Irene Latham's Blog, page 160

TEACHING IS 90% ENCOURAGEMENT

...trying to remember this fact as I teach Middle Son to drive.

I'm not sure if it's the difference in his personality, our different way of interacting with one another, or the fact that I have a new van I really don't want to get messed up.... but this has been a whole lot more stressful than it was with Oldest Son!

He's doing great. And he's so cute the way he narrates what he's doing. And yes, some prickly "STOP" "OMG" "LOOK BEHIND YOU" moments too....
 
teaching is 90% encouragement, teaching is 90% encouragement, teaching is 90% encouragement, teaching is 90% encouragement...

MOVIE MONDAY: THE IRON LADY

What to say about THE IRON LADY?

1. It's a history lesson.

2. It's a girl-power film.

3. And what I wasn't expecting:  it's a love story.

And that's why I loved it. What an inspiration M.T. was/is. I loved learning about her childhood as daughter of a grocer -- and how it was her father's experience as a small businessman that informed her politics.

Whatever your political opinions, I don't think anyone can argue with M.T.'s go-get 'em, fighting spirit. She was a leader who didn't just talk about things, she was a woman of action. And that is something to admire and aspire to.

Something I learned: leadership didn't exactly come naturally to M.T. She had to develop traits in herself -- and be open to "playing the game" and to improving herself. (See the movie!) 

And yes, Meryl Streep is brilliant. Nothing new there. She totally deserved the Golden Globe award she won last night. Keep the good roles coming!

Fingers crossed the awards THE ARTIST won will bring that film to a Birmingham theater. Must see!

WRITING IN WINTER

Last week the lovely Jeannine Atkins wrote a post I adore about white space and courage. She included in her post an image of an ice skater.

I've been thinking about that ice skater and how she is a metaphor for writing.

And so I put it in a poem:



Writing in Winter        -for Jeannine

Blades slice easy 8sacross ice pond
You breatheteeterweave
arms tightflung w i d etight again
Just youwith your tinglytruths
your deliberateunmittened heart
and a whirl of white waiting
--Irene Latham 
Wishing all of you easy 8s and the happiest of Poetry Fridays! Don't forget to visit Tara at A Teaching Life has Roundup.

JOIN ME FOR 12 x 12 in 2012!

In 2011 I took the Quilt A Month Challenge -- and completed a total of 15 quilts!

This year I'm an official participant of 12 x 12 in '12, in which I'll be drafting one picture book per month.
And you can join, too! For more information -- and to sign up!-- visit Julie Hedlund's blog. Big thanks to Beth Stillborn for talking about it on her blog... and thanks to Mother Reader's Comment Challenge for getting me to Beth's blog in the first place!

Yep. They don't call it the WEB for nothing....

MOVIE MONDAY: MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

For the past almost-22 years, my husband and I have had a standing Saturday night date. On our first date (which was also a blind date), we saw DRIVING MISS DAISY. We've seen so many since then, and often make it our goal to see all the Academy Award nominees before Oscar night. We love watching the Golden Globes and for years subscribed to Entertainment Weekly magazine.

So we're movie buffs. In an age when good movies are harder and harder to find. We prefer the smaller, indie films, foreign stuff and documentaries over the big commercial jobs that usually cleanup at the Box Office. Some Saturdays we don't go to the movies at all because there is nothing we want to see. (It's just like books: lots of hype over certain films that aren't even original when we crave original.) Which saddens me greatly.

And now for the good news: this past Saturday we saw MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. And I loved it! Sure it is cliche-ridden, and really, what does it add to the canon of Marilyn Monroe mystique? But it's a lovely movie. I loved the focus on Marilyn's insecurities, her struggle to be a "real" actress, and how others were frustrated by her bad behavior (ALWAYS late to the set, always some drama) yet folks were also completely fascinated and eventually, forgiving.

As an artist/writer/creator, I relate to those insecurities. I understand her need to escape her own life -- but only for a little while. I left that theater smiling. I haven't enjoyed a movie that much in quite a while.

Next time I do, I'll write about it here for Movie Monday.

Any good movies you've seen lately?

FIVE FOR FRIDAY

1. Big thanks for all the online love this week! I only put out my newsletter 2-3 times a year (when I actually have news!), and I always love hearing from folks afterwards. I feel all caught up now. (Well, almost. Lunch with the gals today ought to REALLY fix me up.)

2. If you are not a subscriber to my newsletter, you can fix that here. This is what you missed:
That's right, my next middle grade novel (coming in October!) has a cover!

3. And here's the back: (don't you just love wraparound art? We have illustrator Stephanie Graegin to thank for this one.)

[image error] 4. This week I've read Shel Silverstein's EVERY THING ON IT a number of times.(I have a few favorites. Will share next week.) I've also been reading SWAMPLANDIA! by Karen Russell. It kind of gives you a behind-the-scenes look at a Florida theme park in the same way DON'T FEED THE BOY shows you a zoo. (Which is why my father gave me the book. He's cool like that.)


5. I've been writing poems this week! AND making a special pillow slipcover for my mama who is recovering from surgery. Oh, and it's Poetry Friday Roundup over at the Teaching Authors blog. Check it out.

YOU CANNOT MEASURE COURAGE

Today I posted at Smack Dab in the Middle about my first published poem for children, which appears in the current issue of Scholastic's Scope magazine!

For details about that experience -- and a video about how I approached the assignment-- click here.

