November 2009 Archives

It’s that time of the year.
Enough Said.

I can take a smack down better than most, but when LZ aka My Messy Paradise and Eric Striffler aka http://www.striffler.com & http://www.striffler.com/weddings.html, both answered HAWAII within the same 1/2 hour, I was floored.  LZ answered via comments and Eric via Facebook – I’ve tried to decipher which answered first but all I can get is within that same 1/2 hour… so CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH. Interviews will proceed sometime in the next 2 weeks. Okay okay… so perhaps this was a little obvious, but wasn’t it fun too?

Soooo… Now what? I was hoping that this contest would last longer than 1 hour into publishing time. smart-asses, so here’s another Guessing Game for the long weekend.

WHERE IS THIS?

What STATE, in the great U S of A was this picture taken?

1. Guesstimate the closest STATE this picture was taken in.
2. Guess as many times as you would like.
3. The first person to answer correctly will be interviewed for an upcoming For The Birds “Bird Watcher Profile” post. Read the most recently published, it was a blast!
4. Then I will promote the hell out of your story for a week.
5. All about you. 
6. I am no joke about promotion. 
7. Game ends November 29, 2009 – the closest guesstimate location wins… exact preferred.
8. If you won the last guessing game here at For the Birds (LZ & Eric), you can play but you can’t win– you can suggest the right answers (if you can’t control yourself).
9. If you were with me when this was taken, you can’t play–I promise to be more original next time.

Bogus Original Post:

But at least I’m not unoriginal.
And I don’t mean that in a finger pointing, “YOU ARE”, tone.

I just mean that while visiting the loo last eve I saw this scene being played out in our son’s bathtub… No, I was not drunk… But as I found myself staring at this for, mind you, a little while, I fell into a rabbit-holesche, Beatles fell into a Dream moment. Transfixed. The universe… right there, being explained to me by four bathtub toys and a drain pull.

Whew. Glad I have that figured out… NEXT!

For the Birds receives a varied and interesting audience–and I love it. I know this because most of the comments I receive – through the blog commenting tool or more often via direct email, are gracious and well thought out. I also receive hate mail, which I have mentioned before and is a part of the whole mail phobia…. But even the time that the hater took to write makes me feel… I don’t know…. “Processed”. And who am I kidding – almost failing Philosophy 101 in college… there just has to be something to this love, hate, love relationship…

A few of my favorite non-hater comments from recent months:

Consider this Evaluation of Evidence via email:

“First, I liked the title.  It has a little of a nineteenth century sound to it.  And the sound reminded me of the title of a book I read a long time ago:  “Within the Context of No Context.”  Obviously, this connection cannot be explained.  One of the themes of the book was about making judgements, and how we move from childish judgements to adult judgements.

Coincidentally, I have been thinking a lot about my own habit of judging everything, almost always negatively.  I would have had your reaction exactly to the sign about fuel efficient cars.  I am aware that there are alternative judgements in the face of such evidence.  Maybe:  “I am so glad someone had the idea to recognize people who are sensitive to the fate of the world.  This sign is such a good idea.”  I don’t know that person, and probably wouldn’t want to either.  But why is my judgement so immediately scornful? Childish or adult?  I will continue to ponder this, for a while anyway.
 
Please continue to write these wonderful posts.  Someone out there appreciates them.” –Dave S

Where am I? via comments:

I’m going to guess Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick,
but then I decided to go with:
The girl in the black coat in the bottom right of the picture (because
if it isn’t you, why would a complete stranger smile for the camera?),
in Dubai, in 2003.–Robin

This Email Smells Like a Peach via comments:

You get hate mail? I’m jealous. You know you’ve made it when you get hate mail.

