Tag: writing

The Writing Life…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn 2019, Autumn at Sonnystone Acres, blogging2 Comments

I’m in a slump… >sigh<  I want my Words to Flow effortlessly from my fingertips.  I want every stroke of the key to reveal a sentence that is perfection.  I want each of my Elevated Thoughts to be expressed so exquisitely that you gather at my feet enraptured by my Wokeness.

Being a Writer is an old, old dream that I cooked up six or seven Lives ago. Through the years, I scribbled in notebooks and journals, but always thought that if I only had the time that Great American Novel would write itself.

I’ve blogged for 15 years now, but being a blogger is not considered to be the same as being a Writer.  In fact, I’ve been told by several writer/friends that it is my blogging that gets in the way of my writing.  Actually, I feel like the time I spend working on the book just gets in the way of my blogging.

I guess I’ve put some ancient expectation on myself that I have to publish a book in order to be a Writer.  In this day of self-publishing, how difficult could it be to satisfy my ego with a published book?  So I’ve written some chapters and re-written them and put them away.  I get them out and re-read them and think, that’s not bad, just finish it.  Then I end up editing them and putting them away again, on a loop.  It feels forced and Not Fun and sort of depressing.  Currently I want to burn it all…

I realize that I’m not a conventional blogger who monetizes her blog and cranks out the “5 things you can’t live without” posts.  I know that my following is meager.  Still,  the idea of not blogging gives me the existential heebie-jeebies.  For the most part, I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these 1000+ posts over the years.

Thanks to the Feeling of Freedom that has persisted since our trip, I’m letting go of the worn-out dream of Being a Writer aka writing a NYT bestseller (but I’m not going to burn the pages I’ve written).  I’m letting go of the daydream that I’ll be a hit on all the late-night shows (but I’m still preparing clever repartee, just in case).  No more guilt or feeling like I’ve not lived up to…something.  I’m sticking with what I enjoy, no matter how hard it is…even if I have to blog about doing the laundry or cleaning the house…even if nobody reads it.

An interviewer once asked one of my favorite authors, Ursula LeGuin,  advice for writers, and she replied: “I am going to be rather hard-nosed and say that if you have to find devices to coax yourself to stay focused on writing, perhaps you should not be writing what you’re writing. And if this lack of motivation is a constant problem, perhaps writing is not your forte. I mean, what is the problem? If writing bores you, that is pretty fatal. If that is not the case, but you find that it is hard going and it just doesn’t flow, well, what did you expect? It is work; art is work.”

Look out!  The Blogger is Back.

 

Thanks for reading!

Peace

 

A Loss of Words

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn 2019, Weekly Wrap-Up, Winter at Sonnystone1 Comment

The unthinkable happened, the thing that I even stopped fearing could happen —  the draft of my Grandmother book is gone…  I know, you think because nothing dies in the internet that it is out there somewhere, but it never left this computer, and in particular WordPress, and it is not in either of those places.  I Know that I saved the draft… I KNOW that I did…but I guess I didn’t.  That was about 3200 + words—three thousand two hundred plus — it made me kinda sick when I made the discovery.  I guess I have to start over, but I really liked what I wrote.  New Beginnings…

While I’m complaining, I must say that last week was very disorienting…with New Years Eve on a Monday, holiday on Tuesday, it felt to me like Wednesday was really Monday and if it hadn’t been for Olivia’s piano lesson on the usual Saturday, I’d still be thinking it’s Friday…  And the weather didn’t help — we didn’t see the sun for a couple of those days, whichever they were.  I never thought I would look forward to a Real Monday so I can pass the dementia quiz.

Today definitely feels like Sunday, though, and the sunshine is beckoning me to bundle up and go outside.  I will get to the words later…

Peace

 

Distraction

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn 2018, Autumn at Sonnystone Acres, blogging, November Writing ChallengeLeave a comment

I’m determined to write daily in November, but if I am to judge by this morning, my subconscious is equally determined to not… I’ve cycled through most of these distractions….

Procrastination has always been my m.o. (“if I start writing now, when I’m not really rested, it could upset my thinking, which is no good at all”…Charlie Brown), but modern times have added distractions beyond my ability to ignore.   I open up the computer and I’m like a fly caught up in a Worldwide Web, clicking away at who-knows-what until I forget what I originally started to do.

