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Writing drives me, Tony, and I find that it's picking up momentum
Something I have to watch, because I need my sleep, sleep is key.
posted by
Blanche.
on December 7, 2006 at 12:39 AM
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Thanks for those interesting comments - much appreciated.
Time is limited - didn't I say that before? - so I must crack on with a new sonnet. Before going to work, no less.
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 7, 2006 at 12:05 AM
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tony, it is all a matter of balance,
You don't want to drive yourself into the ground, but there are times when we have to push ourselves really hard when we want to achieve our goals, great things have never been accomplished by sitting on our backsides. this is a personal choice, if you choose to make sacrifices in your life, it has to be really worth it. Sometimes it is, and sometimes relaxing comes first, but no one can decide or judge another's decision.
I applaud people who can relax and enjoy life and i also applaud people who work their butt off, not for their selfish glory but to help others, or just the satisfaction of a job well done. I may seem to contradict myself, but I can see both views. How we run our lives is a very personal choice.
posted by
marieclaire66
on December 6, 2006 at 11:45 PM
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Tony---
Work hard, play hard, why not have both?
I know what you are saying, the ins and outs of it. Still, it is good to be focused. You were giving yourself a good talking to, how is the old project going. I am going to tease you and ask you if you have put your words into action yet. (i hope you don't mind, kick my ass if you must, first, but hey, it is true). I am 100% behind what you are saying, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of your hard labour. I mean it and I am not being facetious.
posted by
marieclaire66
on December 6, 2006 at 11:38 PM
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You are right, Tonyzonit. I've always gotten by on four or five hours of sleep and sometimes less. Even at my age now, that's still true.
posted by
TAPS.
on December 6, 2006 at 8:26 PM
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Oh...as usual your sonnet is terrific! I find that writing contemporary
sonnets is so difficult, but you make it seem so easy!
posted by
muser
on December 6, 2006 at 8:23 PM
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Hi Tony. Listen to Troosha! Set high standards for yourself always,
and strive to meet them, BUT keep in mind we all make mistakes. Not one of us is perfect. Max has learned to relax...finally. He says he has slain his dragons... Don't wait for "someday" to fulfill the desires of your heart.
posted by
muser
on December 6, 2006 at 8:21 PM
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hey tony, time is never enough
posted by
star4sky5
on December 6, 2006 at 7:57 PM
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Tony
It’s difficult to “stay on course” or remain inspired, focused, or driven. I’m a little older than you but have come to understand the atom has already been split. So for me, giving even the most simplest of tasks my best effort, keeping my home a “home”, writing to release my thoughts, living a life of integrity, and sipping a vodka/coke at the end of the day with husband is satisfying. I’m no longer climbing the corporate ladder nor or my goals remarkable, but I don’t view that as resignation. I view it more as living in authenticity and yes – simplicity. And maybe, just maybe, when a brainstorm hits… I’ll follow that dream. I may not do so, however, with the speed of light. Great thought provoking sonnet today - but don't be so damn hard on yourself.
posted by
Troosha
on December 6, 2006 at 4:39 PM
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Hi FS
Yes - do you mean literally, i.e. I was reading recently that they reckon that in about 50 years they'll be able to replace our whole bodies. So come on, everyone, another 50 years, and they can stick our old shrivelled-up brains into a brand spanking new body. Then, perhaps in another 50 years, they can rejuvenate the old brains. Wonderful! Or maybe not.
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 6, 2006 at 4:04 PM
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Sorry, Ypun, that last comment was in reply to you!
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 6, 2006 at 4:02 PM
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Even worse table manners than my wife (from whom I am separated)
Just joking. We never ate at a table.
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 6, 2006 at 4:02 PM
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TAPS, yes, determination is surely the key.
But how many hours sleep did you need? Not many, by the sound of it!
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 6, 2006 at 4:00 PM
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AH, THE GATHERING DARKNESS OF THAT GOOD, GOOD NIGHT..
GREAT POEM. YES, BUT OURS IS THE FIRST GENERATION, THAT HOWEVER REMOTE, HAS A LEAST A CHANCE OF IMMORTALITY....................SO KEEP ON DANCING.. 
posted by
FARSAILOR
on December 6, 2006 at 3:44 PM
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Tony...your visits are always welcome and appreciated. This DYING sonnet is
full of life. Acceptance is able to deliver that too. I read something baout how a star was devoured on Tahoo. Here it is:
"Will DunhamTue Dec 5, 7:18 PM ET
A giant black hole displaying horrifying table manners has been caught in the act of guzzling a star in a galaxy 4 billion light-years away..."
posted by
ILLUMINATI8
on December 6, 2006 at 3:19 PM
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Very interesting, Tonyzonit. As a person who has all my life had to work for what I want, earn what I need, pay my own way, I find that the hours of the day are what you make them to be. When I worked twelve-plus hour-a-day shifts in a hospital, come home so worn out I could scarcely get out of the car to go in the house, I found that my writing was possibly the best and most interesting that I have done.
posted by
TAPS.
on December 6, 2006 at 3:17 PM
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Yes, absolutely, Nebdancer.
