Had a big weekend! I got to visit briefly at the Spalding University MFA alumni event. Received lots of hugs from old friends and met some awesome new people enrolled in the program, too.

Poet Molly Peacock  gave an excellent lecture on Creativity and Ambition and I was able to soak up some much needed advice.

Writer Lori A. May shared her wisdom about a writer’s online presence, which was awesome.

But I think my favorite part of the alumni event was sitting in on the readings of recently published authors, which included two of my former classmates—Edie Hemingway, author of Road to Tater Hill and Joan Donaldson, author of On Viney’s Mountain.

Like Molly said in her lecture, “There is nothing more exciting than the art made by your peers.”

In other news, I got stung on the thumb on Memorial Day while attempting to piece together a “Garden of Versailles” for my mother. Although I did not see the culprit, I am fairly certain that the species of insect responsible for inflicting this grave injury most likely belonged to the class of flying creeper which my mother likes to call “wasper.”

 At the time, this was a rather alarming event for me, seeing as the last time I got stung (I think I was 12) my hand swelled to the size of Mickey Mouse’s. So after freaking out, I promptly scampered into the house, threw back some Benadryl and watched my thumb turn blue.

Since I didn’t puff up like a peep in the microwave, I have to say I got kind of excited. Does this mean that I’m no longer as allergic as I used to be? Can you outgrow that sort of thing? I hope. Because I look like a total spaz girl-wimp whenever I fritz out at the slightest buzzing noise. Yes, I’m one of those fools who shrieks and ducks for cover (or clamors for higher ground) at the sight of creatures bearing six legs or more.

Happy to report that my thumb is now at near-normal size and of a non-zombie hue. My magical essence as well has been replenished and I can go on once more.

I am also happy to report that high school geometry DOES pay off because my mother’s garden frame looks JUST like the picture below.

*holds up three fingers* Girl Scout’s honor.