Inching Towards Summer

April came in like a lion.

I know that's not the correct saying, but this year, April is behaved a little March-like if you know what I mean.

Snow. Freezing winds. Drastic temperature drop. Did I mention snow? It felt like some kind of cruel trick, an April Fool's Day joke taken a step to far. I think I only care because I'm not longer of the driving class and my subway walk is ten minutes long.

April. My birthday month. My step closer to 40 years old. Here we are and all I can do is look towards August.

At the end of March, I went down to Atlanta to speak to a class of undergraduates from Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. I spoke about writing Fiction, the African American literary community, publishing, etc. It was a fantastic experience for me and I think the students got something out of it as well.

Now we near the end of May.

I've made a public declaration to finish my novel by the end of August in this lovely (though a bit inaccurate at times) profile written of me at What Weekly.

I'm finishing my 6th (gasp) year as a high school college counselor and I've never felt more confident in the work I do (sometimes you just have to get away). And I'm hoping that this confidence leads me to more fiction writing.

Other big things:

I'll be reading at Atomic Books on June 9th at 7PM. I'll be sharing the stage with the fantastic Thea Brown and Connie Scozzaro!

I've been using my subway time wisely by knitting and reading and reading some more.

Books I've loved so far this year:

The Sellout, Paul Beatty
The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Ngyuen
The Nest, Cynthis D'Aprix Sweeney (liked more than loved)
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, Elena Ferrante
The Story of a Lost Child, Elena Ferrante
We Love you Charlie Freeman, Kaitlyn Greenidge

Ever So Slowly

I'm writing again.

Not a lot.

Just a little.

And things are coming along.

Ever so slowly.

I like it this way.

I also hate it this way.

Two weeks ago I dusted off some novel pages and read them to a crowd. A few things happened that surprised me. First, I wasn't nervous. I am always nervous when I have to get up in front of an audience and say anything. My nervousness reaches its pinnacle when I have to read my own work. Last summer, when I was invited to read at Politics and Prose for Kimbilio, terror was the only thing on my mind. Family came in from Philly and Virginia to hear me. My cousin videotaped (is that a thing or do we just say recorded now?) it, Dolen Perkins Valdez was the main attraction. It was both one of the best experiences I've had as a writer but also one of the most stress-inducing. It went fine. I read. People clapped. My parents looked proud. My hands would not be still the entire time. I clutched the sides of my dress the same way I'd done when I delivered my grandfather's Eulogy, which was the last time I read something I'd written in public.

While I cannot say for sure why I wasn't nervous. I have a suspicion that it has more to do with the work than anything else.  I am, I realized, confident in the project that I've been working on for so long. Far more confident than I should be considering how long it's taking/how little time I've had to devote to it.

Starting this week--maybe tomorrow--I haven't picked a day, I'm going to attempt to write 2 pages a day for forty days. Consider this my religion.
Usually teaching Fiction inspires me to write more but that's not happening with the same kind of east as it used to.


Book Update:

Just finished reading: The Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson (I cried on the subway reading this. That seems like endorsement enough.)
Currently reading: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Listening to: Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

Knitting Update:

Honey Cowl--Unfinished
Fetching Gloves--Unfinished

Summer 2015 Wrap-Up Part. I

I had a dream that I had written a blog post in the last six months.

It must have been a dream because when I signed in I was surprised to find that I'd written nothing.

Hmm.

The post I thought I had written was all about the books I planned to read this summer. You know, the requisite "I'm gonna read all these books this summer!" post, which inevitably becomes a source of intense shame when, at the end of the summer, I've read less than half those books.

So, I guess I saved myself some good, old-fashioned, Catholic school shaming.

I actually did read some books this summer.

Loving Day, Mat Johnson
Balm, Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Sula, Toni Morrison
The Stranger, Albert Camus ( I don't think I'd read it since my freshman year of college.)
Snow, Bird, Boy, Helen Oyeymi (Let's pretend she's not 30 years old, okay?)
'Till The Well Runs Dry, Lauren Francis Sharma

Note: This summer I became obsessed with the idea of "twinned books". I re-read The Stranger in the hopes that I'd also read "The Mersault Investigation". I have a whole list of classic works and their modern counterparts.

 This leads me to "Books I started and have yet to finish."

