When I fall asleep, I'm pretty much like a dead person. Nothing wakes me up. Usually.
This morning was one of those rare exceptions. But I didn't being awaken. I love thunderstorms and shortly before dawn a real whipper-do came through our area. A particularly loud thunderclap, followed by some very intense lightening brought me back to the world of the living and soggy. My cats, however, were less intrigued and flew off the bed and out of the room after the loud burst of thunder and succeeding rumbles from the sky.
I turned to face my bedroom window to enjoy the storm, thankful I wasn't out there but wondering a little how much more rain the creek out back was going to take before it arrives on my back patio.
Another hot day, the sun is out but the weather will turn rainy later this evening, hopefully after the ballgame I'm attending in Philly.
I spent the day working on my book and polishing up a poem. I'm looking forward to the long weekend and going to the beach. Nothing but nothing beats the beaches of southern Delaware and New Jersey. Nothing.
When I lived in New York City, I would take the Garden State Parkway down to Cape May to sit on the beach for a while before going to Wildwood. The boardwalk there is beyond compare to any other amusement park I've ever been to. Even the junk food is luscious. It's almost impossible to go wrong down there. I can go down there in a crummy mood and be instantly transformed by watching the ocean roar up on the beach and see rides and amusements for miles and miles. Glorious stuff. The White Shark is a wooden roller coaster I can't get enough of. The flume ride is another favorite.
Ah, my feet are itching to go down to the shore right now!
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Scrapple and Stuff
Every region has its delicacies, unknown to the rest of the country. In Delaware and parts of nearby Pennsylvania we have several things locals celebrate as their very own creation.
While living in New York City I would try the advertised Philly Cheese Steak and be thoroughly disappointed. The secret of the great taste rests in the preparation of the chip steak, onions, and cheese. You do not cook the chip steak, dump it on a roll, toss on onions and melted cheese. No no no. While cooking the chip steak on top of the stove you cut it up and mix in the onions, putting a little oil in the process. The secret is that you continually mix and turn over the trinity of luciousness and once it is done, you shape it so an open hoagie roll can be put over the whole business. You melt the cheese and then scoop it onto the roll which you have lighted toasted on the grill. This process makes a big difference in the taste. The places in New York didn't get this. And it showed. They even boil crabs. ugh.
I used to see Scrapple in the gourmet sections of certain stores in New York. RAPA brand is the arguably the best around and located in Bridgeville, Delaware. Every year at Christmas many of the rich and connected folks of this state order a box of Scrapple from the Bridgeville plant to send to friends and colleagues all over the country. I even send it to Ireland to a friend who loves the stuff. The origins of Scrapple is debated but what is fact is what the ingredients are. It's not for the weak of heart, or stomach.
And this is the thing: everyone who loves Scrapple will tell you that it tastes good as long as you don't think about what it's made of. (That can be said for most of what we consume, I think) The grayish and brown meat uncooked is sliced from a "brick" at about 1/4 inch or less and then fried crisp on a skillet. It's made up of the leftovers from a hog kill basically - pig snouts, pig livers and other ingredients all held together by corn meal. If you like pork, you'll love Scrapple that boasts a very strong pork taste. It's invention was out of necessity: farmers wasted nothing even after a slaughter and that's how Scrapple came to be.
Leave nice feedback and maybe I will send you some.
While living in New York City I would try the advertised Philly Cheese Steak and be thoroughly disappointed. The secret of the great taste rests in the preparation of the chip steak, onions, and cheese. You do not cook the chip steak, dump it on a roll, toss on onions and melted cheese. No no no. While cooking the chip steak on top of the stove you cut it up and mix in the onions, putting a little oil in the process. The secret is that you continually mix and turn over the trinity of luciousness and once it is done, you shape it so an open hoagie roll can be put over the whole business. You melt the cheese and then scoop it onto the roll which you have lighted toasted on the grill. This process makes a big difference in the taste. The places in New York didn't get this. And it showed. They even boil crabs. ugh.
I used to see Scrapple in the gourmet sections of certain stores in New York. RAPA brand is the arguably the best around and located in Bridgeville, Delaware. Every year at Christmas many of the rich and connected folks of this state order a box of Scrapple from the Bridgeville plant to send to friends and colleagues all over the country. I even send it to Ireland to a friend who loves the stuff. The origins of Scrapple is debated but what is fact is what the ingredients are. It's not for the weak of heart, or stomach.
