Poetry Friday Winter Olympic Haiku -- Original

It's only fair that since I did a Summer Olympics Haiku, that I do one for the Winter Games too. That is especially true since a "golden" opportunity presented itself this week. Ironically, it involves one of the people from my summer haiku.

Olympic Wisdom:
Nastia doesn't get mad
She just gets Evan


Thanks to Jone at Check It Out for hosting.

Poetry Friday Scrabble Challenge -- 2010

Well Jenn, Lisa and I are making the Scrabble challenge an annual event making this the second annual Scrabble poem Challenge. The idea is simple -- write a poem/verse at least 125 characters long, attach the Scrabble point value to each letter, add them up and divide by the number of letters. This gives you the average point value per letter in your poem. The highest average point value wins. (but there is no prize). By the way, titles are not in the letter count.

I don't feel confidant I have the winning poem -- not enough "PIZZAZZ" -- I am sure I had fun!

PERSONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM
-- THE BEFORE AND AFTER

Jazzy thumb moves
"Text"-ercise
Quick gym jog
My exercise

Tequila buzz
Glazed over eyes
Liquids quench
Revitalize

Greazy, sleazy
Pizza pie
Veg bedazzled za
Oh my!

Line by line scoring:
25/74
21/64
25/71
23/59
20/67
18/61

132/396 (total) Average letter score: 3.000000000000000


Hopefully Blogger doesn't mess up the formatting since I'm scheduling this for 3 AM (in honor of the 3.000000000000) and the 3 original participants. All are welcome to join the fun!

I'll add links to this post tomorrow.

Poetry Friday - Revisiting Poetry Challange

Last year on the first Friday in February Jenn, Lisa and I challanged each other to create poems with the highest average Scrabble point value per letter. We are making it an annual event and would welcome anyone and everyone to join the challange. I'm reposting my entry from last year to give you the idea. The one rule we've added is a minimum of 125 letters (which would have made my entry too short).

An HP Ditty

Wizardly quizzes
Quidditch game flights
Phoenix quilled wand
JK's dazzling delights

Average letter score (title not included): 2.8194 (203 points, 72 letters)

Links to last year's other entries: Jenn's entry

Lisa's entry

The 2010 Scrabble challange is next Friday (Feb. 5) for anyone interested.

This week Poetry Friday is hosted by Anastasia Suen. Thank you Anastasia!

SCBWI-Illinois Jan Dundon/Mary Harris Russell Program

Jan Dundon and Mary Harris Russell

Today's presentation by Jan Dundon (Anderson's Bookshop) and Mary Harris Russell (Chicago Tribune children's book reviewer) was fantastic. I left feeling excited, enlightened and energized to write.

Both touched upon the ALA awards (to be announced Monday):

Mary Harris Russell predicts: Newbery to THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE by Jacqueline Kelly; honors to WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead and CLAUDETTE COLVIN by Philip Hoose. Prinz to MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD by Francisco X. Stork (and this is a book she really likes).

Anderson's Mock Newbery winner: 11 BIRTHDAYS by Wendy Mass

There were a couple books that Jan talked about that I'd really like to mention:

1) MIRROR MIRROR: A BOOK OF REVERSIBLE VERSE by Marilyn Singer, il Josee Masse (due out 3/4/2010) I can't even describe how the author can write a verse, presents the same lines in reverse order on the neighboring page and they both sound wonderful, with unique feeling. This is the book I wrote "WOW!" next to (instead of using a simple asteric).

2) 14 COWS FOR AMERICA by Carmen Agra Deedy w/ Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, il Thomas Gonzalez. True story that will touch deeply about a gift to our hurting nation following 9/11. The book is published by Peachtree. Web site: www.14cowsforamerica.com

3) ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS, Neil Gaiman, il Brett Helquist Jan called it a very different style book from Neil Gaiman. It is based on Norse mythology. That's enough to interest this writer since my own father was born in Sweden. Then add Mr. Gaiman's talent -- I want the book.

Our Cristmas Feast

We celebrated Christmas with family at my brother-in-law's home and thought I'd share the food pictures. I have to admit getting the idea from Lisa Yee. After seeing her pics, I jumped right on sharing mine with the blogosphere -- well after a major snack (they made me VERY hungry).

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!