(A)stray: One Poet's Conversation

Happy Valentine's Day to You!

2012-02-13T07:43:00.003-05:00

Sending Love-ly thoughts to all of you today and tomorrow and the next day. May tomorrow have its chocolate kisses . . .

love,
M.J.

Genesee Reading Series, 2/14/2012 at 7:30 p.m.

2012-02-13T07:31:00.001-05:00

Genesee Reading Series

Hosted by Wanda Schubmehl
Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m
$3 W&B members / $6 general public.

Come to the heart of the Neighborhood of the Arts. Fall in love with the writing of Dwain Wilder and Bill Pruitt. Meet the Buddha dog and the Fractal Buddha. Go home feeling glad to be alive!

Bill Pruitt has given poetry readings and done storytellings in many venues in Rochester and New York state. He has published three books of poetry, including chapbooks Ravine Street and Bold Cities and Golden Plains, and, most recently, a full-length collection, Walking Home from the Eastman House. He has also written short stories and a novel. He has worked as a construction laborer, loading dock receiver, hospital courier, natural food store manager, and, for the last two and a half decades, as a teacher of English as a Second Language for BOCES.

Dwain Wilder, born in a small town outside Dallas, graduated from Yale with a degree in American Studies, and moved to Rochester in 1970 to study Zen Buddhism. He has had leadership roles in the anti-Vietnam War and Civil Rights movements, and has worked as a navy flightcrew member, research technician, software engineer, and luther. He holds three patents, in semi-conductor device design and musical instrument innovation. His Appalachian dulcimers are held in high regard in the US and abroad, and he teaches dulcimer building in his studio and at the Northeast Dulcimer Symposium in Blue Mountain Lake. Dwain's poetry collection, Under the Only Moon, was published in 2011 by FootHills Publishing. He lives with his wife and two dogs in a farmhouse on the edge of a park.

Some thing weighing on my mind

2012-02-07T06:08:00.004-05:00

Photo: K. Iuppa

Now that's February 7th, it's time to celebrate, the pressing program reports, evaluations, schedules are complete and handed in on time.
Now to turn my complete attention to my classes and upcoming events and writing.

My January tally for acceptances:
1 Review, 8 poems (mostly prose poems).
It's exciting to see issues launched online or
arrive in my mail box. The newest issues of Poetry East and The Raleigh Review have just arrived. Both are lovely-- covers and designs. So pleased to be included among such fine poets-- poets I have been following for many years. It's thrilling. Glad that I will have the luxury of reading these issues slowly. I often wonder how many people read their journals
cover to cover? I love looking at the trajectory of the issues, noting the editors' sensibilities, artistry. These are early Valentine gifts. A lot of love, and maybe some crankiness-- there's always a dash of cranky-- went into these journals. I often think about all the solitary hours that are spent by writers, editors. No wonder we all celebrate the realized work. It's our hour of connection to each other and the world. I read in the early morning and at night, returning to favorite ones to difficult ones to ones that won't let me go. This is how poetry has taken hold of my life. It's been like this for such a long time; and when I'm not writing, I get really off-kilter.
It's a malaise that can't be cured with a spoonful of pink. The brooding is like the cloud image above. Today, I'm relieved, but when I was turning in reports yesterday, I was given another time-consuming project. Hmm, will have to hunker down for this too. The sooner, the better.

I did receive a funny acceptance email last week that said basically this: "We're on again, don't write back, we're taking your work. More later." I could literally feel this email's urgency. I wonder what number email I was. The editor must have been chained to the computer for the day, dashing off notes. I'm so glad that the project is on again. It's a good project and I really wanted to write her back to thank her, but I didn't because answering yet another email would probably throw her overboard. I wonder if we wear off our fingerprints with all the hours of keyboarding.

Tonight I will be reading love poems at Writers & Books (see post below for details). If you in the neighborhood, stop by. The event is free and starts at 7 p.m.

Another Beautiful Day . . .

2012-02-05T06:28:00.005-05:00

"Cloud" Photo: K. Iuppa

So lovely. Our landscape that holds me in wonder. My sister Karen captures its beauty in her photographs. Makes me happy.

Upcoming February Events:

Writers & Books
740 University Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607

“How Do I Love Thee?” Romantic Love Poems Through the Ages

Tuesday, February 7, 7 p.m.

Free and open to the public. Put a little love in your hearts.

Join us for readings of beloved poetry on the theme of love by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Lord Byron, Edgar Allan Poe, W. B. Yeats, Emily Bronte, Robert Browning, Pablo Neruda, Hayden Carruth, and many others. What better way to prepare for Valentine’s Day? Read by Tim Madigan, Glenn Odden, M.J. Iuppa, and Steve Huff.

SUNY Brockport's Writers Forum curated by Anne Panning and Ralph Black

Wednesday February 22, 2012 at 8 p.m in Cooper Hall, New York Room

Free and Open to Public. Books will be available for sale and signing.

Reading from Recent Releases and New Work:

Steve Fellner, an associate professor of English at Brockport, is an award-winner who has published a memoir, All Screwed Up, and two books of poetry.

M.J. Iuppa, Writer-in-Residence and Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Minor Program at St. John Fisher College, has published several poetry books, including her news full length collection Within Reach(Cherry Grove Collections, 2010).

Founded in 1967, The Writers Forum is one of the most celebrated reading series in the country and has played host to acclaimed and talented authors, poets, essayists, novelists, editors and cartoonists. The forum has dedicated itself to explore both the medium and the art of writing as it influences new generations.

Hope to see you there and there!

River of Stone Writing Project

2012-01-29T10:40:00.003-05:00

Stone #29:

A slow sugar sifting of snow has been falling since 8 a.m. At last, we seeing a scene from winter's past. When Peter fed the chickens, they were distressed by the snow. Didn't quite know what to make of it. They ran back into their hutch. This snow band is stretching from Jamestown to Hamlin to Watertown. I guess today is the day winter arrives.

Quincouplet Project: We're at the end of Round Four. Round Five started on Saturday (1/28).
A perk of this project, at least for me, is making the collage postcards. Patricia Roth Schwartz
is also collaging her cards. I can't wait to see all of the cards that have been sent in the mail.
I think we're going to present our quincouplets at a Just Poets meeting in April, or it may be
an event of its own. Not sure, but there will be a celebration of this work. My team's work has been fascinating to watch the twists and turns in each round. Every round has had a theme. So far, we've had these themes: wintering, fire, color, deception, and now, rivers.
We're going to have seven rounds, which will put us mid-February, or so. It's gone by so quickly.

Today will be another day of catching up with work. One of my students told me that she does everything on the weekends because the weekdays are too jammed packed. Mine too. I have been getting up in the wee hours of the morning, trying to get a leg up on all the work that's due right now. I feel like I'm organizing work in the same way airplanes are held on a tarmac until take off. Several planes are waiting with their lights on. O, to soar~

Just received the proof pages for the upcoming issue of The Centrifugal Eye. Eve Hanninen, Editor-in-Chief, is an amazing artist, designer, writer. I admire her aesthetics-- such style and thought on each page. My pages for this upcoming issue are gorgeous. It's thrilling to see, worthy of framing. Can't wait to read the whole issue.

2 Pages/2Voices , Upcoming Play Reading

2012-01-29T10:24:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Evelyn Jansen!!

I'm planning on going to the upcoming performances of 2 Pages/2 Voices. It's always an entertaining night. ** If you're planning on going, get there early because the room fills up quickly. I love hearing the plays "read" by our local actors. It's such a wonderful venue.

Here are the details from Writers & Books Website:

2 Pages/2 Voices

Tuesday, January 31, 8 p.m.
Writers & Books, free admission

We are pleased to announce the playwrights and plays selected for our annual Writers & Books/Geva Theatre Center collaboration, 2 Pages/2 Voices. Local writers submitted short plays, all of which contains the word "bat" in the dialogue.
Come enjoy these winning entries as they receive their first-ever dramatic reading in our performance space at W&B.

Morgan Altland, Rorschach
TD Gillett, BeAuTy
Chris Swanson, A Night Out
Kate Romansky, Made for Each Other
Shelagh Hodson, Book Group
Steven Donner, The Juror and the Foreman
Roxanne L. Baker, Tottering on Covered Ground
Evelyn "Debbie" Jansen, Don't Let Go
David J. Delaney, The Count
Karl Obine, Window Shopping

Weekend Forecast: More Work

2012-01-21T07:16:00.005-05:00

Photo: K. Iuppa

This is a male, Long-Tailed Duck, formerly known as Oldsquaw. Breeds in the Arctic and winters on both coasts off North America. Our high winds must have pushed it off course. This bird was found resting on the shores of Lake Ontario.

What luck to see him there and get this photo.

I have a lot of work to get done this weekend. The beginning of every semester is just jam-packed with meetings and reports and plans. I'm going to channel the Little Engine that Could . . . I think I Can, I think I Can . . . I need to stay on course . . . But who knows there may be something that
pulls me away from work. There may be a walk or two in this weekend too.

Still participating in the River of Stones. Now writing small world poems for it.
The quincouplet project begins its fourth round today.

Will the Wind bring Good News?

2012-01-18T07:29:00.006-05:00

Rain all day yesterday. mild temperatures. Driving home from Fisher last evening, the wind picked up. Howled all night long. Gusts up to 60 mph. Some homes without power this morning. Not ours. Woke up around 4:30 a.m. Still dark. Wind still blowing. Now daylight is coming on through the woods; bare trees are swaying in chorus. What will today bring?

The semester has begun and it's busy, busy. Hopefully, this semester will settle into its hum quicker than last Fall did.

I have to remember to mail my round two quincouplet postcard today. I have been carrying it around for two days. No mail on Monday. Yesterday, woke up at 3 a.m. then went to Fisher early. Arrived before 9 a.m. and found a parking spot! Was there until 6:30 p.m. Long day, but accomplished a lot.

Thus far, Round 3 of the quincouplet project is really exceptional. We're chugging a long.
I like receiving my team members' responses ( nearly every day). They've become the good news part of my day.

Hope all of you hear good news today!

Blue Skies, But Oh So Cold

2012-01-15T09:30:00.004-05:00

Photo: K. Iuppa

Happy Birthday to the one who is always one with the waves!

January 15th:

Bright sun, cold temperatures. Will go for a walk in a bit. There are several winter festivals happening in our area this weekend. I bet they were doing a snow dance all week long. They must be so happy with this first snowfall of the year. A second coat happened yesterday morning.
So I imagine that there's just enough for dog sled races. Typically, we have a first thaw in this upcoming week. Not this year. This year is upside down winter. Yesterday was slow going on the morning roads. Interesting too, there was a lot of traffic for a Saturday morning. Where was everyone going? By the time I left the George Eastman House around 1 p.m., the roads were clean and dry. Easy ride home.

May this week be as gentle.

Publication news

2012-01-14T06:34:00.005-05:00

Recent Prose and Lyrical Poems and some in between appear on these online publications:
Punchnel's, Curio Poetry, Crack the Spine, Golden Sparrow Review, L.E.S. Review, and Untitled Country Review. Special thanks to the editors who selected my work and the good company I'm keeping in these respective online journals. Several offer "selected" print anthologies over the course of a year.

****

Snowed all day yesterday. Our first snowstorm of the winter. Consequently it's a late start for all of us who needs to get our driving skills in order. The morning commute was dicey. Typically, by this date, everyone is a seasoned winter driver who knows how to handle speed and slippery roads, and so on. I guess yesterday was another story. I decided to work from home yesterday, so I avoided the stressful commute. Perhaps the best decision I've made in this New Year. Even though I was born with the pioneer gene, there comes a time where you look out your window and see the wind swirling snow every which way and know your normal 45 minute commute is going to be 1.5 hours and you decide it would be better to stay put. Do your work from home, which I did and I didn't waste any time.

****

Our quincouplet project is moving along. Third Round begins today.
I've been keeping up with the River of Stones too.

Today, I have a exploratory workshop at the George Eastman House. Looking forward to this creative session. It's good for the head, heart, spirit.

Review of Last Night's Genesee Reading Series at Writers & Books

2012-01-11T07:55:00.006-05:00

A busy day yesterday,which ended perfectly at The Genesee Reading Series. So fortunate to find time in my schedule to go and listen to local poets and writers that I admire. Last night, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Able to put aside all the voices of the day and settle into their voices-- Cathryn Smith's lyrical prose, which is her current work-in-project, finding Jezebel, her family's sailboat that was lost/sold/given up in early 70's. This work connects to her first memoir The Glory Walk, which is a poignant story (multi-layered narrative) about her father and his life as it's slowly trapped by Alzheimer's. It's a complex book and if you haven't read it, you should.

This new collection of essays, dreamscapes, lyrical collages seem to be "raising" her father's life
in the pursuit of re-discovery the boat. It's a ghost ship, with the ability to travel, blurring
boundaries of what's real(memory) and dream. We heard a decent "chunk" of this work-in-progress and there's much to be admired in her narrative style.

Cathryn ( I call her Cathy, but she's Cathryn too) has always had remarkable, elegant carriage-- a way of drawing you into her hour with you. You feel like you're the only one hearing her words; and consequently, you listen intently. It's like this: "Listen, I have something to tell you. . ." and you lean in closer.

Tony Leuzzi was equally engaging. He has a wonderful reading voice. He read from his newest collection Fake Book, which will be released shortly. (He is going to be reading at St. John Fisher on February 2nd, so you'll have another opportunity to see/hear him and buy this terrific collection. Fake Book is set in three parts and its a book that rifts off of American Music 20's-40's, but is more than that because it's one part fictional and another part autobiographical, and another part both fictional and autobiographical, blurring the lines by creating prose poems
that just knocked me out. Tony is so gifted-- the musicality of his work is enough; and more, he gives his readers/listeners a story that is sometimes poignant, sometimes wickedly witty, often ironic.

I loved the Q&A at the end. It was a gracious opportunity to listen to them explain their process which, in many ways, is what we all want to hear. I took it as encouragement.

All of us, in the quiet of our rooms, writing . . . What a gift it is to have these opportunities to escape our rooms and enter the rooms of others.

Quincouplet Project: Round 1 and River of Stones

2012-01-10T07:31:00.003-05:00

We have finished Round 1 of the Quincouplet project. Round two is now in motion.

I think the first round is a fascinating study, because each quincouplet is discrete and stands on its own, but in jusxtaposition to the others, each quincouplet plays off of each other. There's even an echo in this first round! Who knew that was going to happen! Our first theme was "wintering," but we've hardly had any inspiration. Our weather looks like March. Even the Canada geese, that are staying over this winter, are moving from the fields to the lake at night, in the patterns that lift our spirits in March. The relief that winter, which is usually harsh here, is nearly over. Of course, this puts fear in all of our hearts, because we know, living so close to Ontario, that a storm can roll in, towing arctic air. We'll see . . .

__________________
Stone#9:

Yesterday, up early and out the door, driving East into the too bright sun-- white everywhere.
I thought of Charlemagne and how he steadied his horse full of fury. Strangely, the sun calmed me too.

It was a day of learning, exchanging ideas and experiences. I learned an intriguing method of archive/research, which stimulates critical thinking. It was a fabulous workshop and I have some ideas for a writing project, using their strategies. Maybe I can do a mini project with my creative writing class.

One Love | Playing For Change | Song Around the World

2012-01-07T09:48:00.000-05:00

The week after Limbo week . . .Come On, People, Get Ready . . .

