Sujet une: today’s entry began simply enough, being that it is summer and the kids are out of school, I was considering how difficult it is to find time for all of the things I would like to do. I was doing well, tapping away at my keyboard, creating gleeful witticisms (thanks DUO), when something went suddenly and terribly wrong. Storm clouds of vitriol rolled across my Doppler radar feed. Before I knew it, I was ranting. My simple blog entry had become an manifesto touching on everything from the Butterfly Effect to the global consequences of our daily moral judgments. On I went, bashing through barriers of blogosphere decency, smashing the good intentions of well-intentioned intenders. I really made an illogical mess of things before I was through and as I sift through the rubble, trying to piece together what went wrong, I realize that recovery is still a ways off. Has this ever happened to you? Has an unknown need for catharsis ever consumed your blog?
Sujet deux: I enjoy building. I find all aspects of the work relaxing: the brainstorming, the drawing, and the physical-ing. I rarely find time to build anymore. I am writing. My dream life would have me writing for a living, building for fun, and hugging my family. The skies would be sunny except when it rained and people would stop killing each other, God damn it… You see, here is where things went wrong. This was the actual start to my original blog and as you can tell things devolved at a drastic pace. I don’t think train wrecks happen this fast, but then I can’t tell for sure because those that I’ve seen have all been in slow motion. Now, rather than go into all of the conditions that led my train-of-thought into the canyon-of-angst, let me just finish what I started…My wife and I built a house (family and friends pitched in), since, I have added patios and decks and walkways and finished the basement and landscaped the yard and built a woodshed and… and, I miss it. I don’t just miss seeing the results, I miss doing the work: particularly during t-shirt weather. It’s what I gave up to write. What do you give up to write?Le Tag: Thanks again to D U Okonkwo, the gracious Londoner, for tagging me… DUO’s blog is overflowing with the joy of writing and can be found here: http://www.duosays.com/
L’aphorisme: following a quick sift through the rant, this is the only thing of value that I found… Acceptance is as powerful as righteous tyranny… and often less harmful.
Munk’s Opening Line:
The brown dwarf swung so nearly, I felt my mood change.
Munk’s opening line is yours to keep, use it.
This week’s music (I love the opening to this song…): One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by George Thorogood and the Destroyers
14 comments:
I'm still waiting for my catharsis. Oh, do I get more than one?
Munk, we must make sacrifices in order to follow our muse. It's all right. That's why they make lawn care professionals. And carpenters. And well, nannies.
To write, I gave up feeding my kids. (And I don't have nanny.)
Hey! It isn't Saturday...
I suppose it isn't the same to imagine your sentences as little 2 x 4's as you build your story?
I get this same feeling in the summertime. I'd rather go outside and dig in the garden than write most mornings. Luckily I'm in the brainstorming phase of writing right now and can work outside in a notebook. It helps.
@Jayne-clearly you have your priorities in place.
@LG-I know, I'm early this week. I usually delay the post until the weekend, but I was so frustrated with the amount of time I was burning, I just wanted to be rid of it.
We'll always take the hugging Munk!
I want to say that your family is very proud of you for following your dream of being a writer. You are setting a wonderful example for the kids. You are teaching them that when you want something, it is hard work, but in order to succeed you must follow-through. Great accomplishments are gained through hard work. This is an invaluable lesson that you are giving them. So, next time when you leave the house on the weekend to go write (since you do have a day job), don't feel like you are giving anything up, but instead remember you are giving something to us.... Happy Father's Day to the most wonderful, loving, and committed, man, husband, and father I know! We love you! xo
Good song choice by the way!
I often feel guilty about the amount of time I spend writing. Especially when I struggle and the words come grudgingly.
Dawnelle said it well. I'm following my passion, and hopefully my example will inspire my kids to do the same.
It's Friday night my friend, so rustle up some drinks and just be.
I tend to let stuff out on drafts, then reel them in later before I post them. I don't like to lose control online.
With all my writing, I definitely do less crafty projects around the house. Luckily, no one seems to miss them. Which goes to show you that those items probably were never necessary to begin with.
@D--Lovely.
@TR--It's Saturday morning now, wish I hadn't rustled them... just kidding, enjoyed the night with the family, even got the lawn mowed. Thanks for the words, your sincerity comes naturally.
@LK--I have a feeling your projects are still crafty.
What I've given up to write? A part of my job in which I could travel loads and meet interesting people all over the world.
Blogging makes up for some of it. Not for the physical travelling, unfortunately. :-)
It's worth it, though, but that doesn't mean I don't miss it.
A delightful post, Munk!
I can relate to your love for writing and building, although in my case I do not build houses in my free time but cakes and interior design :) Although I'm not sure it's just my free time since I get money for that too.
But the point is in enjoying the creative process of building, baking, designing or making something. And that brings catharses as well in its own way.
@KC-I agree with how you value travel. It seems the further I am from home the more tolerant I become. It renews my fascination with people and I am able to drop my guard.
@D-You are an interesting sort. I love that you cake and design, that you get paid for it is almost too much to bear.
Quand j'ecris, j'ai besoin de quitter la practique de la francais.
Except now I want to know what was in the rant...
@RK-Je suis désolé, peut-être vous pouvez voler un gibbon à la place.
@BR-It was heavy on passion, shy on logic and ended with me singing two choruses of "Give Peace a Chance." Not a terrible premise, but I was weepy and preachy, bordering on maudlin.
I experience catharsis a lot. My next one will happen on schedule tomorrow as I discuss all the things I don't like about the YA Paranormal television series "The Nine Lives of Chloe King" and how it sends a message that committing 2nd degree murder as long as you're white and rich...seems to be okay.
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