And this is the thing: everyone who loves Scrapple will tell you that it tastes good as long as you don't think about what it's made of. (That can be said for most of what we consume, I think) The grayish and brown meat uncooked is sliced from a "brick" at about 1/4 inch or less and then fried crisp on a skillet. It's made up of the leftovers from a hog kill basically - pig snouts, pig livers and other ingredients all held together by corn meal. If you like pork, you'll love Scrapple that boasts a very strong pork taste. It's invention was out of necessity: farmers wasted nothing even after a slaughter and that's how Scrapple came to be.
Leave nice feedback and maybe I will send you some.
A Shitload of Rain
There is no other way to describe what the State of Delaware has endured the past few days.
There are three counties in this state: New Castle (upstate towards Philadelphia), Kent and then Sussex County where the great beaches like Rehoboth, Dewey, Lewes and Henolopen are located. Sussex county had 8 inches of rain in one day. All told, the county has seen over a foot of the soggy mess with people getting caught in the floods while out shopping. In Seaford, Delaware it was necessary to rescue people from the WalMart. The parking lot turned into a river in a flash flood.
In several areas near where I live there are places with two feet of standing water. And there are idiots who insist on trying to drive through it. I had to love it when some guy in his Humvee tried to navigate the water and his vehicle wound up floating instead. Had to be rescued, he did. Bet he feels stupid now. The forecast for today predicts yet more rain for this afternoon and evening and some for tomorrow.
We needed the rain - but not the whole season's worth in one shot.
Delaware took a beating during Hurricane Isabelle a few summers ago flooding out entire communities to the point where the houses were condemned. A tornado was spawned alongside I-95 as the afternoon rush hour commuters stopped their cars dead on the highway, gaping in amazement at the twister. This wasn't the weather channel! It was the real thing! Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and people did eventually start driving, fleeing from the tornado as opposed to looking at it.
If Delaware takes a direct hit from a hurricane we stand to be in the same position as those in New Orleans. It would take 48 hours to evacuate everyone from Sussex and even Kent County. There is only one main highway through the state Route 1 and then Routes 13 and 113 which go through cities and towns. There are so many people who live in rural areas and near the various beaches and bodies of water it would take time for them to be able to get out. Unfortunately, there is also a larger and larger population in these spots so that means more people who would have to get out. It would not be pretty and I pray that day never comes. It's bad enough whenever we get the powerful remains of a storm and the beach front erodes and the board walk gets broken up from the wind and raging ocean.
And now I see from the cafe where I type this (yes, Delaware has cafes) the wind is kicking up and the skies are getting dark - this at 1:30 p.m.
I had plans to go to Philly tonight but it ain't happening. While the City of Brotherly Love has pretty much seen the end of the rain, we haven't. I do not want to drive back into Delaware after or during another deluge. I have a sinking feeling (no pun intended) that I am not going to get up there in time to see the Andrew Wyeth Restrospective at the art museum. He is one of my favorite artists and a local as well. Seems like everything keeps getting in the way.
I did blog over the weekend but I do not see my precious posts. I did this in between thunder and electrical storms so maybe it all went bye- bye in the electric-charged air.
So I shall repost! I can't deny my legion of readers now can I?
There are three counties in this state: New Castle (upstate towards Philadelphia), Kent and then Sussex County where the great beaches like Rehoboth, Dewey, Lewes and Henolopen are located. Sussex county had 8 inches of rain in one day. All told, the county has seen over a foot of the soggy mess with people getting caught in the floods while out shopping. In Seaford, Delaware it was necessary to rescue people from the WalMart. The parking lot turned into a river in a flash flood.
In several areas near where I live there are places with two feet of standing water. And there are idiots who insist on trying to drive through it. I had to love it when some guy in his Humvee tried to navigate the water and his vehicle wound up floating instead. Had to be rescued, he did. Bet he feels stupid now. The forecast for today predicts yet more rain for this afternoon and evening and some for tomorrow.
We needed the rain - but not the whole season's worth in one shot.
Delaware took a beating during Hurricane Isabelle a few summers ago flooding out entire communities to the point where the houses were condemned. A tornado was spawned alongside I-95 as the afternoon rush hour commuters stopped their cars dead on the highway, gaping in amazement at the twister. This wasn't the weather channel! It was the real thing! Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and people did eventually start driving, fleeing from the tornado as opposed to looking at it.