2012-01-07T08:25:00.005-05:00

My quincouplet group is nearing the completion of round one. I'm keeping the master of each round, and even though I don't have the privilege of seeing all the postcards, I'm intrigued by
the held moments of each of these quincouplets. Reading quincouplet to quincouplet, I feel like I'm looking at a photo album. They're like snap shots of thought. Can't wait to see the postcards.
I think several of us are creating our own postcards, which adds another layer of time to the project. I've been having fun with this aspect of the project. I like making the postcard collages.

Thank you, Benjamin Krause for inventing this form!

___________

Went to a lot of meetings this week, with much success! Woo-Hoo! I am grateful for all the artists I'm working with these days. I love their energy and spirit and vision. I love the fact that we can put our ideas into a big, simmering pot and come up with programs that will challenge all of us. Can't wait to see how this workshop unfolds. It's gonna be some kind of wonderful.

____________

Looking Forward to This:

GENESEE READING SERIES

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

7:30 PM, Writers and Books

$3 members, $6 public

Curated by Wanda Schubmehl

Start your new literary year with a terrific Genesee Reading Series

program featuring Cathryn Smith and Tony Leuzzi. Resolve to

give yourself the gift of an evening in the presence of great writers

and great writing!

Tony Leuzzi teaches writing and literature at Monroe Community College. He is also the author of three books of poems: Tongue-Tied and Singing (Foothills 2004); Radiant Losses (New Sins Press 2010); and Fake Book (forthcoming from Anything Anymore Anywhere Press in 2012). Eclectic, intelligent, and passionate, his poetry has earned good notices from both mainstream and experimental writers alike. BOA Editions will release his book of interviews with 20 American poets in Fall 2012.

Cathryn Smith was born and raised just outside New York City, went to the University of New Hampshire for her BA and MA degrees, and has lived in Rochester for the past 21 years. Her publications include many poems in small magazines as well as a memoir, The Glory Walk, about her father’s death from Alzheimer’s disease. Currently she is working on another creative nonfiction project, Finding Jezebel, about her search for a boat owned by her family some 35 years ago. Cathryn is also the chair of the English/Philosophy department at MCC, where she has taught for 19 years.

January 3rd: Quincouplet Postcard Project

2012-01-03T09:00:00.005-05:00

River of Stones, Day 3:

I have been writing haiku and senryu for this month long challenge. Decided to keep an ongoing page and wait for further details (newsletter) from the blog. Hundreds were submitted to the blog on Jan1 &2, and no doubt 3, and on.

I like the idea of capturing something briefly in a day.

Today I woke up anticipating the predicted 5-10 inches of snow in our yard. Peeked outside. Nothing. Only morning sun filling up our silver trees with pink light. It's so cold out there. Mercury disappeared in our thermometer.

I feel like I've disappeared too. Have been immersed in writing every day, so much so it's afternoon by the time I look up and check the clock. Yesterday, I created my postcard for the launch of the quincouplet postcard project. My team of Just Poets are: Donna Marbach, Colleen Powderly, Jen Eddy, Dave Tilly and Patricia Schwartz.

Will mail the postcard to Donna today. When we were initially planning the logistics of this project on December 3rd, Donna and Dave ,who have done quite a few collaborations in the past 10 years, both said that the postcard exchange was so turn of the Millennium, which made me laugh. Of course the concern is the number of days it will take to receive the sent postcards. So we're sending the quincouplets ahead of their cards, so our team can read and respond, and mail their cards in a timely fashion.

This project will go until February, with each of us making 6 poem/postcards.

So we're off to a decent start. Donna has written hers and has her postcard images and the quincouplet to Colleen. We're in motion . . .

Looking forward to receiving the postcards. I like mail and I like the idea that so much thought and time will be put into each of these gems.

2012-01-02T10:46:00.002-05:00

Photo: K. Iuppa

Yesterday, my sister Karen and I took separate New Year's walks. Both of us had the same feeling that drivers speeding
down the road were coming straight for us.

Nevertheless we were both attempting to start the year in observation.

My walk was five miles of spying on the neighborhood. It took me 55 minutes, up and back.

Karen and I live about 25 minutes from each other. She's right on Lake Ontario and my farm is very close to the lake, a crow's distance.

I was surprised to see so many houses for sale. It was a mild afternoon, but it did start sputtering rain. There is a home (bursting at the seams with children-- at least eight, maybe more) on my street that adverts bible verse and leaning against the house was a fallen sign: Happy Birthday Jesus. So many yards are muddy. Next time I'm going to take a plastic bag and pick up the tossed cans. When I was a little girl, we (gang of dead end kids) used to pick up bottles tossed out of car windows and turn them in to the small grocery store for penny candy.
We had a sack of candy that would last the whole day long. Who knew we were so environmental back then. Opportunity is everywhere.

Join A River of Stone Writing Project

2012-01-01T15:30:00.003-05:00

Found this on Nancy Devine's blog this afternoon and thought it was a wonderful idea. I too will create stones in the month of January.
There are options: to post the stones online or on the Writing Our Way Home blog or in a new year notebook.

Here's the link for more information:
http://www.writingourwayhome.com/p/river-jan-12.html

Some of you may enjoy this. Yes?

Thanks, Nancy!

Happy New Year !

2012-01-01T07:44:00.002-05:00

So this is it, 2012.

Remember, everything you do today, you'll do all year long. Choose wisely.

Large 24 Inch Fireworks Shell

2012-01-01T07:42:00.000-05:00

Sneak Peek: Liberty's Vigil, release date: 1/15/2012, preorder your copy now.

2011-12-31T09:00:00.005-05:00

Co-editors Karla Linn Merrifield and Dwain Wilder have assembled the first anthology of its type in the world to inspire readers to take action on behalf of the 99%.

"Poets here have left their quiet corners to hit the streets to encourage their neighbors to address the needs of the homeless…to fight side by side with besieged homeowners who are facing foreclosure...to eliminate corporate “personhood” and inordinate corporate influence on Capital Hill. We want readers to learn; we want them to act,” said Merrifield, author of six books of poetry.

Diverse Voices, Diverse Styles

Humor and rage, compassion and irony and so much more! Liberty’s Vigil, The Occupy Anthology may have a single unifying theme, but its poets represent a wide range of viewpoints and styles. You’ll find in the book’s pages distinguished poetic masters such as William Heyen and Francisco X. Alarcón as well as poets just launching their careers. And, the 99 poets’ styles range from free verse to tanka to villanelle to sestina to….

Follow Liberty’s Vigil Online

It’s easy to keep up with Liberty’s Vigil and its activist poets. News of readings held by contributors will be posted on the FootHills Publishing web site (www.foothillspublishing.com.) as well as on Liberty’s Vigil group wall page on Facebook.

Sales to Support Income Equality

FootHills is contributing 20 percent of proceeds from sales of Liberty’s Vigil to the Occupy Movement. For details, please contact the publisher.

Available Now

Liberty’s Vigil, The Occupy Anthology: 99 Poets among the 99% (128 pages) is available for $20.00 at selected bookstores nationwide – ISBN 978-0-931053-81-8 -- and from FootHills Publishing at www.foothillspublishing.com. FootHills Publishing, celebrating its 26^th anniversary this year, is headquartered in Wheeler Hill, N.Y. Michael Czarnecki, publisher, is available at (607) 566-3881.

###

About the Editors

A long-time environmental activist and a National Park Artist-in-Residence, Karla Linn Merrifield has seen hundreds of her poems appear in dozens of publications as well as in many anthologies. She has six books to her credit, including Godwit: Poems of Canada (FootHills Publishing), which received the 2009 Andrew Eiseman Writers Award for Poetry, and her new chapbook, The Urn, from Finishing Line Press. Forthcoming from Salmon Press is her full-length collection Athabaskan Fractal and Other Poems of the Far North, and The Ice Decides: Poems of Antarctica from FLP.

She and her husband Roger M. Weir co-edited THE DIRE ELEGIES: 59 Poets on Endangered Species of North America, also from FootHills. Currently in the works is a book of technologically themed poems, The Gizmo Girl’s Diary, a collection of poems reflecting on the Age of Technology, and Virus in the Song, poems in memoriam to her brother. She was founding poetry editor of Sea Stories, and is now book reviewer and assistant editor for The Centrifugal Eye (w ww.centrifugaleye.com). A graduate of The College at Brockport (SUNY), where she earned an MA in Creative Writing-Poetry, she teaches at Writers & Books, Rochester, NY. You can read more about her and sample her poems and photographs at http://karlalinn.blogspot.com. She resides in Kent, NY, and winters in North Fort Myers, FL.

Dwain Wilder, a native of a small town outside Dallas, moved to Rochester, NY, in 1970 to study Zen Buddhism. He has had a varied career as Navy flight crew member, research technician, software engineer, and luthier (builder of stringed musical instruments). Dwain had leadership roles in the Civil Rights and Anti-Vietnam War Movements, as a staff member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Project Dialogue, and coordinator of the Southern Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam. In this latter capacity, he worked closely with students, Quakers, pacifists and civil rights field workers across the South to organize the only South-wide Anti-War March, on Lincoln’s Birthday, Feb 12, 1967. He was also security marshal for the 1967 Fifth Avenue Parade against the War, worked with Staughton Lynd as a community organizer in New Haven, and as an organizer for the 1967 People’s Congress, an attempt to nonviolently occupy the House of Representatives in Washington.

Dwain graduated with honors from Yale with a degree in American Studies (History of Technology and Literature). He is a poet and essayist whose work has been published in various small poetry periodicals and collections. His poetry collection, Under the Only Moon, was published by FootHills Publishing in August 2011.

Dwain lives with his wife and their dog and parrot in a quaint farmhouse near a large park. He currently makes his livelihood in lutherie, and his Appalachian dulcimers are held in high regard, both in the U.S. and abroad.

About the Publisher

Publishing America's poets for 26 years, FootHills Publishing is a family-owned-and- operated concern based in Wheeler, NY. Each copy of its hundreds of titles is lovingly hand-sewn, making for a more beautiful reading experience. Visit FootHills at www.foothillspublishing.com.

December 29th, the fourth day of limbo week

2011-12-29T10:22:00.003-05:00

Yesterday? It snowed and snowed every which way. Down our country road, a whirling dervish rose up in its carriage-- I swear I saw men in top hats and women in black silk bonnets, rosy cheeked and waving hello and good-bye, thunder of horse hooves passing by quickly and disappearing by the turn onto Priem Road . . . Sometimes, I think I have 19th century sensibilities. I'm certainly drawn to the time period.

This was our first stick to the ground snowfall. Our chickens and ducks were just beside themselves, high-stepping in the snow and squawking, What, What is All This.

Meghan heard an adage the other day, which may explain our lack of winter weather:

Lightning in Fall, No Winter at all.

Have you ever heard this before? Strangely, we had two big thunderstorms in late fall, which were so other worldly, waking us up in the middle of the night.

Because of this mild weather, farmers have been pushing ahead of their usual schedules. Two days ago, they were pruning the orchard that wraps around our land.

I'm pushing ahead of my usual schedule too.

December 27th, the second day of limbo week

2011-12-27T10:42:00.002-05:00

Welcome to Limbo! What to do, what to do seems to be my mantra. Last night I wrote a long overdue review in my sleep. Got up early this morning and actually wrote it and sent it off to the journal- in -waiting. The editor has been more than patient with me. I hope this review will met his approval. We'll see. The poetry collection is Just Beautiful by Tim Suermondt (NYQ Books, 2010) $14.95. It's an exceptional, witty collection, and I had a lot of fun figuring it out. If you're snooping around for a new read, this is one to pick up.

I've been writing every day, mostly prose poems. It takes me so long to complete a poem. The initial draft writes itself, then the fussing begins. My process reminds me of Topiary-- living text sculpture-- perhaps a garden, unlike any gardens I've known. The people who populate these
poems intrigue me. Every morning I look forward to spending time with them.

So now I have a fistful of poems. Will see if I can write two fistfuls by New Year's Day.

Have been catching up on my blogville reading. You would be surprised how long I've been away. Stunned by some of the posts. My heart aches. I wonder why we seek the approval of those who won't give us approval? What about all the people who do give us ascent? Why doesn't this count? All the bloggers who left messages were so comforting. The virtual hug.
Strangely, this need for a hug started earlier in the day. I was in the parking lot of Tops and I overheard a man talking to his sister, and he said, "I can let this go, but it will always come back to this . . ." I thought, that's so true. Poor guy, he was exasperated. And I get it, because I've been there a hundred times before, without much resolve. I'm still trying to figure out the sticky situation, which has everything to do with my family, not friends; and ironically I think the bloggers were actually talking about acquaintances. You think you know people through their blogs, but do you really?

Last Spring, I had to give up some blogs because the writers were so absorbed in the worlds of their own making. It frightened me because I couldn't tell if it was really them or personae talking. I think this venue is a remarkable mask, don't you?

O gentle readers, if any of you are actually out there, do you think this is so?

The Eve Before the Eve . . .

2011-12-23T11:44:00.003-05:00

Just returned from a day of gathering this and that . . . all the trimmings to make family dinners merry! Our tradition features comfort foods and cozy hearth.

Past few days I've been preparing my gifts from the kitchen. . . holiday fudge, mendiants, cookies
I still want to make sugar plums. We'll see if I get a chance.

Have spent every morning writing since December 19th. It's a great relief to be focused on my own work . . . Have plans to accomplish a lot in the next two weeks.

Wishing all of you a very calm, relaxing, peaceful holiday!

Looking Ahead: Christmas Breakfast, a fabulous recipe and will no doubt become a tradition

2011-12-18T14:54:00.003-05:00

We've been making this Christmas breakfast for many, many years. You can pop this in the oven while your family is gathered around the tree opening presents. It's done in an hour.

Christmas Eve (or make day ahead):

Ingredients:

7 slices dense bread
8oz Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese.
6 large eggs
3 cups of milk
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 teas. pepper
1 teas. dry mustard
enough butter to slather on bottom & sides of round souffle dish.

Directions:

Get a round souffle dish, maybe eight or nnne inches round and about 4 inches high.
Grease the dish with butter bottom and sides. Don't skimp. Take your six slices of dense bread (Pepperidge Farm works well) cube it up crust et al. Then line it in your souffle bowl's bottom and sides. The bread should stick because of the delicious butter.

Then: beat 6 large eggs, 3 cups of milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon of dry mustard and 8 oz of shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Once this is all mixed. pour it over the bread in the souffle dish. Take a fork and and poke through the mixture in several places, so everything soaks through. Cover and put in fridge overnight. This will let everything expand and blend perfectly.

Next Morning. Fire up the oven to 350 degrees. Take souffle dish out of fridge, uncover the wrap and put the dish on a cookie tray and pop it in the oven for 50-55 minutes.

It will poof up, like a gorgeous golden turban. When you pull it out of the oven, call everyone to admire how lovely it looks.

It's delicious. Serve with fresh fruit salad, cinnamon rolls, toast, coffee, mimosas, bloody marys
champagne. Your choice, after all it's Christmas morning and you have the whole day ahead of you!

Because my family gathering is Christmas eve and I have a crowd here, it's a bit of a challenge to prepare this at 11 p.m., but somehow I do it and on Christmas day everyone is so glad I did!

This recipe was given to me many years ago by my friend Margot Searls, who is an incredible cook, baker, and storyteller. Thanks, Margot for this tradition! I'm passing it on. . . .

Cheers!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

2011-12-18T10:09:00.004-05:00

Dear Spirit~

While I was grading my end of the semester papers, you brought
peace to a war that has been waging for nine long years. In 2002, Peter hung a wagon wheel peace sign on our house. The lights remained lit for 4 years, then they died out, one bulb at a time. Five more years. At last, good news. Time to restring the sign.

