3 days ago
Friday, April 29, 2005
Guilty Pleasures?
Fellow blog poet, Paul Guest has a thread on Guilty Pleasures. It's a lot of fun. Check it out.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
I say y'all on occasion . . .
Your Linguistic Profile: |
65% General American English |
20% Upper Midwestern |
10% Dixie |
5% Yankee |
0% Midwestern |
Monday, April 25, 2005
Purification Rituals
When I'm about to grade a stack of papers, I have a few purification rituals (read procrastination).
The first ritual is to make sure all the dishes in the sink are cleaned. This is to ensure that when I pour myself a pot of coffee, I will not be setting coffee mugs on other dishes, in dirty sinks, on scummy plates. Chances are, I'll use the mug over and over again.
The second ritual is for me to clear my desk. Clearing the desk takes place in phases. The first phase involves balancing the checkbook. I make sure all the ATM receipts, slips of paper, etc., are accounted for, properly tabulated, and shredded. I then pay the bills. Papers seem to come at the end of the month or during the middle of the month when bills start coming in. Bills are also responsible for most of the clutter on my desk.
The third part of my ritual is settling correspondence. E-mail piles up in my virtual mailbox, so I weed through the spam, old messages, listserve nonsense, and other stuff. Because of the high volume of computer viruses at my current institution, I often have to run a virus scanner which usually takes an hour or two.
Fourthly, I vacuum. The floors need to be cleaned. When I'm walking barefoot in the apartment, I don't want to step on pebbles, chiggers, stickers, bits of staples, nails, or any serrated edges of any kind. It's important to be comfortable when grading and I'm most comfortable in socks or bare feet. Vacuuming is a safety precaution.
Fifthly, I scan all the television channels to make sure nothing important is showing or will show. I start from channel 1 and go all the way up to the 400's where the cheesy music channels reside. One time I settled on a Curling tournament and sat transfixed, trying to figure out the rules. I still don't get that sport. It's basically bowling on ice, right?
Sixthly, I call mom.
Seventhly, I walk the dog. Brisk walks are neccesary for hunting dogs like Jake. If Jake does not get his walk, he whines like a two-year-old. If I want an optimum paper-grading environment, noise like dog-whine must be eliminated, so I take Jake on a two-hour walk through the Switchbacks.
Eighthly, I delete all the phone messages on my school phone.
Ninethly, I recycle all the magazines I've read. For some reason I keep getting Sports Illustrated and Entertainment Weekly. I think I got roped into subscribing to them when purchasing something for my digital camera. I, according to Papatya Bucak, am a danger-prone consumer.
Tenthly, I call dad. He and mom use different phones.
Finally, I settle down to grade papers. I'm still wondering why it takes me so darned long to finish. . .
The first ritual is to make sure all the dishes in the sink are cleaned. This is to ensure that when I pour myself a pot of coffee, I will not be setting coffee mugs on other dishes, in dirty sinks, on scummy plates. Chances are, I'll use the mug over and over again.
The second ritual is for me to clear my desk. Clearing the desk takes place in phases. The first phase involves balancing the checkbook. I make sure all the ATM receipts, slips of paper, etc., are accounted for, properly tabulated, and shredded. I then pay the bills. Papers seem to come at the end of the month or during the middle of the month when bills start coming in. Bills are also responsible for most of the clutter on my desk.
The third part of my ritual is settling correspondence. E-mail piles up in my virtual mailbox, so I weed through the spam, old messages, listserve nonsense, and other stuff. Because of the high volume of computer viruses at my current institution, I often have to run a virus scanner which usually takes an hour or two.
Fourthly, I vacuum. The floors need to be cleaned. When I'm walking barefoot in the apartment, I don't want to step on pebbles, chiggers, stickers, bits of staples, nails, or any serrated edges of any kind. It's important to be comfortable when grading and I'm most comfortable in socks or bare feet. Vacuuming is a safety precaution.
Fifthly, I scan all the television channels to make sure nothing important is showing or will show. I start from channel 1 and go all the way up to the 400's where the cheesy music channels reside. One time I settled on a Curling tournament and sat transfixed, trying to figure out the rules. I still don't get that sport. It's basically bowling on ice, right?
