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