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a crummy world of plot holes and spelling errors
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
9:06PM
Is Hillary Clinton drunk? Not in that "Whoa, tequila slammers are awesome," kind of way, but more in the "Seriously, I'm cool. No, seriously, I can totally walk over to that sofa. Hey sofa. Soooooo-faaaaaa...You're awesome. Like, seriously awesome. I will make it to you, sofa, because you believe in me," kind of way.
Friday, May 23, 2008
12:05PM - All good vegetable puns start with Lettuce
I have not posted since January, and I'm not uncertain it's not because of Novak Djokovic.
This may prove uninteresting to anyone who doesn't read poetry (though I'm not quite sure why no one out there seems to be reading poetry except for poets), but this is about Simon Armitage, who is nothing to be afraid of.
His poem, "You're Beautiful" (which should be listened to and relished on poetryarchive.org) contains the line,
"You're beautiful because for you, politeness is instinctive, not a marketing campaign."
This poem was one I could discuss easily with my students because it doesn't require mental (or structural) gymnastics, only an interest in how we see ourselves and each other. It's strange discussing poetry with 18 year olds. For reasons I cannot explain (that line always has to end "there's some part of me wants to see Graceland," and then restart with what's really going to be said next), they love Shakespeare, because whether they know it or not, they get Shakespeare in the ways we've all been getting him since the 16th century. Contemporary poetry is a crap shoot. Much of it is too vulgar (there was no such thing as too vulgar for me at 18, but I hear I've got more than a streak of Yankee heathen in me. And I a Sox fan.) In any case, they seem to like Armitage. Some loved him. Others barely listened.
I was delighted to read in Armitage's memoir (if calling it that does not do it a terrible injustice-- it's so much more multifaceted than that) the following passage on John Peel, legendary BBC disc jockey:
"His manner as well is something that sets him apart; most people use the words 'please' and thank you' either through gritted teeth or was is they were promotional gimmicks in a politeness-marketing strategy. But with him, you get the feeling he actually knows what they mean, and actually means them."
As far as I can tell, the piece on John Peel predates the poem by seven years (at least), and it's a pleasure to see the idea revisited, as though it was something Armitage could not stop thinking about and had to find its way in somewhere. True, John Peel is not a woman, but the attribute remains as singular and as important in the poem as it was in its first consideration in the memoir.
...I think I bored you.
Friday, January 25, 2008
6:14PM
Ahhhhhhh, Djokovic won? I don't like him. Maybe he'll grow up and not be such a gangly baby?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
2:33PM
I am just saying this before anyone else does. When Roger Federer puts on his night match attire, the words that come to mind are "Satan's postman."
In other news, I'm pleased as all hell that Victorya got kicked off Project Runway. And way to do something not hideous, Ricky. Seriously, though. Next week.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
11:36AM
Completely unrelated post:
Anyone see the Federer/Tipsarevic match the other night? If so, do you have any nails left?
11:03AM - I bet you were really into the Transformers movie.
After seeing a tag on Fark.com labeled, "Why Cloverfield might be this year's Snakes on a Plane," I was prepared for hilariously bad. And you'd think from the girl sitting behind me,
the prodigy who wouldn't stop kicking my chair, whose first word after it was, "GAY," you'd think maybe it was only okay.
Girl who obviously has some passive-agressive homoerotic feelings, the movie was actually awesome. Stop kicking chairs and laughing at the quiet parts.
I don't think I can see movies in crowded theaters anymore. Especially when people in the crowd walk away yelling, "Save your seven bucks! Do not see this movie!"
P.S. Anyone else see the Dharma logo in the opening sequence? I swear it was there.
Monday, January 7, 2008
6:59PM
Arkansas officially feels like home now. Greg and I just got back from a 3-week-long stay in Braintree/Littleton, and while it was a pleasure to see many of our friends and our families, I found it extraordinarily difficult to adjust to being there. Ricky OWNS the funny farm. If any of you have dogs, you know that translates to pissing all over everything. Ricky's doing quite well, considering he'd had a fucked up neck only a few months ago. Way to digress. Awesome. The main point, I suppose, before I started talking about dog piss, is that I am a lot more comfortable having come back here.
