Professional Development Playground

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth for hosting the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers!

 

Recently being on Twitter, I reflected on how much fun I have reading and learning...I now know that Twitter is my professional development playground.  I am making it work for me!

It all began with me just watching others choose their rides-seeing how they began to build their playgrounds...a merry-go-round here, a slide there, adventure, adventure everywhere!  Playgrounds are built for different reasons-some are wooden, some are more metal and plastic-meeting the needs of the players involved.  Some have benches, some have pavilions, and some have bike-paths.  Some have restrooms, some have water fountains, some have large grassy areas, some have stones-but all have places where you choose to play--going to the equipment that is going to tickle your fancy most.

This is how I see twitter-now that I've been on it for almost a year!  I have built this professional development playground from the bottom up!  I have chosen who or what to follow to tickle my professional development fancy!  I can choose the simple rides and climbs (just the tweets) or more complicated climbers and jumpers that are more involved and require more deliberate footing (the links to more within the tweets). 

photo credit: Profound">http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoyvinmayvin/4895231158/">Profound Whatever



I can choose who comes to the playground with me by including them in my tweets with "@" and their twitter handles!  I have learned so much by playing and reading what my friends share at the playground!  There is such great connecting going on with my friends there all the time.

I decide which playground toy we all meet at now by listing a "#" in front of it...then we all know where to go.  Friends that meet up and tweet up at the same piece of equipment together!  All the while we are there, learning from each other.

The size of my playground has grown by learning from the other kids there too!  I have watched how they built their playgrounds, seeing which friends they invite there as well as having more friends join me on my playground too!  So much fun to be had learning and growing professionally all the time!

I have also learned that sometimes, I just want a single friend to play with me...I can "dm" them and we can tweet up together through specific messages that only we know.  And sometimes, friends come to the playground who really aren't friends they are "spammers" and you have to block them from returning!

I hope more and more people catch on to building their p.d. playgrounds on Twitter...it's such a great place to be-just don't go to the playground too often-or your work will never get done!

Come to the #slice2013 climber today!  Have fun!

I broke it!

A special thank you to Stacey and Ruth for hosting the Tuesday SOLC!  And a thank you for honoring my end of the month slice this week on the blog!  Click here for a link back to the slice!

Around our house we love to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas!  (Now I know, this song will be stuck in your head too!) and this week's slice is all about our Nattie eating the favorite fruits and her two year old mindset when thinking about what mommy does to the fruit.

On Friday morning, Nattie came downstairs from her full night of sleep (yay) in her big girl bed (more on that here) and announced, "I'm hungry!"  So, doing what any loving mother would do, I poured a little bowl of Cheerios for her and watched her gobble them up!  She then proceeded to say, "I'm hungry!" (Yep, just like the very hungry caterpillar).  So, I offered her a banana...here's the funny part!  I moved to "slice" it up rather than just offer it "monkey style"!  

After giving it to her, she cried out in earnest, "my banana, it broken! I no want it broken Mama!"  And immediately began stacking the slices back together as if they were a puzzle to be reconnected!  Then she started to cry.  I felt horrible and will no longer serve "broken" banana to my little monkey!  

Mrs Van Rees' Flat Stanley Visits Akron

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Got to go!

How does writing feel to you?  A question inspired by Rissa's end of the month post on slicing and Stacey's call for slices @ the Two Writing Teachers Blog Site...and the topic of today's slice.  I wasn't going to slice today-I've had way too many things happening personally and professionally lately...and then this week's call for Tuesday slices hit me like a brick wall...I had a moment-a reality moment and passionate thoughts began flowing through my head, into my fingers and onto the screen.

One day you wake up and it just happens.  You realize you can no longer fit in those jeans.  The ones you love!  The ones you live in!  The ones you just can't bare to give away to the Goodwill...and then you realize-you've got to take something off of your plate in order to get back into those jeans-the ones you just can't give up!  No more laying down flat and sucking in that belly thing on the bed to get the zipper up and the button latched!  You know the jeans-the ones you adore-the faded, tattered, almost-feel-like-jammies jeans.  Taking something off the plate will allow for a reduction in daily calories of things that don't fit your nutritional needs!  And then, maybe, just maybe-they'll fit again...

