HumorPress.com has just announced the publication of "America's Funniest Humor #1" and I am pleased to say, I have an essay published in it. This makes the third major non-traditional publishing project I have been involved with since November.
The first was Stories of Strength , an anthology from which all proceeds will go to charitable organizations helping victims of recent natural disasters. Since November, the book has raised $3500. If you are looking for a good, inspirational read, I highly reccomend this book. And of course, it includes a story of mine. (My Mother's Table).
The second project, of course, is my "blook," I'm 50-Now What? which I am shamelessly self-promoting throughout the universe. Now, if I could just combine all these projects into one big, best-seller ...
Friday, March 24, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
God Has a Sense of Humor, REALLY
Around the world, religions are losing their sense of humor - if some of them even had a sense of humor to begin with. For me, I cannot believe that the supreme being, in whatever form envisioned by your particluar denomination, would bless us with the ability to laugh and smile - except in matters of belief. After all, is one's faith so delicate that jokes and satire can destroy it? I am not a weekly fan of the show South Park, but I do watch it on occasion. Last November I did catch the episode that lampoons Scientology (and Tom Cruise). I have also seen episodes that used Jesus and Satan as wrestling opponents, and several episodes that have roasted the Jewish heritage of one of the main characters. My reaction is sometimes a smile, sometimes a laugh, and on occasion, outright embarrassment. Once in a while, I may even think - oh that is such poor taste. But never once did I feel that my particualr religious beliefs were being yanked out from under my feet. Never once did I feel that some sort of irreperable harm was being done in the name of satire - in fact, truthfully, what has gone on in my religion in real life has done far more harm than any wise cracking cartoon. I'm sorry Isaac Hayes has left the show because he felt his religion was unfairly satirized. Personally, I found some of the songs sung by his character on the show to be more provocative than anything in this particular episode, but that's just me. To paraphrase Rodney King, why can't we all just lighten up? God created the playtpus, after all, and if you don't think that was a joke, you have truly lost your way.
Friday, March 17, 2006
A Link for St Patrick's Day
In honor of the holiday, and my 25% Irish heritage, I present a link to an essay I wrote a while ago, about my Celtic heritage, and some traditions our family has.
http://www.bardsongpress.com/never_say_good-bye.htm
http://www.bardsongpress.com/never_say_good-bye.htm
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
the Blooker Prize Goes Bust
Well, the shortlist is out, and I am not on it, so iI am out of contention for this year's Blooker Prize. Of course it is a disappointment, but, then again, in a category as broad as non-fiction which can include real-life war stories and even instruction manuals. On the plus side, the "blook" is getting some attention, and I'll be promoting it throughout New Jersey in the near future with readings at various venues. keep tuned for updates!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Next Stop on the "Blook" tour- Romania!
Send out a press release, and you never know where you will show up. Today I found out that I am the entire last paragraph in Alex Beam's 3-1-6 column in the Boston Globe. Calling myself a "blauthor" caught the eye of Beam and may help explain why the English language may be bursting at the seams.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/03/01/these_authors_rankle_but_charles_rules/
Then, I find a fellow blogger, from Romania, has posted my press release! Many thanks!
OLIMPYUS MARKET: It’s a Blog, It’s a Book, It’s a "Blook!"
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/03/01/these_authors_rankle_but_charles_rules/
Then, I find a fellow blogger, from Romania, has posted my press release! Many thanks!
OLIMPYUS MARKET: It’s a Blog, It’s a Book, It’s a "Blook!"
Add this to the fact that a Hungarian web site has printed a poem of mine (in Hungarian) - I guess I could now consider myself to be a global writer!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Joining the Ranks of "Seasoned Women"
Last night, I attended a presentation by Gail Sheehy, based on her new book, “Sex and the Seasoned Woman.” Meant to be read by those 45 and over, it debunks many of the myths about what life is like for those 50 and beyond. And since turing 50 myself recently, I have to agree, this ain’t my mother’s midlife!
The question then remains, whose midlife is, it and what exactly does that term mean? Sheehy interviewed hundreds of women across the country to write this book, which while tantalizing in its title, is more about teaching women to “live passionately” and how sex in midlife relates to that. Her talk was fascinating, both humorous and thought provoking. With the current life expectancy for women hovering at 79, it makes sense to realize there is a whole lot of living that takes place after 50.
For many of us, we have found ourselves reinventing ourselves at this age. Whether forced to by drastic life changes, or spurred by feelings of restlessness and longing, it will happen to most. For me, I just started to touch on these feelings in “I’m 50-Now What?”
I’ve seen a lot written lately about the fact that the leading edge of baby boomers turns 60 this year. While Madison Ave. still looks at the 18-35 age range as the driving force of advertising, the reality is, this large group controls most of the spending and can be a potent political force. Expecting them to “step aside” and go sit in a rocking chair in Florida just isn’t going to happen. I am a legitimate part of the baby boom, perhaps more specifically, the second wave of baby boomers. I may have been invited to join the AARP, but I really don’t see it as an organization for me, as I see a real divide between the aging baby boomers and the seniors that preceeded them – the current 70 and 80 year olds. Even the name doesn’t fit, I wonder actually how many members of the association of Retired Persons are really retired – and how many of those in the next wave of members will EVER retire.
There are those who use this time of life to transition into more meaningful work, embracing the interests and talents that many have been put aside until now. Much of what I see in print concerns well-off, highly-educated people, who after spending 30 or 40 years in the corporate world, now have nice nest eggs to fall back on. Starting a business or becoming a consultant is a viable option for them as they enter the second, or third chapter of life. In one of these articles, the author bragged about how he was done with the nice house, nice car, and nice vacations – he’s been there, done that.
But, for some of us, and I suspect more of us than these articles would like to admit, being 50 in today’s world doesn’t mean reaching some sort of golden career milestone. For a woman like me, who has large child-rearing gaps in her resume, and huge debts left over from years of raising children as a divorced mother, 50 may only be the halfway point in my worklife. The reality of still trying to catch up, still trying to “get somewhere,” means that many of us will never retire – never have the luxury of starting second careers or pursuing old interests. Not as a replacement to the 9-5, anyway. Our mortgages and debt will surely outlive us – a fact that leads me to understand why my father used to say, many years ago, that he was worth more dead than alive.
Today’s reality is that the over 50 worker still needs to think about paying down debt, keeping health insurance in force, and saving money for “someday.” Not too different than the 30 year old worker who may find herself still working in her primary career until 80. And yet, as Gail Sheehy so poignantly pointed out, we wouldn’t trade it for going back to being 35 or even 40. Becoming a “seasoned” woman means accepting the place you are at, and moving forward from there.
The question then remains, whose midlife is, it and what exactly does that term mean? Sheehy interviewed hundreds of women across the country to write this book, which while tantalizing in its title, is more about teaching women to “live passionately” and how sex in midlife relates to that. Her talk was fascinating, both humorous and thought provoking. With the current life expectancy for women hovering at 79, it makes sense to realize there is a whole lot of living that takes place after 50.
For many of us, we have found ourselves reinventing ourselves at this age. Whether forced to by drastic life changes, or spurred by feelings of restlessness and longing, it will happen to most. For me, I just started to touch on these feelings in “I’m 50-Now What?”
I’ve seen a lot written lately about the fact that the leading edge of baby boomers turns 60 this year. While Madison Ave. still looks at the 18-35 age range as the driving force of advertising, the reality is, this large group controls most of the spending and can be a potent political force. Expecting them to “step aside” and go sit in a rocking chair in Florida just isn’t going to happen. I am a legitimate part of the baby boom, perhaps more specifically, the second wave of baby boomers. I may have been invited to join the AARP, but I really don’t see it as an organization for me, as I see a real divide between the aging baby boomers and the seniors that preceeded them – the current 70 and 80 year olds. Even the name doesn’t fit, I wonder actually how many members of the association of Retired Persons are really retired – and how many of those in the next wave of members will EVER retire.
There are those who use this time of life to transition into more meaningful work, embracing the interests and talents that many have been put aside until now. Much of what I see in print concerns well-off, highly-educated people, who after spending 30 or 40 years in the corporate world, now have nice nest eggs to fall back on. Starting a business or becoming a consultant is a viable option for them as they enter the second, or third chapter of life. In one of these articles, the author bragged about how he was done with the nice house, nice car, and nice vacations – he’s been there, done that.
But, for some of us, and I suspect more of us than these articles would like to admit, being 50 in today’s world doesn’t mean reaching some sort of golden career milestone. For a woman like me, who has large child-rearing gaps in her resume, and huge debts left over from years of raising children as a divorced mother, 50 may only be the halfway point in my worklife. The reality of still trying to catch up, still trying to “get somewhere,” means that many of us will never retire – never have the luxury of starting second careers or pursuing old interests. Not as a replacement to the 9-5, anyway. Our mortgages and debt will surely outlive us – a fact that leads me to understand why my father used to say, many years ago, that he was worth more dead than alive.
Today’s reality is that the over 50 worker still needs to think about paying down debt, keeping health insurance in force, and saving money for “someday.” Not too different than the 30 year old worker who may find herself still working in her primary career until 80. And yet, as Gail Sheehy so poignantly pointed out, we wouldn’t trade it for going back to being 35 or even 40. Becoming a “seasoned” woman means accepting the place you are at, and moving forward from there.
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