Piddling & Picking = P: Blogging from A to Z

Mom's back, and her P post is inspired by my dad (known to my kids as Papa). A P post by a parent about another parent. Perfect, if I do say so myself.

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I did. But maybe I have a distorted sense of humor brought about by the author and subject of the post below.

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Piddlingand Picking

Don’tlaugh. Both piddling and picking are an acquired art, according to my husband.From a child, he was called a piddler. If you don’t know what a piddler is, youhaven’t met one. Once you have, the definition is clear. It’s a state of beingwhere you aren’t rushing around like a mad fool and not stagnant like a wornout tire. You go about life’s business at a pace that allows you to fondlethings on your work bench or examine how sharp the blade is on your edger. Itisn’t loafing. It isn’t fixing things either. But it is all about lingering andstudying. And considering the manic pace of life today, I might agree piddling isan art form.

Butpicking? I’m not so sure if the act of picking is art, but the end product ifpicked well might be somewhat profitable. The TV show American Pickers is my husband’s favorite. In it, Mike and Frank gofrom town to town and through a lot of people’s barns, houses, stables, andgarages to find the perfect pick to bargain on, buy, and resale. Picking is whatI call a garage sale except you get dirty, touch rodents, and plow throughspider webs. Need I say more?

Myhusband debates from his recliner, loudly advising Mike and Frank how to be coyor bargain hard. But I’ve been watching him, and I do believe he has a crush onDanielle. She runs Mike’s shop, Antique Archaeology. She’s the gothic, tattoobabe that greets the “boys” when they check in. Personally, I think someone wholooked like Vicki Lawrence’s character, Mama, would make a bigger hit. At leastshe would add some humor to the show. Unfortunately the hubby says attractivewomen raise viewership. He points out Fox News. Need I say more?

Soif you have time on your hands, look on piddling and picking with disdain or asa waste of time, you might want to experiment with it in order to make aclearer judgment. I did. Need I say more?

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At our core, aren't writers and all artists piddlers?
We go around observing, taking in details. Granted, I tend to do this at an all-out pace. Maybe I should embrace slowing down and piddling. Heck, I'm all for some picking, too.
The journey from A to Z continues, and tomorrow is Q. Q! Can't wait to see the other participants tackling Q.