What I'll Still Have.

I made this list about six months ago, and it feels relevant again tonight. This is in no particular order.

1. Floorplans and house listings
2. Libby
3. Cumberland County or other library
4. Tutoring
5. My benefits
6. Oliver's benefits
7. Medicare
8. My ink drawer
9. My desk
10. My beautiful desk chair (white wood with pistachio green upholestry)
11. Bookcases
12. Hundreds of books I own
13. Thousands of books I can read
14. My Kindle library
15. My ability to read
16. My old journals
17. Oliver's smiles
18. Occasional phone calls with my mom, during which she helps me sort out my brain
19. My makeup
20. Loft.com
21. Amazon
22. Drives and dinners with Dad
23. Alida/therapy
24. The pink velvet loveseat
25. My gray suede armchair
26. My denim chaise
27. My pink blanket (I still sleep with it under my head)
28. My pillow
29. My bed blankets
30. My creativity
31. Oliver's songs
32. My music if not my playlists
33. My Jane Eyre doll
34. My Jo (Little Women) trunk set, which I searched for for over a decade!
35. My London Cissy
36. My Scarlett Cisette
37. My Violette Cisette
38. My Beth (Little Women) trunk set
39. My Anne Shirley doll
40. The teal side table
41. Messages with Megan
42. My birthday
43. Birthday presents
44. Christmas presents
45. Christmas lights
46. Cinnamon-scented candles
47. My teaching ability
48. Bruce texts
49. Bruce Barnes/coffee outings
50. Watching TV shows with Bruce and Corey
51. Caramel iced lattes
52. Chicken Caesar wraps
53. Burgers
54. Barq's
55. Sprite
56.  Blackberry ginger ale
57. Tiny Dr. Peppers
58. Tiny Cherry Cokes
59. Apple juice
60. Theatre tickets
61. My publications
62. My poems
63. Bella Grace magazine
64. Bella Grace Field Guide magazine
65. Art Journaling magazine
66. In Her Studio magazine
67. Oh Reader magazine
68. Sticker subscriptions
69. Violette stickers
70. Etsy stickers
71. Book T-shirts
72. Glitter shoes (TOMS and others)
73. My star sneakers
74. My sequin sneakers
75. My tall black boots
76. My green boots
77. The white wicker wardrobe
78. My white metal bed
79. Old Bay
80. My pretty pillows (snowflakes, mermaids...)
81. My water tumbler a.k.a. growler
82. Cold water
83. Seasoned chicken (Old Bay, Italian dressing, lemon pepper, poultry seasoning)
84. My fairy floor cushion
85. My Annie Stegg Phantom prints
86. My Cinderella canvas
87. My personalized favorite books print
88. My fairy and mermaid art
89. My Jane Eyre print
90. The rest of my art
91. My Mary Engelbriet mermaid print
92. My travel memories
93. New York City
94. Broadway
95. Fresh Sugar Radiant Rose lip balm (fuchsia)
96. Fresh Sugar Icon lip balm (red, bought in NYC)
97. All Fresh Sugar lip balms, especially Advanced Therapy, which is the only treatment that really helps my chapped lips
98. My turquoise and gold ottoman trays
99. My pen collection
100. BLX pens
101. Precise V5 RT pens
102. Gelly Roll pens
103. Sparkle Pop pens
104. Krazy Pop pens
105. Hybrid Dual Metallic pens
106. Ooly glitter pens
107. Colored lead mechanical pencils
108. Lotion tissues
109. philosophy 3-in-1 scented gels (like Pumpkin Icing!)
110. My habits tracker
111. Poetry
112. Writing poetry
113. Submission possibilities
114. Musicals
115. Phantom
116. My art books
117. French lifestyle/fashion books
118. Fashion art
119. Leggings
120. Oliver's answers 
121. My Ariel jacket
122. My star cardigan
123. My cardigan collection
124. My gold cardigan
125. My gunmetal cardigan
126. My bling beanies
127. My interesting eyes (green with a thick teal ring)
128. My vision
129. My hearing
130. Taste
131. Touch
132. Smell
133. Wallflowers
134. Starry, my cat
135. Mermaids
136. Fairies
137. My heated throw
138. My heated wrap
139. Block books
140. New releases by favorite authors
141. Ada Limon
142. Amy Gerstler
143. Best American Poetry
144. Best Small Fictions
145. Sarah Addison Allen
146. Marisa de los Santos
147. My MFA
148. My favorite books collection
149. Alexandra Stoddard books
150. Yoga
151. Music
152. Broadway showtunes
153. My car
154. Scented handsoaps
155. Wish lists
156. Glitter
157. Art journaling
158. Collage making
159. My Summa Cum Laude
160. Stickers
161. My blank journal collection
162. Italian journals
163. Peter Pauper Press
