Review

We had our first critiques this week for our 1,000 word piece.

I received what I now call the "Blue x of Death."

It sounds scarier than what it is.

Basically, my story is not a story.

My piece lacked the hed and dek and the conflict was unclear, and it was all out of order.

It was messy.

But I have been rearranging.

The process, the crafting, it is messy.

My hands are not filled with glue, but typing cramps which are really just as bad.

And my head often hurts from thinking too hard.

I have a writer's hunchback, similar to the computer hunch that my brother has.

My shoulders and back hurt, and I have a coffee addiction.

I had a coffee addiction before, but it's worse now.

Granted, I'm complaining, but I really do enjoy the process.

I'm anxious as to what the final product will look like.

It's still a mystery.

Antichrist

Yesterday was movie night.

Gathered in the photo lab around one computer, five us watched "Antichrist." I kept telling myself I was going to leave. Instead, I sat there fixated on how horrible the movie was. I kept thinking it could get better, but it didn't. The movie starting going downhill after a fox looked at the audience and said, "Chaos reigns." After that point, there was only forty-five minutes left. It felt like eternity. As Spencer put it, "There is a special place in Dante's 'Inferno' for that movie." Spencer is right.

Week 3

I have been in Maine for 3 weeks, and it seems like I'm still on my first week. I have lost all sense of time. In the midst of chasing stories and trying to get people to sign release forms and abandoning five stories, it is difficult to keep in touch the "real world." But I'm loving every bit of it.

Count Down to school

Tomorrow is the first day.

I'm getting a little nervous.

It sounds as if everyone is.

We never know what to expect.

Portland

So I've spent two whole days in Portland. It's consisted of a lot of walking, meeting the knitting ladies a few doors down from school, and trying to find a beach.

Day 1

I went to the knitting store and started a hat for friend. It has ear flaps. It's going to be pretty neat when it's done.

Walked down the farmers market and watched the street performers.

Talked to a guy with a pet ferret who is two years old.

Played ball with Euphrates the dog.

Day 2

Knitting store for help on the the hat.

Had Indian food. I was happy with the choice.

Walked to South Portland to find a beach. Instead we found Mill Creek Park and Bug Light Park. Took the bus home.

Perused the dumpster diving scene. Conclusion, no one has trash cans that sit outside. We only found Starbucks. Amanda was elbow deep in coffee grinds. Gross.

Day 3

So far today, I've popped a blister on the palm of my foot and played with Euphrates.

I'm feeling lazy.

Tonight, the art walk with a few of the other Salt students that are here.

Count down

I have one more day left in the Twin Cities before I move to Maine.

It's kind of weird.

Final Salute

Over the past couple of days, I have been reading my Salt pre-assignments for Approaches and Issues. One of the readings was "Final Salute." Horribly depressing and too close to home, it was a difficult read, but a good one. The author, Jim Sheeler, is a vivid writer. The scenes come to life easily as you can hear the wailing widows and mothers learn of their loved ones' deaths. What I like most in the reading is the Beck, the Marine who gives the family the news, because it is forgotten what he has to bear- the weight of telling one of death. There is humanity in the story, and from this, we can learn