email experiment and voices | #sol21 Day 13

 This morning I started not here scribbling aimlessly but on email experimenting with posting by email. I learned (was reminded of) something important. Email formatting does not always travel well or display the same way on the blogging platform. When that happens, the result is rarely worth the time or effort of fixing. It certainly doesn't save time. Low tech copy/paste is easier, faster and works better. So would email in text or with minimal formatting.

That's the experiment part. The voices in our head when we blog is the other.

read more blogs | #sol21 Day 12

 When I don't start pre-draft free writing until after dark, it's going to be a real Pantser slice. Today wasn't even that busy, not the way yesterday was. Overall, blog reading aside, the theme of the day was politics. I don't want to write about politics though. Not today. Reading blogs was the best part of my day.

About reading more blog posts, not just #sol21 posts: I read and comment a number SOLSC posts directly from WP Reader where I'm surround by other blogs I've follow but haven't been keeping up with. I started reading just slices and ignoring the rest. That didn't last long. Then I started reading and liking the occasional non-SOLSC post. Today I moved up to commenting on and sharing to posts to Facebook timeline and and other pages according to content. 

One day at a time / #sol21 SOLSC Day 3

Taking it one day at a time, I've reached Day 4. After a 2+ year hiatus from TWT and blogging in general, I declared my intention to blog every day this month. Whether  or not my determination will match my stated intention remains to be seen. Despite years of blogging and other writing behind, The prospect of a writing a blog post a day calls out a swarm of negatives, nouns, verbs and adjectives. I don't know why. It shouldn't and doesn't make sense. I've lost not just my voice but a clear sense of audience, imagined reader. What I do strongly suspect: this is where I need to be.

Day 1 of SOLSC, #sol21

...almost forgot about today being the day. How's that for an inauspicious start? Factor in that I'm on Mountain Time and haven't sliced since #sol18, barely blogged at all either. This will be a short post -- just enough to show I've got skin in the TWT game. 

Next step, image search. I could pull a slice image from my files but old habits die hard. OT: did you know that "slicing" is also a computing term? The associated images are intriguing too, especially the sliced elephant. I'll save those for later when there's more time. Then there's golf...

Stop slicing the golf ball

This will be my 5th SOLSC. I wasn't going to do it but found myself signing up just a few days ago on a spur of the moment whim. I don't know why, so don't ask. No plans, no themes, no topics in mind yet either. Intro, backstory and condensed catch-up next time. 

For now, good night all (until tomorrow) from Vanessa Vaile, blogging from Yuma, Colorado, on the High Plains,

a late night slicer to the end...

On the state of blogging, Yuma CO and life in the Manor

On blogging comebacks

My front porch with wild flowers, last summer at the Manor

On a misleadingly positive note, 2020 blogging output on Reflections is double 2019's. That is to say, I posted once in 2019 and, until just now, twice this year, neither original posts but content from elsewhere. This post will triple it. 

Why the silence? It's complicated. What, if anything, does Yuma and the Manor have to do it? Possibly nothing but bear thinking about. I suspect it's voice, personal vs neutral. Will the comeback stick this time? Who knows? My comeback record so far is not encouraging, but I'm game to give it another shot. 

Considering Yuma and the Manor

slices make sandwiches too #sol18

…for lack of a better title. One came to me earlier but left before I wrote it down. It might return or another come but maybe not. It's time to go with whatever ingredients I have at hand.

Sandwich in the footer excepted, I haven't done so well with a visual prompt either. So I'll run with sandwich -- make it a buffet. Ingredients are topics, ideas. Condiments, bread (staff of life or, in this case, format defining genre) and how we combine ingredients is up to both sandwich maker and blogger. Cultural influences and family memories influence choice of ingredients and bread or wrapper. The same could be said for the blogger's choice of topics, ideas, impressions, memories.

A stretch but, in view of the recent challenge, comments could be considered analogous to saying thank you and complimenting the chef

Food for thought indeed.

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Slices make a sandwich

Two Writing Teachers host a weekly Tuesday and an annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC). This is the 11th one. During March, SOLSC participants write and share daily blog posts, and comment on three or more blog posts by other participants. Read today's (March 19, 2018) blog posts here. 