The jeans that I thought I was wearing so well were my "writing jeans"!   To fit back into them every day as I did in the month of March, I have to take something off of my plate and say goodbye to it-forever?

REVELATION!  I know what isn't fitting my nutritional needs now-I.really.know.  I've had a moment with a particular food item on my plate that is giving me no nutritional value whatsoever!  This revelation will allow me to remove the item and fill my plate only with what is needed so that I can begin to consider fitting back into those jeans-writing again-more frequently (maybe not every day-but close enough). I am now confessing...the thing that must be removed immediately is candy.crush.saga!  There I've professed it.  Now you know why I haven't been writing.  I want to beat it...but now I know that while I thought I was getting something from it-it has been getting something from me!  My free time!   NO MORE CANDY CRUSH!  GOT TO GO!

So, to fit back into my writing jeans, here is my plan:
1.  Write first!
2.  If time is left over, read
3.  If any free minutes are available-only then can I play it...I already know that I probably won't and shouldn't...it's so fun...may be just a little?

What has no nutritional value in your life and needs removed from your plate so you can fit in your "writing jeans"?

Thanks Stacey-for having me check my writing self...how does it feel?  Better now...because now I know what needs to happen.

Transitioning to a bed!

I've been absent from the blogging world for the past few weeks because...(drumroll please)

Nattie's been transitioning to a big girl (toddler) bed.  She just wanted to lay in the little bed one night few weeks ago and ever since stayed for longer and longer periods of time! Over the last few nights it's been all night. Yay!  However, it's been a bit of a rocky time for me and my sleep patterns.  As you can see, here I am wide awake and it's 2AM! 

Nat's done very well with this transition!  She really has not fought us on going to bed at all.  The only struggle was her naps on the weekend.  We had to lay down next to her on the floor to get her to sleep.

And now...she has pink-eye!  Ugg!

Such is the life of a working momma and a baby in daycare.  I just keep saying what Pete the Cat always says, "It's all good!"

Ocean's Treasure Not for Me

Day 2 of National Poetry Month

Post inspired by Bud the Teacher's Picture Prompt

Ocean's Treasure Not for Me

Bringing new treasure every minute

Looking carefully

to see what's in it


Using the waves to bring it to shore

Gazing endlessly

what beach walking is for


Washing and tumbling with the sand

picking through

sorting out on the hand


Dropping back down and washing out

"Treasure no more!"

crashing waves shout.


Taking trash back, out to sea

discarding away...

No treasure for me!




As I thought of this poem, I reflected back on the days when I was a child walking on the beach.  I always hunted for the perfect shell-like the ones I'd see in the stores-never to find such treasure.  Seeking perfection always-never satisfied...letting it go

Capturing Happy Birthday-a Sound Cloud Moment

Week 1 of 52  Thank you to Stacey and Ruth for hosting the Tuesday Slice of Life Challenge!

Capturing Happy Birthday  Click the link to the left to hear the sound cloud... During the March Slice of Life Challenge 2013, I witnessed Kevin (Dogtrax), Stacey, and Alan begin using Sound Cloud to record and capture moments of sound as part of daily slices.  I wanted so badly to join in this fun, but the time just wasn't there to play around and try it out...so, for the time being, I used the "voice memos" button on my iPhone to capture Natalie saying, "Happy Birthday" on Kevin's birthday.

Just today, I registered on Sound Cloud and set up my account.  I played back the voice memo and recorded it on Sound Cloud.  Some new learning for me-thank you for the inspiration Kevin, Stacey and Alan.

Back to the capture of Nattie's voice-she makes me laugh.  She was talking and saying Happy Birthday very clearly and when I took out the phone to record it-she suddenly became shy and would only whisper.  As she watched the timer tick on the phone, she must have thought it was a clock and then became obsessed with saying it was a clock.  Oh, if only I could get in her brain and know what she was really thinking!

I hope to capture more sound cloud moments as slices of my life! 

Mother Nature's April Fool

Spring is Mother Nature's April Fool!

