cool happenings & what I've been reading/watching/doing...

It's been a pretty good week, so far.

a. ECTOPLASMIC NECROPOLIS is now available from the very fab Blood Pudding Press! You'll find it here.

b. Lots of good stuff coming in for blossombones! The final lineup will be posted soon, once we're done reading submissions...

c. I got to spend a lovely, quiet Saturday afternoon watching Once...which was really terrific! (Thanks, Melly!)

d. I just finished Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye...Loved it. My favorite line: "I belonged...like a cocktail onion on a banana split."

Seriously. I just wanted to underline all the cool, stylish prose. I love that noir-ish stuff!

e. I am back on the yoga/pilates wagon, so to speak. Although I'm putting together an early morning workout on my own (sans pricey classes). I've got student loans to pay, yo.

I find it weird that the guy on my yoga DVD says things like: "Let the inner corners of your eyes relax backwards."

Say what?!?!

f. May is just around the corner! I suspect warm days ahead :)

I couldn't let the day pass by without this:



Happy 18th, Z.

***

I wanted to do something extra-embarrassing, like post a baby picture, too. Alas, my scanner is acting wonky. I suspect sabotage.

***

Speaking of parenting stuff (sort-of) this freaks me out!

Does anyone else find the messages in this "children's book" a bit disturbing? And the barbie-doll mom? Good Goddess!

The messages about the mommy being "prettier" after plastic surgery (in terms of specific body parts, no less--like her nose or belly button) are extra-creepy. Plastic surgery is a billion dollar industry folks...and it looks as if this particular book is intended to plant the seeds of insecurity and want in the heads of young girls. Apparently, women are supposed to be beautiful. Being a mommy makes you less so, and thus your body is in need of repair. A thinner tummy, a better nose, bigger breasts...you get the idea.

It also suggests that "prettiness" is a prerequisite to happiness.

So-called "prettiness" is clearly defined as a certain--and very specific--type of body and face. A thinly veiled attempt at marketing this sh*t to younger and younger customers? I think so.

This book ranks right up there in the world of evil marketing next to Joe the Camel cigarette ads.

Seriously.

I am feeling rather productive today...

Birthday cake for Z. is on order, as are various surprises. He will be *18* next week. Where does the time go?!?

Floors are clean, laundry is rolling about in the machine. Harley is all scheduled for a trip to the groomer. Restaurant reservations? Done. Eye doctor appointment? Done. Paperwork for sub certificate? On hold till July/August. Probably.

Taxes are done, too. (As well they should be...Today is tax day, after all. Of course, that's mostly Mike. I don't like doing taxes. Ugh.)

**

Very little writing going on, though. I feel kind of unfocused after a mad ten straight days of writing. I've got web site stuff to do, too. Ack.

***

I do have a new poem online at the very sexy electronic zine, Yellow Mama. You'll find it here.

Also, check out the wickedly clever zine Grievous Jones. Writing the Id? Art for art's sake? Hell, yes.

April is not the cruelest month, but rather a nice one. This blue lobster looks pretty cool, eh? He's hanging out on my blog to celebrate my three poems in the Spring 2008 issue of Arsenic Lobster! Check 'em out, if you please!

A few more April bits are forthcoming, including two poems in [ECTOPLASMIC NECROPOLIS]...a delicious multi-writer project from Blood Pudding Press! Check out the lineup:

Aimee DeLong, Shane Allison, Eddie Watkins, Nava Fader, Rebecca Loudon, Candace Turlington, Brian Foley, Misti Rainwater-Lites, Ken Pobo, Suzanne Grazyna, Andrew Lundwall, Adam Fieled, J.R. Pearson, John Moore Williams, murmurists, Rachel Lisi, Brooklyn Copeland, Susan Slaviero, AnnMarie Eldon, Melissa Severin, John Rocco, Nicole Cartwright Denison, Donora Hillard, Jayne Pupek, Sean Kilpatrick, Sharon Zetter, Jeff Roberts, Daniela Olszewska, Juliet Cook, and Rachel Kendall.

A very cool collection of writers...I'm rather awed to be in such fine company!

***

This writing one poem a day biz is tiring. Admittedly, some of them really suck rocks...however, I figure I can revise a sucky poem, whereas a blank page is rather useless.

I am also taking a brief respite from sending out submissions to focus on writing. And reading subs for blossombones...I'm trying to make some decisions, which is always difficult, when people send such fine poesy!

We are still taking subs, through May 1st!

More bad B.E.C. news--

Big Evil Corporation, that is.

This business with Amazon is really upsetting.

If that's how they do business, I will have to order all my stuff from Barnes & Noble, from now on.