Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2003)
ARTS & 8 • The Clackamas Print • May 7, 2003 Chabon hosts free campus Q&A Prize-winning author/ shares stories with students Karen Hill The Clackamas Print Frequent bursts of laughter and instant smiles could be heard and seen in the Gregory Forum April 29 from 11 a.m. to noon, where over 100 students and teachers had gathered to enjoy a free reading hosted by Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.” During the reading, Chabon read and spoke of his experiences writing short stories. Using wit, humor, vivid descriptions and delightfully accurate visual images, Chabon told the audience of an opportunity presented to him by the Washington Post, requesting that j he write a memoir. Chabon misun- derstood the request and began ter \ write a short story. Ironically, the finished product sounded much like a memoir. “I thought this was short story, but it reads like a mem oir... I thought I was making this up!” Chabon said. J Chabon began his présenta- fl tion by reading the beginning of g his first draft of the short story he planned on submitting to the Washington Post. It was the story of two 14 year-old boys who shared something of a “love/hate” relationship and were forced to spend a boil ing hot summer together, jet- consumed with boredom and frivolous summer jobs. Although quite amus ing, if not entirely entertaining, Chabon opted not to submit this story, but to try writing a second draft. This time the story took place the summer before he was to leave for college. Again fre quent laughter could be heard around the room as Chabon read, pronouncing each syl lable with intricate precision. Between reading the drafts, he attempted to explain, briefly, what goes into writing a short story. “Short stories begin with status quo, a relationship, the way things have been. Then one day ‘X’ hap pens. That’s when the ‘story’ enters in,” Chabon said. “That’s usually when I abandon the story,” he jok ingly finished. Chabon concluded with the first 10 or 15 minutes of his third and final draft, which he submitted and was published in the Washington Post. This time the story was about an 11 year-old boy, haunted by some sort of “tragic era,” and forced to live with his grandmother and befriend a handicapped neigh bor boy with some secrets of hi own. The session ended with thunder ous applause from the audience an< students rushing forward to shaki hands and express a few words o appreciation toward Chabon. Fo all. those present, this was a grea opportunity to hear the words thoughts and ideas of a great write and perhaps take something witl them in their attempts to write sto ries of their own. Like most fiction writers Chabon seeks to write about an< elaborate on experiences from hi: own life. “I try to think of stuff that real ly happened,” said Chabon, “an< •try to find the story in that.” A personal interview with Jeff Durfey, former 'Used' member Jared Eschweiler The Clackamas Print I recently sat down for a phone interview with former The Used drummer Jeff Durfey, whom I met while working as a missionary in Alaska. Q: How did you meet the band? A: I met the guys skateboarding. They liked to thrash. We became friends after a while. They were in a band and they asked me if I wanted to come and check it out. They found out I played drums and asked me if I wanted to jam with them. Of course, I accepted. Q: What did you do in the band? A: I was their drummer for a while, but the guys were a little too wild for me. They started to get serious about their music and got involved in the rock and roll lifestyle. I was still in high school and decided I needed an education over enjoyment. They were still my friends, so I became their drum tech. It allowed me to still be in contact with them, but I didn’t have to get involved in that lifestyle. Q: How long were you with the band? A: I was with the band for about two years. I was in junior high when I met them and was in high school when I lost contact with them. They started on the Warped Tour that year and I stayed behind to continue schooling. Q: Have you talked to the band since they became famous? A: After they started touring we lost contact. You know how that goes. Q: Was the band trying to go main stream? A: As far as I could tell the guys were not trying to go mainstream, they just wanted to get their music out. Q: Do you feel like you missed your chance at stardom? A: I want to be a musician later on. I don’t think I’ll ever get discov ered like they did, but I had a fun time with them. Q: Where did you play when you were with them? A: We played the Utah club scene and other small shows. They were starting to get pretty popular when I left. Jeff Durfey is originally from American Fork, Utah. Currently he is serving a two-year mission for his church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) in Alaska. Q: What famous songs did you play? A: “Taste of Ink” was the only song of theirs I ever played to. They did release a song, “Box Full of Sharp Objects,” on Mark. Hopus’ (Blink 182) club CD “Atticus” before they got big. *The weekly 5 in 5* Cory Price Co-Photo Editor It’s time for another edition of 5 in 5, and I am leaving the realm of Asian cuisine, and heading south of the border. No, I am not talking about Taco Bell. I am talking about Tacho’s (located a mile north on Molalla Ave. on the right hand side). Mexican food is on the menu for today. Like most restau rants in the area, Tacho’s offers a lunch special in the afternoon that is under $5. Tacho's has multiple items to choose from for $4.95, and you can substitute chicken for ground beef for 50 cents. Yes, this takes me over my Q: Are you happy for the band? A: I love those guys. I am happy they found success. JEFF DURFEY It's more than a degree. It's your future. $5 limit, but I decided I have saved so much from in the pre vious weeks’ lunch ventures that I can afford to splurge a lit tle. The Tacho’s burrito hits the money spot for me, and yivith chicken it sends me over the edge. The special comes with Spanish rice, refried beans and coleslaw. Since I’m not a huge coleslaw fan I let them keep it and ask them to substitute some of their rice instead (it’s that good). Like all Mexican restaurants the food is filling, and they throw in dessert to top it off. Be sure to tune in again next week and read up on another restaurant under 5 bucks within 5 miles of campus. Without a good degree, you could be faced with one dead-end job after another. 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