It’s almost 3am and I didn’t sleep much last night. Tomorrow I pack for school and say goodbye to my family for two weeks. Now, I must sleep.
Hey, Everybody with a capital-E, I am in Paris and it r-o-c-k ROCKS. A photographer’s dream. So beautiful, so stylish, so much amazing food. I have not abandoned you, dear blogworld of mine. I am in Paris, and I am taking pictures.
This is an easy one. Girlish, like someone else in the family, feels compelled to write down many things: poetry, letters to friends and family, rules for her toys, party invitations, and all other sorts of plans and ideas. The other day, I found what follows in a stack of her papers on the kitchen table. If I had a scanner I’d scan it in, but I don’t, so I’ll just type it verbatim.
[*many hand-drawn stars, one sun, and one moon*]
How To Have A SLEEPOVER
***
12 hours
Well at first, you have to get everything ready. Spare sleeping
badsbags, refrestments,games, ect. Second you wait to see who arrives first at your house. When the first
persperson arrives you kinda tell them whats it is going to be like. Third
every one else
everyone else arrives start playing games and then have a pillow fight. Once you havesetteled down the games start getting ready to go to bed. If your parents let you have a
huge midnight-feast
inon a picnicblanketblanket in YOUR ROOM. Well here’s some ideasfor the midnight-feast. At first you get
P penupeanutbutter and jam sandwiches (or turkeyor ham sandwiches.) and then have some desserts.
So now you know.
Reprinted with the author’s full knowledge and permission.
I don’t know what comes over me, but 10 days is apparently the outer limits of blog neglect. I got nudged twice today–by my sister, who I could temporarily ignore because she has ignored my instructions to get her own blog, dammit, but also by my very best imaginary friend, who I can’t ignore because I just can’t.
I am busy! I know, I know, we all are, but it’s Christmas, and I suck at Christmas, and this year I have an extra kid and no car. I’m at a spectacular disadvantage! I’m paranoid I’m going to screw it all up! I managed to pull off a Christmas tree only due to the kindness of my neighbors, who I have told you before are so unbelievably kind I am quite sure that any minute they’re going to be whisked away in their spaceship or something, waving, “Goodbye, Earthlings, it’s been nice studying you lower life forms!”
But also, my writing program begins in less than a month now, and I have assignments before the first residency. I have an essay due about a book that I don’t like very much at all, but it’s considered the masterpiece of Kenzaburo Oë, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1994. So I am obligated to figure this book out, because not only do I have to write an essay about it, I have to talk about it with a bunch of other really smart people. So, in order to figure out what the hell is going on in this book I have found myself, just today, outlining the chapters. Because the shit is complex.
And I am learning something, which is encouraging, and sort of the point of the whole exercise in getting an MFA, I suppose.
But it has distracted me from my blogging duties, and for that I apologize. And realistically, I’m going to have to drop back to about a once-a-week posting schedule, because I must focus on a different kind of writing. The kind of writing I believe I am best at, that most matters to me, and that I am most afraid of failing at. I cannot fail for not trying. I really must make the most of this.
Look at me. Talking to myself on my blog.
But one last thing: I had to email my picture to my program for the “facebook.” This is what I sent. Tell me, do I look like a writer, or do I just look kinda pissed? And what’s with that stupid mole between my eyes? I should get that removed, shouldn’t I? (Don’t answer that.)
I’ve decided that Father Christmas is giving old Santa Claus a run for his money. Over here, when you stand in line to see Father Christmas, instead of you paying money to have your picture taken with him, he actually gives you a present. How about that for the holiday spirit?
