Mere's getting discharged from the hospital today. Guess what we get to take home with us?
4 days ago
Friday, April 04, 2008
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
My son
I'm going to take this down very shortly for safety reasons.
In the meantime, I'd like you to meet my son, Lucas. He's quite unhappy here, but wouldn't you be after 38 hours of labor?
It was quite an ordeal for Meredith, and I won't go into many details so publicly. At any rate, the outcome was a good one--healthy mother, healthy baby.
I slept for the first time in two nights last night, but from what everyone tells me, I won't be getting much more for the next year or so.
Anyway, thanks for all your notes of encouragement while Mere and I were waiting.
In the meantime, I'd like you to meet my son, Lucas. He's quite unhappy here, but wouldn't you be after 38 hours of labor?
It was quite an ordeal for Meredith, and I won't go into many details so publicly. At any rate, the outcome was a good one--healthy mother, healthy baby.
I slept for the first time in two nights last night, but from what everyone tells me, I won't be getting much more for the next year or so.
Anyway, thanks for all your notes of encouragement while Mere and I were waiting.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
In the Interest of Full Disclosure
. . . there's still no baby. So, I've been busying myself with preparing for the next quarter and planting trees, shrubs, and rhododendrons. I'll tell you when he's here, believe me. :D
We're also hosting my mother-in-law, so I've been a little preoccupied.
***
Last season of BSG on April 4th. What the frak is up with that picture?
***
I'll be reading with the poet Lorna Crozier on April 5th at 7:30 in the Lucia Douglas Gallery, 1415 13th St., Bellingham, WA, as part of the Whatcom Poetry Series, so if you're local and you're reading this, come on down.
***
This weather sucks. Two minutes ago, it was sunny. Now it's snowing. C'mon now.
We're also hosting my mother-in-law, so I've been a little preoccupied.
***
Last season of BSG on April 4th. What the frak is up with that picture?
***
I'll be reading with the poet Lorna Crozier on April 5th at 7:30 in the Lucia Douglas Gallery, 1415 13th St., Bellingham, WA, as part of the Whatcom Poetry Series, so if you're local and you're reading this, come on down.
***
This weather sucks. Two minutes ago, it was sunny. Now it's snowing. C'mon now.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Weird toys
Joseph Legaspi forwarded this bizarre link:
Most Baffling Toys from Around the World
My soon-to-be-born son will not have any of these things.
The toys I had when I was a kid--clicky
****
Chilling out in my office . . . *whistles*
****
Mother-in-law is coming tomorrow. I have to clean the house. I may skip heading into town tomorrow to scrub scrub scrub.
****
A couple of poems got accepted today. Yay!
Most Baffling Toys from Around the World
My soon-to-be-born son will not have any of these things.
The toys I had when I was a kid--clicky
****
Chilling out in my office . . . *whistles*
****
Mother-in-law is coming tomorrow. I have to clean the house. I may skip heading into town tomorrow to scrub scrub scrub.
****
A couple of poems got accepted today. Yay!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Hmmmm
The Sylvia Plath Effect
****
Students are turning in finals. Yay me! I'm glad this quarter's over, and I'm looking forward to the next one. I'll be teaching a grad course on the prose poem. Right in my wheel-house.
***
Watched Elizabeth: The Golden Age last night. Not as good as the first one, of course. At times I felt like I was getting hit over the head with the romantic intrigues. Still, Cate Blanchett looked fabulous in plate mail.
***
Scary Pictures
***
The sun! The sun!
****
Students are turning in finals. Yay me! I'm glad this quarter's over, and I'm looking forward to the next one. I'll be teaching a grad course on the prose poem. Right in my wheel-house.
***
Watched Elizabeth: The Golden Age last night. Not as good as the first one, of course. At times I felt like I was getting hit over the head with the romantic intrigues. Still, Cate Blanchett looked fabulous in plate mail.
***
Scary Pictures
***
The sun! The sun!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Nothing Yet
For those of you who are wondering whether Mere's given birth, I say to you, "Not yet."
***
We're bustling around trying to get our winter quarter wrapped up. I've been inputting grades from this past quarter, and I've also been preparing the house and the yard a little bit. The house definitely needs some "Spring Cleaning" before the newest member of the house settles in.
***
Saturday, planted three rhododendrons, two azaleas, and eighteen Douglas Fir saplings. There's been much rain up here lately, which is a good thing.
Anyway, my mother-in-law is arriving on Thursday, and I think I might make her garden a little while we wait for the wee-one.
***
I've moved to the guest bedroom because Meredith is sleeping with Chet (her gigantic man-sized pillow). There's no room for me and all that fluffiness.
***
We're bustling around trying to get our winter quarter wrapped up. I've been inputting grades from this past quarter, and I've also been preparing the house and the yard a little bit. The house definitely needs some "Spring Cleaning" before the newest member of the house settles in.
***
Saturday, planted three rhododendrons, two azaleas, and eighteen Douglas Fir saplings. There's been much rain up here lately, which is a good thing.
Anyway, my mother-in-law is arriving on Thursday, and I think I might make her garden a little while we wait for the wee-one.
***
I've moved to the guest bedroom because Meredith is sleeping with Chet (her gigantic man-sized pillow). There's no room for me and all that fluffiness.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Pug Vader Revisited
Joannie tagged me.
She explains that it's from an old Hemingway bet. Leave it to Papa.
From her blog:
Here are the rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4. Tag five more blogs with links
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!
My six-word autobiography:
I was wicked, but got better.
Now I tag Sandra, Cornshake, Paul, Helene, and H.A..
She explains that it's from an old Hemingway bet. Leave it to Papa.
From her blog:
Here are the rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4. Tag five more blogs with links
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!
My six-word autobiography:
I was wicked, but got better.
Now I tag Sandra, Cornshake, Paul, Helene, and H.A..
Thursday, March 06, 2008
House A-Kilter
Chaos in the homestead. Currently, our painter friend is removing the popcorn from our ceilings and repainting our dining and living room. That means all the furniture from said rooms is in our den.
I'm generally a grumpy guy when it comes to space and space issues. I like my stuff where my stuff is supposed to be. Now, I can barely squeeze past the sofa that's blocking the door to the carport.
This too shall pass, though. The painter's going to be finishing up today.
***
By the way, I've gotten really good at installing drywall. Poets, if you need me to surround you in sheet rock, I'm your guy.
***
Poetry? What's that? I've gotten so good at compartmentalizing my worlds, but I've left little room/time for it. Such a shame. Part of the issue is that I've been putting out small fires in my creative writing program. I suppose that's one of the occupational hazards. And with the baby coming . . . ruh roh.
A grad student passed by my office and gave me writing advice, which is funny, but informs me about my current state. He has an infant daughter and suggested waking up really early to get some writing done. Of course, that doesn't leave much room for sleep, but from what I've been told, I won't be getting much sleep anyway.
Poet parents, though, are a wonderful bunch. I've been getting all kinds of advice from both colleagues and friends from the poetry world.
I do know this much . . . something will have to get squeezed out and it can't be poetry for much longer. I've been taking inventory of my day and it's kind of frightening how much time I waste. I'm a highly functional human being in the morning. Much of my blog is composed then. I also frequent the gym either at mid morning or a little after noon on days that I'm not teaching. My teaching block's roughly five hours. But it's that time around 6PMish that I piss away. My brain's wiped from grading, teaching, etc.. My guess is that I'll need to retrain myself . . . break free of my current schedule.
Anyway, things are going to change. They have to.
***
Been listening to Post Rock stuff lately. I didn't really know that the music had a category, but . . . there you go.
I'm generally a grumpy guy when it comes to space and space issues. I like my stuff where my stuff is supposed to be. Now, I can barely squeeze past the sofa that's blocking the door to the carport.
This too shall pass, though. The painter's going to be finishing up today.
***
By the way, I've gotten really good at installing drywall. Poets, if you need me to surround you in sheet rock, I'm your guy.
***
Poetry? What's that? I've gotten so good at compartmentalizing my worlds, but I've left little room/time for it. Such a shame. Part of the issue is that I've been putting out small fires in my creative writing program. I suppose that's one of the occupational hazards. And with the baby coming . . . ruh roh.
A grad student passed by my office and gave me writing advice, which is funny, but informs me about my current state. He has an infant daughter and suggested waking up really early to get some writing done. Of course, that doesn't leave much room for sleep, but from what I've been told, I won't be getting much sleep anyway.
Poet parents, though, are a wonderful bunch. I've been getting all kinds of advice from both colleagues and friends from the poetry world.
I do know this much . . . something will have to get squeezed out and it can't be poetry for much longer. I've been taking inventory of my day and it's kind of frightening how much time I waste. I'm a highly functional human being in the morning. Much of my blog is composed then. I also frequent the gym either at mid morning or a little after noon on days that I'm not teaching. My teaching block's roughly five hours. But it's that time around 6PMish that I piss away. My brain's wiped from grading, teaching, etc.. My guess is that I'll need to retrain myself . . . break free of my current schedule.
Anyway, things are going to change. They have to.
***
Been listening to Post Rock stuff lately. I didn't really know that the music had a category, but . . . there you go.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
For my birthday, I will . . .
. . . relax. Though, I have to get through this day of teaching first.
***
Am currently radioactive.
***
Listening to the following:
Dengue Fever
Aesop Rock
Madvillain
Tift Merritt
Vampire Weekend
The Russian Futurists
TV On the Radio
***
The sunny days have ended. We will now return you to your regularly scheduled drudgery.
***
Am currently radioactive.
***
Listening to the following:
Dengue Fever
Aesop Rock
Madvillain
Tift Merritt
Vampire Weekend
The Russian Futurists
TV On the Radio
***
The sunny days have ended. We will now return you to your regularly scheduled drudgery.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
---
You Are a Dash |
 Your life is fast paced and varied. You are realistic, down to earth, and very honest. You're often busy doing something interesting, and what you do changes quickly. You have many facets to your personality, and you connect them together well. You have a ton of interests. While some of them are a bit offbeat, they all tie together well. You friends rely on you to bring novelty and excitement to their lives. (And while you're the most interesting person they know, they can't help feeling like they don't know you well.) You excel in: Anything to do with money You get along best with: the Exclamation Point |
Novelty? Excitement? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! So not me. For me, excitement = finishing a load of laundry
***
Had our faculty baby shower this afternoon. Lots of TOO CUTE things in the pile of goodies. Photos soon.
***
Weird series of hospital visits this week. Two shots in the buttocks. I know, TMI, but you read blogs for TMI, right?
***
Still sunny and loving it!
***
To my students who googled me . . . I see you.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Brunswick Inn
From the Fishouse (aka Matt O'Donnell) invited me to read at Bowdoin College this past week. Here's the charming B&B where I stayed.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Don't Forget!
Poets, it's time for NEA Applications!.
If you haven't started filling your apps out, do it now. It's a complicated multi-step process that involves registering for a site and converting a lot of your files to pdfs. There's a time-lag for the site registration, so better get in line ASAP.
I completed my application last week after much swearing and gnashing of teeth.
Mary B. puts out a call for an NEA support group.. I might join.
If you haven't started filling your apps out, do it now. It's a complicated multi-step process that involves registering for a site and converting a lot of your files to pdfs. There's a time-lag for the site registration, so better get in line ASAP.
