Friday, January 12, 2007


Ideas are good, aren't they?

As I thought about this topic I hear myself saying "I have an idea..." and trying to remember what has followed. Its odd that, generally, what follows has not been a good idea. It's similar to saying, "Hey y'all watch this" after drinking too much whiskey. What follows will never be good.

As kids we made little parachutes for our hamsters, Sonny and Cher, and threw them out the 3rd floor window. the beat may go on but, alas, Sonny and Cher did not. That was a bad idea- but we honestly thought it would work and that the hamsters would love it. So maybe the idea was good but the execution was flawed. Deep down inside I still suspect that all hamsters would love to parachute or hang glide given the opportunity. Around the same decade I drank vanilla extract because it smelt yummy. That was also a bad idea but if something smells that good it should taste as good.

When I was in college (good idea) I did a Pete Townsend jump under a door-frame (bad idea). I met Pete Townsend in the south of France and spoke with him (good idea) and I told him about the shaved head and stitches that resulted from copying him (bad idea) He moved away slowly and didn't make eye contact (probably a good idea).

I'm thinking about selling everything, quitting my job and moving to Paris to write for a year (good idea). I'm thinking about selling everything, quitting my job and moving to Paris to write for a year (bad idea).

There aren't good ideas or bad ideas, there are only ideas- the things that come about from mental masturbation*. Whether we chose to act upon these ideas is where the good or bad will enter.

*...and yes using the term 'mental masturbation' was a bad idea but naming our hamsters Sonny and Cher was a worse idea

14 comments:

Lucy said...

I have never heard anyone else except my husband, use the term "mental maturbation". Haha I thought he had originated that one! Loved your ideas!
( not so much the 3rd floor window idea!) :)

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, those pesky ideas. Since I am 43, I think that being a secret agent is still doable. Maybe not. :)

Anonymous said...

I do agree the good portion of bright ideas I had when I was younger were bad ones. Like the time I had the idea I could use a board as a baseball bat. I swear I didn't stop vibrating for an hour.

Anonymous said...

'So maybe the idea was good but the execution was flawed'

Is the word 'execution' a bit too apt?

funny post though, selling and moving is a good idea, but not to france...

Anonymous said...

Well not all ideas are meant to see the light of day. Very entertaining post.

Anonymous said...

Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men... oh, in this case, hamsters and men!
Thanks for a wonderful post!

Anonymous said...

loved every word of it...

ps. sell everything, quit your job, and move to france for a year to write... what a FANTASTIC idea!!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Very amusing. Poor hamsters though.

Anonymous said...

If you're single and free then go to France - you may never get another chance!
Poor Sonny, Poor Cher.
Reminds me of an idea my daughter had when she was little - that her gerbils would love playing in her jewelry box - the lid fell on a tail - the gerbil actually survived and lived for three more years, but he gave her dirty looks quite often.
Thanks for sharing,
Frances

Anonymous said...

"the execution was flawed."
No pun intended...

Great post!
Good luck with the Paris idea!

Anonymous said...

You're so right. The idea itself can never be good or bad. It's all about the implementation.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed that. I think moving to Paris to write is a good idea.

Anonymous said...

the parachute idea is...well, pretty darn funny!

Deirdre said...

I like the way you've played with the good and bad of ideas. Your storytelling is great.