Scritzy’s Topic of the Day

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352036162011-10-13T23:14:29.674-04:00Scritzy’s Topic of the DayScritzy is an award-winning writer and editor who weighs in on the ways of the world from the disaster area known as her office. All her writings are copyrighted and cannot be reprinted without permission.Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comBlogger791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-68007613456538607582011-10-13T23:13:00.001-04:002011-10-13T23:14:29.691-04:00Where have I been and where am I going?

It seems I’m getting worse and worse about updating Scritzy’s TOD. My life has taken some dramatic twists and turns in the last couple of years, so everything feels a little skewed to me. In any case, I don’t know if I’ll be around much except during American Idol season, since I usually enjoy blogging about Idol. And if I don’t return, well, I can truthfully say that it’s been fun. Pax,

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-36801555874801265322011-08-13T17:53:00.001-04:002011-08-13T17:54:09.049-04:00Heat

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: heat. I’ve not been keeping up TOD very well, I’m afraid. My life circumstances have left me in a depressive state. Even though I see light at the end of my situation’s tunnel, that light is faint and flickering. And it isn’t being helped by the weather. I hate the heat. Even as a child, when I loved the freedom of

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-43968571193954420272011-06-01T22:00:00.000-04:002011-06-01T22:00:52.688-04:00You aren’t seeing backwards, I promise

For whatever reason, when I corrected the label on my next-to-last American Idol post, Blogger pushed that post to the top with the June 1 date on it. And I am not able to correct the date. So ... “In It To Win It” is the finale-show post. “Down to the Wire” is supposed to be the penultimate Idol post. Got it? Good. Sorry about that, chief.

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-2595598362585093282011-06-01T21:09:00.000-04:002011-06-01T21:09:30.159-04:00Down to the Wire

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Idol Chatter, and our subject: catching up with the last two shows. I’ve been both distracted and sick for the past couple of weeks (distractions including a trip out of town and a funeral), so I’ve neglected the blog. First off, I’m sorry that Casey was eliminated during Carole King week. His performance was a lot of fun, as usual. Of the others, James and Scotty

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-70506514106037958272011-05-26T17:40:00.004-04:002011-06-01T21:56:56.745-04:00In it to Win It! Or not ...

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Idol Chatter, and our subject: the Top Four, Top Three, Top Two and the finale. Top Four I’ll start by saying that I was disappointed in the Top Four results. James, after his energetic performance of the now-ubiquitous “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Love Potion #9,” should have gotten through over Haley. He was “in it to win it!” Just ask Randy. (Incidentally, a

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-54094223511273184572011-04-26T15:09:00.001-04:002011-04-26T15:09:51.539-04:00Lucky Seven

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Idol Chatter, and our subject: last week’s Top Seven show and (predictable) elimination. Every week a buddy of mine and I rehash Idol via e-mail. Sometimes our opinions widely differ, sometimes they are close. After last week’s show I predicted that the Bottom Three would be Jacob, Haley and Stefano. My friend agreed. We nailed it. No matter how much the judges

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-2341914762243880962011-04-20T16:57:00.001-04:002011-04-20T16:57:57.724-04:00The Eight

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Idol Chatter, and our subject: American Idol’s Top 8. I was sorry to see quirky Paul McDonald eliminated last week, and I was glad to hear him say, “Let’s not be sad about this!” as he ripped into “Maggie Mae.” I loved the suit he wore when he sang Wednesday. Webb Wilder, take note: Paul does it better than you do! His performance of “Old-Time Rock and Roll” was

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-51232584434207822042011-04-12T17:50:00.001-04:002011-04-12T17:51:08.768-04:00Shocking? I don't think so ...

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Idol Chatter, and our subject: The shocking elimination. It really was a shock. I never thought I’d feel so sorry for an American Idol contestant as I did last week. It must have been terrible. Poor … Stefano. You’ve just been told you’re safe, and before you can move the audience starts booing and the judges are making their “great googly-moogly!” faces. Stefano

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-43236388527151069822011-04-06T16:38:00.000-04:002011-04-06T16:38:01.903-04:00Bad Girls, Good Guys, Great Performances: American Idol, Season Ten

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Idol Chatter, and our subject: Season Ten’s Top 13. I was not at all sure I wanted to watch Idol this year. I’d come to love Simon Cowell so much, and his acerbic barbs and bluntness in telling people they couldn’t sing were a big part of the show. I’ve never been a fan of Jennifer Lopez, and “Dream On” and “Walk This Way” were kind of distant memories for me. I’m

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-2833245863128018942011-01-14T09:20:00.002-05:002011-01-14T09:23:09.701-05:00Trailer Parks, Mack Trucks, Rocking Chairs and Me

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: a milestone. A big one. It is official. I am a senior citizen. Today is my 55th birthday. Years ago, when I would drive from North Myrtle Beach to Murrells Inlet — destination, Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park or Lee’s Inlet Kitchen (shrimp!) — I always passed a couple of neat and well-kept trailer parks.

