tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90628966402155186502024-03-05T20:20:01.533-05:00Walks in the MarshA look at life, baseball, politics, movies, books, TV, family, and moreChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.comBlogger495125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-32795588617245529272020-01-08T15:28:00.000-05:002020-01-08T15:29:11.413-05:00What's in a Name?<div class="ox-319a0b7583-MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As I prepare to start the process of finding an agent and getting this labor of love published, I really started to think about with this novel, its sequels, and the quartet were to be called. LADY OF FIRE (the original name) and LADY OF FLAMES (the first tweak) were just working titles but, as some of my beta readers pointed out, they also sounded like the titles of romance novels, which was not the impression I want to give in my pitch to agents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">So, after some midnight brainstorming with my lovely wife, I’ve settled on the new name for the book, its three sequels, and the quartet as a whole:</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: content-box; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal;"><span style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal;">CIRCLE’S CALL</span></span><span style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal;">, together with <span style="box-sizing: content-box; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal;">VEIL’S GATE, SILVER’S FALL</span>, and <span style="box-sizing: content-box; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal;">HOPE’S RISE</span>, comprise <span style="box-sizing: content-box; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal;">THE PINNACLE OF STORMS QUARTET</span>. The books will follow the pursuit of the Periapt, the rise of the Circle of Ranachen, and the growth of Aemon’s powers along with key events 50, 400, and 2,000 years in the past.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal;">Of course, if (when! Need think positively!) the book is selected for publication, all bets are off on the name, as I expect publishers have rooms full of clever people who just work on crafting exciting titles. However, the romance novel confusion has hopefully been put to rest for now.</span></div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-65028166058720112292020-01-04T15:13:00.000-05:002020-01-08T15:16:47.606-05:00I'm a writer and I have an addiction<div class="ox-319a0b7583-MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It’s amazing how you can fall into patterns that aren’t recognizable when you’re writing disconnected chapters over the space of a year or so. It’s only when you see the whole thing from front to back (and new eyes look at it as well) that you discover an unfortunate tendency to over-adverbalize (I’m a writer, I can make up words, so no snarky comments) leading to the Great Adverbial Purge of 2019 (aka Adverbaggedon, Adverbnarok, etc.). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Also, without realizing it, I discovered that I had a previously undiagnosed addiction to certain words and phrases, resulting in some unintentionally excessive use of such words as trot, chuckle, “cocked an eyebrow”, barked, snapped, snarled, and sneered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">So, after a heavy duty copy edit and revisions, I'm happy to say that my novel no longer has the trots, among other things.</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-60391126583435195422019-10-12T09:13:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:24:59.734-05:00Quote of the Day<div style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Quote of the day:</div>
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"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."<br />
– Neil Gaiman</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-89523989363859524012019-10-10T21:26:00.000-04:002020-01-08T14:45:40.712-05:00Whoa, it's real...<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The first printing of the whole shebang. If it’s no good, at least it will be a great paperweight or doorstop.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-35753352746468013542019-10-05T09:27:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:28:13.416-05:00A Thought on WritingShared with me by a friend. Sometimes it feels very true.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfGSVrmwy2jqFQbhFU7Av6yVRkCdoV0yu7TSGCXRxE-_n9sJNMOsoyoD68lw2ne6x9WOmahnZ86MeG_QMdGoCm4b573ugSrz9G0b4eM9icjLRtX4sqeKlcEd4Lu0Fg9xvu07TU62mVlU/s1600/2020-01-08_09-27-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="506" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfGSVrmwy2jqFQbhFU7Av6yVRkCdoV0yu7TSGCXRxE-_n9sJNMOsoyoD68lw2ne6x9WOmahnZ86MeG_QMdGoCm4b573ugSrz9G0b4eM9icjLRtX4sqeKlcEd4Lu0Fg9xvu07TU62mVlU/s320/2020-01-08_09-27-02.png" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-17051380281029075892019-09-18T09:29:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:29:31.284-05:00Today's Thoughts on ReadingCourtesy of a friend<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8b1yAUrvm1OeqTRhQ7iuB-ehXhWlyhJbol7S090Xru8IUPwnHHRPGalxeeBB4wPwWOyLH-FNUvgiSsISZA41dNZXYZkOXuOSsWxJbzpU4X5YzP8oTy6zi_KboJXe0GfDvASRNpGLZIE/s1600/2020-01-08_09-28-32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8b1yAUrvm1OeqTRhQ7iuB-ehXhWlyhJbol7S090Xru8IUPwnHHRPGalxeeBB4wPwWOyLH-FNUvgiSsISZA41dNZXYZkOXuOSsWxJbzpU4X5YzP8oTy6zi_KboJXe0GfDvASRNpGLZIE/s320/2020-01-08_09-28-32.png" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-63456763517748639052019-07-07T09:12:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:12:37.276-05:002019 Book of the Year (so far)<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">2019 book of the year so far. A fantastic look at not only Ted Geisel's life but his evolution as a writer and artist, his personal evolution (including a no-holds-barred look at the racist stereotyping in his early works and how he came to recognize and respond to it), the evolution of his philosophy of reading and education, and his creative process (Did you know it took a year to write "The Cat in the Hat"?). Spoiler alert: he dies in the end, and I'll own up to the fact that I got teary eyed when he did.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId25VcGa7DMqDUhYSXhlIsJTU7l-LT9dUoXGTIscHEHCB9tQymHgQaihKBN4e69UCdYPec37k5PzUXKsEYrNGlmzDvZvR-8azXrtiNlS6RkIEbhwFBTw0iBFZh_Ws7VXdRv_zv4YAmE4/s1600/2020-01-08_09-09-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId25VcGa7DMqDUhYSXhlIsJTU7l-LT9dUoXGTIscHEHCB9tQymHgQaihKBN4e69UCdYPec37k5PzUXKsEYrNGlmzDvZvR-8azXrtiNlS6RkIEbhwFBTw0iBFZh_Ws7VXdRv_zv4YAmE4/s320/2020-01-08_09-09-01.png" width="219" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-60479682568882792802019-06-08T09:34:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:34:29.324-05:00Writing Retreat Report - Day 6<div style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Writing Retreat at <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=108241845996965&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARBbX45okN609wWMoChE4E5xh18w8zRXBiSzLj6lCaG1er5Suf1cgq3gPyEyZ0GpCZtQNUOXhSHvs_Yt%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/wellspringhouseretreat/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARBbX45okN609wWMoChE4E5xh18w8zRXBiSzLj6lCaG1er5Suf1cgq3gPyEyZ0GpCZtQNUOXhSHvs_Yt&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDXj80mXdF0tNq8rMNzbz7wM6sfgCI2_sqaBehALsIpnRPcKEWStQayZh6rmMb3U6tJGvHGd2ID80WtChOy8eRj23Fy1edagKBkmVcEB4yjlUWir8Sf5PEvKCOxQHPrJz2OVO0NlEuhZy7MS4JCCDdK8vbPptPpV7iMz4n3R0IhagBqlGBaszRL4Pvh4oVBvhfwZkZpXPtqdw" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Wellspring House</a>: Final Entry, by the Numbers</div>
