I Love Comments

I caught one!!! I put out my bait and hook, and reeled one in!!!! My beautiful friend, girlstayput, commneted on something she loves. Thank you!!! Now, all you other ya-hoos, tell me what you love. Damnit. Thank you, girlstayput, for giving me faith in humankind again. Now I have to go watch Charlie Sheen's "Winning Recipes" on Funny or Die. Google it!

Here's girlstayput commenting......

"I love this blog, and the moment of reflection it requires. It's not the same as FB asking what's on your mind, cause the easy answer is "cheese". Your blog is more mindful, reminding me to be creative, be grateful, have some fun, dammit."

Accepting more comments now!!!!!

Just wondering.....

I LOVE knowing what other people think.....so write a comment about something you love and I'll post them all Thursday. Yay!!! And this is not a cop-out. I really love other thoughts and perspectives. I want to know what you love.

If you're in Flagstaff, I'm reading poetry at Uptown Billiards Wednesday night, 6:00 pm......

Surprise

I love spontaneous dance-offs. The problem is, it's rare to see one here in Flagstaff. Occasionally I initiate one myself, but the last time I got sprayed with mace (party pooper), There are so many fun dances available and with Wii and Xbox 360 there are so many new ones still to learn. Combine "the swim" with Hammer's "You can't touch this" and you are a WINNER (no Charlie Sheen reference intended). The only downside....no prizes.

Slammer

I LOVE teaching poetry. It's one of the reasons I don't work a nine-five kind of job. The other reason I don't work a nine-five kind of job is that I would hang myself in a closet if I worked a nine-five kind of job. Hahaha. Not really. BUT, I do appreciate the flexibility I now have to teach poetry in the afternoon at the community college or, as I mentioned last night, at the jail. I work for the Exodus Program on a volunteer basis teaching poetry. There are 24 inmates in the program and more on the waiting list. To get into the program, inmates must apply and have drive and motivation to better themselves. It's mostly drug offenses, domestic violence, theft, etc.

The first day I went in I was nervous. I had no idea what it would be like or if I would be any good. I always go in with one of the Exodus workers, and we walk down quite a few steel-gated hallways to get to where the inmates are. It's a pod where all 24 sit at three tables and do their work. Off the main area there are 12 cells and it's two men to a cell. These are guys who want to improve. They are visited by groups that teach them life skills, financial skills and 12-step programs. And poetry. One of the essentials :)

We do mostly fill in the blank type poems. They are all so ready to write poems. They write about faith and their families, and about how they want to break bad habits and addictions. They are all so respectful and every one of them participates. After we take half an hour to write, I ask who wants to read theirs aloud first. No one. Then a hand goes up when it looks like I'm going to move on to the next thing, and then pretty soon they are all wanting to go next. When the two hours is over and I'm heading out the cold metal door, they are shouting out "thank you" and "see you next time."

I look out at these guys and see 24 people who have good intentions. They really want to make their lives work. They are sober and thoughtful and aware. I think it must be so much easier in there, in those cells, to have hope. There are no drugs sitting on the kitchen table or friends bringing over whiskey. There are no beer fueled fights or jobs to struggle with to keep. Their days are mapped out for them in a good way. I know that even though right now they want SO BADLY for life to work, most of them will have problems when they get out. Some will end up back inside, some will just end up drunk outside the corner liquor store. One of them wrote about that, about being the drunk at the corner liquor store, and how he doesn't ever want to be that again.

So I try to get them to write about the things that will get bottled up when they get out; the anger and fear and want that they are bound to have. I figure if I can get them to see it, recognize it and feel it, they might not allow it to eat at them until the only way to escape it is to numb it or give in to it. It's a harsh world on the outside, especially when you've lost your job and you have to find different kinds of friends to hang with. I'm going to arm them with poetry. Here's a fill-in poem for you to do. Send it back to me and I'll post them, anonymous if you want.....jilliebug@aol.com



“Me" Poem

Line 1: First Name


Line 2: Four descriptive traits

Line 3: Sibling of...


Line 4: Who loves..... 


Line 5: Who fears... 


Line 6: Who needs... 


Line 7: Who gives... 


Line 8: Who would like to see... 


Line 9: Resident of... 


Line 10: Last Name

Sample:

Alysa
Short, feisty, artsy, crafty
Sibling of Phyllis and Sam
Loves cats and flowers
Fears fatal errors
Needs a healthy network
Gives help where needed
Would like to see peaceful blooms and fur flying
Resident of NJ
Cummings



Fear and Wanting Poem

I am afraid of _______________________________

I am afraid of ________________________________

I am afraid that ________________________________

I am afraid that _______________________________

I am even afraid _________________________________

I am afraid of __________________________________

I am afraid ____________________________________

I am afraid that ____________________________________

I am afraid that ___________________________________

I am even afraid ___________________________________

I want ______________________________________

I want ________________________________________

I want ______________________________________

I want ________________________________________

I even want ______________________________________

I want ______________________________________

I want _________________________________________

I want ________________________________________

I want _________________________________________

And I want ___________________________________

Most of all.



Sample;

I am afraid of spiders

I am afraid of lightning strikes

I am afraid that the milk has gone bad

I am afraid that the well will run dry

I am even afraid I might show up ten minutes late

I am afraid of final exams

I am afraid of making speeches

I am afraid that my math may be wrong

I am afraid that I'll say a bad word

I am even afraid of the dark

I want friends who smile back

I want fresh fruits and vegetables

I want fewer reruns on summer TV

I want 50% off sales

I even want to read books with happy endings

I want to laugh

I want to sing

I want to dance

I want to get the joke

And I want to be here

Most of all

I love knowing my limits

I love working with inmates. Really. I teach poetry for the Exodus program at the jail. I love it. I am going to tell you all about it when I write in the morning because I'm a little tired right now. So, I'm going to sleep.

Cause and effect

I really really like solving problems. Here's the problem - my blogs are short, uninsightful and boring. The cause - I'm writing them late at night. Solution - Write them in the morning. Done and done.