Well where to begin?  Heinlien, once said through his character, Jubal Harshaw, that he had a condition that is hard to explain.  He needed to be alone for a while almost every day in order to relieve this condition.  He said it was best not to disturb him and to leave him and his instruments for wordsmithing alone.  He of course was referring to the writer’s itch.  That desire that drives us to write.  It can be almost a psychological disorder I suppose.  For most of my life I believe I have suffered from this same dire affliction.  But for some time now I have not let the genie out of the bottle and I now think I have suffered for it.   So, what do I do?  I brood, and brood…and brood until I finally decide it is time to rebuild this site.  It is just one more step in getting back to what I am and think maybe… maybe I am better for it.  You may ask why do I call myself a writer?  Hey, re-read the previous sentences! 

      I also do this at work, not that you would ever know.  Am I published?  Actually yes, but still you would never know.  Why?  Because my professional writ is in the form of government documents and writings for the agency I spend my time at in between moments of my life.  Ask me privately some time and I’ll show you something I have done.  You will never believe it is the same person.

As I said on regular load, Mad Gremlin was a dream, even now I still do not call myself a blogger.  Maybe I seem a little arrogant in this regard.  Surely many bloggers consider themselves writers.  Perhaps this is a little boring for my readers but remember, this is my column and you never know what it will be about.  When you write yours maybe you can bore me. :)

        So at last, I am back and welcome to Overload.  I was thinking for the past few days and having a hard time coming up with a topic.  This was never really a problem in the past seeing how there was always plenty to rant about.  There still is, believe me, but my first  time after being out of action so long?  Wrong approach.  So instead I am going to write about writing.  Well sort of.

        Everyone has heard the cliché that writer’s are observers of the world and others.  Many people would question this based on the fact that many writers work on fiction.  I think of all the great works of science fiction and fantasy and wonder about that as well.  On this very morning I found myself observing… and realized it is true.  I was in deep thought about it all day and decided this topic had to come out of me while it was still hot.

     In my professional life I have always been a strong observer of others and what happens around me. Why?  Well, I’ve been everything from a salesman to a social services worker.

     It has come in handy to get in people’s heads and figure out what they may be trying to do.  It struck me as odd this morning when from across a room I realized someone was not feeling well and others did not.  The person in question looked perfectly normal but I noticed little things and finally took an opportunity to ask if I could help.  Yet others did not seem to notice.

        It is a unique ability, to almost always be aware of things happening around me, and what is happening to others.  I have actually sat in a food-court at a mall and watched people pass by and oddly, never realized I attached a story to them all.  But I attach stories to things happening around me as well.  Is this alleged trait something that made me start writing?  No, probably not.

        But I realized that I do notice small details around me.  I have many times thought that this was being alert because I also try to be ready to protect myself and others come what may.  When I really talk to people, I really listen and watch to find more meaning than others and I know what to say in return.  Not always, but most of the time.  And then I use this to put word to paper…or magnetic electronic media as the case is today.  I have always journalized though I was lax in this for a while.  I wrote stories but I also wrote down thoughts and observations of the world around me, and things I saw on TV or read.  Did this contribute to my condition?  Yeah baby!

        A musician plays, an athlete competes, and a writer writes…but do we do more?  Am I constantly putting stories to everything and have I always done so?  Yeah, oddly enough but I do not think I realized it till this morning.  I always knew I noticed things others did not but it never occurred to me.

        I realized that I do notice things almost like I have less filters on when I observe.  I rarely view the world with S.E.P. thoughts.  (That means someone else’s problem.)  This is something for me to consider, and a question for you, my fellow writers to consider.  So that brings me to the final thought. 

        Is the writer’s eye different just like that of the artist or photographer?  After careful thought ... and observing myself the only answer I can give is yes.

        I realize this is not as flashing or controversial as some of my columns of the past but I would love to hear any and all comments on Mad Talk.  L8r-------G