Writers Don't "Love" to Work

The geezer long has argued with those who cheerfully exclaim, "I just love to write!" I've been at it for a bit more than a half-century, and creating new deathless prose still qualifies as work, not pleasure.

The fun part, I maintain, is that good feeling when you think you've turned out something worthwhile. Even more satisfying is the discovery that someone bothered to read it. And if anyone says they liked your offering--WOW!

I think what does apply to the hundreds of writers I've edited and the many others I've shared thoughts with over the years is this: It is not the act of writing writers love, it is the result (when the result is even a little bit positive).

Today, with expectations of at least a trifling reward, I fully intended to concentrate in solitude and create a brilliant, fascinating, compelling post for your approval. Darn, a whole lot of important tasks took precedence. I'll just have to wait for another time to feel the love.

It's Just Not Fair

Five years ago, we lived adjacent to the seventh fairway of a very nice golf course near Ogden, Utah. Today, course management announced the front nine will be open for play tomorrow.

We now live next to the eighteenth green of a very nice golf course near Plainwell, Michigan. It started snowing once again about an hour ago. Forecasters say we can expect three to seven inches by tomorrow morning, which should make average snow cover on the golf course nearly two feet. Course management has not even thought about an opening date.

Boo hoo.

Beating the Bulb

With a participant in our midst who had actually studied the situation, our last discussion group meeting turned to pondering the relative environmental and economic benefits of various types of light bulbs.

Some favored CFLs (compact fluorescents) as an inexpensive and long-lasting change from traditional

Will it outlast me?

incandescent bulbs. CFLs are a good choice for some places in the home, such as closets, but they present disposal problems.

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) cost much more, but last far longer, and by far are the most environmentally friendly of the choices. The prices of LEDs are dropping, and the selection is expanding, so there is little doubt these will be the choice of the future.

In our home, we're in transition mode. We have invested in a few LEDs, starting with outdoor holiday lights. We have CFLs in the garage, some exterior lights, and all our closets. We continue to use up our supply of incandescent bulbs. When one size is gone we make a spot decision to go with a CFL or LED.

One participant in the discussion said it mattered little to him because he had a big supply of the old incandescent bulbs that probably would last longer than he would--he was loathe to throw them out.

Group members once worried occasionally about outliving their money in retirement. Now we face another worry--a concern that without careful planning we may not outlive our light bulbs.