tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74653862011-09-08T16:17:52.281-04:00Poem chat, music spins, and brachiocephalic muzzles.Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.comBlogger10741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-6766825245111779422010-02-08T18:02:00.001-05:002010-02-08T18:02:44.126-05:00

IMG_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-49727218347386163972010-02-04T15:20:00.002-05:002010-02-04T15:29:48.623-05:00

So 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-44890267994572518532010-01-29T13:54:00.003-05:002010-01-29T14:07:25.540-05:00

Head. 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-80159005738952941712010-01-26T16:06:00.002-05:002010-01-26T16:20:55.534-05:00

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-59689476106496926132010-01-21T17:28:00.001-05:002010-01-21T17:28:23.892-05:00

IMG_2304, originally uploaded by odelapaz.Bloom.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-39631300200757596662010-01-20T18:06:00.004-05:002010-01-21T15:43:05.272-05:00

When 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-41667560212268056742010-01-18T17:11:00.001-05:002010-01-18T17:11:11.350-05:00

May your MLK Day be contemplative.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-41420060310815925782010-01-16T17:17:00.002-05:002010-01-16T17:26:06.364-05:00

SKAGIT 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 lives

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-77245395412375729552010-01-14T02:35:00.001-05:002010-01-14T02:39:58.403-05:00

Words 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 Expressed

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-61813425945003490952010-01-09T13:31:00.001-05:002010-01-09T13:31:47.417-05:00

full 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-38816274721062222362010-01-07T17:50:00.000-05:002010-01-07T17:51:39.202-05:00

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-50602180061554678002010-01-05T18:05:00.002-05:002010-01-05T18:11:44.218-05:00

Winter 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-10762755883511044062010-01-01T11:19:00.006-05:002010-01-02T04:23:14.634-05:00

Happy 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-28098774710686454432009-12-30T11:13:00.001-05:002009-12-30T11:15:31.409-05:00

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-73684505349606923682009-12-24T12:23:00.001-05:002009-12-24T12:23:59.598-05:00

IMG_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-73532081108253064522009-12-24T12:20:00.001-05:002009-12-24T12:20:45.445-05:00

IMG_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-87006070251761784702009-12-22T16:49:00.005-05:002009-12-24T11:26:50.938-05:00

Here'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-67361414635007477962009-12-20T22:34:00.001-05:002009-12-20T22:34:40.294-05:00

Zee Avi: No Christmas for Me

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-34121461738698057312009-12-18T11:15:00.002-05:002009-12-18T12:14:48.298-05:00

. . . 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

Since 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-72564453821566879352009-12-14T16:32:00.003-05:002009-12-14T16:39:58.464-05:00

The 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-84359172973848258772009-12-09T12:14:00.002-05:002009-12-09T12:23:25.607-05:00

I 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

IMG_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-38281977284284295762009-12-07T16:26:00.001-05:002009-12-07T16:26:35.199-05:00

The second video I recorded that evening.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-12149767630850154712009-12-07T16:03:00.001-05:002009-12-07T16:03:57.864-05:00

Some grainy and dark video of Son Volt performing at the Nightlight Lounge in Bellingham, WA. If you recognize the song, let me know.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-89361408267419824092009-12-03T17:35:00.001-05:002009-12-03T17:35:35.522-05:00

Grooving.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-78211991521141714302009-12-03T13:09:00.003-05:002009-12-03T13:30:16.699-05:00

Today is the last scheduled day of classes. I looked at the faces of the students in my classes on Tuesday and made the executive decision to hold extended office hours in lieu of a class on Thursday. They didn't seem grateful, just relieved. I suppose at this point in the academic year I shouldn't look for gratitude, especially after what I put those students through. ;-)So here I am. Office

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-85527926628324088492009-12-01T14:29:00.002-05:002009-12-01T14:38:18.591-05:00

Yes, completely insane. ***I recently got pounded by deadlines, so I've been doing my best to try to stay afloat. It's the last week of the fall quarter, so there was much grading and much end-work prep. Needless to say, I've neglected the blog. So here I am. Checking in. *wave****Many of you chose Cover #4, which is the cover that Amy, the designer, and myself have chosen. I'm in the midst of

