Camping and other things

So, Emily and I went camping this weekend. It was a quick trip, just up over the pass (the pass is a hill. It's pretty much like riding your bike up to Western from downtown--i'm exaggerating), and down a long winding road. Basically, the "mountains" i stare at everyday from Las Cruces...we camped just on the other side. There are pictures on facebook.

It was fun. I haven't been camping in years, and it was nice to get outta the house and town for a day or two. We're gonna go up north to a place with water and stuff in two weeks. I'm stoked.

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I just looked over my latest manuscript...which probably should be my thesis...and realized it needs a little work. I need to figure out how to format each "type" of poem, and also how to make this novel-in-verse move like a novel...

All this work on poetry is making me want to work on The Story Thief. That novel's been working itself out in my head like crazy...I can't wait to finish a good rough draft of my poetry, get ahead on school work and readings, and then sit down and type out all my chapters that are basically handwritten right now. Soon.

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I also have to type up the opening scene of a film called Feller. I keep putting it off. But I need to get it done this week. And perhaps work on some more scenes......ahhhhh....

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I miss my friends from Western. Ian, Kenny, Matt, Chelsea, Eddy, Matt Brown, Cumi, and so many others (I named you guys first cause we hung out the most...), and I miss my professors. School is way different here. I mean, it's similar in ways, but so different. Plus I gotta learn some spanish. I'm gonna get myself a book and start learning. I got three years...and what will be my thesis is pretty close to draft stage, so...I'll have time.

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Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my choice to come here. Part of me regrets it. This town is pretty weak. Why couldn't I have gone to pittsburgh, or chicago, or boston? Well, I can answer that. MONEY. nowhere else could I live like I'm living now. I mean, I can buy food, see movies, pay bills, and go camping. The downside is there's not much else to do. I can't even go to Mexico, cause the town over the border, Juarez, is having crazy murder problems right now. It's fucked. Look it up on the news...murders...

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On my links wall is a link to Strength and Vision. My buddy Dave writes about music, movies, and stuff. He's hella good. If you want to follow a blog (he's not a daily blogger, but he gets you your fix when you're needing it) check it out. He's good.

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I get the David Bazan record soon. I'm waiting...

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Love you,
Joshua

Camping, Poetry, and Fiction

So, Emily and I are going camping in Carlsbad this weekend. We're stoked. We're gonna get out of the house, get out of town and do something we both haven't done in ages! We're excited!
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Classes are going good. My students are pretty rad and i like them. They all seem to like writing and want to be good writers, or at least pretend like they do. I'm really excited, because I feel like I can just get them to write without forcing them to, or trying to be all fancy. They're just good kids. But we'll see how it turns out.

In terms of my classes. They're cool. My form and tech class isn't what I expected, but i'm gonna write about David Bazan, my dad, my mom, and the church. I think that's what I'll be doing all quarter. Maybe some film stuff in there too...we'll see.
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I've been sending out query letters for my novel Bumping, with no interest. Until I sent it out to a rad little press from NY, who didn't find the subject matter appropriate for the press, but asked for something else.

I sent out my two collections (actually the first twenty pages); To the Chapel of Light and When the Wolves Quit. See, this press does novels only, but they're all about changing and experimenting with the idea of what a novel is, and since my collections of poetry are really novels-in-verse they might fit the press. We'll what he says, but I got my fingers crossed.
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I've got a new batch of poems I gotta start sending out. I'm getting all that ready, soon.
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I saw Harry Potter 6. Awesome. The kids can act now! Pretty rad!! I liked it: dramatic...not that much action, but good drama (malfoy is amazing!) and really funny. Check it
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Later,
Love,
Joshua

Oh man

So, i registered for the wrong class. actually, i wasn't the only MFA student to do that. A few did. So, i had to drop the class, and now i have to return the books i bought...which is a shame, 'cause they were cool books.

i've been walking to school. It's hot. i sweat. and i drink a lot of water. i just want this semester to get rolling to the swing of things start leading my days.

my grandfather's getting an operation today to remove a tumor from his brain. i'm thinking about him. my dad and jordan are heading there to be at the hospital...i'm there in spirit, i guess.

i saw funny people last night, 'cause we missed the first ten of harry potter (cause the freaking traffic was awful--construction). it was really good. i think my favorite of apatow's. we'll see. i'm gonna let it stew.

ok, i got stuff to do.

love ya'll

joshua