Premise for Departure

Because the universe is ultimately a funny place, I have been offered money to spend six weeks talking to Christian college students in Louisiana about the importance of theatre and the sociological phenomenon of school rampages in the echo boom generation (those people born between 1982 and 1995).

What screams Spring Break more than that?

So in a mere nine and a half hours I fly to Shreveport, LA for an extended trip.

Pros:

1. Cash money.
2. Dearth of frostbite.
3. Time to write.
4. Seafood access.

Cons:

1. No haunted mansion.
2. Dearth of Erica, Michaels, and Redmoon.
3. Time to write.
4. Thai food withdrawal.

And apparently half the theatre department is boycotting auditions because of the play's content. Not the part involving the casual, and yet chillingly well-planned, murder of dozens of children. More the part where Jesus gets high and goes to the laser Floyd show.

There will be arguments. Sweet, sweet arguments. Bring the pain, Christian South. I survived you in childhood and adolescence. I will own you as an adult.

Taking: Elephant, Battle Royale, Peter Straub, Joseph Campbell, the Allison play, the Gwylan novel, a digital camera, an iPod, filthy clothes, pea-coat, whole bean orange coffee, piranha pendant (thanks, Uncle Bucky), laptop, pens, many, many ponytail holders, a clean and well maintained sense of humor.

Leaving: Schedule, winter, foreign films.