Karen Head: Poetic Acts in a Digital World

Blogging: My Bad

2011-08-13T17:09:00.002-04:00

In an expected turn of events, our beloved Carolyn Wierson needed to leave the program early. Consequently, I've been helping Carole with the program. I've also been enjoying the last of my extended holiday, running to and fro. I've given a poetry reading, attended a garden party, and been a guest on the radio show, The London Literature Lounge. All this and we've been being extra cautious because of the riots. Blogging, I fear, hasn't been something I've had time for.

I promise a full accounting in about a week's time. Photos included. Besides, I'm pretty sure that I'm Facebook Friends with everyone who reads this, so you should have gained some information from there.

We leave for the U.S. tomorrow. It has been a glorious 3.5 fortnights, but it is time to come home. Colin and I feel so fortunate to have our Oxford (and London and Paris and Whitby and Cardiff and Gloucester) friends. Much love to all of you. And, for our friends and family back in Atlanta, we have missed you.

I'm very excited about beginning my new job on Tuesday, but not before one final hurrah with my CETL colleagues.

Love to you all.

“O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
That has such people in’t!”

Paris, Paris, Paris.

2011-08-02T15:47:00.025-04:00

Last week was a bit of whirl.

Tuesday we had formal hall, where the faculty and students get dressed up and process in Worcester's ornate dining hall for a very formal meal with the faculty all at high table. This year I was honored and saddened to be asked to give a final toast to Dr. Carolyn Wierson, who has been the program administrative coordinator for 15 years. Carolyn, in addition to being an human institution, is simply one of the loveliest people in the world. Apparently, I made absolutely everyone cry, but I think that was fitting.

On Wednesday morning, Nancy Barke and I met at the coach station at 5:30. After arriving in London, we hopped on the Eurostar to Paris, arriving midday. It was a little rainy, but that didn't prevent us from visiting the famous kitchenware store, E. Dehillerin.

Having been up so long, we decided on an early dinner at a cafe just off la place de la Contrescarpe (where Hemingway lived) and then back to the hotel.

On Thursday, Nancy and I (much refreshed after a good rest) headed out toward the 7ème to a wonderful consignment store. Alas, the owners had already begun the annual French summer holiday--not to return until the beginning of September. So across the river we went to the 8ème. We had a wonderful, and very un-touristy experience at Place de la Madeleine, where we became card carrying members (carte d'adhésion) of the Association du Foyer de la Madeleine in the vaults under Eglise de la Madeleine. Essentially, this is a huge church cafeteria, but with table service (by volunteers) and a cheese course, it was pretty amazing. It is also the BEST lunch deal in Paris. Once you join (€ 5), a three course lunch is only € 7.50!

After lunch we walked over to the Maille shop--excellent purveyors of dozens of kinds of mustard. Then we visited a couple of other little shops like Chanel and Hermès. I'm all ready to begin my new Assistant Professor & Director of the Communication Center now that I have a fabulous new orange scarf. Nancy remembered a shop in the Palais de Congres, so we hopped on the Metro and headed to Porte Maillot. In late afternoon, the rain threatened again, so we ducked into Mariage Frères for afternoon tea.

Doesn't this look YUMMY?

Proust was right about the power of food! We had another good meal for dinner near Saint-Sulpice. After dropping off some bags at the hotel, we went to Gare du Nord to surprise Richard and Colin, who were on the last Eurostar of the day.

On Friday, we revisited Hermès (because Nancy had decided to get a scarf). The guys also joined Association du Foyer de la Madeleine, and we had another great lunch. Then we went to the Musée Marmottan Monet--my favorite Paris museum. Since we were so near to the Bois de Boulogne, we walked over and had a nice rest on beside the river (photo is at the beginning of this post). For dinner we visited one of my favorite restaurants (thank you to Grace Bauer for taking me there first): Aux Charpentiers. We took a long walk (despite the entire day of walking) back to the hotel.

On Saturday we were real tourists. We began by visiting the Grand Mosque. Then we went to the Panthéon.

(photos: Colin, Richard, & Nancy at the Panthéon; Richard at the Palais de Justice (where Saint Chapelle is); Rodin's Gates; Napoleon's Tomb)

Then to the Musée National du Moyen-Age (aka the Cluny. Then to Saint Chapelle.

Then to the Musée Rodin.

Then to Les Invalides to see Napoleon's tomb, which is absolutely cartoonish and vulgar!

We were going to one of Paris's oldest restaurants--alas, it was closed for August holiday. Instead we opted for a nearby Indian restaurant that was very good. A bit of excellent gelato topped off a very LONG day.

On Sunday, we were pretty tired. We met friends John Krige and Lydia Mepham for breakfast. After a nice visit, we decided to take a boat ride up the Seine.

The weather was just beautiful--although we all got a tiny bit sunburned. Nancy and Richard had to return to England, so we walked them to the station. We spent the afternoon drinking wine at a cafe. We were planned to have dinner at the restaurant where Colin proposed, but again the French summer holiday thwarted us. We found a suitable place, where at least my desire for crème caramel was satisfied.

Monday in the wee hours, we stumbled to the Eurostar and were back in Oxford by noon.

University of London & Birthday Weekend

2011-07-25T06:53:00.010-04:00

On Friday, Colin and I took the train to London. I had a nice mid-morning tea while he browsed at the Chess Shop. Near lunch, we navigated over to Bloomsbury to meet friend Philip at the University of London. Philip works in Senate House--a very historic art deco building. During WWII, the building was used by the Ministry of Information, which was the inspiration for Orwell's Ministry of Truth in 1984. The Grand Hall and the Senate chambers are absolutely beautiful. There are a number of fantastic portraits throughout, including one of a young Queen Victoria. The robes of the former Chancellor, the Queen Mother, are on display, and I must say she was a very tiny woman. The current Chancellor is the Princess Royal. Philip took us to the refectory for lunch: fish and chips. It was graduation day at SOAS, so there was lots of excitement all around campus.

After we said goodbye to Philip, we went to see the auto icon of Jeremy Bentham. A little freaky, I must say. After a pint at the pub named for Bentham, we went to the college bookstore (once Dillons, now a Waterstone). They were having a sale on secondhand books--some good finds there.

At 5:30 we met up with Agnes Meadows at the British Museum to see the special exhibit, Treasures of Heaven. Even if you aren't a religious person, the relics here were incredibly beautiful and interesting. As a bonus, the exhibition space is in the old reading room at the center of the museum's main hall. It was an extra treat to see that!

We went with Agnes to Islington to eat at her local favorite restaurant, Little Bay, then caught a late train back to Oxford.

On Saturday, we slept late, then we went up to Headington to comb through the charity shops. I found four nice scarves--like I need more!

In the evening we went for Indian food at Chutney's and then over to Wadham College Gardens to see a performance of Comedy of Errors. The company did a good job, intermingling show tunes adapted to the play. One of the actors played a number of the female roles, and was so funny! After the play we had to take the long way home because a young woman decided to scale some scaffolding near Turl Street, so the police blocked everything while they tried to talk her down from her climb.

Sunday, my birthday, the universe decided to grant me a gift: a perfect day! The weather simply doesn't get better than it was yesterday. Colin and I went for breakfast at Maison Blanc, then for a long walk through the large park near Keble College. We went for a late lunch at the Rickety Press--OMG the tomato and fig chutney!

At 7:15 we met up with Richard and Nancy Barke to walk up to Wolvercote to have dinner at The Trout. The food was okay, but I think the establishment is suffering under its fame. I will give high marks, however, to the Sticky Toffee Pudding! It was so late when we finished we decided to take a cab rather than attempt to negotiate Port Meadow in the dark.

Thanks to everyone who sent cards. emails, and Facebook wishes!

The Mother Week

2011-07-21T08:11:00.016-04:00

Sorry for the delay, but I was preoccupied with mothers for a week. My mom arrived a week ago, and I spent all my free time with her.

Last Wednesday, Colin took my mom to the annual party at Carole Moore's house while I tripped off "big girl style" by myself to read at the Poetry Cafe's Loose Muse series. Agnes Meadows and the other women are so lovely. I was reading with Katrina Naomi, who work is just fantastic! Colin's friend Philip was kind enough to come out and bring a friend, so we did have some men folk there as well.

On Thursday, we ambled around the market, where my mom got a steal on a Burberry raincoat. The local vintage clothing man has now outfitted three of us! Near lunch, we picked up our hired car and drove to Whitby to introduce the mothers. It was late when we arrived, so most of the days was dedicated to travel. Mom checked into the Sandbeck Inn; her room looking directly out over Crescent Gardens onto the North Sea. (here's the view) We would highly recommend the Sandbeck if you want to visit Whitby.

On Friday (our one rain-free day), we walked all over Whitby. For lunch we had fish & chips at our favorite chippy, Mr. Chips. The mothers became fast friends, and spent some rest time together in the afternoon while Colin and I walked a bit more. For dinner, we went to the Vinyard [sic] Restaurant for, of all things, tapas!

On Saturday the weather was pretty dreadful. Colin went to visit Jill, the local barber, for his annual English summer #1 cut. He looked dapper. The moms stayed indoors for the morning, while we went to all the charity shops. We were near the station when the steam train from Pickering arrived. Colin's mom, Rose, took us all for afternoon tea at the famous bakery, Botham's. YUM! The weather improved long enough for all of us to take a walk along the sea wall. For dinner we went to our favorite Indian restaurant, Passage to India. My mom was a really good sport, being she really doesn't care for Indian food. After dinner the rain stopped, so we took a walk to the end of the pier under a huge full moon.

On Sunday morning, we walked the 199 steps to St. Mary's to take advantage of an invitation to see the bell ringers. The church dates to 1110, and, I learned, the bells are some of the finest calibrated bells in the world. I also learned that the bells hang down when still, but when you are ringer you must first get them in place--meaning that the point up when being rung. During a short change between the hour-long ringing, Bob, the lead ringer, asked me if I wanted to have a go. I couldn't believe it, but did, of course, jump at the chance. Colin had a go, too.
Really, it was one of the coolest things I've ever done! There are a bunch of bats that guard the bells when they are not in use.

Midday Sunday, Colin's cousin, Dave, took us all for Sunday Carvery in the country at the Black Bull in Ugthorpe. The food was very good, but we were all stuffed upon return. A few folks came by in late afternoon to say hello, and then in the evening Colin and I went with his Uncle Vic for a drink at the Rifle Club. It was quiz night, so we played unofficially. We should have done it officially because we could have made a bit of money.

Monday morning we were up at 4:00 am, which seems later because it so light. We drove back to Oxford, and got in just in time for Colin to teach his classes. Mom and I turned in early since we had to go to Heathrow early Tuesday.

Wednesday I was exhausted. We couldn't get into hall for dinner, so we went to Bottega for the wine tasting with another of the faculty members, Blake. We stopped in for a visit with Dennis, the owner of Albion Beatnik Bookstore--and left with less of our money, but a few good books.

Today, I went to Friends Meeting, and have been busy with work. Tomorrow Colin and I are off to tour some facilities at the University of London, then to an exhibit at the British Museum & dinner with Agnes.

That was a long report!

BTW...there is still time to mail those much loved REAL birthday cards to me! :-)

Heathrow and Hedgerows

2011-07-13T08:31:00.009-04:00

Yesterday I spent most of the morning "retrieving the mother" from Heathrow. Actually, I was quite lucky with the coaches, etc. I left Oxford on the 9:00 am coach, arrived at Terminal 5, caught the bus to Terminal 4, waited for my mom, caught another bus back to Terminal 5, and then another coach to Oxford. Yet, somehow, I was back in Oxford at 12:30 pm. Maybe some of that Harry Potter magic was in the air.

In the afternoon, I finally met Dan Holloway, who was one of the judges for the Oxford International Women's Festival Poetry Prize. We had a nice visit over tea at the Albion Beatnik Bookshop in Jericho. It looks like I will be reading there in early August. Dan gave me a copy of the Festival Anthology and a copy of his novel, Songs from the Other Side of the Wall (available, as are his other novels, from Amazon on Kindle). It is so interesting to finally meet people you've only know online.

In the evening, we had dinner in hall, where Colin was having at time trying to get more tea. The new ADA entrance banister does made it hard. After dinner, we took my mom for a walk around the Jericho end of town. Richard Barke joined us, which made for a nice group.

Mom was pretty tired, so we were all snug in the cottage by 9:00.

This morning, mom and I went for the long walk by the Thames and across the locks up to Iffley. Mom refused to smile for the photo, saying she doesn't take good photos anymore. We visited the church there, which dates to 1170 and is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in the country.

We had lunch with Colin at the Pieminister in the covered market. Mom can now check the "pie" box.

In about an hour, I'm off to London for dinner with Agnes Meadows and my reading at the Poetry Cafe, home of red wheelbarrow and plum protests! I'll update you about that tomorrow. Meanwhile, Colin and Mom are going to Carole Moore's annual July 4th (this year more of a Bastille Day) Party. I'll have to rely on Colin for photos.

Week One: A Bit of This and That

2011-07-11T08:48:00.017-04:00

Well, the first week certainly slipped away before I noticed! Of course, it has been a week of settling into things, so I suppose that is part of it. I didn't post anything, because there wasn't loads to report. I didn't want to bore you to death.

I probably spent more time at the new TESCO last week than anywhere else. Every time I thought I had everything we needed, I realized there was something missing--even with breakfast and dinner provided for the first week!

I've spent the week reading recent scholarship on Writing Centers, a bit of preparation for my new job. I've also managed a bit of "light" reading, finishing yet another of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. Guilty pleasure these books.

On Wednesday, I was "office staff" working for Carolyn Wierson, our program administrator, handing out meal tickets and looking after the office in the afternoon. It actually felt WONDERFUL to be needed and to DO something.

On Thursday, I went shoe shopping (with a little help from Coleen at Worcester), hoping to find something for the "smart casual" requirement of the annual Provost's Dinner Party. I've concluded that there are two types of shoes available in England for women, practical and OMG heels. I opted for the plain sandals I brought with me. The dinner was lovely. We gave the Provost a digital photo frame. I'd been working on the photos for several weeks--some go back a decade. Since I've taken about 3000 photos in the last three visits, I had lots to pick from in my own library.
The Provost really seemed to love the gift. Dinner included a sea bass starter, guinea fowl, and individual summer berry trifles--each course with a matching wine (this after the champagne welcome). That's Carolyn and Paula with me after dinner. Here is a photo of the dinner party group. All the current faculty were there, but only some of the spouses. Coleen filled in for the Provost's wife, Sue, who was at an important academic conference.

On Friday, the weather was a bit dicey, with rain on again, off again. Colin and I stayed in Oxford. We spent a couple of hours in the afternoon at the newest pub in Jericho (the Little Five Points of Oxford). The Rickety Press is absolutely marvelous, even serving my favorite cider, Stowford Press, on tap. They had loads of newpapers, so we read each one--mostly focusing on the News of the World Scandal. The closing of that paper is HUGE here.

On Saturday, Danny, Colin's friend from grade school and best man at our wedding, came to Oxford for the day. He is an expert
on Ley Lines and Stone Circles and other pagan sites, so he drove us out to see the Rollright Stones, which is the 3rd most significant stone circle in England (Stonehenge and Avebury being the first two). The three of us went for a great Indian dinner, and then we were back at the Rickey Press for the duration, as it were. I managed to convince the boys they really didn't want to hit the kebab truck on the way home. :-) Oxford was still buzzing after midnight because the annual Midnight Walk was on Saturday. It was interesting to see so many people on the streets.

On Sunday, we went for breakfast (not an easy task on Sunday) to Vaults and Gardens. Very nice. Danny left us midday. After dinner in hall, we headed to Exeter for a candlelight concert by our favorite Baroque ensemble, Charivari Agréable.

This morning, I helped Carolyn in the office for about an hour. Now I'm posting this, before I go to the Junior Common Room to offer some tutoring for our students who have communication-based assignments. One of our faculty, Vitali, is celebrating his birthday tonight with a small party given by his wife, Paula. For those of you who know, the cake came from the baker in the Covered Market. Tomorrow my mom arrives from the U.S.

So, you are all caught up, and I promise more regular updates (assuming I have things to report).

Internet & the 15 C. Cottage

2011-07-05T04:11:00.035-04:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, but it we've only just got the internet sorted here. It seems the ethernet in our cottage is linked to a radio transmitter, which had gone a bit quirky.

We arrived in London last Wednesday. Because we took the very late flight (10:55 pm) from Atlanta, it was possible to sleep a bit on the plane. For the next three nights, we took up residence in the Hilton Kensington, which is really at the edge of Holland Park and Shepherds Bush. All the Hiltons seem to upgrade the name to the next most posh neighbourhood. Luckily we weren't in the Hilton Park Lane because there was a pretty serious fire evacuation there on Friday night.

Wednesday afternoon we ran some errands, and went to dinner at the Nepalese Tandoori Restaurant on Uxbridge Road--a lucky find that was fantastic! We took the scenic walk back to the hotel, stopping to see Colin's old flat and the BBC complex in White City.

Thursday morning we popped back over to the Westfield Mall to get a sim for my iPad. It is unbelievable how much easier "mobile" things are here, and cheaper! Thursday was a bit crazy in England, as their was a strike and protest parades. I have never seen so many police. Overall, the protest was peaceful, so it was just a bit of excitement. In the late afternoon, we meet Colin's childhood school friend, Philip. They hadn't seen each other in 40 years. He offered us free tickets to the National Theatre's production of The Cherry Orchard, but we just didn't think our jet lag could take three hours of that. Instead we opted to head to Vauxhall for the London Pride Pooch Dog Show. This was a fundraiser for Battersea Dog and Cat Home. Atlanta Pride should do this!

The winning dog (pictured here with his two dads) got to ride on a float in last weekend's London Pride Parade.

In addition to a fun crowd, Colin was excited to see a famous chess player, William Hartston, who works as a reporter for the Daily Express (photo of them talking).

On our way back to the hotel, we were practically run over in the station by a line judge from Wimbledon who was changing trains. Those blazers are even LOUDER in person.

Friday morning we got up earlier for breakfast before heading to Liverpool Street Station to catch a train to Rayleigh in Essex, passing the construction for the new Olympic Stadium and Flame Tower on the way.

We had a nice visit with Colin's stepmum, Pauline. We were back in London in time to see much of the Murray v. Nadal semi-final; we watched from comfy beach chairs set up in a public square. Then we walked to South Bank to meet up with Agnes Meadows for drinks at the Royal Festival Hall. It is so wonderful to see a city alive. I wish Atlanta could be this way. We had a wonderful dinner at Canteen, which has terrific pies. On the way there, I almost walked into Mike Myers on the Millenium Bridge. Funny how no one was bothering him or his group. After dinner we walked across to Charing Cross Station, and then made our way back to the hotel. We got there just after midnight, and felt proper adults for staying out late.

Saturday morning we packed up and took the coach to Oxford, where we quickly unpacked and settled in at #1 Worcester St, a 15 C. cottage. This is the third time I've stayed here, and I really love it. Mostly I've spent the last couple of days setting up house, with several runs to the new Tesco that took over where the Borders use to be. I have been reading a bit--just finished Monica Ali's Untold Story, which is very good. I've also been working on a present for the Provost here at Worcester. He is retiring and this is a gift from the GT Oxford Program. I'll say more about it later, so as not to spoil the surprise.

Well, that should have you caught up on life here. I'm off to do a bit of work now.

Tis the Season: Leaving on a Jet Plane

2011-06-28T17:30:00.002-04:00

Okay all you intrepid summer followers, it is that time of year again. Starting this week (as soon as I have a good internet connection), I'll be posting my escapades in Oxford and wherever my wanderings take me. We arrive in London tomorrow, and will probably head to Khan's for an excellent Indian meal.

