What once was lost is now found. This week, my guest is The Gnat's Trumpet.SAGA, n. 1) From a neutral perspective: A detailed account of a complicated series of events or experiences that occur over a substantial period of time, often following the life of a hero or generations of a family.
2) From the perspective of the author: An epic narrative, rich in detail, that expertly recounts the slow building tension of the shifting tectonic plates of individual interests present in all familial relationships leading inexorably to cataclysmic events, after which harmony is possible.
3) From the perspective of the audience: A story told in wordy, self-indulgent, dragged-out fashion; a type of narrative which takes advantage of the goodwill of its readers by forcing them to endure for extended periods a longing for a resolution the author suggests to them they may expect and which repays that goodwill by providing them instead with frequent pauses often broken only by distracting details having little apparent connection to the overall plot.
About The Gnat's Trumpet: First things first, The Gnat's Trumpet won't be for everybody. His first comment on this blog was May 15 of last year, the word was OPPORTUNITY and he offered this definition: An unhappily married secretary who is also your best friend. Just so we're clear where this is headed.
Gnat's eponypseudonymous blog has for more than a year told the story of an extramarital affair Gnat pursued and found. His writing employs a surprising, neutral first-person narrative style. Articulate language neither triumphant nor anguished describes the triumph and anguish and temptation and satisfaction he experienced in his own instant of a recurring story as old as monogamy. The blog impressed me in the level of honesty about and openness to the author's own history. Welcome back to Gnat, and thanks for a first-rate contribution.
How to be a future guest on this site: Just send an email to dpascover at mac dot com. On a future Wednesday, after posting that week's guest, I'll send you an email with a word to define. You'll be expected to return your definition along with a graphic representing either your definition or yourself by the following Saturday. The only rules are no profanity and no novels, please. And whatever I make up at the last minute.
95 comments:
Opportunity: driving that truck thru the first hole one sees, no matter how small that hole may be.
Wow sagas! My field of enjoyment. If you don´t know, Iceland is actually quite famous for its sagas. They were written in the 10th to 12th century. They usually depict first settlers or whole communities. Usually celebrating Icelandic woman and battles. They are written in very simple prose-since they were not written for any literary appreciation, but rather as recorded historical events. Although most of the stories have been handed down from generation to generation before they have been written down, hence a few fantastical events are to be found here and there. So, if you try one-don´t expect Sir Gawain and the Green Knight or Beowulf but rather a whole page of romantic bull compiled in one single objective sentence. They are fun, interesting and if you come to Iceland or speak to an Icelander and the subject of the sagas comes up...be polite about them. Otherwise you´d be inviting a Greek Tragedy over for dinner!!!
Moa, anything important I missed?
3D, you got me by half an hour! What the heck...I have always been more of a silver-kinda girl!
Saga... hmmmm.... why is it that I so relate to that word?
I went, I saw, I am intrigued, ME LIKE!
Great job on the definition Gnat! Bohemians everywhere applaud you and are quite intrigued by saga-licious peoples!
Hermano mio, you have the most amazing circle of amigos indeed! But hey, they are hangin' with one cool cat...er...dog!
SAGA, n. The state of the audience entering the third hour of the performance.
OPPORTUNITY, n. Your chance of a lifetime. My one-way ticket to jail. The adventures responsible for conservative takeovers and fundamentalist revolutions. See PRESIDENCY - CLINTON.
A Yankee Fan? Well then, nice to meet you Gnat! Great job with your definitions doubling as an introduction. I stopped by and commented on your post (below 3D & MizB's), but it doesn't appear to be there. I wonder if I commented in the wrong window and some other blog will be wondering why I'm telling them theirs seems to be an addictive read and asking if there were any children involved. Hmmm.
Saga: The '80s band behind On The Loose and Wind Him Up, two songs that I greatly enjoy when I'm in the mood to get in touch with my inner '80s gal which is nearly always.
But Dddragon, I don't understand. Why would a truck driver want to crash his livelihood? Can trucks shrink?
Somehow, Minka, I'm always inviting greek tragedies to dinner. Thanks for the description of icelandic tragedies, I've sincerely always been interested about them. Plus, I bet they make an excellent background for reading The Mighty Thor comic books.
