Thanks, but no thanks, but thanks.

Last week was a challenging one, to say the least. I guess 2010 isn't going to be a year of nonstop good news and happy times. That's had me thinking a lot about the subjects we choose to write about. Do we find them, or do they find us? Can we send them back, like a chicken salad with a grasshopper tucked under a leaf of romaine? If we can, should we?

I've been moping lately because I'm not sure where to go with my next book. Correction: up until Wednesday of this past week I was moping. After that, I had an epiphany, but I'm not sure I want to write those poems. My last book contained 45 hyperbolic love poems. Where to go from there? I made a resolution in that book to write about the good in the world. But I did that. It's in pdf format. So now should I get back to writing about the evils of the world? Is that my job? Who wants to read another book full of disturbing poems? (Well, me, but other than me?)

At least now I'm feeling inspired. Hoping for a combination of cozy and productive this weekend. I absolutely need to figure out how to comment on student poems while my kids are at home. I don't have enough office time this week, and didn't have enough last week, due to a rather unexpected problem with childcare.

I would like to take this moment to thank the universe for making me a resilient person. I would also like to thank the universe for giving me my sense of smell back. I was sick as a dog last week, and this morning had a Wow, this lotion smells really awesome, I am happy moment. Thank the universe, too, for that moment.