tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post8532107632927720633..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: I got nothin to say todayJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39326678117668687832016-11-14T12:36:57.249-05:002016-11-14T12:36:57.249-05:00Julie, the Northeast and Northern California would...Julie, the Northeast and Northern California wouldn't decide an election without the electoral college. Everyone everywhere would, because everyone's vote would be worth exactly the same. It literally makes it so that no one region decides an election. Right now people in the regions you call "flyover" America have votes worth double the amount mine does, just because I happen to live in the wrong place. It doesn't get more "some people are more equal than others" than that.Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769987102323215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91886099840783977312016-11-10T10:34:01.775-05:002016-11-10T10:34:01.775-05:00The dimly glowing, hardly discernible, dying coal ...The dimly glowing, hardly discernible, dying coal of a bright side is that I now have a LOAD of new stuff for my SF adult dystopian WIP.tcMoorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17520916699656414947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21059718327958765542016-11-10T08:03:46.229-05:002016-11-10T08:03:46.229-05:00Michael,
"Bear in mind, the MAJORITY of your...Michael,<br /><br />"Bear in mind, the MAJORITY of your fellow Americans thought it should be her."<br /><br />Yes, and thank God for the electoral college or cities in the north east and California would decide most elections since they hold the largest population centers. Look at a map of how the election went. <br /><br />When pundits say politicians were wrong to dismiss fly over America, they finally got it right. Fly over America is tired of being ignored. Hillary is the one who erroneously assumed she didn't have to campaign in Wisconsin because it always votes Democrat. Keep courting the big populations and big money events at your own risk politicians. Hillary should have taken note from Bernie's grass roots campaign that America is tired of business as usual.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3742603875827516612016-11-10T06:48:32.519-05:002016-11-10T06:48:32.519-05:00@ Peggy Rothschild...
Bear in mind, the MAJORITY ...@ Peggy Rothschild...<br /><br />Bear in mind, the MAJORITY of your fellow Americans thought it should be her. The Electoral College (which <i>is</i> the law of the land) thinks it should be him.Michael Seesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03694187657718931214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35114348721271420732016-11-09T19:45:38.284-05:002016-11-09T19:45:38.284-05:00Susan, ice cream is my wine, whiskey and way to co...Susan, ice cream is my wine, whiskey and way to cope.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82009762835659428042016-11-09T19:36:43.793-05:002016-11-09T19:36:43.793-05:00KD and Sara: I'm glad I came back here to read...<b>KD </b>and <b>Sara</b>: I'm glad I came back here to read through the rest of the comments. Thank you for putting into words what I've been trying to express all day--why I feel gutted and such loss. It has nothing to do with losing the vote. It has nothing to do with not having a female president. It has everything to do with the very legitimate fear my friends and family are feeling when we had come so far, only to worry that our voices and rights will not only be ignored, but actively suppressed again through violence and discord.<br /><br />There is pain felt on both sides today. It's only when we acknowledge that pain, that fear, from each group, including those who voted for Trump, that we can actively work together to change all of our lives for the better. But it first has to be acknowledged. <br /><br />Soon enough, this fear I'm feeling will be replaced with resolve, and I'll play my part in standing up and continuing to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. The past few years have taught me how. And if this life has taught me anything else, it's how to be brave in the face of defeat. <br /><br />Until then, I need to process.<br /><br /><b>Carolynn</b>: Thank God ice cream exists.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79419681592243651332016-11-09T19:02:20.003-05:002016-11-09T19:02:20.003-05:00All I want to do is cry into a gallon of Rocky Roa...All I want to do is cry into a gallon of Rocky Road. All I have is a freezer-burned half gallon of vanilla bean. That'll do.<br /><br /><br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55529705864459507422016-11-09T18:24:08.863-05:002016-11-09T18:24:08.863-05:00I forgot to add this line to my post above so it m...I forgot to add this line to my post above so it makes sense, so I'm copying and pasting:<br /><br /><br />Yesterday I retweeted a proofreader's tweet, with a photo of a grocery store sign over a bunch of lemons, which read:<br /><br /><b>"When life hands you lemons, make orange juice."</b><br /><br /><br />"LEMONS<br />Perfect for making orange juice!"