Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Recovering
My wife and are are both on the mend from what is being called the Great Poet Flu of 2012. We're thinking Scott Woods is Case Zero, as he was ill for some time. Was he recovered enough at Poet Picture Day last Sunday???
Right after that three people, at least three people who were on the library steps last Sunday became violently ill. Teri, Paula, and my wife.
On Monday night my wife caught the bug. It was not pretty. She was out of commission on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday morning I woke up with a headache and became light headed. Called off work, called my ex to ask if she's put our son on the bus because I did not want him to catch anything, and went back to bed. It got worse after I woke up around noon. I did not eat anything and only had water and a couple of glasses of ginger ale for about thirty six hours. Took Friday off work and found I could eat, a little bit.
While all of this is going on, Scott Woods is in his world of Schadenfreude, clicking "Like" on status updates in which I mention my illness. He posted comments of nothing but laughter and went as far as suggesting that, if Facebook let him, he would type his gleeful comments in a larger font. I guess he did not have a seven year old to beat in chess that afternoon. Such is life when you have a nemesis.
Improved even more over the weekend, a weekend I have my son so I'm worried about him catching this, whatever it is.
He's been good. Very into his own business of jumping on his bed and having adventures in his room with Bob the Cucumber and Larry the Tomato. He even closed the door to his room.
Downstairs, he rediscovered his books and pulled them off the shelf in a flourish last night. A few minutes ago he did some organizing on the floor.
There's also a line of five more books at a ninety degree angle, but I do not want to include the ugly living room chair in the photo. Now, with the time change, he has energy at new times. Daylight savings time messes with him, he pounced out of bed right after I put him there. He's not happy.
While grocery shopping today we came across the closeout cart that Kroger puts out from time to time. Most of the time we look, and move on. Today though they had a box of what was depicted on the box as wine glasses.
In my world wine glasses have stems. So you can swirl the wine in the glass. So you do not get finger prints on the glass while looking at the color. So you do not warm up a white wine with your hand any faster.
Now I understand the reasoning for a stemless glass. A friend in the biz said it was great if you're outside on a windy day and I get that. Sure, it eases breakage in restaurants but if I am paying eight bucks for a glass of wine there had better be a glass with a stem!
Anyway, the glasses (set of four) were marked down to three bucks so we bought them. I'm just going to say they're for juice.
Right after that three people, at least three people who were on the library steps last Sunday became violently ill. Teri, Paula, and my wife.
On Monday night my wife caught the bug. It was not pretty. She was out of commission on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday morning I woke up with a headache and became light headed. Called off work, called my ex to ask if she's put our son on the bus because I did not want him to catch anything, and went back to bed. It got worse after I woke up around noon. I did not eat anything and only had water and a couple of glasses of ginger ale for about thirty six hours. Took Friday off work and found I could eat, a little bit.
While all of this is going on, Scott Woods is in his world of Schadenfreude, clicking "Like" on status updates in which I mention my illness. He posted comments of nothing but laughter and went as far as suggesting that, if Facebook let him, he would type his gleeful comments in a larger font. I guess he did not have a seven year old to beat in chess that afternoon. Such is life when you have a nemesis.
Improved even more over the weekend, a weekend I have my son so I'm worried about him catching this, whatever it is.
He's been good. Very into his own business of jumping on his bed and having adventures in his room with Bob the Cucumber and Larry the Tomato. He even closed the door to his room.
Downstairs, he rediscovered his books and pulled them off the shelf in a flourish last night. A few minutes ago he did some organizing on the floor.
There's also a line of five more books at a ninety degree angle, but I do not want to include the ugly living room chair in the photo. Now, with the time change, he has energy at new times. Daylight savings time messes with him, he pounced out of bed right after I put him there. He's not happy.
While grocery shopping today we came across the closeout cart that Kroger puts out from time to time. Most of the time we look, and move on. Today though they had a box of what was depicted on the box as wine glasses.
In my world wine glasses have stems. So you can swirl the wine in the glass. So you do not get finger prints on the glass while looking at the color. So you do not warm up a white wine with your hand any faster.
Now I understand the reasoning for a stemless glass. A friend in the biz said it was great if you're outside on a windy day and I get that. Sure, it eases breakage in restaurants but if I am paying eight bucks for a glass of wine there had better be a glass with a stem!
Anyway, the glasses (set of four) were marked down to three bucks so we bought them. I'm just going to say they're for juice.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
The Best Part of Breaking Up is when You're Making Up
A honest effort can turn my cynical eye into genuine admiration and forgiveness of an artist. Such is the case with Bruce Springsteen's "Wrecking Ball."
Three years ago I broke up with him. I thought he and I were on two different planets and we'd never see each other in orbit again. I wished him well.