Looking, pining, begging, and cheering to see her step onto the Northern Hemisphere's stage!
Yearning to see
...rays of sun streaming down to warm us
Longing to feel
...breezes swaying the blades of grass
Waiting to smell
...scents of blooming flowers
Reaching to touch
...what is merely a figment of our imagination for now
Desiring to taste
...products of her early works of wonder
Please step forward, come out of the fog and end these cameo only appearances!
Stop playing Mother Nature's April Fool!

Inspired by Bud Hunt's National Poetry Month picture prompt of the day!

I Wrote the Slices!

Slice 31 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

Warm up your piano, think Barry Manilow and begin humming...

 

 "I Wrote the Slices!" a parody on "I Write the Songs"

 

Thanks Barry for supplying some of the words to complete this reflective slice!

 

Seems like I've been slicing forever...

since I wrote my very first slice

I put the words and the sentences together

I'm a slicer and I wrote the posts...

 

I wrote the slices I wish the world would read

I wrote the slices of life

they're special things

I wrote the slices that may make you sigh

I wrote the posts, I sure did try!

 

A slice may weigh deep in your mind
 My blog's a place, it's from my soul
And when I read the comments you've left here for me
I'm happy and I feel like they are gold...

 

I wrote the slices I wish the world would read

I wrote the slices of life

they're special things

I wrote the slices that may make you sigh

I wrote the posts I sure did try!

 

Oh the slices make me dance

My writer's spirit takes a chance

And wrote these slices of life to perfect my craft!

Writing fills my heart

Two writing teachers is where you start

They're for me, they're for you

They're for you, they're for me

It's a Slice of Life Community!

 

We wrote the slices we wish the world would read

We wrote the slices of  life

they're special things

We wrote the slices that may make you sigh

We wrote the posts We sure did try!

 

We wrote the slices we hope the world will read

We wrote the slices of my life

they're special things

We wrote the slices that may make you sigh

We wrote the posts we sure did try!

 

We're slicers and we made it through!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really appreciate you!

Slice 30 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

Tonight as I perused my emails to catch up on a few of my favorite things, I opened the Choice Literacy Newsletter.  The headline article by Heather Rader began with this quote...

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.     

William James

Brenda went on to share her article and encouraged the starting of "a four word revolution"..."I really appreciate you!"  I am buying into this revolution as a way to make the world a warmer, more grateful place to be living.  I do believe that we often hurry through our days!  As such, those around may not  know just how much we appreciate the little things!  So, I am beginning here with
the Slice of Life Community!

To Stacey and Ruth, I really appreciate you!  You are such great role models changing the world, post by post, comment by comment, Day by Day!

To my fellow slicers, I really appreciate you!  You have written such beautiful posts to share with the world... keep writing-you've got stories to tell and the world needs to hear them!

To my fellow commenters, I really appreciate you!  You've left so many thoughtful and caring words of wisdom over this past month and year-not only on my blog but other slicers as well.  Thank you so much for that!

To the technology wizards who've made all of this work, I really appreciate you!  I've had very few glitches this year and I am so happy that the technology side of slicing seems to have gone well!

To all of the people behind the scenes who've assisted in making this a smooth operation, I really appreciate you!  I am sure there are spouses, families, and friends who've had a hand in supporting a slicer in some way...

To anyone else who's had a hand I making this a success, I really appreciate you!  We couldn't have done it without you!

So let's join Choice Literacy and
begin the four word revolution!

Where will you begin?

Big Brother and Little Sister Love

Slice 29 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

Big Brother and Little Sister Love

 

 

Big brother loving little sister

Playing with sister

Making her laugh

he loves her

she loves him

Seeing them together

walking hand in hand

true joy in our lives!

 

Little sister loving big brother

seeing them together

hugging and smiling

she loves him

he loves her

Watching them grow up

Getting along together

Growing up together...

blessings in our days!

 

 

A special thank you to Katherine Sokolowski for inspiring this post after reading her slice about her boys!  Children are blessings in our lives!--and a poem for Poetry Friday too!

 

 

 



Top 10 Spring Break List

Slice 28 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

My top 10 on why I love...SPRING BREAK

 

10.  No alarms to get up to

9.  No papers to grade

8.  No lunches to pack

7.  No traffic jams in the morning or evening

6.  No reason to get out of jammies before 10 am

5.  Relaxing

4.  Resting up

3.  Reading and drinking coffee

2.  Getting together with friends

1.  Enjoying time with family

 

Thank goodness the break has finally arrived!  I need it this year more than ever.



