Category Archives: Uncategorized

Oct 31

Because I needed it

I bought a new digital camera today. I can’t really afford it, but I couldn’t afford to be without it either (or so I keep telling myself). The very inexpensive digital camera I’ve been using for the past year has not been pulling its weight. I decided to replace it after I downloaded some pics of me, my mom and step-dad, only to see that the pics were not in focus. Since I’ll be in Chicago on Tuesday for Obama’s election party (did I mention I have my ticket confirmation already!), I wanted to take a camera that I knew would be top notch. So I splurged on a Canon powershot. Here are a couple of pictures I took in Washington Park, after I bought my new toy:

Oct 30

Ezra

Photo by Richard Avedon

It’s the birthday of the poet and critic Ezra Pound, born in 1885 in Hailey, Idaho. Pound is famous for championing the Modernist movement, and he did this by celebrating and encouraging other writers like W.B. Yeats, Robert Frost, William Carlos Williams, Marianne Moore, H. D., James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, and T.S. Eliot. He is most famous for editing T.S. Eliot’s huge poem The Waste Land and eventually cutting out half of it.

Ezra Pound said, “Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.”

-from the Writer’s Almanac

And because I love listening to it, and because it’s Ezra’s birthday, and because no reason is really needed, here is audio of Ezra reading Sestina: Altaforte.

Oct 29

Random

•Yesterday, I drove to the local branch of the state university to introduce myself to one of the professors there. She’s a friend of a friend, and my mate thought it a good idea to present myself in the flesh. I’m hoping to squeeze myself into a position at this branch; I’ve already applied for a civil service position in the library, and I’ve made it through most of the qualifying rounds (they actually sent me a letter saying I’m qualified!). Now it’s a matter of whether I’ll get an interview. I hope to hear some time soon. The professor was very gracious and gave me names of other people to get in touch with, which I’ve done. In the meantime, I’ve applied for seasonal work at Michael’s, an arts and crafts chain.

•I went to my first Zen meditation on Saturday.

•We found a place nearby called “The Apple Barn” where they sell fresh squeezed, non-pasteurized apple cider!

•I received my official invitation to Obama’s election party rally in Chicago, thanks to being a supporter living in Illinois. I. Can. Not. Wait.

•My lower back is absolutely killing me. I think my scoliosis is acting up. Yes, I have scoliosis. I learned this about a month ago when I started seeing a chiropractor. I laughed out loud when he told me because it seemed so…absurd. I mean, I thought scoliosis was dealt with in childhood, but I guess I was wrong (though it probably should have been dealt with in childhood). It turns out my left leg is a tad shorter than my right, and as a result my spine has curved (over the years). Asymmetry defines my physical existence.

•I never knew how important people were to my writing process until I took a job where I didn’t interact with many people, and until I had nothing but time to write, but found I couldn’t focus on writing–I wanted to be out and about. I like interacting with people. I always thought I could isolate myself with my books and pens and paper and be perfectly happy and productive. Perhaps I could be happy in that situation, but I don’t know how productive I would be. An integral part of my writing process includes having a full, interactive life outside of sitting at my desk.

Oct 27

Excitement!

Obama is having his election party at Grant Park in Chicago, and me and my good friend, Cyd, will be there!!!! She’s flying in from Boston, and I’m taking the train from Springfield! Hotel is booked, tickets are bought! Woohooo!!

Oct 23

Wheee!

I’m blogging from my office! Did I mention this is the first time I’ve had my own office? All the books on the bookshelves are mine! I can shut the door and be in silence! I have a a bright red gerber daisy sitting next to the lava lamp on my desk. I’m facing the window, and can see the changing leaves on the tree across the street. I have yoga/Buddhism magazines waiting for me on the futon. I chose the artwork on the wall.