Here’s the deal. I can’t talk about all the wild and wonderful books I’m reading, because that’s against National Book Awards policy and practice. I don’t want to talk about my next book, because I’m not ready. But I really haven’t been doing much but read those books and work on that manuscript. Yet, much to my surprise, there is still a little gray matter left to ponder the Rest of the Stuff going on in the world. Like:

War. I wish I could feel more hopeful about the winding down of combat operations in Iraq. I missed the President’s speech (see above), and am not sure what to think right now, but here’s what I do know: the U.S. military is full of people serving our country for all the right reasons, and giving up everything to do the best job they can in a totally complicated situation. For them I am grateful and to them I am thankful.

Speaking of war, the documentary Camp Victory, Afghanistan is really fascinating and moving. Also, Restrepo opens this week here in SLC at the Broadway. I’m both eager and scared to see it. Modern warfare makes it too easy for those of us here at home to tune out, forget, misunderstand, or have no clue about what’s going on overseas. We don’t really have to give anything up, the way people did in WWII, and when we’re not feeling the effect on our daily lives we’re not so compelled to understand it. I guess I should just speak for myself. But based on the conversations my friends and I are not having, I’m thinking I’m not the only one. (If there are books or movies that have helped you understand the war in a new or clearer way, feel free to rec them in the comments.)

Locally, The Deseret News just announced it’s going to fire 43% of its staff. Ay-yai. Personally, I’m a Salt Lake Tribune kind of gal, but I’m of the mind that every metropolitan area is better off with at least two thriving papers. We’ll see what happens.

In much more fun news, I did find time to watch the Emmys. (I’m always thankful for these big pop culture events that happen on Sundays, as I generally arrange my life so as not to have to work on Sundays. I’m pretty sure when God set up the idea of a sabbath, this is exactly the kind of thing he had in mind for us, right?) As much as I would have liked to see Coach and Tammy Taylor do well, I was thrilled for Kyra Sedgwick and thought she looked beaaauuuutiful. Of course, I am a wee bit biased, and hoping this could help mean good things for the Story of a Girl movie.

Lastly: My copy of Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom is already in at the library and the timing COULD NOT BE WORSE. I do not have time for Freedom right now! But if I cancel my hold, I’ll go to the back of the line, which is now like 50 people and I may not get it back until 2012. Dilemma.

Okay everyone, back to your enormous stacks of reading! Or maybe that’s just me.