Here I sit, speechless … or would that be textless? My mind is blank. Or rather, not blank, but stuffed so full, I can’t sort out a thought without pulling a dozen more with it. I think I’m going to just settle for one of those stream-of-consciousness posts that Judy and Tricia tried, but I’ll be a rebel and not time mine. Warning: this could go on for days.
As I write this, the Super Bowl is on TV and my husband is watching it, but I’m not. Does that make me un-American? I got into watching Australian football once, and rugby another time, but except when one of my family members played, I’ve never watched football. I don’t like that you can’t see the players’ faces. It’s too impersonal. And even though one of these teams is from my home town, I couldn’t care less who wins. (Kasie would be proud that I didn’t say I could care less. 
) So, until I started writing this, I was reading my first novel by Abigail Thomas and I think she’s going to be one of my favorite “new” authors. The book I have now is “An Actual Life” and is written in such a pure and true character voice that I’m just amazed. I thank Cynthia for introducing me to her with this interview. I think a lot about character voice because I tried writing my novel in three different voices. Whether it worked or not is yet to be seen. Boy, Pizza Hut bought a boatload of ad time on the Super Bowl. I’m low-carbing, trying to take off the weight I gained writing the aforementioned novel, so pizza for me would just be the toppings. I’m weaning myself off Coke by drinking Coke Zero. I hate diet drinks, which means I’ll end up dropping soda altogether. Eating healthy is not necessarily fun. And at my age, fun is paramount, so dieting is torture.Torture is something I cannot abide to see, hear, or read about. I think this stems from a past life experience—I hope as the tortured, not as the torturer, but then, if I’ve learned anything from Lost it’s that we’re all capable of being the torturer. And speaking of … who is Sayid now, anyway? If you have no idea what that means, you’re not a Lost fan and I feel sorry for you. You do watch Mad Men, at least, right? All writers should.
Okay, that’s enough of my mind puke. Oh, that reminds me; I caught a few minutes of Dirty Jobs yesterday and watched snakes being “puked.” A biology researcher’s life is … um … interesting. And that’s it, I’m gone. Go on back to your lives now.
I started giggling at the title, and full out snorting laughter ensued right here…
“Boy, Pizza Hut bought a boatload of ad time on the Super Bowl”
… why is it that I have a sneaking suspicion that “boatload” was the edited version? oh man….stream of consciousness suits you…..
Karen, if I made YOU laugh, that’s really something. But, no, boatload was it. The only cursing I do is through some of my characters.
Believe me when I say I don’t like football. But in the interest of marital bonding, I watched the last ten minutes. That interception and 74-yard touchdown by Tracy Porter thrilled my un-sportsy blood. There’s nothing like seeing someone beat the odds.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.
I missed that play, but I usually do root for the underdog.
The whole football theme has always alluded me. Grown men tackling each other and struggling over a ball. Kind of the opposite of what we try to teach growing boys. In any case I was fortunate to end up with a guy who isn’t a sports fanatic. I’ll take his musical capabilities over that – any day.
Now baseball and the Yankees? You have my utmost attention.
And yes, Kasie would be very proud indeed. Wonderful post and name. (Hugs)Indigo
Indigo, thanks for stopping by. I visited your lovely blog and subscribed.
I didn’t watch the game, either, so I’m right there with you!
Before you even mentioned Sayid, though, the word torture made me think of him (especially since I’ve been re-watching Season 1 with a friend, and there are lots of torture-heavy scenes in that one…). I like his character a lot but I sure don’t like watching those rough scenes! Not sure who he is, now…can’t wait to see more of that story so I can form a better theory. (My initial thought is that he’s Jacob; I also wonder if Jacob is the good guy or the bad guy. Hmmm…)
Concerning Sayid: I had the same initial thought, but then I remembered that when it shows FakeLocke walk away with Richard, the camera focuses on Locke’s dead body. The black shirt guy didn’t possess Locke’s body! So Jacob wouldn’t need Sayid to die in order to have a body. They used clear crucifixion symbolism in the scene where they carry Sayid’s body out of the pool, so is his recovery a true resurrection? Is he now truly free from his past? I can’t wait for the next episode?
