A Book Based on Grocery Lists?

Hillary Carlip's a la Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Patrick T. Reardon (April 8, 2008), is a "gloriously idiosyncratic project that taps into the deeply human pastime of daydreaming about the lives of others."

Carlip gathered 26 grocery lists (for example, "Coors, Oreos" written on the back of a matchbook cover), imagined what each writer was like, and then dressed up in that role for a photograph at a supermarket. She later wrote back stories about the shoppers and their shopping trips.

The idea apparently came from Hillary Carlip's teenage discovery of a discarded list in a supermarket cart. Since then, she's collected some 2,000 to 3,000 lists.

This idea fascinates me, at least the writing part. Carlip is also an actor and performance artist, which led to the photos and assumed personas. I have not read this book, but reading about it reinforced my beliefs that we reveal a lot about ourselves through our writing, and that almost anything can be a worthy topic.

What would my list reveal about me? That I'm no cook, am concerned about my weight, live alone, and am not poor, since I waste a lot of money on prepared foods: cooked, sliced chicken breast; packaged salad greens; lo-cal frozen dinners; sugar-free Jello.

I like idiosyncratic writing projects (see my coming rictameter collection). However, perhaps those of you especially concerned about your privacy need to shred your grocery lists along with your credit card statements.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

My Life in Rictameters

Just in case anyone is interested in my rictameters, I will be publishing a collection of them in a month or two. The title will be Elder Expectations: My Life in Rictameters. It will contain 39 poems in 56 pages. This is obviously not a money-making proposition, but it is fun! Stay tuned.

Any interested agents or publishers or potential reviewers out there? I doubt it, but I'm always open to suggestions. Hope springs eternal.

Finally! Someone Reviewed my Short Stories

I've never claimed to be a fiction
writer, but I've experimented anyway; two of my stories were accepted by Amazon Shorts. Like my other works, they have not been best sellers, and I learned long ago that writing would not pay in monetary terms. Still, I was pleased to notice that each of my stories, "Marie's Story" and "Volunteer," has received a four-star review from a reader. Update: each has received a five-star review as well! Update 2: "Marie's Story" has now received a second 5-star review!

Check out the reviews. If you have a credit card and an extra 49 cents, download a story, read it, and write a review yourself. It won't make me rich, but I'll appreciate it. Tell me what you think. Be honest. And you can read the current reviews without buying.

Click on one of the Amazon icons on this page, or on this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-1435355-6091001?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Marlys%20Marshall%20Styne

One Word Answers: Another Bloggers' Writing Challenge

Here's another of those little challenges that's been passing around in the blogosphere. I credit The Joy of Six (http://joyofsix.typepad.com/) for it, but from there the links go backward. I'm not sure who originated it, but here it is. You have to write your own answers. Please note: I've changed it from one word to one word or phrase. Do it either way.

You're Feeling: Worried.

To Your Left: TurboTax installation disk.

On Your Mind: See above.

Last Meal Included: South Beach four cheese pizza.

You Sometimes Find it Hard To: Get started.

The Weather: Beautiful.

Something You Have a Collection of: Small Travel souvenirs.

A Smell that Cheers You Up: Chocolate.

A Smell that Can Ruin Your Mood: Smoke.

How Long Since You Last Shaved: N/A.

The Current State of Your Hair: Limp.

The Largest Item On Your Desk/Workspace Right Now (besides computer): CD Rack.

Your Skill with Chopsticks: None.

Which Section You Head to First In the Bookstore: New.

After That?: Chicago Authors.

Something You're Craving: Chocolate.

Your General Thoughts On the Presidential Race: Depressing.

How Many Times You've Been Hospitalized this Year: None.

A Favorite Place to Go for Quiet Time: My recliner.

You've Always Secretly Thought You'd Be a Good: Newspaper columnist.

Something that Freaks You Out a Little: Crowds.

Something You've Eaten Too Much of Lately: Chocolate.

You Have Never: Driven a SUV.

Never Want To: Lose my mind.

Spring Reflections: Observe and Write

I've written before about my long walks that often terminate at the McDonalds at Chicago Avenue and State Street in the Gold Coast area of Chicago, just off Michigan Avenue and very near my future home, The Clare at Water Tower. Between bad knees and bad weather, I haven't been able to take one of those walks for some time, but today, a sunny Saturday, I finally did so.

