And Some More

Those of you who follow this blog know I like to post some Great Lines, which I usually label (for some crazy reason) Evershades (see the full list HERE). Well, I ran across a few more. The whole list has to be in the hundreds. I should really thank all these great people for expressing my thoughts on my behalf.  (Truth? One of these posters is actually me, it’s my nomme de plume!)

This is from NIN Lyrics Bot (I can't imagine a better name!)

I can still feel you . . . even so far away.

I can't do better than perfection . . . but I might add . . . especially at nights! or especially when falling asleep.

Bella Alarie and Writing

I was reminded of a discussion I had with Will recently while watching some basketball games with my ten year old son who is completely and utterly a basketball fan. It's for Under Armor (I think) and stars Bella Alarie. 

I say "I think" because I can't seem to find it on the web, otherwise I would send a link. Regardless, she narrates the commercial and discusses how she felt like an impostor. She reviewed good things that she had done to help get her into the mindset to conquer. I've heard the same thing about coaches in the NFL, who will watch tape of their games and instead of focusing on what the players have done poorly, they will focus on the things they did well. It goes back to something I tell my teams at work, we have to promote our wins more than our failures. We have to be our own best cheerleaders, because there is no guarantee anyone else will know about them.

Regarding writing strategies, I'll say this: first, like I said in my original reply to him, be ready for "writing" to mean mostly "re-writing." I say this again to reinforce it, but also because this has been the biggest surprise to me in writing long drafts of papers and books. It's the most surprising aspect I've found yet. So be ready to edit, rewrite and move on. Also, I think I would say, when the feeling to write strikes, take full advantage. I find that I'll feel a pull to get things done and just sit there and churn through for a few hours on my novels. 

Sure, there is the day to day grind, but then there are those writing frenzies. Take advantage of both. Finally, you were asking about parsing down too much. It's always a concern. There's a fine line between saying too much with too much flourish and writing too little. I think the best answer to that comes with "trusted readers." I completely expect to have my friend Andrew read the heck out of my writing when it comes time and since he doesn't work as much in my area of interest, I think hearing back from someone like him would be invaluable, especially when it comes to making links and building the dissertation. 

More Great Lines

 Saw these and thought I would post them. If you haven’t been keeping up with these Great/Evershade lines/labels (see HERE) then you should go back and read em. They’re some wonderful little nuggets in here, and I think I’ve added about 100 posts or more, so tons of content. Enjoy!

This from Call Sign Siren. It's a great one.

Some hearts just feel like you've known them forever. 

Isn’t this true? Some people you meet and BOOM you know you’ve known them your whole life and always will. 

Ran Into Some More

 I ran into a few more quotes that really resonated with me and I felt compelled to share them (see them all HERE)… Instead of retyping them I just did some screenshots and I don’t think that they need much comment they kind of stand on their own real well. 

This first is from Mrs Great White North (of course) 

A divine love affair cannot be born of wavering attention. 

To that I say "Undoubtedly!" and I'd add . . . it can't continue to survive in that environment either!

This next is from sisisterverbs (a name I love). 

How many more nights must I die to live in your heart?

This next is even better. J Jay writes:

I want a person who comes into my live by accident, and stays on purpose. 

Isn't that great? That idea of staying on purpose. It's so much like the one about not wanting wavering attention. 

These next two are also by sinisterverbs. They are just as compelling. 

You have no idea how long it lasts on a woman's mind, something you said. 

I must be a woman! Cause I've still got things on my mind from years ago!

I waited for you, you know, for a long time I did, for a long time I cried for you, I missed you, I asked heaven to come back, . . . but you never did. 

Evershade, evershades, ever shade, ever shades, shades of Betsy

An Inspiring First Line

 So I read a few months back, forgot to post this, but it’s a great resource. Might be the best yet in this journey. I've already cited this book twice (see here and here), but that should only show you how great a resource it is. 

The first line is inspirational.

Throughout the ages, people have pursued the upper limits of their capabilities. They have answered the call to adventure, learning, and high achievement. Completing the dissertation journey is an adventure in learning and personal growth, the outcome of which can result in extraordinary accomplishment and contribution. Unquestionably, obtaining a doctorate degree (e.g., EdD, PhD, DBA, etc.) is the summit of academia—the highest degree any university can bestow. This journey to “doctor” is difficult, with obstacles and demands along the way; however, once completed, the pride and exultation are a lifelong affirmation.

The Dissertation Journey - Roberts, Carol M.,Hyatt, Laura 

Everyone Has a Jenny

I got the chance to see Forrest Gump with my youngest son this weekend. It's such a solid movie, and there was lots to discuss with him, but what I found interesting were his views on Jenny. 

