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Sunday, September 19, 2010
Art and Writing and the Creative Flow
My BFF and I were emailing about a neat costume I saw and I thought she’d like. She was amazed like me, and she asked me, “Have you thought about Halloween?” As far back as I can remember, I’ve been an avid fan of Halloween. I love the whole spooky and superstitious parts of it; I love the candy; I love the dressing up and pretending to be someone else.
The problem is: I don’t know what I’ll be dressing as. Last year I was completely uninspired and dressed as Harry Potter. Again. The year before I dressed as a slutty devil—again, completely uninspired and not nearly at my level of costuming commitment I usually do. I don’t even remember 2007. I’m sure it was also uninspired as well. Since 1997, I usually come up with some elaborate costume to dress in and I get co-workers into it. I have staff and faculty who ask me around this time of year what I’ll be dressing as because I’m that well-known. I’ve been a Scottish wench, three types of pirate, a Can-Can girl, Harry Potter, Eve, and Little Red Riding Hood. People love my costumes.
And for the third year straight I’m not feeling the Halloween spirit. Something is wrong.
This is no reason to panic, I realize. People outgrow these things. I’d go with that—except there are other things I used to do that I don’t do now. Scrapbooking homemade cards. I have a closet full of scrapbooking materials. I haven’t scrapbooked in two years. I’ve bought blank canvases and paints—but I don’t paint. I have drawing paper, but I no longer draw.
A couple weeks ago, I went to a funeral and the preacher’s wife, who knew me when I was 16 but hadn’t seen me since then, hunted me down. “I’ve been dying to talk to you. I wanted to know if you became an art teacher.”
“Um, no.” I laughed because I get the teacher thing all the time. It’s my bane in life. I don’t want to be a teacher, yet everyone asks if I am one. “Oh,” she said, looking disappointed or sad, “do you still do something in art?” “Actually no,” I confessed. I never thought of myself as an artist. My BFF was the real artist; I was just a hack who sketched people who ended up looking cartoonish. Hardly a skill. But I remembered now why she might have thought I pursued it. I was always sketching people. I grinned at her. “I was never really that good, I thought,” I explained. “I write now. That’s my creative outlet.”
Still…the preacher’s wife brought up an interesting point: I did used to create drawings and paintings; and even back then I was a writer, but I’d write and draw. One creative endeavor fed the other. And then when I was emailing my BFF and we were discussing the costumes, I realized that my costuming is what I did with my later writing. Sewing became my Art.
Now I don’t costume. Nor do I draw. Nor do I scrapbook. And guess what? I don’t write either.
My theory is this: art is a sort of yoga. When I’m sewing or drawing or gluing pieces of paper, my hands are busy and the internal critic is busy criticizing the project in hand and not paying attention to what my real brain is doing, which is thinking about the story and writing. Then when I sit and write, I write. My internal critic is either exhausted from bitching about my other artistic endeavors, or my writing brain just doesn’t care at that point and doesn’t listen. I don’t know. But my writing seems to be tied to art hobbies.
I don’t think I’m the only writer who thinks this. Jennifer Crusie makes those elaborate collages for her stories. Art and writing. I don’t exactly make costumes that mimic my books, though the year I sewed my Elizabeth Swann pirate gown, it was included in Girl on a Grecian Urn. And that might be the last year I sewed a costume, which incidentally is the last book I finished. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I need a new costume. I need to be inspired in a physical way, not a muse way. I need some brain yoga.
Is your writing tied to any other hobby (i.e. cooking, music, art)? Are you dressing for Halloween? I need some ideas. I mean, I have an idea, but if yours is better, I may steal it. Do you like Halloween? What’s your favorite holiday?