The crowd at this location today seemed to be a bit lower in collective social and economic status than the usual weekday crowd. During the work week, the homeless and the less fortunate mix with affluent business people, but on weekends, most business people drink their coffee and dine elsewhere, often near their homes in the suburbs.

Why, in a neighborhood of exotic dining spots, do I choose McDonalds as a desitination? Well, I don't eat there; I go only to drink a small black coffee and to rest. My long walk requires athletic shoes and comfortable exercise clothing, so I don't look presentable enough for the average Gold Coast restaurant. I like the anonymity of looking a bit shabby (or perhaps I'm basically a slob). And as a writer, I like the usual variety of interesting people to observe, all ages, all races. Here's what I saw today.

First of all, I noticed several morbidly obese people. I am a bit heavy, but seeing these people (most of them with full trays, not cups of black coffee) reminds me of the folly of overeating. I feel compassion for most people with weight problems, since I am one of them, but I need that reminder. I was also reminded of how easy it usually is for me to avoid or ignore the less fortunate members of Chicago's society. At this particular McDonalds, they are in full view.

Today, one older, shabbily dressed, obviously demented man was talking to himself in a loud voice. I couldn't quite understand what he was saying, but every sentence seemed to contain the profane GD words, and worse. Finally, a plain-clothes Chicago policeman asked him politely to quiet down, and for the most part, he did. I wondered about the man's problems. Is he alone in the world? I admire the social service workers who try so hard to help. I have no such talents.

Remaining aloof as usual, I finished my coffee and walked to the nearest bus stop, where I used my senior free fare card. Soon, I hope to be able to walk both ways, but I'm not ready yet. I could have paid full fare, but . . . Anyway, the walk brought a combination of hope and despair. Perhaps I sound like a snob, but it's not my intention to put down those less fortunate than I. I do have to admit, however, that they make me feel lucky, as well as slightly uncomfortable.

Be an observer of people. Have a cup of coffee at a place slightly ouside your usual realm or your comfort zone. You may get some good story ideas. Perhaps that's the search that keeps me going back to McDonalds at Chicago and State.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Evaluating My March Challenge

What have I learned from my crazy March poem-a-day challenge? Several things. Most of all, writing regularly gave me a routine and a goal in a dreary month when I was rather short of both.

The most surprising thing I learned was that these short rictameters allowed me to say a lot. I've always been a person of few words. In fact, one reviewer of my books noted that both, especially Seniorwriting, are short, and he saw that as a positive factor. I've never been long-winded, either in person or in writing.

Brief though they are, my poems manage to tell a story, the story of my present life and routine and how I feel about it. There's nothing remarkable there. However, writing about one's life can bring self-realization. "Write your Life!" has never had a large number of readers, yet the managing editor of Chicagoland's Senior News (basically an advertising paper) discovered "Elder Expectations" and asked permission to reprint it in her April publication. The same poem also was reprinted in the Chicago Cultural Center's Volunteer Newsletter, again with my permission. Neither publication will bring me fame or fortune, but I like to see my work--and my name--in print. Egotistical? Perhaps.

No, I'm not claiming to be a poet. I'll never be a be a best-selling author in any literary genre. My point is the same as it's always been: Write for yourself, your family, and/or your friends. You'll be surprised by what you accomplish and what you discover and whom you reach.

Before I go on to other things (soon, a trip to South Africa), here is my concluding rictameter. It probably won't be my last.

My Rictameters

Great art?

No, not these poems

Of mine, and yet if they

Just make you ponder, wonder, think

Or dream, consider your own life or write

A story, draw or paint the truth,

Learn who or what you are,

These poems inspire

Great art.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: March Ends

March Ends

Last day.

My challenge ends.

No more poems for now. As

Spring appears, we hope for times of

Light and warmth, long walks, cheer, good friends to share

Our memories of winter and

Our plans for future life.

We welcome you,

Last day.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Seeing the World

Seeing the World

Travel.

Difficult now,

Yet seductive plans do

Help keep hope and joy alive as

Bags are packed by April, supplies bought, my

Tickets, passport checked with care as

Happily I plan to

Leave home behind,

Travel.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day:The Joys of Walking

The Joys of Walking

Walking:

Challenge now, with

Creaky knees, stiff movement,

Yet on good days what a joy to

Move, explore, observe the city, see life!

Memories all around me as

I amble on, ponder

All I see while

Walking.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: My Departed Husband

My Departed Husband

My love.