On Friday, we are off to Rayleigh in deep Essex to visit Colin's stepmum, Pauline. Then we are back to London to meet the lovely and delightful Agnes Meadows for drinks at the Royal Festival Hall, where we will probably bump into someone ever so famous. :-) Agnes has promised dinner at a canteen that makes amazing pies. I'll report afterwards.

We will arrive in Oxford on Saturday, so reports should come regularly after that.

For now, it is time to turn over the house and cats to our wonderful house/cat sitter, Rebecca. Here's hoping we have no problems with Emma's health this year!

Cheers!
k.

What's Good: Isabella's Café

2010-10-05T15:10:00.013-04:00

Isabella's Neighborhood Café: Global Flavors opened a few months ago in the Decatur/Oakhurst/Kirkwood area along College Avenue.

I've visited Isabella's twice, a note that they must have done things well the first time. The decor is open, albeit a little dark, and an easy place to have dinner AND conversation. The space is as friendly for someone dining alone as it is for a large group. The cafe is also family-friendly.

The menu is what I would call "Northern African meets Southern." There are some lovely curry dishes along with some surprises like Sweet Potato Tater Tots. The tots themselves are worth the trip!

On the first evening, I was there with my regular dining partner (a.k.a. the hubbie). He had the special, a wonderful plate of beef medallions with chunky smashed potatoes. I had the Grilled Vegetable Panini, which was a little messy but tasted great.

On the second evening, we added two friends to the mix. We began by splitting an order of the Sweet Potato Tater Tots. Have I mentioned how yummy those are?

The men folk (Colin and Mickey) had the Turkey Meatloaf served with Pepper-Jack Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese. I sampled it, and wished I'd made the same selection. The mac & cheese is some of the best I've had, and the turkey meatloaf wasn't mushy the way it sometimes can be. Next time I'm having this.

Friend, Jessica, had the Grilled Veggie Salad (Zucchini, Red Onion, Tomatoes, & Bell Peppers) served over Salad Greens with an add-on bit of chicken. I sneaked a taste of a couple of the veggies, and this was another good choice.

I opted for the Spicy Asian Orange Beef served over Basmati Rice, but was a bit disappointed. The "spicy" was just that, without much additional flavor. I really love spicy food, but the spice has to be there for a reason other than being hot.

The portions are generous, so none of us had dessert, but several of the choices were being eaten by other diners who were quick to comment out loud about how good they were.

The beer and wine list is good, but on both visits the cafe was still waiting for their shipment of Tusker Premium Lager from Kenya. We were assured that it would be available very soon.

The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The prices are reasonable.

910 West College Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030

Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue - Sat: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sun: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Cafe Website

Back to Work & Blogging

2010-09-16T15:57:00.005-04:00

Since my arrival back to the U.S., things have been beyond hectic. Besides the usual ramp up for and beginning of the new school year, which includes loads of "once-a-year" events, it seems I managed to bring home a very special "gift" from England: Lyme Disease! What little bit of down-time I've had has been used for resting.

One event I gladly made time for, although not as much as I'd liked, was the annual Decatur Book Festival. I was on a panel about social media with Collin Kelley, Jessica Handler, Jef Blocker, and Laurel Snyder. We had a great crowd, and it was loads of fun. I also did my annual hostess for two hours at the Java Monkey Poetry Stage. We have so many wonderfully talented writers in and around Atlanta.

If you really love book festivals, be sure to make plans now for the upcoming Atlanta Queer Literary Festival. Check our their website for details.

Also, there will be a free reading at the Georgia Tech Library featuring Jessica Handler and Andy Frazee on September 30th from 2-4.

Finally after a month, things are calming. You can look forward to some new restaurant reviews soon--part of the "What's Good" section of Atlanta InTown.

P.S. If you aren't following me on Twitter, @poetphd, please consider it. I'm nearing 500 followers, and whoever is #500 gets signed copies of all three of my books!

The Teary/Bleary Eyed Last Oxford Posting

2010-08-08T12:25:00.011-04:00

Well, here we are at the end of another Oxford summer.

First, I will recap the week since my last posting. On Wednesday, we had a small reception to thank the staff at Worcester. Honestly, you could not find a better bunch of people anywhere. Pictures above me with Colin (another one!) and Lauren (bar manager and mistress), me with Peter (head of porters), and a couple of group shots.

Thursday morning, I was off to Quaker Meeting to say goodbye to the lovely folks there. It is such a luxury to be able to take that five-minute walk on Tuesdays and Thursdays and really feel like I'm beginning the day in the best possible way. On Thursday evening, while the students were off beating UGA's Oxford students in the annual soccer game (that makes the overall record 11-1 in GT's favor, I believe), the faculty got all dressed up and headed to the Provost's private lodgings for dinner. I know I rave about food with some regularity, but I cannot stress strongly enough that this was one of the best meals (maybe even the best meal) I have ever had. Any the company was pretty amazing too! The Provost gave Colin and me a Worcester Teapot as a wedding gift--now we just have to hope we can get it home without breaking it.

Friday daytime was mostly dedicated to grading. In the evening Colin and I hosted the annual "Cleaning Out the Pantry" Party for the faculty and their families. Bittersweet, but fun. The photos here are of me with Carole and Lydia, and the other of Jim and Howard.

Saturday, Colin and I squeezed in one last trip to London to see the Tottenham Hotspurs play at their home field on White Hart Lane. It was a blast! And, the Spurs won. Yippie! When we got home, we had one last Indian dinner at 4500 from Delhi. After dinner, we wandered around campus to make sure the students were doing okay on their final night. We did get a surprise when we wandered out to the playing fields: one of the clearest and starriest nights either of us has seen in a long time. You could clearly make out all the major constellations and even the Milky Way. And, as a bonus, Edwin the cat came for one last visit with his brother (Mycroft, I think). They were bouncing around like little ghost cats.

This morning we had our final breakfast with the students. Then we were on bus-loading duty. The last bus pulled away just after 10:00 AM. Besides a nice lunch at Cafe Rouge (our standard go-to here), we've been packing. In some ways we are at loose ends. We have to catch the bus to Gatwick in the middle of the night: 3:00 AM. It is hard not to be melancholy, even if we are ready to come home and see all of you. Oxford is a very special place to us. One I post this, I'm going to shut down and shift to radio silence until we land back stateside. Thanks to everyone who has been reading; I hope you've been a little entertained by our adventures. Much love to everyone!

The Final Week

2010-08-04T07:34:00.006-04:00

On Sunday we began our last week here in Oxford--always one filled with so much to do. The students are preparing for finals and final projects, and they are really looking exhausted after almost 10 weeks away from home.

After a long sleep in and a late lunch, plus catching up on my blog (with three postings), on Sunday, Colin and I had dinner in hall, and then headed to Exeter for the last of our candlelight concerts with Charivari Agréable. This was the largest ensemble we've seen. Performing VIVALDI GLORIA & PACHELBEL VESPERS, along with Monteverdi: Beatus Vir, Reichenauer: Oboe concerto in F, and Hertel: Trumpet Concerto No, the group was made up of a 5 person choir, 2 baroque violins, a baroque oboe, a a baroque bassoon, a natural trumpet & a chamber organ [and the folks who played :-) ].

On Monday, we ran a few errands and did work for class.

On Tuesday, we visited the Print Room at The Ashmolean Museum to view the Blake etchings and drawings. It was a wonderful way to spend an hour. As a bonus, we got to see a charcoal and pastel portrait of Rilke that was being catalogued. It was drawn by Leonid Pasternak, father of Boris. Unfortunately, I can't post any photos because we signed a form saying we wouldn't.

After dinner at Cafe Rouge with Jim and Nancy Craig, we hurried home to put on our fancy garden party clothes for the annual Provost's Champagne Garden Reception. The weather was looking really threatening, but we managed to get the event in with only a few drops of rain and some cold breezes. This is one of my favorite events in the GT Oxford Program. The students always look so nice, and they really seem to have fun. The photos above are of my class, or most of it, me with a variety of students, the entire group of students, and (not so great, but the only one I have) the faculty.

The British Museum & Another Sunny London Day

2010-08-01T12:10:00.021-04:00

On Saturday, Colin and I took the train for another sunny day wandering around London. Colin has been determined to convince me that London is more wonderful than I believed, and in parts he has managed it. Still, I prefer Paris, and where England is concerned, Oxford, Whitby, and some of the smaller cities win me more than the sprawling, frenetic capitol.

Today, I will admit to being smitten. We walked from Charring Cross Station up through Covent Garden, pausing for lunch at a small Italian cafe near The Poetry Cafe. Bob Wood and I discovered this place two years ago when I gave my first London reading. It is called La Quercia D'oro. The service is always snippy, but the food is reliable and reasonably priced.

We wandered through Bloomsbury looking at historical markers, and landed at the British Museum. Colin and I have been listening to a BBC series called A History of the World in 100 Objects via podcasts. We were thrilled to see some of them on our visit. Favorites included:

The Elgin Marbles (although now they are called the Parthenon Sculptures).
The Rosetta Stone
Hoa Hakananai'a Easter Island Statue
(these first three are pictured above)
The Warren Cup
Chinese Han lacquer cup
Lewis Chessmen
Head of Augustus
Sutton Hoo Helmet Statue of Tara
Ship's chronometer from HMS Beagle

Here is Colin posing at the Statue of Ramesses II.

And, here I am posing with one of the lions at the North Entrance as we were departing.

After the museum, we stopped off at the Northumbland Arms pub, one of Colin's old haunts on Goodge St. In Fitzrovia for a couple of pints and to rest our feet. Colin used to work nearby as a programmer/analyst. Apparently, he analyzed lots of pints during long lunches. :-)

Then we walked round to New Oxford Street to see the famous James Smith & Sons Umbrella Shop because, as most of you know, I have an obsession with umbrellas. All I can say is JACKPOT!

Here is a cool photo of both Colin and me taking photos of one of the window displays (see us in the reflection?):

Then we took the Tube to South Kensington Station for a stroll through the grounds at Imperial College (where Colin used to teach), past the Royal Albert Hall (seen here) where we got to hear a small group yelling about not being seated until the interval (they had, it seems arrived late for the evening Prom).

Then we walked through Kensington Gardens. Here is photo of the palace where Princess Diana lived, (you are welcome, Collin Kelley):

Finally, we walked up to Queensway for another dinner at Kahn's Indian Restaurant before taking the late train back to Oxford. Whew!

The Jane Austen Pilgrimage

2010-08-01T11:41:00.006-04:00

On Friday, Colin indulged my long-time wish to make the Jane Austen Pilgrimage to Winchester and Chawton. We took the train to Winchester, and wandered down through the town that was England's original capitol. While disputed by some, others maintain this is where famous Arthurian Round Table was located. Not disputed is the beauty of the cathedral, which has two fairly famous "residents."

In 862, St. Swithun, then bishop of Winchester, died. Over a series of years, several miracles were attributed to him. You can read about those here, if you like. Today he is most remembered because it is his feast day that is the English version of Groundhog Day. Apparently, Swithun requested that he be buried outside in some vile place because he was unworthy of more. In 971, some monks decided otherwise and moved his remains to the cathedral. It rained for forty days. Supposedly, whatever the weather on July 15 will be the weather for the following 40 days. This year it rained lightly in the afternoon, but was clear the rest of the day. We've had mostly clear days since. Pilgrims used to come to the cathedral and climb down a small hole in order to be near St. Swithun's bones. The photo above is of the "Holy Hole of St. Swithun," which Colin and I both think is really some Monty Python joke (like the Holy Hand Grenade). Otherwise, St. Swithun is also immortalized in a well-known ballad by British songster, Billy Bragg.

But, I was here to pay respects to someone I've spent many years studying. Jane Austen died of a lingering, but undiagnosed, illness in July 1817. On July 24, 1817 (exactly 150 years before I was born) she was laid to rest in Winchester Cathedral. Here is a photo of me at the grave (in the floor).

After a nice lunch at a local pub, the Wykham (should it be Wickham?) Arms, we took the bus 15 miles to the roundabout in the dual carriage way just below the town of Alton. From there it is a 5-minute walk to the village of Chawton. Jane's brother, who was adopted by a wealthy relative had inherited the village and gave the cottage (rent free for life) to Jane, her sister Cassandra, their mother, and a family friend. It was here that Jane did much of writing. The photo here is of me in the garden. Colin has a photo of the famous little table upon which Jane wrote. I'll try to upload that later.

In the evening, it was back to Oxford and a late dinner, with a wonderful bottle of French white) at Cafe Rouge in Jericho.

The Penultimate Week Update

2010-08-01T11:23:00.003-04:00

This week seems like a bit of blur. The last two weeks at Worcester are always packed with things to do. We brought Colin's mom back with us from Whitby on Monday morning. We got up at 4:30 am for the six hour drive back. When we arrived we had to rush to get back to college for our afternoon classes. By the time we finished our regular Monday evening faculty dinner, we could hardly hold up our heads.

Tuesday and Wednesday evening we had the two formal hall dinners for the students. The students always get a kick out of the ceremony. The faculty meet 30 minutes before dinner for sherry. I've actually learned to like sherry a bit, especially the medium, sweeter version. Anyway, after donning academic robes, we process into hall and sit at the high table. After the Latin Prayer (this year delivered by Colin), there are lots of toasts, beginning with one to The Queen. My toast was to the chef and dining hall staff, including our beloved Marion, making my job easy. Each year Marion requests that the students "sing for their supper" by serenading her with the GT fight song. This year is was especially good because the students were accompanied by Rick Denton on trumpet. Rick is LCC Professor Carol Colatrella's husband. The duck salad on Tuesday was a particular highlight where food was concerned. Colin's mom joined us for the festivities on Tuesday, and she was extra delighted by the whole affair.

Thursday we joined the Colatrella/Denton family and the Berry family for the Globe touring production of A Midsummer's Night Dream in the quad at the Bodleian Library. It was only a little chilly, and the play was lively and fun. Puck was played by a woman dressed like Sally Bowles in Cabaret. It was a somewhat bawdy interpretation of the play.

Whitby Week

2010-07-28T06:15:00.010-04:00

Last week we spent most of our time getting all work things out of the way so we could enjoy our weekend in Whitby. We took several lovely walks around Oxford, but mostly spent the evenings working.

Tuesday, midday, Colin and I were invited to join Georgia's First Lady, Mary Perdue, for a luncheon. Mrs. Perdue was visiting Worcester as part of a larger visit to England. One of her aides, Chris Young (a GA Tech Ivan Allen College alumnus) participated in the Oxford Program when he was a student at GT. A number of students who are with us this year also attended the luncheon. I'd never had guinea fowl before, but can report it is like a richer form of chicken. The sherry cream and berry trifle was certainly worth the price of admission! Lunch was so substantial, that Colin and I opted to have a meat and cheese board at a new wine bar in Jericho for our dinner.

Wednesday evening, we joined Nighat Malik (Worcester's accommodation manager) and her husband Iftikhar (a senior lecturer at Bath Spa University) at a newish local bookstore, the Albion Beatnik Bookshop. The had an amazing crowd for an evening of music. If you spend £5, you get a free glass of wine or beer. Now that's something bookstores back home should consider!

Thursday, immediately after class we set off for our rental car and took to the road. Colin did a wonderful job driving on the other side. He only frightened me a couple of times as he tended to drift to the left from the center line. :-) We arrived in Whitby about 10:00 pm.

Apparently, Whitby is determined only to show itself to me in the best of weather. The weekend was simply gorgeous. If you look closely at the photo with the St. George Cross Flags, you can see people swimming in the bay. The only difficulty came because the swing bridge that connects the west and east sides of the bay was broken. That meant finding other ways from side to side. By midday, the queues for the public shuttle bus and for the water ferries were so long, we paid to take a taxi. After some yummy fish and chips, we did a bit of shopping. Colin bought me a beautiful strand of Jet beads for my birthday. Afterwards we decided to walk back to the west side, even though that takes about an hour. We took the path up to Whitby Abbey, and then snaked our way down the back paths through neighborhoods where Colin's family has lived. In the evening, we went to our favorite Indian restaurant, Passage to India. This place has the best Indian food either of us has ever had. It is worth a trip to Whitby just to eat there.

Saturday morning we decided to go out for breakfast. We took the bus over to the east side. Colin had an interesting breakfast dish: a giant Yorkshire pudding stuffed with eggs, sausage, and mushrooms. We took the water taxi back across the bay and spent the remainder of the morning wandering through the charity and antique shops. For lunch we had a lovely bit of soup
and bread at Beckett's coffee shop.

Saturday evening, Colin's mom, Rose, had arranged to throw a late wedding reception for us so we could celebrate with that side of the family. It was a terrific party--we even had a traditional English Wedding Cake, which is fondant over marzipan over a dense fruit cake. Most of Colin's aunts and uncles, and a number of cousins, were able to attend. It was a great night. The photos here are of Colin with three of his uncles and of Rose and Ellie (Colin's mom and his cousin Joanne's daughter).

Sunday morning (after a visit from Oscar, the Westie who belongs to Colin's cousin, Karen), we took a walk down the pier. As luck would have it, the ferry was just about to depart when we walked by, so we hopped over to the other side for another lunch of fish and chips. I also had the mushy peas--Yum! Afterwards, we took a really long walk out into the surrounding country, across the viaduct, and back through town, stopping at the Quaker cemetery. For dinner we had party leftovers. We decided to go to bed early because we needed to leave by 5:30 the next morning.

Monday we were up at 4:30. The drive back was a bit longer with Monday morning traffic, but we managed with plenty of time. Nevertheless, after class and the faculty meeting dinner, we were shattered.

All in all, it was a wonderful birthday/wedding weekend.

Overload

2010-07-19T05:11:00.010-04:00

Last week the reality of having 40 students caught up with me, so my apologies for a lack of blog posting, but work and my students have to come first.

Here is an overview of the week with a few photos:

Monday was a nip & tuck race back from Cardiff for class, faculty meeting, the last bits of visiting with Collin before his departure.

Tuesday, Colin and I attended the first of our visits to The Charivari Agréable Summer Festival of Early Music by Candlelight at Exeter College. I just can't stress how much we love these! If you have even a passing interest in Baroque music, I encourage you to get hold of a CD or two by this ensemble.

Wednesday, more class and another evening with Charivari Agréable--this time we took Carolyn Wierson along and had a terrific Indian dinner at Chutney's beforehand.

Thursday, another intense class day, followed by dinner in hall. I've been managing a few runs in the evening when the weather is warmer and doesn't make my wheezing worse. Colin and I took a nice long walk up toward a park near Keble College. It seems odd that I am still discovering lovely little places in Oxford that I've managed to miss in the previous two years. On our way back, we paused in the small garden next to the even small St. Giles Church, where they were having Thursday evening bell ringers practice.

Friday, we decided to stay close to home. Since we had arrived at the official mid-way point of the trip, we both needed a rest. We decided to visit all the charity shops, so we walked up to Headington (may I recommend walking down from there instead). We had lunch at Cafe Noir, and found a great little biscuit (translation: cracker/cookie) barrel--something Colin really wanted to get while we were here. On the way back through town, we stopped at Marks & Spencer to pick up some true British Wedding Cake for our afternoon tea. Even though it has a bad reputation, I rather liked it. Fortunately, M&S makes it in little cubes, so we didn't have to buy a big cake. We had made a date with Jim & Nancy Craig (another GT faculty couple) for dinner, but Jim found himself afflicted with the crud that is going around our group. Colin and I decided to try the little tapas cafe on Little Clarendon. It was good, and the wine was particularly nice. Then we were off again for a third concert with Charivari Agréable.

