Hold on to your pigtails...it's going to be brilliant.
ps. some updates from SF in the SW (for those of you who haven't caught on, that would be Santa Fe in the SouthWest)
Celebrity Siting #1-- (okay, it really isn't a sighting, since I knew he was going to be there) Billy Collins gives a reading the first Friday we spent in town, and he was such a trooper. There was a pretty laced out fan in the crowd (local, I presume, who was pretty loaded and mistook the reading for a concert--she first yelled out a request, "Read Silence, Billy! WooHOOOOO!" (with the rock-on fingers and clapping, no joke) and then stood up and clapped, and cheered and yelled every time....and then repeated the title of the poem he had just read...I on the other hand, came unprepared--ended up writing his reading list(set list) on a 5-dollar bill, which he later took from me to show his agent, because he said, "This is a first--" and after he signed it, he said, "Now it your 5-dollar bill will actually be worth 6 dollars!" That bill is getting framed.
REAL, UNINTENDED Celebrity Sighting #1-Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger snuggling IN LINE IN FRONT OF me and roomate at a Starbucks in one of the quirkiest shopping centers in town--(so far--we haven't seen/experienced very many yet--hitting the books, ultra-english nerd style, you know) I think the best part about it was when I called a dear friend of mine and she started nailing me with questions like, "What did they order? What size?" I simply responded with, "What are you going to do with this information?" =) love you girl.
The rumor is that Mena Suvari and Matthew Modine are also in town shooting a film, and there was a Mena siting, but not by yours truly. Although in my improved lung capacity(altitude is a tough one here), I have been running around town--with olympic-sized hopes that this will boost my endurance and stamina, and perhaps egg me on to reach greater, more realistic goals of participtating in a half or full marathon before too long--and caught site of a set location, trailers and all...hoping to check it all out.
I'm really hoping for a Sandra Bullock appearance. She just seems like she'd live down here. and the word is that Julia Roberts has a summer hide out in these parts. My old roommate had a yoga class with Ally McGraw (think Love Story, the movie).
Okay, so the real reason I'm in Santa Fe is for grad school. Nerd Camp, or English Camp, as my program is more popularly and frequently referred to by myself and my compadres. I just realized that I have a month left--and time is nowhere to be found...
I have done some legwork and lungwork--and hike up to an alpine lake--the opera is on the slate, and I was hoping to attend a rodeo, but with daddy-o in town, I may have to forego the rodeo...it's gonna be a game time decision...
There are definitely some weirds here. and I also experienced/witnessed an accident live. today. sigh.
I have also discovered that NM or Santa Fe, is the capital of highest number of deaths by drunk drivers--hence, I bring you 100 Days and Nights, a campaign that the police are trying to implement, where they have scheduled 100 days in the year where sobriety check points will be put in place...let's hope it does some good.
You know you've been out in the boondocks all year when the site of a Whole Foods Market brings tears and warm, fuzzy feelings to your body...
There are tons of streams beds, creek beds, river beds, but no water: an inconvenient truth.
I have two papers due this week, and then in two weeks, I have two more papers due.
I will also have read 19 books by the end of the 6 week session. Knocked down so far:
Mrs. Dalloway
The Hours
The Secret Agent
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Beloved
Dictee
Essay by Sigmund Freud: "The Uncanny" (supplement to our reading of Beloved)
Maus I and II
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
and tonight, I had a green chile cheeseburger at Blake's Lotaburger....two thumbs up for food, but it took about 15 minutes for our orders to be announced...santa fe customer service: two thumbs down....
I also recommend Allergena, Zone 6 from WholeFoods as a great alternative to claritin or any other allergy drug...wow. I mean, WOW.
for now.... just a dose...