If Delaware takes a direct hit from a hurricane we stand to be in the same position as those in New Orleans. It would take 48 hours to evacuate everyone from Sussex and even Kent County. There is only one main highway through the state Route 1 and then Routes 13 and 113 which go through cities and towns. There are so many people who live in rural areas and near the various beaches and bodies of water it would take time for them to be able to get out. Unfortunately, there is also a larger and larger population in these spots so that means more people who would have to get out. It would not be pretty and I pray that day never comes. It's bad enough whenever we get the powerful remains of a storm and the beach front erodes and the board walk gets broken up from the wind and raging ocean.
And now I see from the cafe where I type this (yes, Delaware has cafes) the wind is kicking up and the skies are getting dark - this at 1:30 p.m.
I had plans to go to Philly tonight but it ain't happening. While the City of Brotherly Love has pretty much seen the end of the rain, we haven't. I do not want to drive back into Delaware after or during another deluge. I have a sinking feeling (no pun intended) that I am not going to get up there in time to see the Andrew Wyeth Restrospective at the art museum. He is one of my favorite artists and a local as well. Seems like everything keeps getting in the way.
I did blog over the weekend but I do not see my precious posts. I did this in between thunder and electrical storms so maybe it all went bye- bye in the electric-charged air.
So I shall repost! I can't deny my legion of readers now can I?
Friday, June 23, 2006
Homesick
I've lived in several states in my lifetime and there are only two that I think of as being "home." The first is my native Delaware, of course, and the second is New York City. I lived in NYC for sixteen years. The economic climate changed to make it harder for people like me who like to invest in developing and staging new work/new voices and partly for that reason I decided to leave. However, usually I have been able to get up and visit once every six weeks or so but due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, I have not been able to get up to NYC for quite a long time.
I've missed many events involving friends celebrating special occasions, doing shows and just going up to hang up out with people and checking out my favorite haunts. The legendary midtown Manhattan bar and restaurant Barrymore's shuttered to make way for expansion much to my dismay. I spent many many hours in that place enjoying the company of friends or fellow actors and playwrights for drinks after a show. Lots of good times to be had there.
So I'm wallowing in homesickness for my friends in NYC. I feel out of the loopbecause I have missed a lot of important events in their lives. They have been very understanding about my situation but still, that doesn't make up for not being there.
A stream of job interviews has yielded nothing but waiting right now. I'm doing a three day job next week which is welcome news and I hope there is more of it coming soon.
Oh, before I forget yet again, take a listen to my friend the comic Will McKinley's funny story about how he was done wrong by his girlfriend. Click here to listen!
I've missed many events involving friends celebrating special occasions, doing shows and just going up to hang up out with people and checking out my favorite haunts. The legendary midtown Manhattan bar and restaurant Barrymore's shuttered to make way for expansion much to my dismay. I spent many many hours in that place enjoying the company of friends or fellow actors and playwrights for drinks after a show. Lots of good times to be had there.
So I'm wallowing in homesickness for my friends in NYC. I feel out of the loopbecause I have missed a lot of important events in their lives. They have been very understanding about my situation but still, that doesn't make up for not being there.
A stream of job interviews has yielded nothing but waiting right now. I'm doing a three day job next week which is welcome news and I hope there is more of it coming soon.
Oh, before I forget yet again, take a listen to my friend the comic Will McKinley's funny story about how he was done wrong by his girlfriend. Click here to listen!
Monday, June 19, 2006
Hotter Than Hot
It was freaking hot on Sunday. It bordered on oppressive. I do not react well to extreme temperatures. It was very difficult to get motivated to do anything.
Especially filling out applications.
These applications are for more teaching positions so that's a good thing but I detest filling these things out. You have to fill out the resume portion on the application even if you already have a resume. Drives me nuts (okay, short drive) but nonetheless I do it because I want the job. The difficulty of it all is that for teaching positions on the college level the general preference is that you have a Masters degrees in the related subject. The college also wants you to have previous experience teaching at college level. I don't have either.
The reality is that college pay is lousy and most people who have spent time and money invested in obtaining a Masters degree aren't attracted to teaching because of that.
So we will just have to see.
John is thinking of redoing his home page and asked for advice re same. I gave it to him, telling him he had too many graphics to scroll through and download on the first page. I try to assume that most people still have dial up whenever I design a webpage. He's frustrated with it all and wants to throw the computer out of the window but that has more to do with being 82 and not understanding how the computer works yet. The project itself is good for him so I hope he stays with it.
