it's been awhile since my last post. it's a pretty slow period in life right now. i'm still struggling to figure things out at the new job, waiting in the tiny apartment for our new house to be built, writing absolutely NOTHING in the interim.
one poetry-related thing: i did receive my copy of remark. #37. it's a fine issue with poetry by the likes of ron lucas, Brian McGettrick, William Taylor, Jr., Chris Kornacki, J.J. Campbell and Glenn W. Cooper, among others. check it out!
i hope to have more things to update about in the near future.
26 September 2005
22 September 2005
back
well, we're back from housesitting for our friend. it's nice to be back. the best is going to be sleeping in our own bed, but a close second is being able to have consistent access to the internet.
the wife is working late tonight. sucks, but it happens. hell, i'll be working late nights in the coming weeks for sure. i've only been at work three weeks an i'm already swamped with so much work. it's ridiculous how busy and understaffed they are. ah hell.
i got a postcard from my buddy Henry Denander today announcing that he and another friend, Adrian Manning, will have a book out together for Art Bureau's Highball Reading Series. the book is titled Bring Down the Sun. i'm happy for them and look forward to seeing the new book. don't forget folks, if you like the poetry of any small press writers, you MUST support the small press by purchasing subscriptions to journals and purchasing chapbooks. without support it will die.
anyway, it's good to be back.
the wife is working late tonight. sucks, but it happens. hell, i'll be working late nights in the coming weeks for sure. i've only been at work three weeks an i'm already swamped with so much work. it's ridiculous how busy and understaffed they are. ah hell.
i got a postcard from my buddy Henry Denander today announcing that he and another friend, Adrian Manning, will have a book out together for Art Bureau's Highball Reading Series. the book is titled Bring Down the Sun. i'm happy for them and look forward to seeing the new book. don't forget folks, if you like the poetry of any small press writers, you MUST support the small press by purchasing subscriptions to journals and purchasing chapbooks. without support it will die.
anyway, it's good to be back.
20 September 2005
got a few seconds
well, i was able to steal away for a few seconds. thought i'd post a little news.
i received my contributor's copy of Main Channel Voices, where my poem the relationship archaeologist is featured. Main Channel Voices bills itself as a "Dam Fine" journal of poetry, and it IS awfully "dam" good.
we're still at our friend's house, but we'll be back at our place Thursday night.
Lastly, i should mention that i'm reeling with joy from my Florida Gators' win against their vaunted rival the Tennessee Volunteers. What a great game and what a great feeling. i hope there are more wins to come.
i received my contributor's copy of Main Channel Voices, where my poem the relationship archaeologist is featured. Main Channel Voices bills itself as a "Dam Fine" journal of poetry, and it IS awfully "dam" good.
we're still at our friend's house, but we'll be back at our place Thursday night.
Lastly, i should mention that i'm reeling with joy from my Florida Gators' win against their vaunted rival the Tennessee Volunteers. What a great game and what a great feeling. i hope there are more wins to come.
17 September 2005
away
we interrupt this program for a announcement from our sponsor:
we have been house (and pet) sitting since last Thursday, and will be for a week (until next Thursday) and unfortunately i have limited access to the internet, so if i owe you an email i promise to reply Thursday or shortly after.
we now return you to your regularly scheduled program.
we have been house (and pet) sitting since last Thursday, and will be for a week (until next Thursday) and unfortunately i have limited access to the internet, so if i owe you an email i promise to reply Thursday or shortly after.
we now return you to your regularly scheduled program.
13 September 2005
hookt on phonicks workt for me
it's about that time, again kids:
a third installment of
justin.barrett's simple rules of English
calendar --
the word is not spelled any of the following ways:
calander
calandar
calender
callander
it's not that hard. c-a-l-e-n-d-a-r. also, a collander is a strainer used to drain water from spaghetti or potatoes or other boiled foods.
cemetery --
the word is not spelled c-e-m-e-t-a-r-y. there are no a's in a cemetery.
alter/altar --
alter means to change something. an altar is a bench that is used to pray over.
personal/personnel --
personnel are people of a company. personal is how a person away from their job lives.
exorcise/exercise --
if you mean a workout, then use the word exercise. if you mean to remove a demon from someone's soul, then exorcise is right.
one question i have is why neither of these words follows the typical American English convention of ending -ise and -yse words in -ize and -yze (realize, analyze, capitalize, organize, etc.). weird.
eminent/imminent/immanent --
if you mean something is pressing and just about to happen, it is imminent. if you are talking about someone being famous or prominent, then you are describing someone who is eminent. immanent is very rare and means inherent or present throughout the universe. if you don't know the difference between these three words, then you are most likely not meaning immanent.
by the way, it's "eminent domain" not "imminent domain".
elicit/illicit --
illicit means illegal (illicit drugs). elicit is always a verb and means to draw forth a confession or comment.
skittish --
the correct spelling of this word is s-k-i-t-t-i-s-h. it is not:
skiddish
skidish
skitish
the difficulty some people have with spelling this one baffles me.
embarrass --
this one is ironic. people continually embarrass themselves by spelling this word wrong. it is not spelled in any of the following ways:
embaras
embarass
embarras
embarress
there are two r's and two s's. don't embarrass yourself and remember how spell this one.
complement/compliment --
this one can be difficult, though you should be able to get it with a little thought. if you mean a nicety said to another, you are talking about a compliment. if you mean something that pairs well with something else, you are talking about a complement.
alright. that's the end of this installment. hope you enjoyed it. let me know if you have any other spelling or grammar errors that you consistently see, which annoy you. there are hundreds out there, no doubt.