Ooh! Good observations…you’re so right. I hadn’t even considered that (very important) distinction.
I have some half-formed ideas on the parallels between what happened in the pool to Sayid and what (most likely) happened to Ben Linus when he was a little kid…but they’re only half-formed (and therefore really confusing to try to articulate!).
I’m so ready for the next one, too – tomorrow’s episode is called “What Kate Does” (as opposed to “What Kate Did” in Season 2). I’m intrigued by the title change, though since it’s a Kate episode I’m dubious about the prospect of seeing more of Sayid’s new story. Hopefully they’ll give us something!
Yeah, obviously, the pool is what healed Ben, but did he die first? I’m trying not to pay too much attention to previews, so I didn’t know this week is a Kate-centric episode. Surely, they’ll show us something on the island bound too.
don’t like football, either. I agree with Indigo. It’s seems sillier to me to see these men take it all so seriously. All I ever hear is the whistle. More standing around than actual playing. I hate diet sodas too. I’d rather drink water than do without sugar. Don’t watch Lost or Mad Men or anything else for that matter. Not even Idol this year since I’m still pouting adam didn’t win. Don’t even want to know about that last paragraph about puking snakes.
How’s that for a stream-of-conscious like comment?
Yeah, nice flow there, Tricia.
You really know how to write those attention grabbing titles.
This is rich — I love it. Your stream-of-consciousness post was not only cleaver, but inspiring. I think I’ll go dribble on a blank page for a while and see if there is something swishing around in my whirlwind of thought.
Of course, pizza sounds good too, but I’ve been losing the battle of bulge, maybe I should stick to dribbling.
If only I could inspire myself. Sigh.
I don’t watch the Superbowl, I watched the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet. It’s sheer silliness and worth a good half hour. Water, no sodas. Veggie trays and hummus, sushi. One beer. I love carbs but I’m also avoiding them, as you know.
Sayid is probably Jacob. Time obviously split in two when the bomb went off. But yet…Juliet did not die? Wow. That’s really stretching it. But who cares. I love it.
Puppy Bowl
I didn’t know you were also a LOST fan. Looks to be a very interesting season.
I think a lot about character voice because I tried writing my novel in three different voices.
I don’t know nothing about football but last night, I have listened to all the game. I still don’t understand the game… but I have enjoyed the emotion of the players and the fans.
Writers are sitting in front of their desk all day… So, I have to cut into the fun of eating everything that is fun… Snifff.
I am fascinating by this kind of narratives ways. Toni Morrison is one of my best writer for this. I remember me reading one of a novel, I think It’s was Jazz, and experience the feeling of a novel writing like a jazz partition.
This is hard to realise. How do you manage to do so and why are you also fascinate by this narratives ways?
That’s a very good question, Mireille. It’s not a conscious decision. My current novel started with a short story … one voice. Then the story took a surprising turn and I realized there was more to tell, which resulted in two voices. Before I finished the second part, I knew the third character had something to say. When I was nearly finished with this novel, I pulled out my first novel to see if I could revise it and that’s when it dawned on me that I had written the first one in three voices as well.
Your post reminds me of why I sometimes have insomnia – that’s the same kind of streaming that keeps me up.
OH … ha ha … it is, isn’t it? At that point, I usually get up and drink a glass of wine … or two.
I enjoyed your Mind Puke very much. I was particularly amused by the football comments and the fact that you *couldn’t* (yay for you by the way) care less who wins. Me either! Australian football is interesting only as far as there are men in tight shorts running from one end of a field to the other, but as soon as they start snorting and bleeding I lose interest.
Ah yes, but it’s those shorts that show off those marvelous muscular legs. It just seems more manly to play this rough sport without all the NFL “armor.” Also, loved the goal umpire in his white suit, but I don’t think that’s standard now, is it?
I love the title of this post, Linda. And I remember how much I enjoyed An Actual Life. So glad you do too. When it first came out, it was the most adorable little hardback. And I love its title too.
Thank you, Cynthia. I’m so glad for bloggers like you who lead me to authors I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.
Good job! I like football and already totally confessed my non-Lost, non-Mad Men, non-coolness. Sigh…
Or maybe I’m the nerd.