tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74653862024-03-13T23:56:38.679-04:00Pugnacious PinoyPoem chat, music spins, and brachiocephalic muzzles.Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.comBlogger1075125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-26372237705584674902018-01-03T11:25:00.003-05:002018-01-03T11:25:38.439-05:00I'll bite. Here we go, 2018.So the rumors of this blog's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Truthfully, life got in the way. Kids, job changes, etc. all took time away from what had been a joy. And when blogging started to feel like a chore I bailed.
Then came Facebook and the novelty of it which has also gotten a bit stale for me, so here I am. What's old is new again!
So here I am. And I'm going try and be faithfulOliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-6766825245111779422010-02-08T18:02:00.001-05:002010-02-08T18:02:44.126-05:00The End of the LineIMG_2833, originally uploaded by odelapaz.So, as I've hinted, I'm retiring from blogger and migrating to my new and refurbished website: www.oliverdelapaz.com/.I've been reluctant to leave blogger because I made a lot of friends through blogger. But I do hope to continue the same spirit and tone of Pugnacious Pinoy over at my new site. That said, it'll be hard to "quit you."So do drop by my new Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-49727218347386163972010-02-04T15:20:00.002-05:002010-02-04T15:29:48.623-05:00New Marching OrdersSo I received word from the Provost at my university that I am now, officially, an Associate Professor. People have asked me how it feels to be promoted and tenured. Short answer--the same. To be honest and perfectly blunt, I had always expected to reach the rank of Associate Professor, and I never saw the rank as some kind of validation or license. If anything, I've got more work to do, what Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-44890267994572518532010-01-29T13:54:00.003-05:002010-01-29T14:07:25.540-05:00Mid-Quarter CheckHead. Present. Fingers. All ten. Feet. Tired but functional. Ankle. Slightly swollen, but functional. Eyes. Tired.****The lovely and talented Monica Ong is busily working on my new website which will include blogging capabilities. I'd let you take a peek, but I think I should let the maestro do her work.****So far, in our long poem class, I'm sensing fatigue. Students are tired of working on the Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-80159005738952941712010-01-26T16:06:00.002-05:002010-01-26T16:20:55.534-05:00Book Orders Are Due! OMG!I can't believe it. Four weeks into the new quarter, and I have to turn in book orders for my classes next quarter. Holy cats.Remember how I was going to teach that groovy ekphrastic writing class? ZZZZZZZZZT! Nope. Because someone's already teaching such a class this quarter and if I want people to graduate, I can't teach the same class.So it looks like I'll be going back to the tried and true Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-59689476106496926132010-01-21T17:28:00.001-05:002010-01-21T17:28:23.892-05:00Cool Exhibit at the Whatcom Art MuseumIMG_2304, originally uploaded by odelapaz.Bloom.Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-39631300200757596662010-01-20T18:06:00.004-05:002010-01-21T15:43:05.272-05:00Being a Bad Blogger and Reasons WhyWhen I started this blog, I thought I'd be profound. I thought I'd share you some thoughts about poetry, life, other stuff.That didn't last.The truth of it is I get tired of thinking about poetry. In the ten to fifteen minutes I take to blog, I generally think about things outside of poetry because, frankly, I think about poetry every day for long stretches of time.***I bought lots of poetry Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-41667560212268056742010-01-18T17:11:00.001-05:002010-01-18T17:11:11.350-05:00Marvin Gaye "What's Going On / What's Happening Brother"May your MLK Day be contemplative.Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-41420060310815925782010-01-16T17:17:00.002-05:002010-01-16T17:26:06.364-05:00Reading Tonight and other stuffSKAGIT RIVER POETRY FESTIVAL SHOWCASEStart: 7:00 pm Featuring Washington State Poet Laureate Sam Green, Jim Bertolino, Michael Daley, Oliver de la Paz, Nancy Pagh, and Jeremy VoigtThese six Northwest Washington poets will read their “poems about place” at this event to raise awareness and support for the 2010 Skagit River Poetry Festival, which aims to “push poetry off the page and into the livesOliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-77245395412375729552010-01-14T02:35:00.001-05:002010-01-14T02:39:58.403-05:00Reading Tomorrow, Jan. 14Words Expressed - Filipino Poets & Writers ReadingSeattle, WA | The arts serve as a vital medium of capturing history, heritage, and universal truths. On Thursday, January 14, 2010, the United Filipino Club of Seattle University, the Filipino Community of Seattle Kultura Arts, and the Seattle University English Department and Modern Languages/Women Studies Department will host "Words ExpressedOliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-61813425945003490952010-01-09T13:31:00.001-05:002010-01-09T13:31:47.417-05:00Full Cover with Blurbsfull cover, originally uploaded by odelapaz.So, I've posted the front cover, but I wanted to show you what an awesome job Amy Freels, the designer at Akron did with the cover. I had no idea Andie deRoux's image would wrap around the whole book, and when I opened the image I was quite happy.***Blurbs are funny things. I'm not comfortable asking people who I don't know, so I basically asked my Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-38816274721062222362010-01-07T17:50:00.000-05:002010-01-07T17:51:39.202-05:00Submit or Rue: A Face to Meet the Faces (redux)Stacey Lynn Brown and Oliver de la Paz (hey, that's me!) are pleased to announce a call for submissions for A Face to Meet the Faces: An Anthology of Contemporary Persona Poetry.We are seeking poems that work within the literary tradition of persona poetry: poems written as dramatic monologues, whose speakers employ masks, or whose character and voice are different from the poet's own.Please Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-50602180061554678002010-01-05T18:05:00.002-05:002010-01-05T18:11:44.218-05:00New BeginningsWinter quarter has begun and I feel like I need just one more week of vacation. So many deadlines and so much class prep in the short amount of time between coming back from Atlanta and the new quarter--I'm dizzy.