Saturday we had been planning a trip to see Best Man Danny and his family in Stroud, but illness thwarted us again. We decided to take the train to London. We had lunch in Camden at a great little Indian chain called Masala Zone (photo of my thalis here). Then we took the bus to Hamstead Heath, and climbed to the top of Parliament Hill, where the view of London is protected by law.
Then we walked over to Highgate Cemetery to see some famous dead people.

Highgate is a typical Victorian period garden cemetery. However, it fell onto to bad times over the years, and in 1975 the gates were locked. Even grave owners couldn't get entrance. A group of volunteers formed the Friends of Highgate, and have since taken control. Restoration is slow, but happening. And, the cemetery is operable again. Here are photos of a couple of the more famous folks in the East Cemetery. Once back in Oxford, we met friends (and Friends) Eric Roberts and Lauren Rusk for dinner in St. Clement's--more Indian at Qumin's. Delicious!

Sunday became a true day of rest because Colin started to feel the crud sneaking up on him. For me, the day had a bit of birthday success. To quote a famous Dutch pop song: Vandaag is rood (Today is red). I finally found a red trench-style raincoat. And, on sale! A good way to end the week.

Cardiff

2010-07-18T06:20:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday, Colin, Collin, and I took the morning train to Cardiff. Waiting on that end was Ivy Alvarez and her partner, Mark Heseltine. Mark whisked our bags away while the rest of us walked to Cardiff Bay. The Cardiff International Food and Wine Festival was on, so the bay was particularly busy.

First stop was Roald Dahl Plass and a a photo of Collin at the "invisible lift" for the Torchwood Institute Hub. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Torchwood, it is a BBC Science Fiction Television Series--a spinoff from the Dr. Who Series.

After a quick bit of lunch, we were off to the Red Dragon Center for the Dr. Who Museum Exhibit. Both BBC shows film in Cardiff--hence the connection.

Midday, Colin and I left Ivy and Collin for a walk around downtown Cardiff. Since the motorcycle grand prix Grand Nationals were taking place, it was mayhem in downtown. We made our way just outside the town center to take up residence in the flat of our other weekend host, Mab Jones. Ivy and Mab host the Poetry on Tap Reading Series, which was the reason we'd come to Cardiff. Because of all the events in Cardiff, we couldn't get a hotel room for Saturday, so we were at Mab's and Collin stayed with Ivy and Mark.

For dinner, we walked from one end of Cardiff to the other (no, literally!). Still it was a beautiful walk, most of it through the park grounds behind Cardiff Castle. After a lovely dinner at a local gastropub, we were exhausted.

Sunday morning, Colin and I ventured to a local greasy spoon, Ramon's Breakfast Cafe. It was cheap and good. I went off to attend Quaker Meeting while Colin set out with his camera. After Meeting, Colin joined me and the rest of the Cardiff Meeting for tea. Everyone was really nice, and I recommend a visit to the Meeting, if you are so inclined.

Sunday afternoon we had the reading, which was one of the best readings I've ever been invited to! There was a great crowd, the open mic portion was very good, and Mab and Ivy continued in their role as hosts extraordinaire. I even sold books!

That evening we all gathered to watch the final of the World Cup. It was a real disappointment to see the Dutch team lose, but they had a good run.

Weekend 2: Recap Part One

2010-07-14T08:47:00.005-04:00

Here is a much delayed first part of the weekend update. I've been waiting for Colin to transfer photos to my computer, but it looks like it that will take a bit longer.

Friday morning, Colin, Collin, and I took the coach to London.

We visited the London Photography Gallery to view an exhibit by Sally Mann. As Collin said on his blog, I have some issues with the work. From the “appreciation of photography” side of the exhibit, Mann is certainly a talented artist. Still, I sometimes get the sense that she’d do anything for her art, which isn’t always a good thing. I was most troubled by some of the photos of her children. It seems that Mann’s three children spent much of their youth walking about naked, which in and of itself isn't a bad thing. However, the photos are often highly sexualized. I hate sounding like a prude, but this objectification of children was disturbing for me. What adults choose to do for themselves is okay. Mapplethorpe’s bondage photos, for example, are fine by me. But, generally, children want to please their parents, and I’m not convinced by Mann’s argument that this series represents a willing collaboration between her and her children.

On the other hand, Mann’s photos of people at the Body Farm didn’t bother me at all. I actually got to visit this strange place when I was doing my M.A. at the University of Tennessee. For those of you who don’t know about it, the Body Farm is a “living” laboratory that studies the decomposition of bodies. People can leave their body to the farm for scientific study. The work done at the facility has offered much to forensics and anthological research.

Next we wandered down Charing Cross Road to browse the bookshops. I heard a lovely Beethoven sonata, performed by a trio (pianist, violinist, cellist) in the gallery at Foyles Bookstore. It is amazing how many free concerts and art events there are in London.

After lunch in the crypt at St. Martin in the Fields, we strolled over to Trafalgar Square to see the new installation (a giant ship in a bottle) on the Plinth. A woman overheard me talking about my turn on the Plinth last year, and she gushingly began explaining it all to her children. Some people, apparently, are still interested in the project.

To round out the day, Colin (seen here with his guide book because he isn't always sure where things in London are after so many years away) suggested we visit the Courtauld Gallery, located inside Somerset House (a grand palace on the banks of the Thames). This is a wonderful small museum, and I encourage everyone to visit. The collection may be small, but there are some impressive and well known works there. Two of the really famous paintings in the collection are van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Manet’s great last painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère. Note to Bob Wood: The man in the corner at the corner of the bar doesn't look threatening (when you see him up close); he looks sad.

It was so hot at this point, we decided we should go home. The headline in the paper the next morning was London Burning!

After the coach ride home, Colin and I joined Carole Moore, Oxford Program Director, for a wonderful dinner at a local Indian restaurant, followed by after dinner drinks with some of the Worcester staff at a local pub.

Cardiff report coming next.

Week Two: Work

2010-07-08T14:53:00.006-04:00

Mostly the week is filled with work, especially with 40 students. However, Monday morning Collin Kelley arrived from the U.S. to spend a few days visiting us and creating a bit of diversion.

Monday we had faculty meeting dinner, and then took Collin on a short walk around Oxford. For a more detailed account of the week, you might want to read Collin's more detailed (and more interesting) blog.

Tuesday, we watched the Netherlands v. Uruguay semi-final World Cup match. WUP! Afterwards, the three of us formed a quiz team (trivia team) and showed the students we know a few things "not academic."

Wednesday, we went out for pizza at the new Fire & Stone restaurant on George Street. Yummy! Then Colin and Collin headed to the pub to watch the Germany v. Spain semi-final. I took a long walk with Nancy Craig, wife of one of the other faculty members from GT. I was a bit "footballed out." And, after all, Paul the Psychic Octopus had already predicted a Spain win--something I didn't relish seeing. I feel particularly bad for our friend, and house-sitter, Thomas, who I am sure was very disappointed.

Today, Collin came to my class to give a lecture on using Social Media in the business world. He did a great job. Earlier in the day, we strolled the market (the boys admire toy buses in the photo above) and visited the nearly remodeled Ashmolean Museum. There is a photo here of a wall of small sculptures--busts of famous people. It reminded me of the new GT Waffle House and the wall of photos of famous GT people. What do they have in common? Both exhibits only display a couple of women.

I promise more exciting news after the weekend.

Weekend Recap

2010-07-05T12:53:00.010-04:00

Friday morning we took the train from Oxford to Paddington Station in London. From there we used our shiny new Oyster cards to access the Tube, and found our way to the hotel. We were only steps away from St. Paul's Cathedral in the City District, aka the financial district. We had a lovely view of the dome from our window. For me it brought memories of watching Princess Diana marry Prince Charles, and I was amused to see a couple in wedding clothes posing for photos outside the church--clearly they had not gotten married there.

During the day, we explored Holborn, where Colin's dad used to work at the Daily Mirror. We happened into a great little local pub for the Netherlands v. Brazil game. Very exciting! Throughout the city they have set up large public viewing screens to watch Wimbledon. Afterward, a few locals were curious about the woman who sounded American but seemed to root for the Dutch. They were really surprised to find out I am a Spurs fan. We also did a bit of Samuel Pepys Pilgrimage to his grave at St. Olave's and his office at #17 Fleet Street. There was a piano recital going at the church, so we could only see the crypt from a distance, and the office is closed for restoration.

Since the hotel was only about a block away from the Millennium Footbridge that connects to the Southbank just between the Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern. There is a city wide art project going on in which there are pianos placed all around the city. There are web cameras at each piano, and an invitation to play. I heard everything from Chopsticks to elaborate piano sonatas. Since the Southbank area has really blossomed, we decided to try an Indian restaurant there. We picked by chance The Indigo. The food was very good.

The next morning we headed to Liverpool Street Station for the train to Rayleigh, in Essex, to visit Colin's stepmom. We had a lovely visit and lunch at the newly redone, and posh, pub, The Anchor.

In the afternoon, we watched Germany embarrass Argentina. Then we ventured out to Brick Lane for a more edgy view of London. Brick Lane has been famous for its curry houses, but has also become a arty, vintage, "you might see anything here" kind of area. On the advice of the guide book, we went farther out to Whitechapel for dinner at Mirch Masala, supposedly one of the 50 best restaurants in England--although you couldn't prove it by us.

On Sunday, we took the new Docklands Light Rail to Greenwich.

Obligatory "standing on the meridian" photo included here. Actually Greenwich was really interesting. This time the guide book did well, steering us to a local vegetarian sandwich shop called Royal Teas. The roasted veggie sandwich I had was fantastic. We took the river taxi from Greenwich up the Thames to Bankside, near our hotel.

Overall, a lovely weekend, and we simply cannot believe the wonderful weather.

4th of July: A Few Days Early

2010-07-01T15:58:00.004-04:00

Our fearless leader, Carole, hosts an annual 4th of July Party at her place her in Oxford. Another year, and another great party. I was still coughing, and when I wasn't I was having way too much fun. Consequently, I didn't get many photos. One week of classes is complete, which is pretty hard to believe. I have a ton of grading. I'll fit that in over the weekend.

Pictured here from left to right, top to bottom:
Carolyn,Carole and Tara (the women who make Oxford happen)
Carolyn and Colin (in their annual "loved-up" photo)
Me and Colleen (Colleen is in charge of conferences at Worcester)
Carolyn, Carole, and Colin (Colin is "helping")

It will likely be late Sunday, or Monday, before I post again. Have a great weekend everyone!

Consumption

2010-06-30T15:35:00.003-04:00

It seems I am in the middle of my annual bout of Oxford consumption--yesterday was really bad with a fever and such, but today I mostly just sound sniffly and croaky. My students have been lovely, making things a bit easier for me. I hope to be back to normal and ready for some action soon.

I wish I had more to report, but unfortunately I've spent most of my time in my PJs. I have been reading, and can recommend the The Fire by Katherine Neville. You might consider reading her previous novel, The Eight, which has the same basic mystery and characters in an earlier time. This isn't great literary fiction, but as the mystery genre goes, it is pretty entertaining (and not always predictable). Good summer (or sick bed) reading.

A Quiet Day

2010-06-28T16:18:00.004-04:00

Since classes began today, things were rather quiet here. Nothing particularly exciting to report, unless me buying new sims for UK mobile use is your idea of excitement.

It seems that most of England has a bit of an angry hangover today. Since I don't have much to report, I thought I'd share some of the biting remarks from the Daily Mirror (side trivia-Colin's dad worked at the Mirror as a typesetter for many years).

Front page headline:
ROUT OF AFRICA!

Talking about how the British delude themselves, Stuart Maconie says:
"For too long we've deluded ourselves that we're the bees knees...When the Empire fell, we believed we'd been cheated out of it and secretly the colonials all pined for PG Tips and the Queen on stamps...We're at our best when we are being gifted amateurs. Take Dunkirk. Our finest hour is blokes in cockle boats from Margate bringing back our Army left high and dry as target practice for, erm, the Germans. Thank God, they weren't as good with their shooting back then."

And, from Alan Hansen:
"Capello's tactics were 'shambolic' and the players dreadful."

I could go on, but you get the point. The British press can be pretty harsh. Still, the writing is superior to any you'll find in most American daily papers. The wit is sharp, albeit razor sharp.

The Dutch did well today, although I'm not thrilled that they meet Brazil next. That will be a challenge.

Cheers until tomorrow.

England Again

2010-06-27T16:29:00.020-04:00

Here I am again for another summer in England. The first two photos really need no commentary--especially for my friends who know where my dining habits often lead.

That second photo was taken on our first day in England, spent in London. Here we are on Queensway in Bayswater where we had just finished an amazing dinner at an Indian restaurant called Khan's, topped off with a sparkling Elderflower press.

Earlier in the day, we stopped at the Tudor Rose pub near the Baker Street Chess Bookstore (where the shopkeeper gave me a stool to sit upon while I patiently waited, and nodded off a couple of times, while Colin indulged in chess bliss) to watch a World Cup Qualifier. The interior is a fair representation of how EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE in England looks.

Since England was thumped soundly by Germany today, I will be interested in seeing how long the decorations last. Upon arriving in Oxford yesterday, Colin dutifully purchased a flag of St. George and hung it in our cottage window. Meanwhile, I purchased a more discrete Dutch flag which I will wave during their game tomorrow. Wup, Holland, Wup!

Today was mostly a rest day. The weather here is quite warm, but nice by Atlanta standards. We took a nice long walk by the canal, up to Port Meadow, and back through Jericho, where we stopped at the The Victoria Pub for the most amazing meat pies I've ever tasted.

While in Port Meadow, we saw what appears to be a larger than life condom kite. Very odd, this village.

Of course, this afternoon we were in a packed pub watching the aforementioned thumping.

Classes begin tomorrow.

Ramping up for Oxford

2010-06-03T09:22:00.008-04:00

As many of you know, I'm off again to Oxford this summer. I'll try to find new and interesting things to report. Collin Kelley will be visiting for a few days--promoting his wonderful novel, Conquering Venus. We will be giving a reading together in Cardiff inthe Poetry on Tap Series, hosted by Ivy Alvarez and Mab Jones. We will be in Cardiff for a couple of days, and our "geekier selves" are looking forward to the Dr. Who museum.

Meanwhile, you might want to read the new daily blog by Carol Senf who is with the Georgia Tech Italian Film Studies Program in Gorizia--the town that inspired Bob Wood's wonderful chapbook, Gorizia Notebook.

What's Good? The Mercantile

2010-05-21T12:34:00.012-04:00

Sometimes I want to say to friends, "Where have you been?" A sentiment they often make about my blog, but that's another matter. In this case, however, I wonder how friends have missed the gem on Dekalb Avenue: The Mercantile.

Samantha Enzmann & Janea Boyles have created a delightful oasis of gastronomical yumminess along the edge of Kirkwood and Candler Park.

I've been tweeting for a long time about the baguettes here. I'll put them on par with any I've had in Paris, and that is high praise from me. There is a little basket to the right when you enter. There you'll find this delicious bread (usually still warm) right next to the soup. Speaking of the soup, that's pretty amazing too, especially the Tomato Orange.

My favorite sandwich is The Druid Hills: Thin sliced roast beef, chipotle mayo and caramelized shallots with spring mix on a grilled hoagie roll. Are you hungry yet? I am!

Vegetarian? Vegan? Try the Cabbagetown: Multigrain bread, peanutbutter, chili paste, apples, raisins, cucumbers and watercress.

Too busy to cook a nice dinner? They've got that covered. Stop by for the French Supper: Roasted Hen, Spring Mix, house vinaigrette, port salut, spiced pecans and Baguette for only $19.99 (Serves 4). Those roasted hens are organic and locally raised.

There is also a wonderful selection of cheeses and meats at the deli counter. Or, pick up some milk or local organic yogurt.

Finally, I highly recommend joining the Wine Club. Each month Janea selects three great wines--a wonderful way to try new tastes at an incredibily reasonable price.

For more information, check out their website.

The Kirkwood Public House

2010-03-29T15:17:00.007-04:00

In the category of "hidden treasures" is the Kirkwood Public House (formerly Vinocity-Kirkwood). Along with the new name comes a commitment to the ideas that make this restaurant work. This is what, if I were British, I'd call "my local." I live walking distance from here, and so do many of the patrons. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't make the drive. In fact, you should walk, drive, bike, scooter, MARTA, jet-pack, teleport, or whatever works for you, to this place. Why? Because it is the kind of place where they learn your name and want your business. John, Mitch, and the rest of the staff will do whatever it takes to make you feel at home.

Of course, the other really big reason to go is the food. The menu is diverse enough to satisfy a variety of tastes and needs. Meat eaters will love the slider trio (one beef, one lamb, one veal), hanger steak, or PBR-braised pork shank. And if you are looking for traditional pub fare, the burgers are spot-on--I especially like the black and blue burger. Another great choice is the Public House Club with roasted turkey, bacon, and a really nice chipotle aioli. Spring for the up-charge and get the warm potato salad as your side.

Some non-traditional choices that also ring true are the duck confit quesadilla, salmon tartar, and a surprisingly good (for a pub) cheese board.

For the vegetarians among you, I highly recommend the hummus. It comes in two forms: an appetizer plate or a wrap. Both are excellent.

Generally there is a special or two, especially on weekend nights. Weekends also bring a good brunch, although the brunch menu could use more inspiration, in my opinion. The food is great, but the choices are the "usual" suspects.

As I mentioned earlier, this is the kind of place where the staff really gets to know the customers. This means it is a comfortable place to simply pop in and have a drink. With 50 beers and 40 wines by the glass, along with a full bar, this is a good choice for "a drink." I'm still trying to convince them to stock some pretzels at the bar, but you can always order some fries if you need a nibble.

I have eaten at this place at least four times a month for the last year and a half, and I've never been disappointed. You won't be either; so, give it try.

Kirkwood Public House Website
in Kirkwood Station
1963 Hosea Williams Drive
Atlanta, GA 30317

What's Good?

2010-03-05T11:31:00.006-05:00

In a sneaky attempt to get me to blog more frequently, and to tap my love of eating out, the folks at Atlanta InTown Newspaper have asked me to write restaurant reviews. Since I feel like the biggest issue with blogging is that I don't always have something to say, a food blog does answer this problem: I always have something to say about food!

First up, breakfast.

Candi's is a new spot in Inman Park, sharing space with Jake's Ice Cream at 660 Irwin Street.

There are two things that make me love a breakfast spot: a solid command of the basics and a cheap price. Candi's has both. The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is fun; we sat on the "porch" pictured here.

I had a veggie omelet with goat cheese, and was very pleased to have no mark up for egg whites only. The waitress apologized for the appearance, which was a bit broken, but the taste was definitely on the mark. Plates come with TWO sides: I had an english muffin and oatmeal. The oatmeal was very especially good, but if you don't like cinnamon, then definitely it isn't for you.

My dining partner had a ham and cheese omelet with a biscuit. The omelet was basic, but good. The biscuit was much enhanced by the wonderful homemade mango jam (all the jams are homemade--a nice touch). He reported the coffee was good (I don't drink the stuff).

One note about tea, which I do drink. I can't seem to find a single breakfast spot in Atlanta that actually GETS the idea of real tea. Either it's awful generic tea bags, or it is some silly device for loose tea dropped into a too small cup. Buy a few 2 cup tea pots folks! You can even use a good quality tea bag in a pot, if cleanup is your concern. And, those stupid little silver "pots" that don't hold enough water for a mug full are not what I mean; those are just stupid.

