Monday, June 7, 2010

More Than a Writer

Lately it feels like writing and its appendages (i.e. blogging, reading, plotting, etc.) have taken up so much of my life. It's so easy to let writing consume me. Doesn't matter what I'm doing, my mind is with my book: trying to fix that wrinkle in Chapter 13 or wondering if I've really caught the essence of the argument between my MC and love interest, or is that first sentence a good enough hook. Well you get the idea.

Every now and then, I have to remind myself that I'm more than a writer. And that believe it or not, I have other talents. So here is my reminder list:

Five Random Talents (not connected to writing)
  1. I am a pro at Diaper Ball. Seriously. Michael Jordanette. Any angle, any shot, *swoosh!* Two points, in the trash . . . er, I mean basket.
  2. I can pour 6 oz. in a bottle without measuring. In my sleep, too. I know! Impressive, right?
  3. I make a mean spaghetti sauce. Mean. You should taste it.
  4. I can remember the price of every single item in my grocery cart. Yep. About every other shopping trip, I find a mistake, so they get a runner to check the price. Not to brag, but I'm always right. Very useful.
  5. I can carry a baby, diaper bag, purse, bag full of library books, and ten bags of groceries up 3 flights of stairs, AND unlock the door without dropping anything. Isn't taking a second trip back down and up an easier option, you ask? That's besides the point. :)
So what are your random talents?

25 comments:

Bethany Elizabeth said...

:) I loved this post! Definitely. Being a writer is a pretty consuming thing, but there's so much more to each of us!! :)
My random talents include:
Kicking butt at Super Smash Brothers
Not giving up
Loving to try new things
Playing pretty good defense at basketball
and being totally dedicated at things I put my mind to. :)
Oh, and I can sautee some pretty tasty mushrooms. :D

Stina said...

Your non-writing talents way supass mine, Janet. I failed miserably at diaper ball.

Writing does because all consuming. My kids are always asking me if I'm thinking about my book. Apparently I have a thinking-about-my-book expression that appears on my face frequently. :)

Creepy Query Girl said...

Very impressive! I have to remind myself 'I'm not just a writer' but also 'I'm not just a mother' and 'I'm not just a wife'. lol. Um, let's see- I can whistle like you wouldn't believe. I make home made pizza that will rival any restaurant. Just ask my husband:)

Joanne said...

I find that more often than not there are price discrepancies in the stores. If I don't watch the items being rung out, without fail I'll get home and see I've been overcharged for something!

Jenn said...

I love this post. It is really important to remember just how well rounded we really are.

Some of my talents:

- I can tune people out really well without them realizing it.
- I am a world class BS artist when it comes to writing papers.
- My pepper jelly is amazing
- I am the "pop culture princess". Friends fight over being on my team at Trivial Pursuit.

~Jenn
http://jennyburd.blogspot.com

Kelley Vitollo said...

I rock at diaper ball too :)

mi said...

you are proof mommies have special powers!

Laurel Garver said...

Fun topic! I definitely feel like I need to find myself again after being deeply immersed in rewrites for five weeks.

I can make balloon animals, even complicated ones in which smaller baloons are floated in large ones: Jonah in the whale, peas in a pod.

I'm a champion laundress who can scare off some of the most heinous stains.

I make and can jam so good, people get into fist fights over it. :-)

I can recite most of the lines in Amadeus.

R. Garrett Wilson said...

I was up and coming with diaper ball… but my wife has taken care of most of that duty lately. It’s a shame; I was getting up there in the rankings.

- I can make a drum set out of most anything, and yet still play on a real set when the opportunity arises

- I can forget my maps on a cross country road trip (two separate occasions) and still not worry about being lost... my wife thinks I’m freakish and believes I was a navigator in a previous life.

- I’m proficient in 26 languages… one of them spoken and the rest related to computers

- I can dirty seven pots and pans, two mixing bowls, and a host of measuring and mixing devices all before 7 in the morning

- My vacation pictures look like postcards (yet I still buy postcards just in case a photo doesn’t turn out)

By the way, congrats on 100 followers!

Lindsay said...

Great talents there Janet.
Hmmm, here are my non-writer talents:
-I drop things on a regular basis.
-I draw/paint. That's what years of art class at school does to you. lol.
- I make a mean sandwich but a rubbish cup of tea -according to my family - since I only make it the way I like it. :)

Anonymous said...

Those are some great talents, Janet! Especially #4. It'd be so helpful because I can't remember anything to save my life. :)

A non-writing talent I have is that I am wickedly fast at Tetris.

Anonymous said...

