Grumpa Joe's Place

There are some days, like today, that writing does not come easily. No single subject strikes a nerve. Yet, I feel the need to write. I did spend a couple of hours writing today, but not for Grumpa Joe’s Place. I’m still trying to answer a question I posited a few weeks back, i.e. what would the world be like if there was no America? My mind has gone wild with that question. So many new questions arise. What would have become of the thirteen colonies had the Revolution failed? Where would the boundaries lie? Who would have taken the territory known as the Louisiana Purchase? Will Florida still belong to Spain? Would Mexico still claim all the land stretching from the Continental divide to the Pacific up to the Oregon border? Would The Republic of Texas survive as its own country? Would the slaves be free? Will Hitler conquer Europe? Did the Japanese take over the Pacific and conquer China? Is South America a Christian Theocracy? What system of government prevails world-wide? Did Stalin win over the world to his brand of socialism? Do the thirteen colonies finally break away from England? Would buffalo still roam the open plains by the millions? Has a cure for cancer been found?

Obviously, I have some ideas for what the answers are because that is the crux of the story I am writing. The story is also the reason I have not been writing as much original stuff for Grumpa Joe’s Place.

When I get stuck on a particular piece of the story, I just let it rest and eventually, the sub-conscious mind will steer me out of the corner into the right direction. On days like today, writing is work more than a joy. I like it better when it is a joy and my fingers fly across the keyboard without stopping.

To complicate matters, I bought a program called Grammarian. Since I am still learning the stuff I should have learned in grammar school, when I didn’t pay much attention to anything, this program should help me. There are a couple of problems with it that I must mention. First, and most important the font used in the program is so tiny it makes reading beyond difficult. I’ve spent too many minutes trying to unlock the secret of enlarging the print to a readable level. Cataracts do not make reading easy, nor does age. The second problem is the degree of difficulty understanding the detailed instructions for installing and using the stupid thing. After messing with Windows for twenty years, installing a program should be a piece of cake, but Grammarian takes the challenge to the next level of absurd.

A 1950’s TV with a Screen Magnifier. Yes folks, that is the kind of TV I grew up with.

I have considered getting a giant magnifying glass to install on the face of my PC screen. Yes, just like the ones we saw when we were kids. Every tavern in town had one on their small screen TV to make the picture larger. The magnifier idea is so old-tech even I rejected it immediately. Instead, I will search the I-net for clues about where to find the magic button that enlarges the font with a single tap of the finger.

While searching for the image above, I learned that a bunch of new-tech screen magnifiers are for sale from many sources. A magnifier might be an answer after all

Filed under: Biography, Education, family, Memories, Society, Writer | Tagged: Cataracts, Grammarian, TV Magnifier, World Without America, Writer's block |