Candi's hasn't been discovered by many people yet, so there was no wait. The price for two of us was just under $15.00--a good deal anywhere, but especially good given the quality of the food.

The H-Bahn

2009-11-25T07:28:00.003-05:00

Several people have inquired about a tweet I made saying I was being distracted by the H-Bahn racing by Randi's office window. What is the H-Bahn, they asked. Essentially, it is a suspension monorail that encircles campus. The April Fool's edition of the GA Tech Technique had a fake story about such a system being installed. Because of my association with Dortmund, it did not immediately occur to me that it was a fake story. Anyway, here is photo.

I'm off to the Netherlands this afternoon. Cheers!

Student Strike

2009-11-25T02:44:00.003-05:00

Yesterday had some added excitement. As I prepared to give my primary lecture on writing a thesis, I was informed that there might not be anyone in attendance. Around 3:00 PM, the students went on strike protesting a number of reforms that, in their opinion, have not worked well. It seems that in addition to be upset by having to pay fees (they didn't have to pay anything in the past), they feel as if their degrees simply are worth as much. There are also problems if they wish to transfer to systems in other countries, especially the U.S. because equivalencies are not the same. Anyway, it was all very exciting, with students hanging banners off the sides of buildings, having strategy meetings, and taking over lecture rooms for a sleep-in. As for my lecture at 6:00, it turned out that many students suspended their strike to attend, in part because my honorarium is paid from student fee revenue. It was the largest group I've had at Dortmund, about 125 if I had to guess.

Today, I have meetings with various faculty groups and then I'm off to my brother's house in the Netherlands. I'll try to post some photos tomorrow.

Some Dortmund Photos

2009-11-24T06:39:00.003-05:00

This is the view from Randi's front window. Dortmund is famous for its Christmas Market, and Randi is already in the decorating spirit.

This is the building where the American Studies Program is housed.

American Culture: Catching Up

2009-11-23T17:36:00.004-05:00

After a full day at the university here in Dortmund, I decided to catch up on some American culture. It seemed that the buzz was about the American Music Awards, so thanks to YouTube, I watched the "key" performances. I'm just glad I didn't have to watch the whole show! Lady Gaga was interesting, but as usual, her work is not really about the music. Adam Lambert is yet another Idol alumni who has been given a terrible song. As for "the kiss," that was a whole lot of boring. If that's the best the AMA can do for scandal, then they should just give up now. Whitney Houston was about as bland as her dress, but at least she was dressed elegantly--something almost no one else could say. She'll probably never regain the powerhouse voice she once had, but she is a more compelling performer than many of the newbies. Janet Jackson and J. Lo need to work on their lip-sync, or just call it a day and dance. Based on the bits I saw, the biggest problem with the contemporary popular music scene is that there isn't much original. Even for Lady Gaga, her performance art might seem revolutionary to the main-stream, but her work is not avant guard. So, as I see it there was a bunch of over-produced eye candy with a few last decade superstars re-hawking their goods.

From this review you might assume I had a bad day, but I didn't. As always the students and faculty at Dortmund couldn't be more welcoming. Why the gnome? Just a little something I saw in a shop window. He made me smile.

It's the Sunday before Thanksgiving, so I must be in Dortmund.

2009-11-22T09:49:00.002-05:00

Last night I took to the skies for my annual trip to Dortmund. For those of you who don't know, I come to the university as a visiting scholar in the American Studies Program. It has really become a kind of second home.

I arrived at the Dusseldorf airport without issue. The flight was long, but uneventful. We were even a few minutes early. Since I managed to pack everything into a carry-on bag, I didn't have to wait for baggage. I made the next train to Dortmund with two minutes to spare. Really, this was traveling without any hassles--something that rarely happens these days.

Friends Randi and Thomas, the ones who were house/cat-sitting for us last summer, turn their place into a bed and breakfast for me. Both of them are excellent cooks, and this morning I was treated to an amazing quiche and divine little plum dumplings. Wow! Thomas will head to Munich this afternoon, and Randi and I have a busy few days ahead.

I hope everyone back home is having a happy lead-up to Turkey Day. As usual, I'll be eating something other than turkey. Randi did mention some pumpkin and ginger soup, but I think that's the closest I'll get to traditional Thanksgiving food. I'll be home on Friday, so someone save me some leftovers please.

Not a term for blogging

2009-11-15T19:26:00.006-05:00

Just when I thought I'd have more time to actually keep a blog, I was reminded why summer is really the only time I seem to be able to do so faithfully. My work at Georgia Tech is busier than ever--so many graduate students, so little time. If I have to make a choice, and often I do, then my students will always win. This happens even after hours, when I play "catch up" trying to answer questions via email rather than update my blog.

Today, I managed the shortest bit of respite and stole time for a movie. To do this, I went to the 11:30 AM show! Who knew there was such a thing--at least for adult movies. The movie, An Education, was very interesting. It was, and wasn't, what I expected: a good thing in my book. I do not want to ruin it for anyone, so I'll try to speak in generalities and encourage you to go see the film.

In many ways, it is a simple coming of age story. In other ways, it is a disturbing portrait of a cultural norm I wish I could say disappeared in the 60's. Alas, this movie signals we haven't come as far as we should have. While there are the obvious issues of gender stereotypes, this wasn't the most disturbing part for me. Just two years ago I followed two young, and very attractive, women (or should I say girls) across the GA Tech campus. One was explaining to the other that she was there to snag a football star headed to the NFL. Since getting into GT isn't an easy task, I have to assume that she was a intelligent person. Nevertheless, her "ticket" was not an education. This film certainly addresses the notion of "the best ticket" for a secure life. However, and far move importantly, there is a scene where the central character, Jenny, is having a debate with the headmistress (brilliantly played by Emma Thompson, one of the only actors you'll probably recognize). When her headmistress argues that it is imperative she get a degree to matter in the world, Jenny challenges the idea of formal education by asking why it really matters, apart from a kind of cultural expectation that it does. The headmistress is not able to give an answer, and Jenny, declares that the headmistress better find an answer because she will not be the last student to pose it. In the early 1960's this question would have been unusual, but so was a girl like Jenny. Heading off to Oxford to read English wasn't the norm for most young British women of the time. And, the options about what to do once you took your degree were limited: school teacher, civil servant, governess, nurse--not far from Jane Eyre, whose story is oft mentioned in the movie.

For the last twelve years, I have taught in a university. During that time I've many students who had no idea why they were in college. Many more understood the endeavor as a mere exercise that was necessary for a better paycheck. Perhaps we should not be surprised that alumni giving and college loyalty are suffering these days. It might be easy to blame the current economic crisis, but I suspect there is something more to the problem. If we cannot justify education as an end unto itself, rather than a means to an end, then we are drastically failing in important ways.

Lately there has been a great deal of discussion about the future of colleges and universities. Many people wonder if such institutions aren't relics, things to be discarded in favor of strictly experiential educational experiences that can be supplemented by the the vast availability of content available via the Internet. Just as Jenny pointed to a period of change, one where more people would be going to college and thereby needed to understand the relevance, we seem in another moment of change. And once again, we face the challenge that many before us have faced: define education for our generation and the next in a meaningful and productive way.

Meanwhile, if you want a break from such profound considerations, go see the movie for the enjoyment of what is, at its core, a fine film. Of particular note are the performances by Olivia Williams and Rosamund Pike. Carey Mulligan (Jenny) gives an outstanding performance, but it must be said that it is difficult not to notice that she is a dead ringer for Katie Holmes. In fact, for just a moment, I wondered if it wasn't Katie Holmes using a different name and working an accent honed during lunches with Victoria Beckham.

Southern Festival of Books

2009-10-08T14:20:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow morning, VERY early, I'm off to Nashville for the Southern Festival of Books. If you are in the area, my slot is 1:30-3:00. Details are available in my readings links.

On October 22, get out to the I See Straight People reading, a benefit for the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival. If you can't make the benefit, you can still support the festival by donating online.

On October 23 you can catch me at the annual Voices Carry event. Featured poets include Cecilia Woloch (Carpathia), Tania Rochelle (The World's Last Bone), Karen Head (Sassing) and Theresa Davis (Torn). Kodac Harrison will close the evening with song and poet and novelist Collin Kelley will be the host.

Get out there and experience some art!

Two More Exciting Events

2009-09-28T09:43:00.002-04:00

Dine Out for Atlanta Queer Literature Festival, Sept. 28

If you need dinner plans for TONIGHT, please try the award-winning Wahoo Grill in Decatur for Dine Out for AQLF. Just come in between 5 and 10 p.m. and let your server know you are dining out to support the literary festival. Ten percent of your bill will go to AQLF. Wahoo is located at 1042 West College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030. To see Wahoo's delicious menu, visit http://www.facebook.com/l/bba1e;www.wahoogrilldecatur.com.

Don't forget to visit http://www.facebook.com/l/bba1e;www.atlqueerlitfest.com for more information and to see the tentative line-up for this year's festival, Nov. 4-7, featuring keynote speakers Staceyann Chin and Manil Suri, as well as special guests Terry Galloway, Regie Cabico, Michael Montlack and many more!

And next week:

Franklin Abbott reads from and signs his new book of poetry, Pink Zinnia
Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm
Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeehouse

Yeah, I Know...

2009-09-28T09:17:00.003-04:00

I'm a lame blogger. I could offer all the usual excuses, but you know what I'm going to say. Life is busy sometimes. And, frankly, I don't think all that many people (except my friends) really read this anyway.

On the subject of being busy, if you aren't busy tomorrow evening, come over to the Decatur Library and hear me read with Bob Wood and Robin Kemp. Bob, who has decided his nom de plume should be "and others" because he always seems to fall in that category on the front pages of journals, wants you all to know that it is on his bucket list that you come to his reading. Let's make dreams come true!

Seriously though, Bob and Robin both have new, wonderful collections. Complete information is available here.

Poetry Atlanta @ The Decatur Book Festival

2009-09-04T14:16:00.003-04:00

Don't forget to stop by the Java Monkey coffeehouse stage for two days of non-stop poetry during the Decatur Book Festival. It is an amazing line-up of every kind of poetry you can imagine. Truly, there is something for everyone. Saturday evening is the invitational Slam, another great event. Special sale-priced copies of the Java Monkey Anthologies and the Poetry Atlanta DVD, Trouble and Hope will be available. See you there!

Apologies and TIME Mini-Documentary

2009-08-24T19:58:00.006-04:00

Well, I'm back. Taking a two week break has confirmed one thing: some of you are actually reading my blog--something I know because you've been Tweeting and FBing to tell me I'm a non-posting loser.

When I arrived back from England, I had just a few hours before I had to report to work. Literally I hit the road running with a week of New Faculty Orientation events and then the first week of classes. I was fighting the worst case of jet lag I've ever had, and my R.A. symptoms were awful. Just getting to work everyday, staying awake, and actually doing my job was about all I could manage. Meanwhile, the world keep turning. I hope you'll forgive me.

In happier news, the online mini-documentary from TIME appeared today. Much thanks to Glen Levy and Nick Tree who put together a wonderful piece. It was wonderful working with them. You can see the video here.

I do want to add some commentary to the video. There were some things that didn't make the final cut, which is understandable because of time-constraints, but I'd like to make part of the record.

When I first found out I'd won a spot on the Plinth, I had no idea what specifically I would do with my slot. However, I knew that whatever I did would have to be about more than just me. It is very easy to disappear into your art. Many artists do this even to the exclusion of their potentials audience(s), which explains why they often find themselves without an audience. Another way artists limit themselves is by never collaborating with other artists.

When I came to GA Tech six years ago, my sense of collaboration wasn't very strong. Teaching at an engineering school will cure you of that quickly. Additionally, I began working with people like Jay Bolter and Maria Engberg, through the Wesley Center for New Media, and here "working" means "collaborating." As I became more and more interested in Digital Poetry, and more and more aware of my paltry technical skills, I began to get very creative about ways to include others in the art I wanted to produce. The results were exhilarating and rewarding. The Plinth exquisite corpse Twitter project represents my third, and most broadly collaborative, digital poetry project.

In many ways, I conceived my hour as a kind of microcosm of what Antony Gormley was doing to a much larger scale. Too many people have come to think of art as something that happens when one artist creates something and then other people, in a very individualized way, experience that creation. This is especially true for something like poetry. But, it doesn't have to be this way. My hour on the Plinth was a way to stand there with others standing (in the square and virtually) with me. Of course, such collaboration doesn't come without risks.

My biggest concern was that technology would fail me. I knew I could write the poem on paper with contributions from the crowd, but it would be difficult and would be much more limiting. You really see that tension in the first minutes of the full broadcast. I was so worried that the technology would fail, that I forgot to announce what we would be attempting. This was frustrating for some people watching. My apologies to you! Then there was the form, exquisite corpse, which frankly can produce some pretty sucky poetry. You simply never know what you will get. But, that didn't happen either. The poem, "Monumental," is pretty good.

Many of you have asked about reading the full version of the poem. I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Blue Fifth Review will be publishing it as a broadside; the bad news is you have to wait until November. I'm also working on a plan to print a limited edition hand-press version of the poem. These I will sell as a supplemental fund-raiser for Poetry Atlanta because, as many of you will remember, that was another aspect of my hour on the Plinth.

Finally, the greatest joy of this project came through my students (the photos at the top are of them). Two of them contributed lines to the poem. Others told me they were excited by the idea of poetry because of seeing me on the Plinth. That melts my little teacher heart.

Thanks to everyone for all the kind comments and the loving support. I couldn't have done it without you, but the t-shirt I got...I'm keeping that for myself. :-)

Oxford Final Day

2009-08-08T06:45:00.005-04:00

Today is our final day in Oxford. It just doesn't seem possible that six weeks have passed. Nevertheless, I think we are feeling it is time to say goodbye. It has been a wonderful summer, but the lure of home is becoming stronger than the love of here.

Thursday morning was lovely for a couple of hours, just enough time to make one last market visit. The rain began as a trickle about 10:30, and by noon it was miserable. The misery continued for the rest of the day. Nevertheless, we trekked over to the far side of town to meet Eric Roberts and Lauren Rusk who are housed at Magdalen. We had a planned a walk on the Magdalen grounds, but that was out of the question. Instead we had a lovely bit of tea and then went off for dinner at a local Thai restaurant. We said our good-byes early and made our way back to Worcester and the annual "clean out your pantry" party at Carole Moore's house. It was bittersweet, but fun, which is probably the best way to describe the last few days.

Friday was the first day of exams. My students did very well. We managed a bit of last-minute souvenir shopping, before our last dinner in hall. Then it was off to Exeter College for the last of the candlelight concerts.

Today is all about packing. We are off to Gatwick tonight because the flight home is very early tomorrow. When I checked-in online they were already asking for volunteers to be rebooked. I hope tomorrow doesn't prove to be a nightmare.

Carolyn Wierson, our administrative director, refuses to say goodbye, choosing instead to say, "See you later." It is a sad thing either way, but the shift now will be to saying "hello" to friends and family we've missed while we were here. I have lots of photos to share, and I'll do that when I get home.

Thanks to everyone here in Oxford, from the staff at Worcester to the members of Oxford Friends Meeting, and everyone in between. Yet another year of magic, another midsummer's night dream.

For now, I'm going out for a last walk around the gardens. It is beautiful weather today, just like the day we arrived.

Winding Down

2009-08-06T08:43:00.008-04:00

It is difficult to believe that we are almost at the end of six weeks in Oxford. I think the faculty and students are amazed by how quickly our time together has passed. This week has been packed so full, it has been difficult to find time to report here, but I'll attempt a recap now.

Sunday was in many ways our last quiet day here. Colin and I walked to Port Meadow, and across to Binsey to lunch at The Perch. The Perch is quite historic; you can read about it here. I especially like the connection to the tea party in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The photo above is of Port Meadow.

Monday arrived with all the furious energy that is the last week of term. Students have been rushing about trying to finish term-papers, final projects, and study for exams. We had our final faculty meeting/dinner on Monday, and then I gave an informal poetry reading.

Tuesday morning I was busy with some Post-Plinth business. Tuesday evening the faculty joined the Provost and his wife for a formal dinner in their lodgings. I was fortunate enough to be seating next to the Provost, who is a delightful host. He and his wife are lovely, and the dinner was terrific.

Wednesday morning I spent most of my time reading papers. Then I joined friend, and fellow Oglethorpe Alum, Jamie McClung for lunch. We laughed that despite living in the same city, we have to come to Oxford to meet for lunch. Jamie is one of the directors of the University of Georgia Oxford Program. He was a bit worn out from the previous evening, when for another year UGA was soundly beaten (8-0) by GT in our annual Oxford Soccer game.

Wednesday evening the weather gods smiled on us, clearing away the early day rains for the Provost's Champagne Garden Reception. This is always one of my favorite events; it is so nice to see the students all dressed up and enjoying this special treat. Here I include a couple of photos, including one of my class (alas one student is missing). The other photo is of our faculty from this year. Note my very GT dress.

I think that has you all caught up for now.

Post Plinth: Southend-on-Sea

2009-08-04T12:49:00.008-04:00

After departing the Plinth offices on Friday, Colin and I went off for a lovely dinner. Then we boarded a train to Southend-on-Sea. I'd been warned to expect something like Virginia Beach or Panama City (and not the nicer parts at that), but we found ourselves in a lovely hotel in the residential area near the Cliffs Pavilion. We went for a late night walk down near the Kursaal. All was well until we happened upon a young woman who fell from her bicycle right in front of us on Pier Hill. She was seriously injured, so we blocked cars, tried to offer what comfort we could, and waiting for the ambulance personnel. Her name is Amanda, and I really hope she is recovering comfortably. It was a fairly disturbing way to end the day, but sometime the universe reminds us just how quickly things can turn.

The next day was much brighter, literally and figuratively. We ventured down to the pier, which juts 1.5 miles out into the Thames Estuary, and is the longest pleasure pier in the world. We decided to take the train which runs most of the length of the pier. Sadly, the other train named for poet John Betjeman wasn't running. Here is a goofy shot of me boarding the train for the return trip. it is odd to see the Thames at this point, because it seems far too vast to be a river.

I was finally able to find a Tottenham Hotspur Football Club t-shirt for watching the games back in Atlanta. Now I can feel like a real hooligan at the pub!

Lunch time took us to Rayleigh, where Colin lived when he was young, and where his step-mother still resides. We had a nice "carvery" and then went to the cemetery to visit Colin's dad's grave. Afterwards we had tea, and then took the train back to London for our coach connection back to Oxford.

The Plinth

2009-08-03T05:25:00.016-04:00

Now that I've had a few days to actually think about the Plinth, I'll offer my thoughts about the experience. What a tremendous way to spend an hour!

I want to thank everyone who helped make my project a success. The staff at the One and Other Project were lovely, and really helpful with internet access (mine was problematic). All the writers who participated (particularly the ones who weren't Twitter users), were amazing. For the record, the writers were as follows:

Collin Kelley: @CollinKelley
Rupert Fike: @RupertF
Ivy Alvarez: @IvyAlvarez
Christine Swint: @yoginipoet
Robert E. Wood: @emmetirl
JC Reilly: @Aishatonu
Julie Bloemeke: @juliebloemeke
David-Matthew Barnes: @ xoxodmb
Sam Rasnake: @SamRasnake

and from the ground via transcription: Alex Buchanan and Amy Regan.

Thanks, too, to everyone who took time to watch the hour unfold. Poets, after all, love an audience. If you missed the hour, you can view the whole thing here.

