Walking and Writing

I am attending the Council on Undergraduate Research Dialogues today. The sessions inspire.  But the city lures.  I can't be in my "home town" and spend the whole day in a hotel. So I skipped a session and took a walk.

Perhaps I've presented an unfamiliar picture of DC, but I like it.  Public art at a public library. A celebration of writing and reading.

Writing has haunted me this week.  I read a haunting novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I recommend it.

In preparation for being away a couple of days, I spent extra time prepping assignments for my PR writing class. I hope those assignments will help, rather than haunt, my students.

And within the space of five minutes earlier today, I tweeted about three excellent articles on writing:

#writing and #learning Make a Better Writing Assignment by Design ihenow.com/1VsmDZ2

#writetoberead Essay on accessible academic research ihenow.com/1Ww9WN1

#goodwriting requires #goodassignments Colleges should invest more in teaching students how to write ihenow.com/1Q5HrW3

Now, my walk is done, and I need to end my writing, too.  I must return to that conference in the bowels of the ball room. I know I will learn. I will grow. I will meet new scholars. If only I weren't so haunted by my home town....

Blossoming

 I have an amaryllis. My dear friend Margie gave it to me on the occasion of her move to a windowless office.

I have moved offices thrice since then. The amaryllis has always graced my window. It rarely blooms.

It last bloomed almost three years ago. Shortly before that blossom, Margie had left her office for good.

The amaryllis began to blossom about a week ago. It (and Margie) seems to welcome me back to a teaching office.

Other buds open, too.  My students are writing better, talking more openly and preparing well for classes.

I've broken through the soil of stagnant teaching. My students and I are learning better together.

I've toiled to update my research tools. Publishing opportunities have begun to emerge.

Service projects withering in my "to do" list have new life.  I can see colorful opportunities ahead.

The amaryllis continues to blossom; three buds are yet to open. Watch for that magic moment of full bloom just before it falls dormant again.