Well obviously this week flew by without much writing, being sick and all. Leaving tomorrow for Illinois for three weeks with a little side trip to see an old friend in Pittsburgh, PA for a few days. I love Pittsburgh, it has always been one of my favorite cities. I remember seeing it the first time back in the 70’s on my way to or from New York and was surprised by its beauty and that it was built on hills, much like San Francisco. The three rivers of Three Rivers Stadium are comprised of two that become one – the Allegheny and the Monongahela form the Ohio. I just love that word – Monongahela. I love the way it rolls off the tongue. Pennsylvania is lovely this time of the year, the last time I was there was also October, just after 9-11.

Having three weeks I think I have a false sense of all-the-time-in-the-world. I have tried not to bring a library full of books but have brought: my Learn Spanish Now workbook. I took a lot of Spanish even in college but not using it, it gets lost in the brain. Since a recent gubernatorial debate was held in California in Spanish without even translation, I’ve decided perhaps it’s time to bite the bullet and get fluent.  I’ve been listening to Spanish radio stations while I drive around and I’m finding what I’m learning most is grammar, which is my weakest point.  Everything I ever say in Spanish is in the present tense.

I have also put on my iPod the Ken Wilber lectures on Integral Theory (don’t ask me to explain yet, I’m not far along) that another friend gave me almost a year ago.  I need to take notes, it is rather complicated but Mr. Wilber is an engaging speaker and easy to listen to. 

Then my iPod also contains the first twelve lectures (of 24) of the course I bought from The Great Courses (if you don’t know about these, go look it up).  This one is Building Great Sentences by Brooks Landon, a hot shot professor at the University of Iowa which my latest Poets and Writers magazine touts as the number one writing program in the country.  I was pleased to hear that.  However, the last page of the guidebook for lecture twelve states that our “question for consideration” by that stage is to write a sentence with no less than one hundred words.  One hundred words.  Not that I can’t write 100 words, but in one sentence?   You all will read it here first.  There are plenty of lectures and homework before that point so don’t hold your breath.  However, having withdrawn from the DPT program I am determined to replace it with a concerted study of other things. 

I doubt I will get to all that, along with exercising regularly at the gym with Mom, seeing friends, watching “the boys” (John Stewart and Steven Colbert) with Mom, along with my own favorite TV opium – Survivor, Glee and Parenthood.

So, I will try to keep writing, and it’s possible I’ll mosey on down memory lane once I get there.  See you all on central daylight time…