Feeling Poem

The assigned blog topic which is due Friday, February 6, is a feeling poem using the format shown below.  There is also a second blog due of your choice.

The Feeling Poem

§  Line one: Name an emotion (fear, angry, fright, love, happiness)

§  Line two: “Smells like. . .”

§  Line three: “Tastes like. . .”

§  Line four: “Sounds like. . .”

§  Line five: “Feels like. . . .”

§  Line six: “Feels like. . .”

§  Line seven: “Feels like. . .”

§  Line eight: Name the emotion

 Sample Poem

Anger

Smells like the wet dog who rubs against my new jeans.

Tastes like the old bacon that I burned yesterday.

Sounds like loud, very loud, heavy metal music.

Feels like a ton of bricks on my chest.

Feels like an explosion building up inside of me.

Feels like an onslaught of thoughts in swirling in competition for my attention.

Anger

Things I've Learned

Jackson collected responses to the phrase "I've learned that..."  Some of his examples include, "I've learned that I should make little decisions with my head and the big decisions with my heart." or "I've learned that I don't make many mistakes with my mouth shut" or "I've learned that my teacher always calls on me the one time I don't know the answer."

Your assignment is to provide 10 responses to the phrase, "I've learned that..."  Five must be personal responses.  The remaining five should come from other people.

This blog assignment is worth 10 points and there are no other blogs due.

Beauty

Your assigned blog this week is to define beauty and give some support examples.  

There is a quote that says, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" meaning that beauty can mean different things to different people.  That's pretty obvious when we look at what people prefer in terms of artwork, music, fashion, etc.  I believe that beauty is anything that brings joy to an individual.  Beauty is personally pleasing.  It says, "Yes!  I like that.  That's how the world is supposed to be."

When I think of what is beautiful, I often think of nature.  The first part of my drive to work is in a directly east direction meaning that I see some gorgeous sunrises.  The way that the colors blend and stretch out over the horizon can be amazing.  On some mornings, it feels like "this is the best sunrise ever!"

People (myself included) often think of beauty in relationship to a person's appearance.  While there are some stunningly beautiful faces, beauty from within a person is true.  I think of individuals who do random acts of kindness not because they are consciously doing a random act of kindness, but because they see a way to make another person happy and take the time to do it.  I think of people who demonstrate care for others who may not be so pleasant like a crotchety old guy, a bratty preteen, a developmentally disabled person.

There really is beauty all around us if we take time to watch for it, recognize it and express gratitude to God for having seen it.

Scavenger Hunt

This is the only blog entry that you need to do.  It is due on Friday, January 9

You are on a scavenger hunt.  Usually when you have a scavenger hunt, you physically gather objects on a list.  Instead of that, find each item on the following list and write a 3 – 5 sentence description of each.

o   An angry exchange

o   An out-of-place object

o   A well-loved object

o   Something well-used

o   Something unpleasant

o   Something fresh, new or unused

o   A lost or forgotten object

o   A home-made or hand-made object

o   An act of kindness

o   Something borrowed

Each is worth 3 points for a total of 30 points.

An Angry Exchange

An Out-of-Place Object

A Well-Loved Object
I love snow globes.  A few years ago during a Christmas sale, I found a lighted snow globe that has a nativity scene inside it.  When plugged in the warmth of the light causes the gold like flakes to float around the crystal Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.  Each year, I love bringing it out, plugging it in and enjoying it.  This year, it's in the same electrical strip as the Christmas tree so every times those lights are on, so it my snow globe.  This is one of my favorite Christmas pieces.

Something Well-Used
When I come home from work, I am usually the one who prepares dinner.  Since I like to cook, most days this is not too much of a chore.  I pull on my well-used apron over my work clothes and get busy.  There is nothing special about the apron except that I've had it for years, it's faded and it's seen me through many cooking experiences.  I have others, but they are stiff and new.  I like my soft, worn apron!

Something Unpleasant
I knew she was upset and angry with me, but the situation was not in my control and I couldn't change it.  It made me sad whenever she passed me and barely said "hello" or would pretend that she didn't see me.  We were friends.  We laughed together.  Now, we don't even acknowledge each other.

Something Fresh, New or Unused
There are few better joys than opening a fresh bag of Starbucks coffee.  In anticipation you lift the bag from its space in the cabinet appreciating the way it feels and the way it fits in your hand.  Then, as you slowing pull apart the top of the bag, you smell the aroma of the coffee.  Suddenly, you know that as soon as the fresh pot of coffee is brewed and you take that first sip, all will be right with the world.

A Lost or Forgotten Object
I lost one of my good hoop earrings.  They had been a birthday gift from my husband and it was a favorite pair.  I knew it was in my house somewhere, but in spite of searching through clothing, looking under furniture and sweeping in corners, I could not find it.  Then one day when my husband was looking in a drawer that has pens, pencils, paper clips, post-it notes, etc., etc. he found my earring!  It didn't belong there, but I was glad to see it!

A Homemade or Handmade Object

An Act of Kindness
As a Christmas gift, my husband gave me money and took me on shopping trip.  We spent an afternoon poking around historic Leesburg, Virginia and then the following day shopping the outlets and other stores.  Shopping is one of his least favorite things to do, so it was very special that he did this for and with me.

Something Borrowed

Recent Purchase

Think of an item that you purchased within the last week.  Why did you buy it?  Was it a planned purchase or an impulsive one?  Who were you with?  Are you glad you spent your money for that?

I just had the best apple dumplings!  It's true I didn't need them.  I couldn't help myself.  It's that time of the year - fall.  Carmel apples, apple pie and apple dumplings.  I need at least one of each sometime between September and November.

I really hadn't planned to buy them, but I overheard a teacher talking about helping to make them as a fundraiser.  Suddenly, I could smell them baking, could imagine the sweet syrup dripping over them and the cool whipped cream on the top contrasting the hot interior.

I had to have one - so I bought six!

My Sister

September 26, 2014

Write a description of someone you know.

My Sister

When I think of her, I think tall, thin and classy.  She easily interchanges skinny jeans and vintage skirts.  Her slender hands are always moving as she talks animatedly, pointing and gesturing to make her points.  Her laughter is ready and spontaneous.

She's seven years younger and always "my little sister".  Images include her doggedly learning to ride a unicycle on our front walk; her summer job selling fresh flowers on a street corner, endlessly practicing her violin to the point that she has a permanent callous on her neck, and finally her moving to Vienna, Austria where she has lived for 25 years.

She has traveled extensively - playing in a stringed quartet on Mediterranean cruises, playing in an orchestra dressed in period costumes in Japan and also exploring cities like Prague, and Budapest.

I appreciate her independence and her willingness to make sacrifices to find her dreams.

Maisie Dobbs

The blogs due on Friday, October 10 are each a free choice.  If you need a suggestion an optional topic is:  Who would you like to meet that other people may consider odd or quirky?  Dead or alive.  Real or fictional.  Explain your reason.

Maisie Dobbs

Maisie is a fictional character.  I think she interests me because of her name.  I don't know many people named "Maisie".  She is the main character in a series by Jacqueline Windspear.  The setting is post WW I in England.  Maisie is not your conventional woman of the times.  She was a nurse during the war and now is a detective.  Neither of those careers were approved by the culture.

Maisie is her own independent person.  She tries to make wise decisions.  She consults people who mentor her.  She's smart and savvy.  And she always figures out the mystery!

She fascinates me because she is willing to do what she feels called to do in spite of society not agreeing with her.  She goes about her life in a way that still earns her respect from the people around her.