289
Do you want to be 290?
Some days I miss my old blog. When I came to Substack, I deleted it. It just felt like time for a new start. Substack is a place for WRITERS, and I’ve been a bit intimidated about just writing to write. I brought over the subscribers to my old blog, and most of them have stayed. I imagine that many of them blocked my email address long ago and have no idea that I’ve moved, nor do they care. So there are 289 subscribers to this blog (hey, will you be #290? ha!). When I hit 300 maybe I’ll have a celebration with a giveaway! Or maybe I’ll be even more intimidated about writing just to stay in touch.
I want to say at this point that this post has no big point, I’m just checking in with you.
That’s what a web-log was for - staying in touch, not just creative writing. I’ve tried my hand at some different kinds of writing here. Flash fiction based upon a writing prompt from another Substack. Short fiction (actually my most popular post so far!). One post was all polls. But no posts just checking in to say hello. Facebook killed those kinds of posts as we see our lunch food photos and cute memes and allow ourselves to be outraged at how crooked someone parked at WalMart.
My “About” page says that what you’ll find here is mostly “Christianity, books, television, photography, and other miscellany.” I added the ‘other miscellany’ as an out - permission to post whatever I want. So when I get that notice that someone has unsubscribed, I know they’ve had enough of this Substack. I understand that. I unsub (and cringe, because I know they are getting that email) a lot because I sign on to too many Substacks. More than I can read. So I do a lot of scanning. I see so many awesome posts, and I’m sure I miss many of them too.
It’s been fun gathering some new friends here as well. Thanks for making me feel welcome.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading - which I love to do but never have enough time to read everything I’d like to. Because Brandon Edwards is teaching through Mere Christianity, I’ve been reading the C. S. Lewis classic. I really wish I had read this when I was a young person. It is very enriching to my faith. I’ve also been reading Charles Dickens’ unfinished tale The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Unfortunately, Mr. Dickens left this life before he could finish the story. If you ask why I’m reading a book that is a mystery and I know it is unfinished, I really cannot tell you. In my Bible readings, I’m in Jeremiah, then Lamentations, then Ezekiel. This is the gauntlet for me, but I’m determined (and I have a cast of others reading with me, so I can’t let them down). I also have bookmarks in a dozen other books that I’m not making much progress through.
While I read I usually have a YouTube video going in the background. Nothing to distract me, but enough to keep me from being distracted by the noise around. Something like Classical Music for Reading. Some people can read in front of the television with a program blaring. That has never been me.
(I love the polls on Substack!)
I’ve been struggling with an inflamed achilles heel for about three weeks and it is finally feeling a little better. This has kept me from my treadmill walks at the gym (can I admit that I’m a little glad to have the excuse?). Hopefully, I can get back in that habit soon.
When the cooler weather hit this week I have wanted to go out to Black Bayou so bad, but I just haven’t been able to get it in. I will get back out there soon.
I’ve imbibed two things that a lot of people proclaim to hate. I usually try to wait for October, but life is short. So I’ve already enjoyed some candy corn and pumpkin spice latte. If you’re a hater, you can save it. Nothing can talk me out of my enjoyment of these Autumn treats.
We are having Recovery Month at at our church, and I love being reminded that we all are in recovery from something. I also note that when I meet someone who is growing through their sobriety, I am meeting an amazing person.
Well, this is getting long and I still haven’t said anything about gnomes, or coffee, or solar lights or grilling hamburgers or going to Hobby Lobby with my mother today. Hobby Lobby - where bric-a-brac for all seasons exists on a concurrent basis. Honestly, I’m sure I could have found some Easter bunnies or Valentine's hearts in there if I had looked for them. Anyway, I have to save something for another time. Unsub if you must, I won’t blame you. But every once in a while I’m just going to check in with anyone who’ll spend a few minutes. It’s not great literary art, but you didn’t expect that anyway. I think I’m not going to share this on Facebook. They have enough to read.
If everyone who reads this far would click on the heart that would be awesome.
Both of you, please.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. - Philemon 25
There's a lot I could respond to there John! For now, I'll add a caveat to my vote on the poll. I said that I need quiet, but that's not strictly true. Most of what I read is non-fiction, and for that I tend to need either silence or to be in a very busy public place; for fiction, however, I could happily listen to music, and sometimes do, but it has to be either in German or have no lyrics at all.
Thanks so much for that link to Classical Music for Reading, John - I'm sure I'll make a lot of use of it! So glad you're on here and that we're connected.