tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post6161542308193922420..comments2023-10-30T05:46:59.343-04:00Comments on The Doubting Writer: Bizarre CustomsJeffOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-59322768321568855752013-06-06T01:14:55.778-04:002013-06-06T01:14:55.778-04:00I don't even try to understand those cultural ...I don't even try to understand those cultural things, but I just tell you, that I am glad you got an inspiration that morning. I ran against the clock all night last night.MysteryKnitterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18271259517378263976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-9397608371182675752012-02-04T10:33:46.198-05:002012-02-04T10:33:46.198-05:00Thanks, everyone. Yes, Castlegiving was a lot of f...Thanks, everyone. Yes, Castlegiving was a lot of fun. I think we crammed over 20 people into the Castle at its height, and had some friends come down from upstate after hearing about it.<br /><br />Lisa, that bike race sounds like how Bostonians reputedly treat the Boston Marathon.<br /><br />Nancy, I'm guessing that's probably exactly the thing with it - you get to Groundhog day and the light is at the end of the tunnel. Six more weeks of winter sounds tolerable (especially when you consider winters up here can stretch all the way into April).<br /><br />Part of what I was driving at was that everyone gets these wacky customs. My social group also had an extensive lingo (we called it 'verbiage') that was peculiar to us. We all knew what we were talking about, but not everyone else did. It's the sort of thing I suppose we should be aware of when we write, as it can add flavor, though how much and how extensively we explore it in our books depends on the story. It's a bit like the point Lisa raised with 'CCTV' and 'slating' vs. 'booking'.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-16065427002619858252012-02-03T20:10:23.287-05:002012-02-03T20:10:23.287-05:00Loved the post, Jeff! (And Castlegiving sounds str...Loved the post, Jeff! (And Castlegiving sounds strangely fun!) <br /><br />Funny you should mention that. "You can't make this shit up" was one of the first things I thought when my hometown was overrun with exotic animals a couple months ago. Weird, weird stuff.Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-6073653144432797252012-02-03T15:25:29.873-05:002012-02-03T15:25:29.873-05:00This is a hilarious post! Sometimes the "you...This is a hilarious post! Sometimes the "you can't make this shit up" shit is so odd an unusual that you can't even put it in a book. It's too organic and makes no sense when you try to force it into a plot. But it's so true. In my neighborhood here we have this bike race every year "the bike race" and it's an actual nationally recognized bike race but here it is simply known as "the bike race" and it comes right through our neighborhood. It's just an occasion for everyone around here to drink their asses off pretty much for 24 hours. Not one drunk person along the route could tell you the name of any one of the cyclists but they sure as hell celebrate the "bike race" like it's the superbowl. I'm also told there is some kind of semi-illegal soap box derby that goes on at midnight the night before the race along the steepest and most treacherous part of the bike route (which is in our neighborhood). Long live the Manayunk Wall!Lisa Reganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899014095250160853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-66588603756399584152012-02-03T12:16:08.142-05:002012-02-03T12:16:08.142-05:00That was a fantastic post! And so true. We have ...That was a fantastic post! And so true. We have to make this shit up! <br /><br />I never understood the whole Groundhog Day thing except perhaps that it gave hope to all those depressed by a long. bleak winter. Except that PP almost always sees his frickin' shadow, so just when you think it might all be over, PP dashes your dream!<br /><br />I could totally go with Caatlegiving though. Only wish we had White Castle up here!Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-71862628725314610832012-02-03T10:08:25.034-05:002012-02-03T10:08:25.034-05:00Haha, now that you mention it, Groundhog Day is SE...Haha, now that you mention it, Groundhog Day is SERIOUSLY WEIRD! Like, who thought of that? Whenever something utterly bizarre is on TV, my husband always says, "If aliens came down and saw this right now, they'd think the human race has serious issues." Heh. I'm trying to think if strange things I've made up, and I know there are many, but now I can't think of them! Oh, well.Amanda Olivierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17893676136045249980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-62507360431811947502012-02-03T07:25:39.030-05:002012-02-03T07:25:39.030-05:00:) Haha, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find...:) Haha, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a more bizarre custom than Groundhog Day. I love your Castlegiving day. I don't think I've ever made something like that up on my own (though I wish I had). Some family friends host "alternative holidays", though, ranging from Guy Fawkes Day to the solstices with a U.S. spin that might involve fireworks or singing to apple trees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com