Brandon McLeod

Google Drive/Docs + Dropbox: The Writer's Best Friend

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:15:00 -0400

This is definitely a step in the right direction for cloud computing.

Install Dropbox first. It will create a folder in your “My Documents” folder which will automatically sync anything placed in the folder with your Dropbox account on the web. Then, when you install Google Drive, click “Advanced Installation”. Change the location of the Google Drive Folder to be inside Dropbox (e.g. /MyDocuments/Dropbox/GoogleDrive). Now, any time you create a document in Google Docs/Drive, it will automatically be synced with both your computer and Dropbox—giving you nice security blanket.

Never lose a document from a broken/lost flashdrive or computer again.

You’re welcome.

Book Reviews

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 20:18:27 -0400

Dear Internet,

I’m going to start reviewing books. Be on the lookout.

Sincerely,

Brandon

Books Books Books Read Read Read

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:39:49 -0400

I know I haven’t been a good tumblrer. I haven’t posted much and for a long while. My life has been busy. So, here is a little teaser of what I’ve been reading (which I haven’t had nearly enough time for). Other than reading, I’ve been busy, you know, living abroad, coming back, getting married, teaching, etc.

2011

Kitchen - Yoshimoto Banana

Kira Kira - Cynthia Kadohata

Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami

South of the Border, West of the Sun - Haruki Murakami

More Tales of the Unexpected - Roald Dahl

Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami

2012

The Elephant Vanishes - Haruki Murakami

1984 - George Orwell

(Currently)Thousand Cranes - Yasunari Kawabata

(Next) The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins

(Next Next) 1Q84 - Haruki Murakami

Writing Contests

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:11:23 -0400

Any suggestions? I’m looking not so much for prize money as I am looking for free entry.

Catch Up Haiku - Days...14 ~ 23 nahaiwrimo

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:44:59 -0500

The windows rattle;

kissing your hand, i get up

and lock the shutters.

—

i listen to you

venting your frustrations, then

close your lips with mine

—

she comes in winter

talarias by the door

snow falling quickly

—

it was just autumn

when I said I liked your wig

cancer moves so fast

—

I watch him —click clack

walking with his umbrella

during summer drought

—

we, the two of us

on all fours, up the talus

to see tulips bloom

—

we queue up to cross

the Styx river, where Peter

reincarnates us

—

a queue of geese swim

across the pond, to beg us

for our week old bread

—

the opera is not

so moving as her kisses

under a half-moon

—

this pool of water,

a summer shower’s remains

waiting for my foot

Laundry and Mountain - days 12 and 13

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:46:43 -0500

I watched as you hung

our laundry; the shirts billowed

in the summer breeze

(laundry)

—

since that night alone

when i look into her eyes

I see the mountain

(mountain)

As a side note, I’ve been getting a lot of views on these poems. I’d love it if someone would “photo reply”. I think that the visual arts and poetry go so hand-in-hand that we should encourage collaboration.

Jam and Kitchen - Nahaiwrimo Days 10, 11

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:42:00 -0500

Jam:

I lick inside the

jar like feral dogs dreaming

of sweet muscadines

—-

Kitchen:

my grandmother said

kitchens are where love bakes, then

she kissed my floured nose

—-

And something from @PoetryFound

Short, terse, unfriendly,
Yet sometimes quite emotive;
I am the Haiku.

What Poetry Form Are You?

Nahaiwrimo - Day 9 Take 2: Ice

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:23:48 -0500

Seeing no one, I removed my clothes and slipped into the icy gulf.

