What's on Your Fridge?

I find refrigerator doors to be fascinating. It's the first place I look when I'm in someone else's kitchen. It's fun to see what people put there; what and who they think is important. Like a socially acceptable version of medicine cabinet peeking. The insides of their fridges tell a lot, too. But, that's the subject for another post.

The picture above is the closest thing Team Lawson has to a typical refrigerator door. It isn't actually our fridge. We keep that clear and clean. Our kitchen is way, way too tiny to add any visual clutter. But. We have a constantly rotating art gallery on the door heading out to the garage. It's our refrigerator door, you might say. So come on. I showed you mine. Will you show me yours? What's on your fridge?

Along the Same Lines...

Yesterday I wrote about the six word stories which reminded me of the six word memoir. I wrote mine back when I first began blogging. Here it is:

Life is Good ~ Sing it Loud!

Have you seen the meme asking for a six word autobiography yet? What a cool idea. What a difficult task. How to sum up a life in a few words and not sound like a bumper sticker? My first thought when I saw the meme was relief that I was unlikely to ever be given such a task. It's funny that I remain untagged, but have written my perfect six word autobiography. I came up with it in less than a minute when I gave a title to this picture. At the time, I didn't have a clear idea for this post. I just knew I had to write about the picture that moved me so much. I thought titling it was a good place to start, even though I can't claim the honor of photographing it. This picture is so me that when I described it, I realized I had described myself pretty well - autobiography well. Life is Good - Sing it Loud!

• I'm a top-of-my-lungs-out-the-car-window kind of singer.
• I'm a cry-at-Hallmark-commercials passionate woman.
• I'm a want-to-hug-you-when-I-see-you-when-I-leave-you-and-any-time-you-make-me laugh kind of person.
• I laugh often and loud.
• I'm a roll-down-the-hill-in-my-Sunday-clothes kind of girl.
• I say "Yes!" and "Why not?" more often than "No" or "We'll see."
• I still ride on the merry-go-round every chance I get, and I race my daughter for the highest swing at the playground.

Life is Good - Sing it Loud! That's me.

And you? What's your six word memoir?

Six Word Stories

I've told you before that one of the things I love about Jeffrey is the way he seeks out little things to delight me. His latest "gift" has gotten me hooked on six word stories. Yes, an entire story in just six words. Man, my journalism teacher would have loved them. Here's one by Ernest Hemingway. It is rumored that he claimed it to be his best work.

For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Gasp. Gulp. Yes, I know. How about these two?

We kissed. She melted. Mop please!

~ James Patrick Kelly

It's behind you! Hurry before it

~ Rockne S. O'Bannon

Or these...

Baby's blood type? Human mostly.

~ Orson Scott Card

Fish's last thought: "That wasn't a fly!"

~ Ken Krimstein

Peter Piper's proposed 'pepper pick' postponed.

~ Joe Ghattas

Aren't they wonderful? Click here and here for more. What about you? Can you do it?


Baby shoes painting spotted here.

Good Question

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

~ Robert Schuller

This Bird Has Flown by Irene Suchoki

Oh, what a question! What would I do?

I like to think that I am brave and bold; a dreamer and a doer. The truth is, I'm a dreamer who is trying to be a doer. I am a person who does well with deadlines at work, but not with self-imposed ones. I always get the job done, but rarely till the last minute. I am passionate about beauty and the arts, but have no art form of my own. I am an expert on the use of goal setting in the classroom, but I've been struggling to set new goals of my own.

The trouble is, I know the value of goal setting as a habit. Consequently, my head won't leave me alone. How can you expect your students to set goals for this quarter when you don't have any short term goals of your own? Forget short term goals. What are your long term goals, anyway? My head irritates me sometimes, but I've learned to listen.

And so, I ask myself. Self, what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? Really. What is it that your heart of hearts longs for?

And I answer.

• I would have my essays published in a national magazine; a byline of my own.
• I would buy a real camera and stop messing around with my dinky point and shoot.
• I would take pictures every single day and teach myself to see.
• I would write the children's picture book that's spent three years in my head.
• I would collaborate with Jeffrey and Sloane on a children's chapter book mystery series.
• I would finally begin to take that daily walk.
• I would really quit drinking Cokes once and for all.
• I would apply to teach Master's level classes at the university where I earned my own Masters in education.
• I would make the time to host those Family Nights I've been dreaming of.
• I would help my class come up with a concept and write a book that would win the annual Scholastic competition.
• I would play with my child every single day.
• I would make more time for the people I care about. Things like having a weekly date night with my love and girlfriend dates twice a month.
• I would find or create a new circle of friends to replace the small group we loved and lost.
• I would definitely take that family trip to Amsterdam and Africa.

And you? What would you do if you knew you could not fail?



This Bird Has Flown by Irene Suchocki is used with permission. For this week only you can buy one photograph and get one free. Good news, yes?

It's the Simple Things...

that make life sweet. We're having a simple party all across blog land today. Won't you join us?

tulle
daisies
pedicures
fleece blankets
well-loved stuffies
newly pierced ears
discovering a new blog
gleam of light on crystal
jaded innocence of teenagers
a new journal quietly waiting
the smell of a ripe banana
making a new friend
feel of a heavy book
mugs full of pens
red satin slippers
picture books
candlelight
brown eggs
laughter
poems

Image and idea from Christina of Soul Aperture.

Sunday Morning Poetry

Companions

She lived with words in a tall white house.

Hundreds of books line her shelves.

They smelled like time, they smelled like rain.

Fanning the pages, she smiled.

I was ten when I found this friend.

Cherry pie steaming on top of the stove.

We sat till it was cool.

She lit up like a lantern when I rang.

Tell me about your teachers, your work.

Who's the bad boy again?

Have you seen that dog that bit you under the eye?

The plates were stacked beside the pie.

Her husband had died before we were born.

But she didn't live alone.

She lived with words.

~Naomi Shihab Nye

Happy Sunday, my friends.


Incredible image by Lady Scarlett.

Play, Baby Play... Dance, Baby Dance

I just love civic art. The kind of beauty people create just for the general public's pleasure. The gorgeous murals, highway overpasses designed with patterned blocks, trashcans that look beautiful instead of utilitarian, a light pole with an extra twist... Beauty created for its own sake, and to improve the life of those who see it.

I spotted this beauty in St. Louis when we went for YoYo Ma. The picture is grainy, I know. I took it at nearly midnight from across the street. But, oh, doesn't she make you want to dance? And, can you hear the music?