Monday, March 27, 2006

Saturday in New York

L., D, and I drove into New York City Saturday morning. First thing: a new york bagel and coffee. Thus sustained we headed into the American Museum of Natural History to see the Darwin exihibit. The exhibit tells the story of Darwin's life and scientific discoveries. There is a nice balance of "live" exhibits and artifacts (such as letters) to keep all ages engaged. We hit the dinosaur halls next. I wanted to see the butterfly exhibit, but we were running out of time and calories.

We left the museum and headed down to see a friend of L.'s for lunch. We ate in a cozy-funky place called Bar 6 in the West Village. Then L's friend took us to see Slava's Snowshow. The entire show is a set of sketches performed by one main clown "Yellow" and a troupe of four "Green" clowns. The Russian clown who started the show has created a piece that transcends political boundaries as well as age differences. There is something for everyone here. Here is one description: If a stray spore of Cirque du Soleil had taken root in one of Dostoevsky's Russian winters, this deeply imaginative act of theatre might have been the result. Slava, a Russian clown of the old school - the really old pre-vaudeville school, surrounds himself with dreamlike scenery and fantastic situations in a show that has won critical approval worldwide. (http://www.entertainment-link.com)

I will refrain from a larger discussion of the existential clowning, but if you wish to know more I would be happy to discuss. Here is one review "Clowns on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown" that might be helpful. After the show, our friend took us backstage. The cast was relaxing and eating pizza between shows. We learned more about the history of the show and got to see inside the lives that bring the show to life for the audience. We even got to eat pizza with them.

Our final stop in the city was Veniero's Italian cake shop. We had a taste test. We ordered three kinds of cheesecake. Our first pick: Sicilian. Second: New York Style. Third: Italian cheesecake. All three were wonderful, but the Sicilian was over the top.

Poem: The Persistent Accent

I have taken today's poem from The Writer's Almanac by Garrison Keillor. Visit the webpage to listen to the program.

"The Persistent Accent" by Patricia Dobler from Collected Poems. © Autumn House Press. Reprinted with permission.

The Persistent Accent

Until the grave covers me, on foreign soil
I shall remain Hungarian

Hungarian folk song

Because this fat old lady
has exactly the voice
of my dead grandma,
I find myself
trailing her through the supermarket
as she complains to her friend
about the Blacks, the kids, the prices,
age, disease, and certain death,
and I'm seduced
by that Hungarian accent
decades in this country can't diminish,
and I see the smoky fires
of the harvesters, a golden-braided girl
fetching their dinners of peppers and lamb,
and I follow her
through the aisles,
wanting to lay my face
between her hands,
to ask her for a song.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Fnuny Stfuf

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht
I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid!
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy,
it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a
wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat
ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses
and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae
the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef,
but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas
tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Monday, March 20, 2006

Weekend of Mystery

I spent the past weekend clustered around a conference table with twelve other aspiring mystery writers. Actually I have never aspired to write mystery. In fact, except for a brief affair with Mary Higgins Clark in high school, I have rarely picked mysteries to read (plane rides being exceptions, but even for planes I prefer thrillers).

Yet I have known some teachers who teach mystery reading and writing. High school students love it. I thought: never me. I was just too uncomfortable as a nonreader of mystery. Following an old adage to do the thing that most scares me: I signed up for the weekend seminar at Grub Street to learn all I could about the genre as a teacher, not to mention pick up tips for fiction writing for my own novel-ever-in-progress and short stories.

Here is the class description:

Instructor: Hallie Ephron
2 days, 9AM - 4PM, includes hour for lunch
Fasten your seatbelts for this two-day crash course in mystery writing. Mystery author and Boston Globe crime fiction critic Hallie Ephron will step you through the process of turning a kernel of an idea into an intriguing mystery novel. You'll learn to capitalize on your writing strengths and shore up your weaknesses. The class will address:
* planning, twisting the plot, and constructing a credible surprise ending
* creating a compelling sleuth and a worthy villain
* deceiving and revealing with red herrings and clues
* writing investigation, spine-tingling suspense, and dramatic action
* revising-from sharpening characters, to optimizing pace, to smithing words
* making the reader care
Cost of registration includes a copy of Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel: How to Knock'em Dead with Style.

Ms. Ephron, author of several mysteries (see below), proved to be a dynamic teacher who is both a master of her material and an excellent presenter. We sat there and just absorbed the "bones" of a good mystery. We were given gems of practical tips for writing in the genre (and writing fiction in general), and how to establish oneself in the community.

One of her messages was: writing is not a miracle. It is hard work (massive amounts thereof) coupled with persistence that get published. She encouraged us to believe in our writing. If it is good, it will get published (after much rejection, of course). All in all, she was very positive without being falsely enthusiastic.

I had worried about dedicating an entire weekend to mystery writing. Now I can say that it has given me new ways to see my own novel (for example, how to build good dialogue and suspense). I may also teach mysteries next year armed with my new knowledge and my copy of Ms. Ephron's wonderful craft text: Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel.

