Badly Dubbed Film

• As of this week, there’s a little lag between my life and my blog. I.e. Right now I’m sitting down to tell you about the night before last night …
• It makes me feel like an extra in a badly dubbed foreign film. My mouth is moving but what I’m saying is way behind what’s going on in the scene.
• It’s not that I have to tell you about every night. (You may or may not be interested in the Emperor’s nightly lullaby or what’s on cue in our DVR.) But the last two evenings were right-place-at-the-right-time moments.
• It started Wednesday afternoon in a last-minute conversation with Greg in Zondervan’s CAR (Curriculum-Academic-Resources…I think) division. Greg has stepped up to be my production editor twice even though neither of my books were CAR titles. He’s one of those people who opts to press into projects he believes in REGARDLESS. And in less than an hour, Greg helped me make sense of an idea that has been stirring in my spirit FOR YEARS. Thank you, Greg.
• Along those lines, if any of you belong to a church that would be interested in trying an experimental outreach project with churches around the country, hit.me.up. There’ll be some cool stuff coming down the blog pipeline.
• After Greg, I found myself with Robin (my star PR friend) and Carolyn (a long-time editor who recently joined Z) at Marie Catribs–a local mediterranean haunt in the East Hills Center.
• I already knew and loved Robin (She wore funky tights to our first meeting, which was an immediate tip off that we were soul sistas), but this was my first time laying eyes on Carolyn.
• Carolyn–a dark haired woman with striking features and a just-right blend of passion and sensitivity–did NOT disappoint. By the end of the night we were swapping life stories and sharing pudding. Did I mention we brainstormed about a creative nonfiction project that I’m SERIOUSLY into?
• It helped that the restaurant was really chic and local feeling with a funky host who we agreed would’ve made the perfect Seinfeld character. Not to mention that I ate every bite of their fig stuffed chicken. Happily.
• (Rumor has it that fellow Z-author Jon Acuff wasn’t as big of a fan of the food–it’s apparently not part of the stuff Christian’s like. =)  This could only be countered by word that foodie Shauna Niequist recommended the pudding.)
• Last night (look, we’re closing the time continuum), was my second shift at this year’s Ann Arbor Film Festival. And I got to take in a project by fellow Michigan native, Sam Green. He performed a live narration of his documentary while a four piece orchestra delivered the scoring live. BRILLIANT.
• The film (which was both slideshow and film) examined different historical movements of people coming together. <<Insert me taking furious notes on my iPhone.>>
• Today, I’m putting in a full night at the festival as well. At 3:00, there’s a panel with Wang Bing, a Chinese documentary maker. And there’s five more screenings in between that and the after party at the Blind Pig. Yep, you heard that right. The. Blind. Pig. The fact that I’ll be dressed up while there only makes the elegant name more ironic.
• SPECIAL THANKS: I could not have gotten through this week of working AND fest-ing without the dedication of my flat iron, hairspray, deodorant and makeup that came together in a makeshift powder room in the front seat of my Nissan.
• Also, I’d like to thank my friend Nathan who has spoken some good stuff into my manuscript-in-progress, even when it meant leaving long voicemails for me while.riding.on.A.TRAIN to make sure I got the info I requested before I went to pitch it. (Yes, in case you’re wondering, he is related to the famous CHRISTY FOSTER who just sang lead vocals with High Velocity who won Michigan Theater’s Battle of the Bands.)
• Hmmm. Maybe I should’ve thanked Nathan before my hair and makeup stuff. (Something to remember.)
• Happy Friday everyone!!