Five Things that Don't Suck, Biting Off More than I Can Chew Edition

1. friends who think I can find humor in anything
2. the pressure to be creative
3. deciding external pressure is a stupid reason for doing anything
4. not having to be at the kind of meeting where I have to vote on whether we're going to take a vote or not*
5. the unanimous** vote to not think about meetings at all for the next three days, minimum

*I wish the knowledge of how much not being at one of those meetings doesn't suck were theoretical, but, alas, 'tis not.

**One of one in favor

Five Things that Don't Suck, Knowing Your Audience Edition

1. knowing your audience
2. valuing those readers
3. respecting them as readers
4. allowing their value of your work to have meaning
5. putting the work first

Five Things that Don't Suck, Theoretical Travel Plans Edition

1. road trips
2. emailing a friend to say, "If this happens, can I crash with you?"
3. the enthusiasm of the yes
4. and the speed
5. planning a route I don't even know if I need

Bonus: An Interview and a Poem, Neither of Which Suck

Hi all,

First off, the lovely Nicole Rollender posted this interview with me at her blog Carpe Noctem. Show her a little love, why don't you? It's the first chapbook interview she's posted, and I'm happy to be a part of it.

Second, Lumen has posted my poem "Judas" in their most recent issue. Take a look if you're so inclined.

Five Things that Don't Suck, Off-Campus Wednesday Edition

1. throwing my regular campus schedule for a loop once in a while*
2. not having any grading to do yet
3. thinking about making some art
4. or working on some poems
5. or taking a long walk

*perhaps inconvenient, but it keeps me on my toes

Five Things that Don't Suck, Back on Campus Edition

1. how pretty Peacock Pond is
2. seeing students again
3. how much hugging will be going on*
4. being reasonably sure I haven't forgotten anything major
5. new students

*not just with me--Wheaton is a huggy campus. There will be a LOT of hugging

Five Things that Don't Suck, Last Day of Summer Break Edition

1. no alarm in the morning
2. a slow, relaxed breakfast
3. that second glass of iced coffee
4. working on my own projects, on my own time
5. knowing how much I love my job, because I do

Five Things that Don't Suck, Jed's Birthday Edition

1. the planet, what with Jed having been on it for 50 years and all
2. beards
3. bees
4. gentle souls and big hearts
5. Jed