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IT'S "WEIRD AL" TEACHING GRAMMAR: You have to see this!!! - Andrea Dietrich's Blog

About Andrea Dietrich

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Andrea Dietrich grew up in Iowa and now resides in Utah with a spouse and two cats. She has two grown children and six grandchildren. Having graduated BYU with a Spanish major/ESL minor, she has spent most of her adult life teaching. It wasn't until 2000 that she began writing in earnest and discovering her "niche" as a writer of lyrical poetry. The internet opened up a new world for her, and she has spent two decades now participating in poetry clubs, acting as a judge of poetry contests for various magazines, for the website Shadow Poetry, and for Poetry Soup.

Ms. Dietrich has won numerous awards, as well as the title Poet of the Year 2008, from the Yahoo group, Poetry For Thought. In addition, she has won prizes from the magazines Lucidity, Bell's Letters, Art with Words, Poets at Work and SP Quill, the magazine for which she wrote grammar and poetry articles as well as movie reviews and for which she acted as poetry editor for the head editor Marie Summers for six years. Many of her poems appeared in Shadows Ink, a yearly published series of chapbooks of award winning poetry as well as in numerous other anthologies. Her short stories appeared in many issues of SP Quill and much of her poetry was published in eight chapbooks (no longer sold online).

Since coming to Poetry Soup, Ms. Dietrich has been both contest sponsor and winner of numerous contests. In 2010, her poem "Cinder Girl" was first place winner of Soup's International contest (these contests are no longer held). A song was created from her lyrics "Honeymoon Serenade" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDWxc4cpHDc) and two movies have been made featuring the poetry of Andrea Dietrich: "A Tale of Fire and Ice" (a 4 min. Z-Film Fest Project, 2014) and the full length movie "Six Days of Sistine" in which 20 poems of Ms. Dietrichs serve as the thoughts of two characters played by Jamie Campbell Bower and Elarica Johnson (directed by Richard J. Perry, 2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7710360/

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IT'S "WEIRD AL" TEACHING GRAMMAR: You have to see this!!!

Blog Posted:7/18/2014 4:47:00 PM

Today I saw the greatest video about grammar. It is called WORD CRIMES (a parody of Blurred Lines) and much better, in my opinion, than the lyrics it is parodying. Coincidentally, it goes right along with the contest I just started up last night, "Let's Get Technical!"

I hope you will take a look at this music video. It reviews some of the grammar issues I discussed in my own contest rules! I have not seen Weird Al Yankovic for a long time, and it's so good to know that this parody genius is on another roll with a new album! By the way, can anyone out there help me to know a way to show the video the way it looks right there at Youtube? All I can figure out how to do is give the links. The first link is to Youtube. The one below it is showing the video in another place but it gives a nice little snyopsis with it! ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8Gv0H-vPoDc

http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/weird-als-blurred-lines-parody-is-also-great.html?mid=twitter_nymag

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Carol
Eastman

Date: 7/19/2014 9:19:00 AM

I loved this! Glad you put it up there... And hadn't seen any of Weird Al's latest. Video's. Thanks

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/19/2014 10:48:00 AM

Did you see what Tim told us? He is releasing his new songs each seven days. Awesome.

Tim
Smith

Date: 7/19/2014 7:25:00 AM

I heard he was releasing a video a day for 7 days. A good friend of mine is a big fan and told me this..he is burning me a CD with all his best...I could send you a copy if you like.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/19/2014 10:47:00 AM

you are so astute. Yes, that is why I posted this blog!! I don't listen to CD's or I would take you up on that offer. I have time driving to school only to hear my car radio. I do not listen to music any other time because I watch too much tv and spend too much time at Soup and writing poems. hahaha. Thanks so much for the offer. I will try to catch his release of each song on youtube.

Tim Smith
Date: 7/19/2014 7:32:00 AM

That one goes perfect with your contest.

Arlene
Smith

Date: 7/19/2014 7:12:00 AM

I Would greatlyappreciate any help you have time to give, Andrea. I am a bit old shcool , and I think with cyber language, true writing is becoming a lost art. Sometimes I feel like my writing is perceived as having been done by an elementary student. I finally found something I really enjoy doing, and I don't want to do it half assed. (pardon the expression) ... Big hugs to you for your willingness to help.... Arlene

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/19/2014 10:49:00 AM

Yes, I think particularly with the younger generation perhaps, it is becoming a lost art. I heard that in ten years, they won't be teaching cursive writing any more. That is shocking to me. Only we oldies will remember how to write with a pen and paper!!! You do NOT write like a little kid. Good grief

Charmaine
Chircop

Date: 7/19/2014 2:10:00 AM

Word Crimes : ),I am guilty of such crimes at times,especially when I'm not writing in my native language.Very entertaining blog,yet interesting at the same time : )

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 7/19/2014 3:58:00 PM

I would be grateful if soupers point out any grammar mistakes I make along the way : ).Sometimes,I have to google certain words to make sure I'm getting it right : ).Interesting blog dear Andrea.Have a lovely weekend.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/19/2014 10:51:00 AM

You have an excuse, sweetie. I know if I were here writing in Spanish for an all spanish poetry site, I would feel so small and I would be seeking advice from people all the time. you do exceptionally well in English, dear.

Arlene
Smith

Date: 7/18/2014 10:08:00 PM

LOL! Love it, Andrea! Reminds me of "School House Rock." Believe it or not I used to be a whiz in grammar. Diagramming sentences was a breeze. But that has been Forty years ago. My worst problem is when to use a , or : or ; ... I am going to enter your contest. Can you correct my paper for me after the winners list? lol...Seriously, I need to brush up on my punctuation..

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/19/2014 12:32:00 AM

I have my comma article pending right now with PoetrySoup. Probably they will put it up with the other articles soon. I've got colon usage too, which I will now submit to Soup. Not sure if I have a specific article just about ; I can explain it to you in a soupmail if you want.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/19/2014 12:12:00 AM

Arlene, always happy to correct anybody if they ask me. I really want for people to learn things, but more importantly, I wish they would WANT to know things. I think stuff like texting, etc, is bringing down our language skills in this country. I have various grammar articles I wrote for a magazine once upon a time. I am sure I wrote about the things you just mentioned. I will look for that article and see if I can find it!

Frederic
Parker

Date: 7/18/2014 5:40:00 PM

I don't know if this shows how brilliant weird al is or just had sad pop music has become....it is "it's" funny

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/18/2014 8:38:00 PM

Weird Al has always been brilliant, in my opinion. "Blurred Lines" has a very catchy beat, but Weird Al's "Word Crimes" gives some meat to the lyrics and is great fun for teachers. They showed it to us in our teacher meeting today. I just love this video!

