Into the Wild Wood and Home Again

So, I'm dipping my feet in the AI information regarding ethical use of the models and services in the school setting. I did an online modular training yesterday, and I signed up for a webinar hosted by the NEA and ISTE+ASCD that will be in a couple of weeks. I have no interest at all in using AI myself, but I put myself on a committee at school tasked with developing an AI use policy and methods of teaching about AI/ using AI for classrooms. I'm probably going to play the role of naysayer, but someone has to watch out for academic rigor. I'm not a fan. I think, at the most innocuous, it is lazy to use AI when applied to writing and related tasks. It's inaccurate, although it's clearly being tweaked all the time to make it more accurate. That said, there was a punctuation error, an easy-to-fix one, staring me in the face on their presentation yesterday. ( sigh ) This, after they talked about using AI to review work for grammar and usage.  Two things trouble me so far...

Chapbook Party Update! I'm still working on the final details, but here goes: Wed., March 19, 7pm, on Zoom...conversation/ reading/ question and answer with Joann Deiudecibus! Sunday, March 30, 1-2 pm, at the Littleton Food Coop... in-person celebration/reading/book signing (with cookies!)  Today, I put five copies of my chapbook at the Coop, too, on the Local Authors shelf! I know it's really hard to get excited about anything these days-- we are all in survival mode. I do think, though, that surviving is a little bit easier with friends.  Stay tuned for more details as I get them all sorted. In the meantime, let me know if your book has arrived from Finishing Line Press, so I'm sure people have gotten them! Take good care, C

The ice is sliding off the roof with a rumble and crash. It's been raining and warmer for the last two days, and lemme tell ya, the house-shaking thuds are unnerving. Which, I'm glad, the ice has the good sense (!) to avoid falling on things like stacks of chairs on the deck and my car, but yeah... winter might be losing its grip a little.  Maybe. This happens just about every year, though-- we get a breath of springish air, and then wham! Sub zero and snow happens. Smart kids don't take their winter tires off until May. Or put away the coats.  That said, it's kind of nice not to have to run the oil furnace so much. And opening the winter curtains to let in actual daylight is nice, too.  I hate ice, though, and this rain at 34 degrees is a little sketchy. I'm glad I don't have to drive to work, G is off today, and Meg is not going anywhere til this evening (ugh, nightshift).  Have a good day, and be careful. The outside world is pretty bent on making things ...i...

Normally, I'd be railing on about things in the news. But there's no point in that; you all know what I think, and why keep the toxic narrative going?  We are --I am-- in survival mode.  Today, I am going to bake bread and fold laundry. What I've always done, instinctively, when there is chaos and disorder, is turn to domestic chores. It keeps my hands busy, and I feel like I've accomplished something.  I read last night that there's another wave of banned books coming, and I am trying to not lose my mind-- this time, if I read it correctly, if the books are even in the building, federal aid will be suspended. I can't find the list anywhere yet.  So, I'll bake. C

“There is no week nor day nor hour when tyranny may not enter upon this country, if the people lose their roughness and spirit of defiance.”  – Walt Whitman So, here I am, finding my solace and inspiration this morning from Walt Whitman.  We had a productive day yesterday, very busy with moving around furniture in the bedrooms upstairs, setting up a new bed frame and mattress, and so on. Hot, dusty work. But it's done, and sleep may be a lot easier. I sure hope so. Last night was good; I slept fairly well, but my tummy troubles kept me up and down a bit. This stupid gastritis is getting better, but I made a few poor choices (afternoon coffee) and my guts grumbled a lot. That said, the mattress is comfy. The new sheets and bedding are nice, too.  In short, I was able to limit my intake of the horrors, and maybe that'll help my disposition. Meg said it best the other day: we are all tired of living in history.  I hope you have a restful day. Be safe. Be vigilant. Be br...

