About

I’m Michelle, a midwestern, middle-aged, former middle manager of average height and IQ. I’m ex-Army, ex-Republican, ex-Seventh Day Adventist, ex-smoker and an ex-girlfriend several times over, with an obsolete college degree.

I’m happily a wife and a parent now and I’m surrounded by wonderful, inspiring people who make me feel better than average.

I started a blog to force myself out into the open, to make a commitment, to learn how to take criticism and most of all, to stop being comfortable. Mission accomplished.

I chose The Green Study as my blog name because the very complicated or suggestive or vulgar names were all taken. I work in a study that is painted green. It is the hub of my home. It’s where broken toys go to die….I mean, get fixed. It’s where I snuggle with my child, discuss politics with my husband and wrestle my cats to the ground to trim their front claws. It’s where bills are promptly lost and art projects lay in disarray. It is my world, which I am now exposing to the general public. I might need to dust a bit.

If you need more distraction from tasks you don’t want to do, you can learn more by reading Inside The Green Study.

Update July 2018

I’ve been writing posts for this blog for 6+ years. I’m working on the first draft of my second unpublished novel, as well as a collection of short stories and angry essays. I hope to update this About page with news of publication before I die. Dreaming big.

Update August 2021

I’m no longer middle-aged. Unless I live a really, really long time.

202 thoughts on “About”

  1. I like your blog!

    Because blogs are meant to be shared, here are a few of my other favorites:
    -My friend Melanie’s, her post last Halloween is particularly funny: http://www.everydayonephoto.com/2011_10_01_archive.html
    -One I found through someone else – laughed until I peed: http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/

    Yes, I go for laugh & entertainment value. I don’t get enough sleep to be deep. Miss you! -di

    Liked by 3 people

    1. It was such an odd experience growing up in the church, especially during the 70s when it was rocked with all kinds of scandals. In our church alone, we had an embezzling pastor, a pedophile teacher and of course, apocalyptic preparations for the second coming. Not sure what they told people when it didn’t happen. All I know was that we ate a lot of uncloven food, I couldn’t wear pants with pockets at church school and rock and roll was the devil. All 3 which guaranteed that I was going straight to hell. Thanks for the congrats!

      Liked by 5 people

      1. No strategy really, I’m celebrating the middle ages, I faked getting a tattoo twice. Once at the beach with my friend who I lost to cancer last year and once on a trip to Thailand. I sent an email to my husband of a bamboo tattoo on my leg (it was henna) but he thought it was real. Anyway – funny post.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for your kind words! Many people mentioned courage, but I also think being more honest is part of my midlife commitment. It’s so much easier than trying to be something other than what you are!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Greenstudy, you remind me of myself in a lot of ways. I’m featuring a link to your blog on mine for the next week or so. Hope it brings you more fans!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow – that’s very kind of you! I will have to look and see how to do that on my site as well, because Forming the Thread and Broadside are my 2 new favorite blogs. I envy the breadth and quality of the subjects you cover. I’m still in the navel-gazing phase, but am inspired to work towards more substance. Thanks again!

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      1. I’m afraid of what I might find in my navel. Actually I turn my gaze outward to avoid looking in that box in the dark corner of my brain where I stuff everything I wish had never happened. Unfortunately the box has gotten quite full lately and the lid has taken to occasionally blowing off. Whereas you are exorcising somewhat through your writing, I am not so brave. When something slithers out of the box, I stuff it back in there and slam the lid shut.

        I may need a bigger box…

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Very sweet. 🙂 And yes, putting yourself out there and being vulnerable and honest is a challenge. But it looks like you’re on the right path and doing it for the right reasons. Best of luck and I can picture you snuggling there in your green room. The center of your universe no doubt. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. With coffee in hand, my world is complete. As a writer, I’m a much nicer, more mellow person. In person, I’m pretty irritable, prickly and introverted. Love being able to improve myself and life through editing.

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        1. Your writing definitely has an enviable edge to it. I expect that someday, I’ll just let ‘er rip and lose all the readers that have come to expect someone with a little less edge and little more circumspection. Edge is more fun to read.

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        2. Go with your flow. Your right brain and muse. Write so it makes you happy. 🙂 That’s all that ultimately matters. To please yourself. If it pleases others, fantastic!

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  20. I’m terrified to cut my cats’ nails. Probably because they wrestle me to the ground to avoid me doing it. And because they scream and moan and cry and I’m afraid my neighbours will think I’m trying to kill them. A fellow blogger told me about your blog. Said I’d really like it. If this page is any indication, I can’t wait to get started reading it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re so kind – I’m glad you found your way here. My cats and I have an agreement – if they mellow out enough to let me clip their nails, I won’t drag them to the vets’ to have it done! Actually that’s my delusion. They pretty much hate me either way! Thanks for stopping by, reading and commenting!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I now let my cat scratch on the rugs and the deck. In the past, though, Shadow and Blackie tolerated nail-cutting better if I wrapped all but head and paw in a thick towel and talked gently throughout. Then, when done, I would praise them (even if they didn’t deserve it), and show them my scratches, to prove it hurt me as much as them. But these were neutered males. Socksie is a girl, and she is the boss.

