1. I just finished marking up and responding to six-one page letters from my pre-college English class. Two more will arrive over the weekend via snail mail. I marked up each one in Word then wrote a one page letter back to each of them. My head is pounding from the exercise. I can't even imagine what it is like to get 40 pages from an MFA candidate. God bless my VCFA professors. I can't believe how lucky I was to have each one of you.
2. This is the end of week one. Sixty three weeks to go. I'm so tired already. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, send me a private message.)
3. Rowed twice this week. No running, no biking, no swimming. Must figure this out. I need it to clear my head. Two new swimsuits arrived in the mail today though. Here's a picture of the suit for our "Angry Kitties" all girl (and allies) Triathlon group.
4. I had a pretty good week of writing. Not perfect but about three out of five days. One day was especially productive and lovely where all the ideas flowed easily. I'll try and make up for it this weekend.
5. Exciting things going on this weekend if you are an illustrator. First, Hazel Mitchel is meeting foks at the MOFGA Common Ground Fair in Unity Maine for a meet-up/sketch crawl. You can message her on Twitter @TheWackyBrit. The Massachusetts Independent Comic Expo is going on this weekend info here. And the Maine Illustrators' Collective meeting is Sunday the 25th. More info here.
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: triathlon, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 5 of 5
By: Anna Boll,
on 9/23/2011
Blog: Creative Chaos II (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: about me, illustrating, events, triathlon, writing, Add a tag
By: Anna Boll,
on 6/4/2010
Blog: Creative Chaos II (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: triathlon, history, education, jobs, vermont college, Add a tag
1. Deadlines approacheth. I'm working on a difficult revision of a picture book with civil rights information. Questions such as how to be developmentally appropriate, not be preachy, and show not tell are swirling around my computer today. It doesn't matter how long we've been writing for children these always seem to be the crucial questions. Also working on my picture book presentation for the VCFA July residency.
2. My second triathlon is on Sunday morning. The experience of the first has taken away some of my pre-race jitters so I'm mostly excited. I've decided that triathlons are sort of like child birth. You forget the pain after you enjoy the emotional high of the finish line.
3. Good news on the job front! I'll be teaching an integrated 5/6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies class at The Friends School of Portland coming September. The four morning a week schedule should be perfect for completing my VCFA critical thesis. (You can remind me I said this when I'm pulling out my hair in November.) LL Bean has also hired me to a retail sales job at their camping department. Stop by if you're in Maine this summer and I'll show you some tents!
4. My son was part of a Civil War reenactment this week. I have to say, it was a little uncomfortable watching our children in this romanticized version of war especially when we are in a war right now. We need to ask our children to contemplate the effectiveness and cost of battle to reach political ends. By teaching war do we beget more war or preclude it? What is worth fighting for?
5. Again, with the Civil War... I always felt that my understanding of this atrocious loss of life was always distilled to the lowest common denominator. "The good north was fighting to free the slaves from the bad south." As I've gotten older and done some study of my own, I find that the facts are much more nuanced than that. Why do we persist in teaching this distilled version?
PS: if you see me on facebook this weekend, tell me to get back to work.
By: Wendy Toliver,
on 5/16/2010
Blog: Books, Boys, Buzz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Utah, Jessica Watson, Runner's World, Ogden Marathon, Ogden Valley, triathlon, marathon, Add a tag
The Ogden Marathon took place in Utah yesterday. It's one of the many competitions (mainly triathlons, bike races, and running races) that happens where I live, in a beautiful valley in the Northern part of the state. Here in Ogden Valley (which includes towns Huntsville, Eden and Liberty) we have 3 ski resorts (Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Wolf Mountain), a lake, lots of trails, a golf course, a river, hot pots, a canyon, and yes, even a waterfall--which make these competitions not only challenging, but scenic. It's no wonder the Ogden Marathon is ranked the nation's 9th best in Runner's World magazine. 
sesses them? After all, it's such a big commitment, and, let's face it, rather painful at times. As a wife of a triathlete (who was in the "just do it" camp when he started last summer and these are some photos of him and his brother) I get that there's a "rush" and that they like the competition, perhaps a sense of camaraderie with the marathon (or bike race, etc) community, perhaps even (if they're really good at it) a sense of pride and excitement as a medal is placed around one's neck ... but as for me, I'm happy being a triathlon cheerleader who goes to spin and yoga classes and fair weather walks to keep healthy.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33681077-9075968567026146631?l=yawriters.
</p>
<div style="clear: left;"></div>
<div class="post-comments">
6 Comments on <em>What Possesses People?</em>, last added: 5/19/2010</div> <!-- end post-comments -->
<a class = "displaycomment" href="javascript:toggleLayer( "View comments for this post"){kind=small}
Display Comments
By: Anna Boll,
on 5/13/2010
Blog: Creative Chaos II (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustration, triathlon, writing, jobs, book review wednesday, Add a tag
It's been quite a long time since my last post. Much has been going on and since it is too long to explain I'll just sum up. (Did you get the Princess Bride allusion there?)
