Put a Sock in It!

      A better post title would have been "Put a Sock ON It" but I was trying to snag a few readers with a familiar phrase.

      In case you're not of my two regular readers, I just found out I'm getting old. Falling apart. Getting decrepit. A diagnosis of osteoarthritis last week was like the cherry on top of an already overflowing ice cream sundae.

     Heat helps the knee. However, those things you microwave are expensive... at least more expensive than a sock, a needle and thread and some white rice.

     Directions:  Sew most of opening shut. Use a funnel to get the uncooked rice in. Fill most of the sock up with rice. When you've gripped the bag of rice so firmly that you've dug a hole into the bag and the bag starts leaking into your lap and floor and the dog gets excited because there's now things to lick off the floor, put the bag of rice into a plastic baggy. Finish sewing the sock shut. Microwave the sock for 1 1/2-2 minutes.

     I just heard from my daughter's mother-in-law (via my daughter) that moist heat helps the most, so I will put a damp towel between my knee and the sock when I do it tonight.

     However, the "put a sock in it" applies to what we sometimes say about our writing. Sometimes we speak of a writing project and mumble things like, "Well, it probably won't go anywhere," meaning we doubt it will ever get published, or "It's really not very good."

          Put a sock in it.


      Just state the facts, such as:

• I'm working on ______ project and hope to get it published by _____.
• I'm in the beginning stages of  _______  project.
• I've sent it off to _______ and am waiting to hear from the editor. (You should not add, "which will be when not-heaven freezes over.")

       When was the last time you denigrated your writing, and what did you say about it?