Spirit, I want peace, in every nook and cranny of our existence. Throughout the fall, we have been paring back.
We've been on a mission to reclaim our lives, which has been
a challenge, breaking habits that like an invasive root system have taken hold, in all sorts of insipid ways. Slowly, we're breaking free.

Spirit, I'm so grateful for the lessons of this farm. I think we're learning to be self-sufficient. Thank goodness we have a sense of humor. This life isn't a hobby, or a romantic notion, but people, who don't know this life, think it is.

Spirit, this is it, isn't it?

No flurries in sight, but a flurry of activity this week!

2011-12-15T06:19:00.003-05:00

Woke with a sudden start this early morning, around 3:45 a.m. It's 6:33 a.m. right now and I've been busy, writing letters, emails, and so on. So I'm ahead of work today, and the sun has yet to paint the sky with first light. Still, so dark. So velvety. The blue-black that is early December This time of year intrigues me.

Hope to have a few hours of writing before heading out on my appointed rounds. Inspiration has been percolating, slowly rising to take hold. Have been writing a sequence of prose poems and lyric poems. Need to keep this momentum going. . .

Sunday Blue Notes

2011-11-27T17:41:00.003-05:00

Sadly, this is Sunday evening, and I'm enjoying the last luxurious hours of a very calmThanksgiving break. Who knew this was even possible? Even the weather has been choosing lighter jackets for us all. This autumn has been so unusual. I think we've watched every single leaf fall. Nothing was in a rush . . .only now evening comes earlier and earlier. So very dark outside and it's only 5:46 p.m. I've started dinner, which is another version of leftovers. Slowly, our turkey disappears. Soon, turkey pot pie, then soup, and after that we'll dream of spaghetti!

In Friday's morning paper I read that Ruth Stone has passed. What a remarkable poet and spirit. She was a such a vibrant light at SUNY Binghamton. So kind and witty and certain . . . She'd say "Dearie" that was two parts endearment and one part pulling your chin up to pay close attention. Now, like her poems, she's suddenly everywhere and I will think about her often.

I think to honor her, I will read a Ruth Stone poem every day this week.

Curtains
by Ruth Stone

Putting up new curtains, other windows intrude. As though it is that first winter in Cambridge when you and I had just moved in. Now cold borscht alone in a bare kitchen. What does it mean if I say this years later? Listen, last night I am on a crying jag with my landlord, Mr. Tempesta. I sneaked in two cats. He screams, "No pets! No pets!" I become my Aunt Virginia, proud but weak in the head. I remember Anna Magnani. I throw a few books. I shout. He wipes his eyes and opens his hands. OK OK keep the dirty animals but no nails in the walls. We cry together. I am so nervous, he says. I want to dig you up and say, look, it's like the time, remember, when I ran into our living room naked to get rid of that fire inspector. See what you miss by being dead?

from Poets.org

November Moon

2011-11-18T07:08:00.002-05:00

Photo by K. Iuppa

This moon has been watching over me this week-- all the late night drives home. Last night, after an Arts evening: Eastman Chamber Music Performance followed by a poetry reading by B.K.Fischer, the moon was full of snow.
O how it swirled on the parkway. A fox dashed from the
woods, then stopped on the median and dashed back--
mercurial flight.

Things To Do Today-- Vote.

2011-11-08T05:28:00.003-05:00

The video below is a segment of the Jimmy Kimmel Challenge, which is hilarious in its entirety
(the common reaction is the bust out wail), but this segment is really special and the children are so dear. I love the older brother reassuring his little brother, "You were so close" in 2 plus 2, and his reasoning with his parents-- the bellyache consequences. The ending just makes me laugh. We have been saying it here-- You sneaky _______ for eating the last bag of popcorn, or you sneaky _______ for ducking out on the dishes . . .

______

Today is Election Day. I'm up in the wee hour to prep for the whole day and get out of here early enough to go vote before heading out to the appointed rounds of residencies and meetings and advisement. It's going to be a merry-go-round day.

(Can you believe we're at that time of year, getting students set for next semester. The weeks are passing oh so quickly. I have so many daily deadlines. Soon, holidays. Thanksgiving around the corner. So much to do before that day! )

_______

Looking ahead, this Sunday at the Memorial Art Gallery, 2-5:30 p.m. there will be a poetry reading celebrating all of the poems that will be included in the Poets Walk project. This event is free and Open to the Public.

Here's the schedule:

Poets Walk Reading Schedule

Memorial Art Gallery Auditorium

Sunday, November 13, 2-5:30 pm (Reception to follow)

Emcees: John Roche, Arlette Miller Smith, and Joe Flaherty

2:00-2:30

Introductions by Jack Garner, Joe Flaherty, Grant Holcomb

Boo Poulin for Lucille Clifton

Tyler Stoffer for Al Poulin, Jr.

Fay Neuberg for Israel Emiot

Rachel Astarte Piccione for Anthony Piccione

John Roche for Robert Creeley

Sherry Tulloch (?) for Pat Janus

Arlette Miller Smith for Janine Pommy Vega

Steven Huff for Hayden Carruth (plus his own poem)

2:30-3:00

David Shakes as Frederick Douglass

Ruben Gomez for Octavio Paz

William Heyen for Karla Linn Merrifield (plus his own poem)

Leslie Lockert for Bobby Johnson

Monty Campbell for Susan Deer Cloud

Sam Abrams

David Michael Nixon

Donna Marbach

Dream Engine clip

Flying Words Project clip

3:00-3:15 Intermission (coffee and cookies in lobby)

3:15-4:00 Cornelius Eady

Linda Allardt

Beatrice O’Brien

Patrick Graybill

Ella Mae Lentz

Michael Czarnecki

Dale Davis for Jocelyn Macy and William Carlos Williams

Alexa Scott Flaherty for Finvolva Drury

Kitty Jospe for Marianne Moore (plus her own poem)

Claudia Stanek

Patricia Roth Schwartz

John Roche for David Meltzer and Dave Kelly

4:00-4:15 Intermission (coffee and cookies in lobby)

4:15-5:00

Reenah Golden

Slam High videos

Grace Flores

Eddie Swayze

Leah Zazulyer

Michael Ketchek

Dane Gordon

Thom Ward

Richard Peek for John A. Williams

Ed Sanders/Fugs clip

5:00-5:30

M.J. Iuppa

Vincent F.A. Golphin

Tony Leuzzi

Gary Lehmann

Frank Judge

Wanda Schubmehl

Anne Coon

Lori Nolasco

Tom Holmes

Ralph Black

Following the reading there will be a reception in the atrium of the Memorial Art Gallery

You Sneaky Mom! - Halloween Youtube Challenge - [HD]

2011-11-06T18:24:00.000-05:00

Upcoming Poetry Reading at St. John Fisher College, Poet B.K.Fischer

2011-11-04T21:23:00.002-04:00

Poet B.K. Fischer reading from her poetry collection Mutiny Gallery (Truman State University Press, 2011). Book signing to follow reading.

Thursday November 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

St. John Fisher College, Campus Center Bldg., COP room, 2nd floor.

Free and Open to the Public.

St. John Fisher College: Fr. John Cavanaugh Reading Series,
B. K. Fischer Poetry Reading.

Rochester, NY~ B. K. Fischer is a poet, critic, and teacher. Her first book, Mutiny Gallery, won Truman State University’s T.S. Eliot Prize for 2011. Another poetry manuscript, The Anatomy Archives, was a finalist for the 2009 National Poetry Series, as well as the high finalist for the 2008 and 2009 FIELD Prizes, and she was nominated for Best New Poets 2009. Her poems have been published in The Hopkins Review, FIELD, Literary Mama, The Paris Review, Boston Review, Ekphrasis, Southwest Review, Western Humanities Review, and other journals. She is the author of a critical study as well, Museum Mediations:Reframing Ekphrasis in Contemporary American Poetry (Routledge, 2006), and a frequent contributor of review essays to Boston Review. She holds an M.F.A. in poetry from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in English and American Literature from New York University, and has taught writing and literature at Columbia, NYU, and Marymount College. She currently teaches at the Neuberger Museum of Art and the Hudson Valley Writers' Center in Sleepy Hollow, New York, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Publishing News

2011-11-03T07:21:00.004-04:00

Review of my second collection Within Reach (Cherry Grove Collection) is up at The Centrifugal Eye. you can read it online here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~tinyviolet/thecentrifugaleyepoetryjournal/id1.html

Many thanks to Karla Merrifield for this thoughtful, thought-provoking, in-depth review.

Weekend Round-Up

2011-10-31T07:57:00.003-04:00

Stories from the Fringe, the monologues of 18 women rabbis, a play featuring three women, playing the three generations of women, whose stories are personal, historical, remarkable. I was so glad I went to see this, this weekend. I enjoyed listening to the talk back with the playwrights. I think they appreciated seeing the play outside of their own landscape (Los Angeles) because they were able "to relax" and see the play without being conscious of their significant roles. Listening to their detailed explanations of what it means to be a rabbi was poignant and complicated in the many ways one is Jewish-- religious and cultural; and evident that they don't want to be "women" rabbis; they want to be rabbis.I loved listening to the concept of blessings. I thought it was inspirational-- something I want in my own life too.

So glad I saw this play.

On the Domestic Front:

Still putting by veggies. Picked, soaked, cleaned Brussel Sprouts yesterday. Did three stalks and
it took several hours. They look like jingle bells on the stalk. Tight little heads. Made a tall pot of chili, which simmered all day long. Yum. Went for a long bike ride in the park yesterday. Gorgeous headstrong blue skies stretching out over Ontario. So clear. A lot of geese in the water calling back and forth to each other. Perhaps, getting ready to fly South; however, many stay over the winter now. Must be able to forage without much difficulty.

This week, more events. Four Freedoms week at St. John Fisher College. A lot of worthwhile lectures, movies, exhibits. I hope to attend many of the offerings this week as well as attend
to my on-going work.

Happy Halloween! Happy Birthday, Louis!

Sure Things . . .

2011-10-28T07:15:00.004-04:00

Stories from the Fringe . . .Women Rabbis Revealed

Ronda Spinak is an author and TV writer, whose credits include the Rugrats series. Rabbi Lynne A. Kern before her ordination was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at the Kansas City Star. The two embarked on a project three years ago chronicling the stories of female rabbis in Los Angeles, where they live. The result is the play Stories from the Fringe ... Women Rabbis Revealed, a coming documentary on the project and the Jewish Women's Rabbinic Archive (for which they hope to collect stories from around the world).

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester's CenterStage is the first theater to secure the rights to produce the play outside the Jewish Women's Theatre in Los Angeles, of which Spinak is one of the founders and which this project is part and parcel of its three-year history. It will be produced here at 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. next Sunday at the JCC, 1200 Edgewood Ave. in Brighton. Spinak, Kern and Rabbi Karen Fox, one of those interviewed for the project, will be at the Saturday show and will lead a discussion afterward.

Tickets are $26 ($18 for students). Call (585) 461-2000, ext. 235, or go to jcccenterstage.org.

I heard opening night, 10/27/2011, went very well. You may want to see this performance this weekend! We're going Saturday evening.

_________________

Today is the Day of the Dead Celebration at St. John Fisher College. Looking forward to hearing the music and poetry performance in Spanish and English; watching the altar grow with remembrances and offerings. We're going to burn the prayers at a final benediction (hopefully the promise of good weather will be on our side).

Have been inordinately happy for the past 4 weeks-- something is just bubbling up inside of me, part good will, part constant state of amazement. I have had the good fortunate to be working with inspired students and artists this semester. It makes a big difference being surrounded by this energy. If I could bottle this, I would share it with you and we'd all be rich!

I can't explain it, but I really don't care about much else. I love the process of Art, and being with people who are engaged in process, who are learning and thinking and puzzling are the best.

Heard the best art lecture last night in my Encounters class. Elizabeth King Durand and g.a. Sheller discussed their process while we took in the landscapes of their artwork. The exhibit is currently in the St. John Fisher Skalny Welcome Center Katherine O'Keefe Ross Art Gallery.
After the lecture we all came back to the classroom and spent time creating art.

The classroom just hummed with creativity. It was the best and the time just flew by . . .

Ah Daybreak, time to go . . .

Upcoming Poetry Workshop/Reading at Swan Library on October 29, 2011

2011-10-20T07:08:00.006-04:00

My upcoming poetry workshop & reading will be October 29th, 2011, at Swan Library 4 North Main Street Albion, NY. Phone: 585-589-4246
The workshop is 10-Noon; 1 pm Poetry Reading.
This event is free and open to public, but you need to call the Library and sign up for the poetry workshop. Bring a bag lunch and stay for my reading.

The Swan Library is a warm and welcoming place. I hope to see you there. This upcoming workshop/reading is sponsored in part by Poets & Writers.

Good News Review: " It's All Right" Michael Brown gives me a thumb's up.

Michael Brown, editor of Off the Coast reviews my second full length poetry collection Within Reach(Cherry Grove Collections). You can read the review in full here: http://www.off-the-coast.com/

This issue of Off the Coast features poems by Karie Friedman, Ray Skjelbred, Gayle Elen Harvey, Michel Young, Carolyn Gelland Frost, and J. Stephen Rhodes.

Artwork by Cesar Augusto, Jean Schild, Ali Asghar Abedi, Sarah Katharina Kayß, Sherman Poultney, and Yaseen Anwer with cover image by Irene Koronas.

And 5 book reviews-- All of which can be read online.

________________________

My collection Within Reach is still available online for purchase (perfect for holiday gift giving) and I will be reading at various venues around New York State 2011-2012 and will have copies for sale. Hope to see you at one of these readings/workshops.

FuturPointe Dance Performance this Sunday, October 23, 2011

2011-10-18T04:09:00.002-04:00

FuturPointe Dance performing at St. John Fisher College.
Come celebrate the fall harvest with spine-tingling dance, live music by THUNDER BODY, food and festivities. Come in costume and bring the kids for added fun! Date: Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. (One show only).

Location: St. John Fisher College, 3690 East Avenue, Cleary Family Auditorium in
Kearney Building.

Cost: Free for St. John Fisher, faculty, staff and students with id. General tickets at the door - $10 students/seniors, $15 adults.

Contact: M.J.Iuppa (585) 385-8412

FuturPointe Dance Performance at St. John Fisher College

Rochester, NY~ St. John Fisher College Visual and Performing Arts Minor in collaboration with the Diversity Program are proud to present FuturPointe Dance. Come celebrate the fall harvest with spine-tingling dance, live music by THUNDER BODY, food and festivities. Come in costume and bring the kids for added fun! One time performance, Sunday, October 23, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.

FuturPointe was formed in Nov. 2009 as an initiative to broaden the appeal and spectatorship of contemporary dance. FuturPointe Dance is a fusion company - combining dancers and choreographic styles from a variety of genres and training, including modern dance, popular/social/folk dance, Caribbean, African, Latin, and ballet. The company's aesthetic crosses into multiple art forms as well, including multi-media collaborations with videographers, visual artists, composers, musicians, puppeteers, and costumers.

The company roster is culturally diverse, with dancers hailing from Jamaica, Guyana, the Ukraine, New Orleans, and New York. Though we are a young company, we collectively have a broad and extensive base of professional dance experience, and the company has already toured and performed in national venues. Weekly classes are open to the Rochester community, and company members are actively involved in residencies and performances that educate, entertain, and promote the vitality and global presence of contemporary dance.

