When I had my book reading at Quimby's in Chicago I arrived at the bookstore and Tom had flown out from NYC, unannounced, just to attend the reading.

Really? That's totally awesome.

Really? That's totally awesome.

It really and truly was.

I think the world is starving for more of that spectacular Scola smile, so I want things to happen to (and within) you Tom -- things that bring out your smile, naturally.

Tom is made of awesome - the first time I met him, it was Halloween in Minneapolis and I was a leetle distracted by my marriage imploding. I still remember being awed by That Smile and how generally cool he was.

aw, I love reading the Scola-love!!

3 things:

1) for TomW's employers to get their heads out of their asses and FINALLY GIVE HIM THE RAISE to go with the promotion he got in JANUARY that he'd been working on that higher level for at least 9 months before then. They dragged on the promotion, they're dragging on the raise, and it seems like they totally take him for granted.

2) For TomW to be happy and fufilled with what he does for work.

3) For me to be happy and fufilled with what I do for work.

Tom, I know the work has been hard-going, but you have changed SO much in the years that I've known you. Your perserverance is remarkable.

(Oh, and I hate that tie. Terrible color.)

So I need to relate a conversation I had with Emmett this morning.

As background you need to know that Arlo is one of his teammates on the tournament team. Arlo is the best player in our Little League, a tremendous natural athlete. While he's extremely competitive on the field, he's also got a naturally very sunny nature, dimples, big smile, total cutiehead with a high pitched piping voice. We see a lot of his family during the summer touring season and also really like his parents and sibs. (Emmett is particularly close with Arlo's dad.)

So I woke up Emmett this morning by putting Matilda on his chest, which always gets him up in a good mood. "Aww, what a nice way to wake up. Hey Matilda!" Then he said...

Emmett: Oh, I just remember I had this horrible nightmare.
Me: What happened?
Emmett: It was about Arlo. He was a goth. He had black hair and he was just sitting there.
Me: Being a goth isn't necessarily bad, Emmett. They're not all depressed and gloomy.
Emmett: I know. Like your friend, Jilli. But it wasn't like that. He didn't even have his dimples, Dad. You know how Arlo has that twinkle in his eye? It was gone. It was like you could see right through him.

*********

That last part was (I think) intended more metaphorically than as dream description. Trying to articulate a hollow and cheerless Arlo and how horrible it was to see him in despair.

It was oddly sweet, and I did take care to make certain there was no goth bashing.

Scola, I'm sorry to say that I relate.(Not, like, "God, I hate you, too." For myself.) I think that you're a hottie. Yes, I liked the books, JZ. Have learned so much more about baseball that I can play "Keith Olbermann Says" in a whole new venue now. As far as actual games, I still get confused and impatient...baseball's kinda zen, isn't it? The con book convinced me the world is lucky I'm not a joiner and fundamentally honest.

baseball's kinda zen, isn't it?

Heh. Is that a polite way of saying nothing happens?

No, but you have to be patient, right? And the announcers get stoked about things I don't know enough to pick up. Which makes it a lot like my experience with religion, really.