Srcsmgrl

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Writing Workshops for Teens!

I am feeling much better, although I capped off my week with an infection in my thumb that had a red line going down my arm. Fun times spending a couple of hours in the walk in clinic. Thank goodness for insurance!

I input the calendar entries for my computer workshops this summer. They probably won't be posted for a couple more weeks. I am sure that their workload with all of the Summer Reading Program stuff must be overwhelming.

I still have two writing workshop dates left. Here is the lowdown:

'Writing the Supernatural Story' workshop for teens at the Wallingford Branch Saturday, May 3, 2008, 1 - 3pm

Event type: Class
Where: Wallingford Branch
Audience: Teens
Language: English
Summary: A writing workshop with Mindy Hardwick covering the art of writing a supernatural story.

Full Description: Ghosts, vampires, and surreal stories that scare-come explore the world of the supernatural. We'll explore elements used in creating the supernatural world, including: developing strong atmosphere and moods with setting, establishing ground rules for the ghost, and building character when our characters are not of this world. We'll look at stories by children's writers Avi, Jane Yolan, and Paul Fleischman and try our hands at a few writing exercises designed to find the ghost lurking in our stories.
Class Notes: Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is not required.

'Creative Journaling for Young Writers' workshop at the University Branch Saturday, May 17, 2008, 1 - 3pm

Event type: Class
Where: University Branch
Audience: Teens
Language: English
Summary: Poetry, art, and writing—come explore the many ways of creative journal writing, taught by Mindy Hardwick.

Full Description: Poetry, art, and writing—come explore the many ways of creative journal writing. Whether you are currently keeping a journal, or have never kept one, this workshop will give you new ideas for how to express who you are through writing. Participants are encouraged to bring a journal to the workshop.
Class Notes Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is not required.

If you know any teens interested in writing, send them my way!

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Sick :(

I am home sick today, roving the internets, staring at the screen with bleary eyes. The gigantic headache that I came down with yesterday just before my gaming program (yay :( has mostly subsided now and I am left with a raspy voice, puffy eyes and achy-ness. I set up for the program and high tailed it home to my bed. I slept most of yesterday--probably the most sleep I have gotten since the last time I was sick--whenever that was.

In my delirium last night, I pre-ordered Mario Kart for the Wii. Luckily I was going to do that anyway, so it wasn't a terrible thing. I got an extra wheel and we will probably end up using it for our tournament this summer. I hope to have most of the races unlocked by then, although I am unsure how to transfer that between Wii's.

And from way back in March, here is a link to a YouTube video of some of my family making sillies of themselves attempting an Irish brogue (stolen from Monkeyhead).

Update on poor Robby. To add insult to injury, Robby has sprung a leak of baby spiders. Here she is, struggling along anyhow and I come to find little specks crawling all over her. I think they must be inside her, because I can't find them anywhere else. They seem to particularly like the screen. I keep squishing them and they just keep coming. Usually I hate spiders, but these are really just moving little dots. Reminds me of an old video game, trying to make sure none of them make it to adulthood.

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

Poetry Workshop

Today was my poetry workshop. Ann Teplick is a great teacher and she can really roll with whatever we throw her way. Today we had a teen boy and his parents and another teen girl that came to the workshop. She lead them all through the workshop like a champ. I sat in on almost half of it and was really impressed with some of the writing coming out of there. The dad wrote a poem that had me misty (like I have said in the past, not a difficult task). Here is my attempt:


A Poet is
a snowflake

infinite and free

drifting, falling

becoming one
with the land


A poet becomes
a stone

a speck of dirt

a pebble of sand

one of many

one of a kind


A poet will always be
a witness

a pair of eyes

a shout of joy

a cry of dispair

one who tells both
lies and truth

with grace and sincerity

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Friday, April 18, 2008

SNOW?!?

OMG! More snow! In April! This is really silly and I want to know who to write my letter of complaint to. The sun should be shining and the birds should be singing--not freezing to death and falling off their perches!

