Wordstock 2008

I've been meaning to document my Wordstock experience for a while now, but with the holidays and everything going on this time of year it has unfortunately fallen to the side. If you get a chance to check out Wordstock next year, I would highly recommend going. They have many volunteer opportunities, and it's a great chance to mingle with other readers and writers.

The way that they have it set up is very conducive to mingling. The booths range in subject from publishing companies to writers' groups. I picked up some great info at the Willamette Writers' table as well as the Women's Writing booth. It's great to see so many classes and organizations devoted to the progression of the art form.

Also saw some great lit magazines and journals being represented, I can't wait to explore those one of these rainy days.

The job that I had as a volunteer was to usher the speakers to their stages and make sure everything was organized and on time. The first group I walked with was Ellen Heltzel, Mark Sarvas, Stewart O'Nan, and Floyd Skloot. They did a panel on "The Book Review Crisis" which I found really stimulating, as I often review or recommend books on this blog. I've been a follower of Sarvas's blog for some time now and I have read a couple of Heltzel's reviews, and I was really excited to hear what they had to say. The foremost topic of discussion was the part that the internet plays in book reviewing, and what that means for authors and reviews alike. The impact that the internet has as well as the interest the industry has in how readers determine what books they will read were also discussed. Personally, I tend to get book recommendations from friends, and when I really like something, I'll post it on here. I think the interent is a great way to make books of all genres accessible to all people.

I also got to have short conversations with Kevin Cook and Jennie Shortridge, they were both very nice, and as I haven't read any of their work yet, it's next on my list.

The highlight though, was being asked by an elderly woman to walk her to the author's waiting room. I was done volunteering for the day, but still had the shirt on, and I was glad to help her as she was having a small amount of difficulty with her cane. As we walked she asked me if I am a writer. I responded that I am in the process of writing, and it's a dream I'm hoping to pursue more in the coming years. She told me I am still young, and she recommended the 'Attic workshops', she said they helped her cultivate her passion. I did not get her name, but I've been searching to find out who she is as I know she has several volumes of poetry out, and I would like to read them. Hopefully I can find out soon.

Well, that's it for now, I plan on volunteering again next year as it was extremely gratifying!

Things I am Thankful For

Friends who care about me, and who don't want me to be alone today even though I have the plague and am most likely contagious.

Fred Meyer for being open until 4pm so I can get more kleenex and some sinus decongestant.

The long shelf life of Nyquil.

The leaves on the tree outside my window (even though they are gone now) because they hide my apartment windows from the street and provide me with a small amount of privacy.

Netflix for having movies I can watch on my computer now that I am barricaded from the outside world like a shut in.

Happy memories of Thanksgivings past spent with friends and their families.

And finally, I am thankful for having survived some of the worst long and lonely Thanksgivings between parents' houses spent wishing for a repair to come fix my broken family. They make today seem pale in comparison.

Wordstock: Happening This Weekend

Hey there all you book lovers! Wordstock is happening this weekend, so if you have some spare time you should swing by. I'll be volunteering on Sunday as a stage assistant, and I can't wait!

If you've never heard of Wordstock, let me just tell you it's the finest collection of events centered around books, writing, and authors this side of the Mississippi, as far as I know.

Happening at the Oregon Convention Center, for more information check out:

http://www.wordstockfestival.com

I'll write more about my experience later, so check back!

Read It, Love It

I finished reading Tony Vigorito's Just a Couple of Days about a week ago. It's taken me that long to really digest all of the things it made me contemplate. The overall theme is one that I think is especially timely: when you strip away society and the modes of definition, we are all the same.

Using a slightly frightening tale of bio-warfare gone terribly wrong, Vigorito demonstrates what life would become without the use of words. Instead of being a post-apocalyptic nightmare, it twists and delivers a smack to the human race that is desperately needed. Without words to communicate, humans evolve to a level of understanding and unity that we otherwise would not be able to achieve.

Is it plausible? Probably not, but it drives one to think that maybe something of this nature happening would drive us as a species to accept the fact that we are not so different from one another. The main thing separating us is lack of understanding. If you could clearly communicate your message to everyone else on the planet without having to worry about language or tone or misunderstanding, think of the things that could be accomplished.

