Summing It All Up

I really enjoyed taking this creative writing course. I am privileged to of met so many creative people. I will miss everyone. I learned a lot. The most significant for me, of all things learned, was poetry. I must admit I was very ignorant about how to write poems. I always believed that the only kind of poetry out there was rhyming. I was so happy to learn that that is not always the case. Poetry has unlocked a creative door inside my head. I found a beautiful form of self-expression.

I feel after taking this class, I now have the confidence to write some stories that have been dying to be told. I have already started to write one. I also plan to continue writing poetry because I enjoy it so much.

Ira Glass/Representation of my Nemesis

I really had a hard time understanding what he was saying. His voice sort of ran together too much for me. However, I was able to get one thing out of him: Failure is part of the success. Which I can somewhat appreciate and if old Albert Einstein were alive today, he would agree with Ira. I also agree its important for the person listening to your show to be able to get the most out of your story. It should all flow together in a way that is comprehensive and interesting.

I don't believe I can relate Ira Glass to my nemesis at all.......Perhaps if I followed his show I could write more about what I thought of him.

One word to sum up my nemesis: Straitjacket!

Open Mic Night

I was surprise at how well it did go. No one fainted on stage, no one tripped and fell, no one messed up their readings. It was a good night. My daughter enjoyed being there too. I think she learned a lot just by watching the students perform their own work.

I would agree that maybe in the future, having a more intimate place to read your poetry as opposed to the cafeteria would be better. External noise was a bit of a distraction at times. Also, somewhere less brighter would be ideal. A darker, quieter, atmosphere would catch the whole poetry vibe much better.....

Response to Klosterman's Book

My impression of the book "Killing Yourself To Live" is: It was okay. I found I could understand about 80% of what Klosterman was writing about. I found what he initially set out to write about (detours aside) was informative. Especially the story of Pattie Boyd, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison which prompted me read more about those three in another novel. I liked when he would associate certain songs with what was going on in his life at that time.
I was a little bored was his whining about his girlfriends and his love life which I think took away from the story somewhat.
I would recommend this book be used if the majority of the class were older than say 28. Because at least they would know who some of the musicians are that were discussed in the book.

Do You Know Your Enemy?

An interesting portion of Klosterman's book discusses his relationship with a guy known as "My Nemesis" (Pages 157-164). I found this amusing because Klosterman and his nemesis are Frienmies. What an oxymoron that is! (Hold on, I need to look up the term oxymoron to be sure I'm using it correctly; I'm okay, at least according to Wikipedia....). How can you be buds with a dude who punched you in your face, publicly taunts you via a newspaper publication, and then proceeds to get in ANOTHER fist fight with you outside a bar; then you live with him after he punches your lights out and a few years later after all the crap you've done to each other you still want to hang out with the guy? Plus, Nemesis guy seems extremely bored with talking to Chuck and vice-versa, so what's the point of this friendship? I'm confused. Their frienemy relationship seems strained and phony to me. Its so ridiculous that its actually funny. I take it this is a guy thing? Cuz I don't know of any women that would still be buddies after all of that shit these two put each other through....

What's New????

Not a whole hell of a lot! I am getting my daughters prepped for softball season. My eldest tries out for her school team tomorrow. It will be the first time my kindergartner will play this season so my husband and I have been practicing with her. Baseball is a big deal in my family. I grew up on the ball field, even though I never played. My father has for over 50 years. My mom played briefly and so did my brother. My husband started about two years ago. My older two daughters have been playing for three years. It is a fun way to spend family time together.

Response to "Post Secret"

This site reminds me of the song video by the group All American Rejects called "Dirty Little Secret" where they have random people holding their various secrets, also written on postcards, for the world to see. I wonder if this Post Secret site was inspired by the All American Rejects video or vice-versa. With that being said, I did like the website. It takes a certain amount of courage to be able to post your secrets for the wide web to see. Some of those secrets are embarrassing to admit. Like the woman who has to shave her face or the guy who has boobs. Some deal with issues of guilt or loneliness. Some are very sad to read.....

An Elegy For “M”

A scarf the color of wild berries and roses drapes across your graceful neck…..

Your silk pantsuit gently embraces your curves…..

Your hair is impeccable, not one strand is out of place…..

Your elegant poise, one of strength and courage and endearment…..

Is a breath of life in a room so suffocated with grief, so overflowing with sorrow and mourning…..

