Boy, it’s been a really slow reading month for me. Hmm. Anywho, if you want to read my reviews for these, click here.

I also submitted four poems to ZYZZYVA, which would be awesome to get in to.

In art… I got a few drawings done. I’m finding that it’s getting easier to get things to look the way I want them to on the page — which shouldn’t be a surprise. Practice is good. I really want to improve to the point where the more elaborate ideas and painting that I have in my head and translate them to canvas. One in particular would be a large portrait of my grandmother, but I don’t feel skilled enough yet with painting to be able to pull it off right, especially since it’s sucha personal subject.

In body... again, only the yoga class. I get like this sometimes, where I’m just not in the damn mood. I really need to get over this, since my body just feels so much better when I keep up a regular exercise routine.

In miscellany... I also managed to sneak a youtube video in there, which I just now realized that I forgot to post here. *sigh* At any rate, you can click the link to view it.

* * *

In other news, I’m only two weeks away from Germany. Which means I should probably ease up on my to-do lists, so that I can get all my pre-travel stuff done. But I’ll leave it be for this week and see what happens.

To Do in the Coming Week
– continue editing/rewriting the story (actually finishing = triple bonus points)
– write, edit and/or polish 1-2 poems
– write a 500 word article to submit to Matador
– draw two pages for the 30 Day Challenge
– submit a set of poems or a short story for publication
– do 3 walking/running routines for Couch to 5k
– do 5-7 days of morning yoga
– post a youtube video

[x-posted to my livejournal. If you are inclined, you can comment either here or there.]

I did do my morning journal pages and even put together a blackout poem, but not much creatively otherwise. And thank goodness for the yoga class I’m signed up for with my mom and sister otherwise I wouldn’t have done any exercising last week.

To Do in the Coming Week
– continue editing/rewriting the story (actually finishing = triple bonus points)
– write, edit and/or polish 1-2 poems
– write a 500 word article to submit to Matador
– draw two pages for the 30 Day Challenge
– submit a set of poems or a short story for publication
– do 3 walking/running routines for Couch to 5k
– do 5-7 days of morning yoga
– post a youtube video

[x-posted to my livejournal. If you feel inclined, you can comment either here or there.]

searchingforsuperpowers wrote: 

My response: 
Wow. Hah. I can’t say that I put that much thought into it. I just sort of needed something to draw, saw a tree on the cover of a book similar to this, and so I drew it. But perhaps your suggesting there are some subconscious tendencies to this, which is to be expected, I suppose. It’s common that unexpected meaning comes out when you create something.

Or to think about it another way, once any art or writing is made, it owns itself and is free to be many things to many people. Anyone can take any piece of art and interpret it as they will. At that point, the art begins to say less about the artist than it does about the person interpreting it. 

Your response tells me a bit about you, that which fascinates you, and the way in which you view the world. You seem to show your spiritual side here, and certainly your passion for trees. (I would be interesting to learn how you developed your theories on trees.)

As to my relationship with my mother… we are very close, always have been. I must admit to some recent tension due to a series of recent challenges, which have affected the entire family. The result of this was that I have been the stable rod supporting my mother’s emotional rollercoaster. A role I’ve been honored to play, able thus to clearly see my mother grow and become a stronger person. But I’ve also recently reached a place in which I have had to seek my own sanctuary, my own space for personal emotional growth. A goal I’m still in the progress of working toward.

Maybe all that is in that little sketch that I threw together yesterday morning. I’m not inclined to think so (it was such a quick little drawing based on an existing tree), but who knows. Many, many things are possible. (^_^)

(I’m not even going to pretend that I’m going to finish this in 30 days. Pfft, I say, pfft to you [that], sir.)

Day 01 – A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just freaking end already (or both!)

Some series certainly go on for-ev-er, don’t they. I can’t really name any that should have ended, though, because I tend not to read series past the fifth book or so, especially if they rehash the same storyline over and over and over and over and over again. I got bored with Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events for precisely that reason and quite reading after the fourth book (however, I later learned from a friend that things in the series got more interesting after that point, so I ended up going back to finish the series).

In general, I don’t think there’s such a thing as too long or too short. If the author enjoys writing a series and readers enjoy reading, then there’s no reason why it might not go on indefinitely. Those who do get bored are free to quit reading, as I’m apt to do.

Vice-versa, if an author feels she’s done with a story, then, hey, she’s done. The story ends there. So be it. I can reread if I love it that much, or I can sit and imagine how the world might unfold in my own head (I do that a lot anyway). Besides there are plenty of other books out there that I would love to discover.

Although, if Cornelia Funke wanted to revisit the the characters and world of Inkheart, I certainly wouldn’t mind it. (^_^)

The Rest of the Days:
Day 02 – A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about
Day 03 – The best book you’ve read in the last 12 months
Day 04 – Your favorite book or series ever
Day 05 – A book or series you hate
Day 06 – Favorite book of your favorite series OR your favorite book of all time
Day 07 – Least favorite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
Day 08 – A book everyone should read at least once
Day 09 – Best scene ever
Day 10 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 – A book that disappointed you
Day 12 – A book or series of books you’ve read more than five times
Day 13 – Favorite childhood book OR current favorite YA book (or both!)
Day 14 – Favorite character in a book (of any sex or gender)
Day 15 – Your “comfort” book
Day 16 – Favorite poem or collection of poetry
Day 17 – Favorite story or collection of stories (short stories, novellas, novelettes, etc.)
Day 18 – Favorite beginning scene in a book
Day 19 – Favorite book cover (bonus points for posting an image!)
Day 20 – Favorite kiss
Day 21 – Favorite romantic/sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 22 – Favorite non-sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 23 – Most annoying character ever
Day 24 – Best quote from a novel
Day 25 – Any five books from your “to be read” stack
Day 26 – OMG WTF? OR most irritating/awful/annoying book ending
Day 27 – If a book contains ______, you will always read it (and a book or books that contain it)!
Day 28 – First favorite book or series obsession
Day 29 – Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
Day 30 – What book are you reading right now?