The prose flows forth in a beautiful symphony of description and narrative, and there is a lot of irony contained in this story. Overall a great read with short scenes making it great for bedtime reading (you can quickly end a chapter as soon as you start to feel sleepy). A must read if you like fantastical what-ifs.

Volunteering, etc.

This fall the volunteering in my life really picked up. I signed up to do Wordstock where I will be helping out as a stage assistant, and I've done two work parties for the Nature Conservancy so far. I also signed up to be a SMART volunteer which means that I go to an elementary school once a week and read to two little kids. It's way more fun than I thought it would be.

I am typically not a person who likes to do hard labor (especially for free), but I have to say that for some reason I find tons of expendable energy when it comes to doing things for the environment. Earlier this month I went with a group from the Nature Conservancy to the Camassia preserve. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it (in spring there's an amazing blanket of wildflowers throughout). It's a small plot of oak savannah that the conservancy bought way back when there were no houses in that area. Since then, the residential neighborhoods have grown around it, and houses can be seen from almost anywhere inside the preserve. The task I had to help complete was spreading compost over a small area where they are planting some hedges to keep out the trash that floats in from the neighboring apartment complex. I was sore for about three days.

The second work party I went to I took my good friend Josie, and we had a blast. We went to the Kingston preserve near Stayton. The caretakers have been working very hard to bring this area back to its original state by eliminating the invasive species and harvesting the seeds of the native ones. They do this in a number of ways including controlled burns, but on this particular day we were lopping the heads off of Queen Anne's Lace and collecting the fluffy seeds of some kind of aster.

Here are some photos from that day:

I liked the way this lichen contrasted with the drab of the fall prairie.

I don't know what this plant is, but I like the fluffy, curly seeds.

We were collecting the seeds of this plant.

Just another sign of the times...

Cannon Beach

It's been a while since I've posted. I've been busy with my classes and volunteering (more on that to come), and just enjoying this lovely October we've been having in the Portland area. A couple of weeks ago Colleen and I went to Cannon Beach, it was probably the last "nice" day we'll have in a while (the air temperatures were in the high 60s, low 70s and it was so sunny, not a cloud in the sky).

I will be thinking back on this day for the next several cold months to come, for while it may be sunny from time to time, the cold has begun to settle in.

If you haven't been to Cannon Beach, you should go at least once in your lifetime. While it is a tourist trap with huge crowds on the sunny weekends, it does have a quaint charm all its own. The downtown streets are lined with taffy and ice cream shops as well as a library (they sell some great finds cheap) and clothing stores. There's a great yarn shop if you're into knitting, and kite shops for the kid at heart.

For more info go to: http://www.cannonbeach.org/

Once you make it down to the beach, walk over to Haystack Rock. I would reccomend going at low tide.

Haystack Rock

Mussels and starfish in the tide pools.

Starfish and anemones in the tide pools. I'm not sure what the difference is between purple and orange starfish.

Mussels and large barnacles. They were making a fantastically weird sucking noise as they tried to keep all of their moisture in.

Friends!

Anemones look very strange when they are not in the water.

The sea, for once, was calm.

This little guy was doing his best to hide, but I saw more than one person who wanted to snap him up for supper.

It is a strange landscape.

I loved the reflection on the water from this lonely mini haystack rock.

Socks!

The last couple of weeks I have been madly knitting. I think it has something to do with the cold weather coming on. That, or I'm finally starting to get bored. Na, that couldn't be it. Although I have been feeling a little bit like Bubble-boy for the last few weeks. Time to go outside for my daily walk I think.

At any rate, I knitted these really warm, comfy socks. I used Debbie Bliss "cashmerino aran" yarn, a blend of cashmere, merino, and microfibre. They are so soft, it's like having a cloud encircling your feet. If you're lucky, I just might make you a pair. But you have to ask nice (and give me money for yarn)!

I used the two circular needles method, oo-la-la, now aren't you impressed?

Why yes, I am a foot model.

When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano

Alright, so I'll admit that this spectacle isn't nearly as impressive as when the swallows come back to Capistrano. But it is pretty cool. Every fall these migratory birds roost in the chimney of Chapman Elementary School. More info can be found at the Audubon Society website here: http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch/swifts.