But all these mourners do share one thing in common…..

They have come to say their good-byes…..

Good-bye to a woman some called a friend, a sister, a mother, a wife…..

Good-bye to a woman who elevated and inspired so many people…..

They have come to say good-bye to you…..

Written by Marisa Miller

Intro into the haiku......

Winter tree branch bare......

Cold wind blows your leaves away......

Tree searches for spring......

Four Poems

The first poem that caught my attention after listening and reading it was Hattie McDaniel Arrives at the Coconut Grove, written by American poet Rita Dove. It is about Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel's, who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award back in 1940, and what might have gone through her mind as she arrives at the Coconut Grove. There is a lot of reflection about her past, how far she had come to get to where she was at that time (there weren't really any acting roles available to African-Americans back in those days) and the aftermath of her success. I liked because it served as a history lesson and I really admired Hattie's spirit as portrayed through Rita Dove's words.

The second poem I liked was called A Blade of Grass by British Poet Brian Patten. I enjoyed reading this because it shows how the intended recipient of the blade of grass fails to grasp the poetic meaning behind being offered a simple blade of grass. It becomes more difficult to offer simplicity and as we grow older and it becomes more difficult to accept simplicity. Also I like this poem because it would go beautifully with the painting by Albrecht Durer that I love so much.

The third poem that caught my eye was written by Jamaican poet Valarie Bloom titled: Granny Is. I liked listening to Bloom read it because I love her Caribbean accent and some of the words which describe things native to the island of Jamaica. Plus who doesn't love a warm hearted poem ode to their grandma? I always had a very close relationship with mine and my children also have a close relationship with their grandma. "Only de best fe de gran' children." That has been my own mother's motto since I brought each one of her grand-babies home from the hospital.

The final poem I enjoyed reading was called Hair-Raiser by British poet Judith Nicholls. This poem is HILARIOUS to listen to. My daughter Rachel and I got quite a kick out of it! In fact at the dinner table she did a little improv of the poem on my husband who wasn't too amused especially since 1. He wasn't aware of what we planned, and 2. The last paragraph of the poem concerning hair loss was quite a sensitive subject for him LOL!!! But none the less we still had fun with it ;)

Something Inspirational

This picture by Albrecht Durer titled, "The Great Piece Of Turf" inspires me to want to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon on my stomach in the grass closely examining nature's detailed craftsmanship. I could never draw something this beautiful but I sure would love to try....

Often we tend to overlook the most simplest of things that nature blesses us with everyday. That recognition and appreciation is evident with every brush stoke Durer makes....

The biggest thing that is weighing on my mind is I want to be recalled back to my job. I have been laid off for a little over a year and while this past year has been productive, I am ready to return to making my own money and to the feeling of being independent from my husband. For you married women, you know what I mean ; ) The job I do is nothing special. I work in a drab and dingy, cancer infested steel mill. But it allows for me to pay for my college without being beholden to Uncle Sam. Who the hell wants $ 50,000 in debt upon graduation? In this unstable job market? Ugh, no thank-you! I'm too old for that, plus I have 3 kids, one whose not so far away from college. So I am hoping and praying to get recalled soon. Okay enough of my bitching about that, its time I pull up my "big-girl undies" and keep pushing forward....



Another thing that is weighing on my mind is all the budget cuts that keep happening to our public schools. A teacher who has been in my girls school for years is about to be laid off this Friday, the media specialist whom I volunteer for had her hours cut to three days a week and is expected to see 400 kids during that time all the while coordinating programs, and book fairs, etc... the music program is endangered, one elementary school was closed down, there was no preschool program offered this year for the little ones and those teaches were sent to the unemploymnet line. My kid's school can't even afford to keep the outside security lights on at night anymore, (and yes already some jack-off called in a bogus fire threat which cause the po-po and fire dept. to be dispatched. WTF? What is wrong with people)? I wrote my senator pleading with him to find a smarter solution to the state budget crisis than cut backs in education, (as if our kids don't have it hard enough already). His reponse? 1. Vague assurance that he was on top of the situation. 2. Assurance that his "vague"response was more than what the republicans were willing to do. Gee thanks! Good looking out for the kiddos. Politicans! What a joke they are!



Well thats whats on my mind ......