Current company members include: N’Jelle Gage, William J. Knighten, Melinda Phillips, Heather Roffe, and Guy Thorne. The Company apprentice is Olga Kravets. The company is co-directed by Guy Thorne, Heather Roffe and N’Jelle Gage.

Earth's Daughters Reading, Wednesday October 19, 2011 at St. John Fisher College

2011-10-18T03:16:00.003-04:00

Poetry Reading, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth’s Daughters, a feminist literary and arts periodical published in Buffalo, N.Y., showcasing the current editors/poets: Kastle Brill, Joyce Kessel, Janna Willoughby, and ryki zuckerman.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

St. John Fisher College, 3690 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, Wilson Formal Lounge in Ward-Haffey Bldg. at 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free and Open to Public.

Contact: M.J.Iuppa, (585) 385-8412

St. John Fisher College: Poetry Reading, Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth’s Daughters

Rochester, NY~ St. John Fisher College Visual and Performing Arts Minor in collaboration with Just Poets is pleased to present a poetry reading that celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Earth’s Daughters, a feminist literary and arts periodical published in Buffalo NY. Earth’s Daughters is
the oldest extant feminist arts periodical, having been published continuously since 1971.

Joining the current editors/poets: Kastle Brill, Joyce Kessel, Janna Willoughby, and ryki zuckerman, Rochester poets, Anne Coon, Karla Merrifield and Leah Zazulyer will be reading their poems published in past issues of Earth's Daughters.

This is a historical reading that you won't want to miss. Hope to see you there!

Earth's Daughters will have their individual books, Earth's Daughters issues, tee shirts, and so on
available for purchase.

Hope to see you there!

Publishing News, October Events, Still Harvesting

2011-10-14T04:50:00.002-04:00

Nearly Mid-October, on this very early morning, woke with a start. Baskets of tomatoes are waiting in my mud room. Thought I should get up and start processing them before it's too late.
Still dark outside, and as I was washing, peeling and slicing tomatoes,I could hear frog song. In a couple of days, there will be the first hard frost and the gardens will turn inward and everything will become very quiet and still. I wish this were true in all aspects of my life, but it isn't. I'm around a lot daily busyness.

An infantry of glass jars full of tomato sauce or assorted jams are lined up on my dining room table. Soon they will march into the cupboard for safe keeping. But, right now, I'm admiring them. What happiness they will bring in the weeks to come. Nothing better than this.

The work this year has been long and hard. Soon, very soon, we will be closing things up for the upcoming winter. Have been seeing a lot of woolly caterpillars, with wide bands of black and tan.
I wonder if we're going to have a cold, snowy winter. Last year was harsh.

It's warm this morning. Not like the first days of October, when we had some raw weather.
So much so, we built fires in the wood stoves to take the chill out of our farmhouse. We usually wait until the last possible moment to crank up the furnace.

Last weekend, was very different. Warm, gorgeous blue lake sky days. Spent several of those days taking another pass in the garden, harvesting carrots, potatoes, acorn squash, tomatoes,
hubbard squash, beets. We put by a lot of squash and tomatoes. My granddaughter was here and we had a wonderful time shucking dry beans together. Beautiful black and white beans.

I have another batch, drying. I think they're mostly cranberry beans. I love these too.
Timing is everything. So far, we've been on time. I can smell the tomatoes simmering on the stove. Soon,this batch will become a thick, velvety tomato soup with white beans.

______________

Publishing News: Currently I have poems up at The Apple Valley Review and Untitled Country Review; recent acceptances in Tar River Poetry, L.E.S. Review, & The Prose Poem Project.

______________

Michael Meyerhofer read last night at St. John Fisher College and will read tonight at LiftBridge Bookstore in Brockport. I really enjoyed his work. Looking forward to spend a bit more time with him this weekend at the Just Poets Retreat at The Gell Center in the Bristol Mountains.

October, October, October

2011-10-01T06:13:00.004-04:00

A sudden shift. Rain and cooler weather. Leaves beginning to turn orangeredyellow. Autumn's here. in full swing. Have been getting up early every day to process the latest batch of tomatoes. Our garden's abundance-- still plumping up. This has been an exceptional growing year. Have hung beans to dry.Will shuck them soon and put them up in mason jars. I love looking at those glossy beans. Maybe, when the October moon appears in my backyard to sing Peggy Lee's "Is That All there Is," I should throw a handful over my shoulder and wish for that vine to grow straight up through the dome of sky. I need a ladder. an escape hatch. I need two more days in the week.
Last week we picked a lot of apples, and Peter and Meghan have been making applesauce and apple chips. Big pots bubbling on the stove. Glass jars in bathes. Buzzers sounding. Glorious smells. We picked squash, acorn, turban, hubbard. The pumpkins are fat and nearly ready. Looking forward to having my grandchildren come over. I can see my littlest grandson hoisting one up. When he was just a couple months old, we took a photo of him in the pumpkin patch.
This afternoon, I will be giving a lecture on The Elegy at the Just Poets' monthly meeting.Have to finish preparing this morning.
This evening going to the Academy of the Sacred Heart Reunion. Last night went to my sister Karen's class of 63 dinner. I didn't graduate from ASH. Sadly, the school closed a year before. I went to Our Lady of Mercy in my junior year, which I loved and wouldn't trade for the world. But, I spent 9 years at ASH and the community had a profound effect on me. Sunday we will be having a mass in our chapel. I know it's going to be quite moving, processing into the chapel with 77 women, singing Tatum Ergo.
In all of this I have to grade papers, prepare for next week's classes, do some editing and finish the details on several big Arts events. October is going to be exciting.

Upcoming Poetry Reading at St. John Fisher College, October 13, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

2011-09-22T04:23:00.004-04:00

St. John Fisher College
Visual & Performing Arts Minor
proudly presents

Michael Meyerhofer
reading from his newest
chapbook of poems,
Pure Elysium winner of the
2010 Palettes and Quills
Second Biennial Chapbook Contest
selected by Dorianne Laux
****
Thursday, October 13, 2011, at 7:30 p.m.
Golisano Gateway Midlevel.
Free and Open to the Public.

*****

Michael Meyerhofer's third book, Damnatio Memoriae, won the Brick Road Poetry Book Contest. His previous books are Leaving Iowa (winner of the Liam Rector First Book Award) and Blue Collar Eulogies (Steel Toe Books, finalist for the Grub Street Book Prize).

He has also published five chapbooks: Pure Elysium (winner of the Palettes and Quills Chapbook Contest), The Clay-Shaper's Husband (winner of the Codhill Press Chapbook Award), Real Courage (winner of the Terminus Magazine and Jeanne Duval Editions Poetry Chapbook Prize), The Right Madness of Beggars (winner of the Uccelli Press 3rd Annual Chapbook Competition), and Cardboard Urn (winner of the Copperdome Chapbook Contest).

Michael Meyerhofer has won the Marjorie J. Wilson Best Poem Contest, the Laureate Prize for Poetry, the James Wright Poetry Award, and the Annie Finch Prize for Poetry. His work has appeared in Ploughshares, North American Review, Arts & Letters, River Styx, Quick Fiction, Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, and other journals.

He received his BA from the University of Iowa and his MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He currently teaches poetry, creative writing, and composition at Ball State University in Muncie, IN.

This reading is funded in part from Poets & Writers, Inc. with public funds from the
New York Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Poets For Change Reading at Flying Squirrel 9/24/2011

2011-09-22T04:04:00.005-04:00

Poets, Paulette Swartzfager, John Roche, Karen VanMeenen, Colleen Powderly, Ed Scutt, and Eddie Swayze are organizing readings for the 100,000 Poets for Change day in Rochester this Saturday September 24, 2011. This is part of a worldwide effort originated by Michael Rothenberg of Big Bridge magazine and now listing 600 events in 95 countries:

http://www.bigbridge.org/100thousandpoetsforchange/

The event at Flying Squirrel will focus on hunger, poverty, and homelessness. While poetry and music are served upstairs, a meal will be served to neighborhood folks in need downstairs.

This is an invitation to come and listen and support this event.

Here are the Highlights:

11 am - 5 pm: "Open Mic” ; Hosts: Paulette Swartzfager & Colleen Powderly

2-3 pm: ASL poetry hour hosted by Eddie Swayze

4-5 will be poets hosted by Colleen Powderly,

5-6 pm: LEGGS - A Reading of a Play About a Future Dystopian America by Ed Scutt
6-7pm: Pure Kona Features, with Hosts Norm Davis & Mike Rae
7-10 pm: Featured Poets with Hosts – John Roche & Ren VanMeenen
8pm –"Flying Words” – Kenny Lerner and Peter Cook

Hope to see you there!

Flying Squirrel Community Space is located at 285 Clarissa St. Rochester NY, 14608 585-678-6870

Upcoming Events in Rochester, September 24, 2011

2011-09-22T03:48:00.007-04:00

30th Anniversary Writers Block Party At Writers & Books:

featuring

POETRY

MUSIC

HUGE BOOK SALE

LITERARY TRIVIA

RAFFLES

GAMES

EXCITEMENT

FUN

Schedule of Performances

12:00: John Roche

12:15: Sam Abrams

12:30 Sarah Freligh

12:50 Charles Cote

1:10 : Silver Threads

1: 45: M. J. Iuppa

2:05: Tom Holmes

2:30: Flying Words

3:15: Corey Winrock

3:35: Jill Kress Karn

4:00: Sally Bittner Bonn

4:20 Jan Wenk Cedras

CAST: Cambridge American Stage Tour

2011-09-14T22:52:00.005-04:00

Cambridge American Stage Tour (CAST) returned to St. John Fisher College to perform Shakespeare's Macbeth on 9/12/2011.

The 17 member company, a lively and personable group of Cambridge University students, held the audience (180) in rapt attention. I have never been in such a quiet audience. Not a shuffle or snuffle. Everyone was hanging on every actor's word.

I was intrigued by the set and the way they portrayed their characters. The conversations about the play continued today, two days later. Students are still thinking and reacting to the performance.

News!

2011-09-09T13:39:00.000-04:00

St. John Fisher College Writer-in-Residence, M.J.Iuppa, has had a poem selected for inclusion in Poets Walk, an interactive sidewalk installation that runs along University Avenue between North Goodman and Prince Streets.
Iuppa's poem, "Simply," is one of the selected poems that will be represented by words or lines engraved in stone.
Poets Walk is part of the Art Walk Extension Enhancements Project, a public art and urban design project in the Neighborhood of the Arts lead by the City of Rochester. The project involves a wide range of local cultural and educational partners, including the Memorial Art Gallery and Writers & Books.
There will be a celebratory Poets Walk Reading at the Memorial Art Gallery on Sunday, November 13, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for the fall of 2012.

Blog This Rock: Poem of the Week: M.J. Iuppa

2011-09-03T14:19:00.000-04:00

Blog This Rock: Poem of the Week: M.J. Iuppa: Groundwork
The fence that wasn't a barrier, that didn't hold anything back or up, but was the grid over the scene of
...

Quinn Sullivan is amazing!

2011-08-28T09:27:00.002-04:00

Went to a Buddy Guy & B.B. King Blues Concert on Friday, August 26 at CMAC. Buddy introduced 12-year-old guitarist Quinn Sullivan, who has been playing concerts, TV appearance, and so on since he was 8! Buddy said he always invites young musicians on stage to get their two licks in, but Quinn never got off the stage! He's earned a nickname, "The Cyclone." So impressive.

Check out the clip found below. You can go online and hear him play as an 8-year-old too.
Discovering Quinn was a highlight of the evening. Thoroughly enjoyed Buddy Guy's Band and
B.B. King too. I think I've seen B.B.King at least five times over the past 30 years. Not bad.

12 year old Quinn Sullivan with Buddy Guy Great guitar solo Ottawa 13.7.11

2011-08-28T09:26:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Season, Call for Submissions~

2011-08-28T08:01:00.001-04:00

Birmingham Arts Journal

CALL FOR WORKS:

storm-related poems, stories & art to be published in the April 2012 "Storm" issue of Birmingham Arts Journal

The editors will consider work inspired by ANY storm in ANY location (geographic, emotional or otherwise).

This is the first themed edition in our ten year history!
We need your help to make it the best it can be.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Submit WORD documents as 1) attachments or 2) within the body of the email to:

editor(at)birminghamartsjournal.com (replace (at) with @ in sending e-mail)

FICTION & NON-FICTION: up to 1,000 words. Excerpts and quotes of fewer than 1,000 words from longer works are published, too.

POETRY: All types up to 50 lines. Shorter works preferred.

ARTWORK & PHOTOGRAPHY: 300 dpi or higher digital files (.jpg or .tif) of artwork.
Submit via email or on disk.

NOTE: Please include a biography (3rd person) of 50 words or less with your submission.
Payment: one copy of the issue in which the accepted submission appears.

FOR ALL WORKS: Birmingham Arts Journal has readers young and old, from all walks of life. For this reason, works containing strong profanity, explicit sex, gratuitous violence, and overtly religious or political material will not be accepted. No simultaneous submissions, please.

Birthday Weekend

2011-08-28T06:56:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was Peter's Birthday! We had a perfect day to celebrate with family and good friends. Happy Birthday, Peter!

Publishing news: Flash Fiction "The Catch" appears in the Aroostook Review
http://aroostookreview.umfk.maine.edu/

Please check it out. Scroll to bottom of first page and you will see the list of contributors. Click on author's name and you will see the work. Hope you like the story! Have poems forthcoming in Avocet (fall and winter print issues), Untitled Country Review (online), and The Comstock Review (print issue); poems currently in Red Poppy Review, Greatest Lakes Review and The Montucky Review.

Jam Report: Made batches of Italian Plum with lemon, Sour cherry and Italian Plum. Have been roasting cherry and grape (orange, red, yellow) tomatoes (slow oven heat) and serving on Cibatta with grated cheese. Amazing!

Easy Peasy Recipe:

Wash tomatoes and halve. Place in shallow pan, slice side up. Make one layer(place tomatoes close together) on the bottom of pan. Chop and scatter diced onions over tomatoes, followed by coarse chopped basil, garlic, sea salt, pepper, a bit of red pepper flakes (go easy on this!) just enough to give it some zip. Drizzle olive oil and put in oven, low heat. start at 290 degrees for about 20 minutes, then reduce to 250 degrees. In an hour or so, the tomatoes will be roasted perfectly. Then take tray out of oven, and with a serving spoon scoop the roasted tomatoes with its juice onto a really sturdy bread slice. You can put any grated cheese on top. Enjoy. This is also fabulous scooped onto pasta (any shape) with grated cheese. I'm so grateful for our garden. We've had a bounty and it's just starting to kick into high gear.

I want to thank bloggers for their favorite recipes, too. Soon, the last day of August.

Felt the Earthquake today!

2011-08-23T16:39:00.003-04:00

My whole office shook! Time to sing Carole's song!

They say it was 5.9, with the epicenter in Virginia. Looking at the map, it's actually not far from my brother's house. Hang on, where there's one, there's more . . .

It lasted for quite a few seconds.

Did any of you out there feel it too?

Let me know.

CAROLE KING (Live) - I Feel The Earth Move

2011-08-23T16:39:00.000-04:00

Last Days of Summer

2011-08-21T09:14:00.003-04:00

Photo by K. Iuppa

Looking at the calendar this morning. One more week of summer. So much needs to be done.
But that chair looks so inviting. . .

This weekend we went to see the Red Wings! Finally made it to the ballpark without getting doused in rain. It was an exciting game. Wings won 8-5 against Lehigh Valley.
Brian Dinkelman's batting stance reminds me of my son George's stance up to bat. Funny too, George agreed with me; he saw himself while watching Dinkelman. He and his family were at the same game, but we didn't see them. This proves you can get lost in a crowd.

