Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
(“are you ….sure?”)
Not that the TToT is new, but, with any change* comes adjustment and, as the old saying reminds us, ‘every required adjustment is an opportunity for improvement’. And, so, I will spend today, (and depending on reactions), a couple of weeks exploring new ways to participate in this totally self-beneficial exercise of examining the previous time period and describing those people, places and/or things that elicited a sense of gratitude, either at the time or, upon reflection.
With a name like ‘Ten Things of Thankful’ we can be forgiven for thinking that there is a certain, whats the right word…convention… order… procedure…. format! yeah, I like that one, a format for a Ten Things of Thankful bloghop post. Well, for a start, the word: ‘Ten’ is kinda suggestive. ok, thats enough understanding. As a clark, it’s my god-given right to have such incredible self-confidence in a certain, albeit, limited aspect of myself, to infer the rest.
Since we have the need for ‘Ten’ things established, lets go ahead and deal with the time factor. This is a weekend ‘hop. Therefore I have some time to complete this Post. I am, however, possessed of a surprisingly secure sense of the appreciation readers have for my written thoughts2… So I will start this post now, go out to work, and add to it at the end. Maybe I should re-post the final post, just to be safe, what do you think? Some say Poll? I’m glad…hell, I totally grateful that you said that.
1) Grateful that someone suggested including a Poll in today’s TToT and therefore giving me the first, often the most difficult, item
2) I’m glad I have time to think and wait for the answers.
3) Two definite items: Phyllis and Una
4) one more definite item, the Graviteers!
5) zoe and her Six Sentence Story bloghop
6) First Ride (after work) with Una
7) this just in…. Phyllis and Una on a walk in the Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown CT
8) more to follow…
9) a certain mug is making a stunning recovery…
10) SR 1.3**
*Wendy is now our hostinae for this weekly gratio-reflectatorium1
** SR 1.3 is the representation of the attitude of many who participate in the TToT… it is both acronym and perspective for and upon the process of writing about the things in our (individual) lifes that engender this most rare (for some few of us) of feelings. To be cont’d….
- not a ‘real’ word
- no, I’m serious! If we built another time machine and went back to June 8, 2009 and found me (you’d have to call me on the phone or write me a letter or email) and said, ‘Hey clark, whats this about your having confidence-approaching-monster-ego-about-the-stuff-you-write-on-Facebook-and-in-your-blog? Of course we all love that stuff, why wouldn’t we?’ I’d be, all, excuse me? write a blog? why on earth would anyone be interested in what I might describe in a ‘blog’. (But a part me would feel hopeful and not tell you to get outa my face).
This is the Ten Things of Thankful so click on the Icon below and join us!
music? oh yeah, I did say that…. here’s song Phyllis and I (being one of the more… unique couples have been listening to)
About clarkscottroger
I am Frist.
You am indeed Frist
Sure I’ll click those little star things up there. Excellent post.
Poll. Nice touch. Don’t forget to give us the polls results :D
So Clark, I’m just wondering about sharing 3.1 and all those other wonderful SGV rules and regulations that govern this bloghop. But then I wonder if they apply or are “out with the old:? What to you think? Why don’t you think about that while you are gratio-reflectating.
Excellent question/observation (as I’ve come to expect). I have been restrained out of respect and deference to our host. I totally enjoy the Book of Secret Rules aka the Secret Book of Rules and the other toys and artifact in the boxes under the beds of each other’s rooms as we visit each weekend. It’s been said that I can come on a little strong (if not ‘strong’ and un-ignoringly, make-that-annoyingly persistent) …yeah, I try to explain that it’s merely my secondary scottian aspect.
I suspect that Josie is watching and, at the same time, appreciating our ‘good behavior’… not to over-use the teacher/class analogy
I have trouble responding to your comments from my phone. At any rate, I think waiting awhile for the SBOR or BOSR or something is a good idea. Building relationships first sounds good. I think we might ask Zoe to post a bit of info there.
good thought…. hey!!!! zoe!!
I have no problem with adding in the fun stuff that was enjoyed before. My biggest concern is that new people don’t feel like they are outsiders who aren’t familiar with the game. I did have to chuckle at times in the past though, when it seemed like more energy was spent explaining why there wasn’t ten than it would have taken to just write ten! LOL That’s why in the guidelines I added that no explanations for shorter lists were required. Ten is optional. :-)
cool
I agree with that idea that there should be less (rather than more) insiderness… which is a curious balance, when you think about it. All groups that form around a common interest (imo) develop a language that, by sharing, celebrates the belonging. For a new person, when the elements of the group identity are not clear, and/or easily accessed and understood, the effect is exclusionary. The challenge, I suspect, is in finding simplicity.
