My brother tied the knot last weekend. It was a great time.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friend
My kindergarten classmate, the Rev. Chuck Messer, officiated the wedding. Here he is with my brother. (Chuck's the one dressed like Gandalf.) Here's a link to one of his recent sermons. It deals with the current financial situation.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
There’s been a fair amount of talk about the historical nature of the nominations this election year, and with good reason. Barring the unexpected, it looks like an African American or a woman will occupy the executive branch for the next four years. We’ve recognized and celebrated this, and it is altogether fitting and proper that we should do so.
However, we haven’t said much about another fact represented by both Barack Obama and Sarah Palin.
They’re young!
Depending on where we set the mark, both Obama and Palin can be categorized as GENERATION X. (AKA the 13th Generation)
Remember us?
“Slackers,” the “unsung generation,” a bunch of self-centered and fickle kids with “a hazy sense of [our] own identity.”
Douglas Coupland, the novelist who popularized the term, was born in 1961. Palin was born in ’64, the same year as Rob Lowe and Obama. Demi Moore was born in ’62, the same year as David Foster Wallace, whom we lost recently.
We’re getting old guys, and I personally lament that fact on an almost-daily basis. But the other side is that we’re stepping forward—albeit hesitantly—onto the social, literary, and political stage. People are starting to listen to us.
Holy crap! Is it our turn already? Are we real, full-fledged grown-ups?
What will we do with our brief blip in history?
Stay tuned.
However, we haven’t said much about another fact represented by both Barack Obama and Sarah Palin.
They’re young!
Depending on where we set the mark, both Obama and Palin can be categorized as GENERATION X. (AKA the 13th Generation)
Remember us?
“Slackers,” the “unsung generation,” a bunch of self-centered and fickle kids with “a hazy sense of [our] own identity.”
Douglas Coupland, the novelist who popularized the term, was born in 1961. Palin was born in ’64, the same year as Rob Lowe and Obama. Demi Moore was born in ’62, the same year as David Foster Wallace, whom we lost recently.
We’re getting old guys, and I personally lament that fact on an almost-daily basis. But the other side is that we’re stepping forward—albeit hesitantly—onto the social, literary, and political stage. People are starting to listen to us.
Holy crap! Is it our turn already? Are we real, full-fledged grown-ups?
What will we do with our brief blip in history?
Stay tuned.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
A Passing:
David Foster Wallace
February 21 1962 -- September 12, 2008
This one is hard to believe folks. Whatever you thought of him, it would be difficult to deny David Foster Wallace's importance among contemporary novelists.
Like me and a number of the readers here, he was a graduate of the University of Arizona's MFA program, a man who had achieved literary success beyond what many of us dare to hope.
And yet.
Life is complicated, isn't it?
David Foster Wallace, dead at 46. He shall be missed.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
A Mini-Documentary...on ME!
I'm not sure if, by posting this, I am massaging my ego or opening myself up for ridicule. I'm not even sure that these two possibilities are mutually exclusive.
This brief sketch, put together by honorary Road Dog A.O., offers a glimpse of my life as overnight desk clerk at the Flamingo Hotel. See the related essay here.
Urban Think Signing, Orlando
Tight Shirt!
Urban Think! Bookstore is the type that I have looked forward to visiting. It's located in the Thornton Park neighborhood of downtown, very near Lake Eola Park. It's really a charming area, with no mouse ears in sight and not too many chain establishments. They offer a diverse selection of books, including many regional picks and works by Florida authors. They also display work by local artists and sell non-book gift items made locally. Their Signature Series has brought in an impressive list of writers.
Inside the store is an Infusion Tea, an urban vegetarian teahouse that offers a nice beer and wine menu. Take that, Barnes & Noble. I was really glad to see this, and I think more independents might think of marketing this combination that has worked so well for the book superstores.
The staff, including the manager Jim, is friendly in a laid-back, non-oversolicitous way. The store is a proud member of Indie Bound, and based on their literature they take their role in the community seriously.
I didn't give a reading here, just sat at a table with my books. It was interesting observing the different responses to me, some friendly and inquisitive, but many who seemed not to want to make eye contact with me. It's funny; I completely relate to the latter folk. To be drawn in can lead to the obligation to act interested for several seconds or, even worse, to make a purchase out of pity or obligation.
I did sell a few books, and I met a pretty young Ohio State Alum, a journalism grad now working in real estate.
Despite the inauspicious start to my day (see two posts down), I'm really glad I made this stop. That's Urban Think! Downtown Orlando. Check it out.
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