New Blog 2012: Turnips 365

Cartoon by Gregory D. Rothbard

I am starting a new blog that will begin on January 1st 2012.  It will be my journal of creative ideas and short story ideas.  I found that Tending Turnips was getting bogged down by two many forms of writing.   Tending Turnips is my cultural reviews and book reviews; Turnips 365 will be my attempts at writing fiction for 365 days during the year of 2012.
Polycarp55 is my religious journey.
 And words people say is my dictionary of terms I want to share and hopefully remember. 
 I hope to find the time to write fiction everyday; it does make me a wee bit nervous to try my hand here, but one should feel butterflies, before anything that is worth the time to pursue. Thanks for reading, Gregory D. Rothbard

Note on New Project!

Dear Readers, 

Tending Turnips new project is El Camino-Borderland states.   El Camino uses Carl Jung’s study on dreams to explore one’s “dream existence”.  It is a mixture of media. I am a writer, so it will be mostly writing.   But a song track will be listed between scenes.    

I also want to try my attempt at other forms of media: short films and drawings.  I hope you enjoy the trip.

Thanks for your time, 
Gregory D. Rothbard

To listen or not to listen?

Reading according to Websters Dictionary is an  activity of interpreting music, a situation, or something said or written.   But it also means to be able to read a written or printed text.  Today one can read in a variety of formats; the traditional format can be read on the computer, on one's kindle, or on a traditionally bounded set of printed words.  But also reading is now being defined as listening to books; the reader can listen to complete books via audio c.d.s or via a MP3 file, on their computer.

But is listening to an audio book reading?  Does listening to a book constitute the same experience as reading one?  Will the reader's reaction to the book be influenced by the listening experience?  Some authors have published and read their own works on an Audio format.  Neil Gammon read his Graveyard Book and recorded it onto C.D..  I ponder if my liking Fahrenheit 451 was due me listening to it, and not reading it.  Bradbury is a really good oral story teller, but is his writing good?  Hmm we ponder!

Saturday Note from Gregorio

I went today to Fresco's Bakery and Bistro.   I loved the meal and will be describing it in an upcoming review... as soon as I have the time to write it.  Right now I get to go to work and meet all my great customers.   I hope your day is a blessing and that you find peace and time to try that Peach and Mozzarella Dessert.   Love Gregorio Roth

Ramblings of Greg 7.2.

I am not writing well today.  Nothing is really that bad, it’s just one of those other days.  It has been a lazy morning here in Florida.  It has been rainy and the clouds hang low like a present rumor.

My wife plays the guitar in the other room. Her soul soars on high.  

Sometimes writing is difficult, there really is not much going on. 

But you need to write every day, no matter what!   So today I sit here trying to think of what to say that might be somewhat positive.  

My arm hurts. Probably from cutting too much meat, filling customer orders, and cleaning up.  Why does ones ears not hurt from listening too much?  

Tonight I will be going to feed the homeless at Munn Park from old Chinese carry out containers, and food made by my friend Miguel Vazquez.  

Cheers to my Nederland friends, and the three guys I met in Israel.   We had a blast partying in the Old City of Jerusalem in 1997, London Underground, Arizona Bar, and spending all my money so that I had to borrow some to get back to Egypt.   I have never planned very well, and have had to rely on the courtesy of strangers.  I have learned  a lot from these adventures though. I am so happy that y'all beat those brats from San Paulo.  

Book Clubs: No Guts, No Glory!?

I confess I love doing book clubs. But I am the only guy in the library book club called Books Sandwiched In (BSI). Every first Tuesday we have a book offered to us that we have the option to read and discuss the next First Tuesday of the month.

Men join a book club in your area if you've got the guts. 

Do I feel light in the loafers by taking part in a book discussion group? No Way! I feel that my masculinity is not challenged in any way by being a participant in BSI. Often being the sole male in the group is valuable to the whole group. I can offer insight into the stories that woman cannot offer. But the women also help me understand the books better from their shared POV. It feels good to have fellow travelers in our explorations.

There are a number of books that we all have hated. Brenda our book group leader finds books that will make for good conversation. I have had my point of view stretched by a number of the books. A novel should give you new insight that you may never have known, or even wanted to know. The art of the novel is to live the experiences of others different from ourselves.

Men may fear that they will not be accepted by the women in the group. I have never felt the death glare that tells me I am not wanted here. Not once have I felt rejected.

All right, now it's your turn to join a group in your area and be the sole guy that drives the ladies crazy.

Remember: No Guts, No Glory!

Clucking my Writing: Acts 20:19 If Paul was a Member of NWA

(from an earlier post)
Life in the streets is just a head game
Pagans only want you to stay down
Labeling me a flesh eater,
driving me out!

Why do I call myself a Christian you ask
Because my mouth is dirt monkey nasty
Christ deliver us from a deadly adversaries...
Yo! I'll be a Christian for Life.

Process of Moving

The Posts to Tending Turnips will be sporadic right now as my wife and I are in the process of moving from one apartment to a house. We promise to continue to write more and more as we become more settled in. Thanks for your patience. Gregorio Roth