Hallie Ephron Mysteries
(writing as G.H.Ephron)

Amnesia
Addiction
Delusion
Obsessed
Guilt

Visit her website at http://hallieephron.com/


Thursday, March 16, 2006

Yo-Yo Ma (and me)

L. and I made the short walk to the symphony tonight for an 8 pm concert. It was our second trip this year, our first time to hear Yo-Yo Ma. We were fortunate to see James Levine conduct our first visit (he is currently undergoing surgery for an arm injury suffered during on on-stage tumble a few weeks ago). Yo-Yo Ma was the superstar draw and he did give an impressive performance wailing away at this cello. Both L. and I, however, preferred the Ligeti piece. He is one crazy Transylvanian composer, excuse or bias.

Symphony hall is impressive with its wall of organ, ornate gilding, mythological statues, and eclectic crowd. It is worth going just to eavesdrop on the rich array of strange, strange conversations. There are some serious orchestra fans out there.

It is amazing to live within walking distance to the hall, and so many other art venues (not to mention independent book stores, boutiques, etc.--and, of course, a Dunkin Donut on every corner.)

This year in Boston reminds me of the riches of living in Rome, where I studied during college. Indeed, it does feel like I am "living abroad" here in Boston for the year. Only this time I have the cash to go to concerts and eat in restaurants. Truthfully, the free concerts in Roman churches still rival any ticketed event here. The romantic memories of a college year in bella italia are hard to top.

While Yo-Yo Ma was making his cello sing, my mind drifted here and there. I thought of my first cello solo experience back in college. It was a fall night at Notre Dame, waiting in line to buy football tickets. Matt came by (I don't remember his last name! roommate of B.) and played a simple piece (was it by Bach?). I was entranced by that impromptu cello under the stars. In my book, his performance beats Yo-Yo. So, wherever you are Matt, I am sending you my thanks!



Here is a link to the program notes for the concert we heard this evening:

David Robertson, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Ligeti, Shumann, Strauss

And an excerpt from Shumann's Cello Conerto

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Writerly Quote of the Day

"A thing I have always loved about writing, or even simply intending to write, is that it makes attentiveness a habit of mind."--Marilynne Robinson

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Eve is Coming! Eve is Coming!

Eve Ensler is coming to Boston March 21 - 26 to perform her newest play "The Good Body." I bought myself a nearly-front row ticket the better to see her expressive face by. I won't rave about Eve here and now, but I could (and should) in a later entry, perhaps. I do want to encourage local Bostonites to check out the show. I can't vouch for the play yet; but I do support her activism to end violence.

In honor of Eve, here is a poem that I have been working on. I am still not "finished" with it. Or perhaps it is not yet finished with me!

The Scent of Belief
for Eve Ensler

My vagina speaks two words from the pulpit of her: "I believe!"

Hallelujah! Praise be to the Living God
on High from High,
I have found the scent smack between my warm white thighs.

Pink-folding rose purpled red, brown-bleeding,
ocean depths of deep-crystalloid wet,
torn fire-breathing,
ripped from cry of laughter
that stinks up,
wretched river of sweat,
civilizations gone into your wide-mouthed face,
deep into the proteins of your rusty-forgotten red soul until

you cannot stand hushed before such truth—

Wash over me! You on my skin gentle, skilled. Deep down water. Yes, yes.

That smell, my smell,

you can name it now.

Alluring-repulsive invitation with waxy seal, always there, unspoken.

We believe you will beg,

lament on hard—blistered fists pounding and kneeling—sore knees aching,
for sugar blackened incense.

Agitated, never right, no peace. Only impressed upon.

Waiting

until you too find your voice,
find your words stolen, and then

speak softly

through folds of bruised flesh collapsing in praise:

amen.

Friday, March 10, 2006

Gladwell on Freakonomics

Those who know me, know that I am a Tipping Point/Gladwell fan. I also enjoyed Freakonomics by Levitt and Dubner.

Now Gladwell (on his very own BLOG) has commented on Freakonomics, a book he loves but yet has criticisms for as well.

Of course, this is fascinating stuff if you have read Malcolm and Freakonomics (plugging here).

But, even if you have not yet moved Jane Austen to the back burner in favor of a little modern cultural/pyschological/economical analysis. . . .this is still a worthy read.


Plus, you will get to see a picture of Malcolm.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Google Chat with a Ten-Year-Old

me: Hey Dani

Daniel: hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

me: whoah
tell me a joke...

Daniel: hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

me: Okay, now you are just showing off!

Daniel: booooooooooooooooooooooo

me: :)

Daniel: booooooooooooooo
boooooooooooooooooo
booooooooooooooooooooo

me: who

Daniel: booooooooooooooooo

me: ?who?

get it?

bo who?
stop crying?
stop crying!

Daniel: lame+old

me: OUCH!

Daniel: what?

me: calling me LAME and OLD

Daniel: the joke is LAME and OLD

me: Oh, right.

Daniel: jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez

me: :)

Daniel: ;)

me: Did you invite Jon over yet?

Daniel: no
john

me: what are you doing this weekend?

sorry JoHn

Daniel: chases birth­day...... science pro­ject........ same old same old

me: Is Chase in your class?

Daniel: chase's
no he left
went to amenia

me: then how are you going to his party?
I am confused

Daniel: his mom or dad is taking me

me: to Armenia?
Isn't that in Europe?

Daniel: Amenia, no

me: Is it in NY?

Daniel: it's in Dutchess county

me: Sweet
What did you get him?

Daniel: ds game

me: good deal.

Daniel: mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­mo­momo

me: will you play football again? at the party, I mean.

Daniel: ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
i don't know

me: okay. I am off to take a shower.
I just got back from the gym

And now I have to go to a writing class
I don

Daniel: ts

me: I don't want to be sticky in the class.

Daniel: forgot the e

me: I AM THE STINKIEST right now

Daniel: huh?

me: tse?

Daniel: hahahahahahahahahahaha
u forgot the e

me: okay....spelling po­lice...whatever!

Daniel: ts as in the noise

me: what? I don't get iti!

Daniel: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

me: like you are shaking your finger at me for being a bad girl?

Daniel: SPELLING POLICE. WATCH OUT­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO

me: danger beware all bad speller­s....*WE ARE AFTER U*

Daniel: ?!@#$%!?@# CAPS LOCK­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no bold?!?!?!

me: I think spelling is over­rated. I mean...who cares?

Daniel: yeh

me: I know, I just caps lock and it totally didn't work with the bold

Daniel: mine did

me: show off

Daniel: AD
@!?@#$%!&!@#$ CAPS LOCK

me: crazy

Daniel: UHUH

me: ALD­FJDLKJSLFJD­SKL
HA HA

Daniel: see it works!

me: cool

Daniel: @!#$^#!$#@$$@$%@@!%!$@$^@

me: awesome awesome awesome are you.

Daniel: ye­h............. right

me: Ser­i­ously, dude, I STINK
must go shower

Daniel: :{

me: must be clean

Daniel: :}
;(

me: must be the CLEAN­EST in the world!!!!!

Daniel: :(
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

me: what are U doing?
finished with homework, etc.

Daniel: faces
yep

me: I heared that is supposed to be really warm this week­end...

Daniel: yep

me: maybe 60 degrees

Daniel: wwwwwwwwwwwwwww­wooooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww

me: now that is ....truly......AWE­SOME

Watch me:
I
am
about
to
sign
off
and
take
a
shower

Daniel: noway

me: yesway

Daniel: crud

me: crudway

Daniel: huh

?

me: Why? Do you have something to tell me?

Why should I stay?
Give me a reas­on....

Daniel: u
dont
need
shower
@@

me: You don't smell mle

Daniel: _

me: Ser­i­ouisly, I STINK reall nasty

Daniel: @@
-
@@

me: I am saying goodbye now.......

Daniel: -

me: bye
bye
bye
bey
bey
bye
bye
bye
bye

Daniel: heheheheh­heheh­h
bey

me: BYE

Daniel: u stiill on?

me: szia
etc.
bye
bye
bye
No I am not
I am not here
I am in the shower
I am washing my hair now

Daniel: NO SPELLING PO­LICE!!!!!!!

me: The water is too hot!

Daniel: UHHUH
HOW ARE U TYPING

me: It is hard to reach the comptuer from the shower­.....but I can do it!

Daniel: UHHUH
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
me: STOP SHOUTING

Daniel: IS URE LYING GRADE

me: What?
Janet is scratch­ing her head in confusion

Daniel: 0 IS URE LYING GRADE
NICE

me: Oh.....very, very very very FUNNY
(really that was funny!)

Daniel: 100 IS URE WRITING GRADE

me: :)

Daniel: UHHUH

me: Wait, who is the teacher?
I am supposed to give grades.....

Daniel: UH­H­H­H­H­H­H­H­HH U
YE­H............................

me: Dude
I
am
outa
here
Catch you
LATER

Daniel: NO URE NOT

me: ACK!
Daniel did not receive your chat.
Daniel did not receive your chat.

Daniel: ure still on?

me: LEAVE ME ALONE
just kidding

Daniel: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

me: I was rereading our chat

Daniel: UHHUH

me: we are two funny people...

Daniel: WHERE IS TATA

me: Cali­for­nia

He will be back tomorrow am

Daniel: UHHUH

me: k
bye

Daniel: KK

me: bye

Daniel: UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH
UHHUH

me: Ack
Argh
uch

Daniel: Ar­ghAr­ghAr­ghAr­ghAr­ghAr­gh
Argh
Argh
Argh
Argh
Argh
Argh
Argh
Argh

me: :0

Daniel: ACK
ACK
ACK
ACK
ACK
ACK
ACK
ACK
ACK

me: splat

Daniel: GO OUT ON 1
5

4

3

2

1

God Says Yes to Me by Kaylin Haught

God Says Yes to Me

by Kaylin Haught

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic
and she said yes
I asked her if it was okay to be short
and she said sure it is
I asked her if I could wear nail polish
or not wear nail polish
and she said honey
she calls me that sometimes
she said you can do just exactly
what you want to
Thanks God I said
And is it even okay if I don't paragraph
my letters
Sweetcakes God said
who knows where she picked up that
what I'm telling you is
Yes Yes Yes

Taken from Being Alive edited by Neil Astley and published by Bloodaxe Books