What the Hell's a Jay Squires
an 81-Year Romp in a Tutu54 total reviews
Comment from irishauthorme
This is an outstanding and painfully honest bio!
Some of your life parallels many other seekers of our time. I can see how the bumps and hurdles along the way helped you stop and take a look in the mirror.
Yeah, getting old is an option. I am getting there, but I refuse to grow up.
I started writing very young but was not as driven as you, too many other things got in the way.
We come from the same generation: James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause
(How about a stunning Natalie Wood costarring?), Mearl, Buck, and Dwight.
In my 40-year career playing lead guitar in country bands, I have played and sung most of their songs, also Conway, Waylon, and George J.
Did 4 years US Navy, 2 years college, worked construction too long, finally got into law enforcement and retired there.
Love this site, trying to hit my stride.
Reading your bio helped me focus.
Thank you!
irish
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2022
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This is an outstanding and painfully honest bio!
Some of your life parallels many other seekers of our time. I can see how the bumps and hurdles along the way helped you stop and take a look in the mirror.
Yeah, getting old is an option. I am getting there, but I refuse to grow up.
I started writing very young but was not as driven as you, too many other things got in the way.
We come from the same generation: James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause
(How about a stunning Natalie Wood costarring?), Mearl, Buck, and Dwight.
In my 40-year career playing lead guitar in country bands, I have played and sung most of their songs, also Conway, Waylon, and George J.
Did 4 years US Navy, 2 years college, worked construction too long, finally got into law enforcement and retired there.
Love this site, trying to hit my stride.
Reading your bio helped me focus.
Thank you!
irish
Comment Written 21-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2022
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Thanks for reading, Irish. I appreciate your thoroughness. My ears perked up when you mentioned music. Tell me, do you know musical notation? Or do you play by ear? I wrote a musical here on FanStory -- a foolish thing since I neither write music, nor play an instrument. And my voice ain't too hot neither. (I recorded one of the play's short songs only because I couldn't get anyone else here to do it.) There will only be about 5 or 6 songs in the whole play.
Anyway, here's the deal. I believe the musical, when finished, will be producible for the stage and I want to test its strength here locally at a few of the local colleges. Given my talent assets and liabilities, I'm looking for a lyricist to "lift" the musical weight of the play. His/her name, as lyricist, would be alongside mine as the author. Would this interest you? If it does, or doesn't, you can private message me here. I think the project would be great fun and shouldn't keep you away from your other writing.
BTW, I should mention, my latest scene in the musical, NYCDoHD Spells Jobs, is in my portfolio.
Jay
Comment from Annmuma
I don't know how I happened on this early posting of yours -- actually, I guess I do - I'm just not sure what drew me to reading. My point in clicking on your name was to share that I took your advice and purchase. The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze; it came in today and I'm goin to take the time to study a bit of that author. --- So Thanks for that!
But when your profile appeared, I intended to take a quick look only -- well, I read every word of this post and feel almost as if you are a neighbor! Excellent presentation and the imagery is more than outstanding. I was drawn into the scenes and felt the experiences you felt. I am so glad I happened on to this marvelously written piece.
and that you are a fellow fanstorian! ann
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2022
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I don't know how I happened on this early posting of yours -- actually, I guess I do - I'm just not sure what drew me to reading. My point in clicking on your name was to share that I took your advice and purchase. The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze; it came in today and I'm goin to take the time to study a bit of that author. --- So Thanks for that!
But when your profile appeared, I intended to take a quick look only -- well, I read every word of this post and feel almost as if you are a neighbor! Excellent presentation and the imagery is more than outstanding. I was drawn into the scenes and felt the experiences you felt. I am so glad I happened on to this marvelously written piece.
and that you are a fellow fanstorian! ann
Comment Written 30-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2022
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Thank you so much Ann. I'm glad the piece had meaning for you and my experiences transferred so readily to you. I envy you for the adventure you're going to have with Saroyan
How in the world do you hold onto your sixes so long? Thanks again!
