AmyMaidaWadsworth

I love the part in Little Women when Jo realizes that her sisters are not only the door to her heart, but the door to her artistic "becoming."  She calls the moment "astonishing." I feel like I'm on the brink of something astonishing.  Ever feel that way?  Since 2002, I've been writing, learning about writing, studying techniques.  I got a job at a school and had to learn all kinds of things I never thought I would learn--how to put together lesson plans, how to present lessons to children of various ages, how to teach things I want to teach and still comply with curriculum standards.  I learned how to use macs, and I learned how to create all kinds of documents with various programs.  I learned how to use a lot of tech to enhance education.  Then, I had the opportunity to produce a show and I learned how to get out of my shell, professionally, take a risk, and trust my instincts. If my current project comes together the way I hope it will, it coul...

I'd like to be clever or witty or wise, and sum up my year-- both the lows and the highs-- with a bit of free verse or some fun lines that rhyme, but rhymes give me trouble most of the time. I hem and I haw as I think "What to write?" I wonder and ponder for most of the night. I type and delete then I type something else. I'm distracted by T.V. in spite of myself. At twelve, the ball drops and it's 2010. The annual cycle begins once again. The kids are all older and much taller too. They come and they go, they've got so much to do. Jason's added new shows to his vast repertoire. Maida's been working to buy her own car. Jessi's adorable, funny and sweet. Russell's so great he knocks me off my feet. Kira is happy, the big snuggle bug! Be sure to come find her if you need a hug! A million thoughts tumble as everyone cheers. Time passes quickly, in moments and years. Love remains constant 'mid passage...

I haven't written anything in ages. So, today I wrote something. It's pretty obvious that I've been reading a lot of children's books lately. And working with children, watching children, reading to children... This is very different from everything else I've done. Don't know if anything will come of it or not, though it's clearly a first chapter. Let me know what you think! No Vacancy Ms. Talon’s murky voice bubbled in Andrew’s head like a mud puddle, or like hot tar on an oppressive summer day. Andrew closed his eyes and lifted his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose as he imagined his classmates prying their tar-covered feet from her voice, trying to escape the mouth opening after them like a bottomless cave with yellowing teeth hanging like stalactites. Instantly, his classmates turned into dinosaurs, fossilizing in La Brea as he reached for them, helplessly. Lisa elbowed him. With a start, he looked at the girl next to him, whose...

I created a blog for the computer lab last year, and I've carried that over to my new job as a media center assistant. Here's the blog I'm working on. If you follow me on goodreads, you've already read most of these posts. I'm having great fun reading these books! I haven't given myself permission to sit and read for a long time, and now I can do it for work! Yay! bvbooklovers.com

Book Tag--here are the rules. Grab the book nearest you. Right now. Turn to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post that sentence along with these instructions. Don't dig for your favorite book, use the CLOSEST Here's mine: "Which he did over the next twenty minutes, calling only one witness, Master Chief Riley, who recounted the boarding and gave a color commentary to the video tape record of the boarding." "Clear and Present Danger" by Tom Clancy Nowhere near as cool as Patty's! If you haven't done this yet, tag, you're it!

Maida is taking a creative writing class at school right now, and it reminded me of the days when I was discovering my ability and desire to write. I wrote poems in the beginning, and I thought it might be fun to post some of them. I'd love to hear what you think! This one is based on the above painting by Rousseau. I'm sure I didn't interpret the painting the way Rousseau intended it, but then again.... I like this one because of the symbolism, even though it's kind of depressing. Plus, the being in the painting is clearly a woman.... I guess sometimes you see with your mind's eye. Naked (After Rousseau's "The Snake Charmer") I The dark man stands between a deep, wide river, and a jungle. A cowl hides his face. He coaxes currents into small pools at his feet with the flute he holds to his lips. A serpent's body ribbons around a mahogany arm. It's head hovers just above the charmer's left shoulder. II The charmer is trying to climb into...

Yesterday was a full day! Because we are down to one car and Jason had to work, which meant he would be hurrying downtown for the concerts, I left the house at 11:30 to catch the bus. It's been a long time since I rode the bus alone downtown. It wasn't bad, but I felt pretty silly wearing my formal with tennis shoes. (I didn't want to walk to the bus and then to temple square in my heels--probably a good decision given the fact that my feet were killing me and I could barely walk by the end of the night!) We met at the Tabernacle at 1:00 and rehearsed until 4. After an hour break for dinner, we had our first concert. This concert was added because the Tickets to the first scheduled concert (7:30) were gone so quickly. I took a few pics while the band was warming up. How often does someone like me have the opportunity to get this close to the pipes? A little way into the first concert, Kelly DeHaan, our director, left. I wondered if he was sick or something, but he was direc...