Greetings Avid and Devoted Readers:
Since everyone knows that William Strunk's The Elements of Style hasn't gone out of style since Strunk himself first collected his own lecture notes and published the resulting manuscript for his students, one can assume that contents of that famously slim volume are still powerful and worthy of a review. So, sit back and have a nice, stress-free read. I will keep it brief, juicy, and weekly, Darlings, so read me here on Thursdays, and I will make you smarter.

Read me any time at www.greenswriting.com. We'll leave the site on for you.

PS: Now I know you all buy all the books I tell you to buy, and I know you likely already have this one, but here is the link to buy The Elements of Style.

Holy Cow! How easy is it to forget you are blogging? If you run out of fun English things to do, just go to the website: http://www.greenswriting.com/.
Meanwhile, I am adding this blog to my schedule, so you will be hearing form me soon.

How Great This Blog Looks

You gotta know its true!

Journal Prompts as Liquid Plummber for Your Soul

Greetings Blog Guests:
Does anyone remember these prompts? They are oldies but goodies. Who is still keeping a journal? I can't begin to list the reasons why you should be if you aren't. Just don't forget the pleasure of your own thoughts.

1. The best day of my life was when. . . .
2. The worst day of my life was when I. . . .
3. I hate writing because. . . .
4. The worst injury I ever had was when I. . . .
5. One time I really wanted to help someone, but. . . .
6. I am sure glad I helped out when. . . .
7. What I am proudest of is my. . . .
8. For fun, I like to. . . .
9. In five years, I will be/have/be doing/achieve. . . .
10. If I had a bazillionmillion dollars I would . . . .
11. I sure hate it when people. . . .
12. I love it when people. . . .
13. One thing I am really good at is. . . .
14. My favorite book is about. . . .
15. The best meal I ever ate was. . . .
16. The prettiest thing I have ever seen was. . . .
17. I didn’t get arrested that time when. . . .
18. The thing I dislike most about myself is. . . .
19. The most dreadful weekend I ever spent was when. . . .
20. The way I spend a typical day is. . . .
21. The worst vacation I ever took was when I went to. . . .
22. I felt very out of place when I. . . .
23. When I want to help someone, I . . . .
24. I needed help when. . . .
25. The most eccentric person I have ever known was. . . .
26. The best teacher I ever had taught me. . . .
27. The most significant event in my life was when. . . .
28. My favorite political topic is ???? because. . . .
29. I hate politics because. . . .
30. The world would be a much better place if. . . .
31. I would be perfect if. . . .
32. I will be happy when. . . .
33. I believe in extraterrestrial life because. . . .
34. I don’t believe in gravity because. . . .
35. I think other people. . . .
36. When I graduate I am going to. . . .
37. I like to write because. . . .
38. The best book I ever read was. . . .
39. The moment that changed my life was when. . . .
40. My favorite pet is/was. . . .
41. The mountains/beaches/forests are the best geographical feature because. . . .
42. I like/hate to exercise because. . . .
43. My favorite holiday is. . . .
44. My favorite activity is. . . .
45. I wish I had a giant, smart brain so I could. . . .
46. What I regret most is. . . .
47. One bad habit I can’t break is. . . .
48. My best characteristic is my. . . .       
49. Drinking/beverages (anything)
50. Elderly drivers
51. What would it be like to live in a different time period? (your choice)
52. Gardening (flower and/or veggie)
53. Spring fever
54. The perfect vacation
55. The magic ink pen
56. An unusual pet
57. Boredom
58. Soul mates
59. The ideal house
60. If you could be any animal, what would it be?
61. My biggest fear
62. In ten years, I’ll be…
63. Fun with food
64. My future car
65. The ideal friend
66. Alone in a cemetery (Halloween)
67. What I hate about winter (or spring)
68. What I love about winter (or spring)
69. Rain
70. Write about a dream and what you think it indicates.
71. The color red
72. My pet peeve
73. A rainbow in the night
74. My favorite animal
75. The perfect job
76. If I had more time, I would …
77. What I hate about love
78. The best things about summer
79. What’s wrong with hair
80. The most unusual experience I’ve ever had was…
81. A sailing ship
82. Watching clouds
83. A blank piece of paper
84. A locked door
85. The scent of a rose
86. Thoughts about reading
87. What am I?
88. The best day of my life was when. . . .
89. The worst day of my life was when I. . . .
90. I hate writing because. . . .
91. The worst injury I ever had was when I. . . .
92. One time I really wanted to help someone, but. . . .
93. I am sure glad I helped out when. . . .
94. What I am proudest of is my. . . .
95. For fun, I like to. . . .
96. In five years, I will be/have/be doing/achieve. . . .
97. If I had a bazillionmillion dollars I would . . . .
98. I sure hate it when people. . . .
99. I love it when people. . . .
100. One thing I am really good at is. . . .
101. My favorite book is about. . . .
102. The best meal I ever ate was. . . .
103. The prettiest thing I have ever seen was. . . .
104. I didn’t get arrested that time when. . . .
105. The thing I dislike most about myself is. . . .
106. The most dreadful weekend I ever spent was when. . . .
107. The way I spend a typical day is. . . .
108. The worst vacation I ever took was when I went to. . . .
109. I felt very out of place when I. . . .
110. When I want to help someone, I . . . .
111. I needed help when. . . .
112. The most eccentric person I have ever known was. . . .
113. The best teacher I ever had taught me. . . .
114. The most significant event in my life was when. . . .
115. My favorite political topic is ???? because. . . .
116. I hate politics because. . . .
117. The world would be a much better place if. . . .
118. I would be perfect if. . . .
119. I will be happy when. . . .
120. I believe in extraterrestrial life because. . . .
121. I don’t believe in gravity because. . . .
122. I think other people. . . .
123. When I graduate I am going to. . . .
124. I like to write because. . . .
125. The best book I ever read was. . . .
126. The moment that changed my life was when. . . .
127. My favorite pet is/was. . . .
128. The mountains/beaches/forests are the best geographical feature because. . . .
129. I like/hate to exercise because. . . .
130. My favorite holiday is. . . .
131. My favorite activity is. . . .
132. I wish I had a giant, smart brain so I could. . . .
133. What I regret most is. . . .
134. One bad habit I can’t break is. . . .
135. My best characteristic is my. . . . 
136. I hate it when my teachers. . . .
137. I love it when my teachers. . . .
138. I learned the most from. . . .
139. When I graduate I want to. . . .
140. The reason I want XXX for president is. . . .
141. I facilitate my spiritual growth when I. . . .
142. I like English because. . . .
143. The last good book I read was about. . . .
144. My favorite magazine is XXX because. . . .
145. I think XXX is the best poet because. . . .
146. I like the songs of XXX because. . . .
147. I like to research because. . . .
148. I am happiest when I am. . . .
149. I hate writing in this journal because. . . .
150. The biggest fish I ever caught was at. . . .
151. I do/don’t want to have XXX children because. . . .           
152. My best friend always. . . .
153. I like it when. . . .

