[Douglas G. Brown]

Inauguration day; Thinking of when I was 11 1/2 years old, and faked a sore throat (the only time I ever played hookey from school) to watch JFK's inauguration on our old Philco TV.

Robert Frost stood out in the bitter cold and recited a poem, which my mother recognized.

Now; I stay with her in her small lakeside house during the winter months to help her with daily tasks. She's still doing well at 92 years.

[Shaun J. Russell]

Biggest good news of the decade for me: last night I was accepted into Ohio State's Ph.D. program (my application was geared toward studying editions of early modern poetry, such as John Benson's Poems vis-a-vis Shakespeare's Sonnets). It was the first response of thirteen applications, so I may wind up elsewhere, but I'm extremely grateful that, despite being older than the average student, I've beat some fairly long odds to get in to at least one great program. Onward and upward!

Far less important, but still "good" and relevant to the 'Sphere: I'm taking a graduate writing seminar on formal poetry (specifically on the long poem) in my final semester at UMD, so I'll finally be writing poetry again, after a 2.5 year hiatus...

[Jayne Osborn]

That's wonderful news, Shaun. Well done you!

You and Alan have both mentioned a writing hiatus, which I'm having too - and I think you may have sussed out the right reason for it, Alan!

My good news is that my lovely daughter and her husband have sold their house and got the [much, much nicer] one they desperately wanted, after a battle royal with the estate agent. The funny thing is, they'll be moving to the other side of the road, four houses up, so we shall have to carry beds, sofas, tables, everything, across the street. (Maybe we'll do it under cover of darkness - but then it would look like a ''moonlight flit'' )

Jayne

[Brian Allgar]

[moved ...]

[Brian Allgar]

Originally Posted by Jayne Osborn

... The funny thing is, they'll be moving to the other side of the road, four houses up, so we shall have to carry beds, sofas, tables, everything, across the street. (Maybe we'll do it under cover of darkness - but then it would look like a ''moonlight flit'' )

I saw this bunch of people late at night
Removing objects from my neighbour’s house.
I watched them by the moon’s unearthly light;
They moved in silence, quiet as a mouse.

They boldly carted sofas, tables, beds
Across the street, and took the purloined stuff
Four houses up, the place that once was Fred’s.
A burglary in course! I’d seen enough!

Trembling, I dialled 999 to say
That I was witnessing a dreadful crime.
“We’ll send a squad car round there straight away.”
It came at last, although they took their time.

They knocked, four strapping cops, all uniformed.
The door was opened by the puzzled hoods.
“Sir, we have been reliably informed
That you are in receipt of stolen goods.”

[Alan Rain]

Originally Posted by Jayne Osborn

You and Alan have both mentioned a writing hiatus, which I'm having too - and I think you may have sussed out the right reason for it, Alan!

The funny thing is, they'll be moving to the other side of the road, four houses up, so we shall have to carry beds, sofas, tables, everything, across the street. (Maybe we'll do it under cover of darkness - but then it would look like a ''moonlight flit'' )

Jayne

Not an intentional one, Jayne. A few pieces have emerged from the mire and one gained me that (high-status ) newbie mention.

Moving even a distance of 4 doors is bad enough. I recently moved 3 miles, and it was from fully furnished to unfurnished. But, overall - as befits this thread - I can say it went well, with no major problems. There are good household auctions in the area.
I hope the family move goes well, and no one drops a crate of glassware in the road at 3am.

[William A. Baurle]

Well, my GOOD news is, I am feeling much better after a very long time in the dumps. Thank you, God, or my brain.

[Jayne Osborn]

William,

I'm very happy indeed to hear that you're out of the dumps. And I'm also very happy that Duncan was inspired by your poem to Kristine to write a poem about me.

Brian and Alan,
On second thoughts, maybe we won't help my daughter to move house across the road during the night! Let the neighbours gawp . . .
The house they're leaving has a very steep driveway which has always made me slightly nervous, so the thought of carrying glassware . . . no, I'll stick to carting unbreakable stuff like curtains and cushions.

Jayne

[Max Goodman]

I'm glad you're feeling better, William. And kudos for writing about the dumps. I suffer from them, too, and it's not easy to admit. Your post helps me, too.

My good news: there was a reading this week of What You Will, ahead of the June premiere at a small local theater. I got to meet five of the eight cast members (two haven't been cast and one lives in Canada) and hear them and other excellent actors read the play.

I was nervous that a woman has been cast as the villain, a male character, but she and the others will do the play very well.

The reading's main purpose was to convince me that the play requires further cuts, but instead the director learned that it's not as long as he thought, so I won't be pressured to cut anything that I feel is working. That's good news, too.