Better Late (SOLSC 29/31)

 

I was doing so well, but now both Day 29 and Day 28 have slipped through the cracks.  I suppose that is what happens when you travel backwards in time — days go missing.  It’s like luggage at the airport.

Day 28 is gone because there was never time at the airport.  We dashed from one terminal to the next — constantly getting there just as they were boarding.

Day 29 is gone because I didn’t make time for slicing.  I rested and recovered from travel and time changes.

I am posting it late, but I am still posting!

Currently (SOLSC 11/31)

I've seen many people do this type of slice, so I thought I would give it a try. Currently I am...

watching an anime called High Card.  It tells the story of a fantasy world set in a more modern time where people have found cards that grant magical abilities.  Each card in the deck has a unique ability or power and some of them are quite bizarre.  It's been entertaining though and I have found all of the characters to be engaging.  There doesn't seem to be much to it yet, but it strikes me as the kind of show that will only improve as it continues and the characters' backstories start to come to light and cause conflict around them.

reading two very different books at the moment.  I'm always juggling multiple books.  

First, there is Amanda Gorman's Call Us What We Carry, a book of poetry I am reading in preparation for a poetry month book club event (link).  I have not made much progress with it because the poetry is heavier than I anticipated.  Not in a bad way, just I want to soak in the words and each poem takes some time to unpack and appreciate.  I have very much enjoyed it though and if you are interested you should totally join us for book club!

In addition, I am also reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.  I am not very far into it, so all I have is that it is set in a very sci-fi environment and takes place on a space ship with a motley crew.  I'm excited to read more as I just finished Becky Chambers' novellas that were also sci-fi and they were fun reads!

listening to older episodes of the podcast Critical Role.  I am caught up on the latest in Campaign Three and so decided I could spend some time listening to some of the Exandria Unlimited content.  I would love to make time for Campaign Two again -- especially since I will have a long flight soon to dedicate some time.  I just finished listening to The Magnus Archives and would love to find more podcasts like that!  I love podcasts that tell stories more so than anything.

hoping to get my grading caught up and sub plans ready.  Spring Break is in one week and I will be venturing to Italy with a group from the school.  We will actually be gone for a few days after school returns and I want to make sure I am prepared.  That's actually my plan for this weekend, but most of the time it's difficult enough planning a week at a time.

waiting for the aforementioned trip -- I can't believe it's so soon!

IMWAYR! Three At Once

Am I the only one that begins multiple books on a staggered schedule and then still somehow winds up finishing them all at the same time?  That's what happened this weekend when I finished not one, not two, but three books!  Okay, so two books and one I decided to bail on, but still that's not too shabby of a reading practice.

Also, apparently this past weekend (Saturday) was National Independent Bookstore Day?  I was lucky enough to find out before it was too late and I made an intentional stop to a semi-local independent bookstore to pick up some new reads and a few stickers (they told me I could have as many stickers as I wanted -- but I restrained myself to only three).

Did I need to buy books?  No, but this seemed like a good excuse to pick some up and support a local business.  For now, these books are being added to my TBR pile.  

Let's get into the books I finished though.  As a reminder, here is my key for books:

Pick 👍    So-So ✔️    Pan ⏭️    Bail 💀

#NPM | Playing with Poetry This Month part 2

I didn't make it to last week's poetry Friday, but I assure you that I have been working on a number of poems the past few days.  Some of them never made it out of my notebook or past a bit of brainstorming (Do they really count as poems then?). The others wound up posted on any given day's ethicalELA challenge.  I've made an effort to start collecting them all in one Google Doc that I may share at the end of the month.  However, for now, I will post one of my favorites that I wrote this past Sunday.

The prompt, share with us courtesy of Scott McCloskey, was "Day Poem."  He invited us to consider the various holidays/celebrations throughout the year -- things like "National Pet Day" or "National Eight Track Tape Day" -- and then to compose a poem celebrating it, perhaps even composing an ode. 

I absolutely love observing obscure holidays and even making up my own.  I was more than happy and ready to play this game.  Almost immediately I knew what I wanted to write about: the days I have spent so far taking my notebook outside.  Thus "Take Your Notebook Outside Day" was born...though I haven't picked an official date to throw on the calendar yet.