When I found out I would have a slot on the Plinth, I knew I wanted the hour to focus on the work of others. The One and Other Project was already (in my understanding) based on the idea of collaborative art: 2400 different ideas about how to "use" an hour in a public space. Add to this my interest in digital poetry, and you'll get the technology connection. I knew early on that I wanted to do an Exquisite Corpse poem using the internet, but I was troubled by the technology failure possibilities. Even with a variety of contingency plans, I was terrified that I'd be standing there for an hour unable to communicate anything. And then the journalist from TIME called, and suddenly any potential failure seemed more consequential.

Overall, Friday is a kind of blur. I was being shadowed by the folks from TIME all day. I was trying to be relaxed, but it wasn't really happening. After breakfast in hall, I packed up my bullhorn, computer, and an overnight bag, and headed to the coach station. It took a little over two hours to actually get to London. After leaving my overnight bag at the left luggage site at Charring Cross Station, I only had an hour to eat lunch at the lovely cafe in the crypt at St. Martin in the Fields. I reported to the One and Other Project Office just after 3:00.

After clearing security, validating my identity, and filling in more forms than you do for taking out a mortgage, it was time for interviews: one for an archival project with the Wellcome Trust and the other with TIME. At 4:45, I was fitted with a portable microphone, briefed on Plinth safety, and boarded the JCB. If you are afraid of heights, the JCB lift is probably the hardest part--especially when they tilt it back slightly before lowering in onto the Plinth edge.

Once atop the Plinth, I needed to set up. In retrospect, I should have announced what would be happening, but since I barely had a enough time as it was, that would have cost precious time. Even though the connection worked, I soon discovered that there was a real lag between the U.K. and the U.S. on Twitter. This created the biggest stress during the project. Still, I was able to fill the time by reading poems from the writers who were involved with me on the project.

As for the poem itself, I had only "planned" two things: the title, "Monumental," and the epigraph from Whitman, "I contain multitudes." My first line, which I think was less than inspired, was the first thing that came to mind when I started to write. The rest of the hour (which seemed to last about 10 seconds) is mostly a blur. I remember saying "hi" to the webcam and sending greetings to colleagues at GA Tech and my family, but that's about it. I also managed a few quick photos (included here) from my vantage point. Collin Kelley has posted some photos of me on the Plinth on his blog. In the end, I had just enough time to read the poem, dance a quick jig, and pack up to leave. Of course, there was the final stress of trying to close the chair, which was on loan to me from the project office. For all of you at GT who've made engineering jokes, I'd just like to defend myself by saying that the chair had jammed and it took three people to close it at the office.

Once I was down, I had a final interview with the folks from TIME. Then I left some remarks in the guest book, was given a very cool t-shirt, and toddled off to dinner at a great little Italian bistro near Covent Garden. Later Colin and I caught a train to Southend-on-Sea, but that's a different blog.

As for the final version of "Monumental," you'll have to wait just a bit. There have been inquiries about publishing it, so I can't post it here. I'll let you know as soon as I hear where it will be available.

In Short...

2009-08-02T16:16:00.000-04:00

I'm still a bit exhausted from Plinth Day. I promise a major blog update tomorrow. Much love to you all!

Plinth Eve

2009-07-30T16:35:00.003-04:00

Here I am preparing for my Plinth appearance tomorrow. I can't believe this is REALLY going to happen. I'm feeling the pressure, especially now that a reporter from TIME magazine is going to be covering my appearance.

For all my poetry friends, and those of you who are simply curious, here's what you need to do to follow my poetry project:

You'll need to be online and on Twitter at noon EDT (17:00 British time). You may even want to be on a bit earlier than that. You can watch the web-feed at http://www.oneandother.co.uk/ You'll probably want to do both, so you can see what's going on in the square.

Once I'm settled on the Plinth and have taken a few photographs, 'll initiate a line of original poetry via Twitter. You need to be "following" me (my Twitter id is POETPHD), so you can see what I post. At random I'll pick a name from a list of poets who've agreed to participate and ask her/him to write the next line. Each poet will begin their Tweet with @POETPHD (this directs the message to me so I'm sure to see it, while allowing others to see it as well). Because Twitter is so restricted, each poet can only type 140 characters at a time, so he/she may have two postings for each addition made to the poem. I'm going to be transcribing everything onto my computer and reading it aloud from the Plinth. I will also be randomly calling on people from the crowd, so you will see lines posted by me. There is also a chance that someone will post something via Twitter from a mobile without me expecting it--but that will be part of the fun.

Love to you all...pray for no rain and no technology problems, and that the coach doesn't break down coming from Oxford!

Stonehouse: Old Friends & New Friends

2009-07-27T09:31:00.010-04:00

This weekend we went to visit Colin's oldest friend, Danny. Along with wife Jo and daughter Willow, Danny lives in Stonehouse, which is near Stroud in a part of the Cotswolds I hadn't visited last year. Here are a couple of photos taken from a hilltop. In the landscape photo, the far distance is Wales, and just across the river (and slightly right of center) is Tintern Abbey. Use your imagination. Besides being an architect, Danny is an expert on Ley Lines. You can read all about the subject in Danny's book.

Essentially, this was just a time for old friends to reconnect and new friends to meet. Danny and Jo are delightful, and I'm really glad to have finally met them. Jo is to be commended for her dinner. particularly the Eton Mess pudding which was wonderful!

Auntie Mame & The Plinth

2009-07-24T05:43:00.010-04:00

Thursday was another fairly quiet day, although I had lots of fun playing the part of Auntie Mame. My newest Best Pint-Sized Girlfriend (BPSGF) is Sophia, daughter of one of my colleagues. Sophia, who is only eight, is an absolute expert on the Beatles, and despite an otherwise "bookish" sensibility is exploring her "rock-n-roll" side. Consequently, I offered to paint her nails black to match her new Abbey Road t-shirt. Combined with her denim jacket, she's got it going on. After dinner last night, Colin and I joined Sophia (and dad, John, stepmom, Erin, and sister, Julia, who will be into black nail polish very soon I suspect) for a little champagne social. The highlight of the event was a fabulous card designed by Sophia, which is now among my most treasured possessions. Here is a photo of us.

In news about the Plinth, I want to remind everyone about the fund-raising aspect of my appearance. Poetry Atlanta is a very worthy cause, and we could use your support. Please consider making a donation by clicking here. And there is good news about a bullhorn. It seems that David, Head of Security here at Worcester, has found one for me. Now I just hope that my internet connection will work and that it doesn't rain.

A Quiet Week

2009-07-23T08:03:00.003-04:00

After the lovely, but hectic weekend in Paris, this week has been an exercise in rest. Monday was kept to teaching and the faculty meeting, followed by a poetry workshop a number of students have joined on Monday evenings. With absolutely no credit for class, a group of students have been eager to participate in this group (in fact it was their idea!). Some of the group members had never written poetry, and now have tackled such difficult forms as the sestina.

Tuesday evening was our first formal hall dinner. The students (and the faculty) get a real kick out these events. This year to add to the ceremony, David Roach, head of security, provided the faculty with academic robes to wear. For this dinner I was seated between Stuart, the catering manager, and Simon, the gardener (yes, Carolyn Wood, we included you in spirit). It was my duty to toast the Queen this year. As for the meal, we had a duck appetizer and swordfish--both things I'm usually not all that keen on, but both very good. After dinner, most of us retired to the pub and stayed there until late.

Wednesday afternoon, we joined the University of Alabama faculty for an afternoon cocktail reception. Wednesday evening, still fighting a bit of fatigue from the previous late night, Colin and I joined Richard Barke and wife, Nancy, for dinner at a local restaurant after being turned away from the dining hall which was very full. In all fairness it was cheeseburger night, a favorite for the students, and really my filet of cod with new potatoes and leeks was better for me. Richard had engaged himself with students for the evening, so the three of us went off to yet another candlelight concert at Exeter.

I also found a fairly full mailbox yesterday. Thanks to everyone who sent me a birthday card.

Weekend in Paris

2009-07-22T05:23:00.013-04:00

Thursday night we were off to Paris aboard the Eurostar. Frankly, there just isn't a better way to travel. Some day I hope Americans will understand the benefits of high-speed train travel because it is such an efficient and enjoyable experience. Since we too the 9:00 PM train, we didn't arrive in Paris until 11:30 (time change costs an hour). A quick jump to the Metro and we arrived at the hotel with thunder booming all around. We had no more than stepped into the lobby when the most amazing storm broke free.

By morning the sun was out and the day was nice, albeit a bit windy. With no set itinerary, we just walked around, stopping at a favorite spot, La crêperie Saint-Honoré, near Les Halles for lunch. Then we were off to the Musée d'Orsay for an afternoon with the Impressionists and a bit of afternoon tea with a pistachio tart that was heavenly. Here's a photo of me in the opulent restaurant.

In the evening, we met up with friends Yves and Frederique for dinner at Au Petit Riche, a typical salon-style restaurant. Dinner was wonderful and the company even better!

Saturday took us to the slightly out-of-the-way Musée Marmottan Monet. This is one of those small museums in an old house. For many years this private collection was visited only by art historians. However, when Monet's son, Michael, died, he left loads of money and art to the museum. Many of the works donated are never loaned out, so you can only see them there. Apart from Monet's work, they have the largest collection of works by Berthe Morisot that I've ever seen. This was a real treat. Also, one of my favorite artists is Caillebotte. I discovered a small version of "Paris Street, Rainy Day," that apparently was a gift to Monet and hung over his bed. In the special events gallery was a modern retrospective of photographs by Lucien Clergue. The best part about a museum like this is that it is small enough to see everything and not find yourself overwhelmed.

Lunch was a working class brasserie near the La Muette Metro Station called the Tabac de la Muette. The food was good, but the daily special wine, a Sancerre Rouge (who knew that Sancerre came in red?), was terrific!

After all that walking, we needed a long nap before wandering about again in the evening. The nap helped us miss some afternoon rain storms, so a good idea. For dinner we gave in to a place on the touristy Place de la Contrescarpe in order to miss another rain shower. Then we took the Metro to the Eiffel Tower to watch the light show that happens at the top of each hour.

Sunday morning we explored our more immediate neighborhood and visited the Grand Mosque just around the corner from our hotel. Besides the beauty and peaceful environment, the mosque also has an excellent Tea Salon.

Pictures here show the courtyard garden and me having yummy mint tea. After leaving the mosque, we took another long walk through Place Monge market, down Rue Mouffetard. Sunday is a big market day, so things were lively. We ended the morning at the Jardin du Luxembourg. Here is a photo of Colin.

An early evening stroll through the Jardins des Tuileries took us up to dinner time at the extraordinary Bouillon Racine. Thanks so much to Yves and Frederique who recommended this place. This beautiful Belle Époque restaurant has been operating since 1906; clearly the quality of the cuisine and service are why. For dessert I had a framboisier that almost made me weep it was so good. And, if that wasn't enough, when I called over the Maître de for my compliments, he was so pleased that he brought us (his treat) champagne with Napoleon brandy! It was a really memorable evening in every way.

Monday morning, we rushed back to England on the early morning Eurostar, arriving in Oxford just in time for classes, exhausted but glad for the experience.

Agnes Meadows, Trivia, and Tis Pity

2009-07-16T05:27:00.005-04:00

Tuesday brought poet Agnes Meadows from London. After a leisurely lunch at Cafe Rouge, Agnes met with my class to discuss poetry (and life). Either the students were captivated, or very good at faking engagement. For both Ivy's and Agnes's visits, I've been very proud of my students; in both cases they asked really thoughtful questions. After dinner, Agnes gave a reading which was unsurprisingly brilliant. Toward the end of her reading we had a bit of a thunderstorm which left us with the most amazing rainbow when we were walking to the train station.

Our faculty surprised the students later on Tuesday night by showing up in the Worcester pub for Quiz Night. The quiz-master didn't want to let us play, and we knew right away we wouldn't be allowed to win. In the end we had the highest score, but were penalized twenty points for a variety of concocted reasons. Nevertheless, I think the students got a kick out of our presence, and in some cases I think we really shocked them with our knowledge of non-academic trivia.

Wednesday was a fairly routine day. I gave an extra lecture to another class on academic writing. I hope they found it helpful. After dinner, Colin and I walked the couple of miles to the North Wall Arts Center to see the opening night performance of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore. If you've never taken a course on Jacobean Drama, you may never have heard of the play. The link above is to the director's overview. If you are reading this, and in Oxford for the weekend, I can recommend it, but only if you don't have children. There is a lot of blood (albeit fake) and a disturbing scene with what I assume was a pig's heart skewered on a dagger. If you tend to queasiness, this might not be the performance for you. Also, it is a tragedy in every sense. For a happy ending, go see Twelfth Night. Also for my friends Bob Wood and Matt Hansen, both of whom posted jealous messages on my Facebook page, you might be interested to know that the production completely omitted the characters of Richardetto, Philotis, Poggio, Banditti and Grimaldi. I assume cutting these aspects of the plot were an issue of time and a small company of actors.

I'm off to Paris on Thursday immediately after class. I'll post if I can, but am unsure about internet access. Have a great weekend!

Harpsichord, Loose Muse, Angel Poetry, London, & Whitby

2009-07-14T04:43:00.026-04:00

Last week was a busy week, perhaps the busiest I'll have here. Monday night, we had our usual faculty meeting/dinner--yummy as always. Then we closed down the Worcester pub hosting Colin's college friend Andrew, who he hadn't seen in years. Andrew and wife, Yuriko, are both Jungian analysts--but most of the conversation was just about "catching up" and getting know each other. The only down side to the evening was the smell of the smoky bacon crisps that Colin and Andrew insisted on having. I could do without ever having those again!

Tuesday we went with friend and GT colleague Richard Barke to the second of the Candlelight Concerts at Exeter College. Once again the music was wonderful, and the company was great too!

Wednesday brought the delightful Ivy Alvarez from Wales. Ivy spoke to my class and then gave a reading. Besides being an terrific poet, Ivy has taken up knitting, and because she knew I knit too, brought me some beautiful yarn from Cardiff. Note to Collin Kelley: I have a gift for you from Ivy.

Sadly, I had to rush away and leave Ivy to entertain herself for a couple of hours before she went back home. I rushed to the coach station and got to London's Poetry Cafe with 2 minutes to spare. The other feature, Kate Denny of the folk group the Kittiwakes performed some music from their new CD Lofoten Calling. If you are into folk, you'll definitely want to check out the CD. It was also fantastic to meet Jo Hemmant from Ouroboros Review. On the way back to Oxford we stopped off to see the Plinth. If anyone knows where I can get a battery-powered bullhorn, please let me know! Here is a typical tourist photo of me in Piccadilly Circus.

Thursday I finally got the full "it ain't all it's cracked up to be" experience with British transport. When we were rushing to leave on Thursday to make my 7:00 reading in Islington, we just missed the 4:05 coach. Not a biggie, we thought, since the next one was at 4:20. It arrived, and the inspectors said they didn't like the look of one of the tires, so it wouldn't go. We waited for the 4:35. It, of course, took twice as long to load at every stop because it had all the people waiting for the previous bus. We hopped off at Marble Arch and it took forever to hail a cab. Then the cab driver didn't seem to know exactly where we were going--proof that they no longer have to memorize every street in London! Fortunately we arrived at 7:18, just as the first featured reader was reading her final three poems.

The Angel Poetry reading was great (and I love the stern looks on my and Agnes's faces in this photo, serious poetry here!). I missed most of Anne Welsh, but heard three poems which was enough to know that she is someone to watch for because you will be hearing more about her. Roger Robinson read from his new collection Suckle which is brilliant. Get a taste of what I mean by checking out a reading he has on YouTube. After the reading we adjourned to a pub next door. Colin was thrilled to discover that one of our company was none other than Daevid Allen from Gong and Soft Machine. Here is a link to a photo of Daevid playing a concert in 1974. On the blog you see a photo of Daevid talking to Roger.

Friday morning Colin and I left for Whitby.The train from King's Cross (Platform 6, not 9 & 3/4) to York was fine. Colin's uncle was kind enough to give a ride from York. It takes almost 2 hours, but the drive is through the moors which were already abloom with Heather. We didn't take the train directly to Whitby because it would require two changes, takes 8 hours, and cost £180 (it takes 2 hours and only costs £159 to get to Paris!).

Whitby is delightful! We visited some of Colin's family members, and had a lovely stay with his mum. Included here are photos of Whitby Abbey, the harbor, North Sea coastal shots, and the colorful beach cottages.

Colin bought me an early birthday gift: an exquisite ring made of silver and Whitby Jet. His mum gave me a beautiful Jet and Abalone brooch that belonged to her grandmother. Colin's family has quite the long history in Whitby. In fact, his great-great grandmother was a frequent subject of photographs by Frank Sutcliffe. See her here and here. I also had the absolutely best Indian food I've ever had in a new Whitby restaurant. If you are in Whitby, go to Passage to India.

For the return on Sunday, we arrived at King's Cross to discover that several of the major tube lines were down, but only after we'd bought tube tickets. Once again, we just missed the coach 9:20. The 9:35 left on time, but ran out of gas just before the St. Clement's stop outside Oxford, so we had to wait for the next bus and transfer. It was midnight when we walked through the door, and all I wanted was a hot shower. Alas, the shower wouldn't power on, and I finally washed my feet in the sink and went to bed. In the morning we discovered that our scout had pulled a power cord next to the shower, which was obvious in the light of day but had been utterly invisible at midnight, and one simple tug re-engaged the shower.

It was a long and eventful week.

Wednesday, July 8th

2009-07-09T08:48:00.004-04:00

This will be a short posting which will be followed by a REALLY long one on Monday--with LOTS of photos.

Ivy Alvarez was in Oxford to talk to my students and give a reading. If you haven't already got a copy of her book, Mortal, order it now! Her reading (no surprise here) was great! Unfortunately, I had to rush off for my own reading in London, so we only had a short time together. Note to Collin Kelley: We have to find a way to get Ivy to Atlanta!

My reading in the Loose Muse Series at the Poetry Cafe was great, and unlike last year the weather was much better. Agnes Meadows, host of the series was as lovely as ever. We had a good crowd, and most importantly, I got to meet Jo Hemmant from the very excellent Ouroboros Review. Note to Christine Swint: photo to follow, and we missed you!

On the way back to the late-night coach to Oxford, Colin and I stopped off in Trafalgar Square to see the Plinth up close. All I can say is "WOW!" I can't believe I'm actually going to have the opportunity to stand up there. I talked with some of the One and Other staff, and they offered some helpful suggestions about my upcoming stint. Anyone know where I can get a battery powered bullhorn in London? The staff members have these really cool One and Other t-shirts. I'm hoping maybe there is a participant version t-shirt. Even if I have to pay for it, it would be neat to have one.

Thursday, I'm back to London for my reading at the Waterstone's in Islington. Friday morning, it is off to Whitby, where I will take lots of photos for friend and Dracula scholar, Carol Senf. Since I may not have internet access in Whitby, don't worry if you don't see another posting until Monday.

AJC Plinth Article

2009-07-07T07:23:00.009-04:00

Thanks to Howard Pousner at the AJC for the lovely article about my upcoming slot on the Plinth for the One and Other Project. Thanks too for all the kind regards from so many of you! There are still sponsor minutes available, and 100% of the money goes to Poetry Atlanta.

If you are interested in seeing what the first eight hours (in time-lapse) was like, you can view that from this BBC link.

The live webcam view of the plinth is here.

Finally, this is my personal page on the One and Other site.

July 4th & 5th

2009-07-05T11:19:00.010-04:00

My brother and sister-in-law (Mike & Maureen) were in Oxford for a weekend visit. Honestly, I cannot believe the amazing weather. Friday night we went out to a local Lebanese restaurant I was introduced to last year by Eric Roberts and Lauren Rusk. The food was good and the after-dinner walk through Jericho, with a stop-off for coffee/tea, was a lovely way to end the evening.

