written road blog

My week:

Current book I’m reading: Black Lamb, Grey Falcon, a “classic” 1937 epic travelogue of Yugoslavia

Number of pages of said book I read each night before it causes me to nod off: 2

Expected date I’ll finish reading book: 2407 AD

Number of stories sent into LP humor anthology: 3

Self-rating for “humor” in a former job year-end evaluation form: “Exceptional”

Manager’s reclassification: “Above average”

Conclusion: maybe I’m not quite as funny as I think.

Free liquor update: Chivas scotch tasting and “education” evening at the W

Conclusion: scotch/apple martini grows on you after a few glasses

Number of times I heard or saw the word “backstory” and it made me cringe: 5

Ratio of cringing to usage: 100%

Number of Jen Leo stories I heard: 2

Ratio of stories involving alcohol and some sort of conflict: 100%

Times I fantasized naming my first daughter Chalupa: 3

Chance of any future wife agreeing to that: 0%

Self-inflicted injuries involving picture frames: 2

Carlos, Tito,
I'm so glad you play along. I'm going to keep doing these once a week just so you can crack me up. :-)

And damn you for submitting three stories when I can't fricking eek out one bad one. (I've got one 1/6 written)

I'm terribly saddened that backstory has become popular. But we're several references from me renaming my journal something else. Ooh, I saw that cringe.

So, who is talking about me? They better be good stories.

Hey! I just got that the alcohol/conflict stories you were talking about related to me. I probably won't deny them...but you've got to tell me which ones they were. Did someone get bit or their ass grabbed?

Current Reads: Paul Theroux's Great Railway Bazaar, Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond, The Essential Rumi

Movies this week: Ray, Kinsey

Song I get excited to hear: Y Control by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Pitches this week: 2

Assignments received: 1 ( freelance technical writing)

Current writing: memoir revisions (9), freelance technical writing (8)

Pro Bono: Video doc for an artist friend (http://www.seejennings.com)

What's making me laugh: Paul Theroux telling it like it is / bluegrass version of "gin and juice" that's going around

Coolest website: Canto do Brasil (http://www.hillerphoto.com/brazil/)

Real Job: n/a

Next paycheck: Received today

General level of enthusiasm: 9

Biggest accomplishment: sending proposal to agent

Biggest decision made: To run for public office some day

Genesis of decision: President Clinton's Dedication Remarks (http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/)

Gym visits: 2

Most inspirational travel writer: Theroux. The work that guy did in 1975 is still shocking, insightful, and lurid

Projected high points of weekend: Indian restaurant and show at the Milwaukee Rep tomorrow, birthday celebration with family on Sunday

Item wanted for my birthday: Dave Eggers' new book (http://www.mcsweeneys.net/books/howwearehungry.html)

Quote of the week: "The next time your life flashes in front of you eyes, make sure you have something worth watching."

Positively Fifth Street is a great read. Regarding the poker, sounds like you did well. Anytime you post a $300+ session it's always a good one.

Current Read: Please Don't Come Back From the Moon by Dean Bakopoulos

Caramel lattes consumed today: 2

Best quote overheard in the coffeeshop: "I have to go catch a taxi to play miniature golf."

Plane tickets purchased this week: 3 (beating the past record by 2)

Likelihood the federal gov't will think I'm fleeing the country: Elevated

Best free book of the week: Encyclopedia of Chicago

Number of times cursed at by elderly ladies in parking lots: 2

This week's Favorite Bookstore: Adobe Bookshop in San Francisco for letting an artist color code their stock for a week. Pics: http://www.pushby.com/tomas/2004/11/15/index.html

Gym visits: 5 (we're going every day on a one-week trial membership, I assume I'll have dropped dead by Sunday)

Song I'm excited to hear: anything by Josh Ritter

Mike, Jay!
No way. I'm so happy you guys played along! Did you know I haven't seen or spoken to either of you in near about the same amount of time? What are we going on now, six weeks? I loved your additions. Quotes, caffeine, etc. Mike, happy birthday and good luck with hearing back from the agent! You better keep me posted.