Until the next time... is a blog usually focused on writing, music, and travel to places near and far. It concerns some of the things I've learned and some of the things I've messed up through the years. The blog also appears at www.michaelembry.com/blog.html.
If you're looking to me to find some motivation for your writing, then I suggest you move on to another blog. That's unless you gain some sort of curious satisfaction from reading about a writer struggle to put down words. Or maybe you're also experiencing a similar drought with your creative juices and you can sympathize with my sad situation. August was one of the least productive months for me. About the only thing I was able to do creatively was review a few short stories and write a few notes on projects I hope to begin in the coming days. I've only written three posts on this blog, the fewest since I started four years ago. I recall a writer telling me once that she had quit writing because she had lost her muse. I sure hope that's not happening to me. Perhaps my muse has lost me and we'll reconnect soon. If anything, August was a particularly busy month at the place that supports my writing. You know, regular employment that provides a paycheck on a regular basis. I believe many writers (and other artists) can relate to that. Regardless, I hope to get re-energized and refocused. I have a few events coming up in my life that should provide some spark (and time) to the writing life. And I'm looking forward to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November as well as the Kentucky Book Fair on Nov 15. Until the next time...
August 26 is THE dog day of summer in the United States -- National Dog Day.
According to the NDD website, the annual day "serves to galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort." For those who have dogs, or owned dogs, most would probably agree that everyday is dog day for these lovable and devoted four-legged mates.
Bailey and me
My dog is Bailey, who will be 2 on Nov. 1. He's a Chorkie (part Yorkie and part Chihuahua). He's been a big part of our family since we took him as a rescue puppy on Dec. 14, 2012. Our two previous dogs, Bucky and Baxter, crossed the rainbow bridge in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and I miss them to this day because once a dog enters your life, they leave an indelible pawprint on your heart. I'm not going to go on and on about Bailey, even though I could probably write a book about him. But I will say he's special to my wife and me, just like other dogs (and even cats) are the pride and joy to their keepers. But I will share a few of my favorite quotes about dogs: "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." -- Josh Billings "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -- Roger Caras "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -- Will Rogers "The average dog is nicer than the average person." Andy Rooney "To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." -- Milan Kundera "The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants." -- Johnny Depp "The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs." -- Charles de Gaulle "The greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you will not come back when you go out the door without them." -- Stanley Coren "The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog." -- George Graham Vest "Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." -- Agnes Sligh Turnbull
And finally:
"Happiness is a warm puppy." -- Charles M. Schultz Until the next time...
Pharrell Williams is quite an amazing singer, musician, producer, philanthropist, and.....person. I watched him interviewed on CBS's "Sunday Morning," and it was refreshing to see someone as talented as Williams be so down to earth and grateful for his accomplishments. I'll admit that I had never heard of Williams until the "Happy" song came out. He admits that the movie, "Despicable Me," gave the tune a tremendous boost. The catchy song -- which I believe will be timeless, much like The Turtles' "Happy Together" -- cuts across all ages with its joyful message. According to the CBS program, it hit No. 1 in 24 countries. Williams, known for his oversized "buffalo" hat, gave most of the credit for his success to those who have been part of his life -- from his grandmother who encouraged him to play the drums to high school music teachers to other artists including Stevie Wonder and Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan). At the close of the interview, the youthful 41-year-old artist used an analogy of flying a kite to a person's success, noting that it's not the kite but the air that lifts it into the sky that causes it to fly. And that's a message that a lot of us seem to forget as we go through life -- it's those around us that truly provide the lift when we put forth the effort. Since the interview lifted my spirits, I'll close this post with Williams' "Happy":
August was one of the least productive months for me. About the only thing I was able to do creatively was review a few short stories and write a few notes on projects I hope to begin in the coming days. I've only written three posts on this blog, the fewest since I started four years ago.