The Meursault Investivagion, Kamel Daoud
My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante (I'm going to blame not finishing this one one something really annoying and pretentious: I want to read it in Italian and I have not been able to connect with my friend who brought me a copy back from Italy. There. Super pretentious.)


Ask me about it.

Basically what this list has taught me is that I didn't read nearly enough books and probably watched way too many episodes of "Criminal Minds" this summer. 

Current life reading plan: I now live in New York City and will have a 50 minute commute to work every day and a 2 hour and 40 minute commute to Baltimore every weekend to see the husband and the cat, I can read on the subway, train, or bus, which should greatly increase my capacity to read books.

Oh, right, I got married and now have a husband and a cat. We got the cat first.

More on that later.

Writers, Writers, Everywhere

On Saturday I saw a friend who told me how much she liked the blog. The blog I hardly ever think about or publish on.  On this icy, wet, but oddly warm, day, I feel inspired to write. I also just finished teaching my Fiction Writing class and that always inspires me to write.

Last week was an incredibly busy one. The reading series I host at work had its kickoff event last Thursday. We hosted three poets: Dora Malech, Will Schutt, and James Arthur. Our incredibly talented librarian Jessica, wrote the event up on our school's library blog. You can read all about the reading here. 

In my introduction that evening, I spoke about how I've had to learn to enjoy poetry. It's quite lovely to be able to say that I like it and mean it, this is largely in thanks to the talented poets who shared their work with us last Thursday.  

Thursday also was also made special by LaShonda Katrice Barnett, who visited my class to read from her new novel, Jam on the Vine, and talk about the writing life. The kids were inspired and I made a new friend. She also recorded me telling Amy Bloom how much I love her. So you know what, EVERYONE WON on Thursday.

What's next? Well, Asali Solomon will be reading at FriendsLit next Tuesday, March 10th. Her new novel, Disgruntled, was released back in February. I first learned of Asali back in 2007 when I was headed to Iowa. I devoured her collection of short stories, Get Down. Those stories did many things for as a human but as a writer, they gave me confidence.

I love writers. I love books.

Books! Glorious Books!

The truth is, I don't read as much as I would like to. I mean, I don't read for pleasure as much as I would like to. Even when I have the time to read, I don't. I knit (sometimes). I watch tv (too much really). I bake. January 2015 has been rather good to me as far as finding time to read is concerned. I finsished two books: Team Seven, by Marcus Burke and All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Both were so good I couldn't put them down. I started and finished the Doerr in one day, yesterday in fact. I took it with me on my train ride down to DC and between the round trip train ride (about two hours), and being home alone with the cat, I finished just before midnight.

It felt good to binge read rather than binge watch episodes of a television series.

Up next: A Tale for the Time Being  by Ruth Ozeki. A friend is moderating a discussion between her and Claire Vaye Watkins in a little over a week and both my student and grown folks books club are reading it for February and March respectively. 

2014 was kind of a big year for me.

I stopped blogging. (Though I'm not really sure why.)

I got engaged.

I found purpose through Writers in Baltimore Schools.

I knit an Elizabeth Zimmerman Pi Shawl. Really.

My short story, La Sepoltura was published by Amazon's weekly literary journal, Day One.

I started a reading series called FriendsLit and Porochista Khakpour and Julia Fierro were my first visitors.

I helped organize and lead a Write-In on Ferguson for high school and middle school students. Their poetry was published in both the Washington Post and at www.blackwordsmatter.org.

My friend circle expanded and now feels really, really, complete.

I took two road trips. The first to Iowa City, Iowa in March. The second was to St. Louis, MO in August.

La Sepoltura was anthologized by Day One Year One, Best New Stories and Poems 2014.

It was a pretty good year but I expect 2015 to be even better.

Hiatus

I had to take a little work related break from the blog. I should be back in action later this week with reviews of Goodebox, Birchbox, Yuzen.

Until then....

