In January many of us who chime in here spent 11 days at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota at camp for writers. Okay, it was part of an MFA program, but the going-to-camp comparison is apt. We had 11 intense days in close quarters, during which we were immersed in discussions and lectures and workshops dealing with the subject of writing, and writing for children and YAs in particular. I always come home inspired, exhausted (and, this time, bearing a virus) and raring to write and wanting to delve deeper into the subject of writing and ready to talk about all I’ve learned. And then, like the overwhelming exhaustion that follows an indulgent, delicious carb-heavy lunch, comes the crash.

I’ve crashed. Oh, it’s not that I can’t write. I am in fact getting quite a lot done. It’s just that the conversation about writing has become so much buzzing in my head and right now I simply have nothing coherent to say on the subject. What little juice remains I will try to preserve for when I respond to student work in a week or so.

What’s a blogger to do?

Link to cool and/or amusing stuff. Despite the cranky melancholia that’s underpins my day to day outlook, I have a thing for the smiley face, and I especially love smiley face water towers. Enjoy.