I’ve been waiting, and waiting. When I get one I’m SO going to publish it. My mom will be so proud…–Amanda

Somewhere between Pollock & Kandinsky via comments & email:

Hi Ryan,
I like it when I come across what I once described to a friend on the
internet as a ‘welcome new source of meaning’.
I’ve had an interest in Pollock for some time and through a friend have
come to appreciate Kandinsky. In watching the Ed Harris movie on
Pollock, my ears pricked up when he was depicted as including Kandinsky
as a key influence. Well, this morning the thought just occurred to me
and I searched on ‘From Pollock to Kandinsky’, and found your piece on
your son Will’s first watercolour. Nice serendipidity. Now reading a
site where Pollock was said to be interested in Jung’s ideas…more
serendipidity!
See http://www.thehindu.com/fline/fl1614/16140700.htm
What I wanted to share with you was a site that, as far as I recall,
hails from Canada, called Ode magazine – about art and artists. A while
back I found a page in French, comparing Kandinsky and Borduas. It was
in French, but I took the trouble to get it translated (just rough
internet option).
One of the phrases, in French, from Kandinsky was this: “Les enfants
sont les plus grands imaginatifs de tous les temps.” My rough internet
translation read: “The children are largest imaginative of all times. ”
Here’s that site:http://zodode.5.50megs.com/OetC/pensee_k_b.htm
Now I look at Will’s watercolour, and see a nice completion of that
little journey.
Regards,
Dave in Australia

Brave New World via comments:

I think that the balance lies somewhere in the middle– I think it’s
ludicrous that fruit loops are a “Smart” choice, but I also think that
the food companies need to preach moderation vs. making people think
that because it’s “better” for them, they can eat a whole box. But then
how can they make a bunch of money?
If the cookie monster says cookies are a “once in a while food,” why
can’t there be levels for the check-marks?
I think that we are at the beginning of “the great reckoning” in food
marketing (and I work in it). Companies are going to need to develop
some sort of social conscience. Putting a check-mark on a box isn’t
going to be enough. But skippy pb is pretty tasty.–burgerblogger

Guest Bird #9 – Melissa

Melissa Taylor is a mom, teacher and freelance writer. Melissa loves writing about her passions — education and parenting. She blogs at Imagination Soup http://imaginationsoup.net , a fun and easy learning activities for inquisitive kids. Her writing portfolio is on her website http://melissatayloronline.com.

Another day and my kid has out styled me again.  And what a style.  We’re talking so many patterns it’s a knock you down dizzying effect.  But the topper is the pink cowgirl boots.  People all day long stop us to compliment the pink boots.  Really, it’s excessive.  Perhaps a bit ego inflating for my young impressionable child.  “Everyone likes my boots, mom,” she says to me happily.

Fail. Here I am, the blog has won again.

But then I sit down to write something and it comes out totally lame. Like nothing that I would ever publish much less read. I’ve already rewritten this paragraph 3 times now.

SO – I’m just going to say it… just going to get it out there. In response to the many that have emailed me concerned… which almost threw me over the edge, because you see it is the truth… I panic a little every time I check the mail.

A few days ago I posted that I might have this little phobia which causes me to wince a little before opening my PO box or see a pile of recently delivered items on my desk… even email can draw up a twinge of blood pressure when I hear that ding “You’ve got mail”. But, as a person that does not frighten easily, I have drawn up reasonings for the fear as well as tactics to deal with… 

Yes – I am extremely busy, and no – the blog has not won yet.

I just caught word that the owner of Aiming Low, a woman that I do not know but greatly admire still, Anissa had a stroke yesterday. She’s in the intensive care unit at the hospital.

If you are like me and would like to help out or send your thoughts and prayers, please visit the  Aiming Low team to let you know how you can help. You can also visit the post, Hope for Anissa, for more information and to sign up to help the Mayhew family.

In addition, a post office box has been set up for those of you who
want to send something to Anissa and her family. The address is:

860 Johnson Ferry Road 140-184
Atlanta, GA 30342

In the meantime, all of your positive thoughts and prayers are more than welcome.

Amanda Miller and I met at that little virtual world cafe on the corner where perfection runs deep among the critics of the blogosphere. Miller, a quick wit and major speed-resistant rising star of the internet publishing world with TWO blogs to boast and gobs of material to share, takes a sip of her Meyer lemon iced water… The interview begins.

