i should probably cut more of this post.

[ayrdaomei]

I was talking to [Bad username or site: offspeed / @ livejournal.com] about writing, and writer's block...that is to say, she was telling me about her experience, and I was reminded of this terrific quote I read. I thought it nailed it perfectly, painted such a picture of what it's like to be stuck. Since I was typing it up for Alex anyway, I figured I would paste it here as well.

     I sit down religiously every morning. I sit down for eight hours every day - and the sitting down is all. In the course of that working day of eight hours I write three sentences which I erase before leaving the table in despair. Sometimes it takes all my resolution and power of self-control to refrain from butting my head against the wall. I want to howl and foam at the mouth but I daren't do it for fear of waking the baby and alarming my wife. After such crises of despair I doze for hours, still held conscious that there is that story that I am unable to write. Then I wake up, try again, and at last go to bed completely done up. So the days pass and nothing is done. At night I sleep. In the morning I get up with that horror of that powerlessness I must face through a day of vain efforts....
     I seem to have lost all sense of style and yet I am haunted by the necessity of style. And that story I can't write weaves itself into all I see, into all I speak, into all I think, into the lines of every book I try to read. ...I feel my brain. I am distinctly conscious of the contents of my head. My story is there in a fluid - in an evading shape. I can't get hold of it. It's all there - to bursting, yet I can't get hold of it any more than you can grasp a handful of water....
     I never mean to be slow. The stuff comes out at its own rate. I am always ready to put it down...the trouble is that too often, alas, I've to wait for the sentence, for the word....The worst is that while I'm thus powerless to produce, my imagination is extremely active; whole paragraphs, whole pages, whole chapters pass through my mind. Everything is there: descriptions, dialogue, reflection, everything, everything but the belief, the conviction, the only thing needed to make me put pen to paper. I've thought out a volume a day til I felt sick in mind and heart and gone to bed, completely done up, without having written a line. The effort I put out should give birth to Masterpieces as big as mountains, and it brings forth a ridiculous mouse now and then.

I never said but I finished Children of Men fairly quickly. I can tell from the movie's trailer that many of the details of the book have been changed. I think that's smart - the book as written would make for a bit of a lame film. It looks like, with the exception of a few particulars, they've just taken their inspiration from the basic premise of the book and worked from there. As such, I'm glad I got to read the book and remain fairly unspoiled for the movie.

Other belated things: I was really, really happy 24 and The Office were recognized as best drama and best comedy! (At the Emmys. Weeks ago. Just go with it.) I was surprisingly miffed that Gregory Itzin did not win for his portrayal of President Logan. I didn't think I really cared, but I was disappointed when his name was not called. God, I hated that bastard. Well done, Greg.

I feel guilty. All this hullabaloo over Mulder's surgery and Liriano missing time reminds me that Marlins class clown Logan Kensing had Tommy John surgery on August 31 and I haven't said a word. Pyro's expected to miss much, if not all of the 2007 season, so I send positive thoughts for an untroubled recovery his way. Of course, I figure if he can survive setting his arm on fire and come back to pitch, TJ surgery won't keep him down.

Alex Rodriguez should send Carl Pavano a bottle of wine. Thanks for getting everyone off my ass, Ace.

No one in Florida knows who the Marlins are, lol. Not really a surprise, given that 6,000 people show up to a game on the regular. And they're right, most of them are not terribly memorable. There's something rather average joe about all of them, except for the fact that some of them are wicked tall. I imagine I would recognize half the roster in street clothes, but that might be wishful on my part.

Gateway says they "forgot" to do the hinge repair and I should send the old laptop back to them. Which I will, because I'm not using it now anyway. My dad knows a guy who might be able to fix the keyboard. And if it all works out, it would be good to have a back-up laptop around, just in cases. But knowing Gateway they're probably likely to take a hammer to the LCD display and send it back to me. I never learn.

One of two things needs to happen today - the Phillies need to LOSE or the Mets need to WIN. Because if neither of those things happens, the Mets keep their magic number at 1, and go home to play the Fish. I would prefer that the Fish in general, and Jake in particular, not have to watch the Mets celebrate. So. Someone get on that. And speaking of the series against the Mets, JJ's going to miss at least one start. I think I can effectively stop smoking the crack that had me hoping JJ was still in the running for the NL Cy. He's dropped from best ERA in the majors to fifth best, and now he's possibly done for the year. Oh, JJ. You're still the number one Mormon in my heart.