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-27439549957386656192010-12-31T08:11:00.001-05:002010-12-31T08:14:04.552-05:00The Lost Year

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Fond Farewells, and our subject: goodbye, 2010. I’ll be blunt here: I’m glad to see 2010 slip off the calendar. It has not been a good year for me. In fact, it may very well have been the worst year of my life. Because so many bad things piled on top of bad things, my memory of much of the year has been — mercifully, I’d say — blurred. If not for my diary, I would

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-9017016863351772132010-08-29T17:30:00.004-04:002010-08-29T18:09:50.518-04:00I Still Believe

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Fond Farewells, and our subject: it’s difficult to write. So difficult, in fact, that I’ve put off writing this column for over a week now.Once in a while someone comes along who touches a person’s life and changes it in a subtle way. Subtle as that change may be, it resonates down to the soul with words and shouts, whispers and sobs.Twenty-four years ago, I met

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-64352599060785192782010-07-18T18:31:00.002-04:002010-07-18T18:34:05.439-04:00What'd I miss?

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: what I’ve been missing.It’s obvious that I’ve certainly been missing a lot of blogging. The circumstances of my life have left me in a depressive state that isn’t getting any better, and the intense heat keeps me listless. So I’m not doing much these days.However, my subject speaks more to other things I’ve been missing:

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-63741138558911886302010-04-12T14:06:00.002-04:002010-04-12T14:10:21.427-04:00At Last … A Reason to Watch!

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Idol Chatter, and our subject: finally, a reason to watch, rather than snooze through, this week's episodes of American Idol.If you wonder why I haven’t been keeping up with my Idol Chatter, the reason is simple: what is there to say? There’s the teen-king appeal of shaggy-haired Tim Urban, whose face I can see plastered all over Tiger Beat magazine (one of my

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-14134247101949285412010-01-18T17:32:00.003-05:002010-01-18T17:40:36.738-05:00Pants on the Ground and Other Goodies

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Idol Chatter, and our subject: Season Nine of American Idol.For me, this season of Idol is bittersweet because it’s the last for Simon Cowell. I don’t know that I’ll be watching next year, because despite the Idols that make me swoon (yes, Mr. Lambert, I’m looking at you), one of the main reasons I watch the show is to hear Simon’s critiques. Can he be rude?

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-45547534698731561212009-12-12T21:43:00.006-05:002010-06-23T18:25:31.327-04:00The 2009 Dumb-Ass Awards!

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Listing to Starboard, and our subject: The 2009 Scritzy’s TOD Dumb-Ass Awards!So many things have happened this year that deserve callouts, I thought it only fitting to hold my own awards show. There will be no cheesy monologs, no mind-boggling entertainment, no acceptance speeches. Just what needs to be said. And sometimes there will be more than one award given for

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-49430007889735033372009-11-08T00:56:00.004-05:002009-12-15T19:38:32.069-05:00Sing Thee to Thy Rest: The Girl from Caledonia

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Unanswerable Questions, and our subject: no one seems to know.On November 8, 1979, the US was still reeling in disbelief about the hundred or so hostages being held at the American Embassy in Iran. It was a nightmare that was to last 444 days, the hostages coming home on the day that Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President.Sometime that November night, close to

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-44315953083138400242009-08-18T17:42:00.010-04:002009-08-18T17:59:49.576-04:00Hot August Scattershots

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Scattershots, and our subject: random rants and rumination.A new washer and dryer were delivered to our house yesterday. Since my washing machine died well over a week ago, and I have laundry piled up to the ceiling, I welcomed the delivery.But (why is there always a but?) the guys from the appliance store were unable to hook up the washer because the hot-water

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-74879629482139547932009-08-09T00:15:00.005-04:002009-08-18T18:04:36.885-04:00Look Out, Helter Skelter ...

