Dyllan Shae, born August 5

Photo Courtesy of Kim Burg

My deepest congratulations goes out to one of my oldest friends, Mandy, just days after she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. It's still strange and startling to me, after knowing Mandy since she was thirteen years old, to see her as a mama, but I know she's going to make a great, if not unique, one. Kim passes along the message that Mandy can tell this one is hers because she's already stubborn. I hope Dyllan gives her mama a lot of hell; I'm sure Mandy's mother is thinking the same thing!

Well, since she couldn't be a bridesmaid, maybe now her daughter will be a flower girl? :)

Plans continue to fall into place for the wedding here in Minnesota. I've never seen The Fiance's computer room so free of debris. Cords are tucked away, all those little slips of paper are recycled, and the dogs can stretch out without their tails whacking into things. I only wish we could say the same for the rest of the house, but I'm still working on it. I'm glad that we have a deadline for this reduction of clutter... two years worth of teaching and whatnot can allow some serious gathering of things.

Also: my new poetry group has decided to study one of the great poets each season, starting with William Shakespeare. I know some people groan at that typical choice, but I figured it was a good one selfishly because every year I seem to be able to teach a play or two of his. I've done Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet and this year I will do a repeat of A Midsummer Night's Dream for the freshmen, and I'm assuming one for the Brit Lit class I'm teaching, but I don't recall which. In the winter, we will explore Wallace Stevens, selected by Carolyn herself. It's wonderful to have this kind of motivation, these talented spirits pushing me on.

Photo Courtesy of Kim Burg