It's time to Get Lit!

Yes, how sad is it that I'm posting about my job? However, this week, Get Lit! is my life. So, if you're in the Spokane area, you best be going to some of the wonderful events that we've set up for you!

If you don't know, Get Lit! is the literary festival in Spokane, which I work for. There are some awesome authors coming (including Jane Smiley and Laurie Notaro, can we say I'm excited?) plus workshops and panels, the whole shebang. Needless to say, I won't be having much time to myself anytime soon. Maybe I'll get to talk to people again come April 20th when all this is over, if I'm not passed out for two days that is.

And now, for you're viewing pleasure, here is a picture of me standing on a milk crate, reading to the good folks of Northtown Mall. Oh, Get Lit!

Life in a Nutshell

Well, once again, it's been a while since I've updated this. Here is what you need know if you want a recap of my life:

* I went to Portland (which I loved) for a long weekend in January with the girls. While there, we went to Voodoo Donuts, Powell's, a variety of thrift stores, and I let our friend Michelle cut off all my hair.

* I went to AWP in Chicago in February. It was absolutely amazing. I loved Chicago. I loved the conference. I loved seeing my parents and old friends and professors. All in all, fantastic. If you want stories (and there are some good ones), just ask.

* Anthony came to visit over his spring break. It was a good time (even though he had to spend it in Spokane.) He slept on the couch with our dog, who got very angry when he left. He went with me to readings and dinners and drank with Torren. Unfortunately, it was cold and snowed the whole time. However, I don't think this should defer other potential visitors.

* The Get Lit! Festival (which I work for) is almost here. I have become, as my boss puts it, the "Get Lit Whore." Seriously. I've started talking to random people in elevators about festival events. Come April 10th-19th I will probably be talking to no one, because I will be taxiing authors around and helping put out various fires and generally not sleeping. See me the week of April 20th. I promise I will be much happier.

* My thesis is not finished. There, I said it. I need to turn it in in a month if I want to graduate on time and I'm mildly terrified. However, my writing schedule has gotten much better, so that's a plus.

* I went to the Spokane St. Patrick's Day Parade. Yeah...they don't know how to do that here. Not at all. Although it did have the "cool bus." Yeah, that was the excitement.

* OK, here's the hard one if I haven't told you already. Are you ready for this? Torren and I have decided that we are staying in Spokane for another year. Oh, how I wish I could hear the reaction to this from everyone who is just learning this information. I've gotten a lot of silent pauses and awkward noises for this one. If I haven't told you this directly yet, well, it's because it's hard to tell. And yeah, call me. We need to chat. And, seriously consider beautiful Spokane, Washington for your summer vacation. Because we do really miss you all.

Well, that's life in a nutshell.

~love

Christmas Time and the last four months in one sentance

I haven't blogged in several months, and the truth is I'm not sure I have a whole lot to say right now. Obviously, our nephew Ethan was born in August, I started school and my GSA with the press in September, I just finished the quarter, etc. You all know all of this.

So what's new and exciting? Not much. We're not coming home for Christmas, which is a bit depressing, but Torren and I have set up our own Charlie Brown Christmas of sorts. We have a tree and stocking and DeQuincey is very unhappy about all of it. Spokane is also in the middle of a blizzard, which is tons of fun. The amount of snow isn't all that bad, but the people out here have no idea what they are doing in it, so it makes the driving a little rough.

I am currently in the middle of a three week hiatus from both school and the press, and I have never been so happy to be away from somewhere for a while in my life. I'm using the time to work on my thesis and my reading list for next quarter, which is good, and I'm really thinking finishing my degree on time in June is completely possible.

Well, that's all for now. Merry Christmas!

Freaking Hilarious

DeQuincy, ABBA, and Eastward Bound

I've been neglecting my blog lately, and I'm going to try to remedy that. At least, until we go to Ohio in a few days, ha.

Anyway, DeQuincy has gotten very accustomed to his new home. He's fully potty trained now, and his barking issues have gotten better. We have also learned, and now we buy him only indestructible dog toys. Who knew a dog so little had such a big bite? He also is quite the jumper, he can get up on the couch (and more recently my desk chair) easily and when he jumps off he's more like a catapult, sometimes ending up all the way in the dining room from his launch.

Mostly I've been working at the Press and attempting to do some writing. In hopes of stopping myself from getting distracted, Torren and I constructed a wall of such around my desk area. And by wall, I mean picture hanging wire with two heavy cloth shower curtains strung across. Yes, it is a little ghetto, but it's also considerably cheaper then, say, moving to a two bedroom apartment. We'll see if it works. Hopefully when we get back I'll be able to put it to better use.

We're getting ready for our trip and are in no way packed or prepared. If anyone is surprised by this, well, you don't know me very well, do you? I generally would not be so concerned about this, except that my friend Geneva is staying at our apartment to watch the dog while we're gone, so I can not do my normal crazy midnight packing the night before, throwing stuff all over the apartment and figuring I'll just clean up when I get back.

Speaking of the trip, I am looking forward to some much needed r & r. While Spokane is growing on me, especially Spokane in the summer where the humidity is practically nonexistent, I need to get out of the office and the crazy traffic and just this state in general. Who knew I would ever miss the midwest so much?

When it has been hot here, Torren and I have often escaped to the movies. As everyone already knows, the new batman movie was absolutely amazing and everyone should see it if they haven't. Hancock? eh. Wanted? eh. Torren liked it, but it was a little more bloody then I generally enjoy. Sex and the City? Two hours of consumerist escapism that I'm embarrassed to admit I rather enjoyed. Mama Mia? Not anywhere near as good as the play, though still full of catchy ABBA songs. Although I'm not sure who told Pierce Brosnan he could sing. Or should sing. Also, probably not such a good idea to expose your spouse or boyfriend to this, ladies. Trust me. It's not worth it.

Well, that's it for now. Looking forward to seeing all of you!

Boring Post

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Between work, class, house sitting, and DeQuincy, I've barely had time to do anything, I have e-mails I still haven't read, it's a bit insane.

But! Now everything's over except work. I can't believe it's already July 10th, when did that happen? But I am counting the days till we head to Ohio. I'm in need of a break from work and Spokane in general.

So really I don't have much to say. Torren and I have to go flip flop shopping today because someone destroyed a couple...but other then that, not much is new.

Meet DeQuincy!

Torren and I adopted a puppy! Well, he's not actually a puppy, he's a year old long hair miniature dachshund! We brought him home yesterday and are happy to report he's adjusting nicely. Mostly he just sits in Torren's lap or sleeps. Hmmm...what is it they say about dogs and their owners? We named him DeQuincy, and yes, that is a literary reference. Here are our first pictures of the little guy. Enjoy!