(1978 August 8)
[Then the Fiction Writing class took turns reading aloud.] Another How To exercise was How to put in a diaphram - also funny. Luckily it ran out as it was passed around, so that when my turn came to read it was Moby Dick. I am sure the same lessons in How To could be learned with other subjects, but young people nowdays do think of themselves as being so enlightened by being a little dirty.
December 22, 2010
December 21, 2010
Dirty story
(1978 August 8)
But, dear me - school isn't what it once was as far as proper and suitable subjects. One story he [the teacher of Fiction Writing class] read from a book for discussion was about two people in a carnival lying naked in bed together - the Tatooed Man and the Fat Lady. The FL bet the TM $20.00 she could piss in a whiskey bottle 3 feet away and he took her up on it. The rest explains her method step by step. At the end the TM gladly paid up and said it was worth it. Wow.
But, dear me - school isn't what it once was as far as proper and suitable subjects. One story he [the teacher of Fiction Writing class] read from a book for discussion was about two people in a carnival lying naked in bed together - the Tatooed Man and the Fat Lady. The FL bet the TM $20.00 she could piss in a whiskey bottle 3 feet away and he took her up on it. The rest explains her method step by step. At the end the TM gladly paid up and said it was worth it. Wow.
December 20, 2010
Fiction teacher
(1978 August 8)
A word about my Thursday class on Fiction Writing. I went at 7 and found I was half an hour late! ... When I looked in the classroom door, my heart sunk. A guru-looking man very thin sat with back to blackboard with his class in circle pulled up close. There was a chair for me and within 10 minutes I saw what a kind man he was and capable of getting us to think. He is writer in residence this summer, sponsored by Arts Council. He uses the Story Method. If you can tell it, you can write it. So we have to think of certain words when he waves those long thin fingers at us.
A word about my Thursday class on Fiction Writing. I went at 7 and found I was half an hour late! ... When I looked in the classroom door, my heart sunk. A guru-looking man very thin sat with back to blackboard with his class in circle pulled up close. There was a chair for me and within 10 minutes I saw what a kind man he was and capable of getting us to think. He is writer in residence this summer, sponsored by Arts Council. He uses the Story Method. If you can tell it, you can write it. So we have to think of certain words when he waves those long thin fingers at us.
December 19, 2010
Bentwood bonaza?
(1978 September 29)
MM had a problem of what we were going to use for chairs at her Xmas dinner. So I went to Byron Turner's auction and got 4 plain solid oak chairs. Then I saw an ad for 6 Bentwood Chairs and I went to see them - at the Gnome King's Castle. They are like ice cream parlor chairs. $30 each; all the pieces of the chair are made of bent poles. Seat is round. She may not want these at all. [Not clear if Polly bought them or if Mary wanted them. The original bentwood chairs were made in Austria by Thronet and are now a high-dollar collectible. The "client's chair" in Lorin's office was a genuine Thronet (with label) and now has a place of honor in my study.]
MM had a problem of what we were going to use for chairs at her Xmas dinner. So I went to Byron Turner's auction and got 4 plain solid oak chairs. Then I saw an ad for 6 Bentwood Chairs and I went to see them - at the Gnome King's Castle. They are like ice cream parlor chairs. $30 each; all the pieces of the chair are made of bent poles. Seat is round. She may not want these at all. [Not clear if Polly bought them or if Mary wanted them. The original bentwood chairs were made in Austria by Thronet and are now a high-dollar collectible. The "client's chair" in Lorin's office was a genuine Thronet (with label) and now has a place of honor in my study.]
December 18, 2010
Apple Butter
(1978 September 29)
Hirschys are preparing for their Apple Butter Bee, which is this Saturday for the 4th year. Lenore and Jan have been to lumber yards or saw mills for loads of free wood and to orchards to pick up about 20 bushels of apples for cider and apple butter.
Hirschys are preparing for their Apple Butter Bee, which is this Saturday for the 4th year. Lenore and Jan have been to lumber yards or saw mills for loads of free wood and to orchards to pick up about 20 bushels of apples for cider and apple butter.
December 17, 2010
Number please
(1978 September 29)
I have been very busy lately answering the phone for the vacancy ad of house next door (Lulu's). Have key and show it by appointment. ... This has been an interesting experience for me, meeting the public, so to speak. One caller, a foundry worker, was so sleepy when he called he could hardly speak. When I asked his phone number, there was a long silence. Then he said he couldn't find it. -- Then he said, "Six thousand seven hundred and forty three."
I have been very busy lately answering the phone for the vacancy ad of house next door (Lulu's). Have key and show it by appointment. ... This has been an interesting experience for me, meeting the public, so to speak. One caller, a foundry worker, was so sleepy when he called he could hardly speak. When I asked his phone number, there was a long silence. Then he said he couldn't find it. -- Then he said, "Six thousand seven hundred and forty three."
December 16, 2010
Worthwhile summer
(1977 July 1)
Every day, my dear [Lawrence, age 11], you should set yourself some worthwhile thing to do. Don't wait for someone to decide this for you. You do it. You could say, "Now tomorrow the windows are going to get it." And get busy and wash all the windows in the house! Or completely clean your closet - take everything out. Wash the floor and dry it. Sort things! Sew on buttons!! Have a housecleaning! You can think up lots more. In a heat wave, clean the basement. It's cool there usually.
Every day, my dear [Lawrence, age 11], you should set yourself some worthwhile thing to do. Don't wait for someone to decide this for you. You do it. You could say, "Now tomorrow the windows are going to get it." And get busy and wash all the windows in the house! Or completely clean your closet - take everything out. Wash the floor and dry it. Sort things! Sew on buttons!! Have a housecleaning! You can think up lots more. In a heat wave, clean the basement. It's cool there usually.
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