Haha, Miz B. I love the symmetry. Gnat's spent a year writing a saga that seems to have occured over six months while you have 2-3 sagas per week. This really is a circle.
Whoa. I went over to Gnat's place. *Fanning self* I don't know if my heart can take the heat.
Great writing here and over at Gnat's.
Saga: it had better end well, or it ain't worth it.
Yankee fan? How did I miss that? Another reason (if any were needed) to support the Red Sox - if it weren't for the fact that the euphonious, erudite, subtly expressive chant that Bostonians evolved to celebrate their team ("Yankeees S...") erased any possibility of sympathy for Beantowners and has all but removed the right of the city to exist. Perhaps the rains are a sign ...
Hi Gnat
My blog is longer than most saga's sadly
Go RED SOX! Dougie, you got 93 comments yesterday! We are so selfish. I love it.
I forgot to say "Welcome, Gnat." If it were later I could say, "G'night, G'nat." That amuses me. See how easily I am amused?
Are we allowed to make a comment into a saga? I don't post lately so I've got stuff to say here. So, anyway, last night I....
O Ceallaigh, I usually sag by the second hour. I think it's why I like Bierce.
Sar, you really are an 80s girl. I'll never be there again without thinking of you. Don't worry about your missing comment. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.
TLP, that's a fantastic definition. And he really is a penman, isn't he?
O Ceallaigh, from a White Sox fan to a Red Sox fan, go easy on Gnat. It's been awhile since the Yanks won a championship. Poor guys.
Haha, Cowgirl. Not As the ear turns?
TLP, please go on. Of course, tanlucypez.blogspot.com is still open. I check it every day.
Pia, it's not sad. It's Pia Prose. One of my favorite kinds.
Yeah, Doug, those Yanks have to take the blame, and the heat, for Steinbrenner's ego and mismanagement. And while he's throwing money around, I'd like some. I could say something about the Yankee payroll being an order of magnitude larger than the national budget for ecological research, but I'm not ready for that saga at this hour of the morning ...
Saga: The story of my non-existent lovelife as there are no opportunities.
A naughty blog? I must investigate this!!!
a long-winded story over which one goes gaga
hi Gnat!
xracfu: ex'ravagant tofu
Hello all, thank you for the kind words and welcome (except you o ceallaigh . . . I think - and Doug's right, I qualify as long suffering now since the NYY curent dry spell feels to us, the chosen fans, every bit as long as the droughts your respective teams only recently emerged from and hopefully will soon be mired in again).
Thank you to Doug as well for allowing me to post this definition, it was a lot of fun.
I have comment moderation turned on so don't worry if you don't see your comment there immediately, it will get there (Sar, your comment is up now). I'll be sure to pay a visit to all of your sites as well as checking in here, but please don't be sore at me if I seem to be absent for long periods today (I accept the rebuke you left over at my site tan lucy pez), unfortunately, as bad luck would have it, several things have blown up at work today and I don't have as much time as I would have liked.
Anyway, thanks again.
hi, Gnat.
nothing's better left unsaid
only sometimes,
still, no doubt,
it's awful hard
it all works out.
Procol Harum
GO SOX!
xoxo
Hi Gnat, Its nice to meet you. Loved your definitions of saga.
My Dad, bless his heart, was quite the writer of sagas. We finally got him to do some 'memoirs' before he passed away and got a saga of his first 30 years. 35 pages, of closely typed, fascinating writing with no paragraphs, few commas and only a few periods. Wrote his saga, just like he spoke. Unparalled loquacious-ness!
Doug, thanks for introducing another interesting blogger. Looking forward to reading more of your story.
Saga~ Any enervating epic in the eye of the experiencer.
The gnat's trumpet may be require a second look.
Doug, have you whinged enough?
Were you selfish enough?
Are you stocked for guests?
Good definition, Gnat.
The worst thing about Gnat is that he's apparently a Yankees fan.
Is he a trumpeter? I have a joke for you: What do trumpet players use for birth control? Answer: Their personalities!
Ha ha ha
XO,
AP3 (Red Sox fan, and trumpeter - but I use lesbianism for birth control)
AP3, we use that joke here but use 'Engineer' where you put trumpet player.
hahahaha
Saga: A never ending story.
