It's summer, baby

Sometime long, long ago, like this past winter, I took an eight week writing course at the University of Utah. The class was engaging, informative, and intellectually stimulating. I sat with a dozen people week after week as we explored, critiqued, and created meaning through words. My appreciation for writing and a desire to develop the skill had never been higher. Predictably, I immediately stopped writing.

Sort of. I started writing about sports bars in Salt Lake City, which is like writing about beach life in Nebraska. Also, I realized I only like going to two or three sports bars (all of them in Michigan) and I only like to do that when there are good public-viewing sports on, like football or, uh, football. So the spring and summer have been unproductive.

Also my wife’s pregnant. Not the best time to make weekly treks for “inspiration” or “research” or “beer”.

Speaking of pregnant, Annie’s pregnant! We have these little Doppler-radar images showing some small creature inside her belly. Apparently that’s my son. The proud Gingrich name lives on, hurrah! “We” are over 5 months along. The book The Expectant Father tells me to take more ownership and share this pregnancy, but let’s be honest: she is over 5 months along. I am over 5 months behind on supportiveness.

Part of our parenting process has been to relax, mentally prepare, and take on one thousand new home projects, including selling our home. So we’re making it more livable than it’s ever been so we can leave it. Makes perfect sense. Also, we’re refinishing an old crib - the same one Zoey and Preston used - so we have one less thing to buy for the baby. This fun project involves wearing a cool outfit of bright orange rubber gloves, goggles, and the grubbiest painter’s jeans, so you know it’s awesome. You “paint” a thick orange solution over the wooden pieces of the crib and then you take a long break for it to dry (my favorite part). Then you scrape the dried orange substance off along with the old finish. And then you look down and notice your pants and feet have tiny holes burned through them, but the wood is nice and dry and smooth so you can stain it some other woody color.

Feel free to stop by Annie’s Facebook page and tell her how excited you are for her – she’s been playing it cool, but we (really, we) are super stoked. Also, if you know anyone that needs a groovy town-home in a family-friendly complex with a pool, we’re for sale.

My Memoir of Writing Class #1

Saturday morning, I packed a bag lunch of turkey sandwich and Teddy Grahams (honey flavor), drove to the University campus, and attended Read Like a Writer. I joined 11 other students and an instructor, all better read than me, in that they did not scrunch up their face and shrug when the instructor mentioned someone named “Ayn” Rand. I certainly did my part to participate in the class. In business, I’ve learned if nothing else that if you’re walled in with a bunch of people around a table, saying stuff is the best way to avoid nodding off. So I offered my limited examples of book knowledge (Dirk Pitt is rad!), espoused original observations, and even made counterarguments to a few really opinionated lifelong students, which isn’t something I normally do. It was a rare time for me to engage in intellectual discourse with a group of people about things other than work or sports. I do engage my wife in intellectual discourse about once a week, but you should stay out of my business.

Several classmates expressed their desire to write memoirs; some as retirees with decades of life experiences looking to share their stories, others as people writing to write. I’ve thought about this too, and I find that the following facts about me – facts which are almost certain not to change – make the idea of my memoir quite silly:
- I was never in the military
- I was never poor
- My father was not a drunk
- My mother was not an evil taskmaster
- I did not attend Catholic school
- I am not an expert in any field
- I am not gay
- I did not have an older brother who beat the dickens out of me

And let’s be honest, facts like those are often bases for compelling and interesting memoirs. But screw it. I’m compiling a memoir-ific outline using the following facts about myself – facts which are almost certain to make you drowsy:
- I sort of skipped 3rd grade
- I once made 62 consecutive free throws
- I won the “Director’s Award” in 8th grade band, only to quit band after 9th grade
- I grew up on the rugged avenues of Hudsonville, MI
- I scored a 33 on my ACT
- I’ve sprained my ankles a combined 34 times
- I wore teeth braces for 5 years, and still made homecoming court
- My family is quite nice and I enjoy hanging out with them

My challenge is clear: figure out how to create an indulgent meal out of weak-sauce ingredients. And if there’s one story-of-my-life asterisk here, it’s that I avoid challenge at all costs (just kidding, employer!). I’m diving into this memoir full speed, tomorrow. But if it takes 31 more years to write, all the better, because by then I will have:
- Probably beaten down a few minor diseases
- Probably been married 4 or 5 times (just kidding, honey!)
- Probably developed random neuroses, like plucking hairs out of my upper arms (wait, I already do that)
- Probably punched a few hobos
- Probably figured out what I’m good at
- Probably failed as a writer...

Crickets...where has Stizl gone?

I haven't written anything lately because I spend too much time thinking about writing. Ask me about that next time I see you; I'll have to explain.

I'll say this: John Irving either has some deep-seeded father issues, or he simply has the mind to create the gripping fictional tales his Garp longs for. I read The World According to Garp in about 2 weeks, which is, for me, flying through a novel. I can't wait to get more of his stuff.

My wife made a good point tonight over garlic burgers and beer. (Yes, a romantic Wed. evening every woman dreams of.) I was blabbering about how I hadn't blogged in a while because I couldn't recently find the time to write my observations or op-ed column-styled posts about life happenings. She pointed out that this particular blog may be an outlet for me in that respect, but that the small group of readers - family, friends - who would take the time to read it simply want to know what's going on in my life. Throw on some pics and let them know we all went to the water park, in other words.

So I'll probably start doing more of that. But not until after my vacation next week. We're all flying to Chicago on Friday, then driving to Michigan on Sunday for a week to catch up with friends and hang out with the family at the cottage. I'll get a chance to finally meet my niece, Elizabeth, do my kind of skiing (less snow, more motor) for the first time this year, let the kids 'drive' the Sea-Doos, catch some delicious bass, and maybe even share a reflective, love-drenched moment with my wife over garlic burgers steak and beer.

What's up with this composer?

Not one like Handel or Bach (sorry, Mom). I mean the Blogger composer, the box in which I write these blogs; the box which allows me to place links and add italics for emphasis, etc... For some reason, every time I use our Mac laptop to write, it screws up all the formatting. Even if I jump on the PC to try and fix it, it doesn't seem to interpret the text in the same way. So if any of my posts have really large or small or a blend of font sizes, it is the computer's fault. It is in no way a lack of understanding on my part.

Stepping Up

I've been working on a concept for a new blog about being a Stepdad. I'm trying to develop it into more of a general public concept than a personal outlet. I have a URL purchased with a clever (I think) name and the first 2 or 3 entries mostly written.

Since I started this blog, I've received several comments from family and friends on my writing style and ability, and I've been very flattered and appreciate the feedback. For this Stepdad concept, I'd love to hear your thoughts - do you know of any blogs similar to that? If written anonymously and for a general audience will it be interesting to read (espeically for other Stepdads)? And if any of you (Charon, Exuberman) have some insight into how to best link up with similar interests and generate traffic, as well as build upon the basic formatting of Blogger or work with HTML to make it look, well, professional, that would be helpful too.

Any input is appreciated! I hope to get it off the ground by Oct 1.