Alice Munro

"Writer's don't know more than other people; they see more than other people."

Alice Munro

I love it when I find a writer that is old to many, but new to me. I read a couple of short stories by Alice Munro yesterday and I fell in love with her style. She writes, to me, like a southern writer, and I have always loved southern writers. They remind me of my family: People who are proud of being southern, but not in the way of the "redneck southerner." People who respect the past without glorifying it, who recognize hatred as incompatible with southern grace. The above quote from Munro made me think of my very special friend who sees things in ways that I cannot, and then records them in the most beautiful language. Here's to writer's that feel compelled to write. The world is a softer place because of you.

Beautiful Sunday

These cute little chickens were in a display window on St. Simons. The kids and I went to the park this weekend and enjoyed a beautiful day at the pier. I could not resist taking a picture of this.

Happiness Is . . .

Brandi will forgive my theft of title I am sure.

Going to the Friends of the Library sale in Brunswick and finding no one around the literature section. In that section I find beautiful, old copies of The Bell Jar, War & Peace, Jane Eyre, Villette, The Great Short Stories of Tolstoy, a book by Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities (I thought I would give him another chance), a collection of essays by Roland Barthes, a love story written by Simone de Beauvoir (did not know she had one), and Slaughterhouse Five. All of these great books with unusual covers for a grand total of 5.00. Bliss.

Nice Guys Sometimes Finish First

I watched the news this morning because I was curious to see who had won the 365 million dollar jackpot. I was so happy to see that it was eight co-workers from a meat packing plant somewhere in Nebraska. It was wonderful to see the faces of guys and girls who have worked hard ,and would probably have worked hard until retirement, find themselves set for life. One of the winners said "I always thought I would buy a plane if I won, but I really don't care that much for flying. I said I would buy an island, but i don't care too much for water." Another guy said, "We couldn't all just quit, management has been too good to us." I am always amazed at the kindness and sensibility of people. I am ashamed that at times what I do have is never good enough. 365 million would be nice, but really, would the me that is me be any different? I am not opposed to experimenting, but I don't think my soul would be any better off.

Unsure and Upset

Brandi has tagged me and I am unsure of what to do. There are two options: (1) I could answer on her blog, or (2) I could answer on mine. I am going to answer on mine and see if she scolds me later. If that happens, I will rush to the computer and answer on hers.

Four jobs you've had:
1. American Greetings clerk -- we hated Hallmark clerks -- they thought they were the gold standard of the card world -- no offense Brandi
2. Waitress
3. Front Desk clerk
4. Graduate assistant

Four Movies I can watch over and over:
1. An Affair to Remember
2. The Royal Tennenbaums
3. Serendipity
4. Napolean Dynamite

Four Places I've Lived:
1. Brunswick, Ga
2. St. Simons Island, GA
Sorry for myself, but that's it

Four TV shows I love:
1. Law and Order
2. The Office
3. My Name is Earl
4. CSI

Four Places I've vacationed:
1. Baltimore, Maryland
2. Atlanta, Ga
3. Washington, DC
4. Clearwater Beach, Florida

Four of my favorite Dishes
1. Drunken Noodles
2. Chicken Salad sandwiches
3. mac & cheese
4. pimento cheese

Four sites I visited daily:
Way more than four, but . . .
1. Brandi's blog
2. Kirsten's blog
3.Malinda's blog
4. Christy's blog

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. San Diego, CA
2. Atlanta, GA
3. Gloucester, MA
4. Anywhere in Vermont

Four bloggers I'm tagging:
1. Christy
2. Kasey
3. Malinda
4. Kirsten

Laughing and Thinking

Things that make me laugh:
When I use the computer at work, go to "Favorites," and see a new addition: "Filipino Friend Finder: The leading personals for finding a woman."

Things that make me think:
"How is it possible to defeat not the author but the function of the author, the idea that behind each book there is someone who guarantees a truth in that world of ghosts and inventions by the mere fact of having invested in it his own truth, of having identified himself in that construction of words?"
Italo Calvino

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I hope all of you have a very happy Valentines Day.

Four things I love and cannot live without:
1. Reese, Hope and Trey (I am counting them as a collective noun)
2. My friends
3. Great books
4. The prospects of the future -- whatever they may be --

(btw, that is NOT me dressed up like a Bill Clinton cupid!)

Stupid Signs

Here are a couple of stupid signs that I saw today:

Barnes Restaurant on Waters:
"Come and try our wild shrimp! They are great!"
I was not aware that there were "Tame" shrimp being served anywhere. Maybe I am being snotty about this.

Sticky Fingers Rib House:
"Do you really think she deserves fine dining?"
I think this is stupid on many levels.

Life's Dangerous Moments

I usually judge the importance of a holiday based on the kind of delicious treats that will be present. Thanksgiving is of course the dessert heavy holiday. You can always expect pies and cakes to be present for at least a few weeks after this day has passed -- my french professor love just went running past my office, literally running -- and these heavy desserts often grow old. At christmas, I look forward to chocolate covered cherries. I usually grow tired of them, but only because I have eaten my weight in them.
However, this time of year the most dangerous temptation for me arrives in stores. It is the Cadbury Bunny. As soon as I see Easter grass, I know that the Cadbury Cream Egg is right aound the corner. Brandi has her organic raspberry chocolate, Kirsten has Cool Ranch Dorito's, and the last time I checked, Malinda has her Cake Batter Milk Shake. For me, I have the Cadbury Cream Egg. If you have not tried one, I reccommend that you avoid them at all costs. That is, if you value your waistline. It is no wonder that the eggs appear this time of year. They are the second easter miracle. I say WWJE (What Would Jesus Eat): Cadbury creme Eggs of course. Hopefully, I can restrain myself this year. It helps me to say to myself that I should not waste the hour I spend at the gym every morning by eating an egg, but that may not be enough to deter an egg binge. I am not good at avoiding temptation, whether it be an egg or a bad boy, I seem to have no self-restraint. What is your weakness and how do you keep yourself fom overindulging in the things you love but know are bad for you?

In other equally important news, my interesting friend Malinda has started a blog. I am sure she will shock you with funny and insightful commentaries. Visit her at http://underthetefloncouch.typepad.com/.

My Own "No Wire Hanger's" Moment

I just got the most annoying phone call. I will provide a transcript:
Phone Rings:
Me: Coastal Georia Writing Project
Annoying Girl: Yes, hello. I would like to know if you are still doing the Kid's Cafe downtown.
Me: Yes, we are in the process of organizing the Kid's Literacy Cafe, but I am not sure of the details yet.
Annoying Girl: Well, what do you like do at the Kid's Cafe?
Me: We provide after school tutoring to kid's. We help with reading and make sure they have somewhere to go and something to eat when they get out of school.
Annoying Girl: Well, are these like, you know, bad kids. I mean, are they like troubled?
Me: Are you an education major?
Annoying girl: No, I jut want to like get some like community service hours for Sigma Crap Something (my words here), and I like want to help kids, but not, like bad kids.
Me: OK, well you need to call back and talk to Ms. West.
Annoying girl: OK, so like when should I like call back?
Me: Never

The actual conversation was not as bad as her whiney, stupid, slow voice. I had to take a moment not to scream "No dumb-asses ever!!!!!"