Some friends invited me to come watch last night, and even though I've been here for 8 years I had yet to witness the event. So I figured it was high time. The birds were already circling and entering the chimney when I arrived, but I was able to snap a few photos and take a short video so that you can see what it looks like.

There were quite a few people there, and I imagine that if it were quieter, or if you were all alone watching, the sound that the birds' wings make would be like the quiet rush of the blood flowing through your veins. The image of those birds moving through the air reminds me of those videos they make you watch in high school of blood cells soaring effortlessly through the tunnels constructing our bodies.

It's hard to see them, but they look like tiny flecks of pepper.

(If you click on the picture you can see the gigantic version of it)

Here's some wobbly and giggly footage.

Another Thing You Should Read: 2nd Installment

Today I learned something disturbing. Let's just say that first you think you know somebody. Then you realize you have no freaking clue about anything. And on that note, I'm going to recommend that you read Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl.

Yeah, it was a best-seller. What of it? Anyway, it has a great mystery driving the whole plot forward, and it's definitely one that you won't want to put down. When you're reading it, you'll feel like you entered high school all over again. Only this time you're that freakishly smart kid that intimidated everyone with your crazy wacked-out knowledge. This same smart freak is accepted into the famous clique and hijinks ensue. Then someone dies. And things get really complicated really fast.

It just goes to show, you never really know someone.

Your Cat is Fine...

In fact we had a really great conversation about Paulo Coelho yesterday. Then we did some knitting on my sock. I know you're totally jealous, but Ami says you can stay in Hawaii all you want.

Discussion time.

Is it a cat treat?

I shall chase you!

In the last picture, it's a little blury, but you can see my foot. I was running towards the door, and he was in hot pursuit. Just in case you don't believe me when I tell you he attacks my leg whenever I try to leave.

What Does This Mean?

Maybe somebody can help me. I've had this business card in my wallet for about five years, and I still don't know what it means. I found it one night in NW Portland, tacked to a wall in the midst of other actual business cards (I say actual only because I don't think this is a business, but I could be wrong). Every time I look at it I can't help but start laughing, it's just that absurd. Or rather, "Better than Absurd".

After doing some research on "Lambertism" I think I know what it's all about. The business card, that is.

Lambertism is a kind of visual poetry that makes absolutely no sense. And that is the point: sheer nonsense.

I think I like it.

http://mailartforums.crosses.net/read.php?4,11792

So the question is, do I send something to the P.O. Box on the card? Should I get my own P.O. Box so this madman can't stalk me? Should I start writing my own Lambertism poetry?

Stay tuned.

Perspectives on Family: Phone Conversation

Here is an excerpt of a phone conversation I had with my mom today. Sometimes the things she says just strike me as funny. This, for example, gives me a clear mental picture:

"Grandma called earlier and I picked up the phone, but all I heard was a click, and I thought, didn't she hear me say hello? So I looked at the cord and I could see that the kitties had chewed through it because they're still mad at me. I keep putting their grasshoppers outside that they bring in. I think it was the one with the broken leg that did it."

I can just see her gathering the grasshoppers in a cup and throwing them out; meanwhile the cat looks on in disgust, its eyes narrowing. All that hard work (with a broken leg no less) to bring in the hoppy toys, and mom just throws them out. Naturally the cat takes out it's revenge on the phone cord. It knows where to hit mom so it hurts.

The Next Time You're In Tanzania...

The next time you're in Tanzania, just remember that the most powerful words in the Swahili language are: "Punguza bei, tafadhali." It will serve you well whenever you try to buy something from a vendor in the marketplace, or when you buy bus tickets. Of course, they will always try to give you the "white" price first, which is usually so ridiculous that only the richest of tourists could pay it. If you ask nicely they will bargain with you, and if they don't -- just walk away, they will come running after you to give you the price you want.

I was reminded of this on Friday when I went car shopping. Things are so much different in the U.S. when it comes to buying and selling, it sort of takes the fun out of it. However, I did emerge on the other side of the transaction with a pretty little new car, for which I am very grateful.

