LTDL--Your Crazy Name Here

Frog teeth Larry!
I used to always address r w/ a crazy name like that until he was old enough to not understand the crazy names I was using—when I quit or made them more sensible.
Saturday I did take the AEPA. It was a ball-buster. I only spent thirty minutes on the essay part, though I had wanted to allow an hour for it, and that’s not even w/ abbreviating! Four hours of questions on literature, reading, grammar, editing, oral presentation, etc.
Instead of studying for the test, I’ve been reading a lot of political stuff: Foreign Affairs and National Affairs. I had always wanted to buy FA when I used to live w/ Steve before I went to Poland originally. I never bought it then because of money, but I decided to buy it this time anyway. It’s good. I like that sort of stuff ‘cause it stretches my brain. That’s why I like reading newspapers too, the more professional the better. I’m also reading Ploughshares because I want to be a better essayist.
Today when I told Vie on Skype that I wasn’t sure I wanted a no-fault divorce and that I don’t think any judge would agree with her point of view and that sometimes women end up having to pay alimony, she gave me a sideways smile as she spoke into the mic. I used to always hate that, when she would laugh at something I say. Bitch. Later she lit into me for being selfish and only thinking abt myself because I wouldn’t help for a legal document she felt she had to file, protecting her from any financial collapse I might have. (I don’t make enough money or have enough financial tools to have a collapse.)
It’s the Thanksgiving weekend, the first one I’ve spent Stateside in ten years. And I like the holiday. While in Poland, I used to have to celebrate on another Polish holiday in November. First time I’d ever cooked a turkey, stuffing and, if available, sweet potatoes myself. In Poland I used to remember my wife’s holidays but she forgot mine. She even forgot Valentine’s one year, a holiday that they had begun to celebrate there.
I’ve been watching the TV show Chopped Tuesday nights. It’s a competition where four chefs face off in front of four food critics. They have to prepare an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert from preselected mystery basket of ingredients. I like it because most of my best work is done on the fly. Preparing for lessons I come up w/ a general outline abt what I’m going to do in class then I fill in the blanks as I’m doing it. Last week I had an absolutely sparkling lesson that was observed by my supervisor. I presented the grammar brilliantly then incorporated it into a game.
I’m reading The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood and really liking it. There are enough reading materials out there if you just look around. I just go into bookstores and pick our what strikes me, what I don’t think I can get out of the store without. It usually works out. I also bought a CD recently that way. I seen a song title on a compilation that struck me: “God Don’t Never Change,” by Blind Willie Johnson. There was an album of his near I picked it up and decided I had to have it. I played it and love it. I also picked up an issue of Psychology Today, which I had read an issue of earlier thanks to Mom. Do you give two hoots and a holler abt what I’m reading? The point is there is plenty of good music and books out there, but you just gotta find it.
Only two weeks till I leave for Poland. I’m afraid when I get there I won’t want to leave. I already told r abt the things we’ll do: visit friends, go shopping, stay home and watch movies, go to church, go sledding, etc.
I’ve subscribed to Foreign Affairs.
I’m starting to cook at home again: dogs with everyghin, fish and chips, jacket potatoes, bread, etc. I still ain’t homebrewing, though.
I don’t know if I should keep blogging. Writers block.