That's it.
Substantive, huh?
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
2:21PM - IT'S NOT FINISHED. IT'S FINISHED!
How does one become relevant?
This is my problem, and it comes up over and over in workshops-- someone will say,
"Oh, gee, this is really nice, and it's very pretty, but why do I have to care?"
I am going to harpoon the damn so-what test.
Maybe next time, I will write a sweeping epic on the nature of
love, or death, or living, or cryonics,
and tie it to some sort of farmstand, or museum, or fishing metaphor
and they'll gobble it up.
But who REALLY wants to do that?
So what? SO WHAT?
Why do I care, then?
It's not useless!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
10:39AM - IT DOESN'T SCAN
Every time Greg and I go to the Farmers' Market on the square--
I'm old, I do things like examine squash and agonize over basil--
he yells "DAMMIT, I FORGOT THE CAMERA."
Sorry, all you guys back in Massachusetts.
We want to be able to prove to you that we are in a civilized place that's beautiful as well.
I know there's nothing that will convince you, not even pictures, but I can't tell you how many times I have heard visitors say they never want to leave.
SO, COME VISIT.
It's cheapish from Providence.
I've not been up to much, really.
Teaching freshman comp is one of the most aggravating experiences.
I have some bright students...it's difficult for anyone to show any extended interest in comma splices, least of all myself.
Workshop's going alright. I keep thinking "Oh god, they're going to find out I am a hack at any moment."
One of the guys suggested an out of class workshop.
Somehow, I think it might end up something like Fight Club for poets.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
12:18AM
Dear Arkansas,
Learn how to make pizza. The ideal crust is doughy. It seems you only have crackery and fluffy.
Warm Regards,
Jen
Crackery usually does not have enough salt and tastes like ass. Fluffy is like Domino's. I CAN'T WIN. Other than not being able to find good pizza, things are going well. I'm teaching freshman comp, which is not easy, but I only have two classes, (one of which is a poetry workshop), and I actually have time to write.
Of course, on the one day I get into one of those writing grooves that only seems to happen when one's had a little too much to drink (I hadn't yet),
my computer died before I could save the last 20 minutes of solid work.
In the words of Jens Lekman, "God damn, god damn."
Oh well. I have a beagle sleeping at my feet, and you don't.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
8:56PM
I live in Arkansas.
Wait, I mean--
I. Live. In. Arkansas.
Never mind that I have been here for nearly a month, doing things that people who live in places do, but I was just looking at a map, at a part of the country I don't even know very well, thinking,
Oh my god, I live there.
This does not change how I feel about it. It's still beautiful. I'm still enjoying it. However, I think this was the first time it's palpably set in.
I keep meeting people who remind me of people I already know-- Susie, Ethan, Ernest Hemingway-- and it's very strange. I keep thinking they know our inside jokes already. They don't. Obviously.
calmMonday, August 27, 2007
4:30PM
The beers are different here. You can still get Sam Adams, but not often. It's pretty much the same mid-level beers everywhere-- New Belgium, Shiner-- and the same old standbys-- Bud, Bud variants.
There is a brew pub in town, but ABC has pretty much spoiled all other brew pubs permanently. The Salamander, the Smoked Porter...it doesn't get much better than those two.
Things are fairly busy. I've got two classes I take, two classes I teach, and enough paperwork to spur on an international conservation protest.
That's all for now.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
11:19PM - The liquor stores have drive-thrus
It might be a good time to start writing again. Most of you knew what Boston was like, and as much as some people really love the city ( I know, I was one of them), it was a place most people I know were already familiar with.
I ended that on a preposition because it felt good.
Fayetteville is pretty much exactly what I expected. It's beautiful, and a little overgrown, and a little bigger than it ought to be, and it feels like a good place to make a home.
Our apartment doesn't have anywhere near the character of our last one, but it's big enough, and clean, and in a pleasant neighborhood. Basically, it's got a working washer and dryer and (now) working air conditioning, and it's half the price for twice the space.
Greg and I have been running around a lot, and trying to do so many things at once. He's working from home, so we get to spend even more time together. It's nice. It's much better than being behind a desk with the damn phone ringing all day.
