Weekend Activities

Well, I just got back from a run around the Lake. I try to go running there often - its really pretty around there.

We had BBQ at my grandparents for lunch today, then Karen, Mom, and I went to the Mountain Brook Library to hear a talk by Alexander McCall Smith. There was a large crowd there! He is a really delightful person and eloquent speaker. He spoke over an hour and talked about some of the things that inspire his various book series'. He said if he had to narrow his overall theme in all his books down to one thing it would be that he wants to write about "the little everyday things" in an attempt to preserve the "local" and "sense of place" in the various fictional communities and characters in his book. He feels this is very important in this era of globalization and lessening of emphasis on "local community". He also discussed some of the places he's been to, which go in to helping him find ideas for his books. He and his wife live in Edinborough, Scotland. (I've begun too many sentences with "he"). But he is originally from what is now Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and was a medical law professor in Botswana and Scotland - and is now a professor emeritus (which he stated means you don't have to do any work for the university, its just a title, but they don't pay you anymore either --- "if you want to be paid to do no work you have to seek out a "research chair" position"). Someone asked him a question about his schedule to which he responded that he has no control over his schedule - other people and assistants plan it out for him. They plan his speaking engagements and book tours throughout the year and "block out" weeks of time for him to actually write his books. He said everyday is planned out from now through the next year and a half. He said he usually goes away to write - places he mentioned were Botswana (he goes back there every year), Buenos Aires Argentina, Montevideo Uruguay, Canada, Australia, etc... and writes from 8 to 11 AM each day during his writing blocks of time. His wife, who is a doctor, often accompanies him and tours around the places where he's set up writing. A very delightful talk.

He signed books after the talk and made an effort to stand up and greet each person line and carry on a little conversation with each person. I'm really glad we got to go hear him. Karen had bought the tickets a while back. Last night we went to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat musical at Hoover High School. It was really good - most shows I've been to at Hoover have been great.

Tamar's visit was fun (a family friend from Israel). She's nice to visit with. She and Hillel really want us to come to Israel and have been trying to get mom and dad to go for over 30 years since they all were at Alabama together. Tamar wanted mom to actually set a date within the next year and said "it would be a shame, with all your other travels, if you never made it to Israel". Which is true I suppose. So, we decided upon right after Christmas returning before the spring semester in 2008 begins (mine at UNCC starts around Jan. 12). Tamar has always wanted to go to China but Hillel has never had any interest in going there despite all their other travels around the world. So, they discussed traveling to China together while you are over there sometime in the fall. I think they mentioned sometime in November specifically. If they go they may actually just meet in Beijing rather than flying together since they will be coming from different continents. I still really want to find a way to come to Beijing at some point while you are over there too, if I can afford it.

In orchestra, we performed the music for the Birmingham Ballet's performances of Hansel and Gretel (two performances on Friday and one Saturday afternoon) at the BJCC. That was a lot of fun and the music was beautiful and fun to play. I had the songs stuck in my head a while.

Other than that, I'm working on several papers that are due Monday and Wednesday in two classes. Then the spring term at UAB is over, but the May term begins Thursday. Lots going on! All that combined with working all day makes for a full day. I think when I actually move to Charlotte to start the PhD I'll feel like it is a much lighter work load since I won't have this full time job anymore.