Well, today we changed the guest room into Heather's schoolroom ala my writing and reading room. It is truly delightful! I love the look of it and it feels very creative and fun. I am sitting here surrounded by beautiful artwork, some mine, other pieces are Heather's, and some by professional artists. It is delightful and I can't help but smile. I purchased a lovely antique desk, perfect for writing my literary novels to be....it is quite lovely and exudes the passing of time. What a treat. I pride myself on trying to only by recycled things and preferably, things with stories. I love that I have changed my house around to truly reflect me as well as my husband and it does feel like home every time I walk through the door. Thanks to my various connections in the reselling of furniture and Kevin being an auctioneer, I now look around my house and can smile at the fact that I didn't buy anything new that created more landfill items. I did my part and in doing so, I found a desk. Not just a desk, I found THE desk. How to explain....hmmm...well, you know how you create the image of something in your mind of how something should look and if you ever found that item, it was suppose to be yours? That's how I felt about this desk the first time I saw it. I could tell that it could be part of something big within me and thus, it is my desk now. Along with getting a desk, I rearranged items in my house so that they felt new again and they do, they really do. It was exciting to come home tonight after fun with Heather and Kevin and see our home---different, but the same. In a world where people build addition after addition, I am happy with the space I have. I love that it is "just right." This not-so-Goldilocks loves this house and I will own it forever. It suites me and it suites my family. I am blessed.
Virginia Woolf always said that we should all have a room of our own and believe me, I couldn't agree more. Hope you all have a great evening and sweet dreams.
Just a few of my lovely felted purses
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
I feel a great sense of FREEDOM!
I went into Verizon today and waited up to 45 minutes to be waited on and then, I turned in my phone. It was liberating! No more will I have to deal with upgrades and hidden costs! No more, "well, don't you want Internet access?" or stupid questions about apps. I am FREE!
It is nice, I must say, to be without a cellphone. I know that I have just heard way to much about how they could be a part of possibly causing cancer, though I realize that everything seems to cause cancer these days. I do know people that have had cancer in the same region that they always held their cellphones, but I am not a doctor...so, I will just do my part in trying to be preventing further techno trauma...hehehe...I like that, "Hi, my names Jen and I am a woman recovering from techno trauma." Sounds like something we might have faced in the eighties with techno music.
Now, all I have to do this afternoon is be a good mom, enjoy time with Heather and try to come up with a chimney sweep outfit for her Dancekidz production on Friday. Yes, they are doing songs and dances from MARY POPPINS and Heather is loving it! So, with me luck and don't forget, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!"
It is nice, I must say, to be without a cellphone. I know that I have just heard way to much about how they could be a part of possibly causing cancer, though I realize that everything seems to cause cancer these days. I do know people that have had cancer in the same region that they always held their cellphones, but I am not a doctor...so, I will just do my part in trying to be preventing further techno trauma...hehehe...I like that, "Hi, my names Jen and I am a woman recovering from techno trauma." Sounds like something we might have faced in the eighties with techno music.
Now, all I have to do this afternoon is be a good mom, enjoy time with Heather and try to come up with a chimney sweep outfit for her Dancekidz production on Friday. Yes, they are doing songs and dances from MARY POPPINS and Heather is loving it! So, with me luck and don't forget, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!"
It is early and I am at peace
It is the wee hours of the morning and I am awake. It seems that, knowing full well that I should or could be sleeping, my body says, "nope! Let's get up!" It always amazes me how this seems to be a daily happening and I thought that I better be good and do what I am suppose to do and that is write. As you probably noticed, I am getting rid of my cellphone and can't wait to hand it over to Verizon today and say, "see ya!" due to the amount of time spent on the phone with them trying to figure out why I can't get proper service where ever I am. In my house, I have had to lean up against a window to get reception or, I have had to walk outside, which is not good when it is super hot for this lady with MS. So, land line is the way of my world now and I am at peace. Also, for all of those people who are attached to their cellphones like they were their life force...take a day without the cell, see if you can survive...who knows? It might be good for you? People have asked me, "what will you do if you get in an accident or you break down on the side of the road?" My answer is---ON STAR. Just resigned up yesterday and it only costs me $12.99 a month compared to an astronomical amount for phone service that is inadequate. And, amazingly, before cellphones, we survived.
I might be going backwards, but I don't think that we need to be tethered to technology. I have a problem with the sound of a phone interrupting time with my husband or daughter. We might be mid conversation and the phone rings while we are out doing something fun. Now, I do need to get use to the sound of a phone at home and am not too excited about that, but I will get use to it. Also, I can always ignore it if Heather and I are reading together, learning or spending quality time. She is getting older so fast and I refuse to have technology come between us.
