#SOL22: Friggatriskaidekaphobia
A target on the calendar.
Just a number.
But . . .
It started like any ordinary day.
Normal. Normal coffee. Normal reading. Normal writing. Normal or at least routine emails. Off to sew. Deadlines looming on several projects. The simultaneity of multiple projects in varying stages.
Attaching the binding. There’s the first inkling. It’s not attached. I can see the tiny row of stitching marks but there is no thread there. Tiny, threadless holes.
Best seam ever.
No bobbin thread. Must resew AFTER filling a bobbin or two.
What should be automatic descends into a time-crushing task. The thread spins off the bobbin as I let go. The crease in my finger stings as I rethread the bobbin. That’s two.
The phone interrupts. My hope of efficiently completing this task . . .
Not going to happen!
The phone call leads to another and then a quick email. Time races by.
The binding task incomplete. Actually barely begun. I opt for re-pressing the project to regain my momentum. I load the newly filled bobbin, pull up the thread, center the needle and lower the presser foot.
AND press the foot pedal to sew.
Silence.
No motor.
No needle stitching away.
Nothing.
And that’s THREE! It’s been hours. Nothing completed. And now the machine has decided to be contrary.
I check the power connection. It feels solid. Pull it off and reconnect.
I press the foot pedal again.
Nothing.
No silence around me as the air is filled with painful utterances. I’m down to a very short amount of “free time” left. It would be nice to complete something. Anything.
I press the foot pedal again. Still nothing.
As I pick up my glass of warm water where the ice has slowly disappeared, I notice the light is not on.
The light is not on.
Silly me.
I had turned the power switch off.
Of course the foot pedal was inactive.
Strike three on Friday the thirteenth was ALL on me.
No light. Power off. No foot pedal! What a ditzy move!
And now an easy solution to what had seemed like a schedule-altering, impossible to recover from, Friday the thirteenth comedy of errors.
How was your Friday the 13th? Were you anxious about the possibilities of ill fate? Did you even recognize the enormity of the date?
Friggatriskaidekaphobia:
Frigga being the name of the Norse goddess for whom “Friday” is named and triskaidekaphobia meaning fear of the number thirteen.Jan 13, 2011
Google definition
__________________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL22: Conundrum
Flashing Lights
Take a deep breath.
Slow down.
BUT …
No one else is slowing down.
The car behind is not YET close.
I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND STOP.
IT’S THE LAW!
But … WHERE?
Still, no one else is slowing down.
The car behind is close, not on my bumper, but close.
I tap my brakes,
Watching my rear view mirror.
Watching in front
As the lights are quickly approaching.
The siren is blaring
As the vehicle accelerates.
Where do I go?
I’m on a mile long bridge.
There are only two lanes.
No shoulder.
No extra space.
A mid line,
An outside rail.
I come to a complete stop as the car in front of me also stops.
Pure relief.
And yet, the car behind has not stopped.
My eyes alternate, front/back, front/back, front/back,
The car behind stops,
Inches from my rear bumper.
The sheriff’s car races by … lights … sirens …
Slowly traffic resumes on the mile long bridge.
When does following the law or the rules seem dangerous? What is the alternative?
The question remains:
How does one follow the law and pull over to the side of the road for an emergency vehicle when on a bridge without a “side of the road?
__________________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL22: Rehearsal
Decision freeze is a real thing.
Which red? Which white? Which blue? Print? Solid? Stars or not? Big print or little?he
It began with one pattern, then a panel, and then pictures to re-create and innovate.
The first was a pattern. Lovingly. Carefully. Thoughtfully. Each part chosen for the way they would fit together in the whole.
And here’s the draft.
New skills: applique stars and then two color flange binding (not seen in this iteration)
And then because of a picture. . .
I had to determine the size of the squares, the dimensions of the stripes and the fabric for the squares. And then on to matching the picture in my head with the one on my table.
The process is never complete until the edges are bound.
Ending with a mitered seam for the strength in seams sewn at angles.
And a star copied from another quilt top . . . still in progress.