Off I go to fill out yet more applications. Oh boy!
Especially filling out applications.
These applications are for more teaching positions so that's a good thing but I detest filling these things out. You have to fill out the resume portion on the application even if you already have a resume. Drives me nuts (okay, short drive) but nonetheless I do it because I want the job. The difficulty of it all is that for teaching positions on the college level the general preference is that you have a Masters degrees in the related subject. The college also wants you to have previous experience teaching at college level. I don't have either.
The reality is that college pay is lousy and most people who have spent time and money invested in obtaining a Masters degree aren't attracted to teaching because of that.
So we will just have to see.
John is thinking of redoing his home page and asked for advice re same. I gave it to him, telling him he had too many graphics to scroll through and download on the first page. I try to assume that most people still have dial up whenever I design a webpage. He's frustrated with it all and wants to throw the computer out of the window but that has more to do with being 82 and not understanding how the computer works yet. The project itself is good for him so I hope he stays with it.
Off I go to fill out yet more applications. Oh boy!
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Here's to another year of craziness to come
I really enjoyed my birthday on June 13th. It is a tradition among friends and family to have a weeklong birthday celebration at the very least. I wound up not going to the beach on the day of my birthday but instead spent the day hanging around and doing little fun stuff here and there. For dinner, I fried chicken in my cast iron skillet and Mom bought two dozen crabs for us to consume, including my cousin Ian who was staying with us while attending a conference in Baltimore. I know - what a fascinating birthday!
But I liked it.
My brother Chris bought me a nice portable CD player that came with software enabling me to put 480 songs on a single CD. I haven't gotten around to getting an Ipod, believe it or not but that will probably be a purchase in the near future. Ma bought me a beautiful pants suit by one of my favorite designers - Evan Piccone. I love it.
My cat Gizmo accorded me the respect I was due when I came out of my bedroom to rest on the couch the day of my birthday. See below. I captured the moment.
Yum. Nothing like a fat toe for breakfast to start the day!
The presentations for potential teaching positions have gone well. I am still filling out yet more applications from local colleges for the upcoming fall and winter sessions.
Much to my surprise, the interview at the law firm pleased my interviewers and they decided to invite me back a third time to meet an attorney whom I would be assisting with his projects. This sort of work pays scads the money and right now that is the attraction. I will eventually be teaching full time obviously but for right now I need to rake in the dough to make up for the lack of long employment for this past year. When the teaching work calls I'll be there. I have also been invited to teach in the evenings and that might be how I start out with the schools who are interested in me.
Meanwhile, my own writing goes on. The Strattera that I was given by the doctor to stabilize the mood and treat ADHD has made a difference. It takes time for the medication to have a noticeable effect and now in my third week of the stuff I do notice the ability to focus on things I detest doing. My short term memory is a little better but not all that it could be.
I have to sign off and go buy a new fat toe to replace the one Gizmo ate.
Later.
But I liked it.
My brother Chris bought me a nice portable CD player that came with software enabling me to put 480 songs on a single CD. I haven't gotten around to getting an Ipod, believe it or not but that will probably be a purchase in the near future. Ma bought me a beautiful pants suit by one of my favorite designers - Evan Piccone. I love it.
My cat Gizmo accorded me the respect I was due when I came out of my bedroom to rest on the couch the day of my birthday. See below. I captured the moment.
Yum. Nothing like a fat toe for breakfast to start the day!
The presentations for potential teaching positions have gone well. I am still filling out yet more applications from local colleges for the upcoming fall and winter sessions.
Much to my surprise, the interview at the law firm pleased my interviewers and they decided to invite me back a third time to meet an attorney whom I would be assisting with his projects. This sort of work pays scads the money and right now that is the attraction. I will eventually be teaching full time obviously but for right now I need to rake in the dough to make up for the lack of long employment for this past year. When the teaching work calls I'll be there. I have also been invited to teach in the evenings and that might be how I start out with the schools who are interested in me.
Meanwhile, my own writing goes on. The Strattera that I was given by the doctor to stabilize the mood and treat ADHD has made a difference. It takes time for the medication to have a noticeable effect and now in my third week of the stuff I do notice the ability to focus on things I detest doing. My short term memory is a little better but not all that it could be.
I have to sign off and go buy a new fat toe to replace the one Gizmo ate.
Later.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Post-Modern New Historcism
. . . . or something like that.
