Daily writing prompt What was the last live performance you saw? View all responses This is an interesting prompt from WordPress because we are experiencing a live music revival around our area. First and foremost, Iowa seems to be a live music desert (unless you like country music, which I do not). We will listen to many different kinds of music. Iowa City has its JazzFest, Waterloo has its IrishFest, and the little burgs around here have their bands for their own local fairs and festivals. But good live music is tough to come by. Last September, when went to Hennyville, a mix of rock, folk ..read more

Two blogs in two days? Must be a record or something! #ormaybenot Shhhhh. Today is my birthday. I’m that guy who really would prefer to be in the background of most things. I don’t have that “look at me” personality that some do, nor do I crave that attention, which makes birthdays hard for me. Yes, I enjoy celebrating it, but low-key celebrate. A little bit of cake, a present or two, but otherwise, if the rest of the world did not know, I would be quite ok. However, that never, ever seems to happen. I can’t be too upset because people enjoy it so it’s all good. Just sometimes wish I could cur ..read more

Daily writing prompt What gives you direction in life? View all responses Wow, this is going to be a tough one. For many years, the direction of simply making it though. Elementary, middle, and high school were not easy for me. I was awkward as hell, lived almost on the edge of our district, so didn’t have many friends, and am an introvert, so just getting through those days gave me direction. Getting the hell out of dodge is EXACTLY what I wanted. College was a happy place in my life, and there, the direction was graduation. I met my best friend, met my wife, played a year of football, sang ..read more

Hello Readers! No time, no blog. #youbum Hey, it’s not easy writing when you feel like you aren’t a writer anymore. It’s been a hot minute since I feel like I’ve had much of anything to say or thought that anyone would listen. No, no one wants to read the pity party blog, so I’ll stop now, but it’s been difficult summoning words. #ItisfineWeallgothroughit Well, not all of us, but it’s ok. *Enter the narrator (hopefully James Earl Jones)* 24 hours later Apparently, the words were not coming yesterday either! FYI: I’m writing until my mind is clear, so this may be a big old mess! Caitlin Clark ..read more

To my writing community members, I’m sorry. I’ve been a crappy writing partner. This title has been up on my WordPress since Thursday. I started this challenge out in good shape, but suddenly….nothing. No words. No ideas. No slices. I’ve struggled with that idea of being a “writer”. The whole “imposter syndrome” is alive and well inside my own head. Who wants to read this? This is silly. This is crap. And I know I’ve missed out on spectacular writing this month. That’s what the challenge is always about. Anyway, as the challenge is finishing up, I just wanted to congratulate those who made it ..read more

This is post number 1,000 post on The Life of Conflicted Teacher!! #damnthatisalotofwriting It is fitting that this milestone happens on another milestone, our 30th wedding anniversary. #damnthatisalongtime It’s been quite a ride. We started dating on my birthday in 1991, engaged in 1993, wedding in 1994 and, there it goes! We were in Minnesota, Alaska, Missouri, and Iowa. I’ve been in 5 different school districts. My wife has been in four districts, stayed home with our daughters for five years, and worked her way up in Headstart, starting as a co-teacher and ending as an educational speciali ..read more

Another slice of my various tastes in stuff. Before I dive in, a question for all of you who might read this slice: What do you use for a podcast app? Google Podcasts is going away (booooooo!!!) and I need something new. I asked this on Twitter and got some great responses, but many were for iPhones and we are *gasp* Android users. Any recommendations, leave them in the comment section, please! Some of my favorites: Washed Up Walkon: I’ve written about them a lot. Three former walk-one players from the University of Iowa give their take on Iowa football. They’ve got some great insights into t ..read more

Dear Iowa Women’s Basketball, This has been a while in coming. Today seemed most fitting after that amazing comeback against Nebraska to mark a three-peat for your program in the Big 10 Women’s Tournament. In the background of our lives, basketball has been with us. My wife and I coached varsity basketball with a run and gun team in Alaska. We moved to Missouri, and I coached a couple of middle school teams and started learning what it meant to coach. Our paths took us back to Iowa in 1999 for us to see a new era in Iowa Women’s Basketball begin with hire of Coach Bluder. We’ve taken a number ..read more

Well, I missed yesterday and I’m not melting down. #awwwyoulittleboyisgrowingup Hush. Actually, it was just busy all day long. The morning was school stuff. I wish I could say I’d get up at 5:00 AM to write, but not a chance. If I cannot get up early to get my chubby butt moving, I’m not going to it to write. My motivation for exercise has not been good, but honestly, my urge to write has been much better. Either way, early morning is not where it’s at right now. The morning at school wasn’t much better. We had an early out for the end of the quarter, so our special times were all messed up. I ..read more

Daily writing prompt What activities do you lose yourself in? View all responses This is a great prompt from WordPress for a Slice of Life! When I read this today, I came up with three things that just seemed to pop out at me: Reading: I can get lost in a good book for HOURS! I’m rereading the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini and am finding them as good now as I did a decade ago. The reason for that, is he’s got another book in the series, Murtagh, out! So, I need to refresh my memory on what Eragon and Saphira were able to do in the first four books. Going to bed at night, I’ve los ..read more