Weekend Coffee Share | Breaking Bread and Poetry

 

With March at an end, I've also seen the end of my Slice of Life Story Challenge writing.  Writing a blog entry every day for 31 days was quite the feat, and I'm happy to report that I was successful in it.  I'd say it's the project that helped me find a purpose in blogging again and, after all, it's how I came to find this lovely community for sharing my week over coffee.  Although, if I'm being honest, at the moment it's a little late for coffee.

I thought in April I'd shift my focus back to novel writing, but the past few days I've found myself diving into poetry over at #verselove on Ethical ELA.  It's hard not to when April is National Poetry Month.  It's been a joy to dabble and experiment with low stakes writing.  I've always been a fan of poetry, but I have to make sure that it doesn't completely overshadow my noveling.  I've got a project to finish after all, luckily I have an excellent writing group continuing to cheer me on and I know they'll help keep me focused on my novel commitments. 

Of course, I do have other projects ongoing and now that it's April it's time to revisit my monthly personal challenge of a new bake for every month of the year.  Earlier this year I set the goal for myself to try a new recipe: January and March were both cookies and February was probably my favorite (a rather fancy coffee-based brownie).  Last year, when quarantine began, I joined the rest of the population in learning how to bake bread.  That was my first time baking bread of any kind and it was a pretty big hit.  I thought this month would be a good time to focus on enriched doughs, another thing I've never baked before.

Specifically I made hot cross buns using a recipe from "A Literary Tea Party: Blends and Treats for Alice, Bilbo, Dorothy, Jo and Book Lovers Everywhere."  It's apparently a pretty popular Easter bake and so it seemed appropriate to make it this weekend.  The buns turned out to be pretty tasty.  While I don't think I'll be presenting them to Paul Hollywood any time soon, but my mom certainly approved of them and that's what counts most.

It may be late for coffee, but it's certainly still chilly enough.  Tomorrow's weather promises to be just as gorgeous as it was today and maybe even a little warmer.  I look forward to getting out and doing some exploring while the weather holds and before the infamous southern summer makes the outdoors unbearable.  I hope you'll come again for a drink next weekend and maybe then this will be a better chance for coffee.

This is part of the Weekend Coffee Share Link-Up as hosted by Natalie the Explorer.  Check out her blog and the link up and join us for a beverage of your choice.

#SOL21 | 31 | A Series Of Titles Becomes A Slice Itself

I saw many slicers reflecting and writing about the end of the SOLSC for this year.  I didn't necessarily want to write a traditional top 10 list, so instead I gave myself the extra challenge of composing a poetic piece using words from every title of my slices for this month.  

That's right.  

What follows are 30 lines of poetry, each linking one of my slices from this month.  I did not plan this ahead of time, so some lines were definitely more of a challenge, but I think this is a fitting end to a month of SOL writing as we move into what many consider to be a month of poetry writing.  

I've really stretched myself as a writer these past 31 days and I am so excited that I get to own the honor of being a slicer for the full 31 days!  This has been a thrill for me and I'm so glad I got to share this journey with all of you.  Thank you.

#SOL21 | 27 | Chatting Over Coffee

Welcome to another weekend of sharing a nice warm mug of coffee (or your drink of choice) and some time together thanks to Natalie's link up: Weekend Coffee Share.

This is also the last Saturday of the Slice of Life story challenge (see the information at the bottom of this post).  I can't believe we're in the final stretch.  Last year when I first did the SOLSC I don't think I came anywhere close to blogging all 31 days!  Now here we are at the end and, though I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying this, this time I may actually manage to share a slice every day this month.

But there are still a few days to go before that happens.  Instead I'd like to tell you about my week as we sit sipping our coffee.  I've really been inspired by how Tammy structures her coffee share posts, so I am going to try and mimic that writing style today.

