Slice of Life 2018- 24 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

I had great plans for my gingerbread. 

Maybe my expectations stemmed from all that I had to do in order to make it in the first place. I'd tried it a couple weeks ago, and the woman who made it showed me the cookbook with the recipe. There were so many recipes in that cookbook that I went home and tried to order it. It was out of print. I really wanted that cookbook, so I ordered it from one of the second-hand sellers from Amazon, and I had to wait ten days for my cookbook with the Irish Stout Gingerbread. (Yep, that was too late for Saint Patrick's Day which was my original thought...)

Wednesday night in Connecticut had a nor-easter in the forecast, so I figured I'd be safe to go to yoga and get home at nine and make my gingerbread. I was short on ginger so one of my yoga friends brought me some to fill the ginger shortage. Naturally, everyone wanted to know what I was making. "Will you bring us a piece on Saturday?" Erin asked. "Of course," I said. Remember, I had great plans for my ginger bread. 

My doubts wiggled in when I had to bring a cup of stout and 1 1/4 cups of molasses to boil--can't say I enjoyed that smell much, but I kept beating the butter and sugar, sifting the flour with lots of ginger, cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. A little more doubt when I tasted the batter, but I convinced myself that baking it would somehow make it a little milder. (Those great plans...)

Even though the recipe called for baking the two loaves for 60-70 minutes, they looked and smelled pretty done after 50 minutes. "Smells good in here," my husband said as I took them out. He and I both looked at the gingerbread loaves. "Looks a little overdone," I said. 

When I turned the gingerbreads over on the cooling rack, they looked a LOT overdone. Sort of like a mahogony brick. Garth decided to pass on the taste test, but I cut into my creation, even debating whether to pull out the vanilla ice cream at 10:30. I was reasonably sure we'd have a delay in the morning, if not a snow day, so if I had a little late night sugar, it could be okay. 

I took one little bite. I tried to talk myself into the possibility that maybe it would be better in the morning, better with ice cream, better with some coffee and whipping cream. In the morning, it was even harder and even more of a colossal baking fail. 

Sometimes it's not worth keeping something, even when it's involved a lot of planning and some high expectations for greatness. Sometimes those high expectations are a set up for an even bigger feeling fail. Sometimes, it's wisest to just throw it away and move on. 

I'll try something new again in the kitchen--I have no doubt of that--but the next baking project might have to be the tried and true chocolate chip cookies. 

Happy Slicing!

Slice of Life 2018- 23 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

Thursday's Morning Edition on NPR challenged me to think about one specific technological tool that hasn't experienced what they called "creative destruction." I didn't have enough time to think of the answer, and I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have come up with this particular gadget if I'd been given the rest of the day. Stop reading and see if you can come up with one small technological gadget that hasn't changed since 1994.

Here are a couple clues:

1. It costs about $100, and the price hasn't changed. 
2. It has no internet capabilities which is one of its selling features. 

Any ideas?

Here's an even bigger clue:

Almost every high school student in this country who takes advanced math is required to have one.

AND

It's the only technology besides a pencil that SAT takers can bring into the testing environment. 

If you're still wondering, it's the graphing calculator. 

SO: Let's think about this.
In real life environments, we want students to be resourceful and collaborative, and to not only know how to use cutting edge devices, but also to know how to access them. In a fourth-grade writing workshop, I watched ten year-olds use thesaurus.com, Google language apps, screen-sharing, side-by-side digital charts, and any other tool they could independently access that would make their writing better.

Does anyone else think there's something ironic or antiquated about the fact that on the highest stake tests of most students' lives, their only tool is one that was cutting edge almost 25 years ago? It just has me scratching my head about some of the systems and institutions that remain in place, possibly preventing our country's educational system from keeping up with the rapid pace of change around them. I even wonder about who's profiting since two companies produce and sell about six million calculators a year.

Would we ever say to a carpenter I want to see how you cut this wood, but you can only use a handsaw?

I'm being purposefully provocative, and I really am interested in some thoughts and debates about this.

