washwords

I’m working on my version of the x365 challenge started by Dan Waber on his 40th birthday: write 40 words (no more, no less) every day for a year. I’ve varied it slightly – I’m 35 so I’m writing 35 words. I may not write one per day but I love the concept and will try to honor it. Starting now. You can find the complete list here. I’m going to attempt to include at least a few of the items as separate posts to keep it on your radar, in the hopes that you’ll do it too

3/365 Nancy: You wore jeans, walked daily to midtown from downtown, made me earn your smile, held my feet to the fire, taught me that phrase. Major newsweekly internship advisor? No way. You were a goddess.

John Kass’s free “Get out of SATC card” for men in the Chicago Tribune reminded me of my many, many, many rants on this show. (And yes, John, I’m a young(ish) female reader.)

As a woman, and a woman who sure watched some of the episodes, had a chuckle or two, I too can see the insipidness of this show. Another thing, it’s about the LEAST feminist female-empowering thing on the planet.
I could write a book (some have I’m sure) but among my SATC gripes… the last episode! Seriously! are you bonkers? here’s what it told me and other young women…

Carrie: I love love love the city, the city will be my man! Writing will be my love!

Carrie (five minutes later): Eh, screw my writing career, I’m moving to Paris to be a ballet dancer’s wife.

Carrie (another five minutes later): What?? Leave my life? no way. Grrrrl power. I’m going back to nyc where I belong! The city is my love

Carrie (yet ANOTHER five minutes later): What? Big getting out of a limo. Carry me away Prince Charming! Yayayaya. I don’t have to be a writer or pretend the city is my love anymore. I’ve gotta man. see ya bee-atches!

Hmmph. To me, this is a little like the feeling I had when showing up on “35 and single by choice” (or something like that’s) website to be greeted with “Surprise! This web site has taken a turn! I’m pregnant with twins, married, and quit my job! Yay!”

Stay tuned. Next week (just to drive up traffic) I plan to riff on the five million (or so) kids’ books that are better than Harry Potter. Yep, prepare your angry lashbacks now!

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I came across this fascinating blog/concept today: x365 . The idea, like most great ones, is elegant in its simplicity: write about a person who has touched your life in ways big or small, every day for a year. Because the founder of this idea, Dan Waber, was so inspired on his 40th birthday, he decided to add a further caveat: each day’s description of a person who’d touched his life would be 40 words long.

I am “only” 35, so I’ll be cutting a few words. I’m also not sure I won’t write a few posts a day and then none on a different day, but I’m committed to the concept. So… here goes…. Find my 35*365 here.

And find Dan’s original 40*365 and the many many people who are doing it, too, go to x365 or read his Read the rest of this entry »