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28 april 2003 currently reading Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir, by Mark Salter and John McCain. Like many Americans, I admire John McCain. This book recounts his Navy days, and ends with his release from a Vietnamese POW camp. Considering current events, reading this book makes me wonder if there will be another John McCain in twenty years. Bush at War by Bob Woodward. Hm. President ruling on "gut instinct". Yikes? | there's some rustling in that there den Hey, Denizens! Okay, here are the answers to your top questions:
So what's going on, you ask, and I'll tell you: plenty. I've recently been hired by another school system for the 2003-2004 school year, and going through all the motions that it entails. It's exciting, because this is a great district--nationally noted in a number of quality-of-life surveys for their good public schools. I will be teaching eighth-grade language arts. I'll tell you more as the summer progresses. Also, I was going to hold onto this, but thought providing a link would be good anticipation. In June, look for me in The Written Word: The Midwest Community Literary Magazine in the article, "Ten Up and Coming". I'm very excited about this, and will be travelling to St. Louis in June for the magazine launch party and readings. It will also give me a good excuse to swing up to Indiana and say hi to my grandparents. In other news, I forgot to tell you guys that I won a big ol' poetry slam a few weeks ago, at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival. Four-hundred dollar grand prize, even. Woo-hoo! In addition to that, I got to hear the Campbell Brothers play sacred steel music late into the evening as we all danced in six inches of mud. It was great. I have many items on my wish list for this country of ours--one is that we desegregate our churches already. Having grown up Catholic, then attending a regular Methodist church, you haven't really been to church until you've been to church. This would include clapping, dancing, and otherwise being visibly moved by the spirit. It just makes more sense to me that God is paying way more attention to the dancing and joy, then stays afterward to get some snacks and socialize. I dunno, it makes perfect sense to me. Active spirit needs food, and I don't mean coffee, donuts, and a discussion that doesn't involve some belly laughter and back-slapping. Just saying. Anyway. Spring is here, late though it is, and easing its way into summer. I've been running a lot, and enjoying the company of friends who have come out of hibernation for more frequent Indian dinners. Music is everywhere, every weekend, and Friday at was wonderful in spite of the rain and cold. I especially enjoyed the songwriters in the round, but the big treat was hearing Darrell Scott. The audience didn't bring him out for two encores for nothing. Between his writing--the WRITING!--and that voice of his, I was hooked for good. I love being introduced to new singer-songwriters (or at least new to me). Saturday was more relaxing. We decided to enjoy some high art and see Bringing Down the House with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. I'm a huge Steve Martin fan anyway, but this was really funny. No doubt, the fact that Latifah as an executive producer went a long way in making this movie a smart, thoroughly entertaining flick. Definitely worth your seven bucks if you're looking for a not-too-heavy fun-fest. And Steve Martin is still really cute for an old guy. Or older. Or something. Woo. Incidentally, the novella Shopgirl is currently being filmed, with release slated sometime late this year or early next, from what I've read. Super book if you're looking for a good weekend read. Which reminds me, I guess I ought to send Paul's copy back to him...sorry, Paul. It was really good, though. I didn't get macaroni and cheese on it... Updates should be back on track here, at least for the moment. I'll yap at you later.
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