My Cardboard Balcony

This week was a lot better than the last two. This week, I moved away from politics and tried to focus more on my interests, passions, work, friends, and loved ones. This week, I realized that I had let my anxiety interfere with my sense of authority in the classroom. I maintained a stronger power and presence as a teacher, and it paid off. My students, once slacking, discovered that I wasn't going to let them get away with not working. This week, I was able to work with new students at my private school job and settle some issues with my current students. I learned some things the hard way. I experienced, for one of the first times, a violation of trust. And I also knew where I could improve and repair relationships. This week, I forged stronger bonds with people I may have been disconnecting from. I was able to collaborate with my mentor teacher and have marvelous conversations and discussions. I was able to speak with students and prove to them how much I care. Tonight, ...

That's All? by Belinda Roddie That wasn't a punch. Hit me like you mean it!

No update on OneWord today. Oh, well!

St. Patrick's Day by Belinda Roddie St. Patrick's Day was quieter this year for me and my fiancée. We were fine with that and didn't drown in Irish cheer as much as we had done the other times. One Patrick's Day, we had a complete meal of corned beef and potatoes, and the beer and cider overflowed. We danced with zeal to Celtic music, laughing beneath clear and cloudless skies. This night, however, we had conversation over a modest dinner of spaghetti, all topped with brie (Though we made sure to add some extra zest to our food), and the booze and whiskey still was drunk. So sláinte to all, with good will!

"Special delivery!" hollered Joey, before she trampolined herself off the couch and into my arms as soon as I stepped into the living room. I laughed, then ruffled her hair before planting a kiss on her. "Easy there, cowgirl," I said. "Work's already taken a lot out of me." "Did they give you that raise you asked her?" I nodded and smile. That clearly made Joey giddy, and she bounced on her heels until I gave her another kiss.

Inner Peace by Belinda Roddie Somewhere deep inside my soul, I feel a chorus building beneath waves and waves of tidal paranoia. I'm not sure where it will take me, but the sea is calm enough to guide me on a brief and tender voyage.

“I like the fireworks when they go boom,” my boyfriend cooed into my ear, as we lay down together on the cold but dead lawn. Then, as he kissed me, I felt a staleness on his lips, like tortilla chips left out in the sun to dry into rough, unwelcoming husks. Above our heads, the colors were spinning.