Next morning we went on a fairly standard walking tour of Oxford. We began the tour at Christ Church, and decided on a whim to pay to go inside. I didn't do this last year because there were always so many people crowding the place. Since it was first thing in the morning, we essentially had the place to ourselves. The dining hall has eclipsed the Cathedral for many tourists because it served as the set for Harry Potter's Hogwart's Dining Hall. It is an extraordinary place, even without the magic.

After our tour of Oxford proper, and a lunch back at the flat, we took the hour-long walk along the Thames beginning at Folly Bridge and ending in Iffley (with Mike & Colin "helping" at the lock). We visited the old Romanesque church and then went to the Prince of Wales pub for dinner. We all had the fish & chips--some of the best I've ever had. It was good to avoid the Saturday night Oxford crowds, just a few locals and us in the pub. We played a bit of the British version of Trivial Pursuit while we waited for dinner, and Colin's responses aside, we did pretty well for three non-Brits. After the walk back, we caught the last few serves of the Women's Doubles Final at Wimbledon.

This morning we did a bit of shopping, had a late lunch, and then walked Mike & Maureen to the train station. Tonight we are off to Exeter for the first of the candlelight Baroque concerts. In the morning, I'm back to Milton Keynes for what I hope will be the fix for my computer power unit problems.

Computer Problems and Plinth News

2009-07-03T10:31:00.009-04:00

The last 24 hours have been a bit panicked. My computer started acting up, wouldn't take a charge--strange stuff. So this morning I was off to Milton Keynes (not a place on the tourist route--it's a planned city, everything quite shiny and new, in fact it is only as old as me!) to the Apple Store. Absolute kudos to the Apple folks here in the UK (not my experience back home). Long story short, I'll be back in Milton Keynes next week when the part arrives. Meanwhile I'm making best of things. Including photos on the blog may have to wait a couple of days.

As for more important news, those of you in Atlanta should be on the lookout for a article in the AJC about my day on the Plinth. I've decided to take sponsors for each minute I'm on the Plinth and that money will go to support Poetry Atlanta. As many of you know, I'm on the Poetry Atlanta Board; this year we learned that the last bit of grant money we historically got was going away along with the economy getting worse. Times are difficult, but hopefully there are sixty folks interested in poetry who will like the idea of sponsoring my time on the Plinth. It is a way to be part of lots of arts projects with a single donation. You can also score our newly release (and really wonderful) DVD about poetry in Atlanta if you donate at least $25. Donate $100 and I'll tweet to you via the Plinth! More information and the very convenient PayPal link are available at the Poetry Atlanta site. I'm also open to considering a corporate sponsor, wearing a t-shirt or such. If you are such a organization you may contact me by clicking my email link from the blog.

For those of you following my Oxford adventures, yesterday Carole Moore (program Director) hosted her annual 4th of July celebration. A lovely time was had by all, even if a couple days early. Most everyone is off for the weekend. My brother and sister-in-law arrive later today. It is a first visit for both to Oxford.

Back in the Swing

2009-07-01T04:59:00.004-04:00

Tuesday was another fairly uneventful day. The second day of classes was good, and my students actually talked! They seem like a great bunch. The weather is keeping everyone a bit down--85 with no air conditioning (especially in the classrooms) can be oppressive.

We had a lovely little welcome party hosted in the Worcester Pub by the Worcester Staff. It was good to see everyone. I include here a great photo of Carole, Carolyn and Sally for the folks back at GT.

Note to Carolyn Wood: Simon sends his love. As for the gardens, everything looks a little wilted. I'll send you some photos via email.

I'm off to the weekly market on Gloucester Green this morning after having had a lovely first run this morning.

Quiet Monday

2009-06-29T17:25:00.003-04:00

Not a great deal to report for today. The first day of classes is fairly involved. Most of the faculty went for early breakfast at college, although most of the students were apparently too tired to make it. The morning was spent with last minute class preparation, and the afternoon with class. Our first Oxford faculty meeting was this evening, and I had some really lovely sliced tomatoes. The fact that I'm raving about tomatoes should amuse my mother who has figured out how to actually read my blog. Hi Mom & Dad!

After dinner, Colin and I went for a long walk down the Jericho Road. Jericho is where the Oxford University Press is located. I'll try for a photo posting tomorrow.

I hear from GT that one of the parking decks collapsed. I hope no one was injured.

Greetings from England!

2009-06-28T11:50:00.008-04:00

Finally, I have adequate internet access, so I can begin my regular blogs.

We arrived in London on Friday to some of the most beautiful weather ever. It was, frankly, a bit hard to believe it was England! After checking into the hotel, having a shower and short nap, we ventured out for a long walk (with a stop over for dinner). Colin is determined to convince me that London is equal to (actually superior to) Paris, but he still has a way to go. London is lovely, but it is so spread out. We had dinner in Fitzrovia, home to the famous BT Tower. Very much a neighborhood on the rise, it still has the kind of charm (and the lower prices) you find in transitional areas. The set menu at a very good Italian restaurant was on £10 for three courses!

As the sun was setting we found ourselves in St. James's Park near Buckingham Palace. Here is a lovely photo of the view.

The next morning, we went out for another walk--this time over to the South Bank of the Thames. Here is a photo of me with Parliament and Big Ben behind me. Colin took this with his new super wide angel Lumix, so I look a bit "fun-house mirror" but you get the idea.

The lovely Agnes Meadows crossed town to meet us for lunch (bringing along copies of her book for my students). We ate near our hotel by Victoria Station at a noodle shop. The Pad Thai was really delicious. A special note to Collin Kelley: Agnes and I thought we'd found just the boy for you. He was young, with amazing raven black hair and eyes to match. We decided against him, however, when he was walking away and we noticed the absence of an acceptable bum. :-)

In the afternoon, it was off on the coach to Oxford. We got in just in time for dinner at a local French restaurant, and then a short walk before turning in for the night. Today was "setting up the flat day." Really nothing much to report except for a few errands. The students arrive in the late afternoon, and we will meet them for an early dinner. After that we will adjourn to the Worcester Pub to watch the U.S. against Brazil in the Confederation Cup Final. It will be amazing if the U.S. manages yet another stunning upset.

Gearing Up for Summer

2009-06-22T11:02:00.014-04:00

Solstice Weekend Recap:

Thursday evening I went to the Poetry Atlanta DVD launch at the Decatur library. What a treat to see the final cut of the performances! We've been working on this project for two years, and anyone interested in poetry generally, and Atlanta poetry specifically, should get a copy. Remember that Poetry Atlanta is a 100% non-profit endeavor. Every cent we raise (and since the recent economic bust has eliminated what little grant money we used to get) goes to support poetry and poets in Atlanta. You can get your own copy of Trouble and Hope (PayPal accepted!) at the Poetry Atlanta Press site.

Friday evening, Colin and I went off to the Kirkwood Wine Stroll. What a wonderful event! It is so great to live in a real neighborhood, where you actually know people and they know you. It was fun popping from shop to shop and meeting new Kirkwood friends. Without question, the best site (and the best wine) was the Kirkwood Car Wash. Stuart, the owner, has a great sense of humor, which was clearly demonstrated by his Kirkwood Car Wash Lounge: really just the first bay of the car wash, decorated with plants, chairs, Christmas Lights, and fans. The music was good too, although remembering that I actually bought the 45-single of "Car Wash" by Rose Royce made feel a little old. Here are a couple of photos. The one of Colin is good, the one of us with Stuart is a little fuzzy, but you'll get the idea of the atmosphere.

Saturday was dedicated to Father's Day, so I took my dad for dinner--glad to have Dad eating again (even if on a restricted basis). Thanks again to all of you who were so supportive during his recent hospital stay.

Sunday we had a nice group of new and old friends over to celebrate the first day of summer. It was nice to see so many people, and since we will miss most of the summer with them, this was a lovely way to connect.

It has been a busy few days, and now I have to shift to preparations for six weeks in Oxford. As I did last year, I'll be blogging daily from England (with lots of photos and videos). For those of you who might be in England this summer, please note my reading schedule, which includes two in London. Finally, make plans to watch me on the Plinth, 31 July at 17:00 (noon EST). There will be lots more information about the Plinth project in coming days.

Welcome to summer; it's going to be an adventure!

Poetry Atlanta Presents

2009-06-17T11:27:00.004-04:00

Trouble and Hope

A screening of the new DVD with performances by and conversations with Atlanta poets will be tomorrow evening at the Decatur Library, 7:15. DVDs will be for sale at the event. Get yours before they are gone!

Trust me folks, you DO NOT want to miss this.

For more information about the event, click here.

The Fourth Plinth

2009-06-15T09:29:00.005-04:00

"This summer 2,400 people from all over the UK will create an incredible living monument – the brainchild of the artist Antony Gormley. Every hour, 24 hours a day for 100 days, a different person will step up to the Fourth Plinth and help make a living portrait of the UK now." (click photo for more info)

And, on July 31, 17:00-18:00 BST, I'll be one of the 2400 people who will stand on the plinth. For that hour, I can do anything I like--assuming it isn't illegal.

For my part, I am planning a kind of poetry project integrating all of you! I want to use my blog, Facebook, and Twitter, to create poems on the plinth. Right now my biggest challenge in finding the right technology. Essentially, I can take anything onto the plinth that I can carry. What I need is a lightweight laptop with a battery that will last for an hour (or has an easily swappable battery. Most importantly I need internet access via a card because I'm pretty positive I can't get wireless up there. So if any of you are connected with Apple Computer or Virgin Mobile, I'd love some help. It is very difficult to get temporary internet access via a card in another country.

Also, I'm not sure how many other Americans will be taking part. I qualified because I will be living and teaching at Worcester College, Oxford again this summer. I'd love to hear from others who are taking part too. Obviously, I feel really privileged to be taking part; I want to make everyone proud!

This is the first of many postings about this, so stay-tuned...

Of Hospitals and Secrets

2009-06-12T10:19:00.006-04:00

First, a big shout out to everyone who has been using social networking on Twitter and Facebook to share their concern and support for me and my dad. I am absolutely amazed by the power of these systems to connect people. Fortunately, Dad is better today, although still in the hospital. He may have an extended recovery ahead, but it looks like the "worst case scenarios" have been eliminated from the diagnosis list.

For those of you who have emailed about "the secret" I hinted about in my last post, all I can say is that I will be able to spill the beans on June 15. Be on the lookout because this is very cool news. Also, I will be wanting feedback from everyone because this news will involve you all in a very interactive way.

In other happy news, review copies of Sassing are beginning to circulate. For those of you who have purchased a copy, THANKS! Don't be shy--post a review on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, or the Amazon site. Having a successful book of poetry means having a network of people willing to weigh in and help with marketing. If you want to share more brief thoughts, please contact me and I will do a posting filled with these.

Tomorrow evening the next Atlanta Poets Dinner will be the highlight of my day. I can't wait to see what wonders come out of this gathering. The previous two have been fantastic events.

While I'm off cavorting with the poets, Colin will probably be playing with his new Lensbaby. Today's photo was taken by Colin using the new lens, and reflects two of his favorite things: photography and chess.

Secrets are Difficult

2009-06-05T07:45:00.004-04:00

This is especially true when you have BIG news that you have to keep quiet for a time. Stay tuned though, because the announcement is coming soon. Hint: it involves poetry, London, and a webcam.

Shameless Self-Promotion

2009-06-02T15:34:00.012-04:00

My new book, Sassing, has just been released from WordTech Editions. Thanks to everyone who has helped make this happen!

Following are the teaser and blurbs about the book (with ordering links at bottom):

The narratives of Karen Head’s Sassing are mournful but defiant tales, seeking a place of repose “somewhere between/the smoldering ruins of Atlanta/and a base near the Berlin Wall.” Head’s poems find that elusive place in their hard-edged music.

Praise for Sassing

“Karen Head’s Sassing creates a perfect balance of lyric and narrative impulses. Girls born of Southern mothers will shudder with recognition at the earlier generation’s insistence on maintaining appearances. Survivors of domestic violence will cheer the independent spirit that emerges here. Any reader who feels sustained by song and narrative will admire the composure, wit, and delicious detail in this autobiography not just of a poet, but also of a place and time.”
—Marilyn Kallet

“What a pleasure it is to have this new book from Karen Head, whose distinctive voice offers us a rich counterpoint to Southern male voices such as James Dickey and David Bottoms. These poems enter the experiences of women and compel us to feel the textures of their lives. This is work that is strong and true. It shares with us a ‘prayer for what cannot be destroyed.’”
—Judson Mitcham

“Sassing is a vibrant collection filled with vivid sound bites of Southern life. Karen Head writes with precision, poignancy and power, exploring an energetic mosaic of family history, memories of folks living on the knife-edge of eccentricity, the rage of the rebellious child and the inevitability of heartache that follows. Even if you’ve never been within a thousand miles of Georgia, you’ll recognize the characters that people her poetry, know the emotions she so eloquently describes.”
—Agnes Meadow

You can order direct from the press, from Amazon, or from Barnes & Noble. You can also ask your favorite independent bookstore to order it for you. The ISBN is 978-1934999592.

Last Week in Recap

2009-06-01T09:39:00.008-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posting, but as I draw closer to my departure for Oxford, I find little extra time for blogging. Plus, last week was packed with events.

The highlight of the week was the group reading of Whitman's Song of Myself at Composition Gallery here in Atlanta. A lovely photo stream is available here from the ever glorious Cleo Creech. The evening, and it's success, is owed to Rupert Fike. Thanks Rupert for a terrific event!

As many of you know, I'm a bit of a gastronaut--especially where a good local diner is concerned. Reader of this blog saw my posting about Ann's Snack Bar recently, but thanks to Atlanta Intown Newpaper, that post is getting a new life. You should check out the newest edition of the paper online for a wonderful article about burgers in Atlanta.

Congratulations to Cheslea for their FA Cup victory over Everton. I didn't really care who won, but the folks at the Brewhouse Pub in Little Five Points are always great! I especially enjoy all the certified (or is that certifiable) hooligans who come out every week to cheer for their team. That is except for the fair-weather Manchester United fans who were apparently still licking their wounds after that embarrassing loss to Barcelona on Wednesday. Note to American soccer fans: No matter who plays in the match, you are supposed to watch the FA Cup Final--complete with the singing of "Abide with Me" to get things started.

New Poetry: Gorizia Notebook

2009-05-22T16:22:00.009-04:00

Fellow poet, Bob Wood (officially that is Robert E. Wood) has a new book coming out from Finishing Line Press. It's been about a couple of years since I discovered that Bob had written a bunch of really great poetry...twenty years ago! Anyway, after a metaphorical swift quick to the bum, I convinced him he needed to get back in what Collin Kelley calls the PoBiz.

Apparently other folks have begun to discover what I realized reading those poems from twenty years past. Bob is good. Journals have begun snatching up his work, and now a new chapbook. The poems reflect a summer spent in the small Italian town of Gorizia. They are lyrical and very often profound. But, don't take my word for it. Here is the blurb from award-winning poet, Grace Bauer:

"In Gorizia Notebook Robert E. Wood captures the sense of awe and displacement any American is apt to feel in Italy: All that history! All that Art! Dante, Michelangelo, Rilke, Joyce, Ghiberti, Antonioni, 'a little Freud,' and other ghosts haunt the 'world of glimpses' he meanders through, delighted with all he sees, but also confounded by the shops that are closed 'on Mondays, holidays / and whenever you are there.' Wood’s spare, insightful poems help us recognize the 'transparency of borders.' He’s a tour guide par excellence."

As many of you poetry folks know, Finishing Line Press has a pre-order system. Not that I'm the least bit concerned that Bob will have any problem making the initial 50, but I'm still giving the shout out to everyone to order their copy now. Authors are listed alphabetically, so you have to scroll to the bottom to find the appropriate link. The site is PayPal friendly, so ordering is easy. In fact, go ahead and order two copies--you can sell one for loads of profit when Bob wins some big poetry award.

Oh Captain, My Captain

2009-05-18T15:46:00.004-04:00

Calling all Whitman fans!

Rupert Fike has orchestrated, along with the folks at Composition Gallery and Poetry Atlanta, a marathon reading of "Song of Myself" to commemorate the 190th birthday of Walt Whitman.

Make plans now to join the celebration. Local writers, artists, teachers, and other notables will be reading this great poem, beginning to end--one long barbaric yawp.

Saturday May 30th 2009, 8pm
Composition Gallery

Event Information here.

Hot Topics That Shouldn't Be: Marriage

2009-05-13T10:04:00.007-04:00

Most of you know I prefer poetry to politics, but sometimes you just have to take a stand. There is a great deal of talk these days about marriage rights, that is, who should be allowed to marry and who should not. Really this has been a hot political issue since Karl Rove and his team decided it was the best way to get certain voting blocks to the polls in order to get "W" elected. Of course the issue goes back farther than that; it was Clinton who signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. Still, it was Rove and crew who figured out that adding DOMA legislation to any ballot favored their interests. Then came Miss California and yet another media firestorm.

As for defending marriage, I've had the same stance for a long time. If you want to "defend" marriage then you have to ban divorce except in cases of abuse or other life threatening circumstances. Give everyone one shot with the over-21 person of his/her choice. And, as for domestic partnerships, those disappear. Everyone gets one-time access to the rights and privileges that accompany marriage. Since more than 50% of marriages end in divorce, and since gays and lesbians have been unable to marry, it seems to me that the need to "defend" marriage lies squarely on the heterosexual community.

In one sense I'm engaging in a bit of Swift-like satire here, but not entirely. Frankly, I think the entire argument is pretty silly. However, I understand that some folks feel passionately about trying to block this for religious reasons. In that case, I have one additional solution. Let's make "marriage" the purview of churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious venues. The state rights part of the equation is left to the probate courts. Let's have something like the European model. If you want the rights, you must go to the courthouse. If you want sanctification, go to your religious group. Everyone has equal access to the courthouse, and every religious group can decide what they will or will not sanctify.

Of course, this is a complicated problem for lots of other reasons. I decided to blog about this yesterday when I read an op-ed by Jennifer Finney Boylan, explaining how transgendered people face another set of challenges where marriage is concerned. In fact, many transgendered people are in same-sex marriages that are legal. She does a wonderful job explaining why we should be "more concerned with the love a family has than with the sometimes unanswerable questions of gender and identity."

We have lots of big problems facing us as a country: the economy, the environment, poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, etc. Shouldn't we be channeling our energies into fixing these problems? Haven't we already decided that equal rights are fundamental to our culture? Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness--I thought that was a done deal in 1776.

Twitter Poets Unite!

2009-05-12T11:12:00.002-04:00

Kudos to Collin Kelley for calling B.S. on Mashable.com when they listed 100 writers who use Twitter, failing to include any poets. Frankly, I'm new to Twitter, but not that new. And, many of the poets (he gives an extensive list) I know have been on Twitter since the beginning. Maybe it is the natural inclination to condensed language, making every word count, that naturally draws poets to Twitter. Whatever the reason, the Mashable snub is just one more bit of evidence supporting the argument that poets are marginalized. As I say to my students all the time...reading poetry shouldn't scare you, and if you think you don't like poetry, you simply haven't read the right poet's work yet.

So, read Collin's blog and then read some poetry or go to a local poetry reading. This is a call to arms folks, MOVE!

My Dad, Internet Surfer

2009-05-11T09:58:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I set up an internet connection at my parents' house. I bookmarked this page for them. Let's see if they actually read it and comment about this comment.

Tech support from England is going to prove challenging; I just KNOW it!