My Past Blog Posts


Please EDIT before I judge my contest: ONE LINE ONLY Date Posted: 2/25/2024 2:51:00 PM
Congrats, Sijo Winners Date Posted: 2/4/2024 11:28:00 AM
In Need of Clarification on putting info underneath poems Date Posted: 2/4/2024 9:09:00 AM
Note to Those who entered my Sijo Contest - blog slightly revised Date Posted: 2/3/2024 12:52:00 PM
About Sijo Date Posted: 1/14/2024 1:44:00 PM
Finally judging/ my Grinchy Rules/ A Gremlin in my Soup Date Posted: 12/22/2023 12:13:00 PM
Example of Ninette For Those Who Want To Try One for my Contest Date Posted: 11/7/2023 1:20:00 PM
Just Noticed Something Since we came back online Date Posted: 10/26/2023 1:25:00 PM
Going back to 50th high school Reunion Date Posted: 9/13/2023 11:57:00 PM
Please Recheck your entries for my July Etheree Contest/My Daughter Date Posted: 7/23/2023 4:48:00 PM
Why I am putting off judging my contest till next weekend Date Posted: 7/16/2023 2:00:00 PM
Joyce Johnson from 2022 at age 104 Date Posted: 6/28/2023 12:08:00 PM
Tributes to Harry Date Posted: 6/25/2023 2:00:00 PM
In Memorial: Beloved Soup poets Who Have Passed Away Date Posted: 5/28/2023 11:03:00 AM
Where is Nette Onclaud (as well as others who have wandered away)?? Date Posted: 5/25/2023 12:46:00 PM
Thanks, All who Supported my Tankacrostic Contest Date Posted: 4/8/2023 4:16:00 PM
Limerick Contest Judged at last Date Posted: 3/13/2023 3:55:00 PM
Poetry Phoenix - will others return? Date Posted: 3/13/2023 2:35:00 PM
A Blog on our dear Joyce Johnson Date Posted: 12/27/2022 9:41:00 AM
Chantelle is Well: Blog for Chantelle on Her Behalf Date Posted: 11/22/2022 10:06:00 AM
Blog for Our Friend Chantelle Date Posted: 11/20/2022 12:41:00 PM
Tributes to Connie Finalized Date Posted: 10/30/2022 4:37:00 PM
News on Connie's Memorial Service for Anyone Interested Date Posted: 10/11/2022 3:52:00 PM
Remember September is Judged; New Tribute Contest to be Posted Date Posted: 9/23/2022 8:53:00 PM
I am Shocked and Greatly Saddened: My Dear Friend Connie M. Passed Away Date Posted: 9/13/2022 1:12:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
4/15/2024	High Fidelity	Free verse	inspiration,
4/13/2024	Reverse Graffiti	Other	light,moon,
4/12/2024	For Spring I Sing	Sonnet	seasons,
4/11/2024	Write	List	write,
4/10/2024	Bird Footles -2	Footle	bird,
4/9/2024	Beach Fun for My Feet	Verse	beach,
4/8/2024	Footles for the Birds	Footle	bird,
4/8/2024	One New Year’s Eve	Senryu	new year,
4/6/2024	If Giraffes	Limerick	animal,
4/6/2024	What Happens to Our Socks	Rhyme	humorous,
4/4/2024	Babel	Rhyme	society,
4/3/2024	Sweet Rose	Ode	rose,
3/31/2024	Vanish	Rhyme	people,
3/30/2024	Daniel Defoe	Clerihew	writing,
3/26/2024	A Canary and Cat Tale	Limerick	cat,
3/26/2024	A Hunger Unfed	Prose	people,
3/25/2024	I’ll Always Be Loving You	Lyric	love,
3/25/2024	Dispatch for Bus Drivers : Search That Bus	Rhyme	school,
3/23/2024	Sun	Personification	sun,
3/23/2024	Our Family Legend Dale	Acrostic	brother,
3/22/2024	An Interview with the Color Blue	Narrative	blue,
3/21/2024	Queen Sea	Rispetto	water,
3/20/2024	Lanterne Laterns for the Season	Lanterne	spring,
3/19/2024	Of Writing on Black and White	Rhyme	color,
3/19/2024	I Wish I Had	Etheree	relationship,
3/18/2024	Utterly	List	life,
3/17/2024	Woven Worlds	Other	nature,
3/16/2024	Appreciation	Acrostic	people,
3/13/2024	La Di Da	Rhyme	pride,
