Tag: writing

My 100th Post: The Interview

~ Lenore Diane ~ 7 Comments

Since January 2010, Lenore Diane has put forth an effort to post entertaining thoughts regarding her take on life. To mark her 100th post, she decided to sit down with herself to ask and answer questions about the past six months. Wearing black, cropped pants and a purple shirt, she sits and answers my, er, her questions.

So, this is your 100th post. Are you surprised you’ve written so much?
Surprised? No. I have an incredible ability to babble. You’ve heard the thought, ‘Dance like no one is watching’, right? Well, I write and talk even if no one is reading or listening.

Do you think you have a following of readers?
I know one of my sisters reads my blog regularly. And, I know a friend that checks in every now and again. Aside from those two folks, I’m not sure I have followers per se. The stats show I am getting hits, so that has to count for something, right? I can only hope those who find me will come back again and again.

When do you get your best ideas for posts?
Well, when I go to bed at night, my mind becomes inundated with blogging ideas. And, every night, I go to bed convinced I’ll remember my idea in the morning. And, every morning, the idea was lost in the night.

Why not keep a writing pad and pen by your bed?
Gee. Great idea, Genius. I have a handy dandy notebook and pen that I try to keep with me at all times, including on my bedside nightstand. Unfortunately, I often forget to grab the notebook and/or I forgot where I had it last.

So, you’re very organized, eh?
HA! You’re funny. Have you read my post ‘Hiding the Junk’? I make no claims to being organized.

Out of the 99 posts, do you have a favorite?
Yes.

Ok, smart ass. Which post is your favorite?
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I like the post about my Dad, written to coincide with my niece graduating from college. Oh, and I liked my Ode To Amherst Shore. Hmm … I guess I don’t have a favorite, rather I have several I like more than others.

What do you hope to accomplish with your written posts?
Well, my followers will know this answer.

I’m sorry, you mean, assuming you have followers.
Whatever. My hope is to entertain, enlighten and encourage. Though I really don’t know what I want to encourage. I just wanted to name a third thing starting with ‘e’. I’d also like to be published. I believe I have produced some good posts, though it may be obvious that I lack an editor. Still, I believe, with the help of an editor, I could produce an excellent publication of posts.

Do you think you are funny? And, do you try to use humor in your writing?
Yes, I think I am funny, and I definitely try to use humor in my writing. My reality is that I crack myself up all the time. I come from a family of folks that crack themselves up all the time. We laugh at our own jokes, and we are completely OK with the fact that others aren’t laughing. My heart goes out to the folks who don’t laugh at our humor. We are some seriously funny people! HA HA! See?! Made me laugh. *sigh* ‘Oh me’

What haven’t you written about that you know you will write about in the future?
Ooo, I love that question. I don’t know. I have covered so much territory already. I’m not sure what is left, but I’m certain I’ll find something. Maybe I will write in greater detail about my fears.

Ok, let’s go with a lightening round. Quick and short answers, please. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
Seriously? What – are you Barbara Walters? This is completely cheesy.

Ya think? You’re the one writing this post. Now please, just answer the question.
*sigh* Any evergreen tree.

What’s one thing folks don’t know about you?
My weight; it changes frequently based on my consumption of ice cream during any given week.

You’re not very good at short answers. Name your favorite holiday.
Thanksgiving

What’s your favorite color?
Orange

What is your dream car?
Mercedes. Any model. Consumer Reports always ranks them high on their automobile lists. And, Mercedes does well during the crash tests. Wait. Based on your facial expression, I’m guessing my response is too long?

Well, we have come to the end of our interview.
Oh. Please ask me another question.

Here's to another 100 reflections of life

Seriously. People follow you? *sigh* Okay, what did you make for dinner?
When? Last night?

Oh my gosh! Who cares?!
I don’t know. Maybe my followers?

Ugh. Just answer the question, what did you make for dinner last night?
Nothing. We went out to a restaurant.

Wait. Let me guess. You were trying to be funny and amused yourself, right?
*giggle* Yeah. I really do crack myself up.

.:::.

From Ben Stein’s Lips to My Blog

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

The movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” was my first introduction to Ben Stein. I remember various commentaries by Mr. Stein after the Ferris movie, but my next big memory of him comes from the game show ‘Win Ben Stein’s Money’. Suffice it to say, I was drawn to Mr. Stein, not by his wisdom and intellect, but by his involvement with mainstream and pop culture. Thankfully, over time, I learned more about Mr. Stein, his history, his philosophies, etc. He is more than The Shaq’s Comcast buddy. He is more than the bland teacher in the Ferris movie.

I heard Ben Stein’s commentary on CBS Sunday Morning (a show I love). If you didn’t see or don’t watch CBS Sunday Morning, I encourage you to click here, and read Ben’s commentary.

Mr. Stein, I have decided to live. Well, I’ve been living, actually. I’ve lived over 40yrs so far, and I hope to continue living for many years to come. But more to your point, Mr. Stein, I am writing. And, I am sharing my writings with the public, for better or for worse.

Since I was a kid, I have wanted to write and share my writings with anyone and everyone. As I have stated in previous blogs (and will state again and again in future blogs), I’d like to seek and obtain a book deal. And, I say ‘I’d like to’, because fear holds me back. The though of putting together a manuscript and sending it off to various publishing companies is a daunting task. Who knows, maybe I will be offered a book deal by some publisher who stumbled upon my WordPress blog. That probably happens all the time, right?

