Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by!
Laundry Confession
I swear I organized my closet a few months ago But things have piled up in there One good thing about it though – Now I know which clothes I always wear
I haven’t put my laundry away in weeks It’s in a pile by my bed, on my floor One good thing about it though – I don’t even need to go in my messy closet anymore
My washing machine wasn’t working for awhile Wouldn’t spin, or drain or clean or bubble One good thing about it though – It was just a sock in the bellows causing all the trouble
Now that my washing machine is fixed I could get caught up with all the laundry One bad thing about it though – When it comes to cleaning, I live in a quandary
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by
I was working after school when the neighbor texted to make sure I knew that one of my kids had started a fire pit — in the driveway.
This is confusing because we don’t have a fire pit in the driveway.
In my mind, I was remembering the science experiment about 5 years ago, where our driveway looked like a scene from a miniature dystopian book.
September 2016
So when I went outside, I was surprised it was an actual fire pit. In the middle of the driveway. Being fueled, of course by old firewood and hand sanitizer.
It was actually quite cute.
“Oh my.” I said. I was pretty calm, even though my 8th grader knows better.
I reminded him of the rules about fire. Namely that you don’t make one without permission and that the only fire pit you use is the actual fire pit in our backyard.
“It’s a really great fire!” the kindergarten neighbor from up the street said.
Our next door neighbor kids came back out for a quick fire check, bringing along some fire starters in case they were needed. One of them sat in a camp chair even though it was her dinner time. I have a feeling if I had started singing some campfire songs, we could have started something… But they were called in and it was time to get rid of the fire.
I told my boys that it was a well made, very cute fire – but still… It had to go out.
“Ahhhhh…. But first!” I said. “Do you know what month it is?” I looked right at my 14 year old, who has done the classroom slice of life challenge before. I raised my eyebrows a few times.
“Oh no!” he said, and he tried to stop me from taking a picture.
“No, no, no, no…” he said with a squinty look.
“Your only saving grace is that I can slice about this.” I said.
He looked at me with puppy dog eyes.
But, rules are rules. Some parents discipline with restrictions, groundings, and other assorted forms of punishment.
I just write it down.
“You’re going to take a picture of this little fire?” my kindergarten neighbor asked me.
“Yep!” I said, “and then I’m going to write a story about it and publish it! It will be famous!”
“But it’s just a little fire!” he said, surprised.
A little fire, a little slice, I guess. If you build a mini fire pit in the driveway without parent permission in March? I’m going to write about it.
So, I hope that serves as a fair warning to the next person who wants to build a fire pit in my driveway.
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by
Hey everyone –
My daughter can drive now. Like all by herself. On the roads YOU drive on
I think you know where this is going.
She was a baby who stretched her arms with her elbows bent She wore sleepers and sleep sacks and slept in my arms for most of her babyhood She was a toddler who called grapes “erdeps” and loved mud puddles She watched Elmo over and over and changed her clothes 5 times a day in preschool – always with a turn in the snow white dress
This was just yesterday, friends And tomorrow she will be off to college
Metaphorically tomorrow – Geez – I have more time than that.
So I have a request For every other driver
That. Means. YOU.
It’s simple really.
Get off the road if you can I mean do you really need to drive? And if you must drive, do it safely Obviously don’t drink or text or try to put your mascara on Be safe and kind or stay home.
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by!
I will always be a Sunday procrastinator. This means all the things you think it might mean. It means I procrastinate until Sunday. It means I procrastinate on Sunday.
Side Quests are my thing, but so is closing my eyes to feel the sun on my face and pouring myself another glass of seltzer water over ice and breathing in the quiet of the chilly house while the kids play outside and staring at my open notebooks with plans started
I will always be a Sunday procrastinator. My house does not get cleaned on a Sunday. My closet does not get organized on a Sunday. This is not because I don’t want to do these chores.
I mean, I don’t – I don’t want to do the chores but, I still plan that they will get done but, then it’s Sunday and the sun is shining but, then it’s Sunday late afternoon and the house is quiet
I will always be a Sunday procrastinator. This means all the things you think it might mean. It means I procrastinate until Sunday. It means I procrastinate on Sunday.
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by!
I totally know better, but I still ordered mobile app Starbucks for drive-thru. It was just E and me in the van, but we wanted others to enjoy the coffee treat too. I texted to see if they wanted some, but didn’t hear back. . .
L and I have wanted to try some of their new oat milk iced lattes, and she had her driver’s test today. I thought I could bring her home a latte that would either be a “Congratulations!” or an”It’s okay! Better luck next time!” latte. I ordered hers without ice in case she wasn’t home yet. I’m considerate like that.
Then Mr. Thought texted to say they had gotten Dunkin.
There was nothing to do about it though, so E and I waited in the drive-thru line for over a half an hour. It’s just funny when you know better but you don’t do better, you know?
“Let’s just remember,” I said –
“Never to go to Starbucks on a Saturday?” E finished.
The thing about being in a line for so long is that you have a lot of time to chat, and to think.
I thought about how I should try to grab a spot and just walk in. But grabbing a spot with the traffic in that parking lot seemed worse than waiting in the line that curved around the building. So instead, we waited.
