Sunday, November 6, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday Letter - 12/14/10
The past week has been a busy one in the middle of several busy ones, but more than anything, it has been an opportunity to celbrate Tracy. Last Saturday, in San Antonio, she was hooded with her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and I am so proud of her.
On Wednesday, we drove to Tulsa (a drive we made for Thanksgiving, and will make again for Christmas) and spent the night with Win and Rob. On Thursday, we picked up Tracy's Dad and drove to San Antonio. On Friday, we were joined by Win and Rob, Vita (Tracy's Dad's wife), Tracy's Mom and her husband. So, there were 4 couples total. On Saturday, we all attended the graduation ceremony (not counting Tracy, who was involved) and had a wondrful meal at a Belgian restaurant to celebrate. On Sunday, we drove back home, dropping off Oklahoma family on the way, finally falling into bed exhausted (after watching The Amazing Race finale -- thank you very much, DVR). The next day I drove 10 hours to Kentucky. Blech.
I am extremely proud of Tracy for her degree. Mom always said that education and experiences are things that can never be taken away from us. On the other hand, not to go all Wizard of Oz, but the degree really is just a symbol of the inherent intelligence that Tracy has. It's also a symbol of the significant persistence that she showed in pursuing it. She was the first person to finish this program entirely online, and I think she faced additional challenges as the faculty figured out how to handle her situation.
So, CONGRATULATIONS, TRACY! I LOVE YOU!
On Wednesday, we drove to Tulsa (a drive we made for Thanksgiving, and will make again for Christmas) and spent the night with Win and Rob. On Thursday, we picked up Tracy's Dad and drove to San Antonio. On Friday, we were joined by Win and Rob, Vita (Tracy's Dad's wife), Tracy's Mom and her husband. So, there were 4 couples total. On Saturday, we all attended the graduation ceremony (not counting Tracy, who was involved) and had a wondrful meal at a Belgian restaurant to celebrate. On Sunday, we drove back home, dropping off Oklahoma family on the way, finally falling into bed exhausted (after watching The Amazing Race finale -- thank you very much, DVR). The next day I drove 10 hours to Kentucky. Blech.
I am extremely proud of Tracy for her degree. Mom always said that education and experiences are things that can never be taken away from us. On the other hand, not to go all Wizard of Oz, but the degree really is just a symbol of the inherent intelligence that Tracy has. It's also a symbol of the significant persistence that she showed in pursuing it. She was the first person to finish this program entirely online, and I think she faced additional challenges as the faculty figured out how to handle her situation.
So, CONGRATULATIONS, TRACY! I LOVE YOU!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Friday Letter - 9/19/10
Well, it's been a good weekend. Yesterday was the Rocheport Wine Stroll. This annual event offers folks the opportunity to pay a flat fee, get a wine glass, then wander around from store to store (mostly antique stores) trying wines from different wineries. It is The Event in town.
However, we have sort turned it into The Anti-Event at our house. Most locals choose to do one of two things during the weekend -- help local merchants sell things, pour wine and distribute snacks, or leave town altogether. Although it is just one Saturday evening, it gets VERY crowded. Tracy and I, however take a third option -- we sit on our balcony, have some drinks and watch everyone walking around town. People check in right next to our house, and folks in line will talk to us, or ask us where to go, and we try to be as charming as possible. This year, we were joined by our friends Candy and Alan, who were perhaps more charming yet.
The Stroll was interrupted this year by a lot of rain, but folks still seemed to have a really good time. A local friend stopped by as the evening was slowing down and we went inside the house for a bit. Then, after Alan and Candy had returned home to their kids, Tracy and I went down the the General Store which had more dancing than I had ever seen in that small place. The band was great, including a young man who played the electric violin beautifully, including plucked like a guitar. It was great fun.
If you're free next year, come join us.
However, we have sort turned it into The Anti-Event at our house. Most locals choose to do one of two things during the weekend -- help local merchants sell things, pour wine and distribute snacks, or leave town altogether. Although it is just one Saturday evening, it gets VERY crowded. Tracy and I, however take a third option -- we sit on our balcony, have some drinks and watch everyone walking around town. People check in right next to our house, and folks in line will talk to us, or ask us where to go, and we try to be as charming as possible. This year, we were joined by our friends Candy and Alan, who were perhaps more charming yet.
The Stroll was interrupted this year by a lot of rain, but folks still seemed to have a really good time. A local friend stopped by as the evening was slowing down and we went inside the house for a bit. Then, after Alan and Candy had returned home to their kids, Tracy and I went down the the General Store which had more dancing than I had ever seen in that small place. The band was great, including a young man who played the electric violin beautifully, including plucked like a guitar. It was great fun.
If you're free next year, come join us.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Friday Letter - 9/14/10
Some quick thoughts:
\OMAHA
It was really great. Tracy and I had a wonderful time. The zoo was too crazycrazycrazy crowdedbusy to go on Sunday, so we postponed it for a day. We visited some other Omaha civic space on Sunday, including the pedestrian bridge across the Missouri. I'm sure Tracy will tell you about the otter. Sunday's zoo visit was terrific. We got there early, and saw lots of active animals, including Hoho, the world's neediest sun bear:
Thanks again to the very friendly people of Omaha.
