I haven’t written much lately because I’ve been writing a lot lately. Allow me to explain. I finished my EdD doctoral degree this past week. Or, I should say, I successfully defended my dissertation. I need to add minor changes, about twenty minutes’ worth of writing, get APA approval, and fill out all the forms or whatever which constitute the last hurdle to the degree. In late May and early June I wrote, wrote, and wrote, in the coffee shop or at the dining room table, in an almost aggressive manner. I mean that as soon as my advisor handed me feedback I sat down and knocked out another draft. In turn, I neglected the journal. However, I’m ready to return. I need to return. So here we go.
At the moment I’m in my mother-in-law’s living room in western NY, close to 2AM, and I can’t sleep. We decided on an impromptu visit at 9AM Sunday morning and were on the road for the ten hour drive by 1PM Sunday. I almost had a heart attack in Chicago traffic (if you’re going to send me on a detour, mark it on the goddamn sign BEFORE I take that route), and I got a ticket east of Cleveland, but otherwise the trip was uneventful. The kids were great in the car. This trip is a combination anniversary “thank you for putting up with me on my dissertation” present for M. Although the neighborhood is pretty empty, unlike later in the summer, and the kids are getting somewhat bored, I’m glad we made the trip. Yesterday we saw “Shrek the Third” and today we’re driving up to Niagara Falls. I’m paranoid about my kids falling off the falls. I am not a healthy man.
Ok, ten bullet point post…the last few weeks have passed in a blur…

I finished Murakami’s “Dance, Dance, Dance”. Brilliant book. I started his collection of interviews related to the Tokyo gas attacks, but I decided that after 1,000 Murakami pages in a row I needed new voices in my head. I’m reading a strong translation of “Rama the Steadfast” now. I love the first line:

“Rama was sure he was pursuing the right course; he was setting out for the wilderness.”

Ok, my computer is almost out of power, so I have to stop and post before it shuts down. I’ll catch up on the other nine bullets later.