As always, thank you for reading and keep on writing. By Jeanne Green

1.       

Former Students and Other Unwilling English Enthusiasts

All Darlings:
Will you please comment on your least favorite part of English composition?  Was it the writing?  Was it sentence fragments?  Was it being graded that chapped your ass the most?  I have always wondered and would love so info.
Additionally, although I don't know who is still out there, I want some suggestions about what you would like to read on a blog post or website,
Let me hear you!

Hey Little Peas:
I just found this blog from our classes.  I had forgotten all about it whilst I was sick.  It tells me we had 800 odd views, and 78 posts.  If you are still out there, find your sign in info. and let's get crackin' along again.  I will even put up some real posts instead of just prodding your guys to do so.  Peace and Love, Jeanne

Thousands of Adoring Fans Famished for Fiction

Darling Fans:
I have just now managed to log back into this blog. Many new and exciting things are about to happen on this blog, so just hold on to your proverbial hat!
Seasons Greetings!
Jeanne Greenie

Fall 2010

Yeehaw! We are back in the writing and learning business. Post your poetry or other writing on this blog. I will be posting the poems whose authors wish to remain anonymous.

Buddy's Poem

Yesterday I saw a world
that today I cannot find
somehow she slipped away from me
and left me far behind

soon this day will leave me
and nightfall will come again
but before my world will appear to me
my past must come to an end

Out Standing in a Field

Out standing in a field
I was looking for something to kill

ORANGE

First you have to peel the skin
Throw it all in the garbage bin
Then you take a juicy slice
Of your orange - very nice!
Sticky on your fingers too
Good to eat when you have the flu

Emabarrassing Poem

Embarrassing moments come to us all
When you cant even catcha beach ball
You stand on a podium with stage fright
Praying someone will turn our the light
Ever come to a party an hour too early
Everyone's there, and there so surely
Then you discover you're a whole hour late
You say, "I'm sorry Jo", and her name is Kate
Volunteer to help but fall on your butt
Spilling cake that you just had cut
Have you ever walked into a public restroom
And found its not the right one
You go throught the mall without a care
Your skirt is caught up in your underwear
Do you ever pay, then leave the bag?
Wear a dress, dont take off the price tag
Grab a bag of apples, but find pears

naive drive

Running wild at the age of fresh,
The world was alive at her fingertips.
No rules, no boundaries, no fear to be felt,
She was so naïve to life itself.

