“But I’m a superstitious man. And if some unlucky accident should befall him – If he should get shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell – or if he’s struck by a bolt of lightning, them I’m going to blame some of the people in this room, and that I do not forgive. But, that aside, let me say that I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace we’ve made here today.” ~ Vito Corleone
My apologies to anyone who has ever tagged me for a meme and then went lonely for a reply. Random morsels of me hardly seem worth the time it takes to articulate, but my sister tagged me and this is a lot more legal than the last thing she asked me to do.
Six things that matter to few:
1) I keep my old pens; all those that will never glide across a page again, leaving my quick drying thoughts in their wake. Yes I know this makes me a big giant loser face. Since I started writing late last year, I’ve written with the same style of see through gel pens – the Staples house brand. I like to use them until the ink’s depleted and I’m staring through a clear plastic tube. Instead of tossing them in the garbage like any other sane person, I slip them in a box for some sort of pointless rollerball reunion. This behavior makes no practical sense, but I suppose I see the empty pens as a manifestation of thought bled dry. It’s a compact symbol and I have plenty of space.
2) I totally heart Marshall Mathers (subscriber count does a sommersault from a high dive). It’s true. The dude is a wordsmith, one of the best I’ve ever heard. Just because he spits words like fluffy trucker (except without the luffy tru) doesn’t mean he’s not articulate. He’s a sniper with a shotgun, and vents more in a few hundred words than many say in a dissertation. There is no pending album I anticipate more. I’m hoping he’s grown a bit. His last LP was a total disappointment; anger and vitriol are fine when you’re in your twenties and gaining grandeur from the gutter. It’s not cool when you’re in your thirties and spitting from the top of the world. I hope life has given him new things to say, and I hope he says them well.
3) In three decades, I’ve never had a vacation that lasted longer than four days. Even my honeymoon was a four day weekend. I live in California and – please don’t laugh – I’ve never seen snow. Though I have some things to tidy, by the third week of December, I’ll be easing into the first two week vacation I’ve ever had. YAY!
4) I started my first business at nine. Of course I’d dabbled before, but I was a full tank a year before ten, with my sister as official conspirator. We sold Garbage Pail Kids, baseball cards – gum sold separately, comic books, repurposed action figures; you name it. She and I would go to the dumpster behind our parent’s flower shop and gather the bookstore’s discarded comic books. Missing covers didn’t stop us from shilling them for ten cents a piece. Business was thriving until Big Brother shut us down.
5) I semi-regularly layer my inner mouth with small wads of toilet paper, slick my hair, jut my jaw, and exit the bathroom as Vito Corleone. I stroll the house telling Daisy that I’m a suspicious man, and that if some tragedy should befall my son, I’m going to blame some of the men in this room. Back when we first met, I’d wander the rooms in a wife beater and suspenders, my skinny arms raking fingers beneath my chin. I do this a lot less now that I actually am a father, but I think she likes it more. It has definitely grown on her more than the incessant music I make while playing the Godfather of annoying, blaring Super Mario Brothers with a trumpet that is missing everything except my lips. She tolerates it, but I’m certain she does not enjoy it.
6)I’ve talked about this before, maybe a couple of times. I have movies… a lot. Really, it’s embarrassing. Long before I had children, I imagined them thumbing my library, each case a moment in time. Movies to me aren’t just players on the screen; it’s the when and the where which lend me the why. I’m the first to bow to new technology that would allow me to shove all those gigabytes worth of joy and recall into a box the size of my DVD player, and I’ll probably never buy a DVD again, but I don’t regret a single one.
Writer Dad
Sean Platt is also a ghostwriter for hire.
About Sean Platt
Bloody fun to read. Interesting choice of words.
Last time I did a meme when I asked New Age Bitch to tag me and I started the Conversations project. We’ll see where this one takes me.
I can organize my movies autobiographically and chronologically. Example: I’ve devoted a whole section to movies that I shared a first kiss over, and then further organize it chronologically by order of girlfriends.
I’ve been listening to Marshall’s new demos that are floating around the web. I am enjoying them, but I won’t be able to really judge it until the album comes out. His will be the first album that I will have pre-ordered or bought in the first week of it’s release. I’m saving money, bit by bit, for his autobiography.
