an Aaron update
Aaron is still my best friend. Recently he submitted an application for the writing program at John Hopkins University. He sent out two emails in the last few days updating us on this. I have to share (with his permission) because 1) He writes well and funny, and 2) the sequence was hilarious to me.
"Ok, tell me this ain't a bitch: I finally sent an email to Johns Hopkins, wondering whether or not I was accepted to the MA in writing program. I asked when I'll hear anything, because I'd heard nothing and I KNOW the semester has to start, soon.
This is what I got back:
Robert,
It seems your file, although complete, was never sent on to the admissions committee. I
apologize for the error. We on the committee are all receiving your file today and we'll
meet tomorrow to make a decision. If you are accepted, you will be able to register for
courses this Spring semester, if you want to do that.
Classes start NEXT FUCKING WEEK!!!! Aaarrgh!!!
Aaron"
"Update:
Karma? Could be.
So, Mrs. Thompson came to me and asked me if I was afraid of mice. Of course I'm not afraid of mice. She said she had a phobia, and there was a mouse caught in a trap that she needed removed. Well, sure enough, it was a glue trap and the mouse was still alive. Most people just throw the whole trap away, letting the mouse starve to death or eventually tear itself apart by trying to escape. I like mice. So, I attempted to save the mouse. I looked up on the internet and found that oil, vegetable or baby, will disolve the glue. Well, we had the morning off, so with nothing better to do, I searched the building for either one. No such luck. Mind you, the mouse is still stuck to the board in a box in my classroom the whole time. A few of my colleagues told me to step on it, put it in a bag and drop a book on it, etc. One even told me to throw it outside for a cat to eat. I remembered that I read somewhere (or heard) that water actually disolved the glue. I cut a piece off of the board and took it to the sink. Sure enough, it took the adhesive qualities off of the board. I took the box with the mouse in it to the bathroom, covered all the rest of the board with paper towels (so that neither the mouse or I got stuck to it) and ran water over mouse and board. He was not happy. Eventually, I was able to pry him off of the board without getting bit, touching the mouse, or pulling him in half. I put him in the box, but it looked like his shoulder was disconnected. He is currently in the box, under my desk, dining on a bit of crust from my lunch. I don't dare tell the students, who would take great glee in torturing and killing the little guy, no doubt. I'm also embarrassed to tell the other teachers, for fear of them making fun of me. I guess I'll either put together a cage when I get home, for my new pet, OR if he's fully-functional, I'll set him free in a field, somwhere.
I figure, it's karma.
Why? Because I was accepted into the Master's program for fiction at Johns Hopkins. Don't know if I can afford it, but I was accepted. It's karma, for saving the life of a mouse. At least, I like to think that me and the mouse got a second chance, today.
Aaron"
By the way, the tiny little thing now lives here with us in a modified aquarium (it's so tiny, it fit through the bars of our cages!).
Now to wade through financing...
On my end, I am again applying to different positions in Lancaster, seeking employment and eventual moving there. I am still struggling with the driving thing. And I am well on the road to recovery from being hit by a car - I still cannot dance all out or run or even jog, but I am walking and the pain's receding.
"Ok, tell me this ain't a bitch: I finally sent an email to Johns Hopkins, wondering whether or not I was accepted to the MA in writing program. I asked when I'll hear anything, because I'd heard nothing and I KNOW the semester has to start, soon.
This is what I got back:
Robert,
It seems your file, although complete, was never sent on to the admissions committee. I
apologize for the error. We on the committee are all receiving your file today and we'll
meet tomorrow to make a decision. If you are accepted, you will be able to register for
courses this Spring semester, if you want to do that.
Classes start NEXT FUCKING WEEK!!!! Aaarrgh!!!
Aaron"
"Update:
Karma? Could be.
So, Mrs. Thompson came to me and asked me if I was afraid of mice. Of course I'm not afraid of mice. She said she had a phobia, and there was a mouse caught in a trap that she needed removed. Well, sure enough, it was a glue trap and the mouse was still alive. Most people just throw the whole trap away, letting the mouse starve to death or eventually tear itself apart by trying to escape. I like mice. So, I attempted to save the mouse. I looked up on the internet and found that oil, vegetable or baby, will disolve the glue. Well, we had the morning off, so with nothing better to do, I searched the building for either one. No such luck. Mind you, the mouse is still stuck to the board in a box in my classroom the whole time. A few of my colleagues told me to step on it, put it in a bag and drop a book on it, etc. One even told me to throw it outside for a cat to eat. I remembered that I read somewhere (or heard) that water actually disolved the glue. I cut a piece off of the board and took it to the sink. Sure enough, it took the adhesive qualities off of the board. I took the box with the mouse in it to the bathroom, covered all the rest of the board with paper towels (so that neither the mouse or I got stuck to it) and ran water over mouse and board. He was not happy. Eventually, I was able to pry him off of the board without getting bit, touching the mouse, or pulling him in half. I put him in the box, but it looked like his shoulder was disconnected. He is currently in the box, under my desk, dining on a bit of crust from my lunch. I don't dare tell the students, who would take great glee in torturing and killing the little guy, no doubt. I'm also embarrassed to tell the other teachers, for fear of them making fun of me. I guess I'll either put together a cage when I get home, for my new pet, OR if he's fully-functional, I'll set him free in a field, somwhere.
I figure, it's karma.
Why? Because I was accepted into the Master's program for fiction at Johns Hopkins. Don't know if I can afford it, but I was accepted. It's karma, for saving the life of a mouse. At least, I like to think that me and the mouse got a second chance, today.
Aaron"
By the way, the tiny little thing now lives here with us in a modified aquarium (it's so tiny, it fit through the bars of our cages!).
Now to wade through financing...
On my end, I am again applying to different positions in Lancaster, seeking employment and eventual moving there. I am still struggling with the driving thing. And I am well on the road to recovery from being hit by a car - I still cannot dance all out or run or even jog, but I am walking and the pain's receding.