This weekend marks the Civil War Re-enactments at Hamlin State Park. On Friday, before going to the game, I took a long bike ride in the park.

This year, the people set up their camps close together. So many canvas tents, with cots and all the furnishings circa 1860. All the people were dressed in the clothing of the period (woolen underwear, too--even in this heat!). True to the actual war, there were women who followed the troops. Some were wives; some prostitutes (Although, I don't think the prostitutes' roles were part of the re-enactment), but women were along making meals, washing, sewing-- all the maintenance work. In my weaving through the camp, I overheard this conversation:

Scene: In camp, raising of tents, unpacking, settling in.

Man: I'm so sorry (voice bellowing, plaintive)

Woman ( loud and assertive): This is why Mary and I are in charge of settling this up.

This made me chuckle. I wondered if it was a conversation that could have been said in 1860?

My guess is absolutely.

Yesterday, I could hear the cannon fire. The war itself was so brutal (as every war is). They packed everything into those cannons(chains, ammunition, and so on). So when they fired, everything sprayed out at an enormous force and could cut a marching line of men in half. Equally, amazing, the men followed the orders to march toward the line of cannons, which is a guaranteed death sentence. This is probably why Gettysburg had such a high count.

The people who come to these re-enactments have a grim seriousness of purpose. Their facial expressions are all about war, getting the history exactly right; nothing deters them, not even rain. It rained last night into the early morning. Should clear in a few hours. But I wondered what it was like waking this morning to smoldering fires and rain dripping off tree branches.

I may go over there today to watch . . .

Sunday Summer Notes

2011-08-14T10:40:00.003-04:00

After a week that was so full of work (mornings at SummerWrite workshop at Writers & Books and afternoon meetings), this weekend seems to swing into another fluidity. The pace of a rower, I think. I swing from one task to another; sometimes stopping to gaze out over the orchard, or watch the nonstop chicken rodeo going on in my yard. The chickens have cleaned up ever mulberry in our wide yard. We have three mulberry trees, and I think the birds prefer the dark berries to the white. Both are very sweet.

Peter and I had planned on going to a Red Wings ball game last night, but as we headed East, we
were swallowed up in a wild thunderstorm. The rain was thick as milk. Plan B: the movies.
Since it was so wild outside, we decided to see Cowboys and Aliens, which is a so-so film. It could have been great, if they had punched up the humor and carried the working metaphors a bit further. Had a great cast. I was jump up scared three times, because I didn't see it coming. Thank goodness I wasn't holding pop corn or the over-sized medium Sprite. Peter would have been doused. I should look this up, but is this movie a comic book series? Sure are a lot of comic book movies this summer. In the trailers for this show, there's new movie starring Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Phillip Seymour Hoffman et al (another great cast) , called MoneyBall, and that looked interesting to me. Hope I get to see it when it comes out. Maybe it will be released during the baseball playoffs.

When it's really steamy outside and you don't want to heat up the kitchen:

Recipe:

Tomatoes (pick the variety) if cherry or grape you'll need a bunch; romas or any variety of slicing tomato, you'll need 6-8.
Wash tomatoes, then hand slice, then coarse dice and put in clean bowl, juice and al.
coarse chop 2-3 closes of fresh garlic.
coarse chop basil, (a decent bunch of leaves)
coarse chop half an onion (Vidalia or sweet other onion)
thin slice , one small zucchini, and quater each slice.
Put all these ingredients in your bowl with tomatoes.
Olive oil, pour threes turns around bowl, light stream of oil. May be about 3 Tablespoons.
Shake season salt, or just salt and pepper and red pepper flakes(go easy with this).

Stir everything gently in your bowl and let it steep.

Prepare pasta as directed on box. It can be any kind of pasta, I like penne rigate and bowties
with this. Once cooked, drain pasta then put back in your kettle with two tbls. of butter to coat the pasta; then shake some grated romano cheese and toss gently so everything is mixed.

Put pasta on plate, top with raw sauce, then sprinkle more romano cheese, or shredded asiago,
mozzarella, or whatever your desire.

You can keep this vegetarian or serve with side of grilled meat (sausage, your choice).

I have also added chopped mushrooms, carrots, yellow squash to the raw sauces. Secret is to keep the veggies sliced thin and coarse chop.

Summer is the best time for this because of the garden's abundance. Enjoy!

Morning Report

2011-08-13T08:40:00.002-04:00

In the World of Words:

Charles Cote interviews John Roche, regarding his newest poetry collection: Ghost Roads.
It's a thoughtful interview, well worth the read:
http://charlescote.blogspot.com/2011/08/whitman-on-acid-interview-with-poet.html

Heard from Split Oak Press that I was one of the finalists for my prose collection Between Worlds. They received a large number of submissions for this year's contest, and I'm honored that my manuscript was recognized by the panel of readers and the judge. Hopefully, this chapbook collection, which is a mix of fiction and nonfiction, will find its way into print.

Congratulations to Karen Weyant's , her latest poetry chapbook Wearing Heels in the Rustbelt will be published by Main Street Rag. She was the winner of their annual chapbook contest! Looking forward to reading this collection.

*******

Red Rooster Farm News:

Nothing better than fresh produce. So temporary, this Eden's offerings. Thus far, we have exceptional broccoli-- looks picture perfect. Zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, blue lake green beans, deep purple eggplant-- I've been staying ahead of this and picking early, rather than a day late. you all know what a day makes in zucchini life-- baseball bat size seems to materialize in an eye-blink.

We're going to have a lot of pumpkins this year. So excited about this. Soon we'll be processing these veggies for winter. Nothing better than fresh tomato sauce when the snow is flying.

I've made a lot of boutique jams this year. My sister Karen, who is very critical of practically everything, gave me a thumbs up on these offerings. Her seal of approval is crucial because her praise will continue for years and that's the good news. But, when you have a food failure, that commentary stays constant too, and that's not so good. She's an exceptional cook and our family historian. I really like talking about recipes with her. She's taught me a lot.

Hope all of you are enjoying these last days of summer. Soon, September.

Storm Brewing

2011-07-28T19:07:00.003-04:00

Photo: by K.Iuppa, Recent storm on Lake Ontario

I too am a storm brewing. Have been working on a poetry project that has made me think seriously about content. What makes a subject significant? If the poem is engaged in observation, how can you be sure that the content is more than a mere report? What gives the observation consequence? Can the consequence be subtle, rather than shaped by certain edginess? Who's paying attention to what's "worth it"? I think having a project makes me think deeply about my writer's craft. I enjoy the routine of a project. I look forward to each day's new work. Stunned by my constant fussing over the "small world" poems I've written, whereas the longer lyric-narratives and other forms (cinquain, triolet, pantoum and so on) have been holding up. I've been enjoying the process. It's a conversation that is allowed to travel through the past,present, future zones. I think the conversation is wrestling with memory-- it's vulnerable; it wants a cure. We'll see . . .

Jam, Jam, Jam

2011-07-20T10:29:00.002-04:00

It's been a month since our last rain. Past two days, thunderstorms have rolled in and out , too quickly~ Still rain is rain.

Our raspberry patch has been chock full of berries- plump and o so sweet, you don't even need a pinch of sugar . Thus far, I've picked over 10 pints and have made the following jams: raspberry, raspberry-red cherry and raspberry-apricot-pineapple. I love looking at the jars(12 oz and 8 oz) -- lined up in neat rows, they make me feel rich. Love hearing the intermittent pop of their lids sealing. This is one of the joys of summer.

These recipes are no pectin, less sugar. So delicious. But, of course, I had to get up early to get this underway. We're in the middle of a heat wave. Today, the temperature will rise to 90's. Tomorrow will hit 100. So making jam when it's that hot outside is a bit outrageous. Our farmhouse doesn't have central air.

Gardens are doing well. Spent two days weeding the carrots. We planted these directly, so it's pain-staking work-- taking only the weeds and leaving the delicate carrots. Today, I'm going to work on the baby beet area. All of my green cabbage came up, but not one red. I'm so sad about this. I love red cabbage.

Yesterday, I went to my sister's house on the lake with my daughter Meghan. We spent an hour or so, body surfing the waves. The water was warm. We sat on the edge of the water and talked after our swim. I rubbed sand and bits of shell on my feet, over and over. I think it did a great job on my heels. A natural pedicure!

Project tally: 16 poems.

This Summer Life

2011-07-08T09:50:00.003-04:00

Have been working every day in the garden. Some of the honey bunch tomatoes are ripe!
Things are growing nicely, actually catching up after our late start.

Summer school finished, in what felt like an eye blink. I taught a Film and Society course and would recommend these films for summer viewing-- all available in the library system:

A Face in the Crowd: a 1957 film starring Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal and Walter Matthau, directed by Elia Kazan.^[1]^[2] The screenplay was written by Budd Schulberg, based on his short story "Your Arkansas Traveler." Powerful film. Makes you think about the word: made.

Network: a 1976 American satirical film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about a fictional television network, Union Broadcasting System (UBS), and its struggle with poor ratings. The film was written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Sidney Lumet. It stars Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch and Robert Duvall and features Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty, and Beatrice Straight.

Both of these films work in comparison/contrast.

Tootsie: a 1982 American comedy film that tells the story of a talented but volatile actor whose reputation for being difficult forces him to go to extreme lengths to land a job. The movie stars Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange, with a supporting cast that includes Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Bill Murray, and producer/director Sydney Pollack. Tootsie was adapted by Larry Gelbart, Barry Levinson (uncredited), Elaine May (uncredited) and Murray Schisgal from the story by Gelbart.

The Betrayal-Nerakhoon: The epic story of a family forced to emigrate from Laos after the chaos of the secret air war waged by the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Kuras has spent the last 23 years chronicling the family's extraordinary journey in this deeply personal, poetic, and emotional film. (documentary). I'm still thinking about this film.

Gran Torino: Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino.

Most of my class didn't know who Clint Eastwood was. How is that possible? In any event this tied with the documentary.

** All film blurbs gleaned from Wiki descriptions.

We viewed 13 films. This isn't the complete list.

Project: Currently working on a collaboration with a fellow Rochester poet. We've entered week four. To date, I have 12 new poems . I have been enjoying this challenge. Some of the poems have trigger some ideas for essays.

Going to a Red Wings baseball game tonight!

Othello at Highland Bowl

2011-07-03T09:08:00.003-04:00

The Shakespeare Players, a program of the Rochester Community Players, is presenting Shakespeare's tragedy Othello this summer as our 15th annual Free Shakespeare at the Highland Bowl. The production is being directed by Stephanie Roosa and produced by Patrick White. This production is co-sponsored by the Monroe County Parks Department.

Twelve performances of Othello are scheduled, from July 1 to July 16. All performances are free (donations are requested) and start at 8:00 PM. The performance will take place at the Highland Park Bowl, 1200 South Avenue, Rochester NY (corner of South Avenue and Robinson Blvd.) The performance schedule:

Friday July 1
Saturday July 2

Sunday July 3
Tuesday July 5
Wednesday July 6
Friday July 8
Saturday July 9
Sunday July 10
Tuesday July 12
Wednesday July 13
Friday July 15
Saturday July 16

______

Pack a picnic, bring a blanket and settle in . . .

Yesterday, Peter and I ventured to Highland Bowl to see this year's Shakespeare Players, a program of Rochester Community Players production of William Shakespeare's Othello.

I thought it was a strong cast, especially actors: Jonathan Ntheketha as Othello, Jeffrey Jones as Iago, Philip Ortolani as Cassio and Jeff Siuda as Roderigo.

I'm always intrigued by Iago's motives. He is a true villain. His jealousy and retaliation is greater than what originally insulted him. The slight he suffers for being passed over festers and festers. His mind is consumed with his desire for revenge. And, it's at any cost.

They had a few trouble spots with audio/ microphones. And a threat of rain, just a few drops just before the intermission. Some people left, but we stayed. The show ended near 11 p.m. Or that's the time I noticed when we got into our car.

This group of players will be presenting Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Oct 27-Nov 19, 2011, at MuCCC. Something to look forward to in the Fall.

Thunderstorm Last Night

2011-06-22T08:16:00.002-04:00

Weather Report:

A thunderstorm rolled in last night off the lake. It rained for the first time in several weeks which, no doubt, our garden welcomed. Everything will pop now. Driving into town last night, I was checking out the cornfields. The plants are just ribbons of green. The adage knee high by Fourth of July will not apply to this year's crops. But, it's strange, no matter how early or late we are (in a span of 3 weeks), everything matures at the time expected. How can that possibly make sense? But it's true. There seems to be a three week window of time.

Things to Do in June

2011-06-11T09:10:00.003-04:00

The Shoe Factory Art Co-Op
June Art Show

250 N. Goodman Street (#212)Second floor.

Exhibit Hours: Wed-Sat, Noon to 5 p.m.
June 10-30th, 2011.

Went to the opening last night and saw some fabulous metal works (functional art) by Kathy Kosel and striking garden totems by Bruce Day. Both would be conversation pieces to have in your gardens. Other works exhibited bring the garden indoors. Some whimsical, some
timeless -- something for everyone's garden.

Over 50 artists exhibiting. We took in the show; had a bite to eat at The Gate House and listened to a band play in the Village Gate Quad. Sadly, the music lasted for about an hour. Would have enjoyed hearing more. My friend Rick Petrie (poet ) was working the event in the quad. Need to find out the name of the band. Would like to go to their next live session.

There were a lot of other local musicians in the listening crowd.

The Jazz Festival started last night too. Plan on going to some of the street concerts this week. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate. Says it's going to rain today and a bit tomorrow (ugh!). Hope it passes us by.

Today, a lot of work awaits me in the garden. I will be planting potatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts (they look like jingle bells-- I love them!) Thus far, we have peas, tomatoes: honey bunches(yellow cherry), cherry, yellow grape, Marianna plum,Brandywine (heirloom; eggplants , purple and ghostbuster,onions, silver white, red, yellow (started and sets) Peppers, red, yellow, green-- all sweet.

Need to also plant, carrots, beets, lettuces, green beans, and all the other dry bean varieties we grow, zucchini, squash (several kinds) et more.

We are at least three weeks behind our usual planting. The weather has been
full of rain for days.

Have had sun for the past few days and everything is at last drying out.

Our basil looks good. Personally, I wish we could bottle that scent. I love basil.

Enjoy your weekend!

Warming up now that it's June

2011-06-03T07:38:00.002-04:00

Upcoming event:

Genesee Reading Series at Writers & Books:
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
7:30 PM
Members: $3, Public: $6
FEATURING Tom Holmes and Adam Wilcox

Put together a poet/foodie and a poet/oenophile, and what do you get? A banquet of tastes, textures, and sensory delights for the literary palate.

Tom Holmes is the editor of Redactions: Poetry & Poetics. He is also author of After Malagueña (FootHills Publishing, 2005), Negative Time (Pudding House, 2007), Pre-Dew Poems (FootHills Publishing, 2008), Henri, Sophie, &the Hieratic Head of Ezra Pound: Poems Blasted from the Vortex (BlazeVOX Books, 2009), The Oldest Stone in the World (Amsterdam Press, 2011), and Poetry Assignments: The Book (Sage Hill Press, forthcoming).
He has been nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize. His work has appeared on Verse Daily and has also appeared in Blue Earth Review, Chiron Review, Crab Creek Review, The Delmarva Review, The G. W. Review, Mississippi Review, Mid-American Review, New Delta Review, New Zoo Poetry Review, Orange Coast Review, Rockhurst Review, San Pedro River Review, Santa Clara Review, South Carolina Review, Sugar House Review, Swarthmore Review, and many other journals that don’t have “Review” in their name. His current poetry book reviews and writing about wine and poetry can be found at his blog, The Line Break: http://thelinebreak.wordpress.com/.

