This may sound simplistic, but it comes from the heart. Just draw (or paint or sing or play) choose whatever medium feels most accessible to you - if it's coloring so be it. Allow the process to be just for you. Don't even focus on a result. Just let yourself go in the way that you might if you were doodling. Think as much or as little as you want while creating. Give yourself the time to do any creative, expressive activity. I hope you find something that brings you good feelings.

You can put a strainer or colander over a pan, put in a coffee filter and coffee and slowly pour boiling water through the coffee. You can also improvise with a rubberband and tupperware. Yeah, I live on the edge. :)

Here. Hi.

We do. But they are young & I have no previous Latin so we are going very slowly. I try to fit it into days that are already going well. :)

I'm doing something similar. I'm trying to post some art work every day. I started making 'graffiti' on facebook around September & have only skipped Christmas day so far. I started a blog to see if I can keep it up all year. Most of these are short sketches, but it's good to be having a little creative time every day. http://http://notpaint.wordpress.com/?csspreview=true

That was good. I went over to the poet's site & read more of his work. I thought this one might be enjoyed by some of you. http://www.taylormali.com/index.cfm?webid=13

I'm a list lover, too I have code for the things on my daily list. If it's part of routine or general cleaning it gets crossed off. If it's the intended school subjects for the day it gets a check mark so I can transfer to my school records. If it's really the next thing I should work on I'll add a star when I review the list. If it's partially completed it gets a dot to give a little of that in progress satisfaction e.g. laundry gets dots for each load washed, dried or folded & put away. It didn't seem strange until I took the time to write it all out. :)

laughing to the point of tears.

As the fine lyric goes "Whisper words of wisdom - Let it Brie..."

I found 21. Most were for my own enjoyment. I guess I do read a lot. :)

1. I've cleaned up from lunch, sorted a clutter spot, took the recyclables out for our run to the dump later. So much more to do... 2. a favorite cleaning tip: Start at one spot in the room & work your way around in one direction.

Thanks for posting this! :)

These are fun to read! ds5 always asks for Johnny Cash or Beastie Boys, dd7 asks for Latin (Getting Started with Latin) We had a long drive for a field trip yesterday & I put my player on random & heard many things I hadn't listened to for a while - King Crimson, A Perfect Circle, Simon & Garfunkle, Deadbolt, Replacements - weird mix, made me happy.

It sounds like you are both doing an amazing job! :)

I did it! Picked up matchbox cars, star wars guys & a bunch of other items relocated by the little guy. Swapped over the laundry & made a mental list of the things I need to accomplish in the next 2 hours. I think half of these are the same things I did for yesterday's challenge....

1. Started dishwasher 2. Gathered/sorted laundry 3. Picked up slew of little one's toys 4. cleared clutter central 5. Put away kids laundry

It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine.)? First thing to come to mind from another who turned 40 this year.

I'm rereading Atlas Shrugged. I read it 10 or so years ago. It's way more intense this time around, though I still think it could have benefited from more editing. I paused in my quest to finish Don Quixote to start this. I'm choosing some terribly long books for someone who gets about 35 minutes of (my own) reading time a night. So much for coming close to the 52 book challenge! :)

This reminds me of a paper I did in (public) high school. I had an excellent English teacher who could be a stickler. The assignment was to write about a famous quote. I wrote a paragraph or two about quotes becoming famous because they sum up their subject succinctly and don't need elaboration. Then I chose a song lyric as my quote - something to the effect of wasting time with children - and wrote a poem about my feelings on being in school. I got an F on the paper. Along with a note from the teacher that showed she appreciated my work but that it didn't fulfill the assignment. I figured that was fair enough. Funny, thinking back on the quote I see it very differently now. I think your daughter did complete the assignment, especially because you did say she could add pictures. I would compliment her on it then plan a paper that she would have to follow the traditional format. Perhaps have her choose the format and have it approved by you before working on the paper?

I. can. do this!

When I'm out in the wind or just cold my ears ache. Sometimes it will continue until I lie down & put heat on the ear. It is comforting to know I'm not alone. When I've mentioned it to a Dr. he didn't seem to take it as a serious problem- as I recall he recommended benadryl.

Guilty as charged. I'll send dh because he'll wait til the last minute & I won't have time to get to the chocolate....

I remember loving the poems of Tennyson. Man, it's been a long time since I've read any of them. Here's one. Could have been the age.... The Burial of Love His eyes in eclipse, Pale-cold his lips, The light of his hopes unfed, Mute his tongue, His bow unstrung With the tears he hath shed, Backward drooping his graceful head, Love is dead: His last arrow is sped; He hath not another dart; Go–carry him to his dark deathbed; Bury him in the cold, cold heart– Love is dead. O truest love! art thou forlorn, And unrevenged? thy pleasant wiles Forgotten, and thine innocent joy? Shall hollow-hearted apathy, The cruellest form of perfect scorn, With languor of most hateful smiles, For ever write, In the withered light Of the tearless eye, And epitaph that all may spy? No! sooner she herself shall die. For her the showers shall not fall, Nor the round sun shine that shineth to all; Her light shall into darkness change; For her the green grass shall not spring, Nor the rivers flow, nor the sweet birds sing, Till Love have his full revenge.

The best tale of independent adventure I have is from when I was 24. I had always considered myself a serious artist & I decided it was time to run away to paint- leave the daily grind behind & be away from everyone so that I could create w/o inhibition or critique. I saved up enough money to get me through about 3 months & read up on Puerto Rico. I was brave enough to try a different culture & language, but not to give up the American justice system. :tongue_smilie: The day I left it was 35 degrees below (with the wind chill) Blowing & drifting snow. I handed my leather jacket to my sister & got on a plane. I stayed in a small town & walked wherever I needed to go. I swam a lot. It was a beautiful time. I spent my 25th birthday alone on a beach, as I walked home that day I ran into an older man on a horse. (He smelled of rum.) We talked for a few minutes & he happened to ask how old I was. I'll always remember answering "Veintecinqo". Shortly after I returned from my artistic sojourn, I made a plan & stood up (alone) to some ghosts from my childhood. That lunch was probably a bigger solitary triumph than the trip. I grew a lot as a person. Thanks for sharing these stories.

I've really enjoyed Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380710811/ref=nosim/dannyyeesbook-20