Maria's Mélange

I'm attempting to write every day in March as part of the Slice of Life Challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers . Stop by!  I’m not into sports. It’s not that I hate it, I just don’t love it. I don’t breathlessly anticipate the “big games”. I don’t know all the intricate little rules, the dances that the refs or umps need to play to keep a game moving. I’ve got the basics down. Baseball. They hit the ball and run around the bases for points- check. Football. Toss the ball to someone else, try not to get knocked down, and run for the other side of the field – check. Basketball. Toss the round ball into the hoop – check. So it was with great amusement that I introduced a March Madness challenge to my math group last week. Yes, I had some help. A colleague from another building has done this with her class before, and created all the rules and guidelines. Whew. This week, the students paired up and created their draft list on Monday and Tuesday. I partnered them up r...

 This was posted for the Slice of Life Challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers . It was originally on my Tumblr account, but I'm moving it here so it's all together! (3/28) Anxiously pacing, I wonder about what could go wrong. Did we practice enough? Will the audience laugh in the right spots? Laugh at all? Frantically, I make one last check of our “set”. Desks are rearranged to allow for the maximum amount of stage space. Chairs are in place for our honored guests. Did I forget anything? Only time will tell. Students arrive, chirping brightly. Strained smiles, shaking hands. Silly giggles. I take a moment for a few reminders, before our audience arrives. “Be sure to pause briefly when they laugh, so they don’t miss your lines.” “Speak up, don’t go too fast.” Hands fly up, last minute questions. “What if I forget my line?” “Is my mom coming?” “Can I use the restroom?”              “I don’t know, can...

 This post is for the Slice of Life Challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers . Originally posted to my Tumblr, I'm moving it here so it's all together! I have a confession to make – I’m a hoarder. Now, before you call a full scale intervention, hear me out. My house has plenty of room to walk around, and there are no corpses of creatures lying in any corners. Well, maybe a few dead stinkbugs – but that’s it, I swear! I hoard a few select items. Books . I guess, as a card carrying member of the Nerdy Book Club, this goes without saying. I’m eternally grateful for a house large enough to support my habit, and a husband who is also a Tome Hoarder. We have shelves upon shelves of books we’ve purchased over the years. Somehow, we just can’t give them up. I never know when I’ll have the urge strike to reread one of my old favorites. Blank Journals . I start out with every intention of filling them… it just never happens. I do write, but usually directly on my computer...

I’m attempting to write every day as part of the “Slice of Life” Challenge hosted by  Two Writing Teachers.  Stop by!  Okay, this time I’m truly serious that this will be a short slice. I had a comic review for the latest Buffy comic go live on Tuesday and I’m working on my Star Wars Thursday post that will go live today. I’m also working on my “Reading Life” post for the Nerdy Book Club site that needs to be submitted on Saturday. Whew! This writing thing is insane! My school is in the midst of our State Testing Mania. Today was the second day of testing. As I sat and monitored my fifth graders, I noticed something. Silence, at least in my room, is never really silent. Sounds of “Silence” Staccato drumming eraser tips. “Shhhh” Soft sighs Rustling pages Sniffles, sneezes, and snorts Stifled giggles      …Okay, that was from me.       Bone  gets me every time. “Sorry, guys”, I apologize and switch to less amusi...

Loss Days pass without a thought, A twinge of pain, A memory. Suddenly, a question, A photo, A word; Cuts deeply. Nothing left to share. No more birthdays. No more chats on the phone. No more gifts; carefully chosen. No more. Life calls Birthdays, phone calls, Gifts to select for those we love. We move on. Yet shadows of grief Linger.  (I’m writing every day in March as part of the Slice of Life challenge hosted by  Two Writing Teachers . My main blog isn’t working at the moment. Tech support - aka my husband - is working on it. For now, I’m posting it here. I realize that the other members of the challenge may not be able to comment here. Sorry! I’ll get it functional on my blog as soon as I can).  -- update -- moved to my Blogger engine on 3/28

I’m writing daily in March as part of the Slice of Life challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers   Today I answer the age old question, “If you could invite three historical characters to join you for lunch, who would they be?” Why yes, it’s hard hitting journalism on the blog today! I’m hopping into my phone booth time machine and bringing these fine ladies back to join me for high tea. Or maybe a pizza and some margaritas? Queen Elizabeth I : Huzzah!! I’m a fantasy fan, but my fall back genre is historical fiction. I try to visit my local Renaissance yearly, and I feel a little thrill every time the queen glides by. Yes, I get into character and shout along with the crowd, “Long live the queen!” I’d love to get insight into how she really felt every time her life was threatened. How did she keep her chin up when her very life was at risk? When her father disowned her? This woman strung along men from every country – all so that she could continue to rule on her own. Her ...

B e sure to check out the other posts in this meme at Teach Mentor Texts . Of course, that might lead to an out of control wish list… but worse things have happened. Yes, once again my reading looks rather sparse. That crazy Slice of Life challenge is doing me in! Graphic Novels and Comics: Athena: Grey Eyed Goddess - by George O’Connor  - I loved it. Athena is my favorite Greek deity (is it totally geeky to have a favorite?). This was a fun way to tell many of her tales. The Fates spin the tales for us. Bone Vol 3 :“Eyes of the Storm” by Jeff Smith. The Bone series is amazing. I continue to love the blend of spooky and humor. The plot is moving along at just the right rate, and I’m hooked by the characters. I highly recommend this series. Amulet 4 : by Kazu Kibuishi. Another wonderful series. The Amulet series has an appealing art style and wonderful characters. The main character, Emily, is a perfect example of how to write a wonderful female lead....