Jobs: I've applied to a writing specialist job at Bates and a teaching position at the Friends School of Portland. I've been interviewed at the Friends School so it seems that is more likely to come through. Contacting the Bates folks today to follow up. I also applied to LL Bean's for retail sales position at the Bike, Boat and Ski shop. I was psyched when they called to offer me the job. I went in to fill out all my paper work, watch their harassment video (not how to, but how not to), and get cleared by their health department. Turns out that the job I was offered was a "level 5" position which requires lifting a 50 lb. box to the height of 76 inches. I did 40 safely, but needed spotting on 45 and help on 50. So bad news...no Bike, Boat and Ski job. Good news...they called yesterday and offered me a position in camping. Discount, here I come. Summer weekends, good-bye.
Triathlon: I've been training like crazy and after watching the Polar Tri last Saturday, I'm really excited about the celebration that my first race will be. The race is coming up soon, next Saturday, May 22nd, there is still time to donate to the cause. All money goes to help with YMCA scholarships for camp and membership. The "Mighty Mama's" (our team) is so close to our $200 goal. Please help.
And because I'm a crazy girl, I've already signed up for my next Tri with the Bath Y. (Not a fundraiser) so I'll get a chance to do all three sections and be timed for both transitions.
VCFA/Writing: I've been chugging away churning out picture book manuscripts this semester and have at least 2 or 3 that I feel are submission quality. One is with an editor now and I'm hoping to hear something soon. I need to revise my novel and start subbing to agents but things have been so busy that I've had to put that on hold.
Book Review Wednesday: Um... I'm really sorry. I just haven't kept up and there's really no excuse except, well, all the other stuff I've been doing.
Illustration: The Great Goose Auction is over and I'm trying to find out what happened with my two painted eggs. More on that later. My Fufu And Fresh Strawberries illustrations are awaiting an input of funding to The Telling Room in Portland. They are hoping for grant money to make the design and publication possible. Right now, I'm working on illustrations for my picture book Roar which I will show at the Illustrator's Academy this Sunday. I'm also working on my poster for the showcase and trying to get my portfolio together too. I've been happy doing the whole portfolio thing on line so it's kind of a pain to get all the images together, printed out and assembled in the book. So on that note, here are some images to take a look at. Enjoy.
Blog: bloomabilities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: blogging, triathlon, holidays, Add a tag
New Year's is probably my favorite holiday. Not as a night of celebration, which generally is a letdown (although I had one of my better celebrations last night), but in terms of it being an opportunity to reflect on the last year, make resolutions for the new year and look forward to the future. I'm big on making resolutions, as is evident here. Resolutions help me push into action, to actually DO things that I probably wouldn't have done otherwise, like skydiving, and running a marathon, and eating less candy, and being more committed to blogging.
I listed my New Year's Resolutions from last year here. Speaking of that post, which is more personal that I normally am in this blog, I've been thinking about this blog lately. I do realize I reveal a lot more about myself here than I sometimes intend to, although much of the details are veiled so that my friends can read between the lines and ask me about things. Then again, I think anyone can read between the lines and know what's going on with me personally. I'm not sure if I'm going to change anything overall about how I post, but it's just something I've been thinking about.
And I guess along those lines, I'm keeping my resolutions for this year private (although I'll be repeating many of the resolutions from last year), except for one: Do a triathlon! My friend Dave suggested two triathlons that would be good for a beginner. I've always balked at triathlons because of the swimming leg--I get exhausted so quickly when I swim. But then again, isn't it the point to challenge myself? Anyone want to try one with me?
Happy New Year, everyone! Here's to a wonderful 2007. Or as Rose's friend Paula is calling it, Two-thousand and Risk. Here's to taking risks--calculated ones, at least.
Gosh, no, I have not. I, too, am amazed by the fortitude that goes into such record breaking...and thank you for posting this interesting event and story!
The only record I've ever broken was an old 45! But, at times, I have practically written myself into a coma..Does that count?
Jessica said, after completing her solo sail , "I'm an ordinary girl who believed her dream."
She continued, "People don't think you are capable of these things - they don't realize what what young people, what 16-year-olds and girls are capable of." "It is amazing wghen you take away those expectations, what you can do."
She is now looking forward to getting her drivers license.
I love this.
the chance to do something amazing
Utahns are CRAZY! I'm in Provo and I'm continually surprised by the number of outdoor activities, sports, and life-defying hobbies participated in here. Wowsers. But, it sure looks fun!
Proud of your hubs! I've never broken a record or anything like that, but a friend of mine did put my name on his t-shirt of cancer survivors that he ran for one year in the Boston Marathon. That was nice!