Category: Writing Royalty

365 Snap shots of Life: Day 104

I discovered how much I enjoy painting when my kids were toddlers. One frigid winter afternoon in Georgia I took out some finger paint and construction paper and they spent the next few hours delving into the paint with such enthusiasm that after a little while I joined them. I did a little picture and I put it on the fridge next to theirs. When their dad came home from work that evening, he noticed mine right away and he was as surprised  as I was at how good it turned out. Ever since, I enjoy experimenting with different mediums. One day I am going to get the nerve up to use oil paints. So I leave you with this picture I did in water-color. Happy week-end everyone!

Lonesome Coyote

Tell me what you see lonesome coyote,

the moon is your lover,

bathes you gently with light,

you respond in a howl- haunting Don Quixote.

-Eva Santiago copyright 2012

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 87

Education Requires Conversation

Education is not always  about opening textbooks, taking tests where you regurgitate the information you had to memorize in order to get a passing grade. Education is also not just having an instructor who shows you a new skill. Education requires conversation.

I can look back on the teachers I had when I went to school and the ones who are still with me, are the ones who didn’t always make the class crack the book open. In 1oth grade I had Mr. Griffin for World history. He was an eccentric man. He was in his 60’s, dressed impeccably and told the best stories. He had been a quarter back in high school ,went on to play in college; served in the military, I think he went to Korea. After the war he came back and became a commercial airline pilot.  If  Mr. Griffin would have said he ran for president, I would have believed him. He interacted with us on a daily basis. Don’ task me what I learned about world history in his class. I did learn that he was a deeply caring human being who liked his students. I never saw anyone sleeping in his class either.

When he would assign reports and students asked him how long or short did the report have to be Mr. Griffin always said,” Like a ladies’ dress: Long enough to cover the subject and short enough to keep it interesting.” I chuckle because I’ve used that same line on my kids in the past.

Mr. Griffin also hated  PDA which was always common in the last few second before the bell rang. Often I’d see him step out  and yell at the couples making out in his hallway,” Stop swapping slobber will ya?!!!”

True education requires conversations where both the teacher and the students interact and share ideas as well as argue points. Mt. Griffin shared and at times he’d let us do the sharing. Great teachers ought to also be able to learn from the students. My kids have taught me so many lessons along the way. Just today I had a conversation with my almost 16-year-old daughter where she helped me see something in a new light.

Last year I held a writing group in my home. The group consisted of kids my kids knew. I’d open up with a free write;  a time to let them unleash whatever they wanted on paper. Afterwards they had the chance to share if they were comfortable. At first, the idea turned them off because they thought it would be like regular school. Once they saw that they had the choice whether to read their writing in front of others or not, they became bolder. Pretty soon every writing session was amazing because these kids had somewhere they could come to where they would be heard. We all learned from each other and that’s what’s most important. Our writing time turned into sometimes deep, other times hilarious conversations. I miss those times because I met some exceptional young people.

Talking about education is like learning to dance by reading a book. You might get the basic technique down but you won’t really be dancing until you actually get on the floor and risk making a fool of yourself. Education requires conversation because that’s how you as a teacher, know that your students are learning and your students will know you care about them;because you value their views and opinion. After all, the teacher isn’t always right.

Love requires relationship. – Unknown

To Join or Not to Join…That is the Question

I attended a local writers group last night. I am venturing out more because my publisher suggested that I connect with other writers in my area  to net work because that will be helpful when I launch my new book, in a few months. The meeting I attended last night was quite informative and yet I came away feeling a bit disconcerted.

During the meeting other writers brought in portions of their work and each writer had a set time to read their work out loud and then the other writers had the chance to critique the work. That was all fine until I noticed how nit-picky some writers were. At times when I felt that what the writer had presented was superb, other writers had a huge difference of opinion from mine. I actually came away feeling a bit bored by all of it. Suddenly I felt as if I was back in school and there went my joy of the writing craft.

John Steinbeck once said that going to school will ruin a great writer. I agree with the man who tried going to college only to never earn a degree. Amazingly after he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, he feared that such an honor usually meant the end of a writer’s career.

