Plug

If you have the opportunity to meet Luis Alberto Urrea, or to hear him speak, you should do that.
That is a man with some good stories to tell, and not just the ones that are published.
I have only read one book of his, so far, and it is beautiful, but a total downer.
In person, he is hilarious and not at all a downer.

Also: I feel like I have mentioned this before, but a quick Google search says I haven't, so I'll say it now. When I was first contemplating applying for, interviewing for, taking this job I have, my friend and reference (frequent commenter bzh), got very excited about it. She thought I was made to work in a college. She thought it would be the perfect environment for me. I agreed aloud, but did not get it in my soul. I have had several occasions to remember that she said that, and, totally right. Thanks, bzh.