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  21. How do you feel about The Awards Show Part 4? Good, I hope. It seems a blogger out there likes my blog; and nominated me for The Inspiring Blogger Award. Even though I have somewhat bent the rules, I am still nominating a few bloggers; and you are one of them. It will be my post for tomorrow (December 24). The ‘rules’ are on my blog post so I won’t waste your time and repeat them here.

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  24. Hi , I came across your blog via Kozo’s. Wishing you a most joyous New Year and look forwards to sharing ideas and posts with you. Be well!

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  29. Super ‘About’ page – sorry I haven’t read it before! You and I have two things in common – a loss of our respective religions and a love of cursing (which my husband doesn’t appreciate, either).

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    1. Thanks – I try to keep swearing to a minimum around husband and child, but have been “outed” on occasion. They were playing a board game and my daughter lost and said “dammit”. I got the “look” from my better half. I am always the obvious scapegoat!

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      1. Although I seem to be winning the fight against the kids picking up the swear words, my husband did remind me that the last time I was having computer troubles, I repeatedly said, ‘F*ck me in the ass,’ within earshot of the kids. Do as I say, not as I do…?

        Liked by 1 person

  30. Hi…it’s an amazing blogsite…m glad i came across this site & got the opportunity 2 read the wonderful, valuable stuff posted here. Will surely go through all your posts soon…I am enjoying reading them. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Hi there! I don’t know how you feel about blogging awards. From what I’ve heard, some people like them, some don’t, but I’ve been nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger award. The requirements are that I nominate other bloggers, so tag, you’re it! You can find the details here:

    http://wp.me/p1AwTp-dm

    And if you’re wondering…yes, your blog does inspire me!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Cheryl – that’s very kind of you. I am on board with the blogging award system, since it’s a great way to introduce other bloggers. I just get so behind on them! Don’t be surprised if you see a post about it 6 months out. Thanks again!

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  35. I giddily tore open my box postmarked Minneapolis today an ambivalent dichotomy of rabid anticipation and pretentious superficial cool..Atop the paper twine bedding was indeed the visionary promise of a cityscaped wonder of wonders… that promissory note in the form of a “cheesy postcard” that spawned the now classic phrase in my mind “you becha” hand embossed by none other than the very Michelle of The Green Study fame who herself conjured this rabble of high honor and perhaps untold sultry avarice; The “Worst Job Ever” contest.

    As I admired the majesty of my highly coveted and glossy card. I dug deeper and found bordered in plastic pillow joy and spiral paper fragments, “The Green Study” mug. It too was surrounded by a specially formed package of corrugated strength. Once opened oh how I admired the majesty of my highly coveted and shining quality jewel which was heretofore ensconced in packaging worthy the delivery of a rare archaeological dig, and so I must say with all honesty, I shall dig this for as long as I live! Thanks so much Michelle!

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Michelle, thanks so much for your kind words on Peg’s site. I’m so excited that you’ve added me to your reading list. I can’t wait to dig in here, too.

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  39. A new award, I am Part of the WordPress Family Award, has recently appeared on WordPress and I have nominated you for it. You can read about it on my blog today.

    Like

  40. I don’t know if you do awards or not, but in case you do here’s some more. I like to pass them along, and I just had to include you in my list of women blogger buddies. I love your writing and your thoughtfulness.
    Cheers
    Alison

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  43. My blog recommendation list brought me here, and it appears that it does know me very well.

    Thanks for putting pieces of yourself out into the Everywhere. I know the anxiety I feel about sharing myself with people I don’t know – what will they do with my words? In the end, we throw caution to the wind, and though we can’t guarantee that the reader’s understanding matches what we intended, it’s a risk we take nonetheless.

    I really liked this part of your about me because it resonated strongly with me:
    “I started a blog to force myself out into the open, to make a commitment, to learn how to take criticism and most of all, to stop being comfortable. Mission accomplished.”

    Thanks for inspiring me with the very first piece of your writing that I have met: this About page! I can’t wait to read the rest of your blog 🙂

    Like

    1. Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I’ve finally gotten beyond the fear of writing and have found a level of “sharing” that I’m comfortable with – now I just need to work on strengthening the material and the writing.

      Like

        4. I want to claw my own eyes out… and we still do those details, but just have a different name. More often, that shit gets contracted out.

          Like

  45. Hi Michelle, You’ve received many awards, including Freshly Pressed. Yet, because you’ve been so encouraging, I’ve nominated you for The Super Sweet Blogging Award at IntoMyWindow.com, July 1, 2013 post. 🙂 Just because.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. Nice to meet you Michelle! I’m surprised we haven’t crossed paths as we run in the same circles of bloggers. I guess it was only a matter of time. My friends have good taste, so I’m certainly glad I found you. Congrats on the Freshly Pressed, too!

