Writing Halloween

No one tells you that the year-year and a half following grad school is full of searching and tumult.  At least that's been my experience.  I sent out to dozens of book prizes and had many near-misses, swallowed myself in teaching composition and creative writing, and wrote a handful of good poems.  It was not a prolific time and I often wondered if the fires that were so present and so bright during my time at Houston and Bennington were waning.  However, a new schedule and yes, accolades, have helped generate new vigor, new hope, new poems, and for the first time since June 2008 I can see in the distance, beyond the own lonely shadow of my piles of papers to grade, the clickety-clack of the keyboard, the grief of my recently departed cat, Casey, and the cups and cups of dark, dark tea. 

In the past week, I've received the following poetry-related news: my manuscript, Glossolalia, has been picked up for publication by Red Hen Press.  My poem, "Tether," was chosen as runner-up for the RHINO Poetry Magazine's Founders' Prize and will appear in their next issue.  Finally, my poem "The Thundering, my "Liam" poem was chosen as the winner of Bellevue Literary Review's 2010 Marica and Jan Vilcek Prize for Poetry judged by Tony Hoagland and my poem "The Bottom Drawer" was given an honorable mention for the same prize.  Both poems will appear in their next issue as well.

I'm not tooting my own horn, but I am very grateful.  I'm grateful for people loving and reading poetry, for people reading my poetry, for poetry itself.  I'm grateful for my friends and family who want to call back when they're not at work so they can squeal their support with me.  I'm grateful for my hands, my keyboard, my tea, my husband, for each set of eyes that help me along.  I'm grateful to be out of the post-MFA program funk.

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Halloween is my favorite holiday.  This year Jeff & I went to Eric & Sam's Halloween party dressed out in fratitude:

Fall

I know it's early, but the wind is skittering the leaves outside and the first (slightly, this is Texas after all) cool wind is in the air and already I'm looking forward to the approaching fall, most importantly the joy of the Nutcracker Market after Thanksgiving, and the Houston Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker.

I've gone a little overboard on sweaters, like this one, this one, this one, and yes, this one, as well as I look forward to turning leaves and pumpkins and pies and nutmeg and pretty bows and curling up with books and tea.  

I love this season -- the start of school and the "bouquets of sharpened pencils."  I'm now in my 5th semester of teaching and so far, so good (even though a few students have not, unfortuantely, caught on to the idea that you have to actually turn in assignments in order to pass a college course).  I'm teaching 3 classes: composition I, composition II, and a creative writing workshop.  I'm not all too thrilled about the new books we're using, but hey, I'm going with it.  I've also joined the faculty Library Committe and have my first meeting next Friday afternoon, which I'm looking forward to.

I've also been writing more than ever (have slowed down a bit in the past two weeks because of the beginning of the semester, but hope to get back on track next week).  I've also started submitting again (individual poems & the manuscript), so we'll see. 

Dolce Vita

It was great catching up w/ my old high school girlfriends Jennifer, Danielle & Chrissy last night over a (4 hour!) dinner @ Dolce Vita.  The restaurant has great ambiance even better gourmet pizzas—try the prosciutto & arugula pizzas. Delicious. It was funny/scary: at one point we were talking about how next year it will have been 15 years since we graduated high school! Even though I'm only 32, when I think of how I've been out of high school almost 15 years, I feel like I should somehow be older than that.  I had a great time, great food, and that's all that mattered, though!

SATX

I had so much fun on my trip to NOLA (think Cafe du Monde & yummy beignets, Jackson Square, a night-time carriage ride through the Quarter, shopping on Royal St., & amazing cajun food) & now it's time to head the short 3-hour jaunt over to San Antonio to celebrate Jeff & my 7th wedding anniversary this weekend! We will be staying at the lovely Riverwalk Vista Inn:On Friday night, we are going to have a bite @ Mi Tierra. On Saturday we are going to visit the Alamo, have drinks (free wine after 5pm!) @ the hotel, our celebratory dinner at Boudro's on the Riverwalk followed by an evening carriage ride. On Sunday, we will take in the Riverwalk shops & sights with a river cruise and then head over to El Mercado (the Mexican Market) for some shopping, followed by dinner @ Casa Rio on the Riverwalk. On our way out of town on Monday, we will stop over to visit the San Jose Mission. Must now go finish packing!

NOLA

I'm very much looking forward to my upcoming trip to New Orleans! I haven't been since Oct. 2001 when Jeff & I took a plantation home tour & visited the Quarter. I need a mini-vacation & having a girl's weekend w/ H. sounds absolutely perfect at the moment. Streetcars. The French Market. Beignets & cafe au lait @ Cafe du Monde. Live music & giant drinks. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

New Issue

Pebble Lake Review's Health & Illness issue is now online featuring work from Kelli Russell Agodon, Michelle Bitting, Jeannine Hall Gailey, Michael Homolka, Irene Keliher, Rich Levy, Laura McCullough, Jessica Piazza, D.A. Powell, Nicole Steinberg, Laura Madeline Wiseman, Franz Wright, Sarah Manguso, and others. Check it out!

Meet Casey!

Casey is a two-year old sweet cat that we've adopted from Cats for Life rescue group here in Houston. She's coming home with us today!