Harden's penciled in to start Thursday, which means Zito's last regular season home start will be Friday. (Which feels funny to say. I knew the end of the baseball season was near, but I didn't realize it was THAT near til I was looking at the schedule.) I was sad for Bri; so close, only to be thwarted in her effort to see Rich pitch. Condemned to live her life feeling like a shallow whore. ALAS. But I'm glad for the bump; a mid-day start with no television coverage hardly seemed an appropriate thanks for the memories should the A's collapse in spectacular fashion in the last week. (HEAVEN FORFEND. I'm just saying.) But I worry Z'll be all adrenaline, too pumped to perform well and end up getting rocked again, a la Opening Day. Ah well, hopefully it'll be a gem of a start, and if he doesn't pitch well, I'll cross my fingers for at least one home postseason start. [Bad username or site: rickenbacker / @ livejournal.com] will be there Friday; funny how things work out. I'm freaking jellus she'll get to do the ZI-TO! chant. I have a thing about chants.

Last night, I was awake for HOURS and there was no Baseball Tonight. In fact, I'm fairly sure I watched a college football wrap up show, followed by...another college football wrap up show. Wtff? Unacceptable. Also, I'm pretty sure there doesn't need to be college football on ESPN and ESPN 2 at the same time. 20 minutes of highlights, that's all I'm asking for. Christ on a riverboat. There needs to be a baseball network, like there's that NFL network, and the golf network. Let's go, People with Money to Burn.

Comments

[dreamon-dreamer.livejournal.com]

oh. man. thankyou so much for that writer's block quote. because it is a BEAST. i'm just semi-getting-over/crawling from the depths of it's nastiness right now; last night i got a decent chunk of the next chapter of my fanfic out. i was pretty proud of myself and am going to work on it more today.

children of men!! can't wait for the movie. it comes out in december. i swear i'm not trippin, and the last time i watched the trailer it said november. idk. i want to read the book, but it'll have to be after i see the movie most likely. i'm so bad with book reading right now. but the fact that a black woman holds the future of the Earth in her womb...yeah i'll be seeing that opening weekend.

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

I hope you had a good writing day :)

but the fact that a black woman holds the future of the Earth in her womb...yeah i'll be seeing that opening weekend.

LOL, me too. And you're right, it was originally slated for a November release - I didn't know it got pushed back. LAME.

[dreamon-dreamer.livejournal.com]

very lame. and it's christmas day at that, in limited cities. and the 29th nationally.

[cookie2697.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. I've been all worked up about it being the last week of the season - I'm going to about 5 games in the next week, including all 3 Angels games - but I didn't think about the "Zito's last home start" thing. Maaaaaaan. I've already been through that once this year when we all thought he would be traded.

I've been all sulky 'cause I wanted to see Harden start and I absolutely can't go to a Thursday day game. But I guess I should feel lucky for small favors that I'll get to see Zito start on Friday. *sweet relief*

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

I'm going to about 5 games in the next week, including all 3 Angels games

Oh man, so lucky!

I didn't think about the "Zito's last home start" thing. Maaaaaaan. I've already been through that once this year when we all thought he would be traded.

Oh yeah, and that was a neat but not terribly intense it didn't seem. I can't even imagine how things will be Friday, especially with y'all playing the Angels. I hope it's a good game.

But I guess I should feel lucky for small favors that I'll get to see Zito start on Friday. *sweet relief*

Yeah, it's a pretty decent tradeoff, considering ^_~ Bri was upset at first, too. She's already seen Barry pitch and she was really looking forward to seeing Rich throw for the first time. But it should be a special time.

[lovingthecubs.livejournal.com]

I would pay moola to get an all baseball channel. TWIB, Baseball Tonight, & the like could somehow all be shot over, & those football goons can have ESPN. But here ends our wishful thinking unless some hot shot in a suit is lurking around your LJ. ;]

Zito's last regular season home start will be Friday.

LE GASP. It sounds so close when you say that. X_X Our announcers, Len & Bob, were just saying the other day how there are only 15 games left. & looking at the calendar, we play the Reds, Rockies, Brewers, & Phillies before there's no more regular season. I'm happy to see this year go, but it's always such a sad time. Ironically, it rained here on the last home game of the season, & then it rained here on the last away game while the flubs were in Houston. With this horrid season, we'll need to build an ark for all the rain this season calls for.

But it always feels like there's this void, like winter is one big, dark, empty period. :\

I have a thing about chants.

Wrigley never does chants! [& of what I've seen, neither does Sox Park or Miller Park..] The closest we came to a chant was when Alou was here, & everyone would go "ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" when he came to bat. It sounded like the Twins call for Ford, where the whole park rings of Ooo's. But as far as actual chants go- I can't think of any. X[

DON'T BE JYNXING THE A'S, darnit. We don't need a collapse this year. That should have happened last year for the ChiSox. But those sill Indians stayed 1.5 games back. X_X As for the Mets- I don't want them to clinch against the lowly Pirates, but then again, I really REALLY don't want them to clinch against the Fish. Talk about a predicament.. :\

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

I would pay moola to get an all baseball channel.

You and me both, pal.

TWIB, Baseball Tonight, & the like could somehow all be shot over

And unedited versions of all the games they show on ESPN Classic, too :P

But here ends our wishful thinking unless some hot shot in a suit is lurking around your LJ. ;]

ALAS. A lot of people lurk around my lj though - YOU NEVER KNOW :P

LE GASP. It sounds so close when you say that. X_X

I know, right? When I realized it, I was like "holy crap....that's, like...soon."

I'm happy to see this year go, but it's always such a sad time.

I know the feeling. And you're right the offseason is this void of a thing. I think last offseason was the easiest offseason I've had, which I think was a combination of the fact that last season sucked really bad for me, and that I discovered the baseball slash community on lj in earnest last year, and having them all around during the offseason made life so much more tolerable :P

Wrigley never does chants!

OPCY doesn't really either. They try to do this ORIOLES! OOOOOOO! chant, but it's stupid and unorganic and I hate it. Also, it's a total ripoff of the Tomahawk chant thing.

DON'T BE JYNXING THE A'S, darnit.

**goes outside**

**turns around three times**

**spits**

**curses**

That should have happened last year for the ChiSox. But those sill Indians stayed 1.5 games back. X_X

Man, I was rooting for the Indians so hard last year, and they JUST KEPT LOSING THAT LAST WEEK.

As for the Mets- I don't want them to clinch against the lowly Pirates, but then again, I really REALLY don't want them to clinch against the Fish. Talk about a predicament.. :\

Well, clearly, it's now up to the Fish to sweep or hope the Phillies lose to the Cubs before the Mets-Fish game ends :P

[caruso.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the quote. *bookmarks* And that userpic is kind of creepy looking.

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

Hee, the eyes right? I love it, though. I think it's my favorite incarnation of Storm.

[caruso.livejournal.com]

Hee, the eyes right?

YES! The eyes make her look kind of . . . dead. :P

[spluckle.livejournal.com]

i wanna go friday! i've never done the zito chant.
my family from florida didn't know the marlins won the WS until months later.

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

You should go! Break open the piggy bank. It could be your last chance ;___; EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT :P

my family from florida didn't know the marlins won the WS until months later.

...lol, so you're saying the '06 Marlins shouldn't feel so bad? :P

baseball tonight was on ESPN2 last night

[ossie.livejournal.com]

you can change the location to your tv company
http://tvlistings5.zap2it.com/tvlistings/GridAction.do?lineupId=FL09541%3a-

im also hoping the Phillies lose so the Mets win the division and start resting players so The Marlins can sweep the series on their way to the Wild Card

I agree with you that the team are not reconizable yet, other than Dontrelle and Miguel noone knows them

I guess we have averaged 13000 fans a game, but that is unrealistic since most games there is less than 4000 fans there,

Im going to try to go to 4 or 5 of the last 6 home games, hopefully stuff doesnt come up

the baseball season has been pretty good so far and the Marlins Rookies have been great

have a great weekend

take care
Ossie

Re: baseball tonight was on ESPN2 last night

[ossie.livejournal.com]

http://tvlistings5.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ProgramDetailAction.do?method=getOtherEpisodes&programId=SH0624340000&lineupId=FL09541:-

Re: baseball tonight was on ESPN2 last night

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

lol, Ossie, I swear, I flipped back and forth between ESPN and ESPN 2 until almost 1 am and there was no Baseball Tonight! I probably missed it by ten minutes or something. GRR.