I spent most of today re-reading and studying Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, the first of several volumes of her autobiography. This volume is her best known work and made quite a splash back when it was published in 1969; an age where African-American civil rights and visibility in mainstream America and media was one of the key social issues of the day. Never mind if you were a black woman - it was a double-whammy against you.
One of the chapters from Caged Bird is what I must apply the theory of New Historicism to following my introduction of the theory itself in my teaching demonstration on Thursday at the college. The assignment came from the human resources department. I'm not intimidated by the assignment but rather the expectation I know that exists in the world of academia to use terms and other language I normally would not be utilizing, even when doing, say, a dramaturgical assignment.
I read Angelou's biographies years ago so I only need to refresh my memory. (I forget a great deal of what I read anyway) I have re-acquainted myself with the literary theories of Culture Materialism, Feminism, and Psychoanalysis and much of the criticism that criticizes the referenced theories. It's all quite fascinating including refreshing myself on the meaning of post-modern literature, formalism and other terms I have long since forgotten. There's definitely no chance of getting bored here.
Tomorrow, I am spending my birthday on the beach and enjoying family. My cousin Ian is staying here while attending a conference in Baltimore during the day. He will part of the celebration tomorrow evening. I'm thinking of frying some chicken. I have a great recipe I want to try. I'll probably buy the crabs to bring home as Ian won't be getting here for dinner until 7 or so. That way, all will be more relaxed than rushing out for a dinner.
My mother just told that 48 years ago tonight, she ate watermelon and all through the night had to run back and forth to the bathroom thinking she must have eaten too much of it. She then realized in the morning that she was about to birth at 8:00 a.m. on June 13th and on the way to the hospital yelled to her mother-in-law who lived next day she was on the way to the hospital to give birth to what turned out to be me.
And the first words out of my mouth were "New Historicism Be Damned!"
Just kidding. I didn't say that until I was a month old.
I spent most of today re-reading and studying Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, the first of several volumes of her autobiography. This volume is her best known work and made quite a splash back when it was published in 1969; an age where African-American civil rights and visibility in mainstream America and media was one of the key social issues of the day. Never mind if you were a black woman - it was a double-whammy against you.
One of the chapters from Caged Bird is what I must apply the theory of New Historicism to following my introduction of the theory itself in my teaching demonstration on Thursday at the college. The assignment came from the human resources department. I'm not intimidated by the assignment but rather the expectation I know that exists in the world of academia to use terms and other language I normally would not be utilizing, even when doing, say, a dramaturgical assignment.
I read Angelou's biographies years ago so I only need to refresh my memory. (I forget a great deal of what I read anyway) I have re-acquainted myself with the literary theories of Culture Materialism, Feminism, and Psychoanalysis and much of the criticism that criticizes the referenced theories. It's all quite fascinating including refreshing myself on the meaning of post-modern literature, formalism and other terms I have long since forgotten. There's definitely no chance of getting bored here.
Tomorrow, I am spending my birthday on the beach and enjoying family. My cousin Ian is staying here while attending a conference in Baltimore during the day. He will part of the celebration tomorrow evening. I'm thinking of frying some chicken. I have a great recipe I want to try. I'll probably buy the crabs to bring home as Ian won't be getting here for dinner until 7 or so. That way, all will be more relaxed than rushing out for a dinner.
My mother just told that 48 years ago tonight, she ate watermelon and all through the night had to run back and forth to the bathroom thinking she must have eaten too much of it. She then realized in the morning that she was about to birth at 8:00 a.m. on June 13th and on the way to the hospital yelled to her mother-in-law who lived next day she was on the way to the hospital to give birth to what turned out to be me.
And the first words out of my mouth were "New Historicism Be Damned!"
Just kidding. I didn't say that until I was a month old.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Gigs Galore
Spent some time in Cecil County, Maryland exploring and visiting some areas I was not familiar with, including some horse farms and places to rent horses for trial rides. The weather has been beautiful except for patches of rain.
The second interview with the law firm did not go as well as the first. The administrator brought in this person called Doug who sat at the long table reading email from his blackberry while the administrator asked me the same questions I was asked during the first interview. I finally had to ask Doug who he was since that not was explained to me at any time before or during this meeting. He's the head of the executive committee. The administrator liked me well enough and loved my resume but I don't think this guy was interested. I almost asked him if I was keeping him from something but decided against it. I don't like for people to waste my time.