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Past History, and our subject: a weekend of terror, now forty years old.August 8, 1969: It was a typical Friday for me, a thirteen-year-old fan of teen idol Bobby Sherman and of David Selby, portrayer of Quentin Collins on the Gothic soap opera, “Dark Shadows.” I wrote a letter to a friend, watched the day’s episode of DS, went on the weekly grocery-shopping trip

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-49287352934917853122009-06-28T01:05:00.003-04:002009-08-09T00:25:04.565-04:00I Won’t Be the One

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Don’t Go There.And I won’t.Maybe I’ll be the only blogger in the world who won’t write about what happened a few days ago.But I won’t write about it.Pax,Scritzy

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-70667707399091065602009-06-22T19:43:00.003-04:002009-06-22T20:08:53.462-04:00Clouds Beyond the Rainbow

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Past History, and our subject: the death of an entertainer — and her legacy.June 22, 1969 was my friend Trish’s 13th birthday. (Happy 53rd, Trish!) It was also the day that the world lost a beloved entertainer — Judy Garland.Trying to piece together what is real and what is not in Judy Garland’s life is like mixing up three jigsaw puzzles and trying to sort out what

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-81139568082661840412009-06-09T22:39:00.001-04:002009-06-09T22:47:05.378-04:00Take heart, I'm still here

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Missing in Action, and our subject: well, that would be me.I haven’t been blogging in quite a while for many reasons — most of which I won’t go into, as they concern my health (or lack thereof).However, the main reason is that I am writing another book, and I’ve not been inclined to neglect the muse that has taken hold of me.So Scritzy’s TOD will return at some point

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-79961652341930063922009-03-13T18:18:00.002-04:002009-03-13T18:26:41.057-04:00Indispensible? Really?

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is You Gotta Be Kidding, and our subject: no one is that important.Lawrence Bluth is counsel for one Helio Castroneves, a popular Indy driver for Penske Racing. He says that if Castroneves is convicted of the conspiracy and tax-evasion charges against him — meaning Castroneves could face six years in the slammer — it would be “terrible,” both for the Penske Racing

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-43362737371242391012009-03-06T23:00:00.004-05:002009-03-06T23:19:34.317-05:00Thursday the Thirteenth

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Grace Notes, and our subject: American Idol’s Season Eight Top … Thirteen.I have a buddy in the Midwest. She and I always anticipate American Idol each year so we can discuss the audition and Hollywood Week shows, give our opinions on which candidates did the best in the preliminaries and predict who might be voted off once the Top Twelve begin going

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-32237264437703517132009-03-05T17:06:00.005-05:002009-03-06T00:10:22.003-05:00Three Wins. One Giant FAIL.

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Grace Notes, and our subject: the final three contestants selected by viewers for American Idol, Season Eight.Last week, after rhapsodizing over the chosen three (specifically Adam Lambert), I stated my desire to hear and see the performances of Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre and Jorge Nuñez.They did not disappoint me.Lil Rounds is all kinds of awesome. She has the

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-38040519679663842962009-02-27T15:29:00.006-05:002009-02-28T02:08:06.179-05:00The Latest Trio

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Grace Notes, and our subject: Round Two of the American Idol eliminations.Last week I wrote about the first of the three to make it into the Top Twelve: Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver. The desperate-to-be-famous drama queen, Tatiana Del Toro, was eliminated. This week’s picks are along the same lines: of two I was certain, of one I was mildly surprised.

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-16597545445470639912009-02-19T20:52:00.007-05:002009-02-20T18:48:22.764-05:00Better Late Than Never

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Grace Notes, and our subject: American Idol, Season Eight.I’m late getting started on my AI comments this year, thanks to my pneumonia and spouse’s surgery. Since last night ushered in the first of the Top Twelve, though, I thought it was time to weigh in on Season Eight’s good and bad points.America got it right for the most part. Danny Gokey got through, not out of

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-18982474979798085142009-02-02T21:32:00.005-05:002009-06-10T21:56:46.620-04:00That’ll Be the Day

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: a tragedy that happened a half-century ago.February 2, 1959: Three young musicians named Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Richie Valens wrapped up a performance in Clear Lake, Iowa as part of their “Winter Dance Party” tour. Rather than take the bus to their next gig, Buddy chartered a small plane to fly to

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-9616433918810776152009-01-30T14:28:00.001-05:002009-01-30T14:31:31.749-05:00Quarantined

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: the frustration of recovery.After more than two weeks of suffering through pneumonia, I was happy to learn from my doctor yesterday that I am on the mend. My lungs are fairly clear, the coughing has abated and the bouts of nausea have lessened considerably.That was the good news.The bad news is that I am in an extremely

