Seven Quick Takes Friday

I have decided to try doing a quick takes post the first Friday of every month.  Since I post between one and three times a week, always on different days, hitting a Friday for sure is probably doable only a once a month.  Speaking of my posting schedule, I slowed down the last few weeks, for a couple of reasons that I highlight below.  I have plenty of posts planned, though, so keep coming back!

--- 1 ---

Last week, I was busy revising my upcoming guest post for HER KIND, “a blog powered by VIDA: Women in Literary Arts.”  My post is about women writers and freedom, or rather the difficulties women face as they seek free time to write.  As you can probably guess, my writing time is limited, so while I was busy writing my guest post about that very topic, I did not have as much time to write for the blog.  I’ll be sure to let you know when my post appears so you can weigh in the topic!  Or, you can start the comments below…

--- 2 ---

I have been spending more evenings with my children and husband instead of writing or blogging.  Usually, I write after my children go to bed, but because it is summer, their schedules are off.  During the school year, we tend to have very straightforward evenings: dinner, bath, bedtime (my writing or working time).  Because of swimming lessons and various other summer activities, baths are happening during the day, and bed times are getting later and later.  The later the children go to bed, the less likely I am to write that evening (see #1 above).

--- 3 ---

My seasonal allergies are in full force, and this time of year, they dull my brain and make me feel lethargic.  I have felt more like watching TV. and reading instead of writing, especially this week.  On Independence Day, the phlegm arrived during a strong sneeze, coating the inside of my throat and nose.  As you can imagine, it’s hard to slog through my fuzzy brain all day and by evening I am exhausted, so writing has to wait.  I don’t like to take meds (for allergies or anything else), so I’m doing sinus rinses, taking vitamin C, and a little drinking apple cider vinegar along with eating immune system supportive foods; this is enough to keep me going during the day, but my body wants to rest at night.

--- 4 ---

I do sometimes write during the day, but we have been so busy lately!  I tried to schedule us with some free time this summer, but lately we’ve been running here and there most days with camps, lessons, visits, and various medical appointments for most of us.  I’m looking forward to later in the month, when most of our afternoons are open.

--- 5 ---

Some of those appointments have been for my seven year old; she now wears glasses.  This is not surprising, given that everyone in our family also wears glasses or contacts, but she is the first to need prism lenses.  She started complaining about seeing double at the end of the school year and these lenses should correct that problem, caused by her eye muscles not coordinating when she focuses.  Next step: evaluation to see if therapy can help the muscles work together the way they should.  

--- 6 ---

More than a month ago, I volunteered to review a Catholic Game from the Arma Dei Shoppe at Equipping Catholic Families.  My children absolutely love to color, so I thought the Catholic Lingo Bingo would be a perfect choice for us.  However, they have not been in a coloring mood for weeks and weeks, so I’m working on coloring some of the pages myself.  Look for this review soon; we almost have enough colored pages to play the game.  My children enjoy playing Loteria (Mexican Bingo), so I know they are going to like this game, and I’m sure once we play it, they are going to want to color more of the game cards.

--- 7 ---

 

My friend Katie (poet, reviewer, blogger, etc.) is planning to review my chapbook, Entre la claridad, on her blog as part of her educational series about poetry chapbooks!  So, if you are new to the poetry chapbook scene, you can read more about why and how poets publish chapbooks at this post.  And, look for a future post highlighting Katie’s review of my book.  Are you curious about my book now?  You can read some excerpts here (or by clicking on the image of the book in the right sidebar), or listen to audio here.  You can buy my book directly from the publisher, Mouthfeel Press (also highlighted in the right sidebar).  

Have you liked the Entre la claridad page on Facebook?  I post notices about writing, readings, publications, and literary events there, including things that I don’t have the chance to blog about.  Do go like the page if you are interested in those topics, or if you just like my book!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Hazel at Tell Me a Story hosts a weeking True Stories Link up, so I am linking there; go read the other true stories posted this week.