allison writes

On Becoming a Novelist

2012-02-23T08:06:00.001-06:00

My second book about writing is John Gardner's On Becoming a Novelist.

This book has been gathering dust on my shelf for two years; it was required for an MFA workshop I signed up for and promptly dropped when I found a comedy writing class at another school. It's always been one of those books I'll get to someday, but when Jennifer (almost done with the aforementioned MFA program!) said the Gardner books were most helpful for her, I decided now was the perfect time to tackle one.

Something I really loved about this book was how Gardner encourages honestly - he doesn't glorify the writing life, nor does he make you feel bad if you can't stick it out.

        "The worst that can happen to the writer who tries and fails ... is that he
        will discover that, for him, writing is not the best place to seek joy and
        satisfaction. More people fail at becoming successful businessmen
        than fail at becoming artists."

I've been stuck in a strange writer's block limbo; I'm getting ideas for stories, essays, and sketches, but when I sit down and put the pencil to the paper, the sentences don't flow. I have limited views in my head of characters or things that should happen, but that's as far as it goes. I feel like I've lost my ability to spin a simple thing into a full blown story, and it's a little alarming. I'm not even close to quitting writing, but it's still nice to read encouragement that isn't pushy.

Workshops and education are given their own section. I found it refreshing that Gardner didn't hail MFA programs as the answer, despite his background in the academic sector. He's good at showing the pros and cons to everything he brings up, putting information out there for the reader to interpret and decide what is best for themselves.
+ "Nothing is sillier than the creative writing teacher's dictum 'Write about what you
     know.' … Preliminary good advice might be: Write as if you were a movie camera."
+ "What [the beginner] does not need is a teacher who imposes his own solution,
     like an algebra teacher who tells you the answer without showing how he got
     there, because it is process that the young writer must learn."

Gardner writes for the "young writer" or "beginning writer," but he also addresses getting published, getting an agent, and interpreting feedback from editors, lumped together in a section appropriately titled Publication and Survival. The section after that? Faith. And in that section was exactly what I needed to read, after explaining my writer's block up there:
        "The writer suffering writer's block can think of good plots and characters, or
        anyway he can think of good starts, which is all a healthy writer needs, but he
        can't persuade himself that they're worth writing down or developing. It's all
        been done before, he tells himself. And if he does, by a supreme effort, get down
        a few sentences, he finds the sentences disgustingly bad."

Does he have a solution? Well...

        "If children can build sand castles without getting sand castle block, and if
        ministers can pray over the sick without getting holiness block, the writer
        who enjoys his work and takes measured pride in it should never be troubled
        by writer's block. But alas, nothing's simple. … Give the general oddity
        of writers, no wonder there are no sure cures."

No. No he doesn't.

It's funny I thought Annie Dillard's The Writing Life would have more generalized writing tips/feedback/whatever, but seemed to discount short stories as pointless and imply novels were all that was worth writing… yet here is a book titled On Becoming a Novelist, and Gardner is taking time to address issues with short stories and even poetry. Doing so didn't make the book feel like it was tackling too much, either - it was all well-balanced and informative regardless of what you're writing. "The real message is, write in any way that works for you: write in a tuxedo or in the shower with a raincoat or in a cave deep in the woods."

Dirty Laundry

2012-02-21T07:52:00.002-06:00

I've always loved making small spaces cozy little hideaways from the real world, and that's exactly what I have in the studio, which I call my Treehouse. It's been a month now, and I'm used to living the "little" life - I don't forget what I have stocked up for later, because I only buy what I need now, plus it's not like there's a lot of room to lose anything, so I can easily find what I have. It also means I'm good at using things for multiple purposes: the dining table is also my writing desk; my computer monitor is also the TV; the closet is also my laundry room.

Having a washer and dryer in your closet is better than I thought it would be.
+ I don't need a hamper, because I just toss my dirty clothes in the washer until it's full enough to start a load.
+ When the laundry's done, I have no excuse to put off hanging up my clothes, because I'm already in the closet.
+ They're out of the way, tucked back in my closet, which is past the bathroom. Which means I have two doors I can close to muffle the noise they make.

"Noise?" you ask. "Washers and dryers don't make that much noise."

These do, my friend. These do, and I have proof:

Lovesick

2012-02-15T09:17:00.000-06:00

Isn't "Lovesick" a great blog title for the day after a sickeningly sweet Valentine's day? Even better - this post isn't about flowers or candy or relationships...well, ok, it's about relationships a little bit. Twisted relationships that author Spencer Seidel created in his book, yup, you got it - Lovesick.

I was contacted by Meryl L. Moss Media Relations to participate in a blog tour for the upcoming release Lovesick. The tour includes a variety of blogs posting a scavenger hunt - excerpts from the first chapter. I have one to share, and be sure to check out the other links to see what you think of the book!

From Chapter 1:
Chad wasn’t the first student to give her the eye. She was attractive, so it happened frequently. But the Little Bugger was the creepiest in recent memory, and despite her rather cold approach to him—she had a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, after all—she understood that her discomfort wasn’t some high-level cognitive function at work. This was visceral, atavistic. Plain fear. Good old man-woman stuff that she’d tried so hard to explain and understand over the last ten years.

She tried to focus on the words in her book, but her mind kept returning to her car, parked in the dark outside, far from the building that night because she’d been running late. She was in for a long walk alone in the dark.

A half an hour of distracted reading later, the stirrings of the students indicated to Lisa that class was over.

- - -

I was also given the chance to host a Q&A with the author, Spencer Seidel.
1. What are your current projects?
I’m now working on a horror novel, or what you might call a supernatural thriller. It’s not gory, just creepy. It’s a bit of a departure for me, but I’ve been wanting to do it for a while. I’m not quite ready to reveal the plot or title, but I am excited about the project.

2. Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Oh, I have to give this one to all of my online friends, new and old. I’ve reconnected with some old friends from high school and college because of my last book, Dead of Wynter, and they’ve all just been wonderful, genuine fans. And many of the people I’ve met on Twitter and Facebook have gone out of their way to support what I’m doing. I love them for it.

3. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Of course! I never feel that a book is perfect or complete. I could edit and revise forever. But I really do like Lovesick and my characters and believe in them, so I have to stand behind it as is.

4. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
After reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster about six times each as a kid (and more again as an adult), I knew that writing was something I wanted to do.

5. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The most challenging thing about being a writer for me is keeping the faith that it’s something worth doing. It’s awfully easy to get carried away by the doom-and-gloomers in the industry, or with the ego-maniacal folks in the industry you run into occasionally who don’t seem to realize that we’re all in this together. It’s a tough, tough business, and sometimes it’s hard for me to separate that from craft.