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Days: 6 with the first one really spent figuring out how I was going to organize myself and write during this retreat (harder than it sounds), and 5 focused on serious writing and revision</div>
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New words written: 25,000+ </div>
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Words reviewed and revised: 83,000+ (including reviews of the new 25K every morning the day after each batch was written)</div>
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Conundrums, obstacles, and wrinkles overcome: numerous</div>
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Actual, true “Holy crap, that makes sense/I figured it out/that’s what needs to happen!” epiphanies: at least 5-6 really big ones</div>
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Daily record: 6,700+ words</div>
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Black bear cubs seen: 1, about 40 feet away</div>
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Built-in teasers, clues, plot points, bits of text, and future callbacks for the rest of the quartet: Loads</div>
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Maps drawn: 2 because if you don’t have the map, you have no idea how long it will take to get somewhere and you get into some serious inconsistencies (wait...did I say they headed north to get there before? Rewrite rewrite rewrite)</div>
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Anticipated words still be written in this book: 55,000 to 60,000 based on the outline (holy crap...when will there be time?!)</div>
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Number of times I’ve been grateful to <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1399145898&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARDFlRbaOPnT7zFOEar_p4S2sEIWQuNf7GDt6TIFk3pC6NDcTZk6_a_Ee_wWpJy_b2gdFDD7H_JezrX3%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.a.watson?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARDFlRbaOPnT7zFOEar_p4S2sEIWQuNf7GDt6TIFk3pC6NDcTZk6_a_Ee_wWpJy_b2gdFDD7H_JezrX3&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDXj80mXdF0tNq8rMNzbz7wM6sfgCI2_sqaBehALsIpnRPcKEWStQayZh6rmMb3U6tJGvHGd2ID80WtChOy8eRj23Fy1edagKBkmVcEB4yjlUWir8Sf5PEvKCOxQHPrJz2OVO0NlEuhZy7MS4JCCDdK8vbPptPpV7iMz4n3R0IhagBqlGBaszRL4Pvh4oVBvhfwZkZpXPtqdw" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" title="Jennifer Arlinsky Watson">Jennifer Arlinsky Watson</a> for suggesting that I investigate a writing retreat and being willing to have me gone for a full week: Innumerable</div>
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Hours until I hit the road home: 1.5</div>
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The number of books I absolutely will finish writing this year: 1</div>
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The number of books I’ll get published: Not a clue but it’s going to be fun trying</div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-20955585687340457202019-06-08T06:35:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:46:55.275-05:00Writing Retreat Report – The Penultimate Entry<div style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Yesterday, for another change of venue, I drove to the lovely town of Shelburne Falls with one of the other writers. While there, I enjoyed a great walk on a spectacular day, crossed the historic “Bridge of Flowers” twice, stopped into the delightful Boswell’s Books (sadly, Boswell was off napping somewhere and not accepting the adoration to which I am sure he is rightfully due), and got some some excellent writing and map making done while sipping iced tea at Mocha Maya’s.<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-29292067518706804262019-06-06T09:36:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:36:57.336-05:00Writing Retreat Report - Day 6<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Writing retreat update: 6,700 new words today plus revisions to yesterday’s work. I almost wish my iPad made that cool “ding swish” sound you can only get from a real typewriter’s carriage return. If I get into a groove tomorrow (final day), I might...might...hit my stretch goal of 30,000 new words this week.</span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-39813876425401891092019-06-05T14:38:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:45:44.380-05:00Writing Retreat Report - Day 4<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Writing Retreat Day #4.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Have sought new environs and fresh inspiration for writing today. After a drive from Ashfield to Montague, I'm now happily encamped at the Lady Killigrew Cafe and amazing The Book Mill used book store alongside a waterfall on the Sawmill River. Now I just need to get this thing finished, published, and on the best seller list so someone will pay me to do this full time.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Of course, there it's not all rainbows and unicorn poop. The d</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">rawback to sitting in the shade while writing outside...I’m getting dive bombed by kamikaze ants falling out of the tree above. Thankfully, none have done the Nestea Plunge into my iced tea yet.</span><br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-65249450575184453792019-06-03T21:39:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:40:51.558-05:00Writing Retreat Report - Day 3, part 2<div style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Ashfield update: Something you don't hear every day - "Hey guys, be careful walking around your house. There's a mother and two baby bears back there in the woods." - the neighbor next door to Wellspring House. </div>
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Minutes later, I see a black bear cub run behind the wood pile where my car is parked.</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-25334360821626714092019-06-03T15:40:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:40:37.595-05:00Writing Retreat Report - Day 3<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Ashfield update: The Belding Memorial Library uses the Star Trek Original Series red alert audio clip for their book scanner to alert them to incorrect scans.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Best little library EVER!</span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-35759631865671250352019-06-03T10:43:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:44:06.982-05:00Writing Retreat Report - Getting Started<br />