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-56976130320668504432009-11-23T13:33:00.001-05:002009-11-23T13:33:07.826-05:00

4, originally uploaded by odelapaz.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-46099236968726352732009-11-23T13:32:00.003-05:002009-11-23T13:32:44.707-05:00

5, originally uploaded by odelapaz.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-24982732010069113102009-11-23T13:32:00.001-05:002009-11-23T13:32:16.223-05:00

2, originally uploaded by odelapaz.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-29479668381123356402009-11-23T13:31:00.001-05:002009-11-23T13:31:49.169-05:00

1, originally uploaded by odelapaz.So here's your chance to play a game. Pick which of these versions will be the actual cover of the book. The covers are designed by Amy Freels with the University of Akron Press.The painting is by Andie deRoux, and is entitled "Light II."

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-40186936493995863812009-11-20T14:20:00.002-05:002009-11-20T14:53:16.196-05:00

My students are quite concerned with "voice" these days. They want to write poems that are uniquely their own, poems that are immediately recognizable as John Q's, Sally G's, or Ruben T's. Often, their quest for a voice confronts their willingness to participate in the various exercises I have them attempt in my classes. I think the issue for them is they prefer the term "voice" to "point of

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-87594892038785062352009-11-18T18:13:00.002-05:002009-11-18T18:22:32.987-05:00

First off, lovely poem by Jennifer Chang.***Secondly, we've had quite an eventful week at my wooded retreat. The first of two fall storms hit the area, downed trees, and naturally, downed power lines.Our home had no power Monday evening to Tuesday afternoon, and I graded many of my papers by candlelight. It was oh so poetic.***I've got lots of letters of recommendation to craft. If you're a

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-34633639622206631962009-11-16T13:35:00.001-05:002009-11-16T13:35:44.676-05:00

IMG_2293, originally uploaded by odelapaz.Two broadsides have recently been made of my work. The broadside for "If, Given," was made by my cousin, Jovencio de la Paz.The broadside of "Fury" was made by Sara Wochna, a student at Pacific Lutheran University.***Windy day in Western Washington. A number of trees blew down on my neighbors' properties. One tree fell over the main driveway leading

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-20383239942687356142009-11-12T16:09:00.001-05:002009-11-12T16:12:22.051-05:00

Kundiman announces Poetry Prize The Kundiman Poetry Prize for Asian American writers Kundiman, Inc. is pleased to announce the inauguration of the Kundiman Poetry Prize in partnership with Alice James Books. The prize is open to emerging and established Asian American poets. The award of $2,000, publication of the winning manuscript, and sponsorship of a reading make this a highly desirable

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-39349594850443634132009-11-10T16:26:00.001-05:002009-11-10T16:26:11.558-05:00

Na estrada, originally uploaded by Felipe Schlickmann.I was driving in what was clearly Washington's fifth congressional district--relatively flat, arid land with few markers to cue me in. After about three hours of aimless driving, I realized that I was traveling in the wrong direction. Rather than head back in the correct direction, I instead looked for a roadside motel. From the motel, I

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-56131138765534407492009-11-07T20:48:00.003-05:002009-11-07T21:04:00.214-05:00

So, suddenly I'm remembering my dreams. In the past, I could never recall them, but lately I've been remembering a number of them. Last night, I had a wild one:I was standing in a very long line at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles, after having picked up The Watchmen, and a plastic ninja sword. The line was not moving. Off to the side, a woman was operating a seismograph on a cart that is

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-38774881734680728632009-11-06T16:46:00.002-05:002009-11-06T17:02:37.364-05:00

Great reading at PLU last night. Thanks to Rick for inviting me to read with Jason Koo. I also want to thank the students for being awesome and for the beautiful broadsides. Pictures of the broadsides are forthcoming.***Dear God, I want to go to this: The Pixies!!!***The wee one has a cold. It's his first cold which means he's completely miserable, cranky, and not sleeping. Which means that