My Review:
Lovesick starts off by introducing the reader to Paul, a teenage boy who is found crouched over his best friend Lee's body, covered in blood and holding a weapon. Seems like an open and shut case, right? It's not. Paul claims to have amnesia and not remember what he saw at the crime scene, but never stops proclaiming his innocence. Psychologist Lisa Boyers is brought on board to interview Paul about that night, and she begins unraveling secrets about the victim, Lee, and his girlfriend, Wendy, who is missing. A love triangle is uncovered, which is just as delightfully dramatic as you'd expect a teenage relationship to be. But there are more secrets in this book, including some of Lisa's own. The last hundred pages or so will keep your heart pounding in suspense until you discover the whole truth. The story is mostly told through Paul's flashbacks as Lisa interviews him, but there is enough present action to keep you reading to see how the case will be solved, as well as what pans out with the present-time mystery.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free and was given the excerpt and Q&A material, but the review is my own and is, as always, completely honest.

the Legacy of Eden

2012-02-12T09:31:00.024-06:00

I was contacted by Meryl L. Moss Media Relations to participate in a blog tour for the upcoming book The Legacy of Eden. The tour includes a variety of blogs posting a scavenger hunt - excerpts from the first chapter. Check out some links and see what you think of the book! I was given the chance to host a Q&A with the author, Nelle Davy.

1. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
This – and only this. Well once I thought about acting and being a neurosurgeon but they were brief interludes of madness.

2. Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published authors?
Be prepared for rejection and perseverance. Those are the only 2 things guaranteed on the journey to being published. I faced sooo many rejections and I worked in publishing. It is really tough – but it is worth it.

3. Are you working on anything else at the moment, and if so can you tell us?
Yes I have just finished the first draft to my second novel which is set in 1963 Louisiana during the civil rights movement and the friendship between a white child and the black son of her family maid.

4. Can you tell us something about yourself that not a lot of your readers know?
I could probably be a make up artist or a baker. I am the kind of person in either shop where people actively come up to me and ask my advice on products. I once took this woman around Superdrug (a beauty shop in the UK) testing liquid eyeliners on her. The staff were not amused but she got the right one for her I can tell you.

5. Do you have any quirks that come out while you are writing?
I argue with myself – my husband actually laughs at me because I look like a mad woman having conversations with myself about what this character did or should do...or should not.

My Review:
The Legacy of Eden had a good premise - a collection of family secrets spanning three generations. The reader meets Meredith, the narrator, as she finds out that her family farm will be sold since the last relative living on the land has died. She had to leave her new home of New York City to go back to her childhood home in Iowa. To get closure on this task, she has to talk with her two older sisters and face all of the secrets she's been trying to outrun for seventeen years.
There was a lot of potential here, but the true story was bogged down in a lot of details. Scenes that seemed minor were stretched out over pages, then years were glossed over. There were a lot of characters due to the extended family, and I found it hard to keep them straight because sometimes they were referred to by name, and sometimes they would be "grandmother," or "my uncle," etc. The ending totally lost me, and I had to re-read the last page several times before I thought I understood what happened. I'm still not too sure. I think the story could be severely edited to pack more punch, so the secrets (which seemed tame, by fiction standards) stand out more, instead of getting lost in a wordy narrative. I read this book while juggling a lot of others, so it might be easier to follow if you sit down and read it more or less straight through.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free and was given the Q&A material, but the review is my own and is, as always, completely honest.

The Writing Life

2012-02-09T10:02:00.002-06:00

One of my ongoing 101 in 1001 goals is to read a book on the craft of writing every month. That's 34 months. 34 books. I have just a small bookshelf of writing books so if you have any recommendations, please share!

I almost missed this one - I started the project on January 11th, but forgot about this task, so I read this book yesterday. Technically still within the "month" deadline.

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, overall. There were sections that inspired me, sections that discouraged me, and sections that I skimmed.

Let's start with the downers.
On drafts: Dillard wrote about this a lot, but the word "delusions" stuck out to me in the following. "Several delusions weaken the writer's resolve to throw away work. If he has read his pages too often, those pages will have a necessary quality, the ring of the inevitable, like poetry known by heart."
     I personally like keeping old drafts of stories, either in hard copy or as differently labeled files on my computer. It doesn't mean I'm fixated on certain lines, but it can be nice to go back, when I'm stuck, and read an earlier version of a story. Sometimes I remember what I wanted the true purpose to be. Sometimes I find a character trait that had gotten lost in edits, but is necessary to make things work. And sometimes I find a sentence that makes me pause and think "I wrote that?!" and provides the burst of confidence I need to finish the story. I don't think there's anything wrong with keeping old pieces of writing.

On forms: "It is more prudent to struggle with the outcome of only one form - that of a long work - than to struggle with the many forms of a collection." It was discouraging to read that Dillard was only addressing the writing of a book. "It is no less difficult to write sentences in a recipe than sentences in Moby-Dick. So you might as well write Moby-Dick."
     I think there's merit in any form of writing, and different people are better at different types. I love reading novels, but I write short stories. It's just how I like to write, and I don't think I need to stretch something out into a book when it can be succinctly told in a story.

But on to the good stuff.
Something simple that I needed to read: "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing."

Something I could relate to: [After a day of nothing but coffee] "There was a tiny range within which coffee was effective, short of which it was useless, and beyond which, fatal. ... I heated a bowl of soup which I ate blinded by coffee and nicotine, unremembering. I returned to the papers and enclosed a paragraph in parentheses; it meant that tomorrow I would delete the few sentences I wrote today. Too many days of this, I thought, too many days of this."

Something that makes me look at paper differently: "Who will teach me to write? a reader wanted to know.
     The page, the page, that eternal blankness, the blankness of eternity which you cover slowly, ... that page will teach you to write."

I might have a different outlook on this book if I knew the author, but I've never read anything by Annie Dillard before. I have another of her books on my shelf, so I'll soon find out if this is her real writing style or not. I'm torn on if I'll revisit this book again... I tend to not like books/stories/articles that glorify writing like it's the most heavenly of art forms, and not everyone can do it, etc.

Guest Post - Garret Tour Tuesday with Callie Leuck

2012-02-07T08:38:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, I like to write fiction. Sometimes I end up writing non-fiction, and sometimes I (attempt to) write comedy. Ideas come to me randomly, when I'm going about my day working or driving or sitting around being silly with my friends. But my writing happens in one place, and Callie Leuck asked me about that place.

