A Virtual Writing Group

I've signed on with a virtual writing group, the Artist's Daily Almanac. Let's see if I'm better blogging in a group than I am on my own.

Finally writing

Yesterday was highly productive (for a change). Hoa has convinced me to enter the Poetry Society of America's chapbook contest (deadline Dec. 23), and I realized I didn't have anything I wanted to enter. So I've been pulling together some poems I wrote 2 years ago with some newer stuff, shaping it around the climate change push.

So far I'm pretty pleased with the results, but I need to write another 5 to 15 pages to meet the 20 to 30 page requirement.

My morning commute

I've been working with Ben's mapping program to make poem sequences. Check out my morning commute in haynaku (three-line poems comprising one word/two words/three words). Try zooming in with satellite for the best results.

I guess you had to be There

One of the best things about titling my journal There is that I can make all sorts of bad puns.

Last night There celebrated its second issue with a reading and party at Mama Buzz in Oakland. And a good time was had by all, at least I hope that's the case. It was fairly well-attended, as such things go, with people in the audience besides the other readers.

The response to There has just been tremendous, so overwhelmingly positive. I was quite touched.

Going deep

A reminder that my series of laments is finally up at Deep South, published by the University of Otago. Don't let the "Spring 2006" fool you; they are on the other side of the equator.

You had to go There

The second issue of There is official, with new work from: Skip Fox, David Huntsperger, J.D. Mitchell-Lumsden, Kristin Palm, Anne Elezabeth Pluto, Kyle Schlesinger, and more.

And I, for one, welcome our new Democratic overlords

So the results are (mostly) in, and I'm still having trouble believing it. The Democrats have taken the House and have a good chance at grabbing the Senate. Donald Rumsfeld has resigned, and Christmas came early this year.

For the past couple months, even with polls indicating the Republicans were in trouble, I was sure that the Democrats didn't have a chance. Maybe because I'm so used to losing, so used to being puzzled by other voters' actions. It's taken six years of dictatorial rule (Iraq, Katrina, Abramoff), but the rest of the country is starting to question the direction we've taken.

There Reading and Launch Party

There, the online journal of arts and literature that I edit, is celebrating its first two issues with a reading featuring Kristin Palm, Sarah Trott, Jacob Eichert, Laurel DeCou, and Su Pike.

There is Here: Launch Party and Reading
Wednesday, November 8
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Mama Buzz Cafe
2318 Telegraph Ave. at 23rd St.
Oakland, CA 94612

I'm very excited and a bit nervous about the reading, but I think it will go really well. I've gotten a very positive response from the community.

so I just got 10

I started strong last month in my goal of 29 posts (to match my previous record of most posts in a single month), but things fell apart in the second half. In my defense, it's gotten very busy between parties and costumes and increased hours at the office. I'm going to try to do better in November. Really. This time I mean it.