<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Well into the second full day of my writing retreat at </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=108241845996965&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARC6a8RNCnqCS7DfH0Ajj9k9zEQ_LYe65o3z9uSK59vHtSEFi_WW3vq1X_B7CScZaIVR0Do2f20S8kTb%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/wellspringhouseretreat/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARC6a8RNCnqCS7DfH0Ajj9k9zEQ_LYe65o3z9uSK59vHtSEFi_WW3vq1X_B7CScZaIVR0Do2f20S8kTb&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBztoIV0TNT5e_hClOQKXREubde_8YZ5QEmOUrxokzkbeVUItuGylqZv3VXwCOup07WgV7ycJ5Pv_KkD_KkKki0DpfZW4aQnEjKZvg5-pC9TOrX_6nJtg5K_25yV9JJCIB4dUE9LE0MmODOO_BsvlLJS6wv1mRwOqUHqO59DSmYRzNJoRq4bR9km2e7bgknDkNb8uH1-sj9jcgJJA" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">Wellspring House</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> in Ashfield, MA, the town where everyone knows your name (if you live here) and cell phones don’t work. Every 1000 words or so, I change venues. Thus far have enjoyed writing in my room, the funky living room, outdoors, at the local cafe, at the lakeside park across the street, and now at the delightful little library.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqePCrXhloxfVP5SHY1WV54rgdNwF0L-eKGwn5JChH5cmBymJnFHydepLwvKQLidG9q_pI-gy-C1ScsfIDPQCVDrqffKDkLZ1FCis4AbcNGG0pAj2HQyBgLm3xZUA8a2qBSNTuCeqxUM/s1600/IMG_0630.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqePCrXhloxfVP5SHY1WV54rgdNwF0L-eKGwn5JChH5cmBymJnFHydepLwvKQLidG9q_pI-gy-C1ScsfIDPQCVDrqffKDkLZ1FCis4AbcNGG0pAj2HQyBgLm3xZUA8a2qBSNTuCeqxUM/s320/IMG_0630.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-12048754939848949312019-05-28T18:49:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:50:13.509-05:00RIP Tony Horwitz<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Ah damn, I didn't know Tony Horwitz died yesterday. I loved his writings and none more than Confederates in the Attic, an absolutely brilliant book. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
From Slate.com: <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2019/05/tony-horwitz-author-of-confederates-in-the-attic-dies.html?fbclid=IwAR0DiN_KRJgVrLQ88YOzgdzynIISBb54l8iwWT2cFqnCMtJSDJ-sMksTfJc" target="_blank">Tony Horwitz’s Greatest Book, Confederates in the Attic, Seems Even More Crucial Today</a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-29957898100149141752019-05-26T09:53:00.000-04:002020-01-08T09:53:14.456-05:00We've got a problem if we're entering a spelling bee"Message"?! Seriously, Rhode Island? The most search word for spelling in the state is "Message"? I figured it would at least be something like like "chourico". How mundane.<br />
<br />
From the Washington Post: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/05/25/beautiful-bougie-all-other-words-americans-still-cant-spell/?fbclid=IwAR1L89Z4ZIRsNJBb7p_Dug2gpEW4Gi9xFofEG6l7B682_ZLzyG_v_NbYa1U" target="_blank">Beautiful, bougie and all the other words Americans still can’t spell, state by state</a><br />
<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-48434626601695823022018-02-15T20:07:00.003-05:002018-02-15T20:35:14.190-05:00The Dark Voice<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Last night, I walked into the restaurant for our family Valentine’s Day dinner and gave my daughter a long, tight hug. She is only 6 and didn’t know what had happened in Parkland but I did. I knew about Parkland, Columbine, Newtown, Las Vegas, churches in South Carolina and Texas, and a nightclub in Orlando. (Did you realize that there have been eight shootings at schools just six weeks into 2018? Eight, where even one would have been a cause for horror in the past!)<br />
<br />
It’s because I know of these things that I hear a dark, evil voice whispering to me every time I kiss my daughter and tell her I love her before school and at bedtime. The voice whispers, asking me if today is the day that something happens, if today our world comes apart, if today a gun goes off.<br />
<br />
I hate that voice.<br />
<br />
I hate the fear and that I’ll have to explain all of this to her someday.<br />
<br />
I hate that she is growing up in a country where mass shootings are the new normal.<br />
<br />
I hate that the freedom to carry guns has trumped the freedom for kids to go to school without having to practice lockdown drills.<br />
<br />
I hate that children were texting their families to say “I love you” because they didn’t think they would ever be able to say it in person again.<br />
<br />
I hate that parents who sent their children to school are now sitting in empty bedrooms staring at photos and videos, knowing they'll never hold their child again.<br />
<br />
I hate that voice.<br />
<br />
I wonder why the enablers of the gun lobby can’t hear it. Many of them have kids or grandkids. Does the voice not whisper the fear to them, too? Maybe it does but the sound of a Glock sliding into a holster, a magazine being inserted into an AR-15, and the clink of golden guineas in their re-election coffers drowns it out.<br />
<br />
I hate that voice.<br />
<br />
But I am stronger than that voice.<br />
<br />
I love my daughter.<br />
<br />
That's why I know we can be stronger than the guns. We need our voices to grow ever louder so that no parent has to hear that evil whisper the door to the school ever again.</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-47398070909553028752018-02-08T23:48:00.000-05:002018-02-08T23:48:17.413-05:00A Blizzard, 40 Years Later<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In
retrospect, I can’t recall when it started to snow. I suppose I could look it
up but it doesn’t matter all that much. It may have been snowing as I trudged
to my bus stop on the corner of Irving and Blackstone Boulevard for school that
morning or it might have started once I got into class. No doubt, like every
other third-grader before and after, I was thrilled at the sight of the snow
and the possibility that school would be let out early.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In
February 1978, I was attending E.W. Flynn Elementary School, not far from Rhode
Island Hospital. It was only my second year in the Providence schools, my
family having moved from a small farm town in Connecticut a year and half
before. I was among the first kids from the East Side to be selected to ride a
bus across the city to attend the recently formed “Gifted Program.” The day of
the blizzard must have started out like any other school day. I have no
recollection of my parents saying anything special to me about the weather or
hearing notes of panic on the television. Third-graders usually have more
important things to be concerned with than weather reports.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As the
snow began to fall more heavily, word finally made its way around the school
that we were going to be leaving early, that the buses had been notified, and
that we’d be home in plenty of time to enjoy the weather. We trooped out of our
classrooms, lining up along the wall by bus number as we always did, and then
began to wait. One after another, the school buses arrived. We couldn’t see
them from where we sat but we knew they were there as group after group got up
and disappeared down the halls and out into the snow. Our number was never
called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">We
continued to wait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">There’s
something not quite fair about being let out from school early only to have
your bus arrive at the regular time instead, hours after everyone else was home
making snowmen and drinking cocoa. Apparently, our bus driver had never
received the message and, as a result, assumed that school would be letting out
at the usual time. So, hours after the rest of the buses had left and the
school halls were empty but for a group of 30 annoyed elementary school
students, we finally were told it was time to leave. We gathered our bags,
boarded the bus, and left E.W. Flynn behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Our route
home looped around behind the hospital, eventually intersecting Point Street on
the west side of Route 195, down the street from the YMCA and only a few blocks
from Classical High School, which I was to attend many years later. One student
lived on that side of the highway. It seemed to take us forever to get there. I
remember her getting off and making her way across the sidewalk and into the
