Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Hard to believe yet another year is drawing to an end but even before the turkey is served there are Christmas ornaments everywhere, and as Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, I kinda resent it. So, for all of you, like me, who love that Thursday in November, HAPPY THANKSGIVING. (And maybe with a new president in the wings there will be something to be thankful for!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Book Is Done
Haven't written for a helluva long time as I was finishing my edit on the novel I have been writing for six years! Anyway, it is done and I finally like what's there. Right now a few publishers are looking at it and I am still looking for more. I am not fooling myself re: how hard it is to get a first novel published, especially when the author is not a kid anymore, but I have faith in this one and will push it as long and as hard as I can.
Been listening to a lot of new music...well, new to me....and I have discovered a contemporary composer called John Tavener who knocks me out. Been playing his stuff almost non-stop on my Ipod.
Been to a lot of theater, the best of which was SOUTH PACIFIC at Lincoln Center. Of course it couldn't touch our production at EMHS (ahem!) but it was fantastic.
Reading some good mysteries as well as a page turner by Jeffrey Archer called A PRISONER OF BIRTH. Probably his best book since his KANE AND ABEL which blew me away when I read it many years ago. Best book in the last few years? THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY. Magnificent. Also liked ATONEMENT (not the movie!!) and BIRDSONG a harrowing book about being in the trenches in WW1.
Anyway, I have no idea if anyone is reading this but if you are and you know me, drop a line to say hello. Jeff
Been listening to a lot of new music...well, new to me....and I have discovered a contemporary composer called John Tavener who knocks me out. Been playing his stuff almost non-stop on my Ipod.
Been to a lot of theater, the best of which was SOUTH PACIFIC at Lincoln Center. Of course it couldn't touch our production at EMHS (ahem!) but it was fantastic.
Reading some good mysteries as well as a page turner by Jeffrey Archer called A PRISONER OF BIRTH. Probably his best book since his KANE AND ABEL which blew me away when I read it many years ago. Best book in the last few years? THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY. Magnificent. Also liked ATONEMENT (not the movie!!) and BIRDSONG a harrowing book about being in the trenches in WW1.
Anyway, I have no idea if anyone is reading this but if you are and you know me, drop a line to say hello. Jeff
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Well, procrastination being my middle name, it is a year since I started this thing. Truth be told it was only a few days ago that I even remembered the way to get back on here, but here I am once again.
First off, it was terrific to hear from the crew at EMHS. The best part was that I didn't have to race to a yearbook to remember who you were. As soon as I saw your name I remembered you immediately...all of you, and, as Lily Tomlin used to say, "That's the truth." It is amazing that so many years have gone by since last I saw you, but those were magic days for me way back when, and I hope they were for you too.
Anyway, I made it through my high school reunion and I have to admit, it was fun. Of course we are all 110, but we don't look bad for our age. (Uh-huh!)
Also had a reunion of one of my first classes, a sixth grade class from Dutch Broadway, and that was truly wonderful. (An aside: I remember a teacher of mine at Jamaica High School telling us that Henry Ford's assembly line brought on more suicide than ever before because each man on that line had a specific job to do and could not take pride in a finished product that he alone had created. That, I think, is true for teachers. No, we aren't going out and "offing" ourselves, but we too played only one part in the development of our students. One year of twelve in a high school setting. It is wonderful then to see former students and to know that the part that you played in their lives had some validity.) That was a bit rambling, but it was wonderful to see all those "kids" of long ago again.
Finally finished THE novel and will now try to get it published. I re-wrote it at least twice...some chapters more than that...and I am finally happy with it. It's a coming of age story that I think is a page turner that also has something to say. If it ever gets published I'll let you know.
I guess I've rambled on enough. (How does Ariana Huffington do it?)
If you stumble upon this and you knew me back when, drop a line and say hello.
Stay well and happy.
Jeff
First off, it was terrific to hear from the crew at EMHS. The best part was that I didn't have to race to a yearbook to remember who you were. As soon as I saw your name I remembered you immediately...all of you, and, as Lily Tomlin used to say, "That's the truth." It is amazing that so many years have gone by since last I saw you, but those were magic days for me way back when, and I hope they were for you too.
Anyway, I made it through my high school reunion and I have to admit, it was fun. Of course we are all 110, but we don't look bad for our age. (Uh-huh!)
Also had a reunion of one of my first classes, a sixth grade class from Dutch Broadway, and that was truly wonderful. (An aside: I remember a teacher of mine at Jamaica High School telling us that Henry Ford's assembly line brought on more suicide than ever before because each man on that line had a specific job to do and could not take pride in a finished product that he alone had created. That, I think, is true for teachers. No, we aren't going out and "offing" ourselves, but we too played only one part in the development of our students. One year of twelve in a high school setting. It is wonderful then to see former students and to know that the part that you played in their lives had some validity.) That was a bit rambling, but it was wonderful to see all those "kids" of long ago again.
Finally finished THE novel and will now try to get it published. I re-wrote it at least twice...some chapters more than that...and I am finally happy with it. It's a coming of age story that I think is a page turner that also has something to say. If it ever gets published I'll let you know.
I guess I've rambled on enough. (How does Ariana Huffington do it?)
If you stumble upon this and you knew me back when, drop a line and say hello.
Stay well and happy.
Jeff
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