Comments for Jenn, aka JeSais (I know) http://akajesais.com Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:42:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Teaching Creative Writing in Unexpected Places by Cynthia Patton http://akajesais.com/2012/04/29/teaching-creative-writing-in-unexpected-places/comment-page-1/#comment-70857 Cynthia Patton Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:42:52 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=803#comment-70857 I want to read the part about Chuck E. Cheese! I want to read the part about Chuck E. Cheese!

]]> Comment on Reconstructing MYSELF by Lyn Moses http://akajesais.com/2012/02/17/reconstructing-myself/comment-page-1/#comment-70843 Lyn Moses Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:25:18 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=747#comment-70843 Jen. How I wish I call talk with you and tell you that you do not need to "reconstruct" yourself, just "chip away the marble," as Joe Crawford said. I am sure that inside you is still that beautiful little blond, tanned child I knew in Hawaii. You were very lovable with a beautiful smile. Larry stayed in D.C. with your father for four months and they talked about your mother. You sound as is you have grown into a bright, strong young woman with a sister who loves you, many friends who care about you, and old acquaintances who still think of you fondly. When your book gets published, let me know, I promise to buy a copy. Good luck with the job Jen. How I wish I call talk with you and tell you that you do not need to “reconstruct” yourself, just “chip away the marble,” as Joe Crawford said. I am sure that inside you is still that beautiful little blond, tanned child I knew in Hawaii. You were very lovable with a beautiful smile. Larry stayed in D.C. with your father for four months and they talked about your mother. You sound as is you have grown into a bright, strong young woman with a sister who loves you, many friends who care about you, and old acquaintances who still think of you fondly. When your book gets published, let me know, I promise to buy a copy. Good luck with the job

]]> Comment on Are Road Trips Ever What We Think They Will Be? by Karen Hogan http://akajesais.com/2012/04/27/are-road-trips-ever-what-we-think-they-will-be/comment-page-1/#comment-70841 Karen Hogan Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:21:43 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=791#comment-70841 Jenn, I wanted to visit a friend of mine in Portland. I have known Nancy for close to 40 years, but hadn't seen her in over ten. In a moment of insanity I thought why not drive to Portland? My friend Selene loves road trips, and loves driving her hybrid car (which gets 40+miles to the gallon). We made the trip in one day (12 hours) a Monday. When we saw our first mileage sign for Portland (400 miles!) we shouted "Hooray! We're almost there." We'd been on the road for close to 4 hours by then. We continued shouting, "Hooray! We're almost there!" every time we passed by a mileage sign that indicated we were indeed getting closer. I spent the first day in Portland recovering from the drive. My brain was on road-trip lag (sort of like jet lag but without the time changes to explain the inability of the brain to form complete sentences). I spent two days enjoying my visit (I will blog about the trip down memory lane -- it was an interesting one), then got back in the car on Friday to head south. This time, we stopped to stay overnight in Redding (about 8 hours into the trip). It was another three and a half hours in the car on Saturday to make it home. Once again, my brain went into road-trip lag. Long story short (which I have already failed to do), I have discovered that a 62-year old body is not really designed for long days in the car. I think my days of marathon road trips are in the past. Sigh! And . . . congratulations, mazeltov, hallelujah, and awomen on your MFA. Talk about your road trips! Let me know how your job interview goes. Jenn,

I wanted to visit a friend of mine in Portland. I have known Nancy for close to 40 years, but hadn’t seen her in over ten. In a moment of insanity I thought why not drive to Portland? My friend Selene loves road trips, and loves driving her hybrid car (which gets 40+miles to the gallon).

We made the trip in one day (12 hours) a Monday. When we saw our first mileage sign for Portland (400 miles!) we shouted “Hooray! We’re almost there.” We’d been on the road for close to 4 hours by then. We continued shouting, “Hooray! We’re almost there!” every time we passed by a mileage sign that indicated we were indeed getting closer.

I spent the first day in Portland recovering from the drive. My brain was on road-trip lag (sort of like jet lag but without the time changes to explain the inability of the brain to form complete sentences). I spent two days enjoying my visit (I will blog about the trip down memory lane — it was an interesting one), then got back in the car on Friday to head south.

This time, we stopped to stay overnight in Redding (about 8 hours into the trip). It was another three and a half hours in the car on Saturday to make it home. Once again, my brain went into road-trip lag.

Long story short (which I have already failed to do), I have discovered that a 62-year old body is not really designed for long days in the car. I think my days of marathon road trips are in the past. Sigh!

And . . . congratulations, mazeltov, hallelujah, and awomen on your MFA. Talk about your road trips! Let me know how your job interview goes.

