Before I go to sleep, I remind myself to remember my dreams, which I hadn't for a long time. After a few days of doing this, I woke up with my dreams in hand. It inspiring to discover that bedtime intentions can work. Every day the dreams are getting more colorful & exciting (but boring if you're not me so I'll leave 'em in my notebook). Read More
NauenThen
Lunch with Eileen
January 16, 2015
We've been friends for such a long time that we're always in tune with each other no matter how often or seldom we hang out, and it seems that whatever topic comes up is exactly the one we need to talk about. It's always some version of how to live our lives. We're good at reminding one other of what's important. We need to live like we did in our 20s, she said, when time was timeless; we need to read & write timelessly. She had a burger & I had a portobello sandwich. Read More
The Jews of South Dakota
January 15, 2015
Two recent articles pointed out that the Jews of South Dakota are hanging by a thread. One was on the fact that SoDak is the only state without a Chabad, and the other that there are only 390 Jews in the state, fewer than any other state, in fact statistically zero. Fifty years ago there Read More
1 Comments
The Tompkins Square Poems VII
January 14, 2015
7. A Week Since I
sat on a bench
remembered my pre-World War I life
wanted a peach
destroyed the evidence
found money
ate at Tre
jubilated
brushed my teeth
stuck out my tongue
sat on a bench
remembered my pre-World War I life
wanted a peach
destroyed the evidence
found money
ate at Tre
jubilated
brushed my teeth
stuck out my tongue
A walk in Williamsburg
January 13, 2015
Every once in a while last summer I would jump on the subway, get off at a random stop, & walk around to see what I saw. In Williamsburg it was the Manhattan Special factory, clanking quietly, a combined funeral home–bakery, and a lovely grotto on a quiet street commemorating someone named Vito Abate (1890–19 3 (there's a missing number on the sign)).
I found a lovely piece by Abate's grandson that explained Read More
I found a lovely piece by Abate's grandson that explained Read More
My doppelganger?
January 12, 2015
This is from an entry on "Russian mystical anarchism" in Douglas Messerli's Project for Innovative Poetry blog. When he posted it a while back, Facebook "recognized" the picture as being me. As far as I know, our family isn't Russian at all, but every once in a while, I find a similar, striking correspondence. If this were from the Jewish side, I'd be less puzzled, but he looks like my English half; some of my cousins have researched our genealogy, & we're English all the way back. Is the resemblance an example of an archetype of facial expression? It makes me think of how in some old paintings, people occasionally have what seems to me like a modern air. Is that all this is, layered on a common facial structure? Read More
100 years ago today
January 11, 2015
Today is also the birthday of Don Mossi, "the ugliest man in baseball."
On this date in 1915 Colonel (National Guard) Jacob Ruppert and Colonel Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston purchased the Yankees for $460,000. Huston sold his share to Ruppert 7 years later for $1.5 million (some sources say $1.25 million). Huston was a captain in the 16th Regiment of Railway Engineers in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and commander (as Lt. Colonel) of the same regiment in France in WWI. Read More
Sentimental me
January 9, 2015
Chris, Mom, Beau, Dad—mid-'60s?
In my ongoing New Year's Snow'n'Throw (for once more Throw than Snow!), I came upon a giant box of family photos—but not my family. Beau's is entirely gone—there might be a distant cousin but I have no one to give these to. He died in 1999. I can't bring myself to dump the box, but what do I do with all these pictures? His racecar-driving dad at Sebring & other classics. Read More
More about The House
January 8, 2015
I think it's that we all felt the same way about the House & knew that we did. Not every single person who passed through the doors, of course, but a lot of us. Most of us? That we are willing to say it. That we still & always felt & feel it.
Steve followed up with this reminiscence. All of it & more: Read More
Steve followed up with this reminiscence. All of it & more: Read More
The House redux
January 7, 2015
These Air Force (Farce) name badges of friends from long ago are of interest only to me (& a few others), I do know that, but that time in my life is still so alluring & resonant. Everything about it is in my cabinet of fascinations, and if I find (out) something new, I can live on it for days.
I remember so much yet knew so little about any of the guys. Maybe when we were 20 there wasn't that much to know. We had no pasts except Read More
I remember so much yet knew so little about any of the guys. Maybe when we were 20 there wasn't that much to know. We had no pasts except Read More
The library
January 6, 2015
Frustrated that I dropped a book in the slot at the library & they say it's still checked out. The other one I returned has stayed returned. How can they lose a book AT the library?
Also, it seems I ate a few too many veggie chips. My goodness. Can you become 9 months pregnant from veggie chips or does it just look like I am?
Update: The book finally showed up as returned. Should I quibble about the 75¢ they say I owe? Read More
Also, it seems I ate a few too many veggie chips. My goodness. Can you become 9 months pregnant from veggie chips or does it just look like I am?
