Bring On The Illiterate Queers...

I'm thinking hard about my possibilities for the summer...Non-Profit Career Expo at school on Thursday.  What a fantastic way to get my foot in the door...but, am I ready to get into the workforce after everything that happened the last time?  Plus, planning a wedding for the middle of June means I wouldn't be able to start working with a Non-Prof until after that.  Which is the last week of June. 

I know I couldn't continue working there throughout the year because of school and The Campus Citizen.  Those are two things I'm not willing to slack off on to keep working. The newspaper will be majorly taking off and printing 2ce a month.  As an Editor, I really need to concentrate on that and school.  The newspaper will be a definite positive mark on my writer's resume...but I'm not going into journalism.  I'm going into grant writing and philanthropy.

I seriously wonder if I'm even marketable.  There are going to be representatives from Indy Reads and Indiana Youth Group.  Both are places that would suit me well.  Indy Reads is a literacy program for Indianapolis and the IYG is a group dedicated to helping GLBTQIA teenagers. 

If I had a choice...it would be the IYG.  With everything I went through as a teenager, I truly think I have something to offer these kids.  But, I also have a passion for literacy.  My grandmother instilled that love of books and words in me and I'd love to do something with it to honor her memory.  If only I could combine them!  Where are the queer teens who can't read?  I'd be perfect for them...

A Writing Experiment...

I had to do an experimental dialogue in no more than 10 minutes for my creative writing class.  Here is what I came up with:

She walked by him, giving him nary a glance; or so he thought.  He realized a moment later that she must have noticed him when she spoke up.  “Your cologne,” she said, “It reminds me of my youth.”

He turned then and saw her.  He had assumed by the quick glance in her direction and her soft voice that she would be young.  Perhaps even beautiful.  She was neither.  The woman before him was probably in her late 60’s and had teeth that were gapped and gnarled.  Her hair was stringy and a dingy blonde color.  He knew he needed to be polite.  She was probably some poor old woman who was touched.  “I’m sorry, what did you say?”  He asked.

“You smell of youth and vigor.  Your scent takes me back to the days of my childhood.  Playing on the floor at my Papa’s feet, watching him while he hummed at the newspaper in his hands.  You smell like my Papa.”  There were tears in her eyes.  She moved closer, then.  “Who are you?  Why did you dare to take me back to the days of my childhood?”

He was startled.  “I’m sorry, ma’am.  I don’t think I know you.  I should really be going, I’m late for an appointment.”  It was his standard excuse for getting out of something he never wanted to be in in the first place. 

“Stop!  You owe me an explanation, lad!”  Her eyes flashed wildly now.  “You need to tell me what you were thinking!  Why would you do such a thing to a poor old woman like myself?  Why would you tear me out of my reality and drop me back at the feet of my father?”  She looked at him like an animal would right before attacking.  She was standing straighter, more animated. 

“Ma’am, I really must be going.  You are mistaken.”  Before the words were even out of his mouth, she had latched onto his arm.  Gripping it tightly.  “Ma’am, please, you really must let go of me.  I need to be on my way.”  He was getting scared now.  The more he pleaded with her to let him go, the tighter she clung. 

“You’ll go nowhere until I’m through with you!”  She shouted.  “Do you think this is some kind of game?”  Her eyes were wide open and her pupils were black.

Where should it go from here?  I want input and ideas from my readers...and then I'll continue to build upon it slowly until I have a completed story.  I think it will be fun to take your suggestions and turn it into something more than just a few exchanges of dialogue between characters.  

Sappy Love Shit...

June 18th is coming faster than I expected it would.  D and I will be signing our contract with the JW Marriott by next week.  We will be putting our deposit down.  This is serious and official.  I. AM. GETTING. MARRIED. 

What a mind trip.  With my track record with women, I didn't really expect to ever find the right one and settle down with her.  However, now that I am, nothing has ever felt so right.  D is the one.  Without question. 

I had no idea that day we first met in the Paradise Cafe that my life was about to change forever.  I can remember sitting in the booth watching her walk towards me like it was yesterday.  Who knew that all these years later I'd be mere months away from walking down that aisle towards her in front of our closest friends and family.