The problem is: I don’t know what I’ll be dressing as. Last year I was completely uninspired and dressed as Harry Potter. Again. The year before I dressed as a slutty devil—again, completely uninspired and not nearly at my level of costuming commitment I usually do. I don’t even remember 2007. I’m sure it was also uninspired as well. Since 1997, I usually come up with some elaborate costume to dress in and I get co-workers into it. I have staff and faculty who ask me around this time of year what I’ll be dressing as because I’m that well-known. I’ve been a Scottish wench, three types of pirate, a Can-Can girl, Harry Potter, Eve, and Little Red Riding Hood. People love my costumes.
And for the third year straight I’m not feeling the Halloween spirit. Something is wrong.
This is no reason to panic, I realize. People outgrow these things. I’d go with that—except there are other things I used to do that I don’t do now. Scrapbooking homemade cards. I have a closet full of scrapbooking materials. I haven’t scrapbooked in two years. I’ve bought blank canvases and paints—but I don’t paint. I have drawing paper, but I no longer draw.
A couple weeks ago, I went to a funeral and the preacher’s wife, who knew me when I was 16 but hadn’t seen me since then, hunted me down. “I’ve been dying to talk to you. I wanted to know if you became an art teacher.”
“Um, no.” I laughed because I get the teacher thing all the time. It’s my bane in life. I don’t want to be a teacher, yet everyone asks if I am one. “Oh,” she said, looking disappointed or sad, “do you still do something in art?” “Actually no,” I confessed. I never thought of myself as an artist. My BFF was the real artist; I was just a hack who sketched people who ended up looking cartoonish. Hardly a skill. But I remembered now why she might have thought I pursued it. I was always sketching people. I grinned at her. “I was never really that good, I thought,” I explained. “I write now. That’s my creative outlet.”
Still…the preacher’s wife brought up an interesting point: I did used to create drawings and paintings; and even back then I was a writer, but I’d write and draw. One creative endeavor fed the other. And then when I was emailing my BFF and we were discussing the costumes, I realized that my costuming is what I did with my later writing. Sewing became my Art.
Now I don’t costume. Nor do I draw. Nor do I scrapbook. And guess what? I don’t write either.
My theory is this: art is a sort of yoga. When I’m sewing or drawing or gluing pieces of paper, my hands are busy and the internal critic is busy criticizing the project in hand and not paying attention to what my real brain is doing, which is thinking about the story and writing. Then when I sit and write, I write. My internal critic is either exhausted from bitching about my other artistic endeavors, or my writing brain just doesn’t care at that point and doesn’t listen. I don’t know. But my writing seems to be tied to art hobbies.
I don’t think I’m the only writer who thinks this. Jennifer Crusie makes those elaborate collages for her stories. Art and writing. I don’t exactly make costumes that mimic my books, though the year I sewed my Elizabeth Swann pirate gown, it was included in Girl on a Grecian Urn. And that might be the last year I sewed a costume, which incidentally is the last book I finished. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I need a new costume. I need to be inspired in a physical way, not a muse way. I need some brain yoga.
Is your writing tied to any other hobby (i.e. cooking, music, art)? Are you dressing for Halloween? I need some ideas. I mean, I have an idea, but if yours is better, I may steal it. Do you like Halloween? What’s your favorite holiday?
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87 comments:
Hi Hellion! I have to confess that I am SO this way! I have to be creative in other areas of my life for the writing to flow. Gardening. Painting a room and rearrranging it...something, anything that uses the artist's eye, the mind's capacity to create or visualize...if I don't I lose focus and flow.
I like what you called it, Brain Yoga. Yep. Gotta have the brain yoga to write.
So git to it, girlie! Yank out the scrapbooking supplies, decide on an elaborate, I-can't-possibly-do-this-by-Halloween costume and GO FOR IT! Grins.
Makes real sense, the distraction and exhaust campaign. It's a good idea and may be a good thing to try out!
And I'm really intrigued at reading three types of pirate...elaborate?
Why not consider something steampunk...it's very costumy, complex and would wrap your brain up nicely in distractions.
Me? I like to decorate the house and if I had a job, I'd dress up for it. If I had a party to go to, I'd dress up. If I got trick-or-treaters, I'd dress up. Alas.
