The painful, hilarious fish scene in last week's episode "The Brick Dance." Just say no to analogy show-and-tell.
Carrie Fisher guest starred--merely 1 of the coolest women alive. Carrie Fisher's got an official website. Yay! Anybody who can survive the infamy of the dual cinnabon look deserves recognition of the tallest order. Merely blogging about it is just sad, but it'll have to do.
She's my favorite author at the moment. Lots of folks have seen Postcards from the Edge. She wrote the book and then wrote the screenplay that became the movie and created the character Suzanne Vale that Meryl Streep immortalized on screen. Great book. Books can explore nooks and cranies in ways that movies show in a more panoramic way. Books go deep--they delve, and movies go broad--they divulge. Don't make me quibble over the medium. It's what folks who create stuff do in the medium that matters. Good is good.
Suzanne Vale's most recent adventure was The Best Awful, a book I've re-read a 2nd time (I don't do that, hardly ever). It's yucky to skip to the end of the book and ruin the surprise, but screw it. Check out this near-the-end-of-the-book killer slice of writing:
Suzanne Vale: .... Hey, [my life's] not funny. Actually, it is funny. It f-ing better be. If my life wasn't funny, then it'd just be true, and that would be totally unacceptable.
~The Best Awful by Carrie Fisher
Life's absurd. Weeds explores its silly loco scary side, and Californication explores its wry ironic fun-but-is-this-all-there-is?-ness. Laughing with these characters after a grueling day at work is so cathartic. Ugggh, Mondays are the toughest, aren't they?
Nancy's journey is a hysterically funny joy to behold, even if she's scarcely aware of it. Hank's all too aware of how absurd, fleeting, and amazing the journey is, yet he's scarcely aware of what it all means or if there's any meaning there to find. Hilarious, ludicrous, poignant, meaningful--they're merely moments in time.
Writers tell us stories, bring us along for the ride, and for a little while, we relate, feel, and laugh at the ludicrous and improbability of life. We manage to get through it all--somehow. Laughing lightens the load like nothing else.
4 comments:
So in my second comment I thought I ought to write something of literary value... I noticed how your final paragraph in the post actually provoked me into thought... Not many blogs do that. So, I must, thank you.
Thankyou.
Ah... you're an agnostic? Ha - sorry, once again I have placed what I am thinking into a category.
I believe black and white are much simpler to differentiate and write about rather than squiggles. Especially in the medium of "blog's" - so my apologies if my interpretation's of life sound too formatted or pigeon holed.
I once listened to Patrick Stewart (The guy who played Jean Luc Picard in Star Trek) give a talk on theatre... He said that people only think there is black and white and/or the extremes... He upset a rather large amount of people at the theatre by saying that.
One thing that I would like to challenge... Why did you read my posts? They offer nothing of any worth. The majority are depressed conservative rants about how the world isn't working how it should be (The world works the way that it wants to... Which, sometimes, can cause us all to be a little down about it)... A lot of the time I practice writing in character - so a lot of it isn't me...
I fail to understand about "blogging" - people write so much about themselves expecting others to read it. Perhaps I am just a pessimist, perhaps others do read blog's... Perhaps they really are interested.
Why do you not write about yourself?
I would like to read your posts about what you're thinking, if you have any.
And I do share your view that not everything is heaven/hell and/or nothing... It's just easier to comprehend, I assume.
And, my final question for you:
Why? [Don't say: "Why not?" :-D]
Re: the other part of your reply:
I once listened to Patrick Stewart (The guy who played Jean Luc Picard in Star Trek) give a talk on theatre... He said that people only think there is black and white and/or the extremes... He upset a rather large amount of people at the theatre by saying that.
Thanks for sharing that. Yeah, I can see how that would upset a lot of people. It was a brave and bold thing to say, especially directly to a bunch of people who showed up to see him speak (as opposed to an interview or not saying it at all), IMO.
Not all that surprising to me. His choice to play the character in Jeffrey surprised me (and his performance delighted me) already--years ago. His recent appearance on Extras was *great.* I laughed till my face hurt.
One thing that I would like to challenge... Why did you read my posts?
I was curious to see what you've been writing and what you would write. The progression, process of writing, the creative process, I guess the doing fascinates me. The potential of folks with creative gifts wows me, yet again and again, when asked, creative people so often say that the idea comes to them. The original idea is not originally from them but is there. The there there, maybe? Some mumble about how it just sorta happens, and they don't really know where it comes from.
What I lack in creative talent, I make up for in enthusiasm. I appreciate those who have it, do something with it, and take the risk.
"They offer nothing of any worth....A lot of the time I practice writing in character - so a lot of it isn't me..."
See above. Creating stuff is gutsy, and practice is necessary.
I fail to understand about "blogging" - people write so much about themselves expecting others to read it.
To me, blogs have a very cool DIYness. Such freedom to express--whatever! A space to explore whatever suits the person.
Some blogs are catty. Some are opinion pieces about current events. Others are reflections on trends in society. Many express their thoughts, concerns, and 'wow, this is great'/'this bugs the crap outta me' ... 'and this is why.'
Quite a few blogs comment on pop culture. Some write about a famous person they admire.
Many blogs do focus on the day-to-day of people's lives and what they're thinking about. Journals in the ether? Many people select a group of people to allow to view their blog because they're talking about private things. Much like people used to write letters back and forth. Also, some would rather NOT share their thoughts with whomever about whatever they're writing.
"The majority are depressed conservative rants about how the world isn't working how it should be (The world works the way that it wants to... Which, sometimes, can cause us all to be a little down about it)....... Perhaps I am just a pessimist, perhaps others do read blog's... Perhaps they really are interested.
