It's true. I was in a crowd, a man stepped back on my sandaled foot, took a quick glance at me (presumably to see if I was sobbing) and then kept going (presumably because the sobs had not yet begun, I was still in suck in air and widen eyes mode).
OH MY GOSH it hurt! It hurt so much I couldn't run after him, or even yell after him, to say "Thanks a lot, you jerk!"
Anyway, today my write arm is blogging about my right foot. And that's all there is to that.
The moral of this story: Always wear steel-toed boots. (Especially when in a work environment that might require them, and this includes social activities. They might slow you down on the dance floor, but you won't be wearing purple the next day).
Monday, July 13, 2009
Silent Conversation
What will happen when typed words replace face-to-face conversations? It's already started happening, you know.
Facebook where we say hello to people we haven't taken the time to contact in literally years or decades.
Instant Messenger on every internet provider where we can talk multiple people at once - co-workers, family and friends, our boss, our spouse, our lover, our boyfriend(s) - not really focusing on any of them in the way they deserve.
Text Messaging where we speak in abbreviated language that is creeping into emails and real conversations. We think in Text now "R U OK?"
Email instead of conversation. Why walk 6 feet down the hall to talk to a co-worker when you can send an email and not get out of your cubicle? Why call to tell someone "no" or "regrets" when you can avoid the emotional fall out of possibly disappointing them in an impersonal email.
Blogging instead of a journal. At least the kids will have something, but is it the same? I don't really know.
What I do know is that communication has gone silent. No sound. No voice inflection. No body language. No facial expressions.
It's communication without all of the important communication tools. It's impersonal. It's not really authentic.
What will happen when typed words replace face-to-face communication? It's already happening and the fall-out is an increased detachment, a lack of the personal touch, the way overused CC:, the much overrated BCC:, and rabid miscommunication leading to unnecessary misunderstandings.
If silence is golden, I can only hope that silent communication has a silver lining.
And if there is a silver lining, that silver lining might be that we actually communicate now when we might have not made the effort in the past, or maybe we communicate more, to more people, more often and if that's true it's a good thing.
Since I am the author of five blogs and the author of five Twitter sites and the creator of two websites and the uncrowned queen of email, a decade-long veteran of IM and very present on Facebook, this is an interesting topic for me to blog about.
Let me think about it a little more, then we can text.
U R GR8
BBIAB
Facebook where we say hello to people we haven't taken the time to contact in literally years or decades.
Instant Messenger on every internet provider where we can talk multiple people at once - co-workers, family and friends, our boss, our spouse, our lover, our boyfriend(s) - not really focusing on any of them in the way they deserve.
Text Messaging where we speak in abbreviated language that is creeping into emails and real conversations. We think in Text now "R U OK?"
Email instead of conversation. Why walk 6 feet down the hall to talk to a co-worker when you can send an email and not get out of your cubicle? Why call to tell someone "no" or "regrets" when you can avoid the emotional fall out of possibly disappointing them in an impersonal email.
Blogging instead of a journal. At least the kids will have something, but is it the same? I don't really know.
What I do know is that communication has gone silent. No sound. No voice inflection. No body language. No facial expressions.
It's communication without all of the important communication tools. It's impersonal. It's not really authentic.
What will happen when typed words replace face-to-face communication? It's already happening and the fall-out is an increased detachment, a lack of the personal touch, the way overused CC:, the much overrated BCC:, and rabid miscommunication leading to unnecessary misunderstandings.
If silence is golden, I can only hope that silent communication has a silver lining.
And if there is a silver lining, that silver lining might be that we actually communicate now when we might have not made the effort in the past, or maybe we communicate more, to more people, more often and if that's true it's a good thing.
Since I am the author of five blogs and the author of five Twitter sites and the creator of two websites and the uncrowned queen of email, a decade-long veteran of IM and very present on Facebook, this is an interesting topic for me to blog about.
Let me think about it a little more, then we can text.
U R GR8
BBIAB
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Blogophilia
There's a bug in the air and I think I caught it. It's been around for a few years now but I have just recently been exposed.
This particular ailment can be hard on your wrists. It can threaten your posture. It can even mess with your vision. Things get blurry. Limbs ache. Meals are left untouched. Hours and days pass by. Thankfully, to date there are no conclusions indicating that blogophilia a life threatening tendency.
Blogophilia. Blog - type of website; weblog (abbrev.), and philia -friend (Greek); blogophilia, a great example that too much of a good thing is not always good. In fact, it can cripple you.
Before we know it a new condition will be in the headlines, can it be long before there are new treatments and interventions for blogophobia? It too is real (the fear that someone might actually READ what you blog.)
The writing is on the wall, or I guess I should say, the blogging is on the web.
Mark my words (and just engrave them on my tombstone)
This particular ailment can be hard on your wrists. It can threaten your posture. It can even mess with your vision. Things get blurry. Limbs ache. Meals are left untouched. Hours and days pass by. Thankfully, to date there are no conclusions indicating that blogophilia a life threatening tendency.
Blogophilia. Blog - type of website; weblog (abbrev.), and philia -friend (Greek); blogophilia, a great example that too much of a good thing is not always good. In fact, it can cripple you.
Before we know it a new condition will be in the headlines, can it be long before there are new treatments and interventions for blogophobia? It too is real (the fear that someone might actually READ what you blog.)
The writing is on the wall, or I guess I should say, the blogging is on the web.
