Daily Update

[Warning:  before you begin reading, please be aware that this post is a little longer than usual, and will be one of at least four that I'm posting today. You’re not required to read them all today. In fact, I have no way of knowing when you read any of them unless you comment. So relax. I just want to share about a few things in more detail, and since I tend to get lost on rabbit trails, I’ll be separating them. Plus the “daily” post for today. Now. Proceed slowly and with caution.]

This an update on my July daily blog post project. It will not be an update that occurs daily. The title implies either. Or both. Which reminds me of a t-shirt (that I would love to own, if anyone wants to find and buy one for me, size Adult L) that said:  (front) ‘Let’s eat, children!’ [and] ‘Let’s eat children!’ (back) ‘Punctuation saves lives!’. (I’m laughing out loud as I type this. In the Pullman Starbucks. It's crowded. I think my headphones save me a little ridicule, but still). Anyway. Seriously, as a writer, I would SO rock that shirt! Even if it was a hideous color (although, for future reference, I look best in pink, yellow, purple, and blue; brown is ok, I’d take white or black….[smile]).

Rabbit trail:  that shirt reminds me of a story I read in a University class. I don't remember which one. But I do remember the story. It’s called A Modest Proposal, written by Jonathan Swift in 1729 (you may be familiar with his most popular work, Gulliver’s Travels). It’s part of the genre satire, which is writing that uses sarcasm, ridicule, etc. to expose human foolishness. (I mentioned this genre in my book review post on This Is Your Life yesterday.)

Here’s the connection to the t-shirt:  Swift begins by describing the plight of starving beggars in Ireland, which makes the next part so shocking when he says “A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragous [stew].” The shock value alone is priceless! How many of you spit out whatever beverage you just sipped?? He wasn’t serious (hence satire); it was to make (an anonymous) statement about the treatment of the poor in Ireland (as he goes on to suggest the poor sell their children to the rich).

Before I abandon this rabbit trail and return to my daily update, I want to clarify an important point:  I’m not advocating the eating of children! So don’t overwhelm me with calls, texts, e-mails, comments, Facebook stalking, or any other form of communication and/or intervention. Really. It’s all good. Just saying.

So far I have posted seven of the eight July daily posts. I’ve also included a few other fun reads – a book review and a snapshot of a local photographer – two categories I hope to continue. (More on that to follow in today’s next blog post.) I’ve also added a few lists at the bottom of the page:  blogs I enjoy, and some sites for you to check out. More lists will likely follow as I continue to drag you along on this journey through the twisted, colorful landscape of my Aspie mind.

There are also labels (at the bottom) for all of my posts. I only have 12 categories showing right now, but if you click on the label at the end of any given post (for example, post card, which isn’t one of the 12) it will show all the posts with that label. I started this blog to have a venue for practicing my writing craft and share my world. Sometimes it helps getting the random out of my head! But. I also want this to be fun and user-friendly. So when you have a minute, explore.

One last thing I want to mention:  I’m in the middle of a “wellness journey” that really took off about five years ago. I’m going to post separately about it, but I wanted to say here that I put a “badge” under my profile that will update once a week on my weight loss progress, as well as a tracker at the bottom of how much farther I want to go. This allows you to offer advice, encouragement, a swift kick in the tukis when I get lazy! So come along with me friends!