Purge and discuss

Last night I sat out back with the wife drinking Cadillac margaritas and deconstructing our life heretofore. Over three hours and a couple of drinks, we talked family, addiction, and the future. With about 15 minutes left in the discussion, I admitted something to her.

“I’ve forgotten how to write,” I said.

It’s not writer’s block. I have plenty of good ideas. I simply can’t string two sentences together in a way that is even mildly inspiring or interesting. She suggested a week-long retreat. I almost left for Key West this morning, and then didn’t. Seems silly to take a retreat to do something you’ve forgotten how to do.

Instead, I’m going to spend ten minutes clearing out my notes and start fresh tomorrow. Here are the things I’m not going to write about.

  • The fact Cameron Diaz makes more in Hollywood than Johnny Depp is proof that Americans are as confused about what they want for entertainment as they are about how they want their country to run.
  • Fat doesn’t kill you and people should stop saying it does.
  • I think J.J. Cale is probably responsible for how I’ve looked at beer my entire life. He wouldn’t want responsibility for that and I hate to lay it on him. But when you’re a songwriter and your songs get way out of you grasp, that’s what’s going to happen.
  • So much for my civil liberties hero
  • The day you convince me this wasn’t staged will be the day you convince me I really should’ve been a pro athlete or porn star for a website like https://www.shemalehd.sex/.
  • There is no excuse for soft tacos to be served on flour tortillas. I have only recently come to this conclusion and will never turn back.
  • I used Facebook to help decide where my wife and I are going for our 10th anniversary vacation. I honestly don’t know how travel agents still have jobs.
  • Which was the Led Zeppelin of the 90s? The Black Crowes or Guns and Roses? Neither?
  • And finally, here are a few pictures that I shot from the hip with my iPhone over the past several months:
  • 1–My boy dreaming like his daddy at Guitar Center
    2–Another neighborhood improvement: Anarchy!
    3–Spike hyzer: A disc golf shot that spiked harder than intended
    4–Stewie the Easter Egg
    5–Frank Pepe’s boy: the guy who made my pie last week
    6–Holy hail: the giant hail that fell on my house
    7–good couple hours of work At Mohegan Sun
    8–Pai Gow Poker with Todd Todderson
    9–Scotty Nguyen, WSOP champion, bar sheriff

    Brad Willis

    Brad Willis is a writer based in Greenville, South Carolina. Willis spent a decade as an award-winning broadcast journalist. He has worked as a freelance writer, columnist, and professional blogger since 2005. He has also served as a commentator and guest on a wide variety of television, radio, and internet shows.

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    14 Responses

    1. iggy says:

      It wasn’t staged. Not sure why you’d even think that? Miller and the Diaz brothers are both idiots of the highest order.

    2. otis says:

      Iggy–I think it was the look on the dude’s face when he came up and started talking re-match. It was that classic ‘trying to control a smile’ tell of someone who was trying to act serious, but is a bad actor. Combine that with the fact that a post-fight-fight always gets people talking, and it’s a good promotional tool. Of course, I know next to nothing about the sport, so I’m probably out of my depth.

    3. Dr. Chako says:

      Saying you forgot how to write is like me saying I forgot how to be inspired by Ferrari, or The Wife saying she forgot how to buy shoes. It just doesn’t compute. I like to help you with some kind of pep talk, but I think what you need is a good slap and a, “SNAP OUT OF IT!”

      Seriously, dude. Even when you dump random crap it’s still better than the drivel I write. Go get inspired and do what you do.

      -DrC

    4. iggy says:

      First of all, what Doc said.

      Secondly, per the brawl, that makes sense outside of not knowing Miller. But trust me, nobody wanted a brawl on CBS Sports on national TV. It’s not a good thing.

      Thirdly, what Doc said.

    5. Wes says:

      I hope to forget how to write one day. Of course, I have to learn how first. You guys that put out good stuff so regularly kill me.

    6. Dr. Chako says:

      I also meant to leave one of my favorite quotes, which I’m sure you’ve heard before:

      Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time… The wait is simply too long.
      Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990)

      -DrC

    7. Da Goddess says:

      First, you write very well. You’re not stuck, you’re just cogitating.

      Second, you haven’t resorted to posting nothing but YouTube videos (like I have), so you’re way ahead of me!

      Third, uh…oh, yeah! Uno is my kind of kid! Love that look on his face. Just wait until he asks for upgrades.

      Fourth, BC or GnR? Neither. No such comparison exists. However, I may change my mind after I see BC at Doheny next month. (Still don’t think they’re anywhere close to Zep)

      Fifth, at least J.J. Cale isn’t responsible for an outrageous cocaine habit. THAT would be a decidedly bad thing.

    8. The Rooster agrees….one can never have tacos on flour tortillas.

    9. trodoss says:

      BC or GnR… I could see the Crowes, with their blues-rock sound.
      However, I think you are *far* more qualified to come up with that one 😉 I remember the Zeppelin posters in your room back in the “old dayz.” Music, and it’s consumption, was one of your unquenching thirsts.

      I will say it was kind of surreal to see Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on the same stage (“Raising Sand” tour)–not so much that they/their music do not go together, it was more the two distinct groups of fans that were there.

    10. Poker Shrink says:

      Oh I think I will keep my blog link to you for awhile longer. You still have a few phrases to craft before you drool onto your keyboard.

    11. StB says:

      Iggy covered the MMA topic. GnR can’t be the Led Zep of the 90s when the best work was done in the 80s and they limped in the 90s. If only Axl would stop parading around as Guns and let the band rest in peace.

    12. Pokerwolf says:

      I have to agree with StB. GnR didn’t have the staying power to be compared to Zep and they shot themselves in the foot enough times to kill their own appeal. The Crowes are a good comparison to Zep, although I don’t think anyone from the 90s had the influence Zep has had on music even today.

    13. Bam-Bam says:

      Proof positive that you still have it kid.
      You had me at “I sat out back with the wife drinking Cadillac margaritas”

      😉

      Oh…. and what The Doc said too!

    14. angus says:

      For better or worse Nirvana would have been the Led Zepplin of the 90s.