I completed my application last week after much swearing and gnashing of teeth.
Mary B. puts out a call for an NEA support group.. I might join.
Cooper's Hawk
This guy came to visit during the party. He's looking over at our bird feeders.
Bird Seed----->Sparrows---->Hawks.
Bird Seed----->Sparrows---->Hawks.
The most patient dog, ever.
So . . . truth is, Jake's not scary at all. We put him in humiliating situations all the time.
The kid's first cup.
Suzanne and Cynthia made the cup. It's sterling silver. They took it with 'em back to San Francisco for engraving.
LUMPIA!
Lots of things to celebrate this past week:
1. Valentine's Day.
2. Our first baby shower.
3. My upcoming birthday.
****
We had a low-key Valentine's Day. While I don't feel I need a designated day to tell Meredith how fabulous she is, it's pretty fun giving each other presents which usually happens on birthdays and on Christmas. I got Meredith two plum trees and some heather to landscape the yard. The plum trees are planted and should bear fruit come summer. Meredith got me the gizmo with which I'm taking these pictures. (Mere, I'm totally happy with this camera. I'm going to take pictures of everything now. You're in trouble!).
****
We had the first of two baby showers. This past one was for our neighbors and our relatives. My mother flew over from Oregon (OR-uh-gun) and made the fabulous and perfect eggrolls you see in the picture. Growing up, they were my favorite thing to eat. Nothing's changed.
Anyway, we got a lot of cute baby outfits. One of our neighbors knitted some hats and gloves. Another got us a fabulous mobile. Babies are expensive, man.
****
My birthday'll be here next week, so I decided to treat myself to a gizmo. I got myself a new iPod. I already filled my 60GB iPod and I'm not even through my entire CD collection yet. I can't bear to get rid of music.
So anyway, I decide to go to Best Buy to purchase a new iPod. I'm looking at the 160GB iPod which, I know is huge, but I know I won't have the problem of over-filling it, plus I'll be able to store photos and my manuscripts.
Out comes rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guy. He sizes me up and asks, "Can I help you?"
I say, "Yeah, I'm looking at the 160GB iPods."
He says, "Are you looking or looking to buy?" in a sneering manner.
I'm stunned, of course. So I tell him to get me one and I'll buy it. He goes away for a couple of minutes and comes back with the merchandise. I'm not done shopping at this point, though, because I still need a case. Rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guy is looking impatient and is hurriedly fingering all the cases on display. "Here's one and here's one." "Here's another one." At this point I'm pretty annoyed and I want to get out of the store. After I select my case, he walks me over to a cash-register, but he can't see me off without making a comment.
"You know, 160GB is big. You won't be able to fill it." And I'm thinking to myself, duh, genius. I didn't really reply to him. I just wanted to pay for my stuff and go. What I should've said to rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guy was that he's a little punk who doesn't know jack about what a customer wants, and that he should go home to his momma's house after I kick his skinny little ass, and that rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guys like him are going to stay rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guys because they don't know jack about how the world works and that I feel sorry for rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guys like him because what they THINK they know ain't gonna cut it.
Really, though, I'm too nice and I "walk off" the bad experience.
So to you, rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guy, I hope your day goes better and that you can pay for a college education with partial funding from the commission I got you. Keep your nose clean and learn some manners.
***
Of course, the iPod and the camera are great gizmos and I'm having loads of fun with 'em. As I'm blogging, I'm importing a bunch of my CD's to iTunes.
1. Valentine's Day.
2. Our first baby shower.
3. My upcoming birthday.
****
We had a low-key Valentine's Day. While I don't feel I need a designated day to tell Meredith how fabulous she is, it's pretty fun giving each other presents which usually happens on birthdays and on Christmas. I got Meredith two plum trees and some heather to landscape the yard. The plum trees are planted and should bear fruit come summer. Meredith got me the gizmo with which I'm taking these pictures. (Mere, I'm totally happy with this camera. I'm going to take pictures of everything now. You're in trouble!).
****
We had the first of two baby showers. This past one was for our neighbors and our relatives. My mother flew over from Oregon (OR-uh-gun) and made the fabulous and perfect eggrolls you see in the picture. Growing up, they were my favorite thing to eat. Nothing's changed.
Anyway, we got a lot of cute baby outfits. One of our neighbors knitted some hats and gloves. Another got us a fabulous mobile. Babies are expensive, man.
****
My birthday'll be here next week, so I decided to treat myself to a gizmo. I got myself a new iPod. I already filled my 60GB iPod and I'm not even through my entire CD collection yet. I can't bear to get rid of music.
So anyway, I decide to go to Best Buy to purchase a new iPod. I'm looking at the 160GB iPod which, I know is huge, but I know I won't have the problem of over-filling it, plus I'll be able to store photos and my manuscripts.
Out comes rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guy. He sizes me up and asks, "Can I help you?"
I say, "Yeah, I'm looking at the 160GB iPods."
He says, "Are you looking or looking to buy?" in a sneering manner.
I'm stunned, of course. So I tell him to get me one and I'll buy it. He goes away for a couple of minutes and comes back with the merchandise. I'm not done shopping at this point, though, because I still need a case. Rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guy is looking impatient and is hurriedly fingering all the cases on display. "Here's one and here's one." "Here's another one." At this point I'm pretty annoyed and I want to get out of the store. After I select my case, he walks me over to a cash-register, but he can't see me off without making a comment.
"You know, 160GB is big. You won't be able to fill it." And I'm thinking to myself, duh, genius. I didn't really reply to him. I just wanted to pay for my stuff and go. What I should've said to rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guy was that he's a little punk who doesn't know jack about what a customer wants, and that he should go home to his momma's house after I kick his skinny little ass, and that rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guys like him are going to stay rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guys because they don't know jack about how the world works and that I feel sorry for rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guys like him because what they THINK they know ain't gonna cut it.
Really, though, I'm too nice and I "walk off" the bad experience.
So to you, rude-know-it-all-Best-Buy-teenager-guy, I hope your day goes better and that you can pay for a college education with partial funding from the commission I got you. Keep your nose clean and learn some manners.
***
Of course, the iPod and the camera are great gizmos and I'm having loads of fun with 'em. As I'm blogging, I'm importing a bunch of my CD's to iTunes.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Thai Food with the Kundi-Crew
From left to right, Joseph, Jon, Janine, Sarah, Me, and Neil.
January's taking the picture.
January's taking the picture.
Our First Kundiman Panel
From left to right, David Mura, Sarah Gambito, Tamiko Beyer, Purvi Shah, and Jon Pineda. I'm off to the right . . . somewhere.
*Photo courtesy of January Gill
*Photo courtesy of January Gill
Check out my sexy shirt
That's my Kundiman shirt, worn for the a/p/a reading at NYU. The photo's courtesy of January Gill.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Back
Hi guys. Sorry it's been awhile. I seem to be apologizing for my blog absences quite frequently these days. It's not that I don't like you or anything, it's just that I've been busy in all aspects of my life.
I've been getting home fairly late and I've had lots of students come by during my office hours (primo blogging time), so I just haven't had time.
Anyway, enough moaning and groaning. How are you?
***
AWP was a blur. I spent a lot of time with Jon Pineda, talking about fatherhood, jobs, poetry. It was good to catch up with him. It's too bad his book wasn't out for the conference. He read some stuff from the new book at the A/P/A reading and the Kundiman panel. Phenomenal new work, and I'm looking forward to reading it cover to cover.
A lot of the conference was spent behind Table #220 at the bookfaire. That spot ended up becoming the meeting place for our extended Kundiman clan. Of course, I hung out with Sarah Gambito, Joseph Legaspi, Jennifer Chang, many Kundiman fellows and former faculty members, and friends of the organization. So it was a big conference for our burgeoning non-profit organization.
The joint panel with Cave Canem was wonderful. I'm still in awe of Toi and Cornelius. And it was great to partner up with Tim Seibles for moderator duties.
The solo Kundiman panel was also fabulous, and our fellows really shined.
Overall, though, it was good to be in good company. I always feel bad about not being able to spend time with anybody at the conference, but this time, I think I had some good long conversations with good friends.
***
Still, I didn't get to see New York. I mean, I've seen New York and I've wandered through New York on several occasions, but now that it's so far from me, I should've at least gotten in some culture. No plays. No museums. No shows.
***
I bought some books, but not as many as in the past. I was disciplined.
***
Photos soon.
I've been getting home fairly late and I've had lots of students come by during my office hours (primo blogging time), so I just haven't had time.
Anyway, enough moaning and groaning. How are you?
***
AWP was a blur. I spent a lot of time with Jon Pineda, talking about fatherhood, jobs, poetry. It was good to catch up with him. It's too bad his book wasn't out for the conference. He read some stuff from the new book at the A/P/A reading and the Kundiman panel. Phenomenal new work, and I'm looking forward to reading it cover to cover.
A lot of the conference was spent behind Table #220 at the bookfaire. That spot ended up becoming the meeting place for our extended Kundiman clan. Of course, I hung out with Sarah Gambito, Joseph Legaspi, Jennifer Chang, many Kundiman fellows and former faculty members, and friends of the organization. So it was a big conference for our burgeoning non-profit organization.
The joint panel with Cave Canem was wonderful. I'm still in awe of Toi and Cornelius. And it was great to partner up with Tim Seibles for moderator duties.
The solo Kundiman panel was also fabulous, and our fellows really shined.
Overall, though, it was good to be in good company. I always feel bad about not being able to spend time with anybody at the conference, but this time, I think I had some good long conversations with good friends.
***
Still, I didn't get to see New York. I mean, I've seen New York and I've wandered through New York on several occasions, but now that it's so far from me, I should've at least gotten in some culture. No plays. No museums. No shows.
***
I bought some books, but not as many as in the past. I was disciplined.
***
Photos soon.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Ready? GO!
I'm all packed and I've got the arrangements for my panel, my hotel, and my flight. I'll be getting into the city at around 5:00PM. Hopefully I won't have any troubles getting to the Hilton from JFK, but . . . 5:00PM in NYC is really busy. I want to see the Cave Canem Fellows read on Wednesday, but that might not be possible. At any rate, I feel like I'll be running around as soon as I land on the tarmac.
Since I'll be away, keep the blog tidy for me, k? I'll bring back pictures if you're good.
Since I'll be away, keep the blog tidy for me, k? I'll bring back pictures if you're good.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Oliver's CRAZY AWP Schedule
Wednesday, 1/30
Arrival JFK: 4:57PM
7:00PM--CC reading? I know dinner with Joseph Legaspi, Sarah Gambito, et al. for sure
Thursday, 1/31
10:30-11:45AM: Panel Presentation--Celebration Song, Circle Song: Kundiman Looks Back at its First Five Years. Conference Room K. Sheraton, Lower Level, Executive Conference Center. New York, NY.
2:00PM: Meeting with Tax Accountant (yes, I have a NY Tax Accountant who is AWESOME).
6:00PM-8:00PM: National Literary Organizations of NYC Welcome Reception
Friday, 2/1
2:30-3:30PM: Kundiman Table #220
6:00-9:00PM: Celebrating New Asian American Poetry. New York University. The Great Room, Room 101. 19 University Place. New York, NY.