And Minka, here is an Icelandic Saga just for you.
but before you read head on over here and give me your 5 most passionate songs.
Erik Njofi, son of Frothgar, leaves his home to seek Hangar the EIder at the home of Thorvald Nlodvisson, the son of Gudleif, half brother of Thorgier, the priest of Ljosa water, who took to wife Thurunn, the mother of Thorkel Braggart, the slayer of Cudround the powerful, who knew Howal, son of Geernon, son of Erik from Valdalesc, son of Arval Gristlebeard, son of Harken, who killed Bjortguaard in Sochnadale in Norway over Cudreed, daughter of Thorkel Long, the son of Kettle-Trout, the half son of Harviyoun Half-troll, father of Ingbare the Brave, who with Isenbert of Gottenberg the daughter of Hangbard the Fierce
unfortunately not my words but kudos to anyone who knows who's words they are
trumpeter, AP3? And a Red Sox fan? Please accept the condolences of a fellow sufferer. My Dilbertesque failures (Scott Adams used a derivative of that line in Dilbert, as you probably know, Kyahgirl) are explained ...
those are lots of families, VI, which one are we going to follow? :-P
hi, Gnat! in Vonnegut's novel, Breakfast of Champions, there's a drawing exactly like your avatar, but that one is not called gnat but somehting else. I like your avatar.
I took a look in the book, your avatar is not like that, your avatar is that.
Ariel -- You take the families on the right, I will take the ones on the left, circle around and we will meet back in the middle.
Or we could just smile and wave at them
O Ceallaigh, Krill need heroes same as the rest of us.
Jenna, when I said his blog might not be for everybody I sure wasn't referring to you. Trollop.
Haha, Karma. The prize for cleverest use of a blog verifier is hereby named The Karma Award.
Gnat you're free to come and go as you please, although I understand that's a little like offering coffee to a cocaine addict. Thanks again for doing this.
By which you mean White Sox, right Mireille? (withholding xoxo pending an answer)
Kyahgirl, that's odd. And yet his daughter is so economical with words. Huh.
Logo, there's always room for more but I have enough to start June with. I'll be grousing again before you know it.
Haha, Aral. So you're comfortable with philandery but not wrongful allegiance. I suddenly regret having already written my definition for UNITARIAN.
Kyahgirl, aka Mother Hen, Aral's seems to be more reliable.
That's perfect V.I. I'm still laughing.
O Ceallaigh, I see you've found family. A lot of people do that when they meet AP3.
Ariel, you can hardly fault him for hypeing his virtues, can you?
V.I. so you and Ariel are going to Iceland now? Minka's going to be stacking her guests like cordwood.
VI. Malden? You too?? Spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam ... :)
Oh, and Ariel, I recognized that too. Good eye. I think if you read his explanation of "Gnat's Trumpet" you'll find that there's no dissonance.
O Ceallaigh, you're over my head again.
Doug -- I spend most of my day flat on my back so most things are over my head too.
Spammity spam! Politically incorrect with Doug - I love it. Do love that definition of the Gnat's.
Doug, the truck is a metaphor for how I handle things. i.e., not delicately.
By the way, am reading backwards and see the * and am LOL remembering the Vonnegut illustations "and it looked like this...."
VI-tell us more *blinks innocently*
so curious to know what you're doing flat on your back most of the day :-)
waiting...waiting...
oh, and O'Ceallaigh, could you explain a bit more about the Dilbertesque thing you think I know...I know Dilbert but am not sure of the reference of which you speak. Thank you my fine amoeboid friend.
Village Idiot, astronomer or chapel painter?
Thanks, Gina. Are we on a Monty Python bender here? I'm for it, by the way.
Kyahgirl, one day V.I. will be a character in one of Jenna's novels I just know it.
Cowgirl, probably the same thing you do horseback.
Kyahgirl, that's paramoeboid to you, Missy.
Well kyah it goes like this.....
One day I was walking up the stairs minding my own business, coming back to work from lunch when all of a sudden some persons unknown smacked me in the back of the head with a 2x8( reference my Flash 55 of last friday )
Now, my equilibrium is all out of whack and it seems the only relief is to lay on my back and close my eyes for long periods of time. Now, if you know how I could stay on my back and get paid for it...let me know
I fear Sar and I are being misrepresented by the idiot, it was only for his own good and he ASKED for it. I have proof, the request is on this very blog.