    Liked by 1 person

  49. Thanks for visiting and following dentaleggs. Chicago is special. Lived there for a long time. Still working there. Now we’re in the burbs. Nice to visit when I’m not working.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love humor blogs and I’m sure I’ll enjoy yours.

      We just visited Chicago, having driven around the Great Lakes from our burbs in Minneapolis. As a tourist, Chicago might be special in a different way! We enjoyed our visit, but the wallets were definitely lighter!

      Like

    1. Thank you for sharing it on your Facebook page. This is somewhat hypocritical of me, since I’ve eschewed all other forms of social networking, but I do appreciate it when others share! We all have audiences of editors, although some audience members are kinder than others. Like most things, though, the outcome of any piece of criticism is what we, the writers, do with it. It’s hard work to sort out the useful bits when we put ourselves in a position of vulnerability. Thanks again for the share and for commenting!

      Like

    1. Thanks for dropping by – hope you’re enjoying your holidays and looking forward to a new year! I’m just delighted that I could shovel the driveway without needing first aid afterwards today – feels like a heat wave compared to the last week!

      Like

  55. First, thank you so much for your compliment. Now that I have sampled some of your smoothly-flowing, wholly-engaging posts, I treasure it even more highly. Since you have Followed me (thank you so much!), the inside scoop on reading my blog posts is to do so only after they’ve simmered for a couple of days. Almost invariably, I have then edited out the chaff. One would think it would make more sense to do this BEFORE posting, but I, apparently, believe otherwise.

    Possibly, your way is better.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I edit after the fact as well. Generally, by the time I hit that “Publish” button, I’ve revised a post a zillion times and am so sick of reading it that I release it into the wild to save myself. I like your writing style and sharp commentary. It gets my little gray cells working. Thanks for stopping by and reading some of these posts. I, too, am eclectic in my writing, although it’s more that I like being a free range writer and lose interest in any one subject quickly.

      Like

  58. Hello:
    I like your blog and have nominated you for a Liebster Award! If you’ve already participated or don’t fancy taking part, no worries, just enjoy the fact that I think your blog is awesome! If you do want to take part my post with the nomination can be found http://www.lightraveller.com
    Thanks and keep on doing what you do
    Cheers Kate

    Like

      1. Being brave and being yourself is very admirable. It takes a lot of courage to be honest these days :D.
        stay that way, even if you think it is a less admirable version of yourself, I’d choose guts over poise any day!!

        Like

    1. Thank you so much for the words of encouragement and sharing your experience! I’m in the middle of editing my first novel, hoping to get in front of a paid editor in the spring. Nothing like a Minnesota winter to get a writer down to business! Happy new year and best wishes!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Victoria. I found your site through T.W.Dittmer. I enjoyed what I read of your blog (having to do some hit-and-runs today) and am looking forward to reading more. And you’re right – it’s better to be a “used to be” than nothing at all.

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  67. Absolutely love the reasoning behind the title of your blog! The “study” really does seem like the hub of your life. Typically it’s the kitchen people congregate in. Refreshing to learn of another room to experience life to the fullest!

    Liked by 1 person

  74. Great writing! I’m inspired to do all sorts of things I usually don’t! Like comment on blogs written by people I don’t know! Could be a life changer! Woohoo!

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  92. Hi Michelle!
    Well, I confess, I am very green around the gills when it comes to blogging, but I can’t resist a challenge. I am especially heartened by someone who appears to have a similar attitude toward life, as myself. We even share a name – I am actually Michele Madeline, but changed it around when I was a student. I look forward to reading your future posts and I hope you enjoy hearing what I get up to, either in or out of my banana tree!!

    Like

  95. Love your humor. I’m seventy and went Gray/Silver last year and love my hair color. What is your second unpublished novel about? I have an unfinished, unpublished something . . . . just saying, Claudia

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    1. Thanks, Claudia! I’m still in that in-between stage of a bad short haircut to get all the dye out – I’m crossing my fingers for consistent silver/white hair. My second unpublished novel is about immigration – it’s much more ambitious than my abilities, but that’s how we learn!

      Liked by 1 person

  96. Have you ever thought of self-publishing your work? I follow a few self-published authors, and it’s slowly losing the stigma that it’s only for amateur authors. You’re responsible for all of the investment (vetting and hiring editors, cover artists, etc.), but you also get 100% of the profits. With an audience and a medium to sell it on with as big of a following as this, I’m sure it could work for you.

    Like

    1. Everybody around me is on a self-publishing kick. It’s not my first impulse, but then I don’t think my work is anywhere near ready for publication, self or otherwise. I think self-publishing is a great option for a lot of writers, but as a reader, I do want to read work that has been well-edited and formatted. If those steps aren’t skipped, then there are great possibilities. Thanks for stopping by!

      Liked by 1 person

  97. OH! I was under the impression that your work was ready to go! Sorry, I just found your blog not too long ago. Well then good luck with getting it ready, I look forward to reading more about your publishing journey! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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