Why I Can't Sleep

For years I went around saying that I never wanted to have children but then three distinct things happened to make me (kind of) change my mind. First, the election of Barack Obama as President of the United State. I remember watching the news and hearing interviews in which Black Americans recounted for the first time that they felt as though they could tell their children that they could be the President of the USA and have it not be a lie. Hearing those statements made something ping in the back of my brain: I didn't want to raise children in a society where they would be limited by the color of their skin. Really, who would? Many do but to be honest, I get that hardship and passing it on didn't seem right. But then we got a President who looked like the people I came from, and that made me see this country in a different light. Second, we re-elected him. Third, I fell in love and thought, Sure, I could reproduce with this man. Now, nothing is perfect. Obama is struggling. There are people out there that refer to him as the nigger President. Relationships eventually lose their glossy newness (now we talk about Drain-o before bed, pick out sheets, and fold each others underwear). I find happiness in the mundane. Even still, I feel hopeful, like I could maybe have a baby.

I felt hopeful.

Because people still call Barack Obama a nigger and even if the Airman and I have children, his whiteness will never overshadow their blackness and that blackness is still so undervalued in this society. After the Newtown shootings I was actually afraid to go to work. One morning I cried so hard that the Airman told me that maybe I should take a day off. I felt fearful of the world. Of my world as though any minute it would devour me and I would never be heard from again.

I find myself feeling similarly in the aftermath of George Zimmerman's acquittal.  I'm afraid for my brother and my cousins and my uncles. I'm afraid for my friends and for their sons because it really does feel like open season for the hunting of young, Black, men. And now I'm reminded (because when you live in a bubble, it is so very easy to forget) that it's not just the neighborhood watch or the police you have to be afraid of; it's that fact that no matter how hard America tries, no matter how civilized and polished we try to appear for the rest of the world, we are still a nation full of hate.

How could I even begin to think of raising a child in all of this?

I can't. I don't think I will.

Earlier today I thought: My White friends are so lucky. They can have babies who will unlikely ever find themselves in Trayvon Martin's position. They might never know what it's like to be followed around a store or be called a nigger or carry the burden of being a member of a race some deem worthless. But really, they are not luckier than the Black babies being born today. As long as we continue to demean and devalue any human lives, we are all suffering. Whether or not we can see it, it's true.

Even knowing this, I'm  back to thinking that I don't want babies.

Knitting

I talked about the boxes. I talked about the books. Now here is the knitting. I've been intermittently working on Jared Flood's Guernsey Wrap for about a month now. By intermittent I mean that I knit on it for two hours, makes lots of progress, and then put it down and forget I started it. Dumb me. It's really an easy pattern to follow and the end result is beautiful. I'm going to have to make another one because, while I love the color, I hate the yarn. I'm not even sure why I hate it. Maybe because it's not 100% wool? Which makes me wonder: Why did I buy it to begin with? Oh well. Here is a picture of it more than 50% done. At least I think it's more than 50% done. I'm not good with numbers. 

Please be kind, it needs blocking. And I did make a mistake but I was too lazy to try and fix it.

I do promise to talk about the writing in a couple of days. There is a lot to process.

Summer Reading Update

Damn there are some good books out there right now. Since school ended I've done some serious devouring of books (I've also worked on my own book but more about that later) and I even joined a book club. I think in an earlier post I listed  the books I was planning to read this summer. 

I don't remember what those books are. Here is what I have read so far: 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I loved every moment of this book (until the very end). 

Hold it Til it Hurts by T. Geronimo Johnson. I just finished this last night. Seriously, Nimo? Seriously? This book is awesome. I read it in two days and would not go to sleep without finishing it. Haunting and beautifully written. There were parts that made me cringe and parts that made me laugh and parts that made my heart race. Everyone needs to read this book. Today. Do it now. I'm not kidding. 

Then I also read not been able to finish The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obrecht. I will but....

Still left: Anna Karenina, The Brothers Karamazov, and A Visit from the Good Squad. I might go back and read The Night Circus since it was on the original list. 

I might not read any of them. I might read other things. But at least I'm reading! 

Boxes, Boxes, Everywhere

Okay. Here it goes. I have an addiction. To subscription boxes. This is not uncommon but lately I have found that people are beginning to associate me with boxes (This might be because I am addicted to them and talk about them ALL the time. Whatever.). So here is the rundown on all the boxes I currently receive.

Lets start with the gateway drug box:

Birchbox

      

What is it: a monthly subscription service that focuses on makeup, skin, and healthcare products with the occasional lifestyle product.

