Cathy sent me a link to John and Sarah Pell's baby blog, so if you want an update on them click below:
http://www.babypell.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
A Heartening Update from Tim
Having just received an email from Tim and Amy K, I thought I would notify everyone that they just had a new baby boy. They have decided to name him Zachariah Samuel and he is healthy!!!
You may not know that a little over a year ago, Amy was pregnant with their first child, who, because of complications with the pregnancy, had underdeveloped lungs. Tragically, the baby died shortly after birth, and so the fact that she was able to carry this baby to term and that he is wonderful and healthy is a truly amazing miracle. As far as I know, Amy is doing great too. I have sent Tim and Amy the URL for this blog, so if you get a chance or feel so inclined, post a note for them.
Included is a picture of Zachariah below.
Congrats Tim and Amy, we love you and are so happy for you.
KPJ
You may not know that a little over a year ago, Amy was pregnant with their first child, who, because of complications with the pregnancy, had underdeveloped lungs. Tragically, the baby died shortly after birth, and so the fact that she was able to carry this baby to term and that he is wonderful and healthy is a truly amazing miracle. As far as I know, Amy is doing great too. I have sent Tim and Amy the URL for this blog, so if you get a chance or feel so inclined, post a note for them.
Included is a picture of Zachariah below.
Congrats Tim and Amy, we love you and are so happy for you.
KPJ
Friday, August 24, 2007
FROM JAN
Greetings from HELL...
Before I begin talking about myself and the insanity of living in 110 degree heat, I want to say how incredibly happy I am that we have a place to gather together again! {Thank you for setting this in motion, Lynda and Andrew and Kyle} If you had a dime for every time I have thought about you/missed you/wished I could see your face - well let's say that you'd finally have some much deserved dough in your pockets. I love hearing about your lives and accomplishments and am in awe of every one of you. But then again, none of it is a surprise to me. You are the most incredible group of folks I have run across in my lifetime, and considering the places I've been, that's saying a lot.
It's 6 o'clock here in central NC and the temp has finally dropped down to 94. For pretty much the last two weeks, the temp has fluctuated from 94 to 110. For a week solid, it was 108-110 every day I left my office and with the humidity added in, the heat index was pushing close to 120. For three days we were told to literally not go outdoors if we did not have to. Imagine. Remind me why I came back to the South? Oh yeah, that sister thing...
Amy and I manage to get together about every 2 months or so and I kept my neice and nephew for 2 weeks over summer break. We had a blast, although it made us miss Nathaniel terribly. Mary and I celebrated our 10th anniversary last March and have discussed coming back to the Pacific NW for a Canadian wedding... maybe this spring??? We also have talked about moving up there if things keep going the way they have been, so maybe we'll end up being Elizabeth and Carol's neighbors after all. And someone please tell me where to get my hands on this amazing book of hers? {Like I have time to read right now}
I landed a full time teaching position at Central Carolina Community College and have begun my second year. Part of the job is teaching inmates at the medium security prison nearby. Incredible experience. I also teach two nights a week at NCSU in a very interesting First Year Writing Program. But I love CCCC the most. I am teaching American Lit and Creative Writing for the first time this semester. With a week of classes finished today, I can already tell you that this term will be very memorable; lots of students who have never heard of the writers I assigned and two kids in my Oral Communications class admitted they did not know who John Lennon was when I was preparing to show them a documentary on his life {The US vs John Lennon - fantastic work}. So, I am feeling ancient. And in John's own immortal words...nobody told me there'd be days like these. Sort of like the Cyndi Lauper apparel thing.
I have not been able to write a word since I landed back here - how do you teach full time and manage that? I have a ten month contract and was off in June/July, but honestly was so exhausted from the academic year that I did absolutely nothing the entire time. I swore I was going to prep for my new courses and get organized, finish unpacking finally finally, and go to the beach for the first time. Did I accomplish any of that? Not. However, the one other good thing about being so busy is that I somehow managed to lose almost 30 pounds without even trying. Yeah.
If you have not gone to see Hairspray, for god's sake get going! It's the best feel good movie I have seen in years. And for those of you who have enjoyed it - did you catch the two times that John Travolta made references to Pulp Fiction? Love it.
Rose, read MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides. Luscious language. Incredible story. And enjoy the other two I added to your list. One is sci-fi by a brilliant woman I met in Tacoma many years ago and just learned that she recently died at 53 - horrible loss. And Alice's latest...
Okay, I'll stop rambling now. And as they say down here, give a holler some time!
Office #910-814-8815 but don't forget the 3 hour time difference.
miss you guys and gals,
jan
From Caroline
Hi All,
Well, I know I'm rarely a participant in group emails,
not for lack of interest (I often seem to find myself
in places with few cyber possibilities!). Great to
hear about what everyone is doing these days--it's
hard to believe we all dispersed more than 2 years
ago. I must say it makes me feel a bit old!
But, to preserve my youth and challenge my sanity, I,
too, have decided to return to grad school. This time
I'll be pursuing a PhD in biology, looking at beak
deformities in Alaskan birds. There seems to be an
ever-growing cluster of more than 30 species of mostly
resident birds with gross deformities (pic
attached--it's not digitally altered, really) in
Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Those of you who
venture from the confines of the too-often windowless
offices where grad students are housed, keep an eye
out for strange beaks, especially in crows, as they
seem to be particularly susceptible (Rose, tell John
and his bird-nerd friends!).
