September 6: School, Date Night, Poetry

I'll have my disciples know that I'm typing this post while I'm on a date with my wife.  Tuesday is our usual date night, and (since money is tight and I've been having computer issues) she agreed to let me get caught up on my blogging.  We did have some Asian take-out for dinner, so it hasn't been all about Saint Marty.

My daughter's first day of school was "awesome" (her words, not mine).  She got on the bus this morning at 7:25 a.m. without a hitch.  She found out several of her friends are riding the bus, as well, so I don't have to worry about her being the kid in the backseat that everyone ignores.  After I walked her to the bus stop, I went home and made her some oatmeal butterscotch cookies.  They're her favorite, and I've made them for her on each of her first days of school since kindergarten.  By the time I got home from teaching at the college this evening, she'd eaten almost all of them.

I do have a new poem I'm working on, but it is not finished yet.  I find myself in the position right now of letting other obligations take priority over my poetry.  I have to stop letting that happen.  Two new poems a week is my goal, and I'm going to strive to meet it.  Therefore, expect a new poem tomorrow.  I'm not promising it will be a good poem, but I will post a poem.

I'm not looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow morning after this extended weekend break.  It's going to be T-U-F-F.  That's right, I said "Tuff" with a capital "T."

Saint Marty is going to need massive Mountain Dew tomorrow.

I'll be at the bottom, if you're looking for me!

September 5: Winner Again, Melancholy, Mythology

NOTE:  I tried to publish this post yesterday.  Blogger's new browser has been giving me issues.  But, as my grandmother used to say, "Better late than pregnant!"

Well, the competition was fierce, but, in the end, the winner of the Name the Poem contest is...Wonder Twin, once again.  The subject she chose for the poem is jealousy/envy, something with which I have a little experience.  Congratulations, Wonder Twin.  Watch for your poem on the blog in a couple of days.  Your saint holy card will be hand-delivered within a week.  I promise.

Labor Day always makes me feel a little melancholy.  I'm not sure if it's a hold-over from my days as a youngster, when this day meant the end of summer vacation and the start of another long year of school.  It may also be the chill in the air, the shortening of daylight, the crawl into autumn and winter.  Whatever the reason, I always have this sense that I'm attending some kind of funeral and wake on Labor Day.  The death of summer and all its attendant freedom and warmth.  I know that's not very comforting.

Tonight, I have to get my daughter ready for her first day of school.  I have to pack her lunch, set out her outfit, make her take a shower, get her to bed early.  This year, she's taking a bus to school.  It will be the first time since she started kindergarten that I haven't driven her, walked her to her classroom, and kissed her goodbye.  She's not having any problem with this change at all.  I, on the other hand, am mourning the little girl she used to be.  It's hard letting go of that little pig-tailed child.  I'm sure, when I walk her to the bus stop tomorrow morning, it will be even harder.  Not a big fan of change.

All day, I've been reading/reviewing mythology.  I have to teach tomorrow afternoon, and I have to sound like I know what I'm talking about.  I know the material, but I haven't taught it before.  Therefore, I tend to panic.  I will over-prepare, and then I will relax a little.  Teaching mythology depends a little more on knowledge of geography and history than I'm used to.  I'm comfortable with the cultural and sociological aspects of mythology, but when it comes to knowing the difference between Crete and Turkey, I'm completely at a loss.

Wish Saint Marty luck tomorrow.  He's going to need it.

My little fifth grader