Are all sorts of meme's and discussion posts and controversies about Jenny and how badly she treats Forest. Personally, I think Jenny's story is there to help us appreciate Forest's journey. You have the ynig and yang, the good and the bad. The viewer gets to see how good parenting effects kids when they grow and how bad parenting affects people. You get to see good choices vs bad choices and how they effect people around you and others in the world. You get to see how tendencies to do good or bad stay with people throughout their lives. Without Jenny's miserable story, Forrest's story is less impactful.

Losing Smell

 The other day I posted about how I contracted Covid. I tested positive and that night I realized I couldn't smell the coffee that I was making. It took less than 12 hours from the time I tested positive that I lost my sense of smell and it effected me far more than I would have ever thought. 

I have heard from others about the loss of sense from others. Tommy, Sarah, Maria, all of them have told me about it when they had to deal with Covid themselves, but it was mostly just one more data point that I would log. Once it occurs to you it changes the perspective. 

Some More Great Ones

 I've run into a few more great lines that I've cataloged into my "Ever Shade" label (see here) for posterity. They all come from the same aggregator, and I may have . . . "may" have . . . changed a word or two. 

The first is apropos for this blog:

I fall in love with books more than people.

How true is that. I can think of hundreds and dozens of books that I've loved. I won't say the second half of that statement, but it's a truism aint it?

Another Great One

 This one is similar to one I posted a while back (see here), as a part of my ever shades post (see here) or is it evershade? Maybe evershades? Regardless, I'm not sure why I didn't post this then. Maybe times have changed, maybe I was just listening at the right moment this time. 

I don't normally listen to Adele or country music. Too many memories and thoughts that I'd rather avoid. My children don't hold to the same guideance however so the other day someone asked Alexa to play Hello by Adele, and it was this that hit me.

Hello from the other side

I must've called a thousand times

To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done

But when I call, you never seem to be home

Lines On Love

 I ran into these few lines today which I thought fit perfectly with my Ever Shade label (see here). Most of these are on love and loving others. 

The first is a good one. A quick, somewhat deep one that hit me.

Just a forever love kind of guy living in a temporary love kind of world.

Bye-bye Doesn't Mean Forever

Just like this post (see HERE) and the song "Afternoon Delight" in Arrested Development (see HERE), it's always fun when you listen to a song with new eyes (or ears) and discover something about it you didn't ever realize was there. 

I was always a huge fan of Colin Powell's. I was in the military when he was not in the Military or politics, but he was one reason (among many) that I joined. I read My American Journey when it first came out in 1995 and it helped inspire me to enlist. I heard that there were a lot of references to Abba at Colin Powell's funeral this past week. He was a huge fan and in one story about him, he recited the lyrics of Abba's Mamma Mia to the Swedish ambassador. 

Therefore I went back to look at the lyrics and wow, I was stunned. I didn't know it was such an covertly deep song. The treacly music masks something deeper. 

How Has This Not Made the List Yet?

 When I was in college, I was the captain and president of the lacrosse team, and for a short time the “face off” specialist. My buddy Jay and I had a technique where I would clamp the ball on the whistle, spin my back onto the other player, and then flip the ball directly to Jay as he raced towards us. He wouldn’t he have to move his stick, I’d just be able to pop it directly to him and off he raced for a goal. 

That could have been the apex of my life (been nadirs ever since?)

These Hit Me As Well

 I ran across a few lines that hit me so much I thought I would share (like these). They come from a different source, anonymous this time, so I hope they don't mind me posting them. I doubt that they do.

The first I liked because so often water and waves and the ocean are used in analogies. Probably because it's something everyone can relate to and it never stops moving. 

I was sand

you were waves.

Every time you inched closer,

you pulled away.

Shouting in the Wilderness

 Feels like I'm shouting into the wilderness with these posts now . . . talking to no one . . . maybe this label group of ever shade has run its course (see here), but I saw a few more that hit me.

Molly writes:

All I want is peace and sweep me off my feet chemistry.
Fuck! Why is it that hard?

Write Everyday

My colleague, Anne, and I were on a team recently, and she brought up a great line from our book. She wrote that we as students writing our dissertation need to write from the “outset of their study.” 

Although I was not struck by that particular line and page as Anne was saying, but I will say that I have heard similar advice from many people in my journey so far. The most prescient being "write a little everyday." I might not be following that to a "T" just yet, but I am "moving forward every week." 

Adjustment Bureau Line Almost

 I ran across a silly movie that I watched on a plane years ago. It's a Matt Damon and Emily Blunt vehicle, and honestly, I don't know how it got made. The writing is pretty standard, the story is silly, the scope is limited. The acting is good, but that's because it has so many good actors in it. 

At the end of the Adjustment Bureau the two main characters who are in love have to risk their lives and their futures for each other and there's potentially wonderfully soliloquy on the verge of being delivered. It doesn't come. Instead there is a humdrum couple of lines about risk and love.