Based on a True Story, although the Names, Places, and Events may have been Changed

Some of you have heard that a couple weeks ago I had an opportunity fall into my lap that I took complete advantage of.
Someone called the office where I work and asked if I knew anyone who coached little league baseball. The person on the line was calling on behalf of someone I had never heard of, Rob Snoops, but since I just so happened to be a skilled former-MLB All-star player with a lot of experience and even some experience coaching, I offered myself as a possible coach for Rob's kids, who were needing some extra help getting ready for tryouts this spring (their father isn't very athletic). After talking to Rob's wife Cheryl several times, we set up a time for me to come out to their trailer once a week and help toss the ball around with their son, Zacky, and twin daughters Blake and Lilac.
Well, today I went for our first practice. All the kids have a little experience, but they have a little trouble remembering which base is which, what the pitcher does (which happens to affect them directly more than they realized), etc. Their trailer (or "mobile home," as Cheryl reminded me on several occasions) is out in this really kind of *trashy* part of Norman.. I'm sure it's kind of embarrassing for the kids, but as long as you stay upwind of the sewage plant you can almost imagine you're...in a nicer trailer park...
Anyway, it's obvious that Cheryl and Rob aren't that well off, because the place was pretty sparsely decorated. A little cross-stitched "Home is Where the Heart is" above the tinker-town piano was about all the "dining room" had to offer. I'm almost sure there may have been a fairly attractive oriental rug in the living room (which appears to have housed their goats for one winter), but you'd probably have to move the fast food wrappers and dirty laundry in order to see it.
All this to say, I have a new job, and even if I catch a mild case of Black Mold Poisoning, I think somehow, this is going to be worth it. Stay tuned.

J'ai Lu, Septembre 2009

The last two months, as I have mentioned, tended to lack in quantity what they certainly did not lack in quality. This month however, the two classifications reunite (!) as I have finally resumed my 4 a month quota, but at no lack of literary quality whatsoever.
However, I have found that I still don't read fast enough, and my "to read" pile of books gets taller and taller with each both I put back on the shelf...
I have no solution.

Same Kind of Different As Me (Hall) – The story of a wealthy couple and a former slave and what happens when their worlds collide. I found this story moving and powerful and relevant. I also found it slightly predictable. A recommendation from my roomie, definitely worth reading. (8)

Unaccustomed Earth (Lahiri) – This collection of short stories is a strange but beautiful walk through the pains and struggles of life. Lahiri is able to capture the essence of human struggle and make it something that we can relate to and completely empathize with. I can't wait to read more by this author. (8)

The Year of Living Biblically (Jacobs) – A modern day atheist tries to follow the letter-of-the-Old Testament law as an experiment in living as “literally” as possible. What begins as an author’s ploy to win readership while mocking his own ethnic roots develops into a really fascinating struggle between his cynicism and the pervasiveness of the truth that he wrestles with. This is good for some laughs and to brush up on your knowledge of the OT laws, if for nothing else. (7)

Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers (Claiborne & Hartgrove) – I’ve read a lot by Claiborne, and this short study on prayer falls right in line with his other works. The authors, two social and spiritual activists, seek to connect the power of prayer with the power of action. Claiborne challenges his readers to live a life of prayer which will in turn fuel a life of social engagement. If you’ve read anything else by Claiborne, you’ve heard a lot of this before, but if you haven’t, this is a good introduction to what he generally advocates. (6)

In music, this month's winners are:
Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes
(Rediscovering) Sufjan Stevens

Looking forward to:
OU/Texas Weekend Retreat in Dallas
The U2 Experience with H Brew
Ben Folds in Wichita
OU/Nebraska in Lincoln
The Swell Season in Dallas
Battle Studies Nov 17