In the first book of Samuel, there is the story of how Saul was leading an armed force against David, and, one night, David and Abishai came upon Saul and his soldiers sleeping. Abishai was all for taking Saul's spear and he wanted to "nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear." That would have ended the threat in a rather permanent way. However, David said not to, as Saul was also one of the anointed by God. Mercy? Yes, but... The "yes, but" of it comes in part of the reading most people gloss over in preference for talking about the mercy part. David took Saul's spear and his water jug away. In other words, he did not allow Abishai to kill Saul, but he did neutralize the situation by taking away his personal weapon and his water, which would have severely limited him in battle or in the heat of the day--he'd have to have more care for his survival than for armed opposition. David limited Saul's ability to be a real threat, and he also sho...

I suppose it's the first day of "vacation" in my little world. In the practical sense, it's also just a Saturday, with the usual grocery-getting, house-cleaning, and so on. I'm not feeling like it's anything all that different. Isn't it funny that a vacation --even if it's just a stay-cation-- doesn't feel like one until the Monday morning when you can sit in your pjs and drink coffee?  Of course, I can't this week-- I set up a brake job for 8am on Monday. But you know what I mean, right? I'll loll about a few other days.  Today, though, I chose to scale back my activity level a little-- I will not be participating in the Open Mic at the Coop after all. I truly just want to be home. In fact, given the horror after horror after horror in the news, I kind of want to crawl into a dark closet somewhere.  Instead, what I'll do is take care of business. Keeping busy making sure my home is a haven is my only defense against the darkness, at le...

UP extra early so I can get to work extra early so I can monitor winter carnival games. I signed up early so I didn't have to stand outside-- too cold for me, thanks.  Then, at 12:30, I'm outta there for a week. Amen. I am in dire need of a break from the routine.  This weekend: Open Mic at the Coop on Sat., then heading out for a birthday dinner for G. Sunday will bring church, then working on The Big Bedroom Redo. I'll make a pot roast dinner for the fam, and we'll celebrate G's birthday with cake and so on.  I hope to be getting better sleep on a new mattress Sunday night. Then, bright and early Monday, I'll go to the shop and get my rear brakes fixed. Sigh. Others might be in Florida, but I'll be at VIP.  That's about as far as it goes in my agenda at this point. I don't dare make any "fun" plans, because they usually slide off the schedule, and then I feel disappointed. I was invited to take part in a spelling bee fundraiser on Wed. ev...

It's been cold for a long time. I didn't sleep well at all last night- woke up cold too many times to count. I'm already tired, and there's still two more days of school. Today, I only have one class to teach, though-- the other one has been given over to winter carnival "prep"-- they will be working on their lip-sync routine and decorating the hallway. So, interminable rounds of "My lip gloss is poppin'" and arguments over streamers. God give me strength. I don't mind most of the stuff that goes on with carnival week, and the dress-up days have been relatively harmless this year. The kids enjoy the change in routine, so that's a positive. And heaven knows, there's precious little positive going on in the world, so I won't complain. I won't stay for the afternoon stuff today, because I am just too darn tired. I'll be there bright and early tomorrow, though, to monitor three hours of indoor games in my classroom (two Promet...

I was pondering about what to write this morning, given that the national and global news is so dire it is paralyzing my brain. At school, things limp along towards a much-needed Winter Break. My classroom is cold. yadda yadda Then, I opened my email to find the notification that my book will be here tomorrow! And individual copies that were ordered directly from the publisher ought to be winging their way within a day or so. How exciting! I've been trying to figure out how to do a book launch party, and whether to do one online as well. The Littleton Food Co-op will host one for me in the cafe, which would be nice and convenient. And there's another open mic event this Saturday, so I can announce it then, I suppose, if I get my act together quickly. I have this afternoon to puzzle that over; we have a staff meeting, so I'll just stay at work. That gives me 90 unfilled minutes to consider on this.  I'd like to have both G and Meg there, but coordinating schedules will b...