[x-posted to my livejournal. If you feel inclined, you can comment either here or there.]

On top of putting down the rough draft of a new poem, I’ve also discovered a kind of found poetry called blackout or erasure poetry, which is fabulous fun. There have been several books, published using the style, include Mary Rueffle’s A Little White Shadow, which I reviewed here, and I’ve learned about a book called Newspaper Blackout, which I’m itching to buy.  I’m obsessed with this form, and can’t seem to look at Newspapers the same way again. Every time I pick up the paper, I start scanning it to see what words might come together to form a poem. I love the visual element that is inherent, and as a lover of collage, I try to incorporate that into it.

Not only am I having fun creating blackout poetry, but It’s a relaxing way of getting into the poetic mind. I’m finding that working in this way is helping me to feel more inspired when I face the blank page, too. You can see a few of my blackout poems here.

In art… Several sketches and a new drawing were completed, all in good fun. You can see them here.

In body… I have not done much yoga or running this week. I blame the stress of going to press, and the fact that I’ve had to work overtime several days this week. Which is all well and good, but means that all I want to do when I get home is rest.

To Do in the Coming Week
– continue to make progress on the story (actually finishing = triple bonus points)
– write, edit and/or polish 1-2 of my current poems
– write a 500 word article to submit to Matador
– submit a set of poems or a short story for publication
– do 3 walking/running routines for Couch to 5k
– do 5-7 days of morning yoga
– post a youtube video
– art, doesn’t matter what, but something

[x-posted to my livejournal. If you feel inclined, you may comment either here or there.]

In writing… well, thank god for my morning poetry journal, because if not for that I would have no new words to report. I’m trying to get back into the habit of things, but trying is not the same as doing. I also received a rejection this week for one poem. Well, on to the next!

In body, I did excellent. I finished Richard Hittleman’s Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan, which is an amazing feeling. I now need to keep up with my morning routines as suggested at the back of the book.

I also did week one of the Couch to 5k running plan. I’m feeling pretty good about it. Saturday was a real push for me, though. I think this was because I ran midday when it was rather warmer out than I’m used to. I tend to get lethargic in the heat, so it felt like a much harder run. This is good to know about myself, because I’m going to need to keep that in mind whenever I get around to actually participating in an

To Do in the Coming Week
– continue to make progress on the story (actually finishing = triple bonus points)
– write, edit and/or polish 1-2 of my current poems
– write a 500 word article to submit to Matador
– submit a set of poems or a short story for publication
– do 3 walking/running routines for Couch to 5k
– do 5-7 days of morning yoga
– post a youtube video
– art, doesn’t matter what, but something

[x-posted to my livejournal. If you feel inclined, you may comment here or there.]

So, I’ve only read ten out of the 100 books (I”m not a big thriller reader, though I love horror), and of the ten, six are by Stephen King (due to my fixation with his books in high school).

7. The Shining, by Stephen King< (Loved this one when I read it. In fact, maybe I should read it again. Hmmm.)
12. The Stand, by Stephen King (Another King fav.)
14. Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton (I actually read this for my freshman English class, and it was good fun.)
17. The Andromeda Strain, by Michael Crichton (Good, but not super memorable to me though.)
22. It, by Stephen King (Ooooh. Yes. This one gave me some joyful chills.)
37. Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King (Mmm. Battling vampires…)
44. Pet Sematary, by Stephen King (Yeah… This one was fab, too.)
45. Dead Zone, by Stephen King (As I was saying…)
74. Feed, by Mira Grant (This was a great read. I <3 zombie politics.)

[x-posted to my livejournal. If you feel inclined, you can comment either here or there.]

But I have a habit of making and then poking them idly from a distance with sticks. Or of simply abandoning them entirely as soon as they are composed.

This is a dangerous thing, this making and then abandoning. Because lists have a tendency to grow of their own accord, to become feral and monstrous and hungry. They will attack you in your dreams if you do not attend to them. They will scratch and paw and bite at your inner calm and security.

It’s best to tend them, to bring out the shears and prune them by striking out your accomplishments. Or better yet, by making your lists no greater than you can manage.

Which is to say that other than a few minor sketches in my morning poetry journal, I mostly ignored my list this past week (and many more lists in the weeks before), and I am beginning to grow concerned. So, I post this week with tentative fear and the hope that I can accomplish what I set forth in order to keep myself from being eaten alive.

To Do in the Coming Week
– continue to make progress on the story (actually finishing = triple bonus points)
– write, edit and/or polish 1-2 of my current poems
– write a 500 word article to submit to Matador
– submit a set of poems or a short story for publication
– do 3 walking/running routines for Couch to 5k
– do 5-7 days of morning yoga
– post a youtube video
– art, doesn’t matter what, but something

[x-posted to my livejournal. If you feel inclined, you may comment either here or there.]