Looking for Love

Slice 27 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

This slice inspired by the first words that popped up on

the random shuffle of the iPod list...wasn't feeling the slice today! 

I tried several times to get started but nothing came to mind...until

 

 

Way back in 1995, I wasn't looking for love.  I had just broken out of a serious relationship.  I startedsubbing as a teacher and got a great long-term position in First Grade at a great school.  I met the staff and felt very excited to be there teaching.  I wasn't looking for love...

 

Over conversation in the lounge at lunch, the school secretary casually mentioned, oh, you really should go out with my son sometime.  I bet you two would have a lot of fun together.  I told her I was single and happy to be so and wasn't looking for love!  She explained that he wasn't either so if we just approached getting together in a friendship sort of way, she thought it would be great for both of us.  We weren't looking for love...

 

A few phone conversations had taken place and we made plans to meet up at a sports bar downtown.  It was a pretty big place and we thought we knew what we were looking for-each other-a blind date really as we'd never met in person before this, and we weren't looking for love.  He was looking for me (in the upstairs lobby)  and I was looking for him (in the downstairs lobby) and neither of us knew we were looking for the other in the wrong place.  Since this was the pre-cell phone era, after a half an hour went by, I went to the pay phone and called his mom...was he still coming out tonight?  did he still want to meet up?  His mom reassured me that he planned to meet where I called from and that I should look for him.  I took her advice.

 

I found him sitting on the bench waiting for me.  I wasn't looking for love and neither was he...but we found each other and eventually found love-now happily married for 16 years!  

Image Wordle

Slice 26 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

Michelle H. inspired me to do a wordle of my blog site.  I've tried certain pieces of text before but never the whole website.  So I thought I'd try it and it worked.  Then I imported the image I use for my profile picture and viola-the wordle of me was created.  Here is what I noticed...

 

 

Life and Challenge

Thanks

Writing

Reading

Learning

Teachers

Share

Slices

Days

Posts

Books

Comments

 

My blog makes up me

I am it

Words of my mind

and my life

One year later...





IMWAYR

Slice 25 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

IMWAYR-it's Monday, what are you reading?

During this month of March, I've spent a lot of time reading blog posts, as I am participating in the Slice of Life Challenge...writing and reading blog posts every day for the month of March!  There are so many great blogs to read, so many wonderful words of wisdom, so many words to "relish" (thanks Deb for this word today), so many moments of Kairos (thanks Dana for this word).

So, while I feel a little guilty for not "reading" "officially" published works, I have been reading slices that have fueled my learning and inner spirit!  I want to thank each of the March slicers personally for all of the knowledge you've drenched me with as I've read your posts...you've all touched me in ways that have grown my heart 1,000 times its original size this month!

I'd like to give a shout out to all of the new-1st time slicers I've been following...see their blog links to the right!  I'd like to give a shout out to my fellow Tuesday slicers, I have tried to get to your slices as well...not as successfully as I would have liked but break is coming...

IMWAYR-Slices of Life...every day for this month...24/7 extra time reading these beautiful slices! And still trying to finish Reading for Meaning 2nd edition by Debbie Miller...

Let's Take a Trip-My Literacy Journey

Slice 24 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

Ever since the Dublin 2013 Literacy Conference, I've been wanting to reflect on the beginning of my literacy journey as inspired by Louise Borden...

 

So here we go...LET'S TAKE A TRIP!



 

The first book I remember ever reading together was this book my mom gave me...I remember following along the roads for hours.  Tracing all of the different routes with my fingers as I could flip the flaps and create totally new towns.  I loved this book and I loved creating new versions of the story every time I read it (or probably pretended to read it).



I also remember the typical fairy tale stories and nursery rhyme books.  The books that stick out in my mind are The Real Mother Goose, Grimm's Fairy Tales, and Disney Stories and a Rocket in My Pocket.  Here are some of those books:

 


Next came the obsession with Sesame Street and all the characters.  I think this was fostered by my aunt taking me to see the Ice-capades and Sesame Street on Ice.  I really started liking all of the Sesame Street characters.  I loved this book because it was a scratch and sniff book...I remember both my brother and I playing with it constantly.  I don't think I could read yet though so my mom must of still been reading the story to us.