Cicadas sound like a gas stove that won't turn on right. I told that to Greg today. It's true. Also, they're huge. Oh, I miss my gas stove! Stupid little things.
Maybe you won't believe me when I tell you how nice it is here. The dirt is red. It has a lot more clay in it than they have in Massachusetts. There are so many hills in town that it's a little difficult to get to the street where everything happens, but it is worth it once you get down there.
In town, there is a bar with dueling pianos. I've yet to go there. My favorite bar so far has been an Irish pub called The Crown (yes, I know, it is weird), where the owner started hugging me after about five minutes of conversation.
They have Thai food here and it's spicier than almost anything (maybe not those habanero poppers or the vindaloo I had in Exeter).
There is a farmers' market on the town square, and everyone brings their dogs. Ricky is having a tough time adjusting. He's so used to being alone a lot of the time that the sudden increase in access to us has him shaking every time we reach for our keys. Poor boy. I love him.
I promise I will update more often. I know you won't believe me and you'll think I am stuck in some unrecorded circle of hell.
It's lovely.
contentWednesday, June 27, 2007
4:34PM
Days are either too long or too short at the hospital. It's hard to tell the people who are in pain from the people who just like to jerk other people around, but the end sum is pretty much the same-- people wanting all day long.
Starting to get excited and nervous about the move. Me, Greg, the pup, and the pig all in one car. I smell carnage! And crap.
Felt really odd the other day, about who I know now, and who I used to know, and all the friends I don't talk to anymore, and my friends who are not friends any more-- I never used to want to give up slights or grudges, but it breaks so many years into before and after. I guess it makes time a little easier to identify.
Greg and I went to the Pops last night, saw a band called Hem with the orchestra behind them. We were both saying we wish we did more like that. It's a nice building. I said to Greg it smelled just the same as when I was twelve. It does. Amazing.
When Lost comes back, we'll be living halfway across the country. I can't believe it when I put it like that.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
10:03AM
I went to Fayetteville this weekend, and now it is all very real. This is the place we'll live for the next four years. Four years is a long time. Granted, my seven years in the valley never seemed that long, not until the end, and Greg will be with me, and my pets, and that's really all I'll need to make it seem enough like home. Except hotter. And sweatier. And hillier.
Thankfully, it is absolutely gorgeous, and everyone I met there was extraordinarily friendly and open. More at another time, maybe. I am still trying to take it all in.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
12:48PM
UPDATE:
My dog, who does not know many useful tricks like not peeing on the floor or not eating road food, has shown us he knows the best trick in the world. The high five.
Also, we are moving to Arkansas.
Friday, March 16, 2007
9:44AM
Things are happening! I actually got into grad school! Return sense of terror about complex philosophical readings!!! RETURN!!!
About 2 weeks ago I got my first acceptance (Umass-Boston), and the second one came about a week after that (Arkansas), and I got a call telling me I was on the top of the waitlist of another (Florida), but it's all really exciting and feels a little silly.
It's just our lives.
I've decided I will not go to Umass-Boston (no money plus extravagant cost of living in Boston = LOADS OF DEBT),
and that leaves my current options of locale for the next year at
Fayetteville, AR or Gainesville, FL.
Unless I hear from the other schools. Or maybe I wont get an offer from Florida.
Who knows.
It's all up in the air still!
I have no idea!
Well, it's exciting.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
8:59PM
Like I post anymore.
Joanna Newsom sounds like Henrietta Pussycat.
I don't get it.
That is what's on my mind?
Just saying.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
7:13PM - everybody run
I do not update in months,
and when I do it is only to express my giddiness
that I can confidently say
"Tomorrow night is Lost night."
Let's see, Greg and I got a dog (Ricky--
who is going through massive separation anxiety issues right now,
so it would be fair to say he is the dog for us,
who make sport of living in the same room all the time)
Oh yes, and Boston was invaded by aliens/bombs/idiots.
I am about to get rejected from several grad schools. Let's hope I get into one.
We both hate our jobs and would rather not go to them.
Do you know a way to work from home?
That isn't amateur porno?
...I said isn't
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