FOOTBALL
Ah, the season is upon us, and it makes me very happy. Sam Bradford acquitted himself nicely. Oklahoma and Missouri won. Central Methodist lost. SOUNDLY. Marshfield High School is 1-2, but that just makes my iffy seasons look better. I'm just glad that we are back in the season!
ROOMBA
Tracy surprised me today with a Roomba robot vacuum and robot mop. I have wanted a Roomba since I saw my friend Dan's some years ago. And, we are in a really good house for it with all wood floors. So, she got some cheap and I am really excited. Mr. Cogswell would be so proud.
\OMAHA
It was really great. Tracy and I had a wonderful time. The zoo was too crazycrazycrazy crowdedbusy to go on Sunday, so we postponed it for a day. We visited some other Omaha civic space on Sunday, including the pedestrian bridge across the Missouri. I'm sure Tracy will tell you about the otter. Sunday's zoo visit was terrific. We got there early, and saw lots of active animals, including Hoho, the world's neediest sun bear:
FOOTBALL
Ah, the season is upon us, and it makes me very happy. Sam Bradford acquitted himself nicely. Oklahoma and Missouri won. Central Methodist lost. SOUNDLY. Marshfield High School is 1-2, but that just makes my iffy seasons look better. I'm just glad that we are back in the season!
ROOMBA
Tracy surprised me today with a Roomba robot vacuum and robot mop. I have wanted a Roomba since I saw my friend Dan's some years ago. And, we are in a really good house for it with all wood floors. So, she got some cheap and I am really excited. Mr. Cogswell would be so proud.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday Letter - Omaha Edition
Tracy and I are in Omaha this weekend. It was a trip we had planned to take for Memorial Day, but Mom's memorial service wound up being that weekend. So, now we have finally made it. I don't think either of us has ever been here (I know we haven't as adults) and we are really impressed. We are staying downtown, and have really enjoyed the area.
Yesterday (Saturday) we went to the "Old Market" area -- old downtown with lots of new shops and restaurants -- where there was a farmer's market. It was the sort of farmer's market with fewer people who brought produce they have grown, and more people who brought in jewelry they have made. It was crazy crowded, and my occasional claustrophobia kicked in, but I survived and I think Tracy had a nice time. Then we walked through some of the shops, and wound up having lunch at a nice brew pub.
In the afternoon, we visited the Durham Museum, which is the old Union Station from downtown. It was a little unfocused -- sort of a combination of train museum, science museum, local history museum, etc., -- but everything was really well crafted, and I was quite charm. There was an installation designed by the Field Museum in Chicago about naturna disasters that was really neat. But I think my favorite display was about the history of football in Omaha. It included one of the three Heisman trophies won by Omaha natives. Throughout the museum, the exhibits were clearly geared toward engaging the patron in different and effective ways. I highly recommend it if you get the chance.
Last night we had a whole lot of fancy sushi for a lot less than we expected to pay (always a nice surprise) and a crab-based appetizer that Tracy really enjoyed -- it has been a long time since I have seen her got so excited by a new taste. We followed that up with tasty ice cream. Today we plan on going to the zoo.
I think the real uniting theme for our time here so far has been the very friendly people. We have probably encountered two dozen-plus people in retail- or service- based exchanges, and each of them has been extremely friendly and gracious. Some you would expect -- the lady in the fancy art gallery gave us good suggestions for a lunch place, and the guy at the candy store in the museum threw in a couple of extra caramels. But others have been less likely -- our hotel is totally crazy with little kids here with their families running rampant, but the staff has been good-natured and welcoming. Even at the too-hip-to-be-cool sushi place (where one might expect good but quiet service) the waitress engaged us in a good football conversation. Nice job, Omaha.
On a side note, I had to replace my phone this week. It turns out my smart phone doesn't do well being totally submerged in water. So, through the insurance plan, I got the same model, an HTC Touch Pro. I have to say, I still like it -- it does what I want, and it has the slide-out keyboard which I prefer, and which the new HTC products are moving away from. And, I have been able to set it up as a wifi-router while we are in a hotel that charges for Internet access. Very nice.
Yesterday (Saturday) we went to the "Old Market" area -- old downtown with lots of new shops and restaurants -- where there was a farmer's market. It was the sort of farmer's market with fewer people who brought produce they have grown, and more people who brought in jewelry they have made. It was crazy crowded, and my occasional claustrophobia kicked in, but I survived and I think Tracy had a nice time. Then we walked through some of the shops, and wound up having lunch at a nice brew pub.
In the afternoon, we visited the Durham Museum, which is the old Union Station from downtown. It was a little unfocused -- sort of a combination of train museum, science museum, local history museum, etc., -- but everything was really well crafted, and I was quite charm. There was an installation designed by the Field Museum in Chicago about naturna disasters that was really neat. But I think my favorite display was about the history of football in Omaha. It included one of the three Heisman trophies won by Omaha natives. Throughout the museum, the exhibits were clearly geared toward engaging the patron in different and effective ways. I highly recommend it if you get the chance.