And then I can remember in first grade, my mom subscribed to the I Can Read Book Club.  I am really not sure how or why she even got these books for me.  I remember being so excited when the 6 books came each month.  The first one was Danny and the Dinosaur.  I really think it was the first book I could read. 

I loved reading these books.  I remember in first grade thinking I was not a very good reader because I was in the dinosaur group.  I hated doing those damn workbook pages.  There were dinosaurs, tigers and lions.  I don't remember the name of the series-but I remember the pictures on the front of the workbooks.  I also remember the plaid blue and red phonics workbooks.  By the end of first grade, I moved up to being a tiger. 

 

Then in second grade, I think I became an even better reader.  Two things I remember about second grade were learning cursive-which for a lefty was a difficult time in my life and writing book reports.  One book report I remember was the one I made up!  Oh, yeah.  I remember staring at the cover of this book:



 

 And making up a story about this horse and a pig.  I never read the story and totally made up the book report.  At that point, I hated book reports (not really sure I like them even now).  I don't ever remember getting in trouble for making up the story although, sometimes we develop amnesia when we made bad choices.

In third grade, I remember going shopping for "stories" in the SRA kits.  It was supposed to be fun.  I don't even remember what I read, I just remember learning how to skim the stories so I could answer the questions and keep moving up in color levels.  I remember trying to beat two boys Mark and Bryan and get ahead of their colors.

Now in fourth grade, that is when I remember my teacher reading aloud and taking an interest in reading books.  I remember hearing her read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, and Sheila the Great.  I can still hear her voice imitating the characters as she read.  I think this was when I started to notice that reading was really fun and could take you on adventures.  Not just in text books and work books or skill cards...

So that's my trip.  I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the sights along the way!  Where did your literacy journey begin?



Birthday Celebration

Slice 23 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

Reflecting on my birthday...

 

 

a celebration of

the happy,

lots of surprise,

smiles and fun

going for the chocolate

...a new year begun!

 

Popcorn-the Good Old Days II

Slice 22 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

To be fair, I have to give my dad some equal love and honor him with a good old days poem too...

Sometimes I remember

The good old days,

Dad working nights

And when he was off he was up!

Hearing the skillet rattle

Placed onto the stove in a clangy, unfamiliar way

Hunting for the lid

Shaking the kernels in the special popcorn jar

Oil poured in, greasing the skillet

Melting the butter right there with it

Kernels bouncing as they were dropped

Lid sealed tight

Pop, pop,

Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop,pop, 

Kernels at war,

Kernels no more now crunchy popcorn for eating

And then the buttery smell 

would fill the air

Tiptoe-ing out of bed and sneaking down the steps

Shading my eyes from the kitchen's bright light

Saying,

"I smell popcorn"

It just doesn't get any better
than Dad's home-made popcorn!

Pancakes-The Good Old Days

Slice 21 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

Pancakes-The Good Old Days
Inspired by Mentor Text Keynote Address
Shared by Ralph Fletcher at the Dublin Literacy Conference
February 24, 2013

Hearing Ralph Fletcher speak at the conference was incredible.  He gave such insightful information on developing writers.  He shared with us ideas on uses for mentor texts which was helpful.  He took us through a writing experience where we wrote with the help of the mentor text, "The Good Old Days".  The poem was used as a guide to create our own poems about a special memory we have from something long ago.  That day, I wrote about how my married life was different b.k. (before kids).I was able to meet Mary Lee Hahn and Maria Caplan.  They were sitting behind me.  Mary Lee snapped this pic while I was trying to capture Ralph's words!

I decided to try another after reflecting on how I remembered my mom making pancakes on Sunday mornings especially in the early Spring and Summer.  I loved waking up to my mom's cooking...

Sometimes I remember
the good old days,

Hearing the chirping birds
Awakening with the sun

Cool morning air
floating in the downstairs windows

Snuggling under the cozy covers
warmish yet cooled at the same time

The smell of mom's home-made pancakes
sneaking down the stairs

And then the call to breakfast
Warmed syrup making runny puddles

Eating the tasty bites
blended with melting butter

I still can't imagine
tasty breakfasts better than that!