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-30035331138091962952009-01-16T15:58:00.006-05:002009-01-16T16:12:44.223-05:00A Crazy Shade of Winter

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: some random thoughts on a (real) winter’s day.What passes for winter in my part of the world is usually bland: lows in the 30s, highs in the 50s, quite a number of gray, rainy days. Often we get spring weather — highs in the 60s or even the 70s. And sometimes, such as now, we get a taste of what winter really is.The

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-60205145374759187962009-01-14T15:41:00.004-05:002009-01-14T18:28:39.383-05:00A Bucketful of Whine

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is You Gotta Be Kidding, and our subject: an unexpected birthday present.In the 1938 “Our Gang” short, Feed ’em and Weep, Johnny Arthur’s birthday is spoiled by the innocent (or maybe not-so-innocent) interruption of his birthday meal by members of the Gang. As he is cleaning soup from his suit (splashed as a result of Alfalfa doing a spoon-flip trick), Arthur grouses,

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-32728490994495445502009-01-06T20:01:00.001-05:002009-01-06T20:03:08.288-05:00Back to Normal. Sort of.

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: back in the post-holiday groove.Along around the fourth or fifth of January, things start to get back to normal. Christmas decorations are put away, the last of the Christmas goodies are eaten (or tossed out), gifts are settled in appropriate places. People go back to work. Kids go back to school. Time to put the holiday

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-54572010208353311272008-12-31T23:07:00.007-05:002009-01-16T16:13:50.294-05:00The Good, the Bad and the “Yeah, Right”

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Fond Farewells, and our subject: a look back at 2008.New Year’s Eve has a split personality for me. It heralds the last day of the December holiday season, but it is the beginning of the calm and normality that follows a frenzied few weeks of celebrating. It is a day of looking back and looking forward. It’s a time of taking stock and making plans.Being both a

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-91445524560543477532008-12-25T01:46:00.003-05:002008-12-26T00:00:52.390-05:00Silent Night

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is The Things We Do For Love.Silent night …Since I live in the city, it’s never completely silent. It’s been raining; water is dripping off the trees. I hear sirens. I hear traffic. The fog light at the airport is making regular sweeps against the gray, damp sky.Holy night …Christmas Eve Communion service was peaceful as always. The violinist played carols. People sat

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-50429660577824697182008-12-23T12:32:00.004-05:002009-02-22T02:39:53.795-05:00In the Spirit of the Season: Really Great Christmas Songs

Note: This is a repost from December, 2006, with a few updates.Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Listing to Starboard, and our subject: a list of Christmas songs that reflect some real Christmas spirit — or at least, some Christmas fun.Yesterday I listed Christmas/holiday songs that make me cringe. During one of my frantic shopping days, I was wandering around the store, bone-tired, when the Muzak

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-60029940286450667052008-12-23T00:16:00.003-05:002008-12-26T00:00:08.181-05:00Simply Singing a Horrible Christmas Song ...

Note: This is a repost from December, 2006, with a few updates.Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Listing to Starboard, and our subject: Christmas (sort of) songs that I can’t stand.I’m a person who delights in making lists. One of my treasures is my notebook from the 1970s that lists all my favorite songs. I’ve made lists of “favorites” in just about any and every subject.Today my list involves

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-10519521702048924622008-12-22T12:47:00.008-05:002009-01-16T16:13:28.774-05:00Bittersweet

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Unanswerable Questions, and our subject: the sadness that permeates the holiday season.I usually go into a depression at Christmas. The reasons are clear to me: I’m totally stressed out from rehearsing the church Christmas musical (and I generally don’t like many of the songs we sing); I hate being in crowds so I hate Christmas shopping; I do too much emotional

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-70549691682837814942008-12-18T13:01:00.008-05:002009-01-16T16:14:45.347-05:00’Tis the Season for Scattershots

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Scattershots, and our subject: some mundane musing over the holiday madness.God knows I need something to laugh about during the holidays, and there is one blog that never ceases to make me howl with laughter. It’s called Cake Wrecks, and it shows pictures of professional cakes that, um, sort of miss the mark — to use a magnificent understatement. Check it out at

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-19383074785736942962008-12-11T15:59:00.004-05:002009-01-16T16:11:14.012-05:00Fifteen Seconds of Fame

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: my first Christmas party of the season.I am not a party person, unless I’m the one doing the party. And even then, my nerves get frazzled enough to bring on at least one panic attack. Even when I’m with people I know and love, I’m apt to have some social anxiety problems.So why, you ask, did I accept an invitation to the