If we were having coffee, I would lead us outside to my patio with our mugs.  I would mention how I just got a new order of coffee in from Grounds and Hounds that I hope we can both enjoy.  We can hear the birds singing in the trees and a quiet lofi song plays from my laptop.  It's cloudy and cool this morning, but pleasant if you have a warm beverage to enjoy.  It's a little disappointing after the sunshine of most of the week, but at least it's not raining yet.  There are likely to be storms later, but at least we're outside for now.  There's a small window to enjoy temperatures like this in the southern US and I want to take every advantage I can to be outside.  

If we were having coffee, I would point out my nearly empty bird feeder and the new hummingbird feeder I put out.  According to what I've read the hummingbirds should be migrating through my state soon and I want to make sure I catch their attention this year.  I just hope it doesn't draw ants or wasps instead.  The other birds are happily partaking of the bird seed at least and I'll probably need to refill that soon.  Unfortunately, it looks like they may have also attracted a cat to skulk around this morning.  Her belly is low to the ground though and I'm starting to wonder if maybe she is a pregnant cat looking for a safe place to give birth.  I really don't need a cat or her kittens -- my dog Cooper doesn't share attention easily.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you about the adventures I went on with my dog this week.  It was our Spring Break and I forgot how nice it was to just take things slow and go out into nature.  I took Cooper to several parks and gardens.  I tried to get him to ride in a special dog-back pack I bought, but he was pretty stubborn about that and insisted on being on the ground.  I think he enjoyed getting to smell and leave his mark on all the trees and bushes.  While he did that, I would try and leave my mark on the pages of my notebook: sketching the plants and creeks and scenery in either drawing or words.  It was pleasant and did wonders for my anxiety and stress, the opposite of having to brave certain crowded places in a mix of masked and non-masked individuals.

If we were having coffee, I would definitely share those pages of my notebook with you, as well as, some of the pictures I took of my time out and about yesterday with my friend Katie.  We are both vaccinated and felt a little more comfortable eating outdoors at a restaurant in Hot Springs called Diablos Tacos & Mezcal.  We ordered tacos and margarita flights to top off a day of shopping and garden walking.  It was delightful, though I'll admit I probably drank a few two many margaritas.  It was a nice treat for myself though and I don't regret the money spent at all.  

If we were having coffee, I would sigh and say that unfortunately we are going back to school next week and that I'm not sure I'm ready for Spring Break to be over.  It was relaxing and I have not yet prepared lessons for Monday.  It's still break though and I need to focus on that, not the fact that I didn't grade anything over break.  It really is hard to get out of the mindset that I should work during this time -- I shouldn't!  I've also reached another snag in my novel writing because I've reached a part in the story that's new and not just revisions, so it's causing some frustrations for me to write.  I know I just need to push through it, but it's not always easy to find the motivation to even open the document.

If we were having coffee, I would reach over and pet my dog's head for comfort.  He's sleeping soundly, even snoring, likely still exhausted from yesterday's adventures.  I would offer you a smile and invite you to share your celebrations and frustrations as well.  No sense in me doing all of the talking.

I'll sip my coffee and wait for you.  After all, it's not raining yet and the coffee is still warm.

This post is part of the 14th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge.  

                    #SOL21 and information around Slicing can be found on Two Writing Teachers. 

#SOL21 | 26 | Hot Springs

 Approximately 1 hour from where I live is the semi-famous historic town of Hot Springs.  Today my friend, Katie, my dog and I ventured down there to walk along the shops, eat tacos, and check out the gorgeous views of Garvan Woodland Gardens.

My favorite part was sharing my notebook for doodles and drawings — Katie didn’t think to bring her notebook but we made it work:

It reminded me of high school — we came here as a special trip when we were teenagers and high school was also when we used to pass notebooks back and forth.  

It was a good day out and I might write in more detail at a later slice when I am not trying to slice while riding in the car.

This post is part of the 14th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge.  

                    #SOL21 and information around Slicing can be found on Two Writing Teachers.  

#SOL21 | 20 | I'm Currently Stealing

 Living up to her blog name, Tammy B has accidentally inspired this blog with her post using the starter "I'm Currently."  Which I will now shamelessly steal and use for my own SOL this morning.  Thanks Tammy!

I'm currently...

Listening to a Pure Imagination remix.

Loving the joy my friends on Time to Write bring me.

