What? An award? Me?

I have a confession.  Long ago in a galaxy far far away someone gave me a blogger award and I lost track of it.  My organizational skills are shady at best.  I apologize for not being able to thank you in person for that first award.  I was thrilled.  I skipped and sang a song.

The amazing Lisa Gail Green has given me a second chance despite my previous dimwitted slight, by honoring my blog with the Stylish Blogger Award.  Run, don't walk to check out her blog Paranormal Point of View.


Seven things about myself:
1. My greatest fear is that I will be eaten by a shark or a bear.
2. I was the assistant art director on IT'S GARRY SHANDLING'S SHOW, for three seasons.
3. My collection of STAR WARS memorabilia is the envy of every ten-year-old boy on the planet.
4. I changed my daughter's middle name from Colleen to Christine in labor.
5. I enter a Zen state when I go to a bookstore or an office supply store.  Pretty, pretty post-its.
6. I was Louisa in a national tour of SOUND OF MUSIC my freshman year of high school.  Yes, I wore the sailor suit.
7. Twitter overwhelms me, but I will persevere and figure it all out.


Here's a shout out to a few of the blogs I love and am honored to pass this award along to.  Check them out and enjoy.


Jess Falling Leaflets
Monica Love YA
Michelle L. Brown Brownie Points
Julie Musil Writing and Blogging Between Carpools
Dana Elmendorf A Squirrel Among Lions
Jessica Love Jessica Love Writes


I could go on, and on, and on, and on...  
Thanks to all you dedicated bloggers who teach me something new with every post and fill me with inspiration.

View From the 5th Grade Trenches - March 2011 - For Japan

Art is the heart beat for expressing emotion, be it through canvas, camera lens, music, or words.  As my class watched the cataclysm unfolding in Japan, they felt a need to send love to our brothers and sisters suffering across the sea.  Haiku, a poetic gift from that exquisite country, was the way they expressed their thoughts.

We are in much fear                                                    

God will find a way to help                                         

There are no tears left                                                

Lisa                                                                               

Just hope, don’t be sad                                            

No more tears, help will be there                              

Hope is there for you

Rian    

Days and days go by

Hope and sadness fill our hearts

Devastating news

Ashley S. & Kathleen

Sadness of Japan

Family's hearts are broken

Something good will come of this

Gage & Pratik

This link will take you to a list of official Red Cross donation sites supporting the relief efforts in Japan.    http://www.redcross.org/en/otherdonationsites/

Conflicted

Back in high school English we all learned about universal conflicts:

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Himself

Man vs. Machine

It’s a blast to write YA because in the teen universe EVERYTHING is a conflict, spanning the spectrum from global to minutia.

Teen vs. Parents

Teen vs. Siblings

Teen vs. Friend today gone tomorrow

Teen vs. Teachers and School

Teen vs. Weather that makes your hair frizz

Teen vs. Their own reflection in the mirror

Teen vs. Trendy Outfits

Teen vs. The DMV

Teen vs. The Fast Food Job

Teen vs. Lack of Money

Teen vs. Social Status

Teen vs. Hair Product

Teen vs. Acne

Teen vs. Acceptance

Teen vs. Cell Phone Service

Teen vs. Who has a car?

Teen vs. the Internet

Teen vs. Curfew

Teen vs. Everyone is stupid except for me

Spy vs. Spy – Sorry, couldn’t resist giving a shout out to my old MAD MAGAZINE reading days.

I’ve only scratched the surface.   Dig out your own teen conflicts and share.

Show Me the Love

When I hop in my time machine and journey back to my YA years for material to pop into my writing, there is one word that flashes in neon above my head.

LOVE – LOVE – LOVE.

Ah, the many faces of love in those chaotic days of high school never disappoint in making our stories ring with truth.

FIRST LOVE: Sweet, delicate, and completely uninformed.

UNATTAINABLE LOVE: Aiming higher than your social sphere.

POWER PLAY LOVE: Dating the right person for social advancement.

TRUE LOVE: Shut up Mom, it is possible to find your soul mate in high school.

CONVENIENT LOVE:  Sticking together for social events especially in senior year.

FORBIDDEN LOVE: Your best friend’s boyfriend.

ON AGAIN – OFF AGAIN LOVE:  You’re my boyfriend THIS week. 

SLOPPY SECONDS LOVE: Next…

MY PARENTS DON’T WANT ME TO DATE YOU LOVE:  Rebellion.

SEXUAL-TENSION LOVE:  Combusting hormones blot out all logical brain function.

OMG LOVE: When you give a so-called “friend” a second look and voila…

Which face of love fits your favorite characters?   What new faces would you add to the list?

Shine

It’s conference week in the 5^th grade trenches.  Today I asked my students to list three things in the following categories to share with their parents during our meeting.

I shine at…

I need to improve in…

As my student’s were listing their positive attributes with no qualms about bragging, I realized that as writers we tend to dwell on the areas in our work that need improvement rather than celebrate our strengths.

So for today, let’s share the shine.  I’ll go first.

I shine at dialogue.  (That BA in acting finally paid off.)

I shine at settings.  (That MFA in design finally paid off.)

I shine at humor. (My irreverence and smart-alecky mouth finally paid off.)

Now blind me with your shine.