Goosebumps under wool.

I woke up this morning feeling very chilly, so it is true: fall is here! My favorite season. Well, other than spring. On Tuesday my intro to poetry writing class discussed "Veteran's Day" by Dick Allen, and I almost fell out of my chair when 85% of the students caught Allen's CCR reference, "Who can stop the rain?" Amazing, considering I recently had an undergraduate class where 85% of the students had never heard of Nirvana. I guess things are different here in Ohio. They still play Led Zeppelin like it's brand new. Rock on, y'all.

Speaking of rocking, my first meeting with the Akron Poetry Collective was outstanding. Fantastic surroundings, delicious pears, and plenty of feedback, including a heap of really great suggestions, especially from Elton Glaser, who showed me various places where I am trampling all over my images, as he says. I plan to become a regular fixture at the APC meetings. A very energizing experience.

I have butterflies in my stomach already, because in less than a week I will get to meet Philip Levine. Doesn't every little Michigan poet grow up dreaming of one day meeting Philip Levine? I probably won't be able to eat anything (though it's really not about the chow, after all). Looking forward to meeting Anele Rubin, too. What the hell am I going to wear?