Thursday, April 29, 2010

Poetry Tastes are Subjective

Today I got this official e-mail from BYU, with the subject line "Final Decision":

"The last two MFA applicants accepted our offers on Wednesday. I am sorry that we will not be able to offer you a place for this coming Fall."

FYI, when I wrote to the Powers That Be about why I was not accepted, this is what they said:

"I can't speak for the admissions committee, but in reviewing your file I see a lot of promise. You are a strong writer and your poetry suggests the kind of potential we like to see in applicants. Your writing also shows clear focus. My sense, however, is that the committee tends to favor writing that shows, in its subject matter, a wide range of interests. You might consider poems that reach beyond autobiography or your specific cultural experience. This is not to say that either of those things is bad, but that you already have clear mastery of them. Consider including poems that demonstrate interests and points of focus that are not already represented in these poems. I hope you don't take my comments as a critique of your writing, only as an insight into what is likely to appeal to the admissions committee."

So, my subject matter isn't to their tastes, and/or needs to be wider in variety. I wonder what would have happened if I had submitted a prose sample instead. What can they say about wideness of subject matter with only one sample? Anyway, thanks to Andrea for referring me to this very wise statement about interpreting poetry.

As for how I'm feeling about the whole thing, I'll say that today is an emotional day. Reminds me of the day the counselor came over and released me from my calling as Primary chorister. It was a surprise and I wasn't ready for it at all; further, I feared that it was a sign from God that I was going to be very sick for quite a while longer. (I also feared that it came about because someone who didn't know me very well suggested to the counselor that I might like a break.) From the beginning of all this talk of applying this year, I have felt nothing but peace about the decision. That feeling made me [over-]confident that I would get in. So I guess, now, that God has something else up His sleeve for me, but I'm trying not to fear that this means more medical issues this year.

Sad, scared, bored, worried, lonely.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Learn what you will about life at our house these days:

 

Recently posted at our house:

Behavior for a happy family:

Consequence:

Consequence if you choose otherwise:

Using a quiet, kind, inside voice.

(No yelling, screaming, whining)

People feel supported and forgiven. The day keeps moving smoothly.

You can help the day move more smoothly by doing an extra job.

Respecting other people’s bodies (no hitting, kicking, pinching, biting, scratching, pushing).

People feel safe.

You can make it up to them by doing a job for them, and get more control of yourself by going to bed early (or job for Mom).

Respecting property (no banging of doors, walls or objects, or breaking things).

Our house looks nice and our things are not broken.

You can practice control by losing a property privilege for one week.

Respecting property.

(No entering another person’s bedroom without permission.)

We feel trust for each other and our things stay safe.

You can make things better by giving the offended a Yu-Gi-Oh card of his choice.

Honoring parents (obey parents immediately).

Children stay safe and order is maintained.

You can practice obedience with a big extra job.

Healthy eating (ask permission before taking food).

Healthy bodies, regulated budget, and trust.

You can help overcome cravings by going without treats or snacks for one week.

Peaceful environment (quiet time at 8:00).

We can concentrate at reading time and rest at bedtime.

You can practice quiet time by going to bed early or being moved.

Plenty of rest (be in bed at bedtime).

Healthy, happy family!

Practice avoiding distractions by losing electronics and going to bed early for 2 days.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Librivox

I just discovered something that makes me smile--in addition to the amazing April sunlight I'm enjoying. Check out Librivox. These are audio recordings of books that are in the public domain, all of which were recorded by VOLUNTEERS. I like to check out e-audiobooks to listen to in the car, while doing yardwork, etc., but I wanted to listen to a book that I couldn't get at the library. Luckily, it was a Dickens, so it was in the public domain. I found Librivox and downloaded the recording (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, read by Alan Chant) with a little hesitation because I knew all the recordings were done by volunteers. Would it be easy to listen to an AMATEUR reading for ten hours or so? (Sidenote: I once read textbooks into a microphone as a service project for the blind at BYU. Poor, poor blind people: at that time I had no idea how awful my speaking voice is--nasal, squeaky, all slurred together. I imagine the people in charge of the project just quietly reassigned my books to someone else after I was done.) So I was suspicious.

Surprise! This guy sounds like--and must be--a professional voice artist. All the characters had distinct styles, male and female, just like the professional recordings. After each chapter he would say, "Recorded by Alan Chant, Kent, England, in the summer of 2008," and I enjoyed picturing him somewhere in a quiet English town, sitting in front of a microphone with his tea. Like being read to by an Oxford professor or something.

Anyway, I'm grateful today that there are people in the world who volunteer, who use their talents for free, sending their work out into the world to be enjoyed by tired Mormon housewives raking out their spring gardens.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Medical Issues

More tests. It's looking like we may be onto something . . . Would you please pray for me that the tests will be accurate and lead to a diagnosis? Thank you.

Monday, April 05, 2010

A lazy blog post in which I try to gain in popularity by linking to something humorous that someone else discovered.

But at least I give credit.

Click here for some hilarious analogies, which I found through my Segullah friend, Andrea Rediske.