An Uneventful Morning Leading Up To Alice’s Afternoon Adventure In Wonderland


“Alice wake up! You’ll be late for breakfast and I fear there will be none left for you!” Cried Nanny Gert as she blustered in Alice’s room throwing open her curtains to let the morning’s sunlight in. “Oh really Nanny Gert can’t I have a few more minutes of sleep? Surely a few more won’t hurt.” yawned Alice, who slowly lifts her head from her pillow. “Nonsense child! I’ve let you sleep in an hour later than usual and besides your mother is downstairs waiting to have a word with you and your sisters about how you will be spending your day.” “What!” Gasps Alice suddenly very much awake and thoroughly annoyed. Upon getting no response from her nanny she goes on. “But its Saturday Nanny Gert! There shouldn’t be any plans made for me on Saturday!” “That’s for you and your mother to work out.” Mutters nanny Gert as she begins setting out Alice’s clothes for the day. “ I need you dressed immediately and downstairs in no more than ten minutes.” Warned Nanny Gert. “Or else someone’s head is going to roll for this.” And with that she was gone leaving Alice alone to get dressed and washed up. Begrudgingly Alice does what she is told all the while grumbling to herself as pulls her blue dress with the white apron across the front over her head. Still grumbling as she brushes her long silky blonde hair.

What Nanny Gert did not mention to Alice (for fear of a drawn out argument) was that Alice’s mother, Mrs. Liddell was having the women of the Garden Society over for tea this afternoon and she wanted Alice and her middle sister Rachel out of the house while it was going on. All the servants were busy at this very moment getting the house in order for the party that would take place this afternoon. To complicate matters worse, Mr. Brooks Alice’s music teacher, had canceled her lesson for this afternoon and asked if it could be moved to the morning time instead. This lesson pretty much soaked up Alice’s morning, and if she knew about this right away Alice would have been even more difficult to extract out bed. She hated her music lessons and thought Mr. Brooks to be as dull as butter knife.

As Alice entered the dining room, she immediately took notice of the fact that both her older sisters were already eating, as well as her mother who was nibbling on dry toast and sipping her breakfast tea. Her father had left earlier in the morning to see a man about purchasing a horse. “Good morning Alice. Nice of you to join us.” Said her mother curtly. Alice sat down and began spreading orange marmalade on her toast while carefully eyeing her mother waiting to hear the news that had surely spoiled her day. “Alice” her mother began, “I’m having the members of my Garden Society over for tea this afternoon and this house needs to be spotless for it. Since I can’t have you wondering around getting into heaven-knows-what I’ve decided to schedule your music lessons for this morning to keep you out of mischief.” Alice’s eyes narrow and her mouth puckers. Edna, Alice’s eldest sister tries to suppress a snicker for she knows full well how much Alice despises her music lessons. Mrs. Liddell shoots Edna a reproachful look and Edna lowers her eyes back toward her breakfast. “Of Course Edna finds this amusing,” sulks Alice silently. “Edna is old enough to have tea with mother and her stuffy friends. Edna is treated like an adult, one who can choose how to spend her time on a Saturday morning.” “Once your lessons are finished” continues Mrs. Liddell, “ you and Rachel shall go outside under the willow tree out back and complete your reading lesson.” Now this is really too much for Alice. “Academic lessons on a Saturday too?” Storms Alice trying her hardest to suppress her anger. Everyone knew Alice loved to spend her time outside chasing butterflies or picking daises not sitting under some stupid willow tree having Rachel read to Alice one of her drab and picture less books. Once Alice realizes her mother isn’t going to bend on her plans for Alice she quietly finishes her breakfast and asks to be excused to get ready for her music lessons.

Mr. Milton Brooks divides Alice’s lessons up between nervously glancing at his pocket watch and barking orders of correction at Alice when she plays the wrong key or string on the piano and violin. Mr. Brooks is a squat of man with a balding head trimmed with a crow’s nest of thick white hair around the perimeter of his skull. He is old and crabby. He has zero patience with his pupils and out not be teaching young children in the first place, at least, that’s how Alice feels. As she is picking up the violin he sits down at the piano and instructs her that they will be practicing Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata in A major. The intro is a disaster. Alice immediately plays the wrong string, partly because she gets pleasure in vexing the squatty little man, but also because she finds her arms and legs to be restless. Longing for the warm sunlight of outside. “Focus Alice!” Screams Mr. Brooks. “I haven’t got all day for you to try and get this right! We’ve been at it for weeks now! You should now which string to led off with by now.” After his tongue lashing he promptly checks his pocket watch again and mumbles something under his breath about not wanting to be late for something Alice can’t quite make out. She picks up her violin and somehow manages to get through her lessons.