Adam A. Wilcox is President and founder of Writ Wilcox, an information design company. Before that, he was a radio producer, curriculum developer, manager of technical documentation,and instructional designer for e-learning, and also ran an entrepreneurial custom-courseware business.

His poetry has appeared in Poetry, The Colorado Review, Cairn, and Folio, among other journals. For eight years, he wrote the “Gut Instincts” food column for Rochester City Newspaper, and currently writes for and edits RochesterFoodNet.com. He also plays bass for The Dan Eaton Band and leads the Saturday Service Band at First Unitarian Church of Rochester. He lives in Rochester, NY, with his choreographer wife, Anne Harris Wilcox, their three home-schooled children, and their Bernese mountain dog.

*********

Publishing News:

The Aroostook Review just accepted my story "The Catch" for its upcoming issue.

tinfoildresses will be releasing an anthology of selected poems called Rising in Hope. Proceeds from the book sales will benefit Japan Relief ( Red Cross) per Heather Schmidt, editor. I will update when this anthology is released, with details of purchase. Please consider supporting this. The poems will not disappoint. It's a poignant collection.

*****************

O Lilac Time

2011-05-24T09:40:00.003-04:00

Glorious scents! Our Spring is slow moving this year. Cooler weather and rain has kept many blossoms in their prime.

Does it bother anyone when an author references a plant, animal, mineral in the wrong time of year? It really makes me unhappy. I get fussy and stuck on it.

There are several poems in What the Living Do by Marie Howe that place magnolias and lilacs in the wrong time of year in Rochester NY. Whenever I see the blooms, I think maybe it was a really cool year and Marie saw this, but even in our coolest seasons, it's never June. Makes me wonder about truth and image. I can see the reasoning of saying pop bottle over pop can, if it makes the music of the line~ But, inserting nature when it can't possible be bothers me. Gawd, I'm such a purist.

Although, there was a day in my teenage past with Marie, it was April, a rainy, sullen day and we went into a florist shop on East Avenue and there were daffodils everywhere-- all that yellow made us giddy.We bought bouquets. I can't remember who we gave them to, but we place them on the dashboard of her car called "Pedals." The sun was shining on the inside. The music was blasting. We were happy in spite of everything.

New Phase: Summer Cometh Slowly

2011-05-23T08:38:00.004-04:00

Task: to create a writing manifesto that will unfold like a state map-- full of wonder and two lane highways, places I've been to before, but will see with a sense of renewal-- perhaps this summer will be my immersion into "the uncluttered." I think my life has a lot of clutter-- physically, mentally, which really messes with spirituality. The clutter comes in degrees of busyness. Busyness begets paper, piles upon piles of paper. Small thoughts, large thoughts, thoughts to build an empire. Thoughts that may inspire a change or maybe encourage a new set of muscles (I'm so polite-- drop and give me twenty is what's really going on in my head). I don't care if the muscle is mental or a full press workout. To think I may celebrate my birthday in September with a new outlook. This is the plan. Take a deep breath and don't hold it, just breathe and get back to the natural cadence.

Thus far:

Drinking 100 oz of H2O a day. Giving new meaning to float the boat.

Have started the daily cycling or better known as "spying on the neighborhood."

Re-discovering a sense of wonder. 100 days of reading, writing and drawing.

______

This past weekend went to a poetry reading at Brockport's newest art gallery: A Different Path located on 27 Market Street. If you want to buy a one-of-a-kind gift for someone you love, this is a place to visit.

This was my first visit to the gallery. Just Poets Kitty Jospe and John Roche read a selection of their newest poems in a call and response-- braiding their voices into a hour set by switching themes on the last poem offered by one and picked up by the other.

Poet Tom Holmes (editor of Redactions) is the curator of this new series. Next reading will be in August to celebrate the I-90 Poetry Revolution based on a manifesto that he and Sean Thomas Dougherty put out as a challenge to all who believe . . .

Here's the manifesto: http://redactions.com/I-90_Manifesto.pdf

I enjoyed this reading very much. It's a lovely space. So glad I was able to attend.

______________

Publishing News:

My poem "Waking, all the same" included in the recently released issue of The Meadowland Review www.themeadowlandreview.com It's an incredible issue. So pleased to be included.

Received the hard copy issue of The Prose Poem Project. Having this collection is such a gift.
Tony Leuzzi's "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart," and Janet Kaplan's "Chronicle: series of poems, and Karla Linn Merrifield's "The Talisman Artifact" and "Summer Morning in Muir Park" and many others-- all worthy of mention. This is a remarkable collection of prose poems.
I'm so pleased "Goldfish, Swimming" is included here.

Ah, onward!

The Producers

2011-05-12T08:37:00.000-04:00

The review says it all. This play is hilarious! They've added on shows, but seats are selling out.
Act now if you want to see the show!

City Newspaper Review of "The Producers"

2011-05-12T08:36:00.001-04:00

THEATER REVIEW: Mel Brooks' "The Producers"

By Eric Rezsnyak on May 10, 2011

It takes enormous matzo balls to stage a show at the Jewish Community Center that features frolicking Nazi storm troopers literally singing the praises of the Third Reich. Granted, it's satire, tongue planted firmly in tuchus, and conceived by Mel Brooks, one of the most chosen of the chosen people. But I still held my breath for a good chunk of the jaw-dropping "Springtime for Hitler" sequence, waiting to see if anyone from the packed audience on opening night would walk out, boo, or spit at the flamboyant Fuhrer prancing about the stage belting, "Heil myself!" Thankfully, everyone was too busy laughing - as they should have been. JCC CenterStage's production of Brooks' "The Producers" is outrageously entertaining, a smart production featuring a solid cast that throws itself fully into the show.

"The Producers" debuted as a 1968 film with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder that told the story of loser theater producer Max Bialystock and his sniveling young accountant, Leo Bloom, who inadvertently discovers that a producer can make more money off of a flop than a successful show. So the pair sets out to find the worst play ever written, hire the worst director in the world, and offend all of New York before leaving for Rio with their ill-gotten old-lady money. Brooks re-envisioned the story as a Broadway musical in 2001, and it became a commercial and critical smash, winning 12 Tony Awards and packing houses for years. The stars from that show - Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick - reunited in 2005 for a film version of the musical, which was something of a flop. I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere.

The current production at the JCC is directed by Danny Hoskins, who does a good job translating a big Broadway show to a mid-sized local stage. He's aided by strong work by choreographer Meggins Kelley, vocal director Sarah Mattison (not a bad voice in the show), a great orchestra led by Terrence E. Bacon, and some absolutely tremendous costumes courtesy of Gail Argetsinger (the quartet of Bavarian beauties decked out in giant pretzels, sausages, and beer steins are show stoppers alone). Of course, it helps that the show itself is a riot, with some catchy songs, outrageous characters, and that mind-blowing show-within-a-show in Act II.

Local stage veteran Steven Marsocci plays the lead role of Max Bialystock. Marsocci possesses a strong voice, a commanding stage presence, and some understated comic chops. He is good, but arguably too good: Marsocci occasionally comes off as too likable, and Max is, to be blunt, kind of a scumbag. Marsocci often nails the charming but shameless shyster - Brooks specializes in those kinds of characters - but at other times seems like a nice guy stuck in a bad situation. It's a delicate balance that's not consistently executed, but there's no denying his many talents, especially during his tour de force, "Betrayed."

Sharing the spotlight is Zachary Brown as Leo Bloom. Bloom's tics at first overwhelmed Brown's portrayal, leaving him more of a caricature than a character. But by the time the "I Wanna Be a Producer" number came around he seemed more comfortable in the role, and he went on to deliver a funny, believable, and beautifully sung performance.

The tragedy for the leads in a show like "The Producers" is that the cast of colorful supporting characters can sometimes overshadow them, and that happens to an extent in this production. Kristin Hopwood takes over the stage as soon as Ulla enters late in Act I, and when she's on it she's pretty much impossible to ignore. Hopwood is hilarious, a great singer and dancer, and utterly ravishing. Ulla dance again? Ulla can dance any time she wants, as far I'm concerned.

Ed Popil plays relentlessly gay director Roger De Bris, and later, in the musical within the musical, Adolf Elizabeth Hitler. His performances are big, bold, and polished, and Popil is completely committed to the giddy lunacy going on around him. He is well complemented by Christopher Tyler as Roger's partner-major domo-sidekick, and the two of them make a great comedic pair. I was disappointed whenever they left the stage.

But arguably stealing the whole show is Jeffrey Andrews as Franz Liebkind, the former Nazi turned aspiring playwright behind "Springtime for Hitler." Andrews has a background in comedy, and is a member of both Unleashed! and Broken Couch improv troupes. Here he uses those comedic skills to take an already ridiculous character and make him even more outrageous, nailing every opportunity for a laugh, from his accent to his singing and dancing to his impressive physical comedy. Andrews does not waste a single second on that stage.

Many members of the ensemble also get a chance to shine in smaller roles. Big laughs were generated by Meghan Rose Tonery as both Hold Me, Touch Me and the pitiable would-be chorus girl, Michael Ciaccia as one of the little old ladies, Douglas Dohr as the Nazi soloist, Brian J. Maxwell as the actor with the speech impediment, Michelle Brown as a sassy chorus girl, and Steve Levins as the gruff CPA.

Hoskins and his cast and crew clearly put a great deal of effort into the show's nearly two dozen musical numbers, and all of them are executed beautifully, from the swish-filled "Keep it Gay" to the choreographed walker-wielding grannies in "Along Came Bialy." The show does have some pacing issues in the non-musical parts, especially early in Act I. And while most of the comedy is hits big, one recurring gag with the characters repeatedly interacting with something on the floor of the stage did not translate at all.

Mel Brooks' "The Producers"

Through May 22

Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Ave.

$16-$24 | 461-2000 x235, jcccenterstage.com

Ultimate Dog Tease

2011-05-08T08:57:00.000-04:00

Weekend Updates

2011-05-08T08:22:00.003-04:00

From the nursery: another duckling arrives! Considerably smaller than its nearly week-old sibling.They grow so quickly. At first, the older duckling was picking on the little one (ugh! siblings) But it stopped and now they're glad to be side by side.

From the podium: Nick crossed the threshold and took his diploma. Ta-da! This was a long awaited day--such a thrill for Peter and me. All of our children have degrees that were accomplished in a timely way. Let's see, George was on time (He also has a law degree and is a practicing lawyer); Meghan Rose graduated a whole year ahead(She's a practicing actress and doing well), and Nick added a year to complete a second major(soon he'll be off to Europe). I'm basking in a feeling of completion. It won't last for very long, because there is always more to do. But, for this weekend, I'm so happy. This is the best Mother's Day gift!

Since I Last Spoke to You . . .

2011-05-05T07:10:00.002-04:00

Despite chilly, rainy weather, the days of April clicked by on tiny heels . . .The semester came to a surprising end. Finals week began on Easter Monday. The whole week spent reading and grading. I was finished by Friday April 29. This is a most satisfied feeling.

Now it's Senior week. My son Nick is graduating on Saturday. It's going to be a thrill watching him receive his diploma. Another threshold crossed. Hurray! We're all so happy for him. Meghan's in the musical The Producers at JCC and it's opening this weekend. Peter's one act play My Best Friend is one of the Regional Writers Showcase winners. There will be a staged reading on May 9th at GeVa Theatre Center. His play is just stunning. The staged readings are well-attended, so if you're going to come to the event. Plan on getting there early. It's in the Next Stage at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are free, but you have to call GeVa: 232-GEVA to reserve your tickets.

Went to NYC , Sunday until late Tuesday night. Spring is there in high gear. Warm weather, sunny skies, people sharing meals outside under awnings. Love in the air. Springtime in NYC. Didn't get enough time to enjoy the city. Spent most of it inside at an appointed duty. Nevertheless, was glad to be there for those few days. Came back to cold weather ( a drastic difference). Hopefully today will be a bit warmer. At least the sun is shining. We have had so much rain. Everything is so soggy. Still, we have to move forward, making plans for our vegetable gardens.

Yesterday, went to my office at St. John Fisher to do some program work. Accomplished a lot. Then had a wonderful time at the English department's Senior dinner. The turn out was exceptional. So wonderful to see how happy all the graduates were. The talk was both a looking forward and a looking back. Good moods all around.

Our first two duck eggs hatched. These eggs are being cared for by our broody hen, who has been diligent. One duckling survived its birth and is thriving. Now living under a warm lamp and eating and drinking on its own. We're waiting for the others to arrive. Hopefully soon, because that little duck is growing by leaps and bounds.

Think SUN!! We need to warm up and dry out here on the farm. Will keep you posted on our nursery news.

Upcoming: The Producers at JCC

2011-04-15T07:20:00.002-04:00

Mel Brooks' The Producers
Book, Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan

Saturday, May 7 at 8pm
Sunday, May 8 at 2pm
Thursday, May 12 at 7pm
Saturday, May 14 at 8pm
Sunday, May 15 at 2pm
Thursday, May 19 at 7pm
Saturday, May 21 at 8pm
Sunday, May 22 at 2pm

Area Premiere! When down-on-his-luck Broadway producer Max Bialystock and mousy accountant Leo Bloom hatch a scheme to get rich, by producing Broadway biggest flop, the result is the outrageous musical satire that is laugh-out-loud funny, and winner of a record 12 Tony® Awards.

Featuring: Steve Marsocci ("Tevye" from Fiddler on the Roof) as Max...Ed Popil (aka drag queen Kasha Davis) as Roger De Bris...Rochester's funniest musical theatre performers...the prettiest showgirls...and the most lavish sets and costumes you have ever seen at CenterStage.

Poetry, Poetry, Poetry

2011-04-15T06:23:00.003-04:00

In celebration of National Poetry Month, I've read twice this week.

At St. Bernard's Park, with David Michael Nixon and Donna Marbach, I read a selection of poems from Within Reach. It was a lovely evening. We read in a former chapel, now community room.
We could hear birds in the eaves until sundown, then silence.

On Wednesday, I read at Monroe Community College, in the Theatre at Noon. A large and attentive audience, who asked thoughtful questions. It was such a gift, having the opportunity to
promote my new book at this college. Some of my former students, now professors there attended my reading. Cathryn Smith the chair of the English Department is a long time friend and fellow writer. So enjoyed seeing her and catching up. I'm grateful for her kind invitation to read.

A bit later, I visited Tony Leuzzi's creative writing class. He too is a terrific poet and teacher.
This visit gave me the opportunity to purchase his latest collection of poems. Steve Fellner wrote a positive review of his book a while ago, which intrigued me. At last, I have a copy of the book: Radiant Losses(New Sins Press 2009).

Poet, photographer, social activist Margaret Randall read from her recently released collections (4 of them!) at St. John Fisher College yesterday. What an honor having her on campus. She's a pleasure to be around and talk to -- about everything. I'm grateful for the literary collaboration with John Roche at R.I.T. We've done this quite a bit and it's allowed us to share visiting writers. Soon, we'll be celebrating John's newest poetry release at the Bug Jar on April 30. So glad I will be able to attend this reading, which will showcase some other poets and musicians too. So if you live in our area, I hope you will be able to make this reading.

On Saturday, April 16th, we will be celebrating Earth Day at Hamlin State Park.

Nine Just Poets :

Donna Marbach, David Michael Nixon, Karla Merrifield, Lori Nolasco, Colleen Powderly, Wanda Schubmehl. Anita Augesen, M.J.Iuppa, Cynthia Blair~ will be reading under the tent, 10:30 a.m. until NOON in Area 4. The admission to the park is free. Dady Brothers will be playing after the poetry readings. Think sun, sun, sun. Last year we have a beautiful day.

Next week will be a short week at St. John Fisher. Break for Easter will begin on Wednesday around 6 p.m. After this long weekend, we return to finals week. The way this semester is ending is difficult. It's hard to switch gears from chocolate rabbits back to the grind of studying for exams and final papers. Cross bunny ears that this will work out for all!

After the grading marathon, I will be off to NYC !

RCP's Irish Players. Dublin Carol and Bedtime Story Directed by Jean Ryon

2011-04-09T09:44:00.005-04:00

The Irish Players, a program of the Rochester Community Players, will be staging two productions this spring, a full-length play and a 'curtain warmer' one-act. The full length play is Dublin Carol by Conor McPherson, a three character play. This is a 90 minute play with no intermission. The play will be performed at MuCCC April 1 thru 16, 2011. This production will also be staged at the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, May 20, 2011.

Preceding each performance of Dublin Carol at MuCCC will be a one-act curtain warmer, Bedtime Story by Sean O'Casey.

Cast list; Bedtime Story

John Jo Mulligan: Jamal Abdunnasir
Angela Nightingale: Stacy Homola
Halibut: Andy Cowen
Miss Mossie: Linda Loy
Policeman: John Jaeger
Nurse: Laura Smith
Doctor: TBA

Dublin Carol:

John: John Jaeger
Mary: Laura Smith
Mark: Jamal Abdunnasir

Dublin Carol Synopsis, from Wikipedia: John, a middle-aged employee of a funeral home in Dublin, returns from a funeral on Christmas Eve with Mark, a 20-year-old who has helped out that day and to whom John tells his sad history about how he has destroyed much of his life and damaged his family, through drink. Mary, John's grown daughter, who hasn't seen her father in 10 years, arrives to tell him that her mother, his long-estranged wife, is dying.

Bedtime Story Synopsis: A respectable Catholic bachelor invites a fun-time girl back to his room in a Dublin boarding house. Terrified that his land lady and a fellow lodger may discover his indiscretion, he tries to get the girl quietly out of the house in the middle of the night. Things go horribly wrong. This play was quite the scandal when written in 1951.

I'm going to see these plays tonight. Jean Ryon's direction never disappoints. Looking forward to seeing these plays!

30 X 30, Is it possible?

2011-03-31T06:25:00.006-04:00

Long ago, maybe 30 years ago in July, a fleet of Tall ships visited the port of Rochester. I remember getting up early, just before the rising sun, and watching the horizon with my mom from our lakefront deck. It was breath-taking, the slow ascent of the sails cresting over the rim-- the pink sunlight glazing the water. So vivid in my memory, and our silence, watching the ships, come one after the other. . . .

Now we're approaching April, many hoping to take up the challenge of 30 poems in 30 days. Will our imagination thaw out? It's been such a cold winter. I'm aching for Spring. Last week, 3/23, we had a terrible snowstorm. Now everything has melted once again . . .the ducks are enjoying the Olympic puddles. Our two remaining ducks are starting to nest. Hopefully, they'll get it right and we'll have ducklings in a month or so. Peter has set a "Have A Heart" trap to deter the marauding interlopers. (One of them has killed three of our ducks.)
He has caught: 2 skunk, an orange teen-cat, and a raccoon. He drove the raccoon to the park and set it free beyond Devil's Nose. Because he crossed a park barricade, he was given a ticket by a young officer. This story is going to end up like Alice's Restaurant. Peter has to appear
before a Judge in a week or so ( insert sound bite of Law & Order here). It's going to be: He said, he did-- he said he did-- all because the raccoon was a good-looking animal. The next day the barricade to that part of the park was removed. I guess timing is everything. I hope the Judge will spare Peter.

We may have more snow this weekend. Really, is that so? Winter just won't shake loose.

I hope there's a change of heart by Friday.

Let's share a cup of something . . .

2011-03-26T12:35:00.004-04:00

A million ( no exaggeration) thing are swirling around right now . . .

It's time to embrace chaos. Much like the weather-- anything can happen, and it does.

Some thoughts on Ben Krause's invention, the poetic form: quincouplet.

It's a couplet with a limit of five words.

1st line: two words.
2nd line: three words.

May have a one word title, but can't be the first word of your poem.

Ben has an journal called Twenty20 Journal. All the forms, quincouplet, ha(nay)ku,
cinquain as well as free verse and fictions have to be 20 words or under. Even the bio is 20 words or less.

When I first encountered this journal, I found Nancy Devine's poem "Planchette," which is in the first winter 2010-11 issue, if you want to check it out. It's a clever poem.
Thanks, Nancy for hooking me in.

I'm intrigued by minimal-imagistic forms. I like the challenge.

Like cinquain, the quincouplet is addictive. The best seem to have it all-- head, heart, spirit-- they truly resonant and have a lasting effect.

Also, a longer poem could be created, using linked quincouplets, which lets the poem travel a bit.

Another site: Three Line Poetry wants free verse, haiku, senryu-- it HAS to be a tercet, so don't even try to add another line!

_______

On Thursday 3/24 at St. John Fisher, we had an amazing reading/ poetry collaboration by poet E. Louise Beach and composer Jennifer Bellor called Ophelia's Flowers.

This event was a premiere performance for the Eastman School of Music's Women in Music Festival, which is a remarkable showcase, which has occurred every March for the last five years (?) maybe a bit longer. Sylvie Beaudette, an extraordinary musician, professor, life force, organizes this festival and she does it effortlessly.

Louise wrote the Libretto and Jennifer set the poems to music And sang the libretto. The way this collaboration came about was a tremendous gift. My friend and fellow poet Claudia Stanek saw Louise's call for a musical collaboration in her Bennington Alumni News. Both are MFA grads. Claudia reached out to Louise and arranged the collaboration with Jennifer. No doubt, Sylvie was a part of this too. This kindness just thrills me. It's the real stuff, the power of creating-- and Claudia was instrumental in all of this. It's truly a selfless, generous act. It's what women are suppose to do for other women. We're suppose to help each other. Hence, the point of The Women in Music Festival. It's bring attention to all these fabulous women composers, musicians, poets.

_________

Finished (truly finished) organizing my 3rd book. I began this work in 7/2010.
This book has three sections, instead of four. I have a title too, which is a huge relief. I'm pleased with it.

Well, this cup is drained and I have to get back to the day in progress.

Be well, Blog travelers.

Celebration of Tennessee Williams' 100th Birthday!

2011-03-26T09:00:00.006-04:00

In celebration of Tennessee Williams' 100th birthday, the English Department and
Arts Minor Program are sponsoring the following events:

Enjoy three one act plays from 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, directed by John Barthelmes and Peter Tonery, featuring St. John Fisher students and Rochester community actors.

The plays are: Auto da Fe, This Property is Condemned, and The Long Good Bye.

Performances held in B135 on Saturday, 3/26/2011 at 7 :30 p.m., Sunday, 3/27/ 2011 at 2:00 p.m. and Monday 3/28/2011 at 8:00 p.m. Free and Open to the public.

On Monday 3/28/2011 at 7 p.m.-7:45 p.m. in Golisano Gateway Mid-level, there will be a panel discussion of Tennessee Williams, with members of the recent production of the Glass Menagerie at Black Friars Theatre. Panelists: Jack Halidoupis (Set designer, Executive Director, Black Friars Theatre) Patricia Lewis Browne (Amanda) and Fred Nuernberg (Director)

This should be a lively conversation! Come to the panel and stay for the one acts following immediately after the discussion in B135.

The one act showcase is approximately an hour, including a brief break.

Event is free and open to public.

Hope to see you there!

Traveling today to University of Pennsylvania

2011-03-14T06:34:00.002-04:00

Taking a nearly 5 hour car ride today. Going to University of Pennsylvania at Altoona to read from my new collection Within Reach and teach two poetry workshops.

Looking forward to the drive and seeing the change of landscape. Hope the weather behaves.
It said that it was going to be 44 and sunny in Altoona today. Perfect. Here Comes the Sun!

The weather has been rocking back and forth on its heels. One foot still in winter, the other big toe in Spring. It's muddy here, but the geese are back!

Last Thursday took my Encounters class to Black Friars Theatre to see Williams's The Glass Menagerie. Well worth the tickets. Strong performances, especially Patrica Lewis Browne.

Upcoming Thursday, we're off to JCC to see The Triangle Factory Fire Project, which I saw on opening night. It has been getting strong audience reviews and attendance.

Both plays celebrate 100 years. Williams's birthday this year and 100th anniversary of the fire.
Around the same day in March. 25th, I believe.

This week is going to be very busy. Workshops here and there. March is a very busy month.

Countdown to Spring

2011-03-08T04:38:00.006-05:00

Early last night, the coyotes started howling in the woods across from our farm. I could hear their high-pitched voices in my bedroom. It was that loud. The sound bounced off of our barn and echoed, making it sound so eerie. It frightened me. I don't want this pack to target our animals.

We lost an adult pinto duck (my favorite) the other day to a raccoon. Now we have a baby monitor linked to the hen house and duck pen to hear any signs of distress. Hopefully we'll get out there before something happens. The opossums are the ones that really disturb me. They don't kill for survival, but just to kill. Last year we had two opossum hits. They killed our rabbits and chickens and their offspring. It looked like a war zone.

I was so agitated by the howling, I made Meghan and Nick listen too. Just to confirm where they thought the coyotes were. The sound was bouncing all over the place. Then neighborhood dogs (I live in the country, so the neighborhood dogs live an orchard or field away) began howling too. So I threw open my bedroom window and started howling, which I thought would be a warning to stay away. Yes, I'm fluent in Coyote. Strangely-- every other dog stopped, except for me. Then I stopped. And listened. Heard a single "woof" from far away. Then just the cold air. Closed the window and climbed into bed. ( Howling made me feel good-- I really belted it out. I think I released some of my tension.)

The day had been exhausting. Teaching in the schools( grades K-2), then a dentist appointment, which has had me twirled out for weeks. I've been so distressed about this. Now I have a temporary crown on a back molar (I'm a queen!) with the directions of no vigorous chewing on that side. If it falls off, bring it back in and we'll fix it. I'm going away next week to give a reading and workshops in PA, and I was concerned about this possibility. If it falls out in PA, Fixodent will glue it back in. If I swallow it, I'm, well, out of luck.

I have to be really good for two weeks. This may be an imposed diet. And this week is the beginning of Lent. So I'm off to a good start.

College was on break last week. The next six weeks will fly by. It always does. Hope everyone had a good rest. We've had close to 107 inches of snow this year. I guess it's a record matching 2003-04. March ping-pongs in weather: rain, snow, sun (repeat). Spring, where are you? Please come soon.

Need to look at that stack of catalogs. we'll be planting our seeds in starter trays in a couple of weeks and gearing up for 100 days of summer.

Still enjoying last year's harvest. I'm counting my blessings.

Triangle Factory Fire Project Opens Saturday 3/5/2011

2011-03-04T08:02:00.004-05:00

The Triangle Factory Fire Project
By Christopher Piehler in collaboration with Scott Alan Evans

JCC Centerstage
1200 Edgewood Avenue,
Rochester, NY 14618

Saturday, March 5 at 8pm
Sunday, March 6 at 2pm
Thursday, March 10 at 7pm
Saturday, March 12 at 8pm
Sunday, March 13 at 2pm
Thursday, March 17 at 7pm
Saturday, March 19 at 8pm
Sunday, March 20 at 2pm

Area Premiere! On March 25, 1911, a fire roared through Manhattan's Triangle Shirtwaist Factory causing the death of 146 immigrant garment workers. On the 100th Anniversary of the fire, this powerful play explores the shocking event that changed working conditions, shaped labor unions and became a key to women's suffrage.

This is a MUST SEE play. Don't miss it.

The Prose Poem Project and other new publications

2011-02-20T11:29:00.003-05:00

Recent Publications: My prose poem, "Goldfish,Swimming" is posted on this site:
www.prose-poems.com

If you have prose poems, you may want to submit to The Prose Poem Project.
I'm thrilled to be included.

Here's the link to my review of Leah Browning's (editor of Apple Valley Review) chapbooks, which are must haves, if you have a chapbook collection.

http://www.off-the-coast.com/OTC_winter2011_reviews.html

I admire Kristy Bowen's artistic eye. Always have.

Weekend Round Up

2011-02-20T09:50:00.004-05:00

Nap time

My friend has been taking care of her grandson on Mondays and Fridays since birth. He's two years old now. This is their nap time ritual:

1. Turn on large screen TV to the Golf station. 2. Get cozy on Lazy Boy. The two of them side by side. 3. Take off socks. 4. Wiggle each toe on each foot. (this takes concentration). 5. Doesn't that feel good! 6. Wiggle all toes. Doesn't that feel good! Then settle back. 7. Golf. 8. The narrator's voice is as soft as the rolling greens, and before you know, the child is fast asleep. 9. Slip out of Lazy Boy without waking the child. 10. Quick. You have two hours to get something done.

* * *

Snow is nearly melted. All day yesterday, high winds and bitter cold. More snow. Finally went to see The King's Speech. Oh, it was fabulous. I loved how they treated the story, giving us just enough narrative to appreciate both families, the historical times, and the need for trusting friendships. I was mesmerized by the sets. The texture of this movie is a feast. Simply gorgeous. The cast is sublime. All of them challenged by doing accents other than their own;
and the way they interpreted the humor in their conversational exchanges. The script offers so much to the actors. I bet this cast was so happy to be on board with this film. If you haven't seen this yet, you must go soon.

* * *

Confession:

Just bought my first bag of Just Born Jelly Beans. They are really tender, non-gritty jelly beans.
And Easter is late this year. So these jelly beans are going to be in the stores for a very long time. Do I have any will power?

Etta James - My Funny Valentine

2011-02-13T12:32:00.000-05:00

Sunday February 13, 2011, Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.

2011-02-13T10:47:00.003-05:00

Dear Readers,

I hope you enjoyed my post of the Orangutan and Hound. Says something about instant friendship, doesn't it? I laughed in a break out laugh when the Orangutan free falls backwards.
I like their commitment to each other and such fun. Take a lesson. It's time to meet someone who is so unlike you, but will make all the difference in your life.

I love hound dogs too. and Elvis. Hunka, hunka burning love . . . After all tomorrow is Valentine's Day.

That led me to Jefferson Airplane and the song "Today." Which opens the floodgates of my past, where I was when this song first came out, who I loved, who I imagined loving for a long time.

Winter makes me very nostalgic.

Today, I'm feeling particular thankful for the following:

wood for the wood burning stove.
a pot of soup simmering on the stove.
the forecast of warmer weather this week. (it's been so cold, and everyone is so sick).
time to write and draw and keep up with my other work too.
my funny valentines.

Jefferson Airplane - Today

2011-02-12T08:20:00.000-05:00

Orangutan and the Hound

2011-02-11T17:10:00.000-05:00

Orangutan and the Hound

Rooftops

2011-02-06T11:20:00.002-05:00

Well, I've been blog surfing this morning, and so many of you aren't at AWP.
I imagine folks are packing up their bags. Reason why I posted "Get Back." But for those of us who never left, because of money, health, weather, kettle corn addiction, I thought it would be fun to offer up a challenge. Watch the Beatle video and write your version of Rooftop.
What memory of Romeo and Juliet, or is it Loretta?