Last night we had a whole lot of fancy sushi for a lot less than we expected to pay (always a nice surprise) and a crab-based appetizer that Tracy really enjoyed -- it has been a long time since I have seen her got so excited by a new taste. We followed that up with tasty ice cream. Today we plan on going to the zoo.
I think the real uniting theme for our time here so far has been the very friendly people. We have probably encountered two dozen-plus people in retail- or service- based exchanges, and each of them has been extremely friendly and gracious. Some you would expect -- the lady in the fancy art gallery gave us good suggestions for a lunch place, and the guy at the candy store in the museum threw in a couple of extra caramels. But others have been less likely -- our hotel is totally crazy with little kids here with their families running rampant, but the staff has been good-natured and welcoming. Even at the too-hip-to-be-cool sushi place (where one might expect good but quiet service) the waitress engaged us in a good football conversation. Nice job, Omaha.
On a side note, I had to replace my phone this week. It turns out my smart phone doesn't do well being totally submerged in water. So, through the insurance plan, I got the same model, an HTC Touch Pro. I have to say, I still like it -- it does what I want, and it has the slide-out keyboard which I prefer, and which the new HTC products are moving away from. And, I have been able to set it up as a wifi-router while we are in a hotel that charges for Internet access. Very nice.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday Letter 2 - 8/28/10 (Not Actually a Friday)
Thoughts on the week:
OPB (OTHER PEOPLE'S BLOGS)
A very good friend of mine has started a fashion blog. As I noted on Twitter, we should all be surprised that I have a friend who started a fashion blog. Check it out at fashionrehabbed.blogspot.com. Running a Twitter search on "Rocheport," I came across this photographer and her blog. This post features loves of pretty Rocheport shots and one of our house in particular.
BACK TO SCHOOL (INCLUDING A BENEFIT FOR MOM)
One of the nice things for both Tracy and me about working a places that employ college kids is getting to see the cycle of the school year. I think we both enjoy the start of the year (even though it also marks the start of Tracy's busy season). It also means that football season is almost here. So, old friends come back into town, as well as new classes with new friends to be made. As part of the return to school, the Eyrie players of CMU are performing "I'm Not Rappaport" as a benefit for Mom's memorial fund tonight (Saturday). It was a great production this summer and I'm sure will be excellent tonight. Many thanks go to the students and to Mark Kelty for their love and support for Mom and our family.
BOONVILLE RIVER RATS (AND WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON)
The River Rats have beed the driving force behind Gumbo Bottoms, an original production with which I've been involved for over a year. They have announced that Gumbo Bottoms will be mounted in Columbia this October, and I'm excited that it's going up again. It will have a slightly modified cast, and it will be a lot of fun. The Rats have also announced that they will produce a 3-minute play in a few months. I had the pleasure of helping pick and perform in those plays last year, and I think it is one of the most enjoyable projects I've been involved with -- and that's saying a lot.
OPB (OTHER PEOPLE'S BLOGS)
A very good friend of mine has started a fashion blog. As I noted on Twitter, we should all be surprised that I have a friend who started a fashion blog. Check it out at fashionrehabbed.blogspot.com. Running a Twitter search on "Rocheport," I came across this photographer and her blog. This post features loves of pretty Rocheport shots and one of our house in particular.
BACK TO SCHOOL (INCLUDING A BENEFIT FOR MOM)
One of the nice things for both Tracy and me about working a places that employ college kids is getting to see the cycle of the school year. I think we both enjoy the start of the year (even though it also marks the start of Tracy's busy season). It also means that football season is almost here. So, old friends come back into town, as well as new classes with new friends to be made. As part of the return to school, the Eyrie players of CMU are performing "I'm Not Rappaport" as a benefit for Mom's memorial fund tonight (Saturday). It was a great production this summer and I'm sure will be excellent tonight. Many thanks go to the students and to Mark Kelty for their love and support for Mom and our family.
BOONVILLE RIVER RATS (AND WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON)
The River Rats have beed the driving force behind Gumbo Bottoms, an original production with which I've been involved for over a year. They have announced that Gumbo Bottoms will be mounted in Columbia this October, and I'm excited that it's going up again. It will have a slightly modified cast, and it will be a lot of fun. The Rats have also announced that they will produce a 3-minute play in a few months. I had the pleasure of helping pick and perform in those plays last year, and I think it is one of the most enjoyable projects I've been involved with -- and that's saying a lot.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Friday Letter
Well, taking a page from my Uncle Richard and from his dad before him, I now come to you with a Friday Letter -- what's in my life and my brain at the end of the week . . .
In the interest of limiting my rambling, today I limit myself to 3 things that have been on my mind recently:
1) Bev is in town with her daughter, Kiriana. They are here for a lot of reasons, and are basically on their way to their new home of Portland, Oregon. I'm excited for them, and glad to have spent some time with them. Last night they and Tracy went through a lot of mom's clothes. There was much to sort. As Bev said, "you'd think that Dad would have wanted one of these dresser drawers."
