Miss
I wanted to be sure all of you saw this, though if you've visited
Maud today, you probably already have. It made me very much miss Marilynne and her Marilynnisms. On the intellectual level of much of today's literature: "If a grocery store were stocked on the same principle, it would carry only Fruit Loops."
Marilynne at the U of Louisville Incidentally, I hear that a number of former workshoppers are convening on IC this week. It might be a good time for those of you who were thinking about a visit to finally take one. And then take pictures and then post them on the blog with some pithy remarks and some boozy reminiscences and gossip and the like.
What is Alaska Like?
That's the title of Anna's story in the new issue of
ONE STORY In addition to being great, the story also happens to be HOT.
Here's more info: The magazine publishes, as its name suggests, one story each issue, so you can't find it in bookstores. But you can order a free sample or two on-line. This issue is #73...
Nice Job Anna!
Things Learned of Late
1. In planting my own Porch Garden (known in some parts as a Container Garden) I have learned that tomato plants should be buried very deeply in the soil. The instructions on my Big Boy Tomatoes (not pictured) recommended that I bury 80% of the plant. That sounded ridiculous to me. I decided to bury about 50% of one plant and 20% of another and study their progress with much scrutiny. I have also planted Snap Dragons (pictured), Rosemary (pictured), Lavender (pictured), and Basil (already dead). Advice is welcomed.
2. One of the many conversations I don't enjoy having very much now is the one about the James Frey scandal. This week I heard about the Navajo writer Nasdijj, who published three books about Native American life, but is actually a white person named Timothy Barrus, fervent dog owner and former erotica-novelist. I am now wondering if this will take the literary foibles debate elsewhere. Or if this is old news that just took a long time to get to Ohio.
3. The good word is that many of you have published stories of late. You do not want me to post the news on the blog, because you are shy. I say now, publicly, Good Job!
4. I learned this week that because the Cincinnati Reds are under new management, they now have cheerleaders. Everyone keeps saying, "Cheerleaders in baseball?!? I don't know about that!" And then that's the end of the conversation.
Reds Cheerleaders Jumping In The Air
Storm06 013
A lot of you guys will remember this place from Iowa Ave. Manester lived there, James Renfro upstairs. I jimmed open one of those windows above the front porch when James was locked out.
By all reports, folks are ok. I made a bunch of phone calls - the only word I heard was Luke Sykora's roof was torn off. I'm making inquires and also starting a "computer replacement" fund that I'm going to contact Connie about. Electronics don't typically fare well in a wind/water environment. I'll keep people posted.
Type "iowa city" into the tags field on Flickr and you'll get a massive download of some very compelling photography from the front.
Glad people are safe.
The Path
Lee Klein sent me this brief description of the path the tornado took:
"The tornado headed up Burlington from the Dairy Queen on Riverside (which is wrecked) then across College Green over to Iowa Ave (tearing the roof from that sorority and screwing Shira the poet's place, too), then it took down all the trees in front of that creekside apartment on jefferson where Michelle Falkoff lives, then heading up Rochester and out of town . . .Two blocks from Thisbe's."
I read this morning that there were no major injuries, and hope this is still holding true.
Photos of Iowa City
I'm having a hard time making this into a link, but please Check out Lee Klein's pictures on Eyeshot.net
at http://eyeshot.net
The outside of the Mill is kind of heartbreaking to see. I hope everyone we know in IC and their cars are alright.
How Terrifying
How very many times I felt certain that that siren sounding in Iowa City meant something other than lunch for the factory workers, but was not sure. And now to see on the news one of the last places I visited before leaving town with its roof blown off. Are all of you in IC okay? Do you need anything? What can we do?
Nawlins Libraries Update
If you are interested in donating to NOPL, check out the following URL with tips and FAQ:
http://nutrias.org/~nopl/foundation/donationsfaq.htm
Belated Report of An Outing.. and Nawlins Libraries
A little over a week ago I went to Boston. Normally this would not be blog-worthy, but I went to Boston and to its JFK Library to see the estimable yl receive the PEN/Hemingway award! I also ran into KAB of Babies, as well as DAlarcon, who was a finalist for PEN/Hemingway.
It was SO nice to see other writers! I have realized (anew) that other writers, and cities, are things that I like. Congrats once again to yl and DAlarcon. (The other finalist, Doug Trevor, is a prof in UI's English Dept.)
---
I also received the following e-mail. Now, I know that we all collect books, generally, but perhaps there are some you need to get rid of? A good cause, etc. etc.
>> Subject: Please help restock New Orleans libraries by culling from
>> your own
>>
>>
>> The New Orleans Public Library is asking for any and all hardcover
>> and
>> paperback books for people of all ages in an effort to restock the
>> shelves
>> after Katrina.
>>
>> The staff will assess which titles will be designated for its
>> collections.
>>
>> The rest will be distributed to destitute families or sold for
>> library
>> fundraising.
>>
>> If you tell the post office that books are for the library in New
>> Orleans,
>> you will be given a library rate which is less than the book rate.
>>
>> Keep a record of the books sent, value and cost of shipping.
>> This information can be used for tax purposes.
>>
>> Rica A. Trigs, Public Relations
>> New Orleans Public Library
>> 219 Loyola Avenue
>> New Orleans, LA 70112
>>
>> The information was supplied by the Westchester Women's Bar
>> Association and
>> asked to be distributed.
>>
>> Feel free to forward this e-mail to anyone whom you think would be
>> interested.