Take the Book of Secret Rules (aka the Secret Book of Rules) (Please!! “thank you, zoe“) it developed and evolved out of the fun of having a ‘requirement’ of the number of items (the Ten in Ten Things of Thankful not being entirely a random word) while recognizing that we do not always feel like or are able to come up with 10 things every week. The BoSR/SBoR was a way of recognizing that while 10 things were a desired number, the intention of all participants was the important factor. The ‘more energy to explain than write’ effect you as rightly point out was a way of saying, ‘hey I don’t have 10 right now that I feel, but I enjoy participating so much that I will right at length. (Like this Reply!! ‘thank you zoe.‘ lol)
I’m glad that we might still use things like SR 1.3*
In all seriousness, I look forward to seeing how things can be made more simple and still retain the quality that can be enjoyed by all who participate in this excellent ‘hop.
I totally agree on your train of thought here, and I think that it’s fun to have some shared understandings as a group. We can certainly continue to use whatever people enjoy, as long as we make it a point to help new people feel included. I’m big on inclusion, it’s just one of my things. :-) Your points of definition/explanation are great for that, because sometimes Clarkese does take a bit of interpretation, but that’s why I enjoy your posts so much, they challenge me to think! :-)
good to hear. (As I know you gathered) holding back from continuing on the same way (with a change in the driving force of a ‘hop) is not just politeness it is a case of allowing for opportunity… to change and/or improve (my own participation in the TToT). all groups of people engaging in a common and voluntary effort develop a song, a voice that is a combination of all the members… to truly move the TToT forward requires (for me) that recognition.
Clark! I always look forward to dropping by here because I can be assured of a fresh approach to… well… everything! The poll was delightful, I debated my selection. :-) Una is so beautiful, and I loved your video/seminar with her! As far as I’m concerned all TToT “rules” are open to personal interpretation, as long as there is some form of gratitude expressed. I am so glad you decided to take up the blogging habit, it’s a wonderful adventure and changes our lives in ways we never would have dreamed! (Will be watching for your return with 7-10 :-)
And we have #7 now, and what a beautiful place to walk. I am so jealous of all of you with the beautiful scenery. It’s just, well, kind of ugly here, not much variety. I’m enjoying your protracted list, more good stuff to come back for! :-)
Whether you post them all at once, or a few at a time, i enjoy seeing your list!
thanks mimi!
LOL…Phyllis and Una get a rightful mention – always. :) I’m thankful for the Doctrine, of course. And as a side note, I keep trying to figure out what kind of car you have based on its interior shots. I worked at a car rental company in college and still have an interest in knowing what kinds of cars are what. Just because it’s fun. <–Random, I know.
it’s an Audi and Una is able to ride shotgun more comfortably that Ola or Bella, both being way larger dogs…
I voted. Whatever….
hey!*
(in the language of scotts, ‘hey’ is ‘here I am. there you are.**
** no, not a bad way to approach life and the world and such
You did it! You came back and finished your ten for the post, I had to come and see, and I’m glad I did, it made me smile this morning. I loved your poll, very clever idea for something new! I think you restored mug is wonderful, to take something you love and repair it is an act of grace, and I find it all the more charming for the chips and cracks that make it very real, as we age we have a few “chips and cracks” of our own, but as it is said… that’s where the light shines through!
it was already the ugliest mug in the world! lol (I totally identify with it)
Of all the grand things in here – in both your post and the comment conversations alike – I find myself stuck on the repaired mug making a stunning comeback. Is it seriously holding liquid? How is that even possible? I’m really just so fixated on this.
three kinds of superglue
no, seriously! It took three tries to get the pieces to fit (not so much where each went, the problem was in the sequence of assembling the pieces was critical.) I actually had to re-break pieces to try again. Acetone softens superglue.
It holds liquid and I drank from the cup but realized that I needed to get some of the excess glue off the interior (of the mug)… What went into the the surfaces between pieces is stable (and water tight) but there was plenty to go around… I am, after all from Y Chromia (where the principle is ‘More is more!’)
more to follow
All I could think about the mug was, “Just in time for the new Beauty and the Beast release!” (although your mug looks a tad bit more than just chipped)
I totally identify with the re-constitued old mug