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

2009-05-08T14:31:00.004-04:00

Last night Colin (S.O.) and I went to hear the ASO's performance. Here's the program:

Liszt: Orpheus
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 58
Debussy: Prélude à "L'après-midi d'un faune"
Debussy: La mer

Many of you know I'm into writing Ekphrastic Poetry (poetry about art), so I was keen to hear the prélude because Debussy based his work on a poem (same title) by Mallarmé. When Debussy played the piece for him, Mallarmé said, "I didn't expect anything like this. It is music that brings out the feeling of my poem, providing it with a warmer background than color." It is a lovely piece, and apparently is rarely performed. The ASO's performance was excellent.

I also really enjoyed the ASO's interpretation of Orpheus (another example of ekphrasis, although more generally conceived). The performance of Beethoven's concerto was quite good with Louis Lortie on piano. Music Director and Conductor, Robert Spano joined Lortie for an impromptu duet as an encore before intermission. I didn't catch the name of the piece, although it seemed familiar and sounded French. It was fun to watch the two men, side-by-side, crossing hands and playing together on a single keyboard. The final piece, La Mer, was okay, but didn't impress me as much as the others. However, if you are big on percussion, this piece has a thundering finale.

You can still catch this program today and tomorrow. If your mom likes classical music, this would be a good Mother's Day gift. Go to Lenox Mall or Underground Atlanta and get tickets for half-price on the day of a performance.

My Paris Year: Redux

2009-05-04T13:42:00.006-04:00

The good folks over at All Nations Press just emailed to say that the first printing of My Paris Year has sold out! Thanks to everyone who purchased a copy. The second printing is underway and copies are available on pre-order for those of you who are still interested.

In a related note, the newest broadside from Blue Fifth Review is now available. Sam Rasnake, editor, also published a copy of selections from My Paris Year. If you're into sampling before you buy, here is the link. Three more poems are available from ouroboros review at this link. Both journals deserve a look, even if you aren't interested in reading my work.

2009 Pulitzer Prize Winner and Nominated Finalists

2009-04-27T12:28:00.003-04:00

Another year and another Pulitzer Prize in Poetry.

From the official Pulitzer website I quote the following:

For a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to “The Shadow of Sirius,” by W. S. Merwin (Copper Canyon Press), a collection of luminous, often tender poems that focus on the profound power of memory.

Finalists

"Also nominated as finalists in this category were: “Watching the Spring Festival,” by Frank Bidart (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), a book of lyric poems that evinces compassion for the human condition as it explores the constraints that limit the possibility of people changing the course of their lives; and “What Love Comes To: New & Selected Poems,” by Ruth Stone (Copper Canyon Press), a collection of poems that give rich drama to ordinary experience, deepening our sense of what it means to be human.

First, I have to be a bit nit-picky. I've used italics to mark this quotation. Everything else is exactly as printed on the website. I'm appalled that the folks over at Pulitzer.org don't know that book titles are underlined or italicized, not placed between quotation marks.

Second, I am happy to see that Cooper Canyon Press continues to do so well.

Third, while I respect W.S. Merwin, I would have liked to see Ruth Stone win. I'm always happy to see the lesser know poets get the kind of boost this prize can give them, not to mention the cash. Merwin doesn't need that kind of help. And for those of you who would argue that it is about the quality of the book, that doesn't hold much water at this level. If you are finalist for this award, your book is great. Ultimately, the final decision is an aesthetic choice made by three people, all of whom could go a different direction on a different day.

Anyway, this is a good time to remind everyone to support living poets by purchasing their books. There is so much excellent work being produced. And, if you think you don't like poetry, I argue you simply haven't read the right poetry for your tastes. Keep reading!

Don't Miss This...

2009-04-21T12:08:00.005-04:00

Before it is too late, and apparently that may be at the end of May, all you Atlanta folks need to get over to Memorial Drive and eat a burger at Ann's Snack Bar. Miss Ann's burgers have become legendary--just check the Wall Street Journal and CNN for the glowing reviews. Some national reviewers have said that Miss Ann's burgers are the best in the U.S.; others proclaim that these burgers are the best in the world!

However, there are few things you ought to know before you go for a visit. First, be prepared to wait. Collin Kelley and I went recently. We arrived at 11:00 (Miss Ann opens sometime around 11:30 or whenever she has her prep the way she wants). Because we were not two of the first eight people in line, we waited until almost 1:00 for our turn. Miss Ann hand patties every single burger and cooks to order. There are only eight stools at the counter, and she doesn't do take-out. Actually, you can get your order to-go, but you have to have a seat at the counter and wait just like the folks who are eating there. Collin and I left very full and very happy (despite the ridiculous wait) just before 2:00.

Some other rules you need know are these.

1) If you don't see an empty stool, do not go inside. Miss Ann will tell you to leave. I suspect this has as much to do with fire codes as anything, but watching people get "kicked out" is part of the charm of this place.

2) Do not speak until spoken to. Miss Ann is busy working. She doesn't have time for chit-chat. As for your own chit-chat, keep it low, and under no circumstances talk on your mobile phone. Miss Ann will give you a lecture about how other people do not care about your conversation, how you are rude, and how you may now leave.

3) If you happen to be seated next to someone famous (and you likely will be), do not ask for an autograph. Miss Ann believes everyone is there to eat.

4) Know what you want. While you are waiting, you can peer through the window and memorize the menu. Questions not apparent from the menu include whether you want onions (cooked, not raw) and if you want lettuce and tomato. You should also decide if you want a combo with fries. As for a drink, you can have canned Coca-Cola products, tea, or lemonade. Fair warning: the tea and lemonade only come sweetened, and when I say "sweetened" I mean diabetic shock levels.

5) Once your food arrives, cease talking and eat. There will be a long line of people waiting.

6) Follow any other order Miss Ann gives. Failure to do so will result in ejection.

Miss Ann has been running the Snack Bar for about thirty years. It is true that things are her way or the highway, but she earns that privilege every time she puts a burger in front of someone. Frankly, in this "the customer is ALWAYS" right world in which we live, I admire the likes of Miss Ann. Her rules aren't inappropriate, and let's face it, some customers are simply rude, not right.

Another warning: the speciality of the house is the Ghetto Burger. This monstrosity has what I would estimate to be about a pound of ground beef, not counting the bacon, cheese, onions, etc. Miss Ann will give you some aluminum foil to wrap up the left-overs, but be prepared for a burger bigger than any you've ever seen.

Finally, you are probably asking, "Is it worth it?" The answer is, "YES!" I've actually eaten at two Michelin Five Star Restaurants in my life, and I wouldn't wait as long for either as I did for Miss Ann. This is an Atlanta institution--don't miss your chance.

Sassing Soon

2009-04-20T14:55:00.003-04:00

My newest book, Sassing, should be out very soon from WordTech Editions. I just approved the final page proofs, and I'm including here the final mock-up of the cover. More availability information to follow...

OK, OK...I finally got the message.

2009-04-16T20:18:00.003-04:00

And, I might add, some time. Thanks to all of you who have been pestering me about getting back to the old blog, especially Collin Kelley, JC Reilly, and Bob Wood.

So, there has been quite a bit of news. First, there are books! My Paris Year came out in January from All Nations Press. Sassing is due out in June from WordTech Editions. Links to the publishers' sites are listed in my links section.

I've given lots of readings in the last few months: Callanwolde, Poetry @ Tech, Wordsmith's (so sadly gone), Charis Books, just to name a few. Thanks to everyone who has been out to support me!

I tried my hand at another blog about Atlanta restaurants, but no one seemed to be reading it. I'll transfer some of that information here, and continue with no particular time table to add additional reviews.

Otherwise, I'll focus on action with the books, along with some random musings about writing and life in general. FYI, for all of you who loved my Oxford postings from last year: I am going back this June, so you can look forward to another six weeks of such tales.

XOXO!

Paying the Piper

2008-08-02T14:04:00.002-04:00

Today's blog title is true in more ways than one.

Last night I went to a "clean out the cabinets" party at the Hobbit House. Let's just say that champagne, wine, and Jack Daniels are not a good combination. I can, however, report that the up-close view of an English toilet is much the same as an American toilet. At my age, I should know better. Maybe it was a subconscious attempt to make the separation from Oxford somehow easier. Tonight I have to take a turn as chaperon (how's that for ironic?)--making sure our students are smarter than I was!

The high point of my day came when my students debuted their Jane Austen film adaptations. I will blog one final time about Oxford when I am back in Atlanta. In that post I will provide a link to these films. I'm very proud of my students!

I leave very early tomorrow morning, and I will be reporting for work first thing Monday. Paying the piper, indeed!

These six weeks have been some of the happiest of my life. Thanks to EVERYONE who made that possible. Heartfelt hugs and kisses to you all. I leave you now with the master's words:

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber’d here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to ’scape the serpent’s tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.”
(Midsummer Night's Dream, V, i. 440-455)

Nescit cedere, and I guess if you say so...

2008-08-01T13:55:00.007-04:00

Finally, I made it over to Corpus Christi College to see the place upon which my alma mater, Oglethorpe University, was supposedly modeled. First, there is no "gray stone and mortar" in the original. I suppose OU's library does resemble the main tower, but frankly, if I hadn't been looking for it, I just wouldn't have made the connection. Nevertheless, the porters at Corpus Christi (which is almost always closed to the public it seems) immediately granted me access when I mentioned Oglethorpe--they even pulled out a special commemorative coin with the likeness of James Edward Oglethorpe, himself! If I'd known, I could have made arrangements to visit their rare book archive to see the Oglethorpe Bible (a famous collection of biblical stories printed in the early 16th century and donated to the College by JEO in the 1700s). Oh well, next time. Here are two photos from Oxford and a comparison from OU.

Cavorting with the Enemy or No Petrels Were Set Fire To For The Sake of this Blog Posting

2008-07-31T17:56:00.004-04:00

Friend, and fellow Oglethorpe Class of '98 alum, Jamie McClung and I had a lovely visit this evening. Jamie is now the Assistant Director of the UGA-Oxford Program, and despite a crushing defeat by GT-Oxford in the football/soccer game last night, he invited me over for a tour of Trinity College. Afterwards, we went round for a couple of pints and reminiscences. Good fun! Oddly enough, we look as if we phoned ahead about wardrobe--notice the green shirts, jeans, and flip flop fashion coordination! Also, they have some very odd art and garden statements over at Trinity. Here I include a couple.

And while we where dining with the Provost...

2008-07-31T15:06:00.003-04:00

our 2008 GT-Oxford football (read: soccer) team was kicking a little UGA-Oxford butt! The overall record of wins is 9-1, Jackets over Dawgs. Go Jackets!

Here is the lodge door posting from this morning and a photo of the team taken by one of our students.

Teaching and Dinner with the Provost

2008-07-31T14:14:00.012-04:00

One thing I haven't spent as much time talking about as I should it teaching. Even though it sounds like we are doing nothing but going on trips to glorious places, attending champagne receptions, and talking long walks, we have, in fact, been doing the important work of teaching. Having been graduated from a small, private, liberal arts college (and yes, the phrasing there is correct: they graduated me), I know the luxury of having small classes in lovely surroundings with professors who not only know my name, but interact with me well beyond the classroom. That is exactly the experience our students have had here at Oxford--a very strange concept for most GT students. What's more, these students have had the opportunity interact with all the faculty, even those who taught other classes. I've also had the added benefit of being a "student" again. As you all know, I've been sitting in of the intro to programming class which was a real challenge to me. The students have been amazed that I actually show up for class (I think I missed once when I was sick). A few posts back I commented that I think sitting in this class has helped me be a more reflective teacher. Overall, this experience has been the kind for which I spent years preparing. For the last couple of days, I gone about taking photos of some of the classes. Somehow, I've become the resident photographer mostly because I take tons of photos, not because I'm really good. As an aside I will add that Colin is a professional, and yesterday he gave a wonderful open lecture on the ethical implications of graphic manipulation complete with some samples of his own, very excellent art photography. That is another example of how the teaching here is so great.

This is what Intro to CS looks like in Oxford. Check out the scenery--I teach in this same room. Wow!

Here are my students out filming for their final project. This group is adapting a scene from Mansfield Park, and are explaining their work to one of the Worcester porters, Roy.

Here I am working with students on the editing portion of their project. We had just overcome a HUGE technological nightmare. Whew!

And in the category of medieval history meets engineering, here are Carole Moore's students with their trebuchet and castles. The trebuchet is functional, and was used to destroy the castles.

Okay, so back to those fabulous parties we go to because I know that's what you're REALLY here to read!

Last evening the faculty (and remaining partners) were invited into the Provost's home for dinner. We met in his private garden for champagne, then ambled to the formal dining room (the table comfortably sat our party of sixteen) for a wine-paired, multi-course extravaganza of food. Thank goodness I've been getting plenty of exercise, formal and leisure, or I would be twenty pounds heavier from eating on this trip! After dinner we had coffee/tea in the drawing room--there is a harpsichord and an amazing collection of art, including the principal piece by Dutch landscape artist, Jacob van Ruysdael. Het is zeer het mooie schilderen! The Provost and his wife are charming hosts. The whole affair was delightful, and I think we all looked very smart!

Provost's Garden Party

2008-07-29T16:59:00.006-04:00

Tonight the Worcester Provost invited all the students and faculty to a champagne reception in his private garden. The weather, which had been dicey all day, turned just in time for the gathering. I have tons of photos, but I include only a couple here. This was one of my favorite events, mostly because the students were having so much fun. The assistant director of catering at Worcester, Marion, was injured before our second Formal Table. Tonight the entire student body serenaded her with the GT fight song--the complete version with "Fight, Win, Drink, Get Naked!" at the end. Oddly, it was rather touching.

Here is my class. From left to right, front to back: Amanda, Shelley, Katie Ruth, Katie, me, Liz, Molly, Gwen, Rebecca, Bryn, Josh, and Charlie.

And, your 2008 GT Oxford Faculty (again left to right, front to back): Roberta, me, Carolyn, John, Bob, Bob, Colin, Jim, and Carole.

La terre est bleue comme une orange

2008-07-29T05:38:00.003-04:00

Okay all you fellow poets who have been emailing me giving me crap about not getting enough poetry written while I'm in England. Believe it or not, I have managed to get some work done! Actually I have been reading French Surrealist Poetry, especially by Paul Eluard. Today's blog title comes from his famous L'amour la poésie (1929) and is alluded in the following. As most of you know, I don't really write love poems because they are so often trite. However, I do like playing with the love poem in the context of surrealism. I also like paired poems, so I've combined those issues for the two poems I include here. Please note, these are for "a limited time only" release. I will delete them when I get back to the U.S. next week because I want to circulate them for publication. Enjoy!

The Reason for So Much Love Poetry

Not everything in life should make sense.
Eluard knew it. So did Magritte.
Sometimes love is a water-filled tumbler
balanced atop an umbrella,
later it’s a train emerging from your chest
the channels of your heart emptied.
If the earth is blue like an orange,
love is an invisible cloak embossed
with aubergine apples and ochre hydrangeas,
or whatever else the moment demands.

The Reason for So Much Loss of Love Poetry

Because we focus too much on because—
refuse to believe the fantastic,
won’t allow for incongruity,
rush headlong into reason
not really checking the traffic on either side,
are astounded when emotion flattens us,
can’t understand why we didn’t see it coming,
and even in the last flicker of possibility,
aren’t using our senses, none of them—
disown the heart still struggling to keep us alive.

Friends, friends, and the Final Week

2008-07-28T18:47:00.006-04:00

Sunday began my final week in Oxford. Time has flown by and this really has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life! In the morning I went to Friends (Quaker) meeting. Here are some photos for everyone at Atlanta Meeting. Essentially the Meeting House is two buildings. The first faces a main street, St. Giles, and the second house is behind the first. There is garden in between. The house out back serves as the main Meeting House. The front part is for offices, and has a small room for weekday worship.

Midday Sunday, I walked out to the ToysRUs--about a 40 minute walk, one way. All I can say is that a certain BGMF who adores Dr. Who better damn well like his gift! Also, I'm "happy" to report that visiting a ToysRUs in England is the same nightmare it is in the U.S.

Sunday evening the GT faculty were invited to a reception by the Alabama faculty. It was a lovely event, but the heat was absolutely oppressive. I realize that high 80's doesn't seem like much to you all in Atlanta, but with no air-conditioning anywhere, it was a little much. The remainder of the evening was spent drinking too much wine at a local bar.

Today I found myself a bit wrung out, but at least not hung-over. It was a pretty standard teaching day. On the CS front, I am thrilled to report that my end-of-term project has been completed and turned in. I have not received my grade, but I think the project is passable. My little programming turtle, Coco, has worked her little shell off. This evening we had our last faculty meeting. Meanwhile, my students have been busy filming for their final project--they are doing a great job! I can't wait to see the final cut.

In the category of "much to incredible to report" but probably well-suited for poetry: Tonight there was the most amazing thunderstorm--apparently not a terribly common event in these parts. I absolutely adore a good lightening show, and this was one I will remember for a long time. < pleasant sigh> Lovely!

The Cricket & Peacock

2008-07-26T17:59:00.011-04:00

Doesn't that sound like the name of a pub? Actually, it is a description of the two key components of my very warm Saturday.

Apart from working with Coco, my programming turtle, on my final project for CS, I decided to make today a somewhat leisurely experience. I heard from Peter, one of the porters, that there would be a cricket match at Worcester this afternoon. Since I don't really know much about the game, I thought I'd see what the fuss is about. Well, first, there is no real fuss. Actually, watching cricket is ALMOST as exciting as watching paint dry. Apparently, you get a bunch of guys who have white clothes together and go to a field--one kept entirely for this purpose, and on which, interlopers are threatened on terms just short of death not to walk. There is a bowler, who hurls the ball at a well-padded batsman, who attempts to "protect" a silly bunch of sticks, called a wicket. Essentially, this whole process can, and does, go on for days--no, literally, it can go on for DAYS! At least I had some champagne to drink and a large tree under which I napped some.

On the way back to the cottage, I had to go through the main quad. A wedding reception had just begun. Now here is a question: Why do English women wear these silly little, leafy things in lieu of a hat? I think I saw a photo of Prince William's girlfriend wearing one of these things. They look ridiculous. If you can't afford a proper hat, I think you should simply go bare-headed. I'm just saying...

This evening, I went to the Trout Inn for dinner. The food was very good, and the location (three miles up the tow path in Wolvercote on the Thames) was picturesque. In the middle of dinner, a peacock began to walk around the tables. Perhaps it was Flannery O'Connor reincarnated. Incredible!

Tonight, I graded a bit and then worked on my CS project. I can't believe I'm going home in a week. Five weeks have passed so quickly.

The lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagination all compact.

2008-07-26T03:34:00.005-04:00

The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
A Midsummer Night's Dream, 5. 1

Last night I went to see a promenade production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in Headington Hill Park. The set was scattered throughout the park, and like the fairies in the play the audience darted to and fro following the players. Oberon and Titania (played as a drag queen) walked about on stilts, players raced around on a Vespa scooter, and in the end they danced the Bergomask to The Door's singing "Break on Through." It was a very good production.

Overall the play had a kind of bittersweetness for me (as it often does), but tonight I think that was symptom of getting news of a friend's death just before leaving for the park. I will not dwell on the details here, but for those of you who knew Nick Spencer, I will say this: He was a kind man, and a brilliant scholar and teacher. Our world is less without him, but heaven is improved.

Ah, the Sweetness & Goofiness of It All

2008-07-24T17:38:00.005-04:00

What a terrific birthday! Thanks to everyone who sent cards, e-cards, Facebook messages, and emails.

