My sister, "Just Cathy," e-mailed me this morning and, referring to Open Salon, asked, "Isn't this fun?"
Here's my response. (By the way, I just spent an hour trying to upload a few photos recording my transformation from the picture, above left, to how I look since losing my OS virginity, with special effects, and failed. It was not a pretty sight.)
Ahem. Here's my response:
Dear Cathy:
Yes! Real fun!
[Here's a special effects photo of my face all twisted up.]
However. Joining OS has just activated in me, like a dormant virus, this obsessive compulsive thing. All morning I've been thinking of topic after topic -- from "knit happens" to a treatise on neurobiochemistry and interictal seizure disorders and, of course, an essay on Sisters. Oh, and another cat one about how Jack the cat just taught me how to play fetch.
My mind is now alive with thoughts and screeching like monkeys. I've not only started mentally scripting essays but am editing them!
And perfectionism is already traveling its familiar neuropathways in my head -- right on schedule when I want to step out of my safety zone. My inner critic, Sr. Sharon, is reminding me my mind bites will have to be compelling, original, creative, humorous, and intelligent. And no dangling participles with.
And then and only then will I present a fully stuffed blog, like a Thanksgiving turkey on a platter, to my adoring public of four persons on my vacuous site.
I've been in my mind and imagination all morning and it's driving me to distress-tion!!!
(Sister Sharon's reminding me it's bad form to start paragraphs with "I".)
Now, on top of all the sticky labels I've got on my chest, I'm an OS: Obsessive Saloner! Sheesh! And that makes me think of genetics and choice. Am I merely my DNA or do I have choice?
See?!!!!! Now I've got to find another frigg'n 12-step group.
Besides you and Mary, two strangers wrote to me about my sweet and fluffy piece on my daughter's new cat, Jack, and it's like my ego swelled up like a hot air balloon and I'm full of it -- hot air that is.
So, instead of writing, I'm going to close my Mac lap trap and pick up my knitting and find my no-mind place -- where all the bees in my head go back to the hive.
[Here's where I had a photo of me knitting with serenity in The Zone.]
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Comments
wschanz: Thanks for the encouragement. I don't even know how you even found my post. Again, Clueless.
Andy: Don't you dare!!! I will never accuse you of being garrulous.
Ocularnervosa: Love your name! Okay. I've considered myself very well read and am a voracious reader and raised our girls without television for 20 years, and I have no idea what your comments means. But I'm teachable. Help?
It doesn't help that I close it up real fast when I hear him coming down the hall! Me no I'm not addicted...I'm not, really!! I think your screwed..
Welcome. Best I can tell you have wit and smarts to spare and will have a lot of fun here. And dangling participles be damned!
Glad to meet ya and you just write what you want.
I have always thought I could get folks here to read my grocery list and add comments.
You come from a fine family of writers here already.
I am a mental writer, too. Since I joined OS, I find words keep running through my mind until I can find the time to sit down in front of a computer and dump them out.
I am also a big knitter - especially once the weather starts cooling down. Maybe we can start our own OS knitters group!
But now you have way too many comments to be ignored and will undoubtedly ignore me....so I am moving on before you break my OSer heart!
Hussy!!! : )
Randal McMurphy
We are on OS,...right? : )
Welcome to the community.
There's chocolate ice cream in the fridge when you make it to the ninth level of OS!! ;)
That is some impressive gene pool in your family. Welcome!
Ric: Aw shucks. Do I have to? No! No! I don't wanna. Also see my comment on your post on the best reference guide on the net. Thanks!
Lunchlady2: Yeah, I totally identify. In fact, if I get too much deeper into OS, pretty soon I'll be hiding my computer like a alcoholic stashes booze -- like zip wrapped and taped behind a toilet tank, or hidden at the bottom of a laundry basket because no one's gonna look there except me. Who else is going to do the dirty laundry? Huh?
Trig: Yep. Another sister. Thanks for your encouragement and relieving me of the guilt related to dangling participles. I might use them as christmas tree lights this year -- dangle them over the fireplace too, if I had one.
Mission: glad to see you too. And next time I'll write about my wal mart shopping list -- 35 minutes away, it's the closets thing to a department store here. The next nearest is four hours away.
Chuck: Thanks for the info. I had a hunch about that but now it's confirmed! I'll have to go back to the Windy City and snoop around.
Mamoore: Yippee! Another mental writer. Most of all, the knitting. My god. never expected that to hit me over the head six years ago. And to give up reading and writing for it? I was mezmorized by it. I have so many stories about impossible coincidences associated with it and the stuff I make is insane -- no baby booties or boyfriend sweaters for me. It's wild stuff. Yes, I would love an OS knitting circle!!!!! Count me in.
