GANG LETTER FALL ? 2003 FILL IN THE BLANK Now that summer is over, most of my time in the ?world of work? is spent: As always, it's a mixed bag?most of it fun. Still working on the staff of the Law College Writing Center. Also still teaching nature writing, which I love. The students (with one major exception who is headed for a D, at best), are enthusiastic and willing to be pushed. They take chances with their writing and are good and generous readers of each other's work. And most important, they laugh at my stupid jokes (and sometimes at things that aren't supposed to be jokes, so I wonder if actually they're just laughing at me the whole time). I've managed to clean up most of my freelance stuff for a while, which is kind of a relief. And I started a new position (part-time, thank goodness) as the assistant director of the UI Center for Teaching?a small office that helps professors and TAs teach better. I got tossed a new project that involves developing service learning across the entire university curriculum (and am trying to figure out how I'm supposed to do this part-time). SL is a new national movement sparked by the NY Times Democracy Project. The idea is to get students to be better informer citizens and therefore better citizens. It's based on Jefferson's idea that an informed citizenry is the only citizenry that can be trusted to govern itself. (Given who we've elected to national office lately, I think we can surmise the current ?citizenry? isn't very well informed). I now have to decide whether I'm going to quit all of these to take a full-time writing job with a New York/Boston PR firm. I doubt I will, since I don't want to do that kind of writing full-time, but if they come in with more mula than I'm making, I'll be tempted. I doubt they will, so that will be an easy decision. For fun, I have been doing: Well, I just got back from an evening downtown where the University students turned out in force, dressed for the day (it's Hallowe'en). Does that count? Also, as Paige knows, I spent five days in Denver and one day in Boulder. Had a good time at the Denver conference, a great time seeing Paige in her performing artist's debut and visiting with Walt, and another great 24-hours in Boulder. By the way, Alison is adorable, for those of you who haven't seen her lately. She's cute, charming, bouncy, and bright. And she and her friend absolutely loved her mom's gig. In Boulder I raced around to see various friends after spending an hour eating a cookie, drinking coffee, and reading the Sunday paper while sitting on my parents' bench in Green Mountain Cemetery. It was fun. I saw Shelley Streamer for the first time in years and also spent some time with her mother, who was my 7th-grade social studies teacher. Also had dinner at Pat Holmberg's (Tantilla), spent time with Helen Wingfield, and stayed over at Joyce's. It was wonderful to feel like a daughter again. Joyce looked terrific, as always. We had a wonderful time, and I was especially thrilled because she remembers so much about the neighborhood from the time I was a very young child. It occurred to me that she's the only person remaining with whom I can talk about this period. Oddly enough, however, the neighborhood looks rather dreadful. That's all happened in the last two years, and of course, I would never say that to her. But she also commented about the appearance of a couple of places. The houses look like they've been trashed by renters. I hope Boulder's economic woes aren't taking their toll in older neighborhoods like that. I also just got back from five days with Brian. We had the best time?really one of the best trips I've ever had. San Antonio is growing on me (and also on him, I think, although he still feels constrained by such a small school). We basically ate our way through the weekend?food is great and cheap. Also went to Laredo, which was rather a shock to his sheltered Midwestern eyes. Actually, I even thought it was several steps below Tucson's border town, Nogales. On the other hand, it was kinda funky and fun and there's something about Mexico and the American Southwest that just brings alive all your senses. I'll visit Amber in February, and, of course, everyone will go out in May when she graduates. She is already looking for work, and is hoping the feds (USGS) will hire her. Time spent with family and friends has included See above. As for local friends?mostly just hanging out, eating, drinking, being merry. Hancher Auditorium figures into that merriment, too. So far this season have seen Emmylou Harris, The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, a couple of symphony concerts. Am about to see Cloud Gate Dance Theatre and Cuban jazz pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and bassist Charlie Haden. Movies I have really enjoyed have been?OK, perhaps only Paige will appreciate my taste in movies. Brian and I saw two?Mystic River, which we thought was pretty flawed, although Tim Robbins is still the greatest; and School of Rock, which we loved. It's sophomoric and predictable, and Jack Black isn't for everyone, but I still thought it was pretty hysterical. I especially loved the part where school principal Joan Cussack announces to a group of parents that their children are missing. Maybe you just have to see it with an adolescent boy? Good books I have read are?You're kidding, right? My reaction to current events is?We need to get out there and pound the pavement for some Democrat?ANY Democrat. Actually, the story that most intrigued me lately, but which unfortunately seems to have immediately dropped out of the press, is the deal in Florida where Herr Bush-the-Younger has seen fit to destroy the Constitution in at least four ways (right to privacy, due process, equal protection, and separation of powers) in the course of forcing his way into the private lives of citizens. I haven't heard anyone in the press say this, but isn't it the Republicans who are always whining about government being too intrusive in our lives? Helloooo? My best memory of our trip to Virginia is That's a good question. Every time I look at the photos, I remember something new and wonderful. I did love the tour of Lexington, but also always find just sitting around the table listening to stories the best. And, of course, there was my ?No Place Like Home? tin (which, by the way, now has pride of place atop the back of the stove where everyone can see it. It's gotten lots of comments from friends). 8. That's it for now ? signing off ?And probably not a moment too soon? Love to you all.