The Marlins can sweep the series on their way to the Wild Card

I wish :( I know there are two weeks left, but I feel like today's gonna be the day they look back at as the day that really cost them the Wild Card. But here's to hoping for a miracle.

Im going to try to go to 4 or 5 of the last 6 home games, hopefully stuff doesnt come up

I hope you get a chance to go! I was talking to my friend [Bad username or site: phantom_hpuff / @ livejournal.com] about maybe coming up to Philly to see one of the Philly-Fish games next weekend, but I don't think I can with all the stuff I have with school :/

the baseball season has been pretty good so far and the Marlins Rookies have been great

It has and they definitely have! Today was a really hard loss, but I hope they bounce back strong tomorrow. They're so much better than that.

I hope you had a good weekend ^_^ (Besides today's game, of course :P)

[blinding-voip.livejournal.com]

Last night, I was awake for HOURS and there was no Baseball Tonight. In fact, I'm fairly sure I watched a college football wrap up show, followed by...another college football wrap up show.

I KNOW WHAT WAS WITH THAT. on a day that there's a red sox/yankees doubleheader too! usually ESPN cashes in on the ratings that generates. rar it made me angry. and yes i agree that there needs to be an MLB network, i've been saying that since the NFL network came into existance. i mean i love football and all but baseball > football by like a million.

wow that was really rambly, sorry.

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

BY LIKE FORTY MILLION!

it's okay. I ramble all the time.

And I knew I wasn't crazy! Stupid back to back football highlight shows. Wtf.

[unlovablehands.livejournal.com]

I have failed so completely in my adoption. :\

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

lol, you really have. I don't think you'll get to adopt a Cub next year, sorry.

[unlovablehands.livejournal.com]

If there's someone on the team you want to get horribly injured and disappear from the team for a bit, I'll be happy to adopt him, though! Just let me know!

[bisquickgoddess.livejournal.com]

Alex Rodriguez should send Carl Pavano a bottle of wine. Thanks for getting everyone off my ass, Ace.

So true. It's nice to see disasters like this happen to teams other than the O's.

That Conrad quote is beautifully written. It really captures the frustration of having all of these ideas and lacking the ability to write them down.

I've seen a lot of ads for Children of Men, and I'm kind of curious about it. Of course, none of the ads say when it is playing.

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

It's nice to see disasters like this happen to teams other than the O's.

I know, right? LOL, it's awful to say, but it's true.

That Conrad quote is beautifully written.

I'm glad you think so! I've been reading a lot about writing recently, and it's one of the most memorable things I've come across.

Of course, none of the ads say when it is playing.

I think it's still opening in November in Europe; in the US I think they've pushed it back.

[owllover711.livejournal.com]

There needs to be a baseball network, like there's that NFL network, and the golf network.

Unfortunately, since YES came about, I'm betting the chances of that are starting at zero and going into negative number territory. The teams all seem to want to develop regional channels on that YES model; the Mets have got SNY going strong already and I'm sure the other big-market teams have either started something or have something cooking that's similar.

Related to that, there was this article in one of my SIs this year about how said owners have really messed around with Extra Innings and MLBTV so that fans really get screwed for coverage in the most unlikely of places (like an Oakland fan being blacked out for living in LAS VEGAS, amongst other totally illogical examples). Knowing that, I somehow doubt they could be convinced to come together to endorse anything parallel to the NFL Network or the Golf Channel, jerkwads that most of them are. )8-[

Alex Rodriguez should send Carl Pavano a bottle of wine.

LOL, he should! And people bitch about my boy Mark...X-P

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

But I think you can have those regional channels for televising a particular team's games and still have room in the market for a station aimed at baseball as a sport overall. I agree, no way NESN or YES or MASN or whatever will give up broadcast rights to their games, but a baseball network could still fill the hours with news, classic games, daily recaps and general interest baseball shows. It COULD be done. I agree it would be difficult though, and not unlike herding cats.

[owllover711.livejournal.com]

I agree it would be difficult though, and not unlike herding cats.

LOL! :-D

Anyway, I hope I'm wrong and you're right, cause I'd love a channel like that too. Even if it showed TWIB reruns 10 hours a day! (I do love me some TWIB, at any rate.)