However, the next day brought a phone call from human resources at a local college I've been trying to get my foot into for awhile. I was asked to come for an interview next Thursday, January 15th at the college and prepare to give a 15 minute teaching demonstration (essentially a lecture) on New Historicism as it applies to the story and comprehension of this short story I was provided in the mail. So that I am preparing for now.
My cousin, Ian, is coming to Ma's house to sack out in between attending a conference in Baltimore so we are looking forward to this visit. Ian is studying Computer and Library Science in Rhode Island. In his early twenties and a lot of fun this guy. He will be here for my birthday on June 13th. It's great this year because I will get several dinners out of my birthday.
Sunday, June 11th my brother wants to celebrate my birthday as he has to work on Tuesday evening so that's one celebration. On June 13th I will spend the day at the beach, Cape Henlopen and then head for Sambo's Crab House in Liepsic which has the best crabs around. Other friends have plans for later in the week and next week to celebrate with me so it all begins with a bang.
I enjoy my birthdays. Hopefully, the interview at the college will turn into a job offer. As I understand it, if that happens, I would be teaching a variety of subjects - English literature, poetry, creative writing and perhaps drama.
So here's to hoping!
The second interview with the law firm did not go as well as the first. The administrator brought in this person called Doug who sat at the long table reading email from his blackberry while the administrator asked me the same questions I was asked during the first interview. I finally had to ask Doug who he was since that not was explained to me at any time before or during this meeting. He's the head of the executive committee. The administrator liked me well enough and loved my resume but I don't think this guy was interested. I almost asked him if I was keeping him from something but decided against it. I don't like for people to waste my time.
However, the next day brought a phone call from human resources at a local college I've been trying to get my foot into for awhile. I was asked to come for an interview next Thursday, January 15th at the college and prepare to give a 15 minute teaching demonstration (essentially a lecture) on New Historicism as it applies to the story and comprehension of this short story I was provided in the mail. So that I am preparing for now.
My cousin, Ian, is coming to Ma's house to sack out in between attending a conference in Baltimore so we are looking forward to this visit. Ian is studying Computer and Library Science in Rhode Island. In his early twenties and a lot of fun this guy. He will be here for my birthday on June 13th. It's great this year because I will get several dinners out of my birthday.
Sunday, June 11th my brother wants to celebrate my birthday as he has to work on Tuesday evening so that's one celebration. On June 13th I will spend the day at the beach, Cape Henlopen and then head for Sambo's Crab House in Liepsic which has the best crabs around. Other friends have plans for later in the week and next week to celebrate with me so it all begins with a bang.
I enjoy my birthdays. Hopefully, the interview at the college will turn into a job offer. As I understand it, if that happens, I would be teaching a variety of subjects - English literature, poetry, creative writing and perhaps drama.
So here's to hoping!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
A Very Kersey Life
Either nothing is going on at all or everything is happening at once. No in-between. Today is another example of this.
I am going on a second interview tomorrow for a job that isn't that exciting but pays big bucks. This afternoon, I got a phone call from a local college asking to interview me for a teaching position that would include writing, playwrighting, English literature and criticism, drama and other subjects to be assigned. This position would pay less than the first job I mentioned BUT it would be something I would love to do and give me a big break in tuition at this college for future courses I plan on taking, starting this fall. The courses I want to take are expensive. I am hoping that, initially, I can do the less exciting job during the day and teach in the evening. I won't know anything about the proposed schedule for me until I get into the first interview with the college, probably next week.
The air itself seems very whimsical of late. Little thoughts and ideas flitting about while tending to some very tedious household chores preparing for the summer. I have a notebook full of ideas and mini-plots to be fleshed out that two lifetimes would not give me time to do. I can't even comprehend the idea of ever getting bored really - just restless; that restlessness is the want to break off from the current activity and go elsewhere or indecisiveness about where to go next. That happens a lot. But I can honestly say that I rarely ever get bored except when trapped on an airplane with nothing to do or read.
Off to the races, er, writing desk. No more great intrigue to blog about for the day.
I am going on a second interview tomorrow for a job that isn't that exciting but pays big bucks. This afternoon, I got a phone call from a local college asking to interview me for a teaching position that would include writing, playwrighting, English literature and criticism, drama and other subjects to be assigned. This position would pay less than the first job I mentioned BUT it would be something I would love to do and give me a big break in tuition at this college for future courses I plan on taking, starting this fall. The courses I want to take are expensive. I am hoping that, initially, I can do the less exciting job during the day and teach in the evening. I won't know anything about the proposed schedule for me until I get into the first interview with the college, probably next week.