Update: The book finally showed up as returned. Should I quibble about the 75¢ they say I owe? Read More
Hour of gold
January 5, 2015
It's being eager, excited to start. It's going to sleep reminding yourself to remember your dreams, & waking up with them intact. It's that same dream of the George Washington Bridge, the good one where you hitchhike & get a ride, not the Read More
Edith Wharton
January 4, 2015
I just finished reading, for the first time, House of Mirth. I put off everything I had to do today to stay with it, so no time to do more than offer some snippets. I'll think about it here later on. I ran into a friend just after I got to the end, who said, Are you OK? A devastating novel. Read More
Snow
January 2, 2015
Snow in Arizona, snow in Alabama, snow in Las Vegas, snow in the Carolinas, snow everywhere except where it's needed (wanted) (OK, by me) most—right here in New York, New York. C'mon.... please! It'll probably snow in Hawaii before it snows here.
Poetry!
January 1, 2015
I love starting the year with all-day poetry: Just came from 6 straight hours of poems & performance at the annual Poetry Project Marathon. Annabel Lee & I sang a work made out of lines from Emily Dickinson to the tune of "Yellow Rose of Texas."
Not so frivolous after all
December 31, 2014
Twice recently I've tossed off flippant remarks that were picked up & flung right back at me: challenges that burst into art. I love knowing people who can see possibilities, love being goaded to do more, do better.
Fast away the old year passes
December 30, 2014
Another one bites the dust.
And we're still here.
Here's to art, joy, adventure, the highwire, croissants, love, friendship & so much more.
And we're still here.
Here's to art, joy, adventure, the highwire, croissants, love, friendship & so much more.
Cento
December 29, 2014
I'm putting together a cento to read at the Poetry Project's New Year's Day Marathon (come! it'll be great! starts at 2 goes on till 150 poets have read/performed), & I remembered this one, which I wrote long before Rodriguez's troubles began. I don't even remember why this was for him, I guess his name sounded appropriate, like a Greek column. I mean, I don't remember ever loving him.
ODE FOR A-ROD
A Cento from the Greek Anthology
Let no mortal even seek to be a god
O blessed man
If I love boys, what is that to the muses of Helidon?
May Dio warm this your horn, that hits its target well
The fine sturdy Heracles club laments because it is polluted by your shoulders
This thing, which before stayed unbending, is now flabbier than a boiled carrot
Ever may the ivy that adorns the stage dance with soft feet over thy polished monument
Tears, the last gift of my love
A little dust of the earth is enough for me Read More
ODE FOR A-ROD
A Cento from the Greek Anthology
Let no mortal even seek to be a god
O blessed man
If I love boys, what is that to the muses of Helidon?
May Dio warm this your horn, that hits its target well
The fine sturdy Heracles club laments because it is polluted by your shoulders
This thing, which before stayed unbending, is now flabbier than a boiled carrot
Ever may the ivy that adorns the stage dance with soft feet over thy polished monument
Tears, the last gift of my love
A little dust of the earth is enough for me Read More
Remembrance of flings past
December 28, 2014
My best-ever title & I've never used
It!
Even though that's what all my poems are
About!
It!
Even though that's what all my poems are
About!
A little more bioluminescence
December 26, 2014
Hundreds of fireflies may settle on a tree and flash in synchrony, all blinking on, then going dark over several seconds. Is their blinking governed by a single controller? This can be seen in southeast Asia and in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Bioluminescence
December 26, 2014
I admit I do not understand a lot of this book (Bioluminescence, by Thérèse Wilson and J. Woodland Hastings), since I have zero background in biochemistry, but I'm fascinated by the topic. The picture (left, from the book) is of cells in a mouse's brain, colored by fluorescent proteins in random mixtures that make it possible to see each cell and its branching processes.
Fun facts about bioluminescence:
* It occurs primarily in marine organisms.
* It functions as defense, offense, Read More
Fun facts about bioluminescence:
* It occurs primarily in marine organisms.
* It functions as defense, offense, Read More
Why Jews love Christmas II
December 25, 2014
* And because we have absolutely nothing to do today. Because we don't have to get dressed till 4 in the afternoon, if at all.
* And because if you're lucky, your sister sent you a big tin of homemade shortbread. Mmmmmm!
* And because if you're lucky, your sister sent you a big tin of homemade shortbread. Mmmmmm!
Why Jews love Christmas
December 24, 2014
A guitar dressed for the season
* We like to sing Christmas carols, and we know all the words. We're OK with saying Jesus and we replace "Christ" with "Chrysler," so we're OK with singing that too.
* No family melodrama.
* No need to travel at this time of year.
* Time & a half because we don't mind working.
* Chinese food & movies.
* We love our non-Jewish brethren, who might be celebrating sincerely.
* Strings of lights, the smell of fir & balsam, presents.
* The Yule Log on TV! Read More
* No family melodrama.
