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.

The Ride Home

The Ride Home

Did you ever have to give someone bad news and you just keep putting it off?  That's not a good procedure because it often blows up.

When I was in high school, I was away from home.  My cousin was in the group with me.  My mom called me the morning we were preparing to leave and said that my cousin's family had had a major fire the night before.  She asked me to tell my cousin so that she was prepared for the disaster when she got home.

I tried to tell her.  I didn't know the words.  I couldn't find the moment.  I was scared.  The ride home seemed so long because I had this horrible secret.  It seemed so short because I knew she was soon going to find out.

As we pulled into her driveway, she remarked, "I wonder why there are so many cars here?"

"Well," I said taking a deep breath, "There was a fire in your house last night and they are here to help clean up."

It wasn't pretty.  She looked at me with horror and disbelief.  As we walked into her burned out kitchen and living room, she burst into tears.

I knew she wasn't mad at me and was upset because of the fire, but for a long time I felt very guilty.  Maybe by telling her earlier, I could have alleviated her pain.  Probably not, but it has helped me think about how to prepare and tell people bad news when I have to.

Fear

The blog assignment due Friday, September 12, 2014 is to describe a fear.  Make the reader feel your fear in your description.

My Sample:

Amusement parks are not my idea of a good time.  When I do find myself in one, I know there are particular rides that I will not be on.  Anything that puts me on a skinny rail, in a car from which I can easily plummet, takes me 2 miles in the air and the gleefully hurtles me to the ground, otherwise known as roller coasters, will not be on my to-do list that day.

I am always adamant that I WILL NOT ride a roller coaster, and just as often I find myself talked into going, just one time.  My interior monologue goes like this:  "This is a perfectly safe ride.  It is inspected.  It has never lost anyone.  I will be fine.  I should be adventuresome, brave and do this."

Then, when I'm on the roller coaster, secured in my seat, and it gives a lurch forward to begin, my interior monologue goes like this:  "Are you crazy?  Why did I think I should be adventuresome?  It's way over-rated!  There is no merit in being dead.  I will be dead by the end of this ride either because this monster will have its first collapse in history or I will die of a heart attack!"

And so it creeps out of the station and begins the painfully slow ascent to the top.  Is my stomach lurching?  I don't think I have a stomach at this point.  Is my heart racing?  Not sure I have one of those either.  Basically, I'm brain dead.  And we haven't even reached the top of the hill!

Of course when I see the first cars begin to drop over the edge, I'm not coherent, I can no longer breathe, I cannot even scream.  Even now as I write this in the safe environment of my home with no roller coaster in sight, my stomach is cringing, my heart is pounding as I imagine that terrifying moment when I free fall to the bottom.  Just as quickly, I'm being yanked back to the top of another hill and dropped again.  Of course there are the requisite loops and twists and spirals in which I become completely disoriented.  These are intermittently scattered throughout so that I have no sense if I'm falling or spinning.  The wind is rushing by my head, my eyes are squeezed shut and I can only moan.

We roll to a final stop.  Around me there are excited voices about how absolutely awesome the ride was.  I can only babble, "Don't make me do that again!"

Rubber Bands

August 22, 2014

Your first blogging assignment will be to something that you have multiples of, i.e. what do you or your family “collect”, not a hobby.  What thing do you accumulate?  Discuss why you might be saving that item.  What does it say about you?  

Here's is my sample:

Rubber Bands

Useful little items.  They come stretched tightly around my newspaper so that the Kmart ad and the sports sections don’t end up flying around in my driveway.  Since they seem so useful and I might need them sometime, I drop them in the drawer with the pencils, pens, paperclips, post it pads and other miscellaneous items. Finally, my husband got tired of them getting jumbled up with the other non-essentials.  He meticulously wrapped each rubber band around a piece of cardboard. So now we have an oblong object made up of rubber bands.    Do I really need 500 rubber bands wrapped together?  But, it seems hard to throw out something that can really be useful.
            I don’t think of myself as a pack rat.  However, when it comes to something like rubber bands (and plastic grocery bags!), I find that I save them.  I justify it by thinking that I’m recycling them, making them useful a second time.  And I do re-use them.  But, again, how many do I need to keep on hand?
            But, I would hate to run out of rubber bands!

Welcome!

August 22, 2014

Welcome to the beginning of the 2014-20154 school year.  Welcome to creative writing!  This class is designed to that you have opportunities to express yourself in writing, improve those skills and learn new ways to do that.  One tool we will use is blogging.

Blogging will allow us to see each other's writings. Each of you will post two (2) blogs per week. One of those will have an assigned topic which will be assigned on Friday. The remaining post may be a topic of your choice. Both will need to be completed by class on the next Friday.

You will receive up to 3 points for each post. 3 points = well done, you should be proud to post it. 2 points = good, but maybe you could have thought it out a bit more. 1 point = do you really want other people to read this?

I will comment on each of your posts. Your points will be posted on Renweb so you can view that privately.

Please comment on at least one blog written by another person in the class.  That will be worth an additional 3 points.

Writing can be private, but it's also good to share. "Creativity takes courage." (Henry Matise)

I'm looking forward to this class and working together!

Mrs. Petersheim