And here's the complete poem:
 



You Cannot Measure Courageby Irene Latham

And you cannotholdone life
above another.But what if you must?
How blind the blade   that shredsthe rope,
how rapidlyfibers untwine,
gravity pullingdown,down
its silenceboth question
and answer.How comfortlessthose glittering medals
for the cutterwhose heart flails
like a hooked fishforeverafter.

ONE LITTLE WORD FOR 2012

Why fierce?

I don't know. I just love the word. And of all the words I considered, it was the only one that was sticky.

So. Will I be fighting this year? Will I be loving really really hard? Will I write with intensity? I'm sure 2012 will show me all the reasons this is my one little word.

I do know this: the word makes me think Japanese culture. And I am definitely in a CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON kind of mood. Also, today I am shopping for old kimonos at the thrift store for a quilt project. We'll see what happens next!

What's your one little word for 2012?

P*TAG, POETRY TAG TIME & GIFT TAG

[image error]
Santa Claus, sweet soul that he is, brought me just what I wanted for Christmas: a Kindle. (He brought lots of people Kindles...Kindle sales topped 4 million in December.)

Why did I ask for a Kindle? Well. In recent months I've noticed that there are books I want to read that are only available as e-books. Such as Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell's poetry collections P*TAG, POETRY TAG TIME and GIFT TAG. I downloaded them right away, and by Christmas night, I had consumed them all, more than once.

There is so much to love about these collections. Gorgeous, inspiring photography (that Sylvia has got an eye!), and a wide range of voices and subjects. I loved Janet's explanatory poem about the "Tag" in the title... for more on tagging as an art form, check out the documentary EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP. Fascinating.

I connected with many of the poems in each volume. And I am so grateful to Janet and Sylvia for making great poetry so accessible. And to the participating poets -- especially all you Poetry Friday friends whose lovely work appears in these collections! --for sharing bits of their lives and worlds. (Each poem includes a bit of explanation from the poet, sort of the inside-scoop stuff you hear at poetry readings.) Such a fabulous way to spread the poetry-love. I'm completely inspired. And  there was one poem in particular that stole my heart:  "Cornered" by Steven Withrow (from P*TAG).

[image error] Don't know Steven? Change that. Right now. Visit his blog and request the pdf of his collection CRACKLES OF SPEECH. (Two of my faves: "A Few Discrepancies" and "Sea is Sound, Air is a Door Ajar") He's also the founder of Poetry Advocates for Children and Young Adults. If you haven't joined, please do.

And now for the poem, which Steven and Janet and Sylvia all graciously permitted me to reprint here:






Cornered
by Steven Withrow

I am a closing of ancient walls
No floor, no vaulted ceiling


You are a clasping of grooved stone hands
Intricate intaglios


We are the V in vanishing point
Anointed intersection


You are my shadowy catacomb
I am the crook of your thumb


You are a trap at the end of me
As I am a bend of you


You, most ornate corner of my heart
And I am saved, I am saved


Mmmm. Poetry. love it so much.

An aside: youngest son asked, "Why did you choose that one when there are so many other good ones?"

My answer: "We love what we love. No need to explain or understand it."

Happy New Year, everyone! For more on these e-books, visit the Poetry Tag Time website. Then visit Julie at the Drift Record for Round up.

A FEW THINGS I LEARNED IN 2011

[image error]
THERE IS LIFE AFTER FACEBOOK.
So, nearly a year ago now, I decided to delete my personal account on Facebook. It wasn't an easy decision -- mainly because I'm a curious gal and really enjoy knowing what others are up to.

But. There were negative effects to all that knowledge. And I'm a private person by nature. So it just got to feeling B.A.D. For me. (I know it's something that is a huge source of enjoyment for a lot of folks... if it works for you, go for it!) After I deleted the account, I worried that I would miss it, especially when my birthday rolled around.

My son (who is very wise, and no, I don't know where he gets it) said, the people who really matter will still be in touch.

He was right.

Later on, I did start feeling like I was missing out -- friends were having weddings and babies and I wasn't in on the blow-by-blow... so I opened a new account and was careful just to friend my actual friends and family.

But you know what? After all that time away, I just couldn't get back into the habit of logging in. I didn't have enough time! And I felt like I had nothing at all to say.

So I deleted the account again.

Which means, I think, I really am over it. Facebook is not for me. (I do, however, continue to maintain a professional author page to make it easy for any Facebook-ers who might want to get in touch with me.)


TAKE THE TIME TO IRON.
Yes. I am of the time-challenged, get 'er done mindset, so taking the time to unfold the ironing board, plug up the iron, turn it on then actually USE IT, is not quite an attractive option. But. It really REALLY helps! Especially with quilt-making, when the pieces do line up much more easily when they are wrinkle-free and the seams are flat.

Here's my last quilt of the year, which completes my 2011 Quilt a Month Challenge. I made it for my sister. It includes pieces from her childhood sheet set (from way back when we shared a room).

NETFLIX IS AWESOME.
I am not much for TV. But I love me some movies! and Netflix has got all these documentaries and foreign films... all in the name of RESEARCH, mind you.

Reminds me: Seth Godin in his blog recently said something by way of instruction: "expose yourself to art you don't yet understand." I love that. And Netflix helps me do just that.

YOU KNOW YOU'VE TRANSITIONED TO A NEW AND WONDERFUL PHASE OF PARENTHOOD WHEN THE KIDS NO LONGER USE YOUR SHOWER.
That's right: youngest son finally abandoned the "big" shower for the privacy of the one upstairs. I swear the bathroom feels even bigger now. I love it!