Must use the following words:

fire escape

pipe

flat

rosy red

strand

indigo

window

bricks

You can modify the words, if you like.

The Beatles

2011-02-06T11:14:00.000-05:00

Fortune Cookie

2011-02-05T09:12:00.003-05:00

Fortune Cookie: There is a prospect of a thrilling time ahead for you.

2 Pages/2 Voices

Performance: Monday, February 7, 8 p.m. at Writers & Books.
Free and open to the public

Join us for an entertaining evening of readings of plays written by Rochester-area writers. In honor of our 30th Anniversary each play will include the word “30” at some point. Produced in association with Geva Theatre Center.

Selected Plays: Becoming Mother by Liz Bell, Believe? by Mary Ellen Donohoe, Why Lazarus? by Chuck Lyons, Burty's Thirty by Steve Donner, Right Turn in Palmyra by Byron Wilmot, Thirty Burros and a Bale of Hay by Len Messineo, Leave a Message by Carolyn Koourofsky,The President and the Speechwriter by Martin Naparsteck, The New Dad by Mark Jabaut, Lost Track of Time by M. J. Iuppa.

On Monday afternoon, I will attend a rehearsal of my 2 minute play. I love this process. Learn so much about characters' interaction, pacing, interpretation. I'm excited to see this year's showcase. In the past, the 2 minute plays have been so entertaining-- a range of subjects and emotions.

Recommend Seeing this:

Wine and Spirit: Rituals, Remedies and Revelry

January 30–April 10, 2011 in the Grand Gallery
Exhibition opening party January 29

Since its invention eight millennia ago, wine has been considered the elixir of the gods and the tonic of choice for ordinary mortals. Its uses range from religious to social to medicinal, with effects on the body and mind that run the gamut from spiritual elevation to physical and moral dissipation.

This traveling exhibition includes more than 100 objects that illustrate the transformative effects of wine. The earliest is a Neolithic wine jar dated 5400-5000 BCE; the latest, a 2009 painting by New York artist Leonard Porter. In between, works by 17th-century Dutch masters are featured alongside prints, drawings and photos by such artists as Honoré Daumier and Pablo Picasso. The show also includes Greek vases, Roman glassware, Renaissance vessels, rare books and manuscripts. Complete list of programs and events

This exhibition was organized by the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, South Hadley, MA, with support from the Warbeke Art Museum Fund and the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum Friends of Art. In Rochester, it is underwritten by the Estate of Irving Germanow, with additional support from Bob and Joanne Gianniny, ESL Federal Credit Union, and an anonymous gift in honor of Nancy Holowka and Karen Stolt.

PUBLISHING NEWS:

Recent acceptances online now: Glass: A Journal of Poetry, Hobble Creek Review, Postcard Shorts. Others forthcoming from Twenty20 Journal (short forms), The Prose-Poem Project, Blueline., Nova Scotia Review. Print Journals Received: The Chariton Review, Tar River Review, Off the Coast (review).

This weekend on the farm . . .

Hmmm. Always work to do. The stormy weather this past week gave everyone a bit of pause. They had predicted 2 feet of snow, which (thankfully) didn't happen.

I created an infinity scarf. It's a loop that you can loop in a glamorous way and feel cozy warm.

I want to enter the 6X6 art exhibit at RoCo this year. It's a fund-raiser for the gallery, and in the past few years the entries have been wonderful. Unfortunately, I missed my opportunity to purchase some of the work. This year I will make a purchase. Have to get to the exhibit early!

Here are the details:

6x6x2011: Global

June 4 - July 10, 2011
Artworks Due: May 1
Preview Hours: June 1, 2 & 3, 1-10pm
Opening Reception & Artwork Sale: June 4, 6-10pm
$5 opening night admission
7:30pm raffle for buyer positions 1-20
8:00pm all other buyers
Global Online Purchasing Begins: June 6 at 10am
Sold Out Artist Names Revealed to Public: July 1 *New!
Purchased Artwork Pick-Up: July 10, 11 & 12
Cash prizes: Awarded by popular vote. *New!

Good News!

2011-01-27T05:03:00.004-05:00

2 Pages/2 Voices

Performance: Monday, February 7, 8 p.m. at Writers & Books.
Free and open to the public

Received news: my 2-minute play "Lost Track of Time" was selected for 2Pages/2Voices. Looking forward to the readings on February 7th.

Hope to see you there!

Catching Up

2011-01-22T09:17:00.004-05:00

Well, the semester has begun. Back to the paces, which is challenged by winter. Snow and living 45 minutes away from practically everything makes me take a closer look at time management. Lately, I've been hitching a ride to Fisher with my son Nick, who is a senior at Fisher. I must say I like being chauffeured. We're reading/sharing a book. So yesterday, I read aloud as we made our trip. I was an audio-book! Truthfully, I love audio books. I used to listen to books on tape all the time. Even stayed in the car when I arrive home to hear the last bit of a chapter. My family would stare out the kitchen window:"What's she doing out there?"

_____

Since December 20, 2010, I have been writing every day. It's been a variety of writing: fiction, poetry, critical reviews, plays, and sometimes this blog. Some poems have been taking 2-3 days to finish, while the prose stuff seems to spill quickly onto the page. Inspiration: heavily influenced by the weather and my introspection about these many years. I seem to do this in winter. Have been working with many artists (musicians, visual artists and poets) and classroom teachers on a variety of projects. The planning meetings have been fascinating. I'm certain that this work makes me a better teacher/artist. However, it's a very different energy from creating alone. Both are so necessary, at least for me.

________

Took my Encounters with the Arts class to the Dryden Theater on Thursday. We saw Mildred Pierce (1945, noir) Joan Crawford won the Academy Award for her performance. HBO is making a five part mini-series, starring Kate Winslet. I imagine this new version will use more from the "hard-boiled" book. Most of my class enjoyed the movie. I'm sure some were baffled by black and white, and the 40's lingo. (I loved the turn of phrase-- interesting mix of humor with seriousness).

________

This weekend I hope to go see The King's Speech. Not much else on my agenda besides
maintenance. It's such a thankless part of living.

Award for Grey Sparrow Press!

2011-01-12T02:17:00.002-05:00

I have been fortunate to be included in the print and online editions of Grey Sparrow Journal. Diane Smith, editor-in-chief, graciously emailed me to share this exciting news.
Congratulations, Diane! and to all the poets and writers of Grey Sparrow!

The following is a clip from Duotrope's editor interview:

Today we were honored with the Best New Literary Journal of the Year Award. Three judges, I believe, identified the issues relating to this question and I appreciated their words. "The Council of Editors of Learned Journals (CELJ) is pleased to announce that "Grey Sparrow" has won its Best New Journal Award. Our judges were impressed by the Journal's multimedia and interdisciplinary focus; its bridging of the gap between academia and the arts; the felicity of its design; and the international scope of its coverage. In a time when the print journal is thought to be in danger from economic and technological forces, "Grey Sparrow" has shown there is still room for innovation and excellence in the traditional journal mode." The award will be presented by CELJ Vice-president Alan Rauch at Atrium 2 at the J. W. Marriott Hotel on January 8th at 12 PM, at the Modern Languages Association Convention in Los Angeles. The CELJ annually presents multiple awards in categories ranging from Best Journal design to awards covering certain historical and geographical areas. The CELJ is a consortium of over 200 editors of journals in the humanities and social sciences; its current President is Joycelyn Moody of the University of Texas. Last year, Oxford University was honored with this award, Harvard and Yale have won it in the past as well. There is always room for a bit of nonsense and fun.

—Diane Smith, Editor-in-Chief on 08 January 2011

Auditions: Calling All Actors!

2011-01-10T06:56:00.003-05:00

For Immediate Release

Subject: Auditions for Tennessee Williams’ One Act Plays at St. John Fisher College.
Actors: Male & Female, age 17 and up. Be prepared to read from a selection of scripts.

Dates: January 17, 2011 and January 19, 2011

Location: Basil Auditorium on January 17 ; Golisano Gateway on January 19, 2011

Time: 7 p.m. both days

Contact: M.J.Iuppa miuppa@sjfc.edu Or 585-385-8412;
John Barthelmes jbarthelmes@sjfc.edu 585-334-8973.

St. John Fisher College announces a celebration of Tennessee Williams - Auditions for One Acts Performance

Rochester, NY~ St. John Fisher College will be performing a selection of Tennessee Williams one acts March 26-28 and will be holding auditions for local performers.
Performances will be at St. John Fisher College on
Saturday March 26 at 7:30pm
Sunday March 27 at 2pm
Monday March 28 at 8pm
and will be part of a Tennessee Williams celebration on campus, culminating on March 28th, day long conference.
Rehearsals will take place throughout February and March, schedule determined by the individual director.

###

Upcoming: Genesee Reading Series Tuesday January 11.

2011-01-10T06:52:00.001-05:00

Genesee Reading Series: James Longenbach and Anne Coon

January 11, 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by Wanda Schubmehl
$3 W&B members / $6 general public

Now in its 26th year, the Genesee Reading Series presents writers from the greater Genesee Valley region reading in the W&B Performance Space.

James Longenbach is the author of four books of poems, most recently The Iron Key (W. W. Norton); his poems have also appeared in many magazines, including The New Republic, The New Yorker, and The Paris Review. In addition, his reviews of contemporary poets appear regularly in The Los Angeles Times Book Review, The Nation, and The New York Times Book Review; his most recent book of literary criticism is The Art of the Poetic Line (Graywolf). A longtime member of the English Department at the University of Rochester, he also teaches regularly at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference and the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers.

Anne C. Coon is Professor Emeritus in the College of Liberal Arts at RIT. Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals, including Redactions, Provincetown Arts, Nimrod, and The Baltimore Review. Anne’s books include Henry James Sat Here; Via del Paradiso; Daedalus’ Daughter; and Discovering Patterns in Mathematics and Poetry, co-authored with Marcia Birken. Anne’s poetry has been set to music by composer Daniel Koontz, and she has collaborated with photographer John Retallack on a forthcoming book. She is currently working on her second novel.

Movie Blitz

2011-01-08T08:59:00.004-05:00

Movies viewed since 12/19/2010:

Inception: Needs to be seen twice. There's a lot going on. It's a long movie. Not be watched when you're feeling antsy.

Black Swan: Strong acting. Layered metaphor. Every artist needs to watch this one.

An Education: Superb acting. Stunning situation. I know the time and place.

True Grit: Well, what can I say. The Cohen brothers are just the best. Superb acting.

It's Complicated: Silly and, in some ways, poignant. This is the lightest fare on this list. But I enjoyed it.

All Good Things: Again superb acting. Dunst is amazing. This story is quite disturbing.
Based on real events.

Want to see the King's Speech this weekend.

Saw most of these with my family (holiday dates, better than a pair of slippers). It's Complicated, I watched alone, just before Christmas.

I think it's going to be an interesting Oscar year.

Things To Do This Weekend

2011-01-08T08:54:00.001-05:00

W&B 30th Anniversary Kick-Off: Poetry, Potluck & Pinot

Saturday, January 8, 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Admission: a dish or a bottle of pinot to share.

Join with us as we kick off our 30th Anniversary Year with a special event featuring readings by 30 poets who have been an important part of the W&B community during our first three decades. The afternoon and evening will celebrate our literary community with a sharing of poetry, food and drink (pinot, both noir and grigio.)

Schedule of Readings to date(subject to change)

4 p.m.: Steve Tills, M.J. Iuppa, Sally Bittner-Bonn, Michael Czarnecki, Linda Allardt

5 p.m.: Jim Longenbach, David Michael Nixon, Donna Marbach, Wanda Schubmehl

6 p.m.: Kitty Jospe, Wendy Low, Anne Coon, Vincent F.A. Golphin, Tony Leuzzi

7 p.m.: Pat Schwartz, Sam Abrams, Sarah Freligh, Karen VanMeenen, Norm Davis

8 p.m.: John Roche, Aaron Fagan, Charles Cote

9 p.m.: Henry Padron, Rick Petrie

K.D. Lang sings Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

2011-01-02T10:34:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T10:33:00.000-05:00

Today is the anniversary of my father's passing. It's been 12 years.

K.D. Lang has an amazing voice. Listened to several versions of Cohen's song sung by her, but chose to post this one on my blog because of her hands and bare feet.

This year begins with this song. Listen carefully to Cohen's lyrics. Does it get any better?

flower blooming rose

2010-12-30T07:21:00.000-05:00

Limbo Week Day 4

2010-12-29T17:16:00.003-05:00

So I lost Day 3 on the highway. I've been writing and planning my future self. How to survive the grind of daily living. How to imagine myself sitting calmly in a little red car, listening to some great tunes on the radio; ignoring the heavy equipment.
Do you really think this will stop me? I know how dangerous I am. I'm a gambler. But does the heavy equipment know? I don't think so. . .

Who else is along for the ride?

Limbo Week Day 2

2010-12-27T08:39:00.003-05:00

Good Morning World!

So quiet & cold outside. We're suppose to have high winds, which will make the mercury disappear.

Snow is falling everywhere, but here. ( I have no idea how we've escaped this weather system, but I'm relieved.) Thunder snowstorm in NYC. The city must be paralyzed with all that snowfall.

It's true, I've always welcomed the day or days of being snowbound. The pot of soup simmering on the stove, the hours upon hours of solitude-- reading, writing, drawing-- cozy in fleece and slippers.

The stunning breath of air when we venture out for a walk to see all that has happened. Such a contrast of busyness. But we're not going to get any snow, per say. Some bluster, I guess. But nothing that will add up.

So, because nothing will add up, I think the day will have its diverting tensions. The most distracting thing on my desk this morning is a large bar of Lavender soap. It smells glorious.

My granddaughter bought it for me. It's perfect.

Week-Long Limbo, from One Year into the Next

2010-12-26T09:15:00.003-05:00

Our Christmas Tree glows with the light of the past, present, future. Something comforting in this tree of life. Late on Christmas Eve, after all the feasting and gifting and enjoying each other's company, my youngest grandson (2 years old) took a deep interest in the tree and its ornaments and began asking questions about each one. My daughter Meghan, who was sitting on the rug near the tree, answered him, but
pushed the conversation along, and we all listened in. I loved the way George Emmett and Meghan were looking up into the tree and counting the ornaments. I guess I have a lot of Santa and angel ornaments (both= good fortune). Georgie took one of the Santa ornaments home for his tree. He declared: "I don't want to leave Grandpa's house. I want to stay here." But near midnight, his family packed up all their loot and headed home. Georgie looked back, and said, "Good Bye, Christmas Tree." Oh my, he just melts my heart.

Christmas Day was blissful. Reading, napping, napping, reading. (You get the pattern here).
The well-deserved rest. Nick's girlfriend arrived from Germany last night. So good to see her, and both of them so happy. Will be making a big meal today to celebrate her arrival.

This upcoming week is a week of limbo. Looking back-looking forward. I have so many things I want to do, need to do, plan to do. So far, so good. Boxing Day is a good day to start.

** Remember to plan your New Year's Day carefully. Everything you do on New Year's, you'll do all year long. Choose wisely!

Merry Chirstmas Eve

2010-12-24T05:50:00.003-05:00

Black-footed Albatross
Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

The Conservation Council for Hawai’i.
has this lil' darling as spokes 'bird' for keeping
its wildlife, wild places and native plants safe for the past 60 years, and onward!

But it's not just Hawai'i, it's our back yards too.
Let's keep our Good Nature~

Merry Christmas Eve, Everyone!