Sixthly, I call mom.
Seventhly, I walk the dog. Brisk walks are neccesary for hunting dogs like Jake. If Jake does not get his walk, he whines like a two-year-old. If I want an optimum paper-grading environment, noise like dog-whine must be eliminated, so I take Jake on a two-hour walk through the Switchbacks.
Eighthly, I delete all the phone messages on my school phone.
Ninethly, I recycle all the magazines I've read. For some reason I keep getting Sports Illustrated and Entertainment Weekly. I think I got roped into subscribing to them when purchasing something for my digital camera. I, according to Papatya Bucak, am a danger-prone consumer.
Tenthly, I call dad. He and mom use different phones.
Finally, I settle down to grade papers. I'm still wondering why it takes me so darned long to finish. . .
Friday, April 22, 2005
The NY Times on Poetry Contests, etc.
There's an article on the NY Times today, in the Books section. Here's the link.
You may have to register, but I don't think there's a cost.
You may have to register, but I don't think there's a cost.
The Students are Restless . . .
These days, teaching in the classroom has been extremely tough. Winters in Utica are harsh. They last from October all the way to mid-April. In our case this year, the Winter subsided in mid-April. We've had a glorious two weeks of sun and warmth. That said, the students have mentally checked out of the classroom. They're coming to class in their short-shorts and tube tops. They've stopped bringing their books if they show up at all.
They're now giggling in corners, passing notes, reverting into junior high kids.
All I can say is, the end is neigh.
They're now giggling in corners, passing notes, reverting into junior high kids.
All I can say is, the end is neigh.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Sarah and Jon
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Kundiman Gala 2005
Total Eclipse of the Heart: An 80's Prom Gala
Travel back to the past to your senior prom—it’s 1985 again!
Put on that Molly Ringwald pink, don that rhinestone glove and Get into the Groove.
Bring your main squeeze or your best friends. Or, better yet, come stag—awesome!
This multimedia Prom Gala will feature:
•Open Wine Bar, 80’s Cake Reception
•Dancing to Your Favorite 80’s and Hip-hop Beats.
•Performances by Award-winning Asian American Artists
•Favors: Choose between a Class Ring or a Satin Orchid Wrist Corsage
•Karaoke Election of Prom King & Queen
•Prom Pictures!
WHEN:
Friday, April 29, 2005
10 pm – 2 am
Open Wine Bar from 10 pm – Midnight, Cash Bar Afterwards
WHERE:
The Poetry Project
St. Mark’s Church
131 East 10th Street (2nd Avenue)
New York, NY 10003
HOW:
General Admission
Limited Advance Tickets are available for $35. Click on below button to purchase.
At the Door, Tickets will be $50
Poetry Project Members may pay $30 at the Door
Email info@kundiman.org to reserve your space. Must show proof of Project Membership at the Door
Why go to The Total Eclipse of the Heart Prom?
•All proceeds from the Prom will benefit Kundiman’s 2nd Annual Asian American Poets’ Mentorship Retreat at The University of Virginia.
•You want another chance to meet “Ducky”
•You were in the closet and went to prom with someone of the opposite sex (who had a crush on you).
•You can’t wait to “get physical” to Purple Rain and Take on Me.
•It’s Totally Rad!
This is activism for the fabulous and mischievous. For one night only, Kundiman, The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church and today’s brightest Asian American talents offer you the chance to experience prom as it should be.
Def Poetry Jam poet, Regie Cabico will host.
Performer Bios
Named one of A. Magazine’s hottest up-and-coming Asian American stand-up comics, Regie Cabico is also a spoken word artist and poet. He won MTV’s Free Your Mind competition and appears on HBO’s Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.
Ishle Yi Park is a Korean American woman who has been published in The Best American Poetry of 2003. She has been twice featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, and performed her poetry on the NAACP Image Awards. She has a CD entitled “Work is Love,” and an upcoming book called “The Temperature of this Water,” which will be released this year. Ishle currently lives in New York.