As usual, I've decided to pursue the degree in as
unconventional of a manner as possible, hopefully
largely based from the remote cabin Pat and I are
building outside of Haines, AK. The work is hugely
labor-intensive, but moving along decently. The logs
are all stacked, loft completed, purlins set, and we
started running roof sheathing yesterday. Hopefully
we'll have it roofed if not completely closed in
before heading back to Anchorage at the end of the
month. Next year we might even get a solar panel so
we'd have power (anyone know anything about satellite
internet?). I just boated in this morning and hence
have a few minutes of email connection.
I'm still writing, though not as much as I'd like. A
few thesis and non-thesis essays were published this
year, but I've been slow about submitting recently. On
a very non-literary note, there's an article coming
out in Birding magazine next month in case you want to
learn more about the "freak-a-dees" of the north!
Hope everyone is doing well and give us a shout if
you're in the neighborhood (or even anywhere near
AK!). Thanks for the updates!
Caroline
Well, I know I'm rarely a participant in group emails,
not for lack of interest (I often seem to find myself
in places with few cyber possibilities!). Great to
hear about what everyone is doing these days--it's
hard to believe we all dispersed more than 2 years
ago. I must say it makes me feel a bit old!
But, to preserve my youth and challenge my sanity, I,
too, have decided to return to grad school. This time
I'll be pursuing a PhD in biology, looking at beak
deformities in Alaskan birds. There seems to be an
ever-growing cluster of more than 30 species of mostly
resident birds with gross deformities (pic
attached--it's not digitally altered, really) in
Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Those of you who
venture from the confines of the too-often windowless
offices where grad students are housed, keep an eye
out for strange beaks, especially in crows, as they
seem to be particularly susceptible (Rose, tell John
and his bird-nerd friends!).
As usual, I've decided to pursue the degree in as
unconventional of a manner as possible, hopefully
largely based from the remote cabin Pat and I are
building outside of Haines, AK. The work is hugely
labor-intensive, but moving along decently. The logs
are all stacked, loft completed, purlins set, and we
started running roof sheathing yesterday. Hopefully
we'll have it roofed if not completely closed in
before heading back to Anchorage at the end of the
month. Next year we might even get a solar panel so
we'd have power (anyone know anything about satellite
internet?). I just boated in this morning and hence
have a few minutes of email connection.
I'm still writing, though not as much as I'd like. A
few thesis and non-thesis essays were published this
year, but I've been slow about submitting recently. On
a very non-literary note, there's an article coming
out in Birding magazine next month in case you want to
learn more about the "freak-a-dees" of the north!
Hope everyone is doing well and give us a shout if
you're in the neighborhood (or even anywhere near
AK!). Thanks for the updates!
Caroline
From Sheri
It's good to hear from everyone! I'm living in Salt Lake City, wedged between the enormous mountains of the Wasatch Front and the Great Salt Lake. The city is wonderful, bicycle-friendly streets and a very nice music and film scene. In fact, my neighbor is actually a documentary filmmaker. He did This Divided State, which is about politics and controversy surrounding Michael Moore's visit to Utah Valley State College, which is how I will segue into the career portion of this update. I combine two adjunct positions at UVSC and Salt Lake Community College to create what would be one low-paying, full-time job. I love it. It is the best job, although the reading can get tiresome, and I sometimes read too many disappointing essays in a row and lose my faith in humanity. Otherwise, it is rewarding and fun. The English faculty at UVSC are some of the best writing teachers I have ever been around. They are a very smart, very passionate, very supportive group of people who have the ability to inspire desire and passion in even the most apathetic students.
On a more personal note, I fell madly, stupidly in love this spring while taking French lessons for fun. Following that, I studied French in France for a month and a week. Most of my time was spent on the beach or a pub in Nice with a rowdy group of opinionated European students. A highlight was discussing French philosophy with a university student and getting his perspective (and the correct pronunciation of some of those names). After France, I visited a friend in his hometown of Helsinki, Finland for a week. I did not want to leave.
Now, I'm recovering from my travels and preparing to teach way more comp courses this fall than anyone should ever have to teach. I must agree with what some of the others have said, that the instruction at WWU definitely
prepared me to be a contender in teaching and talking about comp studies in the work that I have done so far. I look forward to hearing from the rest of you.
~Sheri
On a more personal note, I fell madly, stupidly in love this spring while taking French lessons for fun. Following that, I studied French in France for a month and a week. Most of my time was spent on the beach or a pub in Nice with a rowdy group of opinionated European students. A highlight was discussing French philosophy with a university student and getting his perspective (and the correct pronunciation of some of those names). After France, I visited a friend in his hometown of Helsinki, Finland for a week. I did not want to leave.
Now, I'm recovering from my travels and preparing to teach way more comp courses this fall than anyone should ever have to teach. I must agree with what some of the others have said, that the instruction at WWU definitely
prepared me to be a contender in teaching and talking about comp studies in the work that I have done so far. I look forward to hearing from the rest of you.
~Sheri
From Rose
Hi friends near and far,
Wonderful to hear from you. John and I are doing well.
He sends his regards.
We live in Ballard (same as Jim- who still has the
cutest kid ever). I can't wait for Lynda to move to
Seattle. And Don, I'm looking forward to seeing you in
person too. I'm sorry that I have not been better
about keeping in touch with you and everyone else. I
ran into Blaine at the Zoo tunes concert, and it made
my week. By the way, congrats to Blaine- who got a
tenure track teaching job in Tacoma. I saw Tara De
Jong (from the class below us) yesterday. She has the
cutest brand new house in West Seattle and is teaching
middle school.
Anne, I have a work thing in October in Denver. Are
you still there? If so, let's try to see each other
while I am in town.
I'm reading Elizabeth's book. It is fantastic. I can't
think of much to say because it seems like a finished
book already -all it needs is a cover. You should all
read it.
Since grad school I have had 3 very different jobs....
Right now I am doing marketing/proposal writing for an
engineering consulting firm. How I ended up there
would take too long to explain.
But (as will come as no surprise to any of you) my
dream is to return to school in the not too distant
future. Right now, I am looking into pediatric
optometry, and am trying to set up an internship for
myself on the weekends this Fall. I took Anatomy and
Phys. It was, well, exhausting working full time and
taking that course, but I got through it. John helped
me through the neuro section:) I still have some other
pre-reqs to take, but I think I'll do an internship
first before jumping into night classes.
John is wrapping up his PhD. We think he will graduate
sometime next summer. Time flies. Soon he'll be
starting to look for post-docs. Unfortunately, we must
leave Seattle for his next step. So visit us this year
while we are in the NW!
I will keep you posted on where we're heading when we
know. It's exciting and a bit scary.
Anyway, make plans to visit Seattle soon, and call me
when you are here. If you are in the vicinity, you
should still call because I will drive to see you.
XOXO
Rose
PS I saw the dinosaurs at the Smithsonian last weekend
in DC (I was there for a wedding). They were so cool!
PPS Please send books recommendations my way. I have
lots of reading time during my commute. I need some
fresh book ideas.
Wonderful to hear from you. John and I are doing well.
He sends his regards.
We live in Ballard (same as Jim- who still has the
cutest kid ever). I can't wait for Lynda to move to
Seattle. And Don, I'm looking forward to seeing you in
person too. I'm sorry that I have not been better
about keeping in touch with you and everyone else. I
ran into Blaine at the Zoo tunes concert, and it made
my week. By the way, congrats to Blaine- who got a
tenure track teaching job in Tacoma. I saw Tara De
Jong (from the class below us) yesterday. She has the
cutest brand new house in West Seattle and is teaching
middle school.
Anne, I have a work thing in October in Denver. Are
you still there? If so, let's try to see each other
while I am in town.
I'm reading Elizabeth's book. It is fantastic. I can't
think of much to say because it seems like a finished
book already -all it needs is a cover. You should all
read it.
Since grad school I have had 3 very different jobs....
Right now I am doing marketing/proposal writing for an
engineering consulting firm. How I ended up there
would take too long to explain.
But (as will come as no surprise to any of you) my
dream is to return to school in the not too distant
future. Right now, I am looking into pediatric
optometry, and am trying to set up an internship for
myself on the weekends this Fall. I took Anatomy and
Phys. It was, well, exhausting working full time and
taking that course, but I got through it. John helped
me through the neuro section:) I still have some other
pre-reqs to take, but I think I'll do an internship
first before jumping into night classes.
John is wrapping up his PhD. We think he will graduate
sometime next summer. Time flies. Soon he'll be
starting to look for post-docs. Unfortunately, we must
leave Seattle for his next step. So visit us this year
while we are in the NW!
I will keep you posted on where we're heading when we
know. It's exciting and a bit scary.
Anyway, make plans to visit Seattle soon, and call me
when you are here. If you are in the vicinity, you
should still call because I will drive to see you.
XOXO
Rose
PS I saw the dinosaurs at the Smithsonian last weekend
in DC (I was there for a wedding). They were so cool!
PPS Please send books recommendations my way. I have
lots of reading time during my commute. I need some
fresh book ideas.
From Lindsay
Hello all,
I’ve enjoyed reading about everyone else’s “after WWU” experiences and thought I’d throw in my two cents. I’m about to begin my third year in the PhD program at the University of New Hampshire. I take my last required course this fall (but will probably end up taking another in the spring) and take my qualifying exams in March, which means it’s almost dissertation time. It finally feels like there is an end insight! As much as I love being a grad student, I’m ready to move onto the next phase.
Overall, I’ve been pretty happy with the program here. I’m working with some great professors and the grad student community is collaborative and supportive. The only real problem I’ve encountered is that the department in general is pretty anti-theory, which means that theory is not incorporated into any of the courses outside of a theory course that is offered once per year. While theory isn’t necessarily something I ever intended to specialize in, it has played a part in most of the work of done over the last couple of years, particular gender and cultural studies. I have found that there are a number of professors here who specialize in different areas of theory, but I need to seek them out and work independently on projects with them, which can be a bit frustrating. Otherwise, though, I’ve found a program that is very much like Western. It’s relatively small with professors with a wide array of interests who are really engaged with the grad student community. It’s been great.
I’ve been teaching comp here for the last couple of years and finally get to start teaching an intro to lit course this fall, a women’s studies course next fall, and American lit courses at some point. This should be the last I see of comp at UNH and I can’t say I’m sorry to see it go.
Pat and I are still living in Portsmouth NH, a hotspot for tourists wanting to “experience” New England charm. There are things we like about this part of the country, but we are counting the days until we can get back to the Northwest, or at least the western part of the country. The winters are long (the university closed on 3 different days in April because of snow and ice) and unbearably cold, not to mention that outside of Boston (1 hour south of us), there are no cities here. It’s largely a collection of small towns and we start to get a little stir crazy.
We were able to buy a home last summer, which has helped to make Portsmouth feel a bit more like home. Housing in New England is not cheap, so we got into a fixer upper without realizing what exactly that meant. Structurally, the place is pretty sound, but an older couple had been living in it for 40 years before we bought it and the interior needed a lot of work. There wasn’t a wall that didn’t have wallpaper, much of it fuzzy and moldy, except for the room with wood paneling. The carpets were molding in places and the yard completely overrun. Needless to say, it’s kept us busy. The wallpaper is all down and the carpet ripped out, but every project we take on takes about 5 times longer than expected and costs three times as much.
We’re currently in the process of remodeling the only bathroom in the house, taking it down to the studs and replacing everything. We’re hoping that all of this work pays off when we sell in a few years.
The house did allow us to get our puppy Payton, a lab and border collie (among other things) mix, who is just about the best thing ever. We got her at 12 weeks from the pound and she’s now just over a year old.
I’m glad to hear everyone is doing so well. Thanks for sharing and keep in touch.
Lindsay
I’ve enjoyed reading about everyone else’s “after WWU” experiences and thought I’d throw in my two cents. I’m about to begin my third year in the PhD program at the University of New Hampshire. I take my last required course this fall (but will probably end up taking another in the spring) and take my qualifying exams in March, which means it’s almost dissertation time. It finally feels like there is an end insight! As much as I love being a grad student, I’m ready to move onto the next phase.
Overall, I’ve been pretty happy with the program here. I’m working with some great professors and the grad student community is collaborative and supportive. The only real problem I’ve encountered is that the department in general is pretty anti-theory, which means that theory is not incorporated into any of the courses outside of a theory course that is offered once per year. While theory isn’t necessarily something I ever intended to specialize in, it has played a part in most of the work of done over the last couple of years, particular gender and cultural studies. I have found that there are a number of professors here who specialize in different areas of theory, but I need to seek them out and work independently on projects with them, which can be a bit frustrating. Otherwise, though, I’ve found a program that is very much like Western. It’s relatively small with professors with a wide array of interests who are really engaged with the grad student community. It’s been great.
I’ve been teaching comp here for the last couple of years and finally get to start teaching an intro to lit course this fall, a women’s studies course next fall, and American lit courses at some point. This should be the last I see of comp at UNH and I can’t say I’m sorry to see it go.
Pat and I are still living in Portsmouth NH, a hotspot for tourists wanting to “experience” New England charm. There are things we like about this part of the country, but we are counting the days until we can get back to the Northwest, or at least the western part of the country. The winters are long (the university closed on 3 different days in April because of snow and ice) and unbearably cold, not to mention that outside of Boston (1 hour south of us), there are no cities here. It’s largely a collection of small towns and we start to get a little stir crazy.
We were able to buy a home last summer, which has helped to make Portsmouth feel a bit more like home. Housing in New England is not cheap, so we got into a fixer upper without realizing what exactly that meant. Structurally, the place is pretty sound, but an older couple had been living in it for 40 years before we bought it and the interior needed a lot of work. There wasn’t a wall that didn’t have wallpaper, much of it fuzzy and moldy, except for the room with wood paneling. The carpets were molding in places and the yard completely overrun. Needless to say, it’s kept us busy. The wallpaper is all down and the carpet ripped out, but every project we take on takes about 5 times longer than expected and costs three times as much.
We’re currently in the process of remodeling the only bathroom in the house, taking it down to the studs and replacing everything. We’re hoping that all of this work pays off when we sell in a few years.
The house did allow us to get our puppy Payton, a lab and border collie (among other things) mix, who is just about the best thing ever. We got her at 12 weeks from the pound and she’s now just over a year old.
I’m glad to hear everyone is doing so well. Thanks for sharing and keep in touch.
Lindsay
From Kate
howdy all,
i'd claim to have been sent to jail, but y'all might actually believe me, so i'll (try) to tell the truth.
i'm finishing my MFA at Virginia Commonwealth U. in poetry and have been working as associate editor of Blackbird, an online journal of literature and the art. it's been madness, but i've gotten to know a lot of cool writers. i have a hard time maintaining my own filing system, so it was an organizational challenge i appear to have surmounted. this fall i teach honors poetry and fiction while working on my poetry thesis. (i'm done with coursework--(hooray Kyle) no book out yet, but some
publications.
my main man matt and i plan to move west in december, when we both graduate--(he's in nursing school, and loves sticking needles and tubes in folks). Flagstaff AZ and Bend OR are most likely.i am so NOT an east coast academy type.
the highlights of my summer were seeing Arlo Guthrie play in a small mennonite community in the mountains, getting naked with elizabeth at the nude beach at b'ham, and taking two city girls camping (they insisted on holding my hands in the tent, making me wish i was a mommy).
great to hear everyone is still gettin' it done. congrats on new homes (Jessica and Kyle), new jobs, marriages (Elizabeth), and happy kids (Jim).
Stay in touch!
L, Kate
i'd claim to have been sent to jail, but y'all might actually believe me, so i'll (try) to tell the truth.
i'm finishing my MFA at Virginia Commonwealth U. in poetry and have been working as associate editor of Blackbird, an online journal of literature and the art. it's been madness, but i've gotten to know a lot of cool writers. i have a hard time maintaining my own filing system, so it was an organizational challenge i appear to have surmounted. this fall i teach honors poetry and fiction while working on my poetry thesis. (i'm done with coursework--(hooray Kyle) no book out yet, but some
publications.
my main man matt and i plan to move west in december, when we both graduate--(he's in nursing school, and loves sticking needles and tubes in folks). Flagstaff AZ and Bend OR are most likely.i am so NOT an east coast academy type.
the highlights of my summer were seeing Arlo Guthrie play in a small mennonite community in the mountains, getting naked with elizabeth at the nude beach at b'ham, and taking two city girls camping (they insisted on holding my hands in the tent, making me wish i was a mommy).
great to hear everyone is still gettin' it done. congrats on new homes (Jessica and Kyle), new jobs, marriages (Elizabeth), and happy kids (Jim).
Stay in touch!
L, Kate
From Elizabeth
Okay, as most of you know… I was not, in fact, found guilty for perjury. The only thing I’m guilty of these days is being incredibly happy.
While I too miss the intellectual rigors of being in school, I find that working 6-8 hours on my own work every day (often longer on the weekends) is quite refreshing. And I am well positioned to attain my insane goal of reading 150 books this year, including vaguely dipping into the suggested reading list for the subject-test GRE in case I ever decide to torture myself with a PhD program.
Although I have yet to completely revise the novel (I’ll say it’s maybe 80% of the way there), I am also working on several other projects. In the spring, I completed more than sixty poems and have assembled 55 of them into a collection (Money for Sunsets) that is currently under consideration with several pretty decent presses. Several of these poems have either been published in journals or are forthcoming. One of them got printed on a T-shirt and ran around Greenlake in June (and can be found online in several places because of participation in the Running Poets of Greenlake). I am also currently revising my thesis short-story collection, As Long As Someone’s There When I Get In to begin sending it out in the fall, and am in the beginning-to-middle stages of a novella about living in wartime in a country that doesn’t really feel it, which is loosely based on Stein’s World War II-era Wars I Have Seen. Recent work of mine can be found in a few other places (recently published or forthcoming), including Redivider, Pebble Lake Review, Turnrow, Knockout. I was also shortlisted this year for Rose Metal Press’s Short Short Fiction Chapbook Contest, judged by Ron Carlson.
Carol and I, after moving in together a little over a year ago have recently decided to move into slightly bigger digs. As we both do most of our work from home (well, all of it in my case), we thought it might be useful to have studies that did not “double” as anything else. We currently live in the Broadway Park neighborhood of Bellingham (directly across from the park,
in fact), and just bought a house up the street about three blocks where we will move once the bathroom has been fixed and the garage converted into a studio.
We were married in December in Vancouver, BC (since we’re second-class citizens in the states). The ceremony was small and lovely. It took place in a beautiful old Victorian home situated a stone’s throw from the water, with just the two of us, the marriage commissioner, and two of our close friends who drove up from Portland to witness. Both our families were upset not to have been invited, but we agreed to have a big wedding if it’s ever legal here. To cap off the weekend, we got to see a knife fight up close in a 7-11 in downtown Vancouver. It wasn’t really funny then to think we might die so soon after getting married, but I did take pictures of the 7-11 the next day to include in the album. Oh, and we’ve also applied for permanent residency in Canada (a first step towards immigration). It takes 18-24 months to get all the paperwork done. So, just in time for the next election we’ll likely be eligible to leave if we want to. A comforting thought.
On the kid front, for now it’s just the dogs. Our 14 year old Corgi died in July and we’ve recently adopted a cattle dog mix with one blue and one brown eye. In addition, we also have a blind/epileptic Spitz, who actually plays a pretty good game of fetch. They take up much less time than real kids, even with the daily hikes anywhere from 3 to 10 miles. However, they don’t look nearly as cute in a tutu.
Best,
Elizabeth
While I too miss the intellectual rigors of being in school, I find that working 6-8 hours on my own work every day (often longer on the weekends) is quite refreshing. And I am well positioned to attain my insane goal of reading 150 books this year, including vaguely dipping into the suggested reading list for the subject-test GRE in case I ever decide to torture myself with a PhD program.
Although I have yet to completely revise the novel (I’ll say it’s maybe 80% of the way there), I am also working on several other projects. In the spring, I completed more than sixty poems and have assembled 55 of them into a collection (Money for Sunsets) that is currently under consideration with several pretty decent presses. Several of these poems have either been published in journals or are forthcoming. One of them got printed on a T-shirt and ran around Greenlake in June (and can be found online in several places because of participation in the Running Poets of Greenlake). I am also currently revising my thesis short-story collection, As Long As Someone’s There When I Get In to begin sending it out in the fall, and am in the beginning-to-middle stages of a novella about living in wartime in a country that doesn’t really feel it, which is loosely based on Stein’s World War II-era Wars I Have Seen. Recent work of mine can be found in a few other places (recently published or forthcoming), including Redivider, Pebble Lake Review, Turnrow, Knockout. I was also shortlisted this year for Rose Metal Press’s Short Short Fiction Chapbook Contest, judged by Ron Carlson.
Carol and I, after moving in together a little over a year ago have recently decided to move into slightly bigger digs. As we both do most of our work from home (well, all of it in my case), we thought it might be useful to have studies that did not “double” as anything else. We currently live in the Broadway Park neighborhood of Bellingham (directly across from the park,
in fact), and just bought a house up the street about three blocks where we will move once the bathroom has been fixed and the garage converted into a studio.
We were married in December in Vancouver, BC (since we’re second-class citizens in the states). The ceremony was small and lovely. It took place in a beautiful old Victorian home situated a stone’s throw from the water, with just the two of us, the marriage commissioner, and two of our close friends who drove up from Portland to witness. Both our families were upset not to have been invited, but we agreed to have a big wedding if it’s ever legal here. To cap off the weekend, we got to see a knife fight up close in a 7-11 in downtown Vancouver. It wasn’t really funny then to think we might die so soon after getting married, but I did take pictures of the 7-11 the next day to include in the album. Oh, and we’ve also applied for permanent residency in Canada (a first step towards immigration). It takes 18-24 months to get all the paperwork done. So, just in time for the next election we’ll likely be eligible to leave if we want to. A comforting thought.
On the kid front, for now it’s just the dogs. Our 14 year old Corgi died in July and we’ve recently adopted a cattle dog mix with one blue and one brown eye. In addition, we also have a blind/epileptic Spitz, who actually plays a pretty good game of fetch. They take up much less time than real kids, even with the daily hikes anywhere from 3 to 10 miles. However, they don’t look nearly as cute in a tutu.
Best,
Elizabeth
From Cookie
Recently, you may know, I was found guilty of conspiracy and perjury for lying to a grand jury about my friends' involvement in a 2001 shooting outside the Hot 97 studios in Manhattan. I claimed not to have known that my
manager, and another friend were at the scene, despite video footage showing all three of us exiting the building.
On July 3, I was released from the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center. Hundreds of fans and supporters gathered around the prison as I made my release, holding a "Welcome Home" balloon and a dozen roses. After I waved to my fans and gave speeches to news reporters, I left in a Rolls Royce Phantom with a driver, telling the crowds, "Thank you, I love you all. I
was subsequently welcomed home by five different parties, including one hosted by VIBE magazine.
I am now looking for a new record deal. At this time Atlantic Records would like me to continue under their label, but I’m not so sure. According to my lawyers, Atlantic is offering me a whole new deal, but Interscope is trying to buy my contract.
There was also discussion about a possible re-release of The Naked Truth and I have released a re-mastered version of "The Game's In Trouble" to radio. I also recorded a mixtape track entitled "Brooklyn 4 Life" with Maino and Papoose.
I gave my first post-prison performance at VH1: Hip-Hop Honors where I paid tribute to MC Lyte. I performed "Lyte As A Rock" for Lyte's tribute. MC Lyte has paved the way for many rappers, including myself, and I was honored to show respect for such an amazing woman.
I am also slated to appear in two new movies, including one about my life. I have both a clothing and shoe line, which will be available soon. I have also signed a lucrative book deal about my life.
I can currently be heard on the remix to the popular Diddy song "Last Night feat. Keyshia Cole. When rumors surfaced about the remix, many believed I wouldn’t end up on the song, but they were proved wrong when it leaked. This shows the first time me & Diddy have worked together in many years, after our falling out.
In May of this year, a popular documentary surfaced from my former manager titled "Life After Death: The Movie" defending my convicted perjury and reprimanded my former Junior Mafia group members for testifying against me and other members of our estranged crew.
I made a surprise performance with Diddy and Keyshia Cole for remix to the "Last Night" at the 2007 BET Awards. Both me and Diddy have agreed we may be working together again in the future; he may sign me to Bad Boy records, but we haven’t worked it all out yet. I’m also working on my 5th studio album to be released sometime before Christmas. I don’t know what I’ll call it yet, but I’ll let y’all know when I do. Any suggestions?
Sincerely,
Elizabeth "Cookie E." Colen
manager, and another friend were at the scene, despite video footage showing all three of us exiting the building.
On July 3, I was released from the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center. Hundreds of fans and supporters gathered around the prison as I made my release, holding a "Welcome Home" balloon and a dozen roses. After I waved to my fans and gave speeches to news reporters, I left in a Rolls Royce Phantom with a driver, telling the crowds, "Thank you, I love you all. I
was subsequently welcomed home by five different parties, including one hosted by VIBE magazine.
I am now looking for a new record deal. At this time Atlantic Records would like me to continue under their label, but I’m not so sure. According to my lawyers, Atlantic is offering me a whole new deal, but Interscope is trying to buy my contract.
There was also discussion about a possible re-release of The Naked Truth and I have released a re-mastered version of "The Game's In Trouble" to radio. I also recorded a mixtape track entitled "Brooklyn 4 Life" with Maino and Papoose.
I gave my first post-prison performance at VH1: Hip-Hop Honors where I paid tribute to MC Lyte. I performed "Lyte As A Rock" for Lyte's tribute. MC Lyte has paved the way for many rappers, including myself, and I was honored to show respect for such an amazing woman.
I am also slated to appear in two new movies, including one about my life. I have both a clothing and shoe line, which will be available soon. I have also signed a lucrative book deal about my life.
I can currently be heard on the remix to the popular Diddy song "Last Night feat. Keyshia Cole. When rumors surfaced about the remix, many believed I wouldn’t end up on the song, but they were proved wrong when it leaked. This shows the first time me & Diddy have worked together in many years, after our falling out.
In May of this year, a popular documentary surfaced from my former manager titled "Life After Death: The Movie" defending my convicted perjury and reprimanded my former Junior Mafia group members for testifying against me and other members of our estranged crew.
I made a surprise performance with Diddy and Keyshia Cole for remix to the "Last Night" at the 2007 BET Awards. Both me and Diddy have agreed we may be working together again in the future; he may sign me to Bad Boy records, but we haven’t worked it all out yet. I’m also working on my 5th studio album to be released sometime before Christmas. I don’t know what I’ll call it yet, but I’ll let y’all know when I do. Any suggestions?
Sincerely,
Elizabeth "Cookie E." Colen
From Jessica
Hi all,
So good to hear from Lynda and Kyle! I've been really busy this summer and I'm not even sure with what. I just know that I feel pulled here and there and everywhere all at the same time. Lynda knows this well as she sent me an email about a month ago that I have yet to reply to. Sorry, Lynda. I promise to renew my efforts at keeping in touch.
Paul and I bought a house that we moved into at the end of March. We weren't really planning to buy a house until this fall but the perfect one came along and so we snatched it up. We're now in the midst of home improvements. The to-do list is a mile long and every homeowner I meet tells me I may as well give up because the list will never get any shorter. I refuse to believe it! Someday the house will magically be transformed into exactly what we want and we'll be able to use a weekend for actual relaxation instead of trips to the Home Depot. Right?
I'm still enjoying work. I really do think I work in an ideal place. I write all the time, I get to use my brain and I'm surrounded by thoughtful, sharp people who always have something interesting going on in their lives. It's been fairly hectic lately because I took on some additional responsibilities when a co-worker left the company. I'm doing my best to get that under control and not work too much.
Paul and I adopted a little kitten from the Humane Society. He was only 2 months old and 2 pounds when we got him. Oh my word. So cute. I've always been a dog person, never owned a cat. So it's taking some getting used to. I find that I'm a little too worried about him because I'm just not used to a pet that's so independent and self-sufficient.
I miss you all and can't wait to hear from more of you.
Jessica
So good to hear from Lynda and Kyle! I've been really busy this summer and I'm not even sure with what. I just know that I feel pulled here and there and everywhere all at the same time. Lynda knows this well as she sent me an email about a month ago that I have yet to reply to. Sorry, Lynda. I promise to renew my efforts at keeping in touch.
Paul and I bought a house that we moved into at the end of March. We weren't really planning to buy a house until this fall but the perfect one came along and so we snatched it up. We're now in the midst of home improvements. The to-do list is a mile long and every homeowner I meet tells me I may as well give up because the list will never get any shorter. I refuse to believe it! Someday the house will magically be transformed into exactly what we want and we'll be able to use a weekend for actual relaxation instead of trips to the Home Depot. Right?
I'm still enjoying work. I really do think I work in an ideal place. I write all the time, I get to use my brain and I'm surrounded by thoughtful, sharp people who always have something interesting going on in their lives. It's been fairly hectic lately because I took on some additional responsibilities when a co-worker left the company. I'm doing my best to get that under control and not work too much.
Paul and I adopted a little kitten from the Humane Society. He was only 2 months old and 2 pounds when we got him. Oh my word. So cute. I've always been a dog person, never owned a cat. So it's taking some getting used to. I find that I'm a little too worried about him because I'm just not used to a pet that's so independent and self-sufficient.
I miss you all and can't wait to hear from more of you.
Jessica
From Jim
Excellent idea, Lynda. And please do look us up when you're settled in.
We live in Ballard, not too awful far from Rose.
So, where to begin.
I finally finished my WWU degree this spring. I commuted from Seattle
for two morning classes in Winter quarter 06, then another evening class
Spring 06, took the translation exam Fall of 06, a defended my this in
February. My favorite comment during the defense was Bill Lyne telling
me I had managed to sidestep the cliches that were screaming out
around me.
With the degree complete, I started looking for work, something that
would either fit around the childcare schedule or justify paying for
full-time care. A short four months of searching later, I took the job of
PR Manager for Seattle Children's Theatre. This was my first week, and I
think it will be a good fit. Works around my schedule, leaves me time
to write, great organization.
I've been trying to stay artistically active, but it can be tough with
this whole daddying business. I wrote for 14/48 again a couple of times
this year, and published a pretty good story in a pretty crappy online
magazine (for whom I may be doing a reading at the Rendezvous 8/24 -
I'll keep Seattle folks posted), and have recently taken up blogging on
arts/lit/culture for RIVET Magazine
(http://www.rivetmagazine.org/author/Jim%20Jewell). And I've got a bunch
or stuff up at www.jimjewell.com, a sit I put toogether for the job
search.
I've been reading an assload of graphic novels ever since I discovered
just how many the library has and how easy it is to have them delivered
to the local branch that is less than a block away. If you ever get
the notion, I highly recommend the non-superhero titles "Ex Machina" and
"Y:The Last Man" and "Fables" and, by my man Douglas Rushkoff,
"Testament." It is a very cinematic storytelling style, and a venue for stories
that wouldn't work in other forms.