Kyahgirl - I refer (from memory) to a Sunday strip detailing the ecology and mating (non)behavior of the Engineer species.
I don't wish to say how old a strip, it would give the impression that I'm too decrepit to present Jenna with an opportunity. As if she needs one, hah! Next, she'll have me believing that's her picture.
VI - I thought they finished the Sistine Chapel.
o'ceallaigh-you swiped my line about the Sistine Chapel!!
Thanks for the Dilbert reference. I have one of his early books with a whole chapter on Engineers. I remember laughing uproariously through the thing, as well as the chapter on ISO certification. You just know that tonight I'm going to dig that book out and re-read it!!
Don't worry about Jenna, she knows class when she see it.
VI-thanks for the explanation. If forgot about your accident. Now you are on your back, with a gigantic ear worm eating your brain. I think you should have another shot of locaine poison!
Doug, thanks for the correction, I won't slip again on my single celled animals.
Cowgirl -- Good Point however, changing oil for a living, that would keep me on my back. Heating duct installer, cieling artist, the list is endless...
she knows class when she sees it
But, Kyahgirl, that's exactly what worries me. Especially if she has a cutoff. I'm already to the point where the biggest part of the class newsletter is the obits.
Phew, Doug. Y'know how I hate to miss out on the naughty blogs. And hm (taps chin) what could I write with a guy who spends his time flat on his back...hmm. I don't think that's a character for my stories.
Are you saying it isn't me, O?
Only you know, Jenna. Are you telling?
VI, this century is going to be over by time we finish deciding who's family and who's one at all... and yes, I know how you can be paid for laying on your back: apply for being employed as a speed hump.
Who am I to spoil my avatar saga, O?
Oh, sister Dddragon, I didn't mean to skip you. I wasn't entirely sure what you meant but this crowd that's settled on me had me going another way. I can't imagine you being indelicate. Well maybe on occasion but that's normal, right?
Village Idiot, that's what you get hanging out in a rough part of town.
Cowgirl, we're gonna put you back on the snaffle in a bit.
I remember, Logo, but as I recall you chose the 2x8 over the 2x4.
O Ceallaigh, there's more than one way to illustrate the hand of God. A 2x8 across the back of Village Idiot's head being just one option.
Beg pardon, Kyahgirl but I believe it was your portly host who brought up Chapel painting.
Brian, take a bow. Now I see while all the ladies here fawn over you. I'm a little stirred myself.
V.I., or a sewer-brush.
O Ceallaigh, I'll go out on a limb and bet against the cutoff.
Jenna, have you ever done an erotic novel in which the heroine falls for a seal?
Ariel, I just nearly smashed my laptop with my forehead. Too funny.
Jenna, an avatar's just an avatar.
Hello again, yes I stole my avatar from Breakfast Of Champions. Both it and The Gnat's Trumpet are references that mean the same thing altough The Gnat's Trumpet is more obscure. If your interested, the origins and meaning of that name are explained in this guest post at my site by PDS of A Tale of Two Architects. By the way, PDS is telling a very interesting tale at his site of his conversion from atheism to Christianity.
I thought the name The Gnat's Trumpet (and the avatar) were perfect to describe me given the actions of 1999 into 2000 that I'm describing at my site.
Sorry to kidnap your comments, Doug.
Ariel -- do you have any other suggestions that do not involve getting run over by rather large vehicles?
unless a speed hump is like.....oh never mind
oh yeah
and I forgot the rule
i before except after c...usually
ceiling artist send me back for remedial spelling training or a better spell chequer
By the way, for the record you can blame Doug for the picture accompanying my guest definition, for some reason he didn't want to use my avatar.
Doug, with your question to Jenna, you have reminded me of a joke:
Why did the walrus go to a tupperware party?
He was looking for tight seal.
ba dum bum.
Brian, *fawns* lovely!
Village Idiot, i catually don´t know this one. I first thought it was your writing and I thought boy he really is quite something. So, are you gonna tell us? And I´ll be right over with my passionate songs.