First Day of Spring

Slice 20 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth for hosting

Slice of Life Challenge 2013

@ Two Writing Teachers

In honor of the First Day of Spring, I spent some time at the library looking for the right words to tell more about night noises that arise when spring arrives.  My first attempt at spine poetry last week was created with books from around the house, but at the library, there was so much more to choose from...I enjoyed looking for the right words to capture the mood of the night noises.  Here is my latest poem:

HUSH!

By the Light of the Moon

WHILE the WORLD is SLEEPING

At the Edge of the Woods

CLOSE YOUR EYES

Listening and Hearing

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

To all the lovely librarians out there, you'll be happy to know that I took time to reshelve the books-all back in the right place.  Happy Spring to all!



Growing Writers-A Fifteen Line Poem

Slice 19 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

15 line Poems

I was inspired to write after reading Christina's blog post on taking the first 15 lines of a topic (I cheated and went 17) from an internet search and writing them as a poem.  Thanks for this inspiration Christina!  I am so excited...I did a little rearranging of the phrases but for the most part, the search I typed is the search words I wrote...

"Growing Writers"

Growing Writers

Dear Teachers

Through collaboration

Considering Talk, Time, Models and Purpose

Growing Writers

Grow up writing

Practices and Skills

We Grow Writers

One day at a time

Listening, Observing, and Celebrating

Growing Writers

From the ground up

Writing

Helping Writers Grow

Growing Writers

Mighty Writers

Growing Writers





Measure, cut, THEN hang

Slice 18 of 31  

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

 @ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

Last weekend when we shopped for the new dishwasher, I decided that I wanted to purchase some new, updated-looking light fixtures for the upstairs hall bathroom.  The new ones looked lovely and definitely would add some beauty to the powder room! 

The hubby thought he would surprise me by installing them without bothering me for help...oh, yes he did!  HOWEVER, I NOW need Tim the Toolman Taylor's pal, Al, to come and rescue the project gone wrong.  My hubby didn't realize that he needed to cut the wire and the chain links on the fixture to the appropriate length...here is what we've got now (see pic below):

So until next weekend, when more time is alloted into our schedule, we'll have extra linkage and wiring hanging around to collect dust...

In my hubby's defense, there is nothing in the manual about trimming the wiring or links to the appropriate length.  Did someone leave out a step when they wrote the manual?   Perhaps.  Lesson learned, measure, cut, and THEN hang.  Here's hoping install of the second light fixture goes smoother than the first next weekend.

Thanks for trying to surprise me, Kev!



When losing stings

Slice 17 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers

For hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

Red flushed Boy's cheeks.  From the look on his face, he held the emotions in-the kind when you have the gigantic lump in the back of your throat and feel like you'll puke any second...and people around the boy say things like, "What's wrong with him? Why does he look like that? How come his cheeks are so flushed?"

In the think bubble above her head, Boy's mother says, "You don't know him if you don't know what's wrong!"  He's disappointed that he just lost a race with a car he put his heart into making.  He wants to blubber like a baby while trying to save face with his friends around him.  He wants to scream in frustration, "why can't my car be the winner for once?"...

Thus was our night at the Pinewood Derby...the third year in a row where losing stings like an angry bee.  And oh, how the cliches fly...you tried your best, can't win them all, wait til next year, the important thing is you had fun...blah, blah, blah...can we please acknowledge that it sucks to lose?  There is no way to sugarcoat the feelings you have when your car does not win-it just stings like wet hands in cold air, like a raw throat when eating ice cream too fast, like the pinch of the needle in your gums at the dentist!  Losing just stings...

No 'i' in TEAM

Slice 16 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

As I reflect on the past 15 days of playing the game called the Slice of Life Challenge, I tried on my baseball lenses.  I started thinking about how we are all players on the same team.  We have supported each other well during the challenge so far and I hope we continue. 

Some stats on the game:

Batting average:  16 at-bats, 16 hits=1,000 -I've sliced every day so far.  The challenge for me has been the timing as my schedule is never the same every day.  Something has come up that has caused the time I would prefer to write-morning-to change because of being too tired, someone else being awake who usually isn't-Nattie- or I had too many other things that needed done first.

