My student, Cameron, is writing for 20 minutes, so I’m going to use this time to write my blog for today. Cameron is sitting over in one of our recliners with her feet up, her computer in her lap, and a cup of Tetley’s tea on the table beside her. She is 15-years-old, already a…
Tag: 20 Minutes a Day of writing
Wind and the Return to LA
It is 10:33 pm Pacific time; 12:33 Central time. I am back in LA after an early morning plane flight and a long afternoon of students. This evening I worked with daughter Liz on her post-law school personal statement. Now, I have two dogs lying here in bed with me and I’m eyeing that clock,…
A Change in the Weather and A Junk Trip
Today the weather has turned cold. I am literally sitting here in a long-sleeved shirt, a sweater, and 2 thins jackets. It’s not that the house is cold; we’ve just returned from the McKinney Restore and it is cold in that big warehouse despite big hanging heaters. So, I’ve just decided to get really hot…
A Little Bit of Heaven
I hear a train whistle in the distance and the hum of the space heater in the front room. Besides that, it is quiet here. I am back in Texas for only 3 days, a whirlwind trip to keep my drawl strong and my heart in the right place. We arrived yesterday evening and I…
The End of a Long Day
This has been one of those days… I was up and out of the house by 7:10 for church. Came home and worked with daughter Liz on her personal statement for post law school from 11 – 2:00. Ate a quick lunch with Ray, Liz and our friend, Ian, then watched 1/2 of Silver Linings…
Luna’s Baby Shower
We have just returned from baby Luna’s shower. We hosted this event at Liz’s boyfriend’s parents’ home in Hollywood since their location is central and their living room and dining room are huge. They were gracious to offer their home and we are grateful for their hospitality. We’re also lucky since we had at least…
Doctors, Pregnancy, and Daughter Sarah
I went with daughter Sarah today to two doctors’ appointments. One was to a cardiologist because Sarah’s heart has been beating a little too fast and there was some concern. The doctor came in – a grandfatherly man – and he assured Sarah (and me) that the tests had shown her heart was as healthy…
“How?” by Abraham Sutzkever
Today I helped Rachael with a paper for a UCLA literature course and I read some poetry by Abraham Sutzkever, who is considered by many to be “the greatest poet of the Holocaust.” The poem that we read and analyzed is called “How?” It reads: How? How will you fill your goblet On the day…
Good for Huck Finn
I spent the early part of the day with a student writing an essay about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This is a book I have read several times since I’ve helped many an AP high school student and a few college students write analytical essays about various aspects of the plot, characterization, controlling irony,…
Emily Dickinson: I Cannot Live With You
I have spent a good deal of today working with one of my students on a paper, which analyzes the poem “I Cannot Live with You.” Dickinson presents a systematic argument of why she cannot live a life with the object of her love. Most of us would go the other way, but not Dickinson…
20 Minutes a Day 