There's nothing like having a computer in front of me as I gaze out my frosted January window at a winter wonderland. Almost as if Disney scenes were playing out before me, I watch a family of deer meander through my backyard, frolicking in the snow. Squirrels chase each other through the labyrinth of trees. Kids create snowmen as robins and cardinals fly back and forth, admiring their work. It's all so beautiful.
Of course, I live in Oklahoma and it's going to be 60 degrees today, so forget about all that nonsense.
I'm wondering what has happened to winter? It might be snowing in other parts of the country, but we have had extreme drought and heat for a couple of years now. Snow is hard to come by, and that is a shame, because there is nothing so inspiring as freshly fallen snow. I feel the same way about a foggy day. Stephen King claims that inspirational writing comes from a dark corner of a room with the shades pulled, but I personally love to gaze out the window.
Some of my best work has come on cold winter days. Add some falling snow and a hot cup of coffee and let the daydreaming begin.
For example, in my new novel The Mentor coming out soon, I wrote a WWII flashback scene on a cold, snowy day. My imagination was stirred, and I could envision the Nazi's bearing down on this poor man who was running for his life.
Fair weather gives me the urge to get outside and play. I get cabin fever way too easily. Spreaking of which, it's 51 degrees outside right now, so...
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Miss America v. NFL Playoffs
Strip my man card right now. I know you're about to think that. The Packers are shooting it out versus the 49ers on FOX right now, and instead of relishing the last few games of the dwindling football season, I am sitting in front of the television with my wife watching Miss America. Why, one would naturally wonder? Well, for starters, I am a great husband. Okay, that's not entirely the truth. She watched KU basketball and one playoff game with me already today, so you could say that I owe her one. Plus, she's the world's biggest OKC Thunder fan and I am forced to watch Kevin Durant play three to four nights a week. What a horrible life I lead.
Seriously though, I enjoy watching the Miss America pageant. For starters, Miss Oklahoma makes semi-finalist every year (she was just announced a few seconds ago.) Oklahoma is serious about their pageant girls. Besides, about ten years ago one of my wife's best friends was runner up to Miss Oklahoma. It was an excuse to get dressed up and go out on the town, all while spending time with the woman I loved, doing something she enjoyed.
By the way, she just told me that if the Thunder were playing right now, we wouldn't be watching Miss America.
Anyways, I've come to appreciate the Miss America pageant. Having seen the process first hand, I have to appreciate just how dedicated these young ladies are. Forget Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality. These women are extremely bright, they work hard at their talent, they concern themselves with current issues (forget world peace) and they go around their states, speaking with kids in schools about making good decisions. I like to think of these women as the female versions of Eagle Scouts. If anyone has ever looked into what it takes to be an Eagle Scout, you'll know just how serious it is.
Now I will say that there is one weakness to the whole process of crowning a Miss America, and it's not any of the girls. Every year the pageant chooses judges that have absolutely no right judging these girls because they have no respect for what they go through, their platforms, or anything related. For example, this year Daymond John from Shark Tank is a judge. Now I respect his opinion about business and clothing, two of his specialties, but what does he know about pageants?
And Rush Limbaugh in 2010?
Judges aside, the Miss America pageant celebrates women who work hard to be the best people they can be. By championing great causes, they are a positive force in the universe. In addition, having a scholarship pageant on television is a nice break from so much reality television that tries to depict women as foul-mouthed and morally loose. It's nice to see positive role models on TV. For these reasons alone, I am more than happy to spend a cold January evening in front of the TV watching these amazing ladies while the NFL playoffs are a temptation just a mere two channels away.
And those of you who still think I deserve to have my man card revoked after such a well-crafted argument, just think swimsuits.
Seriously though, I enjoy watching the Miss America pageant. For starters, Miss Oklahoma makes semi-finalist every year (she was just announced a few seconds ago.) Oklahoma is serious about their pageant girls. Besides, about ten years ago one of my wife's best friends was runner up to Miss Oklahoma. It was an excuse to get dressed up and go out on the town, all while spending time with the woman I loved, doing something she enjoyed.
By the way, she just told me that if the Thunder were playing right now, we wouldn't be watching Miss America.
Anyways, I've come to appreciate the Miss America pageant. Having seen the process first hand, I have to appreciate just how dedicated these young ladies are. Forget Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality. These women are extremely bright, they work hard at their talent, they concern themselves with current issues (forget world peace) and they go around their states, speaking with kids in schools about making good decisions. I like to think of these women as the female versions of Eagle Scouts. If anyone has ever looked into what it takes to be an Eagle Scout, you'll know just how serious it is.
Now I will say that there is one weakness to the whole process of crowning a Miss America, and it's not any of the girls. Every year the pageant chooses judges that have absolutely no right judging these girls because they have no respect for what they go through, their platforms, or anything related. For example, this year Daymond John from Shark Tank is a judge. Now I respect his opinion about business and clothing, two of his specialties, but what does he know about pageants?
And Rush Limbaugh in 2010?
Judges aside, the Miss America pageant celebrates women who work hard to be the best people they can be. By championing great causes, they are a positive force in the universe. In addition, having a scholarship pageant on television is a nice break from so much reality television that tries to depict women as foul-mouthed and morally loose. It's nice to see positive role models on TV. For these reasons alone, I am more than happy to spend a cold January evening in front of the TV watching these amazing ladies while the NFL playoffs are a temptation just a mere two channels away.
And those of you who still think I deserve to have my man card revoked after such a well-crafted argument, just think swimsuits.
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