Your poor wife.
Bloody fun to read. Interesting choice of words.
Last time I did a meme when I asked New Age Bitch to tag me and I started the Conversations project. We’ll see where this one takes me.
I can organize my movies autobiographically and chronologically. Example: I’ve devoted a whole section to movies that I shared a first kiss over, and then further organize it chronologically by order of girlfriends.
I’ve been listening to Marshall’s new demos that are floating around the web. I am enjoying them, but I won’t be able to really judge it until the album comes out. His will be the first album that I will have pre-ordered or bought in the first week of it’s release. I’m saving money, bit by bit, for his autobiography.
Your poor wife.
Hi
I was wondering, would you like a longer holiday?
Juliet
LifeMadeGreat | Juliets last blog post..I’m Topsy Turvy
Hi
I was wondering, would you like a longer holiday?
Juliet
LifeMadeGreat | Juliets last blog post..I’m Topsy Turvy
I am TOTALLY with you on Eminem. He’s was one of the most honest voices I’d ever heard – rapper or no. Just thinking about “Lose Yourself” gives me goosebumps. His crescendo of rage and desperation is probably one of the most beautiful things in music.
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..Help! I’m Addicted to TV
I am TOTALLY with you on Eminem. He’s was one of the most honest voices I’d ever heard – rapper or no. Just thinking about “Lose Yourself” gives me goosebumps. His crescendo of rage and desperation is probably one of the most beautiful things in music.
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..Help! I’m Addicted to TV
You do the Vito impersonation too? Sweet! Ok, ok, so now I have to go and meme. Darn you Writer Dad, you are a suspicious man. I’m going to blame some of the men on this blog…
Sals last blog post..We’ve Been Robbed
You do the Vito impersonation too? Sweet! Ok, ok, so now I have to go and meme. Darn you Writer Dad, you are a suspicious man. I’m going to blame some of the men on this blog…
Sals last blog post..We’ve Been Robbed
I like how you called Eminem “Marshall Mathers” to class him up a bit. It really lets the shame shine through.
We were way awesome with our garbage pail kid and stripped comic book business. High five to that. Your Star Studio sounded like sweet sweet profits.
kittytowns last blog post..Squashing the stinkers
I like how you called Eminem “Marshall Mathers” to class him up a bit. It really lets the shame shine through.
We were way awesome with our garbage pail kid and stripped comic book business. High five to that. Your Star Studio sounded like sweet sweet profits.
kittytowns last blog post..Squashing the stinkers
Not that it’s particularly important or anything, but I thought you were out-of-state somewhere (well, relative to me anyway; another Californian). You get out to many events/tweetups and such?
Ricardo Buenos last blog post..Why Isn’t This Working?
Not that it’s particularly important or anything, but I thought you were out-of-state somewhere (well, relative to me anyway; another Californian). You get out to many events/tweetups and such?
Ricardo Buenos last blog post..Why Isn’t This Working?
It’s a rainy day here at Casa de Crazy – buckets, waves, oceans of rain, sky so dark it’s six AM all day long and we’ve left on the outside fairy lights because they look cheerful in the wet – and the Evil Genius spent several minutes carefully perusing the DVD collection for just the right movie to start our day of baking and being homebodies.
I love watching him look up and down the shelves – he did so even before he could read – and consider each one before pulling his choice and placing the disk oh-so-carefully in the player. I suppose one can have too many movies, but I haven’t found that number yet.
I’ve never seen The Godfather. I get the references, but I’ve never actually seen it. Deprived childhood, I guess.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K (drunk on the heady fumes of baking cookies)
Kyddryns last blog post..Cookie Swap
It’s a rainy day here at Casa de Crazy – buckets, waves, oceans of rain, sky so dark it’s six AM all day long and we’ve left on the outside fairy lights because they look cheerful in the wet – and the Evil Genius spent several minutes carefully perusing the DVD collection for just the right movie to start our day of baking and being homebodies.
I love watching him look up and down the shelves – he did so even before he could read – and consider each one before pulling his choice and placing the disk oh-so-carefully in the player. I suppose one can have too many movies, but I haven’t found that number yet.