a third installment of
justin.barrett's simple rules of English
calendar --
the word is not spelled any of the following ways:
calander
calandar
calender
callander
it's not that hard. c-a-l-e-n-d-a-r. also, a collander is a strainer used to drain water from spaghetti or potatoes or other boiled foods.
cemetery --
the word is not spelled c-e-m-e-t-a-r-y. there are no a's in a cemetery.
alter/altar --
alter means to change something. an altar is a bench that is used to pray over.
personal/personnel --
personnel are people of a company. personal is how a person away from their job lives.
exorcise/exercise --
if you mean a workout, then use the word exercise. if you mean to remove a demon from someone's soul, then exorcise is right.
one question i have is why neither of these words follows the typical American English convention of ending -ise and -yse words in -ize and -yze (realize, analyze, capitalize, organize, etc.). weird.
eminent/imminent/immanent --
if you mean something is pressing and just about to happen, it is imminent. if you are talking about someone being famous or prominent, then you are describing someone who is eminent. immanent is very rare and means inherent or present throughout the universe. if you don't know the difference between these three words, then you are most likely not meaning immanent.
by the way, it's "eminent domain" not "imminent domain".
elicit/illicit --
illicit means illegal (illicit drugs). elicit is always a verb and means to draw forth a confession or comment.
skittish --
the correct spelling of this word is s-k-i-t-t-i-s-h. it is not:
skiddish
skidish
skitish
the difficulty some people have with spelling this one baffles me.
embarrass --
this one is ironic. people continually embarrass themselves by spelling this word wrong. it is not spelled in any of the following ways:
embaras
embarass
embarras
embarress
there are two r's and two s's. don't embarrass yourself and remember how spell this one.
complement/compliment --
this one can be difficult, though you should be able to get it with a little thought. if you mean a nicety said to another, you are talking about a compliment. if you mean something that pairs well with something else, you are talking about a complement.
alright. that's the end of this installment. hope you enjoyed it. let me know if you have any other spelling or grammar errors that you consistently see, which annoy you. there are hundreds out there, no doubt.
alive and well
we made it back from Las Vegas in one piece. it’s a six-hour drive from Salt Lake City, which isn’t too bad unless you’ve slept a sum total of five hours in the two days you were down there (like we did) and drank much more during the waking hours than you should have (ditto) and drove home by instinct alone (again, ditto). anyway, we made it back alive and well.
i’d like to say it’s good to be back, but it’s not. at all.
our friend’s wedding was beautiful. he rented out a cute, little chapel in the Bellagio and the bride looked stunning. and, our friend cleaned up nicely. he’s a lucky guy. the wedding was short and sweet and not one of those long, drawn-out affairs where everyone wants to fall asleep and ends up wishing the newly-married couple a lifetime of hell and horror.
the reception was held at the MGM Grand, in a suite on the 21st floor with a balcony overlooking the Strip. it was stunning. an acoustic guitarist strummed soft songs on the balcony, the alcohol flowed freely and the food was top-notch.
and, we were sufficiently inebriated: our emotions well lubed, our stress and worries melted and pooled at the bottom of our psyche, good friends nearby to bullshit with. it was a perfect evening. my wife even mentioned to me that she wished that night would never end (and she didn’t even say that on our wedding night). granted, this probably had more to do with the fact that we were in Vegas, not working, and enjoying a fabulous celebration. back when we got married we had less stress in our lives, weren’t in Vegas and the celebration was less fabulous.
we gambled a little bit while we were there, of course. (we gamboled a little, too, but we were drunk and that’s another story for a later time.) a few slots here and there, some video poker, but we did the best playing live poker at the Aladdin. we played 1-3 limit Hold ‘Em the first night we got there. the wife and i bought in for $40 each and walked away with $130 total ($50 profit; she won $19 and i $31) after playing for over four hours (until five in the morning). nothing world-killing, but still pretty good considering two of the friends who accompanied us on the trip played as well and lost their buy-ins; and people all over the room were busting out. it was a good time, all around. we didn’t get a chance to play again on this trip, though we desperately wanted to. oh well.
so far, we’ve never had a losing session at a poker table in a casino. hopefully, we can keep that streak going for when we return to Vegas (which we are planning to do sometime early next year).
now, it’s all about trying to get our circadian rhythms back to some semblance of normalcy. so far, no dice. i need sleep.
i’d like to say it’s good to be back, but it’s not. at all.
our friend’s wedding was beautiful. he rented out a cute, little chapel in the Bellagio and the bride looked stunning. and, our friend cleaned up nicely. he’s a lucky guy. the wedding was short and sweet and not one of those long, drawn-out affairs where everyone wants to fall asleep and ends up wishing the newly-married couple a lifetime of hell and horror.
the reception was held at the MGM Grand, in a suite on the 21st floor with a balcony overlooking the Strip. it was stunning. an acoustic guitarist strummed soft songs on the balcony, the alcohol flowed freely and the food was top-notch.
and, we were sufficiently inebriated: our emotions well lubed, our stress and worries melted and pooled at the bottom of our psyche, good friends nearby to bullshit with. it was a perfect evening. my wife even mentioned to me that she wished that night would never end (and she didn’t even say that on our wedding night). granted, this probably had more to do with the fact that we were in Vegas, not working, and enjoying a fabulous celebration. back when we got married we had less stress in our lives, weren’t in Vegas and the celebration was less fabulous.
we gambled a little bit while we were there, of course. (we gamboled a little, too, but we were drunk and that’s another story for a later time.) a few slots here and there, some video poker, but we did the best playing live poker at the Aladdin. we played 1-3 limit Hold ‘Em the first night we got there. the wife and i bought in for $40 each and walked away with $130 total ($50 profit; she won $19 and i $31) after playing for over four hours (until five in the morning). nothing world-killing, but still pretty good considering two of the friends who accompanied us on the trip played as well and lost their buy-ins; and people all over the room were busting out. it was a good time, all around. we didn’t get a chance to play again on this trip, though we desperately wanted to. oh well.
so far, we’ve never had a losing session at a poker table in a casino. hopefully, we can keep that streak going for when we return to Vegas (which we are planning to do sometime early next year).
now, it’s all about trying to get our circadian rhythms back to some semblance of normalcy. so far, no dice. i need sleep.