Saturday, 2/2
8:00AM: Kundiman Staff/Board Meeting
3:00-4:15PM: Panel Presentation--Broadening the Circle: How Cave Canem and Kundiman Became Family. Conference Room D. Sheraton, Lower Level, Executive Conference Center. New York, NY.
6:00-8:00PM: Creative Writing Programs of the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountain West Cocktail Party
Sunday, 2/3
3:00PM: Depart from JFK to Seattle
10:47PM: Arrival
*****
If you want to see me, how about breakfast? :D
*****
What should I buy? My budget's limited this year . . .
Arrival JFK: 4:57PM
7:00PM--CC reading? I know dinner with Joseph Legaspi, Sarah Gambito, et al. for sure
Thursday, 1/31
10:30-11:45AM: Panel Presentation--Celebration Song, Circle Song: Kundiman Looks Back at its First Five Years. Conference Room K. Sheraton, Lower Level, Executive Conference Center. New York, NY.
2:00PM: Meeting with Tax Accountant (yes, I have a NY Tax Accountant who is AWESOME).
6:00PM-8:00PM: National Literary Organizations of NYC Welcome Reception
Friday, 2/1
2:30-3:30PM: Kundiman Table #220
6:00-9:00PM: Celebrating New Asian American Poetry. New York University. The Great Room, Room 101. 19 University Place. New York, NY.
Saturday, 2/2
8:00AM: Kundiman Staff/Board Meeting
3:00-4:15PM: Panel Presentation--Broadening the Circle: How Cave Canem and Kundiman Became Family. Conference Room D. Sheraton, Lower Level, Executive Conference Center. New York, NY.
6:00-8:00PM: Creative Writing Programs of the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountain West Cocktail Party
Sunday, 2/3
3:00PM: Depart from JFK to Seattle
10:47PM: Arrival
*****
If you want to see me, how about breakfast? :D
*****
What should I buy? My budget's limited this year . . .
Monday, January 21, 2008
Things I'm doing. Things to do.
This past Saturday, I served BBQ. I'm using the term correctly.
Meredith corrects me when I use BBQ in other circumstances. BBQ is very specific to her. To me, I use the word to refer to grilling or a type of sauce used to cover grilled meats. To her, it's pulled pork.
So anyway, we had a Southern-style New Year's meal, complete with black-eyed peas, collards, cornbread, BBQ, and mac n' cheese. So good . . . and so bad for you. I swear, I was using meat in everything.
Time for my colonic.
***
Running into the issue of conducting a workshop for a collaborative piece. How do you do it?
For one thing, the level of investment in a collaborative poem might not be as high as the investment a writer has in a solo piece. There's also the whole juggling of egos that's magnified when there's collaboration (See Project Runway whenever there's a group project). My temporary solution is to conduct workshops solely with the collaborators. So, in a class with four groups, you meet with each group individually instead of the whole class.
Is that solution working? We'll see. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday.
***
Bored with my gym music so I bought a bunch of hip-hop albums. (Yes, E. When I ran into you and C. at Everyday Music, I was going to put some albums back, but I wound up buying 'em all). .
Spoils include the following:
Kid Koala--your mom's favorite dj
Lifesavas--Gutterfly
RZA--Afro Samurai: The Soundtrack
Lupe Fiasco--The Cool
Common--Finding Forever
Pete Rock--Hip Hop Underground Soul Classics
My gym selections are very different from my normal musical tastes. For example, during the same album shopping spree, I had the new Low album, Drums and Guns. I also eyed the new Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album. I'm also awaiting the new album from Cat Power.
Here's the thing, though . . . you don't want to be running on a treadmill or bench pressing while Low shuffles into your iPod. It happened to me once, and I almost dumped 170 lbs on my chest.
Anyway, I'm loving RZA and Kid Koala right now. RZA's remade himself from a seminal member of the Wu-Tang Clan to a damn good soundtrack editor. See his Ghostdog soundtrack. You'll understand. And Kid Koala's not exactly the type of stuff to get your heart rate up, but it's an interesting listen. Tight samples of dialogue with music and beats here and there to form a narrative.
I've yet to give the other albums a close listen, but I will when I go to the gym today.
***
Got a couple of poem acceptances and some journal solicitations. Very good season so far. I just need to keep working which is tough when you're me. Writing has not been on my brain lately. But if you want to talk about painting and scraping popcorn ceilings, I'm your man.
***
Baby shower . . . egad.
My well-intentioned mother sent out the invitations in her illegible script. So babiesrus.com looks like babiezon.com There's also the problem of Meredith's name. While she can and has gone by my last name, she doesn't professionally and that's cause for some concern, since the invitations were sent using my last name and I'm not sure many of her relatives actually know what my last name is.
Meredith corrects me when I use BBQ in other circumstances. BBQ is very specific to her. To me, I use the word to refer to grilling or a type of sauce used to cover grilled meats. To her, it's pulled pork.
So anyway, we had a Southern-style New Year's meal, complete with black-eyed peas, collards, cornbread, BBQ, and mac n' cheese. So good . . . and so bad for you. I swear, I was using meat in everything.
Time for my colonic.
***
Running into the issue of conducting a workshop for a collaborative piece. How do you do it?
For one thing, the level of investment in a collaborative poem might not be as high as the investment a writer has in a solo piece. There's also the whole juggling of egos that's magnified when there's collaboration (See Project Runway whenever there's a group project). My temporary solution is to conduct workshops solely with the collaborators. So, in a class with four groups, you meet with each group individually instead of the whole class.
Is that solution working? We'll see. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday.
***
Bored with my gym music so I bought a bunch of hip-hop albums. (Yes, E. When I ran into you and C. at Everyday Music, I was going to put some albums back, but I wound up buying 'em all). .
Spoils include the following:
Kid Koala--your mom's favorite dj
Lifesavas--Gutterfly
RZA--Afro Samurai: The Soundtrack
Lupe Fiasco--The Cool
Common--Finding Forever
Pete Rock--Hip Hop Underground Soul Classics
My gym selections are very different from my normal musical tastes. For example, during the same album shopping spree, I had the new Low album, Drums and Guns. I also eyed the new Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album. I'm also awaiting the new album from Cat Power.
Here's the thing, though . . . you don't want to be running on a treadmill or bench pressing while Low shuffles into your iPod. It happened to me once, and I almost dumped 170 lbs on my chest.
Anyway, I'm loving RZA and Kid Koala right now. RZA's remade himself from a seminal member of the Wu-Tang Clan to a damn good soundtrack editor. See his Ghostdog soundtrack. You'll understand. And Kid Koala's not exactly the type of stuff to get your heart rate up, but it's an interesting listen. Tight samples of dialogue with music and beats here and there to form a narrative.
I've yet to give the other albums a close listen, but I will when I go to the gym today.
***
Got a couple of poem acceptances and some journal solicitations. Very good season so far. I just need to keep working which is tough when you're me. Writing has not been on my brain lately. But if you want to talk about painting and scraping popcorn ceilings, I'm your man.
***
Baby shower . . . egad.
My well-intentioned mother sent out the invitations in her illegible script. So babiesrus.com looks like babiezon.com There's also the problem of Meredith's name. While she can and has gone by my last name, she doesn't professionally and that's cause for some concern, since the invitations were sent using my last name and I'm not sure many of her relatives actually know what my last name is.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
So here's the deal . . . (or why Oliver's so busy).
I've been remodeling a lot of rooms in our house, which should've been your first clue.
One particular room, which I haven't photographed yet, has aqua furniture, a rocking horse, and lots and lots of children's books with a changing table in the closet.
Yes, Oliver's going to be a dad some time in March. Meredith bought a whole bunch of diapers a few weeks ago which intensified my worry. It's all good, though. I'm excited.
I haven't been posting much about it because it's a personal thing for me. I suppose I've been coming to terms with the idea of fatherhood and I haven't had anything profound to say. In the presence of profound moments, there's really nothing else that I can say that'll magnify the moment's profundity. Our lives are going to change. Change is good.
I also haven't been writing, which is okay. But I've been thinking about writing and the way I've been thinking about it has changed quite drastically. I'm not able to articulate that quality of my thinking just yet, but I can feel it.
We're taking a class and we're bored out of our minds. I suppose that's because both of us have a parent who's a physician. I'm pretty pragmatic. Meredith's got a whole bunch of books. We pretty much know the material presented to us in class already, so it makes for an excruciating two hours.
Things are humming in our house. Preparations are being made, etc.. So that's why I've been sporadic with my blog postings.
Enough about me, though. How are you?
One particular room, which I haven't photographed yet, has aqua furniture, a rocking horse, and lots and lots of children's books with a changing table in the closet.
Yes, Oliver's going to be a dad some time in March. Meredith bought a whole bunch of diapers a few weeks ago which intensified my worry. It's all good, though. I'm excited.
I haven't been posting much about it because it's a personal thing for me. I suppose I've been coming to terms with the idea of fatherhood and I haven't had anything profound to say. In the presence of profound moments, there's really nothing else that I can say that'll magnify the moment's profundity. Our lives are going to change. Change is good.
I also haven't been writing, which is okay. But I've been thinking about writing and the way I've been thinking about it has changed quite drastically. I'm not able to articulate that quality of my thinking just yet, but I can feel it.
We're taking a class and we're bored out of our minds. I suppose that's because both of us have a parent who's a physician. I'm pretty pragmatic. Meredith's got a whole bunch of books. We pretty much know the material presented to us in class already, so it makes for an excruciating two hours.
Things are humming in our house. Preparations are being made, etc.. So that's why I've been sporadic with my blog postings.
Enough about me, though. How are you?
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Congratulations, Neil!
Neil Aitken, editor of Boxcar Poetry Review, has just won CSU's Philip Levine Book Prize. Go congratulate him!.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. So happy for you, Neil.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. So happy for you, Neil.
Friday, January 04, 2008
More Stuff
Like this poem of mine on VQR Online. Beautiful beautiful journal.
Also . . . weird to have this sudden explosion of poems on the web.
***
I'm almost over the cold. Pho is the most delightful stuff for colds.
***
School starts next week. I've been working on syllabi. Two fun classes: 1) Forms of Verse, 2) Collaborative Poetry.
I'm still finalizing which forms to use. The usual suspects like sonnets, villanelles, and sestinas will be there, but I want a few surprises.
For the Collaborative Poetry class, I'll be using Saints of Hysteria. Should be quite fun. Lord knows how I'll run a workshop, though.
***
I want to see Juno.
Also . . . weird to have this sudden explosion of poems on the web.
***
I'm almost over the cold. Pho is the most delightful stuff for colds.
***
School starts next week. I've been working on syllabi. Two fun classes: 1) Forms of Verse, 2) Collaborative Poetry.
I'm still finalizing which forms to use. The usual suspects like sonnets, villanelles, and sestinas will be there, but I want a few surprises.
For the Collaborative Poetry class, I'll be using Saints of Hysteria. Should be quite fun. Lord knows how I'll run a workshop, though.
***
I want to see Juno.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Monday, December 24, 2007
A Wee Holiday Poem on Verse Daily
Thanks to Stephanie for pointing out that I've got a poem on today's Verse Daily page.
My folks are in town for the holidays, so I've been a bit busy (hence why I was in such a rush to finish the bathroom).
So, I'm off for awhile. Happy Holidays everyone!
