Deaf Author Book signing at Gallaudet & Tagged

Patrick Kilgallon, a 1996 Gallaudet University graduate, will be signing his book entitled Gather the Weeds today from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Gallaudet Univeristy.

Gather the Weeds

Paperback: 372 pages
Publisher: AuthorHouse (April 6, 2006)
ISBN-10: 1418446386

Michael Poole, a culturally isolated deaf seventeen-year-old ward of the Gate, only wants few things in his life: a girlfriend, a chance to play hockey, and good times. But the blockheads and the Whysees who watch over him have other things in store for him. Like not going outside the Gate. Not getting into trouble. And to remain still and calmly wait for the day of his own taking. The story takes place in an alternative world where one of the many industrial military complexes contains the handicapped wards taken from all over the country. The novel explores the Gate in the depth of Michael Poole's mind, in silly riddles, messages on bathroom's walls and crude drawings only to discover the final health policy for the wards of the Gate, never welcomed by the general population of a perfect world.

I have been tagged!

Jodi (An American Mom in Tuscany http://rallycapsdotnet.blogspot.com/) Tagged Me!

Here's the deal:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.

2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.

3. At the end of the post, the player tags 5 people and posts their name, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

I have to answer questions and people I tag have to answer the same questions, so here I go.

What was I doing 10 years ago:

Ten years ago I had been taking American Sign Language classes for about a year and had finally been persuaded to enroll in Gallaudet's Deaf Education Masters of Arts program. I was in a very transitional time in my life. My best friend, Aslan (a fella with four paws and all the loyalty a girl could ask for) and I moved into a house in DC right across the street from the university. I'd like to consider 1998 the start of a new wonderful life.

Five Snacks I enjoy:In a perfect, non weight-gaining world1. apple crisp
2. anything chocolate
3. peanut butter and apples
4. peppermint cafe mocha beverages
5. Nehi Peach (it's a drink but I don't drink sodas so this would be a splurge)

In the real world:

1. peanut butter and apples
2. raw veggies (I really like veggies which is good for a vegetarian)
3. low-fat microwave popcorn4. Skinny Peppermint Mochas from Starbucks
5. Weight Watchers has this awesome chocolate smoothie mix. It's great with iced coffee.

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I love my life so I wouldn't buy a new house or a new car....

1. Pay off my student-loans and all the members in my graduating class who are still educators.
2. Invest in Amtrak so I could still commute to work without worrying about money
3. Establish a scholarship program for Deaf & Hard of Hearing youth
4. Establish a non-profit that distributes Deaf Characters books to young people (I'm actually working on this one)
5. Give money to my family

Five jobs that I have had:

1. Monorail Train Operator- I accidentally hit a Mute Swan and they mate for life...(she didn't die but tumbled down a hill... I still feel guilty because she had babies the following week)
2. Worked with African & Asian animals in a Wild Life Preserve. My favorite animal is the sitatunga.
3. Roller Coaster Supervisor
4. Human Resources Interview/Job Coach- Welfare to Workforce program5. Edgar A Poe Museum Historic Guide (tour guide- same concept)

Three of my habits:

1. Reading
2. Blogging

3. Purposely Embarrassing Friends in public (you didn't say "good" habits)

Five places I have lived:
1. Numerous places in the Greater Richmond area, VA
2. Washington, D.C.

3. Boston, MA

4. Charlottesville VA

Add one new part:

Name your irrational phobias: Clowns, Dolls, Closets (but boy do I love horror movies... and as a reformed goth girl (do we ever reform?) I practically lived in a graveyard in my youth.

Five People I Want to Get to Know Better:

1. Josh Swiller (http://cochbla.blogspot.com/) His Otis seems like my late Aslan. Dogs rule! Pretty sarcastic guy... I embrace sarcasm.
2. Moxie Mocha (http://moxie-mocha.livejournal.com/) We're friends but I wish we could spend more time together.
3. Sarah Miller (http://sarahmillerbooks.blogspot.com/) I'm sure we'd be great friends if we lived in closer proximity.
4. James Bucky Carter (http://ensaneworld.blogspot.com/) Bucky was one of my peers from UVa and is just a super smart and creative educator. He's really encouraged me to pursue my interest in graphic novels in the classroom.
5. Matt (no available profile so I hope he sees this post).... Matt makes comments on my blog. He's super witty, maybe a bit sarcastic (love it!) and enjoys a good comic book.