Saturday, December 27, 2008

The Diaryer

This is the first day of my blog, unless you count the ones I spent procrastinating. I did a little reconnaissance on the web, and it turns out the web had room for one more blog, so I thought: might as well be this one. There's really only one downside to this venture, and that is the fact that I will have to use the word "blogger" from time to time, which, as has been pointed out previously by others, is an unhandsome word. I scouted about for a replacement, but all I could come up with was "diaryer", which has problems of its own.

Another potential drawback is that this might take some time. But I thought I could reallocate some of the time I devote to staring into space, and stare at an empty screen instead, and it might be just as satisfying. We just had ourselves an unusual white Christmas here, and I had nowhere I needed to go, so I spent some of it gazing at the snow. There were little birdie feetprints in it--that never fails to charm--and there were also a few mystery holes, with steam wafting out, left by the guest dogs we hosted for the last few days. I'm hoping, as I stare at the empty screen, I can produce more feetprints than steaming holes.

I plan to do a little observing, and a little poking around in my memory, which I can count on to be unreliable. It'll be interesting to see what-all is in there, since I suspect any resemblance to reality is likely to be thin. I always find life interesting, but then again--as people tell me when they're feeling charitable--I'm easily amused. Just the other day, a sunbeam came in and illuminated a particularly valiant dust bunny charging out from under my bed, and when I went to fetch it, I noticed: huh. There's enough material here to make an actual bunny. So I spent the next ten minutes trying to prod lint into little ears and tails. The results didn't really meet my artistic standards, but at least I wasn't wasting time. At any rate, if my life isn't interesting, I have no compunction about making stuff up. That's already what I do with my past. I don't know if my memories correspond to actual events, or if I've slabbed them together out of bits of photographs and fancies and stories from the grownups. But as I recall it, my childhood, fictional though it may be, was pretty grand. The present is fogging over as fast as it rolls out. I can get two or three readings out of a mystery novel before I begin to suspect whodunit. I won't remember what you just told me, and I'm not all that sure how to navigate to the end of my own sentences. Sometimes, when I finally beach myself on my own point, I'm as surprised as anyone. What won't I think of next? So inasmuch as I've gotten myself this far without an operating memory, I think the odds are good that I can make up my future too. Maybe that's what I'm doing here.

18 comments:

  1. Murr - Oh what a joy to have your fresh musings available now via instant Internet gratification. I am proud and happy to be your very first blog-follower. (Another unhandsome hyphenated nightmare...ah well.) Keep 'em coming. - Uncle Walt

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  2. Me o My o Murr - You are going to make an emailer out of me after all. How can I resist checking on your daily musings??? Why it would almost be like having you in my very own kitchen or my being in yours....................Linder

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  3. Snow? What snow? OK, we did hear you had some up there. So you're an artist too! Very well done. Thanks for sharing with this very jealous ex-Portlander who got a total of about 1/2" of white but although winter is just starting I doubt we can top yours. Blog on!

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  4. Well, you can have me as a follower and let's see if you get this.
    Janie

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  5. Never a disappointment. Keep the feetprints coming.

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  6. Congratulations Murr on getting the link corrected. I was disappointed to come up with a blank page. I love your writing.

    I suggest you add some dryer lint to your next dust bunny and finish with a little Niagara spray starch. Eileen from Estacada

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  7. Your kitty is proper acknowledgement of your hiding Tater. Loved your musings and amusings. Grace

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  8. I am reminded of the 'mental health' day I took years ago from the classroom.... I spent the entire day making a 1/2" x 1/2" pilgrim hat for my small crow (the one you long ago sent a hard hat for). I made the initial trial hat out of old innerfacing. Then I completed the final one and pinned it on her head. Now, I just bake bologna sandwich cookies. I will look forward to more from you! Maybe more dust bunnie creations, I liked the spray starch suggestion.

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  9. I'm a Beginner Blogger. (Does that make me a BloB?) Your postings are WAY better than my usual solitare games for entertainment. Looking forward to lots more. -elizabeth & bisca

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  10. I consider it a great blessing in my life that I know people who can help me with my computer and I also know people who know how to make lint sculptures. With a reference liberry like that, who needs a memory?

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  11. Thanks, Murr, for some good laughs and good writing. Your example makes it tempting to join the community of bloggers, BloBs, and all--but only as soon as a beautiful appellation presents itself. Who wants to be the agonistic growl halfway to the lungs of a journaler? and "diaryer"? Definitely problems. Rosemary, who doesn't understand profile choices

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  12. Murr - I am so proud of you, and Marg would just be beside herself......she always said you could and should write. I always said the same about her.....now keep it up, you are writing some lines for the two of you.....how very proud she is of "her Mary".....You make me think deeply and I am loving it......keep the thoughts coming...jamie 10-11-09

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  13. I'm a Beginner Blogger. (Does that make me a BloB?) Your postings are WAY better than my usual solitare games for entertainment. Looking forward to lots more. -elizabeth & bisca

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  14. Your kitty is proper acknowledgement of your hiding Tater. Loved your musings and amusings. Grace

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  15. Congratulations Murr on getting the link corrected. I was disappointed to come up with a blank page. I love your writing.

    I suggest you add some dryer lint to your next dust bunny and finish with a little Niagara spray starch. Eileen from Estacada

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  16. Snow? What snow? OK, we did hear you had some up there. So you're an artist too! Very well done. Thanks for sharing with this very jealous ex-Portlander who got a total of about 1/2" of white but although winter is just starting I doubt we can top yours. Blog on!

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  17. Here I am right at the beginning of your archives, looking forward to many happy hours of reading and laughing.

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  18. Holy cow. Even I've never tried that. Do get back to me and let me know what you think.

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