Happy Slicing,

Slice of life 2018- 22 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

I could have easily been talked out of going to yoga at 7pm tonight. Dinner was ready, snow was falling, I had some work I would have liked to get done, some reading to catch up on---I had all sorts of reasons to stay home.

But I went.

Throughout the class, I was happy to be there. We had some laughter, some cursing about the snow, and appreciation for the balance of the day in the year when there's equal light and darkness--but my favorite part of the class tonight was the quote Amy shared as we came out of our final resting pose. I came home and looked it up, and found that it's a Swedish proverb:

Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours!

I especially like the part about talking less and saying more. When Amy was reading it, I thought she was going to say talk less, listen more. I loved that I was wrong and that it was a little more subtle. Tomorrow I will practice saying more. 

Happy Slicing,

Slice of Life 2018- 21 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

I've been playing around with six-word stories for a while. Ernest Hemingway gets the credit for one of the most famous SWS, although there's some debate as to whether he actually wrote it. 

For sale: Baby shoes, never worn

Flash fiction was the topic for one of my MFA seminars, and we had fun packing a lot into small frames. There's a 53-word monthly contest   This month's topic is around luck if anyone's interested in making slicing a little harder! 

Here's one I've been tinkering with:

I sip my third margarita. There’s talk about diapers and IVF. We’re on a donor list, Amy says. Waiting for a match. For an egg? I ask. I’ll give you eggs. You’re in luck-- I have lots. Are you serious, she asks. I nod, gulp that margarita. I’ll call you in the morning.

 Here are some other SWW that I'm concocting as this next storm bears down on us:

 

More snow? How do we teach?

March snow? March storms? March madness!

Power's off. Schools are closed. Again.

I'm sure I could go on. 

Happy Slicing,

Slice of Life 2018- 20 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

Julia and I were able to sneak a quick birthday trip to the mall so that she could pick out a couple of things with her birthday giftcard. I didn't mind the first couple of stores--in fact I liked them. And then I got talked into just a quick stop at one of those teen-oriented stores. She headed straight toward a dress she tried on over the weekend and pulled it out so I could see. She held her phone up so I could see a picture.

"Look," she said. "Isn't it cute?"

Honestly, it looked more like a green tennis dress than a dress for a formal or going out. "It seems to be missing some fabric," I said. 

Julia rolled her eyes. 

Luckily, I didn't have to say too much more for her to happily agree to leave the dress behind. I know I can't prevent my girls from wearing dresses that reveal more than they cover, but she didn't push me to buy it for her. Instead we headed to the bookstore. 

"Make sure that you remember that on your birthday, I bought you books I might not love as opposed to dresses I definitely didn't," I said. 

She laughed and gave me a hug. "They probably last longer," she said.

Happy Slicing,

Slice of Life 2018- 19 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

March 19 is a special day in our house because someone has a birthday. Last year at this time, I had to write my birthday post for Julia from afar. 

Julia was a freshman in college, and she'd chosen a school that was far from home. I was incredibly grateful to Lisa Keeler, a fellow slicer and now a good--no, a great friend!  Lisa played the part of the mom when I couldn't. She made dinner for Julia and even got her a cake and candles.  

This year's a different story. On the even before Julia's 20th birthday, she's downstairs analyzing basketball upsets with her dad. They're having quite a time.

Deciding to transfer and leave a place that's not working well to forge a different track is brave. At this time last year, Julia's applications as a transfer student were complete, and we were in another high-stress waiting game. What a difference a year makes-- 

This girl. This girl is kind and wise and brave. She's resilient and and realistic, reflective and funny. Her six word story goes something like this: 

I can. I will. I did. 

Happy birthday to Julia! 

Slice of Life 2018: 18 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

I have a task I've been putting off. Some of you know my oldest daughter Larkin (who is not allowed to read this post this morning, but is probably too hung over to any way) and you know that she's graduating from college in a month. You might not know that I have to write a letter to her as part of her sorority's celebration for their seniors. This has been hard! No length suggestions! No clear indication of the purpose! No mentor texts.