He died eight years

Ago today, a man

Of action, charming, friend of all.

My husband Jules, thirty years my anchor.

Life goes on, it's harder, duller.

No wonder March is sad.

I remember

My love.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Growing Older

Growing Older

My age?

Seventy-five.

"Over the hill" some ways,

Slow body, active mind to delve

Mysteries of aging, life's challenges.

I think, I write, I try to find

A path to happiness,

Despite being

My age.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Human Rat Race

Human Rat Race

Busy?

Yes, the world is

Busy, making money,

Working hard to buy new car, new

House, new TV set, new clothes, new things to

Brag about. Are some too busy

To enjoy those things? Yes,

People are too

Busy.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Book Reviewing

Book Reviewing

Review:

I write reviews

Of many books I read,

Mainly "Elder Lit," although there's

No such thing, I guess. Perhaps there should be.

In these books I find the lives of

Brave survivors who share

Ideas worth

Review.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Brain Exercise?

Brain Exercise?

Puzzles:
Waste of time or

Exercise for the brain?

Sudoku, crosswords, Places Please.

Put numbers, words, in place so that they fit

Neat patterns. Boring? Maybe, but

Relaxing sometimes. Yes,

They bring comfort,

Puzzles.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Easter Memory

Easter Memory

Easter.

Two years ago

In Rome, I joined the crowd,

St. Peter's square, too far away

To see or hear the Pope. Not Catholic,

I still absorbed joy, excitement,

Celebration, hope as

Spring beckoned that

Easter.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Cup of Power

Cup of Power

Coffee:

Good or bad for

Health? Who knows? I only

Know it wakes me up, enhances

Life so I can think and read and write to

Start another day, face one more

Challenge. Cup of power?

Yes, I need it,

Coffee.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Life and Fiction Collide: A Book Review

Susan Breen's novel The Fiction Class (Plume, 2008) is a book that kept my attention from beginning to end. This book interweaves the challenges of writing and teaching writing with the challenges of life itself.

Arabella Hicks, named for the heroine of her mother's favorite romance novel, balances copy editing jobs and weekly visits to her argumentative, hostile mother in a nursing home with teaching fiction writing to a varied adult ed class.

Arabella is 38, single, isolated, unsure of herself, and still grieving for her father, who died after many depressing years in a wheelchair as the result of Multiple Schlerosis. Her mother has advanced Parkinson's Disease.

A further depressing fact is Arabella's inability to conclude the novel she's been working on for seven years, Courting Disaster.

Her Wednesdays form a pattern: teach the class, then visit her mother, Vera Hicks, bringing coveted fast food that may or may not be appreciated. Vera's condition and mood swings are impossible to predict, so Arabella approaches the visits with dread.

Like many writing teachers, Arabella seems to rely on her students' written work to get to know them. Ironically, when her talk about the class inspires Vera to write a story of her own, Arabella learns about her mother as well.

The newly-awakened Arabella learns, in a sense, to believe in miracles as she finally begins to understand her students and her mother and to open her heart to love. and as that happens, she can begin a new novel.

The connections between real life and fiction have always fascinated me. My experiences as a reader, writer, teacher and visitor of my own mother in a nursing home make The Fiction Class ring amazingly true to me. The book also supports my belief in the power of writing for all, something that Arabella and Vera and most of the writing class students seem to discover as well.

Postscript, 3/22: Author Susan Breen has an interesting web site. Visit to find out more about her, and enter her writing exercise contest to win a free copy of The Fiction Class.

http://www.susanjbreen.com/writingexercises.htm

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Senior Passion

Senior Passion

Passion:

Activities

Of life to fan the flame,

Find joy in writing, painting, build

Something for the world to share, to keep us

Living, active, learning, loving,

Doing what we do with

All our hearts, with

Passion.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: First Day of Spring

First Day of Spring

First day

Of spring today.

We wait for flowers, birds.

Warmth will come to Chicago soon

To bring long walks along the lake, in parks,

Wherever seasonal joy is

In our hearts, our minds to

Keep us hoping,

First day.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Poem-a-Day: Yesterday's Weather

Yesterday's Weather

Rainy:

That's the forecast,

Has been for days now. It

May be drizzle, deluge, darkness.

Soon the sun will shine, its brightness cheering,

Bringing spring, then summer days when

Warm and sunny are the

Norm, days dry, not

Rainy.

Copyright 2008 by Marlys Marshall Styne