What You Should Be Reading: Installment 1

If you're like me, then you like a good book. If you're not like me, well then, you still might like a good book even if you can't appreciate men in bunny suits running through the Laurelhurst Park (true story). Lord knows it's a difficult process finding a decent book these days. With all the chick lit, sci-fi, and cardboard cut out books out there (ok, they have their places) sometimes you just want a good bit of literature to sink your teeth into. Something that challenges your thinking, makes you wonder a little bit, draws a little bit more of your soul out into the world. For that, there's this: What You Should Be Reading. I read a lot of books, so if you're looking to find some recommendations, this is the spot. Likewise, if you have a book you would like to recommend, please do so.

I have a certain number of prerequisites when looking for a book. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Book must not be classified as a romance novel. That's not to say it can't have a love story intertwined, but I have to say I get really bored with stories that are just plain about a romance. I mean, boy meets girl, girl meets boy, blah, blah, blah. We've all heard it, seen it, and read it, so lets move on!

2. Book must not be solely about family drama. Again, it could have some family drama woven in, but I think we've all seen The Family Stone. Boring. Not to mention all the personal family drama we all deal with on a daily basis. If it stresses me out in real life, I sure as hell don't want to stress about it in my reading life.

3. The title must grab my attention. And by grab I mean attach and not let go.

4. Book must have an interesting underlying theme. Ok, this one isn't a rule so much as a suggestion. I just love when a book has something unusual about it, some extra quirk that draws me in.

And that's it. Fairly simple really.

Today I will discuss a recent find on a trip to Powells (I often go just to wander, smell the pages). The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon jumped out at me from the shelf. Well, not literally. But the bright orange cover did, as did the title, and we all know the title says a lot about a book.

It seemed a huge task, to write a book about a young man with autism investigating the murder of a neighbor's dog. When I started to read, it took me a few pages to realize that the protagonist had a form of autism, and I was surprised that someone would take that on. Now I must say his story is told with sensitivity and humor, and I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. My eyes were opened to the reality of autism; something I did not understand before.

It was a pretty fast read, and it challenged my thinking. So if you're in the market for a good book, check it out.

Sing a Song of Strawberries!

I don't think there is a more perfect fruit than the humble strawberry. And I'm not talking about those dry, cardboard-textured gritty ones that you get at the store that were genetically engineered in California. I'm talking about the sweet little decadent ruby beauties that you find at the Farmers Market. Usually only available from June to early July (but I did happen to find some at the one last night in the Pearl!), they get snapped up by the boxload. Just to show you what I mean:

My favorite thing to do with strawberries, besides eat them?

Strawberry lemonade of course!

Hiking in the City

If you've never been to Portland, OR, you are truly missing out. Not only do we have a wide collection of top notch restaurants, some of the most beautiful scenery around, and big city convenience with a small town feel, there is also a plethora of things to do. One sunny afternoon in September of last year a friend and I went for a quick hike up Mt. Tabor. Located in the Southeast section of the city, Mt. Tabor offers some of the best views of downtown. There are plenty of paths that run through the forests of this ancient dead volcano as well as a playground and the drinking water for SE. Here are some pictures from that day:

A hazy fall day, looking west from Mt. Tabor.

Wildflowers growing on the hillside.

The path.

Super cute puppy to the rescue!

Do you see the spider?

This little boy was on a mission with his koala bear backpack. His parents must have been too slow pushing their stroller, and he was impatient to get a move on!

The blue sky struck me as a beautiful backdrop to this gothic looking stone turret on the reservoir.

Then again, the water in the reservoir was also a stunning shade of blue which made for an interesting contrast against the texture of the stone.

View of the city from next to the reservoir, not as much haze in the air.

I think these are crabapples. I liked the way the sunlight was streaming through the branches.

I am reminiscing about that day right now because it was the perfect temperature out, warm with a hint of chilly breeze, right on the cusp of autumn. Today is supposed to be a record breaking day for heat in the Portland area, reaching 105F in the late afternoon. I need a hose. And a kiddie pool. And lots of ice.

Begin

Words house meaning.

Every word you say or write should capture the meaning, the feeling, the essence of your truth. But the reality is that in today's culture that rarely happens. Some people are lucky to get out even one word of pure truth in a days worth of communication. So today, I'll start with almost every word.

This is a work in progress, in no way do I assume the pretext that I am superior in any way. I'm just a person who enjoys words. My goal is to creatively express my meaning through the words that pop into my head. Keep reading. This is only the beginning.