<br /><br />Yesterday, I found it funny.<br />Today, I think it's profound.<br /><br />-- Barb Barbara Etlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07190731838738606727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37937814560068505162016-11-09T18:14:03.980-05:002016-11-09T18:14:03.980-05:00I've been at such a loss for words. But I'...I've been at such a loss for words. But I'm a writer and I feel the need to make sense of this in words. Or to try.<br /><br />There is a great deal of racism and misogyny in the world, and there's plenty of it in this country. That played a big part in this election and I don't think it's helpful to pretend it didn't. Those prejudices aren't going anywhere and we need to be realistic about that.<br /><br />BUT. I think the bigger issue is that a large percentage of this country, mostly rural, is still hurting from the recession. They're living in poverty and the jobs in their towns have disappeared. They feel hopeless and helpless. They're deeply hurt and they're angry. The things Trump said resonated with them, especially the things about bringing jobs back (a promise I desperately hope he can fulfill). They are literally fighting for their lives and if putting up with a bit of bigotry is the price they have to pay, they seem more than happy to do so. We can't ignore those people. They're Americans too. <br /><br />Voting is a way to make yourself heard and now is a time for those of us who "lost" to listen. Not to the hatred and bigotry, but to the very real fear felt by a large percentage of our population that their livelihoods and promise for a better future for their kids have gone very horribly wrong. The status quo isn't working for them and they rejected it in favour of something that sounded, on the surface at least, radically different.<br /><br />I am worried about a Trump presidency, especially when coupled with a Republican controlled congress and the situation with the Supreme Court. He is unpredictable and rash. And we face the prospect of losing many of the rights we've fought for, mostly for minorities. If that happens, we'll just have to get them back. We did it once, we'll do it again.<br /><br />But I don't think he'll destroy this country. We're stronger than that. We've overcome much more difficult situations and thrived in spite of them. Because of them. We are wonderfully inventive and generally caring about the plight of our friends and neighbours. Too many of them are hurting right now and we need to try to fix that. <br /><br />A good place to start is to focus on what we have in common, not what tears us apart. We've got work to do, and that requires us to be present and to pay attention. Not hide or leave. We're strong and smart and we'll get through these difficult times. Together.<br /><br /><br />OK, end of pep talk. I feel more hopeful now and I hope some of you do too.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53260334559203964812016-11-09T17:08:54.624-05:002016-11-09T17:08:54.624-05:00Others have commented far more eloquently than I c...Others have commented far more eloquently than I can - and as an outsider, my opinion's not worth much anyway - but thank you to John Frain, Amy Johnson and Donna, among others, who have encapsulated my thoughts this morning. <br />And yes, I'm praying. Kae Ridwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356868531870405990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38076590399073813672016-11-09T16:58:13.833-05:002016-11-09T16:58:13.833-05:00*Puts Minnesota on the list of places to go to, no...*Puts Minnesota on the list of places to go to, now that the markets are reeling and I'm sure the exchange rate will be much better soon* I love cookies. Gluten-free, please. Celiac disease is a bitch.<br /><br />Panda, if you come here, you'll get Greg's cookies. If not, I know a really good cook in the Pacific NorthWest who may even like pandas. Sometimes she reads this blog. Maybe she can help you... (If I lived closer, I'd be asking for cookies, too.)BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85629493840231301222016-11-09T15:29:42.882-05:002016-11-09T15:29:42.882-05:00My sister called me this morning with a quote from...My sister called me this morning with a quote from one of my heroes.<br /><br />“You wake from dreams of doom and--for a moment--you know: beyond all the noise and the gestures, the only real thing, love's calm unwavering flame in the half-light of an early dawn.” <br />― Dag Hammarskjöld, MarkingsPam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18859667931664198622016-11-09T15:25:21.602-05:002016-11-09T15:25:21.602-05:00Panda, BJ - I'll make cookies myself for both ...Panda, BJ - I'll make cookies myself for both of you if you're ever in my neck of the woods in Minnesota and want to come visit. Doesn't matter what side of the political isle you're on. Jennifer, you're welcome to some cookies too. So's anyone else who wants to stop over and say hi.<br /><br />- GregAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02520938664643938416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30231830037282528282016-11-09T15:18:10.325-05:002016-11-09T15:18:10.325-05:00Colin - essentially, I spent ten years writing Clo...Colin - essentially, I spent ten years writing Clovis' blog. I can't say I'm honestly the one who imagined it; but I was a conduit for a good, long time.