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-19521002112056578022009-11-04T15:53:00.002-05:002009-11-04T16:10:18.569-05:00

I'll be heading down south to Tacoma to read at Pacific Lutheran University with the poet Jason Koo. ***Thank you for the kind notes of concern. The toddler is fine. It wasn't anything vigilance and a bunch of Benedryl couldn't solve. We now know baby is allergic to sesame oil and will be much more selective about what he eats.***Nothing much to say, other than I'm working my tail off . . .**

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-23083649375384425682009-11-01T01:50:00.001-04:002009-11-01T01:50:26.697-04:00

IMG_2266, originally uploaded by odelapaz.Horrible night this past Friday. I was cooking up some potstickers in a pan with about a tablespoon of sesame oil to give them some flavor. I served it to my son and about twenty minutes into the meal he started to grow irritable. Meredith noticed a raised spot on his eye and it looked like he had gotten a mosquito bite. Well, that raised bump moved

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-69647211999257789332009-10-29T17:26:00.003-04:002009-10-29T17:43:07.539-04:00

It's my last teaching day of the week. I've been sleeping very little the past few days, partially because I've been having odd anxiety dreams about money and other things. I woke up this morning at 1:40AM after having a very vivid, post-apocalyptic dream. I was carrying my son, piggyback, while a tremendous pair of tidal waves was about to engulf the entire continent, caused by, of all things

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-6693824562862049442009-10-28T16:06:00.002-04:002009-10-28T16:21:57.443-04:00

I think I've mentioned that we're doing some major excavation on our property. Two months ago we hired a local lumberjack to cut down and sell several large trees that were on the verge of falling on our house. It seems the previous owner of our property had clear cut swathes of trees, thus damaging the root system of the very precarious Douglas Firs and hemlocks throughout our land. The thing

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-6649863825976198262009-10-27T02:27:00.002-04:002009-10-27T02:42:06.378-04:00

I had a wonderful, albeit brief visit to Los Angeles this past week. I really wanted to drive up and down the I-5/I-405 corridors to revisit my past haunts, but sadly I got in late in the evening on Wednesday and left relatively early on Friday.Things I did manage to do--I did manage to drive down to my favorite lunch-time hang-out from my undergrad days: the unfortunately named Soupplantation.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-73635422607310129912009-10-21T14:48:00.002-04:002009-10-21T15:01:30.190-04:00

I'll be heading down to Los Angeles for a reading at Loyola Marymount University, my undergraduate alma mater. The reading will take place at the Marymount Institute at 7:30PM on Thursday, October 22nd. This is going to be weird . . . I haven't been back to LA since 1995. The place has changed. My school has changed. I know there's a whole new section of campus that wasn't there when I

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-8459932778286952982009-10-17T01:50:00.002-04:002009-10-17T01:51:32.833-04:00

St. Vincent (Annie Clark) and Andrew Bird in an apartment in Paris. Enjoy the weekend!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-56993512214893525252009-10-16T17:16:00.001-04:002009-10-16T17:16:06.659-04:00

virginheat, originally uploaded by odelapaz.I'm in the midst of finding art for my new book and its proven to be very difficult for this particular book.Part of the problem with finding cover art for it is the book is pretty "literal." And what I mean by that is it's heavily steeped in long narrative poems. I could very well put up pictures of orchards and apples, but I don't want the cover to

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-30755135798258269062009-10-16T13:14:00.002-04:002009-10-16T13:21:54.388-04:00

Give a hearty congratulations to Kelli for winning the White Pine Press Award!Yay!***Sorry I've been adrift. Trying to catch up with paperwork, a sprinting 1 1/2 year-old, and lots of departmental responsibility. I'm glad I sent out my poems in September because I don't know how I could possibly do it in the middle of this very busy quarter. Additionally, I'm not liking teaching at 8AM. Oh,

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-86873660625815196192009-10-11T23:46:00.002-04:002009-10-12T00:17:20.482-04:00

