I've been in a period of intense reading for the past several months. In hopes that some of the genius genes of the authors will rub off on me, I suppose. And of course I've always been a reader and go through phases of more or less intensity. I currently have 10 books sprawled out on my coffee table and end table to pick up at a moment's notice. I notice that I'm reading alot books by authors who start with the name "Anne" - just to mention a few: Anne Tyler, "Breathing Lessons"; Annie Proulx, alot of her short stories; Anne Lamott, "Bird by Bird" and "Blue Shoe"; and in the past I've read the diary of Anne Frank(who hasn't), poems of Anne Sexton, Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Return from the Sea" and of course all the Anne of Green Gables series - which doesn't really count since that's not the name of the author - but since it's written in first person you almost feel like it is. I've never ventured into Anne Rice's Vampire series and don't think I ever will.
Don't even get me started on the Anne's or Ann's in my life because there are plenty - to include my grandmother Anna, my other grandmother Annie and my mother, Ann.
I had a fantasy when I was in 3rd or 4th grade when I really began to notice libraries that before I died I would read all the fiction books in the stacks, going chronologically from A to Z. As all good fantasizes go that one vanished soon enough - especially as the school years progressed and I had to spend more and more of my time reading nonfiction in order to study for tests and write papers. Surely there must be less novels by people of the same name vs last name - what a minute what am I thinking - it wouldn't make any difference - it would still be the same number of books. Math was never my long suit....
I've also recently joined a "Paperback Book Swap" Club (it also includes hardbacks)online. You can list books that you want to give away as well as books you want to receive and the club matches you with fellow readers from all over the US. It's been fun to screen my small library(currently due to the move)to chose which books I'm willing to part with and then indulge in a wish list for new ones. I've started seriously haunting the used book section of the library, thrift stores with a books section and book sales of all types - choosing books I can list to give away - but they also must be books I want to eventually read so if no one wants them I won't feel stuck with them.
Yesterday I scored at the gym because someone had left three hardback new books in the lost and found. After two weeks there're up for grabs and boy are they good ones, "Beach Music" by Pat Conroy; "Pigs in Heaven" by Barbara Kingsolver and one by Patricia Cornwall that I can't remember the name of. But the problem is that Pat Conroy and Barbara Kingsolver are two of my favorite authors and I don't have those two books - even though I've read them. I might just have to keep them for my ever increasing library.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Summer of Love
This week marks the forty year anniversary of Woodstock in August, 1969. Taos has been celebrating all season with a marketing promotion dubbed the "Summer of Love". This trendy theme has been used in various venues - from the library's open readings, to restaurant menus, art gallery openings featuring Dennis Hoffman and Robert Dean Stockwell, and readings at Somos. Taos is well know for being a "hippie" enclave during the late 60's and 70's. There were quite a few communes here in Talpa and New Buffalo as well as Lama Foundation featuring guru Ram Dass. Even Natalie Goldberg was a quasi-member of a commune in Talpa and wrote a novel from that period, "Banana Rose."
This week at Somos there were two scheduled readers: Mark Rudd, former leader of SDS (the radical Students for a Democratic Society) who has recently published a memoir from that time, "Notes from the Underground". Unfortunately his wife had to have emergency surgery so he was unable to attend. In his place was Kyra Ryan who grew the child of hippie parents in the 70's and is writing a memoir, "Wild Child" that she read from. Coincidentally her godmother, Iris Keltz, was the second reader who wrote the locally well-known book, "Scrapbook from a Taos Hippie" but who on Friday night read from the prequel, "And the Walls Came Tumbling Down" about her marriage to a Palestinian during the six day war in 1967 and subsequent years. America tends to be so pro-Israel that it was quite interesting to hear about some of the same events from a Palestinian point of view - especially as told from the point of view of an American Jew growing up in Brooklyn living in Palestine during that time.
I've ventured off in new directions and signed up for a college course in beginning watercolors which begins in a week. My daughter bought me a set of watercolor paints for last Xmas which have until now sat unopened. I have never taken an art studio class in my life and feel somewhat intimidated by the prospect. Especially at two classes, 2 1/2 hrs/week each. The instructor, who I know from the gym, said that we'll be doing alot of painting outside and taking scenic trips around Taos.