I’ve never seen The Godfather. I get the references, but I’ve never actually seen it. Deprived childhood, I guess.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K (drunk on the heady fumes of baking cookies)
Kyddryns last blog post..Cookie Swap
I love movies too and thank God for the Digital Age I keep most or them on my external drive.
Chriss last blog post..I Shall Return
I love movies too and thank God for the Digital Age I keep most or them on my external drive.
Chriss last blog post..I Shall Return
@kittytown: Haha! You know he hung his head in shame when he read that.
Matthew Drydens last blog post..Spoken Word: Dancing on Leaves
@kittytown: Haha! You know he hung his head in shame when he read that.
Matthew Drydens last blog post..Spoken Word: Dancing on Leaves
We here in Colorado have plenty of snow if you want to throw a snowball, build snowfolk like Calvin (of comic strip fame), or make snow angels.
SpaceAgeSage — Loris last blog post..Relationship (or leadership) is not about control
We here in Colorado have plenty of snow if you want to throw a snowball, build snowfolk like Calvin (of comic strip fame), or make snow angels.
SpaceAgeSage — Loris last blog post..Relationship (or leadership) is not about control
Haha @ “victims”.
A 2-week vacation sounds wonderful and so richly deserved. ENJOY!
Haha @ “victims”.
A 2-week vacation sounds wonderful and so richly deserved. ENJOY!
Oh, so I’M tagged am I?! FINE!…now I’ve got to go think of six things that I do that might seem interesting, but won’t completely take away any credibility that I possibly gained thus far. :-)
I used to sell action figures of all kinds and I LOVED Garbage Pale Kids! And I love the whole, gum soled seperately, deal! Good stuff. Now I’m off to ponder my particiaption…Eric.
Eric Hamms last blog post..Why NOT Listening To Others Simplifies Life
Oh, so I’M tagged am I?! FINE!…now I’ve got to go think of six things that I do that might seem interesting, but won’t completely take away any credibility that I possibly gained thus far. :-)
I used to sell action figures of all kinds and I LOVED Garbage Pale Kids! And I love the whole, gum soled seperately, deal! Good stuff. Now I’m off to ponder my particiaption…Eric.
Eric Hamms last blog post..Why NOT Listening To Others Simplifies Life
Does Eminem have a new album coming out? How did I miss this news? I feel the same way – hopefully he has something to say this time around because the last few tracks were huge disappointments.
I love that you keep your old, empty pens. In fact, I imagine them in a cigar box, tucked inside a desk drawer. Very writerly.
Melissa Donovans last blog post..How to Write a Novel (Part II)
Does Eminem have a new album coming out? How did I miss this news? I feel the same way – hopefully he has something to say this time around because the last few tracks were huge disappointments.
I love that you keep your old, empty pens. In fact, I imagine them in a cigar box, tucked inside a desk drawer. Very writerly.
Melissa Donovans last blog post..How to Write a Novel (Part II)
Hi Sean, I don’t think that I ever knew about you guys dumpster diving, but it is an art; I would have encouraged you and given you tips. One of the best things I recovered from that dumpster(besides things your dad threw out) was a brand new $200 Laura Ashley comforter with a tiny washable stain that the interior decorating store had thrown out! You forgot to mention the Batman buttons that came in bubble gum packages (I had to constantly drive you to Thrifty’s to purchase new batches). I was quite impressed with your entreprenurial drive when y0u pinned them all on your denim jacket and walked the waiting line at the Batman movie, selling the collector buttons for premium -price ($10 for the highest if I recall).I always knew you would aspire to higher ventures.
Hi Sean, I don’t think that I ever knew about you guys dumpster diving, but it is an art; I would have encouraged you and given you tips. One of the best things I recovered from that dumpster(besides things your dad threw out) was a brand new $200 Laura Ashley comforter with a tiny washable stain that the interior decorating store had thrown out! You forgot to mention the Batman buttons that came in bubble gum packages (I had to constantly drive you to Thrifty’s to purchase new batches). I was quite impressed with your entreprenurial drive when y0u pinned them all on your denim jacket and walked the waiting line at the Batman movie, selling the collector buttons for premium -price ($10 for the highest if I recall).I always knew you would aspire to higher ventures.
