 For Authors: February 25, 2009 Issue [#2913] |
  For Authors
This week: Edited by: Fyn  
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A few observation and much reasoning lead to error; many observations and a little reasoning to truth.~~Alexis Carrel
A mind at liberty to reflect on its own observations, if it produce nothing useful to the world, seldom fails of entertainment to itself.~~George Berkeley
Genius makes its observations in short-hand; talent writes them out at length.~~Christian Nestell Bovee
You can observe a lot just by watching.~~Yogi Berra
This inescapable duty to observe oneself: if someone else is observing me, naturally I have to observe myself too; if none observe me, I have to observe myself all the closer.~~Franz Kafka
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.~~George Bernard Shaw
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Observations from the sidelines...
1. Food shopping has changed from a 'get it done and over with as quickly as possible' routine to an excuse to get away from filling out job applications. No longer do I rush through the store, grabbing what I need and leaving. Now I stroll through, compare prices, check out the items I never noticed in my mad dashes and observe the other people out shopping.
I've discovered a fruit called a 'grapple.' It looks like an apple, tastes (supposedly) like a grape, is ridiculously expensive and when I tried one, was a hilarious experience. My brain saw an apple, my mouth said grape and the two just didn't compute! Funny thing, the brain. 'Blood oranges' are another new discovery. Looks like an orange on the outside, is blood red on the inside and, as long as you try it with your eyes closed, tastes exactly like an orange. My grandchildren may never forgive me the new things I've asked them to try!
The majority of people shopping seem stressed, impatient, and in terrible moods. *Wonders if I fit that mold a month or so ago.* A notable exception to the rule are the elderly. They meander the store, talk to anyone and everyone and smile a lot. They beam if you compliment their new hairdo or their apparel. They are pleasant to others around them. They will talk about anything at all. I spent fifteen minutes listening to one lady of a certain age give me recipe after recipe for ways to cook a roast. Where was my notebook when I needed it?
People have lost the ability to count. The express line clearly states 'a maximum of twelve items.' Not forty and certainly not a full cart. Silly me, I never realized a group of ten cans was one item.
There are twenty freezer doors worth of ice cream. I still couldn't find plain old raspberry and went home with vanilla.
The longer the line at the deli counter is directly proportionate to the higher percentage of grumpy people. The longer the line at the checkout seems to make the grumpy people get downright nasty. A smiling, happy child in line at the checkout is a blissful experience.
2. There is a bird feeder outside my computer room window. The bird feeder needs to be filled every day. Cardinals are beautiful, but mean. Chickadees are pretty and quite willing to wait their turn in line. Squirrels will devise a way to get to any available food source. My neighborhood cats are, thankfully, slower than the birds. My bichon frise wishes there wasn't a window between her and the cats. There is not enough room on the windowsill for my small dog to fit on it, but that doesn't stop her from trying. I'm looking forward to spring.
3. Grandchildren can spend three hours together peacefully building a snowman, but only five minutes inside without an argument. Hot chocolate is an excellent argument side tracker. Chocolate smiles transfer to close objects upon said child hugging a grandmother, walking down hallways, or sitting absolutely still.
4. Spring must be coming. I have an increasing urge to rearrange every stick of furniture in the house and dusting has become a passion. I really need a job!
and finally, 5. I have oodles of time to write! And I am. Silver linings abound!
Found an awesome site the other day at http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/welcome.htm . Lists of unusual words, and all sorts of 'neat stuff.' One list in particular caught my attention. Collective nouns: gaggle of geese, murder of crows, a blessing of unicorns and my favorite, an exultation of larks. There is also a list of possible collective nouns such as a 'yearning of yesterdays, a ponder of philosophers and a promise of tomorrows.'
These were enough to spark my muse into writing some poetry based on 'possible' collective nouns. What COULD you call a clump of patients in a waiting room or pedestrians on the street? What about clouds in the sky or teenagers at the mall. Kind of fun to think about. Come up with a good one and email me and I'll reward the best ones next time!
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Good for a laugh!
| | A MANLY THING? (13+)
Yep, male vs female. How does the song go... "anything you can do, I can do better?"
#1531854 by DRSmith  |
A place outside of real. Or is it?
| |  | Sea Calls (ASR)
This is the seashore, neither land nor sea. Its a place that doesn't exist.
#180201 by Veritas  |
Lovely way with words
In process; requesting thoughts thereon:
Why, indeed.
A new form (for me) and perhaps, you!
| |  | Invalid Item
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#1371900 by Not Available. |
What you do may well haunt you...
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monty31802:Having settled into my poetry niche after doing shorts and stories etc. I always love reading an Author Newsletter that leans my way.
A fine read Fyn.
So glad you enjoyed!
Shannon  :Another great NL, fyn! I love the poem you included this week, The House by the Side of the Road by Sam Walter Foss. Simply lovely!
Always been one of my favorites!
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