A photo from yesterday’s walk.

One of the things that I often remind people is that they need to be precise with their language.

I usually phrase this as “words mean things“

This doesn’t mean that I am always precise of my language. I try to be, but I’m imperfect and so I sometimes mess this up.

Here’s one example

Are use the word pinecones to mean tree cones of any kind.

In fact, when I say pinecones, I am most often mean, spruce cones.

Yesterday, however, when I was picking the cones pictured below up off the ground to use for a craft I realized that these are actually pinecones. The things I pick up in my own yard or when walking around near my home, those are spruce cones.

Words mean things, Christine. Use the one that best fits the situation so other people can understand what you mean.

I bought myself a new sketchbook the other day for a project that I want to start.

I couldn’t figure out where to begin so I decided to fall back on my favourite way to break the new notebook spell.

If I catch myself saving a notebook to use for “something really good”, I fill the first page with the words “Let’s start by ruining it” and then I add some doodles around them. Sometimes I also put a big line down the middle of the page.

Don’t worry, I’m not disparaging my own work here. This page isn’t ruined, it’s my idea of keeping this book for an “important” project that’s ruined… and that’s a positive thing.

I’m hanging out with some writer friends to get some ideas on paper this weekend.

The trick is to decide just the right amount of stuff to do so I actually accomplish what I set out to do.

Fingers crossed!

I have clearly had too much to do this week.

I am currently in a meeting and, yes, I am supposed to be paying attention.

But I can’t.

My brain is stalled.

It is refusing to turn on.

I can barely even string a sentence together.

This is not fun.