November is Officially National Novel Writing Month  and I Officially accept The November Writing Challenge.  The Distractions are many and Ours is shaping up to be busy with grandkids, as Jess has a surgery scheduled next week and is going out of town for work week-after-that.  Of course, we’ll vote next Tuesday.  Thanksgiving is just a big blank on the calendar right now, but I’m sure we’ll come up with something festive.

In the meantime, that’s all I’ve got for today, except for this Distraction meant to distract you from the fact that I didn’t really write anything…just told you I’m going to, or will try…

Last night’s Trick-or-Treaters

Peace

 

How I came to be a blogger…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn 2015, blogging3 Comments

blogging2

 

Back in 2004, my daughter began blogging.  I was intrigued and in 2005 she set me up with a blog through the platform she was using, I know not what…(it was http://www.sonnystoneacres.com/—go there and you’re nowhere)

I started out blogging as my cat, Sonny, a legendary feline with exquisite taste, who wrote about the 2 caretakers (Casey and me)  of his estate, Sonnystone Acres. Melissa was in and out of the hospital, so when I visited NYC, Sonny would turn over the typewriter to me for live reporting.  It was before smartphones or facebook, so it was a good way to keep the folks back home informed.

Not too many months after I started the blog, Sonny died.  I was devastated.  I did publish his Last Will and Testament, some of my most best work, and a fitting, tearful tribute.

From then on, the blog was in my voice.  I wrote about Melissa’s surgeries, Michael’s wedding, the birth of my 2 oldest grandchildren, the constant remodeling of the house and grounds…

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Technology kept improving, and I decided to start a free wordpress blog, Growing Every Season, to feature my gardens and garden photos.  When I signed up, in 2010, it was just so damn easy, so much more reliable than the old platform.  I decided to start up a second blog, called it The News from Sonnystone Acres, and announced to my dozen or so followers that I would be moving.  They were all family, anyway…

I started a third blog, Rave On, Madwoman, with the vision of lively discussion of current events.  It never got off the ground, probably because every time somebody argued with me, I removed the post…

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Along came Facebook, and with it the ability to share my blog with another kind of friend.  My reader stats increased nicely, and there was the immediate gratification that comes with lots of “likes”.   I felt a little more pressure to please, to entertain, and to do it well,  and that motivates me to keep the calendar full of photo ops and enviable activities.

It was 3 years after that when I took a Blogging 101 class here at wordpress and, surprise!, there’s a whole ‘nother kind of reader out there—fellow bloggers..!  I learned tons about appearance, tools, pages, media , and all that, but couldn’t quite relate to the community.   It seemed like all the other “students”  bonded and within a month or so had 3-4x as many followers as I have, so I am a tad bit jealous.   We all know, though, that I’m a confirmed introvert.

While it was never my intention that my blog become famous, the immediate gratification of “likes” is addicting.  Comments put me over the moon…

It is difficult to not feel disappointed when you write something you consider good, and your only proof that anyone read it is an indecipherable bar graph on a stats page…

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Still, I do so enjoy writing this drivel.  I hope you like it…

 

 

 

Meeting with Myself…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn Writing Prompt5 Comments

Present-day you meets 10-years-ago you for coffee. Share with your younger self the most challenging thing, the most rewarding thing, and the most fun thing they have to look forward to.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/good-tidings/

Intriguing, eh?

Step into my Time Machine and follow me back 10 years…doo-doo-doo-doo…

It’s 2004, November.  I wouldn’t look for me in a coffee shop, though.  I think I’ll poke my head into the neighborhood dive…yup, there I am, hunched over the bar, making small-talk with the bartender, belting down a beer and putting away a pack of smokes.  I’m 51-years-old, but feeling like I’m on my 9th life.

I tap myself on the shoulder, but before I turn around I catch a glimpse of myself standing behind me…

“Whoa, ” says younger me.  “Are you..?”

“Yeah,” I shrug.  “But don’t worry, you’re not dead or anything.  Let’s sit over here where we can talk.”

Settling at a corner table overlooking a dreary day, I order a Makers on the rocks and turn to smile at young me, who is staring at me curiously.  “What?”, I ask.

“How old are you?  Those jowls are quite pronounced.”

“Shut up.  I’m currently residing in 2014 and you’ve always known the jowls were inevitable.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t know I’d look so much like Mom.  Oh, well, at least I haven’t quit drinking.”

