Saturday, July 13, 2013

It's Almost that Time Again

While most of my blog readers are busy enjoying their summer break, we here in southern Germany are still counting the days. Only eight more school days to go. July 24th can't come soon enough. No more having to deal with a teenager who asks at 6:30 in the morning, "Mom, did you see my English book?" No more having to bug said teenager about practicing math, asking about progress on upcoming projects, or signing tests. No more school stress.

Ah, what joy! So what will I be doing while in the "no school stress zone"? A lot of the same routine, but also (hopefully) spending more time with my husband and daughter, perhaps swimming at the pond, going to Fests, or  just relaxing at home in the backyard. And writing.

I'd like to finish a little book project I started a while ago but am not sure if I will be able to complete it. One thing I do know for sure if that I'll be writing 31 poems in August.

Why? Remember this old post?  August Postcards

That's right. The August Postcard project is back. With everything going on in July, I'd almost forgotten about it. Luckily, my friend Ina (who has a great little blog called In Our Books with another mutual friend, Andrea) posted about it and I immediately signed up for this year.

So, I know you are asking "what is the postcard project?" HEY! Don't be a lazy bum. Go read that old post (link above).

Okay, I know how a few of you are. Alright, alright. If you aren't going to read the old blog post (insert frown here), then I will give you the extremely shortened version. 31 days, 31 people, a new poem written each day (in response to the last one you receive). Put poem on a postcard, sent to the next person on your list. It's as easy as that. (okay, sometimes it wasn't easy for me but I did manage to complete the task anyway)

Sound like something you are interested in? Then hop on over to this blog post for details on how to sign up this year:  August Postcard Poem Fest Returns

Becca and Siv, both of you commented last year that you would have signed up had you known about it earlier. I promised to remind both of you. So...get to it, girls. It will be fun. Maybe we'll even end up on the same list. Not only is it a good writing challenge but you never know what else you'll get out of it. Last year I  discovered a writer whose work I really love.

For all of you who decide to join in, I hope you enjoy it. For those who don't join in, I hope you enjoy your August by doing something fun and special. After all, the school year always returns before we expect it.





Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Forget the Yuck-Phooey and Laugh

I am not sure how the weather is where you are, but in my part of Germany today, it is a yuck-phooey-rainy day. In fact, I am not sure where the summer weather and sunshine has been hiding.

What's one to do when the day is so bleak? Brighten it up, of course! Luckily, I stumbled across the perfect blog post to put a smile on my face. It isn't even a blog I follow (though I might start to), so I guess it was a bit of fate that I found it.

The blog is Pleated Jeans (no filler, just funny!) and the blog post is about deleting or changing one letter in the title of a popular book to make a new (and funny) title, complete with new book jacket. For instance, Margaret Atwood's book The Handmaiden's Tale suddenly becomes The Handmaiden's Ale and Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven now becomes The Rave.

I just love silly things like that. If you do, too, you can go to the blog post by CLICKING HERE.

Can you think of any other title changes? If so, post them here in the comments section.

Here are a few I came up with:
(sorry I can't make my own graphics to accompany these)

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill now becomes.... Think and Grow Rice
(hey, who knows...maybe growing your own rice would be great)

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is now... Gone with the Wine
(I know a few people who have been "gone with the wine")

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien now becomes... Lard of the Rings (story of that spare tire?)
or perhaps... Lord of the Rinks (story of a rollerskating champion)
or even... Lord of the Rigs (history of an oil rig monopoly)


The Call of the Wild by Jack London is now... The Calm of the Wild
(tale of how a crazy man learns to be still by taking of downers)

and last but not least...

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare becomes... A Midsummer Night's Cream
(well, I think you can figure that one out...)

Now it's YOUR turn. C'mon. I know there are some creative people out there reading this. Give it to me. Make me smile on this dreary day.





Whatcha' waiting for? 1, 2, 3....post!