First Lines Second Time

 This will be my second time to start a first lines post. The first time was for the other blog (see HERE) and it was one of my favorite series. 

I read a blog post by Jay Nordlinger and all he did was talk about the importance of great first lines. I ho-hummed it. I think the totality of the work matters so much more than that first line. I've changed my mind. The first line, the first passage, the first paragraph, the first chapter, they're all critical. 

Priorities

I was thinking about priorities. There was a podcast wherein they discussed how much work there is out there to be done. Basically if you have a worker, we have the work for em. I think about my folks at work. They are overwhelmed with work. They have to prioritize. 

Then I also think about that gal who came to work a few weeks back, new on the job. By the middle of the morning she had her head down on the desk bored and exhausted. She looked up and said, “is there any room for advancement at this job?” All of my advancement, and the advancement I promote comes by way of more work. Her words should have been, “anything I can help with?” Overload yourself with work, and the advancement will come. 

Howard Roark Laughed

I've always liked Howard Roark more than I have John Galt in Atlas Shrugged. Part of it might be the first sentence… Don't we all wanna know why he laughed? Who the hell cares who John Galt is when you can try and find out why Howard is laughing. 

I'm done that one class so that means I have a little bit of time… I decided to read one of my favorite books… Last time it was Lonesome Dove this time it's the fountainhead

New Perspective on Clara's Hands

This is without a doubt my favorite book. I remember when it came out. It was on sale at the middle school book sale in St. John's Gym. My mother bought it there. I almost bought it myself but it was so big I was scared away. But, now, almost 40 years later, it's without a doubt my favorite book. 

The last few weeks have been perhaps the busiest I've had in a long long time. Work has been crazy both politically organizationally and in terms of volume… School has been crazy; I've got two classes going at the same time plus I'm writing my dissertation… Then there's just a general hoi polloi of having two children and a wife who works and travels… But I figured out why I have felt so busy and overwhelmed and it's primarily because I trusted Julie. About a month ago when I wasn't busy Julie recommended I read the Thornbirds instead of reading Lonesome Dove. So I read Thornbirds and it was as good as she said it might be. 

Do Leopards Ever Change Their Spots? What About Stripes on a Tiger?

We've heard the saying, a leopard never changes his spots . . . or is it a tiger can't change his stripes? Which is it? I guess, after my slight google search, it's leopard.

Why does this have anything to do with my life?

A Heady Love Affair

I'm reading a great book about the ambassador to Germany during Hitlers rise to power. One of the main stories that the author focuses on is the story of the ambassador's daughter, Martha. She was a bit of a romantic to put it lightly. She slept around a lot with a lot of men, even when she was married, and with many, many married men. She hopped around a lot. 

Still I see some of my life in her. There are moments when she writes that hit me right in the heart. 

Lot to Love

My BFF told me to go read the Thornbirds by Colleen McCoullough. It was an interesting choice. I remember my mother reading it when I was very young because she was inspired by the mini-series. So, I must have been in third grade since it came out in '83.

So I took a month or so off to focus on enjoying a good book. I read so much non-fiction and text books and articles, it's nice to sit back and enjoy a read. And, it's a terrific book. Lyrical. Like reading James Dickey or Patrick McCormick (two of my favorites), so I'm glad she recommended it. 

Problems with Ducks

 Anyone who reads this blog knows I have a problem with ducks. 

I have a long history with ducks, none of it good. And it keeps getting worse. I don’t know which I dislike more, ducks or squirrels. Kinda a toss up really. 

Risk and Unease

I finished Risk the other day. I’m in the UK, I have some time, I read a Dick Francis I’ve never read before. If you’re surprised by any of that, then you don’t know me well. 

I forgot to post the first line, so I’ll do it here. 

I Want to Go to This Cafe!

I’m great with deadlines I’ve found. I do NOT wait till the last minute. In these Master’s level classes we are always doing work in teams. I’ve found that in work that requires a team, I’m the task master and the leader, even if the team doesn’t want it. Imagine, since I’m reading this series, Hermione Granger. That’s me. When the assignment comes in, I do it. My papers are completed the first week the syllabus comes out, not the night before. 

But this cafe (see HERE) would still be a great thing for me, or for those who wait till the last day.