Your feedback needed. I've decided to out myself...

[calimary]

Hi guys -

I realize I'm about to stand naked in front of everybody here (well, FIGURATIVELY speaking, okay?), but here goes...

I've been writing a weekly column in an online journal called DebateUSA for months now. I posted a piece about "My Christmas Wishes" here a couple of weeks ago.

I would like you to know about it and I'd deeply appreciate your feedback.

http://DebateUSA.com

This week's column is "Why We NEED to Swing on a Star."

I guess I'm following in Will Pitt's footsteps here, although his footprints are RAWTHER large.

I am MOST grateful to DU for giving me a cardio-kickboxing workout in the writing department. Since I retired from day-to-day broadcast journalism, this, other than DebateUSA and some venting via the Dem-CA groups, has been a great writer's gymnasium for me, and has provided me a terrific way to stay in condition, word-wise.

I am a little nervous because I won't be hiding so much behind "calimary" anymore, even though that's still my sign-off here.

Here's a snip...


All the bluster and blather and baloney from the current White House occupants do NOT articulate or embody this. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men not only can’t put Babylon or the shards and crumbs of our global reputation back together again, they can’t save the face, no less the fanny, of Humpty Dumpty. But a funny-looking little car can unfurl itself on another world, and go digging in some mysterious unearthly, red soil, and take some snapshots, and suddenly we can all stand tall. And we can agree that we do stand together, for something higher and greater and more magnificent.

It’s a lovely way to start a new year. And a lovely way to take a break from the madness that seems to have taken over everywhere. Indeed, it’s allowed us to climb out of our own spider hole, emerging from some mighty dingy, musty, dim and most unenlightened depths. No matter one’s politics, one cannot help but glitter and twitter with joy over this successful journey of the Spirit, so aptly named. It’s definitely been a tonic for our own.


Thanks so much, Dear Ones of DU - and Happy New Year.

caliMary

[calimary]

1. I'm keeping this kicked.

[arcane1]

2. cool! I'm printing this to read during lunch...

whcih starts as soon as I finish this post :)

I'll reply with feedback asap!

:toast: to you for the 'outing', I'd do it if it made any difference, but I'm just as anonymous with my real name :)

[calimary]

4. Hugs!

[11 Bravo]

3. That took a lot of courage.

I would almost prefer to go literally naked rather than figuratively so in any discussion forum. I lack the guts to "out" myself. I also enjoyed your piece. We are alike in many ways. I have been a space nut since watching Al Shephard's suborbital flight while sitting in my sixth grade classroom. I also share your disdain for the current White House occupant, and therein lies my dilemma. Is he, which you allude to as a possibility, simply trying to wrap himself in the mantle of JFK? Or has the single most intellectually challenged and incurious individual ever to occupy the presidency, suddenly developed a need to broaden his horizons? I know where the smart money lies, but is that enough to wish to clip NASA's wings? As I said, a dilemma. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[calimary]

5. More hugs!

[arcane1]

6. That was a great read!

I got chills, even! I must say you speak for many of us, who have longed for a reason to feel proud again. Very well-done!

I also gave some feedback on the site, too.

Ah, I love DUers. Beautiful, intelligent, articulate, insightful, and correct! You fit right in! :loveya:

:yourock:

matt hairfield
walnut creek, ca

(outing saves the US money, because they don't have to use expensive software to find out who we are and track us :evilgrin: )

[calimary]

7. Wow, thanks!

That was a great review!

[arcane1]

8. Keep up the great work!

You should have items on the DU front page, starting with this one!

(copywright laws notwithstanding)


:hi:

[arcane1]

9. self-outing KICK

:kick:

[WilliamPitt]

10. Excellent work

My shoes are size 10, triple-E wide. Not so big as all that.

[calimary]

11. More hugs, Episode III

An honor, sir.

[zeemike]

12. Read the whole thing

A good piece of writing.
I always suspected that we had more writing talent here at DU than people let on.

[calimary]

17. More Hugs - The Sequel!

[MissMarple]

13. Hi, Mary! I just put debateusa on my favorites list.

:bounce:

[calimary]

15. Thanks! Even More Hugs!

[librechik]

14. just keep doin' it!

that's the secret--congrats from a fellow closet dweller!

good work!

and best wishes for a well of endless inspiration in the coming year

[calimary]

16. Planet of the Hugs!

[WilliamPitt]

18. By the way, you are a hopeless, complete and utter fool

if you do not actively take advantage of the skills found within the ranks of your DU brothers and sisters. Got a question? Ask. Need a link? Ask. Help with research? Ask. I've written three books on the strength of the people who occupy this place.

:)

[calimary]

23. I agree completely, and I HAVE.

This is a rich and fertile place of great resource and recourse. I have learned TONS and gained so much enlightenment and perspective on things here. One of the reasons I've loved DU for about two years or so, now.

But I've spent PLENTY of time being a hopeless, complete and utter fool, regardless.

[WillyT]

19. Outstanding Piece Mary, Wonderful !!!

This IS who we truly are!

Thank you for reminding us all!!!

:bounce::loveya::bounce:

Keep up the excellent work!

:thumbsup::hippie::thumbsup:

[calimary]

24. Beyond the Planet of the Hugs!

Appreciate this a LOT.

[Piperay]

20. TERRIFIC

Good for you! :thumbsup:

[calimary]

25. Son of Planet of the Hugs!

[SoCalDem]

21. Great piece...BUT.. is this a typo???

left the Associated Press Radio Network in 1966

Is it supposed to be 1996???

You are wat too young to have left in 1966 :evilgrin:

[calimary]

26. Oh, jeez. YES, it's a typo. It was 1996.

I'm old, but not THAT old!

Hugs!

[WillyT]

22. Kick !!!

:kick: