{Taking} a picture of Harper on this tree stump every time we walk to ballet. It is always her suggestion, and it goes like this: “Mommy, will you take a picture of me on this tree stump and send it to Daddy?” Each time she has a new message for him to go with the picture. Today’s was: “It’s Spring even though it’s technically winter!”
{Reading} Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith. When I first read this book, at 18 (it is nothing short of a miracle that I read this book at 18 because 18 year old Callie did not read books), I thought I loved it because of Carl and Annie. I think that this is still true, but it’s Annie I adore. She might be my favorite literary heroine, probably because I see myself (or I want to see myself) in her.”I guess she’s all right, he thought, or she wouldn’t be writing. Nothing will ever throw her-no matter what happens to her-if she can get it down on paper.” That’s what Carl said about Annie. See? Don’t you think I’m Annie?
Next up, I will be reading Tru and Nelle a novel about the friendship of Truman Capote and Harper Lee. This book was wrapped in tissue paper, sealed with washi tape, and waiting for me in my mailbox when I got to school on Monday – a gift from a parent of one of my 8th graders. “Don’t grow weary doing good work,” she wrote. Good gracious if that didn’t bring tears to my eyes.
{Drinking} Coffee. All the coffee all the time. I’m trying to get it so I can drink coffee all day long. It’s a hefty endeavor but I believe in pursuing lofty goals. Currently, I’m enjoying a batch of beans from Port Townsend called “Dante’s Tornado.” They were sent to me by my friend Jill. She and I had our first cup of Dante’s Tornado at this coffee shop looking over the Puget Sound. Down the block from this place is a bookstore, and in between are a slew of stores holding stationary, good food and pints, a little wine shop. You know I’m a city girl but if Jesse up and got a job near Whidbey Island I can’t say I’d be upset about it.
{Listening to} Over the Rhine on Pandora. I will have my SPU degree taken away from me when I say I don’t love every single Over the Rhine song, but I like this station.
{Watching} Jesse and I just finished Mozart in the Jungle and loved it. Now we are watching House of Cards and cringing. Although, compared to what’s really going on, I feel like this show might be a tad hallmark-y now.
{Texting} my friend Stephanie (do yourself a favor and read her work) and laughing uncontrollably about the antics of middle schoolers. I believe one of my texts to her was, “At least the toilet paper was clean.” I’m telling you, it takes a very special breed to walk into a middle school classroom and try and teach.
{Loving} a brand new (to me, anyway) magazine called Bella Grace. I found it in Barnes and Noble over the weekend and if I had a Top 10 places I want to write for, this would be #1. Beautiful writing, beautiful pictures, and there are writing prompts inside (which is where I got this list from).
{Writing} all sorts of things these days. Sometimes I can’t keep up with myself and I get stressed over all the words I want to put down on paper. I wrote about my 8th graders and Shakespeare for Relief Journal, and I wrote about hurricane storm surges and a guy named Jesse Feyen for Art House America. Both of those are forthcoming. (That’s a great word, don’t you think? It sounds so professional. Like I’m a writer.) You can read a piece I wrote for Tweetspeak about Willie Nelson. (By the way, if you are looking for a fabulous editor/writing coach, I can’t recommend Ann Kroeker enough. She worked with me on this essay for a long, long time and I am a better writer because of it.) My piece about walking into a grocery store and remembering my friendship with one of the best gals in the world is on Ripped Jeans and Bifocals, and if you’re in the mood to see Indiana in the fall, I’ll be leading a workshop at the Indian Faith and Writing Conference in October. I’m talking about how to write about sad and scary stuff. It’ll be a hoot!
As always, thanks for reading my words. I always feel better after I’ve captured a thing or two on paper, or, in this case, on the World Wide Web.
You are a fabulously brave writer. Can’t wait to read some of your links above.
Wow, Callie, if I wanted to come back to Indiana for anything, it would be for a writing workshop with you. I love this, like everything you put on the internet. I might have to pay it forward when I blog again – I finally posted something on my blog yesterday after over a month! All that writing elsewhere pulls me away from it, my first love.
Callie, if you and Jesse ever move to Whidbey Island, then I’d be able to meet you for coffee. (I’m near Seattle).
Did not know there’s a book in the works with Tweetspeak–I so look forward to that.
I enjoyed this list–will be back again.