* No need to travel at this time of year.
* Time & a half because we don't mind working.
* Chinese food & movies.
* We love our non-Jewish brethren, who might be celebrating sincerely.
* Strings of lights, the smell of fir & balsam, presents.
* The Yule Log on TV! Read More
Happy anniversary, JSEN
December 23, 2014
We've actually been together more than 30 years but this was when we finally tied the knot.
There's a thing that if you're born on, say, the 18th of the month, your "golden birthday" is when you turn 18. My youngest sister's the only person I know who knows this. But if it's true, today is my (our) golden anniversary: 23 years married on the 23rd of December. I was happy then but I'm radiant now. It gets better. So lucky.
We take turns being in charge of celebrating. I always leave things to the last minute, so it's gonna be dinner & that's about it.
[Note that yesterday I couldn't get into site-builder so was unable to post.] Read More
We take turns being in charge of celebrating. I always leave things to the last minute, so it's gonna be dinner & that's about it.
[Note that yesterday I couldn't get into site-builder so was unable to post.] Read More
A really good day
December 21, 2014
Luke, 11
My Torah chanting was fine, the brand-new shul publication I edited got a shoutout (& got mailed out while it's still Hanukkah), & there were latkes at kiddush. In the afternoon I went to a wonderful East Village party, full of familiar faces from the 'hood & a few people I know, in a great high-ceilinged apartment on St Mark's Place; more latkes. Late pizza with my wonderful, adorable, smart, fun, affectionate grandson Luke; man, I love that kid—the main reason I had a good day.
That was yesterday. Now it's the shortest day of the year; they'll start getting longer tomorrow all the way into June. I worked out early, and am going to knock off some $$ work before it's due. I called my mother, deleted emails. Getting ready for 2015 (& very ready to see the end of crappy ol' '14). Read More
That was yesterday. Now it's the shortest day of the year; they'll start getting longer tomorrow all the way into June. I worked out early, and am going to knock off some $$ work before it's due. I called my mother, deleted emails. Getting ready for 2015 (& very ready to see the end of crappy ol' '14). Read More
Grass & Essig
December 19, 2014
Having grown up in eastern South Dakota, I feel a love & affinity for the native plants of the prairie, most of which are some type of grass. It's difficult to get folks from elsewhere to appreciate how beautiful, various, & subtle grasses can be. But not obvious: you can spend a long time imagining that the prairie is monochromatic, but if you keep looking, all the variety and color suddenly jumps. We had lawns, sure, but we also had wild mixes of grama, bluestem, clover, pasque (the state flower), and many others that I didn't (& don't) know the name of.
I feel such hope today, because the brilliant & patient artist & Philadelphia native Matilda Essig (an old friend I recently reconnected with) does get it. She's restoring 5 acres of damaged grasslands in Arizona, and her art these days is intense closeups of grass: big enough that even the impatient can see. I've been reading & rereading a piece she wrote (link is in photo caption). Read More
I feel such hope today, because the brilliant & patient artist & Philadelphia native Matilda Essig (an old friend I recently reconnected with) does get it. She's restoring 5 acres of damaged grasslands in Arizona, and her art these days is intense closeups of grass: big enough that even the impatient can see. I've been reading & rereading a piece she wrote (link is in photo caption). Read More
The fascinating Arctic
December 18, 2014
When Commander Robert Peary telegraphed President Taft in 1909 that he had "put the North Pole at your disposal," the president responded: "Thanks for your interesting and generous offer. I do not know exactly what I could do with it." These days he would, no doubt, but wouldn't be allowed to claim the North Pole, any more than the Russians were when they tried to in 2007, by dropping a flag in the seabed at 90° North (quite a technical achievement, if not a Read More
Happy Hanukkah
December 17, 2014
Ain't they sweet?
My Chabad friends brought me a jelly doughnut. They don't speak much English & I don't speak any Hebrew or Yiddish, but we manage. Sometimes we use Google translate. Sometimes we have inspired conversations. Sometimes I try to convince them that women should be able to do whatever they want, & they tell me women are special. None of them has ever been to a movie. Our worlds are so different, except for the affection and love of Judaism, all in our own ways. I wish I were as open-hearted and tireless. Read More
Thinking. Wow.
December 17, 2014
Random photo of Buster (guaranteed to improve any post)
I've had 2 days where I've had to pay attention like crazy to a number of projects. Now I'm beat. Why does concentrating take so much out of me? It's exhausting but also exhilarating.
Better Blogging Before Long.
Better Blogging Before Long.
Jazz embarrassment
December 16, 2014
I remember Roy Eldridge's birthday (January 30) but only because it's the same as a friend's who's also a musician. I only ever heard of Eldridge because I knew his girlfriend or secretary, & his name was mentioned in that "he's someone" way. I once was in an elevator with Dizzy Gillespie. Only after he Read More