I’m so digging on The Believer Magazine’s 2008 Film Issue.
This is the first time i’ve ever bought a copy. I’ve read it at friends’ houses, i’ve been to the website– i’ve long been a fan of Heidi Julavitz (In grad-school I studied for a couple of semester’s under her hubby Ben Marcus). But for [...]

Posted in Movies, books, cary elwes, fiction No Comments »

I’m a bit swamped this week, what with working on my book/chapters
and grading and preparing for this Literary Arts Festival at one of the colleges where I teach Creative Writing (i’m giving a talk for their “Writer as Activist” Festival Theme–but more on that another time).
In the meantime, here is one of my latest finds/purchases [...]

Posted in books, cary elwes, fiction, shopping, vintage books 1 Comment »

ok ok, another quick movie review…
last night Ted and I watched Margot at the Wedding.
Ooof. I loved Noah Baumbach’s last movie, The Squid and the Whale, and this one is pretty genius as well but SO SO SO twisted. I may be twisted myself, though, because I like how Baumbach puts it all out [...]

Posted in Movies, books, fiction 1 Comment »

After taking care of my 8 month old neice yesterday (yes! I fed the baby! mashed sweet potatoes!) I decided I needed to go see The Ruins. (how’s that for a segue/non sequitur?).
If you haven’t seen the commercials, The Ruins is the new horror film about the group of young, attractive people who find themselves [...]

Posted in Movies, books, fiction, food 1 Comment »

Oh, today I mourn the last day of teaching poetry! Alas!
We’re heading into fiction after today. Last week I shared this Billy Collins poem with
the class. Billy Collins. Sigh. I still have a man-crush on him (does that make me gay?).
If you’ve read his poems you’ll know why.
Class Picture, 1954
Billy Collins
I am the third [...]

Posted in books, cute photos of me, poetry, teaching 5 Comments »

“I noticed the bushy sand-colored mustache that curled at his lips’ corners.” –from the novel, Mysterious Skin, by Scott Heim.
I decided it was time for a change, so I shaved off part of my Morgan Spurlock–
Or my Morgan Spurlock-inspired goatee thingy.
I’ve had it since about 2005, I think.
Here’s a pic of the [...]

Posted in Movies, Uncategorized, books, cary elwes, crafts, shopping 1 Comment »

My Canadian pal, Lola, turned me on to this cool weblog by writer JA Konrath– called
A Newbie’s Guide To Publishing. He has some pretty sage advice and words of wisdom, for example:
There’s a word for a writer who never gives up… published
and
Write when you can. Finish what your start. Edit what you finish. Submit what [...]

Posted in books, cats, fiction, my writing 1 Comment »

No, that’s not a song from the musical “Rent.”
That’s how many words I wrote today! On my Spring Break! (who needs Daytona Beach, eh?)
I wrote 12 pages.
12
That’s probably more writing than i’ve done in the last month.
I am, as Eduardo puts it: En Fuego. (which I think means on fire?)
It was such a good [...]

Posted in Movies, books, my writing, t-shirts 2 Comments »

Had a great book group yesterday, discussing The Road.
Everyone  brought some really good insight into the book, questions, comments, likes/dislikes.
It evoked memories of being in NYC, discussing books with our writer friends.
Nice to know we can find a little of that here in San Diego.
Also, was feeling creative the last couple of days and made [...]

Posted in books, collage 1 Comment »

I’m almost finished with Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.
Boo-ra. Let me just say how terrifying, how sad, how beautifully written The Road is.
Quick plot synopsis from NYTimes:
In “The Road” a boy and his father lurch across the cold, wretched, wet, corpse-strewn, ashen landscape of a post-apocalyptic world. The imagery is brutal even by Cormac McCarthy’s high [...]

Posted in books, teaching 3 Comments »