I read Heather Cox Richardson's very interesting post about George Washington, and the underlying expectation that, for the most part, presidents have always been held to the standard that they will be honest-- or at least, as honest as possible. And when they have not, they have been held to account by a disapproving general public. Her main example, of course, was Nixon.  I think the one thing that makes me expressly angry is when I've been lied to. Not only because it is a lie, but because the person telling the lie has assumed I'm too stupid to know the truth. I value my hard-earned intellect and education, coupled with my sense of fairness and integrity, too much to accept being made a fool of, and that's just what a liar does.  Most people make excuses for the liar, and they consider extenuating circumstances. And, if the lie was not a hurtful one (a "little white lie"), I am inclined to only be disappointed. But when the lie is hurtful, intentional, an...

We have a two-hour delay today, so that the roads can be cleared more effectively. That said, it's a mess, and it's lightly snowing still. Yes, it's winter, and yes, it's the week before vacation, which makes it also winter carnival week, and delays crunch time up like a ball of tinfoil. It's almost less disruptive to have a full cancel, but alas, that is not our lot today.  Teachers --well, most of us-- love a snow day, too. It's like a reward: we spend the time over the weekend attending to chores we couldn't get done through the work week, we've spent time grading papers and planning lessons, so where did the weekend go? A snow day, even if it's not a Monday, is a little gift. Time to slow down a little, to claim a little time for yourself. Delays just delay things. That said, we'll still have to manage, to cram lessons in, or move them around. I'm game. I've been in this biz long enough to know that I have to make sure that there are ...

Today's Gospel reading is pretty clear about who is on the side of right, who is practicing compassion and who will receive blessings and justice. This is from Luke 6:20-26, and for centuries, it has given hope and comfort to people who are living in confusing, unjust times. In our own day, things are even more chaotic, not just nationally but also globally. What often happens, though, is that some folks sit back and wait for someone else --or God-- to swoop in and save the day, without actively participating in mitigating the problems.  I firmly believe that God works through us, if we are willing to be of service. Passivity is not helpful; if we see someone who is struggling, we should help. If we see someone being persecuted, we should help. We should share our bounty, offer practical solutions, and roll up our sleeves to do good work.  Blessings come in many forms, and we should be one for others, if we are brave enough to let God work through us. Have a good day, C ...

A peek inside my creating brain... Notes on invasive species-- House Sparrows Spotted Cuckoo Brown-headed Cowbird Yellow Warblers Milfoil Giant Hogweed Kudzu Africanized Bees Key phrases:  brutal when discovered or tricked brood parasite home-breaker need to be physically ripped out easily triggered I'm not done; but it feels like I should start drafting some things. I am hoping to pull from scientific assessments, and work with received/borrowed language. I think I need a couple more bugs, maybe termites.  But not today. Today and tomorrow, I will be working on two older "flat" drafts in a high-energy, welcoming class online. I'm excited. Not only is it productive, it'll also be fun. I have not had an acceptance of a poem in a while, and I have not been writing a lot lately, either. I do have a couple of drafts from the generative workshop I was in last month, but I have not gone back to them to see what is really there. See, that's the kicker: when I draft s...

Valentine's Day Be good to one another. Be good to yourself. Show care. Be careful and care-filled. Stop at crosswalks. Let people into traffic. Make way for littles. Laugh at silly jokes. Try not to wind up about issues beyond your control. Make buttered toast. Enjoy a quiet moment. Save room for others. Be safe, keep each other safe. C

How about those toxic invasive plants?  Giant Hogweed: Giant hogweed has a phototoxic sap that, when exposed to light, can cause severe burns on human skin. Removing hogweed can be dangerous because of this sap; it should also not be burned or composted for this reason. The easiest way to remove giant hogweed is to pull it when it is still very young and small and store all plant components in sealed black garbage bags until the plant is dried and seeds are no longer viable. Do not plant giant hogweed in gardens and report any sightings. Yes, do not allow it to take root. It must be removed completely, and not allowed to propagate. Of course, it becomes particularly toxic when exposed to the light. Hm. I may have just enough variety of birds, bugs, and weeds.  We'll see what my little brain cooks up. C

Yesterday, my  Survey of Ame rican Lit erature class joined with Mrs Walker's Foods 102 class in  a collaborative session  that  honor ed  indigenous food pathways of the northern New England region. The book  being read,  The Old American  by NH author Ernest Hebert,  involves a  community  that is turning to a  more  agrarian form of communal living instead of a hunter/gatherer/nomadic way of life.  We made  a Three Sisters Soup, and I  presented  a short  discussion  about the Wabenaki food calendar and local food sources. The kids  learn ed a little  about a vibrant local culture, and we talk ed  about ways to respect the land and more sustainable food practices, and  how to  reduce dependency on non-local/ out of season food resources.  Now, I'm no expert on these things, but I am deeply interested in traditional foods and living with the land, instead of exp...