Mark my words (and just engrave them on my tombstone)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Arm Chair Aerobics
It seems there is no place that is not conducive to blogging and although it is not an aerobic exercise, blogging is certainly an exercise of the mind. So that means "exercise + anywhere = blogging" don't you think?Personally, rather than blogging anywhere, I prefer to blog from home while sitting in my favorite burgundy leather arm chair with my legs bent to perfectly tilt my laptop and with my feet resting on the matching burgundy leather footstool. Now that's a picture, isn't it?
I suppose I could be doing something more active, but when I am blogging something much stronger than a desire to sweat while stretching long dormant muscles takes over and all thoughts of activity seem to dissipate into the humid air around me (yes, I have a swamp cooler - the norm in the traditional adobe abodes of Albuquerque, New Mexico).
The adrenaline rush that should push me out the door to Liberty Gym is out-rushed by the adrenaline that drops me into blogging position and causes my fingers to fly over the keyboard faster than I can format coherent sentences from my random thoughts.
Several years ago I met a friend, a PhD who referred to himself as an overeducated redneck and a wordsmith. I remember reading his emails and texts and laughing out loud just because of his ability to create breathtaking pictures from words and build fantastic stories from his personal life experiences. He was, indeed, a wordsmith (and an overeducated redneck).
I, on the other hand, am an undereducated redhead. I am also a grandma. I am a nonprofit executive. I am a mother. I am an optimist. I am many things, but I am not a PhD and I am not a wordsmith.
I am a blogger and maybe with the passage of time and before the leather on my arm chair begins to crack, I will be a wordsmith.
Now if you will excuse me, I have an arm chair workout to complete.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Taking Charge
I am out of control and taking charge not a minute too soon. Suddenly I have become a blogging fool. I don't exactly know how it happened or when, it sort of creeped up on me. But since my normally bland days seem to be freckled with blogging moments of late I decided to do something proactive in an effort to control my blogging addiction. And so, I created a new blog. This one.Now, I am fairly certain that more than a few might be questioning my sanity, and you can trust me when I say that I am right there with you! However.... (isn't that what all addicts say? "Trust me, however..."). Oh dear.
To continue. However, this blog has one purpose only: to link to any other blogs I might have. Notice the casual use of the word "might", not "do" have, but might have. It makes me feel a little further from the precipice so I would appreciate your indulgence this one time.
Now, where was I. Oh yes...trust me I am aware that I may have a problem, however I really enjoy blogging! I love to blog.
There, I've said it. I love to blog.
I started blogging at a turning point in my life that required some self-scrutiny (another time that I needed to take charge of things that were out of control). I found that writing helped and then I discovered memories from my past would come to mind as I was blogging about something in the present. Soon I was weaving past with present and hoping that someday (since they don't now) my kids would read through my personal blog and think "Wow, I didn't know that about Mom, that's pretty cool!".
From the first blogged word I was hooked and from there I expanded to blogs about my love of Albuquerque, New Mexico and into the fun and games of politics and life in the Land of Enchantment. These three blogs have evolved in both focus and style over the past several months. But there's more...
In 2008 my then 17-year old daughter was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Not only did her reality suddenly affect mine, but it made me sit up and pay attention. In 2009, with over 20 years experience in the nonprofit world as my foundation, I created Teen Fibro, a nonprofit organization focused on awareness and education about teenage fibromyalgia. My fourth blog morphed from this collaborative effort.
If you are still reading this blog message (and bless your heart if you are), the four blogs that I (might) also have can be found in the Blog Roll in the sidebar of this page.
Click, read, laugh, groan, cry, take notes, comment, link, follow, favor, email to friends and enjoy!
I love to blog. I now have FIVE blogs and am investigating the possibility of blogging professionally. This is getting scary. Blogging professionally?!? Don't I already have enough blogging? Evidently not, I just can't get enough. I crave blogging. I look forward to waking up so that I can blog. I go to bed late so that I can blog. It seems that I can't live without it. Intervention is obviously needed and I would give my right arm for a 12-step program, but then again, I am taking charge and giving my right arm would make blogging difficult. I am doomed to a life of blogging.
My name is Jean and I am a blogger. You can trust me on that,however I am a redhead. Enough said?
Blog on!
7c4zjvatgi
Labels: Albuquerque, Bloggers, Blogging, Blogs, New Mexico
And out of order - the last blog entry made to (i would give) MY WRITE ARM
And out of order - the last blog entry made to (i would give) MY WRITE ARM
Saturday, July 25, 2009
You Can't Kiss A Memory (lyrics by JEB)
Love comes and goes
And god only knows
I loved you, my darling
(I loved you).
Life ebbs and flows
And feelings, they go
Love fades away
(I loved you).
When you dropped by
To say your goodbye
With tears on your cheeks
(I loved you).
You hugged me tight
And said everything right
But our lips never touched
(I loved you).
You can’t kiss a memory
Of what once was
You can’t hold onto feelings
Just because.
You can’t kiss a memory
Of what used to be
You can’t hold to something
That needs to be free.
Love comes and goes
And God only knows
I loved you, my darling
(I loved you).
But you can't kiss a memory
Of what used to be
You can't kiss a memory
(I loved you).
July 24, 2009 JEB
And god only knows
I loved you, my darling
(I loved you).
Life ebbs and flows
And feelings, they go
Love fades away
(I loved you).
When you dropped by
To say your goodbye
With tears on your cheeks
(I loved you).
You hugged me tight
And said everything right
But our lips never touched
(I loved you).
You can’t kiss a memory
Of what once was
You can’t hold onto feelings
Just because.
You can’t kiss a memory
Of what used to be
You can’t hold to something
That needs to be free.
Love comes and goes
And God only knows
I loved you, my darling
(I loved you).
But you can't kiss a memory
Of what used to be
You can't kiss a memory
(I loved you).
July 24, 2009 JEB
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