As for my feeling about other technology, obviously, I like computers as I am blogging on one right now, but I do not like the idea of KINDLES, IPADS and other devices that you can read books off of. I can understand their convenience, but this book lover has to have the tangible book in my hands wherever I go. People tell me, "you can actually turn the page on the computer and it is like a real book!" To this, I say, "buy a real book!" or better yet, frequent your local library. Now, in cases where you have audio books read to you, that is great, especially for my Granny who needs it read to her due to her Macular degeneration. But, do we really need more technology that takes the place of the earthy feel of the tangible book? I don't think so.
This week, I reorganized my guest room and started setting it up to be my writing and reading room. Heather will also share this room as it will be her schoolroom. We are both so excited to have this room as our own and Heather understands the value of quiet and a space to read and learn. In the process, I put out all of my Harvard classics that where my Grandpop's first purchase after he married my Granny. It was so nice to see all of these beautiful books laid out for all to see and it help to remind me of the importance of the written word.
My next endeavor is to read the classics along with Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize winners in literature. This is a life long goal and will help me have a better understanding of history as well as become a better writer. I look forward to the challenge and am happy that Heather will see me continuing my education and realize that you are always learning.
So, to sum up, think about your cellphone, your KINDLE, your IPAD. Think about the fact that maybe you are alittle too attached to it or them. Step away from it for a day, maybe two. Try having a day or a week without any television. Go outside or spend some time with a good book in a hammock. Have a tickle fight with your children or play tag. Life is too short if you are always plugged in.
I might be going backwards, but I don't think that we need to be tethered to technology. I have a problem with the sound of a phone interrupting time with my husband or daughter. We might be mid conversation and the phone rings while we are out doing something fun. Now, I do need to get use to the sound of a phone at home and am not too excited about that, but I will get use to it. Also, I can always ignore it if Heather and I are reading together, learning or spending quality time. She is getting older so fast and I refuse to have technology come between us.
As for my feeling about other technology, obviously, I like computers as I am blogging on one right now, but I do not like the idea of KINDLES, IPADS and other devices that you can read books off of. I can understand their convenience, but this book lover has to have the tangible book in my hands wherever I go. People tell me, "you can actually turn the page on the computer and it is like a real book!" To this, I say, "buy a real book!" or better yet, frequent your local library. Now, in cases where you have audio books read to you, that is great, especially for my Granny who needs it read to her due to her Macular degeneration. But, do we really need more technology that takes the place of the earthy feel of the tangible book? I don't think so.
This week, I reorganized my guest room and started setting it up to be my writing and reading room. Heather will also share this room as it will be her schoolroom. We are both so excited to have this room as our own and Heather understands the value of quiet and a space to read and learn. In the process, I put out all of my Harvard classics that where my Grandpop's first purchase after he married my Granny. It was so nice to see all of these beautiful books laid out for all to see and it help to remind me of the importance of the written word.
My next endeavor is to read the classics along with Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize winners in literature. This is a life long goal and will help me have a better understanding of history as well as become a better writer. I look forward to the challenge and am happy that Heather will see me continuing my education and realize that you are always learning.
So, to sum up, think about your cellphone, your KINDLE, your IPAD. Think about the fact that maybe you are alittle too attached to it or them. Step away from it for a day, maybe two. Try having a day or a week without any television. Go outside or spend some time with a good book in a hammock. Have a tickle fight with your children or play tag. Life is too short if you are always plugged in.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Ode to my Cellphone
Alas, poor pitiful thing,
more often than not,
you would not ring.
I would lose calls
and had not moved.
At no point did it seem
that this had improved.
So now, I throw you
into the proverbial air
with reckless abandonment,
Because, "I don't care!"
In a land of leash technology,
no more I live,
For I truly do have
too much to give,
so Verizon, I bid you,
goodbye one and all,
Because mom always said,
if you can't say somethin' nice,
don't say nothin' at all.
more often than not,
you would not ring.
I would lose calls
and had not moved.
At no point did it seem
that this had improved.
So now, I throw you
into the proverbial air
with reckless abandonment,
Because, "I don't care!"
In a land of leash technology,
no more I live,
For I truly do have
too much to give,
so Verizon, I bid you,
goodbye one and all,
Because mom always said,
if you can't say somethin' nice,
don't say nothin' at all.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
I am exhausted, but happy as can be
Well, ever since Saturday, I have been at the Antioch Writer's Workshop and having a good time with fellow writers, published and unpublished. It has truly been a good week and tomorrow is the last day. Between time with Crystal Wilkinson to Sigrid Nunez, along with fun with my friends, John and Nancy, I am pleased to say that I learned a great deal about my writing and about myself.
I am a writer and I have always been a writer. I use humor to cover up tough topics, a typical mechanism for many people. But, the biggest thing I learned is that I do need to write the books about the tough topics, just that I can approach these tough topics through third person. SO, this writer is going to continue to practice her craft and practice and practice and practice. They say that the first million words is just practice, so, I just want to apologize to all the trees that I have killed, I will do my best to leave behind a legacy of good writing.