This week at Somos there were two scheduled readers: Mark Rudd, former leader of SDS (the radical Students for a Democratic Society) who has recently published a memoir from that time, "Notes from the Underground". Unfortunately his wife had to have emergency surgery so he was unable to attend. In his place was Kyra Ryan who grew the child of hippie parents in the 70's and is writing a memoir, "Wild Child" that she read from. Coincidentally her godmother, Iris Keltz, was the second reader who wrote the locally well-known book, "Scrapbook from a Taos Hippie" but who on Friday night read from the prequel, "And the Walls Came Tumbling Down" about her marriage to a Palestinian during the six day war in 1967 and subsequent years. America tends to be so pro-Israel that it was quite interesting to hear about some of the same events from a Palestinian point of view - especially as told from the point of view of an American Jew growing up in Brooklyn living in Palestine during that time.
I've ventured off in new directions and signed up for a college course in beginning watercolors which begins in a week. My daughter bought me a set of watercolor paints for last Xmas which have until now sat unopened. I have never taken an art studio class in my life and feel somewhat intimidated by the prospect. Especially at two classes, 2 1/2 hrs/week each. The instructor, who I know from the gym, said that we'll be doing alot of painting outside and taking scenic trips around Taos.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Summer Time Summer Time
I know I shouldn't brag but the summer weather in Taos has been awesome. Sun shining everyday; morning temps about 55-60 until 9 am and then it warms up to about 85-90 but no humidity. Later in the afternoon the temps go down again; sometimes there's a brief thunderstorm lasting about 30-45 mins with refreshing rain. When the sun goes down the temp goes down, too, so it's never too hot to sleep at night. A girl could get spoiled.... Only thing that's missing is the pure clear lakes of NE - oh, well, can't have everything.
My writing group is having a "literary" potluck party the end of this month in Arroyo Hondo beside the river and we've been invited to bring our inner tubes to float down the river - which is supposed to be icy cold. We'll see. We've all been invited to bring a piece of our best writing lasting about ten minutes.
Last night was another writer's reading night at SOMOS. Poet Renee Gregorio who lives in El Rito read from her latest book of poems, "Drenched", a musical group from Santa Fe named Duo Guadaloupe played and the evening ended with Rick Collignon who has written four mystery novels. Next week begins the "Summer of Love" specials reflecting on the glory days of the hippies in Taos in the late 60's and early 70's. Mark Rudd, founder of the SDS (students for a Democratic Society) will read from his memoir. Oh those radical peace protest, burn-the-bra days... Taos is a really eclectic mix of ex-hippies, native americans, and hispanic cultures. Somehow they all seem to get along. Although the whites are definitely in the minority.
The apartment is almost all decorated, now working on some minor touches. I have dubbed it my "writer's studio" - it makes it feel even more cozy. It's amazing how you can get used to living in smaller spaces. It makes me think about how some people live in their car - no that I would ever want to go that far - although last summer traveling across country for two and half months I sure felt like it...
My writing group is having a "literary" potluck party the end of this month in Arroyo Hondo beside the river and we've been invited to bring our inner tubes to float down the river - which is supposed to be icy cold. We'll see. We've all been invited to bring a piece of our best writing lasting about ten minutes.
Last night was another writer's reading night at SOMOS. Poet Renee Gregorio who lives in El Rito read from her latest book of poems, "Drenched", a musical group from Santa Fe named Duo Guadaloupe played and the evening ended with Rick Collignon who has written four mystery novels. Next week begins the "Summer of Love" specials reflecting on the glory days of the hippies in Taos in the late 60's and early 70's. Mark Rudd, founder of the SDS (students for a Democratic Society) will read from his memoir. Oh those radical peace protest, burn-the-bra days... Taos is a really eclectic mix of ex-hippies, native americans, and hispanic cultures. Somehow they all seem to get along. Although the whites are definitely in the minority.
The apartment is almost all decorated, now working on some minor touches. I have dubbed it my "writer's studio" - it makes it feel even more cozy. It's amazing how you can get used to living in smaller spaces. It makes me think about how some people live in their car - no that I would ever want to go that far - although last summer traveling across country for two and half months I sure felt like it...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Domestication
The theme this week has been centered on decorating my new apartment - realizing that having my furniture, wall art and "things" around me has made a big difference in feeling cozy at the new admittedly small and somewhat dark space. I made kitchen curtains over the weekend and this week I'm working on drapes for the livingroom/bedroom window. Grateful to have a friend to borrow a sewing machine from and bought a cheap iron from Walmart. I may even try my hand at quilting - I saw a navajo wall hanging pattern in the local quilt shop that really intriqued me.