08 September 2005
Las Vegas
well, we leave for Las Vegas tomorrow after work. it's only a six-hour drive from SLC to LV, so it won't be too bad. one of our friends, who no longer lives in Utah, is getting married down there, so it should be fun.
i won't be posting while down there, obviously, but i do have plans to post, however, a third installment "hooked on phonics worked for me" when i get back. it's been a while since the last part, and i have some things that need to be talked about.
until then.
i won't be posting while down there, obviously, but i do have plans to post, however, a third installment "hooked on phonics worked for me" when i get back. it's been a while since the last part, and i have some things that need to be talked about.
until then.
06 September 2005
necessary like a revolution
i received a letter today from one of the best living poets. his name is Chris Cunningham and odds are pretty good, sadly, that you don't know of him. this will change soon as he has two books coming out in the next six or seven months. he is amazing. his poems are brilliant like ignited magnesium, painful like a lost dog, necessary like a revolution.
Chris's letters, too, burn. his words are such that i don't know whether to cry or rise up in anger and take on the world. crying is easier.
anyway, i just wanted to mention him because Hemispherical Press will be releasing one of his books early next year. it will be a MUST read. also, he was the winner of the most recent Nerve Cowboy Chapbook Contest, and the winning manuscript will be released in the very near future. look for it. it, too, is a monster and will be the best thing Liquid Paper Press (Nerve Cowboy's imprint) has ever done. PERIOD!
back to the grind. the three day weekend, as usual, was too short. i don't think i'll ever see retirement, but jesus i hope i do.
Chris's letters, too, burn. his words are such that i don't know whether to cry or rise up in anger and take on the world. crying is easier.
anyway, i just wanted to mention him because Hemispherical Press will be releasing one of his books early next year. it will be a MUST read. also, he was the winner of the most recent Nerve Cowboy Chapbook Contest, and the winning manuscript will be released in the very near future. look for it. it, too, is a monster and will be the best thing Liquid Paper Press (Nerve Cowboy's imprint) has ever done. PERIOD!
back to the grind. the three day weekend, as usual, was too short. i don't think i'll ever see retirement, but jesus i hope i do.
04 September 2005
poetic injustice?
well, what do you know? in today's Salt Lake Tribune, on the front page of The Arts section, an article titled Poetic Injustice? is featured.
the article discusses whether or not "accessible" poetry (or "approachable" poetry) cheapens poetry. it's a ridiculous notion, in my mind, but the article is well-written and includes the thoughts of Billy Collins (ex-Poet Laureate) and a number of local Utah academic poets.
as you'd expect, the academics/teachers argued that "accessible" poetry (i.e. poetry that can be understood) is "lesser" poetry; not as "poetic" as the more academic, unapproachable style that pervades the academic journals.
Billy Collins had a great line about why teachers feel this way: "Teachers tend to present poetry in the classroom that is difficult to understand, and they do it to protect their jobs, because only difficult poems need a teacher to help explain them." now, that's beautiful. Mr. Collins also said he gets a lot of flak, and is a sitting-duck, because he sells more books than most of the inaccessible/academic poets, and also because he doesn't have a tortured, misery-ridden persona, which seems to be a prerequisite for much of poetry.
he did say (and this is something i agree with even more), "I think more people should be reading it but maybe fewer people should be writing it."
amen.
read the article. it's pretty good and is pretty damn typical when it comes to what the academics think about poetry of non-academics. the fact that Billy Collins was ever Poet Laureate is rather amazing, if you think about the style and voice and "accessibility" of his poems.
i received the 18 poems that Eric Dejaeger of Belgium translated into French. it's pretty wild to see your own words in another language. he said some will be published in his journal Microbe and others will likely appear in other French-language journals in France and Belgium. what's even cooler is that i will receive a copy of each journal and magazine in which one of these translations appears. man, this is so exciting.
the article discusses whether or not "accessible" poetry (or "approachable" poetry) cheapens poetry. it's a ridiculous notion, in my mind, but the article is well-written and includes the thoughts of Billy Collins (ex-Poet Laureate) and a number of local Utah academic poets.
as you'd expect, the academics/teachers argued that "accessible" poetry (i.e. poetry that can be understood) is "lesser" poetry; not as "poetic" as the more academic, unapproachable style that pervades the academic journals.
Billy Collins had a great line about why teachers feel this way: "Teachers tend to present poetry in the classroom that is difficult to understand, and they do it to protect their jobs, because only difficult poems need a teacher to help explain them." now, that's beautiful. Mr. Collins also said he gets a lot of flak, and is a sitting-duck, because he sells more books than most of the inaccessible/academic poets, and also because he doesn't have a tortured, misery-ridden persona, which seems to be a prerequisite for much of poetry.
he did say (and this is something i agree with even more), "I think more people should be reading it but maybe fewer people should be writing it."
amen.
read the article. it's pretty good and is pretty damn typical when it comes to what the academics think about poetry of non-academics. the fact that Billy Collins was ever Poet Laureate is rather amazing, if you think about the style and voice and "accessibility" of his poems.
i received the 18 poems that Eric Dejaeger of Belgium translated into French. it's pretty wild to see your own words in another language. he said some will be published in his journal Microbe and others will likely appear in other French-language journals in France and Belgium. what's even cooler is that i will receive a copy of each journal and magazine in which one of these translations appears. man, this is so exciting.