I wanted to know if L had passed her test. But I knew she’d want to tell me in person. So I just waited.
Finally we were just a few cars away from the window. At the speaker the barista informed me I couldn’t have it without ice because “for that drink, the ice makes the drink.” I maybe should have canceled her drink, since she got her Dunkin, but it was too complicated.
At last we were at the window and our drinks were on the way!
And then I knew why I had to go through the drive-thru today. It was because of the sign that makes me laugh. When I look at it, I think it is saying “Can drive! Can drive! Can drive!” Like a motivational cheer for those in the drive-thru. Last time I was at that window I tried, unsuccessfully to tell the barista why I was laughing.
It’s A CAN DRIVE. Like to collect cans.
This time I was able to tell E why I was laughing. I was also able to hope that it was a sign that L did indeed pass her driving test.
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by!
I miss the good ol’ days
I miss barbies on the floor with Keely where we built whole villages and had entire dramas play out for hours
I miss Kings Quest on the old IBM with the joystick and listening to Madonna tapes over and over until all lyrics were memorized
I miss drama class at the Art Center with Margie who walked up the steps from the snack machine with me before we took our acting exercises very seriously
I miss long walks in the neighborhood with Rachel when walking was the only way to have freedom and we would talk and laugh
I miss college lunch dates at the Hub with Sara where we piled salad, sprouts and ranch into plastic containers and chose a roll with care
I miss Must See TV on the couch with Greg and all the characters- from Friends to ER – that we had to check in with each week
I miss teaching in the 6th grade hall with the Wolves because once a Wolf, always a Wolf and if you were ever a Wolf, previously known as a Wolverine, you know what I mean without this verse of poetry
I miss late night get togethers in my living room with Kris and Mardi who would sneak over after my kids fell asleep, and patiently stay if I had to nurse a baby back to sleep
I miss traveling to New York with Kris and Mardi and Krista and the growing traditions of dinner and walking and the constant search for a perfect piece of pizza for Kris
I miss staycations that were really vacations with Sara’s family when the kids piled up to watch movies or play games and the grown ups talked and Jason made the drinks
I miss backyard fun which was actually inside at Kathleen’s when we gathered together to enjoy fine wine and also BBQ chips but best of all, each others’ company
I miss the good ol’ days which I get are also happening right now while I reflect on the good ol’ days from before
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by
Sometimes I like to write with a mentor text closeby… This one came to me when I thought about how the friends and enemies of writers have an interesting thing to think about every time they read . . .
You walked into our life like you were taking a bow with a wink Your dress strategically dipped below to appeal Your nails they were pink You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself cartwheel And all the friends dreamed that they’d be your partner They’d be your partner and
You’re so vain You probably think this slice is about you
You’re so vain (you’re so vain) I bet you think this slice is about you Don’t you don’t you?
You had me several months ago when I was quieting my hunches Well you said that life was really grand and you would never pull any punches But you lied you stole you lied some more even to those you loved I had some dreams they were clouds in my Dunkin’ clouds in my Dunkin’ and You’re so vain
You probably think this slice is about you You’re so vain (you’re so vain)
I bet you think this slice is about you Don’t you don’t you don’t you?
I had some dreams they were clouds in my Dunkin’ clouds in my Dunkin’ and You’re so vain You probably think this slice is about you You’re so vain (you’re so vain) I bet you think this slice is about you Don’t you don’t you?
Well I hear you went and cut your hair And your life is going well Soon you’ll forget about the damage, the despair you caused to those in your spell
Well you’re where you should be all the time And when you’re not, you’re an underworld spy Or the wife of an old friend wife of an old friend and
You’re so vain You probably think this slice is about you You’re so vain (so vain) I bet you think this slice is about you Don’t you don’t you don’t you?
You’re so vain You probably think this slice is about you You’re so vain Probably think this slice is about you You’re so vain
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by
There was so much daylight savings time change it’s still sunny hope when I sat down to write before 7:00 in between pickups and drop-offs and more pickups I even thought – – this is funny, really… I even thought “maybe I’ll also read a chapter of one of those books from that tall tall stack on the table.” The dog curled up at my feet I sipped hot cocoa while I read other people’s stories and left comments I started a few slices of my own you know the kind of writing? write, delete, write, delete 15 minutes before I had to leave, my eyes started to droop I set my timer and promptly fell asleep
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing every day this month. Thanks for stopping by
From my chair I see the same things I see every day. I work from this chair I write from this chair I eat lunch at this chair I help kids at this chair Sometimes I just spin on this chair trying to figure out what to do next
From my chair I can see out the window It’s dark, but I know My Christmas lights are off the porch now. They are shoved in the garage instead.
From my chair I see a protractor a bag of shapes a birthday card from December earrings hanging in case I forget to put them on okay – also this is where I often take them off a pile of math materials why are there so many binders and books for one math class? my trackpad, plus a wireless mouse, and a new wired gaming mouse because my computer is often used by children for Minecraft and nobody puts their stuff back
From my chair I see a pile of note paper dice left out from math today more pens than I want to admit work waiting for me and the window – the night closing in out there it’s dark but the sky is hazy and brighter than it means to be I think
On a Thought 