house. When she was safely inside, our bus monitor climbed back aboard and we
slowly crossed over the highway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">We didn’t
get far. The roads had become impassable and our driver, no doubt in
consultation with our monitor, came to the conclusion that we could go no
farther. We had come to rest along the side of the road, the old Coro building
all but lost in the snow across the street. While we waited on the bus, our
monitor (I do wish I could remember her name) got off and made her way into an
autobody shop close to the bus. After a few minutes, she came back aboard and
explained that to keep warm and safe, we would all be going inside. We gathered
up our books and bags and followed her into the warmth of the shop. The shop
had been in the process of repairing someone’s camper and, with the mechanics’
blessings, we all trooped inside to get out of the cold and have someplace to
sit down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">What I
found out later was that none of our parents had any idea where we were as we
made our way from school to the garage. They knew school had been let out early
but thirty children had gone missing. Phone trees were set up, each parent
calling several others, all trying to figure out into which snowbank their
children had vanished. One of the fathers, unable to wait any longer, strapped
on his cross-country skis and, in the teeth of the blizzard, began to ski our
bus route from his home on the East Side. Eventually, he found our bus, buried
in the snow, and discovered us, eating hamburgers. One of the mechanics had
hiked to a restaurant down the street, explained that there were thirty
famished children camped out in the garage, and then trudged back with armfuls
of burgers and soda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">By the
time it was my turn to call home and let my parents know that I was all right,
my schoolmates and I were looking on this as a great adventure. Somehow I doubt
my mother and father saw it in quite the same light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Obviously,
there was no way to get out that night so when it came time for bed, we climbed
into the camper and the other vehicles and settled down for the night. Needless
to say, we were all having too much fun to fall asleep immediately. Eventually,
several of us got together in the sleeping area above the camper cab and had a
spelling bee to pass the time. I suppose it says something about my personality
that, trapped in the middle of a blizzard, I would choose to lead a spelling
bee as a means of entertainment. The nice thing about it was that I won. Of
course, the final result was rather biased. After all, I was the one choosing
the words, including those for me, and I knew that I could spell “encyclopedia”
and the second graders couldn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Morning
finally arrive and with it, our parents. They came on snowshoes, sleds, and
snowmobiles, like a frosty tribe of nomads. My father’s transportation of
choice was his cross-country skis. He came sliding up, dragging a toboggan and winter
clothes for me behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I changed
into my snow clothes, said good-bye to our mechanics, our driver, our monitor,
and my friends, and then set out across the city with my dad. I’m not quite
sure how my dad managed it, skiing along, dragging his son on a toboggan behind
him up Wickenden Street. By the time we had reached Fox Point, we were both
cold and tired. However, in a show of extraordinary good sense, my father had
made a stop on his way to retrieve me, dropping off dry clothes for both of us
at the home of a friend. Together, dad and I climbed the stairs to the waiting
cocoa, sandwiches, and dry socks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The rest
of the trip home was uneventful as we slid downhill to our home on Wayland
Avenue. I spent the remaining days off building forts and not straying too far
from my mother’s sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">While I
don’t live in Providence anymore, I do get to the city on a regular basis. I
occasionally drive by the autobody shop. It’s still there, across the street
from what is now Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Every now and then, I’m tempted
to go inside, to see if they have any photos of a troop of children camped out
among the tires and tools, if anyone remembers hiking down the street in a
blizzard to keep us from going hungry, or if the owners of the camper were ever
told that it had kept 30 kids warm and safe when they were stranded far from
home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">(Originally written upon the 20-year anniversary of the Blizzard and submitted to the Providence Journal for its coverage. A text-only copy of the resulting article is posted below)</span></div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-25656626790868109212014-06-07T15:07:00.000-04:002014-06-07T15:07:04.370-04:00Cross One Off the Bucket ListOn Friday, I was able to check off one of those bucket list items -- getting a letter to the editor published in the New York Times. This one was driven by the ongoing and rather frustrating battle between Amazon and the latest publisher that it's looking to pressure, Hachette. As a rapacious reader and a heavy investor in the Kindle method of consuming books, I am finding this whole process to be remarkably annoying.<br />
<br />
However, after doing a bit more research, I decided that while I was ticked off at Amazon (so when exactly will we get our pre-ordered copy of the new "JK Rowling-writing-as-Robert-Galbraith" novel that's being published by Hachette and isn't available on Amazon now?), I didn't have much sympathy for Hachette and the other publishers either. Here's why:<br />
<br />
<b>To the Editor:</b><br />
<br />
Neither Amazon nor the publishers are pure of heart. Amazon is facing serious pressure on the profitability front from investors, so it is looking to increase margins and reduce costs.<br />
<br />
The publishers see e-books as their largest profit area. A Publisher’s Lunch article last year showed the profit breakdown for HarperCollins: A $27.99 hardcover provides a $5.67 profit to the publisher and a $4.20 royalty to the author; a $14.99 e-book provides a $7.87 profit to the publisher and a $2.62 royalty to the author.<br />
<br />
While the publishers are making a claim to a noble struggle against Amazon’s efforts to devalue publishing, they are also seeking to protect their higher profits on e-books, not higher royalties for writers. While Amazon claims to want to offer readers the best pricing, Amazon has no qualms about using its powerful market leverage to get what it seeks while inflicting collateral pain on readers to boost its profits.<br />
<br />
The two players that are suffering in this situation are the authors (book sales delayed or prevented, dramatically lower royalties) and the consumers, many of whom have invested heavily in the Kindle-based environment.<br />
<br />
CHRIS WATSON<br />