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-68633195952434391782008-11-25T19:35:00.001-05:002008-11-25T19:37:52.914-05:00Thankful People

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: a person for whom Thanksgiving Day wasn’t a holiday — it was every day.Tomorrow spouse and I will join the thousands who will be traveling for Thanksgiving. Instead of over the river and through the woods, we’ll be going … well, come to think of it, we will be going over rivers and through woods (part of a national forest,

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-38222247008669703562008-11-17T18:30:00.006-05:002009-01-16T16:12:16.891-05:00The Legend Lives On

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is The Things We Do For Love, and our subject: celebrating the birthday of a legend.Specifically: Happy 70th birthday, Gord!Today Gordon Lightfoot turns 70. It’s a little hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that one of my favorite singers has been around for so long. But come to think of it, it does seem that he’s been with us forever.Gordon Lightfoot truly is

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-56883350655114087522008-11-03T13:08:00.001-05:002008-11-03T13:10:07.599-05:00Back from the Beach

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: my return from my sabbatical.I just returned from a month at the beach. Said time was meant to be recuperative and relaxing, and it was for the most part. Since the condo where I was staying was for sale, I had to put up with being out at certain times so the realtors could show it. Usually it was no problem, as I was

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-28195853442364834052008-09-10T21:59:00.003-04:002008-09-10T22:02:53.811-04:00The Last Day of Innocence

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: the day before the cataclysm.September 10, 2001 was my mother’s 78th birthday. I took her birthday present — a gospel CD — to her house that evening. We sat and talked. I wished her a happy birthday and came home.That night we went to sleep as innocents.The innocence ended the next morning.It’s been seven years, and I am

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-47321683468765247982008-08-08T17:35:00.002-04:002008-08-08T17:38:21.101-04:00Scattershots for 08/08/08

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Scattershots, and our subject: some random reverie for the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year.My internet connection is so erratic right now that I’m about to pull out my hair. Up for two minutes, down for ten, up for five minutes, down for 30 seconds. I watch the little blue circle going around, waiting for a connection, saying, “Come on … come on!”

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-57060430708083980012008-08-06T22:39:00.004-04:002008-09-10T22:05:23.819-04:00Don't Fret: Really Good Guitarists and Bassists

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Listing to Starboard, and our subject: some awesome guitar and bass players.I taught myself to play guitar. (Or maybe I should say, I taught myself to beat the guitar, since that’s what my chording sounds like.) I tried taking guitar lessons to learn picking patterns, but it didn’t work out. Never fall in love with your guitar teacher. You won’t learn very much about

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-70525771485171392952008-07-27T20:37:00.001-04:002008-07-27T20:40:31.151-04:00The Quality of Mercy

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Unanswerable Questions, and our subject: should mercy be extended to the merciless?Almost 39 years ago, an actress named Sharon Tate, her unborn child, three of her friends and an unfortunate visitor to her home were brutally murdered. Sharon begged to be allowed to live and have her baby. “I have no mercy for you,” snarled one of the killers.And now that killer,

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-50777283865418403672008-07-02T14:49:00.002-04:002008-07-02T15:00:27.772-04:00The Glorious ... Second?

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: The Glorious Second.Innocent Bystander: Um, Scritzy. Isn’t it supposed to be the Glorious Fourth? Get the date right!Scritzy: But I am getting the date right. I’m talking about the second day of July, 1776, when the American colonies declared their independence.Innocent Bystander: But Scritzy! We’re talking about the Fourth

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-30635311422161832152008-05-22T17:48:00.005-04:002008-07-06T23:42:49.991-04:00Revenge of the Word Nerd

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: American Idol’s Season Seven Finale.The older I get, the more of a sentimental fool I seem to be. When Simon apologized to David Cook last night — one of Mr. Cowell’s shining moments — I got misty-eyed. When Cook was announced the winner, the mist turned to tears. (The self-proclaimed Word Nerd was all but speechless.) And

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-42235702185350324702008-05-12T15:15:00.003-04:002008-05-12T23:49:41.812-04:00Collapsed Stars and Black Holes

Scrizy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: a father who encouraged his son to cheat.According to a report by TMZ and AP, Jeff Archuletta has lost his backstage pass. Seems he hacked off the producers of “American Idol” by telling his wonder boy to do something David had already been forbidden to do.Little David sang “Stand By Me” on AI last week. If you’re familiar

