Readin' Specs

30 June, Friday - 7:30 PM
Beyond Baroque
681 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA

TOM ORANGE, K. LORRAINE GRAHAM, MARK WALLACE, and CATHERINE DALY Come celebrate the spirit of post moot, including but not limited to all forms of experimental poetic work that are both live and exist as objects. TOM ORANGE has co-curated the in your ear reading series at the District of Columbia Arts Center and edited the dcpoetry.com website and anthologies since Fall 2000 . CATHERINE DALY is author of DaDaDa, Locket, Secret Kitty, and To Delite and Instruct . MARK WALLACE is author of a number of books of poems, most recently Temporary Worker Rides A Subway . K. LORRAINE GRAHAM is author of two chapbooks, Dear (Blank) I Believe in Other Worlds (Phylum) and Terminal Humming (Slack Buddha).

Commentary

A boss' friend hit on me at work yesterday. He saw me, looked me up and down and said, "Well! You're not easy to forget."

And this after the conversation in the parking lot with the guy who said he was a healer. "I heal people with my hands," he said. And then spoke about how in Alaska people don't care about age differences, and then something about the path to healing.

Mark and I are meeting Tom on the train to LA tomorrow, and then we're meeting Catherine Daly at the station. I'll post pictures, of course.

Two hours two long

I am actually excited about grocery shopping and buying lotion at Target. My feelings about my feelings are complicated.

I met someone who said they were a healer

There was a thunderstorm, and it rained, and the snails have come back out. I've been looking at the sky for days, thinking "this is what it looks like when the weather is building up to a thunderstorm." In DC I would have carried an umbrella, but here, I ignore all weather signals and wear shorts.

I put some stuff from my notebook up at See it Everywhere.

Time to have an afternoon drink

Tom Orange is in Dana Point, and Mark and I are going to read with him and Catherine Daly at Beyond Baroque this Friday. Woo Hoo! I've never been to Venice--in Italy or California. I can't even refer to Venice without giggling, because the idea of Venice being a place two hours up the road from me seems silly. But obviously I'm looking forward to the reading and the visit. I like LA, so I'm happy to spend more time there.

It's June, it's sunny, I live in Southern California, Mexico lost to Argentina, and my neighbour is playing the maquerena. Another neighbour is polishing his red truck. Lester is practicing new sounds/words. I made bids for 8 freelance projects. The one I really want is doing design work for an online pet "boutique."

I have not sent out my chapbook for the Dusie Kollektiv. I typeset it, but I think it's too ambitous to print given my current resources. Maybe I should just make it digital, or do a pamphlet instead. I have a stack of all the fabulous chapbooks that people have sent. I read a few on the beach this morning before yoga. Susana, the editor of Dusie magazine, has been writing mini reviews at micawberesque. She also has one of the most fabulous profile pictures ever.

My blog energy is low because I'm working on a new creative project. I'm less social. Less social=less blog. I'm supposed to be putting together a book-length manuscript. Editing is not my favorite thing to do.

I must remember to blog about

birthday parties

privacy/community (not in general, but here in SoSoCal)

New age tantra

Okapis, with their very long tongues:

and Sophie Calle:

Happy Birthday Mark!

And happy summer solstice to everyone else.

Someone examined Mark's astrological chart at the end of graduate school and concluded that he has "intense, unbalanced energy in the higher spheres."

A separate reading of his chart confirms that Mark prefers to take the leadership role when it comes to dealing with others. He enjoys administering and organizing group activities. Others tend to listen to his suggestions because he isn't usually overly domineering or patronizing in his interactions.

So there.

Today Mark and I, um, went to work, exercised, did grocery shopping, purchased a Lambic, bought chairs for the balcony, and ate dinner at Hershels. Later we will sit on the balcony.

Because our birthdays are so close together, Mark and I usually have a two week celebratory period--this takes the pressure off the birthday days. We have had gifts of books and CDs, a visitor (Mike), trips to the zoo and breakfast places, and days at the beach. At the end of the month we're headed back up to LA, and will have another visitor: M. L'Orange.

Mark just asked me "should you watch me have my birthday tequilla shot or should I just have it all by myself."

How is your day going?

Morning Commute

The bus I wanted didn't come. Another bus did, 25 minutes after I was supposed to leave. It dropped me off a mile from the train station. It is difficult to get to the station from where the bus dropped me off because the station is surrounded by gated communities. I asked a gardner working on some of the lanscaping outside one of these communities the best way to get to the station, and he pointed me to a hidden dirt path between the walls of two communities. I walked down this path for a while until I came to the train tracks, and then walked along the tracks until I got to the station. It was nice to get in a morning walk, though, and I saw five bunnies.