I've noticed that my color choices are strikingly different than ones I've chosen before. Always a blue and white kitchen in New England - now it's orange and reds - most likely the Southwest influence - as many things are painted in vibrant colors here - to distinguish from the everpresent adobe and desert earth. Taos is famous for its turquoise painted window shutters and doors. Someday I'll have to take pics and share them.
This Friday Natalie Goldberg is doing a reading at SOMOS (Society of the Muse of the Southwest) - it will be fun to hear her read some of her work because in the memoir class she focused on other people's writing rather than her own.... and now back to my own writing....
I've noticed that my color choices are strikingly different than ones I've chosen before. Always a blue and white kitchen in New England - now it's orange and reds - most likely the Southwest influence - as many things are painted in vibrant colors here - to distinguish from the everpresent adobe and desert earth. Taos is famous for its turquoise painted window shutters and doors. Someday I'll have to take pics and share them.
This Friday Natalie Goldberg is doing a reading at SOMOS (Society of the Muse of the Southwest) - it will be fun to hear her read some of her work because in the memoir class she focused on other people's writing rather than her own.... and now back to my own writing....
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Pen Envy
I don't know what Freud might have to say about this title but I must confess that I was suffering from it this weekend, sitting around listening to other writer's writing and to the instructor, Sean Murphy, who has published four books and is a professor at UNM, Taos. It was easy to convince myself that my writing is weak, awful, sucks, etc. when compared to others. The ego flares up again... and resulted in writer's block - how not if everytime I think about writing I compare myself to others. So to get myself out of this slump I figured I could at least write my blog - nothing that I'll ever read in class and therefore presumably immune to feelings of insecurity.
To top it off yesterday I visited a new friend in El Rito who is the Head of the English Dept at UNM, Taos, and frequently does public readings of her short stories. She's unpublished at the moment, but her work is in the hands of an agent in NYC and she's waiting to hear. But I remind myself - that's why I moved to Taos in the first place - because there are alot of writers and writing groups. Nothing like being a small fish in a big pond.
I'm even procrastinating by recently diving into an over 1,000 page book by Wally Lamb, "I Know This Much is True". Great way to beat myself over the head because I can't even seem to write a page. Even during the "free writes" during class, with prompts, I was having a hard time getting started. I've heard this happens. Except it hasn't happened to me yet. I'm hoping that if I just start writing it will be like getting jump started and the engine/battery will kick in and start working on it's own. I hope I don't need a new battery.
My apartment is almost complete with decoration and furniture - thanks to thrift stores in Taos. I'm really tickled about an end table I found that has four legs made from tree trunks. It looks funky and in Taos funky is in. I also now have the poster from the Taos summer writer's conference, framed, hanging over my reading chair. And that should inspire me. And tomorrow is writer's group in the morning so I have to get something done on paper or else why pay the price of admission. Maybe I will read this in class after all.
To top it off yesterday I visited a new friend in El Rito who is the Head of the English Dept at UNM, Taos, and frequently does public readings of her short stories. She's unpublished at the moment, but her work is in the hands of an agent in NYC and she's waiting to hear. But I remind myself - that's why I moved to Taos in the first place - because there are alot of writers and writing groups. Nothing like being a small fish in a big pond.
I'm even procrastinating by recently diving into an over 1,000 page book by Wally Lamb, "I Know This Much is True". Great way to beat myself over the head because I can't even seem to write a page. Even during the "free writes" during class, with prompts, I was having a hard time getting started. I've heard this happens. Except it hasn't happened to me yet. I'm hoping that if I just start writing it will be like getting jump started and the engine/battery will kick in and start working on it's own. I hope I don't need a new battery.
