I know what I have to do and do it, I know, what I have to do and do it, but I don't know what it is until it's done!

This title of this blog is the chorus in a Chicago based band called Owls. I think the songs called "Friends," but I'm not sure. Anyway, it's been in my head for a month. But there's no relation to this post.
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Our dog Indie, no longer with Kennel Cough, has found her bark. Yesterday she started barking at a tiny little puppy, scaring it to death...embarrassing! We think all of her medical problems are over...though she did drain our savings...totally worth it...
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I told my advisor that the pace of this place is too slow. She said, "yeah, totally." I asked her if she could make next semester a little more like other MFA's. Give us a lot of work! She said, "Don't worry about that." I like most everyone here at the program, but the town and program is really really laid back...have i mentioned that before? There's a "I'll get to that tomorrow attitude." Ugh. OK. Enough Complaining.

I talked to Kate Trueblood today (email). She said: When you miss everyone, just think of yourself as an expatriate. I'm gonna give that way of thinking a try.

I'm waiting for our program to release the list of classes for next semester. Still no word, but I'm hoping to take two fiction classes and a poetry class. Maybe one of each and an independent study to work on my manuscript. We'll see.

There's also some writing contests at school. I'm entering all of them. MFAers out there. Should I submit The opening chapter of The Story Thief (Magic-realism) or A chapter from Bumping (about meth addicts-minimalist). Lemme know.
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My students turned in their annotated bibs today. WTF? NO ONE (Ok one or two) actually followed directions AND I GAVE THEM TWO PAGES OF EXAMPLES!!!! Fuckin' BS. They're gonna get it on Friday. I'm turning them back to most the class and making them redo it. UGH I"M MAD!
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OK. I'm settled. I haven't read anything lately that's really blown my socks off. But I'm reading Sedaris and he makes me laugh and smile. Next up: Anasi Boys, The Absolutely True Diary..., A Prayer for Owen Meany, Black Maria, The Ghost Soldiers, Novel Pictoral NOise, and more Sedaris. Lots more.
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That's all for now I think...
Keaton Collective will be here on Sunday. C. Dale Young on Friday. The Apocolypse on Monday. Maybe not, but who knows.
Bye bye for now.
Love you all. times a million.
Joshua

Out in the Sun

So, Indie's feeling much better, and those of you who have facebook can see all the pictures. It's cooled down in the mornings and at night, so we're able to walk without frying.
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I'm realizing that this town is portal into the past. Everything is behind (food, fashion, recycling, etc, etc). Even our street is lined with relics from the past, like Studebaker trucks for example. I had a list of things, but I can't find it. Maybe I'll write about it later.
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There's really not that much to talk about. I just have to keep making myself post these or I'll never keep it up.
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My friend Kenny saw Michael Chabon in Portland. He held the door for him, they made eye contact and Kenny said, "Oh...Hey." Michael Chabon is my hero! I have dreams about him. Someday, I'll post the dream. It's pretty classic and Michael is my best friend by the end of the dream. Just thinking about it warms my heart. Imagine waking and realizing that he is not my friend...
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I'm gonna go eat some food my wonderful wife cooked. So...
Love
Joshua

Ba, ba, ba...muffins

Hey, it's been a while, so I thought I'd post some stuff.
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It's supposed to rain tonight. It's weird, all I do is wait for rain or grey skies. Last week there were a couple grey days. I felt so good about it. It was fun walking to school under that.
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I've been writing like crazy and reading like crazy and watching tv like crazy. We won't go into what exactly I've been watching, but one show is GLEE. I love it. I watched some Mad Men and I think I like it. I may give it some time when I have more. Next on the list is THE WIRE. yes, Ian, yes Dave. We are going to watch the WIRE!
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I miss fiction. I miss WWU. I miss all my friends. I think I'm taking all fiction next semester. I need a break from poetry just long enough to take a breath. Plus I go all this ficiton I haven't finished and I'm dying to. AFter that, I'm pretty relaxed on fiction. Nothing seems too ready to write. So, I'm gonna try to write some Story Theif stuff next Semester, and then hit the poetry hard in the summer, to finish up my MFA with nothing but poetry.
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Teaching's going good. I like my students. Some are quite sharp. I'm curious how my next batch will be...
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I have to admit. I took WWU for granted. I mean, I didn't, but I did. I'm really ahead of my classes. Like weeks ahead. I think i'll have a lot of time for Em and Me in November and Dec, as well as time for some submitted and more writing and a lot of novels! and of course, TV. I feel like there's less work here than at WWU. Maybe not, but I feel that way. Em does too. So, I just keep pushing myself ahead, reading, writing, and prepping.
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I'm taking a Lyric Essay/Hybrid class that is pimp. Carmen Gimeniz Smith (I spelled that wrong) is really awesome and reminds me a younger Kate Trueblood, only a poet. But she also reminds me of Oliver, 'cause she way hip and into cool bands. Oh that reminds me. We were dicussing Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes and we wer etalking about signs and signifiers and all that jazz, and Carmen brought up "All the Single Ladies" by Beyonce, so we discussed that song...in our seminar, and I sang, "I you liked it then you should've put a ring on it!" Classic conversation. I will always remember that.
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Next week I'm presenting on CD Wright's book ONE BIG SELF. I need to read it again, get some notes. I also get my "packet" workshopped next week. Should be a blast
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Indie is feeling better, she's off the meds (though we are giving her Benedryl to ease her sore throat), and is as spunky as ever...
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My dad and brother saw Bob Dylan the other day. I'm jealous.
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I think that's all for now.
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I love all of you,
Joshua