Do I really expect to have my big break because the right person stumbled upon my writing? No. But, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. To what Mr. Stein said in his commentary, I did not pursue my writing dream via the job market with vim and vigor. Instead, I took jobs where writing opportunities could have been classified as ‘other duties as assigned’. And now, though  my current job has proof-reading opportunities, it has less writing opportunities than all of my previous jobs.

Still, I love my current job, and I have no intention of leaving it. Plus, the flexibility of my current job affords me time to write. Plus, I am at a point in my life where I actually take advantage of the time I have and use the time to write. I treasure my writing time, and I milk it for all it’s worth. Moreover, I am putting my thoughts out there – in the blogosphere. I no longer feel the need to hide my written creations. (Though I suppose some readers may want me to get back into the closet.)

In the video commentary by Ben Stein, he referred to feedback he received from his therapist. And, his therapist was of the opinion that happy people are people who pursue their dreams. So, Ben summarized the overall viewpoint by saying, “Choose to live a life you want to live, not one that’s safe or what someone else thinks you should do. Decide to live.”

I started this blog earlier this year, when my marriage was floundering and my depression had a stronghold on me. Through my writing (and medication, and ice cream, and . . .), I’ve reconnected with the love I have for my husband and our marriage, as well as the love I have for life. Through my writing, I have decided to live. And Mr. Stein, because I have decided to live, I believe wholeheartedly that my blogging will lead to a publication or publications. Well, just because I have decided to live does not a book deal make, but I’m working on it. Oh yes, I am working on it.

“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to be a publisher, eh?” Just thought I’d ask.

Untitled

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Dear Blogary –

Today is Thursday. It’s been several days since we were together. I miss you. I started writing to you several months ago, with the hope I would find clarity in my life, clarity in my marriage and overcome my depression. And, I had hope that I would entertain and enlighten anyone who happened to stumble upon my unlocked blogary.

You and I started off quite well, writing wise. Initially, we didn’t get much traffic, as folks seem to be overwhelmed with enlightenment, if not life itself. And, well, one might assume better entertainment can be found elsewhere. I certainly wouldn’t say that the hits didn’t come due to my poor writing or story telling skills, would you? Thankfully, Blogary, you’re the kind of friend that just listens. You don’t offer your opinion. Along with entertainment and enlightenment, there are quite enough opinions in the world. Thank you, Blogary, for keeping your opinions to yourself.

So, what is going on these days? Where is the troubled marriage banter? Where are the clouded life rambles?  Where are the sad tales of woe? And come on, how goes the regular use of the Nordic Track?

Blogary, life seems to be going quite well, thanks to you. As I suspected and may have mentioned in past posts, writing is cathartic for me. Life has improved greatly, since I started blabbing, bantering, blubbering, etc. Now, don’t get me wrong. I still have cranky days. Ok – cranky weeks. And, I admit, I still sweat some of the small stuff. And well, if I must be honest, and I know how you appreciate honesty, the Nordic Track hasn’t been used more than once since the Nordic Track post. However, it is still in the living room, should the fitness bug strike. [Shakes 8-Ball: Looks Doubtful]

So, it seems talking to you, Blogary, has helped me a great deal. I’ve always been good with one way conversations. You know, “Here’s my opinion; it’s right; and, I’ll tell you why.” With you, I believe I can keep it real. With you, I believe I can put it all out in this here universe we call the ‘internet’. But Blogary, my time to talk to you seems to be slipping. Are you missing me, as much as I am missing you?

You and I were together most every day. Babbling like a brook is the tag line for this blog, for crying out loud. What. Has a family of beavers created a dam, stopping the flow of the brook? Or, is my life just so awesome that I don’t – gasp – need you? [Shakes 8-Ball: Ask again later.] Ask again later? What. You mean, like ask when I am in the midst of PMS? Or, when I’m trying to stay on top of life’s day to day demands, while maintaining a positive persona? Yes, I suppose, if I were to ask again later, the response would more than likely be, “Don’t count on it.”

Frankly Blogary, I find my mood gets snippy when I don’t have time for you. I bought a notebook, so I can jot down my thought as soon as one hits. Alas, I have a hard time remembering to keep my notebook with me. And, most of my best blog thoughts come when I am going to bed. As I reach for the nightstand, I realize the notebook is on the table in the kitchen. Sigh. Foiled again. I go to bed, certain I will remember the awesome blog thoughts. I go to bed certain that these thoughts, that I will remember in the morning, are the thoughts that will no doubt take this blog to the moon, winning me book deals left and right. And then? Well. Then, I wake up, get dressed, pour a cup of coffee and start getting the boys ready for their day. With the morning light, the prize winning thoughts have disappeared like the creatures of the night.

All is not lost, Blogary. I still have you, and you still have me. And, I will grab hold of whatever blog time and blog thought I can snag, whenever I can snag it. And, I will write to you about the highs and lows in my life. Thankfully, the highs outweigh the lows, and the lows mainly pertain to the stock of ice cream in the freezer. Yes, I will take whatever blog thoughts and blog time I can get, whenever I can remember or get it. And, I will be thankful. And Blogary, I hope those who find us will be entertained and/or enlightened. But really, I’m just happy to write.

Hug, hug; kiss, kiss,

Me.