After Mr. Brooks is finished with her music lessons, Alice in a last effort attempt, tries to sneak off without her mother noticing to go play with Dinah her cat and a ball of Nanny Gert’s red yarn that seems to catch her eye. However, Nanny Gert who is on to Alice’s motives swiftly directs the child out the back door down near toward the willow tree where her sister Rachel is seated on a quilt waiting for Alice with a leather bounded book in her hand. “Time for your reading lesson Alice” Rachel says. “Oh c’mon Rach, do we have too? Can’t we go exploring in the woods or make mud pies, dig for worms, anything but read?” Whines Alice. “No I promised mother we’d both stay out of her hair this afternoon and that I would have you read to me too.” Replied Rachel. “Rachel is always trying to please mother” thought Alice resentfully, “she would not dare step one toe out of line.” After some heavy coaxing and a promise to share some of Rachel’s chocolate with her sister if she sat down and was good, Alice relented and plopped down on the quilt as Rachel opened the book to its first chapter. “What are we reading today dear sister?” Inquired Alice. “Shirley, by Emily Bronte.” Replied Rachel. “I don’t suppose there are any pictures in this book?” Asked Alice. “No. There are not I’m afraid.” Answered Rachel. “Why would anyone want to waste there time reading a book with not pictures?” Grumbles Alice as she stretches out on the quilt. “I take it you want me to read first?” Inquires Rachel. “Yes” yawns Alice, that would be fine.” As Rachel begins to read to Alice, she becomes relaxed and starts to drift in and out of sleep when out of the corner of her eye she catches what she believes to be a white rabbit rushing past her it a state of sheer panic but what she can’t believe is that he seems to be holding a pocket watch and talking to it. “No” Alice thinks as she gives her self over to sleep, “No, that can’t be right……

*If you are curious about how the real Violin Sonata in A Major sounds like check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-8RPp6NS7g

** I do realize Alice's Adventures In Wonderland is not exactly folksy in the traditional sense. But it does have some mythological creatures (common in traditional folk tales) that are capable of extraordinary things like talking or vanishing such as the Cheshire cat, and the white rabbit. They are just represented in a non-traditional form as opposed to the way the sphinx, or a moon rabbit would be. Mythological creatures seem to have some form of human interaction or companionship throughout the stories. This story is no different in that regard. And besides I had fun with this : )

My Favorite Story

My favorite Story would have to be Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventure in Wonderland". It's a story about a curious little girl and her runaway imagination that both get her in all sorts of interesting situations. My fascination with this story came when I was a child and viewed the Disney animated version of this tale, so for years this was the way I believed the story to be. However, as an adult I did read Lewis Carroll's book and some things were different or more appropriately omitted from the Disney movie than in the book. For example, the chapter about Pig and Pepper. Although I must be honest when I say I didn't really miss that particular chapter simply because it is totally creepy to me. A baby that becomes a pig? Gross!!!!!!!



Why I like the story is because Alice is a curious kid (not unlike myself), who on a rather uneventful day decides to follow her imagination (the white rabbit) down a hole and into a world of the macabre. Alice meets some pretty unique characters along her journey. The Cheshire cat being one of my favorites because he is mysterious and wise. He doesn't rescue Alice everytime she finds herself in trouble but serves to vex her enough into incorporating her own logic and reasoning that eventually leads her back home.



In fact, logic and reason seem to serve as the backdrop of the story. This is interesting considering Lewis Carroll aka: Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was a scientist and mathematician as well as a philosopher and writer. The book really is thought provoking because sometimes words and questions have duel meanings like when the caterpillar asks Alice upon meeting her: Who are you? When she stumbles with an answer he then demands her to "explain yourself!" Which she replies "I can't explain myself because I am not myself." This makes me wonder if ever demanded to, how well could any of us "explain" ourselves?

*Photo from http://www.broadwayworld.com/

Intro

I am taking an intro creative writing class because I want to learn how to become a better writer. I love to write and have a tidal wave of ideas floating around in my head waiting to be developed into some kind of logical thought process. I love writing essays and book reviews because it is structured writing (which translates in my world as "safe" writing without having to develop a creative idea). I need to get into that creative zone and STAY there so hopefully if all goes as anticipated, I will be able to do exactly that after finishing this course.