Tag Archives: Writing

Sunshine Award

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I’ve been nominated for the Sunshine Award by Maryam at Mary Clever. Thank you for throwing the light of appreciation my way. It’s very sweet of you.

Sunshine Award

Sunshine Award

Rules:

1. Copy and paste the award logo to your post.

2. Answer the eight questions.

3. Nominate ten other people.

Questions:

1. What is your favourite Christmas/festive movie?

The original Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Also, Love Actually (2003) for all of Bill Nighy’s lines.

2. What is your favourite flower?

I don’t particularly like flowers, but dahlias are okay.

3. What is your favourite non-alcoholic beverage?

Properly brewed, strong hot tea.

4. What is your passion?

Writing, words, the English language, reading. Also, silent movies.

5. What is your favourite time of year?

Autumn, specifically October. Also, my birthday month of July because I am really self-absorbed that way.

6. What is your favourite part of the day?

Not morning!

7. What is your favourite physical activity?

Hiking, yoga, marathon drinking.

8. What is your favourite vacation?

All of them, including those taken through great books.

Who I Nominate:

I’m feeling generous, am way behind in my work, and haven’t even had a cuppa yet, so everyone! If you want to participate, please do. I’d love to hear more about you. You’re all lovely  in your own way, and I like your blogs for different reasons. So there. Thanks again to Maryam at Mary Clever. You have made my day much brighter.

Daily Diversion #43: Dying is an Art*

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I took the day off from writing…

Dying is an art.

Dying is an art.

to play with skeletons and drink hard cider. See you tomorrow!

*”Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real. I guess you could say I’ve a call.”-Sylvia Plath 

A Year in Books/Day 209: Lives of the Poets

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  • Title: Lives of the Poets
  • Author: Michael Schmidt
  • Year Published: 1998 (A Phoenix Paperback)
  • Year Purchased: 2004/2005
  • Source: Barnes & Noble clearance rack
  • About: Michael Schmidt takes approximately 1000 pages to cover more than 250 poets, briskly but rigorously dissecting their lives, influences, historical circumstances, and professional interconnections. Mapping out seven centuries of poetic genealogy is a gargantuan task, but Lives of the Poets is a surprisingly quick read, and as riveting as most of its subjects’ creations.
  • Motivation: The title + poets + biographies=bliss. Surprised?
  • Times Read: Cover-to-cover-1/Excerpts-Multiple
  • Random Excerpt/Page 11: “Poems swim free of their age, but it’s hard to think of a single poem that swims entirely free of its medium, not just language but language used in the particular ways that are poetry. Even the most pathenogenetic-seeming poem has a pedigree. The poet may not know precisely a line’s or a stanza’s parents; indeed, may not be interested in finding out. Yet as readers of poetry we can come to know more about a poem than the poet does and know it more fully.”
  • Happiness Scale: 8

[News] Putting a Face to the Poet: Is This Emily Dickinson?

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According to experts, the answer is yes. It’s only the second known image of the poet, and the first showing her as an adult. ‘Tis a big deal, no?                                                                                                                                                                  Still No New Pynchon Photo, but Here’s Emily Dickinson-The New York Times

Emily Dickinson gets a new look in recovered photograph-The Guardian

 

 

 

Daily Diversion #41: Sweet Summer’s End

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I know, I know. Autumn doesn’t start until the 22nd. It’s still ninety degrees where I live, but I can feel a change. The ceaseless seasonal breeze has returned, bandying leaves about in her dancing wake. I’m excited, but apprehensive; yet I know that summer will be back. When she arrives next year, this is the first thing I will do in wanton celebration.

A Year in Books/Day 207: Romancing the Ordinary

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  • Title: Romancing the Ordinary A Year of Simple Splendor
  • Author: Sarah Ban Breathnach
  • Year Published: 2002 (The Simple Abundance Press/Scribner)
  • Year Purchased: 2002
  • Source: It was a Christmas gift from my mom.
  • About: There is something a bit stale about most inspirational books that are directed at women, or maybe I don’t have the proper constitution for that type of thing. Either way, I was surprised to discover that Romancing the Ordinary, although a trifle flowery in spots, is actually inspiring. I know, I know. Hear me out. These are the reasons I love this book: 1) It’s easy to use. Twelve months=a dozen chapters. In other words, I can take an entire month to read a chapter. It’s such a slight commitment that it does not take serious time away from my other reading. 2) It’s guilt-free. Romancing the Ordinary isn’t a self-help program, but a reminder to slow down for three seconds and attend to your own needs. It’s a how-to guide in relaxation, if you will. 3) It doesn’t try to make you a better person. If it did, I would have pitched it years ago. 4) It is full of quotes, and we all know I love quotes. 5) Most of the books quoted from are fabulous. Anything that turns me on to books I’ve never read, especially intriguing ones, is a winner. 6) It has recipes. The Rice Pudding is delectable. 7) Even though I haven’t tried 85% of her ideas, I don’t feel inadequate. Who needs that from a book, anyway? I take what I want, dismiss the rest, and go on my merry way. 8) The underlying message. Perhaps it is an elaborate way of saying something very basic-“Hey there! Always remember that alone time is great. Don’t let yourself get lost in the demands of the every day.”-but it is a reminder we all need on occasion.
  • Motivation: My mom bought a copy for someone else. After they raved about it, she decided that I would find it enjoyable, too.
  • Times Read: 3 or 4
  • Random Excerpt/Page 208: “I am now an orderly woman. By this I mean, I am a woman who reveres order. But I am not the neatest person. I have always been a messy girl, and not so long ago, in an effort to embrace my imperfection, I came to the awareness that I will probably always be a messy girl.” (Ed. note: Ahem. My husband would say that this reminds him, quite powerfully, of me.)
  • Happiness Scale: 8 1/2