2) I am ready to be moving on to the next part of my life. By which I only mean that there is some stuff I've been going through that I'm ready to be beyond -- I'd like to get the house clean, I'd like to move past Mom's death, I'd like to be in a better place at work (but not at a different place), I'd like for Wesley to be recovered from his recent surgery, blah, blah, blah. And all of this stuff is set to happen, it just isn't yet. So for now, I am just looking forward to 2011 being here.
3) Locust Day -- Locust Day is the holiday Tracy created when she was 10. It is on August 17, but we will be celebrating Locust Day (observed) with a party tomorrow, and I'm glad we will be able to have people at the house. Certain rooms are cleaner than they have been for a long time.
In the interest of limiting my rambling, today I limit myself to 3 things that have been on my mind recently:
1) Bev is in town with her daughter, Kiriana. They are here for a lot of reasons, and are basically on their way to their new home of Portland, Oregon. I'm excited for them, and glad to have spent some time with them. Last night they and Tracy went through a lot of mom's clothes. There was much to sort. As Bev said, "you'd think that Dad would have wanted one of these dresser drawers."
2) I am ready to be moving on to the next part of my life. By which I only mean that there is some stuff I've been going through that I'm ready to be beyond -- I'd like to get the house clean, I'd like to move past Mom's death, I'd like to be in a better place at work (but not at a different place), I'd like for Wesley to be recovered from his recent surgery, blah, blah, blah. And all of this stuff is set to happen, it just isn't yet. So for now, I am just looking forward to 2011 being here.
3) Locust Day -- Locust Day is the holiday Tracy created when she was 10. It is on August 17, but we will be celebrating Locust Day (observed) with a party tomorrow, and I'm glad we will be able to have people at the house. Certain rooms are cleaner than they have been for a long time.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Mom is Sick
For anyone who might stumble across this blog and not be aware, my Mom is very ill, and we are appreciative of any prayers that you have to share. Information is available at www.caringbridge.org/visit/nancyjonescomo.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Doubt: A Parable
Hello. folks. I know it's been a long time since I've posted, and I am blatantly using this post for self-promotion.
This weekend, I am appearing in Doubt with the Fayette Area Community Theatre on the campus of CMU. It's at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday and at 2:00 on Sunday. It will be an excellent production, which I do not write lightly. Joe Geist is directing, and the cast is great. It's 5 bucks for adults and worth so much more.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
This weekend, I am appearing in Doubt with the Fayette Area Community Theatre on the campus of CMU. It's at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday and at 2:00 on Sunday. It will be an excellent production, which I do not write lightly. Joe Geist is directing, and the cast is great. It's 5 bucks for adults and worth so much more.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
OPH (Other People's Homecoming)
This has been a really wonderful weekend. (I've had several of those recently, and hope to bring the blog up-to-date on a least some of them sometime soon).
I spent Friday afternoon and evening driving home from Kentucky. The trip was pretty pedestrian with the exception of the magnificent fall colors and the discovery that there is a Chic-Fil-A merely a mile or so off of my normal route, in New Albany, IN.
Friday evening (which turned too quickly into Saturday morning) was spent with MU fans at a friend's house, drinking, playing games and generally having a fun time. I knew most of the people there, and was very pleased to make some new friends, too. Apparently, Tracy also discovered that there are a number of gay men, straight women, and gay women willing to take me if she ever abandons ship. It appears I still have some work to do with the straight man demographic.
Saturday evening found us at the CMU game in Fayette, seated next to the school President (very passionate about the game) and the new Athletic Director. (I have known Dick for a while, as he is the husbsand of Tracy's boss. He's pretty funny. At CMU's homecoming, shortly after he was hired, he told me "I'm pretty sure I've got most of the NAIA regs down . . . one of the guys from '85 told me he still has a year of eligibility left, so I'm going to let him play tomorrow . . " CMU played well, but lost. Afterwards, we went to the DQ in Fayette, which was having a 50%-off-of-everything-customer-appreciation sale. We ate big. We also saw a lot of kids from the school, and it made me glad that I had done the operetta the last couple of summers so that I would know so many of them.
This morning was church, and Keith gave what I though was a really good sermon, including telling members of the church to quit living in debt. It was pretty powerful. After that, Mom and Dad took us to lunch, and we had a good time. To end the afternoon, Tracy and I went grocery shopping and have had a tasty dinner with a lot of vegetables. It's just been a very enjoyable, relatively social time.
So, I hope all of my MU friends had a great weekend, despite the loss, and I hope all of my KC improv friends (and Jill Bernard) had a great time at the Roving Imp's Impfest -- I'm sorry we couldn't be there, but I'm sure it was great.
I spent Friday afternoon and evening driving home from Kentucky. The trip was pretty pedestrian with the exception of the magnificent fall colors and the discovery that there is a Chic-Fil-A merely a mile or so off of my normal route, in New Albany, IN.
Friday evening (which turned too quickly into Saturday morning) was spent with MU fans at a friend's house, drinking, playing games and generally having a fun time. I knew most of the people there, and was very pleased to make some new friends, too. Apparently, Tracy also discovered that there are a number of gay men, straight women, and gay women willing to take me if she ever abandons ship. It appears I still have some work to do with the straight man demographic.