I've started a couple a bunch of times, and I sound corny or sappy or like any mother's letter to her graduating daughter. I've tried to think of original things to say, specific anecdotes, and quotes from her--that's gone a little better, but I still end up spinning my words. 

This morning I think I discovered my platform and foundation for my letter, and it's a SOL community principle. I think it will work to begin and structure my letter with content that is in a snippet of the day.

This morning, I woke up to this texting exchange between Larkin and her sisters. (Garth and I slept through it and responded in the morning.) Larkin is at the University of Michigan, and their basketball team might have had the win of the tournament late last night. I can't quote the whole exchange because of the expletives, but it went something like this:

Larkin: GUYS

Clare: That was nuts

Larkin: Oh my God.

Cecily: That was crazy.

Larkin: UNBELIEVABLE

So much of Larkin shines through in this exchange--her passion, her enthusiasm, her emotions...I also love that she includes us in her moments of joy. I think I have the basis of my letter--wish me luck!

Slice of Life 2018: 17 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

"Why don't you just shovel the driveway?" a friend asked me last Monday afternoon. 

We were expecting 5-10 inches of snow, and my husband is in Florida with two of our daughters. 

One of my life goals has been NOT to learn how to use his new snowblower. I believe that I wrote a slice about breaking the old one in a previous March challenge. If you look closely at the picture, you'll see the old one behind the shiny new TORO. If you look even more closely, you might notice that one of the cords has duct tape around it. That was my handiwork. Yep. That was me. I thought the cord was a starter and kept pulling until it broke. (I wish he'd just throw that old one out so I don't have to keep feeling bad!)

In any case, I got the new one filled up with gas, I started it without breaking it, and I got the driveway done. 

As I said to my mother afterwards, "It's not a Garth job, but it will do."

Garth and the girls came home on Thursday--I might have figured out a way to stay in Florida if I were them-- and they were impressed. I didn't tell them that there really wasn't much snow. 

I also didn't tell them that I kind of liked doing it. 

Happy slicing,

Slice of Life 2018: 16 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

I have other slices I've written today, but I can't ignore the events of the last couple days. 

The passion of students from across the country speaking up and speaking out 

overwhelms me, 

inspires me, 

haunts me. 

In some places, their eloquence. 

In other places, their empathy. 

And in other places--my own town--their defiance. 

Their brave and appropriate and informed eloquence, empathy, and defiance--

it overwhelms, inspires, and haunts me. 

As an educator, I do understand the administration's intention to keep students safe and to orchestrate a peaceful and educational assembly. But I also understand the purpose of protest. This country's teenagers don't have much power, but they understand how their school have changed, and yesterday was an opportunity to honor victims and also to make it clear that guns in schools--regardless of who's holding them--is not okay with them. That feeling unsafe isn't okay with them. That schools should be places of learning, and not of fear. 

Today, I lift lines from our local poem to write a poem in solidarity and support of our students.

Enough

Seventeen. 

Seventeen students and staff--

Seventeen dead.

Walkouts, demonstrations, 

Students raised their voices.

speeches, chants--

Enough. 

Seventeen. 

Seventeen--

Dead.

The system is broken.

Are we next?

Our time.

Our time to take charge.

Solemn silence. 

Are we next? 

The system is broken.

It is our time to take charge.

Seventeen dead. 

Enough. 

It's Day 16--

Slice of Life 2018: 15 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

This slice is brought to you by Okie, our 18 month-old lab. 

He has very different feelings about the snow that I do!

Dear Melanie,

I'm not sure why you don't like this snow. I think it's great. It could be that these days with snowstorms are my favorites. First and foremost, I love that you stay home. You stay in your pajamas and hang out at the kitchen table reading, writing, and petting me. You keep your slippers on, and those might be my favorite things. (I really am sorry I chewed the laces. They were impossible to resist.) I like going to work with Garth and all that, but I prefer hanging out with all my toys, my big backyard, and...you.