<br /><br />Lucie, you break my heart, but never even having seen his face just the idea of your son is hope, and that is beautiful. Only if you did not care could this be a catastrophe.<br /><br />Breaking the 3-comment limit because this community is so civilized; which is all any of us were worried about this morning, right? THIS comments section, right here - this is the hope, and these are the people (on both sides) who make us realize it's okay.<br /><br />My political persuasions are no secret, but I am not so partisan I'm blind to the fact that fleeing the country because "we lost" is a direct analog to the fears many at my end of the spectrum had, of those on the other end sowing unrest or even revolution if *they* lost. If I expect those people not to break down the fabric of our nation, it would be hypocritical and STUPID for me to do the same by abandoning it.<br /><br />George Carlin's old bit about the Earth and environmentalism - "Maybe the planet needed plastic ... and the Earth isn't going anywhere if we destroy ourselves. The Earth will shake us off like a mild cough." (Paraphrased, of course.) Now, none of that stops me recycling or makes me laugh at driving a car that gets 50MPG, but the point is still important: we make it all about ourselves when we're afraid.<br /><br />We're important. We should care. We should take our stewardship of this planet seriously. But more important even than that is our stewardship of one another.<br /><br />This community here is THAT, done so right. Earlier today, I was practicing gratitude with my teeth gritted. It was work. By now, it is heartfelt. Y'all are a big part of that.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70923660813422089482016-11-09T14:39:48.886-05:002016-11-09T14:39:48.886-05:00Janet and others here, I read the blog often, but ...Janet and others here, I read the blog often, but seldom comment. <br />I'm assuming most, if not all of you, are writers. <br /><br />Storytellers have always been important to our species. Not simply for entertainment, but to help us understand; to make visible what is usually invisible---by which I mean, to take us into another's experience, to help us see through another's eyes. <br />You teach empathy. You engender empathy.<br /><br />You are all so very important, so very necessary. You were necessary before the election, and you remain so now.<br /><br />And Janet, you and others in the business help bring these stories into a world that needs them. You have the power to help us speak to each other, and to hear each other. You do this every day on your blog, too. You've created a fine community of people who clearly care about each other. It is a small piece of the world, but each piece contributes to the whole. Do not despair. You are more powerful than you know.<br /><br />These words from Rabindranath Tagore gave me comfort yesterday while people were still going to the polls. They still give me comfort today. I share them here for anyone who might also find comfort in them.<br /><br />Where The Mind Is Without Fear<br /><br />Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high <br />Where knowledge is free <br />Where the world has not been broken up into fragments <br />By narrow domestic walls <br />Where words come out from the depth of truth <br />Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection <br />Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way <br />Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit <br />Where the mind is led forward by thee <br />Into ever-widening thought and action <br />Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake<br /><br />Jennifer Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11626607040139388550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58414352324240820052016-11-09T14:28:03.697-05:002016-11-09T14:28:03.697-05:00So many others of you spoke more eloquently than I...So many others of you spoke more eloquently than I can manage. I was brought to tears by the compassion and love some are expressing here, and I wholeheartedly feel for everyone feeling justifiably terrified for their futures. <br /><br />I'm going to choose love. Because I know those who supported our President-elect had their reasons, which are as thoughtful and deep-seated as my own for not doing so. Because I know that the country is split exactly in half over this. Because I'm tired of seeing my friends tear each other into pieces over differences in beliefs. <br /><br />I choose love. I'm relieved to see I'm not the only one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44683046748001837732016-11-09T14:16:15.428-05:002016-11-09T14:16:15.428-05:00To me one of the most frightening things is they w...To me one of the most frightening things is they way DT treated journalists. angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70753369215433783052016-11-09T14:13:14.895-05:002016-11-09T14:13:14.895-05:00Colin: I think you say things in diaries (and