Remember, Remember, The 5th of November... Gunpowder, Treason and Plot

Guy Fawkes on a Lakeside Hill Near Lacombe

And
fireworks at the Herr's
hillside -- oohs and ahhhs
overtired college students
there for food and
procrastination and
English-y fun

Because
it was fun

brilliant bits of chemicals
shimmering through the chilly
Alberta night air
more often than not
with snowy feet and icy
breath clouding our view

Then retreating back
to warm drinks
and friendship
bonded
by words
and
history

Forgetting the stresses
plots and subplots
treasons, perjuries, antics
of college life
of life in general

Remembering what is important

Life without Facebook - Pondering

Well, today starts my journey of life without Facebook.  This decision was made final yesterday when I tried to delete my FB account.  What a hassle! They really don't want to let you go.
I tried to just delete my account, but I ended up only deactivating it, because every time I tried to find out how to delete it by clicking on the "contact us to learn how" link, they made me sign back in (reactivating the stinking thing -- yes, I am more than a little annoyed). Once I signed back in, I found myself neatly on my newsfeed again. THAT was helpful. I am going to try to find more information about how to finally delete my account later. I gave up yesterday. It was a real eye-opener though -- why don't they want to let me go? Marketing information, baby. It's all about the money.

But here it is Monday, and, while I am not changing my mind about my decision, I am finding that I AM jonesing a little.  Thus, the first blog post in a verrrrryy long time.

Sigh.

But here is what I have learned already today. I:
1.  spent more time talking with my kids this morning.
2.  spent more time talking with my husband this morning.
3. was able to prepare for my classes faster than usual.
4. am sometimes jonesing for something to read -- something quick and light.
5. have read the news already this morning.
6. have time to post this blog.

Tutoring: Writing A Poem For English Class

Tutoring: Writing A Poem For English Class

Each syllable is
Painstakingly strained through the sieve
Of two languages
Then squeezed onto the page
Blood from a tiny pin prick

It's tortuous
Watching, waiting
I want to reach out
Snatch the pen from him and scream:

Here's how it's done!

My brain teems
Words tumbling, white water word rapids
To the point that I reach
For another pen while he sits, face as blank
As his page

Just create a picture with words, I tell him
Don't worry about telling a story

Pen poised in a death grip
He drips three words out
On a page screaming to be filled
While I watch his pen salivate

And I write a hundred words...

To him: Just keep going. Let them just come.

Or am I alone in this bombardment?
The avalanche of words?

© Lori Wiens MacDonald 2012

Delinquency and Potential Publication News

So... it's been months. And months. AND MONTHS since I have posted.

It's not as if I haven't had stuff going on, I have. But it's been fairly run of the mill. Work, kids, housework, kids, work, and so on. Did you catch the repeats? It's because I am a full-time teacher AND a mom. These things are difficult to work together. My teacher readers and my mom readers (all three of you ;) ) will understand.

But I digress.

I was posting to say that I have publication news. I was contacted by an editor about publishing a poem I wrote in 2010 called "Derek Walcott Spoke to Me Once". I am hoping that this will lead to more publications.

I admit that I have been feeling guilty ALL APRIL because I have written only one poem during this NaPoWriMo. I didn't even sign up. I feel somewhat like a failure because last year I wrote everyday, and that hard work culminated in publication (click here to check that out).

But I will take the potentially good news and move on. We can't change yesterday, and tomorrow is only a dream.

NaNoWriMo 2011

I'm a winner, baby!

It has been a very long November, but I am happy to say that I have scratched at least ONE thing off my bucket list (the before 40 list, that is).

I will post more when my brain has stopped oozing out my ear.