An Inside Joke?

We were watching something on Logo TV the other day (don't even remember what, to be honest), when I saw something during a commercial break. Apparently they call it a Logo Quickie. The video doesn't work in all browsers, so here are some quick screen captures:

Now, I will never go to Comic-Con, and I'm OK with that. I enjoy reading about it and looking at pictures, but a crowd like that just isn't my thing. I also don't see any cosplay in my future. 

But it's not often that I see a reference to "Grey Gardens." That's something I've actually watched! Well...part of it. It's also not often I see or hear the word "staunch," unless I'm watching "Grey Gardens." Or, unless I'm reading my own blog post about "Staunch Women." Or, when I'm hanging out with my two best friends, which I did just three days ago. 

I'm going to take it as the universe telling us, "You've got a good group of girlfriends there. Stick with 'em, and stay staunch!"

Not that I needed a reminder. of that. I was already planning to do just that.

Everyone is an Artist

Sometimes it's easy to forget that we all have an artistic side. 

My dad had hobbies. He might make name and address signs for the end of the driveway. Some years he had a garden, flowers or vegetables, indoors or outside. He poured wax into molds for "homemade" candles. Lots and lots of candles. He tended to the family's aquarium. Piece by piece he'd complete a jigsaw puzzle. He made unique greeting cards for the family. I remember one year when we all got calendars with special photos and dates included. And he went through a "plaster" phase, with molds and items intended for other uses which became molds in his workshop.

Now, you might not have guessed he was creative with shapes and textures and colors. He was a hard-working blue-collar man all of his life. But with any of his hobbies, he found something he enjoyed regardless of whether anyone expected him to enjoy it. He wasn't making things to sell, though some items became gifts. I imagine he did it just to try something different and to have a little fun. I think that if a hobby became expensive, boring, or too much like work, he'd move on to something else.

I spent just a little time with family over the weekend, deciding what pieces of Daddy's artwork we each wanted to keep and which could be comfortably discarded. I'm not sure if anyone else will be taking the "hand" below, but I really felt a strong need to take a picture of it before I left. (I wrote a few weeks ago about my recent interest in taking photos just because something has caught my eye.) The more I look at that picture and think about my dad's creations, the more I'm inspired to continue exploring my own creativity. If he could do it, so can I! I think we'd all do well to find our favorite artistic medium. Share it with the public or keep it private, just for you. Broad strokes or baby steps. Paint, music, dance, theater, writing, cooking, sewing, gardening, decorating, drawing, jewelry...or even plaster with food coloring. Don't be afraid to get in touch with your own personal artistic side.

Happy 4th of July!

The day is coming to a close and no particular spark of inspiration struck me to write a stirring, patriotic post. But it's not a day that any American should treat as just another summer day. And you know how I hate not posting on a holiday!

It was a gorgeous day, weather-wise. Perfect for mowing the front yard. Then I decided to use up some mature fruit and made banana bread. I had no desire to fight the crowds downtown for music and food and fireworks. All those years working in the hotel's beer tent gave me my fill of that experience, I think. 

I did watch some Captain America on TV. That's patriotic. I also watched a few Twilight Zone episodes on SyFy. I'm not sure how that became a network tradition. The show doesn't really scream "celebration" to me. I suppose, though, that it is a classic American show.

I did, of course, hang out my American flag as soon as I got up this morning. It's the least I can do to show my pride in and respect for my country. 

It's so easy to complain about what's wrong with the nation. We're likely all guilty of it every now and then. And who would deny that things don't always work the way the founding fathers intended? Crime, poverty, unemployment. Too many laws restricting our freedoms. Not enough laws protecting our rights. Everyone has an opinion, and it is their right to voice that opinion. 

But sometimes, we all need to step back and consider the old "grass is always greener" trap. It's easy to say, "Life would be better if Politician X were elected," or, "It sure would be nice if the government did more of XYZ (or less of it)." 

Take a look at the big picture, though. This is still a pretty awesome country to call home. We have our faults, but we don't have an insane dictator who wants only wealth and power. Now, some of you might not even agree with that. But here, it's OK to disagree with your government. You can think whatever you care to think. We have cities that are dangerous, to be sure. But our country is not ravaged by years of constant warfare with explosions and gunfire making it impossible to feel safe for even a moment. Homelessness and poverty are issues across the land, but there are people who try to help with the resources they can find. Be honest: There are a lot of countries in which it would be much less pleasant to live. 

The United States is far from perfect. But I hope everyone can, at least for one day each year, be proud to be an American. I am!

Note: I think I expressed my patriotism and pride better in previous years (see posts from 2013 and 2012). I already used up my best material there! I'll try for a new approach to the holiday next year. 

Where'd Everybody Go?

Every now and again, I click "Next Blog" at the top of the page just to browse what else is out there. 

Often, the next blog isn't written in English. Next. Sometimes the topic just doesn't interest me. Next. In many cases, there hasn't been a new post in more than a year. Next.

Wait a minute. More than a year? Yes, I've even come across some that have been inactive for four years. That seems like a long time to go between inspirational moments. I started to wonder, just for curiosity's sake, why so many seem to have fallen by the proverbial wayside.

I admit I've never been on a strict writing schedule. I'll often go a week or two between posts, occasionally a month or two. When nothing strikes me for a topic, I'll usually just jot down a few sentences to let my "audience" know I haven't deserted my post. (Wow, I used "post" as in "station" while I'm talking about "post" as in writing/publishing. Sorry. I swear it was unintentional.) Some bloggers have likely just fallen out of the habit. Real life has a way of getting, well, in the way!

Some folks probably just jumped on the blogging bandwagon when it passed by. That may have been part of what got me started. Everyone who's anyone is blogging. Then, the initial excitement of a new venture wears off. Not sure why this is fun for anyone. And when it becomes more effort than any reward you're getting (i.e., personal satisfaction), it's not worth the trouble.

I also suspect that some writers have incorporated their blogs into a more complete website, either personal or professional. They may offer other services as an individual, or their posts are part of their company's plan to connect with customers. And I've seen a few notes that direct visitors to the writer's "new" blog. (I haven't clicked through any of those.) Perhaps they changed directions or just found another platform for their blog.

There are lots of reasons that blogs become idle. And believe me, I'm not judging. I'm just...curious. It's like looking at photos of an abandoned shopping mall or ramshackle hospital. (Ooh, it's not often you can work the word "ramshackle" into an everyday conversation!) You can imagine what an average day was like there, but you don't know for sure.

I wonder what the stories are behind those forsaken pages?