I'm not sure exactly what it is about this new record that made me get out the large plate of crow. I think it's hearing the anger in his words, an anger that is not forced, an anger that is not being constructed to blueprints. Springsteen has been on the campaign trail for Kerry and Obama and he does not like what he has seen. It's taken him three years to write about his rage, about the theft of America from the robber barons. He's spitting out the chorus of "We Take Care of our Own" as a lie from the leaders. It's not happening. He's issuing a challenge. Laying his flag down.
The production is a different step for him, he's using drum loops, a full horn section and has been heavily influenced by Irish folk music. He's taken his Seeger sessions work to a different level, added some gospel and it hits the mark more than it fails. It's his best record in years.
There are a few vague moments. "Jack of All Trades" a dirge about a couple trying to make ends meet goes on a bit too long and meanders. And the narrator could not afford to see Springsteen live at this point, not with the prices he's charging to see his shows. Yes, I know it's a great expense, moving all these people across the world, but still...
In the middle of the despair of the stomping and fierce "Death to My Hometown" there are moments of remembrance and joy. In the remade "Land of Hope and Dreams" comes Clarence Clemons' last sax solo. It made me gasp at first listen. There is an orchestra of stringed instruments on this song - mandolins, banjos, all kinds of guitars. Damn, that opening saxophone note put this record into the double plus column.
"Rocky Ground", the second single (if there's such a thing as a single anymore) is the heaviest gospel influenced song on the album that builds into a full on rap by Michelle Moore. I do acknowledge that Springsteen is trying to experiment with new approaches, and not throwing anything to the wall just to see if it will stick.
Wrecking Ball closes with a song of survival, "We Are Alive" is described as a campfire song, with strummed acoustic guitars, hollered lyrics and mariachi horns it describes the losses of fighters for justice while offering more hope for the listener, letting us know that hard times come and hard times go.
Three years ago I broke up with him. I thought he and I were on two different planets and we'd never see each other in orbit again. I wished him well.
I'm not sure exactly what it is about this new record that made me get out the large plate of crow. I think it's hearing the anger in his words, an anger that is not forced, an anger that is not being constructed to blueprints. Springsteen has been on the campaign trail for Kerry and Obama and he does not like what he has seen. It's taken him three years to write about his rage, about the theft of America from the robber barons. He's spitting out the chorus of "We Take Care of our Own" as a lie from the leaders. It's not happening. He's issuing a challenge. Laying his flag down.
The production is a different step for him, he's using drum loops, a full horn section and has been heavily influenced by Irish folk music. He's taken his Seeger sessions work to a different level, added some gospel and it hits the mark more than it fails. It's his best record in years.
There are a few vague moments. "Jack of All Trades" a dirge about a couple trying to make ends meet goes on a bit too long and meanders. And the narrator could not afford to see Springsteen live at this point, not with the prices he's charging to see his shows. Yes, I know it's a great expense, moving all these people across the world, but still...
In the middle of the despair of the stomping and fierce "Death to My Hometown" there are moments of remembrance and joy. In the remade "Land of Hope and Dreams" comes Clarence Clemons' last sax solo. It made me gasp at first listen. There is an orchestra of stringed instruments on this song - mandolins, banjos, all kinds of guitars. Damn, that opening saxophone note put this record into the double plus column.
"Rocky Ground", the second single (if there's such a thing as a single anymore) is the heaviest gospel influenced song on the album that builds into a full on rap by Michelle Moore. I do acknowledge that Springsteen is trying to experiment with new approaches, and not throwing anything to the wall just to see if it will stick.
Wrecking Ball closes with a song of survival, "We Are Alive" is described as a campfire song, with strummed acoustic guitars, hollered lyrics and mariachi horns it describes the losses of fighters for justice while offering more hope for the listener, letting us know that hard times come and hard times go.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
An view of Scottish Football from Ohio
The problems of FC Rangers are making very big news in Europe. My take may not be perfect but here's what I gleaned: the team was sold a couple of years ago and the new owner paid for the team with future revenue. He also promised to put some of his own money into the franchise, which did not seem to happen. There was also a problem of him not paying tax, something the British government does not like. Today the team released a couple of players, more staff and players are expected to be fired.
Last month, the team went into administration, which is essentially bankruptcy. By rule the team was docked ten points by the Scottish Premier League which gave the title, barring massive collapse, to Celtic FC.
If you do not know, the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, also known as The Old Firm, is one of the fiercest in world sports. I explain it to people here by imagining Ohio State and Michigan football being in the same city, and adding sectarianism.
I'm not qualified to get into the politics behind the Old Firm rivalry. It's been going on for generations. I will be honest and say I chose to support Celtic from thousands of miles away because they never had a policy of firing their employees for simply befriending a Catholic.
The violence, the IRA chanting, not my scene. It was an odd, unsettling experience to walk into an Erin Go Bragh march when headed to Tollcross Park. Not one I wish to repeat.