“No, but I did finally quit the ciggies.”   I sip my bourbon, staring quietly at myself as myself stares quietly back.  ” I wish I could tell you more, but I can only share 3 things…

The most challenging thing you will face in the next 10 years is facing you right now.  You have fallen apart this past year.  Your daughter is very ill.  You have just returned from your 4th trip to NYC, the one you hope is the last spent at Mt. Sinai.  You have slowly, sadly, let go of any hope of spontaneous healing or miracle cure and you have committed to simply supporting her and the decisions she makes, trusting her and Eric to know what’s best, and letting go of any delusion that you can control whatever happens.   Your marriage is on the rocks, and you’re struggling to determine which way to turn.  You think you’ll never work as a nurse again, believing that the women who hated you had good reason.  Your son seems unhappy and a little lost, but you can’t seem to cheer him or guide him.  Your birth family blew up last year and you still feel a hole in your heart where they used to live.  The house you bought to save your marriage is a money pit.

Good Tidings!   You will not only survive this challenge, but you will overcome!  Melissa’s Crohns is still a bitch, but stable.  We are still married, happily, enjoying our beautiful home.  You are working as a nurse in a job you love, though looking forward to retiring.  Michael is still an Eeyore, but he and Jessica are married and living in Evansville now.  You are free from the pull of your birth family.   Everything is really all right now…

The most rewarding thing about the last 10 years is the wisdom acquired with living life,  learning lessons.  Every mistake, every blunder, each gaffe and miscalculation has resulted in a treasure trove of understanding, finally.  Just don’t worry…  In fact, Everything that you are worried about happening right now Never Happens!  On the other hand, many problems appear that you did not anticipate.  It becomes much easier to live in the plain old here and now.  As time goes on, it becomes more clear that not a moment should be wasted on anger and the antidote is forgiveness, for yourself as well as others.

The most fun thing you have to look forward to in the next 10 years is…… Grandchildren!!  Melissa has 2 daughters, Emma, 8, and Eliza, 3;  Michael has 2 daughters, Olivia 6, and Samantha, in utero (due 2/28).  They are sheer joy, unadulterated love, and complete bliss!  And Walt Disney World Really, Truly, Honestly Is the happiest place on Earth…”

Young Me has tears streaming down her relatively-unlined cheeks, and so do I as I reach across the table and pat her hand…

“Oh, and give up the beers, honey… you’re going to gain a lot of weight and it’s a drag losing it.”

 

 

 

Week-end Wrap-up

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn week-end wrap-up4 Comments
The Great American Novel:  
What every blogger is writing in their spare time, when not at work, parenting or surfing the internet
—-the Urban Dictionary…

 

I’ve started researching for a book, studying up on American culture around the turn of the 20th century.    It’s just fascinating, obsessing me as I try to set the scene…how did they dress?  what did they eat and drink?  what sort of transportation did they use?  what music did they listen to?  what books and newspapers did they read?  what was school like?  on and on…

I got to cogitating on women’s undergarments and how they speak of our ever-changing, but always confusing, body-image…

My novel starts in the Edwardian Era,  which was the mid-1890’s  until WWI.  During that time, corsets loosened and desirable women’s shapes  changed rather dramatically.  You can see  by these silhouettes:

 

Corset Evolution

 

I remember my mom and her sisters wore girdles, but by the 1960’s young girls were not expected to cinch in their waists, though we did have some elastic in our garter belts…  Oh, and we didn’t  really burn our bras, we just threw them (and any girdles we may have had) into the trash can.   It was a symbolic gesture, meant as a serious critique of the whole beauty culture and  valuing women for their looks instead of their whole Self…obviously, most people didn’t get it.

Lately I’ve had to face the fact that I’m much thicker in the middle than I used to be and this shift has necessitated a general revamp of my wardrobe as I accept that no amount of wt. loss or sit-ups is going to make me look good in those old hip-huggers…   While I’ve  had to change my Style (and size) some to cover the flaws, I haven’t even considered girdling my girth into a bodice…

silhouette

 

But that’s only the tip of the research obsession…Because I am free to google it (u r 2), I have immersed myself in the sights, sounds, and songs, as well:

I’ll be keeping you in touch with my progress on this endeavor…

 

I’ve got Christmas 2014 planned and it is filled with Rockettes…NYC Radio City Music Hall 12/13 with the Jose’ fam, Nashville TN Opry House touring show 12/20 with the Jrs.  We’re having a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner to celebrate Casey’s 60th birthday, and I was hoping the weather would be good for a little travel that weekend, as well.