My apartment is almost complete with decoration and furniture - thanks to thrift stores in Taos. I'm really tickled about an end table I found that has four legs made from tree trunks. It looks funky and in Taos funky is in. I also now have the poster from the Taos summer writer's conference, framed, hanging over my reading chair. And that should inspire me. And tomorrow is writer's group in the morning so I have to get something done on paper or else why pay the price of admission. Maybe I will read this in class after all.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Writers
I've had the privilege to listen to three great writers over the past couple of days. Last Friday pm I was a volunteer at SOMOS (Society of the Muse of the Southwest)and there were two readings: Jason Yurcic and Robert Mirabel. Jason is a poet from Albuquerque and has 3 books of poems published. He writes, "pain-based poetry" drawn from his traumatic childhood and travels to work with abused children, incarcerated criminials and those who have been disenfranchised. He invited a local youth to join him and had him read as well. He mentors youth in alternative high schools across New Mexico. Jason's readings were raw, real and moving. His first one was titled "Broken Ornament" about how his father was murdered on Christmas Eve.
Robert Mirabel is a native American that lives on the pueblo and is well known in Taos. He is a musican, artist and writer - a true Renaissance man. He read from his recent novel, "Looking Through Photographs". It definitely was a performance piece as Robert intoned, chanted, drummed, sang and spoke the words from his novel.
Last evening I attended a reading by the keynote speaker for the Taos Writer's Conference this year: Wally Lamb - author of "She's Come Undone", "This Much is True", "The Hour I first Believed" and others. He read a personal authobiographical piece and several chapters from his newest book, still unpublished, "Wishing and Hoping - A Christmas Story". He was friendly, funny and comfortably down to earth. He lives in Eastern Connecticut; in fact his second book, "This Much I Know is True" is set in Groton, CT, and the main character's stepfather works at EB (Electric Boat) where two of my brothers once worked.... small world.
I'm looking forward to next weekend I'm attending a workshop with local author, Sean Murphy, on "Overcoming the Barriers to your Authentic Voice" - sounds like it could be good for life as well as writing.
Robert Mirabel is a native American that lives on the pueblo and is well known in Taos. He is a musican, artist and writer - a true Renaissance man. He read from his recent novel, "Looking Through Photographs". It definitely was a performance piece as Robert intoned, chanted, drummed, sang and spoke the words from his novel.
Last evening I attended a reading by the keynote speaker for the Taos Writer's Conference this year: Wally Lamb - author of "She's Come Undone", "This Much is True", "The Hour I first Believed" and others. He read a personal authobiographical piece and several chapters from his newest book, still unpublished, "Wishing and Hoping - A Christmas Story". He was friendly, funny and comfortably down to earth. He lives in Eastern Connecticut; in fact his second book, "This Much I Know is True" is set in Groton, CT, and the main character's stepfather works at EB (Electric Boat) where two of my brothers once worked.... small world.
I'm looking forward to next weekend I'm attending a workshop with local author, Sean Murphy, on "Overcoming the Barriers to your Authentic Voice" - sounds like it could be good for life as well as writing.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Go West
Back home after three and 1/2 weeks. whew.... Of course too much traveling, renting cars, buses, food and people to see. But worth it - to reconnect with family and friends. I felt like the trip was reminiscent of the "Where's Waldo" puzzle of maps -first Long Island, NY then to Saratoga Springs, NY, bus to Boston, then to Cape Cod, on to NH, back to Cape Cod, back to NH, and then finally back to Logan for return trip. I don't want to count up the $$ spent on the trip - at least the first part for the writer's conference is tax deductible....
I wished for alot of rain during my visit East - and be careful what you ask for because it rained every day except for one! Then when I returned to Taos last week it was overcast for the first day but then it's been back to sunshine as usual.
Highlights of the trip was seeing people and yes I did get my feet in the ocean (except that's all - only one 2 hr afternoon at the beach), eat a lobster roll, fried clams and lots of homemade icecream. I have the extra pounds to prove it. For some reason New Mexico is not big on ice cream - only three choices in town - McDonalds(if you call that ice cream), Baskin-Robbins, and Taos Cow - which just doesn't measure up to the homemade creamy-ness of the cows on the East. Alas - at least not as much temptation.
Settling into the new apartment and getting used to a smaller space and less sunlight - the good news about that is that it doesn't get anywhere near as hot as the earthship did on really warm days.... there's always a flip side.
I wished for alot of rain during my visit East - and be careful what you ask for because it rained every day except for one! Then when I returned to Taos last week it was overcast for the first day but then it's been back to sunshine as usual.
