Margaret Fieland: Poetry and Prose

I had the sleep study ordered by my doctor last night so today I am not, to say the least, at my alert best. Among other things I noticed that I’m making more mistakes such as putting “threw” when I meant to write “through” (I did notice this before I sent my email).

I just had a cup of coffee and a walk around the building in what felt like 100% humidity but I do feel somewhat more alert.

It appears, however, that I do not have sleep apnea, which is good news.

And tonight is going to be an early night.

According to the Jim at Miracle Ear, they have new hearing aids that are hollow and would probably be better in that regard. However, they would cost me thousands of dollars and unfortunately hearing aids aren’t covered by health insurance. Really.

Argh! For now, the solution is to carry q-tips everywhere. Long term, it’s like I tell my kids: start saving my money.

You know you’ve been reading too much you-know-who when you see the headline

HP to Buy Software Firm Opsware

 and wonder what Harry Potter needs with a software firm.

I recently joined SCBWI (Society of children’s book writers and illustrators) and have finally gotten around to  checking out the discussion forums. One of the posts was about a critique group for children’s poetry. The application had a question about writing goals.

There! We’ve finally gotten there: this was how I got to thinking about writing goals.

I am not a really organized person, so usually I don’t think much about writing goals and instead just write. However, I do actually have some goals in mind:

Continue writing and getting my work published.

Get paid for a story.

Have my book, “The Ugly Little Boy,” revised and ready for submission. At the moment it needs lots of work.

Eventually, put together a book of my poetry for adults and the same for kids.

Phew!

I was trying to explain to someone how I use my planner and this got me thinking about prioritizing tasks. As a result I had to think about what the priority system I use (A, B, C) really means. I described A as “must do,” B as “should do,” and C as “would be nice.” Then I needed examples.

What did I have to do? Mail my letters. Get gas for my car. Call the exterminator (we have wood beetles and red ants in our garage).

What should I do? Make that maintenance appointment for my car.

What would be nice? Go to the library.

And what priority do I assign to
“Clean dresser drawers?”

which, as you might guess, I’ve been putting off….

When I was in college and studying for exams I’d refrain from going to the library. I’d get bored with studing after a while. It was during such times that I taught myself to wiggle my ears and to read upside down and write backwards.

It used to impress the heck out of my kids when they were younger. I did teach my middle son to wiggle his ears. I was impressed. His teachers weren’t.

.. our driveway at the place on the Cape needs new gravel — really, really — but it’s gonna cost. Still, almost all of the kitchen bills are paid and we’re looking forward to getting back to financial normal. Phew!

I have signed up and am available for school visits in my area for The Muse Reading and Writing Appreciation Week.  Which is way cool — check it out. Link is below and also on my blogroll.

  http://musingourchildren.tripod.com/

This year’s Reading and Writing Appreciation Week will take place on October 15 - 19, 2007

Our goals: to reach around the globe visiting schools and to offer free handouts and information to everyone who would like to be involved in helping children and parents understand the value of reading and writing.

When I stopped at the bank yesterday to cash a check I fell into conversation with the teller, a young woman who  I guess is about the same age as my oldest son. We were discussing the pronunciation of my last name. She guessed that the first syllable rhymed with “Fee” when in fact as I (and my father and ….) pronounce it, it rhymes with “Fie.”

This, I explained, is because when my grandparents came to the US from what was then Russia (and had been at various times Germany and Poland) they passed through London and anglicized the pronunciation.

All I can say is this must have made sense to them at the time.