An O-pun Letter to Ms. Christy Lemire, AP Film Critic

Posted by C.J.

Dear Ms. Lemire:

In your short review of Hotel for Dogs last week, you included the following:

“It’s not that director Thor Freudenthal’s film sits up on its hind legs and shamelessly begs for approval; on the contrary, it performs a few tricks, then rolls over on its back and plays dead. (Sorry, had to go there, the metaphor was irresistible.)”

Always remember and never feghoot, there’s no reason to apologize, Ms. Lemire. There’s no shame in puns or humorous metaphors, and don’t let your friends and family try to tell you otherwise. In spite of their groans and protests, deep down they know they are just jealous of your ability to dance among homonyms and identify with idioms.

Be brave. Stand strong. The pun is mightier than the word.

Sincerely,

C.J.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Finally Get It (18 Years Later)

Posted by C.J.

When I was in school, my writing profs discussed “interacting with the page.” I never understood what they were talking about. I assumed it was high-brow, hoity-toity writer crap. So, since I am neither high-brow nor hoity-toity, I let it pass. Now I’m beginning to get it.

Around the same time I started this blog, I pulled out an old journal that a friend had given me as a gift. I’d never been much for journaling. I couldn’t get the right tone and wasn’t sure what to write about. Any time I’ve tried keeping a journal, I’d write in it for a few days, realize that what I wrote didn’t sound like me, and scrap it. Nevertheless, I figured that a paper journal would be a good way for me to scratch out my thoughts for blog posts, so I retrieved it from the junk drawer.

As it turns out, I can’t keep blog thoughts on paper. It feels weird to even write “blog” in a journal. I guess I have two writing zones in my head–one for blogs and one for paper–and they’re incompatible.

The way I think about writing in a blog post is very different from how I think about writing in a journal. When I write for the blog, I think about which links and photos will enhance the post. I keep paragraphs shorter, but am more careful with sentence structure. Journaling, however, allows me to scratch out ideas quickly. I cross out and write over words. I write in margins and draw arrows to connect ideas. And the ideas I write in my journal are distinct from anything I’d put on this blog. It’s puzzling.  

That said, you’d think I’d drop one writing project and focus on the other. I’m not that bright. Besides, I kind of like the sound of a good pen scratching over paper.

Challenges of a Personal Blog

Posted by C.J.

Boy, it’s hard to find the time to blog about one’s personal life. I started this blog to journal life events and dreams, but I’ve quickly found out that the life I’m blogging about doesn’t leave much time for writing.

When I get home from work, we eat dinner, go to the kids’ soccer or T-ball games, come home, put the kids down for bed (a favorite part of my day), and then spend some time as a couple. Then it’s time for bed. Blogging doesn’t seem to fit in.

I tried to get up this morning to write a post, but the Internet was down. Foiled again!

It’s okay. I have posts floating around in my head, which is entertaining in its own right (and makes the work day go by a little faster). I may not get them all onto the blog, but I’ll do my best. It’s a challenge I never foresaw when I started this project.

Lesson learned.