Game play:  Every day, I arrive at the game with my equipment ready to enter onto the playing field.  Everyone else on my team does too.  There are rookies and novices in this game-but we are all learning from each other.  Whether we've hit singles, doubles or grand-slams, we are learning.

Position:  Whether batting (writing) or catching in the field (making comments), I feel supported by my team in every way.  I hope we are all having fun at our game.

Shout outs!  Thanks to our GMs Stacey and Ruth for leading all of us to the playing field and encouraging through example.  Thanks to the managers-Linda, LeAnn, Bonnie and Carol who have fielded questions or concerns in relation to the challenge.  Thanks to all of the bloggers-writers!  I wish I had enough time to read of all of your slices-I will be going back when I am on spring break.
I am looking forward to continuing my at-bats and being inspired by the moves, hits, and catches of others.

We are all learning to exercise our writing muscles and growing stronger from the game performances every day.  I will continue to depend on this team of people for learning and growing as a writer.  Thanks to all for the support so far, there is no "i" in team.

Spring Sounds

Slice 15 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth for hosting

the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 



A Slice of Poetry Friday...

Some spine poetry for your viewing pleasure...

 

 My Mama Says-    

 

                              -I hear a noise

 

It's Spring!        

           

         

                                                           How Do You Know It's Spring?

 

 

Night Noises!       

Thankful Boy

Slice 14 of 31

Thanks to Stacy and Ruth at Two Writing Teachers for

hosting the Slice of Life Challenge, 2013

As the boy readied himself for bed, mom called upstairs, "Have you brushed?"

"Yes!" replied the boy.  "Are you coming up to say goodnight?"

"Yes," Momma replied, "I'm coming up now."

The boy hopped into bed and called to Momma, "Please lay beside me Mom!"

"Ok, boy, I will..."

So Momma crawled onto the bed as they looked at the blueish, greenish and goldish stars beaming out from the boy's dreamlight...

Boy began, "Momma, I am really thankful."

"You are boy?...what for?"

"Well, I am thankful for my bedroom, and my clock that tells time."

"Uh, huh..."

Boy continued, "and my lamps to give me light, and the things on my dresser.  Mostly, I am thankful for my family-you, Dad, and Nattie."

"Thank you boy, for making my day!  I love you."

"I love you too Momma!  Good night."

"Goodnight," Momma whispered back.  And they laid there together until the boy nodded off to sleep.  Momma thought to herself, I am thankful for the blessing of this boy...

i'm here

Slice 13 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers

for Hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

Do you know i'm here?

i bet you don't

 

i came into the house

quieter than a mouse

 

i am ready to do the daily work

of someone who couldn't keep up

 

my pace is quick

loaded and ready to go

 

my quiet shy style doesn't compare

to most

 

i work alone

i don't need any other assistance

 

the model i took over for was the noisy type

loud and rumbly (you can read her story here)

 

not me, i am smooth

and sleek

 

i am more efficient

more energy saving

 

i love my new family

glad to be home with them!

 

Here's my picture,

isn't it grand?

 

 

 



Squirrel's Inspire

Slice 12 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers

for Hosting the 2013 Slice of Life Challenge

Like a squirrel on the telephone wire, I feel like I am doing a great balancing act lately...keeping up with everything the kids and fam have been doing and all that's going on with school work has been a challenge.  As I was driving home, I saw the squirrel high above the road.  It was plowing full speed ahead across the wire and then suddenly stopped mid-way across the wire and paused.  I will follow nature's lead and pause...


How did I get to this point?

Wondering
Reflecting
Taking it all in
Thinking
Moving forward or
Going back

...Pausing...

Moving forward
Thinking
Taking it all in
Reflecting
Wondering

What will tomorrow bring?

A Note for Dad

slice 11 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth for Two Writing Teachers

for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

 

As giggles, racing, and shouting filled the air, I laughed to myself.  I enjoyed hearing the kids outside in the yard playing with Kevin.  They were having the best time ever back at "the park" swinging, climbing and then playing in the yard with the kickball.  I wanted to be out there myself, but didn't indulge as I tried to stay focused on my work.  I felt like the child with homework to do who's distracted by the call of what is outside.