Back to the teams. I have no idea what is going to happen to Rangers FC. My hope is that a responsible buyer is found who can make the team a fiscal success. Back when the Cleveland Browns were moved to Baltimore it annoyed me, not because I liked the Browns, far from it. They were the hated Cleveland Browns, and you want to beat the teams you despise on the field of play, not due to an accounting farce.
The problems of the Scottish Premier League are numerous, other teams are not in sound financial order. Gretna folded in 2008, Hearts are having problem meeting payroll. There's not much broadcast money coming in and that money is contingent on Old Firm matches happening. As much as others have said the Old Firm does not matter, from my seat on an Ohio couch it sure does. As much as I dislike a two teams at the top league with everyone else fighting for scraps, the SPL needs the Old Firm. Without them a downward spiral would quicken instead of cease.
Last month, the team went into administration, which is essentially bankruptcy. By rule the team was docked ten points by the Scottish Premier League which gave the title, barring massive collapse, to Celtic FC.
If you do not know, the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, also known as The Old Firm, is one of the fiercest in world sports. I explain it to people here by imagining Ohio State and Michigan football being in the same city, and adding sectarianism.
I'm not qualified to get into the politics behind the Old Firm rivalry. It's been going on for generations. I will be honest and say I chose to support Celtic from thousands of miles away because they never had a policy of firing their employees for simply befriending a Catholic.
The violence, the IRA chanting, not my scene. It was an odd, unsettling experience to walk into an Erin Go Bragh march when headed to Tollcross Park. Not one I wish to repeat.
Back to the teams. I have no idea what is going to happen to Rangers FC. My hope is that a responsible buyer is found who can make the team a fiscal success. Back when the Cleveland Browns were moved to Baltimore it annoyed me, not because I liked the Browns, far from it. They were the hated Cleveland Browns, and you want to beat the teams you despise on the field of play, not due to an accounting farce.
The problems of the Scottish Premier League are numerous, other teams are not in sound financial order. Gretna folded in 2008, Hearts are having problem meeting payroll. There's not much broadcast money coming in and that money is contingent on Old Firm matches happening. As much as others have said the Old Firm does not matter, from my seat on an Ohio couch it sure does. As much as I dislike a two teams at the top league with everyone else fighting for scraps, the SPL needs the Old Firm. Without them a downward spiral would quicken instead of cease.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Good thing I do not have Super-8
While looking at yesterday's pictures and other people's pictures of yesterday's picture taking I got the energy up to put together a slideshow.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
A Snowy Day in Columbus
A few hours ago over fifty Columbus poets gathered on the steps on the Main Library for a family portrait. It was done in the spirit of A Great Day in Harlem.
Poets gathered in the lobby, generations of local poets who have been on the scene for years to kids and others just starting out. It was a remarkable mix of people that shows the diversity of the scene. It is a scene I am proud and humbled to be a part of.
We were called to get outside and get ready for our picture. It was chilly outside. The one day of cold in a mild winter. Just as we cats were herded onto the steps for the official portrait, it began to snow, heavily. But us Snoets prevailed.
I chose to take the pictures in black and white to pay tribute to the Harlem photo and thank my wife for taking the pictures when the snow started to fly. They look like a presidential inauguration or something.
I did not tag anyone or caption, this is who Columbus is when it comes to poetry. Feel free to share the link or pictures. Remember when they came from.
Finally all of this came together because of the efforts of Scott Woods. Much thanks and praise to him for getting us all together for this impressive event.
Poets gathered in the lobby, generations of local poets who have been on the scene for years to kids and others just starting out. It was a remarkable mix of people that shows the diversity of the scene. It is a scene I am proud and humbled to be a part of.
We were called to get outside and get ready for our picture. It was chilly outside. The one day of cold in a mild winter. Just as we cats were herded onto the steps for the official portrait, it began to snow, heavily. But us Snoets prevailed.
I chose to take the pictures in black and white to pay tribute to the Harlem photo and thank my wife for taking the pictures when the snow started to fly. They look like a presidential inauguration or something.
I did not tag anyone or caption, this is who Columbus is when it comes to poetry. Feel free to share the link or pictures. Remember when they came from.
Finally all of this came together because of the efforts of Scott Woods. Much thanks and praise to him for getting us all together for this impressive event.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
How to send off Black History Month
Writers' Block last night was a mix of navel gazing, marinating, and life affirming poetry. It also included this little ditty. Be sure to wait for the presentation at the end.
Could not wedge in a few chords of Daydream Believer, sadly there was no sing along.
The song was a cover, I could never write something that good. Here's the original by the great Tom Lehrer.
The next Leap Day on a Wednesday will be in 2040. Book the date.
Could not wedge in a few chords of Daydream Believer, sadly there was no sing along.
The song was a cover, I could never write something that good. Here's the original by the great Tom Lehrer.
The next Leap Day on a Wednesday will be in 2040. Book the date.
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