New Day #305

Introducing The Tingler. Batteries and Storm Large not included.

Storm tingled my head at our Big Brain Trust, my writers' group which includes singer-songwriter McKinley, playwright C.S. Whitcomb, Live Wire Radio host Courtenay Hameister and author Daniel Wilson. It was an appropriate New Thing, because the BBT regularly tingles my brain. All of these writers astonish me with their talent, creativity and originality, which inspires me to be a better writer.

That said, I'm finding the constant stimulation of this project exhausting as well as exhilarating. In the past day, I finally got to spend 24 consecutive hours in my house and I found the down time both restorative yet depressing. All of this activity keeps me from facing the negative thoughts which lie in wait for me when I slow down.

So I've decided, come 2009, that I will continue doing one New Thing a week. Fifty New Things a Year. That's right, with two weeks off for vacation, like a normal person. These activities are too invigorating to stop, but the daily grind is making my nervous system live up to its name.

But I've got some ideas about what else I'll blog about. And if I run out of them, I can always depend on the Big Brain Trust.

New Day #165

Thanks to Courtenay Hameister of Live Wire Radio, I met Deirdre Thompson, who agreed to teach me how to walk on stilts.

Of all the things I've done this year thus far, this absolutely ranks among the best. Just the thought of it fills me with wonder. I mean, I had no idea how to do it, yet, after fifteen minutes, I was walking two feet higher on my own.



Hours later, I'm still walking tall, giddy with the accomplishment.

Here's me walking down the street, right before I fell on my face and broke a stilt.
Deirdre couldn't have been more gracious, even inviting me back to learn how to fire-dance.

With my luck, I'll probably burn down her house.

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New Day #142

Today's New Thing was going to be banging the gong during the audience haiku at Live Wire Radio, but it didn't work out. Since it was closing in on midnight, though, I had to come up with something else quick. So, inspired by my copping a feel off Chelsea Clinton, I decided to feel up satirist Will Durst.

The pained expression on my face is actually me laughing, because Durst is heelarious.

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