Sunday, March 16, 2008
Another Journal Bites the Dust
Oh, before I forget... Happy Birthday to Ivy - She's 34 according to her own account. My God, I barely remember 34.
There are lots of sirens very nearby - I presume by both the sound and the numbers they are fire trucks. We don't hear them out here as often as back in the city. Certainly not a cluster of so many at once. Certainly makes one pause with some prayerful thoughts. The dogs too seem unnerved by the sound.
I am about to finish filling up yet another journal. This latest one was started on September 29th, 2007 and having only like two pages left, I'll likely finish this one off yet tonight. I was looking back at some of my work in the previous journal recently. It always seems to feel a bit peculiar looking at things you've written in the past. Since many of my drafts start in their crudest form in the journal before subsequent revisions make it to the computer it can be an eye opener sometimes reading these things. You just have to wonder where your mind was sometimes.
My side bar so badly needs changes. For one thing, the blog listings is so outdated. There are several on there I used to read but don't any longer because... well, mostly because some of them haven't been updated since middle of last year. It's time for those to come down. Also, there are a few more worthwhile blogs that I try to catch on s somewhat routine basis. Also, if you have linked to Stickpoet and I've not reciprocated, drop me a note so you can be added.
I'll close tonight with these words from John Steinbeck... "I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts."
Saturday, February 23, 2008
I Just Love Finding Things of Value that are Free
Oh, by the way... looking for a good action movie? Go see Vantage Point that opened today. My wife and I got out on a date today for movie & lunch. I recommend the movie. It's so unique, but I'm not saying anything else about it.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Quiet Sunday Afternoon
I've written a lot today. And for the most part I'm pleased with the results. This morning my wife again brought me some "poetry words" for future use to help make my poetry more inaccessibly interesting. I have promised to find places for them in future work.
She also whipped up a batch of crumpet dough and we made crumpets! Yeah! I love crumpets. This is however the first time we've ever had homemade ones. They were awesome!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Movie and a Book Store Date
listening to: Shostakovitch Symphony No 5 in D minor
Wife and I got away today to the movies ans saw Juno. It was my wife's choice and she gets points for the selection. I would assume this was a relatively low budget movie. No awesome special effects, just a dynamite performance by Ellen Page, a teenage girl who carries herself through a serious adult sized crisis in comedic style. I found the storyline, bursting with pop culture, adorable. The author brought a range of emotion to the story, Page carried the weight of it beautifully.
Next to B & N where I bought W.S. Merwin's Migration today with a gift card I got for my birthday. I have one other Merwin book, and I have come to have great appreciation for his work. Remarkable poetic mind!
We capped it all off with a stop at Starbucks!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Vacation day... yeah!
Listening to: nothing
As of today, this is my past 12 month results report:
Pending responses: 14
Submissions sent last 12 months: 45
Submissions sent this month: 2
Acceptance ratio: 13.33 %
A few recent rejections has cut into my acceptance ratio, but not to worry. Just keep plugging away.
I looked at my biorhythms chart for the month and it looks like the 29th of January everything comes to an optimum point. Physical, emotional and intellectual. We'll see how my writing progresses between now and the end of the month.
Our local poetry society chapter meeting last night was really good. Most everyone had material of their own to share and we had a new visiting guest who blew us away with his work.
We picked up my oldest daughter at the airport this morning. She's here to visit through Saturday. She and youngest daughter will then fly back to Phoenix together, for which I am already feeling sad. It is nice to have all the kids in town over my birthday (Thursday) and I've taken vacation days today and tomorrow.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
This morning from my bedroom I heard rain beating against the windows. Considering the temperature I knew this was not a good thing. Tonight the ball field across the street looks larger then life in massive white.
In the picture above, my bud Barry, maintains a stern view of things.
Started reading Pushkin's Eugene Onegin which my daughter brought home with her from school for the Christmas break. Considering her distaste of poetry I am intrigued that she enjoyed the book so much.
Haven't shared any journal bits for a few days so I'll throw some in this post...
- portions of the night are tattered/comfort estranged/rest could only be a figment of active imagination
- I looked at my left hand/traced the lines deep/into the country side/until I could not recall /how I got there
- strung together, we are popcorn/and cranberries- differences/flashing red lights do not exclude
- night is lax on standards/makes no effort to screen/leaving the door ajar
- there is one non sequitur/that echoes in your head/and loosens the bindings/of Webster's unabridged/joins the others as the new word for the year/the binding restitched all tidy
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Gratitude
At any event, I felt an overwhelming desire to make note of a few things that I feel a true gratitude for. Some are small things, some are much more significant and as such the order of their mention here has nothing to do with the level of significance from one to another.
- an occasional glass of Chardonnay
- a good nights rest
- the clasp of my wife's hand when walking together
- the Fire Red Oaks in our back yard in fall
- a bite of dark chocolate
- a call or text message from the kids during the day
- my wife's voice on the phone in the middle of a busy day
- white - sweet bread
- a book of poetry within reach
- Clairton - D when needed
- a taste of honey
- the smell of Brazilian Nut Butter
- NPR radio
- every single day of the baseball season
- a/c in the car
- a fountain pen
- paper to write on
- a furry four legged friend
- hair on my head
Friday, November 09, 2007
Dark Rich Friday Nite
Cathy and I both enjoyed dark chocolate drinks - Mine was Dark Chocolate Citrus and and Cath had Dark Chocolate Hazelnut. Yum!!! It's such an awesome place! They have some of the coolest chocolate art designs . You West coast peeps.... they have one opening in San Francisco next month.
That's it for tonight.... except a word from T.S. Eliot - "The most important thing for poets to do is to write as little as possible."
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Craziness last night
I has a crazy assortment of dreams during the night. I've been thinking all day about them and contemplating the creation of a poem that pulls from what I recall of them. I've been tired much of the day. Cathy suggested it was the dreams... perhaps I was worn ragged by them. Could be.
Game seven (deciding game) of the ALCS is on tonight. I am so pulling for the Indians.
I've done no writing at all today. Something I would like to rectify, but unless it happen really later, it likely won't happen.
I picked up a CD today at Starbucks... Hail Britannia - the British invasion '64-'69. Lot of good stuff from back in the day. A few things that I'm not crazy about but for the most part it's good.
something different to listen to in the car.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Curling with Cathy
Monday, September 10, 2007
Klaus had a birthday yesterday....
Yesterday I started putting on paper some of my thoughts about revisions. The formation of a post is coming along. I've been thinking a lot about many aspects of this.
Yesterday I read Jilly's blog. Our Internet had been down and I was kind of behind on things. Se had several really interesting things worth noting. All of these links I owe to her:
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Back home....
Talked to her on the phone late last night when we got in. She had made a new friend on campus (which delighted me) and I know she is going to do so well there. I am quite proud of her.
I'm not looking forward to work tomorrow. I imagine my plate will be quite full. It is normally, so this is only going to to set me back. (sigh) But I have decided to keep a smile on my face and roll up my sleeves.
Good News!!! I had a card in the mail when I got home that Dana Goodyear is going to be in town in September. I have greatly enjoyed her own poetry as well as some of her commentary I've read. I am looking forward to meeting her and hearing her read!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Arizona Sunset
Thursday, August 02, 2007
I can see clearly now...
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Odds & Ends
The first one - I have to give credit to Jilly for Healing power of poetry.
Another, Fortune as Fate: The Story Of Two Poetry Magazines from the Wall Street Journal.
I had my eyes checked yesterday. Time for some new glasses. My present ones have made reading anything of length so damn frustrating. Here's hope that changes soon.
Perhaps JK Rowling was experiencing a bit of postpartum depression after the birth of her last Harry Potter book.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE & HAPPY 4TH
- A radio knob that responds to my prompt
- The rhythm of her breathing beside me each night
- My glasses that have become my eyes
- A book of poems always within reach
- Seeing a part of yourself in your children
- And recognizing the individualism in your children as well
- Four legged friends that look up to you
- The cycle of a baseball season and knowing a new one comes each spring
Monday, July 02, 2007
Life & Writing
Besides the physical act of writing, there are many periods of time that my mind is divided and sharing space with what is happening around me. I have found it beneficial to allow myself to receive events and conversations each day within the context that some event(s) or conversation could be the springboard for some future creation.
I’m not sure about most writers, but I am aware of others who have or do utilize such an approach to glean experiences or insights to augment their creative processes in writing. It is clear both from reading the journals and biographical information on Sylvia Plath that she was ever vigilant in this manner. I certainly don’t pretend to have mastered the process to her degree success, but I believe that to ignore this avenue altogether would invite so many lost opportunities.
The fact that I have been able to do much initial work within my journal as opposed to the computer has certain portability advantages. It clearly enhances the ability to be able catch things that might otherwise be lost with other fleeting thoughts. I am not underestimating the value of the PC to writers and would never want to return to pre-computer days.
In spite of this integration of day-to-day life with writing, I believe it is necessary to find the way to step back from time to time. It is just like leaving your work at the office. It is healthy to have that break from time to time. Writing is no different. It’s just that I realize the value in the connectivity of life to writing and want to make sure to allow some of it in.
Friday, June 22, 2007
33rd Anniversary
Monday, June 18, 2007
Father's Day
Couple of items from Father's Day.... A Waterman Phileas fountain pen -burgundy and black marbled ( picture doesn't do it justice) and my ASU ball cap complete with "Sparky" the Sun Devil. By the way, ASU won their opening round of the College World Series Saturday. They play again tonight.
The pen is from my lovely wife. It is gorgeous and way more pen then I would have bought myself. Writes as smooth as honey. It will certainly make both journaling and hand written poetry drafts much more enjoyable.
Speaking of Father's Day.... Enjoyed this piece about Donald Hall & the poems he wrote on the passing of his father. While he write about the experience right away, the poem took 17 years to complete.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Disc Golf - What Fun!
I've wanted to play disc golf for some time now. I've picked up some equipment at a local DG store. I think this is something my wife and I can do together outside. Fun!!!
It is actually become a really big thing over the years. There is a professional disc golf association and the 25th Annual Kansas City Wide Open tournament is coming up on June 22 - 24th. What fun!
What has any of this got to do with poetry? Not a damn thing. I just didn't want people to think I was one dimensional. ::grin::