How to be a Good Manager

Don't don't don't micromanage. Be calm, organized and focused as much as possible. Trust your employees to do a good job until they give you reason not to. Let your editor edit things.

Note to US Government

All of your websites are convoluted and aesthetically dull.

Self Esteem Helps

We tend to violate or ignore other people's boundaries if we are used to having our own boundaries violated or ignored.

Lester

Is talented, fluffy and fat.


Food & Drink

Miso soup. Omelet with feta. Green Tea. Coffee. Almonds.

Dogs, Lawnmowers, Dust

Used my inhaler today for the first time in months.

Me Gusta

Happy Father's Day!

Dad--where is this picture. Chile or California? I say Chile because we're bundled up.

~

I'm working on being friendly and less distanced with people I know. I tend to withhold information about myself. Instead, I draw information out of others and then give sagely advice.

I interviewed for a position as a contributing managing editor at a design magazine. I'd write articles about, well, furniture, design, and do profiles of interior designers. It seems a bit absurd. It's an office job, but wouldn't be the worst ever, and it would give me more connections with the world of consumer magazines and graphic design, which would be helpful to my future freelancing career.

I've been editing and trying to write new poems, but I'm in a kind of summer daze. I just want to do yoga and read. Pincha Mayurasana is getting better. As is handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana). Handstand makes me hyper.

In general I feel healthy, even confident, which means I feel strange.

~

The US-Italy game was terrible. Or else it was very very good. The US looks way better than they have in, like, forever. Ever. I guess I'm happy for the tie. But so many red cards.

Emu Emu Emu!!!!

A few pictures from my trip to Brisbane in December/January 2004. It was mostly a family visit.

White Ford 4x4 stretch limo pickup truck

is what I saw today on the way home from yoga practice this evening. I am getting more flexible. Who knew I was so bendy?

I also worked at the yoga studio this morning. One of the teachers had me look after her 11 month old son, Austin, while she taught class. We kind of hung out on the floor, or else we played pick a boo games or I sang to him. He also ate heartily of rice cereal and organic pea mush. A baby for an hour is ok. He was so flexible!

Yoga makes me less hostile, and therefore it is difficult to blog. How do all those Buddhists write poems. I'm serious. What would a poem by K. Lorraine Graham that didn't begin in alienation be like? Would it totally suck?

Uh. There's a party outside. Young men and women are cavorting.

I'm going to go eat some yogurt and a banana.

Some animal friends to visit this weekend:

Jacana
Guam Rail
Sociable Weavers
Polar Bear
Tasmanian Devil
Guenon
Giant Panda
Koala
Komodo Dragon
Tuatara


I like sleep. But I sleep every which way, not just this way:

"Tandem Cyclists are the stars of the sleeping world. Tan, relaxed, and wind-swept, they’re always smiling bright, no matter what blows life deals. Disease, public speaking, automotive failure — they take it all in stride, thanks to the steadying power of spending night after night with a best-loved mate at their backs. "

Find your own pose!

Summer 1997

When Yanni was big in Beijing.

Yanni is still big in Beijing.

Anything by Yanni or The Carpenters makes me think of Beijing.

How was your birthday?

It was great. Thank you for asking.

Mike came to visit. He lost fifty cents trying to buy a copy of Swingers in San Diego.

We all went to Kansas City BBQ. We also went to a bar in Carlsbad that had almost as many security guys as patrons.

Lester sang many songs. We burned many CDs. I did yoga. Mark took me out to brunch at the Potato Shack.

We talked about wooing and the woo and the concept of the woo. What you you all think of these things?

I wrote some poems. I recieved thoughtful and wonderful gifts.

Just voted in the California primary election. I walked down the road and voted in someone's garage. It was very quiet. One of the volunteers said "they" were predicting a record low turnout. Oh dear.

This was the best day ever

At Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. I'm four--although I look serious, I was really very excited. I remember that I didn't expect the koala to be so heavy. I realized that it was an important occasion, so I suppose I was looking stoic.

Glamour / Furniture / Neighbours / Ensenada / Here is Tijuana!

Glamour

I cleaned and wrote a lot of bids and project proposals today. My best job so far was writing for a gay travel website. It was fun, but that client vanished into nothingness. They did pay me, at least.

Furniture

I also got a coffee table for free. I'm not going to use it as a coffee table though, but as a kind of hall table/bench. Mark and I don't have a hall, but I've put it under the window to the left of the door, next to Lester's cage. Now we can throw (I mean, uh, place) our shoes under it, and I can stack mail and chapbooks on it. Lester has begun thowing seeds on it already.