 

In the meantime, it’s all about the book, setting the scene, building the characters, and putting myself into the girdles of my grandmothers…

kathleen018
my great-grandmother , around 1898

 

 

 

 

Stream of consciousness: 21 minutes

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn RandomLeave a comment

Writing 101 assignment:  Unlock the Mind.  Free write for 20 minutes (which I changed to 21 so it’s divisible by 3) ..no editing…

6:39pm –

I woke up this morning from a dream:  I was in a room of people, shadowy.  recognized J.  from high school and we were somehow communicating, talking?, D. walked in wearing suit and tie and smiling at me until he saw J, then J left and I walked away, studiously ignoring D. and sitting down in a chair to view him on the bed, shadowy people were still there when J came back and brought me a blanket and as he was wrapping it around me I noticed that my breasts were bare and they were my young, perky breasts not the saggy, crone-tits that I have now and I demurely covered them with a peasant blouse and looked at J and woke up.  It was raining, misting, gloomily damp and the cat had given up on waking me at the normal time of 7am and was sleeping at the foot of the bed.  It was 8:30 or so and I lay there for a few minutes saying my morning prayer:  I thank Thee, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ Thy dear Son, that Thou hast graciously kept me this night from all harm and danger and I pray that Thou wouldst keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings in life may please Thee, for into Thy Hands I commend myself, my body and soul and all things, let Thy Holy Angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me.  Amen.  Then I thought about the dream and wondered if it meant anything and wondered how people from high school can still show up in a person’s dreams even when they’re 61 years old and so over it, or not?  No, really over it, no doubt at all.  And what should we do today, since it’s raining we’ll have to come up with something inside.  I talk /think to myself all the time and often refer to myself as we, especially when I am questioning and it is my honest, sincere belief that God Himself is  my “other” voice, though I certainly don’t think it’s not me, or maybe I do and should be institutionalized.  I wonder about that a lot, though, as I go through the morning routine, feed the cat, half of a can of meaty bits, not shreds or filets, dammit, meaty bits, and add just a little water while he meows impatiently, then grind the beans, get the coffee brewing and head for the shower.  I try not to notice all the physical changes, the cellulite thighs and gut and I clean it up and shave it off, brushing and swishing the remaining teeth and getting dressed.  Put the half-and-half in the coffee and bring it on in to the  east room which I like to call the morning room because the rising sun shows just above the trees outside the window where I sit in what Casey calls the Captains chair, then open up the laptop and check in with the Outside World.  2 mailboxes, 1 facebook account, check the blog stats just to see if someone’s noticed, read the local news online.   Today I have a mess in the front room that needs to be cleaned up, so I empty out 3 drawers of file cabinets and put most of it upstairs in another file cabinet, then begin to load dishes back into the hutch cupboard that belonged to my Aunt Bernie.  Many of the dishes also came from Bernie, but some came from Mom and others are mine and I think about each one as I replace it.  I love to arrange shelves, and rearrange shelves, and then move things around some more, and I pull cookbooks out and move them to the kitchen, then move some cookie jars and signs and salt and pepper shakers onto the decorative shelves of the hutch, then sit and admire them while I eat a turkey sandwich, and open windows and it rains and rains and rains, and I run down to the consigment shop and buy an office chair and use all rolling chairs around the table and put the others upstairs and sit admiring it with a strawberry sparkling water when Casey gets home.  I cook supper, chicken, asparagus, mushrooms, watch some Rifleman, talk with Casey, and write for 21 minutes whatever I’m thinking.

7:00pm

blogging block…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn Random2 Comments

I’m looking forward to getting back to work next Monday.  Our last day of school here is 5/23, so I’ll just breeze in to say good-bye to the graduates, finish up the final paperwork, and pack up my office.  I am still having some pains/problems, but I do think I can manage those 5 days.

I enjoy spending time alone, reading, listening to music, writing.   I’ve filled the last 3 weeks with Eudora Welty, Flannery O’Connor, Matthew Quick, Erle Stanley Gardner, and deeper moments with Reza Aslan, Jane Schaberg, and The Bible.   I’ve had daily sing-alongs with the likes of John Prine, Lyle Lovett, The Dead, The Beatles, and Gregg Allman.  I’ve even caught up on my Netflix watchlist, but I’ve not been able to write, not even a draft.  Though my conscience has berated me without mercy,  my fingers have been sulkily refusing to touch the keyboard.

