Felt like reading a bit more recently, so when Tyrone picked up Thomas Pynchon’s latest _Against_the_Day_ (at 1000+ pages), I decided it was time I finished _Cryptonomicon_ by Neal Stephenson (at 1100+ pages).

Oh, you spotted the bookmark. They are really lovely, and crocheted by Virginia Kennedy. Ty and I both got one for Christmas. I like the little gold flecks on the ribbon.

Now if I was really talented, I would write some sort of secret crochet code ala Dicken’s Madame Defarge , while reading _Cryptonomicon_, and make subversive bookmarks for my friends.

Timothy Schaffert is a great american writer.  The language of his books take me back to the eccentric townsfolk of my small hometown in rural Nebraska.  Two years ago, I played some songs at his hometown sigining for his previous book, The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God.  Since then Timothy has continued to work as director of the Omaha Litfest, and soon, the Nebraska Summer Writers’ Conference.

I’m in the middle of reading his newest book, Devils in the Sugar Shop.

I’ve spent some time in Omaha, and this book seems to reference all of the little jewels of the city, while still speaking in a slightly hipper version of the rural the language of my youth.  The book follows a group of business-minded, yet creatively driven women as they hide from some, and reveal to others, the interconnectedness present that makes even urban areas very small towns.

This book is not short on drama either, complete with a stalker and one of the women sells “marital aids” via Tupperware parties for the new millenium.
I should really wait until I am done reading the book to write a review, AND, I should really be reading the book right now.  Nevertheless, I’m suggesting you pick it up and read it.

When the Creative writing masters students lost their venue for the end-of-the year reading, we sponsored it at the dome.

Tyrone was the host:

View from the top:

Arra baked Shaker Lemon Pie with strawberries:

Yesterday should have been “wear your Prairie Schooner T-shirt day”.

Click to enlarge. Pictured: Myself (blue print co-designer), and Kelly Grey Carlisle (blue print co-designer). The Kooz designed the pink print one. Sorry those are sold out!

Tyrone and I were going to see the David Lynch movie, Inland Empire, when we met Kelly and Ben sponsoring a study lounge near campus. It seems we don’t take enough pictures of people, and when I say “we” I mean most of the people I know. I’m always taking pictures of crafts or fun-looking objects, and Tyrone likes his mask pictures. So this was our chance to take a picture of real, living, people! Ben was even experimenting with his new camera.

The bad news: The Ross Movie Theater moved the showing of Inland Empire from 7:15 to 9pm (without updating the website) so we didn’t see it.