I Has a Duh
Posted on January 9, 2012 Posted by John Scalzi 26 Comments
Today is just one of those days when my brain leaves a note that says “Unnnnnnnnghhh” tacked to the mental corkboard in my head, and then is out for the rest of the day. I spent most of the morning trying to be clever and failing miserably, and then most of the afternoon trying to just write coherent sentences and blowing that, too. So I’m giving up for the rest of the day and will just watch movies with explosions in them. Let’s try this again tomorrow, shall we?
Agreed, Movies with expolsions, check. Moving to Netflilx queue now.
You amused me with your post quite well, who doesn’t know “Unnnnnnnnghhh” – so I guess there was at least some productivity left.
Not a new occurrence for you, I take it. ;)
I’m totally printing out your post and bringing it to work with me tomorrow as a doctor’s note.
So, not just me, then. I woke up to the continuation of the sinus headache from hell that is now on day three and counting. Decided to take photos and think with my eyes instead today. My brain still hurts, but I managed to take some nice photos. How does that work?
Anyway, I like your ‘splodination movie cure, Scalzi. Off to try it.
Go outside and cut and split a cord of wood.
That’ll give you ideas.
Movies with explosions are great when your brain needs a rest. What do you watch when your brain needs exercise? I find convoluted timelines (Donnie Darko, Memento, etc.) help in those cases.
Megalith: I feel for you…sinus headaches are teh suk. I hope you get well soon!
Aw, thanks, Jennifer Davis Ewing.
It’s not just me, then; good to know.
Pet the cats and dog, make the kid laugh: it’s a good day.
Thanks, now I don’t feel so guilty and alone in this day’s lackluster performance.
OMG, I was just telling a friend that today’s been really weird. Like, just had a weird vibe. Not bad, not good, just weird. A day full of stupid mistakes and strange interactions with people that don’t feel quite right. Argh.
I’m glad to see it’s not just me. I mean, not GLAD, but…you know what I mean. Tomorrow is another day!
Leloo said it best:
“Big Badda Boom!”
Movies with explosions in them are always appropriate, even if the movies almost never get them right (spent a lot of years making things go boom with the real stuff, I did!). Big flash, big boom, lots of itty-bittys flung far and wide…. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I think I’m gonna go smoke a cig now… oh wait… I don’t smoke. HELLO SCOTCH! :D
It’s the full moon, folks. It’ll getcha every time!
Sounds like someone needs to go kill some zombies.
Here’s a bunch of otters chasing a butterfly. http://youtu.be/bJoCulItdxg
Doom II, IDDQD, and the Super Shotgun. Never fails to cure my “aaarrgh” moods.
The random IDFA helps as well.
My brain did that for a long time. I’m getting better now. :o)
Explosions and Helicopters and Boobies. That’s the recipe in full.
D’accord avec Belsky–I find nothing stimulates my brain more than doing manual labour that requires no thought whatsoever; it triggers a state of free association not terribly unlike sleep, except that you can remember what you come up with. If you have nothing that requires doing, a long walk while listening to music can have a similar effect. When I write (albeit intermittently and for my own pleasure rather than with any seriousness) I come up with my most fun-to-write shit on the 5.9km walk to or from work. Conversely, I find that watching movies or even reading stifles creativity since I’m relating to the characters on-screen/in-book instead of doing my own thing sans outside influences.
I think sometimes the frontal lobe just needs a day off…
I have days like that. Nice to know I’m not alone.
I, too, had this day, but being a preschool therapist, no one noticed. :)
Strangely comforting to know I am not alone with the “Unnnnnnnnnghhh”.