This is great. Another reason why no one will go to my writing workshop tomorrow. Lovely. But hey, if they do show up, they can wax on about how beautiful (or annoying) the snow is. :P



Oh, and "It's Friday, I'm in Love" :)

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Long Weekend

I had a great weekend. Family and friends came over on Saturday to hang out. We sang on the Wii with the American Idol Karaoke Revolution game. It rocked. And of course enjoyed the 75 degree weather. Diva brought a picture of our sons in diapers for us all to gawk at and the boys liked it and had fun with us. I thought they would be embarrassed :)

Sunday, The Boy and I accompanied Dr. T down to Kent to meet some of his friends (for those of you wondering who Dr. T is, well, I think I called him The Man before, but I have decided that I hate that name, so now my boyfriend is Dr. T). The friends were a very nice couple that had moved up recently from San Francisco. Dr. T knew the husband from childhood in Spokane. He is a pastor and he and his wife have 2 children. Those of you that know me well, know that I am not religious. Perhaps even anti religious. I was a little worried about how I would come off in this situation, and also how they would judge me. Well, they didn't and I did just fine. In fact, I would say we got along well. They were very nice and The Boy and I really enjoyed the visit. The Boy was really polite and engaging, too (all weekend!). Sometimes he is not, but I see this as a sign of his usually teen-angsty attitude improving.

On Monday I did my usual volunteer gig, then met my dad and sister in bell town. My sis is publishing in the SCC school paper. It was very cool to see. Then dad and I hit Serious Pie for dinner. The food was pretty good, but the waitress was a little scratchy. I don't have anything I can pinpoint to complain about, but it was kind of disappointing. Then we went to see Marjane Satrapi at the Moore. She is the author of the comic series Persepolis and has a lot to say about the state of the world. She was remarkably well spoken, especially since English is her 3rd or 4th language and even she says she is far from fluent. I had already heard much of her prepared speech from a dvd that I got from the library, but the question and answer portion made me tear up with emotion (which is not surprising for me, since cheesy commercials about caring can get me misty).

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Friday, April 11, 2008

RESPECT

My hands are still shaking. Funny how I can be moving through life, feeling mature and in charge, focused even, and one person can come along and make me feel 12 again.

I want to tell you the whole story--it would be good for my soul--but that would probably get me into trouble. So, suffice it to say, a patron challenged me today when I was in charge of the building, and while I think I handled it fine I also feel that he did not take me seriously. Whether it was a gender issue or that I don't look my age--not that either should matter--I don't know.

So, on to better subjects! I just had two real reference questions and that made me happy. I am almost finished cataloging the zines we had donated and I have a couple of shouts out to other zines to send them our way. I am about halfway through an order for zines from Microcosm--they seem to be out of a lot of things I would like to order. Book group was fun today. We talked about City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. Now I am contemplating a walk around Green Lake w/ peeps for a little soaking up the sun time.

Yes, I feel better.

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Tuesday, April 08, 2008

They are Creeping Up on Me!

You know how when you have a lot going on, the less imminent things sort of hang at the corner of your vision? They are important, perhaps essential things that need to be done. They stress you out, sitting over there, but they don't (or can't) be done right away, so they just sit there, mocking you while you scurry about doing other things, then WHAM! you missed your portal.

This has happened to me in the past. Some people know that I am a planner. I plan girls night, I plan programs, I plan out how I am going to pay my bills for the next six months. I have a google calendar and I work it, baby! In the past, I did not have this beautiful google calendar to send me reminders and stuff got lost. The due date for financial aid passed me by one year. I even already had my taxes done and had about half of the FAFSA done, but I missed the deadline and had to write a sniveling letter to the financial aid office telling them why they should let me have top choice moneys anyway. Over the years this has happened with assignments and other things with deadlines.

And while I am good with my calendar now, there are still things I miss. Like my grandfather's birthday a couple of weeks ago. I know when it is! How does that date pass me by?

Right now I feel the hovering mockery of the ALA conference. I have registered--even got early bird rates thanks to Papa--and I have booked my hotel. What I have left is the airline tickets and the hotel for before, because I am taking the boy with me for a few days, then sending him home prior to the conference. This conference is in Anaheim, so I imagine that we will go to Disneyland one day and spend the rest of the time at the beach. Yay, sunny vacation!

But I can't book the tickets yet...it is driving me insane on the edge of my brain. It isn't conscious thought, it just jumps out at me at weird times.

OMG! I have to book my flight!
Ok, no. Calm down. (deep breath)
Ok, back to new books...

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