I don't think you'd agree, but the last storm was even more fun than this one because there were huge branches down right in the middle of the yard. You know me--if we go for a walk, I like to find the very biggest stick I can carry and keep it with us along the trail. How great was it that the biggest sticks--branches even!--were right in my own yard?! I tried to help you carry them to the trailor, and you didn't seem to appreciate my help. 

I'd also think you'd like it because I run aound so much in that I'm exhausted. You sometimes say that I'm a better dog when I've had a really good walk, and this running around in snow thing is better than the longest walk, for sure. I love when you throw it for me--although I can't figure out why I can never find the snowballs--they seem to disappear wherever they land--and I love when you throw my ball and I have to find it. Sometimes the snow gets up my nose, but I don't care!

I really am sorry you don't enjoy the snow as much as I do. It seems like it's a lot of work for all of you with the driveway-clearing and shoveling and all. Maybe you could just leave the snow wherever it falls, stay home and play with me. Maybe during the next storm you'll try to romp around in it like I do! It could be a much better way to deal with this fabulous white stuff known as snow!

Love,

Okie

Slice of Life 2018: 14 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

Over the weekend, I joined up with other writers for a Vermont writing retreat. We did a couple of prompts, and one that Beth introduced, had to do with finding poems out of single words. She was inspired by Lemonade: and Other Poems by Rob Raczka. 

Here's how it works:

We each chose a word--preferably a long one or a compound one with plenty of letters for playing. Then we passed our word to the person sitting on our left. That person had to make as many words out of the original one and then create a poem with those words. 

Beth handed me jigsaw puzzles on a scrap of paper. (I had spent more time than I meant to working on the Vermont house puzzle.)

I discovered as I wrote word after word-- zip, zap, jizz, jazz, guzzle, gizzle--how much I like the letter z. 

(For those of you who have been reading my posts over the last few days, how funny is that? My theme around endings continues...)

We also had a fun conversation after the exercise about the power of repetition and of nonsense words, both in poems and in stories. It's a fun exercise, and I recommend it!

Here's my poem--made from words only found in jigsaw puzzles:

I jig, jag, jug,

Wag, slag, zag.

I zip and zap,

Wazz and Jazz,

Pizzle, pazzle, puzzle. 

Please don't ask me what it means, but this exercise did give me an appreciation for nonsense words that I may have to revisit in other writing projects. Give it a try! 

Happy Slicing,

Slice of Life 2018: 13 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

During tech week, Cecily declared that she was never doing another school play. That's what they always say when the rehearsals are from 4 to 10, when there are stops and starts, when microphones don't work, and the timing is off, and the director is yelling, and homework's piling up...

And then it's opening night, and only the cast knows the mistakes and the audience is blown away and there are ovations and flowers and hugs and gushing. 

And then there's the cast party, and strike, and---

it's over. It's over. 

And the conversation turns to speculation about what play will be chosen for next year. 

I smile into my coffee, realize I have another post about an ending--seems to be my #sol18 unintended theme-- and celebrate the resilience of my daughter. 

A lot of times those hardest things elicit the most pride and joy.  

Happy Slicing,

Slice of Life 2018: 12 of 31

For the month of March, I am participating in the Eleventh Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. That means that I am writing every day for the month of March in the good company of the Two Writing Teachers community. 

"I feel like I should be less serious," she said. 

"What do you mean?" I asked. 

"My writing's depressing," she explained. "I showed it to my husband, though, and he said maybe it's what I need to write. Maybe it really is what I need to write. Is that okay?"

She hung her head and waited for my reaction. 

Responses swirled in my head, and I hope I took enough time reflecting and sorting through them before I spoke. I don't remember what I said in that moment, but I do know what I'm thinking now. 

We slicers are writing what we need to write. And sometimes it's a function of what we're programming ourselves to notice over the month of March. Sometimes it's the inspiration we get from others. Sometimes it's the thoughts we need to sort through in order to make sense.

We write what we need to write. 

Sometimes, some days, we write for our audience, for the emotion we can create for unseen readers--and sometimes, some days, our writing is all about what the writer needs. Just the writer. 

And that's okay. 

Happy Slicing,