Here is my answer.
Be sure to read back over other people's writing spaces - it's fascinating to me to learn about where/when people write. Thanks Callie for starting the Garret Tour series, and thanks for featuring me!

January in Review

2012-02-01T09:04:00.004-06:00

Lightning People by Christopher Bollen. This novel encompasses loves lost and current, relationships with family and friends, conspiracy theories, heredity, lightning strikes and the little ways our lives all intertwine. A blurb on the back of the book compared it to The Great Gatsby - a pronouncement that still kind of makes me scoff. I found myself caring about the characters' lives despite none of them being clearly defined as likable. Bollen has a way of hinting at what's to come, but when you get to the scene and think a certain thing will happen, he mixes it up on you. It's never a hokey "Ha, you thought this would happen but you were wrong!" but more of a "No, this is going to happen instead." It's very well-done and I found myself holding my breath in suspense through several sections. The beginning might be a little confusing because the narrative is told from the point of view of five characters, but it is worth sticking with.

Light from a Distant Star by Mary McGarry Morris. With the main story arc being a murder committed in a personal residence and the true killer's identity being mistaken, this book had a lot of potential, but failed to deliver. The narrator was unlikable, but not in an interesting or quirky way, just boring. Every scene that could have been climactic was reduced to mere sentences presented matter-of-factly, while minor side stories were given too many pages, then left unfinished at the novel's end.

Jump Book by Philippe Halsman. Halsman was a noted portrait photographer who asked his subjects to jump for him before he finished a session. The result is a book of wonderful images featuring various authors, celebrities, and political figures in midair. There are a few pages of text outlining "jumpology," the way Halsman analyzed his subjects' arm and leg positions to learn about their personalities. The book is mostly a picture book, but the text is worth reading. My favorite jumpers were Capt. Edward Steichen, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Salvador Dali, and Anthony Perkins.

The Orchard by Theresa Weir. A touching memoir about how a woman met her husband and married him in a whirlwind, then spent the rest of their lives learning about each other. The book's setting and, honestly, main character is the apple orchard where Adrian Curtis (Weir's husband) was born and raised, and worked his entire life. Though Weir addresses some aspects of farming and pesticides, it is not hard to follow and doesn't take over the book. The most overwhelming aspect of the book is the emotion - not that it is excessive. Weir is very skilled in taking the reader along with her, from the first glimpse of her husband-to-be onward, including glimpses back into her troubled childhood.

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard. An amazing book. Jaycee tells the story from the day of her kidnapping up to her struggle to adjusting to real life, interspersed with memories of her childhood. It's told very matter-of-factly, not necessarily without emotion, but without pity. Jaycee doesn't want to be seen as a victim or a hero - she's just sharing her story because it's all she knew, and all she could do was live each day as it came to her. Still, it's very inspiring, especially when she shares optimistic journal entries she wrote when she was thirteen, then ones she wrote when she and her daughters were much older. It's a fascinating look at how someone can be trapped for so long, then exposed to the real world and not want to be in it. Jaycee says that she never wanted to go back to her captivity, but with the media in her face, she pretty much felt like she was still being kept from having her own life. Very sobering book.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. My first John Green book, though I'd heard a lot about him. I was a little wary, because often such popular authors/books/movies don't live up to the hype. In this case, he exceeded my expectations. After two pages I was hooked, staying up all night to finish the book. There were so many things I thought might happen, but I didn't want to wait and let my imagination run wild - I had to know what was going to happen. The characters are so realistic I knew them, I was in their world. The book is well-written and easy to read quickly, but it's worth savoring. Never have I read a book that can make me cry (without being overly sentimental) and then make me laugh hysterically through my tears just a sentence later. Highly recommended.

Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel. This book comes with an advisory: "Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel have both written books for children. This is definitely not one of them." It's not, but I love that such a nonsensical book was written for adults. The whole plot line is just silly - everything happens by chance, is misinterpreted, and then leads to something else crazy happening. It's delightful. I laughed out loud at least once a chapter, and most chapters were just a couple of pages. If you want to read something fun that will make you think a little and laugh a lot, this is your book. And the laughs aren't limited to the text itself: a blurb on the back reads "Reading Alan Zweibel makes me laugh out loud. And yet it is not a particularly funny name." - Eric Idle; and the page that dedicates the book to the authors' wives, "who, if we had discussed the idea with them ahead of time, would definitely have discouraged us."

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. Two very different boys, both named Will Grayson, are telling their separate life stories. Then, completely by chance, they meet and become tangled with the same people. Their relationships are all affected and the whole thing inspires a high school musical, which sounds so funny and, yes, fabulous, that I wish I could hear it. The ending wasn't what I was expecting, even though now I'm not really sure what I was expecting. It just didn't sit right with me, and kind of left the whole book lacking as I looked back, despite my enjoying it as I read it.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. I wanted to like this book because it was based on the perfect framework - a road trip. However, the trip stops abruptly and so does the action. I've noticed a pattern in John Green books - the supporting characters are always more realistic and interesting than the main character narrating the story. Colin was passive and whiny so I didn't care too much about what happened to him.

Letters From a Nut by Ted L. Nancy. A re-read. I read this book when it first came out - my brother and I laughed over it like it was the funniest thing in the world. And it damn near is. "Ted" writes letters to companies, casinos, and celebrities with the most off-the-wall comments and requests. Very often the replies are just as funny as the original letters.

A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson. Big had a baby when she was fifteen; her daughter, Liza, had a baby when she was fifteen. When Liza's daughter, Mosey, turns fifteen, both her mother and grandmother are on edge. They're expecting the worst, but what happens is nothing they were prepared for. A mystery unravels when bones are found under Liza's favorite willow tree. The book is told from the points of view of Big, Liza, and Mosey, and each character has a distinct voice. I loved this book, but I'm biased - Jackson is one of my top three favorite authors, and my all-time favorite female writer. (We're friends.)

Three for One

2012-01-25T15:02:00.003-06:00

I'm marking goals off my list, people! I'm accomplishing things and I won't lie - it makes me feel like a superhero.

First off, I moved by myself (#92). I've always had the help of at least two family members and/or friends, but this time? I. Moved. By. Myself. I emptied my storage unit into a Uhaul and I drove that Uhaul all by myself to my new home, and I backed that Uhaul down my new driveway, and I unloaded that Uhaul and then reloaded it with things I had stored at my parents' house. By. Myself. The best part is, it only took six hours, and that includes two loads at a leisurely pace, a lunch break, a mattress struggle, and a Goodwill drop. I was sore as hell Friday night and all of Saturday, and I still have some fierce bruises fading away, but I did it.