Doug, thank you for your politeness about sagas. It has been noted and we´ll just gloss over the final note of sarcasm :)
VI, life is not easy for any of us. we have to have belief in ourselves.
Gnat, you haven't kidnapped anything that I'm aware of, although we'll have to see how your story comes out.
Idiot, I think Ariel was guided by Ricardo's Law of Comparative Advantage.
Gnat, you've brought cymbals to my site and I thank you.
Brian, fortunately woman love literacy and forgive it's absence.
Sadly, Minka, that wasn't sarcasm although you're forgiven for thinking so poorly of me. My knowledge of norse mythology mainly comes from the comic book. Especially the year-long series based on Ragnorak. That was awesome. Did I mention I've read Goethe?
Ariel, that's so true.
I believe ariel ..hey yet again i before e except after c...
Oh and Minka those are the words of
John ,Michael, Eric, Graham ,Terry, and Terry
I have also made a recent discovery. It appears that anything worths saying has been said in a movie, so henceforth I will only be speaking in movie quotes
so the ancient comedy writer speaks in your name, Gnat's Trumpet. Doug, now you're reminding me of Kreon...
VI, I am trying, I am trying.
Doug, to clarify... It's not that I'm okay with philandery, it's just that being a Yankees fan is even worse.
Unless, of course, I'm the vicim of philandery... then it's a tie.
VI, ah...those guys! Thanks for narrowing it down! Come again?
Doug, yes you mentioned. *pad pad*
Ariel, the speed bump thing was wonderful!
Doug: We want Ariel to be a guest, don't we? Please??
VI might be able to make a living on his back if he's a slow bump. The world is full of fast bumpers.
LOL!!!
TLP- ROTFL! You are one naughty therapist!
how much do I owe you for that advice TLP?
please do not take it out on my back
Village Idiot, I believe what we have here is a failure to communicate. You sure got a pretty mouth, boy. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship, Rosebud.
Ariel, does that make my nephew Oedipus? Creepy.
Haha, Aral. It was understood. In your case I was being sarcastic.
Minka, *wags*
TLP, that's up to her but yes we surely do.
Kyahgirl, she's naughty. It's true.
Brian, it just pours out of you, doesn't it. I'm very impressed. Didn't you mean Minnesota, though?
do you really think you can get rid of your sins pushing a delete button?
Ssshh Logo! Remember, say nothing act casual.
Wow, Doug, you know if you want to just start serving up coffee for this clutch instead of comments, I'll understand.
I'm just going to hang out on my favorite swing right over here in the corner of my intellectual playground.
From the perspective of the audience
A story told in wordy, self-indulgent, dragged-out fashion; a type of narrative which takes advantage of the goodwill of its readers by forcing them to endure for extended periods a longing for a resolution the author suggests to them they may expect and which repays that goodwill by providing them instead with frequent pauses often broken only by distracting details having little apparent connection to the overall plot
also known as the small talk of my 78-year-old neighbor in apartment 20K...
Great definition! I will take a look see at your blog after checking the batteries in my smoke alarm.
Doug, I think we've all arrived at a very special place. Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically. Truly, you have a dizzying intellect. Compared to you, most people have the IQ of a carrot. it's the benefits of a classical education.
Ooooh! The parties here are getting wilder and wilder each day! Ooooweee! And that selfish party is rockin'! Who knew so many would take such a liking to that word... or is it that state of being? Hmmm....
I am popping in to specifically send you the biggest boho smooches my dear, dear Doug! After a day of absolute crazy and whacky and nonstop exhausting action and a 9pm yoga class I had to teach, landing me home at 11pm, it was the sweetest and warmest welcome to come home to my own feminist fairy tale!
I have it in my sidebar and am just giddy over it! OOOOOWEEEEEE FO SHO!!!!
Muchas, muchas, muchas gracias from the bottom of my bohemian heart!
THat's interesting, Brian. I knew they were supposed to be in Newfoundland but not the central coast.
Ariel, you have to be sincere and committed to changing.
Sar, I'm serving coffee at your place. These people want X.
Still Life, you can handle it. Fire makes the gold shine according to Augustine of Hippo.
Of course not Brian, but I'm unused to being chaperoned into that situation.
