Writing Tips

I stumbled upon a list of writing tips that I think everyone should know. This is only part of the article, but I'm sure you'd enjoy all 100 tips.

1. Every sentence should make sense in isolation. Like that one.
2. Excessive hyperbole is literally the kiss of death.
3. ASBMAETP: Acronyms Should Be Memorable And Easy To Pronounce, and SATAN: Select Acronyms That Are Non-offensive.
4. Finish your point on an up-beat note, unless you can’t think of one.
5. Don’t patronise the reader-he or she might well be intelligent enough to spot it.
6. A writer needs three qualities: creativity, originality, clarity and a good short term memory.
7. Choose your words carefully and incitefully.
8. Avoid unnecessary examples; e.g. this one.
9. Don’t use commas, to separate text unnecessarily.
10. It can be shown that you shouldn’t miss out too many details.

The best and funniest tips are scattered throughout, I thought of picking and choosing, but I'm lazy. Enjoy!

The Crystal of Peace

There are a few of my readers that abhor poetry, but I'll still post this, because it's interesting to me.

My first year at MSU, we sang a piece composed by Frank Ticheli, "There Will Be Rest." It was one of the most beautiful works I had ever sung. I have one recording of it and listen to it constantly, in fact, I was just listening to it when I decided to blog. The poem is by Sara Teasdale.



There Will Be Rest
by Sara Teasdale

There will be rest, and sure stars shining
Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
The music of stillness holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising
Out of a dream in my lonely mind,
I shall find the crystal of peace, – above me
Stars I shall find.


The recording I have is of the Augustana South Dakota Choir singing this as part of the Ellingboe "Requiem." Peace.

Cleaning

Well, I get in moods. Most people figure that out quickly, but tonight I got into a cleaning mood.

Becky hates it.

She likes me cleaning, but if I'm in a mood, I don't actually clean. I tangentially move stuff. I will sort stuff into piles in various places. It's not cleaning, it's messing up.

I should stop right now. Hmm. What to do then?

Holy Week

Nothing new to report, but it's Easter Vigil in my world, which is great news. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and I can relax a little.
Easter to most church musicians is extremely busy, but for my choir it's Good Friday. We always sing more than we can prepare and that usually ticks me off. It's most likely not my idea nor something I had any control over.

Anyway, that's my life.

weight

So, I thought posting this stuff (my weight) would be a good motivator--it is not. I haven't really been diligent in my working out. In other words, I haven't. I've been sore, I've been tired. I've been whining.

So that all being said, my weight this morning was 192.2. I've seen it lower, but this is the lowest it's been while still on my trend. 185-ish is my goal weight, so that's looking closer than ever. Maybe I'll just keep lowering the goal by 5-10 pounds. According to Body Mass Index charts, I should be at about 170 or lower, well 130-170, but THAT'S not going to happen! At least not the 130! I was 140 in High School and looked like I belonged on a "Save the Children" commercial.

That's all for now, bye.

Crappy night

I just got back from a concert. It was a crappy night. Four of the people, with whom I went, got really drunk. One picked a fight, which I helped stop. Two or three were using my left butt cheek as a drum... really hard (I've had 4 surgeries on that spot, not fun), they were repeatedly told to stop.

I'm sore, I'm pissed, I'm tired and my adrenaline is going full speed. I need sleep and I have work in the morning. Grr.

Here's to getting rid of poisonous friendships!