Going hand in hand with my moving goal is emptying my storage unit (#91), since the vast majority of my stuff was in there. Mostly boxes of books. All I could think about as I huffed and puffed my way from the storage unit to the truck was that stupid essay, "Date a Girl Who Reads". I mentally composed a whole rebuttal about how you should never date a girl who reads, much less be one yourself, because if you love to read, you more than likely love to own your favorite books. And if you love to read, you probably have a lot of favorite books. And unless you're content staying in one place for the rest of your life, you're more than likely going to have to pack up and move all of those books. I have always been a reader, and have always been proud of that fact. But moving boxes of books out of storage made me realize that I do not need a physical copy of every book I love.

Which leads to drastically cutting down on my belongings (#90). I had already cut down quite a bit when I first put things into storage before traveling, but knowing I would be moving myself found me really thinking about what I needed in my life. I gave a lot of stuff to Goodwill. Unfortunately, I hadn't been that ruthless when I packed my storage unit, so while unpacking (after moving everything…) I really went through my things and took a whole carload of belongings to Goodwill. It feels amazing. Then again, I'm living in a studio I affectionately call my treehouse, so it's not like I have the room to keep every little thing I've ever touched. I still (sigh) have tons and tons of books. But maybe in time I will learn to part with them too. Until then, I'm incredibly pleased with my 101 in 1001 progress so far!

Take That and Rewind It Back

2012-01-18T08:36:00.006-06:00

New Years' night found Kim and me stretched out our on backs, staring at the hotel's ceiling. We had walked around the French Quarter and surrounding area for about ten hours that day, retiring to our room at nine o'clock. We laid as still as we could, as if that would help sleep come sooner.

"Have you ever thought about a reverse bucket list?" Kim asked, breaking the silence.

I hadn't. I had just re-considered my 101 in 1001 project, thinking of things I'd like to put on my list, which was basically a bucket list with a deadline (though when put that way, sounds more morbid than it actually is).

We named a few experiences that we considered accomplishments worthy of a reverse bucket list, then lapsed back into silence to be with our own thoughts. However, being Kim and Allison, seconds later we were cracking jokes about the state of our room and laughing until we couldn't talk anymore.

Kim's idea of the reverse bucket list stayed with me during our train trip home the next day, and I had to compile a concrete list. I thought it was especially fitting to share after starting a project to accomplish even more. I love the idea of looking back on my life and being proud of what I've done, instead of just focusing on thing I want to do one day.

- lived alone without going crazy
- lived with roommates without going crazy
- survived living on my own, financially
- saved a nice nest egg while supporting myself and living on my own
- didn't get married (despite a couple what I like to call "near-death experiences")
- didn't have kids (this and the above are accomplishments in the south, trust me)
- took an improv class without dying
- took a comedy class and workshopped good stuff
- had a sketch read in front of an audience at the end of the course
- took a comedy workshop with a former SNL writer
- admitted I was unhappy and changed the course of my life
- traveled by myself and wasn't lonely
- traveled by myself abroad
- explored a new city on foot without internet/GPS help
- explored a new state (from state park 3+ hrs away back to inner city) without GPS
- became a self-employed freelancer
- completed 50,000 words for Nano 3 out of 3 attempts
- lived out of a single backpack for three weeks at a time
- lived out of a single backpack for three weeks one time, without doing any laundry
- got the only piercing I wanted and stopped
- got the only piercing re-done after I had to take it out for a job promotion
- dyed my hair countless colors in high school to get it out of my system and be a grown up now, ha!
- got tattoos as souvenirs when I travel
- donated money to a charity I liked
- started volunteering for a great organization
- worked in a library
- dated someone involved with the CIA (shhh)
- learned to mow the grass
- saw my favorite band live five times...so far
- photographed bands on tour for two years
- had my photographs used in album liner notes
- rode the Aerosmith Rock N Roller Coaster
- stood on Four Corners
- traveled on a train
- graduated from college
- earned two degrees
- got a full ride to grad school
- moved to a city where I knew no one for grad school
- have kept the same phone contract and number the entire time I've had a phone - over 7 years
- named my major belongings (car, computer, laptop, ipod, phone) and have convinced others to refer to them by name
- hosted a yard sale and made some pretty good money, donated the rest of the crap to Goodwill
- lived without TV and cable (happily)
- got people at my old office to start recycling

101 Things in 1001 Days

2012-01-11T09:32:00.002-06:00

I started a 101 in 1001 project back when I moved to northern Virginia for grad school in 2009. Though the time period would last the duration of my degree (starting on my 24th birthday and continuing just past graduation), I thought it would push me to try new things that weren't related to school.

I created a separate blog for this purpose, but you know what? Keeping one blog is more than enough, and I hadn't counted on grad school, tutoring, writing, and the social skills all of that required to be so taxing. I can't be sure how many items I checked off that original list, but it was not quite 101. Probably closer to 1.

The direction of my life has drastically changed since that list was drafted, and I feel more driven to complete things because I want to, not to distract me from something else in my life. I decided to compile a new list, starting today, 01/11/12 and ending 10/08/14.

I've included a variety of goals under topics like Entertainment, Creativity, Travel, etc. Some are serious "bucket list" type things, and some are just for fun, to step out of my shell and take time to laugh at life. The entire list has its own home under the 101 in 1001 tab, and I'll make updates as I mark things off.

Postage Paid

2012-01-04T09:29:00.001-06:00

Dear You,

When we met, I was standing in New Orleans' Jackson Square with two of my best friends and thousands of strangers. We yelled at the top of our lungs and we hugged and we smiled until you were a few hours old. Each day since then has been full of happy.

2012, you are still so young; you are wide open and full of potential. I have a lot of goals to accomplish this year, many projects to complete. No plans are set in stone and there are several possible paths I could take that would shape my future in countless different ways. If that's not exciting, I don't know what is.

2011 paved the way for you and I'll never forget it. It sounds strange to say 2011 might be the best year of my life, considering I lost my two remaining grandparents just hours apart, I lost my job, I gave up my home. This time last year, I was just getting settled. I planned to stay in one place, at one job, for 2-5 years. Then everything was uprooted - and I couldn't be happier about it.

In 2011, I learned about myself in the way only being truly alone in the desert can teach. I cut the ties of relationships that strangled me, strengthened those of value, and met countless new people who have affected my life in small (and not-so-small) ways. I went outside my comfort zone and pushed myself into situations I never otherwise would have experienced. I traveled to places I wasn't sure I'd ever see, and that has helped me learn how I want to travel in the future.

