Blog Response to Peer Keith Jarvis

 

            Oh my gosh how I loved this blog! I couldn’t agree more with the title, “Just one drink to numb the pain” because it seems to fit right in with how I feel every time I sit down at the computer to write. It seems like the words flow a lot easier after the first one (drink). I agree with Vanessa and you too about the commas. There is no end to all of the rules for the English language. I laughed the entire time I was reading this blog because it really hit home on so many things: Microsoft highlighting, Microsoft spelling tool, etc. Yes, spelling should be easier because of these tools, but really? How many times do you need to go back and correct no capital on the beginning word of a sentence of a new page, or correct the unusual name of an author of a book?

I feel your pain Keith because it is my pain too!  No matter how much time I spend writing, it feels like I could keep correcting myself forever. I think I try very hard to get a good product by the time I am ready to turn my paper in, but I always doubt myself and almost break a sweat before I can hit the submit button on the drop box. Writing is not easy for me, but at least I know there are those of you out there that may just have the same problem. Hopefully we can keep our sense of humour (oh, there’s that red squiggly line) humor (that doesn’t look right), and keep on trying until we get it right! This was very entertaining reading Keith!

My Writing Process Thoughts

            Writing is like trying to figure out a complex math problem or science equation for me; it takes time and a lot of thinking. It does not come easy and it does not feel very “natural.” Each time I start a writing project, I feel anxious and nervous. It may take several minutes or maybe hours just to be able to fill a paper with coherent thoughts. Many times, I will erase or delete more words than I actually leave on the paper. It is something that can bring terror to my eyes when I start thinking of how in the world I’m going to fill four, five, even six pages of meaningful information on any particular subject.

            I know this may seem dumb, even silly to some people, but the fear of writing something really bad makes me want to hide my face every time I turn in a paper. Thank goodness for online classes. It helps knowing that I do not have to face a class full of students who may think I am a very poor writer. This really helps me make it through another paper.

            Once I have filled a paper with something that makes sense, I usually go back and re-read again and again until I feel comfortable with the content. If I cannot make sense of anything I have written, then I start all over. Usually, after I have one page filled, I cannot stop because I am afraid the words will stop flowing. If I can finish a small paper in one setting, I feel that I have accomplished something good, maybe not great, but at least something worth reading.

New Favorite Blog

Blog Reflection

            I first saw this blog being discussed on a local TV show I watch on Saturday evenings, and was intrigued, but somehow in the midst of working a lot of overtime and juggling school, it was forgotten about…until today. At first, I searched for some kind of blog related to autos as I am in the auto claims business, but decided to write about something besides work.

            It wasn’t hard to find a blog relating to something that interests me. The hard thing was to narrow the choices down to one. After “googling” cooking blogs, the search was at an end as the blog I had seen on TV was at the top of the list. I recognized “The Pioneer Woman” immediately and went to the sight with anticipation of what I would find.

            I know this blog is not for everyone, but it is different and is a reminder of the great state where I was born and continue to live.  It has humor, as well as some great recipes for some good old-fashioned home cooked meals, and the author Ree Drummond blogs about her home life on a real working ranch. She also posts lots of photos of the ranch, her kids, the family dog, etc. If anyone is curious to see what life in Oklahoma is like, this blog is worth visiting.

            Although most Oklahomans do not live on big cattle ranches, this blog gives readers a taste of what it’s like to live in the wide open spaces, away from the big city lights, and what it’s like living with cattle, horses, and other farm animals on a daily basis.

            The colorful photos of an Oklahoma sunset or the photos of her yummy recipes will keep you mesmerized for hours (it did me). This is a blog about so much more than cooking and it even has comments about and photos of the “Marlboro Man,” in chaps. You’ll just have to visit the blog to see for yourself how Oklahomans live, eat, talk, work and play. Here is the link to “The Pioneer Woman” blog http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/.