Drinking coffee loaded with sugar and creamer.

Thinking about how I'm going to squeeze novel writing in today.

Wanting to go outside to enjoy the sunshine.

Procrastinating on grading more papers.

Needing to get dressed for the day.

Reading Slice of Life blog posts for inspiration.

Worrying about my family members who refuse to get the vaccine.

Wondering how I can persuade those family members to get it anyway.

Anticipating the freedom of next week as it is Spring Break!

What's everyone else up to?

This post is part of the 14th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge.  

                    #SOL21 and information around Slicing can be found on Two Writing Teachers. 

#SOL21 | 19 | What's More Spring than New Things?

Weekend Coffee Share is a new link-up I am joining starting today and, much like the IMWAYR link up, I have no idea if there is a right or wrong way to do this.  I am going to assume there is no wrong way -- which is reassuring and actually something I stressed to my students' today when we were doing a practice with sentence structure.  The point is to experiment, stretch, and try something new right?

I am hoping that this break will give me a lot of opportunities to stretch myself in writing.  My SOL post streak is still 19 days strong, but I also have a novel I am continuing to revise and I am hoping I can carve out a lot of quality time next week to focus on it instead of the burdens of reading student essays.  

I actually started a new notebook today and one of the first things I wrote in it (aside from a note to the notebook itself) was a brainstorm for a new novel idea.  That brings my novel idea count up to 3 and finished revised drafts at 0.  It's getting really hard to stay focused on the revision, but I am determined to see it through.  Also, I think idea is being generous -- I have a premise or concept at best.  But we all have to start somewhere and at least now I have a means of writing it down and coming back to it for later.

That's not what I want to blog about though.  It's been awhile, but I finally got back into the habit of using my notebook to do a 5-4-3-2-1 Recap of my week.  My new notebook is completely without lines and that's a first to me, but I've already noticed that it makes me want to play more with layout and drawing on the page.  That's what I caught myself doing between the novel idea notes and the recap.  I'm looking forward to seeing what I produce on the page now that I have no restraints with lines or dots or anything.

As for the recap.  Here are Five Things That Made Me Smile this Week (in no particular order):

5. The picture from my sister of my niece wearing a Captain America mask.

4. S's notebook share about music that included a subtle nod to the music we listen to in 3rd block.

3. My new story idea.

2. Attending wake up and write every morning this week.

1. Finishing one notebook and starting a new notebook.

Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to leave some comments and then make time to watch the latest MCU show: Falcon and Winter Soldier -- something I have been excited for since it was announced YEARS ago.

This post is part of the 14th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge.  

#SOL21 and information around Slicing can be found on Two Writing Teachers. 

#SOL21 | 17 | Sideways into Writing

Today's slice was the culmination of a few challenges.  And so I want to preface this by mentioning those challenges that led to the creation of the piece I'm about to share.

First, it was yesterday's #10min10days challenge with Tammy B.  The prompt was to write for 10 minutes starting with the phrase "Right now..." and then look back at what you wrote and look for sparks.  My writing happened outside on my patio and focused on the usual sights and sounds with the occasional intrusive thought.  And then, source unseen, I picked up on the smell of cigarette smoke.  

As soon as I smelled it I was reminded of my Grandma Sug and I wrote about how I hadn't actually sliced about her before.  By now I've written plenty of slices about both of my mom's parents, but not my dad's and definitely not my Grandma Sug.  That was interesting to me, but at the time I just let it sit in my notebook.

And then today I visited EthicalELA's final Open Write invitation for the month I saw that the prompt was Backwards Poetry.  Katrina Morison provided examples there, but then also suggested when trying this form of poetry to "...take on change. Deal with something that is or needs to be turned around. Then, the form will truly reflect the content of the poem."  The aspect of "change" really struck me and after having written about my Grandma Sug yesterday. I decided to not only write a poem about her, but also dedicate this slice to her as well.

It was after I had written the poem that I realized it could also serve as a slice -- but I didn't want to just post the poem without some context and backstory.  Which brings us here and now to today's SOL post.  That's three challenges woven together for one blog post.  Pretty impressive I would say.