164. My mental/emotional strength
165. New journals to find
166. DesignWorks journals
167. Good JuJu journals
168. Oliver's labeling T-shirts
169. My Betsey Johnson necklaces
170. My earrings
171. My bracelets
172. My ability to daydream
173. Planning projects
174. My best friend
175. Sunlight
176. Fireplaces
177. Strong men close by if I need help
178. Support from my mom and stepdad
179. My dignity
180. The body I worked hard for
181. The moon
182. Disney princesses
183. Michaels
184. Craft stores
185. Target
186. 2nd & Charles
187. Barnes
188. Bookstores to discover
189. Carrot cake
190. White Oreos
191. Free time
192. Joy
193. The Brontes
194. My chandelier
195. Words
196. Facebook
197. My website
198. Potential for love
199. My identity
200. Movies
201. Seahorses
202. Minnie
203. Pinterest
204. Zillow
205. Mom's advice
206. Weekends off
207. Possibility for travel
208. Rhinestones
209. Fairy stars
210. Glitter paint
211. My teal glitter scissors
212. Rubber stamps
213. Metallic ink pads
214. Shimmer ink
215. Coconut milk
216. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin from Bath & Body Works
217. Sugared Lemon Zest " "
218. Fresh Cut Lilacs " "
219. Violet perfume
220. Artists
221. K. Y. Craft
222. Amy Brown
223. Christian Schloe
224. Annie Stegg
225. Purple
226. Pink
227. Moonlight pens
228. Pastel colors
229. My star sheets
230. Into the Woods 
231. Urban Decay
232. Moondust makeup
233. My glitter case
234. ColourPop palettes
235. Natasha Denona palettes
236. Carrabbas
237. My fancy glasses
238. A joyful child
239. My soul
240. Short stories
241. Buddy reads
242. Fashion writing
243. Rachel Weisz
244. Bill Hader
245. Paul Rudd
246. Funny videos
247. Movie quotations
248. My quotations composition books
249. Snowflakes
250. Fairy lights
251. Swimming
252. My headphones
253. Macadamia nuts
254. White chooclate
255. Doctors
256. The Haymount Institute
257. My language
258. Bruce's couch
259. Orgasms
260. Presents and prizes
261. Trees
262. Storms
263. Cinnamon sugar
264. Brie and honey bagels
265. Olive oil
266. Green
267. Teal
268. Atlas Stationers
269. TWSBI pens
270. My music nib pen
271. Sarah Bareilles
272. The story of Cinderella
273. The story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses
274. The story of Snow White and Rose Red
275. Seasons
276. Ice
277. My snowflake mat
278. My glitter paper towel holder
279. Almost 18 years in love
280. My DVDs
281. Books about books
282. Family
283. My reading history
284. My driver's license
285. My teaching experience
286. Bubble baths
287. Food writing
288. My lamps
289. Sunshine naps
290. Cheap Joe's Art Supplies
291. Alani energy drinks
292. Determination
293. Prayer
294. Hope
295. Hydrangeas
296. Fuchsia
297. Wild violets
298. Oliver hugs
299. Sparkly makeup highlighters
300. Glitter highlighter markers
301. Gel highlighters
302. Mug bowls
303. Velvet
304. Star clothes
305. Irregular Choice heels
306. My shoe collection
307. Dangling earrings
308. Oliver's saying, "I good."
309. '80s rock
310. Purple knives
311. Experience as a second reader for a magazine
312. Character/art page flags
313. Cinderella film
314. My top frames
315. Xanax
316. Polka dot dresses
317. Brene Brown
318. Weetzie Bat
319. Books on writing
320. To-read lists/shelves
321. Bookends
322. Fabric bins
323. The necklace Mom made me
324. Theatre memories
325. Mary Engelbriet
326. Susan Branch
327. Warm water
328. Buddy time
329. Starry snugs
330. Sephora
331. Ulta
332. Pesto pasta
333. Metallic surfaces
334. Windchimes
335. Oliver's talking about Pete the Cat
336. Rollerskates
337. Eye shadow palettes
338. My suits
339. My dressy jackets
340. My favorite photo
341. Mandy
342. A LIttle Princess
343. Kate Middleton
344. My pen stand
345. Thinx
346. Purple DVD player
347. Green grass
348. Clematis
349. My pretty magnets
350. My nose stud
351. Chad at Harris Teeter
352. Buddy gifts
353. Packages
354. Cupcake art
355. Key art
356. Graphic novels
357. Clean mornings
358. Starting new journals
359. My pretty dish towels
360. My shower curtains
361. Polka dots
362. Star prints
363. Magic
364. Cutting up magazines
365. Gorgeous calendars
366. White end tables
367. Papaya art
368. Red grapes
369. Chocolate mousse
370. Paris
371. London
372. Italy

