I enjoy laughing
A recent visit to Pun Intended landed me on a post entitled, Glory of the Snot Rocket. I laughed all the way through it. Then, I wondered why I never write humorous posts. I can be a very funny person and I enjoy laughing! And yet, I don’t exercise my funny bone through my writing.
This made me think. How could I incorporate more humor in my writing?
ME THINKING
(for audio, click on ME THINKING)
Uh oh….I’m drawing a blank. Perhaps, like any good blogger, I need to start with a list. Hey, it’s a first step.
Sooooo, here’s what makes me laugh….
- The Far Side cartoons created by Gary Larson
- Other people laughing…especially babies
- My boyfriend…he’s got a wicked sense of humor
- The penguins in the movie Madagascar
- My favorite “silly” cat video. See it here NOTE: After watching this, I can’t say cats themselves support the humane treatment of ALL animals, but I don’t believe any humans or animals are injured in this video.
- The squirrel in the movie Ice Age
- The squirrel that taunts my cat by doing calisthenics across my porch screen
- Twitter language, such as “tweet”
- Any funny story my daughter’s boyfriend sends me – definitely not a typical Brit
- My cat’s crazy run around the house, especially when she forgets about the throw rugs
- Funny sounding words like gobbledygook, plethora, and balderdash
- Silly movie titles like Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death, Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
- The poetry of Judith Viorst, check out Mother doesn’t want a dog and True Love
- MYSELF and the silly, ditzy, crazy things I do
While I may not become a humorous blogger, this list reminded me how much I enjoy laughing. Maybe what’s really important is not that I write a funny post, but that this post encourages YOU to think of the things that make you laugh.
Care to share?
As Bugs Bunny said,“That’s all folks!”
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Writing humor is one of the more difficult things to do in life (IMHO), but I love the challenge. I’ve been co-writing a humor / controversial / make-ya-think kind of blog for over a year now and regularly find myself shaking my head saying “why isn’t this funnier? It was funny 10 minutes ago when I was talking about it with my friends.” I’ve learn to just write about what I’m thinking, edit only a little, then walk away from it. It’ll either stick to the wall or it’ll fall flat on the floor.
Maybe some of your readers will find my blog funny.
Love your stuff Sara.
I tend to have a rather black sense of humour. It’s not that I find pain and misery funny in and of itself… no, I’m laughing about those things because the act of laughing is a form of release. So, when Blackadder said, “I think the phrase rhymes with clucking bell” after a failed attempt at trying to get out of the army (and thus certain death in the final push of that horrific war), I laughed because I could totally understand where the character was coming from. Hmmm… perhaps some readers here would not have heard of that great Brit sitcom, “Blackadder Goes Forth”, and perhaps I got a bit too deep there, but I guess what I’m saying is that humour is irreverent by its very nature. It allows us to laugh at serious things so that we can be enabled to face up to them. That’s what I laugh at.
Crazy movie titles crack me up, too. And, Spongebob makes me laugh. I can admit that!
Mama Zens last blog post..Or, "Got Pink?"
Sara – This post is SO you!!!
“Maybe what’s really important is not that I write a funny post, but that this post encourages YOU to think of the things that make you laugh.”
There’s a real “lightness” to your posts – even when you’re writing about heavy duty topics!!! While your posts don’t make me roll on the floor, LMAO – they always make me smile as well as make me think.
Thanks!!!
Oh, the latest thing that makes me ROLF LMAO is actually kind of off color and NSFW (Not Suitable For Work)- from The Onion
Sony’s newest product release
Kathy | Virtual Impaxs last blog post..Social Media is Simply Communication on Steroids
Hi Sara. I watch a couple of sitcoms that make me laugh — Friends and Two and a Half Men. The latter one is a laugh a minute. I like a lot of British humour too… I don’t receive this programming anymore but I used to watch, “Keeping Up Appearances” regularly. And one of my favourite movies is The Full Monty. Animals go through some pretty funny antics too, like you’ve mentioned about your cat. That was a hilarious video.
Davinas last blog post..The Morning Muse — Just Write
@ FupDuckTV — I love your line about how you approach writing, “It’ll either stick to the wall or it’ll fall flat on the floor.” And I’ve been to your site…it is funny and informative. I laughed and learned from your recent post, Trash Pickup Holidays! Thanks for sharing
@ Tony Single — I understand having a darker side to humor as I share that tendency. My list may not reflect it because some of it might not be PC. I agree you that humor helps us deal with difficult times. It’s also been proven that it’s very healthy…so I say laugh away. If you get a chance, check out http://www.despair.com…I think you might like it
@ Mama Zen — I’ll have to check out Sponge Bob. Given my darker side of humor, I used to love Mr. Bill. I also got a kick out the little alien characters on Sesame Street (years ago when my kids were young). Thanks for sharing
@ Kathy — Thanks for your comments about my post. You made my day. Also, the Onion video was hysterical!! I can see, however, how it might not be appropriate for putting up on a site. I glad you turned me on to The Onion
Thanks for the link.
You could always put more humour in a post not specifically dedicated to it. This often enhances writing and its fun to do.
