Day: April 4, 2022

#stinewriting From my desk

From my desk: April 4, 2022

So if you’ve ever been a teacher, whether it was for one year or thirty, you know there are those students that you click with, that you know will be in your head and in your heart forever.

A couple of years ago I wrote a post about seeing Pileated woodpeckers in Georgia at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savanah. These two things go together….

I just finished dinner and decided to bring the dog out back to tinkle and I could check my garden. As I am walking out I hear a woodpecker outside and other birds, a few dogs, and of course chattering squirrels. I turn on my phone and see that I have a message on Messenger. The message is from an old student of mine. He and I clicked from the start. He was so much like my son, had the same type of humor, just an all around good kid, like my son. Anyhow, we’ve kept in touch and he graduated last June. I was so proud. Its especially nice to hear from him because he did seem so much like my son, it is nice to have that relationship. Anyhow, I opened his message to see that he just passed his test for his motorcycle license. At that moment I looked up and saw that the “knocking” was a pileated woodpecker. I’ve never seen one around here, I moved here in December. I started bawling my eyes out. Maybe that means my son will keep an eye out for him when he’s out riding. I just hope and pray he stays safe.

I might be going back to work – private tutoring. I am super excited as I miss working with kids. Last year during the pandemic I was a tutor via Zoom and loved it. It would have been better to be there in person but at least I was teaching. We shall see…second interview is Wednesday.

I’m bringing home tons of pottery. I’m getting better at most of it and have made a few pieces that really impress me! Lol. I am thinking about taking a hand-building class to maybe do some sculpture work. We’ll see. If I get this job then I will be very busy between that and seeing my dad.

A really great friend of mine from CT was here to visit this past weekend. It felt so good to see an old friend and laugh and enjoy each others’ company. She was here with her wife, who is also a great friend. It was really a fun time.

I just had to share my night. Thanks for reading. Have a safe and peaceful night!

#stinewriting Blog Christine Bialczak poetry d'Verse Poets Pub poems poetry Poetry to enjoy Quadrille

dVerse – Monday Quadrille #149 – ‘Tis the Season

Written for dVerse Poet’s Pub: https://dversepoets.com/2022/04/04/dverse-monday-quadrille-149-tis-the-season/

So… here we are, at the season of poem writing. Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to pen a poem of precisely 44 words (not counting the title), including some form of the word season.

Welcome Spring

When winter is over
And spring has begun
The seasons are changing
New webs will be spun
New life will be made
New hope will be had
These are the dreams
Sunshine from sad

Clouds will change to fluff
Buds will change to blooms

©2022 CBialczak Poetry

#stinewriting Blog Fandangos Flash Fiction Challenge (FFFC) Fiction Flashfiction Photo Challenge Weekly Writing Prompt

Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #163

Fandango is the host: https://fivedotoh.com/2022/04/04/fandangos-flash-fiction-challenge-163/

For the visually challenged writer, the photo is of an older couple sitting on a park bench on the top of hill overlooking a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Next to them on their left are two electric bicycles. Also, that is not Fandango and his wife! Lol!

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Martin, what do you think is in store for us now?
I don’t know Elaine? Isn’t that a bit of a deep question after an exhausting bike ride up here?
Well, I just thought I would ask. Being tired makes me think of stuff like that.
Like what?
Like the meaning of life. Our purpose. Setting out to do what we are supposed to while we are here on earth.
I know I’ve done what I was supposed to do. Now I’m done. Why do you think I bought an electric bike? I’m tired of working so hard.
Well Marianne said Walter still wants to get a lot of his bucket list checked off.
My bucket is empty Elaine. It’s been empty and I’m leaving it empty. You see that cloud over there?
Which one? The one that looks like a boat?
No, the other one, next to it.
I don’t see anything in that shape, what do you see?
Nothing! More of nothing and that makes me so happy! Now let’s go home.

©2022 CBialczak Flashfiction

#stinewriting Answer the questions Blog Share Your World

Share Your World April 4, 2022

Melanie hosts Share Your World. Like Cindy’s post (https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/83083476/posts/8989) it is nice to learn more about our blogging friends and I welcome the conversations things like this brings. Check out Melanie’s page https://sparksfromacombustiblemind.wordpress.com/2022/04/04/share-your-world-4-4-2022/

QUESTIONS

Are you more productive at night or in the morning? Do you think it’s possible to change and get used to another schedule? Typically in the morning because I feel like I have plenty of time to get everything I want to do, done. I like that mid-day feel that I am “free” for the rest of the day because all of my chores are done. That being said, if I am home alone, morning or night, I get more done. I tend to get distracted when David is around. I find things I “have to” ask him and then get side tracked. Not his fault at all, just me!

What’s the biggest vehicle you’ve driven?  If you don’t drive, what’s the biggest vehicle you’ve ridden in? I don’t know which is bigger, per se, as they are both big in their own way but at one time I drove a Chevy Astrovan which I loved. It fit both kids and carseats, usually my niece, nephew, their carseats, and my sister. Or it fit the family with carseats, strollers, dog, husband, and everything else for a day out or short trip. I also drove a Ford F150 pickup extended cab. That was bigger in height I suppose. I liked driving it except it wasn’t the best when getting groceries. The back wasn’t covered so if I did put groceries back there all the bags had to be tied lest I lose items on the way home. Or everything would be spread out throughout the truck bed by the time I got home. On rainy days I loaded groceries in the front seat and packed around the kids in the back seat.

What songs would be played on a loop in hell?  (Suspend disbelief for this one, it’s cool not to believe in Hell, but let’s use our imaginations to answer.  Of course one can always skip the questions they find odd too.  And yes, I took into account that individual tastes will influence individual choices.) I’m not sure if I have a specific song but I do know that those “knock-off” versions of good songs, redone by lousy artists, would definitely be on the playlist. I get so aggravated when I look for a song I really like and listen to it, only to realize it sounds really different. Well, that’s because someone decided to turn on their home microphone and think they knew how to sing like a professional. This happens a lot with Disco. Yes, I love Disco music but I can’t stand “new” versions.

(Deep and chewy philosophical question):     What does it mean to be a person?  What constitutes “personhood?” (there may be some diverse opinions, but we’re all mature adults in here, so be respectful of others please). I almost think that being able to answer a question like this means you are a person. If someone has such narrow views of the world and who is right and who is wrong for whatever reason, then maybe they aren’t a real person through and through. I get that there is right and wrong but let me give you an example. I do pottery now and the owner of the studio tells all new members and students that her studio is one open to inclusion and there is no tolerance for non-acceptance. There are two members that I know of that want to be addressed as “they” and other’s who you honestly just don’t know. For me, I don’t care what you do to yourself or call yourself. If it makes you happy that is great. Your decisions don’t really effect me.

GRATITUDE SECTION (Always Optional)

How were your spirits (mood) over the past week? Generally happy with one small dark cloud of my son that lingers close by. I don’t think that cloud will ever go away but I do have blue skies above me today.