Patrick Rosal is the author of Uprock Headspin Scramble And Dive. He has been a featured poet on BBC radio’s World Today.
Tina Chang is the author of Half-Lit Houses. Her poems have been included in several anthologies including Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation.
Lisa Ascalon, a Poet-in-Residence for Poets and Writers, has performed spoken word at Nuyorican Poets Café and Bronx Academy for Arts and Dance.
Travel back to the past to your senior prom—it’s 1985 again!
Put on that Molly Ringwald pink, don that rhinestone glove and Get into the Groove.
Bring your main squeeze or your best friends. Or, better yet, come stag—awesome!
This multimedia Prom Gala will feature:
•Open Wine Bar, 80’s Cake Reception
•Dancing to Your Favorite 80’s and Hip-hop Beats.
•Performances by Award-winning Asian American Artists
•Favors: Choose between a Class Ring or a Satin Orchid Wrist Corsage
•Karaoke Election of Prom King & Queen
•Prom Pictures!
WHEN:
Friday, April 29, 2005
10 pm – 2 am
Open Wine Bar from 10 pm – Midnight, Cash Bar Afterwards
WHERE:
The Poetry Project
St. Mark’s Church
131 East 10th Street (2nd Avenue)
New York, NY 10003
HOW:
General Admission
Limited Advance Tickets are available for $35. Click on below button to purchase.
At the Door, Tickets will be $50
Poetry Project Members may pay $30 at the Door
Email info@kundiman.org to reserve your space. Must show proof of Project Membership at the Door
Why go to The Total Eclipse of the Heart Prom?
•All proceeds from the Prom will benefit Kundiman’s 2nd Annual Asian American Poets’ Mentorship Retreat at The University of Virginia.
•You want another chance to meet “Ducky”
•You were in the closet and went to prom with someone of the opposite sex (who had a crush on you).
•You can’t wait to “get physical” to Purple Rain and Take on Me.
•It’s Totally Rad!
This is activism for the fabulous and mischievous. For one night only, Kundiman, The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church and today’s brightest Asian American talents offer you the chance to experience prom as it should be.
Def Poetry Jam poet, Regie Cabico will host.
Performer Bios
Named one of A. Magazine’s hottest up-and-coming Asian American stand-up comics, Regie Cabico is also a spoken word artist and poet. He won MTV’s Free Your Mind competition and appears on HBO’s Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.
Ishle Yi Park is a Korean American woman who has been published in The Best American Poetry of 2003. She has been twice featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, and performed her poetry on the NAACP Image Awards. She has a CD entitled “Work is Love,” and an upcoming book called “The Temperature of this Water,” which will be released this year. Ishle currently lives in New York.
Patrick Rosal is the author of Uprock Headspin Scramble And Dive. He has been a featured poet on BBC radio’s World Today.
Tina Chang is the author of Half-Lit Houses. Her poems have been included in several anthologies including Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation.
Lisa Ascalon, a Poet-in-Residence for Poets and Writers, has performed spoken word at Nuyorican Poets Café and Bronx Academy for Arts and Dance.
Pat "Ladies Love" Rosal
The rascal himself. Handsome, yeah? And who are the two lovelies next to him?
Joseph and Meena
Joseph Legaspi, Program Coordinator for Kundiman, with Meena Alexander, one of the featured readers from the 2004 Gala.
Pictures from the Kundiman Gala 2004
Monday, April 18, 2005
Friday, April 15, 2005
Book Quiz
You're The Guns of August!
by Barbara Tuchman
Though you're interested in war, what you really want to know is what
causes war. You're out to expose imperialism, militarism, and nationalism for what they
really are. Nevertheless, you're always living in the past and have a hard time dealing
with what's going on today. You're also far more focused on Europe than anywhere else in
the world. A fitting motto for you might be "Guns do kill, but so can
diplomats."
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
Pulled this from Charles
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Plea
This is taken from a message board. It's a great organization and they need the help, so if you can offer aid in any way, be it monetary or publicity, please do so.