Last week I put together three quilt tops as I get ready for our May Quilt Guild meeting. Do you see the theme that has emerged? In June, local veterans will receive “Quilts of Valor.” There are requirements. Size. Fabric Quality. Pre-washed. Labelled. . . My goal is to complete six. My uncle needs one so his may be included in that six. Six in a month.
One is done. One is ready for the binding to be hand sewn. Two more tops are constructed.
Two more weeks.
More rehearsal so that each quilt I construct improves and my skills sharpen.
Quilts of Valor
Quilts = Healing link
What are you doing in your community to help or heal others? Where might you begin?
______________________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL22: Real Life!
Do I remember our first meeeting?
A park bench outside Thorndike. Early morning. One in running clothes and me with all my gear for the day: canvas tote filled with devices, electrical bar, and books. Pounds of resources to last the day. Goal: to have an initial face to face contact before the week was up.
What about the funniest meeting?
A message to meet up at Starbuck’s. Arrival. Waiting. “I’m here.” But nary a sign. Further messages. Who knew. Three possible Starbuck’s in a 5 block radius. The first try was unsuccessful.
Which was the most unexpected?
I was fan-girling. Excited to meet up in real life. “Fran, it’s so good to see you,” as I was greeted with a hug. Only a Twitter friend. Real life exceeded my dreams as we quickly chattered like decades long friends.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Through TWT, TCRWP, ILA and NCTE I’ve met many folks in real life. I thanked many during the March SOLSC, but I want to return to two very special authors and friends: Christina Nosek and Melanie Meehan. Their talents are exceptional!
#G2Great chats highlighted their most recent books the last two weeks.
Literacy Lenses – Reading link Literacy Lenses – Writing link
Please check out the Table of Contents of both books from the links with the book covers above.
Check out the free chapters and resources.
Check out the Literacy Lenses posts (Reading by Dr. Mary C Howard and Writing by me).
What is your level of confidence in your knowledge and skills about Reading? Writing? What about your level of competence? How do you know? What questions have you answered lately?
Both of these titles would be great for a faculty book study!
______________________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL22: Seasons
The one word that captures all of winter
in Iowa
SNOW!
The one word that captures all of spring
in Iowa
Showers?
or is it
Flowers?
The two collided on Sunday.
And we’ve been off kilter ever since.
Some flowers refuse to open.
Last night the temps dropped to 26.
Below freezing.
Two seasons simultaneously shredding the joy and anticipation of spring.
No black and white decision.
No “either/or” possibility.
Simultaneously.
Co-existing.
What else coexists in nature or in life that seems to be two complete opposites?
______________________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL22: April
April could be . . .
The 5 letter daily Wordle
Sunshine
Warmth
Full of green growth
Budding flowers
But instead
April is
Snow
Wind
Snow Again
Wind
Tornadoes
Weather alerts
Severe storms
Slow to warm
Only one crocus
Daring to bloom
Wind roaring
Coats required
April
This fourth month
Unseasonably cool
Slowly greening
One third gone
Unsettling
Fleeting seconds of joy
Amidst gloomy, grey and dreary days.
Where is spring?
Will it be a short spring? What will nature bring? What weather patterns will you see in April?
______________________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL22: And then . . .
Slicing every day in March.
31 consecutive days of writing
AND publishing.
I’ve written every day this year.
Short, long, and varied formats.
It’s a great habit.
But there was a hole
when I didn’t publish
for four days.
I could have.
But life kept me busy
And I didn’t.
I did write a #G2Great post (here) that I published
Three book reviews
But nothing on Resource-Full.
It’s great to be back
But the energy has dissipated.
Who will continue to write?
Who will be to busy?
Who will make time?
Why do you write?
__________________________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOLSC22: 31 and Finale
The plan for my “slices” in March began with this image.
A piece of cake. 31 days of thanking teachers. And then I listed the days and started listing the teachers. I hit a snag. I wanted a descriptor for each that would fit into the “total picture” of a teacher. But what if not all of my daily candidates were teachers? Was “educator” broad enough to cover all possibilities? And then to include family members? Non-traditional teachers?
My idea.
My rules.
My plan revised about 151 times during the 31 days of March.
Gratitude
All my thanks!
Those that I thanked . . .