That's how far I got. Here are some I'm adding today:

1. My job
2. Ice peppermint mochas
3. Cool Whip and chocolate pudding
4. Can whipped cream and sprinkles
5. The Kate Spade quotation She Leaves a Little Sparkle Wherever She Goes
6. Prayer
7. Miniature daffodils
8. My conscience
9. My meds/sense of general reality
10. My love for myself
11. My project table
12. Carmen Gimenez Smith
13. Looking at Madame Alexander dolls on Ebay
14. Memories of and books by my teachers
15. My Queens connections
16. Hopefully, more friends
17. Faith
18. Windows
19. Jimmy Fallon
20. Warmth
21. OTC pain killers
22. Alan's saying, "I have no doubt you belong here."
23. Kay's saying, "Obviously, you can do this."
24. Cotton tank tops
25. Hipsters
26. Writing groups
27. Walks
28. Long gripper toes
29. Pretty socks
30. Anne Klein glitter wedge heels
31. My memories from BCC
32. My traumatic but triumphant birth story
33. Knowledge that I fought
34. Knowledge that my love is real
35. My self-improvement
36. My inner freedom
37. Contentment
38. Life
39. Panera
40. Sleep meds
41. Asparagus
42. Broccoli
43. Potato skins
44. Cheese
45. Help
46. My confidence
47. My compassion
48. My self-worth
49. My introspection
50. My potential

Beautiful Messes.

 Today, I read an article in Bella Grace (Summer 2022) called "Beautiful Messes." In it, many readers shared times when messes are fun or dear. I decided to make my own list. Josh and I are well matched in most ways, but I'm a messy maximalist while he is a minimalist who needs order. Still, I think he may find some of these messes endearing.

• The huge ink bruises that bloom on the side of my middle finger, on my fingertips, and on my palms from writing with, cleaning, or filling fountain pens.
• Glitter from the little purple Christmas tree spilling on my project table.
• My big makeup bag overflowing with colorful eyeshadow, sparkling highlighters, and glitter mascara.
• An avalanche of new sheet protectors when Oliver is playing.
• The dishes and spilled ingredients in the kitchen after I make a good meal...especially sinxe Josh usually cleans up after I cook.
• Spilled glitter that getrs in rhe carpet and that the vacuum can't quite catch.
• A scattering of fountain pens by the kitchen sink when I'm cleaning them.
• A bin full of magazine photos and ephermera waiting for a collage or the art journal.
• A skidding stack of book I've read recently, bristling with colorful page flags marking all the lines I want to write down in my quotation composition books.
• New stickers spread out and waiting to decorate journnals, especially the ones that come from Pipsticks!
• Josh's little snack bowls and wrappers on various surfaces.
• Starry's hair (and even the claw-pluck marks) on her favorite chair.
• A paper towel covered in ink splotches after I use it to blot my newly-filled pens.
• The scatter of tiny ink bottles from my Inkvent calendar on Josh's desk.
• My closet, stuffed but color coordinated, full of sparkle, velvet, bookish tees, stars, and polka dots.
• A slam-packed freezer with plenty of fish sticks (Oliver), pizza (usually Oliver), veggie patties (Josh), and vegetable steamer bags (mostly me).
• A leaning tower of new magazines on the ottoman.
• All the pastel narwhal page flags studding my journal, marking lists (like this one) and poems I need to type.
• The leftover foam in the tub after a bubble bath.
• Dr. Pepper and Cherry Coke cans before Josh whisks them away.
• The chip crumbs on the table and floor after Oliver has a treat.
• My books, computer, notepad, and pens spread out on a table in the college library.
• A basket full of pink and purple laundry.