I do, however, have several weeks of the Northern California Renaissance Faire to costume for until mid October...it will have to do!
I'm a fan of the term "Brain Yoga" as well. :) I think our brains need stimulation and entertainment, and it's possible that things that USED to amuse it just don't do the trick anymore. Which means it's not a failure that you don't feel like doing certain creative things anymore. (Perhaps your brain is bored with it, because it feels like it mastered those other things?)
I used to have a rubber stamp store, and I got kinda burnt out on being creative all the time, and pretty much on demand (it was my business, so I was always making new samples, devising new class ideas, etc.) Now I have tons of supplies, and often buy more, especially papers, but it feels like WORK now, so I rarely feel the urge to do anything with all this stuff I've accumulated. LOL
I love Halloween -- I always have -- probably because my birthday is near then. I never dress up though. Mmm. Maybe I'll devise something this year. LOL
Jeanne, I wish I could garden. I try to grow basil every year and it dies violently every time. It's tragic. I do have a pair of African Violets who seem to like me, but I think it's more good genes of the plant than anything I'm doing.
I know some people use housecleaning for their brain yoga, but that's not so much creative as emotionally satisfying, like having a clean workspace to sit in so you can concentrate.
I'm sorta working on the costume. I've bought some stuff, I've sketched some ideas...of course, a couple years ago, I got a bright idea to be a lady Robin Hood and bought the materials but never sewed it. *LOL* I am sincerely hoping that is not the case this year.
2nd, the three types of pirate isn't as cool as you think. It wasn't like I was a Japanese pirate one year, Blackbeard the next, and a Corsair the third... It was that I was a regular pirate--dressed in boy pirate clothes one year (sans jacket because those are expense to buy and/or make); the Elizabeth Swann wedding dress (which I admit isn't very piratey, but I lump it with the pirate category), and a cross between the dress and the boy clothes: it was this half dress outfit with breeches that I thought was very fetching, but Bo'sun said was ugly. My favorite part of these outfits was my sword.
As for steampunk, I did love the outfits from the pictures you showed us. It's like Victorian period clothing created by the Harley Motorcycle Company. I'm all for that. Except all the outfits *I* like are the dresses with the bustles--and then vamped with steampunk touches. Those are wildly expensive to make or buy--and if you do make them, have fun sewing.
This year I want minimal sewing...and something somewhat on the cheaper end of things.
it feels like WORK now, so I rarely feel the urge to do anything with all this stuff I’ve accumulated.
Donna, this is half my battle. One year I got coerced into sewing/costuming for a play--which I didn't mind, per se, because I like these people--but I can only sew like once a year. At Halloween. If I sew any other time, I won't sew at Halloween. Which is what happened that year. Very depressing. Too much WORK. Plus if I screw up MY costume, that's one thing--but to screw up someone else's? It was just stressful.
I have a friend who does scrapbooking as a supplemental income. She's awesome; and she does the workshops too. Amazing stuff. I'm very paint by numbers. I like to copy. *LOL* I want things to look a CERTAIN way. I don't want to be given all the parts and no instruction. I want structure with the freedom to put my own spin on it.
You should dress up! You live in Boston--be a patriot!! I've been watching John Adams this weekend (the HBO miniseries)--and it's SOOO GOOOD!
I like using creative things to get me moving. I got on a jewelry-making kick for a while, and then collaging. Last weekend, I got stuck writing, so randomly decided to sew a new dress. Cooking is good for me too, when stuck.
But I have to agree that there's a very fine line between using stuff like that as creative inspiration, and getting so bogged down it's just an extra chore on the to-do list.
I sort of want to make a Tinker-bell costume for Halloween. I found this awesome kelly-green silk at the fabric store, with matching netting, and it could be such a fun skirt for a costume.
