Hater of the English Language?

I used to think that the English language was a beautiful and glorious thing. Until, that is, I began teaching my 1st grader to read. Now I see what a bleeping bleep bleep of jumbled up hoo ha it actually is. Likewise, I thought math was the most ridiculous mess of nonsense on the planet. I see now, that my hated math actually makes rules and follows them and that my beloved english is a twisted practical joke at best and sincere form of torture at worst.

But I see this exercise in teaching as a challenge. I will not let the rebellion of english against itself stop my daughter from learning not only to read, but to love words. I most graciously thank every teacher of reading and english I ever had. I'm not sure how you did it, but you taught be a nonsensical subject and made me fall in love with it.

So, hater of the english language? No, still helplessly in love. I guess the old saying is true. You really can't help "who" you fall in love with. No matter how tortuously insane they may be.

Surgery for my Birthday

My dad just had surgery. On my birthday. I'm an adult now. I'm 37. I just faced the first illness of one of my parents. That's not really true. When I was much younger my mom had back surgery. I was too young to be worried. But this, with my dad, was cancer. In the realm of cancer, not a terrible one. But then again, is there a good one.

I'm glad the surgery was on my birthday. I felt a bit liberated in a wacked out sense, thinking of someone else. Not really caring about presents and cake and all the trappings of the normal celebration of our expulsion from the birth canal.

This time I thought about the people who should be celebrated on my birthday. The two folks without whom I would not be.

My Dad is fine, the docs say the surgery went well and hopefully that will hold true at check up.

Happy Birthday to me.

How Not to Get Published

For anyone who has a good artistic endeavor that they want needlessly to postpone completing, here are some steps to take make sure that your project never sees the light of day.

1. Blog about how your project will never see the light of day.
2. Do the dishes.
3. Walk the dog.
4. Contemplate starting an excerise routine.
5. Brew a pot of coffee instead.
6. Check on your friends on Facebook to see if they are being productive.
7. Make a list of things you're doing to waste time.
8. Proofread the list.
9. Realize your not a good enough speller to notice if you have misspelled anything.
10. Also wonder why a person who writes never learned the proper way to type.

Now, you've wasted some time. job well done.

Today's cool factor

I was challenged by a beautiful friend of mine, Heather, to do something cool today and write about it. I'm off work today and without a car, so my travel options are open on the one hand and limited on the other. But earlier, my husband and I went to a new church--strike that--a really old church that we had never been to before.

The Saint Lawrence Basilica in downtown Asheville. We've been attending a Catholic Church much closer to our house but the beauty of the downtown building and a desire for something--as my husband says "more Catholic" drew us to this church.

It's amazing inside, high dome ceiling, amazing brick work, stain glass, old wood pews and kneelers that creak with the weight of many years of worship and praise. Incense and sunlight in just the right combination to make you feel as though you're looking through the keyhole of heaven. I couldn't help but feel the real presence of Jesus and to be inspired and awed.

Whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs may be, take some time to remember and appreciate what draws you to them what they draw out of you.


http://www.saintlawrencebasilica.org/

The truth hurts

Let me tell you about a tarot card reading that lurks just to the back and right of my head. Up on this magic mountain in NC a wonderful writer and gifted reader of the cards read for me based on my question of "what's up with my writing career?"

I got a great reading. Cards falling down from the gods. "This is every great writing card that you can get." On and on went the praise--awards, attention, blah blah blah.... and then the kicker...

"I'm just not sure you'll do it."

Ouch. Bascially--I've got all the right stuff as is were, but am likely to be to lazy in my efforts to actually acheive anything!!

The truth hurts. This was several years ago. I see it all happening just that way...several credits, some dabbling here and there...but have I really given myself over to this whole process.

No! Again, with the no, the Happy New Year this year will be the year and then oops, here we are starting another year and what did I do.....

Well, here goes again! If you find yourself the victim of your own lack of passion--let's give it another try together. What say?