What to Do When You're Fried.

I am definitely fried. Five weeks of exhaustion and headaches. Three weeks of a nagging, low-grade fever. Lingering effects of four days of intense vertigo. Doctors who don't take me seriously. A GYN appointment (even though it wasn't that bad, and everything is normal). A husband who is overcommitted and also fried. An energetic son who has two days off school this week when he desperately needs routine. Difficult conversations. Difficult memories. Early darkness. So what do I do? Here's what I'm trying:

• Looking at Christmas catalogs--Brighton, Goldspot Pens, The Company Store, and whatever else comes in the mail.
• Eating a shrimp, refried bean, Mozzarella, and guacamole burrito.
• Tearing out cozy scenes and colorful penscapes for my art journal, when I get to it.
• Drinking an iced peppermint mocha.
• Drinking an extra Dr. Pepper.
• Making tomato soup.
• Making cheddar and sour cream mashed potatoes (the easy kind).
• Lighting the Pumpkin Clove, Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun, Vanilla Pumpkin Marshmallow, and Vanilla Pumpkin Creme B&BW candles all in one day.
• Lighting two Christmas trees (yes, I decorate after Halloween and until Valentine's Day if I feel like it!).
• Letting Josh stroke me with a cold washcloth.
• Changing the sheets (if I have the energy tonight).
• Answering cheerful student E-mails.
• Writing in my Italian leather bumblebee journal.
• Reading Bella Grace articles.
• Starting a list of ways to feel like a kid again.
• Letting Josh take on more of the chores and driving tasks.
• Eating room-temperature coffee cake. 
• Wearing velour star pants.
• Showering with philosophy Sugar Plum Fairy gel.
• Taking Cinnamon Sandalwood bubble baths.
• Reading an easy, engaging book (Being Lolita).
• Reading poems about fairies.
• Organizing a pink binder with (for now) my 2023-2025 reading list, highlighter coded (green for what I need to buy, glitter pink for 40 before 40 goals, and glitter yellow for annual goals).
• Adding to my Amazon wish lists: one for me, one for Josh, and one for Bruce.
• Kissing for every goodbye.
• Carefully filling our four pill boxes for the week (a Tuesday task).
• Reading a juicy poem ("Girl Eats Her First Mango").
• Reading literary analyses of the juicy poem.
• Sending out class announcements letting everybody know what we're doing this week.
• Reading student freewriting journal entries about all their trials and excitements.
• Reading Toni Morrison essays in the dark while I put Oliver to bed.
• Writing a blog post to remind myself of all the good little things in these days.

What Makes Me Curious: Part 1.

I gave myself a prompt (which I gleaned from reading an article in Bella Grace) to fill a spread in my journal with objects of my curiosity. A lot of them turned out to be people. I'm thinking about how I can discover more about each of these curiosities. Here they are:

