Cancellation due to severe weather conditions

My school district cancelled school for the day due to "severe weather conditions" (temperatures as cold as -25). This was upsetting at first given the fact that we just got back from winter break, and students have not quite rewired their brains for "learning." Two days just won't cut it, and now that they've had another day off, the whole process will start again.

However, it is the last two days' acclimatization process that provided a change of heart. I already need a break from them, probably as much as they need a break from me. So, I'm enjoying the day. I slept until 7:00 and spent the morning with my wife and girls. I want to write something (besides a blog entry) and I have a few different stories from which to choose. I've made some headway into a story about a guy responsible for changing his church's marquee, but I'm just not feeling that one as much. I think it needs a rewrite, and this feels wrong considering I'm not even finished with the story yet. This is the story I feel I should try to work on, so that I have at least one finished draft. One of author Chuck Wendig's rules for writing is to, "Finish your shit." So as much as I'm not feeling this story anymore, I'm compelled to finish my shit. I also have a story about a teacher moonlighting as a pizza delivery driver, being harassed by his students. Finally, I have a suspense/thriller I'd like to write about a serial killer(s) using garage sales to stalk his/her/their victims. These are the shorter pieces I'm working through. I suppose at this point I should just start writing. Give up the procrastination and hit it hard. Throw as much at the page as I can and be happy with what sticks.

Huzzah for freezing temperatures that drive us back into our dens to hunker down and consider productivity.

The Writer's Almanac

Recently, just before the new year, my family and I started listening to Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanacs." For those of you unfamiliar with the program, each day Keillor offers information on relative to the specific date. It could be an author's birthday, or a notable event, for instance the now mythic WWI Christmas Eve cease-fire. Then, he reads a poem, and that's it. On average, each program runs between 5-7 minutes. This is perfect for those of us who claim to be too busy to do anything. Keillor ends the program by encouraging listeners to keep in touch. I don't think he means to keep in touch with him, but rather with each other. Listening to this show is a small thing, but it's a good thing, because it's something that I do with my family. It helps us keep in touch with each other. Now, tomorrow I head back to work and I hope that we get a chance to listen to the show before I hit the road. I'd encourage you to listen to "The Writer's Almanac," and to also keep in touch.