The air itself seems very whimsical of late. Little thoughts and ideas flitting about while tending to some very tedious household chores preparing for the summer. I have a notebook full of ideas and mini-plots to be fleshed out that two lifetimes would not give me time to do. I can't even comprehend the idea of ever getting bored really - just restless; that restlessness is the want to break off from the current activity and go elsewhere or indecisiveness about where to go next. That happens a lot. But I can honestly say that I rarely ever get bored except when trapped on an airplane with nothing to do or read.
Off to the races, er, writing desk. No more great intrigue to blog about for the day.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Hysteria
I will be better about keeping up the blog from now on. After what has been a wretched two years or so has been steadily improving. I believe I will have a good, long term job next week. It's not my first choice of work but I don't mind it either. Money has been very tight so I welcome anything with hope it will last more than two months.
In addition to ruthlessly emptying my two bedroom apartment of assorted accumulated crap, I have been on a book-reading binge, reading more than my usual number. I finally read The DaVinci Code in addition to three books by and about the actor Alec Guiness. I've never been a big fan of his but, as readers might recall, I enjoy reading biographies to also get insight into other people and times around the life of the subject.
I still do not understand the hysteria surrounding DaVinci Code. It is a novel. There is no question that the work is a piece of fiction, and clever fiction it is. As was the case with the novel The Historian there were a few too slick contrivances for my taste but in both cases I could not put the book down. The belief that Jesus married the Mary Magedelan (sp) dates back to the Middle Ages so there's nothing new about it.
Even if it were proven 100% that Jesus married and fathered children, what difference would it make?
None. If you are a Christian, you believe that Jesus is the Saviour and came to earth and lived as a man. He had a purpose. Personally, I don't think he married (even though that was the norm then) because he knew what would be in store for his wife and children. It would not be typical family relationship being the Son of God and all.
However, even if Jesus was married, that changes nothing about who he was and his purpose. Not one iota.
It's the same sort of hysteria that was around the book and the movie The Last Temptation of Christ. The whole deal with Jesus coming to earth to live as a man was to demonstrate how "man" should live. If he was never tempted in any way, then there was no challenge. He could not have shown us how to live because he wasnt tempted in the way we all are. Many Christians opined that Jesus was holy therefore never had "unpure" thoughts meaning he didn't wonder what sex would be like with a woman let alone be attracted to Mary M. or any other woman he encountered. This is nonsense. What makes Jesus Jesus is resisting temptation and doing the right thing in spite of himself or, I should say, in spite of the drive to sin or do things not good for us. Otherwise, there is no point to the whole Saviour business at all.
In addition to ruthlessly emptying my two bedroom apartment of assorted accumulated crap, I have been on a book-reading binge, reading more than my usual number. I finally read The DaVinci Code in addition to three books by and about the actor Alec Guiness. I've never been a big fan of his but, as readers might recall, I enjoy reading biographies to also get insight into other people and times around the life of the subject.
I still do not understand the hysteria surrounding DaVinci Code. It is a novel. There is no question that the work is a piece of fiction, and clever fiction it is. As was the case with the novel The Historian there were a few too slick contrivances for my taste but in both cases I could not put the book down. The belief that Jesus married the Mary Magedelan (sp) dates back to the Middle Ages so there's nothing new about it.
Even if it were proven 100% that Jesus married and fathered children, what difference would it make?
None. If you are a Christian, you believe that Jesus is the Saviour and came to earth and lived as a man. He had a purpose. Personally, I don't think he married (even though that was the norm then) because he knew what would be in store for his wife and children. It would not be typical family relationship being the Son of God and all.
However, even if Jesus was married, that changes nothing about who he was and his purpose. Not one iota.
It's the same sort of hysteria that was around the book and the movie The Last Temptation of Christ. The whole deal with Jesus coming to earth to live as a man was to demonstrate how "man" should live. If he was never tempted in any way, then there was no challenge. He could not have shown us how to live because he wasnt tempted in the way we all are. Many Christians opined that Jesus was holy therefore never had "unpure" thoughts meaning he didn't wonder what sex would be like with a woman let alone be attracted to Mary M. or any other woman he encountered. This is nonsense. What makes Jesus Jesus is resisting temptation and doing the right thing in spite of himself or, I should say, in spite of the drive to sin or do things not good for us. Otherwise, there is no point to the whole Saviour business at all.
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