Where Did Summer Go?

Somehow, summer disappeared while I wasn't looking. What with the August heatwave and taking two classes this summer, I was apparently too busy to notice. So now, it's September, and cyclocross season is just around the corner...

I'm taking two classes this fall and I'm headed for thesis in the spring. That's both a "yay" and an "oh my god what am I going to do with my life now?", and perhaps an "oh christ, I have to write a thesis?". But I've been doing the work. I've been writing, I've been revising, I've been keeping the good stuff and throwing out the trash (and I'm prolific with the dreck and the drivel... perhaps you've seen my writer blog?).

I did end up getting into Sentence Power, so I am super psyched! I wish I could take Flim & Screenwriting, too--but two classes is the hard limit for the part-time program and the soft limit for me (that would be where my brain turns to mush). Classes started Wednesday, and I'm absolutely terrified that my grammar pet peeves won't get me through Sentence Power, so I expect a lot of study. The alternate name for the course is "Advanced Syntactic Revision", so that should give you some clue as to what it's about. My other class is Fiction Workshop with Tristan Davies. I've heard good things about that, so I'm looking forward to it.

I've been riding, but not enough--cyclocross this year will be more about fun and less about kicking ass on the bike. It will more than likely be about getting my ass handed to me, but I've just got to be okay with that. Work + grad school + training + social life is just too hard to manage, so I've been slacking a little too much. I won't join you guys for Nittany this weekend (my bikes aren't even complete yet, as they are covered in cobwebs in the basement), but I'll be there for Charm City the Sunday after. I've been running a bunch--it's a sport that I love that doesn't love me, so maybe that will help (but I seriously doubt it).

If you didn't hear, I have a new short story, "Curb Appeal" up (or my alter-ego Ann Wahlman does) at Bluestem Magazine. You can read it on their website (or listen to me read it to you) at http://www.bluestemmagazine.com/?p=1076 . Enjoy!

Tally-ho and on to one of my favorite seasons--FALL!