I think I know why:  I started Blogging 101 at wordpress on 4/15.  I guess I didn’t realize that it was going to be about meeting people, making some new friends, like a class…yes, Exactly like a class.   I have made a few comments and am following some really cool blogs, but the introvert in me immediately shut down the social interaction with its shrill, “don’t go in there”.  There’s some insecurity involved, of course, since  many blogs are better than mine and most are more popular.  There are many lessons I have to learn…it’s just that I don’t want to have to actually “talk”, if you know what I mean.

I don’t always get recognized as an introvert because I am not shy.  I always just thought I was weird, but I read Susan Cain’s “the Power of Introversion” and found out there are a lot of us with similar personalities.   Maybe you’re one, too…

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Today was the final day of the class…  I finally feel like I can write;  in fact, I have actually written this post and I’ve edited some pictures to post over at the garden blog.   Hmmm….

weird

 

Whatever…I’m back..!

 

 

Reporting in…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn RandomLeave a comment

I have been writing a blog entry over at Madwoman for days–nay, a week now..!  It is an Intro to my birthday celebration, but it turned into a study of 1953, the sacred year of my birth.   Who would have predicted, back then, that I’d be using Wikipedia to research every aspect of the culture, then downloading  it from YouTube?  It is fascinating to view the old TV series, listen to the old music, while watching the old movies on DVD or Netflix.  The essay has been edited 25+ times, media has been added and subtracted, and I still can’t bring myself to post it…  Not sure why.  That’s where I’ve been…well, there and

I’ve been hitting the doctor office and labs and have more scheduled.  So far, I’m in pretty good shape for an old broad.  I have a few more procedures to look forward to, but I’m trying to get it all done before Spring Break (last week in March).

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We got a new TV, larger. and I’ve been watching the Olympics.  It’s been a little painful, really.

(And what are These Guys Doing??)

what

(huh?)

I’m liking the Yoga. I’ve completed the intro sessions and looking for a class that fit my ability and my schedule.  I hope I’ll be continuing.

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The school corporation is making up the last snow day by adding an extra hour to the school day for 6 days;  I wish they’d do this with All of the days and give us back our April days off.  Unlikely.  My hours at work will change some for those 6 days, but I’ve rather given up on controlling this weather-related crap.  It’s crazy…  Tonight we got a phone call warning us that school may have to dismiss early tomorrow due to the threat of Tornadoes…..yes, Tornadoes…  What next?   Makes me long for the good-old-days when the weather was a little more predictable:

But here it is, the birthday week-end looming, large as life.    Months ago, I told Casey that we’d celebrate the b-day on March 1 when we’ll be traveling to Nashville for the Lawn & Garden Show/ Wine Fest.  HaHaHaHa!!  You know me better than that!!   I still don’t have anything planned, though, so I’m nervously re-arranging shelves…  I have decided to watch “Roman Holiday” as a representative 1953 movie, and to read “Giant” to honor the memorable year.   Other than that, I’m not sure…but

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We’ll come up with something, so check back….

oh, and if you’re up for a short walk down memory lane,  visit http://www.raveonmadwoman.wordpress.com/ to view what’s left of the much-edited (posted at last!) Intro to the Birthday…

Doing nothing and resting afterwards…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn Random2 Comments

With only 4 more days left in 81 Days:  A Sonnystone Summer Vacation this is the last one without commitments, engagements, appointments, or even Chores…  I slept in as late as I could, fostering my laziness, and plan on staying in these clothes unless I need supplies…  

The last 77 days have gone so well…  I still have memories of the grandkids floating around my head from July;  in June  the blues fest, B.B. King, the Garden Walk, and Car Show were stand-outs.  In the next 4 days we’ll be going to the Henderson Blugrass Fest and try to get to the 4H Antiques Show.

On Monday I’ll get back to my school building and set up the office.  It will be good to see my school-friends, and I have some ideas for decorating my office…But…

Today is a day to Count My Blessings…that will take all day long…

(and thanks for being one of them…yes, you,  dear reader…you read all the way to the end, even though there were no pictures…)