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-81947696411502516282008-04-30T16:25:00.003-04:002008-04-30T16:32:53.883-04:00Pretty Darned Amazing …

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is You Gotta Be Kidding, and our subject: something I thought I’d never hear again.Specifically: a good Neil Diamond song.Let me begin by saying that I used to be a Neil Diamond fanatic. Not a fan, a fanatic. To give you an example of my obsession, I had a typewritten list of all known ND singles by my bed, and every time I heard one of Neil’s songs, I made a tick mark

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-30709787648789471822008-04-22T17:27:00.004-04:002008-04-23T01:17:36.733-04:00Sing, Sing a Song

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Listing to Starboard, and our subject: some Idol chatter.As I’ve said before, “American Idol” is my guilty pleasure. I didn’t watch the first season, and I only became interested in the final part of Season Two, but I’ve been a fan ever since.Every year the Idols are required to sing cover versions of songs in different genres. Some do quite well at changing up.

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-78868800601409619722008-04-07T14:32:00.002-04:002008-04-23T01:15:01.732-04:00Am I Blue?

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: beginning a third week of unrelenting depression.It began on Easter, after church. I was so exhausted that I nearly fell asleep over Easter dinner at Mother’s. But it wasn’t just the weariness that was overwhelming me; several times I was on the verge of tears. I came home from dinner and slept the rest of the

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-51494455515826459392008-02-24T22:50:00.002-05:002008-02-24T22:53:09.207-05:00The story begins

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is The Things We Do For Love, and our subject: the last quarter-century.Specifically, today marks 25 years since I met spouse for our first date.Actually we “met” the night before, on the phone. I had placed a personal ad in the paper looking for male companionship. He answered it — on a whim, he said, very uncharacteristic of his shy nature — and since his reply was

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-88151897114312882732008-02-22T15:24:00.008-05:002008-02-22T15:33:54.329-05:00Scattershots for a dreary Friday

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Scattershots, and our subject: various venting and random rumination.I’m a whineybucket right now. I have not been out of the house the entire week (unless you count taking the dog out to do his business, which I don’t). I’ve been emotionally stressed, said stress leading to a lowered resistance, which then led to stomach flu. If I don’t get out tonight, I’ll go out

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-72002471624410467032008-02-08T23:31:00.000-05:002008-02-08T23:33:09.240-05:00Back in the Saddle

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: I’m starting yet another quilt.Last year at this time I was in the throes of frustration over the Friendship Star quilt I was making as a gift. As usual, I was questioning my judgment of even making a quilt, since I really don’t like anything about quilting except for buying the fabric and seeing the finished product (

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-21882653552709048692008-01-14T21:21:00.000-05:002008-01-15T12:55:13.719-05:0052 Scattershots

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Scattershots, and our subject: some random musings from the birthday girl.Yes, today is my birthday. I am 52 years old, so maybe I should no longer call myself the birthday girl, but somehow the birthday woman (or worse, matron) doesn’t sound so hot.I had to get my driver’s license renewed and a new picture made to replace the 10-year-old picture on my old license. I

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-67717534672271469652008-01-09T20:19:00.000-05:002008-02-08T23:35:37.086-05:00Revolting Resolutions

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: resolutions and revolution.Today was my first day learning the circuit for my new fitness program at the Y. The coach wasn’t able to spend a whole lot of time with me, and since I haven’t worked on machines (except the treadmill) for some years, she only wanted me to do one rep on each machine.I’m not a one-rep person. I

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-36619104742256044752007-12-31T14:35:00.001-05:002008-04-22T23:49:27.528-04:00What I Like — and Didn't Like — About You

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Fond Farewells, and our subject: saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new.We’ve come to the last day of 2007, a day that is typically both reflective and introspective for me. Each year I write a personal summation of the year past and resolutions/affirmations for the year to come. Looking over the resolutions/affirmations list for 2007, I see that I was

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-37122152761818541552007-12-17T14:10:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:18:54.820-05:00Leader of the Band

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Fond Farewells, and our subject: the death of Dan Fogelberg.When spouse and I began dating, we had a rather unusual tune as “our” song: “She Blinded Me With Science” by Thomas Dolby. I would love to have had the song played at our wedding or reception; unfortunately, we were members of a very conservative church at the time, and not only did all secular songs have to

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-51181337441546680832007-12-03T13:48:00.000-05:002008-01-15T12:56:57.572-05:00Time Marches On

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: the inexorable tick of time.It’s December, which means, as the song says, “Fast away the old year passes.”It’s been a relatively quiet year for me, for once having no surgeries and only two ER visits. (I know the month isn’t over yet, but I’m trusting God that nothing else is going to happen to send me to the OR or ER

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-81378038183989485722007-09-11T11:13:00.001-04:002008-04-23T01:07:05.978-04:00Never forget. Never.