3/11/2024	Tattered	Sonnet	heartbreak,
3/10/2024	William Wordsworth	Clerihew	poets,
3/9/2024	A World Without War	Acrostic	war,
3/9/2024	Once Upon a Time	Free verse	life,
3/8/2024	Guess Who	Rhyme	celebrity,
3/8/2024	Daffodil	Personification	flower,
3/7/2024	Spring Sonata	Free verse	spring,
3/6/2024	I Am the One	Sonnet	time,
3/3/2024	The Gigglemug - Dodo	Dodoitsu	giggle,
3/3/2024	Soft	List	remember,
3/2/2024	Beauty	Rhyme	love,
3/1/2024	If Mama Ain't Happy	Rhyme	mother,
3/1/2024	Michael Cain	Clerihew	today,
2/29/2024	Misused	Lyric	lost love,
2/28/2024	Bunnies	Rhyme	animal,
2/27/2024	Spontaneity	Rhyme	fun,
2/27/2024	Sheep Valentine	Couplet	love,
2/26/2024	To those who entered my One Line of Alliteration: The Name Game contest	Monoku	poets,
2/25/2024	Redamancy	Sedoka	kiss,
2/25/2024	Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater - the rest of the story	Rhyme	anti bullying,
2/24/2024	Magic Minichu	Rhyme	magic,
2/23/2024	It Started with a Blank Canvas	Etheree	beach,
2/22/2024	Building Tension	Sonnet	romance,
2/21/2024	She	Rhyme	mythology,tree,
2/20/2024	Rambling	Sonnet	travel,
2/20/2024	On Contests	Tanka	writing,
2/19/2024	Robert Frost	Clerihew	poets,
2/19/2024	I Am	Couplet	love,
2/17/2024	In Spring	Etheree	spring,
2/16/2024	Beatles McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Starr	Verse	teen love,
2/14/2024	Gotta Go, Gotta Go Right Now	Rhyme	humorous,
2/14/2024	Edgar Allen Poe	Clerihew	literature,
2/13/2024	Life’s Wonderful	Kyrielle	life,
2/12/2024	Pearl of the Orient	Quatern	international,
2/11/2024	Part-time ESL Teacher - PS	Blank verse	jobs,
2/11/2024	Male Slang Footle Names - final part	Footle	boy,
2/10/2024	One Spring Long Ago	Personification	love hurts,
2/10/2024	Heloise - First Draft	Triolet	love hurts,
2/5/2024	Quiescent	Sonnet	peace,
2/4/2024	Rid of You	Lyric	moving on,
2/2/2024	Discombobulation and Beyond	Rhyme	dark,
2/2/2024	Charlotte Bronte	Clerihew	writing,
2/1/2024	Undone	Quatern	lost love,
1/30/2024	A January Hiku	Haiku	day,
1/30/2024	Spice of Life	Blitz	food,fun,
1/29/2024	Male Footle Slang Names: Part 7	Footle	humorous,
1/28/2024	You Rogue	Quatern	love hurts,
1/27/2024	Moon Vacations in 2050	Free verse	moon,
1/25/2024	Agatha Christie	Clerihew	woman,
1/24/2024	A Poem on My Pets	Rhyme	pets,
1/21/2024	A Modern Valentine: Define The Relationship, Please	Limerick	valentines day,
1/21/2024	Bike Ride	Footle	youth,
1/21/2024	Tea Can Be the Spice of Life	Prose Poetry	drink,
1/19/2024	Perpetual	Sonnet	philosophy,
1/19/2024	On Seeing the Moon	Fibonacci	moon,
1/18/2024	Rummaging To Find My Favorite Thing	Prose	youth,
1/18/2024	Like a Sunbeam	Limerick	love,
1/17/2024	Before the Day Turned Into Night	Quatorzain	nature,
1/17/2024	A Compromising Position	Rhyme	philosophy,
1/15/2024	Awaken and of Sweet Joy Partake	Quintain (Sicilian)	joy,
1/14/2024	A True and Silly Tale	Rhyme	animal,
1/13/2024	J R R Tolkien	Clerihew	writing,
1/13/2024	Imagination	Imagism	imagination,
1/13/2024	Indulge Me, do	Quatrain	evil,
1/11/2024	How Magical	Rhyme	winter,
1/10/2024	A Poem Upon My Nose	Rhyme	body,
1/10/2024	At My Dear Brother's Grave	Monchielle Stanza	brother,
1/9/2024	My Farewell on the Sinking Titanic	Sonnet	sad,
1/8/2024	We as Characters of Narratives	Prose Poetry	life,metaphor,
1/7/2024	Drivin' To You	Lyric	love,song,
1/6/2024	After the Ice Storm - hiku for Brian	Haiku	winter,