Jay
Comment from Terry Broxson
What a hoot! You may have been vain at one point for a while, but you have been sweating humility by working your buns off to be a better writer. You have achieved your mission! Exceptional work.
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2022
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What a hoot! You may have been vain at one point for a while, but you have been sweating humility by working your buns off to be a better writer. You have achieved your mission! Exceptional work.
Comment Written 17-Feb-2022
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2022
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I'm so pleased you liked that, Terry. I felt kinda guilty dropping it in your lap the way I did, but I was hoping you might find some connecting points with your own journey. I believe, as writers, we all go through similar challenges. I always hope the reader can say at one point, or many, "Hey, he's a lot like I was!" I had that touchpoint in Grady's experience, and I find it frequently in your autobiographical pieces. Thanks again for reading.
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I am going to read some of your other stuff too, I am still new to FanStory, got some catching up to do.
Comment from GregoryCody
UMMMM.
Okay first. Your writing. It's perfect.
modest home in an immodest century.
I was living the definition of the self-proclaimed expert.
Some cool pairings
insufferably vain.
blistering hangover.
Is so well written obviously. But it's great because it Genuinely genuinely keeps you interested.
Not to mention it IS interesting. What a cool life you've lived. So amazing. Tripoli?? How was that. Are there beaches. Is that a dumb question lol.
But wow. I mean wow this is really good. I hope to have a great story to tell like that one day.
Why a mental hospital or military? Why those choices? I have compress PTSD btw. Ugh all that craziness from youth leaves scars.
THIS GETS SEVEN STARS...
reply by the author on 19-Dec-2021
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UMMMM.
Okay first. Your writing. It's perfect.
modest home in an immodest century.
I was living the definition of the self-proclaimed expert.
Some cool pairings
insufferably vain.
blistering hangover.
Is so well written obviously. But it's great because it Genuinely genuinely keeps you interested.
Not to mention it IS interesting. What a cool life you've lived. So amazing. Tripoli?? How was that. Are there beaches. Is that a dumb question lol.
But wow. I mean wow this is really good. I hope to have a great story to tell like that one day.
Why a mental hospital or military? Why those choices? I have compress PTSD btw. Ugh all that craziness from youth leaves scars.
THIS GETS SEVEN STARS...
Comment Written 19-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 19-Dec-2021
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Thank you, Gregory. No, in high school I thought my life so ordinary that I'd need to commit myself to an asylum just to experience the grittiness of life. I was just a kid. The military was a choice only because two friends and I decided to join together. I'm not surprised about your PTSD. You went through a lot. Damn, you're a good actor, though. Your wriing-- you already know how I admire you there.
Thanks for reading. I wish you wouldn't have wasted your 6 on it, though. Save them. But I AM honored by it.
Comment from Cogitator
What your words convey is the effort required to subdue judgment. We need to open the IN-vent before we vent outwards. Stopping thought is unique to us two-legged creatures. Great write...John
reply by the author on 28-Aug-2021
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What your words convey is the effort required to subdue judgment. We need to open the IN-vent before we vent outwards. Stopping thought is unique to us two-legged creatures. Great write...John
Comment Written 28-Aug-2021
reply by the author on 28-Aug-2021
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Thank you, John. Your review means a lot to me.
Comment from Lordinajamjar
Jay, you have just presented a brilliant masterclass in self reflection. You are indeed the master and I your latest devotee
Such wisdom at the tender age of 81. As Marcus Aurelius wrote down his wisdom to guide his son -- sadly ignored -- you share yours with this hearty crew to help inspire and guide us in our literary quests.
We are never too young to heed your words. Indeed though you are 15 years my senior I have taken note. There is hope yet for youths such as myself.
Very well written my friend.
Best
John
reply by the author on 01-Mar-2021
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Jay, you have just presented a brilliant masterclass in self reflection. You are indeed the master and I your latest devotee
Such wisdom at the tender age of 81. As Marcus Aurelius wrote down his wisdom to guide his son -- sadly ignored -- you share yours with this hearty crew to help inspire and guide us in our literary quests.