2011 was filled with new adventures, people, books and music, and I look forward to so much more of that in 2012. I have high hopes for you.

Love, Me

Filling Pages

2011-12-20T08:19:00.015-06:00

I always feel good when I'm writing. I like getting a story out onto paper so it's not cluttering my mind anymore. But I've found it's different writing without readers. I didn't know how much I depended on feedback until I wasn't getting any. I had a variety of readers throughout four semesters of undergrad workshops and two in grad school (not counting the comedy writing workshops that had the most excellent critique sessions). My boss and art manager read my stories at my last job, and while part of me thinks they'd still be willing to do so, the more logical part thinks it's unfair to ask that of them. The smaller, nosier part hates the idea of them reading my work in a place where I cannot peek over the cubicle wall and watch their facial expressions.

It also doesn't help that, besides the story collection I wrote in November, my pieces have been personal essays. I mean, personal essays. I like writing them because it gets the thoughts out of my head; I like taking jumbled ideas and smoothing them into well-written lines that make me seem intelligent and aware of my own issues.
When I think of my ideal audience, I think "People who have no clue who I am and will not recognize me if they see me on the street." When I think of how to get these essays to that audience, I draw a blank. I cannot say "Let them be read and commented upon by people who know me and would not only recognize me on the street, but have my phone number and sometimes meet me for coffee and meals." It just can't be done.

I'm wondering if a fiction program was a bad choice for my MFA. I have no problem writing and sharing fiction. What if I had been a nonfiction student? What if I was taught how to write true things people would want to read, and how to keep them from being too personal so they could, you know, be read?

I choose to see the bright side - I am writing. I am putting words on paper and they are making me smile and nod and think "Yes, this is good stuff" and occasionally even "Wow, I didn't know I had this in me." I am back to doing my best thinking in the shower and hurrying to get out and pick up a pen - Oh how I need you, AquaNotes!
I am also plotting out the next year of my life and even, uncharacteristically of me, trying to see through the haze into the life that will surely exist beyond the next year. There are too many options that do not share even a small portion of the same path, and I have no idea where I want to walk. That is all up in the air, so in addition to those personal essays you can't read? You can't read about my plans, either.

What can you read about? I'm not sure yet. But I like to think I am a writer, and I like to think I am funny, and I like to think my life is awkward and uncharted for the sole purpose of amusement, so something will come.

Foto Friday - F. Scott Fitzgerald

2011-12-16T08:56:00.012-06:00

About this time two years ago, Kelly and I took a day trip to St. Mary's Church in Rockville, Maryland, to visit F. Scott Fitzgerald's grave. The church grounds and cemetery were beautiful and peaceful, despite being surrounded by a massive intersection of highways and a Metro station. This coming Wednesday marks the 71st anniversary of Fitzgerald's death.

See more photos from our trip on Flickr.

Traveling on a Budget with Shereen

2011-12-13T08:59:00.002-06:00

I found this amazing blog soon after I started traveling this past summer - it's called Shereen Travels Cheap. I bookmarked it and check back often because I know I want to continue my life on the road without depleting my savings.

I'm a person who wants to just get out there and have experiences, and even though I know I should research and book things in advance, I just… don't. Shereen, on the other hand, "loves planning a trip almost as much as taking the trip itself." Clearly she can offer me advice on more than just saving money. When I had an opportunity to review her book, Shereen Travels Cheap, I jumped at the chance.

The book is organized so that you can check the table of contents and flip right to what you need, but it's also interesting enough to be read straight through. It's a travel tip book that reads like a novel! I read the entire book, then went back and sought out advice to help with the two trips I took last month. Shereen's tips helped me fine a super-affordable hotel in downtown Chicago at the last minute, and gave me more options to price rental cars than I had previously known of.

Shereen agreed to answer some questions, so I tried to think of some fun ones that she was (hopefully!) not sick of being asked all the time.

Did you always travel cheaply, or did you take trips beyond your budget and realize you needed to change in order to keep up that lifestyle?
     Growing up, we didn’t have much money, so we were creative with travel sometimes. We did a lot of road trips and packed our own food to save money that way. Instead of sitting in roadside diners, we had lunch outside in the fresh air. As I got older, we started to go on vacations to places like Disneyland, but we still had to pinch our pennies, so we looked for ways to save on travel. Generally, we would drive instead of fly, because it was much cheaper. Now that I’m married and plan my own vacations, I still feel like saving is something to strive for. Why spend the money if you don’t have to?

Do most of your savings go towards travel, or do you occasionally splurge in your everyday life?
     There are things we do regularly, like go out to eat and the movies. While we do try to use discounts for as much as possible, we don’t necessarily skip something we really want to do if it costs a bit more. We have a vacation fund that we put a set amount into each month. If we are planning a bigger trip, we figure out how to put some extra in there (like maybe not buying those shoes I covet, but don’t need). Generally, I know what is in there and it can be spent on anything vacation, but try to work as much “under budget” as possible, so the extra can roll over to the next trip. Like this year we went to Hawaii, but ended up spending about half of what might have been expected, so that leftover in the account can go towards our 2012 trip to Europe.

In your book, you planned a trip the "regular" way, then also did it your way to show the difference in cost. Do you do this for all the trips you actually go on, just to see how much you're really saving?
     Absolutely! It’s always fun to know how much you saved. I generally start out with my “rough draft” travel plan and write down all the regular prices for things (hotels, activities, theme park tickets) and then write down anywhere that had better prices until I get to the lowest. It gives me something to work with in the beginning and a sense of accomplishment when I see how much money I didn’t actually spend.

That's a good way to make planning seem like a game - I'm going to have to try that next time! What has been your favorite trip so far?
     London has been our biggest and my most favorite trip so far. I’m really thrilled to return in 2012. There is so much to see and do there, even though England is not that big. That can probably be said for most places, but I loved my entire time there and look forward to seeing more. Hopefully, I can find more gems while I’m there, to add to my new blog that will be well into its first year online. Shereen Travels Cheap UK will be focusing on the United Kingdom (traveling to/from there and things to do for visitors and locals) and will be linked to my current blog. I have so many readers from that part of the world, and my love of it just made it seem natural that I would take my blog in that direction. Maybe a Shereen Travels Cheap to London book will be written down the line!