#SOL21 | 08 | This is Not that Slice

A few days ago I wrote about my dad and I referenced very specifically "blue choir robes."  Colleen asked me for more about those and, instead of answering in a comment, I thought it appropriate to use as a slice in the future.  After all, I'm always telling my own students to get ideas from the comments people leave on their blogs.  

Then during notebook time with my students today I worked on a rough draft of that slice -- knowing I would get to type it all up this evening.  Wasn't I smart to work on the slice in advance instead of frantically typing it?  

I paid careful attention to my details, trying to capture the memory and what I enjoyed about the choir robes, being in the adult choir with my dad.  Trying to recall what it was like to have an actual choir in an actual church -- both things I have gone without for so long now.  It made me reflect on how not only has my relationship with my dad changed, but so has my relationship with church. 

I was excited to share that slice with you all, but unfortunately this is not that slice.

Because while I was gathering my things to leave, I managed to remember to grab my winter coat (it's warm in the afternoons, but still chilly in the mornings) but not my notebook.  I grabbed the thing I wouldn't need until tomorrow morning, but forgot to grab the one thing I would need this evening.

I feel more naked without my notebook than I do my coat!  Ugh!  Of all the things to leave behind.   I hope you will forgive me, notebook -- you will not have to be alone for long.

So this is not the slice about blue choir robes, this is the slice about the tragedy of forgetting one's writer's notebook.  A piece of me left abandoned and alone on a desk in a darkened classroom. 

#SOL21 | 07 | Penpals

Yesterday, I returned home to find a letter in the mail.

One aspect of the pandemic that I have not minded so much is this resurgence of meaningful mail.  There's just something so nice about finding something in my mailbox that isn't an underwear catalog, a bill, or a coupon for a local pizza restaurant.  

Don't get me wrong, I love my discounts too, but I know the time it takes to pen these notes and letters having sent several myself in the time since this all started.  It's not as easy as typing and hitting 'Send.'  You have to go through the process of obtaining stamps, setting aside a portion of your day to write, and then walk it out to your mailbox.  That's not even taking into account the time you have to set aside to purchase cards, stationary, or envelopes on which to write.  But that time is a sign of love, captured forever with ink and paper.  

Most of these missives are one-offs, but still meaningful.  After a bout of card sending in October, I turned the tables and asked all my friends and family to send me Birthday cards in November. Boy did my friends and family deliver on that one!  By the end of the my Birthday month I had received enough cards to fill my kitchen table -- a tangible and constant reminder of their love.

I found myself wanting more though -- more interactions that were equally meaningful and methodical.  

Jump to a few weeks ago when a member of my writing group (Cheryl) asked if anyone wanted to be pen pals.  I eagerly replied "Uhm...YES!" and now here we are when I opened my mailbox on March 6 to find a letter waiting just for me.

As I slid it out of the mailbox I was both surprised and a little intimidated by its weight.  I opened it to find Cheryl had sent me a card plus three hand-written pages of stationary!  I had not been expecting that much, since up until now most of my snail mail exchanges had been contained to cards. 

That's when it hit me that this was going to be an actual pen pal with letters documenting our thoughts and lives.  I knew I had to sit with that for a bit.  That didn't stop me from quickly reading the note and three pages though.  However, after reading it I put it away and went to bed so I could write my own response with a fresh mind (and fresh fingers) the next day.

I may have been intimidated at first, but as I started penning my response I realized that I was going to write JUST as much as she did.  I don't want to say here what we wrote -- that's not as important and it's between us -- but I will say it was thrilling to get to write a letter to someone whom I have never met in person and who lives miles and miles away.  

Not only did it inspire me to slice about it, but it actually made me remember my first official pen pals that I obtained through a student program back in 1999-2000.  They were from even farther away than Cheryl: Yuka from Japan and Jessica from France.  Writing this slice and finishing my letter, I decided to see if I even still had anything left from our exchanges over a decade ago.  

Digging into my closet I found more than I expected to: letters, envelopes, bits of stationary they had mailed me, and even a photograph of Jessica's dog, Maya.  What scraps of paper written by 12-year-old me exist in the shoebox buried beneath a bed in France or folded into an album somewhere in Japan?  Or were they lost a long time ago just like our connection -- a fire, flood, or just a simple purging of papers?  Are they thinking about me as I think of them?  Do they even remember having a pen pal from the far off place of Arkansas?