• Native Americans. I have a DK book called North American Indians that I want to read. When I was a little girl, I read as much as I could about Native Americans, but I've forgotten a lot of what I learned. I want to read more Native American writerrs, inclluding Natalie Diaz (I gave Postcolonial Love Poem 5 stars) and Stephen Graham Jones. I read something I'm heavily paraphrasing somewhere: Learn as much about Native American brilliance as about their tragedy. I want to do that. I'm going to search for anthologies of Native American stories or poems.
• Ancient Egypt. Egypt has always fascinated me. I got to learn some about it in AP Art History my senior year of high school. I have a DK book on Ancient Egypt. I want to read that soon. I also want to buy an audio book of Egyptian mythology.
• Interior design. I've always loved floorplans, and I enjoy decorating in my quirky, glittery way. But this year, I've become more interested in interiror design. I've read several books about it this year, and I have four more to read. Even Kindle Unlimited has a book about becoming an interior designer. It's not something I'd actually do, and I don't intend to follow any rules, but I want to learn more about it.
• Kinuko Y. Craft. She is one of my favorite artists. I've had a couple of her calendars, which I need to cut up for prints and art journal pages. I've already hung up some calendar art. I should revisit her beautifully illustrated fairy tales. I've added a couple more to my wish list. And I have one book about her drawings and paintings; I want to read that. Her work is gorgeous and fascinating. Check out her gallery!
• Tasha Tudor. She was another of my favorite artists. I collect books she's illustrated. When I was a little girl, my mom read her copy of A Is for Annabelle to me. It's an alphabet book about a very fancy doll. She gave me my own copy for my eighteenth birthday. Now, I have a story book or two, a book of love poetry, a Child's Garden of Verses, and a book of fairy tales, all of which she illustrated. I want to read each of them and absorb the art. I also have a book about her art; maybe I'll read that in 2024.
• Josephine Wall. Another favorite artist! I have some journals with her art, and I have at least one print in the study from one of her calendars. I also have a book about her and her art that I need to read.
• Amy Brown. Another favorite artist! I've loved Amy Brown since I discovered her as a teenager. One of the first Christmas gifts Josh gave me was a book of her art. I have at least three such books, but I've never read the text. I'd like to get the two other books on her art for my collection. 
• Sunset Boulevard, the musical. I saw this when I was younger than twelve. The cast album still haunts me. I've heard we may get a movie of the musical someday, which would be amazing. The sets and special effects are breathtaking. I have a big hardcover book all about the musical. I've had it for many years, but I've never read it!
• Dear Evan Hansen. I've watched a lot of videos about this show. I've read the companion novel. I've seen the movie. I've seen the show twice, once from the second row! I knew nothing about this musical the first time I saw it, but it became my second-favorite show! I almost got to see it on Broadway, but the pandemic shut it down that night. I have a big hardcover about the musical, and I need to read that. 
• The Phantom of the Opera. I think I'm due to reread this novel. It's also my favvorite musical. I've seen the show seven times, once on Broadway! I have...you guessed it, a big hardcover about the musical. So much to read! I also need to read Andrew Lloyd Weber's and Michael Crawford's memoirs (both of which I own) as they probably reveal a lot about the show.
• Ann Patchett. Ann Patchett just seems like a special person. I've read two of her novels, a memoir, and a book of essays (This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage). I own another book of essays, These Precious Days, which I'd like to read as soon as possible. It's on deck for this year! I also want to read the rest of her novels. She doesn't have a short story collection that I know of. She also has this amazing independent bookstore, Parnassus, and I want to read the bookstore's blog. The store is in Tennessee, and I'd love to go see it.
• Fountain pens and ink. I learn a lot about these from my Pen Squad group on Facebook, and a former pen pal taught me even more. I own fourteen fountain pens, and I've been learning how best to use them, clean them, and care for them. Ink fascinates me. I'm having an ink experience now because I have a Diamine Inkvent calendar with twenty-five miniature bottles of ink! I got the calendar last year too. Since draining a pen of ink takes me a couple of days, I've already started this year's calendar. I'm on number three! I'm also in the process of using each of my inks one by one. I have a desk drawer full of inks: standard, scented, sheening, shimmering, and "chameleon," which means the ink is one color and the glitter is another color. 
