Once again it’s the end of a long day and I really didn’t feel like writing. Didn’t, and don’t. I googled what to do when you don’t feel like writing, and the answer is basically, just force yourself to do it. There were some other answers: take a walk. (um, I’ve been walking all day). Eat something. (I’m still full from dinner). Take a deep breath. (Um, ok actually that one was good. Taking a deep breath is almost always a good idea, unless you’re swimming or in a breath-holding contest). Read some poetry. This is also really good advice. Writer, editor and writing coach Andi Cumbo-Floyd goes one step further and says read poetry and then also copy a line of poetry down to kind of get your hand and brain moving. That’s good. But I’m so tired that even amazing poetry is having no effect on me. This is why so many people write in the morning, before they have a chance to get exhausted.

On the subway today a guy had his dog in a backpack, and lots of people were smiling and taking pictures. Dogs on the subway always generate goodwill. Almost everyone likes to be nice to animals, because they don’t expect much from you or challenge you. An animal won’t hold an opinion you find detestable, unless it’s that rolling in dead things is a fun activity.

There’s a fairly new law that says dogs have to be in some kind of bag, so you see a lot of dogs in bags now on the subway. Some people get creative, like dog-in-a-backpack guy.

sdr