Monday, April 26, 2010

While in Savannah, we came across this odd statue. There was no explanation except for "The Waving Girl" written on the bottom. But as we looked in wonder at this odd piece of history, a man asked if we wanted our picture taken. Tim wasn't for it, but I figured it was probably important for some reason, and there is nothing I like more than a picture with a statue (unless it is a person in a character suit, which trumps statues every time).
Later, we found out the waving girl was someone who waved at the ships coming in and out for, like, 40 years, possibly waiting for her husband, possibly trying to find a husband. Savannah has a weird idea of the romantic.
What would you make a statue of?
I'd make a statue of me on Saint Patrick's Day in the Chicago River. Just kidding. (My Dad is learning photoshop. I have always wanted to go to Chicago on St. Patrick's Day, although, you should all know, Savannah is apparently truly to the place to be for the holiday. It's huge. It even gets its own website: http://savannahsaintpatricksday.com/)

Friday, April 16, 2010

For Tim's birthday, there was a surprise trip to Savannah, where I encountered 2 important people from my past. John Wesley...
(they put him up on a podium where you can't see how short he is)
...and Flannery O'Connor.
(here we are, both showing only child awkward photo posing skills. Well, really just I am, but she was an only child too.)
I was glad to see she was always a literary critic. (in case you can't read this, she wrote "not a very good book" above it.)

But the true star of Savannah is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Tim and I missed out a little, because we didn't listen to the audio book until our trip back to Wilmington. But if you ever go, you should have some familiarity with the book, because it's a serious source of pride...or tourist attractions. That, and ghost tours.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

It's Tim's birthday. he's looking older already.
This is more like it.
thanks, Dad!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

I am in Denver for a writer's conference, the big official one that happens every year. It's been good, but next time I propose a game: AWP Bingo. At the beginning, everyone picks 25 books she thinks may be mentioned by speakers in the panel, and whoever gets BINGO/5 in a row first wins. For example, as much as I dearly love One Hundred Years of Solitude (and I really do. It's a great book, if you haven't read it), if I had a dollar for every time someone mentioned it, I could have a free lunch.

In some ways, it's encouraging. Here are 6,000 writers struggling to be excellent, just like me! In the same way, it's depressing. Here are 6,000 writers I'm essentially competing against! Thankfully, UNCW is so supportive, it never feels competitive.

But more importantly, I got to see some of my beautiful family. Pictures to come.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

I'm actually in Denver right now, but in the spirit of things:
Thanks, Dad!