]]> Comment on Are Road Trips Ever What We Think They Will Be? by Cynthia Patton http://akajesais.com/2012/04/27/are-road-trips-ever-what-we-think-they-will-be/comment-page-1/#comment-70811 Cynthia Patton Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:28:48 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=791#comment-70811 Awww. That looks like a great Dissertation Committee. :) Congratulations, Jenn! Awww. That looks like a great Dissertation Committee. :)

Congratulations, Jenn!

]]> Comment on Are Road Trips Ever What We Think They Will Be? by Judy http://akajesais.com/2012/04/27/are-road-trips-ever-what-we-think-they-will-be/comment-page-1/#comment-70801 Judy Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:05:51 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=791#comment-70801 Haw! Jenn, love that pix and what an honor to be part of your Dissertation Committee. I'm sorry we didn't get time in San Diego (or at the Book Festival). As for me, I love road trips, but the thing is, the journey is often over before you arrive at your destination. No matter. I'm hankering for one soon. Haw! Jenn, love that pix and what an honor to be part of your Dissertation Committee. I’m sorry we didn’t get time in San Diego (or at the Book Festival). As for me, I love road trips, but the thing is, the journey is often over before you arrive at your destination. No matter. I’m hankering for one soon.

]]> Comment on Are Road Trips Ever What We Think They Will Be? by Dale http://akajesais.com/2012/04/27/are-road-trips-ever-what-we-think-they-will-be/comment-page-1/#comment-70731 Dale Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:31:24 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=791#comment-70731 Congrats!! I'm happy for you, I'm proud of you! I'm relieved to hear things went well even if as a colored blur in 'surreality.' You've passed some milestones lately, now hang on to that wheel, the journey is long from over. All the best =) Congrats!! I’m happy for you, I’m proud of you! I’m relieved to hear things went well even if as a colored blur in ‘surreality.’ You’ve passed some milestones lately, now hang on to that wheel, the journey is long from over. All the best =)

]]> Comment on Ugh. by Cynthia Patton http://akajesais.com/2012/04/09/ugh/comment-page-1/#comment-68570 Cynthia Patton Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:10:35 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=786#comment-68570 Several years ago, when I was published in an anthology, I was asked to read at the release party. My parents and several of my girlfriends attended along with a sizeable crowd. I wasn't worried because I was proud of the piece I'd submitted 6 months earlier. The ending was tough for me to get through (failed adoption), but I told myself I could do it. What I somehow forgot was that I'd separated from my husband in the intervening months and the story focused heavily on our relationship. I was choked up on page 1. By page 2 my mother was crying. I stumbled through the reading until I got to the end, at which point I broke down and cried. I was humiliated for doing such a horrible reading. But do you know what I learned? The people listening either didn't notice, didn't care, or else thought I was doing it to enhance the effect. I was way more concerned with my crying than anyone else. So don't worry about it. If you cry, you cry. No big deal. Pause, take a deep breath (or two), and then continue on. You'll be fine. I'm proud of you, Jenn. Several years ago, when I was published in an anthology, I was asked to read at the release party. My parents and several of my girlfriends attended along with a sizeable crowd. I wasn’t worried because I was proud of the piece I’d submitted 6 months earlier. The ending was tough for me to get through (failed adoption), but I told myself I could do it.

What I somehow forgot was that I’d separated from my husband in the intervening months and the story focused heavily on our relationship. I was choked up on page 1. By page 2 my mother was crying. I stumbled through the reading until I got to the end, at which point I broke down and cried. I was humiliated for doing such a horrible reading. But do you know what I learned? The people listening either didn’t notice, didn’t care, or else thought I was doing it to enhance the effect. I was way more concerned with my crying than anyone else. So don’t worry about it. If you cry, you cry. No big deal. Pause, take a deep breath (or two), and then continue on. You’ll be fine. I’m proud of you, Jenn.

]]> Comment on Ugh. by Lauren http://akajesais.com/2012/04/09/ugh/comment-page-1/#comment-68564 Lauren Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:06:23 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=786#comment-68564 Barbara Kingsolver says she cannot look at her books after they are published as she will immediately begin editing. So no more looking at that manuscript until the defense is over! Congratulations! Barbara Kingsolver says she cannot look at her books after they are published as she will immediately begin editing. So no more looking at that manuscript until the defense is over! Congratulations!

]]> Comment on Ugh. by Joe Crawford http://akajesais.com/2012/04/09/ugh/comment-page-1/#comment-68559 Joe Crawford Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:43:12 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=786#comment-68559 Don't let the nag of self doubt beat the pride of accomplishment. There's place for both, mind you. In this case accomplishment has the upper hand. Don’t let the nag of self doubt beat the pride of accomplishment. There’s place for both, mind you. In this case accomplishment has the upper hand.

]]> Comment on Ugh. by admin http://akajesais.com/2012/04/09/ugh/comment-page-1/#comment-68545 admin Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:02:49 +0000 http://akajesais.com/?p=786#comment-68545 thanks guys :-) thanks guys :-)

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