halloween

Seriously. They weren't kidding when they said life comes at you fast.

Worked both jobs today, and it was nearly 7pm as I'm at the store to buy trick-or-treat candy. Watched football curled up on the couch with a migraine, homework undone.

I'm not really complaining. I signed on for it all. It's just sometimes a bit overwhelming.


Best quote from today is from the head-to-toe tie-dyed owner of the embroidery shop in Rainier, Oregon where I picked up an order of hats for the company rebranding project:

"I look out my window this morning, and there's a horse standing right there," she says. She points to the curb in front of her shop where her truck is now parked.

"The sun was just coming through the morning clouds, shining on the river. Tule fog laying in the folds of the earth. And I think, 'life is pretty damn good.'"
Agreed.

Hangin' in.

sherri

spinning through summer

The Pacific University Boxer - it's a dragon

It's all going so fast.

My 10-day residency on campus at Pacific University flew. So much learning. So many amazing writers. Every night I went to bed in my harder-than-a-rock dorm bed and felt blessed for the opportunity.

I read, wrote and workshopped writing. Classes from 9am - 5pm, readings from 7 - 10pm. Some nights there was the post-reading party, followed by the post-post-reading-party. Homework every minute in between.

I'd give up all the marketing jobs in the world to go back indefinitely.




But before that, Papa and Grandma came to visit during Rose Festival weekend. We hiked Wahclella Falls, watched the Dragonboat races on the Portland waterfront, partied with the entire family to celebrate all the June birthdays and Father's Day.


Rick and I also took them out to a unique Portland restaurant - completely vegetarian/vegan - and no one went away from the table hungry. Papa says the only problem is that now all his local friends want to take him to their vegetarian/vegan restaurants. Ha!

As for the spinning part, I spent several weeks with my driving privileges revoked due to four long days of what the doctors all call "labyrinthitis." (Like I should be watching for David Bowie to appear at any minute.) It's a form of vertigo, and seriously, the world spun like I was on a perpetual ride of the Wild Teacups. Vomiting included. I couldn't get off the floor where I had fallen and Rick thought it was a stroke, called 911. Several hours in the hospital later, a cocktail of medications had the worst of the symptoms under control and we went home. Glad that's over - hope it never returns.

Gearing up for the Big Party in August: Papa's 70th Birthday Bash. So excited. It will be the first time in years the whole family is together - our attempt three (is it three?) Christmases ago came close, only lacked Rick and Merissa.

Dress-shopping for the party tomorrow with the girls. On with the adventure.

The Momgoose

I'll do it...

Sherri won't brag about it, so I will for her.


This is the "narrative transcript" provided by Sherri's Faculty Advisor, a written evaluation that will be placed in her permanent file at Pacific University, regarding her work for the first semester of her MFA course:

"Sherri Hoffman is a terrific writer. I had the good fortune to work with Ms. Hoffman during the residency as well as during this semester. Her work already stood out even though she is only a first semester student. During the semester together she has only gotten better.

"Ms. Hoffman is working on a collection of linked stories about a family of six brothers growing up in Washington State in the 1970s and 80s. The lot of them make a heart wrenching coming of age story. She is gifted with voices; her dialogue is so real that I often forgot I was reading and not listening. During this term, she has worked hard to make each of the brother's voices unique and she has succeeded mightily. A real standout is the story "Show up to Move Up."

"Sherri has talent plus an intense work ethic. Her revisions show real work, and also a willingness to follow instructions. I fully expect to see these stories published. She is a gifted artist, a writer to watch."


That's my baby.


http://www.sherrihhoffman.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Sherri.H.Hoffman