Today's slice image is multiple slices stacked (bread, cheese, meat, vegetables, bread) in a sandwich: harmony in diversity, parts are better together than separate, more ingredients = greater complexity, etc. ~ all food for thought.

On long days, commenting, blogging et altria #sol18

…and the rest of my day at home. Turns out yesterday, what with waking, wind, going out for a Manor activity and far too much time was too long a day. I find myself saying that more often lately. Today was definitely one of those. Increased humidity didn't help either. Long days mean taking the next day completely off -- and a long afternoon nap. I bought a pulse oximeter and monitor oxygen levels regularly, especially after walking, on long days and the day after. More than just physical efforts are affected.

On Low Oxygen Levels

As for commenting -- not limited to the mid-SOLSC commenting marathon -- that includes blog keeping, blogging, online discussion, commenting moderation and online feedback.

On staying cool #sol17

…I missed blogging last week but commented on half a dozen posts. This morning, beginning at the end, I set up and revised my footer. Taking my morning walk late for a day turning hot, I walked close to a mile, caught a few pictures and made it back before overheating.

Cedar Ave, Yuma CO: backyard as folk art
installation complete w/pick-up tree house

#DigCiz 2017 & another #sol17 Tuesday

…and now to — at the very least — think about blogging in general and today's blog post in particular. For now, I'll read and comment on other Tuesday blog posts. As (or if) post ideas come to me, I'll throw them at the compose screen until one sticks. Templates are always an option. I've been saving ones I like but tend to forget about them come blogging time. I've been thinking about these today:

Develop "places along the way" post about Slatter's Court (above) where I lived 1993-99 when in grad school at UC Davis.

Reflect on #DigCiz 2017 and invite #TWTblog/gers to join the conversation. It started today with sharing #4wordstories on twitter to initiate "conversation about what good citizenship means in participatory spaces for #DigCiz" with elements of/questions about spectacle, participatory spaces, citizenship, authentic but respectful communication

That led me to alternatives for citizenship/being a good citizen: Mensch, mentsh, Mentshlekhkeyt (Yiddish), Humanitas (Latin for the ultimate colonialist, imperial version), φιλανθρωπία (Greek philanthrôpía, loving what makes us human), humanist. Why not just plain human? What are the comparable words in other language families? Indigenous and other non-European languages?

Parts of this rambling reflection/thinking in text ended up in a 150 word comment (awaiting approval) on Bonnie Stewart's blog post, "The Crosshairs of the Split Hairs: #digciz"

So notes on what to blog turned into the post itself -- another ramble, disjointed and mostly about this iteration of the recurring #DigCiz conversation. Another time I can write another, separate post just about Slatter's Court, Davis and graduate school at UC Davis. Now to add another image and get this puppy posted.

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Until March 2018 and the next month long challenge, Two Writing Teachers community bloggers share and comment on weekly slice of life posts every Tuesday by the same EST witching hour deadline. Writing habits and reasons vary but not the commitment or at least intent to blog and link a slice every Tuesday. If we miss the mark, there will be another next week. Read this week's Tuesday slices here.

thinking about #sol17, the week, hanging in there & blogging

…not just here but on my other blogs. The March challenge lifted them up some but not as much as hoped. Reading and commenting on blog posts and social media is still up and holding. That matters just as much and may be even more important. Just now, reading Melanie Meehan's sol17 post reminded me of the importance of just getting going when you're overloaded and bogged down. That I am.  Speaking of overload, I could have blogged about 'guerrilla educationist' projects -- should have and will. Today though, a head transplant sounds more appealing.

The past week has been a combination of unseasonable weather and healthcare, starting with the second (left eye) cataract surgery last Friday. Sinusitis hit Sunday. It's hard to think about anything but my sinuses. Yesterday too. Today is better. Marginally.

Since I've been without for years (actually, more like several decades), I'm playing catch-up. General wellness, eyes, breathing (down to 38%, just started that), and teeth.

So hey there sinuses draining into my root canal, wait your turn.

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Post-March slicing moved from daily to weekly with Tuesday slices. Same submission schedule. Late Night Slicer, Pantser and perennial procrastinator by habit and inclination, I quit worrying and embraced my inner owl and free for all blogging by the seat of my pants. Sometimes it turns out better than others. Whatever your writing clock and blogging tendency,  slice  and share any or every Tuesday. 