This morning I took a walk, as promised in my last post. I also took some photos. I thought you might like to see how beautiful it is where I run. Except for one male goose that jumps into the path and hisses at me every time I go by, the place is just about perfect.

My students brought cake to class and sang me a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday--so loud, in fact, I thought we might engender the ire of one of the Fellows on the staircase. Anyway, the gesture was heartwarming, and since none of my students is doing poorly in my class, "sucking up" doesn't seem the likely motivation. :-)

This evening, Bob & Carolyn hosted a champagne and hors d'oeuvres party on my behalf, with a cake almost too exquisite to eat. The one REALLY GOOFY photo of me shows almost all my birthday gifts in a single shot. Here is a list:

Caroline: Beautiful Silver Bracelet
Carolyn & Bob: Official Worcester Scarf
Carole & Carolyn: Bottle of proper good hard cider
Grace: Art Deco Bird Brooch (unfortunately hidden under scarf)
Colin & Lesley: Charivari Agréable performing Francois Couperin CD (image that playing in the background)
John & Lydia: Lovely bouquet of yellow flowers (inside the cottage)

And, because I did not go to Wales...I bought myself (with a bit of scheming to allow it) an Oxford Doctoral Bonnet. Now I'll be the coolest kid at graduation! Yeah, I know...I'm a geek.

Thanks again to everyone for making my day so special!

High Table #2

2008-07-23T17:31:00.005-04:00

So, it is much the same story tonight as last. We had our second Formal Hall. Unfortunately, it was clouded by an accident at the beginning. I'm not much for airing that sort of thing, but let's hope everyone is okay.

Tomorrow is my birthday: 41 to be exact. Not a particularly monumental one, but not wholly insignificant considering the location. What will I wish for, you might wonder? Of course, if I tell you it won't come true, so I must remain silent. Maybe my turtle, Coco, can concoct something fabulous for me! Many wonderful things have happened over the last month--perhaps I should merely be content with those events, many of which have been filled with more laughter than I remember experiencing in a long time. One thing I have learned at this point in life is that, more frequently than not, it is the unexpected (and quietly, slight--like a blue heron along a riverbank) surprises that are most wonderful. Here is a poem I wrote about that very thing:

Rara Avis

How does it happen?
You find yourself in a strange city,
the kind of place catalogued by Baedeker,
walking along a river, usually,
pretending to enjoy your solitude
as the afternoon edges into evening,
when suddenly, it’s always sudden,
you round a corner, where
you had not planned a turn,
to find yourself
just beyond the cathedral,
the palace, the museum,
duty free, fumbling for your guidebook
only to discover
something or someone
you didn’t know
you needed to find.

I'll start the morning with a walk around Worcester Lake. I'm not up for a run, but a walk will be a good thing, I think--but no high heels!

High Table #1

2008-07-23T05:01:00.002-04:00

Sorry I don't have any photos for today, but I spent the morning in bed trying to recuperate from the nastiness that has infected my lungs. This evening I did feel well enough to put on a happy face and a fancy dress (although I almost backed out at the last moment) and attend the first of two Formal Halls, but forgot my camera. This ceremonial event is a formal dinner, complete with processional, Latin prayer, toasts to guests of honor (staff from Worcester and, of course, The Queen, although she was not in attendance), and faculty sitting at High Table. I was glad, in the end, that I had made it through--everyone seemed to have a really lovely time. The event ended with the students singing the GT fight song, which was, in fact, quite charming.

After Formal Hall, some of the faculty retired to the Worcester Pub for a couple of pints (I only had a half-pint) with some of the Worcester staff. It is rather convenient to have a pub on the grounds. The conversation was enjoyable, and I will admit to being more than amused by what seems to be an odd curiosity about my ability to negotiate the world in high-heels. I only brought two pairs with me, and I only wear them when I'm dressed up, but everyone seems to wonder at my not falling over or stepping in grates or suffering some other shoe inspired accident--although even I marvel at my not killing myself one evening as I raced with friend Andrew across Oxford cobblestones at a rate that was truly ridiculous! Of course, Faith Whittlesey put it best, I think, when she observed, “Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did, backwards and on high heels.” In many ways life is more difficult for women, but I must say, I really like being a "girl." The other odd moment was when the jukebox shuffled to Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light." How's that for a blast from the past?!

At 8:00 PM, I had emcee duties at the poetry reading given by Bob Wood and, new friend from Stanford, Lauren Rusk. Bob and Lauren were particularly well-paired, I thought, and the reading was exceptionally good. Both of them have a love for ekphrastic poetry, and the audience was treated some excellent examples. This was Bob's first "feature" reading since he started back writing after a twenty-plus-year hiatus. Lauren's reading was wonderful, and really stirring at times. Her final piece about being in Oxford at an anti-war rally was a highlight.

Paris, Labyrinth, Friends, & Nano-Hotel Rooms

2008-07-21T09:20:00.014-04:00

On Friday morning, Grace and I headed off to London to catch the Eurostar to Paris. As I have mentioned, I really HATE tunnels (much like Lesley Potts hates cows--do click over to her blog for more about this). Anyway, the conductor forgot to announce the Chunnel portion of the trip, so at one point I looked out the window and realized that the cars were on the "right" side of the road--meaning, of course, that we were in France. Rather anti-climatic, I must say.

Day One in Paris found us checking into our hotel where we were assigned to a room that I'm calling the "nano-room" because it was so tiny. There is a photo here. I'm wedged against the door and shooting across the room. The perspective is pretty accurate--five steps and you would be at the window. However, you may also be able to see that our view was wonderful. The bathroom was so tiny that we had to leave towels and clothes outside the door because the hand shower in the 1/4 tub with no curtain sprayed water EVERYWHERE. I guess that is one strategy for keeping things clean. Almost immediately after checking in, Yves Abrioux arrived for a lunch visit. Yves was a visiting scholar at GT last year, and we became friends, in part because his office was next door to mine. After lunch, Grace and I took a nap. For dinner we went to one of my favorite restaurants, Perraudin, and then for a walk. Bob and Carolyn Wood, who were also in Paris, were staying nearby, so we ending the evening having Kir with them.

Day Two we hopped the train to Chartres (see photo of me on the grounds). I have a poem about the cathedral based on a friend's description, but I've always wanted to see the place. Certainly everyone knows about the famous the blue stained-glass, but trust me when I tell you that you really have to see it to believe it. I was disappointed by two things. The famous labyrinth was covered with chairs, so you couldn't walk it, and the Santa Camisia (Chartres Holy Relic) was not fully on display because of renovations. Still, the place is magical (is that an appropriate adjective?) and when we entered the cathedral, it was silent for a moment and then the organ boomed alive. Very moving. This city of Chartres is lovely, but ignore the guidebooks that tell you it takes all day to see the place. A half day is sufficient. After we returned to Paris, we rested a bit and then headed to a fancyish restaurant (Aux Charpentier) near St. Suplice. The food was incredible--exactly what you would expect in Paris. After dinner, I had a whim to take the Metro to see the Eiffel Tower's night lights up close. For some reason it was lit entirely in cobalt--appropriate after a day in Chartres, I think.

Day Three we went to the Musée d'Orsay to get our fix of Impressionist Art. Check out the cool photo I took of one of the museum's clocks. That's the Sacré-Cœur you see in the distance. After the museum we went to lunch and then to Père-Lachaise Cemetery. It is a lovely place to walk. Don't go just to see Jim Morrison's grave, however. The gravesite has been trashed over the years, and now there is a fence and a guard. Really, it is just sad. Of course, lots of famous people are buried there, so you can "visit" them if you like. I said "hi" to Marcel Proust and Edith Piaf, among others.

Grace has two friends, Jonathan and Catherine (see photo), who invited us for dinner. I wasn't feeling well--the icky bronchitis thing is back with a vengeance. Nevertheless it was a charming (and very interesting) evening. Jonathan is an excellent cook. He is also a writer; find out more about him here.

This morning I felt just awful--feverish, coughing, etc. Nevertheless, I managed the trip back to London and then on to Oxford. I left Grace in London to meet another friend before she heads back to the US on Wednesday.

Note to Carol Senf: Thanks for the birthday card!
I'm off to bed early now. I slept most of the afternoon, but am tired anyway. Enjoy the photos!

Friends, Fractal Trees, and Funding

2008-07-17T16:39:00.007-04:00

The last couple of days have been frantic (notice a pattern anyone? I'm all about patterns in this posting). I feel like I've been bouncing around like a coked-up frog. Wednesday, I went for my morning run, came home, showered, graded papers, went to CS class at 11:30 and then stayed in that same room working on a grant proposal until my class at 3:00. Grace and I headed to early hall (that's dinner) at 5:30 and by 6:15 were at a wine and cheese reception at colleague Bob Thomas' cottage. We raced over to meet new friends Eric and Lauren at Magdalen College for a private tour of the exquisite grounds. Addison's Walk, the famous pathway at Magdalen, it like taking a stroll through Oxford several hundred years ago. However, even "old" places sometimes incorporate something new. We were fortunate enough to stumble upon a brand, spanking new sculpture installation in the Fellows' Garden. Eric, who happens to be a CS professor at Stanford, was amused when I squealed, "It's a recursive fractal tree!" And, indeed, just like the ones my little programming turtle, Coco, has been drawing, that's exactly what it is. After CS class today, I dragged Colin at breakneck speed through the streets of Oxford because I didn't think he'd believe it if he didn't see it for himself. I realize that none of you probably think this is the least bit interesting, but here's something important for all my teacher friends. I wouldn't have known what the sculpture was if I hadn't subjected myself to the experience of being a student again--a student who has absolutely everything to learn. It felt so wonderful to really understand, in an applied way, an entirely new concept. Perhaps if we took more time to investigate new fields, we would find ourselves being better teachers in our own specialties.

I won't bore you with the rest of the details of my day--suffice to say that covering class for Bob at 8:00AM set the tone. Right now, I need to get my suitcase packed. Tomorrow, Grace and I head to London to catch the Eurostar to Paris. I'm really freaked out about the chunnel; I hate tunnels especially those under water. Nevertheless, Paris is always worth the effort--whatever the effort may be. I'm looking forward to having lunch with friend, Yves Abrioux upon arrival. I'll post news when I can.

Poetry Readings and A Question

2008-07-15T18:12:00.006-04:00

Tonight Grace and I gave our first ever joint poetry reading. It seems like that can't be true, but I think it is. Grace gave a terrific reading; if you ever have the chance to hear her read, you really must. The vibe in the room was great. It is nice to give a reading in that kind of atmosphere. Don't ask me how I did because I never have a clue. Plus everyone had to endure my singing, which was karaoke bad. It does feel good to try out the newer poems. And yes, Rupert, if you are reading this, I did do "May Day Sermon" and simply imagined you in the audience. :-)

Beforehand, we invited a group over to the cottage for wine and cheese. My favorite photo (available here) is of almost everyone standing as if to commence the Hokey-Pokey at any moment.

So, you may be wondering...what is the "question" you mention in your blog title. Well, here's the background. 20 years ago, give or take, Grace spent six weeks in Oxford as a graduate student. One night she was at The Turf Pub. Some guy, who eventually took her to the Henley Regatta (another story for another day), picked her up with the following question: "Do you know that this pub appears in Jude the Obscure? Grace incorporated that line into a poem she read tonight. And, for good measure, we went there after the reading to revisit the scene. FYI...this place is anything but obscure!

As a side note, this morning Grace and I discovered we were both wearing Prairie Schooner t-shirts. Never let it be said we don't advertise for the cause.

Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down

2008-07-14T18:54:00.011-04:00

If I'm quoting The Carpenters, that REALLY ought to tell you something! I think we are all a bit tired this week. We have reached the mid-point, and are feeling the stress of it. I rushed about all day trying to get all my work done. I want to be completely "caught up" before Grace and I head off to Paris this weekend.

Philosophically speaking, sometimes I am keenly aware of why I am a poet. Today I spent what little "in between time" I had grading and sitting beside the Worcester Pond feeling melancholy for no apparent reason. Of course in the classic definition of the Four Humours, Melancholic is the one poets are supposed to have, so I guess that makes a kind of sense. Poets have a habit (some might say a bad habit) of hiding behind metaphor because it is a very easy thing to do. The truth need not be true; the real need not be real. But poets also have to live in the real world, or the ones who like to eat do. So you have guard against living a kind of half-life, where the "unreal" part can become too haunting. But I digress...

I did receive another birthday card today. Thanks, Donna! As for the rest of you, I'm feeling a little unloved here!

This evening I screened the glitzy Hollywood version of Mansfield Park. My students were really good about having to give up time to see it. They are a bright and congenial group, and they make me laugh.

Since I'm waxing poetic tonight, here is silly little poem I wrote. It was inspired by a busted up garden gnome at Colin & Lesley's Hobbit House (see photo). Colin gets credit for the main title line.

Gnome Gambit Accepted:
Or When Garden Gnomes Fall in Love

She has taken to keeping the pigeons,
imagines, at least, they are doves,
almost remembers the color of his eyes.
Why must there always be a sacrifice?
Before he was toppled
their nights together, always warm
under the hawthorn beside the chapel
possessed a hint of unconstrained harmony:
whatever their desires,
the elements or mischance
must end them.

Stratford-upon-Avon

2008-07-13T18:45:00.005-04:00

Today we went to visit Shakespeare's hometown. It was pretty touristy, but Trinity Church (complete with Shakespeare's grave) was surprisingly peaceful. It was a quick trip, and this evening Grace & I went over to visit Colin and Lesley in the Hobbit House--great company. Grace and I are gearing up for our poetry reading here on Tuesday. Julie Kane is also popping by this week for a visit, so it is poetry old home week here in Oxford.

Here is a photo just for Collin K.: David Tennant (aka Dr. Who) is starring in the Royal Shakespeare Company summer production of Hamlet.

Idealized England = The Cotswolds

2008-07-12T17:14:00.004-04:00

Today we went off to The Cotswolds to see the "idealized England." Really this is an entire region, not a specific place. However we visited Bibury The village was once described by William Morris as "the most beautiful village in the Cotswolds." The village centre clusters around a square near St. Mary's, a Saxon church. Some of the Saxon remains inside the church are replicas as the originals are housed in the British Museum. One of the greatest tourist spots and overlooking a water meadow and the river is Arlington Row, a group of ancient cottages with steeply pitched roofs dating back to the 16th Century.

If you are a bit more cynical about "idealized anything" then this photo is for you!

OK...back to work. I've been working on documents for two grants, grading papers, and writing a letter of recommendation. So much work makes Karen a very dull girl! :-(

Salisbury & Stonehenge

2008-07-11T17:20:00.006-04:00

Best friend Grace arrived yesterday...let the party begin! Grace is a long-time travel buddy, and we always rock the house, being savvy poetesses and women about town.

Today we ventured to Salisbury & Stonehenge. (Note to Michael Laughter: Are you happy now?) This was a "must do" trip, but not for the reason you might imagine. Grace and I took a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota a few years back. On the way, we stopped in Alliance, Nebraska to visit Carhenge. I only wish I had the photos to post here. Here is a link for those of you have no idea of what I speak: Carhenge weblink. Obviously, we needed to visit the "sister site."

As a bonus, we also made our way around Salisbury. We went to the famous cathedral (not bombed during WWII because it was a navigational tool for the German pilots, something at least one of my colleagues will remember from his experiences during the war). At the cathedral is one of four copies of the Magna Carta! How effing cool is that! And, speaking of politics, the bus station operator who sold us our tickets to Stonehenge inquired in the course of conversation about American political views. When I was clear about not being responsible for our current administration, he said, "Only six people have ever admitted to voting for your current president. Something about those odds seems peculiar." Now there's an understatement!

Stonehenge was okay, but I actually think Carhenge was more exciting. However, it was raining and cold, so that may have influenced my judgement today. Plus, I got very little sleep last night, so that may have been part of my problem too. It seems that this has been the week of late nights. When I was in my twenties, there was a bar in Atlanta that had t-shirts that said, "You can sleep plenty when you're dead." I hadn't thought about that in years, but last night it did cross my mind! Wine and late nights are wickedly fun...even for a forty-something! :-)

Insider disclaimer: No garden gnomes were harmed in the making of this blog.

Harpsichord and Poetry

2008-07-10T05:48:00.008-04:00

Many of you may be unaware (I can't imagine why it doesn't come up more often!) that I really love harpsichord music. On Tuesday evening, I went off with Colin to hear a harpsichord concert at the Exeter College Chapel. The program, French Suites, was performed by Kah-Ming Ng, and included a number of selections I'd never heard before. The concert was by candle-light, and the chapel setting (we were seated in the stalls), was a lovely addition to the overall aesthetic. At end of the Lamento by Frobeger, there is an escalating scale of single notes representing the soul's ascension to heaven that brought tears to my eyes. Just before the final note there was a rest, more like a poetic caesura, during which I found it difficult to catch my breath. It was one of those moments when art absolutely overtakes you; such moments are rare and magical. I will remember that moment, I suspect, when I draw my last breath. Powerful stuff!

On the lighter side, I trekked off with Bob to London on Wednesday for a short jaunt through the National Gallery. It was cool to see a number of really famous pieces. Some of my favorites included: Botticelli’s Venus and Mars; Van Eyck’s Marriage of the Arnolfini; Seurat’s The Bathers at Asnières; and Van Gogh’s A Wheatfield, with Cypresses. My favorite new discovery was Pissarro's The Avenue, Sydenham, in which you can see the faint outline of a female figure he removed. I became entranced with the notion of this erased woman, and I'm working a poem about it.

After the museum, I rushed over to the Poetry Cafe for a reading. It was wonderful to see Agnes Meadows (see photo) again, and what a lovely venue. The weather was, according to locals, as terrible as it gets. I think that kept some people at home, but those who braved the elements were wonderful. It is always interesting to read to a new group, and in this case, in a new country. Still, I think it went well, and I certainly hope to be invited back. As a bonus, Ivy Alvarez of Private Press was there. If you haven't seen the new David Lynch inspired anthology, check out my links section for more info.

I have to run off to my computer programming class--and, yes, I'm still pretty bad at it.

Oxford Report 11

2008-07-07T17:48:00.006-04:00

One of the best parts of Oxford is our Monday night faculty meeting dinner. If all faculty meetings were like this, people would actually stand in line to attend such meetings.

Dinner is held in the Buttery off the Pump Quad. That just sounds British, doesn't it? The row of books above the dining table are actual account ledgers posting student expenditures. Many of these date to the earliest days of the college. FYI, they keep such accounts on computers now. :-)

Oxford Report 10

2008-07-06T18:46:00.007-04:00

Today was pretty miserable in England--those of you waiting hours for the final outcome at Wimbledon know what I mean.

I began the day at Quaker Meeting where I was reminded by way of the "message" that I should be more patient, especially when considering that many times people are doing the best they can in a given situation--something that may not reflect my idea of what the "best" should be. In other words, I should allow for human faults/weaknesses/etc. At the rise of meeting (the end), we were greeted with the following sentiment: "Welcome everyone on this February morning." This, of course, a reference to the absolute YUCK that was the weather today. Really, it did seem like winter.

I was to go to see Jane Austen's home today, but had to postpone because I didn't think my ongoing cold needed any more encouragement. As the weather did improve slightly this afternoon, I went over to Blenheim Palace, which is nearby to Oxford. This is the home of the Duke of Marlborough and also a World Heritage Site. As giant, old homes go, this is one of the best. I'm including some photos, one of which reminds me a little of a Turner landscape.

Because we missed the last bus to Oxford, we had traditional "Sunday Roast" at a local inn in Woodstock. Normally this meal would have seemed heavy (Yorkshire pudding anyone?), but was just right for a cold and rainy evening.