I am a writer and I have always been a writer. I use humor to cover up tough topics, a typical mechanism for many people. But, the biggest thing I learned is that I do need to write the books about the tough topics, just that I can approach these tough topics through third person. SO, this writer is going to continue to practice her craft and practice and practice and practice. They say that the first million words is just practice, so, I just want to apologize to all the trees that I have killed, I will do my best to leave behind a legacy of good writing.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Heather and the Computer
So, a most amazing thing has transpired this summer! As I was taught by my mother and father, you learn to treasure things more if you must work for them. Well, this is the case with my dear Heather. She has been working since the beginning of June to raise money for a laptop to use for her home schooling. Kevin and I put up a chart and wrote out the overall rules, which were as follows: for every book she read that was around fifty pages, she got a sticker on her chart. Each sticker was worth $1 towards her computer. For every 50 pages she completes in her various summer workbooks, she receives $25 towards her computer and her weekly allowance is $5 if received in hand or $10 in the bank if it goes towards the computer. After she reaches her goal of $250.00, her Kevin Daddy and I will match that $250.00 and purchase a reasonable computer of her choice.
So, what is so amazing about this is that, by her own saving of money, she is only $39 away from her goal! She worked for Kevin several times so far this summer and he said that she was an awesome and driven worker.
So, I truly can say that I owe my parents so much for instilling my work ethic in me that I may now pass down this same work ethic to my daughter and I couldn't be prouder! The best part of this whole experience is that Heather is telling me how much she has and rattling off quickly what she needs to do and how many weeks it will take her to raise the money. She is my little mathematician who wants to be a scientist! So, watch out world! Here comes Heather!
So, what is so amazing about this is that, by her own saving of money, she is only $39 away from her goal! She worked for Kevin several times so far this summer and he said that she was an awesome and driven worker.
So, I truly can say that I owe my parents so much for instilling my work ethic in me that I may now pass down this same work ethic to my daughter and I couldn't be prouder! The best part of this whole experience is that Heather is telling me how much she has and rattling off quickly what she needs to do and how many weeks it will take her to raise the money. She is my little mathematician who wants to be a scientist! So, watch out world! Here comes Heather!
In the land of Cobwebs, I Return!
Hello to all of my wonderful readers! I have been neglectful of my blog, but have been spending time writing privately, so sorry I wasn't sharing. I suppose you might want to give me a bad report card, "does not share well with others." It has been a bumpy roller coaster of this thing I call "life of Jen" and I am so happy to say that I now smile every day. I am retiring from teaching and am merely waiting for the paperwork to go through. The reason for my retiring is due to my MS and the fact that I get very fatigued, sometimes walk with a cane and overall have no life left in me, after teaching 150 students, to share of myself with my family. After nine wonderful years of teaching along with years of being a preschool teacher, youth theatre director and assistant youth theatre directors and teaching students at various schools in the summers, I am ready to teach the most important child---my daughter, Heather. I will be home schooling Heather this fall and look forward to what truly starts every summer in the form of "Camp De Mommy." Between this, spending time with my husband and writing, writing, writing, I am very happy with my choice.
I am happy to say that I am, once again, attending the Antioch Writer's Workshop this week and am so amazed by how wonderful it makes me feel. The experience is truly immeasurable and the time spent with writers is worth so much more than anything else I can imagine. I am blessed to have an understanding husband who allows me to follow my dreams and supports me and my writing in every way. Heather also loves the fact that mommy is a writer!
Tomorrow I embark on the journey of pitching my work to an agent and, once again, I am so excited. The difference between last year and this year is that---I have a book---in hand. No lofty ideas that need to fill a page in the future. I have a project worthy of print. For me, the goal is merely to be consistent, to write daily and to be true to my craft. I wish for no fame, but will do whatever I can to have my voice heard by many. So, I will write and write and please, write me and get on my case. As my friend, as my reader, question me, pester me and ask those lovely words, "So, how's the writing?" I will answer you and I will blog again---often....for nothing stands in my way now.
I am happy to say that I am, once again, attending the Antioch Writer's Workshop this week and am so amazed by how wonderful it makes me feel. The experience is truly immeasurable and the time spent with writers is worth so much more than anything else I can imagine. I am blessed to have an understanding husband who allows me to follow my dreams and supports me and my writing in every way. Heather also loves the fact that mommy is a writer!
Tomorrow I embark on the journey of pitching my work to an agent and, once again, I am so excited. The difference between last year and this year is that---I have a book---in hand. No lofty ideas that need to fill a page in the future. I have a project worthy of print. For me, the goal is merely to be consistent, to write daily and to be true to my craft. I wish for no fame, but will do whatever I can to have my voice heard by many. So, I will write and write and please, write me and get on my case. As my friend, as my reader, question me, pester me and ask those lovely words, "So, how's the writing?" I will answer you and I will blog again---often....for nothing stands in my way now.
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