Many bloggers find inspiration in sunrises, in songs, in paintings, in the shower, in their dreams.

Ah.

In your dreams.

A phrase I’ve heard.

Often.

When I say things like, “Tom Selleck will one day ask for my autograph.”

But, I blather aimlessly digress. Back on topic: Inspiration!

I suppose I should tie the topic title to Inspiration.

Reader alert: I recently met a fun and lovely woman. Our conversation logically followed a path from a two-story Costco in Dallas to her husband’s inability to handle any topic involving panties—what he calls “unmentionables.” This revelation led to two epiphanies.

  • Some may not share my glee with the image I am about to post, and
  • Brain filters do have a function—especially since I was on Holy Roller (breakfast burrito rolling) duty in the church kitchen when I thought, “Then, how did you get into her unmentionables?”

If your sensibilities match those of my new friend’s husband, you may want to scroll past the image.

This concludes the reader alert. You have been warned.

So, where do I find inspiration for some of my blog articles?

From ThinknSmile.com

I used to call it the library.

Now, I call it The Loo. Those Brits have a way with words.

Use your imagination and take Ken out of this scene. I’ll wait.

Not that you need to know or I need to disclose, but…

My marriage will never ever reach this level of intimacy.

I owe thanks to some on-line buddies who found and shared this photo via Facebook. If I get their permission, I will update with their names and Facebook Links. They may practice more discretion than I.

Voracious readers are known to read everywhere. We have the ingredients in shampoo memorized, the nutrition facts about our favorite cereals seared in our brains, and—in my case—books with random facts stashed in the Loo.

With little else to read but the care instructions on my *unmentionables* [gentle cycle, low heat], Reader’s Digest has become a great source of inspiration.

I owe the Inspiration! for this post to a tiny column hidden in the humor pages. There is a website where users post imaginary letters about…

Well, just about anything. Including letters closely marginally in my wildest imagination associated to my writing world.

To demonstrate:

RESEARCH

Everyone has to research something at some point. Historical, geographical, nonsensical. I found this Letter on toblankpleaseblank.

Dear Yahoo,

I’ve never heard anyone say, “I don’t know, let’s Yahoo! it…” just saying…

Sincerely, Google

As a faithful Yahoo user, I had to craft a response.

Dear Gmail,

You are such a . First, Google sounds .

Yahoo! sounds like a waiting to happen. Our users us.

NOT! Yahoo! mail Emoticon Guys

p.s.   Sometimes we crack ourselves up.

There. That takes care of the research aspect. Now, we’re on to…

THE BOOK BLURB

Here’s one, cleverly disguised as a letter to the author’s sister.

Dear Sister,

By the time you read this I’ll be dead. This is how I think it’s gonna happen: Dave will shoot me, then I’ll shoot Dave, then Eric will enter and get shot by Dave. Then you’ll come in and get shot by Eric, Dave, and I multiple times.

Sincerely, Your brother Keith

p.s. Then two cops will read this letter and shoot each other.

I am not going to admit writing a book blurb is torture defined. Why? Because I don’t want to.

It is not difficult  to compress my thoughts into a cohesive unit of twenty-five words or less.

Okay, so I’m a bit yappy verbose. Shoot me.

I can do it when I have to. In twenty-five words or less…

Dear Agent

My novel is about a wonky female con artist who inherits a lodge in the mountains and has to move back when she gets fired for crotch-crunching a high-roller. PLUS! There is a heat-packing male who…

Um. Just read the synopsis. Okay?

Gloria

p.s. If you don’t like my blurb, do you—by chance—have a sister who is an agent?

STAY FOCUSED

This last letter sent me to the publish button for this blog.

Here’s the parting shot PUBLISH ALREADY! letter I found at that place.

Dear person reading this,

You’re here because you’re actively procrastinating or avoiding real work, aren’t you? It’s OK…me too.

Sincerely, I’ll work tomorrow

No. We’ll work today. After we read your comments with lovely letter and inspirational suggestions.

I’ll be back to add links. While I’m gone, leave a sample letter in comments. Tell what you’d be tempted to write and to whom,  toss a clue on where you find inspiration, or share additional URL links for LOO humor.

[Unless you officially call dibs, I’ll steal borrow them for future posts.]

Here’s an image lifted from Sherry Isaac’s comments. I love this one, so I pulled it from the depths of comments to post here. You can also find it at Sherry Isaac Storyteller, her Facebook Author page. If you haven’t yet officially LIKED her over there, you’re missing out on one likeable character. Thank you, Sherry, for…