How much: $10 a month. 

Why I like it: the cost is pretty low and for ever product you receive you can write a review for 10 points. After you accumulate 100 points you get $10 to spend in the Birchbox shop. You also get points when you buy items in the shop. It's become my go-to for all my hair and skin care products. They are also pretty generous with 20% off deals and bonus points. They also get a lot of praise from me for their excellent customer service and super fast shipping. 

Next up:

MyGlam bag from Ipsy

What is it? A monthly subscription service that send 4-5 samples and full sized makeup, skin, and hair care products. 

How much: $10 a month

Why I like it: To start, I really that each month you get a brand new makeup  bag. Now, I know that I don't need 12 makeup bags but when something isn't quite my taste, I put it in my pile o' gifts ( like last months cheetah and neon green bag--it will go to my cousin at some point). I also like that they send a lot of full sized items. Some are high end and others you might find in a drug store hit that's rare. Recently they have been sending their customers different items based on their beauty profiles so there is  more variation in the boxes.  I've been subscribing since November and intend to keep it for the foreseeable future. 

Popsugar Must Have

What is it? Popsugar is  a monthly subscription box that includes a variety of products that are considered Must Haves for the month. I've received scarves,books, make up, perfume, workout DVDs, jewelry etc.

How much: $35 a month but the contents of the box are almost always worth $100 or more. 

Why I like it: I've been introduced to a bunch of new things that I probably would never have heard of.  I also really love the brands they send out.  And $35 isn't much to spend when you get so much back. Embarrassingly enough I was going to buy the new Devil Wears Prada book but decided against it at the last minute which is a good thing because Popsugar sent it to me in the June box. 

If you use the code REFER5 you will get your first box for only $30!

Bespoke Post (Box of Awesome)

What is it? You know I'm not 100% sure. It's a box geared towards men but I find that often but they send something that I might use myself. The current month they're offering a fun cocktail mixing ser and last month was a was a Dopp kit  that went to the Airman. 

How much is it?  It's a little on the spendy side at $45 a month.  My three month subscription was purchased on Groupon.  the initial price was $75 but I had a credit so I only paid $15 for the three months. The nice thing is that you can either opt in for the current box or choose your box from the past ones that are still available. On the first of each month you get an email with the current box and then you have until the fifth of the month to decide whether or not you want that box. 

I probably won't get this every month after my 3 month subscription runs out. It's just a little too costly. That said I will probably send the list and if they send me something that I really like or that I think the Airman will really like, I would probably buy it.

If you refer a friend you get a $25 credit.

Conscious Box

What is it: A monthly subscription box that sends out samples of natural and organic products ranging from cleaning supplies to food to skincare.

How much is it? $19.99 a month 

Why I like it: I'm on the second month of a three month deal I purchased on Plum District so the cost was only $10 a month for the first three months. What I like about CB is the variety of items they send in one box and every box is completely PACKED. So in addition to discovering some really great items, there are a lot of them. You can review each products for points towards full sized versions of the things they send but I think it takes too long to do all 15 so I'm not really consistent about taking advantage of this perk.  While I have enjoyed receiving Conscious Box,  the July box will be my last for a while--I can't justify the cost even if I've used a lot of the products.


Glossybox

What is it? A monthly subscription box that sends out luxury, deluxe makeup, skincare, and haircare samples

How much: $21 a month

Why I like it: Do I like it? I can never tell. They have my favorite packaging of all the boxes I receive. That's something, right? I mean I can't seem to quit them so they're doing something right. My main issues with GB: terrible shipping. This is ALWAYS my last box to arrive each month and I don't know that it's worth it to get a foil packet of something that costs $100+ for a full sized item. It's unlikely that I'll purchase something that is that spendy BUT maybe I would if could use it for a week and see it in action. I was going to cancel after July. I really might this time. Seriously. (But I do like it so I probably won't).

Glossybox does give you points if you fill out your survey or refer a friend (see link above) the only problem is their survey is annoying.

Goodebox

What is it? a monthly subscription that sends a 5-6 samples of natural hair, skin, and makeup items.

