The Doldrums of... September?

Yeah, this is weird... I've never actually felt like I missed summer before, but it appears that I did.

I remember there being something hot and sticky about the weather... but life inside of an office in the middle of summer is different from life outside. I'm sure everyone can relate because everyone has actually been going through this since their mid teens... I've just managed to avoid "real work" until this summer... and even my work wasn't real work, it was academia.

Anyway, back to the actual title of this blog post. Amanda is at work. I'm on vacation. It sucks.

Yeah, you heard me correctly. Vacation sucks. I don't get to spend vacation with my wonderful wife because she is taking care of the front office at CCT while her coworker is on vacation. Therefore, she will be working during almost all of my vacation, so I won't be able to do much with her during the day.

I suppose that is what life will be like for most of our married lives together, because we'll both be holding down jobs and such, but it will just take some getting used to. Just felt like complaining today. I'm really not that unhappy, because I get lots done while she's at work. Yesterday I cleaned out my car completely, getting rid of some trash that's been there for probably the last three years (and I've only owned the car for two). Friday I blitzed the house with efficient and ruthless elimination of trash and papers that I have a hard time getting rid of (because I'll want to know what my first semester of masters classes was like in say 50 years right?). I am more effective when Amanda isn't at home, not because she distracts me but because I want to interact with her every waking second of the day when we're together, but still... I miss my wife when she's at work and I'm not.

Okay, gotta go, I feel another cleaning spree coming on...

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Duh... I wasn't even thinking...

My wife inadvertently gave me a great idea today when she mentioned that her boss had read the preview poetry online and found it amusing. Her remark was “you should give him your old book so he can see all of your old stuff and compare it…” and I said, “yeah that sounds good. I might just do that. Then…

DUH!

I have a whole bunch of my old stuff just sitting around from its previous publishing at Capital University. I should just give all of that stuff away first. I’m telling you… this is why I got married in the first place. I just don’t get these ideas on my own.

SO!

If you want one of my old books (sans prix/ gratis) just leave me a note here and I’ll bring one with me on Sunday or if you are in my home group on Wednesday. I warn you… the old stuff is sketchy in places, and I included some of it in the new feature (but only the stuff I really liked, some of the old stuff just frightens and embarrasses me)

I kind of went for a Dr. Seuss-y vibe along with the other Ogden Nash type stuff. It takes a lot of patience for some of the poetry, Amanda can attest to that, sometimes I didn’t know where to pull the plug, and some of the stuff I wrote is just weird.

The only real bonus of the old book is that it has Pictures. All mine. None are color except for the front cover. But they are all outline drawings, so they make great coloring books for kids. I included instructions on the inside that the book was not a museum piece or a coffee table book. It should be tested for flight, drawn on, taken on high seas adventures, used to level the microwave, etc…

Okay, that’s about it. Let me know.

Shameless self promotion #2 over.

A+ (although the old book gets a C+)

Big and Cool!

Wow... lots is happening... can't get my thoughts together... busy weekend...

First things first... I discovered the greatest invention since the invention of inventions thanks to an inlaw. FREE SELF PUBLISHING!!! Go to Lulu.com to check it out... it's really everything it says it is, a way for starving artists to publish their work professionally at no cost. The company only makes a profit if you sell books/cds/photo collections... so for example, I set the cost of a book at $10.00 and they deduct printing costs and a small commission per book (20% sounds like a lot but remember they don't get anything until you do) and you get a royalty check if anyone purchases the book.

So...

I did it. I put together poetry that I've had for years (including some selections from a past book that my University published for me in 2001).

INTRODUCING: maybe this time...
What: A collection of poetry
how long: 56 pages
color cover: yeah
sweet back cover: oh yeah
sweet author photo: heck yeah
cost: $10 (i would make about $3.50 per book after printing costs and comission is deducted)
where: www.lulu.com

Download the preview by going to my storefront which you can find by typing in my name (Andrew Anderson)

So cool... so cool... I won't make anything off of this but I might just have to order one for myself so I can see what the whole thing looks like.

All y'alls should do this... John M. for the photos, Fred K. for his music compositions, Mike G. for his music (solo pop projects anyone?), Annie T. for her artwork, etc... we are a congregation of artists...

Okay gotta go... at work... no time... papers due...

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Thoughts on fatherhood

Everyone seems to be talking about fatherhood, masculinity, etc. So I'll throw myself in here and say that I have no idea why, but I've really felt an intense need to be a father in recent months. I guess I tend to convey that through raising my pet, but a pet and a child are very different items.

Observe.

A rabbit is not a child.
A child is not a rabbit.
Ham is not kosher.

I don't know where that third observation came from, but I put it down anyway. I suppose it's just me coming out.

So back to this fatherhood thing... I don't know where it's come from. I definately know that Amanda and I are nowhere close to being ready to raise children, nor are we going to try anytime in the next four or five years (If I've understood Amanda correctly, please correct me if I'm wrong ;) ) but dang it... I want a child.

This is insane. I thought women were supposed to be the ones who felt the need for children (and no I don't mean that ALL women crave childbearing... it's just... um... something I heard once and that has been portrayed as true in the media... not that I go there for all my information... most of the time...) so why is it that I envy those people who have children.

Hypothesis one: We are in a young church in which there are many children.
Hypothesis two: Many of the people that we know well are currently with child or expecting children in the near future.
Hypothesis three: Someone is continuously slipping a womens supplement into my drinks and so I now have estrogen coursing through my vains at an alarming rate.

I have to go now. I'll be teaching my French students and thinking nurturing thoughts. Pleast notify me if you notice me growing breasts anytime soon. Thanks.

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