JD: Thanks for finding me and making me feel really really swell today -- at least my head swelled big time. And way to many comments? Are you kidding? I'm used to reading my sister Mary's blogs with like hundreds of responses. I don't know how she does it. And feel free to flatter me any old time. I'm horribly vain and love what you said!! Thanks! Loved reading you as well.
vzn: I'm learning and thanks for the great advice. Loved reading you! See my comment. And of course rated. And why did I ever mention the neurobiochemical thingy! Aargh. Gotta get away from that one. If I got onto that topic you'd feel like the dead fish flopping around for a breath of water when the ocean gets sucked out prior to a tsunami. Don't want to go there!
Tom: I love your straightforward "welcome to the asylum." An asylum from troubles? Asylum for the mentally ill? Asylum from prosecution? All of the above? I'm falling asleep and getting too tired to make up more asylums.
Marytkelly: Well, sister, thanks again for getting me into this new disorder. And of course you had to look up to me -- I am 5 foot 10 inches tall. I loved how you loved me. Now the tables are turned! And I'm not sure how healthy this one will be for me when I'm all ready trying to hide with my computer in the crawlspace beneath our house or thinking of hiding the computer like an alcoholic booze. Hmmm..
And thanks so much for taking the time to help me with the photos. But now that I'm exposed to the all-ecompassing-ness of OS, I can't imagine you'll have the time. I mean look at your readership!!! Thanks for being excited I'm here. You pulled me in so thanks a whole lot.
JD: Yes! And thanks for weloming me in.
tinkerertink69: Whew I just finished reading you! Wow! I hope there are enough words in Webster to sustain you. You are prolific. But if you run into trouble go to Ric's Martindale's site and it will keep your train of thought hissing with health like a train.
Okay, so what do you get at P2? Frozen tap water? Where's the vanilla level? Gotta have something to keep me going to get that chocolate at 9! Better than what Dante offers in his levels of hell. Oh dear! Thanks for getting me in the know! Oooooh. Hot chocolate souffle? Is it possible? Yum!
as for neurobiochemistry.. "If I got onto that topic you'd feel like the dead fish flopping around for a breath of water when the ocean gets sucked out prior to a tsunami."
er, I think coincidentally theres some related law that implies that dead fish cant flop around. but if it were indeed possible, it would surely happen here on OS
=)
You are off and running here and most of my faves on here have discovered you without the help of your other OSisters! Great fun with this post and thanks, kiddo, for the plug for your big/older sis!
Gwool: Gee, Wool, are you trying to pull some over my head with the Cordle thing? Me thinks so. So if Cordle is no McMurphy, who's McMurphy?
And on level 1, you get candy, 1 piece for every article you write!! It keeps us going to make it to those other levels!! ;)
The best part of getting to join this OS community is getting to read all of you! I'm humbled and hungry for more! I can see there's no shortage of people and opinions here. What a Smörgåsbord!
Just keep writing and don't think too much of it--the more you do it, the less you overthink each post. It's like anything else in life--you're nervous and self-conscious at first and then it just feels natural. And it definitely is addicting--I stayed home a lot before I found OS, but now, it's getting scary. Welcome! I'm going to read your cat post now :)
(thumbified for addiction)
Welcome.
Jodi: Yep. You got me on the addiction thing. I'm full fledged enthusiastic and passionate about anything I do -- good or bad. It has its drawbacks but I try not to notice.
Cath: What can I say? Thanks thanks thanks! It really is a game, isn't it. One in which you never catch up, never win or lose. My kinda game!
Really, nobody ever pulled that joke before?
Nice to meet you. :)
Brie: Thanks. Love yours, Homie!
Welcome
Welcome, welcome to OS.
Looking forward to your good work.
Rated for good genes.
Oh I saw the picture/evidence. You're aces.
This is too funny! I'm the same way of course, constantly thinking to myself, "What can I blog about next?"
Adam: So do ! Now that I find how OS can be so distracting, I'm going to have to stay away from OS if I want my Knit to Happen.
Jeanette: Ah, an OS mate. I've been head drafting for 3 days on a quick short one. I need to get it out and onto OS so I can stop the excess obsess.
Mary: Glad you took to me for your headache and not the Ambien. Or maybe the Ambien made you do it!!! Sorry about your massive headache. I hope you were able to escape it with sleep. You should have called me. I could have talked on and on and on and on about ME and you would have fallen asleep instantly! Love you!!!
I'm supposed to bring Maguy to Denver today (Thursday) for neurology appointment tomorrow morning. You know how much I love, not, that 5-6 hour drive from Crested Butte to the east side of Denver. But she's seizing and I hate to drive when she's in a seizure and grabs the door handle or the steering wheel during them. A catch-22!!
We always friend anyone who posts about cats. . .
fatRocco and feralRusty
ps are you on facebook? we are!