Monthly Archives: October 2011

Crazy Corks and Wedding Wings

Posted on October 17, 2011 by sputterpub

We’re terrible. We have no sense of decorum. These are some of the sentences my family has laid upon itself. Of course those are hyperbolic. We’re not that bad. We are not malicious and we do not vandalize. But we … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Extension

Posted on October 14, 2011 by sputterpub

This week I’m putting up two poems from 17 years ago, from time with the kids. In case you don’t know them or the story, both of my children were a challenge to raise. Each of them spent too much … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

Indignitis

Posted on October 13, 2011 by sputterpub

There’s a strong strain of indignation in my family. Most of us are quite comfortable proclaiming outraged disapproval, sardonic or stern, about conditions we encounter. If one were speaking negatively, the term “rager” could be used. We’re not physically abusive, … Continue reading →

Posted in Lessons | 2 Comments

Pronunciation

Posted on October 12, 2011 by sputterpub

I remember my surprise about that word. I was probably in 7th grade, and it made no sense to me. We say “pronounce.” Why not “pronounciation?” It was a mystery similar to how a flute was played by a flautist instead … Continue reading →

Posted in Language | Leave a comment

Homework

Posted on October 11, 2011 by sputterpub

I was browsing through old poems recently, and came across two written 17 years ago but in the same week, about life with my kids. I was 44 at the time. Katie had just turned 18 and Danny was 12. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Writing | Leave a comment

How Could You

Posted on October 10, 2011 by sputterpub

Most of what I write about my father is positive. Mostly I admired and agreed with him. But there were a few areas in which our attitudes did not jibe. Dad had ideas about appropriateness that I never got. He taught … Continue reading →

Posted in Question | Leave a comment

Momentum

Posted on October 7, 2011 by sputterpub

They say it takes six weeks to make a new habit. I think there’s truth in that, but not complete truth. In fact, it takes three days to set a new course of behavior. It takes six weeks to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Lessons, Poetry | Leave a comment

Information

Posted on October 6, 2011 by sputterpub

When you’re caught in a catastrophe but not pressed by injury or urgency (me, Loma Prieta), the biggest problem is the lack of information. Rumors fly. Cell networks fail. Even the emergency responders have trouble communicating. It’s dreadful. But understandable. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lessons | Leave a comment

31 Flavors

Posted on October 5, 2011 by sputterpub

I eavesdropped on flight attendant talk a year or so ago, and heard something I can’t forget. I was on the way to Europe, so the attendants were multi-lingual. I had an aisle seat, and the two women were stalled … Continue reading →

Posted in Language | Leave a comment

Gifted Kids

Posted on October 4, 2011 by sputterpub

I was 44 when I drafted this sonnet, and my kids were 17 and 12. My interlocutor had sons age 11 and 4. Our biggest area of disagreement was parenting. My goal was to raise self-regulating individuals who could handle … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment