This weekend, our family restarted a long standing tradition of a pig roast and family reunion. After our grandfather died three years ago, we skipped three years, and it was nice to see cousins that I haven't seen in a few years. It's truly crazy how fast time passes.
Jen and I also got the chance to get together, catch up, and Jen even taught me how to sew a pretty Peter Pan collared shirt! Pictures to come.
We hope you had a great MDW weekend!
-SM
This weekend, I spent some time [read a lot of time] on my quaint Etsy shop, Sara Regina, fueled by my new obsession with The Borgias. I will be uploading pictures this weekend so it will be live soon.
I also did unfun things like researching credit unions and other types of research, and fun things like playing with my friend's DSLR camera, going to the farmers market, and taking a surprisingly difficult community class at Lululemon.
Overall, it was just the weekend I needed.
Tell us: what rejuvenates you?
-SM
The wise Mr. Frost once said, "....No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader."
While the last few days have been busy, I've still had time to think about what surprises are "inside" my creative mind.
Jen suggested I watch this Ted talk, and since I am taking a Skillshare class with Andie Powers, who is behind GoMighty, I have also been thinking about why I want to create a small business, and what my unique perspective is.
Not easy stuff to define, for sure.
Happy Weekend!
Tell us: How do you answer the tough, often abstract, questions?
-SM
I'm still workin' on my calligraphy. This is my progress on "jumping" words.
All of the sudden, life got crazy. I am in the process of a big transition and got bogged down with work and stress. But I've found that returning to my art is the best thing. Calligraphy is so therapeutic for me.
Tell us: What is therapetuic for you?
-SM
This past week, I made this birthday card for a friend. I am excited about the progress I've made with calligraphy in the last month, and I notice small improvements each time I practice.
It was satisfying to make this card because I never think that Hallmark or Papyrus, as beautiful as some of the cards are, mean as much as handmade.
Tell us: Do you think handmade is better?
-SM
Since staring MYB, I've been more conscious of working out and how often I do (and how little I actually used to). It seems that I used to spend a ton of time thinking about exercise, but far less time actually doing it. Am I the only one?
Regardless, I have felt much more inspired, recently, and I think it has to do both with clearning my head and staring at so much water.
Tell us: What's been inspiring you recently?
-SM
As a writer, part of what I've always been told to do is publish. This is one of the first steps to trying to "make it" as a writer, but figuring out how to do this is not easy.
Before sending out work, my advice is to revise, revise, revise. I will write a post soon about my revision strategies.
Where to send work:
1. Send work to alumni literary journals
2. Send to a friend's or acquaintenance's literary journal .
I've been struggling with how to get my work out for the last few years, and I recently remembered that starting small is best. So, my goal for this week is to send to my alumni literary journal, Stockpot, and a friend's literary journal, which I will post more info about soon.
Tell us: How do you get your work out?
-SM
image via pinterest
I started taking Melissa Esplin's calligraphy class two weeks ago, and I am OBSESSED. It's like the beginning of a relationship; Jen called this my "honeymoon" phase with calligraphy.
I have had some challenges because I'm left-handed so I'm still trying to figure out the kinks, but it's still something I look forward to practicing.
-SM
Tell us: What are you currently learning about?
Forget your favorite underwear and plush throw--
it's hard to find comfort in a thin bicycle seat
and sleeping bag, and it can't be what you're after.
A friend taught me to spell words-- 'bourgeois',
'stereo' and 'poster'--to stop crying.
Pump the brakes when no one is around
and ride in between the yellow lines.
Control is everything.
Don't think of the life you left--
ceramic coffee mugs, routine and shaving--
adventure is what you want.
If you get lonely, sing. Try to bounce
the sounds off of the mountain sides.
Skip rocks in the valleys and take in
the Nevada backdrop.
Take time each day to think of your bike's gears
and chain, the machine that drives you forward.
When you reach the border, turn back--
notice the sun shining on the asphalt--
sizzling some bugs and only burning others.
-SRM, 2013 ©
This poem came out of a prompt given by a friend. Requirement: write a poem about one thing, but really be talking about another. I am lucky enough to participate in another multi-member blog so we post and then critique each others' work; I will post a revision soon.
Tell us: How do you stay inspired?
-SM
(what was it I was hungry about)
What was it I was hungry about
I think the turkey in the oven, remember?
My friend said nothing is wrong
stay put, it’s a good fighting bar.
The girl walks home alone
in the dark, always beautiful and sad.
And here in the last minutes,
You can never really be sure,
but someone tightens a screw thinner
than an eyelash
and sips the juice of a grapefruit.
I sink down, as if shot, beside the ball
of its butt larded with mother-of-pearl.
There never was such a bright red ladybug
on the blinds.
Of course I will not be here long,
not the way percentages are going now
- MP & SRM, 2013 ©
This is a play off of Exquisite Corpse, which I've participated in on and off. I first mentioned that my poet friend/best friend and I would be collaborating here, and this is our first "draft". Thoughts? I will revise and repost soon.