I tried gardening once. But gardening requires some major follow-through (like watering, wedding, upkeep, etc). I'm not so good in the follow-through department. I like projects I can walk away from whenever I get bored, without the neighbors making comments on all my dead flowers :)
Dress up as a gypsy , Hellion. Have some “magic charms” to hand out instead of candy. And draw/paint some fake , but funny, taro cards to tell peoples fortune with. Your theme for this Halloween should be … Good fortune is with you.
Time to psyche yourself up for the year ahead. A good year.
*squeals* That would be such a fun costume, Hal. You have to try it!!! You could have fairy dust fall off you when someone shakes you...
Yes, there is a fine line between creative inspiration and drudgery! *LOL*
You have to factor in the preggo-belly, Hells. I'm thinking it might take something away from Tinkerbell :)
I like projects I can walk away from whenever I get bored
This is why I never had kids. LOL
Tinkerbell couldn't have an illicit affair with Peter Pan?
If anyone asks, tell them Tinkerbell swallowed a grape whole.
*LOL* Donna!!!
Jules, are you really suggesting giving trick or treaters NON-CANDY? Are you trying to get my apartment egged? I'll have flaming dog poo on my porch for weeks!
I have real taro cards. I could just lie. I can't read them anyway. *LOL*
Again, I don't really have gypsy clothing. It would involve more sewing than I'm prepared to do. I take my costuming VERY seriously. Almost as seriously as my historical research.
Hellie, I've been toying with the idea of selling some of my creations on an Etsy store. People used to go mad for my stuff, but I don't know if they will anymore. At least it would make me feel I've actually gotten some use out of all this stuff I've bought. LOL
I doubt I'll dress up for Halloween -- I can't see myself in a patriot costume though. Not sexy enough. LOL
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Jules, are you really suggesting giving trick or treaters NON-CANDY?.
Only at an Adult party.
I might be crazy (esp after this week) but I ain't Nuts!
LOL, Hellie -- I think I could manage the socks and/or the wristbands. Those ought to fit!
My DD would ground me to my room.
Tell everyone you're Betsy Ross...
Well, you could always pull a Toby Keith and wrap yourself in a flag. *LOL* You can twist it around like the island people do and wear it as a dress.
I'd rather drape a Navy SEAL around me. LOL
That's what the flag is for. To lure them in. You know the seals can't resist the stars and stripes. *LOL* This is called fishing with the right bait.
LOL -- this is why I love pirate teamwork! All the answers I need right here!
Halloween is a a big deal for the grands. They've been talking costumes for months already. I love seeing them and the trick-or-treat little ones, but I hate wearing costumes. One of my BFFs throws a big Halloween party every year, and she swears I expend more creative energy finding excuses to avoid the party than the rest of her guests do thinking up their costumes.
I wish I could paint or sculpt or sew or play a musical instrument or sing. Alas! My creative ability is strictly one channel, but at least it's one that allows me to experience other creative outlets vicariously through the characters I create.
Janga, why don't you dress as Emily Dickinson? Or tell your friend that you planned to come as Emily Dickinson, but that you were SO into the costume and part-playing, that you were unable to leave your house, as per your character?
I do love Halloween - fall being my fav time of year and all. We don't dress up, but we do dress up the dogs :)
We love to decorate the house - we even have a fog machine we use to make the walk and front door all fogged out and mysterious.
As for the Brain Yoga - mine is scrapbooking. Except I haven't touched it in over 6 months and feel kind lost without it. I just can't justify doing it when I need to be writing.:(
I just can’t justify doing it when I need to be writing.
Yes, but that's the point of this blog, Scapey. Scrapbooking begets MORE writing. Stifling creativity outlets may stifle your writing.
I'm laughing at the dog costumes. Poor dogs. So many dogs look humiliated to be dressed up, though you'll get the occasional pug or golden retriever who clearly loves it.
Fall is not my favorite time of year (I prefer spring and watching the leaves grow rather than die); however, this year I'm VERY EXCITED to see it because it was one hot summer!! *LOL* Fall is awesome this year!
