Showing posts with label irene latham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label irene latham. Show all posts

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Versatile/Eclectic Blog Award



Irene Latham awarded Swagger and four other blogs her variation of the Versatile Blog award she received. She dubbed it the Eclectic Blog Award. She says "eclectic" seems more "artsy", like it's "getting to the source of things."

Here are her rules:

  •  Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy. 
  •  Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy.
  •  Next, select 5 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. 
  •  Nominate those 5 bloggers for the Eclectic Blogger Award — you might include a link to this site. 
  •  Finally, tell the person who nominated you 5 things about yourself. 
So thank you, Irene. We will play now. For our recently discovered or regularly followed eclectic blogs:

Juliet Bond picked The Debutante Ball. This six-year-old blog is run by a group of debut authors. A recent post by Molly Backes talks about the kinds of mementos she likes to keep, and how those things reveal a lot about her character.

Jon Egan and Kathy Cannon Wiechman both selected Rich Wallace's new family blog Active Happiness. It's a collaboration between Rich, his wife Sandra Neil Wallace, and his sister Lynda Wallace. It came into being after this threesome decided to publicly answer the questions they say they've been receiving for years about how they are all so happy despite: getting divorced, being a single parent or step-parent, losing loved ones, and leaving high profile jobs and living on less.

Regina Gort's eclectic blog pick is WIP because we are all works in progress. Rebecca Grabill is raising four kids and writing. She just finished her MBA at Hamline. Regina enjoys the motherhood stories she shares and the book reviews. She says Rebecca struggles just like the rest of us, but has a voice all her own. 

Kim Van Sickler was turned on to Gypsy Ink by editor friend Kate Kyle Johnsen who referred her to this awesome post. Blogger Leanna Tankersley is married to a Navy Seal. She's an author, mother, and workshop and retreat provider. She's very reflective, no matter what the topic, and that gives Kim lots to chew on. (The fact that Kim's married to a (now retired) Army Ranger makes her feel a special kinship to this fellow military wife.)

Rich Wallace nominates Letters of Note as his eclectic blog choice. This ambitious blog publishes historical postcards, letters, faxes, telegrams, and memos like the heart-felt letter author James Baldwin wrote to his 14-year-old nephew decrying the progress made against prejudice in 1963.

Melissa Kline champions Indiepreneur Power, a blog that bills itself as providing "positivity, inspiration and know-how aimed at empowering you to thrive in your unique, authentic, and  inspired livelihood." Recent blog post: How to Jump Off a Mountain!

To fulfill the last requirement, the Swaggers will reveal one interesting factoid about us:

Juliet Bond once danced naked in front of thousands of people in a college production of the musical "Hair".

Kathy Cannon Wiechman was once babysat by Rod Serling of "Twilight Zone" fame.

Jon Egan is alive today despite dying for more than five minutes when he was a teenager. 

Regina Gort collects vintage cookbooks. Her favorite is "The Husband Holder" and includes a recipe for meat cups.

Kim Van Sickler used to sing with the Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus.

Rich Wallace is the reigning New England 200-meter track and field champion for 50+-year-old athletes.

Melissa Kline is a miniaturist who uses her modeling skill to create tiny replicas of the people and settings she writes about.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem Finished



Well, the poem is finally complete and I have to say that it was so much fun to be a part of it. I followed it diligently each day as it was formed and shaped by a new writer. I got to meet some really great writers and people that love poetry as much as I do.

The line I contributed was near the beginning and so the poem was in it's infancy when it came here to the Swaggers. But I'm happy to report that the poem has grown into a piece worthy of standing on its own. I enjoyed the way it meandered. At times I was anxious about how it would wind back. There is a reference to the Titanic that was added on the anniversary of it's sinking. There is magic and mystery. And I was delighted to see the new line added each day.


If you are reading this,                                                            
you must be hungry.
Kick off your silver slippers,

come sit with us a spell.
A hanky, here, now dry your tears
and fill your glass with wine.

Now, pour. The parchment has secrets,
smells of a Moroccan market spill-out.
You have come to the right place, just breathe in.

Honey, mint, cinnamon, sorrow. Now, breathe out
last week’s dreams. Take a wish from the jar.
Inside, deep inside, is the answer…

Unfold it, and let us riddle it together,
…Strains of a waltz. How do frozen fingers play?
How do fennel, ginger, saffron blend in the tagine?

Like broken strangers bound by time, they sisterdance…
their veils of sorrow encircle, embrace.
Feed your heart with waltzes and spices.

Feed your soul with wine and dreams.
Humble dust of coriander scents your feet, coaxing
seascapes, crystal sighs and moonshine from your melody.

Beware of dangers along the path of truth
and beware, my friend, of too much bewaring–
strong hands cushion you, sweet scents surround you—now leap

without looking, guided by trust. And when you land
on silver-tipped toes, buoyed by joy– you’ll know
you are amazing, you are love, you are poetry—

here, you rest.
Muse. Up ahead, stepping stones speckle the stream, sturdy now.
May your words roar against the banks, your life a flood of dreams.

I am thankful to Irene Latham for hosting and adding the beginning and final lines of the poem. I hope to do it again next year. And maybe I can even convince the Swaggers to do one of our own.

Please enjoy and find a little time for poetry in each day.

Cheers,
Regina Gort