 

 

Nattie was brought inside for her nap kicking and screaming!  Kam faked a nigh-nigh into his room so she would think he was going to take a nap as well.  She just kept saying, "Outside, outside!"  I kept saying,  "we'll go back out after you wake up from your nigh-nigh".  Exasperated, she huffed, "Ok momma!"  She finally settled down and fell asleep...when I heard Kam bounding back upstairs after escaping from his fake nigh-nigh, I motioned a "shhh" on my lips.  He whispered, "I just have to leave this note for Dad!"

I didn't ask to see it, just allowed him to place the note where he knew Kevin would check.  He snuck back out of the office and tiptoed back downstairs.  I snuck over and snapped a quick photo with my phone...

 

A note from Kam that I am sure Kevin will cherish for days and maybe years to come!

 

 



iPhone on Duty!

Slice 10 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers

for Hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

 

Last year when I started the Slice of Life Challenge, I didn't have my iPhone yet.  I got it near the end of March last year.   I had no idea what the device would be able to do for me.  Now, I would be hard pressed to go without it.  This tool for learning and living has brought so much convience to my life it almost seems unreal.  My constant compliments of the phone convinced my older brother to rethink his objection to the apple products and leave the android market.

 

Our newest learning with the tool is how we are now using it to text message.  We talk into the microphone icon and then it types out the text for you.  Not trying to be lazy in typing here as I am a very proficient typer, but using it for quickness.   It seems like it can save about 30-40 seconds by just saying what you want instead of typing.

 

I have decided to take it to the next level and use it for the comments on the slices I am reading as well.  I just say what I would say as if I am talking to the slicer after tapping the microphone tool, click done and it types out my response.  Just another way to save time so I am able to read as many slices as possible as they are just juicy goodness! 

 

If you haven't tried using the microphone for talk to text yet, I highly recommend it.  Maybe other smart phones have this too (I am just a 1 year old newby with this tool).  Maybe there are other ways to accomplish the same thing.  I am just glad I no longer have to sit in front of my computer in an office to do the reading, writing and posting for this year's Slice of Life.  Your slices can inspire me anywhere now!

 

#slice2013 Tweet

 



Hear Every Voice!

 

Slice 9 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth from Two Writing Teachers

for Hosting

Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

I am done.  My guts are moaning and groaning.  I've lived a good life.  And now I feel like I am breaking down.  First this thing goes, then that thing goes...I need replaced.  I can no longer carry on and do the duties that I've been committed to do for a number of years now...My parts are spinning out of control and they just can't seem to work right and do the things they were meant to do...I am opened and then closed, turned on and turned off, sliding in and sliding out, selected and deselected.  I am tired of the clanging, banging and reracking...I am tired of the dirty friends I've got who come out smelling like a rose after spending time with me.

 

I hear that they are thinking of replacing me-filling in my space with a younger, more attractive model.  A model who is quieter, less noticable and more effective and efficient.  I am jealous of the fact that I can no longer compete with these new things fresh off the assembly line.  I heard they are going to replace me with a Bosch model.  And it's ok, I'm tired, I know when it's time to go...they've heard my complaining for long enough. 

 

At the end of the week, it will all be over!  No more dishes to wash, no more cycling through the dirty, wash, clean and dry routine.  Our time together is coming to an end...goodbye Rudd family.  Enjoy your new dishwasher! 

 

#slice2013



iPod Wordle Poem

Slice 8 of 31

Thanks Stacey and Ruth for hosting the
Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 #slice2013

So by reading other blogs, I saw this wonderful idea called ipod poetry!  Check out links to those blogs here and here!  Thanks Michelle and Michelle!  So, I decided to take my first 50 ipod faves play list and type the songs into the Tagxedo Word Cloud.  After creating my wordle, I took a screen shot of the words and imported the screen shot into Paint and got this image:

 

Some of the biggest words that popped out at me were:  Today, time, coming, Don't, ways, great, heart, gonna, and day. **And Christmas, but that was just a little to seasonal for me so I left it off.

So here is my poem a bit of slice advice, if you will:

 

 

 

Don't waste today

Time is fleeting

With all of your heart

and in all ways

in your coming and going

Make today

a great day

You're gonna do

great things!