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Countering Bad News

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Gilian the Dreamer by Neil MunroWhat’s on the iPod: Restless Days by The Clarks My daughter received an interesting call last night. One of her professors – one of her favorites, in fact – called to ask a favor. It seems a student of hers has lodged a complaint about her to…

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Monthly Assessment: December 2010

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading downstairs: The Civil War: A Narrative (Vol. 1 Fort Sumter to Perryvile) by Shelby Foote What’s on the iPod: Rain by Scott Blasey Oh, don’t we hate having to answer to ourselves when we have a lousy month? It’s no surprise that December was going to stink. It’s rare that a December…

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Top Nine Posts of 2010

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Gilian the Dreamer by Neil MunroWhat’s on the iPod: Backwards Walk by Frightened Rabbit It’s usually against my nature to be a joiner of trends. However, this one I can’t resist because it reflects what you are interested in seeing here. It’s the most-commented on blog postings here on this little blog….

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When to Stop Listening

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Last Wine of Winter by Chris Bathgate Last week we touched on advice. I’d had that encounter with a writer not long ago where asked-for advice was met with some heavy resistance and “I know how to do that.” Weird reaction to someone answering your question, but some people cannot…

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Random Holiday Tidbits

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Into the Mystic by Van Morrison We woke up yesterday morning to about 6 inches of snow, more or less. Unlike the city to our east, we were spared the remaining 12 inches. Not that it makes me happy to say that – I love snow from the first flake right…

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What to Call Yourself

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Justine by Lawrence DurrellWhat’s on the iPod: Swim Until You Can’t See Land by Frightened Rabbit Was Santa good to you? We had a great weekend filled with cooking, collaboration, stories, and laughter. Probably the most stress-free holiday yet. It didn’t start out that way with kids appearing (re-entry is toughest on…

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Season’s Blessings

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Oh! Holy Night by Perry Como May you enjoy the holiday season with family, friends, and all you meet. And may you avoid those Grinch-like feelings. Happy holidays, everyone.

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Don’t Ask, Do Tell

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: 4th of July by Steven Kellogg and the Sixers Yesterday being a fractured work day, I expect today to be utterly boring. I want to try contacting these associations that keep ignoring my emails. I need one more quote for an article and I don’t want to have to think about…

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Late Starts

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Justine by Lawrence DurrellWhat’s on the iPod: One Last Drink by Enter the Haggis Late start today. I went for tea this morning with a friend, then as I came through the door, he pulled me back out to go shopping with him. Then back here to put the final touches on…

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Bragging Rights

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Rocking by Roger Whitacker Today’s my first day typing with the fingerless gloves this year. Not that I haven’t needed them all this month – it’s been in the 20s during the day. But today is the first my hands are feeling it. So back to getting used to typing with…

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  1. Devon Ellington Avatar
    Devon Ellington

    I still have two professors from college in the early 80s with whom I'm in contact on a regular basis. They helped me navigate through turbulent college years and every time I have a success, I can find the seeds of inspiration planted by them.

    Reply
  2. Wendy Avatar
    Wendy

    One person that comes to mind is my junior high and high school art teacher (same person). He was the type of person that would see the good in anything you drew, provided you made an effort to do your best. A lot of kids had him for art and everyone knew him best for his 'Go, Go, Go!' attitude. He would never let you give up.

    There were other teachers that would say nice things just to say them. You could tell they didn't really mean it, but he was different. He would not only say them, but he would go out of his way to make sure YOU saw the good things that he saw.

    He didn't just teach you to draw. He taught you to see past the surface to what lies beneath and draw that instead. He always explained that you could draw a person by what you see on the outside. If you knew what made them tick, you could draw a more vibrant picture of them. One that would need no explanation.

    I use that in a lot of areas of my life. Whenever I'm discouraged, I can hear, somewhere in the far reaches of my mind, the same voice, of his, crying, “Go, Go, Go!” Basically, saying that I better not give up.

    Reply
  3. Paula Avatar
    Paula

    The one person who comes to mind is my high school English and Creative Writing teacher, Christine Swanberg. She left teaching a long time ago to concentrate on poetry. She was the first, and only, teacher who really encouraged me in any subject. She challenged me, too. Without that, I'd probably be a laid-off factory worker today, like so many people in my community.

    I run into her every couple of years. Last time, we were both leading writing workshops at the same event and she sneaked in to see the tail end of mine.

    Reply
  4. Jake P Avatar
    Jake P

    Congrats to the new grad!

    On the writing side, it was one of my high school English teachers and two of my college profs. On fostering the mental toughness that successful self-employment demands, it was a combination of my dad (a lifelong entrepreneur) and my college rowing coach — who pushed me in ways that still startle me, looking back.

    Reply
  5. Anne Wayman Avatar
    Anne Wayman

    Kelly Seay, a high school English teacher – taught writing, reading, used to complement my efforts which really helped.

    Today it's my readers and writing cohorts like you Lori.

    Reply
  6. Susan Johnston Avatar
    Susan Johnston

    Congrats to your daughter! I had a couple of wonderful professors during my undergrad years at Boston University. Then I did a writing certificate and the professor was so wonderful, he helped organize happy hours to reunite our class so we could catch up on what our former classmates were working on.

    Reply
  7. Lillie Ammann Avatar
    Lillie Ammann

    Congratulations to the new graduate and to her proud mama.

    Reply
  8. allena Avatar
    allena

    awesome post, thanks for sharing something so personal! I'm working on my masters and it's soooo freaking hard, but I am also inspired by my professors, and I hope to approach next semester more form that standpoint more then from the "omg-this-is-so-hard-why-am-I doing-this" standpoint.

    Reply
  9. becky Avatar
    becky

    I had two professors in college who I adored. I took every course I could with them. One was very encouraging and kind. The other was demanding. I learned a lot from both of them.

    Without the demanding professor, I would never have read Proust. I'm so glad I did.

    Reply
  10. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Funny how so many people have inspired us in such different ways (and some not so different).

    Allena, you can do it! My lord, look at what you've accomplished already. A masters? Piece of cake for you! 🙂

    Reply
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