Banished Words from 2009

Shovel ready is number one on a list of Banished Words and Phrases for 2010. In honor of over use and general uselessness, Lake Superior State University (Michigan) released their 35th annual list back on January 1st. (Time Magazine, 1/18/10 p. 67) Obviously there are a lot of economic terms and some political jargon. It's amusing to read the list and agree with the most obnoxious offenders

1. Shovel ready

2. Transparent

3. Czar

4. Tweet

5. App

6. Sexting

7. Friend, as a verb

8. Teachable moment

9. In these economic times...

10. Stimulus

11. Toxic assets

12. Too big to fail

13. Bromance

14. Chillaxin'

15. Obama, as a prefix

Do you agree? Please add to the list or start the compilation of 2010 offenders.

Who is a Hero?

"Who is a hero? I was not. I was just an ordinary housewife and secretary," said Miep Gies in a 1997 interview. (Associated Press) She considered it her human duty to help hide the Frank family during World War II. Unfortunately, the family was ultimately discovered and sent to concentration camps. But, left behind in their tiny quarters was The Diary of Anne Frank.

Miep Gies found it and returned it to Anne's father, Otto, after the war. Anne died in the camps but thankfully her words were able to survive, be published, translated, and forever remembered. The diary is a tale of dreams, worries, concerns, angst, love, family, and hope. At a time of true despair, it registered hope for the future.

Strong and powerful, The Diary of Anne Frank is a classic and plain and simple - a darn good read for any age at any time.

Miep Gies died at the age of 100 this past week, a quiet unassuming hero.

Day Thirteen

The difference between winning and losing is quitting. Ross Perot -corporate magnate (from Dallas Morning News, Business 1/3/10).

Day Thirteen of 2010. Middle of January. This is the time when resolutions begin to falter, when maybe that daily word goal is deemed ridiculous, and when one's plot line goes kerplooey. Quit? Nah!

Sure, maybe I'm slogging along at the scrabbly base of the terrain. But there's scrub to grab (i.e. a new character to create), there's toeholds (a gripping action sequence to write), and sure, there's tumbling rocks (throw in some humor).

Slowly but surely, the words build, grow cohesive, and suddenly I can see my goal, and the next, and the next. So what if there's a few skinned knees (rejections)? That's what bandaids (rewrites) are for.

Write the Opposite

Bedford, Texas January 8, 2010. We actually awoke to 13 degrees. By the time we got our act together to take a picture, the temperature was a balmy 16 degrees outside. BRRRR. This is NOT "normal" Texas winter weather.

Our pool is creating its own winter wonderland effect. Blustery winds blew the water around the fountain and on to the bushes creating frozen fingers and our own icy waterfall.

So I sit cocooned at my desk, layered in t-shirt and sweatshirt along with fuzzy slippers and an afghan (thank you Nana Crowther) at the ready. Now do I write a winter tale ... perhaps an icy scene? Or because I am in the land of make believe, shall I head off to a magical island? Harken to a faraway land down under where in January it is summertime and I can enjoy palm trees and a garden in Roroturo, New Zealand.

I'll do both. Perhaps a poem inspired by this frigid weather, and a shorts wearing travel scene. Get out the sunscreen either way.

Cheesier

I want to win a chance to blow up Texas Stadium ... but darn, Kraft requires one to be between the ages of nine and twelve. They kick off a national essay contest today for kids who have made an "explosive difference" in their community. ( See Dallas Morning News - Irving Region 1/7/10) Whoever wins the 300 word contest will get to push the button that triggers the implosion. How cool is that?

It gets cheesier. Kraft is introducing their new Cheddar Explosion this spring - hence the tie-in. Somehow, Texas Stadium, a famous Dallas (well, in Irving) landmark, is combined with America's Team for the sense of community (then again, the new stadium is in Arlington) and this spirit should be embodied in the essay. I assume a few orange mac 'n cheese fingerprints on the paper can't hurt.

On another note, I've tallied my 2009 production. 30 acceptances - hooray.
166 rejections - sigh

Maybe I should get into photography - say "Cheese".

Master the Job

Bask in the glow of the new year, embrace the world, and seek to put your mark on it.

The Dallas Morning News (Sunday, January 3, 2010) business section featured quotes from various community leaders and I was struck by many of their thoughts and inspirations. Today I quote Ms. Adelfa Callejo, attorney, who likes the saying, "Be a master of the job before you. Be a student of the job above you. And be a teacher of the job below you."

I shall heed these words as I work on re-writes today and study other writers.

A Blank Page

Shakespeare's King Henry the Sixth, Part I: "of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd" (V, ii, 18)
I'd say so if I was facing a bobsled run like this in Park Cities, Utah
Olympians shall face the real ski jumps in February 2010 in Vancouver, BC Canada. Here at Park Cities, Utah athletes train. This picture was taken a few summers ago. I can't imagine facing this slope for the first time. Oh, you work your way up to it, but sooner or later, if this is your life dream you are going to shove off and hope for the best.

Then again, it's 2010 and I face a blank page. Or I face my NaNo novel and delve into serious edits and re-writes. A new year brings new fears or raises some old ones. Take a deep breath and let's address those fears, curse those fears, and plunge ahead to conquer those fears.

I just filled a blank page. Whew!