The reasons that I thanked them. I remember days of feeling like the shipwrecked sailor on a desert island, lonely and in search of like-minded folks. I found them in places that I worked, where I lived, and across the miles via technology with twitter, book studies and PD. All of these words fit for teachers. Not necessarily every word every day, but they all fit.
Month at a Glance
| Date | Descriptor Words or Phrases | Person Thanked | link |
| 1 | Voracious/Professional Development | Diane Ruyle | post |
| 2 | Expertise | Kathy Schuitema | post |
| 3 | Kidwatching | Sharon Van Cleave | post |
| 4 | Collaboration | Joni Helton | post |
| 5 | Independence | Grandma Ruth | post 5 |
| 6 | Creating | Mom | post |
| 7 | Stewardship | Dad | post |
| 8 | Tips | Allison Jackson | post |
| 9 | Words Matter/Poetry | Margaret Simon | post |
| 10 | Being Kind | Kitty Donohoe | post |
| 11 | Action Research | Sally Donnelly | post |
| 12 | Courageous | Aunt Shirley Ruth | post |
| 13 | Reading and Responding to Blogs | Diane Dougherty | post |
| 14 | Cheerleader/Cheer Coaach | Johnny Downey | post |
| 15 | Curator | Jill Davidson | post |
| 16 | Brave | Susan Vincent | post |
| 17 | Fierce | Brent Gilson | post |
| 18 | Meeting Needs | Clare Landrigan | post |
| 19 | Decision-making process | Dr. Towanda Harris | post |
| 20 | Nurturer | Christina Nosek | post |
| 21 | Reader | Julieanne Harmatz | post |
| 22 | Writer | Melanie Meehan | post |
| 23 | Facilitator | Ryan Scala | post |
| 24 | Joy and Balance | Sandy Brumbaun | post |
| 25 | Librarian | Julia E. Torres | post |
| 26 | Coaching | Paula Bourque | post |
| 27 | Traveler | Erika Victor | post |
| 28 | Mentorship | Dr. Mary Howard | post |
| 29 | Sisters | Sherry and Pat | post |
| 30 | Sustaining communities | post |
How did you organize your writing slices this month? What were your common themes? Formats? Did you meet your goals?
See you next week or next year!
_____________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this daily forum during the month of March.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOLSC22: 30
Day 30 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge.
I have spent the last 29 days thanking educators and teachers in my life. Today, I must add in the communities that have also been a part of my life. I know I needed at least 100 entries to even begin to recognize all the folks that have impacted my life. Even with this addition, I am sure that I have left some unnamed . . .
#TwoWritingTeachers where I began this weekly blogging and daily in March
#TCRWP where the community has been welcoming and I have learned how to write more concise Tweets and blog better in response to questions and comments.
#DigiLitSunday a short term weekly blogging about technology
#BookLoveFoundation
Morningside University grad classes
#EdCollaborativeGathering
So many #bookstudies
#ILA
#CCIRA
#NCTE
#G2Great community
#CuriosityCrew
and in my family: my brothers, the Ruth Cousins and the Elders that remain. So many lessons learned. So much laughter shared.
Thank you for your past and present teaching, mentorship and opportunities to learn and grow!
Special thanks to all the slicers! Who are you thanking today?
_____________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this daily forum during the month of March.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOLSC22: 29
Day 29 of the 2022 Slice of Life Story Challenge
Then and Now
THEN
Three girls
Book lovers
Talkers
Cooks
Farm living
And all spaced out
A gap of five
and then a gap of seven –
Twelve from top to bottom
Sharing a room
Similar but not exactly alike
NOW
Mothers
Friends
Book lovers
Talkers
People connectors
Flower lovers
Cooks
Quilters
and crafters
Connected with texts, emails, Twitter and phone calls.
Pictures, jokes, and news flow back and forth.
Similar but not exactly alike.
Today I thank my two sisters who have allowed me to “get it done” when they were more inclined to approach tasks more collaboratively or at a different pace. You’ve taught me so much. Thanks, Sherry and Pat, for being models of grace, a source of inspiration, and the best sisters possible.
How do you describe your siblings? How would you describe them at different points in your life?
__________________________________________________________________
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this daily forum during the month of March.
Check out the writers and readers here.
Resource - Full 