Scritzy's Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: that which we must not forget.I was seven years old when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I remember my mother telling me what happened as she walked me and my sister across the playground after school. I went home and turned on the TV; it stayed on all weekend.I was twelve when Martin Luther King and Bobby

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-19653441450677342692007-08-02T20:28:00.000-04:002007-08-02T20:30:22.533-04:00Vexed

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is You Gotta Be Kidding, and our subject: things vexing.Lindsay Lohan says it wasn’t her cocaine. O.J. Simpson says the ghost writer did it. And who is taking the blame for the bridge that collapsed in Minnesota?I’m feeling as vexed as the man from Bombay in the old nursery rhyme.Ms. Lohan has proved again that merely turning 21 does not make one an adult. Her new movie

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1921305295191058132007-07-04T17:28:00.000-04:002007-07-04T17:31:33.131-04:00Scattershots for the Glorious Fourth

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Scattershots, and our subject: mundane musings on the Glorious Fourth.Here’s an inconvenient truth for you: Al Gore III, son of the former VP and environmental noisemaker, was arrested in Laguna Niguel, California early today. He was driving his Toyota Prius around 100 mph on the San Diego Freeway when he was pulled over. The deputies smelled marijuana, and on

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-53178754480895077922007-06-08T16:50:00.001-04:002008-04-23T01:00:36.559-04:00“It’s not right!”

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Unanswerable Questions, and our topic: Paris, dear, what’s “not right”?Latest news on the circus that is the life of spoiled rich brat Paris Hilton: She has been sent “screaming and crying” back to jail. “It’s not right!” she wailed at the hearing.Really? Why isn’t it “right” for a prisoner to serve out a sentence in jail?Because of her

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-25183149880579026902007-05-21T22:45:00.000-04:002007-05-21T22:49:28.955-04:00Open Letters to the Not-so-wise

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Take a Letter, and our subject: a few words of wisdom to those who need to get a clue.Letter #1 goes to all those “pundits” who said Melinda Doolittle was voted off “American Idol” because she was “matronly,” had no sex appeal and was too old to be appreciated by the youth of America.Reality check, people: Not everyone who watches “American Idol” is 15 years old. Not

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-5181178760074886462007-04-21T15:51:00.000-04:002007-04-21T16:49:14.028-04:00A Hell of a Week

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Unanswerable Questions, and our subject: the end of a long, hard week.Some years ago, Michael Been, lead singer/songwriter of The Call, wrote a song entitled “Closer.” One of the lines from that song has haunted me for years: Night cannot reveal the coming morning, morning never knows how day will end. It’s a little reminder that we have no idea what’s in store for

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-41657383618311735062007-03-28T23:00:00.000-04:002007-08-02T20:33:35.532-04:00Twenty Glorious Years!!

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is The Things We Do For Love, and our subject: Twenty glorious years of married bliss.On March 28, 1987, I married the love of my life. Twenty years later, he’s still the love of my life.In some ways, it seems but yesterday. In others, it seems forever. (And I don’t mean that in a bad way, you understand.)Spouse had a hard time convincing me to marry him. He came into

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1172951120571854732007-03-03T14:40:00.000-05:002007-04-21T16:54:34.608-04:00Saturday Scattershots

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Scattershots, and our subject: observations obtuse and oblique on a typical March Saturday.I spent a good deal of my time Thursday and Friday working on the PowerPoint presentation for Pastor’s Sunday sermon. Pastor loves to throw me curves. Good thing I like challenges, for as I said, that slideshow took a long time. In doing research for his sermon illustrations, I

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1172038172421711442007-02-21T01:01:00.000-05:002007-03-03T14:53:14.030-05:00Let the games begin

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: Time to start voting for the next American Idol.As Simon Cowell would say, if I’m being honest, this has to be the weakest season of “American Idol” since Season Three (which nonetheless gave us Jennifer Hudson, who is riding high on Dreamgirls, and George Huff, who is a gentle soul and a darn good singer). I liked Fantasia

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1170881594665839882007-02-07T15:48:00.000-05:002007-02-07T15:53:57.153-05:00Legacy

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: a legacy that continues to this day.It was one hundred forty years ago today that Laura Elizabeth Ingalls was born in a log cabin that stood in The Big Woods of Wisconsin, near Pepin.She lived with her Pa, Charles Ingalls; her Ma, Caroline Ingalls; and her sister Mary. Pa, a man affected with wanderlust, a man who longed

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1170547493676328482007-02-03T19:04:00.000-05:002007-02-03T19:07:24.423-05:00Why, why, why??