We are never too young to heed your words. Indeed though you are 15 years my senior I have taken note. There is hope yet for youths such as myself.
Very well written my friend.
Best
John
Comment Written 01-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 01-Mar-2021
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Well ... I can go to sleep tonight a happy man! Thank you for your kind words, John. I hope we both have many years to write and grow. Much obliged for the six stars!
Comment from Daniel Massey
For thirty of those forty years, until I retired, (I would delete forty as you've already told us in the paragraph above, you lived there for forty years.)
Here is how my personal vision translated into my apprenticeship as a writer. (I would have used : after writer, as you write a list.)
But, hey, we all write differently, maybe my differently is completely up-the-creek.
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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For thirty of those forty years, until I retired, (I would delete forty as you've already told us in the paragraph above, you lived there for forty years.)
Here is how my personal vision translated into my apprenticeship as a writer. (I would have used : after writer, as you write a list.)
But, hey, we all write differently, maybe my differently is completely up-the-creek.
Comment Written 22-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2021
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Thank you, Daniel, for looking for ways to strengthen my prose. As you might recall after reading it as deeply as you did, there was a long period of time when I wouldn't have said that.
Comment from Raisa Satanovskaya
Thank you so much for your inspiring and honest experience of being a writer. Something tells me you can teach all of us rookies a little something. This was truly insightful and gives me hope that some day I too will have "sculpted my ass and my thighs" in search of finding my own voice as a writer. Thank you!
reply by the author on 19-Feb-2021
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Thank you so much for your inspiring and honest experience of being a writer. Something tells me you can teach all of us rookies a little something. This was truly insightful and gives me hope that some day I too will have "sculpted my ass and my thighs" in search of finding my own voice as a writer. Thank you!
Comment Written 19-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 19-Feb-2021
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I'm sure you will, Ralsa. Fanstory's a marvelous training ground. Thank you so much for your kind words and the lovely sixer!
Comment from padumachitta
hey Jay
thanks for this...I for one like the background..Bakersfeild...
https://youtu.be/mB7oUI32E1Y
Dand I think the link won't work...it's Dwifgt Yokam's version of The Streets of Bakersfield:-)
I'm sorry but I couldn't resist...always liked this song...seemed to be the anthem of every two bit dusty town I rode through
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2021
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hey Jay
thanks for this...I for one like the background..Bakersfeild...
https://youtu.be/mB7oUI32E1Y
Dand I think the link won't work...it's Dwifgt Yokam's version of The Streets of Bakersfield:-)
I'm sorry but I couldn't resist...always liked this song...seemed to be the anthem of every two bit dusty town I rode through
Comment Written 11-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2021
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Sorry you didn't read this when it had some funnybucks on it, Jodi. Thanks even more for reading it now. And, my God, for a sixer (I just noticed!) I'm surprised you couldn't get that link to work. I tried both yours and mine just now and both worked. You do have to paste them in the browser, you know ... FanStory will not allow active links on the site for some reason. Anyway, thanks again for reading and your kind words--and the star!
Comment from amada
Hi jay, I read your story with much fascination, and at the same a touch of dread. Fascination because I remember those James Dean days, and the thought that same things just don't come back. A little dread because I think I am a lazy writer; I should do more. But I red your story, for me, that's encouraging.
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2021
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Hi jay, I read your story with much fascination, and at the same a touch of dread. Fascination because I remember those James Dean days, and the thought that same things just don't come back. A little dread because I think I am a lazy writer; I should do more. But I red your story, for me, that's encouraging.
Comment Written 10-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2021
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I'm glad you enjoyed my story Amada, and in its way, it inspired you. We're all a bit lazy at time, especially when we look back at what we have accomplished compared to what we had dreamed of. For me, I get up at 7 AM and write my three hours while I'm fresh. If you force yourself to do that every day, you'll be amazed at how much you accomplish.
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Thank you so much for addressing some of my concerns about the writing process. I appreciate your time.