Dear Flipsters—
I’m writing to you on behalf of Kundiman, a 501c3 non-profit literary company dedicated to the discovery and cultivation of emerging Asian-American poets. One of our main programs is a Summer Workshop Retreat where nationally renowned Asian American poets conduct workshops and provide one-on-one mentorship sessions with participants. These year’s faculty include: Lawson Inada and our own Aimee Nezhukumatathil & Patrick Rosal. More information on the 2005 Retreat can be found here: Click here
I’m writing because 6 of our talented participants cannot afford the $300 for room & board for this Retreat. (Kundiman does not charge for workshops and programming) As Kundiman is such a new non-profit, we are not able to provide the type of financial aid we would like to be capable of.
If you are interested in sponsoring a scholarship for one of our 6 poets, please let me know at sarahg@kundiman.org $300 is all that it takes. Kundiman will name the scholarship according to your wishes. Your scholarship will be published on the Kundiman website. And, after the Retreat, you will receive a poem and letter from your sponsored poet. As most of you who are writers know, most poets receive little financial remuneration for their efforts. These emerging writers are coming to this craft for love of the word and the power of the word. Please help support this next generation of dedicated and enterprising Asian American writers—who are so worthy of your attention and support.
Best,
Sarah
Dear Flipsters—
I’m writing to you on behalf of Kundiman, a 501c3 non-profit literary company dedicated to the discovery and cultivation of emerging Asian-American poets. One of our main programs is a Summer Workshop Retreat where nationally renowned Asian American poets conduct workshops and provide one-on-one mentorship sessions with participants. These year’s faculty include: Lawson Inada and our own Aimee Nezhukumatathil & Patrick Rosal. More information on the 2005 Retreat can be found here: Click here
I’m writing because 6 of our talented participants cannot afford the $300 for room & board for this Retreat. (Kundiman does not charge for workshops and programming) As Kundiman is such a new non-profit, we are not able to provide the type of financial aid we would like to be capable of.
If you are interested in sponsoring a scholarship for one of our 6 poets, please let me know at sarahg@kundiman.org $300 is all that it takes. Kundiman will name the scholarship according to your wishes. Your scholarship will be published on the Kundiman website. And, after the Retreat, you will receive a poem and letter from your sponsored poet. As most of you who are writers know, most poets receive little financial remuneration for their efforts. These emerging writers are coming to this craft for love of the word and the power of the word. Please help support this next generation of dedicated and enterprising Asian American writers—who are so worthy of your attention and support.
Best,
Sarah
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Monday, April 11, 2005
Moving soon.
Don't know if y'all know this, but I'm going to be headed out West, soon. Figured I'd make it an official announcement. Yes, it's true. I'm moving to Washington (state). So any of you West-Coasties want to hang out, give me a shout!
Moving sucks, in general. I hate moving. I think, in my adult life, I've moved a total of eight times. All of them were painful moves. I hate looking for a new place to live. I hate packing. I hate gathering up enough newspapers and magazines to use for packaging materials. I hate unpacking. I hate connecting up utilities. I hate driving with all my stuff and worrying about what condition they'll be in once I reach my destination.
When I moved from Arizona to Pennsylvania, I rented a Ryder truck. I towed my own truck on the back of this thing. On top of that, my dad and Rosie, the wonder pug (RIP) rode in the front with me. The truck had no cassette deck and a broken radio.
Anyway, I think I'm getting enough money to hire movers. Praise movers. Praise them.
Moving sucks, in general. I hate moving. I think, in my adult life, I've moved a total of eight times. All of them were painful moves. I hate looking for a new place to live. I hate packing. I hate gathering up enough newspapers and magazines to use for packaging materials. I hate unpacking. I hate connecting up utilities. I hate driving with all my stuff and worrying about what condition they'll be in once I reach my destination.
When I moved from Arizona to Pennsylvania, I rented a Ryder truck. I towed my own truck on the back of this thing. On top of that, my dad and Rosie, the wonder pug (RIP) rode in the front with me. The truck had no cassette deck and a broken radio.
Anyway, I think I'm getting enough money to hire movers. Praise movers. Praise them.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Dear Random
The filing cabinet is overrun with magnitized momentos. Cuban postcard, Cuban postcard, Moroccan lamp.
