Alacrity: Brisk & Cheerful Readiness

If you are wondering about the title, it's almost as spastic and unrelated as all the thoughts spewing out of my head onto the screen at this moment. This day has been full of fractured, random ideation, and since it's the 1st of August, I've decided to go ahead and start blogging again. I'd like to say I will sustain this important practice, but writing momentum perpetually eludes me. Once upon a time, provocations like The Slice of Life Challenge motivated me to process my life through the written word. However, for the last few months I've felt stuck and uninspired. Maybe if I expel these mangled musings, inspiration to write will magically manifest. (How's that for wishful thinking?)

Here's a sampling of the unpredictable, erratic ruminations coursing through my brain the last 8 hours.

• How come perusing professional Facebook groups is so much more engaging than online courses? Teachers are my favorite. 
• Large binders are bulky and obtrusive, yet I'm drawn to them when I seek order in my world. 
• Books make me so happy. When I get a text from the local library saying my hold titles are ready for pick up I feel downright giddy. 
• Taco Bell is usually my favorite "go-to" for cheap fast food. Tonight, their food sucked. 
• Why do teachers accept unacceptable things like working off contract in un-air conditioned bulidings? (I know the answer. It's because they love kids!)
• Sheet protectors are the coolest invention ever. 
• After downloading a preview on my Kindle app, I want to read the book Troublemakers really bad. Unfortunately my book stack is out of control right now.
• I truly miss spending my days with children. Building a vibrant, caring classroom community at the beginning of a school year was my favorite thing about teaching.
• Twitter makes me a better human. However, it also increases inattention.
• Polarity thinking is going to be the death of me. 
• Why is clear, consistent communication so dang hard?

So back to the blog title. This word caught my attention, and when I looked it up, the definition seemed too upbeat. I aspire to bring positive energy into the spaces I inhabit, but alacrity feels a bit peppy. A friend and colleague shared the message below with me early in the day, and when I stumbled across this unfamiliar vocabulary word, my mind raced back to the words she'd sent through Voxer. 

Today wanted me to write. Yes, me. Perhaps Elmore Leonard's quote is true. (See blog banner for context.)