I loved London too, and really hope to visit again in 2012. I can't wait to read your specialized blog (and hopefully book!) about the UK! What places are you still wanting to visit?
     What place don’t I want to visit?! High on my list are Greece and Spain. Eric always names Spain as his number one choice if he could go anywhere, which prompted me to look for things to do there and I’m eager to visit L’Oceanografic Marine Complex in Valencia. Lately I’ve become more and more enamored with the thought of going to Greece. The food, the architecture, the water. It all just sticks with me and makes it hard to wait to get there. I’m thinking that eating baklava and spanakopita while looking at the view all day doesn’t seem like a bad way to spend a week or two! Long term, we still have big plans to go on a safari, but for now, we have those two travel goals set for reaching in the next five years.

How far in advance do you plan all your trips?
I’m a travel freak. By the time we go on vacation, Eric and I have already agreed on where to go the following year. I then start looking at what kind of budget we’ll need and what we will want to do and have basic plan at least 6 months before we go. Obviously, most people aren’t crazy like I am, but I genuinely love travel planning. It gets me excited to go and gives me time to find the best deals on everything, so we might be able to fit some extra things in.

In your book, you mention packing lightly to save on baggage fees. What are the top three things you can't travel without, even though they may not be necessities?
The three things I take with me everywhere are probably sunscreen, because I’m paler than pale and burn like crazy if the sun ever comes out, my Kindle, because I love reading, it packs light and the battery life is amazing, and good walking shoes. I can’t tell you how many trips have been ruined by angry feet. Sightseeing is absolutely no fun if you’re in agony all day.

Thank you so much to Shereen for taking the time to answer my questions, not to mention putting all this information out there to help others! I highly recommend you check out her book, Shereen Travel Cheap - it's well worth it! For more helpful hints and great travel stories, check out her blog by the same name: Shereen Travel Cheap.

Foto Friday - Broken-Down Businesses

2011-12-09T07:37:00.002-06:00

Tuesday's post focused on Pop Tunes, my favorite Memphis record store that unfortunately closed down after I graduated from high school. Inspired by that story, I decided to share photos of some other Memphis, uh... treasures.

XL used to be a combination gas station and laundromat. The right side of the building was the laundromat, with a row of industrial dryers and twelve washers back to back. My parents came here when they were first married, and my dad remembers bringing massive loads (no pun intended) of diapers when my brother and I were babies.

The building is on the edge of a residential neighborhood, across the street from the Randolph branch of the library. My dad would pay fifty cents per washer, then spend hours reading while the clothes churned.

- - -

Speaking of libraries, one of my childhood favorites was the Highland branch.

I loved storytime with Miss Caroline, who I still see around town, and who still remembers me. I loved that it was a two-level library, with stairs leading up to the fiction section in a loft.

Unfortuantely, the floods in May 2011 caused a lot of damage to this location, and there are currently no plans to reopen.

- - -

I hate to make Memphis seem like a town that discourages reading, but it sure seems that way after Bookstar was closed in January 2011. The bookstore, located just a few blocks from the Highland library, was housed in an old movie theater. The owners kept the old architecture intact, using the ticket taker's window for displays.

The landlord of the location was insistent on raising rent, despite the economy. Bookstar, a branch of Barnes and Noble, gave up the lease and left the area without
a refuge for bookworms, unless you're a student using the nearby university
library and bookstore.

Clearly, the landlord made a good choice when
insisting the property would rent quickly.

- - -

And finally...

If you can't make it selling fried chicken in Memphis, you can't make it anywhere.

Pop Tunes

2011-12-06T08:34:00.004-06:00

After I turned sixteen, my parents would let me have the car keys on Saturday afternoons. I'd get out and drive, even if I had nowhere to go. Shifting into second after the light changed, then rapidly into third, seamlessly into fourth, gave me such a power trip that, for a moment, I almost understood mid-life crises.

I cruised down Poplar until it branched off at the interstate, weaved around the streets near my middle school, drove by his house, pretending to be fascinated by something out the passenger-side window if he was skateboarding in the front yard.

Sometimes I wished he would notice and wave me down. I had grown up since I was last with him. I wanted him to look me up and down and nod his approval. I wanted to feel his hand on my shoulder; I wanted to shrug it off. I wanted to tell him that he lost his chance - that he never had a chance. There was always a little kernel of disappointment in my stomach after I drove by. I needed to make my stand. I needed closure; I needed to validate myself.

These Saturdays became my day to visit Pop Tunes. I usually went only if I had money, but even when I was broke, the clerks would load me up with free samplers. The best thing about Pop Tunes was that they had records - LPs. They had singles - CDs and 45s. Their CDs were overpriced, but you could take in a ten and come out with an armful of vinyl.

It was always chilly inside, even though the storefront was glass and the sun reflected off the floor, making you shield your eyes when you faced the parking lot. I would stand in front of the record bin for the good part of an hour, flipping through one by one, careful not to miss anything. The cold would seep up from the tiles, through the thin soles of my Converse-ripoffs.

I was usually all alone in that dusty corner; no one else browsed for records while I was there (and judging the slow turnover in stock, even when I wasn't). But he came over that day. From the way his body was blocking the glare from the linoleum, I could tell without looking that he was facing me, not the display. When I turned to him, I purposely blurred my vision, looking slightly over his shoulder instead of into his eyes. He reached out and touched my shoulder. I couldn't move, I couldn't find my words.

"Can I help you with anything?" he asked.
My brain was finally able to make my mouth move. "I didn't know you worked here."
"I don't."
My heart was pounding and my face was flushed; I wasn't cool enough to make my stand, I couldn't prove anything to anybody. "No, I'm all done here." I held up the two 45s I had picked out, shrugging my apology.

At the register, my hands were shaking as I pulled out some cash. From the corner of my eye, I could still see him standing there. Some coins fell when I carelessly shoved the change back in my pocket. He closed the distance between us with long strides, swept the pennies up with his thin fingers.
"You dropped these."
I stared at the copper coins in his palm. I knew he was watching, waiting for me to meet his eyes. "Keep it." I had my head down as I left the store, even though the reflection of the afternoon sun was blinding.

The bell over the door chimed in my head long after I left, and the bright light burned into my eyes was broken up by the silhouette of his tall, lanky form.

Foto Friday - Wake Up!

2011-12-02T06:52:00.000-06:00

I'm having a little trouble waking up this morning.

If only I could stop by the coffee shop...

And chug this...

Stop by H&H for one of these...

Then I could kick start my day.

Though a sugar high might help just a little:

Today's post brought to you by my NYC photoset, a lifelong Seinfeld addiction, and the eight minutes it takes my coffee maker to brew.

Time Off.

2011-11-29T08:11:00.008-06:00

I took some glorious time off from the Internet last week. I read. A lot. I got completely sucked into the world of each of the four books. It's been awhile since I've read that deeply; I've always been reading, but haven't been engrossed in a book for quite some time.