I've tried to be magnanimous with my books, but I like possession. The greatest gift a person could give me would be a label-maker.
Here is my thesaurus. Here is my chair. This is my telephone with its bright blue buttons.
The window to my office shows my dowdiness. My jeans are from yesteryear. So is my mug.
I have an earache which makes me hum.
Students knock at improper moments--food in mouth, teacup.
Friends say coffee is my oeuvre. I make a mean vat of Supremo.
I've tried to be magnanimous with my books, but I like possession. The greatest gift a person could give me would be a label-maker.
Here is my thesaurus. Here is my chair. This is my telephone with its bright blue buttons.
The window to my office shows my dowdiness. My jeans are from yesteryear. So is my mug.
I have an earache which makes me hum.
Students knock at improper moments--food in mouth, teacup.
Friends say coffee is my oeuvre. I make a mean vat of Supremo.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Pulitzer Winners
This is from The Pulitzer Prizes website:
Pulitzers for Literary Arts:
FICTION
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
DRAMA
Doubt, a parable by John Patrick Shanley
HISTORY
Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer (Oxford University Press)
BIOGRAPHY
de Kooning: An American Master by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan (Alfred A. Knopf)
POETRY
Delights & Shadows by Ted Kooser (Copper Canyon Press)
GENERAL NON-FICTION
Ghost Wars by Steve Coll (The Penguin Press)
MUSIC
Second Concerto for Orchestra by Steven Stucky (Theodore Presser Company)
Pulitzers for Literary Arts:
FICTION
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
DRAMA
Doubt, a parable by John Patrick Shanley
HISTORY
Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer (Oxford University Press)
BIOGRAPHY
de Kooning: An American Master by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan (Alfred A. Knopf)
POETRY
Delights & Shadows by Ted Kooser (Copper Canyon Press)
GENERAL NON-FICTION
Ghost Wars by Steve Coll (The Penguin Press)
MUSIC
Second Concerto for Orchestra by Steven Stucky (Theodore Presser Company)
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Post AWP Notes
1. Lost luggage on return trip. Currently up waiting for the delivery person to ring my doorbell.
2. Still sick. Was sick Wednesday, got worse Thursday, got better Friday, got worse Saturday, much better today. Still sick, though.
3. Blogroll: Paul Guest, Aimee Nezhukumatathil (spell her full name program people), C. Dale Young, C.R. Jensen, Jennifer Thornton, Nick Carbo, Eileen Tabios, David Hernandez, Janet Holmes, Victoria Chang.
4. Rain.
5. Crepes are good for dinner.
6. More people reading from papers than I ever remember at AWP. I hope it's not a new trend.
7. Book fair drive-bys done: 22
8. Books purchased: 15
9. Journals obtained: 1 (It was free, and don't give me grief. I subscribe to a bunch)
10. Virgil Suarez had another of his famous random parties. I'm not sure if the cops came this time.
11. Alcoholic beverages consumed: 3 beers (HA HA HA C.DALE! Missed me!)
12. Cool people to chat with: lost count by Thursday.
13. Tired. Very tired.
2. Still sick. Was sick Wednesday, got worse Thursday, got better Friday, got worse Saturday, much better today. Still sick, though.
3. Blogroll: Paul Guest, Aimee Nezhukumatathil (spell her full name program people), C. Dale Young, C.R. Jensen, Jennifer Thornton, Nick Carbo, Eileen Tabios, David Hernandez, Janet Holmes, Victoria Chang.
4. Rain.
5. Crepes are good for dinner.
6. More people reading from papers than I ever remember at AWP. I hope it's not a new trend.
7. Book fair drive-bys done: 22
8. Books purchased: 15
9. Journals obtained: 1 (It was free, and don't give me grief. I subscribe to a bunch)
10. Virgil Suarez had another of his famous random parties. I'm not sure if the cops came this time.
11. Alcoholic beverages consumed: 3 beers (HA HA HA C.DALE! Missed me!)
12. Cool people to chat with: lost count by Thursday.
13. Tired. Very tired.
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