Diaper ball pro! What a great talent! I make decadent ice-cream cakes.
Fun post. Finding balance is tricky when immersed in one's art, I find.

Unknown said...

Love this post! My random talent is I can guess the sex of an unborn baby. Honest! I have about a 95% accuracy rate. It isn't the shape of the mom-to-be's tummy or how high or low she's carrying. It's just a feeling a get. It's like I hear -- no, I feel "male" or "female." And it's as easy as that. I've only been wrong twice. Ever. Pretty good, huh?

Jody Hedlund said...

Very cute, Janet! I can totally relate. Just last week after I finished my novel, I got into a baking frenzy. I had my apron on and was busy mixing up some muffins. One of my daughers walked through the kitchen and nearly fainted with surprise. :-)

I know I get into a groove when I'm in writing mode. It's nice to be done and have the time to do other things now. But I find myself already missing having a WIP! (And it's only been two weeks!) I'm still editing, but I know I'll need to start working on the next book soon!

Cheryl Kohan said...

Well, I AM impressed! You are SuperMom, for sure.

Let's see...I can move a piano across the room by myself.

I wrote a cookbook for my kids and they loved it. We're not talking big publisher, here, but it was a hit with the family!

I can sew just about anything without a pattern.

I can lay ceramic tile like a pro.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Great post! You have some mad-skills...

5 skills I have...hmmm:

-I can fold towels three differnt ways (depending on whose cupboard they are for).
-I can cook in bulk (for freezing future meals).
-I know how to make a proper cup of tea (English).
-I'm good at sorting the trash into the correct recycling tubs.
-I'm really good at counting.
-I'm pretty good at decorating.

Jessie Oliveros said...

In my house, diaper ball is played by throwing the diaper into the bathroom. It's more like a diaper bomb, meant to be picked up later.

I honestly can't think of any random talents right now. Going to bed on time is definitely not one of them. Hmmm...

I am so impressed by your price-memory.

Leanne said...

I laughed at the price check talent--I do the same thing!! That's the downside of ever sending husband to the store because he rarely bats an eye at them unless i specifically tell him to watch the price of an item I told him to get that was on sale. . .Talents? Too dazzled by my charmed friend's :) Ok, well, I can make good comments in Sunday School. . .Judge that bread mixture is at the right temperature to activate yeast without a thermometer. . .be late to everything (I only wish it wasn't a talent.) appreciation for other peoples cooking. . .

Vicki Rocho said...

My diaper ball skills have faded since the little ones became potty trained. SERIOUSLY jealous of your price tag memory. I check that I have the lowest price option for what I want and 20 seconds later couldn't tell you the price.

Natalie said...

Ha! I love your talents. I suck at diaper ball. You'd think after 6 years of practice I should be a pro, but nope. I have quite the green thumb though. I can grow watermelon in the desert and rescue late season tomatoes from the frost.

Celeste said...

Writing doesn't take up too much of my time since I'm not a writer, but Photoshop and pictures seem to make my day slip away a little too quickly! BTW, you need a cute catchy header for your blog (I can say that since we've been friends for about 20 years now!! Wow, that makes us sound old!). I do have some pretty mad skills to help compensate for my photoshop habit.

I make the best cookies and/or treats in the neighborhood according to my 75 year old neighbor, and Tim's coworkers. No one ever complains about my "Milkyway Surprises."

I can sing many of the Barbie and Disney princess movie songs.

I hold the record for the "Double Shot" mini basketball game in all of my family and friends.

I have a built in timer. In spin class, when the teacher says "You're going to be at this level eight for three minutes!" I always know right when they are going to say "One minute left!" Or "5 seconds left." I really have a built in timer! I just know.

I remember phone numbers very easily. Tim always asks me for random phone numbers, and I usually know it.

Danielle said...

Hi, just wanted to say thanks for following my blog! As for random talents...hmm... I am really good at throwing parties, procrastinating, and being excessively honest (trust me, it's possible).

Angela Ackerman said...

I'm totally with you on #4. I used to work in the pricing dept of a grocery store, so I automatically pay attention. And because I shop at a store with a 'priced wrong and you get it free' policy, I usually end up with 10 bucks in my pocket in refunds every grocery trip. :)

This is a good reminder to remember we are more that our books, blogs, critiques, etc. Thanks!

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Lola Sharp said...

You crack me up, girl!

I can rock my DVR at mach speed 4 and hit it exactly when the commercials are done.

I can walk and run perfectly in heels.

Hmmm...I'll have to think on this.

Love this post, and your mad skillz, yo.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Those are great talents. ;) You rock!