I spent time with family. Unfortunately, a lot of that time was driving, but I got to see my favorite brother and favorite sister-in-law. I got to spend time with my favorite nephew. I got to be in the sunshine and warmth for Thanksgiving, further confusing my already-screwed-up mind in the aspect of time passage.

I was only on the computer when a) doing freelance work for my old company and b) writing. I finished my story collection for NaNoWriMo on the 25th of November, coming in at 50,928 words. There's some decent stuff there, and I might submit some stories once I edit them, but I doubt I'll ever do anything with it as a collection.

I finally jumped into a project I'm incredibly excited about. I've been thinking about it for a long time, but didn't know where to start. The perfect opportunity kind of just fell into my lap, and those I've spoken with are equally happy to have me on board. I don't want to give away much right now, but I can't wait to get it in motion. I've been plotting for too long, and now I'm thrilled that I'm on the right track to do something that I could be content to do, well… forever.

Foto Friday - Writing Utensils

2011-11-18T07:48:00.009-06:00

I haven't mentioned it here because I've had too much other fun stuff to write about, but I'm participating in NaNoWriMo this year. I've previously written novels in 2007 and 2010. This year I'm writing a short story collection centered around a certain theme. Characters and situations came to me randomly while I was in England and insisted that I scrap my previous idea.
The funny thing is, the novel I was going to write was what I had planned to be my MFA thesis. If I hadn't dropped out, I would be working on that thesis right now! It's been put off twice, but I'm sure I'll get around to writing it.

The pencil picture is from last year's Nano photoshoot.

Laughing in London with the Horne Section

2011-11-16T08:38:00.018-06:00

While in England, I was exposed to Tim Minchin - thank you, Laura. "So Rock" was the first song of the first special I saw; I hold it close to my heart. My second favorite would have to be the epic environmental anthem "Canvas Bags," closely followed by "If I Didn't Have You" (yes, mostly because of the wiggle dance). We looked up tour dates to see if he was playing any shows in the area. Turns out, he had just finished a tour, and wouldn't be starting another until after I left.

Then I found a listing for Tim Minchin as a special guest with the Horne Section. We booked tickets without looking up anything about the Horne Section; we were just excited to see Tim. I'm glad we did it that way because the Horne Section was a delightfully hilarious surprise.

The show was at London's Criterion Theater.

The Horne Section's stage set up; note the Wheel of Wonder - it's crucial to the show.
The Horne Section combines music and comedy. The show began with frontman Alex Horne introducing the band and, much like a rapper, instructing all the ladies in the house to say "Yeahhhh!" We did. Then he asked the men to do the same. A guy in the front row punched the air, to which Alex commented, "That was manly. That was very man...ful. It's like you have a little man inside you - carry on." We were off to a great start.

The Wheel of Wonder has its own theme song, and I was crushed that I could not find it online. It gets stuck in my head frequently, so if you'd like me to sing it for you, drop me a line. Like a human being, the Wheel of Wonder has many layers, the first of which was Games. It was spun and came to a stop on Twister. Two team captains were picked and brought to the stage. I wasn't sure how funny it would be to watch people onstage play Twister, but Alex insisted that the whole audience would play.

"Put your right foot on the person to your right," he instructed. "Put your left hand on the thigh of the person to your left," he continued. It's amazing how it is not awkward to intimately touch total strangers when you're all laughing so hard (something to remember next time you want to approach that cutie at the coffee shop?). The game went on until he told us to sit on the shoulders of the person in front of us. Our team captain jumped onto Alex's shoulders, winning the game for our half of the theater! It just might be the proudest moment of my life to date.

A layer was peeled from the Wheel of Wonder to reveal different types of music; the spin landed on Boy Band. The Horne Section, who had already proved themselves talented musicians and comedians, sang a song about groupies that was catchy, with impressive harmonies.

Special guests performed small bits in-between the Horne Section's own act. Beardyman, an amazing human beat box, performed. I don't even know how to describe him, you just need to check him out. Tim Minchin performed his song "Cont," but then decided to just "fuck around" instead of performing another piece. Beardyman came back on stage to join him, which resulted in this extra catchy jam session. When I wake up singing "I think I've got an erection, I got a little horn for the Horne Section," I know it is going to be a good day.

A little aside: Tim Minchin booked three American dates after I returned to the states (thanks for waiting for me, Tim!). I was able to make it to the Chicago show last week and see him perform a two hour show of all his own material. It was hilarious and offensive and delightful.

If I lived in London, or anywhere nearby, I wouldn't dare miss the Horne Section's weekly shows. But I don't live there, and a lot of my readers don't, either. So, inspired by Alex Horne's quest to be the oldest man in the world, I've decided to start my own project - bring the Horne Section to America. I won't lie - I'm not really sure how to do this besides telling everyone I know about the group, and bugging @hornesection as often as I can without making them scratch America off their To Do list.

The Horne Section. Listen & Love them. Help me heckle them to America.
The Horne Section's site
Radio BBC show - part one
Radio BBC show - part two
Bald Man - a sample of the Horne Section's good-natured humor

Alex Horne's personal site
Long Live Alex - Alex Horne's attempt to be the oldest man in the world, a goal he's been working towards for over 33 years!
@AlexHorne on Twitter - he often ends tweets with "Bye!" as if having a delightfully short conversation, and it never fails to make me smile.

Let's do this.

London Calling

2011-11-14T08:47:00.001-06:00

Laura and I took several day trips into London, cramming so much into each visit that I'm thankful for pictures helping me remember it all. Like in DC, the galleries and museums are free; we went to Tate Modern, where I was extremely angered by a work of "art" that is simply a mirror mounted on canvas.
"Rather than look at an image of the artist’s making, viewers are now confronted by themselves, thereby questioning a long-held notion of painting transcending reality."
Bullshit.

Other installations made up for it, like gauze stairs coming down from the ceiling:

At the V&A we saw the Power of Making exhibit, which had the delightful pencil lead alphabet on display, as well as a larger-than-life gorilla made of coat hangers.

We went to BBC Studios to be in the audience for a taping of Harry Hill's TV Burp.

(The links are the episode we saw, though I don't expect you to pick out my laugh.)
We were scared silly (or maybe I should say scared and then silly) in the London Dungeons. Not being sure where you're stepping or who will jump out at you from the darkness made both Laura and I antsy for the first half of the tour. The breaking point was when a bloody murderer made eye contact with Laura, menacingly marched straight up to her and, instead of grabbing her, politely said "Excuse me," before walking on by.
We were on the tour with a group of German teenagers, so many of the jokes were lost on them. At a trial reenactment, the judge said the defendant had been arrested for "tenderly loving a horse." Laura and I laughed loudly while the foreigners around us remained silent. Not awkward at all.

