Wednesday, July 7, 2021

I don't know what to write anymore

Creating writing samples is difficult, as evidenced by my lack of writing and posting. I feel like I no longer know what to write unless someone gives me a prompt and clearly defines my audience. It also now feels weird writing anything outside of the math realm; I've invested a lot of points into that specific skill tree. I'm fully aware that math writing is simply a specialization inside of the overall writing skill, which means I've acquired a lot of knowledge and talent that is applicable to writing non-mathy content. HOWEVER, I just don't know what to write. So... I'm complaining. I guess.

I have plenty ideas of what I could write, but I don't have the drive (or self-confidence?) to follow through and actually create content from those ideas. I'm now recalling how I used to post a variety of things, from simple personal updates to rewrites of popular poems. How did I do it back then? Was I less of an overthinker? Do I just need to learn to not overthink? Is that even possible? 

So, yeah. Just rambling now. But it is well-edited rambling, is it not? [1] 

When I was much younger, and wrote in a notebook or on parchment with a quill pen, I would write letters either to myself or "to whom it may concern." Picking up that again is an option. But how would that help prove I can write? Simply by showing that I can write words in a logical order? Does the content even matter? 

I've considered creating editing guides. Very super serious editing guides. Totally serious. Definitely useful tips for efficient editing. Along with my unmentioned ideas for editing guides, I'd create guides on topics such as how to leave comments for authors/writers and how to receive comments as an author/writer. Both situations are tricky and tend to involve emotions.

So, yeah. There are some words for you. I hope you enjoyed them. And if not, there are no refunds on free content. You decided to waste this time yourself.


Footnotes

[1] Please note that any errors you find in this blog post can and should be treated as editing practice. You are welcome.

Thursday, April 22, 2021

April Snow in Ohio

 

Snow on a yellow and orange tulip.

Nearly every year in April, it snows in Ohio. It snows in the northern part of Ohio, at least. And every year, people are surprised by this weather event. I'm not sure if this surprise is due to the spring weather here being so swingy (it was 80 degrees a few days ago) or because people have selective memories. Regardless of their surprise, the snow arrives and makes things look pretty for a few hours before melting away.

Drooping red tulip with snow on it.

According to the data available on Weather Underground for the weather at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, it has snowed at least one day in April every year since 2014. While the amount of snow fall varied, the snowfall did in fact occur. The years before 2014 were oddly missing precipitation data, but I'd be willing to use some logic to say that it very likely snowed in April in previous years. 

Snow covered pear blossoms with more snow covered branches out of focus in the background.

The plants around my yard that have started growing and blooming by this point in the year can handle the snow. Some, such as crocuses (not pictured) and hyacinth (pictured below), are expected to be coated in snow at least once during their short lifetime. While they are lovely without a coating of snow, the snow definitely adds a sense of wonder and makes their colors pop.

Grape hyacinth mostly buried in snow.




Thursday, April 15, 2021

Meet Sprocket

Recently, Amadeus has been acting suspiciously. I knew he was up to something, but I had no idea what it could be. One afternoon, not long after the suspicious activity began, a package appeared on the front step. Amadeus opened it and quickly got to work, studying the instructions thoroughly before assembling the mystery. 

A wooden robot holding a screwdriver, studying a sheet of instructions that he is also standing on.

After less than an hour, there were two pairs of legs joined together and what appeared to be a music box. At this point I was banned from the assembly room for being too human and making annoying breathing sounds.

A wooden robot with a screen driver assembling a small music box while sitting next to wooden legs.

Later that afternoon, while walking around outside, I saw Amadeus and what appeared to be a small wooden dog. At first glance, I thought Amadeus was teaching the dog to sit.

A wooden robot standing on a stone with a stick in one hand and a wooden dog sitting opposite him, on the grass.

A moment later, however, Amadeus threw the stick and the little wooden dog ran after it.

A wooden robot standing on a stone watching a wooden dog looking at a stick on the grass.

I'm unsure how exactly he managed it, but the dog picked up the stick and returned it to Amadeus. 

A wood robot sitting on a stone reaching for a stick that is being held by a wood dog sitting opposite.

They continued to play fetch for a while. And I eventually learned that the dog's name is Sprocket. For the past few days, the two have been spending time together and doing whatever it is that little wooden robots do whenever humans aren't around.