Barrington, R.I., May 31, 2014<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/06/opinion/book-fight-amazon-vs-publishers.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0" target="_blank">originally published</a> in the New York Times op-ed letters section on June 5, 2014)Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-14157046564528405072013-04-18T14:54:00.000-04:002014-05-08T14:55:01.288-04:00Rambling into Midnight<div style="background-color: #e2e2e2; border: 0px; color: #424242; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In the late 70s, when I was about 10, my mother took me to a movie at the<a href="http://www.avoncinema.com/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #f66526; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Avon Cinema</a> in Providence. The Avon still exists with what feel like the same seats but a better class of independent films and higher ticket prices. But back in the 70s and early 80s, as I entered my movie-going prime, the Avon was the sort of place that showed double features of <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It Came from Outer Space</em>and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Creature from the Black Lagoon</em> on Saturday afternoons and then a double feature of <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conan the Barbarian</em> and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stripes</em> at night. Better still, the Brown students manning the box office didn’t care who went in to see the films so starting in 6th grade, when my friends and I were allowed to roam Thayer Street at night on our own, we’d go in, eat popcorn, watch R rated movies, and then go across the street to play Centipede or Tempest at Store 24 during the intermission.</div>
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On this particular night, though, it was different. I was there with my mom, for one, and second, we weren’t seeing the sort of movie that I usually enjoyed at the Avon. It was a concert film. I’m not sure if I went along because there was no sitter available or if she decided she wanted me to see it. For whatever reason, I sat there with my mom in the not-too-terribly-comfortable seats as the lights went down, pot smoke wafted through the theatre (“mom, what’s that funny smell?” “I’ll tell you later.”), and the cheesy “visit the snack bar” promo played.</div>
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And then<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rKlkR0B5aw" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #f66526; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Last Waltz</a></em> began.</div>
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I didn’t really understand the movie as I watched it. It wasn’t until later years that the conversations between director Martin Scorcese (who, I believe, may have shot this amazing film for free) and the members of <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Band</em> made sense to me as they reflected on 16 years together, life on the road, and the end of their collaboration. I knew the music of <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Band</em> and many of the guests in this now legendary concert documentary because my parents played so much of it at home. I was too young for it to be “my music” (that honor tends to reside mostly with the music of the ’80s) but I recognized the songs and I knew the names though not necessarily the importance of the performers. (I wondered why Ringo didn’t get a more prominent place, instead of just getting some guest drum work, for example).</div>
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At the heart of it all was <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Band</em> — Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko, and Richard Manuel. As a kid, I loved their music, which sounded so different than so much of the other stuff that my parents and my friends listened to. Songs like <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ophelia</em>, <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down</em>, <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It Makes No Difference</em>, and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Up On Cripple Creek</em> rank right up there with pretty much anything off of Bruce Springsteen’s <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Born to Run</em> as the first music that I really started to appreciate as music, as performance, as a form of language. Of course at 10 or in my teens, I didn’t really put it that way but that music resonated with me and continues to do so.</div>
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And The Band? Well, they’d already broken up by the time I was paying attention but they were all still out there performing in some fashion. My parents, very active in the arts community in Providence in the 70s, were friends with various writers and journalists. I remember them coming home from a night out in Boston with a music critic acquaintance where they not only saw The Band’s Levon Helm play but then went and hung out with him in his hotel room (or backstage, I don’t remember which).</div>
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When I went to college, my father bought me each of Robbie Robertson’s solo albums and sent them to me where I would play them repeatedly along with my copy of the soundtrack from <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Last Waltz</em>. When Robertson spent time exploring his Native American heritage, all of those albums joined my collection. Those albums made the transition from tape to CD and eventually to digital where I listen to one of them at least once a month while at my office or alone in the car.</div>
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While Danko and Manuel passed away years ago, Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm continued to make their way into the music and movies I enjoyed. Helm was the most visible, showing up as Sissy Spacek’s dad in<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coal Miner’s Daughter,</em> the aged sniper in <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shooter</em>, and my personal favorite, <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Right Stuff</em>, where he doubles as the narrator with his unmistakable Arkansas drawl and as Chuck Yeager’s (Sam Shepherd’s) mechanic and best friend, Jack Ridley (“Ridley, got any Beemans?” “Yeah, I might have me a stick.”). Most recently, it was his Midnight Rambles, an opportunity for artists, musicians, and friends to gather and perform at Helm’s farm in upstate New York that kept him in the music world, even to the point of winning two Grammys, following a debilitating fight with cancer.</div>
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Two summers ago, we spent a sunny August afternoon on my mom and stepdad’s sailboat anchored off Ft. Adams State Park listening the the Sunday performances at the Newport Folk Festival. The closing act and the highlight of the weekend, was Levon Helm making what was to be his last performance at the Festival. When he was announced and began to play, there was a surge in the crowd and a roar of appreciation. My mother, standing on the deck and holding onto the mast, kept saying “It’s him! Can you see him? It’s Levon!” and I could understand her excitement. This was a legendary performer, someone I grew up listening to, whose voice and music were among those I enjoyed the most and I was getting to see him live at least once, even if from a distance and with age and health sapping his ability to perform. Still, it was Levon (really, there’s no last name required) and it was worth it.</div>
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Yesterday, Levon’s family announced what all of his fans had been expected and dreading for years. He was in the final stages of his lengthy battle against cancer and his family appreciated the support and prayers being sent his way. His own personal, final ramble into midnight was approaching and that unique, memorable voice would be stilled. Thankfully, with the albums by Levon and The Band in my playlist, it won’t ever be silenced and that’s something we can all be thankful for.</div>
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*** Postscript added 4/19 to the original 4/18 post ***</div>
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RIP Levon, who passed away today at the age of 71.</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-48628024557957018742011-09-02T14:51:00.000-04:002014-05-08T14:53:16.768-04:0068 Hours<div style="background-color: #e2e2e2; border: 0px; color: #424242; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(The following written on the afternoon of September 2, 2011, en route from Providence, RI, to Orlando, FL)</em></div>
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I’m less than 2 hours from meeting my daughter.</div>
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The jet is cruising at 36,000 feet and in a shocking turn of events, I have the entire exit row (aka “first class” on Southwest Airlines) to myself. This has never happened before and while not superstitious, I wonder if it’s just another bit of the good fortune that appears to have been flowing through my life over the last two weeks.</div>
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Well, except for the hurricane and losing power, phone, and Internet for 4 days. Yet even there, we suffered no damage, no flooding, and everyone we know came through it safe and sound.</div>
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But I’m getting ahead of myself.</div>
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Eight days ago I accept a great job offer following an almost 3-month interview process. It offers tremendous opportunities and won’t require us to relocate. Yes, it means ending my 13-year tenure with my current employer but it’s time for a new challenge. I am thrilled to get the position, especially knowing how competitive the job market is right now. I give two and a half weeks notice and began to prepare for the transition.</div>
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Then Hurricane Irene hits and much of Rhode Island, including our town, goes dark. But our damage is minimal and the neighborhood gets together to help clean up the fallen trees and debris in all the yards on Monday. Still, we are cut off even via cell phones unless we leave the house and go elsewhere (not quite sure why but neither AT&T nor Verizon can deliver reliable service to our house). But my office is open for business on Tuesday and I head off to work frantically on the projects required to make my transition out as smooth as possible for my friends and co-workers.</div>
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Jennifer stays home, doing some cleanup from the storm and trying to put things to right. Unlike a normal day during which at least a few text messages will zip back and forth just to say “hi” and “I miss you”, there’s radio silence. My messages are going out but she’s not receiving them.</div>
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Late that day, a friend in the office comes by to say hi. He’s been on vacation and only just heard that I was departing. The topic of families comes up as he and his wife are due to have their first child in October. He knows how long we’ve been waiting and the devastation we felt when our previous adoption placement collapsed when the birth mother changed her mind four days before her due date.</div>
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“Don’t worry,” he says. “It will happen for you.”</div>
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Ten minutes later, my cell phone rings.</div>
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“Hello,” I say.</div>
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“Chris? It’s T, from Adoption Network. I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”</div>
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“We’ve been out of contact due to the hurricane,” I say. “No phone, no power, no Internet. What’s up?”</div>
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“I’m calling about a placement opportunity but it’s an unusual situation and I’ll need your feedback right away.”</div>
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I stand up, close the door to my office, and then sit back down again, pen and paper in hand.</div>
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“What is it?”</div>
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“There’s a young woman in Orlando, Florida. She came to us last week, pretty late in her pregnancy. She’d thought about abortion but decided against it because she knows there are families who want to adopt. Her due date was September 10th.”</div>
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“Ok,” I say, swallowing hard.</div>
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“Well, she had the baby today and we need to identify the adoptive parents tonight because the baby will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday.”</div>
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I’m baffled. Can she really be saying what I’m hearing? And now of all times?</div>
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T fills the gap left by my silence. “I know how long you and Jennifer have been waiting and how hard it was back in March. K, the young woman, has already seen your profile and those of two other families as she’s been completing the paperwork before going to the hospital today.”</div>
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“I need to know if you want me to show her your profile again. If she chooses you, you or Jennifer will have to get to Florida tomorrow.”</div>
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She rattles off some more details that I dutifully scribble down on a piece of scrap paper, the information washing over me. Key phrases stick…</div>
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“The baby is healthy.”</div>
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“It’s a little girl.”</div>
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“Oh wow,” I breathe. “T, I need to talk to Jennifer but she’s at home and I can’t reach her by phone or cell. However, I’m meeting her in 15 minutes for dinner. Can I call you back in half an hour?”</div>
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“Yes, of course.”</div>
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And with that, I’m shutting down my computer, cramming materials into my briefcase, digging out my keys, and fleeing the building with butterflies in my stomach.</div>
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The drive to our favorite restaurant feels interminable as I get caught at stoplights, and stuck behind a succession of pokey little econoboxes and trucks.</div>
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I pull up to the restaurant and run toward the door, slowing as I see Jennifer sitting on the bench outside, phone to her ear, notepad in her lap.</div>
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I hear her ask a question and realize she must be talking to T. The voicemail that never reached my wife’s cell phone at home has emerged from the void to spring upon her in front of El Parque. I realize that I’m seeing a mirror of how I must have looked at my desk a short time before, scribbling notes frantically as T relays the details. Finally, she signs off with the promise that we’ll be calling back very soon.</div>
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She looks up at me.</div>