I love fall here in New England -- a great place to be. But I have to admit this one isn't exciting me as much as usual, because winter truly was way too long last year, and it distresses me that it's almost time to start it up again. Sigh.
I think it's good to do other creative crafty things because your brain actually puzzles out writing stuff while you're engaged in those activities. So it's not that you're ignoring writing -- you're approaching it from a different angle. :)
Hellie, I'm much too corporeal to even attempt to present myself as the stereotypical ethereal Emily, but I will use your idea as my excuse for avoiding this year's party. Thank you!
In fairness to my friend, I should add that I loathe big parties of any description. I try to avoid all big parties. OTOH, I delight in my friend's dinner parties where real conversations and true fellowship are possible.
Donna, I'm not looking forward to winter too. But maybe this year will be more mild. It's usually like that. A couple years of pure nastiness, then a year or so of mild winter!
I do love to costume, but I'm more a found costumer. I will put things together from pieces I find... Last weekend I bought a blouse at Macys that I KNOW will be perfect for a steampunk era...pair it with the right skirt, a straw hat and I'm a Gibson girl/ala steampunk.
I'll buy the big stuff. The pirate coat. The renaissance dress made from twelve thousand yards of fabric...that sort of thing!
Scape made it to the next round of a story writing contest. One of those 'writing prompt' things... Who knows what she'd do if she scrapbooked for an evening!
I just need to think up a creative thing to play with! Help myself. About all I have left is to garden...I do like preparing the place for winter. Or I can pick up clutter. Which just doesn't seem as creative as it sounds. Mary Poppins? Where are you!?
HA - I know it's the point of the blog - which is why I'm berating myself for thinking that way! :)
I used to go to a scrapbook group (crop) every other saturday and while I quietly sat there making cards or laying out photos, I would listen to the woman all around me and get great story ideas. I relaly need that again.
I also had a suggestion from that group - something they want me to eventually work into a WIP - "Fluffing his tomatoes". Don't ask, but I am totally going to get that worked into a story one day!
Janga, I am not a big party person either. I'm very Prufrock's crab at big gatherings. It's horrible. I wouldn't mind too much if I got to dress up, but even then I'm not big on it. Dinner parties are different, as you said for the reasons you said. *LOL* Totally easy to see. It's not that I'm against mingling; I'm against unmeaningful mingling. That surface "what do you do?" type of talking makes me crazy. This is partly why I don't go to conferences. I know we're all writers and it'd be fun on that level, but there is still so much of that surface mingling and being dismissed that goes on that I'm just not interested in going. Maybe I'll outgrow it eventually. ;)
2nd, yes, well, the renaissance dress is too expensive for my blood to buy. Esp when I don't prance around in it in enough to justify getting it. (Though I've been tempted for a cloak...love those things!)
And in order to score the perfect shirt at Macy's that would work for steampunk, I'd have to GO TO MACY'S to find it. I'm an anti-shopper. I loathe it.
I'm a bargain hunter at Macys. I go loaded with coupons and rewards I got from shopping there already... And when they put something on sale! They seriously put it on sale!
I do wear my renfaire dress a fair amount. At renfaires and pirate festivals. Because it's just that sort of dress!
Mary Poppins?
I would love to dress as her one year! But I have to find the right outfit! I want the blue suit, white shirt, and orange bowtie with the black hat and cherries. I'd love making the umbrella.
I used to go to a scrapbook group (crop) every other saturday and while I quietly sat there making cards or laying out photos, I would listen to the woman all around me and get great story ideas. I relaly need that again.
See! That's your assignment this week--you need to go scrapbook for a day!
I used to go to a scrapbook group (crop) every other saturday and while I quietly sat there making cards or laying out photos, I would listen to the woman all around me and get great story ideas.
Ah, creative listening! now that I can do. I'm also excellent at people watching and weaving vignettes around images I observe.
