Saturday, January 5, 2008

It's crowded in here

It’s interesting how other writers have an effect on my life; tonight I realized just how my favorite blogs are subtly directing the brain cells in the back of my headroom.

Tonight, for instance, I watched the sad, touching movie ‘Ikiru,’ a 1952 Japanese pic with English subtitles about a city hall worker who tries to truly experience life before he dies of stomach cancer. Viewed through the time of post-war Japan, it’s uplifting in its own way. Japanese culture has been on my mind since I discovered Kappa no He, a wonderful blog that details Japanese life in delicious, tiny bits. After that, the remote landed on a paintball mockumentary called ‘Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story.’ I partly blame Dawn at It Had to Be Said for this, because I think of her paintball tank while watching this, and thinking how much better the movie could be if she and her tank ran through it.

I’ve started checking out old Erma Bombeck books from the library again, because I can’t get enough of reincarnated Erma, er, Amy, over at Mind Over Mullis. I’m thinking of sending her some very potent vitamins so she can post three times a day. Dave Barry should be polishing this woman’s shiny tiara with his Pulitzer, because she’s going to rack up fame and fortune soon.

Whenever I watch or read something about sassy women, I head over to Confessions of A Fat Chick to see if Jen’s posted about it. Right after the premiere of ‘How to Look Good Naked,’ a great show with Carson from Queer Eye about body image, I rushed over to Jen’s blog for her thoughts.

While writing a meeting travel article about Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill this weekend, I heard Virginia Lee in the back of my mind saying, ‘Make us look good, hon.’ Her fiction always leaves my jaw on the floor, and she has redefined the Southern soul for me.

Rebecca at Writer’s RoundAbout is my online reality check; when I believe I’ve examined a topic from every angle, she always surprises me by posting something unique and helpful. I loved her recent waterfall of ideas post, and I realized that my own waterfall of ideas more likely resembles a dog hiking his leg over a small tree.

There are so many others, like Karen’s amazing Be the Change blog, and I always have to know what Melanie’s up to in Mexico, another blog that fulfills the armchair travel researcher in me. There are so many others that I read frequently as well; it's a wonder that I get any work done at all, really. If I didn't list someone, don't feel bad, because I really do have a terrible memory. Even now, I'm thinking about Joanna's comic blog, Wordsmith and Wordsmyth, and how they deserve some linkage, too. All these viewpoints widen my own horizons, and make life more interesting. Thanks, everyone!

12 comments:

Rebecca Laffar-Smith said...

It really is incredible the impact blogging, bloggers, and reading blogs can have on the way we view our own world. I have learnt so much and look at many things from a different angle thanks to the blogs I delve into during my cyber travels.

Thank you so much for the link love and I'm glad you enjoyed The Idea Waterfall. I love your comparison, I just hope that dog doesn't start a real cascade because that wouldn't be pretty. Perhaps you need to find a decent waterfall to wash off in. ;-)

Virginia Lee said...

Lordy, hon. My haidbone's going to be so big I shan't be able to get through a doorway any time soon.

Thank you, dear Plaidy, for saying such lovely things. You have given me a boost I didn't even realize I needed until I got it.

XOXO

the Bag Lady said...

Found your blog through Virginia Lee's, and, be warned, the Bag Lady will be coming back here! We have so much in common - not least of which is the left-handedness (it was my mother who refused to allow the teacher to switch me!) This is what is so great about blogging!

Unknown said...

Aren't blogs great? What did we ever do before them? lol (Um...in my case, I probably got a lot more other stuff done. *s*)

Speaking of How to Look Good Naked, I saw an episode of that yesterday where Carson was working with Layla. I was going to post it on Confessions last night, but I kept having major 'net issues (booted goodness knows how many times - I hate dial-up), so it'll be posted later today. :)

Amy Mullis said...

The best part is that this is a two-way mirror. While you're looking through at us, we're looking through at you thinking, "Now why couldn't I have said it like that?" Thanks for the link, but thanks even more for all the creativity and insight we get from you. Keep up the good work--I'm stealing all your best lines!

Kappa no He said...

Thank you sweety! Just yesterday (or was it the day before?) I added you to my little scrolly, friendy thing on the side of the my blog. What IS that called? I really have no modern day jargon. And I have got to watch that movie (Ikiru), heard a lot about it.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Aww, thanks for the mention. It still seems strange to me that people I don't know (in the real world) are interested in my boring life. I just received an email from someone in Hawaii who's following along. This is pressure!

And like Amy said, I often read your posts and wish I could've said it that way!

Karen Fisher-Alaniz said...

Thanks for the mention Plaid. So many great blogs, so little time. And then there's my husband who barely knows what a blog is...haha. How did THAT happen? ~Karen

Jessi said...

I'm the same way. I have so many bloggers that will instantly pop into my mind when I see something on tv or online. It's crazy how much of an effect everyone really seems to have.

Unknown said...

Thanks for all the great comments, guys! As soon as I saw your comment, Jessi, I realized, I forgot Quirky Jessi! Bad plaid! And welcome to Bag Lady, hope to see you again soon!

political wife said...

It is amazing how we end up shaping each other's lives...it's synergy in action. Thanks for the linkage, Plaid! :) This blogging thing is just so cool...and it's true...so many good blogs, so little time.

Unknown said...

Tag! You're it! (check my blog for more details!)