Hi Sean, I never knew about you guys dumpster-diving . It is an art. I would have encouraged you and given you tips. That was a great dumpster. Probably the best thing I ever retrieved (besides the things your dad threw out) was a brand new (with a tiny stain) $200 Laura Ashley comforter that the interior design store had discarded. By the way, you forgot to mention the Batman buttons that came in the bubble gum packs. I would repeatedly drive you to Thrifty’s to see if new batches had come in. I was quite impressed with your entreprenurial drive when you pinned them all on your denim jacket and walked the waiting line at the Batman movie. You raked in quite a respectable fortune, the premium button going for $10, if I recall. I always knew that you would aspire to higher ventures. Love ya, mom
Hi Sean, I never knew about you guys dumpster-diving . It is an art. I would have encouraged you and given you tips. That was a great dumpster. Probably the best thing I ever retrieved (besides the things your dad threw out) was a brand new (with a tiny stain) $200 Laura Ashley comforter that the interior design store had discarded. By the way, you forgot to mention the Batman buttons that came in the bubble gum packs. I would repeatedly drive you to Thrifty’s to see if new batches had come in. I was quite impressed with your entreprenurial drive when you pinned them all on your denim jacket and walked the waiting line at the Batman movie. You raked in quite a respectable fortune, the premium button going for $10, if I recall. I always knew that you would aspire to higher ventures. Love ya, mom
Hi Sean: I watched “The Godfather” for the first time this year and loved it (I then proceeded to watch II and III; the second one was also great and the third one was awful). I love little kid entrepreneurs. I wish I’d been one. When I have a kid he’s going to have a lemonade stand by the age of 3 :-)
Hi Sean: I watched “The Godfather” for the first time this year and loved it (I then proceeded to watch II and III; the second one was also great and the third one was awful). I love little kid entrepreneurs. I wish I’d been one. When I have a kid he’s going to have a lemonade stand by the age of 3 :-)
Hi Sean,
I have to admit that I am a Marshall Mathers fan too! If you really love words, it’s hard not to appreciate him. Despite the fluffy truckers! ;-)
On the flip side, this meme has really been flying around the internet. I recently participated it in and here is the link to my post…
http://www.insightwriter.com/2008/11/28/ive-tagged-6-random/
Can’t wait to see what you mum says!
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Days last blog post..Why YOU are your own best investment advisor
Hi Sean,
I have to admit that I am a Marshall Mathers fan too! If you really love words, it’s hard not to appreciate him. Despite the fluffy truckers! ;-)
On the flip side, this meme has really been flying around the internet. I recently participated it in and here is the link to my post…
http://www.insightwriter.com/2008/11/28/ive-tagged-6-random/
Can’t wait to see what you mum says!
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Days last blog post..Why YOU are your own best investment advisor
I believe I was one of the people who tagged you for a meme, so thanks for playing! :)
It’s silly, but I didn’t realize until Haydin mentioned it that Marshall Mathers == Eminem… right. I knew that. You’re completely right – even though he sometimes tends more toward the angry rapping, I’ve always thought his lyrics were well-written.
Yay for two week vacations! Enjoy! Will this two week vacation involve a first sighting of snow? (And I don’t know if you intend to be posting or not during this vacation, but know that we will TOTALLY understand and still adore you if you decide not to. Your adoring readers will still be here when you come back. :) ) My boyfriend has never seen snow either, even having lived here in California for 17 years, so it’s a goal of mine to take him to see snow one of these days.
@Jeremy – I can’t help but wonder if we are related. Especially considering how much you look like one of my cousins…
Allison Days last blog post..A Hug Rolled up with Salmon and Seaweed
I believe I was one of the people who tagged you for a meme, so thanks for playing! :)
It’s silly, but I didn’t realize until Haydin mentioned it that Marshall Mathers == Eminem… right. I knew that. You’re completely right – even though he sometimes tends more toward the angry rapping, I’ve always thought his lyrics were well-written.