I did NOT say it was ugly!!! Would you stop telling people that? I would never tell you a costume as ugly, especially not when you made it. I simply said the pants, cut off at the knee as they were, were not my favorite. But you totally rocked that Capt. Morgan pose. LOL! I think I still have the pic. I'm going to find it and post it on the pirate loop.
Donna - I say go for the first one. The Firecracker. That so suits you. LOL!
I'm not a fan of Halloween and I'm not one for dressing up. Since I've no idea how to sew or craft, making a costume is not going to happen. If I could make an outfit out of stuff I already have, then I do it. In my 20s, I was a pirate several years in a row. And I was a flapper one year. Can't remember where I got the dress. Hmmmm...
Since we'll move into the new house a couple days before Halloween, I'm considering putting those fake tombstones in my flower beds. Might be kind of fun. :)
I'll have to think about other creative outlets. I think mine might be cleaning house. Which doesn't sound very creative, but you should see the amount of stuff I have for which I need to find a home. Must get creative soon.
Great. Now I have Dream Weaver in my head.
Bo'sun, you can claim whatever you like now, but you said it was not the attractive option. *LOL* Until I said that was the one I'd made. Then you backpedaled just as fast as I would have if I'd made such a remark. *LOL*
Actually knowing my undiplomatic tendency, I would probably look at you and say, "I'm sorry, but it's still ugly."
My friend Tammy and I have opposite tastes in everything. In the old days when she'd show me stuff as if she was trying to get my opinion, I'd make non-committal grunts. Which was code for, "That's fucking ugly." I suspect her real intent was to force "good fashion" on me, but it didn't work. I still thought it was hideous.
Tombstones would be a nice touch! Having a front yard to decorate would be fun. I wish I could locate some of my previous years costumes...and recycle them. *LOL* Unfortunately I have a tendency to LOSE my costumes. (And I don't mean that I slept somewhere and woke up without it. I've not been to a Halloween party that was that good.)
You could probably find enough black clothing to be Morticia Adams (you'd need a wig, obviously). Buy some fake roses, spray them black, and then answer the door pretending to be snipping the heads off.
Or you could dress as an 80s teenager and embarrass your child to death. That'd be more entertaining all the way around.
Ah, creative listening! now that I can do. I’m also excellent at people watching and weaving vignettes around images I observe.
Exactly. A once-a-month volunteer group might work in the same fashion, but wouldn't require you to cut and glue things. Old fashioned quilting would also work for this, but I stink at quilting and have no patience for it.
I am not creative in any other way. Well, at least not traditionally creative. I love to cook. And I crochet, or I used to pre-kids and pre-writing seriously. But I'm not visual. AT ALL. LOL!
I am trying to come up with a Halloween costume this year. My son thinks it's cool so I feel like I have to get into the spirit a little better. Again, though, not visual. The little guy wants to be Thomas the Tank Engine for Halloween. I need to think of a better costume to go with that than the role of long suffered mommy.
http://www.kimmyskloset.com/images/characters/full/train_conductor_full.jpg
Cooking and crocheting counts. I love crocheting!
Do you have his costume? You could dress as a train conductor.
Mary Poppins would be such a fun costume! Especially with the big carpet bag and umbrella, the shoes... But can you sing?
Kids costumes are so sweet. My sis turned her little boy into a bag of M&Ms one year...
But can you sing?
There's a difference between being able to "sing" and being allowed to. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
Is that a law on the books somewhere... Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
Sorta goes against the whole Because it was there justification.
But I would enjoy having a bag where I pulled out stuff all day that was needed--and also reciting, "For every job that must be done there is an element of fun, you find the fun and snap...the job's a game..."
I'm not sure if it's a law somewhere--probably not in its best interest since laws are made to be broken; however, as far as advice goes, it's not the worst I've heard.
But can you sing?
There’s a difference between being able to “sing” and being allowed to. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
That pretty much describes me.
I'm trying to think if I haven't any clothes that would work for the 80s. By some miracle, I don't think I do. If only I still had those jeans that were shredded in the front a la Joe Elliott. LOL!