So… Amanda, Why California? I fell in love with San Francisco on a visit when I was 18 and told myself I would eventually move there. My husband and I were married overlooking the San Francisco bay, we actually eloped. I would like to leave though, 10 years is too long to stay in one spot. I get antsy. Do you think that France will be the next destination? Eloping sounds fun – was your family mad?  I would say France or Italy. Just got my Italian citizenship (my kids as well) so now I can vote over there. For what, I don’t know. I can’t even speak the language. Oh I forgot about Amsterdam. I love Amsterdam… As for eloping, my family wasn’t mad, don’t think they even noticed.

How would you describe yourself in three words? Determined, Lazy, Decisive. Are you a Gemini? No, I’m a Taurus. Why? What does that mean? I’m not familiar with astrology speak. Am I going to die soon? I’m not that into Astrology either but Geminis typically flip flop between determined and lazy – I know this because my husband and I are both Geminis…In a sea of incomplete projects – determined to get it done, but then too lazy. Not sure if you’re going to die soon… I hope not! Well my husband is an Aquarius and he’s lazy too. Sounds like we’re all just a bunch of incredibly smart, funny and talented lazy people. Ha!

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Japanese Maple. How very determined, lazy and decisive of you.

What is your favorite color? Do I have to pick just one? Okay, black. No, white. Final answer? I don’t have one. Did you know that both white and black are not actual colors? Instead they are “states of being” as in space. The percentage values are either 100% or 0%. Black is my favorite color too. Why yes I did know that but could have never put it as eloquently as you just did. Speaking of absence of color, my next project will be painting my living room black. Exciting!

Why is the stop sign an octagon? That’s an odd question. I really don’t know and not sure that I really need to know. Some things are just better left a mystery. Agreed. This question came from the IQ test you challenged me on @Twitter. (kidding) Ha ha.

What kind of people do you dislike? People without a sense of humor. People who don’t like cats. Come on, it’s a cute kitty, what’s not to like? Crazy religious preachy people who believe their God and our government should mix. People who don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom. I’m not too fond of most people. So… France would work well for you–sans the hand washing habits. Really? They don’t wash their hands in France? I know the men sometimes pee in the streets. I don’t know, I suppose I’d be too busy drinking wine and buying berets to even notice. I’m sure that they wash their hands in France. A good friend of mine and I were flashed by… Well, a Flasher, in a Paris Metro tunnel – This was after an awesome stay and on our way to the airport to leave… so my lasting impression is somewhat jarred.  I think that would be a wonderful way to end a stay in Paris. Just icing on the cake…

What is your favorite drink? If I’m drinking alcohol my choice is champagne. I could drink it every day. Have you ever tried champagne with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? It’s quite good. Otherwise I like ice water with a wedge of Meyer lemon. Don’t the bubbles go to your head? Ice water with lemon makes you sound super healthy.  That’s the point, no? Yes, I try and be healthy so I’ll drink my delightful ice water and then proceed to shove four cupcakes into my mouth. Organic of course.

Who would you like to see play the lead role as you? I’d have to go with Marlon Brando. Wait, he’s a guy, right? And dead. Okay then I’ll say Zooey Deschanel. Yes, she’s a little younger than me but movies are just pretend anyway so let’s pretend she’s exactly my age. (laughing) ZD is my virtual “I don’t know this person” image of you. Weird!  That is weird! I am way older though, so enjoy that image of Miss Zooey. Good thing you didn’t say Marlon Brando… I picture you as the girl from the Twilight movie (never saw it, just read the tabloid garbage) You know, the one rumored to be dating the hot English vampire. Ha ha–I haven’t read it either but I am interested in this new teenage surge of over-sexed vampires. Like it’s a new concept? How can you possibly be way older than Zooey? I think I might be way older than you. Well according to Internet (and we all know it never lies) Zooey was born in 1980. And I was not. Is this a sneaky way of you trying to get me to reveal my age? For some reason I hate telling people how old I am. Getting older sucks.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now? Hummus, every yogurt under the sun, shriveled up basil, duck and sweet potato dog food (my dog is well taken care of) Irish butter, almond milk, cows milk, a beautiful bunch of baby carrots I need to use before they go rotten, whipped cream, peanut butter, coffee, leftover Indian butter chicken from last night. Just the regular stuff. Regular stuff = Leftover Indian butter chicken? Come on, who doesn’t have Indian butter chicken in their fridge? I’m actually on an Indian food kick and have cooked it once a week for the past few weeks. I’m really over it now. Really over it.