How much: $16

Why I like it: I always use everything in this box. I thought I had canceled if for July (need to stop with the boxes!!!) but I guess I didn't because I got a box this month and it was awesome! (My review should be up for it in the next couple of days). GoodeBox is pretty good about sending decently sized items each month and they products are always of the highest quality. I'm probably going to resubscribe to this one.  The one downer: no points or referral perks of any kind.

Last one! I swear!

Yuzen

What is it? A quarterly subscription box that sends natural and organic items.

How much: It used to be $26 but now it is $33 a month

Why I like it: This is a pretty awesome box. I wish it was monthly but they send some really amazing products like candles, my current favorite lip palette (from Suki), and various lotions and oils and whatnot. The Suki lip palette cost $31from the company and it's one that I will likely purchase in the future. I have to say, of all my boxes, I have probably used everything in my Summer Yuzen box. It's probably why i don't care that the box has gone up in price. It's been completely worth it every time (well, I've only gotten two). They're also pretty popular right now because there's a waiting list for those of you who want to get in on the action.


That's it. At least I think that's it.
I will probably rotate some of these out so I can try other boxes but for now....

And I'm Off!!

Summer travels have begun and I must say I am off to an auspicious start. I was scheduled to fly to (Stop#1)San Diego for Alayne and Alex's wedding through Kansas City, MO but I got an email from the kind folks at Southwest telling me that my flight was delayed. Normally I don't care about such things but seeing as though I have a connection to make I called them just in case. Good thing. I was not going g to make it to SD in any reasonable way had I not changed flights.  Now I'm flying only 20 minutes late and the best part: I get to fly through Vegas!!! There goes all $11 in my pocket right now. Maybe this trip will be a good way to end a week that left a lot to be desired. 

I'm Anxious! I'm Annoyed! I'm Happy! I'm Manic?

I was going to post a picture of what I look like after a night of anxiety dreams, but no one (besides the poor Airman) needs to see that. It ain't pretty.

Why the anxiety?

1. Traveling. I'm doing a lot of it this summer. This is a good thing but it each trip has some stress attached to it. On the docket: San Diego, Georgia, and Taos, New Mexico.

2. Writing. A lot of my travels are writing centered. AHHHHHHHHH. That's all.

Then, I'm also annoyed. Why?

1. I haven't won the lottery. Why hasn't this happened to me yet? It could be because I never play the lottery but I also think the universe hasn't gotten the hint that I'd like to win.

2. The freaking post office didn't deliver my Glossybox or the box of hair products I ordered from Birchbox using my points. Any other time they just leave it but not yesterday. I signed their little card so hopefully they will deliver them today.

3. Which reminds me...I haven't reviewed the Bespoke Box I bought Mark or my Ipsy from May.

I am excited about the date night the Airman and I had last night: Turkish food and Manhattans.

I should be like...But I'm really like...

It's a three day weekend and I should be like: ITS A THREE DAY WEEKEND!!!

Instead I'm like: Oh, it's a three day weekend? Oh. Okay. I guess.

I'm tired, y'all. And though there is an end in sight (to the school year), my schedule outside of school is packed.

Next weekend, is the only weekend I have free the entire month of June.

In preparation for my coming travels, I started knitting again. Inspired by Ann Rushton I decided to make a Citron shawlette. I'm using Madeline Tosh Merino light. As said said, it's "DIVINE".

It's itty bitty now but I bet by the end of the weekend it will be a lot bigger! Ann says it's endless...I can see how. I'm already annoyed by the increases and decreases, but in the end I'll have something purdy just in time for...Summer?

Oh and in other news, I just had a study abroad flashback. I'm tired and don't feel like having class (mostly because I have to be "on" when all I want to be is snuggled under my comforter watching Star Trek on Netflix---Yes, it's that kind of day)...So my flashback: The joys of a Kinder Uova or since mine came from Germany, a Kinder Überraschung. 

Transitions

As I start fully moving into the home I've been sharing with the Airman I am struck by how much I've accumulated on 5 months. There are the normal things I accumulate: books, yarn, recipes torn from the pages of Real Simple, nail polish....Now I have the contents of 5 months worth of subscription box items to throw in their. Since my stay here has often felt temporary, I have never truly taken then time to organize. Now that I know what is here is only the beginning, I have to re-evaluate the way I live, with another person, in a physical space. This is a challenge for many reasons but the biggest being that the Airman and I have hugely different views on how to live. I won't go into specifics but sufficed to say that we both have to make some changes. I have to be (a lot) more organized and he had to learn that sometimes I'm not super organized. I'm hoping (especially since I have given up my house) that we can learn to really live together.