Yay for two week vacations! Enjoy! Will this two week vacation involve a first sighting of snow? (And I don’t know if you intend to be posting or not during this vacation, but know that we will TOTALLY understand and still adore you if you decide not to. Your adoring readers will still be here when you come back. :) ) My boyfriend has never seen snow either, even having lived here in California for 17 years, so it’s a goal of mine to take him to see snow one of these days.
@Jeremy – I can’t help but wonder if we are related. Especially considering how much you look like one of my cousins…
Allison Days last blog post..A Hug Rolled up with Salmon and Seaweed
Matthew: I remember that. She really should post more. She’s super funny and a good writer. Come on say more, how are they? All I’ve heard was the one single which I found disappointing. Does he still have it?
Juliet: Two weeks is wonderful. I’m not greedy. However, next year I’d like two weeks uninterrupted. That would be divine.
Hayden: Well said, Hayden. Some of his songs actually achieve climax – it’s amazing. They build and build and build and then suddenly there’s a payoff that sends chills down the body. I can’t wait to see if he’ll do it again.
Sal: I am a suspicious man, and I DO blame some of the men on this blog.
KittyTown: I wasn’t trying to class the dude up a bit. If a hundred million dollars can’t do it, I sure can’t. I’ve just always been drawn to his Marshall side a lot more than his Eminem. In fact, when he did 8 Mile, I actually felt disappointment when his screen credit was listed as Eminem instead of Marshall Mathers. I was like “Dude, your name is Marshall.” I SO wish I had even a handful of our old Garbage Pail Kids. The were SUH-WEET.
Ricardo: Dude, I don’t get out to dinner with my wife, so um.. nope.
Kyddryn: Whatever you’re doing this weekend, include the Godfather. There’s no reason to see the third one, but you really should try to see the first two. Yes, it will take six hours of your life, but you won’t mourn the loss. Cinema at its finest.
Chris: I’d like to keep anything new I get on an external, but I’m not getting anything new right now and I don’t have a clean external. 2009, perhaps.
Lori: I’d love to do all three. Daisy spent her high school years in Colorado and regularly tells me that I would love the state.
Vered: Tis what we are methinks. I will enjoy my vacation like no two weeks before.
Eric: Yes you are. How awesome were the Garbage Pail Kids? Well, except for the movie. There was no excuse for that.
Melissa: Yes. It was supposed to be out last week actually, but he’s “perfecting it” and it has been moved to the first quarter of ’09. HUGE disappointments, I agree, yet it hasn’t dimmed my enthusiasm to see if he’s still got it. I should definitely get a cigar box, it’s a lot better than the system I have now.
Mom: They didn’t come in bubble gum packs, they were in giant (at least to my ten year old eyes) plastic tubs – 75 cents a piece, and that was later. The originals came from Comic’s Unlimited and a premium sold for $4, not ten (I’m not a crook, Ma). Love you too.
Mare: Watching the trilogy is kind of sad. The first one is amazing and then the second one is even better and then it’s like WHAT – THAT’S IT!!!! Sad, sad, sad. Little kid entrepreneurs are rock stars definitely.
Jeremy: He sews his words tight, no doubt. Definitely one of my inspirations, not as a musician, but as a writer. I’ll check out your meme later on today.
Allison: You are welcome. Sorry it took so long. The thing that makes his anger okay with me is that it’s coming from a sincere place. However, it’s harder to buy now, so I hope there’s been an evolution in his thought. It’s not cool to say the same things a decade later. They don’t have the same weight.
I’ll drop in during December for sure, and I have some guest posts lined up. Actually, despite my pledge to drop to three days, it looks like I have a full M-F plate all the way through the rest of the year until the new podium is ready.
Matthew: I remember that. She really should post more. She’s super funny and a good writer. Come on say more, how are they? All I’ve heard was the one single which I found disappointing. Does he still have it?
Juliet: Two weeks is wonderful. I’m not greedy. However, next year I’d like two weeks uninterrupted. That would be divine.
Hayden: Well said, Hayden. Some of his songs actually achieve climax – it’s amazing. They build and build and build and then suddenly there’s a payoff that sends chills down the body. I can’t wait to see if he’ll do it again.
