Finally ... a timewaster worth sharing

Maurice, one of my few and faithful readers, blogged about a cool site called "I Write Like".  Just copy and paste some of your own immortal prose into a text box, hit Analyze, and see who you sound like.

I went back into my 2006 archives and dug up some paragraphs from the original version of Twilight Express for analysis. This is the opinion I received. I am guessing that's it's mainly because Joyce always wrote in third person, like I did.

(Of course, if it had told me I write like a writer I don't like, I'd be pissed off and not posting this here. But Joyce is one of my all-time favorites.)

I write like
James Joyce

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Sleeping with the fishes

Today was rather dull, mainly because I slept through most of it. This was due to being ill most of the night with an odd combination of a prolonged asthma attack and severe nausea. It was as if I couldn't decide how sick I wanted to be.

The day wasn't a total loss, though. During the course of the afternoon, I caught up on my mild Sopranos addiction. After having watched the first two seasons courtesy of Premiere Video, I can safely say that:

• I was never cast in this series as I didn't have the fingernails for it.
• Steven Van Zandt's face and neck are permanently frozen in that weird combined hunch/scowl.
• A lot of hairspray died during the filming; mostly on the men's hairstyles.

But most episodes were reasonably entertaining, especially Tony's dream sequences.

Career cringe

Since being escorted from the Snoopy Borg, I've occasionally wondered if I couldn't do something else for a living. Ideally I'd like to do two things, so I wouldn't risk another burnout situation, but I'm not sure my mortgage lender would like that.

It's not that I think I'm a bad writer, although this blog generally isn't an indicator of that talent. But sitting in front of a computer screen has lost its appeal for several reasons.

The truth of the matter is that I'd like to be a tradesperson of some sort. Carpentry particularly appeals ever since I took the antique restoration course in Australia when I was waiting for a work visa. But I don't think today's mass-produced market has a lot of potential.

The only other career move that appeals to me is a downward shift. I particularly like editing and proofreading, so I wouldn't mind doing that from now on. I even applied for a couple of editing jobs. But unless I fabricate my resume, I think I'll continue to get negative responses, such as being accused of "taking what I can get until something else comes up".

Freelancing full-time has its appeal, but I'm a dreadful networker. I'm too shy and introverted to go out and find the work. But perhaps my freelancing friends can help.

The evil empire calls ... maybe

After I left the asylum known as Advertising Agencies about 10 years ago, I thought there was little chance I'd ever return. While no job offers lasting security, agencies offered little. And the most psychotic, abusive people were usually the same people who were running the place.

But yesterday I had a call from a headhunter, a local I'd never heard of before. And she wanted to talk to me about a job for which, at first glance, was an amazingly good fit--writing for one of the biggest banks in the nation. I wouldn't be working for the bank, but I'd be working for a local ad agency that supplied their business to business collateral.

I suppose this reflects my lack of ambition, but one of the most appealing things about the job is that it's only about four miles from my house. Too damn near Northpark, but I think I could cope.

Lust is in the air

Okay...I just came back from getting a haircut and now a thunderstorm is brewing. Plus I am planning to go to shaolin class tonight.

Considering how storms and shaolin classes tend to affect my libido, the combination holds the potential for a serious bout of mischief.

Plus, the forecast is suggesting the occasional storm for most of the upcoming week.

The only question is ... what will I do about it?  What can I do?