Summer To-Do List

Admit it. You knew this was coming. You did. You knew I was just biding my time, holding back my inner OCD-driven list maker. Haiku kept it at bay over the last few weeks, but here it is, my overwhelming summer list of creative To-Do's:

1. Revise Mariah's Ark (second novel)

2. Revise Charley (third novel)

3. Revamp plans for Thomas novel series, rewriting the first episode from scratch

4. Write mermaid novel (to be my fourth)

5. Research all I can for Edward de Vere play

6. Write Edward de Vere play (full length)

7. Get ten-minute play "A Game of Dance" ready for performance

8. Write at least three more short plays

9. Paint with my kids at least once per week

10. Get back on track teaching my children to play piano

11. Write two more veggie books and get them ready for submissions

12. Develop a submission plan to implement by September for ALL works, so that I can submit at least one item each week through the school year.

I'm sure I have more, but I'm already feeling overwhelmed (and excited). I'm about to start on the research part, mainly because half the books I am using are already overdue at the library.

What are your plans for summer? Got a to-do list of your own?

Another Haiku Theme

I have to admit the guesses for the last set of haiku were great! Flit's was especially perceptive, for she figured out hedgehog for the fourth haiku stanza. I've always loved hedgehogs, though I cannot tell you why. They seem a bit like Piglet (of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories), cute and timid and easily spooked, and that brings out the maternal in me.

Here are a few more, all based on a single theme:

Golden, flame-throwing

Hot enough to fuel each

Summer afternoon

Mystic, calm, remote

Brilliant in a darkened sky

Behind passing clouds

Softened by the winds

Swirling over all its lands

Mammoth in its space

Like its "son" next door

Swirls of stormy clouds, but more--

Asteroids in rings

I assume by the end of the selection the clues will help you through them all. I should, perhaps, make the stanzas more difficult, but I don't want them to go unguessed! (Is that so wrong?)

Anyway, tell me what you think each one is. Post a message to me, and write one of your own haiku on the theme! I'd love to read them!

Haiku Party

I am at a teaching conference right now (which would explain my not checking in), but my sister's last haiku inspired me to create a series of four. Can you guess how they are related?

Silken, slippery

Swishing bubbles, drifting through

Its treasure chest

Black-eyed, waiting for

Children stepping off the bus

In lonely silence

Curled up soft and warm

Eyes golden, mind drifting off

The sharp smell of fish

Soft and fragile, but

Given cause, all sharp as pain

Not easy to kill

Guess one, and you'll probably be able to figure them all out. I head home from my conference tomorrow, so I'll soon be home free, and able to write. Leave me a message with your guesses, and kudos to whoever can figure out all four!

Haiku Saturday

This is turning into an obsession! Jeff guessed the last one correctly: Piano. I am finally at the point where I can play the piano again, so it's been on my mind. I have a pretty fabulous system here in my living room/sitting room. My gorgeous antique upright grand piano is right next to my writing chair. If I get stuck writing, I can just hop over to the piano, plink out a few songs, and then regroup at the writing station.

I've also rediscovered zumba. I've done it three days in a row, and I've already lost almost three pounds just from the exercise! Even better, it feels great.

Here's the haiku for today, a clue for what I'll be doing later this morning:

Sharp pin prick of pain

Then dullness, ache, well worth the

Sparkle of diamond

Got a guess? Let me know what you think it is! Remember, too, to write a haiku of your own, riddle or not, for the rest of us to enjoy.

And tell me what you think of the new template I'm using. I think it's pretty me, especially for the summer, since I'll be reading and writing books with abandon.

Haiku Continued

Sorry if y'all are sick of this, but I'm not, and it's the only thing fast enough for me to attend to until I get my grades turned in. Final Projects are graded for one class, but I have a few essays with the other class to assess, then final exams, and grade averages to figure out for everyone.

But when I'm not swimming in papers, I'm thinking of haiku riddles. Stephanie figured out the last one easily, with a not so gracious "duh" (she's my older sis, though, so I'm used to that), so here's another one.

Black as night mixed in

Between the pearly gloss

Lilting melody

You know the drill (or if you don't, the object is to figure out what my cryptic haiku is about, post a message with your guess, and await my fantastic answer on my next post).

Remember, too, to add a haiku of your own, either as a riddle, or just for fun!

More Haiku

Congratulations to Stephanie, who caught on to the "dew" of the last haiku! And I'm grateful for the creativity of both Stephanie and CherilynDavid, too! Please keep the haiku coming!

This next haiku is a famous person:

Muscles, bright blue eyes,

A single lock of hair, but

Too soon wheelchair bound.

Got a guess who it is? Post a message letting me know.

Feeling brave? Try a famous person haiku of your own! I'll try to guess yours (or you can guess each other's, too).

Summertime's Coming

The light at the end of the tunnel is glimmering at me... and though I spent all last night on one stack of papers, and another awaits me as I type this, I know the grading will end very soon.

Here is a summertime haiku, just since I'm in the mood:

Still shining sprinkles

Resting, waiting for the air

The golden sun sheds

Think you know what it is? Comment with your guess. Despite my horrid grading schedule (which should end next Thursday at the latest!), I'll try to post the answer tomorrow, with another haiku. If you'd like to go further (and have the inclination and the time), leave a haiku of your own!