I do have a store bought costume for a serving wench I got years ago and have never worn. Kiddo wore part of it last year and I'm not sure what kind of shape it's in.
A tie-dyed shirt (I miss hyper-colored shirts!), tight roll your jeans, put some bangles on your wrist and do up your bangs, and you'd be 80s. Oh, and wear blue eye shadow. You can fake it.
That's "HAVE any clothes..." Damn it.
The student worker came in with shredded jeans and I said, "Those look like jeans I used to wear." And she said--the little trollop--"That's what my mom always says."
"That’s what my mom always says.”
LMAO!! Don't you hate when they throw reality back at you? LOL! And I don't have bangs anymore. My hair is THAT short. LOL! There's not much I can do with it until it grows out. Think Mia Farrow circa Rosemary's Baby.
Well, the paisly scarf, wrapped and falling to drap over a shoulder would be very 60's... And big earrings. REALLY big earrings.
You could be Laugh In's Judy Carne...wasn't that her name? Oh, wait...that's right...none of you remember Laugh In.
I feel so old...
*whispers*
And Donna is older than you are, so you really shouldn't be whining...
LOL!
I remember Laugh In! Not the first time around, of course, but I've seen it. That show was hysterical, if a little too psychedelic for me to get all the bits. LOL!
Yes, but if I had a teenage daughter in college, I would have been a teenage pregnancy. Her mother must be older. Maybe 38 or something.
Lord, that is short. *LOL* That's cool, but that's not the picture you sent, is it?
Oh, I know Donna's got me by a few years, but she seems to be off ship...
Yeah, do the psychodelic 60's Terrio! White go go boots, short vivid dreass, white lip gloss, little white gloves, lots of bracelets, big earrings and a big white hat!
And yes, lots of blue eyeshadow. And fake eyelashes.
I don't remember Laugh In personally. I think I've seen some re-runs.
We were watching Hee Haw on Sunday (I don't understand why we used to watch it the first time, back in the 80s. Eldon laughed at every lame-ass joke they told as if it were actually funny. I don't understand how we're related) and the episode was old enough that Eldon said, "It must be from 1975 or earlier because Stringbean is alive." Then a bit later, Dad said I was three when the episode came out and Eldon had to correct him that at most I was 3 months.
BTW, the hairstyles from the episode were HIDEOUS. The women's I could handle, but the men has such a deep part it was like they were taking hair from behind their ear and combing it across their heads and pinning it in place with a bobby pin. Really? You're leaving the house like that?
I feel so old…
Seasoned, Chance, seeeeeasoned!
Next person that uses the "O" word is gonna get a hinder-binder! And IF you're too young to know what that means i'll be more than happy to show you!
*wicked laugh*
That would be totally awesome. Do you think Terri would go along with that? *LOL*
Well seasoned in this situation, Julie! ;-)
Used to love Laugh In...
Loved Goldie Hawn back in her Laugh In dayz …
BTW, dressing up as a Patriot can be quite the thing...I married an Adams, I know! (And yes, he's related to THOSE Adamses)
Grins.
Hellie, Fall IS my fav time of year, and you can imagine that the Addams family have to do a HUGE Halloween party. And you would be right. Grins. It's piles of fun. Getting ready for it actually helps me write, so I'm thinking you really have hit on something with the brain yoga.
Chance...seasoned. Reapeat after me. Seeee-soned. Snork. And it's olde, not old. Hahahah!
Laugh-in. Oh. My. Funny!
Hey, I'm back -- I know it sounds crazy but I was doing some WRITING. LOL
Okay, okay, some of it ended up being, "And then they go do something. . ."
Looks like I missed out on some fun too. I won't use the OLD word because I have NO idea what a hinder binder is but it doesn't sound like something I'd like.
*shivers*
Jeanne - It's like you're related to royalty. LOL! (A sentiment John Adams would probably hate.)
Donna - "And then they go do something..." is six words you didn't have before!