Sal: I am a suspicious man, and I DO blame some of the men on this blog.
KittyTown: I wasn’t trying to class the dude up a bit. If a hundred million dollars can’t do it, I sure can’t. I’ve just always been drawn to his Marshall side a lot more than his Eminem. In fact, when he did 8 Mile, I actually felt disappointment when his screen credit was listed as Eminem instead of Marshall Mathers. I was like “Dude, your name is Marshall.” I SO wish I had even a handful of our old Garbage Pail Kids. The were SUH-WEET.
Ricardo: Dude, I don’t get out to dinner with my wife, so um.. nope.
Kyddryn: Whatever you’re doing this weekend, include the Godfather. There’s no reason to see the third one, but you really should try to see the first two. Yes, it will take six hours of your life, but you won’t mourn the loss. Cinema at its finest.
Chris: I’d like to keep anything new I get on an external, but I’m not getting anything new right now and I don’t have a clean external. 2009, perhaps.
Lori: I’d love to do all three. Daisy spent her high school years in Colorado and regularly tells me that I would love the state.
Vered: Tis what we are methinks. I will enjoy my vacation like no two weeks before.
Eric: Yes you are. How awesome were the Garbage Pail Kids? Well, except for the movie. There was no excuse for that.
Melissa: Yes. It was supposed to be out last week actually, but he’s “perfecting it” and it has been moved to the first quarter of ’09. HUGE disappointments, I agree, yet it hasn’t dimmed my enthusiasm to see if he’s still got it. I should definitely get a cigar box, it’s a lot better than the system I have now.
Mom: They didn’t come in bubble gum packs, they were in giant (at least to my ten year old eyes) plastic tubs – 75 cents a piece, and that was later. The originals came from Comic’s Unlimited and a premium sold for $4, not ten (I’m not a crook, Ma). Love you too.
Mare: Watching the trilogy is kind of sad. The first one is amazing and then the second one is even better and then it’s like WHAT – THAT’S IT!!!! Sad, sad, sad. Little kid entrepreneurs are rock stars definitely.
Jeremy: He sews his words tight, no doubt. Definitely one of my inspirations, not as a musician, but as a writer. I’ll check out your meme later on today.
Allison: You are welcome. Sorry it took so long. The thing that makes his anger okay with me is that it’s coming from a sincere place. However, it’s harder to buy now, so I hope there’s been an evolution in his thought. It’s not cool to say the same things a decade later. They don’t have the same weight.
I’ll drop in during December for sure, and I have some guest posts lined up. Actually, despite my pledge to drop to three days, it looks like I have a full M-F plate all the way through the rest of the year until the new podium is ready.
Fun stuff Sean. I have a ton of old Disney VHS tapes that I am about to pitch. I just hat to cause they remind me of when my boys was little.
I think it is cool that you save your old pen tubes. Those tubes represent conversations of days gone by. It’s symbolic. Keep it up. When you get enough of them, you could create a piece of art with them or something. At least you’re not like my son.When he was 2 I would clip his fingernails and he would insist on keeping them. Gross. He kept them in a little jar which I eventually threw away. The kid is all grown up now, by still is out there!
Fun stuff Sean. I have a ton of old Disney VHS tapes that I am about to pitch. I just hat to cause they remind me of when my boys was little.
I think it is cool that you save your old pen tubes. Those tubes represent conversations of days gone by. It’s symbolic. Keep it up. When you get enough of them, you could create a piece of art with them or something. At least you’re not like my son.When he was 2 I would clip his fingernails and he would insist on keeping them. Gross. He kept them in a little jar which I eventually threw away. The kid is all grown up now, by still is out there!
Sean
Don’t ya just love the God Father! No snow, no worries- I’m from Chicago so you know what I’ve been through. :) Hey man, four days is enough, after that I might just go crazy.
-Mig
Miguel | Simply Blogs last blog post..WordPress 2.7 Changes Everything
Sean
Don’t ya just love the God Father! No snow, no worries- I’m from Chicago so you know what I’ve been through. :) Hey man, four days is enough, after that I might just go crazy.
-Mig
Miguel | Simply Blogs last blog post..WordPress 2.7 Changes Everything