• Anais Nin. I've been interested in her since I found a volume of her journal, Nearer the Moon, at the library when I was a teenager. I read it, and in college, I read most of another volume called Fire. Now, I've collected almost all the volumes of her diaries, mostly Kindle books that I got for $2.99 each! I still have a couple to find, including one that's out of print. My goal for next year is to read at least twenty-five published diaries and books about jorunals, and I'll be reading Nin's diaries from the beginning. I have the first three volumes, a gap, a few more volumes...I'm missing the last three volumes. I'll get them all, hopefully prior to next year. I also have a couple of her short story (erotica) collections and other books, novels and nonfiction. I'm fascinated with her as a wildly prolific diarist. I don't think many people besides her have filled as many journals as I have!
• Anne Lamott. I love Annie Lamott. This year, I got to see her speak during a virtual writing conference. I've read some of her books visually, and I've listened to others. I like her voice. She's so irreverant, yet she's a person of great faith. I admire her as a fierce artist and thinker who is a believer. I want to read or listen to the rest of her memoirs and essays. I also need a reread Bird by Bird with a highlighter in hand. My dad gave me the book when I was a teenager, and it helped shape me as a writer.
• Sylvia Plath. So, I've read her journals (back in grad school), but I've only read a scattering of her poems. I have her collected poems, which I want to read soon. It won the Pulitzer, and one of my decade goals is to read at least ten Pulitzer Prize winners, so there you go. I've read one biography, but I'd like to read more. I'd also like to read more of Ted Hughes's poetry; I read Birthday Letters during my MFA. 
• Kim Addonizio. I've really just started reading her. Josh bought me two of her poetry collections this year, and I read both last month. I want to own and read the rest of her poetry. I especially want to read her memoir of writer's life, Budowski in a Sundress. I don't own that yet. I do own her Ordinary Genius, which I'd like to read next year. I also want her The Poet's Companion, which she wrote with Dorianne Laux. I read parts of it in the ASU library as a senior.
• Jill Bialosky. Another poet who happened to be KA's editor! Connections in the poetry world are so interesting. I've read two of her poetry collections, one of them so long ago that I need to read it again. I'm in the middle of her memoir Poetry Will Save Your Life. I need to finish it! I have more books of her poetry on my wish list, and I've checked out one of her novels on Libby. 
• David Lehman. Another poet. I read his The Daily Mirror many years ago. Now, I have his Evening Sun: A Journal in Poetry. He is also the standing editor of the wondrous Best American Poetry series. He gathers the poems and then gives them to a guest editor, who selects seventy-five poems from the year's journals and magazines. So he is kind of the king of poetry. I want to read more of her poems, and I want to read his forewards to as many BAPs as possible.
• Donald Hall. I've read his Selected Poems, which wasn't really my taste. But I love his nonfiction. I've read Unpacking the Boxes and The Best Day, the Worst Day; the latter is about his life with the poet Jane Kenyon. I own his newest book, Essays at Eighty, and it's on my reading list for next year.
• Amy Gerstler. My favorite poet! I've read all of her easily-accessed books and the BAP for which she was guest editor. Her poems appear regularly in years of BAP as well, including the 2023 volume I'm starting to read! I want to get a hold of her books that are out of print. Once I do that, I want to reread all her poetry in order of publication.
• Best American anthologies. As you may have read, one of my major goals is to read some of the Best American anthologies for every year. I'm going back to 2000 with Poetry (maybe eventually all the way back to the '80s) and back to 2020 with Short Stories, Essays, Food Writing, Travel Writing (which unfortunately folded after 2021), and Science Fiction and Fantasy. I have a lot of catching up to do! I have read several of the Poetry volumes, but I want to own and read all of them, or at least twenty-three years of them. Each anthology has a series editor and an annual guest editor. Ann Patchett edited one of the Best American Short Stories! These anthologies are the best way to learn about contemporary poetry and discover new poets. That's how I discovered Amy Gerstler!
• Contemporary poetry. I want to learn more about contemporary poetry by reading as much of it as I can. Reading BAP will help. I also want to read as many Pitt Poetry Series books as I can. I recently discovered the Everyman's Library Pocket Poets, little anthologies of poems, sometimes by single poets but often by a variety of poets across time writing on a particualr subject. Josh has given me three of these. I'm almost done with Fairy Poems, and I'm eager to read Art and Artists poems and Books and Libraries poems. I have a lot more of the books on my wish list. I plan to read a book of poetry for every day of April and October each year. I did that this October and managed to whittle down my stacks of poetry.
• Libraries. Libraries are remarkable. I'm using Libby now to read as many E-books and audio books as I can. I currently have overdue books from the physical library, but once I finish and return those, I'm going to get back to reading all the poetry at my local branch and to borrowing books from all over the state thrioug the inter-library loan program! I'm also just curiosu about libraries in general, public, private, and personal. I'm currently reading a book called At Home with Books, which is about notable personal libraries. I love reading books like that; I've read others, and I plan to read more!

