Updates

Not actually MY brain

I have several different categories that I like to write about: arts and theatre, my family, being pregnant, yoga, and personal things. Here is a general update of what’s going on in my brain these days:

1. Arts in Education – I read a great article in American Theatre Magazine about creating theatre with and for autistic students. Using theatre for its therapeutic values: building verbal and non-verbal communication skills and increasing abilities to work together. I have done this kind of work before, with autistic students as well as students with a variety of emotional issues. It is amazing to see the rapid changes in these students when they connect with the material and each other.
2. Family – My mom moved back to Florida. She had moved to PA to be close to us and the baby, but things didn’t work out according to plan. My sister and I drove down with her, stopping in North Carolina very briefly to see an Aunt and Uncle in Winston-Salem and and Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin in Charlotte. Then we continued on to Pensacola where we saw Dad and Brother, more Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins,  one Bubby, and a few friends. I was sad for my mom thather plans fell through up here, but it was nice to have a reason to see my family. I hadn’t been back to Pensacola since August of last year.
3. Myself – It is hard to separate myself from all that is going on with everything and everyone else. I have become impatient. I don’t like this, and I keep thinking since I’m aware of it, I should be able to master it, but I can’t. Yet.
4. Pregnant – He is moving more, but not kicking. I feel him pressing against my abdominal wall or spine or bladder (usually when no bathroom is in sight!). At the midwife’s office yesterday, I received a packing list for having the baby. My favorite thing on the list is juice – I love juice and if labor is an excuse to drink an over abundance, bring it on.
5. Theatre – I’ve been catching up on old American Theatre magazines (who has time for magazines of substance unless on an airplane?!). I read about theatre festivals going on all over the world; one that particularly caught my interest is in Germany and for children. No child actors, lots of mature material but in a kid-appropriate way. I want to go to there. I’ve been thinking about this play for children that I have a grant to write in 2011. I want the topic to be something mature and thoughtful and provocative, but of course for young people. I’m currently thinking of time. Big topic, but lots of possibility. And it will make David happy because it is science.
6. Yoga – My practice has changed so much. The weirdest thing is that I’ve gotten away from studying the yoga sutras. That is something I can continue even while I’m in labor (though I don’t know I’ll really be able to concentrate), but for some reason, I have stopped reading and thinking about them. Some svadyaya (self-study) may help reveal why and guide me back to the books.

What are YOU thinking about?

Block

I have a very generous grant to spend 2011 writing a children’s play. I’ve been brainstorming, reading, and planning now to get a head start so I won’t feel too rushed when Raspberry is born. But it is so hard to make myself do that work.

And yet, I started this blog to share my thoughts and life with all of you and to create a regular practice of writing and reflection for myself. This is easy and fun to do. So is playwrighting. And yet, I’m writing on the blog regularly. Hmm…

Must create daily writing practice beyond blog. So many practices…

Babies and Art and Life

I’m beginning to think more and more about how having a very small person living life with us will change the way we live.

There are the obvious things that have taken up mental space lately: we have to plan a Bris, we have to decide about cloth diapers (which variety rather than whether or not), we have to have clothes, a bed, etc for this little critter. (And Nathan made me put the baby spoon we use for ice cream in the Raspberry’s drawer, even though he won’t need it for months. Both kids are very aware of his impending arrival and doing their parts to help get ready.)

But as those vital but small issues get settled, the make way for larger issues. How will my time change? How will my mind change?

I recently read two interesting essays about art and family. Though I do many things professionally, I do consider myself an artist. A Theatre Artist, which I can barely say without giggling because I fear it sounds pretentious. I’ve just gotten comfortable with the idea that that is what I am and now it is possible I will move away from it. For example:

I have a very generous grant from the Berks County Community Foundation in 2011 to write a new play for young audiences. I’m very excited about taking on this project and I feel like it is the perfect thing to do in my child’s first year of life. But when I mention it to people (ironically, people I barely know who ask what I do) they get very concerned that I have no idea what I’m getting into and that there is NO WAY I will be able to do anything but be a fountain of food, diapers, and sleep if I’m lucky for the next 18 years.

It makes me want to do the Diva Snap and say something like “You don’t know ME!” and then flip my hair and walk away.

http://www.youtube.com/v/bX9reaHLwhk?fs=1&hl=en_US

But they don’t know me! Though I have been saying no to things (although I just joined a committee yesterday), I want to have artistic projects going. Obviously life will change when Raspberry arrives, but I hope to involve him in the art too! Why not!

Neighborhood Bridges

I’m so happy to be back to school, teaching Neighborhood Bridges to 4th graders in Reading!!!

Neighborhood Bridges combines storytelling, creative writing, and creative drama for a really amazing in-school arts-in-education program. I can say it is amazing because I didn’t create it. I’m just the messenger, teaching it to local kids. The program comes from the fantastic Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis (note: I was once offered a literary internship there – how different my life would be had I taken it. but I might still be teaching Neighborhood Bridges. Weird.).

I especially love this program for the fantastic kid art that comes out of it. I love kid art – especially writing and performing (when it is earnest). Highlights from today’s writing:

• Owon’s a pond a tim…
• Once upon a time there were ants at an amusement park…
• The Amusement Park was walking on the beach and he sat on a lifeguard…
• …Three litter boys…
• peapul
• I fell through a hole in the earth

To the spelling I say “why not?!” and to the ideas I say “why not” – I love the places their minds go when we let them. I love the places my mind goes with them.

Beanstalks from summer's Kindergarten Bridges class

I Write Like

As you know (or maybe not), I love reading blogs. I have recently discovered the voyeuristic aspect of my personality (thanks blogs and Facebook). The internet allows me to read what other people are thinking and look at photos of their lives – it’s fascinating.

So here is great link I found on one of the blogs I subscribe to, the Real Delia. Check her out. Check out the link.

It is a webpage/program called I Write Like. David could explain the math behind it (I think I missed the day we learned about algorithms). Basically, you put a writing sample in, it analyzes it with secret codes and magic (aka algorithms) and tells you who you write like. I tried two different samples of writing – first I got Stephen King, which is ok but not ideal. Then I got Margaret Atwood, which is sort of the best I could hope for. So I stopped.

We even look alike...no?

Who do you write like?