Saturday evening found us at the CMU game in Fayette, seated next to the school President (very passionate about the game) and the new Athletic Director. (I have known Dick for a while, as he is the husbsand of Tracy's boss. He's pretty funny. At CMU's homecoming, shortly after he was hired, he told me "I'm pretty sure I've got most of the NAIA regs down . . . one of the guys from '85 told me he still has a year of eligibility left, so I'm going to let him play tomorrow . . " CMU played well, but lost. Afterwards, we went to the DQ in Fayette, which was having a 50%-off-of-everything-customer-appreciation sale. We ate big. We also saw a lot of kids from the school, and it made me glad that I had done the operetta the last couple of summers so that I would know so many of them.
This morning was church, and Keith gave what I though was a really good sermon, including telling members of the church to quit living in debt. It was pretty powerful. After that, Mom and Dad took us to lunch, and we had a good time. To end the afternoon, Tracy and I went grocery shopping and have had a tasty dinner with a lot of vegetables. It's just been a very enjoyable, relatively social time.
So, I hope all of my MU friends had a great weekend, despite the loss, and I hope all of my KC improv friends (and Jill Bernard) had a great time at the Roving Imp's Impfest -- I'm sorry we couldn't be there, but I'm sure it was great.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Where You Should Be Saturday
Saturday night I will be competing in an improv show in Kansas City: Improv Thunderdome. Come to it, and vote for my team, Team No. Nine. Do it because you like me, or do it because we are awesome. Either reason counts.
Both my team and the entire show should be excellent. I get to play with Trish Berrong (who introduced me to good improv 15 years ago), Nick Rigoli (a dear and funny friend from ComedyCity who has a unique stage presence and an understanding of language that will blow you away) and Erik Johnson (who has a greater understanding of performance than I could ever hope to know). The other two teams each have players that would be worth seeing in any context, but particularly in this competitive form.
So, come see us. Good times. Full info below
IMPROV THUNDERDOME.
Both my team and the entire show should be excellent. I get to play with Trish Berrong (who introduced me to good improv 15 years ago), Nick Rigoli (a dear and funny friend from ComedyCity who has a unique stage presence and an understanding of language that will blow you away) and Erik Johnson (who has a greater understanding of performance than I could ever hope to know). The other two teams each have players that would be worth seeing in any context, but particularly in this competitive form.
So, come see us. Good times. Full info below
SEASON FOUR, ROUND THREE
ROUND #3 MATCH UP:
Presented by PresentMagazine.com
Season four journeys BEYOND Thunderdome. Thirty-six local improvisers were selected to participate in a random draft to create nine teams of four. Below are the results and schedule.
ROUND #3 MATCH UP:
KANSAS CITY PET SHOP
(Jeremy Danner, Bob Dusin, Sean Hogge & Jim Sturgill)
vs.
TEAM NUMBER NINE
vs.
TEAM NUMBER NINE
(Trish Berrong, Erik Johnson, Steve Jones & Nick Rigoli)
vs.
TEMPORARY SANITY
vs.
TEMPORARY SANITY
(Jared Brustad, Rob Grabowski, Wade Meredith & Jessica Robins)
Westport Coffeehouse Theater, 4010 Pennsylvania
8pm (Doors open at 7:30pm)
Tickets are $10.00
Call 913-375-5168 for reservation
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Trip to Tulsa
Tracy and I are headed to Tulsa and I'm trying to post pictures. Feel free to follow along at http://www.twitter.com/srjones32 .
Thursday, August 13, 2009
15 Books
This is a Facebook thingy, but I think it says enough about me that I'm posting it here, too.
Okay, I've been tagged by a lot of these. So, I made the list in 15 minutes, but I've taken a lot longer to explain why each is here. I'm not tagging anyone, but it will be here to look at if you want to see it. I have also ignored the rule about the Bible. It totally counts.
The rules, which I have mostly ignored:
Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. Tag 15 friends, including me. (I sent this to you because I really am curious what books you have read that have stuck with you. Oh, and the Bible doesn't count!
1. The Holy Bible by God and others
As a whole, it's a great handbook for faith; broken into its constituent parts, there are good and bad works of literature. Oh, boy, but the good is so very good, and is amplified by its insinuation into popular culture.
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
I started to include the entire Chronicles of Narnia here, but I decided against it. I've enjoyed the series, but it is the first book that has always been with me. It is one of the first “grown-up” books (that is, a book with paragraphs and relatively few pictures) I remember reading. I think I have always known it as a Christian allegory, but it is so much more – every child wants to walk into a new world, doesn't he? And doesn't every adult? The adult has just been trained to believe it won't happen.
3. The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton
This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction by Michael Crichton that tells the tale of a convoluted plan to rob a train in Victorian England. In true Crichton fashion it features a handful of characters bound together by a stressful situation. It features terrific storytelling. It is rare for me to read books more than once (although nearly every book in this list is an exception); I've probably read The Great Train Robbery a dozen times since I was 10 and it is always within arm's reach of the bed.
4. Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman
Physicist Richard Feynman's wonderful autobiography is full of omitted truths and included lies. I've read more accurate biographies of Feynman, but they are not nearly so interesting as his own retelling of his life. I was given this book in elementary school, and I think it was the thing that let me know it was okay to apply one's intelligence to try to be an interesting person.
5. The Alfred G. Graebner Memorial High School Handbook of Rules and Regulations by Ellen Conford
When I was entering seventh grade, I could not have been more freaked out. That was probably due to great fears of girls, dancing, social interaction and gym class. My sister, 8 years my senior, did two things for me to try to quell these fears. First, she told me “no one actually dances at dances. When they do, you can pony to anything.” I have found this to be true, and my skills have never moved beyond those of Charlie Brown. The second thing she did was give me a copy of this book. It's about a high school sophomore and her year of school. It is dated – it was written in 1976 – but helped me recognize that there would probably be some other people at school who were uncomfortable, too. It also taught me that in social interactions, bluffing is half the battle.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Great American Novel. The Book That Made Me Want To Be a Lawyer. The Book That Became The Play That Made Me Apply To Law School. Every Lawyer Wants to Be Atticus.
7. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
My sister (remember my sister? She got me through middle school) gave me her copy of this book not too long after it was released in English in 1983. She was extremely optimistic – I was a precocious lad, but the Italian translated to English with more than a sprinkling of Latin was a bit much for me. Until high school. I picked it up again, and fell in love with it. It's a classic detective story placed in a monastery. It mixes history, mystery, philosophy and religion in wonderful ratios. And it involves what I consider to be one of the greatest and most important topics in history – the laughter of Jesus. The friends I have who admit to reading Eco have told me (to a person) that they prefer Foucault's Pendulum. I've enjoyed that work as well, but it lacks the mystical quality that The Name of The Rose holds for me.
8. Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow
The great historical novel of the 80s that changed how writers thought about historical figures and how they could be integrated into fiction. It's also an excellent musical.
9. The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
A children's book which I didn't read (because it wasn't written) until I was an adult. Konigsburg beautifully captures what I recall as being the interactions within an “Academic Bowl”-style environment.
10. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
This is one of those books that I avoided reading because of its heft and its “classic” status. I don't think I read it until after college. But it was totally worth the wait. A story with war, spying, romance, hangings, faith, loyalty, international intrigue and an opening passage that is architecturally gorgeous. [As I am writing this, I am watching a documentary about a Harvard – Yale football game. I as I wrote the words “opening passage,” Tommy Lee Jones said “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Freaky.]
11. On Writing by Stephen King
I am a bit startled that the only author to make it on this list twice is Stephen King. But he has earned it. I have read a LOT of “how to write” books, by nobodys and somebodys alike. But King's is the one that I recommend without exception. He gives concrete advice – make this list, write for this long, study these things – that aren't necessary to being a good writer, but which certainly couldn't hurt. I find them to be excellent rules to begin with and to vary from as needed. The book was a gift from my father.
12. Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
Although I read a lot of Twain growing up, I didn't read this work until law school. I had a terrific Law and Literature course that had nothing to do with the practice of law and everything to do with the practice of law, was the one law school course I had taught by not-legal faculty, and the one I enjoyed more than any other. The quarterback of my high school football team was named Kelly Wilson and it took me far too long to figure out why his nickname was “Pudd'n.” This book, too, is a detective/mystery novel as well as (like so much Twain) a commentary on racism. I wrote about 4 good things in law school and the paper I wrote on this book was the only really good one. I was also given a copy of this by my grandmother a few years before she died. That association probably is why this book is in this list.
13. The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
These books were about the only fiction I read in law school, and I genuinely credit them for helping keep me sane. Rowling's use of language is delicious. The Deathly Hallows is my favorite, but only because it had so much potential to be disappointing and it wasn't.
14. The Black Tower series by Stephen King
This is a series of seven books written by Stephen King, but they are fantasy rather than horror. When I was in high school, I read some Stephen King, and I liked his writing but not his genre. Then I discovered his Richard Bachman stories (books a little less horror-y than his normal stuff, and written under a pen name), which I really enjoyed. Then I re-discovered the first book of the Black Tower series, The Gunslinger. I had been given a copy in Junior High, and had never picked it up. But armed with the new appreciation for King, I read it and devoured it. It took me another 20 years to read the rest of them (and King nearly as long to write them). The series tells the tale of an alternate universe that intertwines with ours, and of a hero who is a cross between a gunfighter and a knight. It covers a lot of territory over the seven books, including King making himself an integral character to the plot. The world(s) and characters are extremely vivid. This, I believe, is the only book that permeates my dreams. I awaken having had intense discussions with the characters. Forced to choose a favorite from this group, I will go with the fourth, Wizard and Glass.
15. The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
I listened to this book several months ago, and I don't think a day has gone by when I haven't thought about some element of it. I picked up the CDs at the library and listened to the first few minutes of it, and almost put it away. I'm so glad I didn't. It's a recent novel that tells the story of a pregnant grad student who returns to her familiar home in Templeton, New York. The town of Templeton is the authors' version of and homage to Cooperstown. The story is filled with rich characters, funny beats, great images, and it creates a very satisfying whole.