Prompt Response: What to Look Forward To.

I was reading last year's summer issue of Bella Grace today, and it had a prompt to write down what you can look forward to over the next week. I decided to write it for this week and next week. I'm trying to remind myself that tasks are something to look forward to as well. Of course, every day, I look forward to that first morning soda.

Friday

• Seeing Bruce and watching Sex Education or American Horror Story if I'm up for it (here's hoping I'll feel well tomorrow)
• Reading ENG 002 students' improved drafts
• Waternelon for breakfast
• Morning snuggles with Josh until 8:30
• Resting until 9:30.
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Starting Best American Poetry 2023
• Typing up new poems
• Reading student journals
• New ink from my Diamine Inkvent calendar! I'm starting it early because I probably won't open a new ink each day. It just arrived today!
• Starting to look at student social sciences studies
• Getting caught up on some training

Saturday

• Reading Mandy for tutoring
• Discussing Mandy and teaching Jacob new words
• Maybe sleeping in?
• Watermelon for breakfast
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Reading student journals
• An empty work inbox
• Wearing my star tank top for the first time
• Sitting with Josh in the study
• New Diamine Inkvent ink
• Finishing What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours: Stories
• Starting Toni Morrison's The Source of Self-Regard

Sunday

• Maybe sleeping in?
• Wearing holiday Twinkle T-shirt
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Iced peppermint mocha!
• Sitting with Josh in the study
• Reading student studies
• New ink!
• Two hours of rest time while the boys go to the trampoline park

Monday

• Morning snuggles until 8:00
• Yoga
• Reading literature for class
• Reading student literary anaylses
• Sending out new week announcements
• Catching up on classes
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Reading student journals
• Reading Mandy for tutoring
• Discussing Mandy and teaching Jacob new words

Tuesday

• Quiet morning with Oliver out of school
• Morning time in the study with Josh
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Reading student journals
• New ink!
• Finishing Ink Blood Sister Scribe
• Starting to listen to Circe
• McD Dr. Pepper

Wednesday

• A Dr. Pepper at the grocery store
• New groceries!
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Catching up on classes
• An empty work inbox
• Wearing green velvet Mary Janes
• New ink!

Thursday

• Watermelon for breakfast
• A whole day with Josh, including lots of snuggle time
• Maybe sleeping in?
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Reading student journals
• Maybe a date to Barnes?
• Maybe an iced peppermint mocha?
• Maybe a new magazine? Poets & Writers?

Friday

• Watermelon for breakfast
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Maybe sleeping in?
• Quiet morning with Oliver out of school
• Sitting with Josh in the study in the morning
• The Addam's Family musical with Bruce at Cape Fear Regional Theatre!

Saturday

• Watermelon for breakfast
• Reading Mandy for tutoring
• Spending the morning with Josh in the study
• Maybe sleeping in?
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Funny Girl with Bruce at DPAC!
• Peanut M&Ms
• Big bottle of Dr. Pepper
• Finishing The Source of Self-Regard

Sunday

• Maybe sleeping in?
• Morning in the study with Josh
• Morning pages
• Bella Grace article in the morning
• Finishing The Plague
• Starting Like Life: Stories by Lorrie Moore
• Starting Death of a Bookseller
• Iced peppermint mocha!
• Two hours of rest while the boys go to the trampoline park
• Hopefully making up a tutoring session

Now, I just have to make sure I actually do all this!

50 before 50 Preview.

I'm working on my 50 before 50 list! I'll be 40 in fewer than two years. The list isn't complete yet; I may make changes. I've included some 30 before 30 goals I haven't reached. Most of these goals are related to reading.