I me...Colin: I think you say things in diaries (and I mean hand-written-in-a-little book diaries, not blogs) that you don't say out loud. Social media is highly censored - not by the government, but by other people, who think you should be shamed or threatened because you said something that wasn't what they thought you ought to say. Plus, historians can certainly access newspapers, but it's the little human thoughts and doings that say so much more. <br />Here's John Evelyn, attending a secret remembrance ceremony for his murdered king - would you know about that if you hadn't read his diary? It says something the history books don't - or wouldn't without Evelyn's diary. Certainly the government of the day didn't know about it or they'd have arrested the lot, and any papers or broadsides wouldn't have mentioned it for the same reason. I'm not comparing a simple election to regicide, but there are so many things we all want to say that we don't dare say, even though we can, because we don't relish the fallout, and those are the things history misses if we leave it up to the media.Adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08790958029798438793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33725553412276868052016-11-09T14:02:37.004-05:002016-11-09T14:02:37.004-05:00Sensible, grounded advice. Thank you.Sensible, grounded advice. Thank you.B. DuBoishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17934793308908873727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50508227192036543712016-11-09T13:58:57.731-05:002016-11-09T13:58:57.731-05:00BJ, I like cookies. Just sayin.
I'll have Gre...BJ, I like cookies. Just sayin.<br />I'll have Greg's.<br /><br />Peace and love y'all.Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40623931343351574872016-11-09T13:58:16.102-05:002016-11-09T13:58:16.102-05:00The image of blow dried cows, and of cows with the...The image of blow dried cows, and of cows with their stylists, has been the only bright spot today. Thank you for that. B. DuBoishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17934793308908873727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87886357432114862812016-11-09T13:54:18.562-05:002016-11-09T13:54:18.562-05:00I refuse to fear. I refuse to despair.
One of the ...I refuse to fear. I refuse to despair.<br />One of the biggest problems I see is that people assume the worst about everyone who voted for the other side. But many on both sides overlook flaws in their candidates, whether because they support a specific issue or set of issues above all else, or because they are afraid of the other candidate. And that's why most people voted as they did.<br />Talk to your neighbors, your family, your friends. Listen. And look for the common way forward.<br />I don't say this from a place of political victory. I did not vote for either major candidate (and in Texas, I didn't hurt either of them by voting third party). I say this from a place of knowing that we are much better off if we are not dividing unnecessarily.<br /><br />I'm 60. Every election I can recall was the end of the world for a big hunk of America, starting with JFK's election (the Protestant/Catholic divide was huge at the time). I don't recall the '56 election, being a mere babe at the time. But the rest were definitely the ends of the world, and yet here we are. Don't abandon hope! Love well and look for a way forward that transcends the insanity.<br />And make sure people know you have their backs.<br />You guys rock, and I've got your back.roadkills-r-ushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14029861300358380117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25411974335160674812016-11-09T13:47:59.348-05:002016-11-09T13:47:59.348-05:00Adele: I think it will be a lot easier in decades ...<b>Adele</b>: I think it will be a lot easier in decades and centuries to come for people to look back and understand how people thought and felt about life in the mid-2010s. As long as the social media data is available, along with the traditional press and TV, I think people will get a good picture. If only such technology was available in past times, don't you think <b>Julie</b>? <b>Diane</b>? Can you imagine Clovis I's blog? ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44508689367002523142016-11-09T13:47:33.957-05:002016-11-09T13:47:33.957-05:00The only highlight of the day was when my daughter...The only highlight of the day was when my daughter looked at her little brother said, "I'm so sorry. Hello Kitty didn't win." Although he was the only one who voted for the lovable kitty cat in our household election, he took the loss pretty well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12146136846875431598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84053682466045250982016-11-09T13:46:17.801-05:002016-11-09T13:46:17.801-05:00I should mention I'm an optimist. I think it w...I should mention I'm an optimist. I think it will all work out, though I don't know how:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTQurAEmt64" rel="nofollow">It's a mystery.</a>Adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08790958029798438793noreply@blogger.com