Lou Pickney's Online Commentary
The Life
Saturday
January 24, 2004
"You don't have to go home
But you can't stay here"
-Semisonic "Closing Time"
"You see, hanging around in a one horse town
Does nothing for your state of mind"
-The Thrills "One Horse Town"
I'm living the good life these days -- there's just no two ways about it. Living in Tampa (one of the greatest cities in the United States), working in radio (which I love) and now getting into video editing for Bubba (which I also thoroughly enjoy)... it's hard to argue with this setup.
It's interesting... I read my sister Mary Beth's online column (which always seems much more intuitive than any musings you'd expect from a 15 year old), and I think to myself: she's the person my parents propped me up to be academically. I never quite had the grades to match the billing I received, but Mary Beth has the ability to match the touting. It always frustrated me to be told I was smart, but then end up bringing home a 73 grade on a Mr. Geist junior high science test... but here Mary Beth is, a freshman in high school, and she has a legit shot at making valedictorian. No kidding. Not to put pressure on her in that direction, since I know she reads this commentary, but she certainly has the capacity to achieve that if that's a goal she desires. Whereas for me, even if I had put every ounce of energy into that end (and what a sad existence 1991-1995 would've been had that been the case), I couldn't have come close. Not a pity party, just a statement of reality.
At the same time, I see her struggle with things similar to which I struggled with... which I think every teenager struggles with to one end or another, but for her I especially understand the point of view. So to Mary Beth, I say, carry on. You're on a path to write your own ticket, you have the ability, so follow your heart. Find something that will make you happy -- that is true career success, in my estimation.
I've been building this idea for awhile of writing a fiction novel. But I have to tell you, it scares me a bit, because I don't know what will come out. What I write is what I will go with. I had to decide a long time ago, if I was going to write and consider myself a writer, would I hold back? Could I? And the answer to that is no, I wouldn't hold back. Now, within reason of course. I have my own confidences to respect, and business dealings and secrets and things better left unsaid to keep quiet (nothing at all related to my job with Bubba would be involved). But at the same time, for my characters to truly come alive, and live in the modern atmosphere that I know and in a world that is truly real, I have to run the risk of having them doing things and saying things that might not get over with everyone. But such is the nature of characters -- they develop a life of their own, they take their own shape, and to bastardize them and modify them to fit my own needs would be to limit myself as a writer and stifle my literary offerings as a direct result.
Now, I've never been all too successful at the typical third person writing style. The style you see on here is probably the one I'd utilize for the book, when/if I decide to really give it a go. First person narrative, told from the protagonist's point of view. I think a guy's answer to Sex And The City is just waiting to happen. And I'm not saying it should be optioned into a TV series, but if it were... well Hollywood is full of actresses who aren't afraid of crossing a few lines to get over in the mainstream. No Sarah Jessica Parker rules here, if you follow me.
But I'm getting way, way ahead of myself here. I think a story based in Tampa would make sense, especially considering I've lived here for nearly three years. They say to write what you know. And this is my home, this is what I know. Certainly my friends from present day and years gone by are enough of an influence to inspire the characters, both lead and supporting, let alone what my imagination can conjure up. And people who are just so dynamic as to deserve shaping into a character... something that would capture the imagination of the audience, but at the same time have just enough originality and combination of individuals as to be a unique entity. This will take some work. And some free time, something that has been in short supply as of late.
|  | | Semisonic's Feeling Strangely Fine is a great CD. |
As I type this, eight miles a minute, I have the CD "Feeling Strangely Fine" by Semisonic playing. I love this CD, for what it's worth. "Closing Time" was the one big single for it, but I'll always connect this CD with the insane yet memorable Spring of 1999, my final semester at UE, going out with a bang. Memories of Lipton noodles in the microwave, Joker's Wild reruns on the Game Show Network, snowfall at the Armories (which UE tore down right after the end of the semester)... and a thousand other memories. Like the one girl in Dr. Brown's writing class who I swear stole from the song "Secret Smile" by Semisonic for some writing assignment (I forget her name, but I'll never forget remembering how she blatantly took from that song).
Yet again, I've said too much, but I've said nothing at all. Now I'm the one stealing from a song. I'll move on...
We're a little more than one week away from the Super Bowl. I can watch this year without the chokehold of the overnight shift hanging over my head... for the first time since January 1999. Yes, that is an exciting factor for me on it. I am looking forward to the game, which I predict will hinge on the battle between the Panthers' defensive front four and the Patriots offensive line. If the Pats can open up enough room for Antowain Smith and Kevin Faulk, and give Brady that limited amount of time he needs to complete his short passing game, then it will be mighty challenging for Carolina to come out on the winning end (though I will be strongly pulling for the Panthers to get the victory).
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