  Well, I'm back to my invasives. This one seems about right: Known as “mile-a-minute” and “the vine that ate the South,” this creeping, climbing perennial vine terrorizes native plants all over the southeastern United States and is making its way into the Midwest, Northeast and even Oregon...  It was first introduced to the United States during the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 where it was touted as a great ornamental plant for its sweet-smelling blooms and sturdy vines. From the 1930s through the 1950s, the Soil Conservation Service promoted it as a great tool for soil erosion control and was planted in abundance throughout the south. Little did we know that kudzu is quite a killer, overtaking and growing over anything in its path. Yeah, that tracks.  Have a good day, C

Well, that Super Bowl was as flat as a pancake. The pre-game music was good, though-- not a clinker in the bunch. I loved the rendition of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," and seeing and hearing Harry Connick, Jr. is always a treat. Jon Batiste's flawless performance of the national anthem was nice, too.  I didn't get one bit of the halftime music; I know who Kendrick Lamar is, and I understand he is popular. I did not understand most of what he was saying, but I can agree that the show was well-choreographed.  meh. total meh. The game itself was awful. Listening to Tom Brady yammer on was a little hard, too. That all said, football season is officially done, and spring training games start on Feb. 22. That's pretty awesome, because my school vacation starts then, too, and it's G's b'day. So-- good day, all around, I hope.  I love watching spring training games because, no matter how iffy the games are, the grass is green. I can revel vicariously. It...

Then I heard the voice   of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?   And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 I'm sure that you, like me, have spent the better part of the last almost three weeks feeling shoved from pillar to post and back again. Our world has turned upside down in almost every way, and it's hard to figure out what the path forward will look like, and just how many landmines we will have to figure out how to avoid. Not everyone is a person of faith, but I am, and today is my turn at being the lector in church. I reviewed the readings, and this passage from the first reading caught my eye. Now, I'm not saying I am selected by God to go forth and be a messenger of his Word, but maybe we all are, actually.  People have been reeling --I have been, I can assure you-- wondering who will save us from this turbulent situation. I'm pretty sure that there are few heroes coming to save the day, if any. We must speak up for ourselves....

Continuing on with my invasive species quest, I went to insects. There are myriad invasive bugs, but this one particularly caught my eye because of it's origin. Have a good one, C Fun fact for today: "killer bees" come from South Africa The Africanized honey bees in the  Western Hemisphere  are descended from hives operated by  biologist   Warwick E. Kerr , who had interbred honey bees from Europe and  southern Africa . Kerr was attempting to breed a strain of bees that would produce more honey in  tropical  conditions than the European strain of honey bee then in use throughout  North ,  Central  and  South America . The hives containing this particular African subspecies were housed at an  apiary  near  Rio Claro ,  São Paulo , in the southeast of  Brazil , and were noted to be especially defensive. These hives had been fitted with special excluder screens (called  queen excluders ) to prevent the lar...

UP, and it's 35 degrees warmer this morning than it was yesterday. But the constant is the snow. It's still snowing. There are other constants as well-- chaotic ones-- that I'm not able to process as yet. Head down, blinders on, keep moving... that's my mantra.  Today is Friday, and I am grateful. It's been a long week, one fraught in so many ways. I need a quiet space in my life, especially in my head. There's been a few bright spots, but mostly, I just want to creep into my own little hidey hole and stay there for a bit. I'm sure you do, too.  I'm still pondering on the large-ish writing project I have buzzing in my head. I'm pretty sure I don't have the time or mental "bandwidth" to work on it yet, but I'm accruing information.  Have a good day, and here is today's fun fact. Stay warm, C  Types of Milfoil: Eurasian watermilfoil ( 𝑀𝑦𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑦𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑚 ) A non-native, invasive species that can grow...