Tonight I'm cleaning the house. Scrubbing down the kitchen, putting my things away, organizing the bathroom ( I do sometimes miss Odenton where we each had out own bathroom), washing clothes, and throwing out my many empty boxes. Basically, I'm trying to help us have a good start to this new adventure. 

Thankfully there is Netflix (Star Trek TOS!!), a grassy Sauvignon Blanc, and a really effing good steak and arugula salad to get me through the night. 

I'm halfway there but here's a picture of my progress.

Summer Reading Plans

Note: I've been posting a lot this week for two reasons: 1) I assigned a social media personal essay project to my students and I thought I'd do it with them by putting more down on this this blog. I have a perfectly valid reason to update during the school day.  2) I am freaking obsessed with subscription boxes. OBSESSED I tell you!

But back to the original reason for this post. 

This school year has had it's own challenges but overall it has been a pretty good one. I got to teach classes I actually felt passionate about (Fiction Writing and Literature of the Middle East). I liked my students (and I'm not just saying this because they might actually spend some time reading this blog. Lastly, we have a new schedule that actually allows me, as an administrator/teacher to get things done during the day so I don't find myself working from home until 9PM.

The year is rapidly coming to a close and I'm looking forward to spending the summer reading book after book and writing page after page.

Here's what is on the docket for my summer reading.

Maus I and II. Why? Besides being excellent, this is actually required reading for the kiddos at school. I've never read them even though they've been on my shelf all year.

The Night Circus (Erin Moganstern) Why? I bought a copy recently and why not? Looks like it will be a good read.

The Brothers Karamazov. (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) Why? Because I've my copy for a million years and there is absolutely no reason why I have not read this book already.

Anna Karenina. (Leo Tolstoy)  Why? See above.  I went to see the movie and I found it to be absolutely stunning to watch. But also, I bought my copy in Minneapolis on a college admission recruiting trip. I haven't been on a recruiting trip since 2007.....

Hold it Til it Hurts (T. Geronimo Johnson)Why? Because Nimo is a great writer and former classmate. Also, he was nominated for a PEN/Faulkner award!

A Visit From the Goon Squad (Jennifer Egan) It's one that I've owned without reading for far too long.


There you have it. I hope that by the time the summer is over I have read more than this short listing of books. I know that I have at least 10 others at home that I have yet to read. I'm going to aim for a book a week for the month of June and give two weeks each to the Russians. If I can do that, August will be the perfect time to add a new list of short works that I'll consider using for Fiction Writing in the fall and Literature of the Middle East in the Spring. I also want to start developing a new course for the 2014-15 year so that Middle East becomes an every other year course.


Anyone have a couple of good book suggestions?

Eulogy

Two weeks ago my Grandfather passed away. When my Father called to give me the bad news I was immediately devastated by the fact that I would not get to have another long conversation with my Grandfather about the English language, his desire to learn French, or listen to him talk about any of the various projects he was working on.  Because I could not do those things again I wanted to share with people what I had always found to be so special about my Grandfather, so I offered to write his eulogy.

It pretty much wrote itself. Stanley Williams was probably the most brilliant man I have ever come into contact with. He had no formal education having dropped out of high school before graduating (he later earned his GED I think sometime in his 70s). Still, I have never known anyone so devoted to learning.

I am lucky in that respect. Though I no longer have living grandparents, I did inherit a love of learning from all of them.

Here is the eulogy I delivered in honor of my Grandfather last Saturday.

Before I could really begin to write this eulogy in honor of my Grandfather, Stanley Eugene Williams, it seemed fitting to first look up the word and share what I learned about it. I already knew its definition but I did not know that it comes from the Greek work eulogia, and that in is original state it means, simply, to praise.  I think my Grandfather would appreciate that today, as we say our final goodbyes, we are learning something.

Many of you think of Stanley Williams as the son of Sydney and Anna, the husband of Grace and father to Ruth, Gene, Ricky, Alice, Steven, Ann and David. You know that he had 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. You are also probably aware that he was an electrician and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 98.

