In the Write Frame of Mind

I find it funny that I started this blog and then became too busy writing to get back to it. Which isn't all bad given that I while I am not doing everything I want at this moment, I am continuing to create.

Right now I am working on a variety of short stories using ideas I've been tossing around my head for years. I'm building up a post apocalyptic world. It's an interesting project as I am trying to keep as much of it as I can somewhat grounded in science and psychology. I spent the weekend out hiking and taking photographs so while I'm writing I have some visual stimulation. Typically I go out hiking to see the full picture. It's not often I head to a gorge with a huge waterfall when the leaves are changing only to be looking at the ground because I think a tiny acorn is cute. That's exactly what happened yesterday. Last night I was so determined to finish the first short story in this world, that I found myself dozing off in the early morning hours. Prevail I did and later today I'll work on editing. The second will follow shortly as I've already scratched it out roughly on paper.

I've also been putting a lot of effort into comedy. I took the better part of two evenings and started going through all my notes, rewriting the two sets I have while looking at how I can use my other observations in the future. It was kind of like stripping off all the meat from a Thanksgiving turkey and then wondering how to make soup out of what was left. It's a fun, creative process and I keep adding to it. It's amazing how fun it can be just trying to find the funny side to anything you see happen. My little pocket notebook is with me at all times just in case inspiration strikes.

Somewhere in all this typing I have a small comedy video script I need to type up. Just a short little video idea I had come up with out of some comments while traveling. Outside of writing it there is no place for me in the actual video, but I'd like to approach a student director with the idea in the near future. I had originally thought to do the video myself but I find that collaborating with others is a lot more fun and opens the door for larger projects.

Of course some of my lack of time has been Facebook rants. I've been speaking out against various misconceptions on gun control, women, genetically modified organisms, politics and religion. The amount of research involved to give an intelligent argument is impressive given the amount of misinformation out there. It worth it to not be part of the problem. I have tried to quiet down at least for a few days so I can get some work done.

So for now I bid thee good day. I have a lot of entertaining projects in the works for you and I look forward to presenting the first one soon.

Just Desserts

I went to a friend's birthday party tonight and before I left the apartment there were two ice cream bars left in the freezer. Part way through the party I received this rather ominous text:

I regret to inform you that a tragic accident befell

one of the salted caramel brothers this evening.

The surviving twin is distraught and is currently

on suicide watch. We will be vigilant in our

 monitoring, we can not guarantee his safety.

 We're sorry for your loss.

I took that as a hint that I probably should have cake if I wanted dessert tonight.

I am a Nerd!

A cartoon poking fun at the subtle differences between the labels geeks, dorks and nerds crossed my path recently. It was a funny cartoon, or at least I enjoyed it, but it got me thinking. When I was younger the terms were pretty much used as the same word. So how did our obsession with labels get us here just so people can slightly differentiate themselves from others? Vanity perhaps? I'm not sure. All I know is that I can still use it to spoil someone's day.

Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Have excessive enthusiasm for a specialized subject? Well you are a fool. A freak if you follow the etymology. That's right, "Freaks and Geeks" is redundant. My favorite though is its prior use as a label for circus performers, especially those who bite the heads off small animals. Not really something to be proud of. It sounds more fitting for Ozzy Osborne back in his early years.

Any Dorks out there? Have odd interests and are a bit silly at time? You are a dick. A penis if you prefer. Either way you have labelled yourself as phallic. Dork didn't make it into Monty Python's "Penis Song" so clearly it wasn't even one of the better options. Even with its current use you are considered less intelligent than nerds or geeks, so it's perfect for the underachiever. 

That brings us to the Nerd. The most noble of creatures found in "If I Ran a Zoo" by Dr. Seuss. A far cry from the computers and poorly chosen glasses that we've come to know. If that wasn't cool enough here's even a candy. Even it's transition from literature to insult is credited to family interaction. It is clearly the superior of the three options, thus the only one fitting of someone of my caliber.

So yes I am a Nerd and I say it proud. Now if only I knew why there is not only a hearse at the McDonald's but also one around the corner at Tops.

Life's Not All Puppies and Sunflowers

How great would it be if life were kittens, cupcakes and lollipops? Not as great as you might think. All I can picture is cat hair covered lollipops. Maybe you could at least get part of the cupcakes hair free but only by losing the top (better known as the best part). Which just leaves the kittens. Not bad until they get to the "I'm going to climb you" stage and you're bleeding more often than not.

What it boils down to is that life is nothing more than our interpretation of it. Ignoring the psychobabble aspects of that, for me it meant decades of looking at things from the negative side of life. I'd say with good reason (if you stick around long enough you'll see why). Oh the stories I could tell. O.K., the stories I will tell. That is all behind me now. I've been looking at life from a different vantage point these days. More outspoken on political and civil rights issues, interested in writing fiction and most importantly... trying to find a reason in everything for people to laugh. What I've been through to get here is now nothing more than resource material for where I'm going.

So here we are; me butchering the English language in an attempt to share my point of view and you waiting to see what sort of polished turd I'm able to pull out of my past experiences for your entertainment. Let us begin.

Text and Photo © 2013 Steven Burke