My dude neighbours

One of my dude neighbours greeted me as I returned home from yoga this evening, sweaty and dazed. He was sitting in his car--one of those Jeeps that's all open. Anyway, he greeted me by a name that wasn't mine. I stared at him. I didn't have my glasses on, and for a moment I thought he was this kid from a Baha'i youth weekend in high school who'd a crush on me. I approached and squinted. He shook his head, knowingly and said, "you have no idea who I am, do you?" When I was close enough to tell that he was no one I'd ever met, he said, "I met one of your roomates, Jennie." I smiled and was very friendly. I said, "I think you've mistaken me for a more friendly blonde. My roomate's a dude, and I'm pretty sure you two haven't met." Then I held out my hand and said, "I'm Lorraine." "Oh, this is embarassing," he said. "I'm Kyle." "Ok then, Kyle," I said, "I'll see you around."

Ensenada

Ian suggests Ensenada. I admit that I first became aware of Ensenada because of, um, Lyle Lovett. "The Road to Ensenada" is a good song for melodramatic crooning and/or weeping. Now I'll have to go play it. Oh well. Certainly a weekend excursion is in order for Mark and I. I love that even though the public transporation here is relatively crappy, we can take it to Mexico. Come visit and you, too, can take public transportation to Mexico.

Here Is Tijuana!
Fiamma Montezemolo, Rene Peralta, Heriberto Yepez

Synopsis: "'Here is Tijuana!' is a compendium to Tijuana, on the border of Mexico and the USA, and site of fluctuating population, mixed identities, interests, and negotiations. A city with a reputation for intoxication, gambling and prostitution, there are also more benign forms of recreation available, and increasing opportunities for economic development. This book looks to the history of the city, and to its future; to its dark side, and to the possibilities it offers, through a range of texts and a fascinating photographic records. As the work of three editors, an anthropologist, a writer and an architect, the book is a combination of three distinct research projects. It is divided into three sections: "Avatars", addressing the socio-cultural issues surrounding the city; "Desires", which explores questions of morality, cultural practices, and entertainments; and "Permutations", which looks at the built environment. The material presented here is taken from a diverse range of sources, including Mexican and United States government reports; newspaper editorials; travel guides; architectural criticism; market research statistics; homeland security bulletins; tourism and convention literature; the Rotary Club of Tijuana; Yahoo News; and contemporary literature. Contributions include text by Jesse Lerner, Michael Sorkin, Neil Denari, Mike Davis, Jorge Bustamante, Lewis Baltz, Kathy Acker, and Raymond Chandler, amongst others. "

The excitment, the madness

I sent some pictures to ~*~W_O_M_B~*~ and they are taking them. Yay! Confidence boost. I worked and did laundry today. And went running. It was almost hot and humid enough that I considered swimming. But it needs to be a little hotter.

And rewrote my resume and coverletter that I use for bids on editorial/writing freelance work. I used a lot of keywords:

Evaluate material for accurate use of references, content, charts, and
statistics. Detect and correct errors in grammar, spelling, and usage.
Review copy for style consistency. Create and maintain style guides for
each publication type, if necessary. Coordinate production with web and
design departments, as well as other writers and editors, if
relevant. Identify and research topics for future publications.

Blech.

~

Malty assam tea with condensed milk. Yum yum yum. I am putting together my submission to the anthology.

Finally. And trying to imagine what a full length manuscript looks like. I write in loose, 30 page chunks.

Hung out with the neighbours.

They fed me bbqed chicken drumsticks and I fed them cheese and bread. Lester and Stinky both got a little chicken. A happy exchange. I also learned:

1. There are many, many other breakfast places in this area to try
2. You can put4 quarters into the dryer and it will go for 40 minutes, instead of putting 2 in, returning after 20 minutes, and putting 2 more in.

I am not the girl of their dreams, and it is wonderful.

Yesterday I drove home from work blasting salsa music. I love it when the dudes in their huge pick up trucks look at me in the Toyota (good gas mileage, not cool) and see me, very blonde, with my very wide-brimed sun hat, wearing very large sunglasses OVER my regular glasses (one day I will get contacts or prescription sunglasses).

~

I ate at a raw food resturant this evening. It was pretty good. I'm not going to switch to a raw food diet, but I was suprised at how tastey it was. Dinner in exchange for doing some light and enjoyable editorial work for a fellow yogi.

Our waitress was lonley and asocial and kept checking in on us every five minutes, even after we told her to relax and that we'd come get her when we needed something. When we got the check she launched into a story about her bicycle and mass transit in orange county, where she lives. She was very lonely and strange. I suppose people might go to a raw food resturant (or work in one) as a way of finding community. Oh dear.

Lester's listening to the crickets--he seems to understand they're not birds, but he wants to talk to them as if they are.

I'm working on my bird of paradise asana--it's getting better. I can't find the sanskrit name for it--anybody know?