Rural Girl Makes a Comeback

I really hate worn, overused phrases, so I will attempt to use something a little different. Let's see...

You never knew you even liked cheese curds until they show you some good old Midwestern hospitality and you realize there aren't any where you live, and this makes you bawl like a baby on the way back to your cheese-curdless existence.

Wait, I don't think that worked.

Having lived here almost a year, I have made many friends and found myself involved in a lot of communities. I have my writing group, my work friends, my Lesley friends, and the occasional friendly game night. But over Christmas and then again last week, I was reminded what it was like to be a part of a family of friends and loved ones who have known each other forever, support you almost no matter what you do, and make amazing food. Even more than missing MyQue, although I certainly am doing enough of that, I was sad to come off the plane alone last night alone after being surrounded by MyQue's family the whole trip. While I've learned to enjoy my solitude, I mourned something I forgot was there, and now I look around and realize it's something I'm definitely lacking here.

Since I graduate next July, I know that I will definitely want to be here for another year at least, so this is something I'm going to have to remedy. I don't know how; I think it just has to do with spending more time with those I already know. But since I can't live around my own family (who is spread around the Midwest), nor can I go to visit MyQue's anytime I want (he will be leaving them for grad school at the end of the summer), I am going to have to surround myself with my own motley crew here, and enjoy these little jaunts into the heartland as much as I can.

Although the Northeast's lack of cheese curds is not literally making me cry, I do miss being able to see the sky all 360 degrees, real thunderstorms that shake the siding of the house, the call of a red-wing blackbird, and eating fresh sweetcorn right out of the garden. I guess you can't take the Rural completely out of the girl after all.

Why You Should Not Go to McDonald's with a Writer

-Did you want fries with that?
-I didn't before, but I do now.
-So...no?
-No, I do want fries with that. Now.
-Are you going to want fries with that or not?
-Listen, I don't know if I'll want them in the future, but I do want them now.
-What are you talking about, in the future? I just want to know if you wanted them.
-When?
-NOW!
-Oh NOW? I'm sorry, I wouldn't have known. With the tense changes and all.
-Sorry?
-It's okay, you don't have to apologize. Just be more careful next time. Tense is important.
-Whatever. Your total is going to be $6.03.
-When?
-I'm getting my manager.
-Now?
-Yes.
-Excellent. That's all I wanted to hear. Here, keep the change.

Happnestance Happiness

On one of the first warm days of spring, I got an itch to skip the subway on the way home from work. It ended up being quite a lovely evening (mostly) and so when I got that same itch today I decided to try it out again. This time, I shot for Kenmore Square, and while I didn't take any pretty flower pictures on the way, I did enjoy the sunshine and watching the hoards of people making their way to Fenway for the game (lucky bastards). After finally boarding at Kenmore, I made my way lazily to Harvard, and once there I still wanted a little outdoors before I got home and crashed. So I decided to cut through the commons, and ran across someone I'd been wanting to see.

This happenstance encounter (which was pretty happenstance considering she doesn't really live near me and is moving out of the country in a month) only occurred because I walked at just the right pace, caught the right train, and waited for the right stop lights. I veered from my usual path. I don't believe in an omniscient God, but I do believe in a bit of fate. And I'm glad that I listened to my instincts tonight, even if it only meant a short talk with a familiar face. I've been lonely since Myque left, and this was just the kind of push I needed to keep up my spirits.

Thanks, fate. I appreciated it.

Day Job Hell

I found this, and it speaks better about what I am currently going through than I could. Enjoy.

Re-Vision

A few weeks ago, I was very disconcerted to discover that I no longer have perfect vision. While a display on eyesight at the Museum of Science is not the end all be all of ophthalmology, I muddled through the last three lines on the chart and decided it's probably time to start thinking about a trip to the real eye doctor. This has yet to occur, but I find it ironic, considering my metaphorical long-distance vision just keeps getting clearer.

This has been the best MFA residency yet. I feel like I have finally grasped the concepts of point of view, character development, and revision. I feel like I can actually make a career of this in one way or another. No, I don't know exactly what I'll be doing when I graduate one year from next weekend, but I do know that no matter what it is, I will be on the path to publication. Just a couple months ago I would have said that it would probably take me years to finally decide on a writing career, but I think I can finally see it on the horizon, even if the economy hasn't been too forgiving as of late.

Oh, and if this vision thing keeps up, I will probably be wearing sexy librarian glasses by then, too. That helps, right?

Another Kick

It's finally time to start trying to sync spending less money with eating less food and eating better food. Any additional kicks in the rear would be appreciated.

Kick in the Rear

There's nothing more motivating than being surrounded by people who are doing more for their careers than you are.

A side effect of that is that there's nothing to make you feel more lazy...