The other day, someone mentioned that my newer work is much different than my previous work. Not much to say about that, other than "thank you," and "I hope so." I mean, heavenforbid all my books now and until the duration of my writing life wind up being inter-related, character-driven prose poem collections. Really, to be honest, I get bored. I get bored of a particular style. I get bored

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-6430859092316097982009-10-08T23:34:00.002-04:002009-10-08T23:48:24.087-04:00

One brain is entirely into prose poems. The other in prosody.I always find it difficult to run workshops in a prosody course because the students are so intimidated by forms that they wind up spending so much time on the forms themselves during discussions, and so little time on the content. SO this quarter, I'm working to break that pattern by actually spending less time on critiquing the form

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-54493889268246440372009-10-06T23:09:00.002-04:002009-10-06T23:28:44.534-04:00

I think I'm adjusting to this wicked Fall schedule, finally. I had a mini bout of insomnia last night which really took its toll on me all day. But, after something like three cups of coffee, I think my morning workshops went fine. Whoosh!***I'll be teaching for Raven Chronicles & Jackstraw this Saturday. Details are here: http://www.jackstraw.org/.***Currently catching up on my backlog of

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-54943836786556172372009-10-04T00:15:00.001-04:002009-10-04T00:16:25.253-04:00

The editors 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 submit up to 5 unpublished poems. We will also

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-71503553395863332892009-10-03T02:00:00.002-04:002009-10-03T02:11:17.710-04:00

New stuff up on a new online journal here: Connotations Press.Some of the newer work that I had been wrestling with this past August. ***It's 11PM and I'm tired and hungry. I spent the better part of two hours catching up on paperwork. I think I'm caught up with most of the non-teaching stuff. The teaching stuff will have to wait till tomorrow and Sunday. I pretty much spent the whole day

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-38077532702990044802009-10-02T14:50:00.002-04:002009-10-02T15:04:27.926-04:00

Right now I'm wearing sweatpants, a hoodie, and wool socks, and I'm typing in bed next to a just-now-sleeping-toddler. It's getting harder and harder to find time to fill the blog, and frankly my mind's been more about trying to stay on top of my ever-growing work load while maintaining a balanced life of parenting, teaching, and being a spouse. L. is now 18 months, though he seems like he's

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-10058228700206951912009-09-29T15:39:00.003-04:002009-09-29T16:01:14.924-04:00

Yes, Fall is in full swing. We've turned the heater on and the maples are starting to turn near my mountain home. That means lots of things to me . . . namely the rhythmic cadence of teaching, prepping, grading, and commuting is now in full swing. Yet this year I feel really off balance. Part of it might be because the commute with the baby is really tough. Especially dropping him off before

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-20039332705200184282009-09-26T23:13:00.002-04:002009-09-26T23:26:12.752-04:00

My dad and I are headed down to Seattle to watch the Seahawks play the Bears. It's amazing how expensive an NFL game can be. I tend to think that it's actually a better game on television . . . especially if you have a large screen HDTV. Regardless, it should be a fun day, despite the parking headaches.***Other things--just got back from Snohomish, WA, where the Artist Trust was having their

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-1966760851010609092009-09-24T15:51:00.002-04:002009-09-24T15:58:29.492-04:00

The first day of teaching for me. Lots of the same students from my previous classes, so I must be doing something right, since they keep taking my courses.***I had to wake up bloody early this morning. 6AM. It turns out I was right about my travel estimates--it takes me approximately 45 minutes to get from my doorstep to my parents' doorstep in Bellingham (they're babysitting L.). From there

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-61565454660854775512009-09-22T15:33:00.002-04:002009-09-22T15:34:44.864-04:00

IMG_2151, originally uploaded by odelapaz.First, there's this picture taken of a can of lard in my sister-in-law's house in SF.***Sorry I've been away. Very busy these days, what with the new quarter upon me and my tenure and promotion stuff coming due.I managed to fill two three-ring-binders full of evaluations and other goodies. And my chair stressed that I "streamline" the file, so it only

