July 4: Parades, Bratwurst, Fireworks

Happy Fourth of July!

For those of my readers who are not from the United States, July 4 is the day we celebrate our independence.  (No offense to any person of British persuasion.)  In Small Town, USA, we have parades of police cars and dump trucks and fire engines, throw Tootsie Rolls at the kids, and listen to marching bands.  Then we barbecue hot dogs and bratwursts, cook corn on the cob, and cut up some watermelon.  At dusk, we gather in parks or by lakes and watch fireworks displays.

Where I live, they also hold alumni softball tournaments for the local high schools.  People who've moved away come home, and you can see friends and acquaintances you haven't seen in years.  At the parade I went to this morning, I talked to a girl I hadn't seen in close to 15 years.  I used to direct her in children's plays at the local community theater.  Seeing her with her two children and husband made me feel quite old.  But it was a good.

I'm getting ready to head out to tonight's community picnic and fireworks.  I'm sure I'll see some friends I haven't seen in a long time.  I'm also sure I'll eat some Kettle Corn.  That's my little July 4 tradition.

Saint Marty gives thanks today for parades and Tootsie Rolls and bratwurst and fireworks.

July 4th parade in my home town

P. S.  If you want to meet Saint Marty in person and hear him read some poetry, come to the Peter White Library in Marquette, Michigan, tomorrow night at 7 p.m.  I'm participating in a reading and panel discussion on poetry and writing as part of the U. P. Book Tour.  Don't miss it.  I don't make too many public appearances these days.

July 3: Lazy Day, New Cartoon, Long Weekend

This morning was the busiest part of my day.  I went to church, played in the band, sang some songs, worshipped God, and came home. Then things slowed down, as they should on a long holiday weekend.  I gave my son a bath, put him down for a nap, and took a nap myself.  I got up when my son woke up, took him for a stroller walk, delivered him to my sister who took him fishing, and then came back home and drew the cartoon posted below.  As I was drawing, I listened to the soundtrack to the musical The Book of Mormon.  It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but I found it really funny.  Not because it's about Mormons.  If it were about Methodist or Catholic or Baptist missionaries, it would still be funny, if you like that kind of South Park humor.

I'm a big believer in not taking yourself too seriously.  When a person takes him or herself too seriously, s/he is bound to be taken down a few notches somehow.  I've always admired the Mormon missionaries who have come to my house.  The fact that they dedicate a couple years of their lives to trying to spread the word of God is amazing to me.  If more Christian churches required such a commitment from their members, I don't think membership in so many of the Christian denominations would be on the decline.  I also believe that the Christians who aren't able to laugh at themselves (mostly Tea Party Republicans) are the ones that give the rest of us Christians a bad rap.

In some ways, that's why I started writing this blog, to let the world know that not all Christians are small-minded, misogynistic xenophobes.  Don't get me wrong.  I take my commitment as a Christian seriously, but I also enjoy a good joke, even if it's at my expense.  I'm sure Jesus had a few laughs on the road with His disciples, as well.  There is time to be serious, and there is a time to lighten up.

Right now, Saint Marty is lightening things up.

Confessions of Saint Marty

July 2: Book Signing, New Cartoon, Lawrence Welk

Greetings, faithful reader!

Generally, I avoid using exclamation points.  They are one of the most useless punctuation marks ever invented.  I don't need a little dot and a line to tell my audience to be excited or angry or emotional.  However,  I am recovering from a low blood sugar, and it's been a really long day.  Plus I don't have anything very exciting to write.  Therefore, I will indulge in the exclamation point to try to generate a little enthusiasm.

If you are wondering how my poetry reading went yesterday, I will tell you.  I had a really good time.  I think I read well, and my poems were well-received.  They made people laugh, which is what I was hoping.  My newest poem, "Bow Rye," made a really strong impression.  I was shocked.  Of course, there was hardly anybody there, but the reading was still good.  The other poets were wonderful writers and readers.

Today I had a book signing at a local bookstore.  Nobody showed up to buy my book.  I did a book exchange with one of the other poets there.  In the last day, I've picked up three new books of poems through exchanges.  It's been great.

Tonight I get to watch The Lawrence Welk Show.  I don't know why I feel so tired right now.  I haven't really done anything today, besides drinking a chai tea and talking about writing.  I did draw a new cartoon, but that's about it.  I plan on continuing my trend of lethargy.

Saint Marty is ready for another nap.

Confessions of Saint Marty

July 1: Poetry Reading, Nerves, Innovative

Watch me pull a poem out of my hat!

I'm doing a poetry reading today at noon at my local library.  I haven't really given an "official" poetry reading for many years (unless you count classes of second graders).  I'm a little nervous about it.  The last real reading I gave got me pretty much banned from a bookstore.  I made a judgement error, read a poem that wasn't quite right for the audience, and upset a couple of people.  Lesson learned.

It also doesn't help that the organizer of the reading e-mailed me this morning and told me not to plan anything out.  He wants us to do something "different," so I don't even really know what I'm walking into.  At least I'm not the only poet there.  There are a few others, including a good friend.  Hopefully, I'll sell a few copies of my book, have a few laughs, and meet some interesting people.

There's tons of money in poetry.  Really.

I think what I will do is pick out a few poems I know will be crowd-pleasers.  Usually, the really funny ones work best.  Considering the venue, I'm expecting a lot of older, retired people.  Therefore, I will not be reading my testicle poem or any poem that hints at sex.  I'm not taking any chances.

By the way, tomorrow I'm doing a book signing at the bookstore I've been banned at.  Don't quite know how that happened, but I will be there with books and pen in hand.  Maybe I should bake some chocolate chip cookies for the manager.  Just a thought.

Well, that's about it for today.  I'm a little preoccupied and anxious.  I think I have to go to the bathroom.  Wish me luck.  With the poetry reading thing, not the bathroom thing.

Saint Marty is playing it safe today.