03 September 2005
i love this time of year
college football is here, and happier i could not be. i love it. plus, my beloved Florida Gators won today against a game Wyoming Cowboys team. the wife and i both get so hyped up during this time of year. each Saturday is devoted to nothing but football. and, this year will be no different. my Gators have a brand new coach and everything points to a us having a great season. i certainly hope so.
i've been getting a few calls recently from some people at my old job with problems and issues they need help with. i told them to call me if anything were to come up, and i meant it. i cared a lot for the people i was in charge of and with whom i worked directly, but all of these calls only let me know that i made the right decision to leave.
Monday is Labor Day and i don't have to go to work. hopefully, the rest of you (in America) have the day off as well. enjoy yourselves!
i've been getting a few calls recently from some people at my old job with problems and issues they need help with. i told them to call me if anything were to come up, and i meant it. i cared a lot for the people i was in charge of and with whom i worked directly, but all of these calls only let me know that i made the right decision to leave.
Monday is Labor Day and i don't have to go to work. hopefully, the rest of you (in America) have the day off as well. enjoy yourselves!
01 September 2005
the move, the job, the new apartment
i neglected to mention how the move to the new apartment went. well, it went about as well as could be expected. the chest freezer i was so worried about turned out to be easier than i thought. with a little ingenuity, some muscle and some luck, it zipped up the tiny staircase and right out into the Budget rental truck.
the thing that nearly killed us was this huge and tall (nearly 7-foot) armoire we had in our bedroom. it had to weigh well over 750 pounds. we had two other people helping us, and with all four of us we still struggled. the armoire got some wall paint marks on it, some scratches on the side and bottom, but all is good and we survived with no fatalities.
the apartment we moved into is tiny. a small one-bedroom with a little kitchen, a small (barely existent) dining room, decent-sized living room and bathrooms and wee little laundry/utility room. it'll do for the next 6-8 months as our house is being built, but it's certainly not something i'd want to live in for too long.
the new job.
ah, the new job. well, the new job is a new job. it's slow now, as i learn my way around the building and laboratories; as i learn my way around the regulations and protocols; as i learn my way around the personalities, office culture and unspoken mores.
i can't wait until the Training Department considers me fully trained so i can jump in and get to work, but until then i can do nothing but sit around, read procedures and slowly get trained.
the thing that nearly killed us was this huge and tall (nearly 7-foot) armoire we had in our bedroom. it had to weigh well over 750 pounds. we had two other people helping us, and with all four of us we still struggled. the armoire got some wall paint marks on it, some scratches on the side and bottom, but all is good and we survived with no fatalities.
the apartment we moved into is tiny. a small one-bedroom with a little kitchen, a small (barely existent) dining room, decent-sized living room and bathrooms and wee little laundry/utility room. it'll do for the next 6-8 months as our house is being built, but it's certainly not something i'd want to live in for too long.
the new job.
ah, the new job. well, the new job is a new job. it's slow now, as i learn my way around the building and laboratories; as i learn my way around the regulations and protocols; as i learn my way around the personalities, office culture and unspoken mores.
i can't wait until the Training Department considers me fully trained so i can jump in and get to work, but until then i can do nothing but sit around, read procedures and slowly get trained.
31 August 2005
i'm baaack
it's been a week since my last post. and, oh, how things have changed.
we've moved to a new place; a small one-bedroom apartment. the computer i am typing on is on the dining room table, most of our stuff is packed away into a storage shed, and the dog and cat are constantly fighting because they've no room to escape from each other (i'm sure the wife and i will end up in a similar fate before long).
i also have a new job. things are going well, so far. i've only been there 3 days, and it's been nothing but reading of SOPs and testing methods, but this is typical for a new job in this industry. it's only a matter of time before i get fully trained and can begin doing real work again.
i have some good pieces of poetry news to report, and one bad.
first the bad: i received a rejection from The Great American Poetry Show. this is an anthology in its second volume. i might try with more pieces. it would be a great anthology to get into.
now, the good:
1) i received my contributor's copy of The Flatlands #2. it's a nice-looking (albeit thin) journal out of Ohio. i have two poems in this issue. other contributors include Owen Roberts, John Sweet, William Taylor, Jr. and Christopher Robin.
2) i received an acceptance from Main Channel Voices for a poem to appear in their Fall 2005 issue.
and lastly (something i'm most excited about)
3) i've received a solicitation from Eric Dejaeger out of Belgium to translate some of my poems into French to be published in Belgian and French poetry journals. this is so freaking cool. it'll be neat to see my poems in French.
last thing. when i moved i had to convert my internet account to another account and for some reason my email abilities were turned off. therefore, any emails any of you might have been trying to send me since Friday have been lost. i'm sorry. please resend any emails you might have tried to send me. everything is copacetic now.
we've moved to a new place; a small one-bedroom apartment. the computer i am typing on is on the dining room table, most of our stuff is packed away into a storage shed, and the dog and cat are constantly fighting because they've no room to escape from each other (i'm sure the wife and i will end up in a similar fate before long).
i also have a new job. things are going well, so far. i've only been there 3 days, and it's been nothing but reading of SOPs and testing methods, but this is typical for a new job in this industry. it's only a matter of time before i get fully trained and can begin doing real work again.
i have some good pieces of poetry news to report, and one bad.
first the bad: i received a rejection from The Great American Poetry Show. this is an anthology in its second volume. i might try with more pieces. it would be a great anthology to get into.
now, the good:
1) i received my contributor's copy of The Flatlands #2. it's a nice-looking (albeit thin) journal out of Ohio. i have two poems in this issue. other contributors include Owen Roberts, John Sweet, William Taylor, Jr. and Christopher Robin.