Unless a reviewer has the courage to give you unqualified praise, I say ignore the bastard.
John Steinbeck

The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.
John Steinbeck

Read more:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_steinbeck_2.html#ixzz1llMZQdGO

Read more:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_steinbeck_2.html#ixzz1llMMX3uW

I also recently read an article that stated that Leo Tolstoy, who wrote WAR and PEACE rewrote that same book 8 different times. I am flabbergasted. Was that really necessary or did he battle with OCD?

Could it be that in all the nit-picking that other writers do, they end up destroying some of their best work? I would like to hear some of your thoughts on this, so please feel free to comment.

I have not decided whether I’m going to join the local writers group. I did enjoy meeting up with a couple of  fellow writers who, based on our conversation, seemed more in touch with reality.  Maybe I’ll just keep my options open and I’ll just drop in on a meeting now and then. I don’t want to join a group where I sense their passion for the craft has grown a bit stale, because I wouldn’t ever want that to rub off on me. It’s already tough being a writer, let alone having to stave off the negative energy of writers more seasoned than me. Writing has always been such a life source for me that I don’t want anyone to dampen it .

-EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012

365 Snap Shots of Life Blog Challenge:Day 6

January,6 2012

Rear View Mirror

Rear View Mirror

I look in my rear view mirror,

not knowing what I’d see.

The sun has long set,

on you and me.

The skies set ablaze,

the sun has gone down in full glory.

The distant horizon,

all blurred as in a haze.

Days of you and me gone-

my rear view mirror doesn’t lie,

as I take one last look,

my heart doesn’t even sigh.

The sun set long ago,

on this, our story.

The sun set, only this time I’m not sorry.

I look in my rear view mirror,

and you’re stuck back there,

my future is straight ahead…

…and you’re no longer there.

EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012

‘Twas 3 Days After Christmas

‘Twas 3 days after Christmas

when all through the land,

not a kid was in sight.

No fussing, no arguing,

there was not a single fight.

Where could they all be?

I looked out my window

the streets are  deserted.

I looked here, there,

I looked everywhere

and I grew disconcerted.

There they are!

Didn’t have to look far.

They all have their eyes,

glued to their Kindles-

their hands on their iPads.

They no longer wonder.

They no longer ponder.

Little ones, of all ages and sizes

too early to be  wired,

6,8,10 12 year olds,

young minds now in a quagmire.

So I looked in the past,

when kids did kid things-

they played cow boys and Indians

and the sunsets seemed to last.

They played hide and go seek

some even thought they had wings.

Some jumped rope and hopscotched 

and they made up their own nursery rhymes.

They had imagination,

because it was encouraged.

They had less information

thus, they weren’t so discouraged.

This is a plea for the parents

of this current generation

now being nurtured,

on their iPhones, iPads,

Kindles, Androids, and iPods:

Our kids need US!

Our kids don’t need anymore APPS.

There isn’t an APP to replace

a hug, a kiss and a smile.

There isn’t an APP to replace,

time well spent with your child.

-EVA SANTIAGO Copyright 2011

The Birthday Cat

There once was a town called Mathicadoodle

it had many farms, many pigs, many poodles.

There once was a birthday cat, her name was Ladie.

She would send out gifts, even if your name was Pop or Katy.

Now on your birthday, she’d go to your door

She would say, ” Get out of bed it’s 10 after 4!.”

2 minutes later you went to get dressed,

you had a new outfit, you looked your best!

 

At 10:30 a.m. in Mathicadoodle,

time for your birthday lunch on a safari poodle.

On the poodle’s back there is lots of food,

you’re living your life in the happiest mood.

So after that you climb a wall of Skittles.

Why, it was 12 o’clock time for a band of fiddles!

So fiddlers played fiddles

and picklers played pickles,

the music was so GREAT!

it felt like it tickles.

 

The birthday cat was  ready for her 2 o’clock bath.

Katy said, ” I’m glad I’m not in school I don’t have to learn math.”

So as they dried off, they started a cheer,” I’m free to be me!

” I’m glad I’m not a deer!”

 

They went into the jungle of Mathicadoodle.

There were flowers that smelled like pears, peas and noodles.

On their way they saw big bopping bowers

that cut off flowers just for you.

They saw big clopping cloppers

sip sopping soppers.