Bamboo Forest – PunIntendeds last blog post..Clowns are Downright Creepy
@ Bamboo Forest — You’re welcome about the link. I hope others will visit your site and explore…it’s a fun site. Also, thanks for the suggestion. I will try to get my muse to cooperate. She just doesn’t have a good sense of humor and let me tell you, I’ve tried to work with her on this! I had to send her outside for a very long coffee break in order to write Laugh Away
@ Davina — I used to watch Friends with my older daughter for two reasons…it is funny and I absolutely adore hearing my daughter laugh! I also like British humor, especially Wallace & Gromit! Regarding the cat video, I thought you might like it. Thank you for sharing
Sara, thanks for the link! I nearly fell off my chair with laughter! The humour is fabulously black and dry… just the way I like it! :p
Hi, Sara. I loved everything on your list. You are a very happy person and you must be a hoot to be around!
Your last item is so true for me, too. Just the other day, doing a bang-up job cleaning house (which I don’t enjoy one bit, except for the finishing part), I rinsed something in the sink and inadvertently ran my fully clothed arm under the tap water. I chortled with delight, just like a young kid—and I have no idea why.
PS: As for writing humor, I think you do it quite well. “…a very long coffee break…”
Julies last blog post..The Unexpected
Loved the cat video and Judith Viorst poems. To me, a sense of humor is one of the most important things to have. The first thing that attracted me to my husband was the fact that he made me laugh, a lot. He says he would be silly to make me laugh because he liked my smile. He is the one that taught me to smile. After 36 years together, I still like that he makes me laugh.
Patricia – Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworkers last blog post.."Blogging Without a Blog" Wrote An Article About Me
Hi Sara,
I checked out the cat video and it was HILARIOUS and amazing at what cats can do. I don’t have any cats, but if I was to get a pet that would be it!!! When I read your reference to it, I thought it might be this cat video where there is a cat laughing hysterically – Ihad it sent to me several times as an email attachment so I am not sure if YouTube has it, but that video is probably only about 30 seconds long and has me in tears based on how funny it is.
The second thing that makes me laugh is in Shark’s Tale, the shrimp who is on the fork of the shark as he is about to eat him – just adorably funny!
As to writing about things that are funny – people all have different sense of humours so at times it may be hard, but usually when things come out naturally, they tend to be the best!
Evitas last blog post..Rising To Your Destiny
Sara, I’ve no idea what happened to the inspired comment I wrote here yesterday…and I naturally don’t remember what I said. That was yesterday, after all!
I loved your whole list and related to each item, but the one that REALLY struck me was the last one. That’s me, too. The other day, while doing some super-duper housecleaning (not my favorite task, not by a long shot!), I rinsed a sponge in the kitchen sink and inadvertently ran my fully clothed arm under the running faucet. Instantly, I burst into a kid-like tinkling laughter—and I’ve no idea why. This happens all the time. I laugh when I run into walls—hallway walls, mind you—and when I trip and when I forget things… And I’ve no idea why! Ditzy-ness is just plain fun, I guess. 
Julies last blog post..The Unexpected
You have made a good start by reminding of us all that we need not take life so seriously.We all need humor in our day! Thanks for your reminders!
Marks last blog post..Compounding Interest in Your Relationship
Hi Sara!
So nice to meet you!
Thank you so much for this post. I consider myself fortunate to have a wicked sense of humor, but be damned if I can write about it! :~)
Henies last blog post..The Feet of Life
@ Tony — I had a feeling you’d like that one!
@ Julie — You know it will a good day when you read a comment and laugh out loud! Thanks for your kind words. I loved the thing putting your arm in the water and chortling in delight. It’s obvious you have the ability to easily step into your joyful child…what a wonderful gift!
@ Patricia — I’m glad you liked the cat video. I was a bit concerned as it made cats look slightly abusive to babies, which they’re not. Also, thanks for sharing about your husband. I met my boyfriend through an online dating service. You have fill out a profile and I titled mine, “make me laugh!” I guess the universe heard me because my boyfriend does exactly that…he makes me laugh.
@ Evita — I liked your words, “…usually when things come out naturally, they tend to be the best!” This is SO true. I haven’t seen Shark Tale yet, but now that you’ve mentioned it I’ll have to check it out. Believe it or not, cats really are funny…they do the wildest things and ARE obsessively curious! Thanks for sharing.
@ Julie — I do apologize about the comment. I’m on EST and was at a “thing” for my boyfriend last night and we were out late. Therefore, I’m just getting to my comments now. On the other hand, I love that you came back and added more laughter to my life with the addition of the “running into walls” story! Thanks for being you, Julie!!!
@ Mark — Thanks for sharing and you are so right. Humor ought to be an essential part of everyone’s day because just like brushing your teeth or taking your vitamins, laughter is very healthy!
@ Henie — As I commented to Bamboo Forrest,like me, you must have ended up with a Muse who doesn’t have your sense of humor. Mine can be a pain about letting me write anything funny! Also, I’m glad I visited your site as I enjoy your writing very much. One last thought…thanks for showing me how to do a smiley face without WordPress putting in that automatic one. :~)
Did that cat really skip water?? That video was so funny! Thanks for making my day.
Carlas last blog post..Save water, time and money in your yard
@Carla — You are so welcome. I’m glad you liked the video. Whenever I need a quick laugh pick-me-up, I go to this video :~)
Hi Sara,
The cat video was hilarious! I love humor (although I don’t write about it either). I get a good laugh from some videos we have of our kids when they were younger. Today, I like to “bug” my kids – in an attempt to get them laughing (it’s not always successful, but that doesn’t stop me from trying!).
It’s fun to read this and think about what it is that tickles my funny bone! Thanks Sara!
Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
@Lance — I’m glad you liked the cat video. I appreciate your sharing about the writing. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one. I hope you DO keep bugging your kids to make them laugh. It feels so good to share laughter with your kids:~)