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Ruined Genius, and our subject: this genius has begun a project with delight and is now wallowing in self-pity.The project: I am making a quilt.I have quilt fever. Last fall, I had begun pulling fabric to make a quilt in the colors of autumn when my cat Harry-Bruce passed away. My frantic and frenzied effort to deal with my grief resulted in a nice little lap quilt —

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1168816871332998872007-01-14T18:20:00.000-05:002007-03-06T19:44:03.356-05:00Cause for celebration

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is You Gotta Be Kidding, and our subject: The best “you gotta be kidding” I’ve ever experienced.Today is my birthday. I am 51. Friday night, celebrating with friends, I received a beautiful blue and brown paisley wrap and a gift card to a favorite craft shop. Yesterday I was treated to a shopping spree in the South’s best fabric store. Today I was applauded in church,

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1168027821222829772007-01-05T15:08:00.000-05:002007-01-05T15:10:59.216-05:00Waiting for the “new”

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Through the Looking Glass, and our subject: I’m waiting for the new year to feel “new.”It always takes me a couple of weeks to get over the holidays. Decorations, wrapping and gift bags need to be put away; gifts need to be sorted and put in their proper places; Christmas pictures need to be downloaded (or printed); the last of the Christmas treats need to be eaten

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1167704945689296312007-01-01T21:26:00.000-05:002007-01-01T21:32:52.356-05:00Happy New Year!

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Fond Farewells, and our subject: goodbye to 2006, hello 2007.Yesterday at church, Pastor greeted me and said, “Are you ready for the new year?” My response was, “I’m more than ready.”Since I felt I was cheated out of a quarter of 2006 — having spent a little over three months scheduling surgeries, having surgeries and recovering from surgeries — I am praying for a

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1167001233009834122006-12-24T17:51:00.000-05:002007-01-16T13:46:05.240-05:00The spirit of the season: really good Christmas songs

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Listing to Starboard, and our subject: a list of Christmas songs that reflect some real Christmas spirit — or at least, some Christmas fun.Yesterday I listed Christmas/holiday songs that make me cringe. During one of my frantic shopping days, I was wandering around the store, bone-tired, when the Muzak kicked in with Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1166896406481604132006-12-23T12:40:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:24:15.204-05:00It’s the most wonderful time of the year … for terrible songs

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Listing to Starboard, and our subject: Christmas (sort of) songs that I can’t stand.I’m a person who delights in making lists. One of my treasures is my notebook from the 1970s that lists all my favorite songs. I’ve made lists of “favorites” in just about any and every subject.Today my list involves Christmas songs. Or, perhaps I should say holiday songs, since some

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1165350129490875782006-12-05T15:20:00.000-05:002006-12-23T12:57:42.553-05:00Does anyone have an answer?

Scritzy’s Topic of the Day is Unanswerable Questions, and our subject: the death of Geonte (sometimes spelled Geontae) Glass.A woman in Alabama contacted police a few days ago and said her car was stolen. Her five-year-old son, Geonte, was asleep in the back seat. An Amber Alert was issued. The child was thought to be in extreme danger.If police allegations are correct, the only persons posing

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1162849526440944422006-11-06T16:43:00.000-05:002006-11-06T16:45:26.453-05:00Goodbye, old friend

Scritzy’s Topic of the day is Fond Farewells, and our subject: Today I had to say goodbye to an old and cherished friend — the patriarch of the zoo, my cat Harry-Bruce.It was difficult; up until last week he had been a little frail but still well and even feisty. So seeing him go downhill quickly was painful. This weekend he returned home after several days at the vet’s. He had improved, but his

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35203616.post-1159481951243211252006-09-28T18:18:00.000-04:002006-09-29T13:15:28.416-04:00Welcome!

Welcome to Scritzy’s Topic of the Day!As you have probably guessed, I am Scritzy. And as you have probably guessed, Scritzy isn’t my real name. It’s a pen name under which I write on the internet. If you wonder why I am hiding behind a pen name, well, maybe it’s because being a respected writer and editor in the Real World can get frustrating at times. So let’s just pretend I’m a split

Scritzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408387614360929204noreply@blogger.com