A Joke Haiku for Nahaiwrimo - Fire and Ice

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:56:00 -0500

With profound apologies to Mr. Robert Frost:

Fire and Ice:

Some say the world will

end in fire, others say in

ice; some say zombies

Days 7 and 8 NaHaiWriMo

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:16:55 -0500

Grief:

Back when she held me

slender arms brushing my skin

I never knew grief

—-

Hat:

Hunter’s cap in hand

a few words, then cold silence

over the fresh earth

National Haiku Writers' Month

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:40:00 -0500

So, I should have been posting for this all along, but I didn’t find out until four days in and then I went out of town to visit my in-laws. So to make up for lost time, here are the first five days all lumped together. I should have day six out later today. Writing prompts are from the National Haiku Writers’ Month Facebook page and are being given in alphabetical order.

Apple:

I reach out to stroke

her cheek shaped like an apple

so luscious and ripe!

Bear:

with winter so mild

in his dreams, he can still smell

pollen on the breeze

Catfish:

breaded and pan fried

the only thing that’s missing

is my hushpuppy

Beagle (Dog):

waiting by the door

jealous she sniffs my whole leg

she knows where I’ve been

Frame:

The door framed her shape.

As she stepped out and away,

mosquitoes entered.

Hello Tumblr

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:13:45 -0500

I’m a bad boyfriend.

I’ve been neglecting you for months.

But…it’s really not my fault.

Okay, it is my fault, but I didn’t want to hurt you.

I was moving back from Japan and then it was Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years; and there was family from out of town and soon to be in-laws and working, working, working.

Then, I got married. Then, I went on a honeymoon. Then, I started teaching again.

Right now, I should be grading tests, but I’m neglecting them to visit with you and also write “thank you” notes. I realized there would be this many thank you notes.

It’s overwhelming.

On Tuesday evening, I went to Satori Coffee House on Old Shell Road and saw the very talented Irene Latham reading her poetry and discussing writing.

She’s the poetry editor of the Birmingham Arts Journal and a genuinely friendly person.

I also read my short-short “Marooned”. It had a wonderful reception and I’ve sent it off to said Birmingham Arts Journal for publication (here’s hoping).

Now, I just realized that I need to write a blog post for a blog I’m ghost-writing. Oops.

Fare thee well. Hopefully, my next post will be about having received notification of publication.

Photo

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:14:47 -0400

It's Been A While

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:10:53 -0400

I have a few things in the work. I’m sick right now, but I’m going to try and type up some of my manuscripts. I’m starting to realize the challenges of writing it by hand first, but I really have a hard time being creative on the computer.

O Captain My Captain -Walt Whitman Created using the Songify...

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:42:16 -0400

O Captain My Captain

-Walt Whitman

Created using the Songify app.

The Japanese famously struggle with the soft R and hard L of...

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:00:05 -0400

The Japanese famously struggle with the soft R and hard L of English. With my older students I explain this to them and show them how to form their tongue for English Rs and Ls. Then I make them attempt something like: “Little Laura Laurel really runs a lot. Lately Laura leaps along rural roads.” or “See you later, alligator. After a while, croodile.” We have fun.

Google +

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 08:59:55 -0400

I got an invite to Google Plus today. I am really hoping to be able to rid myself of facebook, or, at least, the use of facebook.

I can still invite—when they reopen invitations—so if you want an invitation, post your email and I’ll do what I can.

If you want to check out my profile, you can find it here: http://gplus.to/pickmybran

Google Plus currently does not offer custom urls, so I am using the third party http://gplus.to

Classroom Pictures 12 - Family Tree

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:01:05 -0400

Sorry about the blurriness! For our twelfth Classroom Pictures, I have a “portrait” of my student Shiho. We were covering family trees.

My First Haiku in Japanese - Evening River

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:23:07 -0400

よるのかわ

ほたるただよって

かげきえた

— —

yoru no kawa

hotaru tadayotte

kage kieta

— —

夜の川

ほたる漂って

影消えた

— —

evening river

fireflies drifting

reflections disappear

This was my first attempt at writing a haiku in Japanese. Please let me know what you think.

Brandon

A Heron Waits For Lunch - a Haiku

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:59:11 -0400

A Heron Waits For Lunch

tadpoles, unaware,

swim around thin legs, standing

in a rice paddy

—

Brandon