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“When it rains it pours, huh?” I ask.</div>
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And we both burst into laughter.</div>
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“Holy crap.”</div>
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“What do we do?”</div>
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“I don’t know. I guess we need to talk about it.”</div>
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“Out here or are you ok talking in the restaurant?”</div>
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“Oh, I think I need to sit down and have something to drink.”</div>
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And so we go inside. The small bowl of chips and homemade salsa are emptied rapidly, mostly by me in a fit of nervous hunger.</div>
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“I don’t think I can eat,” Jennifer says.</div>
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In truth, that’s about all I can remember of the conversation at the table. I know we talk about the challenges that would arise due to travel (one of us would have to be in Florida for one to two weeks for the paperwork to clear) and me leaving one job and starting another (well, there goes my plan to take few weeks off to be with the baby). We have no way to do any of the things we’d need to do from home, given the current stone age situation.</div>
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And in the end, none of it matters.</div>
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We can’t turn down the opportunity. Besides, K might not even pick us so all of these issues will be non-factors.</div>
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I step out and call T.</div>
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“Ok, show her our profile again.”</div>
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Back at the table, my stomach is twisting and nagging sense of doubt creeps in. Are we nuts? Can we actually do this? What sane person would do this in the midst of every other change and challenge in our lives? Did we make the right decision.</div>
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“We could call her back,” Jennifer says, a questioning note in her voice. But we don’t.</div>
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Fifteen minutes later, the phone rings.</div>
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“Congratulations,” says T.</div>
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************</div>
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The next few hours are a frenzy. After leaving the restaurant and hugging and laughing and sitting by the side of the road sobbing in terror and joy and relief together, we head for my mother’s house, where power, Internet, and a reliable phone line are available.</div>
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A plane ticket is purchased for Jennifer (yay Southwest!). I will follow a day or two later to give me a chance to meet some commitments and deadlines at work.</div>
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A hotel suite is reserved for the next two weeks (yay inexpensive hotels in Orlando!).</div>
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E-mails are sent to and from T.</div>
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Documents are printed.</div>
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My mother and stepfather are informed when they come home, walking into their kitchen asking, “Hey, what’s going on?”</div>
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Calls are made to a few other family members but no other messages go out. We’ve been disrupted before and we’re not going to jinx it by letting everyone know yet.</div>
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Finally, exhausted, Jennifer and I head home at 11 PM to get her packed up for her morning flight. Conveniently, when the Universe crashed in on us in March, we’d been all packed and ready to head to Arizona as soon as we got word that the birth mom was in labor. We never unpacked the “baby duffle.” I just wasn’t able to bear it and so it sat, zipped and ready to go for five months. Until the night of August 30th.</div>
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There isn’t much sleep to be had that night. We are both too keyed up.</div>
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Finally, I head off to work, giving Jennifer a kiss and hug. Sitting at my desk, I devour the occasional text messages from my wife as she surmounts a few unexpected challenges (I think I’ll leave it to her to tell that part of the story sometime) and touches down in Florida.</div>
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And then I receive the first photo of a lovely, tiny person held in Jennifer’s hands. My heart stops. More photos trickle in along with updates on her conversations with K, the adoption case worker, and the nurses. Phone calls from a few family members come in asking for updates.</div>
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Finally, I leave work and head home, planning to go to my mom’s house to show her pictures and provide an update, even if I had power at the house. Jennifer and I speak again and I soak up every detail. K still seems willing and ready to proceed with the adoption. The paperwork process will begin at 10 AM the next day. And despite my entreaties, Jennifer holds off on sending me a picture of her with the baby.</div>
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“I don’t feel right doing that,” she explains. “She’s still K’s baby, I’m in the room with her and it would feel presumptuous. After the paperwork is done and we’re her parents.”</div>
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Argh!</div>
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There isn’t much sleep to be had on Wednesday night either. By the time I go to bed, we are just over 24 hours from the initial call from T and our lives are totally upended.</div>
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Thursday morning. 36 hours into the event. I savor a brief phone call with an exhausted Jennifer who stayed at the hospital well into the night. We make the final determination of the baby’s name should we be so lucky as to become her parents. I make the drive into Providence to get an updated criminal background check to prove I’m not a psycho. And then I am on my way to work, fretting as I drive, caught in traffic and knowing it’s after 10 and the process is supposed to be underway.</div>
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The text messages begin their steady crawl on my iPhone.</div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10:36 AM (Jennifer): Give me a call when you can. I have to fill out the long form and need your social security number and some other info.</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10:50 AM (Jennifer): I signed all the papers. The attorney now in with K having her sign everything. OMG. This is really happening.</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:01 AM (me): I’m at my desk. Having a bit of trouble breathing.</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:01 AM (Jennifer): me too</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:20 AM (me): Anything?</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:20 AM (Jennifer): Still waiting</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:21 AM (me): This is nerve-wracking.</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:21 AM (Jennifer): What about this entire experience hasn’t been nerve-wracking???</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:22 AM (me) Bonus wracks for being so close to it happening. I’m sorry I’m not there with you.</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11:22 AM (me) I’m sorry too. But you’ll be here tomorrow and we will just get to hang out without anyone else around!</em></div>
