December 31, 2008

Building the Fire for Writing

So I haven’t done any writing in a while – probably almost a month. I suppose I could feel guilty about that and worry that I’m not using my full talent. But the truth is that I’ve feel like I’ve been slowly building the fire of words in myself. I imagine my mind and spirit are full of dry kindling right now . . . pieces of experience and ideas that I’ve been setting aside for later. So I think when I get back to my writing practice, probably next week, I will have much to say and think about.

Do you folks ever feel this way, like you’re just storing up fuel for later? How do you do that? What happens when you start to write again?

* Filed by Andi at 8:49 am under Uncategorized
* 3 Comments

December 30, 2008

In-Between Days

Today, I find myself thinking I’m on one of those “in-between days,” those days that fall between events, between holidays, between work days, between plans. And I don’t like that I think that way. Why must I always be thinking that I have to be doing something major to be doing something? Am I this much bought into the American work ethic that I can’t just enjoy days off, get a few things done, relax, putter. . . . must I always be “doing something.”

Yesterday, a friend and I went to see Milk, the film about the assassination of San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first out, gay man to hold major public office in the U.S. It was brilliant as a film – Sean Penn was phenomenal as were most of the cast members. Plus, it was set in San Francisco, a city that I seem to love more now that I don’t live there. I really appreciated the complex story that the film tried to tell, and I was moved, once again, to remember that the struggle for gay rights is one of civil liberties. We have come so far, but we still have so far left to go.

After the film, we went over to the home of other friends’ and ate a great dinner of leftover soup, cheese, and bread. We laughed a lot. We shared stories. It was the way food should be enjoyed. Then, we played Guitar Hero. That was fun, even if I was really bad at it. The drums are particularly not my forte – but then singing and the base weren’t much better. But it was great to just relax with good friends and laugh – a lot, mostly at each other.

So there, yesterday was an in-between day – one in which I had no major plans and yet, because I didn’t feel the need to rigidly construct a schedule I had a relaxed, meaningful, special day. Perhaps I can see that happen more if I just let go a bit . . . . that phrase “live in the moment” seems strangely appropriate.

* Filed by Andi at 8:24 am under Uncategorized
* 2 Comments

December 28, 2008

A Couple of Book Reviews and More TBR

This morning I woke up stuffy headed and stiff with a cat sticking his whiskers in my face. It was not the best few moments of the day. But then I got up, made coffee, fed the pestering felines, and did some yoga – now, today looks bright and loose. Yeah.

So I thought I’d get a post written since I’ve been away all week with my parents in Virginia. We had a relaxing Christmas, and I hope you did, too.

While I was away, I did manage to finish two books.
1. Epic by John Eldridge. My mom gave me copies of the book to give away, so I thought I’d read it before I passed it along. It’s a brief but beautiful story of the way God acts out God’s love for us through the story of life on earth. Eldridge’s language is easy-going, and his ideas are simple but still profound. My favorite line came when he was describing the way that God love us; he said, “You have never been loved like this.” Wow! I stopped cold at that as I was reminded of how God fulfills our deepest longings and how our longings – for purpose and love and companionship and peace – all come from a God who is all of these things. Epic is a wonderful read, and if you’d like to read it, I have seven copies (Mom had them for her book group) to give away on a first-come, first-served basis. Just leave a comment with your email address, and I”ll get back to you to get your snail mail address if you’re one of the first seven.

2. I finished reading In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. This book, coupled with its predecessor, The Omnivore’s Dilemma has really changed my perspective on food. In this book, Pollan explores the way that nutritionism, the study of the nutrients in food, has led people to look at foods (or food-like products) as simply parts, now the whole, delicious, and complex things that they are. He gives very practical suggestions for how to eat – including don’t eat anything that your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as a food – and encourages simple moderation and wisdom in eating. I absolutely loved the book and would highly recommend it.

Of course, while I was home I also got a few new books including Small Eco Houses, a book of photographs and text about some of the most ingenious “eco houses” in the world. My favorite is an barn-like house with sliding panels that cover the windows at night making the house even more cozy and energy efficient. I also received Blessed Unrest, a book about the myriad small organizations and groups that are working for environmental equity and social justice on the planet; it’s a great read so far. Finally, I also received Five Acres and Independence, a book about how to start and manage a small farm like the one I am working to create. The book was written in the 1940s, so some of the advice – such as using arsenic based pesticides (!!) – is a bit out of date, but the basic premise – that I’ll need to work hard, learn a lot, and be wise – still holds very true.

So I keep reading and loving it. It’s so glorious to have a day ahead where I have great things planned – church this morning and a potluck dinner with friends tonight – but where I also have free time to mosey through the day languidly. I wish the same for you.

* Filed by Andi at 7:19 am under Book Recommendations
* 5 Comments

December 19, 2008

Holiday TBR

Here I am again – a month of semi-free time ahead of me, and I’m already overestimating how much I can read – can anyone relate?

But for the sake of a good laugh, here’s what I hope to read.
1. The latest edition of Best American Essays, ed. by Adam Gopnik.
2. On Working by Annie Liebovitz
3. The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
4. Crazy for God by Frank Schaeffer
5. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
6. Perfect on Paper: The MisAdventures of Wavery Bryson by Maria Murnane
7. And the other things i find along the way . . .

I doubt I will come anywhere near tackling this pile, but I will try.

So what will you read in the coming weeks?

* Filed by Andi at 10:13 am under Uncategorized
* 1 Comment

December 18, 2008

Good Stuff Thursday – Burdens are Lifted. . .

Today, of course, I revel in all that is good, and today is especially good. THE SEMESTER IS OVER. My grades are entered (as of fifteen minutes ago, just forty-five minutes before the deadline). I am so glad. Part of the reason that I love teaching so much is that I get a chance to celebrate a job well done twice a year. And if the semester didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, I get to try again in the spring. Woo hoo!!

I also want to celebrate my creative writing students. Their portfolios were professional, thoughtful, and contained some really stellar writing. Look out for these folks – they’ll be publishing before you know it.

This afternoon the celebration will continue when my colleagues and friends come over for a little post-semester gathering. Good wine, good friends, good conversation – excellent stuff.

I’m also celebrating beautiful men these days. I don’t know a special one in my life right now, but recently I’ve been struck by how creative, thoughtful and powerful men can be. Men who reach out into the world with vulnerable, compassionate hearts – wow!! (Women are spectacular, too, but I tend to celebrate them more regularly, so we’ll give props to the men today).

I should also celebrate the beautiful gifts I got from Kathy yesterday – Annie Liebovitz’s new book On Working, which is gorgeous, and the new collection Best American Essays, edited by Adam Gopnik. I now have even more great reading for over the break. Thanks, Kathy.

A few other great things – Snow Patrol, cat nip, fairy tales, days when the sky is almost lavender with cold, Christmas caroling with friends, the rhymes that little girls sing, babies who hold one of your fingers, and art . . . . .

Can you tell I’m a little manic with glee today? Won’t you join me. Dance around to your favorite album, run out and give a hoot of laughter in the yard, spin until you’re dizzy. Celebrate the day.

* Filed by Andi at 8:35 am under Uncategorized
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