I thought I had an idea for my blog post today, but it has completely left my mind.
Hmmm….

So just a few thoughts on my “poem purge” now that it is done, I haven’t assessed the number of poems that I retained. I have all my typed poems waiting to revise and send out in a box and the box is pretty full still. I need to make some decisions on my revision process. Before the purge, I only revised when preparing something for a submission or a workshop critique. What I’d like to do is actually work on poem revision without a specific “purpose” in mind. How do I start that? Do I just reach into the pile of poems and start revising? I guess it is something to think about over the weekend.

Weekend. For me. A time to read and do no cleaning

May yours be as relaxing!

The poem purge is complete my friends! This afternoon I typed up the “poem nuggets” that I felt most attracted to and printed them out all the way through 2-23-08. Granted, I only have 7 even potential poems to start this year, but I still have so many from 2007 even with the purge that I will be staying busy. I just hope that what I have salvaged will be something worth working on.

Today was a strange day. My husband was home sick so my schedule was thrown off a little. I did an abbreviated work day but I did get my chores done. I actually might go ahead and get groceries tonight instead of tomorrow since one of my friends has moved back to the area and I need to go see her new pad tomororw–and do lunch

Last night I actually went out, trying to keep up my tradition of at least one literary event a month since Oct 2006, and listened to a talk, reading and had a book signed by Philip Gerard. He was discussing and signing his book “Cape Fear Rising” which is a historical novel. I love history, especially the events so close to you, yet you never heard of them.

Sent out my 2nd chapbook today to two different contests. SO I have two chapbooks out and two contests each . WIll need to decide how often I am going to send the chapbooks out (given all the fees and all) and which one to which contests etc. I am planning on starting a 3rd chapbook based on poems that I have had published in the past. The two chapbooks that are circulating now are both themed.

Anyway, just a few thoughts for today. Looking forward to a fresh week with Monday including a job interview!! Wish me luck I’ll tell you more about that later.

Every once in a while when I am playing around on the internet (of course, especially Google) I find myself searching for people from my past, just wondering–Where Are They Now?

Here are some people I wonder about, but whom I can’t seem to locate.

I just finished a fantastic book and I thought I might break my “not reviewing on Amazon” habit. The book, however, is not listed on Amazon but is available through the publisher Main Street Rag. The novel I am talking about is The Traveling Diseaseby Susan Woodring.

As I was trying to think about what to say about this novel, I decided–finally–to approach it on two fronts: stylistically and gut.

Style: Susan’s (btw she is a Queens alumni but she graduated before I even started the program and I only bet her when she was signing the book at Park Road books) style is effortless. I found her ability to slip into and out of expostion remarkable. You can see it from page 2! Within the first 20 pages I am so drawn to teh narrator of this novel, a young girl, that I found myself almost reading too quickly! This is a well constructed novel that kept me interested throughout through a strong voice, great poetic detail and strong description. I’d have to say that the main character, Pamela, is a mix between Harriett the Spy and Ellen Foster. But what drew me most through the novel is that the narrator isn’t one of those perfect children. She has had a rough life, but she doesn’t always handle it elegantly. I like that. Terrific. Terrifc read. Congrats Susan!

Gut: What is harder to pinpoint is my gut reaction. Some of it is still described above. I just loved this book. But not just for how strongly it was written but becasue I did feel a personal connection. The main character’s mother is named Thelma. That was my mother’s name. When I see a name like that (that you don’t hear very often) I found myself watching the mother closer. And, I could see some of the saddness that my mother struggled with in her own restless 40 years of life. Then of course, precocious Pamela (the narrator)–boy did I see myself in her as well. The good and the bad.

I wish my review here was written as well as the novel! If you are looking for a new piece of fiction pick this one up or pick up a copy for a friend. I think a wide variety of people will fall in love with this story, especailly people in NC who might see a bit of their own landscape in the town of Melby.

The weekend welcomed me with three rejection slips for my poems. One of them was both good and sad. On the sad side, of course, my poems were not accepted. And, as one I had last week, it was for some poems I felt good about and a journal I am really impressed with. So doubly sad. But on the good side of that I received “ink.”

Most of the ink I have been receiving lately has just been, “Hey we liked one of the poems, try again,” but this ink was the first time in a years I’ve actually gotten comments on individual poems. That was nice to receive.

Still a slow start to the year for me and hopes of getting some publications under my belt. But I’ll keep plugging away! Sent out a short story today and I’m getting back into the swing of my “work week.”

Now if I could just get motivated to do my chores Maybe my “boss” (hehe) could give me a nice handwritten note thanking me for my work, then I’d be more motivated I need some housecleaning “ink”

Another week out the door. It is dreary here and I am feeling lazy. Groceries and vacuuming where on tap today and I’m already tired from trying to complete them!

I don’t have much in the way of interesting thoughts for you today. I hope to get a good pile of reading done and we have a TON of stuff saved on the DVR that needs some watching.

And some Chinese food. Yep. Definitely some Chinese food.

Have a great weekend everyone. And if youaren’t in a good mood, watch this video it is sure to cheer you up

I am patiently waiting on the last of my books for the May residency at Queens to come in. I had one through an Amazon partner that I just got an email on–out of stock. Shoot! Now I am getting a refund. I went back onto Amazon and found another used provider of the same book, but since I didn’t want to pay a bunch for shipping I decided to order some books that were on my “I-really-want-but-can’t-justify-because-I-have-so-many-books-I-haven’t-read-yet” list. So about $30 bucks later (hehe) I have more books coming.

I just ran out to the mailbox after hearing the mailman pull up. It is probably one of the best parts of my day since I have been at home, to hear that the post man has made his delivery. Nothing good at all today! Not even a pile of rejection slips! I am waiting on books from another used book provider that I thought would be here today for sure. Ah well, maybe tomorrow. Not that I have time to start the books, but I just like to have them in my greedy little hands.

Last night I finished my first of the 2 steno pads from 2007 that I wanted to complete so today I am starting with poems from July 23rd of 2007 here in a few minutes. I finished some edits for my March workshop poems and this weeks lit mag submissions. I also began typing up edits of a short story I am hopefully going to get sent out next week. And finally, I’m just staring a travel narrative about our trip to Normandy back in September. I’m pretty excited about that project. I am going back to read my blog posts. I haven’t decided on what “angle” the essay will eventualy take because right now I am just getting all my thoughts down. Ah, essay writing is so fun!

Tomorrow is Friday!!!! Thank goodness