Blah, Blah, Blah-ging

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A well-known actress is exhibiting behavior that is frankly unbecoming someone her age and experience. Reading and listening to reports about her trials and tribulations I have muttered to myself: Who cares? What does it really mean to the rest of us with demanding jobs, equally demanding children, and relentless bills, that all combine for varying degrees of anxiety?

Sitting to pen another post it occurred to me to ask the same questions of The Rusty Fork. It was time to truthfully examine whether I had published posts infused with knowledge or thoughtful opinion on the given topic. Have any posts encouraged further exploration? Have they even provided a giggle? If not, they have simply served to waste bandwidth and I have failed in my goal to provoke conversations.

It turns out I have failed. I based this assumption not on stats, but by reviewing the posts once more and then candidly asking of them, “Who cares?”

I’m not ready to concede just yet. Rather, I will regroup and work on some observations worth sharing with you. I realize I am lacking focus. I will explore your blogs for inspiration.

Perhaps you’ll visit once again.

draw me in

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Do you remember when watching the theme music for a show was also part of the show? There were the ladies’ entrances in dramatic gowns on Dynasty, the grit of law and order on Hill Street Blues, and the fruits of hard work and commitment to family on Walton’s Mountain.

A couple more? LA Law, Hart to Hart, and the Rockford Files…well, it rocked. Then, St. Elsewhere had Denzel while ER had Clooney to make those themes well worth the watch.

Today, theme music rarely amplifies our anticipation of the hour ahead.

Here is my favorite from the good old days: thirtysomething. Do you have a favorite tv theme?

try trying to try

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This will be a short and error-ridden post. I’m utterly exhausted at just the beginning of a family weekend away in snowy mountains that calls for the two uses of the word “trying.”

Trying to go with the flow

Trying not to hurt anyone’s feelings

Trying not to be trying

Trying to get your set of children to be the behaved children

Trying to ignore one person’s stubborn behavior

Trying not to be trying, again

Trying not to partake in gossip as soon as another leaves the room

Trying not to be exhausted the entire time, because that would make you the “trying” one that everyone else is trying to get along with

Exhausting

Have a great weekend. Try to at least!

Where makes you?

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It was a loud and promising summer night at a popular bar in Kinsale, a small town on the southwest coast of Ireland and a haven for tourists drawn to delectable food, vibrant music, and that feel of “The Emerald Isle.”

My turn to get drinks, I move toward the bar and quickly notice them: Tall and tanned with friendly faces framing white-toothed smiles giving way to vigorous, but sincere laughter. Pressed chinos and button-down shirts: You couldn’t help but notice them.

I lean forward so Declan can hear me above the din, “Two white wines, a gin and tonic, and a vodka and coke. Thanks.”

One of the tall-tanned-friendly-smiling-button-downs leans left and downward toward my ear.

“What are your nationalities?” he asks.
“What are my what?” I ask back. I am genuinely unsure of what he has asked. Could he have asked me my name?

“What are your nationalities?” he perseveres.

Thoughts swirl: He thinks I didn’t hear him. What does he mean? Nationalities? Or did he say nationality? Wow, he has great hair. Uh-oh, he’s starting to wonder if my “confused face” is actually my “must find a bathroom” face. Come up with a charming way to continue this conversation.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean, where are your parents from? Let me guess, Sweden?

I get it now.

“Well, I hate to disappoint you, but my nationalities are Dublin and…Dublin.”

What are your nationalities?

Is it important to you to know them and do you identify with them?