There are many things that you might not know. 

Stanley Williams was a grammarian. He devoted a great deal of his time over the last few years, studying and breaking down the English language. He delighted in finding grammatical mistakes in the New York Times and he could diagram a sentence better than any English teacher I know.

He was a craftsman and an artist. Over the years, using materials he had around the house, he built several dollhouses. On one occasion I noted that the doorknob on one of the houses was very unique. He told me that he had driven around Philadelphia looking for the right one put on the dollhouse he was working on at the time. Eventually he found one--I don’t remember where--but when he looked for a miniature replica, he could not find one. So he did what was natural to him, he took out his tools and created a perfect replica.

My Grandfather knew that the capitol of Turkmenistan is Asghabat and that the capitol of Eritrea is Asmara. In fact, if you gave him a blank map of the world he could fill in every country and capitol from memory.  An amateur cartographer he rearranged the boarders of fallen communist countries in his worn almanac.

Stanley Williams believed that you could learn just about anything within the pages of a book. I distinctly remember him telling us that he had learned to swim from and book and had also learned to drown proof himself too. Though he might have been kidding about the last part.

I asked my cousins if there were any special memories they had of our Grandfather. They remember his quizzing us on American and World History, the capitols of every state in the US, the nature walks, going out on his canoe (which had a motor), projects which, included building a skeleton and a model of the human brain, or $20 to see how many push ups you could do.

For many of us it seems strange to be here. I know that I had long been convinced that Stanley Williams was going to live for nothing short of forever. But I also know that when one creates great works of art, like he did with his dollhouses, or devotes themselves to the pursuit of learning and then passes on that knowledge, as he always did, down to his children, grandchildren, then one is most certainly blessed with immortality.

Life right now

Afternoon treats with the English Department

Afternoon treats from my department head, Helen. These beauties come from Pastisserie Poupon. 

In Case You Were Wondering...

...What I've been doing since August, well here's the rundown you're dying for!

Cooking

The Airman likes to eat out. I like to stay in (stop the giggles, sometimes I do like to stay in). So the compromise (in my head) has been that I cook restaurant quality dishes at home!

Here's a list of some things I've made:

Lobster Mac and Cheese
Molten Chocolate Cake
Chicken Curry
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Beef Borgiugnon
Coq au Vin
Garlic Shirimp with Couscous and Snow Peas

This is just 2013...I can't remember all the yummies from 2012

Knitting

Socks!
Scarves!
Fingerless gloves!
Hats!

Teaching

Fiction Writing to high school juniors and seniors
We read: Barry Hannah, Joan Didion, ZZ Packer, Tobias Wolff, Bret Anthony Johnston, Annie Dillard, Raymond Carver, Anne Lamott, Justin Torres, Joan Silber, Jeffery Eugenides, Russell Banks, Stuart Dybek, Chris Offutt, Edward P. Jones, Dorothy Allison, Joyce Carol Oates, Andre Dubus, Jamaica Kincaid, George Saunders, Denis Johnson, and Ann Rushton

Literature of the Middle East
We read: Midaq Alley by Naugib Mahfouz
We are reading: Woman at Point Zero by Nawal el-Saadawi
We will read: Selections from Tablet and Pen edited by Reza Aslan

I've also been teaching knitting classes at Lovelyarns here in Hampden, Baltimore!

What I've become obsessed with?

Nail Polish!

What I have become REALLY obsessed with?

Subscription boxes.

This may be a good reason as to why I'm always broke. But the Airman get so many packages in the mail! I wanted packages too. I really only subscribe regularly to PopSugar, Birchbox, and Ipsy. Yuzen is new to me and it's only quarterly so I don't feel quite as bad. I got a really cheap intro price for Glossybox so it's not likely I'll keep it after this first one. I've limited myself to $50 a month in boxes. Which is what I'd spend on going out for a night.

Note: I'm including links. If you subscribe through my links I might get some kind of credit. I apologize in advance for making you obsessed too...

PopSugar Must Have
Birchbox
 Ipsy MyGlam
Yuzen


What I've Read:

See above under teaching and tack on a whole lot of high school essays.
Also:
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
The Twelve by Justin Cronin
And I recently re-read The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer.