Blessed Relief
We made it through to the Thanksgiving Holidays. It's Monday, and I'm not working. Nor shall I be, all week, though I brought papers home to grade, and several books of theater theory to mess with.
Later for that; the first part of the week is devoted to painting the meditation room. (For those of you who will now be wondering: light honey-toned yellow, with darker trim, matching golden-yellow brocade embellished with bees and fleurs-de-lis, to be used for curtains and cushions; ceiling midnight blue, with four-pointed gilt stars.)
This should be interesting -- the painting activity was planned long ago, long before the kittens were acquired. Now they're here --oh, look, here they are right now, running over my feet and behind the computer -- which means that I can't leave the door of the room open while I paint. It's a small room. And it's cold outside.
So I may be having some paint fume issues later.
So, in case I'm downed by the paint, and out of commission, and unable to blog any more on account of death and all, here is my last bit of advice (which I have lately remembered whilst teaching the Poetry Workshop):
When in doubt, or even just for the hell of it, take out all the adjectives. Also the adverbs. Then you may put a few back, but ONLY a few, if you really need them. Really, really, really.*
There you go, then; hope that holds you. I'll go see how long I can hold my breath.
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*Also, you should be ruthless. For instance. If you have mentioned that the sky is grey and cloudy, you can, without losing ANY of the meaning, drop one of those adjectives. Indeed. If the cloudy, grey sky was lowering, you can drop both the adjectives. How often, I ask you, does any other sort of sky lower, other than a cloudy and grey one? Ruthlessness. That's what you want.
Later for that; the first part of the week is devoted to painting the meditation room. (For those of you who will now be wondering: light honey-toned yellow, with darker trim, matching golden-yellow brocade embellished with bees and fleurs-de-lis, to be used for curtains and cushions; ceiling midnight blue, with four-pointed gilt stars.)
This should be interesting -- the painting activity was planned long ago, long before the kittens were acquired. Now they're here --oh, look, here they are right now, running over my feet and behind the computer -- which means that I can't leave the door of the room open while I paint. It's a small room. And it's cold outside.
So I may be having some paint fume issues later.
So, in case I'm downed by the paint, and out of commission, and unable to blog any more on account of death and all, here is my last bit of advice (which I have lately remembered whilst teaching the Poetry Workshop):
When in doubt, or even just for the hell of it, take out all the adjectives. Also the adverbs. Then you may put a few back, but ONLY a few, if you really need them. Really, really, really.*
There you go, then; hope that holds you. I'll go see how long I can hold my breath.
*********************************
*Also, you should be ruthless. For instance. If you have mentioned that the sky is grey and cloudy, you can, without losing ANY of the meaning, drop one of those adjectives. Indeed. If the cloudy, grey sky was lowering, you can drop both the adjectives. How often, I ask you, does any other sort of sky lower, other than a cloudy and grey one? Ruthlessness. That's what you want.
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