***I've hired someone to redesign my website. While there's nothing wrong with my old one, I feel the need for change. This new design will also have blogging capabilities, so poor Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-10762755883511044062010-01-01T11:19:00.006-05:002010-01-02T04:23:14.634-05:00Ringing in the New Year, Avatar, and a Few ResolutionsHappy New Year! Happy New Decade!I did little last night to celebrate. Meredith and I spent a quiet evening at home, playing cars with L, and maintaining the blessed routine that matters so much to L. This new year will bring about a lot of changes to this household and to our lives. More about that much later. For now, I wish all of you have a healthy and prosperous New Year and New Decade.***Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-28098774710686454432009-12-30T11:13:00.001-05:002009-12-30T11:15:31.409-05:00RIP Rachel Wetzsteon (1967-2009)Sakura ParkThe park admits the wind,the petals lift and scatterlike versions of myself I was on the vergeof becoming; and ten years onand ten blocks down I still can't tellwhether this dispersal resemblesa fist unclenching or waving goodbye.But the petals scatter faster,seeking the rose, the cigarette vendor,and at least I've got by pumping heartsome rules of conduct: refuse to choosebetween Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-73684505349606923682009-12-24T12:23:00.001-05:002009-12-24T12:23:59.598-05:00An Ocean, an oceanIMG_2401, originally uploaded by odelapaz.Through the glass, a quickster. A trick. Scale upon scale the little fish spiking up with the bubbles. Then the easy dark of the theater and eyes, wide-lidded in awe.Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-73532081108253064522009-12-24T12:20:00.001-05:002009-12-24T12:20:45.445-05:00Manta, mantaIMG_2398, originally uploaded by odelapaz.We love your mouth and your latitude. The way you flip your wings up, razor-slight like wind through the hair of a tiny wrist.Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-87006070251761784702009-12-22T16:49:00.005-05:002009-12-24T11:26:50.938-05:00Books of the Decade and 30 albums for 2009Here's SPD's list: SPD Bestsellers 2000-2009***Sherman Alexie owns the top spots with a number of Harryette Mullen books in there as well. Also good to see Barbara Jane crack the top 20.***I've been meaning to post this for awhile. It's been difficult to choose 30 albums because I like music and my moods vary. For example, I've got stuff I listen to when I'm in the gym, in the car, when I'm Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-67361414635007477962009-12-20T22:34:00.001-05:002009-12-20T22:34:40.294-05:00CheersZee Avi: No Christmas for MeOliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-34121461738698057312009-12-18T11:15:00.002-05:002009-12-18T12:14:48.298-05:00Here in Atlanta. . . well, I'm technically not in Atlanta, but rather a suburb of sorts. So, if you're in Atlanta and want to hang out, give me a shout!We'll be in the Atlanta area until the 27th (with a short trip to South Carolina in between).Among the possible adventures planned:1) The Aquarium2) The Zoo3) A good chicken & waffles joint***I've been busily catching up with my correspondence despite a steady Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-25627838517669613232009-12-15T13:42:00.004-05:002009-12-15T13:46:35.590-05:00'Tis the Season to Give: KundimanSince 2002 I've been an active member of Kundiman, both as staff, and as substitute faculty. Now I'm the co-chair of the advisory board and what's clear is if we are to continue, we need money. Non-profits are hurting all around, and what's more if you're an up-and-coming arts organization, you're really hurting. The organization's at a crossroads, and we need help.If you can give us a hand or a Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-72564453821566879352009-12-14T16:32:00.003-05:002009-12-14T16:39:58.464-05:00Book Update QuickieThe U of Akron has the book's webpages up: Here.***My grades are turned in. I'm all set to head over to Atlanta for Christmas to visit the in-laws, though I'm not ready for a 6 hour plane ride with a toddler.We scheduled our flight with the kid's sleep schedule in mind, so such a schedule has us arriving at SEATAC at 4AM (leaving B'ham at 2:00AM). Brutal.***Current Spin:AC Newman. "Prophets." Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-84359172973848258772009-12-09T12:14:00.002-05:002009-12-09T12:23:25.607-05:00The End of the Quarter ExtravaganzaI am blogging right now because I am a procrastinator.****I've got roughly 40 portfolios in my back pack. I haven't even pulled them out of my bag since arriving at my office this morning.As I mentioned in a Tweet, for some reason I decided to pack all the portfolios and take them home. I guess I thought I'd grade them, but I wound up helping Meredith take care of a kid with a cold, and then Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-72085585249003401132009-12-07T17:29:00.001-05:002009-12-07T17:29:54.637-05:00'ware the keyboardIMG_2307, originally uploaded by odelapaz.It's the end of the academic quarter and I'm beat. The 8AM class destroyed me, namely because of my roughly 45 minute commute to campus. I was waking up extremely early in order to catch this class, and I was late only once by 5 minutes.***A steady stream of students has been stopping by dropping off their portfolios. Ah, to be done with grading.***I've Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-38281977284284295762009-12-07T16:26:00.001-05:002009-12-07T16:26:35.199-05:00Son Volt, "When the Wheels Don't Move."The second video I recorded that evening.Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0