Olivia is four now, and has a major attitude. Wicked smart, reads a
lot, knows exactly how to push Daddy's buttons and drive him insane. She's
really into ballet and has just recently been getting into drama with
a couple camps and workshops. There are pics of her at
livvielivin.blogspot.com, though I have been horribly remiss in posting new ones this
summer.
Nothing else terribly exciting to pass on. I miss you all, and am
terribly jealous of any and all of you that got to stay in academia. Never
felt at home mucha anywhere but in a classroom. Perhaps someday I'll get
enough stories published to actually merit a teaching job.
Glad to hear about some of y'all, and hope to hear from more.
Much love,
JJ
We live in Ballard, not too awful far from Rose.
So, where to begin.
I finally finished my WWU degree this spring. I commuted from Seattle
for two morning classes in Winter quarter 06, then another evening class
Spring 06, took the translation exam Fall of 06, a defended my this in
February. My favorite comment during the defense was Bill Lyne telling
me I had managed to sidestep the cliches that were screaming out
around me.
With the degree complete, I started looking for work, something that
would either fit around the childcare schedule or justify paying for
full-time care. A short four months of searching later, I took the job of
PR Manager for Seattle Children's Theatre. This was my first week, and I
think it will be a good fit. Works around my schedule, leaves me time
to write, great organization.
I've been trying to stay artistically active, but it can be tough with
this whole daddying business. I wrote for 14/48 again a couple of times
this year, and published a pretty good story in a pretty crappy online
magazine (for whom I may be doing a reading at the Rendezvous 8/24 -
I'll keep Seattle folks posted), and have recently taken up blogging on
arts/lit/culture for RIVET Magazine
(http://www.rivetmagazine.org/author/Jim%20Jewell). And I've got a bunch
or stuff up at www.jimjewell.com, a sit I put toogether for the job
search.
I've been reading an assload of graphic novels ever since I discovered
just how many the library has and how easy it is to have them delivered
to the local branch that is less than a block away. If you ever get
the notion, I highly recommend the non-superhero titles "Ex Machina" and
"Y:The Last Man" and "Fables" and, by my man Douglas Rushkoff,
"Testament." It is a very cinematic storytelling style, and a venue for stories
that wouldn't work in other forms.
Olivia is four now, and has a major attitude. Wicked smart, reads a
lot, knows exactly how to push Daddy's buttons and drive him insane. She's
really into ballet and has just recently been getting into drama with
a couple camps and workshops. There are pics of her at
livvielivin.blogspot.com, though I have been horribly remiss in posting new ones this
summer.
Nothing else terribly exciting to pass on. I miss you all, and am
terribly jealous of any and all of you that got to stay in academia. Never
felt at home mucha anywhere but in a classroom. Perhaps someday I'll get
enough stories published to actually merit a teaching job.
Glad to hear about some of y'all, and hope to hear from more.
Much love,
JJ
Thursday, August 23, 2007
An Update on K, P, and Bruchi
I am starting my 3rd year of doctoral work, prepping for my qualifying examinations and working on several pieces for publication. I am still an editorial assistant at JAC (subscribe if you don't already), am now a program assistant in the WPA at ISU, and am teaching an internship course so that my coursework will be complete (!) at the end of the term.
I am also just finishing a neat website that you all need to check out:
http://lilt.ilstu.edu/theory/index.htm
that houses audio interviews with some of the most influential philosophers and cultural theorists of our time period. The site still has some kinks, but we are working on it, so be nice: it isn't perfect yet.
P''s good, just finished her masters and has started her PhD in EAF (Education Administration and Foundations). She is still teaching at a local elementary school. Bruchi (our beagle) is also good. Normal sucks, but that is central Illinois for you. We got out of town several times this summer to stay sane, and one trip up to Chicago was particularly fun. So dang humid though (bleh).
Here's the URL to our Blog if you want to read up on us:
www.bruchi.blogspot.com
I will look forward to reading everyone else's post. Below are updated pictures of us and the hound.
I am also just finishing a neat website that you all need to check out:
http://lilt.ilstu.edu/theory/index.htm
that houses audio interviews with some of the most influential philosophers and cultural theorists of our time period. The site still has some kinks, but we are working on it, so be nice: it isn't perfect yet.
P''s good, just finished her masters and has started her PhD in EAF (Education Administration and Foundations). She is still teaching at a local elementary school. Bruchi (our beagle) is also good. Normal sucks, but that is central Illinois for you. We got out of town several times this summer to stay sane, and one trip up to Chicago was particularly fun. So dang humid though (bleh).
Here's the URL to our Blog if you want to read up on us:
www.bruchi.blogspot.com
I will look forward to reading everyone else's post. Below are updated pictures of us and the hound.
A Beginning . . .
As per Andrew's request, I established this blog space for the WWU english class of 2003 to post updates, musings, pictures, and things related to their life and the lives of those they care about. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to hear from you all when I find myself in a position where there is a considerable absence of genuine community. I miss you very much.
I hope that you will all post the update emails sent in the last month as posts to the blog. Talk to you soon!
p.s. In order for this blog to begin on the right foot I have posted an image below of the Iron Goddess of Mercy.
I hope that you will all post the update emails sent in the last month as posts to the blog. Talk to you soon!
p.s. In order for this blog to begin on the right foot I have posted an image below of the Iron Goddess of Mercy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)