Here are five things

1.

At the end of January, I got the chance to attend the FCIS Academy over in Tampa. It was three very long days--on Sunday, we worked until a little after 6:00 and then had to read a book in the evning; on Monday, we worked until about 8:15; and on Tuesday, we worked until about 3:30 and then drove back to school--but I'm very grateful that I got the chance to go. I think I learned some new things, and I think that some things that I already knew about learning and behavior styles were brought into sharper focus for me. There were parts of the material that are debatable, of course, since the current research is divided (right brain/left brain issues, for instance). But that's always the case--it seems like for every study, there's another study contradicting it. What's most important, I think, is to try to find the practical things I can take back to use in the classroom. And so far, there have been some ideas from the Academy that have worked well for me.

Plus, it was great to get to relax over a Sam Adams after the sessions each day and spend some time talking with colleagues.

2.

The fall issue of Willows Wept Review is up, at long last. There's some mighty fine work in there, if you don't mind my saying so, so please stop on by over there and give it a read.


3.
Did I mention that we got to see the Mountain Goats a couple of weeks ago? Check it out:

The last time they were supposed to be in town, John Darnielle got sick and wound up in the hospital, so he came back a few months later and played a solo show. But this time, it was the full band.

4.
We got a bag of Ethiopia Mordecofe in the mail from Stumptown the other day. Melissa and I tried it in the Chemex yesterday--delicious.

5.
Right now, I'm listening to Joshua James. But I want to remind you about Bryan John Appleby. Seriously, click on over there and give it a listen--you can stream the whole album. I've got vinyl on the way, but it hasn't arrived yet, so for now, I'm making do with the download. (We're not even going to talk about the iTunes play count for this one. Let's just say it's a big number.)