writing | BulgingButtons

June 2, 2016
by BulgingButtons 4 Comments

Shake That Introvert Up

That’s my message to myself today. You see, it’s Comicon time again, and my sweetheart has purchased the full event pass for me. Why? Because there are authors at Comicon who generously offer their insights on writing and frankly, it’s really fun.

Now Comicon wouldn’t have been my first thought if someone had asked me where to go for writing support and instruction, but a few years back the sweetheart found out that there are real live authors there, and some of them are authors I’ve met through my various writing projects around town. Cool. So we went.

I was blown away! Not just by the author events, which were terrific, but by the whole thing. Costumes, people of all sorts (yes, ALL sorts, it was glorious!), and an energy that is infectious. I loved it. I still love it. But…

I have to confess, Comicon wears me out. And no, I don’t stay all day, or sleep in a hotel next to the Convention Center, or participate in CosPlay, or any of that. I just show up, go to my sessions, wander the vendors (miles of vendors), and go home again. But MAN, it drains me.

I’m self-aware enough to know that it’s because deep down I’m an introvert. Being anywhere with a lot of people for an extended period of time wears me out. It doesn’t mean I don’t like going places. I do. I just need to recharge after I’ve been there for a while. Some of my favorite memories have occurred at large family gatherings, quilting retreats, and scrapbooking conventions. Each of them, though, takes a toll.

It may sound silly if you’re not an introvert, but I have to psych myself up for these types of events. Yes, I’m looking forward to it, but really, I love being at home in the peace and quiet. Still, I’m going to check my parking map (he arranged that too, what a great guy), grab my lanyard, and head downtown. I’ve got this! Comicon, here I come!

June 1, 2016
by BulgingButtons 3 Comments

June Resolutions

Who says resolutions have to be made solely in January? I think June is as good a time as any, and for a teacher it’s an excellent time to make resolutions. At least if you’re a teacher in an area where school is out for summer.

Here are my June resolutions, in a nutshell:

Read a little
Write a little
Work a little
Move a little
Clean up a little
Create a little

Those sound pretty good, don’t they? And not too difficult to follow. At least I don’t think so. I’ve been working toward these resolutions for a while now, and oddly I’m finding the last one the most challenging. By using the term “create” I’m allowing myself a great deal of flexibility.

What does it really mean to create? I suppose it means to make something where there was previously nothing. I can create a meal or a menu. I can create a lesson or a teaching unit. I can create a doodle or a painting. I can create a quilt design or a whole quilt. I can create Pinterest boards and newsletters and reading comprehension exercises. I can create systems for checking out books and tracking homework assignments. Maybe creating isn’t as hard as I thought. I just need to allow myself the space in which to do it.

My goal is to do each of those items every day in June, with the exception of “work a little.” That one is for Monday through Friday. In fact, it’s more of a challenge NOT to “work a little” sometimes.

So where do I stand today, June first?

1.Read a little – check

I’ve been Reading Anne Tyler’s A Spool of Blue Thread strictly for pleasure. She is masterful at painting the picture of old Baltimore, and she’s very skilled at character development. I spent quite a bit of time reading this morning, and I’m looking forward to going back to this book.

2. Write a little – check

Well, here I am. I also recently entered a writing contest, and I’m presenting to my writing group next Monday. I have some work to do, but it’s getting done.

3. Work a little – check

I’ve been working on preparations for the summer writing program I’m teaching. I’m excited about working with these young writers and learning with them and from them.

4. Move a little – check

A morning walk in the park across the street with the dog was just what we both needed to get our day off to a good start.

5. Clean up a little – check

The kitchen is tidy, most of the laundry is done, and overall the house is not a mess. The recycling has been taken out and I hosed out the container that lives in the kitchen. Over time little drips of this and that get in there and it gets sticky, but today I tackled it, and it’s clean as a whistle.

6. Create a little – maybe

Ok, I created a gmail account for the summer writing program and two of the five mailing lists that I need for the newsletters. Does that count? Does a blog post? I don’t think so. I think that’s double-dipping. I feel like I have to create something else! Oh, I’ve got it! I’m creating a delicious dinner tonight. We’re having tortellini with spinach and artichokes in a light cream sauce. Yum!

Yes! I can officially say that day one is a success. Only 29 more to go. What are your June resolutions?

February 6, 2016
by BulgingButtons 1 Comment

Why Does a Hockey Player Want to Follow Me?

I get notifications form WordPress and Twitter when I get new followers. This isn’t shocking. People click on follow buttons all the time, and while it’s nice to see that new people are discovering what I’m up to, it isn’t exactly groundbreaking news when it happens.

Every once in a while I spend a little time checking out those people, and I often follow them back. Sometimes I’ve already followed them, and they’re following me back. Cool.

Now I’m not someone who lives and dies by the numbers. Yes, I love knowing that my little thoughts are floating around in cyberspace and once in a while some of you lovelies read them, and maybe even respond to them. That really does delight me. But I’m not out to win the busiest blog award (is there such a thing?) or the Twitter tweeter with with the most twaffic (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it). I’m not in the big leagues in either category, and I’m okay with that.

On Twitter, though, a lot of the people I follow ARE in the big leagues, at least in terms of their chosen professions. I follow big names in education, writing, politics, entertainment, art, and more. I like to see what makes these folks tick, and reading their tweets gives me some insight. The main take away? They tend to work really hard, and they put their pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us.

The other day, as I was looking through the new followers (seriously, it sounds like I’m leading a cult or something… I assure you I am not) I came across a fellow who’s a player in the NHL. Yes, folks, a real live professional hockey player. How cool is that?! I hadn’t followed him, and I’m not a huge hockey fan. I know nothing about his team. I don’t even keep up with the team from my childhood (although I did have hockey pictures on my wall the year they went for the Stanley Cup). I don’t DISLIKE hockey, it’s just not a part of my life. So how did this guy find me?

I don’t know, but I have to assume it was either my wit or my ravishing beauty that hooked him. Still, how he stumbled across something I’ve done is beyond me. I’m amazed at the way the internet works, and this is further proof that some things in the universe will never be explained. In the meantime, go Hurricanes!