I don't know what that is either. I was afraid to ask.
Jeanne, that's awesome! I'm watching the HBO John Adams now and am loving it.
The guy who sold me my car is related to John Brown (different war, of course) but I didn't think that was as cool since Brown is typically portrayed as a little, well, nuts. And the Patriots are always portrayed as more reasonable. Even when dressing as Indians and tossing tea in the harbor.
P.S. if I were married to a Founding Father royalty, I'd probably make the poor fellow dress up in Revolutionary costume and go to all those functions...and he'd have to learn to find me sexy in a mob cap, which is probably impossible.
Hellion, that series is AWESOME. Except for the tar 'n featherin' bit which I couldn't watch. Eeek!
Bo'sun, you're right, Adams would hate the whole "American Royalty" thing. Grins.
I've made my DH dress as a patriot on at least one Hallowe'en, but this year our theme is Weird Science, so he's gonna either be Lurch from the Addams Family (natch!) or Frankenstein's Monster. Grins. I'm going for the black and white Bride of Frankie. Grins.
Let's all go the Jeanne's party!
You'd be welcome! And I can promise Pirate-y fun!
LOL, Terri -- I was working on synopses (more than one synopsis!), so I could kinda get away with that, for now.
You guys are cracking me up with your lusty love for the Founding Fathers. :)
Party! Party! LOL Yeah, I need a diversion. Or an intervention. Whatever! LOL
Was that bad? Snork. Should'a left off the chardonnay.
I think we should all go as fountain pens. Snork...ohhhhh the visual....
Hellion, that series is AWESOME. Except for the tar ‘n featherin’ bit which I couldn’t watch.
That was horrendous! But the amputation on the ship wasn't any better. Ugh!!
I loved how they portrayed the French--man did they look vapid. *LOL*
I have a little crush on Thomas Jefferson in the show. I've always had a little crush on him, but I really do now.
I'm trying to imagine us as fountain pens...I have a picture of dressed as quills actually (more in keeping with the founding fathers)--it would be too reminiscent of having 80s hair.
I think we should all go as fountain pens. Snork…ohhhhh the visual….
Oh? No more chardonnay for la Duchesse . Lets ply her with rum instead. Lots & lots of rum. Because? I suspect … there’s a story here.
Hellie, i think that you should dress up as Pope Joan.
I want to talk about Goldiue Hawn.
Did you know? (from Wiki)
"Through her father, Hawn is a direct descendant of Edward Rutledge, the youngest signatory of the Declaration of Independence.'
Did you also know that she was an actress, film director, producer, dancer, ballet instructor, and singer?
My point is? Most creative people are creative in more than one aspect of their lives.
An artistic soul is often paired with a creative mind.
Creative minds are energetic minds. They are inventive, innovative, productive, , fertile, and often times very prolific.
I have no background in writing. Unless you count the English classes I had in high school. And the English 101 course that every college freshman is required to take. I was trained in the fine arts. Painting, sculpture, drawing … I took the skills that I had learned from art … things like
Craftsmanship
Innovative problem solving
Presentation
Passion
Setting a mood to create an emotional response
Manipulating the viewer with tone, shade, texture
… I took everything that I knew about “creating” something, and I applied it to another thing that I knew very little about.
Writing.
This is why when asked if I am a writer, I say “I am not ”. I am not. That is both honest and accurate. There is way to much I do not know about writing to claim membership in that club.
What I am is a painter painting a story with words. Have I been successful in being able to say ’I can write a presentable story”? I don’t know. You are a better judge of that than I. I do believe however … that I’ve had my moments.
My example of “me” is why I am of the opinion that confining yourself within the boundaries of one discipline ( in your case , writing) is both mentally restricting and counter productive to developing your writing skills.
Explore. Push the envelope. Learn to be comfortable with allowing your creative mind create. And your soul will never lack for artistic passion or something that you are passionate to write about.
IMO
allowing your creative mind TO create
Jeez
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