1998 Christmas
It's been a pretty good year, for the most part. Once again, I was a movie extra, this time in "A Slipping-Down Life" which will be shown at both Sundance and SXSW. This time I spent two days on the set (in August) and took part in two concert scenes. In the first, filmed in Austin at La Zona Rosa; I was at the front of a raised area of seats at the back of the hall, and thus may be more likely to be seen. The second scene was filmed in an auditorium in Lockhart. I sat in the row behind the star, Lili Taylor, (later I got to speak to her and get her autograph) and got to stand up, leave and then return to my seat. The action, again increases the odds. Come March, I'll get to see whether I'm actually on screen or not. (I wasn't visible in "Hope Floats" (nor were most of the extras)). (I wasn't visible in "A Slipping-Down Life")
The spring semester was a bit rough, since I had daily low-level math classes with numerous "difficult" students. In fact, one student from one of those classes (transferred to another school in January) killed an eight-year-old cousin of his. I survived the semester and this summer spent a week training for our new connected math curriculum. It's an exciting program, though the change in style has its share of problems. I've only one math class (honors, this time) and 5 computer classes, all of which were pretty good this fall. The renovation of our building, which should have been almost complete, has been delayed for a year. New contracts, however, have been recently signed, and work may start, hopefully, early in the year. A new fine arts building is included and several million dollars worth of work will be done.
I hadn't been to Fort Worth since I researched my thesis 25 years ago, but 3 exhibits at the Amon Carter Museum (modern furniture, Thracian gold, and a 17th century Mughal manuscript from Windsor Castle) got me there in the summer. All were quite wonderful. I hadn't been to Dallas for even longer (since my brother Ed lived there in the late 60's), but I visited there last week to see the exquisite Lalique exhibit (there through early January, if you can get there) and while there saw the fantastic Trammell Crow Asian Museum, which just opened this month (don't miss it when you're in Dallas). I also toured the Las Colinas Movie Studios. Both were long day trips, the first in the midst of the heat wave. Driving 400+ miles make for a tiring day, but both were very worthwhile.
Last April I saw the world premiere of a play written 150 years ago by Percy Shelley!!! It was spread over 3 days and took place in four locations (each act a different site). It was an exciting production and a chance conversation with a woman also attending led to a new friendship. Sutton is a doctoral student and from time to time joins me for a play or an Austin City Limits taping. In fact in October I got her parents to see the Deana Carter taping when they were visiting from North Carolina.
In May someone put a dent in the side of my car. I had three estimates, ranging from $630 to $1400. The low one was also the fastest and did a super job. The guy even picked up the deductible so I didn't have to pay anything. Further, Sutton lent me her truck for the four days it took, so I even had wheels. One major project this summer was cleaning up the house; something long overdue. I was able to throw out or donate tons of stuff. I ran across the name of a friend I'd known several years ago & tried to track her down in Houston only to discover she'd moved here a year before. She has also joined me for occasional plays or movies. It's wonderful to have two new rewarding friendships.
As always I saw lots of plays, concerts, ACL tapings, and movies. Among my favorite movies this year are "Pleasantville", "Love & Death On Long Island", "The Opposite of Sex", "Dancer Texas Pop 81" and 2 great documentaries, "Hands On A Hard Body" and "The Cruise."
I also got to see William Wegman, Molly Ivins, Judy Collins, Governor George Bush, Peter Nero, Michael Moore (again), Dave Barry, the Coen brothers (Fargo), Terry Gross (Fresh Air), Cokie Roberts, George Plimpton (twice), and Debbie Reynolds. I got autographs from all but Cokie (I would get it in 2004) and photos with Wegman, Plimpton (two, but the first one was missing George), Collins (as well as a note from Judy to the Austin City Limits folks, who, surprisingly, are not interested in booking her at present), Nero, & Reynolds. I also got autographs from Tom Lehrer, Laura Dern, and Robert Altman.
I've read about 200 books (201 & counting) this year, a number exceeded only once when I read 251 (though 50 that year were Daniel Pinkwater's delightful children's books). Strongly recommended is "Case Closed" by Gerald Posner, a meticulously researched account of the JFK assassination, and one of the best books I've ever read. (I've just started his 1998 book, "Killing the Dream" on MLK's assassination & it's also great). "The Diary of The Century" by Edward Robb Ellis was also fantastic and is highly recommended. Excerpts of a great writer's enormous diary, begun in 1927 (and completed earlier this year at his death). I just finished another Ellis book, also fascinating, "Echoes of Distant Thunder" on life in the US during WWI.
I saw about 60 plays; the Shelley, "Prometheus Unbound," was one of the best, along with "House", "Tommy", "The Complete Works of Wm Shakespeare (Abridged)" "Food Chain" and two of the Family Trilogy plays by Kirk Lynn.
The jury duty I thought I'd have to serve never materialized. As usual I attended tons of films at our two film festivals, and got to meet Paul Schrader and Jonathan Demme there (autographs too).
The joke list I run on the internet now has 180 subscribers and it amazes me how many great jokes keep coming in. Christmas day "ma bell" sent me an unusual email "xmas gift" stating that the educator discount was about to end. Thus I've changed to a new address, All now. I hope you have a great holiday and wonderful 1999.