The flowers are red, pink or blue

The birthday cat said, ” Let’s see what time it is.”

 

So they went to a farm

where there was a time telling arm.

The arm said, “It’s a hair past a freckle.”

That means it’s 5 o’clock,

time for the  birthday bash in a kettle.

 

They needed something to take them in,

so they go to the super dooper mini cooper.

It drove them all the way to the kettle bin.

In the kettle the party began

with head Zonking Zonkers fron planet Can-Can.

The party is great,

the food and the cake,

the birthday cat gave me a brand new cape.

 

It was 10 pm, the presents came in

there were so many

she put them all in a bin

At 12 a.m. Katy’s birthday was over,

the birthday cat drove her home on a big, soft clover.

So that’s what they do in Mathicadoodle,

the birthday cat gives you gifts and a poodle.

If you’re birthday is tomorrow, in May or today,

I will always say, ” Happy Birthday!”

 

RAQUEL BRINCAT  copyright 2011

This poem was written by my daughter and she wanted me to post it in honor of her birthday this week!

Las Vegas: It’s Not Just All Fun and Games

11 years ago when we uprooted ourselves and we moved to Las Vegas, I didn’t know what was in store for us here. Lots of things can happen in a short decade. When we first came out here we knew no one and we had no family cheering our decision to move to “Sin City”. As a matter of fact we heard,” You are being irresponsible, you guys are crazy how can you raise a family in such a “sinful” place,” and other not so great comments from so called “concerned” relatives from both sides of our extended families. I even was asked this question several times,” Does everyone in Vegas live on The Strip?” Come on now, seriously?

So here we are settled in, we recently purchased a home in lovely Henderson, which is sandwiched between Hoover Dam and Las Vegas and I’m happy to announce to any nay-sayers from our past, that we are doing well and thriving in this place!

Which brings me to discuss the fact that I am proud to announce that Las Vegas has more culture than it gets credit for. I simply adore The Las Vegas Shakespeare Company. Last year they did  Shakespeare in the Park; being that Henderson is filled with wonderful parks, LVSC uses these parks to put on live performances of a Shakespeare play once per year. So this fall’s treat, starting this week end is, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and I am so excited! This company knows Shakespeare and I am happy that my girls have joined such a dedicated group of talented professionals to work with.

So, if you live in my area head on out this Saturday, October 1st at 7:00 pm to Sonata Park. Then on the 8th it will play in Discovery Park. On the  15th it will be at Lake Las Vegas, and the grand finale will be at River Mountain Park on the 22nd. All performances are free of charge and begin at 7:00pm. So bring a blanket, snacks and experience Shakespeare live because I’m quite sure Shakespeare would be proud with these talented professionals that make up LVSC. See you there!!

 

A Tale from The Not SO Far Side

The current logo, since 2007
Image via Wikipedia

Karis was such a jerk for making me wear the ugliest pants that were ever made.

 I think a little woman in India working for the Sear’s company was given a piece of fabric that should have been made into curtains, definitely NOT trousers. Chakori, as she was called, was ancient and her dark brown skin sagged so that her third eye had sunken all the way down to her chin.

One day she received a shipment of fabric in her hut, where she only sewed jeans. Once she opened the package, she figured she’d waste no time and she sewed a pair of pants from the fabric. Her boss, Kaamil; a young man who managed the local Dairy Queen where he made the most delicious curry ice cream, blasted Chakori out,” What have you done?” His voice bellowed, causing Chakori’s heart to tremble a little inside. ” Old woman, you have made pants from curtain material..What now?” Just then, Kamiil’s younger sister wandered into the hut and he said,” Madhu, try these on, if you like them keep them because we waste nothing around here.”

Madhu pulled the pants on and modeled them for her brother who seemed to think they looked great. He thought he had good taste in the world of fashion, but everyone who knew him thought otherwise. Kamiil ordered Chakori to make pants out of the 5 bolts of curtain fabric. Upon completion, he shipped the order to the Sear’s store in San Antonio, Texas.

A woman named Karis with no sense of style where her young niece was concerned ; bought a pair of the hideous trousers   for the young girl who was starting her 10th year of school. Lucky girl… I think not!