Essays and Radio

Listening to the radio on a Sunday night, there are all kinds of fascinating shows. I just learned the difference between the sound of a piano accordion and a button accordion. I wish I could describe it, but it would make more sense if you listened yourself.

I have three more applications to do by Feb. 1, and then my graduate school applications are done. No more explaining why "this" school is the best one for "praxis" and "pedagogy." No more "intellectual" autobiographies. Not that it's been bad; it's been interesting, but it will be nice not to panic that I won't have enough time to finish that essay...

By the way, did I mention that I am living alone for the first time in 7 years? And how much I love it? And how much I love this particular corner of my "anteroom" in my studio apartment--right above my desk.

Back to essays.

Just Say No to Iowa

So, I have to shave my ambition down just a bit. The Writers' Workshop at Iowa is dropping off my list. I'm finding after becoming more acquainted with other programs that Iowa isn't in my top 3 anymore. Also, they require a financial aid form like now and I don't even have last year's taxes done yet. And, they recommend GRE scores for funding. Another strike against me. Fuck standardized tests, yo.

I'd rather be drinking, like I was for this Halloween costume party at work: I was Sante Kimes, famed grifter who had a disgusting affair with her son. And killed people for real estate cash. A real charmer. Total freak. Quite a stretch for me, as I guess you would imagine. Louche and thirsty.


Later that night, I transformed into Loretta Lynn. I'll find a pic and post it eventually. Picture: the same wig, down, and a Pepto pink Miss Rodeo USA getup. It was fucking awesome.

Wow. An Internet Connection.

Howdy to anyone who still reads my blog (or tries to)!

First: I'm thankful you keep trying. Second: an explanation of my recent absence. I mean, not that I've ever been prolific on this thing. But currently, I've had a bitch of a time finding a reliable internet connection that wasn't at work--and I do my best to get the hell out of work as quickly as I can these days. There it is. Nothing much I can do about that until I get my own place, I think.

Do you want to hear about the coolest things that have happened in my absence? Of course you do.


1. I saw PJ Harvey at the Beacon Theater touring for her latest (totally uncharacteristically melancholy) record White Chalk, which is totally awesome. (Dude, the guys from Dirty Three are guesting on this album.) She played the entire show solo, jumping between instruments. On one song, she even used a metronome for percussion. How HOT is that? She did her rock-out songs from other albums with just a guitar or just a guitar and drum machine. She looked so AWESOME wearing that crazy puffy-sleeved Victorian dress and playing guitar so fiercely. Damn, it was amazing. This album is so contemplative, so creepy, so GOOD. Buy it, buy it! (Do you know she is also a sculptor? I love her.)

2. I'm applying to MFA poetry programs and my former professor John Biguenet is writing me a recommendation--and his play Rising Water, about a couple during Katrina, has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize! SO cool.

3. I've gone crazy over the Elvis Costello song "Blame It on Cain" from the My Aim Is True record from 1977. I will make you a mix CD if you ask me. I'm itching to do that for someone.

4. Also, I'm having a bit of an affair with the latest Interpol record, Our Love to Admire. There's a rumor that they've moved to Jersey City. I plan to stalk them and force them to talk to me about literature and James Bond movies. And drink Scotch. Another obsession right now. Or Tullamore Dew.

5. I've gained an appreciation of tattoos--heretofore unappreciated. I never thought so before, but yeah, they're kind of hot.