Image credit: gomighty.com It's embarrassing to realize it's been months, as in MONTHS, since I've posted anything. It's not that I don't think about it. It just seems like there's always something else to demand my attention and consume my writing time.
And yet, with a bit of self-reflection, I can still claim to be Mining, Flexing, and Publishing -- just differently!
And yet, with a bit of self-reflection, I can still claim to be Mining, Flexing, and Publishing -- just differently!
MINING...
Teaching writing is one of my favorite things to do.
It also can suck the creativity right out of me since I use much of my (limited) supply coming up with fresh ways to help students understand the boring - but necessary - basics of grammar. I often write for and with them, and, ironically, I struggle to reign in my writing style so as to ensure that I am modeling a clear, basic structure for the essay-challenged class participants.
Frankly, there's not much left to mine in the mind after expending so much energy! I miss the feedback a blog posting might generate, but it is gratifying to see students' writing improve.
Teaching writing is one of my favorite things to do.
It also can suck the creativity right out of me since I use much of my (limited) supply coming up with fresh ways to help students understand the boring - but necessary - basics of grammar. I often write for and with them, and, ironically, I struggle to reign in my writing style so as to ensure that I am modeling a clear, basic structure for the essay-challenged class participants.
Frankly, there's not much left to mine in the mind after expending so much energy! I miss the feedback a blog posting might generate, but it is gratifying to see students' writing improve.
FLEXING...
These days I am flexing more than my fingers. I'm bending many body parts I didn't know I had into configurations that threaten to hold me hostage permanently. And I am loving it.
Yoga classes have broadened my circle of friends. Women (and a few men) who work in fields different than mine bring new topics of conversation to my mental table as we twist our aging and sometimes battered bodies into pretzels. We grunt together, laugh together, and nap together (at the end of class.) I leave those sessions feeling taller, leaner, more powerful. And ready for my wine.
These days I am flexing more than my fingers. I'm bending many body parts I didn't know I had into configurations that threaten to hold me hostage permanently. And I am loving it.
Yoga classes have broadened my circle of friends. Women (and a few men) who work in fields different than mine bring new topics of conversation to my mental table as we twist our aging and sometimes battered bodies into pretzels. We grunt together, laugh together, and nap together (at the end of class.) I leave those sessions feeling taller, leaner, more powerful. And ready for my wine.
PUBLISHING...
In the months since I last posted here, I've actually published a lot of pith - under the alias of Corgi Characters on Facebook. I began the page on a lark, but in six months, the page has accumulated over 2600 likes, and connected me via comment conversations to people all over the world. It has evolved into a platform to both make "friends" with those who love animals, and as a way to advocate for various animal-related causes.
Most surprising to me are my emotional responses beyond the gratification in seeing nearly instant likes, comments, and sharings. Through the faces of my sweet furkids, I celebrate successes and milestones of pets and their owners, participate in "meet-and-greet" pawties, encourage others who are in need or working toward goals, and shed tears when beloved pets of people I've never met cross Rainbow Bridge. In a sense, it provides some of what I hope for when writing here.
In the months since I last posted here, I've actually published a lot of pith - under the alias of Corgi Characters on Facebook. I began the page on a lark, but in six months, the page has accumulated over 2600 likes, and connected me via comment conversations to people all over the world. It has evolved into a platform to both make "friends" with those who love animals, and as a way to advocate for various animal-related causes.
Most surprising to me are my emotional responses beyond the gratification in seeing nearly instant likes, comments, and sharings. Through the faces of my sweet furkids, I celebrate successes and milestones of pets and their owners, participate in "meet-and-greet" pawties, encourage others who are in need or working toward goals, and shed tears when beloved pets of people I've never met cross Rainbow Bridge. In a sense, it provides some of what I hope for when writing here.
Someday I may become more consistent in publishing here, but in the meantime, if anyone is looking for me, they can ask Corgi Characters to let me know.