The whole point of it all is to free ourselves from the need to sell our bodies as instruments of labour for someone else, so that we can do what we want while we are alive. It's easy to knock people who work in business really long hours and never relax, but they also are doing what they want to do, and have achieved independence and self-respect, and get respect from others. the key is, to be able to do what we want, whatever that may be (excluding crime).
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 6, 2006 at 2:54 PM
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Mike, I agree with you.
I just mean that even if it's something you enjoy, nothing comes easy. Take footballers, for example. They won't make it unless they train hard, do what the boss says, and stay off the booze. Businessmen might end up with a lot of money in some cases, but their lives have to be devoted to making that business grow, and before they even start that, they have to have done their research and acquired the knowledge of the type of activity their business is in. To succeed in writing, we all have to work hard doing the writing, of course, when it's more tempting to relax or go out for the day or the evening, but we have to then find a market for it, find an agent, find a publisher, rewrite it, resubmit it and so on and on. We have to work our balls off, in other words! I think you agree, from what you say. Like you, I've spent a fair amount of time doing this and that, and not working particularly hard, so I have no right to expect to be able to afford a great life or recognition from people. i haven't earned it.
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 6, 2006 at 2:51 PM
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I'd say, "Work hard, then harder, till that final breath" to create a life that allows you the time to do what gives you joy. I wish you luck in your search for an alternate means of income. I took a leap off that cliff a year ago and after much hard work think I am about to reap the benefit. But if I'm wrong, I'll just go back to the 9-5 until I come up with another plan to try so that I can do the art and music I love (maybe a little poetry writing as well!).
posted by
nebdancer
on December 6, 2006 at 2:50 PM
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Thanks Lucinda, very much appreciated!!!!
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 6, 2006 at 2:45 PM
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Honestly No in my opinion Tony
Though if we can earn our living in the doing of something we enjoy, then its not so much toil and sweat. For me I treated my early life for fun, not balancing between learning. Now I regret this but only recently. Now I am 49, whilst at the age of 45 I still was happy go lucky, mostly go then lucky is the stark realization of that old quote! We make our own luck, that in being how much we put into the quest we wish in seceding in ? Though life is also cruel. One can study and study and get knocked down by a bus when starting out on the said road we have studied for and seceded in ? This is why people always come up with expression live for the day you could be dead tomorrow ? Though really we know there is truth in this reality but what really endures people like myself to it, especially in youth is the fact that it is wisdom that says ( GO OUT AND PARTY TILL YOU DIE ) now not being dead, I want fame as a writer. Thanks for your space Tony. Mike
posted by
lionladroar
on December 6, 2006 at 1:13 PM
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It really says so much more, it is just an awesome work!
posted by
Lucinda_Price
on December 6, 2006 at 1:03 PM
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I really liked this piece, I don't really know why but I just do...I think we should all try to "enjoy the moments on this earth".
posted by
Lucinda_Price
on December 6, 2006 at 1:00 PM
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Thanks very much, Blanche and Mike.
Yes, Blanche, you are absolutely right. I only have a window of maybe two hours a night, and maybe three or four hours on a Saturday, to do any real writing, reading or any other thing connected with the whole writing knowledge-gaining process, marketing, anything. (Not that I'm at that stage yet, apart from entering the odd competition, which itself is a struggle to do.) Blogging takes quite a chunk out of that precious time, so that's why I rarely chat - plus I'm out of sync anyway. And this is from someone who lives alone and has complete control over their time and can minimise interruptions and diversions. Like you imply, I really need to stop the 9 to 5 job to enable the writing or any other projects to evolve. I am trying one or two money-making ideas, as it happens, to free me from the job, but they are long shots.
Thanks Mike. There really is no alternative to toil, tears and sweat, is there?
posted by
Antonionioni
on December 6, 2006 at 12:44 PM
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Hi Tony
This Sonnet in my humble opinoin as wisdom in each word so well placed and meant Sir! Excellent read for myself at this moment in time
posted by
lionladroar
on December 6, 2006 at 12:07 PM
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Tony, it sounds like you need to find a line of work, more conducive to
writing and your inner nature. There are a lot of downsides to my current situation, but the upside that I have to appreciate more and more is that being on the dole has given me the freedom and opportunity to just sit, look out the window at the magnificient view, heal the old wounds through writing and blogging. I sense some serious frustration in you.
posted by
Blanche.
on December 6, 2006 at 12:06 PM
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