2) i received an acceptance from Main Channel Voices for a poem to appear in their Fall 2005 issue.
and lastly (something i'm most excited about)
3) i've received a solicitation from Eric Dejaeger out of Belgium to translate some of my poems into French to be published in Belgian and French poetry journals. this is so freaking cool. it'll be neat to see my poems in French.
last thing. when i moved i had to convert my internet account to another account and for some reason my email abilities were turned off. therefore, any emails any of you might have been trying to send me since Friday have been lost. i'm sorry. please resend any emails you might have tried to send me. everything is copacetic now.
24 August 2005
remarkable
i received the latest issue of remark. (#36) in the mail today. for those who might not know, remark. was an online journal of poetry i started back in 1998. i recently (late last year) decided to retire from being editor and handed over the reins to Kat. Kat has since turned the online journal into a print one. she's also done a great job, i think. i just hope she doesn't get as burnt out on it as i.
this issue included three of my own poems: 11.03.04 or the day after, eating mangoes, and of snowmen and hot chocolate. other poets include Chris Cefalu, Brian McGettrick, Michael Estabrook and Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal. this issue also includes a neat broadside/postcard of a Michael Estabrook poem.
this issue included three of my own poems: 11.03.04 or the day after, eating mangoes, and of snowmen and hot chocolate. other poets include Chris Cefalu, Brian McGettrick, Michael Estabrook and Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal. this issue also includes a neat broadside/postcard of a Michael Estabrook poem.
23 August 2005
last day and closing
today was the last day at my job. it was a bittersweet day as i will miss many of the people with whom i worked. there are, of course, a number of people who will not be missed at all. but, i will never have to worry about that place again, and that's a great feeling.
today was also the closing of the sale of our house. it's a good feeling. once the buyers' loan funds, which should be Friday, we'll have our money in the bank and this chapter of our lives will be complete.
i wrote a little today. probably just a release from all the stress i've been keeping pent up the last six or seven months. an exhale of creativity.
only thing left, now, is the moving of all of our crap this weekend.
i will be without internet service from this Friday until the following Wednesday evening. this obviously means no updates here, but also no emails; so, if you don't hear from me in that time period it probably means i'm not ignoring you (though, that necessarily can't be discounted), and will get back with you once i get back online.
today was also the closing of the sale of our house. it's a good feeling. once the buyers' loan funds, which should be Friday, we'll have our money in the bank and this chapter of our lives will be complete.
i wrote a little today. probably just a release from all the stress i've been keeping pent up the last six or seven months. an exhale of creativity.
only thing left, now, is the moving of all of our crap this weekend.
i will be without internet service from this Friday until the following Wednesday evening. this obviously means no updates here, but also no emails; so, if you don't hear from me in that time period it probably means i'm not ignoring you (though, that necessarily can't be discounted), and will get back with you once i get back online.
22 August 2005
and life continues on...
well, i've calmed down a bit since yesterday evening's post. i had a few emails from some of you either wanting to know who the person was (and making some guesses of your own) or related some of your own "humans are the worst" stories. thank you for those.
but, life continues on...
the electrician came today to fix the electrical issue our swamp cooler was experiencing. well, being the non-technical, handi-less dolt that i am, it was nothing more than a simple blown fuse. you know, those old screw in kind that look like little light bulbs? hell, i didn't even know there was a fuse box in the basement. i only knew of the circuit breaker we have mounted to our outside wall. well, i felt like a moron; but the guy was nice enough. apparently, the motor in the swamp cooler is fried, and the electricity overloaded trying to make it work, thereby blowing the fuse. so, now the damn swamp cooler guy has to come back and replace the pump. lord have mercy! this BETTER be the end of it all.
tomorrow is a big day for yours truly. the buyers are having a final walk-through of the house. i hope they are ready to see a humongous mess: boxes stacked and scattered everywhere, in various states of filled; bags of junk and clothes and other crap piled everywhere; a broken, half-ripped-out ceiling fan; disassembled furniture. i hope they don't freak out.
then, tomorrow is my last day at my current job, the place i call Techson Medical Supply. it'll be a bittersweet departure: sad because i'll miss the people, but happy because i won't ever have to deal with the bullshit again. at least not at this place. i'm sure my new place has it's own brand of bullshit. but, new bullshit is better than old bullshit any day!
lastly, the closing of the sale of our house is tomorrow afternoon. a busy, busy day. after the closing, this are pretty much over. we just finish up with the repairs and packing and moving.
one good thing in my life is the impending, and quickly approaching, start to college football. have i mentioned i'm a football freak? well, i am. college football, in general, is my favorite. i can't wait. those Saturdays will make all the stress and anxiety be quickly forgotten.
but, life continues on...
the electrician came today to fix the electrical issue our swamp cooler was experiencing. well, being the non-technical, handi-less dolt that i am, it was nothing more than a simple blown fuse. you know, those old screw in kind that look like little light bulbs? hell, i didn't even know there was a fuse box in the basement. i only knew of the circuit breaker we have mounted to our outside wall. well, i felt like a moron; but the guy was nice enough. apparently, the motor in the swamp cooler is fried, and the electricity overloaded trying to make it work, thereby blowing the fuse. so, now the damn swamp cooler guy has to come back and replace the pump. lord have mercy! this BETTER be the end of it all.