We went up high on the London Eye.

Laura, her sister Shelley and I ate at a posh Japanese restaurant where you bypassed the wait staff and ordered by using your table as a touch screen. We then saw a comedy show at the Criterion Theater - the Horne Section with special guests Beardyman and Tim Minchin, which I'm going to post more about on Wednesday.

I fell in love with the walkable streets of London, started to learn my way around the subway system, and got sniffed by a police dog in one of the international stations. I'm sure you understand why I kind of want to live there.

Foto Friday - Coffee Break

2011-11-11T08:09:00.005-06:00

The English tradition I adjusted quickest to is having coffee or tea and cake in the afternoons - definitely one to bring back to my daily life in America (as if I don't already drink coffee all day).
Laura's mum treated us to a lovely afternoon at Cafe des Fleurs in Rye. It's a combination cafe and flower shop, and the smell of espresso brewing mixed with fresh cut blossoms was intoxicating. It didn't hurt that the coffee and cakes were delicious, we were given free (incredibly rich and creamy) truffles, and the cafe decor was adorable.

See more on my Flickr.

Purgatory

2011-11-09T08:44:00.002-06:00

I've followed the West Memphis Three since I was a stubborn high school sophomore who wanted everyone to know about the injustice - and needed everyone to see it my way. Thankfully, I've grown up since then. I don't want everyone to have the same opinion I do (be it about a band, a book, or a controversial court case), I just hope people are open-minded enough to check out things for themselves - listen to a song, read a paragraph, research the facts - before forming an opinion.

Sunday night was the Memphis premiere of Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory. It is easily my favorite of the Paradise Lost documentaries, and not just because of the "happy" ending. It was well-done, going back over the trials and subsequent developments just enough to make it stand alone for those completely unfamiliar with the case. The supporters who have seen the previous documentaries are not bored with repeated information, because a great deal of the footage was not used in the first two.

There were clips that made the audience boo, applaud, and laugh - even when crying would have been more appropriate. Case in point: Dale Griffis, a "cult expert," was testifying for the prosecution. The defense asked what classes he took to earn his PhD.
     "None," the expert said.
     It was already known that his PhD was a mail order degree, but to have completed it with no coursework? The defense requested he not be allowed as a witness since he was not an accredited expert like he claimed.

Judge David Burnett overruled the request.

Why? Because, according to Burnett, an expert does not need to have a degree. Someone could have a "third grade education," research the subject of their choice and be considered an expert in Arkansas courts. "I’m not sure in Arkansas or in any other state that you have to have any kind of degree to be an expert in a particular field." For the record, I am now an expert in psychology and decoupage. My degrees are in the mail.

After the screening there was going to be a Q&A with filmmaker Bruce Sinofsky, but he was ill and unable to make it to Memphis.

Instead, we got Jason Baldwin.

Jason Baldwin, producer Jonathan Silberberg, Memphis Flyer reporter Chris Davis // Photo is my own.
I can't explain how inspirational it was to hear Jason speak. He's easily the most optimistic person I've ever met, which is exponentially more impressive when you consider his circumstances.

He was sentenced to life in prison when he was a teenager, despite repeatedly proclaiming his innocence and there being no evidence linking him to the crime. He grew up in prison. He was released at 34 by pleading guilty while still maintaining innocence - only because he wanted to save his friend on death row.
     An audience member asked if he would have taken the deal if no one's life was at stake, and he said no. He compromised all he had been fighting for nearly two decades and swallowed his pride to make sure his friend would not be killed. The clip of Damien thanking Jason never fails to make me cry.

Another emotional moment happened towards the end of the Q&A session. A girl sitting in the front row asked if Jason had talked with any of the victims' families. He said he hadn't, but would like to. Everyone leaned forward, straining to hear her soft spoken voice. She went on about how there were six victims that day - the three dead boys and the three rotting in jail. Audience members looked at each other, wondering what she was rambling about, but Jason's eyes never left hers.

"My favorite color is black," she continued. "My favorite band is Metallica. My name is Amanda Hobbs [victim Steve Branch's half-sister] and I think you are innocent." She got up and left immediately after her statement; Jason's lawyer followed her out. I hope they got to speak in private after the event; I can't imagine how emotional that would be for both of them.

Jason is just now learning to drive. He thinks cell phones are something out of a science fiction movie (remember, he was locked up in 1994, in Arkansas…). He's considering colleges and thinking about law school. He's excited about seeing concerts and going to Disneyland. He may have "grown up" in prison, but now that he's back in the real world, he's sixteen again.

He wants to live life to the fullest without holding grudges or being bitter, and that inspires the hell out of me. How many times have I let spilled coffee or a flat tire ruin my day? Meanwhile, there's someone who's never experienced that, who would have loved to worry about going to a meeting with stained pants or fretted over how much a new tire would cost. Those worries are so trivial compared to wondering how much longer you'll be in jail or if the courts will actually believe you're innocent. It really puts things into perspective.

If you're interested in the case and want to learn more, I highly recommend:
WM3.org
Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000)
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (filmed 2011, airing on HBO in January)
Devil's Knot by Mara Leveritt (a Little Rock journalist who covered the case from the beginning and continues to do so)

Climbing the Tower

2011-11-07T09:02:00.003-06:00

Continuing my historical church obsession, Laura and I went to see the beautiful Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Rye.

After exploring the cathedral itself, Laura and I decided to climb up the bell tower to check out the view from the roof. Let me say right now that Laura is scared of heights, and I am claustrophobic - maybe that will give you a vague idea of how hard our hearts were pumping when we started, and how much adrenaline was coursing through our veins when we finished.

Start climbing these stairs. Not too bad, right?

Pause to look out the window. Not the best view,
but better than facing what comes next...

No camera deception - they really are that narrow.
Turn sideways and suck your stomach in.

These stairs were sturdy and wide (in comparison),
but the rafters overhead were dangerously low.

You've made it to the bell room!

I should have said this at the beginning, but make sure to time your
climb well before or after the hour, or else you might go deaf.

Climb up a ladder that reminds you of rickety attic steps. Almost there!

Cross this little platform, and there's the door out.

The view that greets you is undeniably spectacular. Walk around all four sides
and check out the different scenery. An old castle, green fields, waterways,
red roofs, the graveyard from up high.

Don't be afraid to lean against the stone wall when the wind blows so
incredibly hard, you're sure you'll fly away with it.

Make sure you check out the alternative views.