Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Little Self-Deprecation Goes a Long Way

1) Last Sunday I was so happy with my hair. The natural curl behaved. It pinned back just the way I like. I felt put-together, maybe a little classy. Until after church, when I went into the bathroom, into the really good light, and a forest of gray hairs waved from up top. Like this. I.am.not.joking.
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2) Every writer knows one never leaves the house without a notebook. Ever. But I like to keep mine stacked next to my desk.
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3) I have to keep my snort-laugh in check, because my daughter likes to tell people about it. (This probably means I should work harder to be discreet when I'm gassy...)
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4) Look at this word right here: typewriter. It was brought to my attention two weeks ago that I pronounce it typ-eh-writer. What's up with that?
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5) I asked my husband for help, to tell me something quirky I could share with you. He said, "You drool and snore while you sleep. At the same time." If that's not endearing, I don't know what is.
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6) Every once in a while, I love me a 45-cent Banquet beef pot pie.
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7) It takes talent to trip over something tee eensy weensy and wind up on the floor or against the wall. I ooze that talent.
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8) I cannot type possibilities correctly until I've made at least three typo-filled attempts. Can you?
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9) I've rewritten the words to Adele's Chasing Pavements to be a parody on writing. I'm building nerve, and when the timing's right, I'll record myself singing it and share the video. Someday.
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10) Sometimes, my ideas for stories are so very big, I have to pull out my so very big pencil to get them down. Talk about writer's cramp, though.
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These things were brought to you by the letter Q, Banquet beef pot pies, and Roz Morris, who gifted me with the Sugar Doll blogger award. (Thanks, Roz!) Accepting the award meant I agreed to share ten somethings about myself. I had more fun with it than was necessary, really.
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You guys know I don't usually forward awards here. Not because I'm stingy, or because I don't support other bloggers and networking, but because it's difficult to highlight just a handful of people and their blogs when I value so many.
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Still... I want to pass this award on to one person, as a means to introduce you. Her name is Deb, and she can be found over at Catbird Scout. Deb is a gentle spirit and honest memoirist who looks for the truth in every space. She's open with her life journey, as well as its past. I'm forever inspired by her words, and I think everyone needs to know her.
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Here's to you, Deb. And thanks again, Roz!

43 comments:

Terri Tiffany said...

LOL I love how open and honest you are about yourself:)) I also love that pencil picture!! Good one!
Thanks for caring about my crud that happens. Someday I might get it all together a little better!!:)

Anonymous said...

That. Was awesome. Thanks for my morning smile :)

Anonymous said...

Janna, this was great! I am also a big drooler. It must be a sign of genius. Those grays stinking up off your head cracked me up! I have the same problem. Are they particularly unruly or something?? I kept plucking them from the front of my hair, but the stylist told me stop. It's outta control!

-FringeGirl

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

You crack me up!! I love your post and pics!!

Hair...ugh! It never seems to do what we'd like it to. I do love your creative foil antennas! I'm thinking of following your style! LOL!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Fun! I found gray hairs in the past year and I do NOT appreciate them. At all.

I was just thinking about a word that I always mistype, and now I can't remember what it is. But I spell it wrong EVERY time.

Glad I'm not the only one who trips over nothing.

Tess said...

love #10... ha! that picture is a keeper!

thanks for the laugh today. we need to be comfortable laughing at ourselves. if we don't do it, who will?

well..er..in my case, everyone else will. but you get my point ;)

Anonymous said...

I am all for a little self-deprecation when appropriate. (who am I kidding, anytime, anyplace baby!) I am also a drooler and thankful the pillow acts like a giant sponge to sop it all up so I don't drown. :O)

Lotty said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lotty said...

I read your blog for the first time today and I am hooked. I've been feeling a little down but this did the trick and i feel better, so thank you for spreading your joy.
All the best
L x

Kristen Painter said...

The big pencil is killing me. Killing me.

graceunderpressure said...

that was fabulous, you have made my day... again! Grey hairs are known to be particularly adventurous and self proclaiming little devils. We should really admire them because they stand up and shout their existence with pride and defiance. Keep the foil, it works for you ;)

MedSchoolWife said...

Those were fun! I'm excited to see your parody. I love that song :)

The Hat Chick said...

I'm gonna hop over there and check her out. Gray hair.....what is the point of it? Aren't the wrinkles enough?

Deb said...

Fun facts about yourself! Raising my hand on the snorting thing :) Good pick - Deb's writing is wonderful!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Right there with you on number 7. And I'm jealous of your pencil on number 10.

What a hoot this post is!
~ Wendy

Unknown said...

I love this!! The honesty is amazing! Love the pictures... the foil and the pencil crack me up! I talk in my sleep and make weird noises... guess our men really do care about us!

Super fun post!!

Anonymous said...

ROFL Janna you crack me up. I totally relate with the gray hairs sticking up like Alfalfa's. They are stiffer and coarser than the rest. Hate them!!!

