I went to go see a poetry reading at the Grace Cathedral last night, an incredible building and just about as fabulous as any of the cathedrals I saw in Spain or Mexico. Grace Cathedral also has a labyrinth for walking meditations, which I choose to do. I breathed deep and worked on staying present as I twisted my way to the center. I needed that, as it had been a very stressful day.

The setting was perfect for the reading, because the theme was the sacred and the profane. The poetry was great, each poet with a different voice and reading style. My mind started to drift during two of the five poets readings. But the other three kept me right there, present, and their work was so profound. I ended up buying three books of poetry, the works of Kay Ryan, Jane Mead, and Dan Bellm. I got two of them signed, too. I love finding new poets to love.

There are more Litquake going on this week in San Fran. Go here to check out what other events are going on. I'll be at the Steampunk event tomorrow night (Thursday), so if you think you are going to be around, let me know.

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I also posted a new video on youtube. Basically, it's just me describing my trip to Ireland. I thought I would post it here, just in case you were interested in knowing more about what went on during that trip. Watch and enjoy (or not).

I found this through a friend's facebook posting. Hart Seely has found the poetry in Sarah Palin's speeches.

The Poetry of Sarah Palin.

Pretty genius if you ask me.

I got the chance to see Neil Gaiman read for the first time this weekend. He was as funny and charming as he seems to be in the interviews of him that I'd seen. He read from his new book, called The Graveyard Book, and I have to say that he is one of the best readers that I have ever seen, doing all the voices and reading with perfect pacing. He also showed some exclusive clips from the upcoming movie Coraline, answered some questions from the audience, and then read from another book coming out, called Blueberry Girl, which is an illustrated version of the poem that he wrote for Tori Amos' daughter. It was very sweet. My brother and I could hardly contain our excitement at getting the chance to see him (I bought him a ticket as a birthday gift). It's nice when people who write work that you admire turn out to be as awesome as you would hope they would be.

Have you had similarly good experiences with the author's you've had the chance to see in person? Or have you had the experience where you've gone to see someone you admire, only to be dissapointed?

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I saw today's topic and I couldn't help saying something on it. I would love to say that the answer is that poetry still can have the same impact, but I think the unfortunate truth is that poetry is loosing some of its power. It just doesn't have the impact that it had 50 years ago, which as a poet, makes me sad.

Yet, even as I write this I know that there are books out there like Crank, a novel for young adults written in poetry. I haven't read it, but it seems to be doing rather well in the market place, as far as I can tell. So maybe that's a sign that there's hope for poetry yet, because if the younger generation can discover a love for poetry, then maybe they will keep it alive.

Do you think there's hope for poetry?

Kevin Nance, in his article "Invasion of the Genre Snatchers" published in Poets & Writers looks at the concept in the minds of many readers that genre fiction is in some way inferior to literary fiction. He continues on to talk about how many literary writers are dipping into genre fiction.

He writes, "Aspects of detective and crime novels, thrillers, science fiction and fantasy, horror, westerns, comics, and other subgenres are increasingly showing up in variously transmogrified forms, with and without ironic quotation marks, in works of literary fiction." Read more here.

This story doesn't really tell me (or any of you, I'm sure) that I didn't know. I never really saw the line between high and low art, and the division always seemed ridiculous to me. In my mind, there's only individual taste, balance by skillful storytelling.

The article suggests that the line is starting to fade, even in universities and writing programs. I'm still surprised though by how many people there are who still try to draw that line. I remember going for an meeting with a professor to talk about what it would take to apply for the creative writing program at UC - Santa Cruz. She asked me what authors I liked to read. I said, "Amy Tan, Toni Morrison, and Stephen King." At which point she stopped me, and told me not to include that last one when I went for my interview. I was taken aback at the time, but I suppose that I shouldn't have been, and I sort of laughed it off later. I ended up not going into the creative writing program

So, I guess the question is, do you agree with Nance? Are the supposedly strict lines between literature and genre writing blurring? How much so? Do you think there's less elitism in universities and writing programs these days?

It's taken me forever, but I'm finally putting my post up on my trip to Ireland. I put up two previous posts, here and here.





So, this is only kind of fits the September self portrait challenge of contrast. They are both self portraits from Ireland. One in Carrickmacross, where is was sunny and warm; one in Monaghan, where it was raining.

So, here are five things about my trip to Ireland:

1. International Mixer
The company that set up this trip for me, Combilift, invited over 100 other media people, as well as distributors and customers, from around the world. So, even though I was in Ireland, I ended up meeting people from many other countries, too. During the celebration dinners, I ended up talking to some gentlemen from Poland (cheers in Polish is Nastrovya) and Finland (I learned the Finnish version, too, but don't know how to spell it. Kipice?). Anyway, it was very interesting, because the nature of the event cause me to spend time with people from other countries as much as I spent time with the Irish.

