Did you notice how Josh Turner flips upside down briefly in that clip? Not all of us are gifted at production, just sayin’. More on that later.
So.
Writing.
Writing is not that tough, if you know how to do it. Which I don’t, really, but that’s not the point. Writer’s block? Yeah, I’ve heard of it. But I’ve never really been afflicted with it — until now. Seriously. I suffer from “writer’s freak-out” plenty, and possibly hypergraphia, but not writer’s block. But I’m (still, constantly, forever, because I’ve been working on it for years) finishing up my Late, Dear Granny’s memoir and cookbook.
It’s not as easy as you might think.
For example, if I type “tablespoon” instead of “teaspoon,” we would all be screwed in a heap of trouble.
Also? I hate production/proofreading/galleys. I’m a writer, man, do I look like a layout person? (All of my former editors and co-workers, in unison, Har! Har! Yes, why don’t you lay it out in your own inimitable style?) I have decided I’m avoiding finishing it so I don’t have to proof it. This is ridiculous. I can just turn it over to my Ma and my husband, Steve R., to deal with, yes? Yes.
“Don’t get it right, get it written.” — Mitch Martin
Bright note: Just found one of my Granny’s friends (she had many, and many of them are already gone, sadly) on Facebook. Yes, that’s right. Here’s her recipe:
Doughnut Muffins (from SC)
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 ½ cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup milk
For topping:
6 tablespoons melted butter
½ cup sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon mixed in.
Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, beat well. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg. Add alternately with milk to egg mixture. Fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Remove from pans at once and roll in melted butter, then sugar.
Doesn’t that sound too good? Mmmmmm… butter… sugar… cinnamon. Also, did you see how some of that text blew out and is randomly in bold? Layout: Not my virtue. OK, you ready for a playlist now? It’s nothing like Omar’s playlist, but that’s alright. We all have our druthers, as Granny would say. (Go listen to his playlist, it’s so good. I keep playing it over and over.)
I included Wichita Lineman here for three reasons: 1) It’s just a great g.d. song. 2) I put it on every playlist I make, from hiphop to R&B to rock to country. You can be listening to an opera playlist from me, and Wichita Lineman is gonna pop up in the middle of it. I do it to drive Steve-o crazy, mainly 3) My Granny really did love Glen Campbell, so there. Without further ado:
Mama Tried — Merle Haggard
Could I Have This Dance (For the Rest of My Life)? — Anne Murray
Coat of Many Colors — Dolly Parton
Blue Suede Shoes — Elvis Presley
Fancy — Reba McEntire
Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days) — The Judds
Forever and Ever, Amen — Randy Travis
Today I Started Loving You Again — Merle Haggard
Hound Dog — Elvis Presley
Neon Moon — Brooks & Dunn
He Walked on Water — Randy Travis
Mama He’s Crazy — The Judds
She Used to Be Mine– Brooks & Dunn
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia — Vicki Lawrence (or Reba McEntire)
Wichita Lineman — Glen Campbell
King of the Road — Randy Travis & Josh Turner
If You See Him/If You See Her — Reba McEntire/Brooks & Dunn
Can’t Help Falling In Love — Elvis Presley
How Long Gone — Brooks & Dunn
Out of My Bones — Randy Travis
Snowbird — Anne Murray
OK? OK! Back to writing now.