Highlights of the trip was seeing people and yes I did get my feet in the ocean (except that's all - only one 2 hr afternoon at the beach), eat a lobster roll, fried clams and lots of homemade icecream. I have the extra pounds to prove it. For some reason New Mexico is not big on ice cream - only three choices in town - McDonalds(if you call that ice cream), Baskin-Robbins, and Taos Cow - which just doesn't measure up to the homemade creamy-ness of the cows on the East. Alas - at least not as much temptation.
Settling into the new apartment and getting used to a smaller space and less sunlight - the good news about that is that it doesn't get anywhere near as hot as the earthship did on really warm days.... there's always a flip side.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
New Address
I just found out today that the physical address I've been given for my new apartment is also my mailing address. Who knew? In El Prado you get both - which really gets you into alot of trouble with the Dept of Motor Vehicles. So, my new address is 305B Destino Lane, Taos, NM 87571. I moved in yesterday and spent my first night on a blow-up mattress but today the futon sofa was delivered so hopefully I will get a better night's sleep!
My birthday weekend in Colorado was great. I found out after breakfast on Saturday that Jenn and Erin had treated me to a massage for my birthday so that was the first stop. Afterwards we went to the hot springs in Pagosa Springs, CO, for an afternoon of soaking (twice in one week - what a treat)followed by dinner at Kip's Grill and Cantini, complete with margueritas! On Sunday we picked up Jenn's mountain bike and a bureau to load in the car for my return to NM and I said my goodbyes to her and her cat, Gunther, who I have been taking care of for the past six months. I've become attached to the little critter - it was hard to say goodbye. But I'll see him and Jenn again soon in NH the 3rd week in June.
My birthday started out with not such a good bang with a trip to the DMV for my 3rd try to get a driver's license in NM. With time running out on getting my car registered, I thought I'd give it another go. The DMV office is staffed with the most unagreeable, cold and downright b..... women I've ever seen congregate in one place. I've decided it's my new definition of purgatory. The rules are obscure, they keep changing and just when you think you have it down it changes again. The information I was given on my 2nd visit did not prove accurate for this attempt - the staff person had told me that I could use a statement from my bank with my social security number on it as proof of my identity (never mind that I showed them my official birth certificate, NH driver's license, and passport) - because unfortunately I've misplaced my social security card during the purging I did to get ready to drive cross country last June. So after vainly trying to reason/negotiate/beg with the clerk, I gave up and drove the 1 1/2 hrs to Santa Fe to go to the Social Security Admin office there, to sit in another long line to apply for a duplicate card. They said that I will have my new card within two weeks - which with my upcoming trip out East will make me overdue for my car registration. Oh well, I'm sure it will all work out. The SSA did give me a statment with my social security card number on it and said that that should be sufficient for the DMV. We'll see....
My birthday weekend in Colorado was great. I found out after breakfast on Saturday that Jenn and Erin had treated me to a massage for my birthday so that was the first stop. Afterwards we went to the hot springs in Pagosa Springs, CO, for an afternoon of soaking (twice in one week - what a treat)followed by dinner at Kip's Grill and Cantini, complete with margueritas! On Sunday we picked up Jenn's mountain bike and a bureau to load in the car for my return to NM and I said my goodbyes to her and her cat, Gunther, who I have been taking care of for the past six months. I've become attached to the little critter - it was hard to say goodbye. But I'll see him and Jenn again soon in NH the 3rd week in June.
My birthday started out with not such a good bang with a trip to the DMV for my 3rd try to get a driver's license in NM. With time running out on getting my car registered, I thought I'd give it another go. The DMV office is staffed with the most unagreeable, cold and downright b..... women I've ever seen congregate in one place. I've decided it's my new definition of purgatory. The rules are obscure, they keep changing and just when you think you have it down it changes again. The information I was given on my 2nd visit did not prove accurate for this attempt - the staff person had told me that I could use a statement from my bank with my social security number on it as proof of my identity (never mind that I showed them my official birth certificate, NH driver's license, and passport) - because unfortunately I've misplaced my social security card during the purging I did to get ready to drive cross country last June. So after vainly trying to reason/negotiate/beg with the clerk, I gave up and drove the 1 1/2 hrs to Santa Fe to go to the Social Security Admin office there, to sit in another long line to apply for a duplicate card. They said that I will have my new card within two weeks - which with my upcoming trip out East will make me overdue for my car registration. Oh well, I'm sure it will all work out. The SSA did give me a statment with my social security card number on it and said that that should be sufficient for the DMV. We'll see....
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