Whatever you do to celebrate, have a happy 31st!
Frenchman's Bay, Maine
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
What a Wonderful World
This is my favorite Louis Armstrong song of all time. Needed to share it with you (and myself) today. Despite all the pain and sadness in life, I don't ever want to forget -- what a wonderful world.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Words Can Be Tricky
A few weeks ago, I visited the Frankfurt Book Fair, since it's only 45 minutes north of me--and one of the biggest events of its type in the world. Did I mention BIG? Overwhelming might be a better word.
Anyway, I mainly stuck to the hall for English language publishers, but visited the area for German publishers at one point. Pushing past the crowded masses of stalls with an acquaintance, I asked her, "Do you have any idea how I can find my friend's publisher? She said she'd be at their booth."
"What's the publisher's name?" Kristin asked.
"Umm. Hmm. Oh, I remember...it's Verlag!" I answered, feeling proud of myself.
Silence. Kristin smiled.
"Laurie? You do know that Verlag just means publisher in German?" Kristin said.
Oh.
Never did find that friend. Too many Verlags.
Anyway, I mainly stuck to the hall for English language publishers, but visited the area for German publishers at one point. Pushing past the crowded masses of stalls with an acquaintance, I asked her, "Do you have any idea how I can find my friend's publisher? She said she'd be at their booth."
"What's the publisher's name?" Kristin asked.
"Umm. Hmm. Oh, I remember...it's Verlag!" I answered, feeling proud of myself.
Silence. Kristin smiled.
"Laurie? You do know that Verlag just means publisher in German?" Kristin said.
Oh.
Never did find that friend. Too many Verlags.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Halloween Approaches...
With Halloween quickly approaching, our thoughts turn to costumes and candy bars (ok, I confess, I was the mother who handed out plastic spider rings and boxes of raisins when my kids were little). While you're choosing a costume or helping family and neighbor children think of good dress-up characters, here's a helpful perspective to ponder.
Also, see Betsy's blog for a unique costume link!
Also, see Betsy's blog for a unique costume link!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Why Do We Write?
Our discussion question this week from the Writer's Center: Why do you write?
My answer:
I write because I like words. I like putting them together. I enjoy their sounds.
And it’s amazing to see a poem or story emerge that I never knew was inside. Sometimes writing helps crystallize a moment in time.
I write to understand, to “make sense of life,” as Nadine Gordimer says. To try and figure out how I feel and think about spiders, people, God, spaghetti, and anything else. Somehow the act of writing taps deep inside and accesses those thoughts and emotions.
I write to have a voice. So many people want to talk loudly, all at once. Maybe it’s easier for me to speak through writing.
I write because I love reading the writing of others -- books and essays and poetry and stories. And I hope to give at least give a little of the same.
Good question!
My answer:
I write because I like words. I like putting them together. I enjoy their sounds.
And it’s amazing to see a poem or story emerge that I never knew was inside. Sometimes writing helps crystallize a moment in time.
I write to understand, to “make sense of life,” as Nadine Gordimer says. To try and figure out how I feel and think about spiders, people, God, spaghetti, and anything else. Somehow the act of writing taps deep inside and accesses those thoughts and emotions.
I write to have a voice. So many people want to talk loudly, all at once. Maybe it’s easier for me to speak through writing.
I write because I love reading the writing of others -- books and essays and poetry and stories. And I hope to give at least give a little of the same.
Good question!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Happy 25th to Us!
Wow, I really liked primary colors back in 1982, didn't I?
Yesterday was our 25th Anniversary. Jeff and I celebrated earlier in September by taking an overnight trip to Cologne (Koln), Germany.
Yesterday was our 25th Anniversary. Jeff and I celebrated earlier in September by taking an overnight trip to Cologne (Koln), Germany.
My grandfather, Rev. Daniel Brose, helped marry us, and that means even more to me now then it did back then. Susan, Beth and Jackie, my two sisters and Jeff's sister, were bridesmaids, along with my brother Dan as a groomsman. Mom and Dad walked me down the aisle. And I can't forget my college roomates, Lisa, Allison, and Mary, also bridesmaids.
What a bunch of wonderful people! They made me laugh--when Jeff and I kissed, everyone pulled noisemakers out of pockets and bouquets, and blared a loud "Waanhh."
Remember anything funny that happened at your wedding or a friend's wedding?
Monday, October 15, 2007
Divided
Stone from the Costa Brava, Spain
We, too, can divide ourselves, it's true.
But only into flesh and a broken whisper.
Into flesh and poetry.
—from "Autotomy" by Wislawa Szymborska
We, too, can divide ourselves, it's true.But only into flesh and a broken whisper.
Into flesh and poetry.
—from "Autotomy" by Wislawa Szymborska
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Jeff, Minus The Mustache
Just wanted David to see proof that his Dad shaved off the mustache. Now do you believe me, Javier? (Jeff's never been seen without facial hair, at least not in recent memory)
Monday, October 08, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Gotham Writers Center
This is week four of a class--Children's Book Writing--I'm taking through the Gotham Writers' Workshop, based in New York. They offer both in-person and online classes . So far, so good. This motivates me to write every day and to try some new ideas. Nora Raleigh Baskin teaches the class I'm in at the moment.
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