Better learn to write quick...

Because -of course- I have a dissertation to write, but also because what I write might be read by other people...

Exhibit A:
http://www.uel.ac.uk/cnr/obama.htm

They asked for stories, and I wrote mine, sort of, because I was overwhelmed with emotion. Now if I had only read that e-mail twice before I sent it.... argh!

Language-jealous

I was racking my brain (raking? wracking?) trying to figure out what to write on our Christmas Card. Each year this chore is up to me, and I never feel that I am able to produce the card that I would like. It is never quite right, it is always tacky, but not in a cool way. Luckily our sons are beautiful and any excuse to see their image anywhere will do.
I looked for inspiration in my favorite books, thought about the year coming to an end, about all the things that I am grateful for this year (immigration, Obama, health) and then came up with two sentences that did not sound that great, but did encompass my feelings. So I went to ask my DH for help... He first said that "we" did not need to be so wordy... Ok, I have to admit that I am over sensitive to criticism, in general, and very specifically, I am sensitive to my DH's critics. So, I asked him to give me an alternative, give me something to work with. He took, I would say about 2 minutes. And then came back with what ended up in our Christmas cards (you will receive one in about 10 days). He is an artist, and I am so jealous that he is also good with words. He took some of my ideas, looked at the overall project and wrote something beautiful and simple. Ah! how I wish I could do the same. How I wish that what I wrote didn't sound like somebody's pen pal from Ecuador... I wish I could write with ease and also beautifully...