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!
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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…
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
