This past week I had the opportunity to give a reading on my home turf in the University of Idaho’s Administration Building Auditorium. The crowd numbered between 200 and 300 people and I was pleased/embarrassed/thrilled that a group of my former students—led by two whom I will refer to here as “T.J.” and “Julie”—actually printed up bootleg T-shirts with my photo on them. And not only did they print the things, but they sold out and took orders for more! Following are some general observations from the home reading in no particular order:

1.) Props to the girl who ducked out of class to have me sign her book, and who had a lively dream involving me and some shape-shifting animals. Gotta love the dream world.

2.) Thanks to Bookpeople of Moscow for being Bookpeople of Moscow, and for selling my books at the event. The books actually sold out before my reading even started.

3.) Thanks to my good friend and die-hard supporter, R.S., for buying another book, and for taking it to a Barack Obama event (Yes We Can) where she delivered my signed copy to Toni Morrison(!!!!!!????!!!!!!). Yes, it was surreal signing my book for the Nobel Laureate, in case you’re wondering. Just a little.

4.) Thanks to J & G for hosting a magnificent reception in my honor, and to the huge crowd that turned out for the party on a weeknight.

5.) Thanks to my colleagues for a wonderful dinner prior to the reading.

6.) Thanks to that literary duo-dynamo, Bob & Kim, for stepping off a plane, only to rush to my dinner, then to the reading, then to the reception. And thanks to them, too, for the bottle of single malt. It warms the soul.

7.) Thanks especially to one of my literary heroes, Mary Blew, for giving me the best introduction a young author could ask for, and

8.) for calling out my son’s name in the introduction at which point the entire crowd cheered for him.

9.) Which brings me to my family and my wife—to whom I give thanks everyday for putting up with the likes of me.

10.) And to all my students including Mr. Beau B. for recording my reading in a really cool digital format that I can—with luck and a team of computer scientists—post to this blog thingy.

And on Friday, I gave another reading on the home front, this time in the UI Library. I was invited to read as part of National Library Week, now in its 50^th year (very cool). Observations follow, in no particular order:

A.) Props to the girl in #1 above, who made it to my reading after all—and without ditching class (so far as I know).

B.) Thanks to my current students who showed up, bought a T-shirt, and bought books, AND who elected to listen to me OUTSIDE of class. Daring, I say! Daring!

C.) Thanks, too, to the students who dragged their poor parents to my reading. And thanks, of course, to the parents themselves.

D.) Thanks to C.D. who was kind enough to donate a Sharpie to me for signing all those T-shirts.

E.) Thanks again to T.J. and Julie for setting up their T-shirt camp in the Library, and for the 2 complimentary shirts for my kids.

F.) Thanks to the library staff for inviting me in the first place, and for giving me the really cool red coffee mug that says it all: READ.

G.) And thanks, too, to the library staff for their warm welcome: “We heard you’re the Rock Star of the English Department.”

H.) I quibbled a bit with the above assertion.

I.) Damn it’s good to read at home.