My Photos

ps_2009 vacation.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
The Stone	Elegy	death,love,
A Winter Night	Lyric	imagination,nature,
Violin	Personification	death,love,rose,
Just Wait and See	Free verse	nature,science,space,
My White Lace Tablecloth	Narrative	family,forgiveness,friend
A Limerick Christmas Three (3) .	Limerick	funny,seasons,thank you,c
Always Mothers Day	Rhyme	funny,mother,thank you,me
A Pirate Jay	Light Verse	animals,
Divine Splendor	Blank verse	introspection,nature,scie
Brother - Billy	Narrative	brother,childhood,family,
Umbrella	Personification	confusion,devotion,life,l
You Played Me	Personification	confusion,imagination,mus
Concept of Time	Free verse	nature
Jingle	Free verse	funny,life,music
An Ever-Changing Universe	Narrative	mysterylight,light,univer
Transcendence	Tanka	fantasy,imagination,natur
Spaces .... the Earth Moved .....	Imagism	love
December Sun .	Rhyme	naturewinter,sun,winter,
A Whisper On the Wind	Personification	nature,
Footsteps	Free verse	fatherme,me,
If Ever	Free verse	love,
Dreams Like Light-Waves	Prose Poetry	imaginationautumn,
A Fantsy World	Haiku
September Song (Triple Tanka)	Tanka	nature
Where the Sycamore Grew	Narrative	autumn,family,house,life,
Perfect Nature	Haiku	nature
Wild Love	Narrative	garden,love,rose,sweet,
Positive Perspective	Tanka	inspirational
My Pilot Light	Verse	inspirational,introspecti
Love's Echos	Free verse	lovevoice,love,me,voice,
For Wifey	Rhyme	loveme,love,me,i love you
Alabaster Night	Free verse	nature,planet,sea,
Causalities of War	Elegy	death,war,
" Ike and Jane "- Sequence 2	Light Verse	funny,love,wifeme,me,time
Pretty Orchids	Free verse	caregiving,happiness,hope
Even a Sparrow Soars	Free verse	animals
My Piano Knows	Verse	devotion,happiness,holida
Dancing With the Stars	Free verse	nature,scienceblue,
The Unrequited Mantra	Free verse	devotion,hope,lost love,l
Fig Tree, New Year's Day	Narrative	naturewinter,winter,new y
Poets At-Large	Free verse	life,
To Know You	Free verse	devotion,husband
Moved To Tears By Josh Groban	Verse	music,on writing and word
Sequence-Sonnet	Lanterne	life,love,on writing and
Reflections	Free verse	happiness,life,lovesun,
Somber Is the Color of the Day	Free verse	day,light,me,winter,words
A Winter Rose - a Sonnet	Sonnet	rose,winter,
The Word Weaver	Free verse	introspection,lifeme,
Each Day a Gift	Free verse	inspirational,introspecti
Contrary Kisses	Free verse	inspirational,introspecti
She Waits...	Free verse	art,hopelonging,
Blue Heaven	Haiku	nature
A Death In the Sun	Free verse	hope,seasons
My Reason For Living	Free verse	husband
Terra Firma	Haiku	nature,science,time
How Could I Have Known	Free verse	husband,love,mystery
True Poetry In Motion?	Free verse	inspirationalmay,
Frozen In Time	Free verse	seasonssnow,snow,
Forgotten Treasure	Light Verse	adventure,art,beauty,enco
Putting On Makeup	Rhyme	introspection,sad,
Desire	Light Verse	butterfly,flower,life,los
Love? Bah!	Rhyme	lost love,lovelove,
Real Life Shoe Fable	Clerihew	husband
Black and Blue	Rhyme	abuse,funny,husband,me,
Foreboding	Haiku	mystery,nature
A Song At Sunrise	Couplet	faithsong,song,
Beat Out the Rhythm	Rhyme	funny
What Do the Stars Tell a Lover's Heart	Free verse	adventure,fantasy,happine
The Green Checkered Face	Free verse	food,happinessheart,heart
Play It	Free verse	inspirational,love,music,
Twilight's Fading Light	Free verse	life,nature
Marble In Columns On Green	Couplet	brother,daughter,father,h
I Will Be Strong	Free verse	angst,husband,lossme,
The Beauty of Yore	Free verse	nostalgia
Wandering Soul	Free verse	happiness,inspirational,n
Sunset On Galway Bay (Haiku No. 34)	Haiku	inspirational
Transformation	I do not know?	allegory
If You Are Lonely	Free verse	inspirational,introspecti
Time Out	Free verse	depression,devotion,fanta
Winter Promise	Free verse	nature
I Am..(Tagged By Raul, Now I'M Tagging Elaine George).	Free verse	introspectionbeautiful,be
Brown Sands	Lyric	introspection,lifemystery
Dancing At a Temple	Rhyme	devotion,
Daybreak Up High	Free verse	inspirational
Tea For Two	Free verse	introspectionme,me,
Peak District United Kingdom	Prose Poetry	inspirational
Paper	I do not know?	allegoryme,
Nine O'Clock	Limerick	funny
Frozen Memories	Tanka	art
Summer's Voice	Free verse	seasons
Lazy Day	Free verse	life,nature
I Was Me	Bio	life,
The First Kiss Or That Darn Ann Landers	Lyric	me,nostalgia,song,travel,
Crimsom Beauty	Dramatic Monologue	angst
Red Geraniums	Free verse
Zoo Fright	Limerick	funny
As I Hid	Monoku	muse,
Three Messengers	Narrative	animals,faith,inspiration
Stretchy Neck	Lyric	animals
A Round Tuit	Shape	funny