More fun facts about brood parasites today. I think most people feel like a yellow warbler. I have a somewhat large-ish writing project in mind. We'll see if it takes shape. Have a good day, C The Brown-headed Cowbird is North America’s most common “brood parasite.” A female cowbird makes no nest of her own, but instead lays her eggs in the nests of other bird species, who then raise the young cowbirds. Social relationships are difficult to figure out in birds that do not build nests, but male and female Brown-headed Cowbirds are not monogamous. Genetic analyses show that males and females have several different mates within a single season. Some birds, such as the Yellow Warbler, can recognize cowbird eggs but are too small to get the eggs out of their nests. Instead, they build a new nest over the top of the old one and hope cowbirds don’t come back. Some larger species puncture or grab cowbird eggs and throw them out of the nest. But the majority of hosts don’t recognize cowbird...

                                                    Today is National Girls and Women in Sports Day! A lot has been coming up roses for girls and women in sports, with such stars as Caitlin Clark and Simone Biles. A real tragedy is the deaths of the young figure skaters in that horrible crash in Washington. Women have been working hard for parity in sports for a very long time-- acceptance, pay, equipment, etc.-- and they are just now starting to get wider television and other media coverage. That all said, it's kind of hard to celebrate this, when the clock is spinning backward.  But we will. I will. My daughter was an accomplished athlete all throughout school and in college. She worked hard at it, to be sure, and we made damned sure she had a lot of opportunities. Having to advocate for her well-being against male coaches (not...

Today's fun facts: The great spotted cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals. It is widely spread throughout Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. It is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of corvids, in particular the Eurasian magpie. Brood parasite, "Mafia hypothesis"-- The "mafia hypothesis" proposes that when a brood parasite discovers that its egg has been rejected, it destroys the host's nest and injures or kills the nestlings. The threat of such a response may encourage compliant behavior from the host. Threats.  Interesting. Have a good day, C

I am going to take a little break from commenting on the news. Instead, I think I'll search out poems and "fun facts" to share. I'm also looking for writing prompts, so this will work out well, I think. Today: House sparrows These birds will evict other species from their territory by destroying eggs, killing nestlings, or killing incubating females.   Thanks, and have a good Monday! C

For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.  17 For this reason he had to be made like them,  k  fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (NIV) I take it that we are to understand that angels can fend for themselves, and that it is human beings who need help. Thus, Jesus came and experienced human suffering, so that he was more able to help those who are being tempted.  Tempted to do what? I read it today as being tempted to despair, which, although it is not one of the standard list of seven deadly sins, is often associated with them.  Despair, as I understand it, is refusing to accept that God can and will help in times of difficulty. We cannot despair. We shall not despair.  Today is also Candlemas,...

I was sitting here, watching the blinking cursor, with a completely blank brain. You all know what I think about things, so why write it here? It's become a dangerous country, and all of our personal data is now available to an unelected individual who is running rampant.  Unchecked power. I'm fighting to stay this side of crazy. I wish you all well, and maybe I'll have something worthwhile to say later. C

I got a chance to go to the grocery mid-morning yesterday, due to the unexpected (but deeply appreciated) day out of school (too many sick teachers and kids). I also ran two other errands, and was home before 1pm. AND I had supper all made well before 11 am, and in the fridge. I'd be amazing at retirement. (hehe) That all said, I saw a friend of mine, Sister Carol McKenzie, whom I have not seen in a while. She is one of my favorite people; she explodes the idea that most folks have in their heads when they hear "nun." Sister Carol is a retired English teacher, and she drinks whiskey and yells at football. She has a bitingly funny wit, and a truly take-no-prisoners attitude when it comes to abject stupidity. Thus, we chatted a long while about the "state of things," and she and I are in full agreement. So that's good, right? In parting, I said that I'd "keep trying to do my best," to which she rejoined, "and God will have to do the rest....