Funny how this all started because I got a letter in the mail yesterday.

#SOL21 | 02 | Flamingo Time

In my classroom we write in notebooks daily and in my classroom we celebrate that writing weekly with a Friday Open Mic.  It quickly became a part of our usual routine.  

First, a handful of students read aloud from their notebooks a selection of their choosing.   Then all of of us celebrate their writing with a compliment.  I make a point of complimenting every student who shares, although to save time I only have students give one compliment to one writer.  

I probably get more excited about it than they do -- both about reading and complimenting -- but I think they secretly enjoy getting to hear their peers read what they've written.  After all, it's a peak into a secret notebook that otherwise they do not have to share or comment on.

All kinds of writing gets shared during this time: to do lists, poetry, stories, memories, rants, and even doodles.  I decided I couldn't wait until this Friday for the next one (recent weather has put off Open Mic for several weeks) and so declared yesterday 'Make Up Open Mic'.  

One student shared their to do list that they made during one of the snow days.  Another read about their struggles with belief and doubt in regards to an afterlife -- a bold move in a highly conservative, highly Christian school.  What could possibly follow such a controversial and existential notebook entry?

A doodle of a flamingo with the words "Flamingo Time" scribbled below its stick-like legs.

There were compliments for all of these pieces and as we moved on I realized this is my class in a nutshell.  One minute we are discussing deeply personal or existential matters and the next it's celebratory doodles of exotic birds.

I still don't know what flamingo time is, but it does sound like fun.

A Collection of Poems: Ethical ELA February 2021

Every month I try to participate in Dr. Sarah Donovan's Open Write hosted on EthicalELA.  Despite getting wonderful feedback for this writing, I never thought to collect it in one place until now.  Since this blog will be dedicated towards my writing -- especially of the poetry and narrative nonfiction variety -- I thought it best to start things off with my poetry from this month's Open Write.  

While I did not post every day, I have collected for you the two poems I did share, as well as links to the original invitation so that there is some context for what I have written here.

Sonnets (Don't Run Away)

The Ace’s Valentine Sonnet
I always hated that English has one word for love.
How do I capture the differences?
A love that varies in scope, scale, and even texture:
From the tiny, hard seed tucked away to the hearty, warm bowl of soup.

I always hated that Valentine’s was for couples.
What happened to passing cards through card board slits?
My love expressed on chalky hearts and candied puns.
From your best friend or from your mom, spilled out and sorted later.

But this is what it means to be Ace on Valentine’s Day.
A quest to reclaim a holiday for all expressions of love —
A love not limited by sexual attraction and romantic entanglements,
From red and white to purple and black.

I am not your normal Valentine, but I am still valid.
I will not deny my asexuality any longer.

Let's Meet Somewhere (Diction)

When Asked Where to Meet Next 
Let’s meet somewhere
below the gentle shade of giant
tomato stalks and zucchini vines
the dirt cool on our backs as the sun bursts overhead.

Let’s meet somewhere
along the crooked cliffs of the creek
chalk lines drawn before a storm
on the precipice of childhood.

Let’s meet somewhere
among the black-green weeds
of twilight farms giving way
to fireflies or stars we captured in glass.

Let’s meet somewhere
that slips between our toes
filling cracks unnoticed and unseen
a heart warmed like two hands around your favorite mug

Let’s meet somewhere
between the playground woods we explored
and the backyard wilderness we dismissed
that time between early snow days and midsummer nights.

Let’s meet somewhere
under your next dream or perhaps
behind the gap in my memory
as long as it’s sometime before soon.

 Alternate Names (a List)

Alternate Names for a Writer
1. that peach pit anchored between your heart and gut
2. a pen twirled restlessly between chewed nails
3. scratch, scratch, scratch to find the words, words, words
4. a pillow behind the back, easy now
5. the spider pulling threads at the center — to create and catch
6. eyes bright reflecting flickering candles
7. cracked fingers, cracked spine, release