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(In the midst of all this, other text messages from family members are arriving, wanting to know what’s going on.)</div>
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11:41 AM. A text message arrives from Jennifer containing just this:</div>
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<a href="http://walksinthemarsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/IMG_0901.jpeg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #f66526; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-523" height="300" src="http://walksinthemarsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/IMG_0901-225x300.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_0901" width="225" /></a><br />I begin to weep at my desk.</div>
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*************</div>
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And now my flight to Orlando is beginning its descent. I’m 30-40 minutes from seeing my wife and meeting my daughter for the first time.</div>
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It still feels unreal.</div>
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My daughter.</div>
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I have a daughter.</div>
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Jennifer is a mom.</div>
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I’m a dad.</div>
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After two and a half years of dreaming, of crying, of frustration, of excitement, and of anticipation, it’s actually happened.</div>
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Family and friends are flooding us with calls and e-mails and comments on Facebook. Things are being ordered from our Amazon baby registry. I’m getting congratulations from people I’ve worked with for years and I’m glad this happened before I departed for the new job so I can share it with them.</div>
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But all of that pales in light of what’s about to happen to me and to my family.</div>
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It’s 68 hours since the call from T.</div>
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I’m about to meet my daughter.</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-77658985130843797992011-09-01T14:49:00.000-04:002014-05-08T14:50:49.826-04:00Oh Wow<div style="background-color: #e2e2e2; border: 0px; color: #424242; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Massive hurricane? Check. No light, power, phone, Internet or electricity for four days? Check. Switching to a new job? Check. Adopting a baby in the space of 48 hours? Sure! Why the hell not! Clearly, the Universe has a twisted sense of humor.</div>
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More details coming soon but the adoption journey is over and the journey as parents and a family begins today.</div>
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Welcome to the world and to our family, Esme Louisa!</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-82245437177742468962011-07-04T23:22:00.000-04:002011-07-04T23:22:54.371-04:00Turning to tech to get writing againIt's amazing what a change of scenery and some new tech will do when you're stuck in neutral on a writing project.<br />
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My wife, to my utter shock, bought me an iPad 2 a little while ago as a birthday/10-year anniversary gift after we'd talked about strategies to get writing again. I'd found myself in a non-writing rut for a while and needed to shake things up. I do enjoy writing on my computer here at home using a fantastic application called <a href="http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php">Scrivener</a> (I can't recommend it highly enough) but between the cat and other distractions (phone, TV in the same room, the knowledge that there was laundry to be done, etc.), it's been hard to get into a groove at home.<br />
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However, going mobile felt even worse as my laptop -- a very fine MacBook Pro -- is my work computer and frankly, I spend too much time using that system every day at work to really feel comfortable spending my free time writing on it as well.<br />
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And then the topic of an iPad came up and to my surprise, Jenn went out and got one for me. First of all, it's a really cool gizmo and one that has changed how and where I read the news every day among other things. But more importantly, with a Bluetooth keyboard and a very slick way to get access to my Scrivener projects via iPad (the free Simplenote app), I suddenly found myself with an ideal way to get away from the stuff on my desk and the loving cat desperate for attention and instead camp out in our local library (recently redone from top to bottom and now one of my favorite places) and write. I hunker down in a carel with a nice view of the gardens, tucked away in solitude on the third floor in the Religion section that no one ever seems to visit, and I've found myself writing again.<br />
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The great thing is that this doesn't feel like a short-term fad. I love the iPad, I love using it as a writing tool, and most critically, I have not permitted any work-related apps, e-mails, or other materials to be loaded onto it. It's 100% a personal tool, one that I can pick up and move wherever I need to be. With the synchronization to my Scrivener project, I'm have access to the same notes, chapters, scenes, and more that are available via my iMac. I'm not done with my novel yet but I'm farther along than I was a few weeks and months ago, which feels very good.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-22176174449662585382011-03-25T23:36:00.000-04:002011-03-25T23:36:12.255-04:00Have jet pack, will go...boating?This is either the coolest or nuttiest innovation in "boating" that I've seen in a long time. OK, I'll admit it...I think it's pretty cool. Very "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66CnAFCoCrA">Thunderball</a>."<div><br />
</div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="311" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7-KczCp0OQ4?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="499"></iframe></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9062896640215518650.post-54874210164472350932011-03-10T07:45:00.000-05:002011-03-10T09:48:45.949-05:00Dumb CriminalsThere's a bit of a scandal going on in the Rhode Island defense industry as a local firm has been shut down following allegations of a $13.5 million kickback scandal. An executive at the firm and the civilian program manager tasked with overseeing contracts are at the heart of the alleged criminal activity. Now, one of these individuals <a href="http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/03/program-manager-for-navy-seeks-1.html">has clearly demonstrated</a> that smarts and subtlety are not prerequisites for crime. showing that you really don't need to be terribly smart to pull off big crime.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10726718990786325448noreply@blogger.com0