Wednesday, September 23, 2009 9:27 PM CDT
COLUMN: You can't please all the people all the time, but you can spend time trying
By PENNY WEAVER, News Editor
pweaver@jg-tc.com
You’re gonna think it’s impossible, but with this week’s column, I’m gonna try to please everyone.
That’s right. I very much appreciate the nice comments folks make about my writing (really — I DO get praise; seriously) so I’m out to get my ego really blown out of proportion this week.
Actually, I have to admit that I also have a certain appreciation for negative — I mean, constructively critical — feedback, too. After my column a couple of weeks ago about President Barack Obama’s speech to schoolchildren, some of the JG/T-C commenters appeared to be less than impressed with my work.
Pull your jaw up off the floor, now.
For example: citizenofmattoon wrote on Sep 14, 2009 7:40 AM: “Penny, you need to get a real job... “
I’m glad for the suggestion. My job is pretty cushy. I sit around thinking of oddball ideas for columns — will it be a “kid topic” this week, or something wild like city street signs? — and I don’t accomplish a whole lot else. Well, I do write some headlines, and I do design a few pages each day, including the front of the paper, but really, how much time could that take?
I help my coworkers edit all the locally generated stories, and assist with the teamwork that gets pages to press on time. I betcha I could find a few minutes each day to dig ditches, too, if I really put my mind to it.
Perhaps I’m just not trying hard enough.
Another of the www.jg-tc.com regulars, regarding that same column, also seemed unappreciative of my marvelous, elegant prose.
Before the anticipation kills you, voila: Harry Potter wrote on Sep 15, 2009 10:40 AM: ” Seriously, why do so many good threads get relegated to the archives so quickly or dropped altogether, and drivel like this stays on well past its life? Makes me long for Harry Reynolds. I never thought I would say that. lol! “
But my LOL (laughing out loud, just in case you don’t know) award goes to this comment on that same Obama/school speech piece. It still makes me laugh. At the end of the column in question, I said my way of tuning out too much political rhetoric and nonsense is to grab the remote and “Click!” away from it.
I really did LOL: lefty wrote on Sep 12, 2009 2:02 PM: ” Oh look, another column by Penny. “click” “
Come on now — that’s pretty funny.
So to please you folks who don’t like my column, I shall endeavor to try harder. I know you don’t think I can do it, but really, I’m gonna give it the ol’ college try. I figure if my brother-in-law can get a second chance at life, the least I can do is try to improve my writing skills.
I aim high like that.
Speaking of said bro-in-law: Norman is doing well. He’s even back at work. Technically, he had “sudden cardiac death” — and he’s incredibly lucky to be alive. You don’t want all the details, but he’s got the device and the meds he needs to get back to doing everything he always did.
When he annoys me, I’ll know he’s back to his old self. Oh, come on — I’m kidding. I love the big ol’ lug. It cracked me up when my sister told me that he called her son, Tyler, “Pinocchio,” when he saw him shirtless when we went camping and boating. Apparently Norman thought Tyler was skinny (which he naturally is). “Give that kid a sandwich!” Norman exclaimed.
Maybe he just needs a plate of a.m. cuisine from a Grandparents’ Day Breakfast. Yes, I survived my nephew Cooper’s big event, for which he chose me, Grandma Aunt Penny, as his guest.
I presented him with a wristwatch before the breakfast, just ‘cause I was so touched that he asked me to go. He seemed to like it. He kept telling everyone what time it was, or showing his classmates the watch. I had to stifle a laugh when one of his buddies, after being asked by Cooper if he wanted to know what time it was, said, “No.”
There were hundreds of grandparents at the event. We lined up and waited our turn to go into the school. They had activities for us, such as a word search and a Q&A with the youngsters asking us oldsters things like, “Did you have TV when you were a kid?” or “Did you listen to CDs when you were growing up?”
The food was pretty good, too. Coop and I chose chocolate milk and a plate with a little piece of bagel, a smidgen of an iced doughnut and a small powdered doughnut. At one point, Cooper asked me if I was going to stay for lunch. I told him I had to leave so he could start learning; I’m sure they had great things in store for second grade that day.
“Maybe you’ll learn your colors today!” I told him excitedly. He rolled his eyes — the expected response.
Well now. I’d better be moving on if I’m to please everyone in a single column. Let’s see ...
For the far right: Obama is the Antichrist who’s probably going to ruin this country within the next month. We’re doomed.
For the far left: Obama is the best thing since sliced bread and he’s gonna solve all our problems in 3...2...1...
Whew! This trying to please everyone is kinda tiring. I might have to admit that it can’t be done — and just do what I think works and hope some folks enjoy it.
Hm. That may be more mature than I care to be.
Any-hoo, last, but not least, let me leave you with a little humor.
For those who love puns and/or punny jokes (and really, who doesn’t?): Why did the tomato turn red?
Because it saw the salad dressing!
Bah duh bum.
Penny Weaver is the night news editor for the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier. Contact Weaver at pweaver @jg-tc.com or 238-6863.
Add your comments
Not already registered?
Then click Here.
Comment policy:
JG-TC.com encourages readers to engage in civil conversation with their neighbors. Comments that are submitted are not posted to the site immediately. They go into a queue to be moderated and may take several hours to be reviewed. Comments posted on Saturday may not be reviewed until Sunday afternoon.
In order to keep the page a set width, long lines (mostly long links) will be chopped. Try putting spaces in your links or consider using tinyurl.com to make a smaller link that you can include.
We will never edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to remove comments that violate our code of conduct.
No comment may contain:
* Potentially libelous statements; such as accusing somebody of a crime, defamation of character, or statements that can harm somebody's reputation.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults, threats, harassment or inciting violence.
* Commercial product promotions.
If you have any questions, please contact our moderator.
|
|
|
|
|
Harry Potter wrote on Sep 24, 2009 6:14 PM:
Ouch, I'm still smarting!
Maybe there's hope for you after all, Penny. Just don't try resurrect Goldenrod. lol! "