Dear Friends and Family,

We have lots of good news and some sad news.

The good news includes:

I have been accepted to the "Summer Institute on Sexuality, Culture and Society" at the University of Amsterdam.

I got wrangled a combination of grants and loans to hopefully pay for the field work in San Francisco, the Institute and research in Amsterdam and a laptop to take with me during all this work.

I finally came to an agreement with Haworth Press who tell me that they are sending me a revised contract for my book, Looking Queer (which should theoretically be out next spring).

I have also been offered the position of Guest Editor on a special edition of the Journal of Lesbian Studies. It is quite an honor, but of course, will mean more work.

Tina got accepted to work on a three week archeology dig here in Iowa City. So she will be getting course credit for the dig and taking another anthropology course this summer.

Troy will be going on a three week field methods trip in geology.

Lon is graduating with his BA in Psychology and looking for a job in social work.

Rowan will be one year old this month.

Our sad news is that our 2 year old black cat, Myschief has Feline Lukemia and is not doing well. It is sad to see him go from such a robust hunter to a sad little house cat. As much as I love cats, after the loss of Andy and Catherine to this disease, I am tempted not to adopt new ones until a cure has been found. Maybe that is selfish on my part, I don't know.

So our upcoming schedule looks like this:

May 17 -- 9:30 AM, Lon's Graduation ceremony

3 PM, Graduation party for Lon and other friends graduating.

May 18 -- 2 PM, Rowan's birthday party.

May 19 -- Tina begins archeology dig.

May 20 -- Rowan's first birthday.

May 22-26 -- Our family goes to the Heartland Spirit Festival in Missouri.

May 27 -- Troy leaves on field trip.

June 6 -- Tina's archeology dig ends.

June 8 -- Troy returns from field trip.

June 10 -- Troy and Tina begin summer classes.

June 14-22 -- Dawn goes to "witchcamp" led by Starhawk near St. Louis.

June 25? -- Dawn leaves for San Francisco (might be flying, might be driving)

July 15? -- Dawn returns from San Francisco

July 18? -- Dawn leaves for Amsterdam

Aug. 1 -- Summer classes end.

Aug. 23? -- Dawn returns from Amsterdam

Aug. 25 -- Dawn and Troy start Fall classes.

Aug. 28-Sept. 1 -- Family hopes to got to Merry Meet near Minneapolis.

Sept. 18-22 -- Dawn goes to Lavender Languages conference in Washington DC.

Crazy eh? And during all this we have numerous projects in the works. I have to finish the final edit on Looking Queer and get it to the publishers before I leave in early June. I have to set up all the contacts I need in both research sites. I also have to write papers to present in both Amsterdam and Washington DC.

Troy and Lon will both have to study for and take the Graduate Records Examination in the Fall and apply to graduate programs for the fall. Tina also hopes to apply in Archeology for Fall 1998.

Oh, for those friends who live in the areas I will be visiting in the upcoming months. Please contact me and let me know if you would like me to visit with you. I will have to devote most of my time to research, but I also hope to see friends. Particularly, I will also need places to stay as well.

Well, we are currently in the throes of finals. I have to write two papers and finish my first draft of my dissertation proposal within the next two weeks. Troy and Lon have numerous tests.

Please write and let us know what is up with you.

Love,
Dawn