What is the last thing you did before answering these questions? Well I started this yesterday and haven’t been able to finish because my kids kept pestering me. Some nonsense about rumbling stomachs. So let’s see, yesterday I had just emptied the dishwasher and tonight I just cleaned up the dinner plates. See a pattern? Yes – like Laundry, it never ends… Myth of Sisyphus. Say that 10 times really fast…

What inspired you to start your blogs? Well I’ve always enjoyed writing and once I discovered this thing called “blogging” I knew it was for me, just never had the balls to start my own until last year. Subjects such as art, music and personal dairies like Dooce were my favorites. When I began writing Brilliant Sulk I wasn’t sure which direction it was headed. I suppose it has morphed into a “humor blog” but that could all change tomorrow. I’m slightly unpredictable. Do you think that Dooce is a little too “Tell All”–like what else is left? Brilliant Sulk is funny – does that surprise you though? I always find myself a little taken-aback when people call my writing funny. Do people tell you that the blog sounds “like you”? What about Brilliant Spread? The photography is gorgeous. I used
to be a huge Dooce fan, not so much anymore. She’s a bit too smug and as you say, “Tell All” I aim to be smug and mysterious. Kidding, I’m kidding. I’m not sure I’m really as funny as I am sarcastic. But I suppose it’s up to my billions of readers to make that determination.

You know, not many people I know read my blog (Brilliant Sulk) because I haven’t told them about it. Is that weird? My mom and husband read it. Maybe I’m embarrassed. Gosh, I have issues. I think I need a good therapist. But I think you and I have similar writing styles. Maybe we should take our act on the road.

My other blog, Brilliant Spread, is great fun because I love taking photos and writing about food. It’s a fairly new site that I need to spend some more time working on.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be? There’s a party in my tummy. Nice.

Aside from your Tummy, what motivates you? My kids, art, music, nature. I mentioned before that your photography on Brilliant Spread is, well – brilliant – did you study photography or is it just a thing? Why thank you. Oh, gosh I’ve always wanted to be a “real” photographer but because I’m so incredibly lazy I never pursued it professionally. I wish I had because I really enjoy it. I suppose it’s never too late.

On that “never too late” theme, if you won $20 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money? I’d immediately hop on a plane and travel the world like Brad and Angelina. With or without the 26 kids? Hell no, they can keep those children. I’ll take my two girls, two nannies, my husband and we’re off. What would I do with my dog and two cats though? I suppose I could bring my dog, but I’d have to hire a full time cat nanny. It would be difficult being rich.

If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have? I’m going to have to go with the Italian dressing you get at a steakhouse. The incredibly vinegary kind with chunks of blue cheese. How very determined, lazy and decisive.

If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say? She’s Innocent! Of what crime? Goat thievery. I would never steal a goat.

What makes you angry? Fluorescent lighting, litterbugs, genetically modified food, Rush Limbaugh, parents who don’t watch their kids at the playground, Barney, that stupid giant purple dinosaur. Genetically modified food and giant purple dinosaurs can ruin my day too… have you ever approached a parent not watching their kids? I certainly would approach them but I can never find them! I hate taking my kids to the park but I have to because that would be really mean and they would look even pastier than they do now.

What’s the most important part of the sandwich? The bread. If you have terribly stale or tasteless bread the sandwich is completely ruined. And without the bread the sandwich fails to be a sandwich,  I suppose… Exactly.

Can you describe an atom? No. Thank you.

Describe your most rewarding experience to date. Well I suppose the politically correct answer would be the day my kids were born. Or maybe volunteering to bring food and gifts to the elderly every year on Christmas morning. Or all of the animals I’ve rescued over the years. No, can’t say I’ve had any rewarding experiences to date. I’m waiting. How very determined, lazy and decisive. No really… good things come to those who wait (NYC 2010). How about saving the world while you’re at it? I’m far too busy blogging to try and save the world.

(kitty cat photo credit: Image by Peri Apex via Flickr)