7 quick takes friday (vol. 8)

It’s time again for Friday “Quick Takes.” For more, see Conversion Diary.

—1—
This week, I had the chance to mingle with the soul (and some of the beneficiaries) of Anne Carlsen during an author visit in Jamestown, ND. What an honor! Read more here.

–2—
All the kids I met in Kulm, Edgeley and Jamestown during the aforementioned author visit rocked! They were well-behaved, attentive and full of questions. It was one of my favorite author stops yet. Up next: Young Author Conference in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Hopefully there won’t be a blizzard preventing travel this time!

—3—
Kudos to ABC for taking on the subject of Theology of the Body and Christopher West on Thurday’s Nightline. West’s interpretation of Pope John Paul II’s teaching on the meaning of the human body and sexuality deserves an explosion of exposure. This is good stuff, truly. “The union of man and woman itself is meant to be here on planet Earth an image, a foretaste, a little glimmer of the eternal ecstacy that awaits us in heaven,” West says. Here’s a transcript of the article from the program, as well as more on West’s work.

—4—
Well, I held off as long as possible, but as of this evening, I’m joining the Twitter world. Don’t know where this will lead, but some folks from the North Dakota Tourism Council, during a workshop for freelancers today, convinced me to give it a shot. I’m curious to see what happens from here, and whether I’ll be a Twitter touter or taunter in a few months’ time.

–5–
This from my latest read, Before We Get Started, by Bret Lott, on the subject of writing technique:
“The technique, alas, is that there is no technique, save for the one you yourself will hammer out,” and “The truth will be arrived at only through arriving at it.”
In other words, if you want to learn how to write well, just start doing it.

—6—
After being gone for two days, the kids swarmed me with hugs Wednesday evening. What a great feeling – the feeling of having been missed. I missed them too, though, I have to say, hanging out with nice people, eating great food, then settling in early at the hotel room and enjoying the sounds of silence was not underappreciated by any means!

–7—
Tomorrow I’m serving as chaperone for an outing with my fifth-grade daughter’s class – a Marketplace for Kids event at our local Concordia College. Photos to follow soon, I’m sure.

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend!