Nature ISN'T Boring

Andrew Kenower's recording of me reading at Back Room Live in January is up at A Voice Box, and I really have to recommend it. I had lost my voice completely for over 24 hours before the reading and was barely getting it back at the time. I wish my voice always sounded like that and I always spoke so slowly. I also like the ambient noise at the end. Good work Andrew. Other new readings up too.

As I was recently recorded by travelling poets Brandon and Rob, you'll be able to hear me reading someday on the radio in Missoula, Montana. So you could drive through Montana back and forth until you do. That sounds like a great life plan, bouncing back whenever you reach the borders of the state. Thanks guys. Thanks Lauren. I think your radio show is also a pretty good life plan.

Lots of poetry live again: Tonight there's a Back Room Live reading--Lyn Hejinian, Brenda Hillman, Geoffrey G. O'Brien and Graham Foust. Also the New Old New Yipes or whatever that's called now in Oakland has Lyn Hejinian & K. Silem Mohhamed tomorrow night at 6:30 at 21 Grand. And tonight is a comedy show fundraiser for 826 Valencia, Evening of a Thousand Scowls at Everett Middle School. See you somewhere.

I recommend Obama's speech about race. It's so much better than my own attempts.

Unless you are learning how to write scathing movie reviews, do not see the movie 10,000 BC. It made me really sleepy and did not have enough talking to make it interesting for me or for the blind. And also about the blind, I think that Paterson's extramarital affairs are a good thing for the blind. Also about the movie: there was a blind man in it whom they kept hidden on a platform under the floor. And they spoke a made-up language half the time. Roland Emmerich, what have you done?

I dreamed about being in a swimming pool again.

I am looking forward to spring break--camping at Big Sur. I am looking forward to big surgery. Actually small. And a college reunion, which a friend thinks will be being on a drug. I think it will be time travelling--to go back to a place with the people who were there will recreate the feelings. The real feelings, sometimes the same, bad, good, greenery and sprinklers and departments. Mixed with the new--processing the changes. Do we change.

We know as many people as possible as well as we can.

Earthquake in Fremont. Just now. Check.

My whole school is excited about New York's new governor, David Paterson, who is blind. This article in the New York Times is good if you want more information. Actually there are quite a few. He's not the first blind governor. Here we get his eye condition.

And this is a really great headline: Astronauts Fix Robot Power Trouble

In other news, I'm really excited about seeing 10,000 BC next Thursday with my students and going out to lunch. We're learning how to write movie reviews for our school newspaper.

Maybe you need some shoes

There are a bunch of new journal issues out/up: Octopus 10 (80 poets), the Cultural Society, Abraham Lincoln, Diagram, Cannibal. New chapbook from Joe Massey, Out of Light, from Kitchen Pres. I'm trying to keep up. My chapbook sold out. Someone wants an electronic copy of my undergrad Creative Writing Portfolio on Facebook so she can win a library prize at Pomona. Noooo. I've been looking at shoes. Also a cool hot dog photo which I will post soon. Love, Claire