I thought I was going to be late driving up to Keyport today for my reading, because of all the post-holiday traffic clogging the Turnpike. I arrived with about a minute to spare, and clearly a lot of our prospective public was on the road too, because it was a fairly small crowd (although bigger than last time.)
They were appreciative, though. I read both the Pushcart nominations, and they went down extremely well, plus “The Lal-Jomi” and sundry other poems new and old. (The newest one was “Caregiver’s Villanelle,” which may yet turn out to be my second successful attempt at a serious villanelle–as I said to a Barefoot Muse contributor earlier this week, light verse villanelles are easier!)
Then I got directions from the quite charming and very talented Don Lee, so that I could find a way back avoiding the Turnpike traffic. It was actually quite a pleasant drive, zipping down the back roads. I got to see plenty of Christmas lights as well as traffic lights…
All things considered, it’s been a surprisingly good weekend.
I just received a letter in the mail informing me that the Journal of New Jersey Poets has nominated my poem “Just Something You Do,” which appeared in their 2006 issue, for a Pushcart Prize. So that’s my third nomination, second for 2006 (Thanks again Apple Valley Review!) and first from a print journal.
Ironically, of course, the poem is a free verse piece I wrote before going to Bennington–it was actually the result of an exercise set by Rachel, Uber-Goddess of the QND Poets, on “Regret Sex.”
Now you want to read the poem, don’t you? I guess I’ll have to put it up on my website and edit in a link.
Oh, and while I’m at it, here’s the piece I did on tea for the Philadelphia City Paper.
Today was Becky’s first meet as a Competitive Level 5. She only competed two events, as she has never done the Floor routine to Music and doesn’t quite have all the Bars elements.
I’m happy to report, however, that she did amazingly well.
She scored 8.2 on Beam, sticking everything including the cartwheel, and this earned her fifth place (a podium spot and a ribbon) in her age group of ten girls (8-9).
Her coach had only decided yesterday that she was ready to compete Vault, but she nevertheless scored a very respectable 7.7.
She and her sister are now tucking into a well deserved MacDonald’s Mighty Kids Meal, to be followed by Ice Cream.
I’ve been at the Gym selling Pins since 7.30 a.m. and am about ready to collapse in front of the TV with a glass of wine, but I thought I’d allow myself a Proud Mom moment first. Yay for Becky!
I spent forty minutes today boxing with my personal trainer. Now, why, you might ask, would a 38 year old 5 ft 2 woman with a hole in the heart want to box? Some might reply it’s because I’m a scrappy little bitch. Actually, it’s a great workout, combining endurance, cardio, upper and lower body strength. But, furthermore, when you’re mad at the world it’s great to hit something, even if it’s only your personal trainer’s pads.
Then this evening I watched “Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones.” I’m not going to call this a great film, but it certainly is good entertainment. Given that I’m old enough to have seen the original three movies in theater, and was busy raising small children when the new ones started coming out, it’s a treat to discover that universe again (prequentially speaking).
So, you see, I can write a post and not even mention poetry, or my kids. Oops. (And I did write a poem WHILE watching the movie, called “Sonnet on a Line from Star Wars.” Oops again.)
Ah well, anyone got any Sith Lords they need beating up?
When something isn’t going too well, it’s good to concentrate on a few things that are, especially if you have children. (It’s not good for the little darlings to see Mommy cry, and none of us wants to end up like Sylvia Plath.)
My good friend Rachel over on Journalspace does an entry every Friday called “Friday Goodness,” so here for you today (Upper lip a little wobbly but mostly stiff) is some Tuesday Goodness.
- The guys at Citypaper.net contacted the QNDs yesterday asking for 100 word articles for their “Culture Shock” feature. Immediately inspired, I whizzed one back on, of all things, drinking hot tea, and I think they’re going to publish it. Or at least, that’s how I interpret the response: “Very, very cool! (Hot!)”
- Shattercolors are taking three of my poems for their next issue, including “Return to Narragansett” which won the “Words on the Wall” at the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference in 2005.
- I have babysitting for Friday, so I can take my husband with me when we go out to celebrate a good friend’s birthday in the alternative lifestyle area of Philadelphia.
- Becky has been working very hard on her gymnastics, and may get to compete three of the four events at her first Level 5 Gymnastics meet on Sunday: Bars, Beam and Floor. (She just can’t do the Level 5 Vault yet.)
- I’m still psyched about the election. Yay for the Democrats!
- I wrote a poem yesterday which is different from anything else I’ve ever written. It’s called “An Imaginary History of my Grandfather.”
- I forgot to eat yesterday evening and today I weighed only a little over 130 lb. (Okay, maybe that’s not so good, forgetting to eat, but the girls reading this will get it.)
- Today I get to go into my kids’ school for Open Day. Becky’s class is doing a little play, which should be really cute.
- Lorna got picked as a child reading well above Grade level for the second grade enrichment program.
- Tomorrow I’m going to a poetry reading at Burlington County Library. Bettye Spinner is the featured reader and my good friend Adele is hosting. It should be a good night.
There you go. Maybe life doesn’t suck as much as I thought it did, after all.
I am presently putting the finishing touches to Issue #4, and I’m very excited about it. I’ve also just finalized my nominations for the 2006 Pushcart Prize. While I don’t have very high expectations for any e-zine nominations making the final cut, I think we all recognize that, provided nominations are made fairly on merit (and not simply to friends, or for favors) even to be nominated is an honor.
Personally I have been nominated twice for a Pushcart, both times by e-zine editors whose only knowledge of me came via the poetry I submitted to their journals and the resulting email correspondences. It’s a model I intend to follow. I even announced at a Quick & Dirty Poets meeting recently that whereas I have no problem publishing my fellow members if their poetry has merit, it is very unlikely I would nominate them for any honors because I would wish to avoid the appearance of bias. Thankfully the issue didn’t arise with these nominations. I have published good poems by QND Member Bruce Niedt in both issues, but there were two excellent poems from both the current and upcoming issues that, for various reasons, I haven’t been able to shake from my mind, and hence I went with those.
From the Summer Issue#3:
From the upcoming Winter Issue#4
- “Expanding on Voltaire’s Grammar” by J. Patrick Lewis
- “A Meditation on Dactylic Hexameter” by Maryann Corbett
Also in Issue#4, our featured poet is Jared Carter, and there will be reviews of his new book Cross this Bridge at a Walk as well as all the chapbooks in the current Modern Metrics Press catalog.
We’re on schedule to go online November 30th. Now, there was a small matter of an MFA essay I needed to write…
I now know why they shaved Samantha’s head when she starred in The Minority Report. It is impossible to look glamorous with electrodes glued to your head if you have hair. (And I wasn’t giving up my hair.)
I have to wear these electrodes (17) for 24 hours. My husband’s in Arkansas selling tea to Wal-Mart, and I have to pick the kids up from school and deliver Lorna to Art Class looking like this.
I don’t even really think this test is necessary, as the TEE found a PFO. (TLAs anyone?)
Sigh. Please, please, please can I have some good poetry news today…