tomorrow is a big day for yours truly. the buyers are having a final walk-through of the house. i hope they are ready to see a humongous mess: boxes stacked and scattered everywhere, in various states of filled; bags of junk and clothes and other crap piled everywhere; a broken, half-ripped-out ceiling fan; disassembled furniture. i hope they don't freak out.
then, tomorrow is my last day at my current job, the place i call Techson Medical Supply. it'll be a bittersweet departure: sad because i'll miss the people, but happy because i won't ever have to deal with the bullshit again. at least not at this place. i'm sure my new place has it's own brand of bullshit. but, new bullshit is better than old bullshit any day!
lastly, the closing of the sale of our house is tomorrow afternoon. a busy, busy day. after the closing, this are pretty much over. we just finish up with the repairs and packing and moving.
one good thing in my life is the impending, and quickly approaching, start to college football. have i mentioned i'm a football freak? well, i am. college football, in general, is my favorite. i can't wait. those Saturdays will make all the stress and anxiety be quickly forgotten.
21 August 2005
what is wrong with humans?
i know this is a ridiculous question, because the answer probably leans towards "what ISN'T wrong with humans?" but, my god.
i just had another falling out with another goddamn writer. the fourth in the last few years. why, you ask? too many fucking people with too much ego. too many people saying shit to me that they don't think i'll call them on, then when i do they get pissed. too many people not willing to admit to themselves that they AREN'T the most important thing in everybody else's lives. whatever.
i won't mention who the person is, but he'll read this (i'm certain of it, even though he said he would end all correspondence (ironically, in his penultimate email to me); his last email was 12 hours later that consisted of a poem of nothing more than my quotes on what i thought of him spliced together).
what precipitated the fall out, you ask? he made mention of the fact that he was looking to shop a new manuscript around. i said he should wait while his most recent one runs its course, get the most mileage out of his books, you know? he got pissed and said, "If you're not interested in publishing me, why should you care if someone else might be interested?"
i took that as a slam against my rejecting him in the past. then he said, "I guess you're not going to help out a friend, much like I have kept you in mind for things. I Gotta (sic) stop being so generous."
!!! oh, i don't think so, hombre!
that sure as hell put me in a rage. so, all the time he kept me in mind for things (which amounted to emails about possible anthologies and magazines) were only so that i might repay him by publishing him? oh no, i don't think so. fuck that.
well, i called him on it: "you are so damn self-absorbed. you helped me with some anthology outlets, so i'm supposed to spend my money to publish you?! get bent!"
that shit doesn't fly with me. you call me out, you better expect me to respond. this is the fourth fucking person to do this to me, in one way or another. and the fourth to get pissed after i called them on their comments. and you know what? my life has been easier with the other three out of my life.
he responded (in his email where he said he wouldn't talk to me anymore) that he wasn't self-absorbed. that he does all these nice things out of the kindness of his heart (despite what he said (and implied) in his email). yeah, sure. you're a fucking martyr.
further proof of his self-absorbed, drama-queen, prima donna attitude is the fact that he sent me an email (out of the blue) saying that he hates his life and he wants to die. oh, give me a fucking break. what the shit am i supposed to do with that? this is ultimate proof of the fact that he thinks the world revolves around him. oh no, poor little guy hates his life and instead of doing something about it, would rather email a person halfway across the country that he wants to kill himself. please!
now, i understand that everyone, ultimately, is selfish and self-absorbed. altruism is NOT a way to live. i don't expect him (or anyone) to do me favors, nor should anyone expect me to do favors for them. i understand this, but to say that you want to kill yourself (to someone you've never met, no less) is ultimately selfish (if not crazy).
anyway, fuck it. humans are too much to deal with. all i want to do is write and live my life, until i can do neither. i don't have the time, or empathy, to deal with this kind of bullshit. go find someone who gives a damn.
i just had another falling out with another goddamn writer. the fourth in the last few years. why, you ask? too many fucking people with too much ego. too many people saying shit to me that they don't think i'll call them on, then when i do they get pissed. too many people not willing to admit to themselves that they AREN'T the most important thing in everybody else's lives. whatever.
i won't mention who the person is, but he'll read this (i'm certain of it, even though he said he would end all correspondence (ironically, in his penultimate email to me); his last email was 12 hours later that consisted of a poem of nothing more than my quotes on what i thought of him spliced together).
what precipitated the fall out, you ask? he made mention of the fact that he was looking to shop a new manuscript around. i said he should wait while his most recent one runs its course, get the most mileage out of his books, you know? he got pissed and said, "If you're not interested in publishing me, why should you care if someone else might be interested?"
i took that as a slam against my rejecting him in the past. then he said, "I guess you're not going to help out a friend, much like I have kept you in mind for things. I Gotta (sic) stop being so generous."