2. Mixed drinks? No!
Yeah, they don't really mix drinks in Ireland. We (me and some other media friends I made)figured that out when we ordered an Irish Carbomb (and yes, we did notice that that is a really inappropriate name for a drink; we had a discussion about it). We had to describe it to him (half pint of Guinesse, a shot with half whiskey, half Baileys, drop the shot in the pint glass and chug). He looked at us like we were crazy (we were, and well on our way to being drunk, too). Anyway, we talked him into having one with us, and he said it wasn't bad. He ended up having four more carbombs with us that night. We were all definitely piss drunk by 2 am, which is about when we went to bed. Touring through town and museums the next day was very interesting.

3. "There are no exits in Ireland"
It was recommended that we drive out to Castle Leslie (the castle where Paul McCartney got married to his most recent ex), so G asked innocently asked which exit he was supposed to get off at to get there.

People laughed and then said, "You've been spending too much time in the States. There are no exits in Ireland."

Well, actually there are, but they are only on the main expressways. In the area between us and the Castle, there wouldn't be, so I guess that's what he meant. Instead, there are many, many roundabouts. I have never seen so many roundabouts in my entire life. I don't know that I'm totally sold on the roundabout concept. I guess it works in Ireland, but it seems like a prime opportunity for accidents to me.

4. Helicopters
I got the chance to ride in a helicopter. It felt kind of like being on a roller coater ride. It was all bouncy and sometimes we would be flying sideways, and sometimes the pilot would dip up down and I would squeal like a girl. It was good fun. Anyway, I posted a video of it on youtube (oh, and if any of you have youtube channels, let me know so I can check it out). It's not great, but there it is.
( Helicopter video here )

5. One Regret
Okay, other than the fact that the trip was far too short, I have one regret. I had an opportunity to meet with C.E. Murphy, the writer of Urban Shaman and the rest of the books in The Walker Papers series. She lives in Ireland (obviously). We connected through facebook, and she made the offer to meet for lunch. I was very excited about the opportunity, but with delays connecting through the internet and uncertainties about my plans, I ended up not being able to meet with her. Who knows when I'll be able to get back to Ireland again?

I mention in previous posts (like here and here) about how I worked on the 48 Hour Film Project with a group of people. Well, "Firecracker" is officially up on youtube, and it managed to snag a couple of awards at the event. It's not one hundred percent complete (well, it's complete as far as the 48 hour film competition is concerned). We've written an additional scene for it, and are planning on shootin it in the next couple of weeks.



P.S. I've been a slacker on getting my Ireland photos up online. Hopefully, I'll be able to have that done tomorrow.

Well. I'm here. I'm in Carrickmacross, Monaghan County, Ireland. I haven't done much today. I arrived in Dublin at about 7 a.m. and didn't make it to the hotel until about 11. I immediately went out, and walked into town on my own. It was a good, oh, I'd say about 2 miles of walking to get to the town center.

Carrickmacross is tiny, but pretty cool. There's all these shops lined up, one after the other -- all of which are local stores. There are no cookie-cutter name brand places, like McDonalds, which I find nice. I walked around for a while, went up and down some side streets, snapped a lot of pictures. I went into the local cathedral and sat looking at the stained glass for a while.

There were all these teenagers in uniform who were let out for lunch from their school. All girls, though there were a few boys from the boys school in a different color uniform mixed in. A lot of them were pack into this little place called Sean's Deli, so that's where I went for lunch. I figured that if there were that many people packed in there, then the food had to be good -- and I was right. It was a very good sandwich.

Throughout most of the day, it was warm and sunny. Very nice, considering that I expected it to be freezing her the whole time. But a wind picked up, and I got a little chilled, so I started walking back to the hotel. I should have stayed out there longer, though, because it was mostly nice for the rest of the day. And when I got back to my hotel, I just fell asleep. Jet lag. Ug.

Anyway, I'm about to go have dinner now with some of the people who are also apart of this press conference. Later.

This is kind of a lame Five Things Friday, but there's a lot going on right now as I prepare for my three day business trip to Ireland. So, here's a very short list of five things about my upcoming trip to Ireland.

1. I will spend about 14 hours actually on a plane each way to and from Ireland. But due to time zones, my flight to Ireland will eat up two days (including a 6 hour lay over in Chicago), while my return trip will eat up only one day. Something that gets my head all twisted up and knotted inside.