My folks are in town for the holidays, so I've been a bit busy (hence why I was in such a rush to finish the bathroom).
So, I'm off for awhile. Happy Holidays everyone!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Be level
and level-headed. The sink furthest back in the picture took two tries and several hours. It was a major pain to assemble. The closer sink . . . a breeze.
My head's stuck
That's the P-trap and waste pipe for the sink, if you're curious. The little pink bits of tape's the teflon tape. It didn't work. Had some minor leakage so I had to redo.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Behold!
A toilet! Trim! Huzzah!
Installed this puppy tonight around 10:00PM. No problems at all. No leaks. It was a cinch to level.
Yay me.
Tomorrow, pedestal sinks (yes, I have to install two, so sinks plural).
Installed this puppy tonight around 10:00PM. No problems at all. No leaks. It was a cinch to level.
Yay me.
Tomorrow, pedestal sinks (yes, I have to install two, so sinks plural).
Friday, December 14, 2007
Storage
I also installed these shelving units. Before, that corner was just a solid piece of sheet rock. I'll pretty them up by adding some trim to the base and to the middle shelves. It'll look better, I promise.
Wacky Slate
So . . . I've been quite busy these past few days. Not only do we have a new puppy, but we also have house projects that are "a go" because the quarter's winding down. Oh yeah, there's that bit about having a job, too. Writing poetry? What's that?
Friday, December 07, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
For the Kundiman Postcard Participants
Dear Empire:
December 5th.
It is yesterday. It is still yesterday. The machines are at our gate. To see the cogs click against the wheel tracks—I liken it to watching a man being devoured by two tigers.
We’ve mounted the turrets atop our chimney. That is why sulfur rules the flue and there is no heat.
There are also no more revelers in procession, having been unnerved by the continual knock against our buttresses. The candles are running out.
Dear, our hydrangeas have been ruined by snow. The mirrors in the hallway shake with each crash, making my image ghostly.
Forgive my jeremiad. The smoke from the howitzers is a lovely outburst. Of that we can agree.
December 5th.
It is yesterday. It is still yesterday. The machines are at our gate. To see the cogs click against the wheel tracks—I liken it to watching a man being devoured by two tigers.
We’ve mounted the turrets atop our chimney. That is why sulfur rules the flue and there is no heat.
There are also no more revelers in procession, having been unnerved by the continual knock against our buttresses. The candles are running out.
Dear, our hydrangeas have been ruined by snow. The mirrors in the hallway shake with each crash, making my image ghostly.
Forgive my jeremiad. The smoke from the howitzers is a lovely outburst. Of that we can agree.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Notes from the Orchestra
Meredith and I attended the Iron and Wine concert last night. It's the first concert I've been to since moving to the Pacific Northwest. It's a shame, too, because great bands come through here (and from here) all the time. Anyway, Sam Beam and friends were remarkable. Great 8-piece band with many members juggling multiple instruments. At times they'd play a song right into the next without skipping a beat.
Some of their more famous, slower-paced signature songs, they played quickly and vice versa for the faster paced songs. It was really interesting to experience the change as someone who's followed all their (his) albums.
***
New puppy's got me really really tired. Really tired.
***
Wrapping stuff up. Last class this Friday. Hallelujah.
Some of their more famous, slower-paced signature songs, they played quickly and vice versa for the faster paced songs. It was really interesting to experience the change as someone who's followed all their (his) albums.
***
New puppy's got me really really tired. Really tired.
***
Wrapping stuff up. Last class this Friday. Hallelujah.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Watch it, Missy.
So, today's Meredith's birthday and last night this puppy followed her home. Her name's Missy. She'd been howling bloody murder for the better part of two hours. This had been a persistent problem ever since our neighbor had rescued her from the Humane Society. Basically, the owner of Missy is/was never home and left her in the charge of his nephew when he was at work . . . and he is/was always at work and the nephew left her outside at all hours. It's quite cold now and she's a 9 month puppy. Not a good thing. When Meredith walked Jake, Missy followed her home. So we called the owner and the owner asked if we could take her. Well . . . it is Meredith's birthday after all. So here we are. A two dog family now.
***
Jake: growl
Missy: Play! Play! Play!
Jake: growl
Missy: Play! Play! Play!
Oliver: groan groan groan
Meredith; giggle giggle giggle
***
Jake: growl
Missy: Play! Play! Play!
Jake: growl
Missy: Play! Play! Play!
Oliver: groan groan groan
Meredith; giggle giggle giggle
The weather outside is . . .
. . . quite frightful. This shot's taken from inside the house. It's been snowing all morning. And it's a light dusting. It's heavy heavy stuff.
Right now, we've got about eight inches. Which, to someone who's lived in central New York, doesn't seem like a lot. I must say folks in central New York know how to handle the snow. Out here in the Pacific NW, it's the end of the world.
Right now, we've got about eight inches. Which, to someone who's lived in central New York, doesn't seem like a lot. I must say folks in central New York know how to handle the snow. Out here in the Pacific NW, it's the end of the world.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Readings, Musings, and Snow
I'll be reading at the Elliot Bay Book Company on December 8th at 7:30PM with Nancy Pagh.
Come hear us! Come chat with us! Get some holiday shopping finished!
The bookstore's in Seattle at 101 South Main Street.
***
It's snowing again. Overnight, 'bout 2 inches. More soon. I may not be getting out today.
***
Last week of the quarter, which is good. Gives me time to get back into the writing saddle again.
***
Speaking of which, I'm once again involved in a daily writing group. Because of the holidays, we agreed that it can't be sustained for a full month, so we've truncated the event to eighteen days. Group members for the event are many of the same folks as the August poem-a-day event, minus Sandra B. *sniff* Erika Meitner's agreed to lead us this time. I'm not sure if I'll be posting poems on the blog. I haven't decided yet.
***
I have not done ANY holiday shopping yet. :-O
Come hear us! Come chat with us! Get some holiday shopping finished!
The bookstore's in Seattle at 101 South Main Street.
***
It's snowing again. Overnight, 'bout 2 inches. More soon. I may not be getting out today.
***
Last week of the quarter, which is good. Gives me time to get back into the writing saddle again.
***
Speaking of which, I'm once again involved in a daily writing group. Because of the holidays, we agreed that it can't be sustained for a full month, so we've truncated the event to eighteen days. Group members for the event are many of the same folks as the August poem-a-day event, minus Sandra B. *sniff* Erika Meitner's agreed to lead us this time. I'm not sure if I'll be posting poems on the blog. I haven't decided yet.
***
I have not done ANY holiday shopping yet. :-O
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The quarter's drawing to a close . . .
. . . at last. It was a busy one (still is). I tackled a mountain of reading and grading this past Thanksgiving break. Certainly, that's what breaks are for in academia.
***
All the while, I've been pressed into renovation service. The bathroom's got some new drywall installed, a repaired floor that's covered in cement board (for tile later), and some new cabinetry, all installed by yours truly. Pictures soon. It just doesn't look good right now and . . . well, frankly, I'm too tired to take pictures.
***
Slowly, I'm running out of copies of my own book. Must order more.
***
It snowed. 'bout 3 inches yesterday. It's starting to melt, but there's enough on the ground to make the roads tricky.
***
Tonight, chicken korma. :D
***
All the while, I've been pressed into renovation service. The bathroom's got some new drywall installed, a repaired floor that's covered in cement board (for tile later), and some new cabinetry, all installed by yours truly. Pictures soon. It just doesn't look good right now and . . . well, frankly, I'm too tired to take pictures.
***
Slowly, I'm running out of copies of my own book. Must order more.
***
It snowed. 'bout 3 inches yesterday. It's starting to melt, but there's enough on the ground to make the roads tricky.
***
Tonight, chicken korma. :D
Friday, November 23, 2007
Post Turkey
Had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with our friends Caryn and Dylan. First time I've ever had sauteed leeks for Thanksgiving and they were delicious . . . especially when taken with a little bite of turkey. For dessert, our hosts had prepared four pies. Quite a feat for two busy people.
Meanwhile a state and a half away, my parents were hosting my aunts and uncles from my father's side. I'm guessing they had dim sum. Yes. Dim sum. Every year for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, my mother makes a batch of dim sum: pot stickers, sticky buns, you name it. There was usually the obligatory turkey, but the hit is almost always the "non-traditional" Thanksgiving fare.
***
Now that I have satellite broadband, I also have iTunes again. I've been bad.
***
My Xbox 360 has died. It got struck down by the red ring of death. I was playing my basketball game and then the dang thing froze, mid-jump shot. I am a sad panda.
What's a boy to do? Read? Write poetry? Pffffft.
***
Perhaps the death of the fun machine comes at a perfect time. This is the last big push before the end of the quarter and I've got stacks of poems to "grade." *sigh*
***
What do I want for Christmas? What do YOU want for Christmas?
Meanwhile a state and a half away, my parents were hosting my aunts and uncles from my father's side. I'm guessing they had dim sum. Yes. Dim sum. Every year for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, my mother makes a batch of dim sum: pot stickers, sticky buns, you name it. There was usually the obligatory turkey, but the hit is almost always the "non-traditional" Thanksgiving fare.
***
Now that I have satellite broadband, I also have iTunes again. I've been bad.
***
My Xbox 360 has died. It got struck down by the red ring of death. I was playing my basketball game and then the dang thing froze, mid-jump shot. I am a sad panda.
What's a boy to do? Read? Write poetry? Pffffft.
***
Perhaps the death of the fun machine comes at a perfect time. This is the last big push before the end of the quarter and I've got stacks of poems to "grade." *sigh*
***
What do I want for Christmas? What do YOU want for Christmas?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Damn, poets are sexy
New MiPo.
Miguel. You're hot. Barb. You're hot. Reb. You're hot.
*Sizzle*
****Fixed link!!! Apologies!****
Miguel. You're hot. Barb. You're hot. Reb. You're hot.
*Sizzle*
****Fixed link!!! Apologies!****
Monday, November 19, 2007
Have you been . . .
. . . Knock[ed]out yet? I have.
Met Jeremy Halinen this past Wednesday. Wonderful poet and editor. We drove down to hear Matthea Harvey read at Open Books. Check out the journal. It's fabulous!
***
Matthea and the folks who went down to hear Matthea with me were wonderful. We MUST do it again! Right?
***
End of the quarter and I'm getting swamped with work. Thanksgiving break = catch-up time.
***
I'm dying to see this.
Met Jeremy Halinen this past Wednesday. Wonderful poet and editor. We drove down to hear Matthea Harvey read at Open Books. Check out the journal. It's fabulous!
***
Matthea and the folks who went down to hear Matthea with me were wonderful. We MUST do it again! Right?
***
End of the quarter and I'm getting swamped with work. Thanksgiving break = catch-up time.
***
I'm dying to see this.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
I've been an infrequent blogger
. . . mostly 'cause there's not much to say these days. I'm busy. Truly truly busy. On top of teaching, I've been advising my tushy off. Students are trying to decide what to take for next quarter and I have to "guide" them. Mostly, I've been telling 'em directly what to do and they're grateful. You know . . . sometimes, you just need to be told what to do.
***
Speaking of which, we're remodelling a 2nd bathroom. Yes, Cornshake, the bathroom you had been using is now gutted. I had to tear a hole in the subfloor because apparently the wood beneath the toilet had rotted away. Joy.