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-11782859617301857602009-09-18T16:23:00.001-04:002009-09-18T16:23:38.298-04:00

IMG_2134, originally uploaded by odelapaz.Here in San Francisco for the pair of readings listed below. Not much time to blog, but thought I'd leave you with a sweet picture of the fab poet, Joseph O. Legaspi, and my rugrat with hummus on his face.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-23549924078069175542009-09-14T13:12:00.002-04:002009-09-14T13:22:19.970-04:00

Reading #1:Come & hear beautiful poetry, libate, and mingle with an all-star line up with Kundiman poets, the first time together on the West Coast! This special collaboration with Achiote Press and Kundiman is a special opportunity to fundraise for Kundiman, a dynamic arts organization dedicated to fostering Asian American poetry. As part of their mission, Kundiman provides a retreat for

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-35488984237719242342009-09-12T00:28:00.003-04:002009-09-12T00:42:35.394-04:00

. . . but I feel a slight obligation to update the on going saga of me. ***I'm in the denial phase of my soon-ending summer vacation. I'm realizing how much I actually have left to do, both academically and professionally.You see, it's the year that I go up for tenure and promotion and I need to turn in my binders very soon. I've been very diligent about making sure my I've crossed my "T's"

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-40969401858352796592009-09-07T16:38:00.002-04:002009-09-07T16:49:34.741-04:00

I'm trying to blog with my toddler sleeping soundly in the crook of my arm. I'm finding that the spacebar on my laptop is entirely too loud. He's been asleep since 11:30AM. It's 1:39PM right now and Meredith, my parents, and my aunts and uncles have gone shopping, leaving me with L. and Jake in my parents' B'ham abode.Uh . . . little baby twitch. I'll type slower.***In case you missed it, Joe

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-67024349291735280622009-09-06T13:58:00.003-04:002009-09-06T13:59:25.949-04:00

I'll be on the Joe Milford Poetry Show tonight at 7:00PM EST, 4:00 PM PST. I'm not sure what we'll be talking about, but it should be fun . . . and you can hear how funny I sound over the phone.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-44869474897516961832009-09-05T13:03:00.002-04:002009-09-05T13:10:41.618-04:00

Yes, that's right . . . I've sent seven packets of poems out into the world. I'm not sim-subbing them because I just don't want to do all the heavy tracking that I had been doing the past year. And with a lot of the pieces being submitted electronically, there's no need because the turnaround time has been really fast. ***I'm not ashamed to admit that I totally want The Beatles Rock Band game.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-27801542376019781052009-09-04T18:55:00.004-04:002009-09-04T20:32:46.520-04:00

Just a small one. Seems after all the hullabaloo, I ran out of things to say. ***Currently in the throes of putting together small manuscript packets to send out to journals. What I'm finding is I'm running out of stuff that holds my confidence. I suppose this is natural--a lot of the stuff that has my confidence is either picked up, out, or in limbo somewhere. So here I am, sitting with a

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-70565146649144083232009-09-01T17:01:00.002-04:002009-09-01T17:11:23.632-04:00

September marks the end of my month-long writing exercise for August. As I mentioned in the post, it was fruitful, but in different ways.I don't think I broke any major ground on a project I felt compelled to pursue, though I did feel I continued some projects that I had already started. ****Thanks to all of you who sent me little notes via e-mail, the blog, or Facebook. It really does mean a

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-91898286254676412662009-08-31T11:40:00.004-04:002009-08-31T22:29:18.330-04:00

The big news is Martìn Espada chose my manuscript, Requiem for the Orchard as the 2009 Akron Poetry Prize winner. The book is scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2010!Here's the link: Akron Poetry Prize****Thanks to all of you for putting up with my poem-a-day marathons in August. 3/4ths of the poems in the manuscript have arisen from this exercise.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-68489101678098275642009-08-31T00:01:00.005-04:002009-09-01T17:13:00.998-04:00

Thanks for reading guys. This is the last day of August and therefore the last poem I'll be posting up here for awhile. ***Thank you and goodnight!***All told, I cheated once. By cheating I mean I posted a revision instead of a new product on one day. Otherwise, all the work I posted was written that same day. I think I got some good parts of a manuscript or two in there. Nothing new,

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-24176058916602596022009-08-30T23:55:00.000-04:002009-09-01T00:57:52.495-04:00

Don't have an ending yet, but I used up all my time.***Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-67248401899788165152009-08-30T00:04:00.005-04:002009-09-01T00:56:54.981-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-65754356515075563922009-08-28T23:46:00.001-04:002009-08-30T00:09:39.104-04:00

Don't REALLY have a title for this one, so I stuck something at the top as a placeholder.***Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-38308984262272481892009-08-28T16:27:00.002-04:002009-08-28T16:33:01.024-04:00

The details are here: Kundiman & Alice James.We hope to continue this cooperative venture for some time. If you know any Asian American poets, please encourage them to submit their manuscripts.***Mega Millions lottery jackpot=$333 million dollars.What would YOU do with $333 million dollars? Me . . . I'd set up an endowment for a few literary journals and presses. I'd definitely assist in the

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-25243289486828439132009-08-28T13:27:00.000-04:002009-08-28T13:28:28.892-04:00

Check 'em out here on Diode.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-40299026113603098122009-08-28T01:49:00.002-04:002009-08-28T01:58:06.481-04:00

Okay, whew. I only have four more days of this poem-a-day thingy. I can do this.***Watched Inglourious Basterds today with my dad. I'm glad Meredith didn't go because I don't think she'd be into the revenge fantasy part of it, or the heavy violence. As ever, this Tarantino film is about film much more than it is about killing Nazis--though this happens and with great frequency. Mind you, I

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-56297682732142648282009-08-28T01:48:00.001-04:002009-08-28T23:47:32.049-04:00

Yoink!***HOOOO! Fading!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-37604938233742046332009-08-26T23:32:00.002-04:002009-08-28T01:49:41.202-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-92134268084426228112009-08-25T23:58:00.001-04:002009-08-26T23:35:15.091-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-78537269186979279482009-08-25T11:58:00.002-04:002009-08-25T12:24:19.178-04:00

The Collagist recently published five poems of mine. Here's some audio of me reading. If you listen closely, you might hear our neighbor's rooster.***Last day at the Camano Island Residency for this week. I'll be back one more time. I'm finding that I can only really sustain short spurts without absolutely going loopy and wanting to scrub floors or something (I am, in fact, currently doing

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-50851024799521688892009-08-24T17:48:00.004-04:002009-08-24T18:02:32.844-04:00

. . . a table of contents that looks something like this?:Camera 1.docCamera 2.docCamera 3.docCamera 4.docCamera 5.docCamera 6.docCamera 7.docCamera 8.docDear Empire [these are your beasts].docDear Empire [these are your canyons].docDear Empire [these are your dead].docDear Empire [these are your evenings].docDear Empire [these are your followers].docDear Empire [these are your goods].docDear

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-79519582890911912262009-08-24T13:36:00.001-04:002009-08-24T13:36:16.191-04:00

IMG_2074, originally uploaded by odelapaz.Me and the boy at the NW WA Fair.***I too have tired eyes. I've been reading all morning. Good stuff, but like I said, my eyes are tired.***I think in the next few hours I'll try to put down some pages and try to organize a new manuscript. It's a very different manuscript--allegorical, dystopian. Not a happy feel-good manuscript, but something I've

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-54112947861755372772009-08-24T00:01:00.001-04:002009-08-25T23:59:29.690-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-22826249723642390012009-08-23T23:55:00.000-04:002009-08-24T21:27:58.082-04:00

Yoink!***Yay! Post #1000 on this blog!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-29080029628126108912009-08-23T01:03:00.003-04:002009-08-23T01:12:53.346-04:00

My in-laws are in town, visiting from Georgia. We only get to see Meredith's folks once a year, so we've been quite busy and quite schedule-heavy the past few days. All of us went to the Northwest Washington Fair which was quite fun, although much of our experience was going through all the animal stables and seeing the various critters. (If you follow me on Facebook, you know I am now

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-2785600513139392912009-08-23T01:02:00.002-04:002009-08-24T01:22:33.179-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-72369613684987014932009-08-22T01:16:00.001-04:002009-08-23T01:02:56.321-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-48684182729113182152009-08-21T02:03:00.002-04:002009-08-22T01:17:31.414-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-6475960171725192692009-08-19T12:10:00.002-04:002009-08-21T02:03:55.479-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-46138648448652723472009-08-19T11:45:00.002-04:002009-08-19T11:51:07.602-04:00

Sorry but I forgot to mention that the first issue of The Collagist is out with some of my work as well as some fabulous prose poems by fellow blogger Charles Jensen. I also dig Christina Kallery's poems. Check 'em out!***I am sorry, but I cannot divulge the secret.***I am sorry that I ate the plums.***Franz Ferdinand. "Sorry for the Angel." Serge Gainsbourg revisited.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-56713308559348291112009-08-18T23:50:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:41:50.499-04:00

Camera 6The doors of the bear paddock are ajar. Having no bears to house, a door is merely part of the landscape. Therefore the landscape is wide, beyond the margins of the frame. The frame, also, is landscape and therefore no longer banal. Once, there were bears here. They were omnivorous and ate the hard ends of the lettuce thrown into their pen as well as salmon steaks. Once there were

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-53103819886711403852009-08-18T12:45:00.002-04:002009-08-18T12:52:38.799-04:00

Watch this blog.***A little past the mid-point of the poem-a-day exercise with one slight hiccup yesterday. I'm in between projects right now, so I feel a little torn about which "voice" I'm more interested in at the moment. Then again, I think for now it's just good to write because lord knows once the academic year starts up again I won't be writing much.***Overheard from my mother while

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-23541200553657113822009-08-17T23:55:00.003-04:002009-08-19T11:42:15.238-04:00

Fiddling with a ghazal . . . Very giddy today, so this is a revision and not a new draft.***Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-689790786393982682009-08-17T00:48:00.001-04:002009-08-17T00:48:30.170-04:00

IMG_1879, originally uploaded by odelapaz.Basically it was a trip to Stanley Park and all the various establishments around the park--the aquarium, the petting zoo, the sea wall, etc..I'm definitely getting a Nexus pass because the border wait time coming back sucked.***The aquarium was L's favorite.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-90453594936060640492009-08-16T23:26:00.001-04:002009-08-18T12:54:55.965-04:00

Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-49264720127686019292009-08-14T14:22:00.001-04:002009-08-14T14:27:28.686-04:00

I'm heading to Vancouver, BC, with the whole family. Wish us luck!On the to do list: 1) The Aquarium2) The Zoo3) Chinatown4) Granville IslandWhat's missing? Any suggestions?***Current Spin:The Blow.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-61213494093564163562009-08-14T14:21:00.001-04:002009-08-18T12:55:37.953-04:00

Posting for the next two days. I'm on the road.***Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-8899187074584131932009-08-14T14:20:00.002-04:002009-08-16T23:27:58.872-04:00

Posting for the next two days. I'm on the road and don't know what kind of connection I'll have.***Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-60226943153484096222009-08-13T23:44:00.001-04:002009-08-16T23:28:30.009-04:00

Second poem of a sequence I started the other day.***Yoink!

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-72710738630504302512009-08-12T16:11:00.002-04:002009-08-13T23:46:50.667-04:00

Yoink!****Working on a new poetic sequence. There will be more camera poems. Bear with me as I fight this demon.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-66061084759014583662009-08-12T12:44:00.001-04:002009-08-12T12:44:17.997-04:00

IMG_1862, originally uploaded by odelapaz.or . . . kneeling Spartan with shield and feathered helmet.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-63901094179500923932009-08-12T12:43:00.003-04:002009-08-12T12:43:28.430-04:00

IMG_1861, originally uploaded by odelapaz.

Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.com0