She was delicate, pure and hopelessly in love,
She watched him like he could spin the world.
He took her and used her and threw her out to dry,
He tainted the eyes the heart inside.

The hurt that she cried, the pain that she felt,
She wore it inside as a guilty belt.
One day she broke free, one day she ran,
She blamed him for taking her freedom away.

She lived like the world was green and she was eighteen,
She did all the things her dreams had seen.
She lived carefree and laughed at first,
She still hid her pain the aching thirst.

She realized she felt the pain for a different reason,
He hadn’t stolen her dreams and stopped her from living.
She had given up; she had lost her drive,
He was the one that made her feel alive.

With love anew and heart healed with time,
They rekindled the love that lay deep inside

Hard Times

Facing hard times with every turn,
Hurting in the pocket, no money to burn
Pinching pennies and shopping sales,
Wondering which bill is next in the mail.

Times are tough and looking so bleak.
Praying the layoff won’t affect me next week
No time to be selfish, others have it worse
Its hard to remember that with one dollar in my purse

Some work two jobs to make ends meet.
Single moms pulling doubles when their babies sleep
Retirement a word of the past for the elderly next door
The threat of losing their house changed them forevermore

Remembering what is what like only a decade ago
Foolishly spending and letting the savings get low
Vacations and SUV’s with every cha-ching tone
Trying desperately hard to keep up with the Jones

Times are bound to cycle soon
Eventually the dollar will see the new moon.
The lesson to learn is one about time
Change happens with the drop of a dime

Tomorrow is our future

The time has come,
ahora es el momento
See me here,
quitas mis preocupaciones

The life we have is our to make
amor lo conquista todo
my heart belongs to you
tú eres mi mundo

Together we will make our dreams true,
juntos todo es possible
With you I am strong,
sin ti mi mundo es oscuro

Today is now, today is here
mañana es nuestro futuro

Defeat ran over

She lays on the ground, listless in defeat
Her heart is screaming, aching with every beat
How does she go on, how does she move
No attempt to try would be how she would lose.

She stumbles to her knees, panting her breath
Sweat beads form from her brow down to her breast
With wobble she rises, one foot on the ground
Her head high again she looks at the crowd.

Steadily she walks and one man cheers all alone.
She notices his clap, her heart jumps through her bones.
Her speed increases and her legs move so smooth
Her head in the game again, her grace renewed

She passes to the left; she maneuvers to the right,
The other runners glance up and become full of fright
She turns the last lap, her energy full
Her heart is aching for the win in view

The crowd is wild, the single man in view.
He never lost faith, this win is for you.
She passes her competition one foot over the line
The win accomplished, the trophy is mine.

Second Wind

Sweet Peas:
Let's build up a second wind here by writing some poems about second winds, second chances, and not giving up during times when we have felt beat and wanted to quit.
All Peace and Love,
Jeanne
PS: I am counting poems and will soon award fabulous prizes, some hardly ever used, to the three most prolific poets on the Blog, so get with it.

Change

Sometimes it is as subtle as a shadow
Sometimes it comes at us like Thunder in a storm
All you have to do to see it is look out the window
It is always with us, if we care to open our eyes

It can be a good
It can be a harsh
It can be timely
It can be unexpected

We all have different ways of dealing with it
Some face it head on and roll with it
Some run from it and hide, but it is always
there waiting.
It will happen no matter what we want
It can bring great joy or sadness
Depends on how you look at it.
It is usually a growing experience
Something to look back on and wonder what if...

That is what Change is all about

Monkeys

There are monkeys in my bathroom
two of them and they are playing in the tub
Splashing water to and fro,
from here to there.

These two monkeys are not pets, by any means
They are as mean as monkeys, but they dont
throw poop.

Sometimes they could be butlers
If I could manage to train them that well
No matter how rotten these two monkeys
are they are still my favorites
They are actually my two little boys,
who I love to call monkeys as pet names.

Sweet Peas

This week's topic is monkey butlers. Next week's topic is change. Weeks after that will not have suggested topics, so everyone may write about any topic h/she wishes.

Some of you have been writing poetry but not adding it to the blog, so please begin to do so. We all want to read it. I am so proud of all the poetry that has been added to the blog. Let us keep up the good work!