VIllage Idiot, I thank you on my own behalf and that of the carrots. You really give us too much credit.
Besos, hermana. Gracias. Sentiro tus dolores.
Doug, Inconceivable! [Your] mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
VI-I beg your pardon, I think my IQ is at least that of a tomato. Really! A carrot!
Miz B-I popped over to read your story by Doug, its lovely. You are blessed with a very fine bro!
oh, and Mr. Trumpet, I went to check your PDS friend, nice blog. Glad you referred us there.
Hope you get back here to see how the party is going!
Wow, and the comments just keep on coming.
Brian...how do I deserve this attention. I will tell this "saga" to my kids and they will tell it to theirs and maybe the thrid generation will figure to type it down. And in a 100 years or so there will be a blog by Sigurdur Sigurdson, called: "Waking Brian!" :)
Wow, I leave for a while and the Idiot is quoting every movie he's ever seen for you Doug.
Doug, I think we've all arrived at a very special place. Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically. Truly, you have a dizzying intellect. Compared to you, most people have the IQ of a carrot. it's the benefits of a classical education.
Pirates of the Caribean,
Princess Bride
Real Genius
AND Die Hard, wow
Bring out the big guns,
and Princess Bride and
Blazing Saddles too.
Doug, he must really like you.
V.I. In other words a backed-up toilet?
Kyahgirl, you're like a cauliflower, a rutabaga and a flowering crepe myrtle all in one. Smart ones!
Minka, that's way too funny.
Thank you, Logo, I didn't get what has happening. I thought the meds had stopped working. Great eye.
today was placebo day in the study
say no more
See Logo, I should have gotten that Pincess Bride remark. Since I just watched it in honour of our Idiot! But I didn´t catch it, but it is almost midnight here and I just blame it on that!
Minka, some things are easier to spot after the 25th viewing.
And I thought you watched it for me
(pout)
Doug, I fear in addition to sign language interpretation I am going to be called on for my idiot interpretation skills. Must update my resume
Arrrrrrrg!!!!! number 91.....and I consider my self quite the expert on this subject.
Saga: Story
Saga: Saw...as in....cut it down or into pieces.
Was in the hospital with my Mother...she has 4th cancer...taken out....she is resting...end of Saga.
I see that the saga continues! So, who is to be the next guest?
Ariel? Why not you? It doesn't hurt. Much.
Tryin' to get to 100 comments. You guys know that Doug replies to each and every comment. Talk about a saga!
Are we still doin' selfish?
'cause if we are, I'd like to be number 100.
But it works for saga too, no?
98...
99? or is it? Arrggggghhhhh.....I don't know! Where was I in this saga?
100....I hope. I'm goin' to bed. I'll see how it all ends tomorrow.
Wow, over a 100 comments. Very impressive Doug. Well, I have enjoyed meeting all of you here in Doug's comment section and some of you over at my place. I hope to see you back over there, I'll certainly be visiting you and stopping back here. Doug, thanks again. How long until I'm eligible for another go?
Oh, and congrats TLP on comment no. 100.
But Gnat's T., what's the difference between a saga and a soap opera? (I'm trying to define my blog.)
Village Idiot, I'm transferring you to the double blind.
Minka, you could have written Princess Bride around 4 I bet.
Logo, I think you can list idiotics as a fluency. You could be a legislative aide or something.
Actonbell, just please don't sing it line-by-line.
Hopefully, Mo'a there are many good years left in the saga. Sleep well Momma Mo'a.
TLP, you'll like the next guest but keep pressuring Ariel.
TLP, not unless you want to. It's all for you?
TLP, you're #1. You can't help it.
TLP, sure it does.
TLP, you're #1. You can't help it.
TLP, you're #1. You can't help it.
TLP, you're #1. You can't help it.
Gnat, I'm thinking in about 5 weeks I'll have had a year with a different guest every week. Then I'll open it up for repeats.
Weirsdo, Circus. Cirque, if you prefer
wow,
I need say nothing here.
SAGA - the comment section here and way too many blogs inlcuding my own.
Nice to meet the gnat.
Saga...well, it's kinda complicated...
Howdy, Alice. Jumpin' Jiminy, right? They;ve made me a chatroom.
SG, go on...
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