Okay, I've been tagged by a lot of these. So, I made the list in 15 minutes, but I've taken a lot longer to explain why each is here. I'm not tagging anyone, but it will be here to look at if you want to see it. I have also ignored the rule about the Bible. It totally counts.
The rules, which I have mostly ignored:
Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. Tag 15 friends, including me. (I sent this to you because I really am curious what books you have read that have stuck with you. Oh, and the Bible doesn't count!
1. The Holy Bible by God and others
As a whole, it's a great handbook for faith; broken into its constituent parts, there are good and bad works of literature. Oh, boy, but the good is so very good, and is amplified by its insinuation into popular culture.
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
I started to include the entire Chronicles of Narnia here, but I decided against it. I've enjoyed the series, but it is the first book that has always been with me. It is one of the first “grown-up” books (that is, a book with paragraphs and relatively few pictures) I remember reading. I think I have always known it as a Christian allegory, but it is so much more – every child wants to walk into a new world, doesn't he? And doesn't every adult? The adult has just been trained to believe it won't happen.
3. The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton
This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction by Michael Crichton that tells the tale of a convoluted plan to rob a train in Victorian England. In true Crichton fashion it features a handful of characters bound together by a stressful situation. It features terrific storytelling. It is rare for me to read books more than once (although nearly every book in this list is an exception); I've probably read The Great Train Robbery a dozen times since I was 10 and it is always within arm's reach of the bed.
4. Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman
Physicist Richard Feynman's wonderful autobiography is full of omitted truths and included lies. I've read more accurate biographies of Feynman, but they are not nearly so interesting as his own retelling of his life. I was given this book in elementary school, and I think it was the thing that let me know it was okay to apply one's intelligence to try to be an interesting person.
5. The Alfred G. Graebner Memorial High School Handbook of Rules and Regulations by Ellen Conford
When I was entering seventh grade, I could not have been more freaked out. That was probably due to great fears of girls, dancing, social interaction and gym class. My sister, 8 years my senior, did two things for me to try to quell these fears. First, she told me “no one actually dances at dances. When they do, you can pony to anything.” I have found this to be true, and my skills have never moved beyond those of Charlie Brown. The second thing she did was give me a copy of this book. It's about a high school sophomore and her year of school. It is dated – it was written in 1976 – but helped me recognize that there would probably be some other people at school who were uncomfortable, too. It also taught me that in social interactions, bluffing is half the battle.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Great American Novel. The Book That Made Me Want To Be a Lawyer. The Book That Became The Play That Made Me Apply To Law School. Every Lawyer Wants to Be Atticus.
7. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
My sister (remember my sister? She got me through middle school) gave me her copy of this book not too long after it was released in English in 1983. She was extremely optimistic – I was a precocious lad, but the Italian translated to English with more than a sprinkling of Latin was a bit much for me. Until high school. I picked it up again, and fell in love with it. It's a classic detective story placed in a monastery. It mixes history, mystery, philosophy and religion in wonderful ratios. And it involves what I consider to be one of the greatest and most important topics in history – the laughter of Jesus. The friends I have who admit to reading Eco have told me (to a person) that they prefer Foucault's Pendulum. I've enjoyed that work as well, but it lacks the mystical quality that The Name of The Rose holds for me.
8. Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow
The great historical novel of the 80s that changed how writers thought about historical figures and how they could be integrated into fiction. It's also an excellent musical.
9. The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
A children's book which I didn't read (because it wasn't written) until I was an adult. Konigsburg beautifully captures what I recall as being the interactions within an “Academic Bowl”-style environment.
10. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
This is one of those books that I avoided reading because of its heft and its “classic” status. I don't think I read it until after college. But it was totally worth the wait. A story with war, spying, romance, hangings, faith, loyalty, international intrigue and an opening passage that is architecturally gorgeous. [As I am writing this, I am watching a documentary about a Harvard – Yale football game. I as I wrote the words “opening passage,” Tommy Lee Jones said “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Freaky.]
11. On Writing by Stephen King
I am a bit startled that the only author to make it on this list twice is Stephen King. But he has earned it. I have read a LOT of “how to write” books, by nobodys and somebodys alike. But King's is the one that I recommend without exception. He gives concrete advice – make this list, write for this long, study these things – that aren't necessary to being a good writer, but which certainly couldn't hurt. I find them to be excellent rules to begin with and to vary from as needed. The book was a gift from my father.
12. Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
Although I read a lot of Twain growing up, I didn't read this work until law school. I had a terrific Law and Literature course that had nothing to do with the practice of law and everything to do with the practice of law, was the one law school course I had taught by not-legal faculty, and the one I enjoyed more than any other. The quarterback of my high school football team was named Kelly Wilson and it took me far too long to figure out why his nickname was “Pudd'n.” This book, too, is a detective/mystery novel as well as (like so much Twain) a commentary on racism. I wrote about 4 good things in law school and the paper I wrote on this book was the only really good one. I was also given a copy of this by my grandmother a few years before she died. That association probably is why this book is in this list.