***
Still, there's some respite from my hectic schedule. I get to go hear Matthea Harvey read in Seattle tomorrow. I also got my tickets to the Iron & Wine concert in December. I'm a happy panda.
***
If I don't blog for a bit, you'll know why.
***
Speaking of which, we're remodelling a 2nd bathroom. Yes, Cornshake, the bathroom you had been using is now gutted. I had to tear a hole in the subfloor because apparently the wood beneath the toilet had rotted away. Joy.
***
Still, there's some respite from my hectic schedule. I get to go hear Matthea Harvey read in Seattle tomorrow. I also got my tickets to the Iron & Wine concert in December. I'm a happy panda.
***
If I don't blog for a bit, you'll know why.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Just when I thought . . .
. . . it was safe to relax, life got very busy again. Students are registering for classes and as the advisor they have to come to me for "advice," so it's been a deluge.
And it's really raining. Winds knocked out the power just enough so that my clock was flashing this morning. (Maybe I need to go back to a wind-up?) Luckily I'm a very light sleeper. Managed to wake up before the alarm was scheduled to go off. I frequently wake up before my alarm clock. Today was one of those days when I'm happy for that genetic trait. Thanks mom.
***
Many crazy things are happening these days. I must get approval before I can post about them. It's good news--I just have to run it by the appropriate channels.
***
Got my tickets for my flight to NY at the end of January. I've got two winter flights this coming year. I was driving around Ai (yes, that Ai) in my car and she had been complaining about how much the reading circuit wiped her out. I was a grad student then, so I was thinking silently to myself that it was such a luxury to be getting paid to do readings and how much work could it possibly be? Oh boy. It's work. It's good work, of course. Quite enjoyable to be travelling and often getting paid to do what you love . . . but it's work.
***
Jake has gotten into some awful stuff. I don't want to know what.
And it's really raining. Winds knocked out the power just enough so that my clock was flashing this morning. (Maybe I need to go back to a wind-up?) Luckily I'm a very light sleeper. Managed to wake up before the alarm was scheduled to go off. I frequently wake up before my alarm clock. Today was one of those days when I'm happy for that genetic trait. Thanks mom.
***
Many crazy things are happening these days. I must get approval before I can post about them. It's good news--I just have to run it by the appropriate channels.
***
Got my tickets for my flight to NY at the end of January. I've got two winter flights this coming year. I was driving around Ai (yes, that Ai) in my car and she had been complaining about how much the reading circuit wiped her out. I was a grad student then, so I was thinking silently to myself that it was such a luxury to be getting paid to do readings and how much work could it possibly be? Oh boy. It's work. It's good work, of course. Quite enjoyable to be travelling and often getting paid to do what you love . . . but it's work.
***
Jake has gotten into some awful stuff. I don't want to know what.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Pointer in Sheep's Clothing
Sometimes these people make me do things I don't want to do. But, that's the price you have to pay when you can't let yourself out of the house to go to the bathroom.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Back to the world of Broadband
So I caved. Yesterday, the Hughes.net people came to our house and installed a satellite dish, thus granting us broadband access. Yes, for nearly two years I've been using dial-up at home. It's been painful after having gotten used to cable internet speeds. Alas, our house is so far out in the country we can't have DSL or Cable internet. Satellite was the only option and it was a pricey one. The dish itself is $400, then they have to install the thing which is another $300 (and believe me, installing one doesn't look easy). And then there's the monthly cost of the subscription . . .. On top of all that, it's not as fast as cable or DSL.
But it's broadband and Meredith and I are back to our wireless ways. The network is up and running.
***
We won't be getting trick-or-treaters this year. We're just too remote. That doesn't stop us from buying candy, though. You can tell a lot about a person by what type of candy they give out to trick-or-treaters. I liked giving out the mini Snickers pieces or even Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The peanut butter cups mean I'm a generous and kind soul. Hard candy people . . . tsk tsk tsk.
***
Recovering from a tough last week. Loved the visit from Cornshake, though. Too bad she couldn't stay longer and see more of the sights. All told, I made four trips down to Seattle which, from my house, is roughly 120 miles, one way. I'm looking forward to staying put.
***
One sport ends and another begins.
The World Series outcome was as I expected, though I would've preferred it to go on a couple of games longer. I thought for sure Colorado could steal at least one win at home.
I'm quite excited about the new NBA season. Should be interesting--I want the trio of KG, Allen, and Pierce to do well in Bean Town.
***
Really sleepy. I made the decision to, instead of going to the gym, grab a Pizza Hut pizza. Good decision before a meeting, don't you think? Now I need a big time nap.
But it's broadband and Meredith and I are back to our wireless ways. The network is up and running.
***
We won't be getting trick-or-treaters this year. We're just too remote. That doesn't stop us from buying candy, though. You can tell a lot about a person by what type of candy they give out to trick-or-treaters. I liked giving out the mini Snickers pieces or even Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The peanut butter cups mean I'm a generous and kind soul. Hard candy people . . . tsk tsk tsk.
***
Recovering from a tough last week. Loved the visit from Cornshake, though. Too bad she couldn't stay longer and see more of the sights. All told, I made four trips down to Seattle which, from my house, is roughly 120 miles, one way. I'm looking forward to staying put.
***
One sport ends and another begins.
The World Series outcome was as I expected, though I would've preferred it to go on a couple of games longer. I thought for sure Colorado could steal at least one win at home.
I'm quite excited about the new NBA season. Should be interesting--I want the trio of KG, Allen, and Pierce to do well in Bean Town.
***
Really sleepy. I made the decision to, instead of going to the gym, grab a Pizza Hut pizza. Good decision before a meeting, don't you think? Now I need a big time nap.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
I get shouted out . . .
. . . here on the Poetry Foundation website. Thank you, Rigoberto!
***
So it happened. The most embarassing thing ever at a reading. This Tuesday at the Hugo House, Crab Creek Review held its journal launch reading (lovely, by the way).
I'm up there, reading my poem and then an eardrum shattering beep erupted. And then another. And then another. Meanwhile, I'm trying to slog through this last poem while the beeping continues. I see someone get up out of the corner of my eye, and leave the room. I finish. I sit down. That someone who left the room comes back with my bag. MY BAG. My freaking cell phone rang in the middle of my own reading. . .
. . .
And then, the next reader came up to read. So, I'm leaning back in my chair while the other poet's reading. And then something else happened. No, not the phone.
Coins start falling out of my pocket and rolling on the hardwood floor. You know the loud coin that rolls and rolls and never stops? Those were my coins.
Nightmare. Big big nightmare.
So, if you're reading this, Jenifer, thank you for grabbing my bag and diffusing the situation. And thank you to the woman who stopped some of my coins from continuing to roll. And thank you Crab Creek Review . . . I promise to be less disruptive next time. And thank you, Hugo House, for having such shiny floors and such echoey reading spaces.
***
So it happened. The most embarassing thing ever at a reading. This Tuesday at the Hugo House, Crab Creek Review held its journal launch reading (lovely, by the way).
I'm up there, reading my poem and then an eardrum shattering beep erupted. And then another. And then another. Meanwhile, I'm trying to slog through this last poem while the beeping continues. I see someone get up out of the corner of my eye, and leave the room. I finish. I sit down. That someone who left the room comes back with my bag. MY BAG. My freaking cell phone rang in the middle of my own reading. . .
. . .
And then, the next reader came up to read. So, I'm leaning back in my chair while the other poet's reading. And then something else happened. No, not the phone.
Coins start falling out of my pocket and rolling on the hardwood floor. You know the loud coin that rolls and rolls and never stops? Those were my coins.
Nightmare. Big big nightmare.
So, if you're reading this, Jenifer, thank you for grabbing my bag and diffusing the situation. And thank you to the woman who stopped some of my coins from continuing to roll. And thank you Crab Creek Review . . . I promise to be less disruptive next time. And thank you, Hugo House, for having such shiny floors and such echoey reading spaces.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Upcoming Readings
At the Richard Hugo House: "Roots and Writers"
Crab Creek Review presents an evening of poetry and prose.
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007, 7:00 PM
And at Open Books: A Poem Emporium
Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 07:30 PM
OLIVER DE LA PAZ & AIMEE NEZHUKUMATATHIL
Furious Lullaby, Oliver de la Paz's second volume ($15.95 Southern Illinois) is richly sensual yet etched by a sharp reckoning with loss. The collection includes a number of versions of the aubade, a poem that greets the dawn but can also serve as a wistful acknowledgement of the parting of lovers at daybreak. The new day brings both a beginning and an end -- "We are gathered back into the things of this world / and turn away from the sore-red sun, moved / to deny who we will be when we are awakened." Mysterious and resonant, the poems pulse with light and shadow, revealing not so much a narrative but an intensity of feeling, a questing of the mind, a longing in the body -- "Uncertain where the glare is from, I stare / and stare."
Aimee Nezhukumatathil's second collection, At the Drive-In Volcano ($16.95 Tupelo), can be as vivid as a lava flow and as cool and keen-edged as obsidian, sometimes in the same poem. The varied world is a presence in her work, certainly the Philippines and India, the lands of her parents, but also Austria, New Orleans, St. Lucia, a bus station in the Midwest. Perhaps most vivid is the landscape of love, with its smooth and rocky terrain. "I will curl around you like / a pilot shrimp and you will wonder / where all this sand is coming from." Direct in tone and sentiment, her work is laced with humor -- "The honeymoon is over / and we find a dead lizard / in our luggage," and pragmatically hopeful -- "Even in this darkness / there is so much light."
Crab Creek Review presents an evening of poetry and prose.
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007, 7:00 PM
And at Open Books: A Poem Emporium
Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 07:30 PM
OLIVER DE LA PAZ & AIMEE NEZHUKUMATATHIL
Furious Lullaby, Oliver de la Paz's second volume ($15.95 Southern Illinois) is richly sensual yet etched by a sharp reckoning with loss. The collection includes a number of versions of the aubade, a poem that greets the dawn but can also serve as a wistful acknowledgement of the parting of lovers at daybreak. The new day brings both a beginning and an end -- "We are gathered back into the things of this world / and turn away from the sore-red sun, moved / to deny who we will be when we are awakened." Mysterious and resonant, the poems pulse with light and shadow, revealing not so much a narrative but an intensity of feeling, a questing of the mind, a longing in the body -- "Uncertain where the glare is from, I stare / and stare."
Aimee Nezhukumatathil's second collection, At the Drive-In Volcano ($16.95 Tupelo), can be as vivid as a lava flow and as cool and keen-edged as obsidian, sometimes in the same poem. The varied world is a presence in her work, certainly the Philippines and India, the lands of her parents, but also Austria, New Orleans, St. Lucia, a bus station in the Midwest. Perhaps most vivid is the landscape of love, with its smooth and rocky terrain. "I will curl around you like / a pilot shrimp and you will wonder / where all this sand is coming from." Direct in tone and sentiment, her work is laced with humor -- "The honeymoon is over / and we find a dead lizard / in our luggage," and pragmatically hopeful -- "Even in this darkness / there is so much light."
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The "Rest" Gene. The "Guilt" Gene.
I'm fighting off a cold.
My students gave me this cold. Of that, I'm certain. So I've been taking it easy, which is really hard for me. I don't like resting. I prefer waking up than going to sleep. I prefer moving rather than staying still. This is probably why going to a writing colony would be bad for me. I'd do everyone's laundry, cook all their meals, and chop their firewood . . . I don't have the "Rest" Gene. In fact, I'm very much like mother in this regard. She wakes up at 3AM (she goes to bed at 9PM), and does laundry, walks on her treadmill, and does any other household chore that needs doing. I'm the same way (though I don't get up at 3AM and I don't go to bed until 11ish). I like my mornings. I like go-go-going as soon as I wake up. And when I'm hit with a cold, the world ends.
I'm feeling guilty about resting, so I'm confessing to you, dear reader.
I am a self-proclaimed gym rat. I love going to the gym. I go five days a week. I have a very particular routine. And even when I know I'm supposed to take a rest day from the gym, I find some way to exercise, whether it's running the dog, doing some housework, or some other activity. This past week has been extremely hard for my psyche. My brain tells me that this coming week is going to be tough . . . my sister in-law visiting, two readings, teaching, an advisory commitee meeting, Aimee visiting, and a speaking engagement on campus for which I have not prepared. And none of this includes my usual grading and academic advising . . ..
So, take a week off from the gym, Oliver. Right? Well, my "Guilt" Gene is taking over. Most Catholics (lapsed or faithful) have this gene. Perhaps it's also a Filipino gene. Right now, I've got the tail-end of the sniffles and I'm thinking about lifting weights . . . I'm also thinking about how disappointed I'll be if I don't lift my normal weight with my normal reps. It's a seriously bad gene to have "turned on."
***
Happy Birthday, Mom.
***
Book trades are wonderful things. I traded Rebecca Seiferle a copy of my new book for Wild Tongue. Lovely book. And it's really big, so again, the guilt gene switched on and I immediately felt that to even the exchange I should've sent her two copies of my book.
I'm ill.
***
Tis the rainy season. I re-seeded my lawn and I'm seeing little tiny bits of stubble poking out from the ground. This makes me extremely happy. Before, the lawn was mostly clover, dog poop, and moss. Now, it's clover, moss, dog poop, and grass.
***
Mere n' I had our anniversary celebration a week ago, though our anniversary's actually much earlier in October. In honor of our marital bliss, we bought a new front-loading washer and dryer set. I'm so in love with them. I watched most of the very first load go round and round in the washer.
***
Okay, I'm going to the gym . . . that's it.
My students gave me this cold. Of that, I'm certain. So I've been taking it easy, which is really hard for me. I don't like resting. I prefer waking up than going to sleep. I prefer moving rather than staying still. This is probably why going to a writing colony would be bad for me. I'd do everyone's laundry, cook all their meals, and chop their firewood . . . I don't have the "Rest" Gene. In fact, I'm very much like mother in this regard. She wakes up at 3AM (she goes to bed at 9PM), and does laundry, walks on her treadmill, and does any other household chore that needs doing. I'm the same way (though I don't get up at 3AM and I don't go to bed until 11ish). I like my mornings. I like go-go-going as soon as I wake up. And when I'm hit with a cold, the world ends.
I'm feeling guilty about resting, so I'm confessing to you, dear reader.
I am a self-proclaimed gym rat. I love going to the gym. I go five days a week. I have a very particular routine. And even when I know I'm supposed to take a rest day from the gym, I find some way to exercise, whether it's running the dog, doing some housework, or some other activity. This past week has been extremely hard for my psyche. My brain tells me that this coming week is going to be tough . . . my sister in-law visiting, two readings, teaching, an advisory commitee meeting, Aimee visiting, and a speaking engagement on campus for which I have not prepared. And none of this includes my usual grading and academic advising . . ..
So, take a week off from the gym, Oliver. Right? Well, my "Guilt" Gene is taking over. Most Catholics (lapsed or faithful) have this gene. Perhaps it's also a Filipino gene. Right now, I've got the tail-end of the sniffles and I'm thinking about lifting weights . . . I'm also thinking about how disappointed I'll be if I don't lift my normal weight with my normal reps. It's a seriously bad gene to have "turned on."
***
Happy Birthday, Mom.
***
Book trades are wonderful things. I traded Rebecca Seiferle a copy of my new book for Wild Tongue. Lovely book. And it's really big, so again, the guilt gene switched on and I immediately felt that to even the exchange I should've sent her two copies of my book.
I'm ill.
***
Tis the rainy season. I re-seeded my lawn and I'm seeing little tiny bits of stubble poking out from the ground. This makes me extremely happy. Before, the lawn was mostly clover, dog poop, and moss. Now, it's clover, moss, dog poop, and grass.
***
Mere n' I had our anniversary celebration a week ago, though our anniversary's actually much earlier in October. In honor of our marital bliss, we bought a new front-loading washer and dryer set. I'm so in love with them. I watched most of the very first load go round and round in the washer.
***
Okay, I'm going to the gym . . . that's it.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Post-Reading
Thank you all, for your advice. I did read some newer poems which, I think, the audience liked.
It was good to see my students and my colleagues at the reading last night. I was REALLY nervous before the reading and I felt a little unprepared.
I noticed some things which bothered me:
I don't know my own book. Yes, I wrote it and I lived with it for many years, but I don't know it. It's still a strange thing to me, and I'm sure that'll all change with more readings.
I felt that I read too fast and consequently, I fumbled my words in places.
I also felt that tonally, I need more variety. It's a really dark book. I mean, it's dark . . . especially when you look at it compared to NAMES ABOVE HOUSES. So . . . I'm trying to think of ways to add tonal variety. I don't want to force something into the "set list" that certainly doesn't belong, though.
***
I have time to tweak my performance. Next reading's on the 23rd at The Hugo House: Roots and Writers and another with Aimee Nezhukumatathil at Open Books.
It was good to see my students and my colleagues at the reading last night. I was REALLY nervous before the reading and I felt a little unprepared.
I noticed some things which bothered me:
I don't know my own book. Yes, I wrote it and I lived with it for many years, but I don't know it. It's still a strange thing to me, and I'm sure that'll all change with more readings.
I felt that I read too fast and consequently, I fumbled my words in places.
I also felt that tonally, I need more variety. It's a really dark book. I mean, it's dark . . . especially when you look at it compared to NAMES ABOVE HOUSES. So . . . I'm trying to think of ways to add tonal variety. I don't want to force something into the "set list" that certainly doesn't belong, though.
***
I have time to tweak my performance. Next reading's on the 23rd at The Hugo House: Roots and Writers and another with Aimee Nezhukumatathil at Open Books.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Set List
So as I mentioned earlier, the very first reading from Furious Lullaby will be tonight. I'm contending with a weird issue at the moment. . .
If one is promoting a new book, is it bad to read new stuff not in the book?
And if it's not a good time, when is a good time to "move on" so to speak?
Anyway, books are often anachronisms, and I wonder if a more accurate display of time as it pertains to a writing life would be to read from a range of projects (yes, I'm trying to justify reading new work).
***
Suddenly obsessed with football. The Seahawks are faring miserably and have, perhaps, exceeded their shelf-life as a viable contender. It's sad, too, because my favorite workhorse player, Mack Strong, had a spinal cord injury (I heard he broke his neck) last week and had to retire.
Such a violent sport.
***
Meredith and I purchased a new front loading washer and dryer set this weekend to celebrate our second anniversary. It only gets better from here. ;-) XOXO
If one is promoting a new book, is it bad to read new stuff not in the book?
And if it's not a good time, when is a good time to "move on" so to speak?
Anyway, books are often anachronisms, and I wonder if a more accurate display of time as it pertains to a writing life would be to read from a range of projects (yes, I'm trying to justify reading new work).
***
Suddenly obsessed with football. The Seahawks are faring miserably and have, perhaps, exceeded their shelf-life as a viable contender. It's sad, too, because my favorite workhorse player, Mack Strong, had a spinal cord injury (I heard he broke his neck) last week and had to retire.
Such a violent sport.
***
Meredith and I purchased a new front loading washer and dryer set this weekend to celebrate our second anniversary. It only gets better from here. ;-) XOXO
Friday, October 12, 2007
Manicotti
Someone will be delivering a frozen manicotti to my office. I'm very excited for this. It is a good beacon for these dark Fall days.
***
I've been getting rejection notes. This is to be expected. So far, three.
***
The first reading from my book takes place on Monday at 7:00PM at Village Books in Bellingham. I'm kind of weirded out by the whole thing.
I haven't even scanned through the poems in the book yet. I'm not sure what I'm going to read. Any suggestions? I'm guessing my not looking at the book apart from gazing at the cover is a normal thing, yes?
***
I finished playing Halo 3's single player campaign. I am cool.
***
I've been getting rejection notes. This is to be expected. So far, three.
***
The first reading from my book takes place on Monday at 7:00PM at Village Books in Bellingham. I'm kind of weirded out by the whole thing.
I haven't even scanned through the poems in the book yet. I'm not sure what I'm going to read. Any suggestions? I'm guessing my not looking at the book apart from gazing at the cover is a normal thing, yes?
***
I finished playing Halo 3's single player campaign. I am cool.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Volume
It is raining and the color of the sky's keeping the dog asleep in his basket. It is also cold. Yes, it is most certainly fall in the Pacific Northwest. It's been in the low 60's/high 50's for the past week with more of the same to come next week. I just hope that it's clear on the day of our party this coming Saturday.
***
Many books arrived at my doorstep last week:
Some Values of Landscape and Weather, The Outernationale, The Room Where I Was Born,, My Soviet Union, Fragment of the Head of a Queen,"Some Nights No Cars At All, Crush, and Random Symmetries.
I felt I needed more poetry volumes in my life . . . especially since I've been reading a lot of prose lately (not that that's a bad thing.) Reactions so far--why the hell haven't I been reading Peter Gizzi? Crush is aptly titled. And I really dig the prose poems in Random Symmetries. I need to sit down and read a volume straight through, but right now I'm taking sips of all the collections and I'm enjoying myself.
Speaking of which . . . better go back to reading.
***
Many books arrived at my doorstep last week:
Some Values of Landscape and Weather, The Outernationale, The Room Where I Was Born,, My Soviet Union, Fragment of the Head of a Queen,"Some Nights No Cars At All, Crush, and Random Symmetries.
I felt I needed more poetry volumes in my life . . . especially since I've been reading a lot of prose lately (not that that's a bad thing.) Reactions so far--why the hell haven't I been reading Peter Gizzi? Crush is aptly titled. And I really dig the prose poems in Random Symmetries. I need to sit down and read a volume straight through, but right now I'm taking sips of all the collections and I'm enjoying myself.
Speaking of which . . . better go back to reading.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Been busy
. . . but I thought I'd drop by.
***
School's in full tilt. Amazing how quickly the days have been going by. I'm quite popular on the committee front these days. Somehow, I open my mouth and I get put on a committee.
***
Car's in the shop today. Was driving and all of a sudden, every single light on the dashboard was illuminated. Since I know very little about cars, this freaked me out.
Now watch. The bill's going to be around $500 or so . . .
***
Been talking to my students about the types of research we do as writers. It's funny, but if you say the "R" word, everyone cringes. Me? I love research. Sometimes I love it more than writing.
***
New Fall season of TV shows. I wanted to see Bionic Woman, believe it or not. I liked the modern twist on the sappy seventies show. I know Cornshake saw it.
I also saw the season opener of Heroes. Now, I didn't watch the whole season last year, so I was totally lost. I guess that's okay.
***
School's in full tilt. Amazing how quickly the days have been going by. I'm quite popular on the committee front these days. Somehow, I open my mouth and I get put on a committee.
***
Car's in the shop today. Was driving and all of a sudden, every single light on the dashboard was illuminated. Since I know very little about cars, this freaked me out.
Now watch. The bill's going to be around $500 or so . . .
***
Been talking to my students about the types of research we do as writers. It's funny, but if you say the "R" word, everyone cringes. Me? I love research. Sometimes I love it more than writing.
***
New Fall season of TV shows. I wanted to see Bionic Woman, believe it or not. I liked the modern twist on the sappy seventies show. I know Cornshake saw it.
I also saw the season opener of Heroes. Now, I didn't watch the whole season last year, so I was totally lost. I guess that's okay.
Friday, September 21, 2007
It Most Certainly is Fall
It's gotten cold. The evenings have been dipping into the 40's. We started a fire in the fireplace last night to keep us warm, but we ended up having to turn on the thermostat. I've been wandering around wearing layers of clothes.
I must say, from a wardrobe perspective, Fall's my favorite season. You're covered, but you're not immobilized AND you can wear accessories like scarves. I love scarves.
****
With Fall comes the new school year. The buses have started up and I see kids lining the streets waiting for them. One kid's always wearing baggy basketball shorts and short sleeve shirts. Now, I know he can afford more clothes because I've seen him at my gym with his family who's more appropriately dressed for a wider range of circumstances. I guess it'shis "Comfort" phase. But it's not that comfortable wearing shorts and a t-shirt when it starts raining. I mean, seriously, he wears the same outfit in horrendous weather conditions. It's one thing to like a favorite pair of jeans and wear them more than once a week, but seriously . . .
***
Fall soundtracks from the past:
Jesus Jones "Right Here Right Now"
The Sundays "Here's Where the Story Ends"
Depeche Mode "Strange Love"
Big Audio Dynamite "The Globe"
New Order "Leave Me Alone"
Siouxsie and the Banshees "Peekaboo"
Echo and the Bunnymen "Lips Like Sugar"
O.M.D. "Walking on Air"
Sugar "The Act We Act"
Psychedelic Furs "All That Money Wants"
***
Current Fall soundtrack:
LCD Soundsystem "Daft Punk is Playing at My House"
Feist "Mushaboom"
Midlake "Young Bride"
Tom Waits "Dog Door"
Beth Orton "She Cries Your Name"
The Roots "Dynamite!"
Death Cab for Cutie "The New Year"
Bobby Bland "Two Steps From The Blues"
Neko Case "Maybe Sparrow"
Ryan Adams "Magnolia Mountain"
I must say, from a wardrobe perspective, Fall's my favorite season. You're covered, but you're not immobilized AND you can wear accessories like scarves. I love scarves.
****
With Fall comes the new school year. The buses have started up and I see kids lining the streets waiting for them. One kid's always wearing baggy basketball shorts and short sleeve shirts. Now, I know he can afford more clothes because I've seen him at my gym with his family who's more appropriately dressed for a wider range of circumstances. I guess it'shis "Comfort" phase. But it's not that comfortable wearing shorts and a t-shirt when it starts raining. I mean, seriously, he wears the same outfit in horrendous weather conditions. It's one thing to like a favorite pair of jeans and wear them more than once a week, but seriously . . .
***
Fall soundtracks from the past:
Jesus Jones "Right Here Right Now"
The Sundays "Here's Where the Story Ends"
Depeche Mode "Strange Love"
Big Audio Dynamite "The Globe"
New Order "Leave Me Alone"
Siouxsie and the Banshees "Peekaboo"
Echo and the Bunnymen "Lips Like Sugar"
O.M.D. "Walking on Air"
Sugar "The Act We Act"
Psychedelic Furs "All That Money Wants"
***
Current Fall soundtrack:
LCD Soundsystem "Daft Punk is Playing at My House"
Feist "Mushaboom"
Midlake "Young Bride"
Tom Waits "Dog Door"
Beth Orton "She Cries Your Name"
The Roots "Dynamite!"
Death Cab for Cutie "The New Year"
Bobby Bland "Two Steps From The Blues"
Neko Case "Maybe Sparrow"
Ryan Adams "Magnolia Mountain"
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Things I'm Embarassed to Admit I Like
1. Pork Rinds
2. Justin Timberlake--not well enough to own the album, I just like hearing his stuff on VH1
3. Funnyons
4. World of Warcraft
5. Football
6. Video Games in general
7. Administrative work
8. Ninja Warrior
9. Vacuuming
10. Shopping for Office Supplies
***
Just some random thoughts as I sit by myself in my office. I could be working, but this is more fun.
***
School starts next week. Eek!
2. Justin Timberlake--not well enough to own the album, I just like hearing his stuff on VH1
3. Funnyons
4. World of Warcraft
5. Football
6. Video Games in general
7. Administrative work
8. Ninja Warrior
9. Vacuuming
10. Shopping for Office Supplies
***
Just some random thoughts as I sit by myself in my office. I could be working, but this is more fun.
***
School starts next week. Eek!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Need to learn how to do that . . .
I've been toying with my website for the past two hours. Ugh. Broken links, left and right. It's basically been the same for the past three years. I need to learn html . . .
Hoa Ngo, the site designer and creator's helping me.
This is why I'm a poet.
***
Quiet again during advising. I guess writers don't need advice.
***
Woke up. Rain. Now, bright and sunny. As they say around here, if you don't like the weather in the Pacific Northwest, wait five minutes.
***
I've finished my syllabi . . . on to the lessons. But . . . Facebook is calling.
Hoa Ngo, the site designer and creator's helping me.
This is why I'm a poet.
***
Quiet again during advising. I guess writers don't need advice.
***
Woke up. Rain. Now, bright and sunny. As they say around here, if you don't like the weather in the Pacific Northwest, wait five minutes.
***
I've finished my syllabi . . . on to the lessons. But . . . Facebook is calling.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Mug shot
Scene: Halls of the Humanities Building on the campus of Western Washington University
Time: Yesterday. Approximately 11:00 AM
Bruce Beasley: Hey Oliver, I got your postcard. Looks great! (pause) Will the book be out this week?
Me: Thanks Bruce. I don't know. I haven't even gotten my contributor's copies, though I know the books are in a warehouse somewhere.
FLASHFORWARD
Scene: My bedroom. The phone rings.
Time: Yesterday. Approximately 5:00PM.
Me: Hello?
Bruce: Hey Oliver, it's Bruce.
Me: Hey Bruce. What's going on?
Bruce: I have your book.
Me: What?!
Bruce: Yeah, I have your book. Seems like Village Books has a whole box of 'em.
Me: What?!
****
So, today I hopped in my car and drove down to Village Books and bought a copy. Yeah, I know I'll be getting copies in the mail soon, but I still had my doubts about whether the book was real or not.
And there it was . . . about ten of 'em stacked up, covers facing out.
Such a weird feeling. I'm not quite elated. Relieved, really.
I had a bunch of errands to run after picking up the book and at every stop, I think I was turning pages.
***
Yep. FURIOUS LULLABY exists and it's out.
***
Crazy.
***
Just crazy.
Time: Yesterday. Approximately 11:00 AM
Bruce Beasley: Hey Oliver, I got your postcard. Looks great! (pause) Will the book be out this week?
Me: Thanks Bruce. I don't know. I haven't even gotten my contributor's copies, though I know the books are in a warehouse somewhere.
FLASHFORWARD
Scene: My bedroom. The phone rings.
Time: Yesterday. Approximately 5:00PM.
Me: Hello?
Bruce: Hey Oliver, it's Bruce.
Me: Hey Bruce. What's going on?
Bruce: I have your book.
Me: What?!
Bruce: Yeah, I have your book. Seems like Village Books has a whole box of 'em.
Me: What?!
****
So, today I hopped in my car and drove down to Village Books and bought a copy. Yeah, I know I'll be getting copies in the mail soon, but I still had my doubts about whether the book was real or not.
And there it was . . . about ten of 'em stacked up, covers facing out.
Such a weird feeling. I'm not quite elated. Relieved, really.
I had a bunch of errands to run after picking up the book and at every stop, I think I was turning pages.
***
Yep. FURIOUS LULLABY exists and it's out.
***
Crazy.
***
Just crazy.
Calm
The telephone's stopped ringing. The e-mails requesting course overrides have ceased. The foot traffic to my door has receded.
Ah, the life of an academic advisor.
Funny thing about students who want to become creative writing majors . . . they come into the office and I know. I just know--sort of like the Harry Potter Sorting Hat.
***
Tumultuous football season so far. All the teams I pull for are 1-1 or 0-2. It's early, I know, but . . .
***
SIU's ordering books for me. Got that bit straightened out. My guess . . . they knew I was giving a reading at Village Books and wanted to get the books there ASAP. All told, I'm fine with all of it. I'm just happy I don't have to write any more of THOSE poems for awhile.
***
I have a large plastic container in my office filled with Jelly Belly jelly beans. I want one now.
Ah, the life of an academic advisor.
Funny thing about students who want to become creative writing majors . . . they come into the office and I know. I just know--sort of like the Harry Potter Sorting Hat.
***
Tumultuous football season so far. All the teams I pull for are 1-1 or 0-2. It's early, I know, but . . .
***
SIU's ordering books for me. Got that bit straightened out. My guess . . . they knew I was giving a reading at Village Books and wanted to get the books there ASAP. All told, I'm fine with all of it. I'm just happy I don't have to write any more of THOSE poems for awhile.
***
I have a large plastic container in my office filled with Jelly Belly jelly beans. I want one now.
Friday, September 14, 2007
PR Campaign!
So, here's the thing about these postcards . . . you get one and there's a 25% discount on the direct order. Still sure you don't want one, Justin?
***
Facebook = time filler during lonely office hours. I've been busy turning people into zombies, though Nick Carbo is still the master zombie.
***
My lovely bride brought me a turkey sandwich for lunch. I'll go enjoy it now.
***
Facebook = time filler during lonely office hours. I've been busy turning people into zombies, though Nick Carbo is still the master zombie.
***
My lovely bride brought me a turkey sandwich for lunch. I'll go enjoy it now.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Creative Writing Advisor extraordinaire
So advising has begun and I've been tapped as the guru. Beware.
Mostly, I just tap a few keys on a keyboard and tell students what classes to take so they can graduate. It's not so bad. I actually enjoy the job--it satisfies my organizational itch.
Discovered a really good handbook for students. It's by Tom Kealey. I like the tone and I like the simplicity of the organization. He lists a few programs--mostly the ones picked by the US News way back in the mid 90's, but he's fair about it, acknowledging the limitations of the guide. It's a decent tool to supplement the more statistical AWP guide.
***
Also, been sending out postcards for my book. Want one?
***
Finally, school's just around the corner and I've been working on a syllabus for a multi-genre class topics class. Have you ever taught one? How did you conduct your workshop if you have? In the past, I segregated the semester according to genre (poetry first, then fiction, then playwriting). But I'm not sure such a format would work for this particular class. Any ideas for workshop alternatives?
***
By the way . . . we've remodeled ANOTHER room. Actually, this one was mostly Meredith. I just scrapped the popcorn ceiling and rolled paint on the walls. She did all the decorating and refurbishing of furniture.
Mostly, I just tap a few keys on a keyboard and tell students what classes to take so they can graduate. It's not so bad. I actually enjoy the job--it satisfies my organizational itch.
Discovered a really good handbook for students. It's by Tom Kealey. I like the tone and I like the simplicity of the organization. He lists a few programs--mostly the ones picked by the US News way back in the mid 90's, but he's fair about it, acknowledging the limitations of the guide. It's a decent tool to supplement the more statistical AWP guide.
***
Also, been sending out postcards for my book. Want one?
***
Finally, school's just around the corner and I've been working on a syllabus for a multi-genre class topics class. Have you ever taught one? How did you conduct your workshop if you have? In the past, I segregated the semester according to genre (poetry first, then fiction, then playwriting). But I'm not sure such a format would work for this particular class. Any ideas for workshop alternatives?
***
By the way . . . we've remodeled ANOTHER room. Actually, this one was mostly Meredith. I just scrapped the popcorn ceiling and rolled paint on the walls. She did all the decorating and refurbishing of furniture.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Fall Submissions
So, I'm getting off my butt and sending poems out. It's been some time since I sent such a large quantity of work out into the world.
Here's a little snapshot of my submissions tracker spreadsheet if you're curious. A few of us were talking over e-mail about the do's and don'ts of submitting work--namely we talked about simultaneous submissions.
A while back, I never simsubbed. I was too scared to. Now . . . I do simsub, but ONLY to the journals who say it's okay. What's more, I keep very anal notes about where I'm sending things.
If you look at the picture, you'll see I've got color-coded bars.
Black means a poem's been taken, so it's out (note that there are very few black bars).
Gray and white tones signify batches of poems sent to journals that do not accept simultaneous submissions.
The flourescent colored bars indicate batches of poems that are being simultaneously submitted. So, if I'm sending a batch of five poems to three different journals, all the journals and poems will be highlighted in turquoise. I generally try to keep the number of sim-subbed batches down to 2-3 journals per batch. It's too hard to track anything greater.
Yes, it's cumbersome and tedious, but I know far too many editors who get pissed about folks pulling their poems at the last minute and I don't like pissing people off, namely people who take the time to read my work.
***
The other thing I noticed--more and more journals are accepting online submissions. Ploughshares, The Kenyon Review, and The Virginia Quarterly Review are taking submissions online.
If you're sending your stuff via that route, have two sets of copies for your batches: the individual poems, and a batch of your poems saved to one document. Sometimes the uploading software only allows one file at a time, so you'll need to consolidate your pieces.
***
I'm feeling good. I'm feeling like I've gotten some things accomplished. We'll see what happens when the rejections start rolling in! All told, I sent poems to lots of journals. Quite a feat for me.
Here's a little snapshot of my submissions tracker spreadsheet if you're curious. A few of us were talking over e-mail about the do's and don'ts of submitting work--namely we talked about simultaneous submissions.
A while back, I never simsubbed. I was too scared to. Now . . . I do simsub, but ONLY to the journals who say it's okay. What's more, I keep very anal notes about where I'm sending things.
If you look at the picture, you'll see I've got color-coded bars.
Black means a poem's been taken, so it's out (note that there are very few black bars).
Gray and white tones signify batches of poems sent to journals that do not accept simultaneous submissions.
The flourescent colored bars indicate batches of poems that are being simultaneously submitted. So, if I'm sending a batch of five poems to three different journals, all the journals and poems will be highlighted in turquoise. I generally try to keep the number of sim-subbed batches down to 2-3 journals per batch. It's too hard to track anything greater.
Yes, it's cumbersome and tedious, but I know far too many editors who get pissed about folks pulling their poems at the last minute and I don't like pissing people off, namely people who take the time to read my work.
***
The other thing I noticed--more and more journals are accepting online submissions. Ploughshares, The Kenyon Review, and The Virginia Quarterly Review are taking submissions online.
If you're sending your stuff via that route, have two sets of copies for your batches: the individual poems, and a batch of your poems saved to one document. Sometimes the uploading software only allows one file at a time, so you'll need to consolidate your pieces.
***
I'm feeling good. I'm feeling like I've gotten some things accomplished. We'll see what happens when the rejections start rolling in! All told, I sent poems to lots of journals. Quite a feat for me.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Imago
It's a strange thing when you know someone for a long time and they write a deeply personal book. I mean, I've known Joseph for . . . seventeen years. Sheesh! Has it really been that long?
We met at Loyola Marymount, our undergraduate alma mater. He was an English major and I was still a Biology major (I'd later decide to declare a double major). He was always the artist and writer, from what I remember in our classes together. My very first poetry workshop was a 500 level class . . . a grad class . . . and Joseph was there, supportive as ever. He wrote an amazing Icarus poem and I remember how awestruck (and jealous) I was. When he went on to NYU, he was giving me advice when I was applying to MFA programs. He's basically been like my brother for many years.
Now I'm realizing how little I knew Joseph--how honest and naked he has rendered himself with the publication of his first book, Imago. The book is seeringly violent, beautiful, and melancholy. I was quite surprised by the tone of it, knowing Joseph as the man who's always laughing, teasing, and smiling.
Anyway, pick up this book. You must.
We met at Loyola Marymount, our undergraduate alma mater. He was an English major and I was still a Biology major (I'd later decide to declare a double major). He was always the artist and writer, from what I remember in our classes together. My very first poetry workshop was a 500 level class . . . a grad class . . . and Joseph was there, supportive as ever. He wrote an amazing Icarus poem and I remember how awestruck (and jealous) I was. When he went on to NYU, he was giving me advice when I was applying to MFA programs. He's basically been like my brother for many years.
Now I'm realizing how little I knew Joseph--how honest and naked he has rendered himself with the publication of his first book, Imago. The book is seeringly violent, beautiful, and melancholy. I was quite surprised by the tone of it, knowing Joseph as the man who's always laughing, teasing, and smiling.
Anyway, pick up this book. You must.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
August poem-a-day
(POOF!)
The poem writing extravaganza is over. Thanks to all those poets who joined in. Having peers really helped the process along, especially on the tough days.
I'll be sending out some of these drafts during the fall. Hopefully they'll find homes. I'll definitely fiddle with them before that, though.
To you blog readers, thanks for your patience and for reading along.
***
Today, cookout.
The poem writing extravaganza is over. Thanks to all those poets who joined in. Having peers really helped the process along, especially on the tough days.
I'll be sending out some of these drafts during the fall. Hopefully they'll find homes. I'll definitely fiddle with them before that, though.
To you blog readers, thanks for your patience and for reading along.
***
Today, cookout.
New Book Inspiration!
How about, the "Practical poet's guide to homeownership"?
Roof repair's one of the many things they don't teach you in MFA programs. Maybe I need to teach classes.
Roof repair's one of the many things they don't teach you in MFA programs. Maybe I need to teach classes.
Homeowner's Blues
Yes, that's me on top of the garage roof. The seam between the plastic panels and the flashing had gaps that needed to be filled with silicon sealer. So . . . there you go.
Really, though, I didn't want to be inside writing poems. Not on a gorgeous day.
Really, though, I didn't want to be inside writing poems. Not on a gorgeous day.
Superwoman
Despite her ailing right arm, JHG was in her full glory. Later, she would twist rebar into pretzels.
Live!
Rick read from a third manuscript collection. Quite amazing.
After, he played the bongo drums and shook some maracas.
After, he played the bongo drums and shook some maracas.
SoulFood!
The lovely and talented Jeannine Hall Gailey and the lovely and talented Rick Barot, both at tthe SoulFood Bookstore.
Ridiculous!
Yes, it's ridiculous to catch a cold in the middle of a summer heat wave. And yes, I caught a cold sometime during the past week. It started Sunday in my throat, then migrated down to my chest over the past few days.
The cold did, however, provide me with a good excuse to sit at home and do nothing but read Harry Potter books. I basically read books 6 and 7 straight through during these past few days. Quite satisfying, I must say. Yes,J.K. Rowling isn't the most gifted writer, but she knows how to move a plot along. It was especially interesting to see how far she must've planned in order to pull off the series. Also, the movies are so engrained in my brain that I was visualizing scenes with the actors as I was reading. Crazy bit.
Anyway, I'm glad I took the time to pour through the books.
***
SIU Press somehow managed to get advanced copies of Furious Lullaby. Big grin. I thought it would've taken them a bit longer, but they're ahead of schedule.
***
It's time to start planning my school year in earnest. Two classes coming up this fall: my usual intro to poetry and an advanced multi-genre workshop. For the advanced workshop, I'm looking at fiction, non-fiction, and poetry collections that are steeped heavily in research or are strongly associated with a historical time period. Should be interesting as a seminar, but tricky as a workshop . . .
***
Quick thought on the poem-a-day thing I've been doing all this August--as I was telling Sue in the comments section of the post, I've been composing by ear lately, and the couplet's the best way for me to "hear" the language. I can't "hear" what I'm doing if I wrote in tercets, quatrains, or any longer stanzaic pattern.
This is a new development for me and I think it's pretty closely related to my attempts at purging the prose poem form from my head. I'll think on this more and perhaps come up with something more eloquent, but until then, I'll probably continue composing in couplets.
***
Throwing a party here on Saturday. You're alll invited. BYOB.
The cold did, however, provide me with a good excuse to sit at home and do nothing but read Harry Potter books. I basically read books 6 and 7 straight through during these past few days. Quite satisfying, I must say. Yes,J.K. Rowling isn't the most gifted writer, but she knows how to move a plot along. It was especially interesting to see how far she must've planned in order to pull off the series. Also, the movies are so engrained in my brain that I was visualizing scenes with the actors as I was reading. Crazy bit.
Anyway, I'm glad I took the time to pour through the books.
***
SIU Press somehow managed to get advanced copies of Furious Lullaby. Big grin. I thought it would've taken them a bit longer, but they're ahead of schedule.
***
It's time to start planning my school year in earnest. Two classes coming up this fall: my usual intro to poetry and an advanced multi-genre workshop. For the advanced workshop, I'm looking at fiction, non-fiction, and poetry collections that are steeped heavily in research or are strongly associated with a historical time period. Should be interesting as a seminar, but tricky as a workshop . . .
***
Quick thought on the poem-a-day thing I've been doing all this August--as I was telling Sue in the comments section of the post, I've been composing by ear lately, and the couplet's the best way for me to "hear" the language. I can't "hear" what I'm doing if I wrote in tercets, quatrains, or any longer stanzaic pattern.
This is a new development for me and I think it's pretty closely related to my attempts at purging the prose poem form from my head. I'll think on this more and perhaps come up with something more eloquent, but until then, I'll probably continue composing in couplets.
***
Throwing a party here on Saturday. You're alll invited. BYOB.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
SoulFood Books Reading
Edit: Thanks Jeannine, for hosting this wonderful event! Rick's new stuff is incredible. The crowd was lovely. I even had a heckler.
My next reading'll be on October 15th at Village Books. Details to come.
My next reading'll be on October 15th at Village Books. Details to come.
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