2. The business I will be attending to is the 10-year anniversary celebration of a fork lift company, called Combilift. I will be attending this event along with over 100 other media representatives, and will have to write an article on the event and the company, focusing on how their new forklift works well for aluminum extruders.

3. The gentleman who set this all up for me is named Gearoid, which is pronounced "Gar-road." (I think.)
Pretty cool name. Though, I imagine he has quite a hard time with spelling it out for people and telling them how to properly pronounce it. Anyway, he seems like a cool guy over the phone (Irish accent), and I will get to meet him in person at the event.

4. I may get the chance to take a ride in a helicopter. Yay!

5. I will definitely be eating dinner at an Irish castle with all the other media, and I plan on visiting some local ruins. Don't be jealous.

Anyway. I leave Sunday, and I probably won't post anything until I get back. Have a great weekend and week, one and all.

My mom is not fond of animation. In her mind, regardless of the content or depth of the storyline, all animation is just cartoons. She can't help but think of Looney Tunes, Disney movies, and other forms of children's entertainment.

I try to get her to watch some of the Japanese animation or some of the animation coming out of Europe. I want her to watch some of this mature animation, animation geared toward adults, because I think she might reconsider her point of view if she did. But I can't get her to come anywhere near it.

I compiled this list of movies in her honor. These are movies that I think might turn her around, that might make her think beyond cartoons when she watches them. And maybe, just maybe she might see them the way I do, as films that potentially have artistic value equal to that of live action (I'm sure there are some out there that disagree). In my mind there are some things animation can do for a story that live action can't, just like there are some things that painting can do for art that photography can't (and vice-versa) Like any medium or form, there is the good and the bad.

I choose to mainly stick with dramas when creating this list, as I think they have a greater chance of inspiring respect in my mother. With science fiction or fantasy, there is a greater risk that my mother would not be able to take it seriously (so no Akira and no Ghost in the Shell, two movies I love despite their flaws). Also, I stayed away from most U.S. animation, as it tends to be Disney inspired. I personally feel that The Iron Giant is a great movie, but my mother would still consider it more cartoon than art. I find it unfortunate that American cinema doesn't take animation more seriously.

Anyway, here's the list:

1. Persepolis, 2007 (France)


Based on Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical graphic novels, this movie is a poignant coming-of-age-story. Marjane is an outspoken young girl who is raised during the Iranian revolution and witnesses how the country changes when Islamic fundamentalists take over the country. The stark black and white animation deftly illuminates the injustice as it is seen through Marjane's eyes.


2. Perfect Blue, 1998 (Japan)


Mima is a retired pop singer, whose sense of reality is shaken when she tries to move into her career as an actress. Things get even more complicated when people start turning up dead and she finds the blood on her own clothes. While slightly disjointed, this is an intense and enjoyable psychological thriller.


3. Princess Mononoke, 1997 (Japan)


In fuedal Japan, Prince Ashitaka is infected with an curse after protecting his village by a poisoned boar/god. He is banished from his home and sent to seek out the spirit of the forest who might heal him. He ends up traveling to a iron mining town, where the people are at war with the gods of the forest. There he meets Princess Mononoke, a girl raised by wolves, fighting along side the animals. While this one is definitely in the fantasy realm, it earns points for its complex characters and complicated politics. Both sides of this battle have valid reasons for staking their claim to this land, and as is in any war, there are no clear villains.


4. Tokyo Godfathers, 2003 (Japan)


Three homeless people--a transvestite, a young girl, and a middle aged bum--find an abandoned infant in a pile of garbage. Together they set out on a quest to return the child to its mother, leading them on an adventure through Christmas-time Tokyo. A light comedy about hope, forgiveness, and redemption.


5. Graveyard of the Fireflies, 1988 (Japan)


After their mother is killed in an air raid in war torn Japna, brother and sister Setsuko and Seita are sent to live with relatives. But a quarrel with their aunt forces the two out into the world where they have to survive on their own. Food and comfort is in short supply for them, but they manage to find entertainment in the light of the fireflies. This movie is one of the most emotionally moving movies I've seen, animated or otherwise, and it left me an emotional wreck for hours afterward.


I know that there are many films I missed (The Last Unicorn, Watership Down, Metropolis, Steamboy, Cowboy Beebop: The Movie, The Tripplettes of Bellville, Animatrix, etc.). I've seen a lot animated films, but it's a tiny drop in the bucket compared to how many are out there. If you think there’s a gateway anime (or animation in general) that I missed, I would love to hear about it. I’m always looking for new animated films to try to talk my mother into seeing.