13. The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
These books were about the only fiction I read in law school, and I genuinely credit them for helping keep me sane. Rowling's use of language is delicious. The Deathly Hallows is my favorite, but only because it had so much potential to be disappointing and it wasn't.
14. The Black Tower series by Stephen King
This is a series of seven books written by Stephen King, but they are fantasy rather than horror. When I was in high school, I read some Stephen King, and I liked his writing but not his genre. Then I discovered his Richard Bachman stories (books a little less horror-y than his normal stuff, and written under a pen name), which I really enjoyed. Then I re-discovered the first book of the Black Tower series, The Gunslinger. I had been given a copy in Junior High, and had never picked it up. But armed with the new appreciation for King, I read it and devoured it. It took me another 20 years to read the rest of them (and King nearly as long to write them). The series tells the tale of an alternate universe that intertwines with ours, and of a hero who is a cross between a gunfighter and a knight. It covers a lot of territory over the seven books, including King making himself an integral character to the plot. The world(s) and characters are extremely vivid. This, I believe, is the only book that permeates my dreams. I awaken having had intense discussions with the characters. Forced to choose a favorite from this group, I will go with the fourth, Wizard and Glass.
15. The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
I listened to this book several months ago, and I don't think a day has gone by when I haven't thought about some element of it. I picked up the CDs at the library and listened to the first few minutes of it, and almost put it away. I'm so glad I didn't. It's a recent novel that tells the story of a pregnant grad student who returns to her familiar home in Templeton, New York. The town of Templeton is the authors' version of and homage to Cooperstown. The story is filled with rich characters, funny beats, great images, and it creates a very satisfying whole.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Belated Birthday
This is a bit after-the-fact, but I wanted to thank everyone for their warm birthday wishes, and for the great day I had. My birthday was on a Friday, and it was the opening night (of 2) of the operetta I was performing in at Fayette -- Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience. I had court in the morning, and lunch with friends from the office.
I had a lot of friends post messages on Facebook, and that was really moving. I forget that I have so many neat people in my life, and I need to do a better job of staying personally connected with them.
When I arrived at the theater (a little late), there was a beautiful cake that Tracy had brought over, and the cast and crew sang to me and we shared the confection, hoping that it wouldn't clog our chords. It was early enough that there were no issues. The show went well, and was well-received by the audience. From the audience, I had several treats. First, Will and Jason from the office came. It was really nice to have someone from my professional world see me perform. I think they had just enough to drink before the show to keep them fully entertained. There was also a group from Gumbo Bottoms there (www.gumbobottomsmusical.com). We were only 36 hours away from starting a week of brush-up rehearsals before a show in Jefferson City, and it was really nice to see those familiar faces. (And hear their voices laughing). My Mom was there, and she and Dad also came for the second run.
Finally, I had the wonderful surprise of a woman coming out of the blue and introducing herself as having been one of my English professors at CMU. Of course, I see a lot of my old professors at CMU, but she left for MU a couple of years (maybe just one) after I graduated, so I hadn't seen her since. She was very patient with me as a student who was -- precocious is the word we would have used if I had been in middle school; some combination of bright, lazy, and too-big-for-his-own-britches is probably a closer description to what it was in college. Anyhow, her appearance was totally out of nowhere, and a wonderful treat.
After the show, Will and Jason joined us for drinks and discussion at home, ending a marvelous day.
So thanks to all of you who had a hand in it, and to all of you who continue to love me despite long distances and long silences.
I had a lot of friends post messages on Facebook, and that was really moving. I forget that I have so many neat people in my life, and I need to do a better job of staying personally connected with them.
When I arrived at the theater (a little late), there was a beautiful cake that Tracy had brought over, and the cast and crew sang to me and we shared the confection, hoping that it wouldn't clog our chords. It was early enough that there were no issues. The show went well, and was well-received by the audience. From the audience, I had several treats. First, Will and Jason from the office came. It was really nice to have someone from my professional world see me perform. I think they had just enough to drink before the show to keep them fully entertained. There was also a group from Gumbo Bottoms there (www.gumbobottomsmusical.com). We were only 36 hours away from starting a week of brush-up rehearsals before a show in Jefferson City, and it was really nice to see those familiar faces. (And hear their voices laughing). My Mom was there, and she and Dad also came for the second run.
Finally, I had the wonderful surprise of a woman coming out of the blue and introducing herself as having been one of my English professors at CMU. Of course, I see a lot of my old professors at CMU, but she left for MU a couple of years (maybe just one) after I graduated, so I hadn't seen her since. She was very patient with me as a student who was -- precocious is the word we would have used if I had been in middle school; some combination of bright, lazy, and too-big-for-his-own-britches is probably a closer description to what it was in college. Anyhow, her appearance was totally out of nowhere, and a wonderful treat.
After the show, Will and Jason joined us for drinks and discussion at home, ending a marvelous day.
So thanks to all of you who had a hand in it, and to all of you who continue to love me despite long distances and long silences.
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