!!! oh, i don't think so, hombre!
that sure as hell put me in a rage. so, all the time he kept me in mind for things (which amounted to emails about possible anthologies and magazines) were only so that i might repay him by publishing him? oh no, i don't think so. fuck that.
well, i called him on it: "you are so damn self-absorbed. you helped me with some anthology outlets, so i'm supposed to spend my money to publish you?! get bent!"
that shit doesn't fly with me. you call me out, you better expect me to respond. this is the fourth fucking person to do this to me, in one way or another. and the fourth to get pissed after i called them on their comments. and you know what? my life has been easier with the other three out of my life.
he responded (in his email where he said he wouldn't talk to me anymore) that he wasn't self-absorbed. that he does all these nice things out of the kindness of his heart (despite what he said (and implied) in his email). yeah, sure. you're a fucking martyr.
further proof of his self-absorbed, drama-queen, prima donna attitude is the fact that he sent me an email (out of the blue) saying that he hates his life and he wants to die. oh, give me a fucking break. what the shit am i supposed to do with that? this is ultimate proof of the fact that he thinks the world revolves around him. oh no, poor little guy hates his life and instead of doing something about it, would rather email a person halfway across the country that he wants to kill himself. please!
now, i understand that everyone, ultimately, is selfish and self-absorbed. altruism is NOT a way to live. i don't expect him (or anyone) to do me favors, nor should anyone expect me to do favors for them. i understand this, but to say that you want to kill yourself (to someone you've never met, no less) is ultimately selfish (if not crazy).
anyway, fuck it. humans are too much to deal with. all i want to do is write and live my life, until i can do neither. i don't have the time, or empathy, to deal with this kind of bullshit. go find someone who gives a damn.
20 August 2005
late night post
it's late. can't sleep. ulcer raging in my stomach.
everytime i lie down, the damn thing flares up. it feels like burning. very much like heartburn, but instead of a mild burning sensation it feels like a white-hot sword cauterizing the inside of my stomach.
i can't concentrate long enough to write, either. if it's not the pain, it's my mind wandering through the hundreds of things we still need to do, and still need to get fixed, or the myriad of problems that could go wrong.
i packed up most of my basement writing room earlier this evening. it was nice going through all the shit i had saved up. i went through everything i've had published, and it turns out i am missing something. if any of you have an extra copy of the small matchbook-sized broadside from 24th Street Irregular Press, titled fuck you, tom brokaw, would you be willing to part with it? i don't own one and would really like to. if you want to hold it ransom, we can talk trade.
anyway, it was nice looking through the heft stack of rejections, the various magazines and chapbooks and other poetry paraphrenalia i've accumulated over the last 12 years.
now, all that's left is for me to do is fall asleep. if this keeps up a nervous breakdown can't be too far away.
everytime i lie down, the damn thing flares up. it feels like burning. very much like heartburn, but instead of a mild burning sensation it feels like a white-hot sword cauterizing the inside of my stomach.
i can't concentrate long enough to write, either. if it's not the pain, it's my mind wandering through the hundreds of things we still need to do, and still need to get fixed, or the myriad of problems that could go wrong.
i packed up most of my basement writing room earlier this evening. it was nice going through all the shit i had saved up. i went through everything i've had published, and it turns out i am missing something. if any of you have an extra copy of the small matchbook-sized broadside from 24th Street Irregular Press, titled fuck you, tom brokaw, would you be willing to part with it? i don't own one and would really like to. if you want to hold it ransom, we can talk trade.
anyway, it was nice looking through the heft stack of rejections, the various magazines and chapbooks and other poetry paraphrenalia i've accumulated over the last 12 years.
now, all that's left is for me to do is fall asleep. if this keeps up a nervous breakdown can't be too far away.
18 August 2005
sweet jesus murphy
well, $89 is down the tubes. the fucking swamp cooler broke again. this time, it's kaput for good. and, to just rub it all in, our living room ceiling fan stopped working. what the fuck?! nothing breaks down in the three and a half years we live in the house, then two things break in the last two weeks we own the damn thing.
well, my wife is out purchasing a new ceiling fan, that i will be installing (somehow, as i've never installed one before) this weekend. the same guy who came out two days ago will be visiting our house again tomorrow to check out the swamp cooler. this one will probably cost us over $200. if the whole unit needs to be replaced we're looking at at least a grand. FUCK!
oh, and we called the damn home warranty company, again, and found out, again, that goddamn ceiling fans aren't covered, either. what the fuck?! what the hell is covered in this everloving home warranty? any and everything that doesn't break, apparently. once it breaks, it is no longer covered. that's just great!
i don't know if i can make it through this. i suppose i have no choice, but my god. i have three days left at work and, if the past week is any indication, they will be the busiest three days of my life. shit is going on the blink left and right, we aren't even fully packed, yet; and i'm still worried about moving all these heavy things out of our house. to top it all off, i start a new job in a week and a half. lord, this is way too much.
speaking of the heavy things, the thing i'm most worried about is a chest freezer we have in the basement. our basement is tiny, with five and a half foot high ceilings. i'm six and a half feet tall. we already have a problem. plus, this chest freezer is HEAVY! the two guys who moved it down to the basement for us (who delivered it from where we purchased it) were giant, mutant humans (they towered over me and were built like dump trucks). and they struggled mightily bringing it down the stairs. i have no idea how i (skinny, weak and built like a hand truck) and my friend (ditto) are going to haul this monstrosity up the stairs. i fear for our lives.
anyway, it's hotter than Hades in here right now and, without the benefit of any air circulation, it's stagnant and i'm beginning to give off a fetid stench. i need a shower and a new life.
well, my wife is out purchasing a new ceiling fan, that i will be installing (somehow, as i've never installed one before) this weekend. the same guy who came out two days ago will be visiting our house again tomorrow to check out the swamp cooler. this one will probably cost us over $200. if the whole unit needs to be replaced we're looking at at least a grand. FUCK!
oh, and we called the damn home warranty company, again, and found out, again, that goddamn ceiling fans aren't covered, either. what the fuck?! what the hell is covered in this everloving home warranty? any and everything that doesn't break, apparently. once it breaks, it is no longer covered. that's just great!
