The Thirteen Thursday Drive-thru
1. A funny thing happened when I changed my blogging platform from Moveable Type to WordPress. After my local web hoster set up the in-house stat counter, I discovered that I had A LOT more (non-commenting) readers than I had previously thought.
2. The compulsion to check my statcounter makes me think of Greek God Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection.
3. As a writer, I keep a list of words on my desk that can be used instead of “said” – like suggested, remarked, observed, stated, etc. – for when I’m writing stories in which I quote people but am tired of using “he said and she said” But even with the list, 99.5 % of the time, I choose to use “said” anyways. I just like to know there are options.
4. Just said this to my friend blogger friend Fred First who is fairly new to Facebook: If blogs are like headline stories, then Facebook is the classifieds.
5. The E on my new keyboard that’s only a month old has already worn down to look like an F.
6. If February is a lion and April is a lamb, then March is an otter in a mudslide.
7. I always think of a baby being born whenever I’m at the bank drive-thru waiting for my deposit slip to plop through the bank vacuum tube.
8. Joe and I have thought of our relationship in banking terms. Over time we make some deposits and withdrawals but in the end we’re getting rich because our love has accrued a lot of interest.
9. My favorite bank picture is photo #4 HERE. I called it “Bank Makes a Statement” but I think it should be “Christmas Window Shopping.”
10. I spent part of St. Patrick’s Day with my Irish plumber named Bernie. After he fixed the thermostat in my hot water heater, he played his newest CD for me and I made bubble and squeak for lunch.
11. Ireland is the muse behind my blog, started in 2005 to let my Irish storyteller’s hair down. My blog profile photo is one of me in Ireland with a shamrock pinned on my sweater, and the color of my blog: Green of course!
12. I passed around THIS link on Facebook for St. Patrick’s Day.
13. Message to bank tellers: I still like red tootsie pops.
More playing Thirteen Thursday are HERE. My TT archives are HERE.
March 18th, 2010 2:45 am
#3-whenever I had to write a story in school I felt I was being so repetitive always using said….I could have used your list (or a good thesaurus) It is nice to know there are options!
#7-now that you have shared this visual, I forsee myself having it!
#8-so sweet!
Happy Thursday Thirteen (on Wednesday!) =)
March 18th, 2010 3:27 am
3. probably good call. too much complexity in speech tags and you run risk of going into Tom Swifties.
6. made me smile.
8. fabulous investment to have made.
10. wow. that’s cool. such a friendly community.
March 18th, 2010 4:31 am
I was in stitches. Thanks for the giggles. Happy T13
March 18th, 2010 4:31 am
I just bought my computer and the s is already starting to go lol Fun list this week. Happy T13!
March 18th, 2010 5:17 am
LOL. #1 is one of the reasons I love WordPress. I feel better knowing I’m not being totally ignored even when I’m not getting any comments. Though comments are better. No arguments there.
March 18th, 2010 5:51 am
Blog comments can really make your day sometimes. And did you notice you listed “suggested” twice ( #3 )? LOL
March 18th, 2010 6:51 am
Hi, my name is Deb and I’m a statcounter addict. I’ve got myself down to only checking a couple of times a day, but I also have a big sign up saying “You are not defined by your stats!” Comments are nice, though.
March 18th, 2010 7:32 am
#3. Teachers have this list of words to use instead of “know” on their lesson plans. A learning objective ‘to know’ is not well accepted by academic administrators. I think with ‘say’ the situation for teachers is similar with writers. It’s always nice to use other verbs.
March 18th, 2010 9:48 am
That was a great read!
March 18th, 2010 11:10 am
#6 hilarious
March 18th, 2010 12:56 pm
I, too, have far more readers then commenters. I used to be too shy to comment on blogs, so I guess I understand. 🙂
If you should ever care to post your recipe for Bubble and Squeak, I’d be delighted. My kids always begged me to make it after they heard of it in Wind of the Willows, but I’m ashamed to say, I never did. But it’s never too late!
March 18th, 2010 1:22 pm
Bubble and squeak is so easy. Traditionally it’s made like a potato pancake in the frying pan with cabbage and other vegetables mixed in. But I just steam up potatoes, cabbage, and carrots till they are soft. Then I heat up my cast iron skillet with olive oil and saute in the cooled veggies, stirring them up. I have a spice salt I use that I found when I lived in Texas called Lantana that I add and that makes it even better. I like it with venison burger best. It really fills my Irish craving for a boiled dinner but is so much less of a production.
March 18th, 2010 1:46 pm
agreeeeeeeeee with you on all esp 4
Upcoming and Awaited
March 18th, 2010 1:57 pm
They still give out Tootsie Pops at your bank? All we get are dumdums. Well, and dog bones.
Have a great Thursday!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2010/03/hot-job-senior-citizen-whats/
March 18th, 2010 3:23 pm
Yes, dumdums, but they never offer me one and if they did, I want red tootsie pops.
March 18th, 2010 7:31 pm
As a NYC Banker I like #8 and I am guilty of not leaving a comment until now. I like reading your blog. BTW I’m from Belmont, Mass. 🙂
March 18th, 2010 11:18 pm
the most irish thing about me is that i had a guinness extra stout yesterday. i do like green. i like options too.
T 13 – Magical Creatures
March 19th, 2010 9:57 am
A Belated Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, Colleen, my dear….Hope you had a lovely Green Day!
March 19th, 2010 2:19 pm
Thanks for leaving a comment Tanner and for solving one piece of the puzzle of who those unnamed readers are.
March 19th, 2010 4:17 pm
I love pictures in the rear view mirrors of cars…a lot!