Saturday Slight: Seventeen

 

Slight Detour

Mutterings of a country hick.

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Slight Detour

Welcome to the inaugural night of "Slight Detour" coming to you from beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho. I cannot take credit for the title. That honor goes to my brother Jim, an architect, artist, cartoonist in Grants Pass, Oregon. It's because of Jim and his cartoon series called "Slight Detour" that I have initiated this blog.

I hope that as I learn more about this publishing process Jim's cartoons will begin to appear. At this point, I've followed the three steps to blogdom and have spent some time typing. Let's just see what comes next.

I guess the next step I'll try is to link all readers to my website, where you can find information about my two funny farm books and read some examples of my freelance writing, including an exclusive interview with actor Viggo Mortensen. So, here goes. Keep your fingers crossed. Go here www.mariannelove.com.

Posted by MLove at 8:22 PM Updates:  The website above is no longer active.  My brother Jim still does occasional cartoons when he's not designing structures as an architect or teaching hang gliding in Southern Oregon. 

1 comment:

Bluemax_36 said...

Well, it looks like something that can use up a lot of time. I don't know what happens to this, so I don't know how visible it will be. I don't think that I'm ready to do the blogging thing. First, I don't have that much to say that meets the threshhold of being interesting to others. Secondly, it looks like something sorta time consuming, and I'm not sure that I need another absorbing activity that diverts me from stuff that needs to be done.... 

Comment:  Dec.4, 2021:  I think I can confidently dispute parts of what Bluemax aka my brother Mike stated in his comment 17 years ago.  He never started a blog that I know of, but he shares plenty of wisdom and wonderful writing on his Facebook posts. 

When I stopped to visit with Carolyn and Sue who were out walking yesterday on Highland Drive in Hope, I suddenly realized that if I posted their photo this morning, they would be gracing the 17th-anniversary version of "Slight Detour."  

For a moment, I wasn't sure of my math, but when I told them this online journal began Dec. 4, 2004, they said my math was right. 

We had a nice but brief visit where I learned that Carolyn had student taught at Sandpoint High School and that Sue had lived in Sandpoint before moving to Hope.

As a car approached from behind, I said "good bye," with hopes of seeing them again some time. 

After starting this blog 17 years ago today, I came up with a few initial guidelines besides experimenting with a new form of public expression:  have fun, tell stories, stick to slice-of-life stuff, stay positive and be honest.  

For the most part, I think each day's posts have adhered to the original goals.  Yes, I'll be the first to admit that occasionally a little negativity has seeped into some posts.  

After all, every day is NOT hunky dory, and sometimes a person needs to vent.

That venting usually includes thoughts on public issues and---with the exception of one well-known individual aka he who shall not be named----rarely personalities.  

I always advised my journalism students to attack the situation, not the person. 

And, that's a pretty good standard to follow, even if it may seem archaic in today's free-for-all, truth-impaired society. 

I truly believe that accentuating the positive creates a lot more positivity in this world, and I know for a fact from my travels and personal interactions that there's plenty to be accentuated. 

I have dearly loved working with this blog every morning and have especially appreciated my two editors, Helen and Cherry, who work for free and who do keep me honest with grammar, spelling, facts and general usage.  

One of the rigid rules of "Slight Detour," which always conjures up the image of my friend Helen, is to publish each morning by 8 a.m. sharp.

I'm not so sure Helen is ALWAYS up by 8, but I never like taking a chance cuz sure as shootin', I'll get an email or a call, inquiring, "Is everything okay out there?"

It usually is, but on rare occasions electrical outages, computer issues or unforeseen situations have gotten in the way. 

Knowing that Helen is keeping track gives me comfort and keeps me honest about meeting a deadline. 

Journalists are accustomed to that, so it comes naturally. 

As this blog continues to unfold, daily post by daily post, I am giving myself the leverage to occasionally post later in the day or not at all.  

If that happens, I can assure you that everything is probably all right out here.  

Once in a while, especially after 17 years, I might just want to kick back a bit. 

In the meantime, I'll continue to appreciate my readers and will do my best to maintain the standard set so long ago to provide the fun, the upbeat outlook and the honesty, along with some fun photography.

Some mornings, all of the above don't come easily, but so far, I've found that this discipline of publishing every morning with a positive flair helps distract me from weighty issues in my own life.  

And, so, thank you, brother Jim, for the original motivation and the blog title and thanks to my editors.  

Many thanks to readers, especially those who occasionally let me know that they appreciate these daily efforts from my desktop in beautiful Selle. 

Happy Saturday.   

 

Since honesty is my mantra, I'll explain that I took a drive to Hope yesterday as a break from my beloveds.  

It's been dog and puppy overload at the Lovestead this past couple of weeks. 

As with parenting, taking an occasional break from all the loving AND picking up chewed-pieces of paper from the wastebasket which has been dragged to the living room---yup, that's a healthy move. 

So, I left the beloveds and enjoyed my trip to Hope and back. 

Later, Debbie came by and received a dose of doggie enthusiasm. 

GAME DAY 

BATTLE in SEATTLE

Gonzaga vs. Alabama

ESPN2 at 5 p.m. PST. 

GO, ZAGS!!!