Andrew, the pointy-shoed pasta guy, and writer's block

I consider myself to be a creative person, but I still find myself getting into ruts.

It’s not unusual for me to eat the same breakfast for weeks at a time. I’ll find myself reaching for the same sweater and skirt combo. Don’t get me started on Netflix binges.

Guy wearing pointy shoes, holding a plate of pasta.
The carb-loving bastard.

Yesterday, I was at Fun Lunch (Writer’s note: Fun Lunch is defined as lunch taken on a workday that is accompanied by a glass of wine) with my friend Andrew and I was bellyaching about my going-on-a-six-month-writer’s-block.

“I can’t think of anything good. It’s too heavy or it’s without substance,” I told him, adding that I would probably have more time to think about good content if I’d turn off the recurring “Friends” episodes on Netflix.

Andrew responded that I should write about the fact that I can’t seem to turn off the recurring “Friends” episodes on Netflix.

Not a terrible idea. This morning I ran across the episode when Phoebe is a telemarketer selling toner to Jason Alexander. But I digress.

He pointed to a print on the wall. “Write about that guy wearing the pointy shoes and holding the plate of pasta.”

I took Andrew’s idea to heart, but all I could find myself doing is envying the guy with the pointy shoes holding the plate of pasta. He’s wearing stretchy pants and probably isn’t in the middle of a health challenge like I am. He can eat all the pasta he wants, while I would be left with bloated breasts and intense carb guilt.

I ordered key lime pie to see if it would inspire me. It didn’t.

Just to give you insight into how intense this rut is, here are the ideas that ran through my brain today that I immediately dismissed:

• My achievement of a tripod headstand during yoga
• The fact that I actually started doing yoga – for real
• The dream I had when my nephew Justin’s limbs turned into pasta – a la Pinocchio when he went to that horrible island and turned into a donkey
• Joni Ernst
• Shopping at TJ Maxx – a view from my head
• Our friends the Suvorovs, who moved here from Russia to give their son a better life. I think they’re amazing
• The people in my health challenge and how I appreciate how real they are (one gal actually posted that she met her alcohol intake goal because it was just too much work to put pants on to go get another beer - I love her)
• My friend Kirsten and the field of daisies in her backyard
• The day I discovered my kids making fun of the way I text

Then this happened: I was sitting in my office today when Andrew walked through the door. He set a blank journal on my desk and blew me a kiss. When I opened it, here’s what I found:

“Write! Write often. Write big. Write small. Write happy. Write funny. Write real. Write raw.

“Write!

“What you have to say is worth saying. What you have to say is worth hearing.”

Don’t you love a friend who knows exactly what to say and exactly when you need to hear it?

So here’s my pledge and I’m posting it on The Pants to keep myself accountable. I’m writing a post about everything on my list. Some of it may be crap, but I’m still going to write it.

Well, maybe not about Joni Ernst.

You’re welcome.