Read today's Tuesday slices here.

endgame conversations…#sol17 Day 29/31

…but first another confession. At the start of the month, I confessed to being a dilatory slicer and not having completed a March challenge. With completion just around the corner, I confess that I'm not a K12 educator, although I have decades of teaching (swimming, riding, GED, ESL, college composition, literature and Spanish) under my belt. Now retired, I read, research and blog about education (among other topics), and, recently have taken to describing myself as a "guerrilla educator." The edu-equivalent of guerrilla gardening...

blogging after #sol17 Day 27/31

…another late night slice. As usual, I had some notion earlier on what to write about but no longer remember what that was. Also as all too usual, I'm not quite sure where the day went. Maybe my lost topic is in there somewhere...I'll take a look. If an idea for suitable image comes to me along the way, I'll look for that too.

Two in particular come to mind: whither blogging after #sol17 and navigating chaos

a #blogging inventory of sorts #sol17 20/31

…blogging since 2006 on multiple blogs, I'd been worrying about a long blogging dry spell. That is one of the reasons why I'm slicing this month -- not the only reason but one that matters to me. A recent #sol17 slice that commemorated reaching the 500 post mark moved me to inventory my own blogging history. Most blogs have a three year life span: there are more inactive blogs out there in the blogosphere than active ones.

On blog commenting, another #sol17 challenge Day 11

The SOLSC commenting challenge is a mid challenge event to encourage and reward commenting.

#sol17 Day 6: Monday, what am I doing today?

I made my absent minded old lady, anti-procrastination list and have been working through it but still have no sense of Monday-ness or what I'm doing today. Or maybe I have a case of "mondayness", which the Urban Dictionary defines as "when everything seems to be going wrong, like on a Monday!"

almost #silentsunday for #sol17 + new slicer shout out

The view from my porch at the #Manor, as filtered through (or dreamed by) Google Deep Dream generator's AI software.

A wild Google Deep Dream rendition -- beyond level 4

on procrastination & the blogger #sol17 Day 4

After posting all three slices so far at 11:58 pm EST on their respective days, procrastination has been on my mind. I'm probably not alone. I may not make it through the month writing and posting at the last minute. So I'm working on that while trying to understand the underlying why.

Progress: although I could should/ maybe could have posted earlier, I just knocked half an hour off my usual time. That's a start. 

on rolling out the #sol17 Welcome Wagon w/o falling off

This year I signed up for the SOLSC Welcome Wagon. By now Two Writing Teachers has assigned me seven first time slicers. There may be a few more by the March 5 deadline.

All are teachers (sounds obvious is not a SOLSC requirement) and have been writing blog posts or professional papers. Below, I'll lay out my qualifications -- or lack thereof. Upfront, I confess to signing up on a lark and to help me not fall off the blogging wagon. After several days of getting acquainted, reading and responding to posts, I know now that "wagoneering" will what most enriches this year's slicing.

Sunday afternoon at the #Manor contemplating community, challenges & calendars

…#sol17 March blog challenge, that is. The subject line alone is almost a post. Ha! Now to keep the rest brief, not going on until consigned to draft oblivion. Here's hoping a public announcement and declaration of intent will motivate me. On top of that, I volunteered for the SOLSC Welcome Wagon -- in for a penny, in for a pound. This last may be the most effective ploy to keep me from falling off the blogging wagon. Commitments to oneself are always easier to duck.

Tuesday #sol & life in the #Manor #YumaCO

…opening aside to Manor residents: this is a post on my personal blog. Since I live here, Tuesday Slice of Life posts are likely to reference High Plains Manor. Don't take post content out of context or for more than it is. You are welcome/invited to join the conversation directly by commenting here or on the life in the Manor (and points west) Facebook page. 

Dear Tuesday #twtblog Slicers, no guarantee, but I'm back, at least for this week. I've been writing ~ copious email, 750words, online conversations by comment on blogs and social media ~ but neither blogging nor willing to give up on it. Yuma Colorado catch-up is about a sliced as my life gets these days. By way of explaining the opening aside: apparently my Manor named Facebook page confuses some Yuma Housing Authority residents, so I am still reminding them about my Yuma project speaking for anyone but myself. Explaining the confusion and context would probably make a good post.