The words 'should' and 'just' alone depress me. Both leave so little room for acceptance and options. Yeah, I'm a 'possibilities' person and also a pessimist. Idealistic pessimist seems to work as a description for the way I look at the world.
Why do people read blogs?
Honestly, I dunno.
Why do you not write about yourself?
I've meta'd myself ad nauseum, and it's no fun for the people I care about in my life. No fun, either, for anybody who might strumble on and decide to read a blog entry I've written.
The relative anonymity of this blog thing lets me explore connections, juxtapositions, and the whatever. Feedback's really helpful. However, I don't discuss myself much here so as not to write some all-too-specific detail.
It's scary enough to write stuff and put it out there.
I would like to read your posts about what you're thinking, if you have any.
To date, I don't have any posts about what I'm thinking, not directly, anyway. Indirectly? Yeah, to some degree.
And, my final question for you:
Why? [Don't say: "Why not?" :-D]
I'd like to say it's an excuse to riff off in all sorts of directions and practice writing. Blogging folks recommend picking a main theme. The theme is light enough to discourage my chronic seriousness yet has significance for me at the same time.
David Duchovny tends to talk about things like how TV shows and movies are made, what goes into the process, and other topics that I was dialed into before discovering interviews online and what not. As a fan, I'm late to the party, so to speak.
From reading/seeing/listening about the above, I've learned a lot about a ton of stuff from him. Most of all, the dude makes me think.
I'm wordy. Comments are supposed to be short! Apologies for that. I hope the above sufficiently addresses your questions. Yeah, I do think too much!
Serendipity: Noun ...an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
Oh, how ironic...
This is a reply to your reply:
"His recent appearance on Extras was *great.* I laughed till my face hurt."
Yes, that was a marvelous episode. Ricky Gervais is, almost, a genius...
"I was curious to see what you've been writing and what you would write. The progression, process of writing, the creative process, I guess the doing fascinates me. The potential of folks with creative gifts wows me, yet again and again, when asked, creative people so often say that the idea comes to them. The original idea is not originally from them but is there. The there there, maybe? Some mumble about how it just sorta happens, and they don't really know where it comes from."
Creative process... That is hard to define... What is it? The process from which something is created? No, that is too literal. In the act of creation... I think, rarely, are people interested in creating things for themselves but more for others... Others' viewing pleasure... Imagination is where, I believe, it all comes from... I don't think it just happens... I think when someone creates something, anything, it has always been there in their mind... Just at the back... from something they've seen, read, heard... Something trigger's it at the back of your mind... And your brain brings it forward... With the idea you write, draw, think and create... As to your second sentence... everyone, for some reason, follows the beginning, middle and end template, unfortunately. I would love to watch or read something that has no beginning or end... It would be a nice change.
"What I lack in creative talent, I make up for in enthusiasm. I appreciate those who have it, do something with it, and take the risk."
Everyone has creative talent. And I am pretty sure you do, too. To be able to analyse and comment upon David Duchovny's Californication performances requires creative talent. From your metaphor's, similes and general educatory and educated form of prose you possess creative talent. Amalgamated with enthusiasm and creative talent you make one darned fine writer. Actually, that is incredibly important... Enthusiasm, I mean... Without enthusiasm I wouldn't call any piece creative.
"The words 'should' and 'just' alone depress me. Both leave so little room for acceptance and options. Yeah, I'm a 'possibilities' person and also a pessimist. Idealistic pessimist seems to work as a description for the way I look at the world."
I do apologise for using those words... And, I agree, they do have negative connotation's. I guess it comes with the title of being a pessimist? What are you pessimistic about, may I ask?
"ad nauseum"
I love people who use latin... homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto...
"...and it's no fun for the people I care about in my life. No fun, either, for anybody who might strumble on and decide to read a blog entry I've written."
Why is it no fun? Ha - blog's aren't supposed to be fun. Unless one were to write a blog about rollercoaster's... Rollercoaster's are fun, apparently. And I am confused as to why it would be no fun for the people you care about? I'm not so able in being able to perceive certain meanings behind or within writing... Aspergers fault.
"The theme is light enough to discourage my chronic seriousness yet has significance for me at the same time."
There is nothing wrong with being 'serious'. Life cannot be all smiles (!)... And why do you consider yourself to have "chronic seriousness"? - Others may not consider you to be over-serious. Perhaps it is just [sic] a reflection of yourself by yourself... It may not be true? As humans we always tend to look at ourselves in a negative light... We look at things we dislike about ourselves and things we could improve... but rarely, I notice, at the things we are really and truly proud of and good at... That's a shame. I'm sure there is an exercise where one looks at who one really is... Where we explore all of the things we like about ourselves... Where it delves in and makes us realise all of our good, positive and nice qualities...
Ha - Look at me... I'm writing like an optimist... My apologies if I am being rude in my observation's... I like asking questions about people... I like knowing.
"I'm wordy. Comments are supposed to be short! Apologies for that. I hope the above sufficiently addresses your questions. Yeah, I do think too much!"
I don't mind if you're wordy. And comments can be as long as you wish and there is no need to apologise. I enjoy reading what you write. Thinking is fun. There is nothing wrong in thinking too much.
I read, somewhere (Could've been in a psychology book, I read those for fun!), that thinking too much on your own produce symptoms of paranoia... Ha - I just love how simple natural things can cause so much... I don't even know... My dinner is ready.
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions, friend.
(I would've posted this on a blog but your concerns over anonymity persuaded me otherwise)
Post a Comment