Quick pick-me-up.

Turns out that visitors, and a talent show/potluck dinner this weekend were just what I needed. 

Friday night, we had our ACM Newberry Talent Show and Potluck dinner. I can't tell you how happy I am that it turned out to be such a great evening. Everyone that was in town contributed to the potluck dinner AND performed a talent. And our professors cooked some of the best soup I've had in a long time. 

After dinner, the talent show portion of the night started with an awesomely entertaining performance of the Calypso dance from Beetlejuice. Awe. Some. I was the emcee of the talent show, and ended up "performing" thrice. There was an amazing Spicegirls/Diana Ross and the Supremes/Three Dog Night/Bobby Vinton medley, a nursery rhyme reading in *six* different languages, some autoharp playing, some guitar playing and chinese love song recitation, a creative writing flash fiction dedication, some super intense juggling, a performance of "I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You" by Evita, a dramatic reading (which channeled a muse!) of three chapters from a 1952 etiquette book, a reading of poems by insomniacs as well as a poem read for speed in good, high school debate fashion, a performance on how to make bread, and finally (or so I thought...) some saxophone playing. 

***stretches fingers after typing that long sentence***

I'm sure that my guests appreciated meeting the people I've come to know, in this particular way! 

On Saturday, me and my guests ate, shopped, ate, shopped, napped, ate, coffeed (I know that it's not a *real* word, but it *should* be!), prepared for bed, had tea, and slept some good sleep. After a nice breakfast at the Original Pancake House this morning, my guests headed back to Gambier. My heart feels a little empty whenever I say good bye to people. Be it a telephone, instant message, or in-person good bye. But it won't be long before I see them again. 

It was so good to have them here, and to be able to vent about what I've been calling my Tragedy AKA my-setback-that-has-turned-my-research-into-bits-and-pieces-of-incoherent-ideas-arguments-and-words. But I won't be talking about that on this blog. Only about how, starting tomorrow, I will approach this setback and my incoherent pages with a ready attitude.

Our 40-page drafts are due next Monday. That Monday also kicks off our week long Thanksgiving break. So this week will be about working, writing, and thinking like I've learned to! I will get the job done. I believe that.

This post's picture is of my group's performance (the medley) for the talent show. This is the only picture I'm posting, because I haven't asked permission to post anyone else's. What a great way to take a break from the intensity of the program, and cool down for a night, over some great food with our professors. 

As I went up to end the show and thank everyone, a few members of the crowd interrupted, "but Janae, you didn't do a solo talent!" I responded, "Do I seriously need to do a solo talent? I've been up here all night," They said yes. And so I recited my most favorite poem, "As Kingfishers Catch Fire" by Gerard Manley Hopkins.