Much Ado About Matts

While I am out gadding about in a world of non-creative endeavors (although I DID just beat Slash on Hard at Guitar Hero last night-- on the first try!), please take a moment to honor two of my friends and fellow bloggers, who have made great strides in balancing out my current lameness in the cosmic scheme of things:

Matt Tullis, a fellow MFA from the Wilmington brood, has been appointed to a full-time position teaching journalism and overseeing the Collegian at our alma mater, Ashland University. In his new role, he will get to spend a great deal of time hanging out with our shared mentor and totally all-around awesome guy, Joe Mackall, which makes me supremely jealous. However, since Matt was the one who first gave me a chance to strut my stuff on the comedy column state when he gave me my first column in the Collegian back in 1998, I think I can let the jealousy slide, because I know what a kick-ass job he will do, and what kind of life he can bring back to the campus paper. (And if the Collegian ever needs a guest columnist, you know where to find me. Ahem.)

Matt Rowe, meanwhile, has continued to bring it hardcore to Swing State, and has exciting news for all y'all-- he will be on the ballot at the Virginia 1st District convention to be a national convention alternate. The election is May 17, so keep an eye on Swing State to follow him through the process and see if someone we know will actually be on the floor at the DNC. Also, if you're attending this convention, vote for Matt. Or suffer the consequences. (Note: there are no actual consequences. But I will be really, really mad at you.)

Things you didn't know about St. Louis

1. On the way there from Cleveland, you see the world's biggest, freakiest cross. While Ben and I could not muster the courage to stop and actually look at it up close-- you can see it well enough from the freeway, as it appears to be over ten stories high and made of aluminum siding-- we did feel really awed by its big... crossiness.

2. The Arch is very tall, but not as tall as you would think. Also, you can ride to the top of it in tiny, Woody Allen in Sleepers-esque white little bucket trams. But once you get to the top, you will be bummed out, as the only really exciting thing to see in St. Louis is the Arch, which is the only thing you can't see from inside the Arch.

3. Foxy people get married there, like these two-- congrats, Dan and Jenn! Apparently, the weather in St. Louis also cooperates for foxy people, so that Dan and Jenn had the perfect day. A good time was had by all, even Ashley, although her evening took a decidedly dramatic turn around the clog dancing...

4. On the way home from St. Louis, if you stop at a certain gas station, they have a machine that will spray you with imitation cologne for a quarter. The bad thing was, though, that this particular machine was hung right around eye-level for me, so it's more like I could have been maced with imitation cologne for a quarter.