And when I lay on my husband to watch TV at night, I have to pull covers between my head and him so when I fall asleep I don't drown him.

And my daughter slept with me one night a couple of weeks ago when he was out of town...and kept waking me up to tell me I was snoring....guess he either sleeps through it or doesn't care.

Tamika: said...

Can I please borrow the BIG pencil! That is awesome- I want one now so bad!

You have a treat over at my place.

patti said...

I will DEFINITELY visit Deb's place.

LOVE your openness and your stories! You are a great writer. BTW, I did ask my hairdresser last visit what percentage of gray I "would" have if I didn't...you know.

She gulped. Said, oh, probably like half.

Half???? In my mind I am still blond. That was a LOOOOOONG time ago. What a fairy tale.

Also have fond memories of those wonderful pot pies. My mom, a total Southern, total home cookin' type, would let us "have" those when she and Dad went on dates (almost never). They were SUCH a treat!!!

Thanks, sweetie!!1

Slamdunk said...

Revealing and fun post. I am sure the Mrs. would want a full post on annoying behaviors that I display during sleep.

Tom Stephenson said...

Tee Hee! That made me laugh!

Jill Kemerer said...

You are a sugar doll! My favorite is the pic of you with the giant pencil! Nice!!

Melissa Amateis said...

Janna, this was just wonderful. I love to read about all your little quirks because face it - we all have 'em!

I love Banquet pot pies, too, but haven't had one in years...too many calories and fat!

And those gray hairs? Yeah, mine are starting to show back up again. Time for another coloring!

Angie Muresan said...

Ahahaha! Girl, you crack me up! Yeah, I get those gray hairs too. And I am very clumsy, always tripping over even imaginary stuff.
Congratulations to Deb, on her award.

Roz Morris aka @Roz_Morris . Blog: Nail Your Novel said...

Loved all your tiny, telling details - and the pics that went with them.

I can't type 'the'. It comes out as 'teh' or 'hte'.

Jenni James said...

You crack me up so much! Congrats on the award too!

Jenni

Janna Leadbetter said...

I'm so glad you guys thought the post was funny. Otherwise, how embarrassed would I have been, eh?

Anonymous said...

Hysterical. :D And I really, really want that pencil.

heatblast said...

Big pencil, sweet! I snore. Sometimes drool too. At least that's what mom said.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

First of all, those are some stubborn gray hairs. :) I never leave home without it- notebook.
Also, I love Adele AND chasing pavements and will be delighted to hear your rendition.

This was so much fun.

Kathryn Magendie said...

OMG I love this! I love these kinds of things... *laughing-snort-laugh* - yes, I am a SNORTER, too!

haw!

possibilities possibilities - guess I can type it - but I used that word a lot in VK

And! yes on Catbird Scount - Deb Shucka - she also had her story Green Tears published in R&T! she is a gifted writer and beautiful woman.

Kathryn Magendie said...

PS - don't even ASK me about hair - I just whacked into mine - said I wouldn't - said I'd wait to go to the stylist - but noo no noooo - Kat had to go whack whackity with the scissors and now it is a HORROR

Elana Johnson said...

This is a fabulous post! I'm smiling and chuckling a little, and realizing that I'm not the only one who has weird things. :)

Jessica Nelson said...

Janna!!!! You're so funny and yet this is still so true! I loved reading it!!!

And Deb's blog is beautiful. Congrats to her. :-)

WendyCinNYC said...

LOL! I know what you mean about the grey hairs. Just as I'm feeling all good abut my 'do THERE THEY ARE AGAIN. Didn't they get the hint last time I colored them? Go away!

Anonymous said...

Hair, oh boy!

I was born blond.

Then my hair turned a vivid red between six months to a year (in thick curls that would make an Elizabethan maiden jealous, and I'm a guy!) then it turn deep black, and finally settled on dark brown. Then I had a few stray blond hairs left, but those are now turning white.

Too bad I didn't inherit my maternal grandfather's blue eyes.

;)

Kathy said...

This was a great post! Funny and real.

I LOVE that giant pencil!

Natalie said...

Ha, ha, ha.

Drooling and snoring all at once takes skill. I find that very endearing.

And I find grays ALL THE TIME now, which is frustrating since I'm not even 30 yet.

Deb Shucka said...

Thank you so much for the honor and the kind words, Janna. I'm thrilled.

It was so much fun to read your list, and the pictures are unbelievably great. Imagine having a whole head of gray hairs like those - it makes life interesting for sure.

And I'm so impressed with your organizational abilities - keeping those notebooks right where you can find them at all times. :-)

ChristaCarol Jones said...

You are awesome, Janna. Love the ginormous pencil. I want one.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Deb, you are so welcome. :)

Thanks, everyone, for the great comments! What a fun post.

septembermom said...

Love that big pencil. You're so funny. I wrote a whole post yesterday about my scary discovery of all my gray hair. It just never wants to go away.

Nadine said...

These cracked me up! And I drool too. :)