i don't know if i can make it through this. i suppose i have no choice, but my god. i have three days left at work and, if the past week is any indication, they will be the busiest three days of my life. shit is going on the blink left and right, we aren't even fully packed, yet; and i'm still worried about moving all these heavy things out of our house. to top it all off, i start a new job in a week and a half. lord, this is way too much.
speaking of the heavy things, the thing i'm most worried about is a chest freezer we have in the basement. our basement is tiny, with five and a half foot high ceilings. i'm six and a half feet tall. we already have a problem. plus, this chest freezer is HEAVY! the two guys who moved it down to the basement for us (who delivered it from where we purchased it) were giant, mutant humans (they towered over me and were built like dump trucks). and they struggled mightily bringing it down the stairs. i have no idea how i (skinny, weak and built like a hand truck) and my friend (ditto) are going to haul this monstrosity up the stairs. i fear for our lives.
anyway, it's hotter than Hades in here right now and, without the benefit of any air circulation, it's stagnant and i'm beginning to give off a fetid stench. i need a shower and a new life.
17 August 2005
let there be...cool air
well, we got the damn swamp cooler fixed. apparently, the stupid motor wasn't properly oiled (go figure, since i've never oiled it), and that was all that was needed. $89 just for that. christ! but, who cares. at least it's fixed and we've got that blessed cold air blowing through the house. finally, i'll be able to not sleep in comfort, once again.
i received two books in the last two days. the first is Nathan Graziano's latest chapbook from sunnyoutside, Honey, I'm Home. it's a great chapbook about domesticity: marriage, children and all the rest. a bit of a departure from Nate's other stuff, but his wry humor and biting wit is ever present.
the second book i received is David Barker's Too Much Me, published by Concrete Meat Press. David is a fabulous poet and a master of the short poem. this latest chapbook features only short poems. the usual Barker subjects abound: work, family, aging. and the best part is the dry wit that separates David from the rest of the pack.
both books are highly recommended.
i received two books in the last two days. the first is Nathan Graziano's latest chapbook from sunnyoutside, Honey, I'm Home. it's a great chapbook about domesticity: marriage, children and all the rest. a bit of a departure from Nate's other stuff, but his wry humor and biting wit is ever present.
the second book i received is David Barker's Too Much Me, published by Concrete Meat Press. David is a fabulous poet and a master of the short poem. this latest chapbook features only short poems. the usual Barker subjects abound: work, family, aging. and the best part is the dry wit that separates David from the rest of the pack.
both books are highly recommended.
14 August 2005
back from Ely
well, we made it back in one piece. and, it's hotter than hell in this house. a guy's going to come out on Tuesday to check the swamp cooler, so in the meantime we just have to suffer. brutal!
the trip was very nice. much better than i anticipated. the drive there was long, and felt every bit of the four hours it took us. Ely is a small (very small) mining town in the middle of nowhere, at the junction of Highways 50 and 93 (incidentally, Highway 50 is also known as The Loneliest Road in the America). there's not much to do there, but that was just fine with us as we could use the break from doing too much.
we went to Garnet Hill, but didn't find anything worth a damn. we then went to the Liberty Pit overlook to see the largest open pit copper mine in Nevada. the damn thing is humongous. that was pretty cool. we stopped on the side of the road a few times, so i could take some pictures of the dilapidated and rotting buildings and mine adits that abound.
on both Friday and Saturday night, the wife and i played poker in the Hotel Nevada live gaming room (the only live gaming casino in Ely) and walked away as winners on both nights. wish we could play every night!
and, lest we forget the purpose of the trip, on Saturday evening we took the Nevada Northern Railway for their Wine Train excursion. the wine was fabulous, the food was superb and we met a great couple who shared our table and with whom we talked the night away. it was a great night. the sunset over the east mountains, igniting the low-lying clouds, capped the perfect evening.
all in all, it was a great trip. we even made the drive back in just under three and a half hours. it was much needed, especially with all the stress that's coming up: the closing date on the sale of this house, moving into an apartment, starting a new job.
also, as if all of this was enough, i had ideas for three new poems, and am excited to get some time to myself (maybe later this week) to work them out of their concrete enclosure. it's been a long time since i was relaxed enough to allow the muse time to do her work.
the trip was very nice. much better than i anticipated. the drive there was long, and felt every bit of the four hours it took us. Ely is a small (very small) mining town in the middle of nowhere, at the junction of Highways 50 and 93 (incidentally, Highway 50 is also known as The Loneliest Road in the America). there's not much to do there, but that was just fine with us as we could use the break from doing too much.
we went to Garnet Hill, but didn't find anything worth a damn. we then went to the Liberty Pit overlook to see the largest open pit copper mine in Nevada. the damn thing is humongous. that was pretty cool. we stopped on the side of the road a few times, so i could take some pictures of the dilapidated and rotting buildings and mine adits that abound.
on both Friday and Saturday night, the wife and i played poker in the Hotel Nevada live gaming room (the only live gaming casino in Ely) and walked away as winners on both nights. wish we could play every night!
and, lest we forget the purpose of the trip, on Saturday evening we took the Nevada Northern Railway for their Wine Train excursion. the wine was fabulous, the food was superb and we met a great couple who shared our table and with whom we talked the night away. it was a great night. the sunset over the east mountains, igniting the low-lying clouds, capped the perfect evening.
all in all, it was a great trip. we even made the drive back in just under three and a half hours. it was much needed, especially with all the stress that's coming up: the closing date on the sale of this house, moving into an apartment, starting a new job.
also, as if all of this was enough, i had ideas for three new poems, and am excited to get some time to myself (maybe later this week) to work them out of their concrete enclosure. it's been a long time since i was relaxed enough to allow the muse time to do her work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)