Just Call Me Toni Morrison...

or William Faulkner...

Well, let me explain. I am in a creative writing class, and we have these ALG meetings (where four students meet up in a place and discuss each others work--we elect to meet in a pub). It is quite hilarious. We send each other our stories via email before the ALG. I got there early and Ali was sitting there with a pint in his hand reading. I approached him and we talked before the others arrived. It had the potential to be awkward, but conversation casually came...until he goes, "Alex..." I stare at him, "Ali?" "Your story was amazing. Absolutely amazing." As I thank him, he continues, "No, you don't understand. It was "A-M-A-Z-I-N-G" Then it becomes a little uncomfortable...when he puts the icing on the cake, "Do you know who you remind me of? Toni Morrison! Yes! You're the next Toni Morrison." I tried to keep a straight face. No one has ever called me an angry black writer before, much less one so talented. It was a nice enough compliment...but I was taken a back. Then I went to class today. Oh, and that was eye-opening. I elected to read my story out loud. After I finished the class was silent. You have to understand, the assignment was to write about an eye-witness to a crime using details. I wrote about a lynching, and a batty old woman retelling the police what she saw, and I placed it in the old South. When I was done reading everyone was trying to think of how to approach my story. It was awkward for a minute or two. When Ali reiterates his feeling that I am the next Toni Morrison. My teacher nods in agreement, but takes it one step further. "Actually, Alex, you really remind me of William Faulkner. Not by the way you write, but your very distinct attention to detail." WOW. I really had no idea that I was like these two GREAT American writers. Which, i'm not. But just the idea makes me chuckle. Clearly it is a beginner class, not that i'm not a good writer, I am, but I am no where near two American greats. That's just comedy.

Other than those overwhelming compliments not much has been happening. I went last week to the knitting club where we knitted facial hair. That was pretty awesome. Sara knitted a fantastic beard (sort of Colonel Sanders thing going for it) while I knitted a mustache. I'm going to attach a paper clip to it so I can curl it. It will be awesome.

I also have a new love of my life. Hyun Joong, a Korean actor/singers is wonderful! I will go to Korea and meet him. Seriously, don't doubt it. I am so dedicated that I watched this one reality show he was on, We Got Married (where two celebrities are randomly paired up to act as a married couple, living together, and they have missions to complete, dumb, but ADORABLE!) I watched from episode 9 to 38, all of them that he was on over the course of three days. Yes, dedication. Not at all pathetic...cough. He is the best! =)

Happy belated New Year! For Chinese new year instead of getting those fulling hong boas and delicious food, I made some chicken lo-mein. It yummy. There is hope for me yet.

Finally, the most breaking news. I might be moving. I looked at another flat in the same complex. The girls seem nice (i've met one and she was super nice, and only said good things about the other) It was the cleanest apartment I have ever beheld. Not like mine now, where there have been three HUGE garbage bags of recyclables (from their Time Machine party, THREE weeks ago) lying smack dab in the middle of my doorway. No one has bothered to take them out. I've mentioned it once...still nothing. I guess they're waiting for it to take itself out. Who knows. But hopefully it will come through. If it does i'll have hard wood floors, a better view, and hopefully a better living situation all together. Keep those fingers crossed!

=)