1. Publish or make a major effort to publish a book or chapbook (30 before 30).
2. Publish at least 30 pieces this decade.
3. Finish writing Break a Wish.
4. Write a total of eight books of poetry, including chapbooks. So far: four.
5. Write a collection of short stories.
6. Read a total of 50 chapter books to Oliver. So far: 18.
7. Read a total of 2,200 books (lifetime). So far: 1,053.
8. Read at least one book by each US Poet Laureate (30 before 30). I think I've read about 15/50.
9. Read at least one book (if available in English) by each Nobel Laureate for Literature since 2000. So far: I've read Kazuo Ishiguro, Louise Gluck, and Toni Morrison, but I plan on reading more by each of them.
10. Read all the Penguin Great Food Collection books
11. Read the whole Anne of Green Gables series (30 before 30). So far: I think I'm on book 6 of 8.
12. Read all the Dodie Smith books I can find (30 before 30). So far: I Capture the Castle, the Town in Bloom, and The New Moon with the Old.
13. Read all reasonably available Noel Streatfeild books. So far: Ballet Shoes.
14. Read all of Shirley Jackson's books and stories.
15. Read all of Anais Nin's published journals. So far: Nearer the Moon (but I'll read it again, probably next year).
16. Read all of May Sarton's published journals.
17. Read all of Louise Gluck's available books. I've read several.
18. Read all of Mary Oliver's available books. I've read several.
19. Read all of Sharon Olds's available books. I'm almost up to date.
20. Read 50 books from the Pitt Poetry Series (lifetime). I think I've only read six so far.
21. Read 10 Newberry Award Winners during this decade (books I've read before 50 don't count).
22. Read 10 Pulitzer Prize winners during this decade (books I've read before 50 don't count).
23. Read all Best American Poetry volumes since 2000. I've read about 7/23.
24. Read all Best American Short Stories volumes since 2020. 
25. Read all Best American Food Writing volumes since 2020.
26. Read all Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy volumes since 2020.
27. Read all Best American Essays volumes since 2020.
28. Read all of Francesca Lia Block's available books. I only have a few to go right now.
29. Read all of Helen Oyeyemi's books. I'm just getting started.
30. Read all of Anna-Marie McLemore's books. So far: When the Moon Was Ours, Wild Beauty, Blanca & Roja, The MIrror Season. I think I have four to go.
31. Read all of Sarah Addison Allen's books. So far: Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, The Peach Keeper, The Girl Whe Chased the Moon, Lost Lake, First Frost. I'm nearly caught up.
32. Read all of Amy Gerstler's available books. Right now, I'm only missing a few out-of-print books.
33. Read a total of 800 books of poetry. So far: 271.
34. Read a total of 200 books of short stories. So far: 79.
35. Read a total of 500 Cumberland County Library books (if we stay in Cumberland).
36. Read a total of 80 books with Josh. So far: 10.
37. Go to Maine (30 before 30).
38. Take a train somewhere with Josh (30 before 30).
39. Go to art museums in Washington, DC (30 before 30).
40. Go back to New York City.
41. Go to England.
42. See a Westend show.
43. Attend AWP once.
44. Learn/relearn Spanish to fluency.
45. Take another class with FLB.
46. Take a dance class (MasterClass counts). 
47. Take ten classes this decade (MasterClass and retreats count). 
48. Pay off credit cards.
49. Take Oliver to a show (30 before 30).
50. Buy hard copies of all my five-star books.

October Poetry Month: Week Five.

Day 1: Today, I read two books by poets I know: Alan Michael Parker's The Age of Discovery and Joseph Bathanti's Concertina. Both were quite good. I've more or less giving up on writing poems for the month, but I did end up with eighteen new poems, which is pretty impressive. I'm hoping that more will rise as I write down quotations from the poems I've read. I have several composition books full of randomly-arranged quotations from books I've read. It's my way of saving the best bits. 

Day 2: Today, I read two more books of poems: Paper House by my friend and former classmate Jessie Carty and What Is This Thing Called Love by Kim Addonizio. The latter reminded me a little of Love and F*ck Poems but better. I've really gotten through a lot of poetry books I've been meaning to read for a long time!

Day 3: I finally read Amy Gerstler's Index of Women! She is probably my favorite poet. I got bogged down in the first poem a couple of years ago and set the book aside. But I came back to it today and liked it very much! 5 stars. So, now, I have read thirty-one books of poetry in a month! Even with health problems that sometimes kept me from reading at all, I did it! And I think that as I write down quotations, more poems will arise. I want to keep reading poetry often. I think it makes me a better poet, a better writer, and a more complete person. I'm looking forward to April Poetry Month!