Sunday, June 14, 2009

Out of the ashes of defeat


There was once a time when I considered laptop computers an excess. This morning however,with the electricity suddenly gone off, I am glad that my employer provided me one of these technological extravagances, so that I can write my blog post instead of doing something more productive like weed the garden or catch up on reading for my class.

Speaking of weeds, that is not a cigarette in my hand, so don't worry that the stress of my life's current frenzied pace has started me smoking again.

I didn't start smoking until I was 20, perhaps in part to emulate Fran Lebowitz, whose sarcastic wit seemed a cousin to mine. I also dropped out of college around that time, because if Fran didn't need a college degree to get paid to write, then neither did I.

I quit smoking in 1998. My writing habit, however, persists.

I finally returned to college in 2004, and found it difficult at first to sit down to tackle my creative writing assignments without a Salem smouldering in a nearby ashtray. (As for smoking after sex, well, I pretty much gave the sex part up in 1998, too, but have not --yet-- forsworn that pastime. I just haven't found a new, er, brand worthy of the effort.) My blogging habit began in '05, with a post to JournalSpace entitled "English Majors Gone Wild." Today my posts are not so prolific as they once were, but I feel compelled to keep a foot in the blogosphere, in part because of the intresting personal connections that have resulted.

The talented and punderful jadedj is one of my longtime blogging buddies. In the aftermath of jaded's unfortunate defeat in what history will surely record as the Blue Yak Banner Brouhaha of Ought-nine I offered j the opportunity to create a custom header for my blog. I acknowledged that PRS doesn't have the same prestige as TBY, but what I lack in number of followers and quantity of posts, I make up for in massive amounts of je ne sais quoi.

Electricity has returned! So now I can proudly unveil the result of this collaboration, my new Post-Raphaelite Sisterhood blog header:


My deepest gratitude to jadedj, who has earned a lifetime membership in the Sisterhood, along with my Aunt Binky's Curry Dip Recipe (as soon as I can get it transcribed!)

Have a good week, everyone. Next Sunday I'll be back to tell you all about Freshman / Parent orientation at Boston U!

12 comments:

  1. I pretty much gave up sex (but not the hope of future sex) in 1999. I only gave up smoking for real and for good three months ago, after 35 years.

    I have never been a writer...

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  2. Ah, intell. Thou doth cause me pinkyness in the face. Indeed you did save my lost header soul after the disgraceful disgraceness I suffered at the hands of the evil Dr. Zibbs. What I lost in fame, I gained in knowledge and sista-hoodness. I feel...well...healed.

    "...I make up for in massive amounts of je ne sais quoi." How about, quality of posts and readers? Sorry Zibbs...the truth hurts.

    Hats off to the smokey part. Not sure what to say about the other habit, however. Cold showers, long walks and re-runs of Beverly Hillbilles, perhaps?

    Give a winky to Aunt Binky...I'm awaitin'.

    You're numero pun, intell!

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  3. Marvellous read, I throughly enjoy your blog and the collobration.

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  4. Alas, poor sex, I knew it, Horatio, save for a mid-summer's night dream of a tamed shrew i would have none at all.

    I love the header, might ask JJ to do one for me, but i would have included Sophia Loren. Also i would have used better glue, ya know at the edges.

    Finally a something-Raphaelite something-hood i can understand.

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  5. Punch, I am thinking it would not have been better glue, it would have been pasties...with Sophia behind them.

    Welcome to the sista-hood, bro.

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  6. Thanks for all the comments, sistahs. Knowing that you folks actually do come by to read holds me to a higher standard!

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  7. I love the new header. Just found your blog and enjoyed reading it.

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  8. I love the new header though I can't actually identify all those involved - my glasses might help so I;ll try that. I am 13 months smokefree now so I can relate to thought of smokey relapse - I know you won't go there now after so long without. Can't wait to hear about orientation - did you find the perfect backpack?

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  9. Lou, not to butt in here, but...ahem, I do know them because, well, you know...

    They are, G. Washington, T. Jefferson, T. Roosevelt and R. Lincoln...and others.

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  10. Peach Tart - thank you for reading! I'm headed to your blog as soon as I have the time...

    Lou, we found a very utilitarian backpack, not the styllish-but-unsuitable-for-anything-but-sunny-days model that she really liked, though. (Let me know if you need help with the identification!)

    Jaded - we forgot Martha Stewart!

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  11. I know, I know...but I could only find photos of her in orange...which we all know is NOT her color.

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