Bingo!

This past Monday I walked into town and tried my luck at bingo. Every Monday night at 7pm local residents gather at the community center to chat with friendly faces, enjoy salty snacks, and await the final number that will complete their Kite Diagram and yell. "Bingo." Afterward, whispers of disappointment will infiltrate the room as their $60 escape their grasp because they were "just one away" from winning. I'll admit, I was one of those people. I hope this Monday my luck will turn and I'll be able to celebrate with Sergis' famous, Mikey Special. For those of you who don't know Sergis it's a popular Italian restaurant in Canton and Potsdam with very good pizza. The Mikey Special is a cheese pizza except instead of having the sauce below the cheese it's on top. Wow, I'm salivating just thinking of it. It's one of the many popular choices among St. Lawrence students on the weekends, well that and the Pizza Roll if you're a cheese lover and are feeling bold and adventurous. I can guarantee at least 75% of the student body has Sergis' number saved in their phone.

What a remarkable event on November 4, 2008. I feel privileged to live during a time when our nation goes through such an historical event. It's hard to believe that roughly 50 years ago racism and segregation were entrenched in American society. At 1am on November 5, 2008 I woke up to the chapel bells playing "God Bless America." It truly touched me and it's a moment I will carry with me forever remembering that I was a senior at St. Lawrence University when the United States elected its first African American President.

Tonight at 7pm in Herring-Cole I'll be attending a Writer's Craft talk by Richard Rubin. Richard Rubin is a Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing and will be teaching two genre-specific courses for each semester of the 2008-2009 academic year. Professor Rubin will be discussing his "experiences as a young writer struggling to find his voice while navigating the confusing and intimidating world of publishing addressing such questions as:

-How did I cope with endless rejection letters? -What did I teach myself about how to write and publish before I got my first break, and after? -What can aspiring writers learn from my experience?"*I find that this will be very beneficial for all young writers looking to write after graduation. By listening to a Professor speak about his own struggles in the writing world it will help gain an understanding of what to expect and how to face these challenges constructively in the future. I look forward to hearing what Professor Rubin has to say.

*Information taken from St. Lawrence University's English Department poster November 6, 2008