Happy Halloween

 There are many reasons why I haven't been blogging lately and I'll spare you the gory details.  (They're not super gory so no worries). (Basically I'm suffering from creativity malaise).  (Which is not good).

My new plan is to write random sentences on the blog fairly regularly to keep the cobwebs at bay.

We'll start with Halloween. Halloween's not the happiest day for elementary school teachers, but I'm going with the flow and going to try to absorb the magic of 23 kids, costumes, games and candy.  

3rdLanders wanted to know about my costume.  I told them that I don't like to dress in costumes because it makes me embarrassed.  They seemed to understand and left it at that.

I am trying to at least be festive by wearing all black.  I am also wearing my fox jawbone necklace that never fails to draw rapt attention and awe.  (FYI: I'm thinking of being a bone collector in my spare time).

We're going to make Frankensteins.  I'm going to read Jerry Seinfeld's Halloween picture book.  Moms will bring games and food at 2.  

Guess I'm all set.  I'm heading in. Happy Halloween to you.  Don't forget to cast some spells.

The Wrap Up of the Week

Extremely rare BLUE crawdad
Photo Credit:  JS, AKA Crawdad Guy

 Sometimes I sit down to blog and I think... what the heck did I do that was even remotely interesting this week?  Come to find out, this week was a pleasant exception, filled with exciting and unusual experiences.

As you can see in the photo above, I was witness to the capture and release of the rare blue crawdad of Jackson Creek.  Only one in 10,000 crawdads are blue, so I'm still reeling from this crazy crawdad crowdpleaser.

Before school earlier in the week, I drove over to Chickadee Farms and helped feed the Clydesdale horses.  Had to get up so early, (4 am) but truly worth the energy. 

After school that same day, I was invited to speak at the CornCob Rally on the Courthouse Square.  I spoke about 4H chicken rearing programs in public schools.  Went well.

Then just yesterday, I left school after doing report cards to see some idiot had tied a great horned owl to a fence post across the street with a jumprope.  I freed the owl, which was surprisingly calm.  Fare thee well, Great Horned Owl.  Godspeed, my friend.

Because the week had some unusual highlights, I decided to share them with you, my few remaining readers. We can only imagine what this next week might bring our way.

ps  Please vote for the referendum on November 8.  If you want to, go ahead and try to get a few others to vote for the referendum as well.  Merci beaucoup. 

The Story of the Month

New Water Tower in Dana, Indiana
photo credit:  SL, former Dana resident

 Hey Friends,

Remember when I told you about my haiku dilemma in a post from a few weeks ago?  If you stopped reading this blog ages ago because the blogger has been slacking for awhile now, you might want to review the real life story here.

I never told you this, but I ended up getting the haiku.  I have a feeling my email may have prompted some action because the poem appeared 5 days after my email was sent.  Take away:  Write an email if something doesn't sit right with you.

I wrote a story based on this event and if you want to read it, go ahead.  It's right here.

Poetry on Demand

Lee Heffernan

 

Dear Bundunton Writer's Guild,

 

I'm emailing because of my unsatisfactory experience with your Poetry on Demand booth at last week's art fair.  A first time visitor to the poetry on demand experience, I requested a haiku from a "poet" named Bill. I donated ten dollars.  Because Bill allegedly had " a lot of poems in his queue," he told me to return to the booth later and my haiku would be ready. 

 

When I returned 35 minutes later, Bill asked for my home address as he had not yet written my haiku. I had some reservations about sharing this information, but I wrote down my address and Bill said I would receive my haiku in 2 to 3 days.  It's now been one week and I've received no haiku in the mail.  How long do you think it would take a person who works in a Poetry on Demand booth to write one haiku?  

 

Maeve Evans-Collier

 

*****

 

Dear Ms. Evans,

 

We are sorry to hear about this haiku hassle.  While we sponsor the Poetry on Demand booth, our members do not staff the event.  Bill was a volunteer from Mooresville who drove in with his own typewriter to work the booth.  We have no address for him.  We are happy to offer you this haiku as a replacement: 

 

Maeve Evans-Collier

waits for her missing haiku

oh where could it be

 

Thank you for the donation and WRITE ON!

 

Bundunton Writer's Guild

 

*****

 

Dear Bundunton Writer's Guild,

 

Thank you for your response to my email.  I'm sorry to tell you, however, that I take offense at your haiku's flippant tone. It's beyond me why you would treat a patron with such disdain.

 

Someone in your organization must have access to Bill's email address.  Please forward this information to me without delay.  

 

Maeve Collier Evans

requests the address of Bill

and her ten dollars

 

 

*****

 

 

Dear Maeve,

 

We are sorry that you misunderstood our haiku, but we refuse to apologize for creative expression.  We are happy to tell you, however, that today is your lucky day.  We've tracked down Bill's email address! (see below) 

 

We will not be returning your donation as we feel we've provided a haiku written specifically for you.  Here's another! 2 for the price of one!

 

No refunds for Maeve (you)

but we understand your plight

good luck with your quest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*****

Dear Bill,

 

My name is Maeve Collier Evans.  The Bundonton Writer's Guild gave me your email address. I met you recently at their Poetry on Demand booth at the Bundonton Arts Fair. If you recall, I donated ten dollars for a haiku.  After waiting for 35 minutes, I was disappointed to discover that my poem would be mailed to me. What does poetry on demand actually mean, I wonder? It has now been over a week. Could you please send my haiku at once to my address, which I am now supplying for the second time?

 

Ten dollar haiku

poetry not on demand

unbelievable

 

*****

 

Dear Maeve,

 

Thank you for reaching out. I don't want to make excuses for myself, but, long story short, my cat was hit by a car on Sunday evening. I found Smoky dead in the street when I got home from the arts fair.

 

After burying Smoky in the backyard, I'll be honest, my creative juices were tapped.  I had 18 poems to send out to art fair donors and I just didn't have it in me, Maeve. Come to find out, you are the only person who has contacted me about the missing poems.  You obviously live your life with integrity and expect others to do the same. I'm sorry I let you down.

 

Please accept my apologies.  I'm sending your belated haiku at last. I wrote it this morning.  Thank you for inspiring me to find my path back to my typewriter. 

 

your quest for haiku

spurred my creativity  

pushing through dark days

 

Your new friend, (I hope)

 

Bill

 

 

*****

 

 

 

Dear Bill, 

 

I feel horrible about making a fuss about the haiku, considering the circumstances. Please accept this haiku, written by me, with sincere condolences.

 

sorry for your loss

every day is so precious

we just never know

 

Let's stay in touch, Bill.  I suspect that poetry has brought us together for a reason.  I would love to get together to share stories about our precious pets. I lost my dog Charlie just last year.

 

Yours,

 

Maeve

The Vision

 This toe thing is starting to really get on my last nerve.  Let's try to ignore it and move on to what we're all here for.... blogging.

On Friday we had vision screening for the 3rdLanders.  One kid didn't want to go because, he said, "I have perfect vision.  I know that because I can see ten miles."

I wondered about this as we walked to the vision testing area.  Maybe he could see ten miles? How would I know?  Maybe he's talking about a time when he was on top of a mountain, or on top of the Willis Tower on a clear day.

Maybe he was lying or simply confused or suffering from delusions of grandeur.   At any rate, we're not great at measuring in ThirdLand.  Yet.  Searching for items that are 4 inches long this week, another 3rdLander wrote down, "Dr. H's ear."  Seriously. My ear is 4 inches a long?  Give me a break, Kid.  I tried to measure my ear for him, but he lost interest and walked away.  

We have work to do, my friends.  We have work to do.