Josh Hanagarne's Blog, page 5

One wonky blog

Okay, I lied. Now the website is screwed up worse than before. I’ll get on the phone with techs tomorrow. Please ignore the fact that nothing looks like it should!

The Return, Reading, Writing, Missing You All, Random Observations

Hey gang, I’m popping back in to see if a database problem in WordPress has sorted itself out. It seems to have.

I’ve wrapped up a few writing projects recently, and all my speaking is done for a couple of months, so I’m anxious to dive back into blogging.

For today, time is short, so I’ll tell you what I’ve been reading:

Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace by Anne Lamott

If you ever want to write about yourself, Anne Lamott’s style is as good as it gets.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 

Yes, the apocalypse has been done. Not like this. One of the best dystopian novels–or novels–that I’ve ever read.

Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl by Donald Sturrock 

A few other updates:

My health has been horrible. It’s getting better. Thanks to all who have asked.

However, I’ve also had a big Tourette’s breakthrough, which I attribute to a year’s study of meditation. It’s getting there. More on this soon.

I’ve never felt more creative. Once I’m able to show you all the long projects I’ve been working on, I hope you’ll be as tickled about it as I have.

There is value in seeing a good therapist.

Under The Skin might be the strangest movie I’ve ever seen. It’s nearly downright hostile to the viewer, but worth a look. You’ll know right away if you want to keep watching.

I recently gave a talk in a gender and disabilities class at the University of Utah. If you’re reading this, and you were in that room, I loved being there.

That’s it for now

 

 

A Few Updates, Bookish and Non

Hey gang, I’ve reemerged for a one month period during which I wrote over 300 pages of new stuff for books. And good grief, I need a break from that, so here I am.

Touring

My speaking calendar is getting busy again. In October I’ll be in Wisconsin, Monterrey, Minneapolis, and Arkansas. Most of it’s private library stuff. If you’re going to any of the big conferences, you already know where I’m going to be.

Tourette’s

Some of the pain I get from repetitive movements has gotten worse, so I’m trying out a new round of vitamins and anti-inflammatory nutrition practices. Nothing unusual, just really making an effort to clean up my diet so I can run some experiments from which I can actually draw some conclusions. 

Books Read and Re-read in the past month 

I can’t recommend these highly enough.

David Lynch: Beautiful Dark by Greg Olsen (whether you’re a fan of the films or not, this is a wonderful biography of the man, and examination of the work)

Old Yeller by Fred Gipson (still the best)

In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith by Todd Compton. This is a bio of all the women he married. Joseph is way out in the margins on this one. An incredible piece of scholarly writing.

A book about the search for the Yeti. A book whose name I can’t recall at the moment.

Andre The Giant: Life and Legend by Box Brown (graphic memoir. Absolutely charming)

Writing

I have to keep some secrets right now, but big things are coming. I’ve been writing the book I believe I was born to write. It’s non-fiction. It’s mostly memoir. It’s going to give a few people the fidgets.

I’m reminded again that a whole lot of writing can get done with consistency. Habits habits habits. If you’re struggling to be productive as a writer, just make yourself do something, often, daily, even if it’s just a little bit. Give yourself a chance to see what your finished product looks like. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t stop too soon.

Strength Training

The pain from the tics is limiting me right now. I do a little workout each day, but am not focused on getting stronger. Just trying to hold on to some of the muscle I have and do a lot of movement each day.

That’s it for now. More soon.

 

 

A True Story Of Aliens And Ink

This happened to me near the medical section of the library. Also, some useful background information: I have a couple of new tattoos.

“Cool tattoo!” she said. “Is that from Alien?”

“No, it’s from Alien 3.”

“Nice!”

“I’m just teasing. It’s actually from Moby Dick. I didn’t even think Alien 3 was that good.”

“But there’s no alien in Moby Dick!” 

“No. It’s a whale.” (It really does like a whale, I have a very good artist)

“What’s that one? Hey, is that Dick Tracy?”

“No, it’s from Cormac McCarthy.”

“Did he write Dick Tracy?”

“No. He wrote The Road most recently.”

“Oh, the Jack Kerouac one?”

“No, that’s On The Road. Did you read it?”

“No. I saw the movie. Bella’s in it.”

“Ah.”

The end. That really happened.

Moby Dick Tribute – Possibly the Best Dream I’ve Ever Had

I woke up this morning from what I think might be my favorite dream that I’ve ever had.

I was waiting in a crowd in a conference room. We were all excited, and all that we’d been told was that the guest would be a huge surprise. We were all speculating about who might walk through those doors, when here he came!

It was a man in a nice black suit. He had the head of a fish. This didn’t seem to bother anyone. He walked to the front of the room and took his place behind the podium.

He leaned forward and tapped the microphone, testing to see if it was on. Then he opened his fish mouth and said:

“Call me Fishmael.” We erupted in cheers. That was how the dream ended.

I woke up and immediately began shaking my head. But I laughed. A nice start to the day.

Call me Fishmael.

A Conversation That Happened

Two nights ago, a man came into the library to see the 36 year old me at the reference desk. After helping him with something, he looked around and said, “You know, you must be kind of embarrassed. I mean, a man your age, working in here, doing…this?” He waved his arms at all of the “this” around us.

He smirked. He was short. I’m not sure who he thought should be at the desk. Either a kid, or maybe a baby.

Sometimes the magic happens and you just know what to say.

“You’ll never be tall,” I said.

He turned and walked away, staggering back to the wreck of his dreams, and his only lullaby that night was hopefully the echo of my voice.

Also: I was prepared to be nice. It’s not hard.

 

One Arm Handstand Progress

Hi all,

Since it’s been a while since I’ve written anything strength-related, let me assure you that I’m still training.

My latest white whale has been the one arm handstand. In the picture below, you can see that I’m finally able to hold it with just a little bit of support. My feet are barely gripping the tree.

I could hold it, strength-wise, but I’m not even close to being able to balance or get into the position without a tree or wall yet.

New Blog Launch!

Okay comrades, it’s time for a new endeavor. Business as usual will continue here on World’s Strongest Librarian, but I’m starting a new blog today, specifically for writers. Aspiring, accomplished, the confident, the prostrate-with-doubt, all writers are welcome. Nay, expected!

Come learn how to write better, finish projects, start projects, and meet other like minded weirdos.

I give you (there’s an explanation for the title), The Night Wieners.

The layout is a work in progress, but we are going to be writing consistently over there, starting now.

And of course, waiting for your guest posts.

 

 

Call For Writers

Hi all, in the next two days I’m launching a blog for writers: anyone looking for encouragement, who is stuck, who wants inspiration, who wants to connect with other writers, and so on. It will ultimately be whatever we make it.

I’ll be looking for writers who want to write (duh), and who want to promote their own writing while being useful to others.

A little encouragement goes a long way. A little encouragement from other writers can do even more, at least it has for me.

Will post the link as soon as it’s ready to go. If you want to be involved, dust off that thinking cap.

Who’s Ready For A Play?

Howdy, gang of dozens,

I’ve got some great news that I find absolutely hilarious. I just sold the theater rights to The World’s Strongest Librarian. There’s going to be a play!

One of the writers (there are two) worked on The Young and the Restless for years. He told me that once a year he finds something that he wants to do purely as a labor of love, and when he was WSL he was hooked on the idea of adapting it.

So, if you’re a method actor and you want to land this part, you’ve got your work cut out for you. Work on having Tourette’s, start working on your grip strength, get really tall, and you’ll be well on your way.