Saying Goodbye to 2007

This is from a Keats altered book I'm working on.

Soon it will be 2008. I'm ready!

Christmas Vacation

I am having a good vacation so far!

I got a cool new blue ipod from Michael for Xmas. And one of those Nike plus things that attaches to your ipod and tracks how far you run. Amy and I are doing challenges - I ran 3.5 miles today and Lance Armstrong congratulated me at the end!

I watched MANY episodes of Project Runway and a few less many of Biggest Loser this week.

I"m reading Then We Came to The End by Joshua Ferris, working on the new Caffeine Destiny, and enjoying life in general.

Sending out my manuscript to a few places tomorrow or the next day. I was first runner up in the Kore Press manuscript competition so I decided that was a good sign.

Max got a cell phone for Christmas. We gave him the complete Chronicles of Narnia on audio CD, which I think he will listen to eventually.

I am listening to the Challengers by the New Pornographers. I am a huge Neko Case fan so I hope she comes back to Portland in 2008.

We're going to Pinback in February.

Christmas Vacation

I am on vacation! I want to clean my office and get my manuscript submitted to a few place and make some collages over the break. And begin getting the new Caffeine Destiny done, but I'm not going to push myself to get it done super fast. By the end of January is fine.

Also, over vacation I'm going to sit and stare at my Christmas tree. I enjoy that a lot.

I am listening to WNYC, broadcast from New York City. I haven't done that in a long time.

I am reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I want to finish it over vacation.

Interesting article in the New Yorker this week about how much Gordon Lish edited Raymond Carver and how Carver didn't like it so much, after the first book.

I made fudge but it didn't set. So free super soft fudge to the first ten people who respond!

I am so kidding.

It's December!

Our tree is up.

Here's an interesting interview with Kristy Bowen.

Last night's party for the Oregon Book Awards finalists was fun! A great turn out and excellent readings.

This weekend it's raining, I have papers to grade and we're going to Mcminnville.

I haven't made any collages in a really long time, but over the holidays I hope to.

I know

I never post anymore! But I'm not ready to surrender the blog. No! I can do it!

Ah well.

I read at Wordstock this weekend and that was pretty fun. It was good to see Zanni! I have been getting up early to write - I aim for three mornings a week.

The book awards are very soon and this Friday is the party for the Oregon Book Awards finalists at the Ace Hotel. It's free so please come!

Maybe in December I will post more often. Yes!

Well, I haven't written much in this lately, it's true.

I am reading Istanbul this weekend.

Max's time won their football game yesterday.

There will be poems by Katie Ford and Brenda Hillman in the winter Caffeine Destiny.

Later this week I will write more. I swear.

Happy Birthday Amy!

Still September!

Yes it's true, I haven't blogged in a while. But I've been thinking of you!

And reading The World In Place of Itself and Mary Ruefle's new book too!

Today is picture day for Max and Laura. Laura is going to Bonneville dam on a field trip.

Yours truly is reading at Wordstock. I hope Zanni can make it out from Fishtrap to read too.

More soon, I promise!

New Burnside

Went to a party for Burnside Review yesterday.

It's TBA time! Check it out. We're going to see dance Sunday night.

I miss you already Barbara.

Max has a game tomorrow, and then the Ducks play Michigan!

Fishtrap, Zanni, Home Now

The author tour to Eastern Oregon was amazing. I had never been to the Northeastern corner of Oregon. Now when I see the I-84 East sign that says "the Dalles", I know where that road leads. A woman in Pendleton told me Enterprise was "God's country", and I believe she's right. I loved the house at Fishtrap - what a great community of writers live there in Enterprise.

I saw Zanni in Enterprise. We drove into Joseph on Friday, and I saw Wallowa Lake, and Chief Joseph's grave. I saw the Blue Mountains. Northeastern Oregon's air smells different. Pine. I want to go back with Michael and the kids some time. And definitely another author tour there next summer!

Now I"m home and full-time at Literary Arts! Kids start school soon. But first - family camping! This weekend at Timothy Lake.

It's True

I haven't posted in a while!

Max is 11 now. This weekend he's going to a Mariner's game with Michael.

Laura and I are going camping Friday and Saturday with Holly and Elise! It should be fun!

I went to a Loggernaut reading last night.

I haven't written a poem since April.

New Caffeine Destiny is Online

The Fall Issue is here!

Michael, Laura and I are going to see the Dandy Warhols tonight.

I am getting better at my turns.

I start full-time at Literary Arts the last week of August.

I am looking forward to seeing Zanni at Fishtrap in a few weeks. I don't think I have ever been to Pendleton, La Grande or Enterprise. Should I buy a cowboy hat? Zanni please advise.

We saw Romeo and Juliet in Ashland last week. Outside, in the Elizabethean theater. Romeo and Juliet and the other characters their age were dressed in contemporary clothing, and their parents were dressed in more traditional Shakespeare attire.

I have been practicing my turns. I get dizzy. But I like my ballet class.

I have been working on Caffeine Destiny today. Thanks for your patience, gentle contributors! And kind readers!

Max is in Sisters. Laura is taking a class at Northwest Children's theater this week. Next week she'll be at Rock and Roll Camp for Girls! Max starts football practice Monday.

Tonight is my last hip hop class. I am still enjoying ballet. I'm hoping to continue it in the fall.

Zanni hasn't updated her blog in forever!

I am still reading Snow. I told Max we'll buy the new Harry Potter on the way to Ashland this weekend.

I got a poem accepted by Cranky this week.

I might make jam today. There will be a new Caffeine Destiny very soon, but probably not this week. But definitely before the month is over.

It's summer - that's what I know!

Summer

It's July already! My mom turned 70 on Sunday - Happy Birthday Mom! My aunt Debbie was here for 4th of July and it was great to see her.

Friday Laura and I are going to Seaside overnight, and the following weekend Michael and I are taking the kids to Ashland to see Romeo and Juliet. It's summer! Max has football camp three afternoons this week.

I am taking ballet and hip hop classes. So now I'm sort of a dancer! I am going to stop calling myself clutzy and uncoordinated. There was a very accomplished dancer in class last night - she had pointe shoes. She was there for demonstrating purposes. I have a little trouble with my glissades, but I will persevere.

I planted sunflower seeds out front. I am still reading Snow.

Summer

It's summer now and I'm glad. I finished Divisidaro and it was great; the first Ondaatje I've read. A very lyrical writer; I read somewhere the book was a series of intimate moments, strung together, and that makes sense.

I'm reading Snow by Orhan Pamuk now. We are going to Sunriver this weekend!

Michael is very busy with school. Tomorrow I start hip hop dance. And Monday I start ballet.

I think Janine returns to Portland next week.

Caffeine Destiny summer issue is going online the third week of July. I promise.

Here I am!

I haven't been updating this lately, which I know is no way to maintain a fan base! All 14 of you...

Michael and I saw Michael Ondaatje at the Portland Art Museum on Monday, and if you went yes that was Michael and I giving out programs.

I made bread today.

Today it's officially summer. I've read two Josephine Tey mysteries in the last few weeks. I need a big summer read, and I think I'm going to read Divisadero, Ondaatje's new book.

I haven't finished a poem in a few weeks. Michael is getting up very early to go play golf tomorrow so maybe I'll get up early with him and write before I go to work.

Or just go back to sleep. I'll keep you posted.

Cowgirl Up!

Tonight Laura and I are going to go see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in concert and I am very excited!

This is the last week of school for the kids.

Read a Josephine Tey mystery in two days last weekend and now I'm reading another one. Summer is a good time for mysteries.

I have been revisiting my poetry manuscript and it's been revised from last summer into a stronger manuscript and so it's out on the road again. If it doesn't find a home this time, I know it will eventually.

In gardening news, I think I killed one of my coreopsis plants trying to divide and relocate part of it. I planted sunflowers and my lavender is almost set to bloom. I am thinking I won't grow any tomatos this year.

I started a longer poem and I thought about the Z's comment about writing dumb unfinished poems. I have lots of dumb unfinished poems, but they're the engine for the less dumb, more finished ones. It's all one big thing. Maybe the dumb, unfinished poems are the bottom of the iceberg, and the finished, less dumb ones are the ones that poke up out of the ocean. Okay, enough poetry metaphors.

June

I haven't participated in an ATC swap in a long time, but this is one I made for a "bumble bee" swap that I sent off last week. I've been working on three different altered books at the same time. I find that's more fun!

I am reading the mystery, the Hotel Majestic by Georges Simenon. I have never read anything by him, but he's a French writer. The book I'm reading was first published in 1941. I'm also reading Equivocal by Julie Carr. I like her poems. Alice James Books consistently puts out really exceptional books.

The kids will be out of school soon. Then I won't have any kid in grade school. I'll have two middle schoolers! Max is going to be at Parkrose Middle School next year, with Laura.

I ran today and went shopping with Laura. Michael and I took a nice long walk with the dogs tonight. Summer is definitely here. My lavender will bloom soon!