Here is the Watchmen trailer. The movie is based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore. Based on what I see here, and the fact that it is directed by Zack Snyder (who directed 300), suggests that it will at the very least be visually interesting. However, I'm definitely worried since 300 completely lacked depth, but that may be in part due to the fact that 300 the graphic novel also lacked in depth. There just wasn't that much to work with when turning it into a movie.

I'm hoping that since there is much more to work with with the Watchmen graphic novel -- political references and satire, fascinating characters, and a complex plot. I don't imagine that this is an easy movie to make, and I don't envy Snyder the challenges he would have to face in putting it all together. My hope is that Snyder will allow things to be complicated and tense, that he won't feel the need to simplify, that he will treat the audience as if they are smart enough to get it. Basically, I plan on going to this movie expecting to be disappointed, which means that there is a chance that my disappointment won't outweigh my capacity to be entertained.



ETA: I'm going to have to reread this before the movie comes out.

So, the screening happened last night for the film I worked on (I wrote about it here and here). I think it went fairly well. I can't say that we had the best film there, but we were definitely in the top. Better than most of the others, but I do think there was one film that was a lot cleaner than ours. Overall, I say we made a decent little film.

I really enjoyed working with the people I worked with, though. And I think we all learned a lot. We did very well considering this was our first attempt at the 48 hour challenge. Next year I think we can do even better.

My friend Jordan and I are already thinking of putting another script together. This time a dark comedy with a zombie. Which should be all kinds of fun.

See more self portrait challenge images here.

Word Shine Challenge #2 “I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.” ~emily dickinson

A friend described me as "cerebral" a little while ago. I'm not quite sure what to make of that. She assured me that it was a compliment, that I'm always in my head, always thinking, and more specifically thinking creatively. And I guess I am. I just wish I was a little less out of my head an a little more in the real world, in the sense of getting the things out of my head and down onto a productive result.

So, we made it through the film project. We ended up pulling the Holiday Film genre, and we had to include three items: the character Chris Doyle (a drummer), a pin as a prop, and "What just happened? as a line of dialog.

I stayed up with my fellow writers Friday night writing the script. By 5 a.m. there were only two of us left, but the script was "finished." All of use got up early the next morning and were on location by 10 a.m. to start filming. I helped explain our script and where the subtext is supposed to be read into the lines. We spent all day until the sun went down filming in a field (which is why I am very sunburned) and then filmed some night scenes until about 3 a.m. that night.

There were only two minor set backs. Once during the day when a ranger for the park came over asking about permits. We were able to talk our way out of it after paying the fee. And then later that evening there was a minor creative disagreement about how the film should end. We were able to come to a compromise on that one that made everyone happy.

This was the most professional film crew I have ever worked with. These people really knew what they were doing, and knew how to put it all together. I'm very grateful to have been able to work with them.

The film is called "Firecracker" and will be screening at the Camera 12 in downtown San Jose on this Thursday, Aug 21, at 7:30, along with other short films created during this 48 Hour Film Project. Feel free to come by and watch the film (and say, Hi).

I am very tired right now. Tired to the point that my head is slightly fuzzy. Tired to the point that I'm transposing letters as I write this. If you haven't guessed I haven't gotten much sleep these last few days. Nothing I can complain about though.

Tuesday night I stayed up until 12:30am watching Olympic gymnastics. Somebody please explain to me why their running my favorite events so late...

Wednesday night I stayed up until 1am preparing a 24 page manuscript of poetry for a chapbook contest, so that I could send it out by the postmark deadline. I just hope I didn't make some dumb mistake because I was so tired. I don't think I did, but I will definitely give myself more time to prepare next time.

And on Thursday night, I went out dancing with my girls until midnight. Way fun, but again did not actually get to sleep until about one.

And every morning I got up at 6 o'clock, so that I could be to work early in San Francisco, because we went to press this week. I can't really complain about any of it, I suppose. It's been a good week. I'm just very, very tired.

But all of that isn't even the crazy part. The crazy part, is that tired as I am, I will be staying up all night to night working on a short film script for a 48 hour film competition. I don't normally do to well with all nighters. In fact, I don't think I've ever done a true all nighter where I got no sleep at all. I'm a girl who needs her sleep.

I'm sure I'll have a blast with this, as I will probably also be helping out with other aspects of the project (filming is Saturday and post production Sunday). I'm also sure that I will pay for it later.
:)

This is another one I haven't done in a long time. I'm trying to get back into doing things I love, and that includes art and photography as well as writing. I figure keeping up with weekly challenges is a good way to keep the inspiration going.

I don't quite understand the challenge. It involves this quote:

“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.” ~emily dickinson

It's a lovely quote, though. And it does inspire some ideas, but they will have to wait until the coming weeks, as I'm doing this one at the very last minute. :)





See more photos at Self Portrait Challenge.