good times and interesting times - busy
I had an amazing time with poets J/J Hastain, TC Tolbert - here from Arizona, and their delightful friends and partners in Lafayette last night. We read in a pond! J/J and I read from our collaboration which explores sociopathy, one of the remaining scary subjects. I mean, we are terrified writing about it. And, we get to explore some dark areas and do fun persona work, I am actually writing from a female persona. Although, I think she's my dream girl more than myself... although since she's a sociopath, she's most likely enjoyed, this "dream girl" at a notable distance. Like, in dreams... heh - :0
This was J/J's idea and she's a very inspiring collaborator. Keeps me producing, even when I feel as though I have nothing to say, since I generally * always * have something to say, as it turns out.
I am also reading about and researching sociopathy and psychopathy (very nearly the same) online. And, still fascinated by the Jodi Arias trial and am viewing parts online and commentaries I had not seen. It is an open secret that she's actually - Native American on her mother's side I believe. Her father is Columbian, and her mother is not a full blood, but certainly an American Indian of some kind. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her, her mother, and -- of course, it is obvious looking at Jodi. She's also part white (German, French), so she's a mix like myself, but undoubtedly a Native. Maybe a Karuk or Shasta? She has that family from Yreka. I can see how a lot of her emotional reserve seems very Native American to me, although of course, she's also just detached and has that cool quality that many sociopathic people appear to have. You can't shake her... and even when she cries, it often appears to be for show, at least in her trial. It is hard to say... Her long-winded, cinematic stories of her life, that she told while testifying also strike me as somewhat Indian - I mean, many of us have that way of talking and bringing even a minor story to life, and bringing in all kinds of details... Amy used to always ask me to get to the point please! My mom does this as well. However, aside from that - -she's certainly, just who she is. My family and I suspected (KNEW!) she was Indian just from looking at her, but it was not confirmed for me till I saw her sister Angela's MySpace and under "race" she put "Native American". Angela also had many Native friends and also had some "skinz" bands and so on listed -- as I recall. "Skins" are what Natives call each other, in slang. At least some of the younger people... I am actually kind of glad that Jodi is not talking about this openly, since frankly, it has nothing to do with the case, although it is an interesting side fact. I don't think we are in a big rush to claim her -- heh.
So, I am still engrossed in this odd hobby and it takes my mind off my own problems, such as they are. And, fodder for writing. I am considering doing noir fiction, since my voice lends itself to that - easily.
The whole Denver/Boulder area has changed so much since I left in late 1977, yes a long time ago, and though I had been back to visit, I really had not stayed long enough to take a good look around at recent changes. There were mostly open fields between Boulder and Denver, and now - there is hardly any space at all. And now there are tons of trees, making the area very green, instead of the rolling brown prairies that stretched out before. The whole Denver area is just so much nicer, there's more to do downtown, and tons of lofts, hipsterish bars - that are a bit more funky generally than the ones in SF, and also art galleries - at least a few. They have light rail now connecting the suburbs with the downtown area and a main thoroughfare that stretches for many blocks with no cars allowed and a free bus to take you up and down the street. This is 16th street. Too bad that the winters are a bit long and cold for my California sensibilities. Even the suburbs are more interesting now, and much larger -- you can find microbrews everywhere. People are pretty openly smoking pot outside BTW -- at least downtown. I don't really partake myself, and haven't for years, but if one is into that, this is a good place for it.
Also, I am busy recording an Audible book version of The Testosterone Files ! Fun and very exhausting, exacting work as each word must be perfect. One misreads even if one is not always aware of it, in public performance but for an audio book every syllable must be right - and no mouth sounds. I am, apparently, reading as well as a "pro" -- and I love reading my work and know how to do it better than anyone, of course -- so the engineer is impressed and glad since it makes his job easier.
Also working a bit more and enjoying the summer here. I go to the conference for the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies tomorrow in Colorado Springs. Get to see my dear good friends there and learn some more about the non-Native side of the family - my father's side... Here:
23rd Annual Conference of Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies
I had a great dinner out the other night with my friend Dolly from the Society and her boyfriend, we went to a place on Larimer Street downtown.
Still learning to drive, but haven't had much chance to practice, and yes - I will be back in the Bay in the Fall - some how, some way.
This was J/J's idea and she's a very inspiring collaborator. Keeps me producing, even when I feel as though I have nothing to say, since I generally * always * have something to say, as it turns out.
I am also reading about and researching sociopathy and psychopathy (very nearly the same) online. And, still fascinated by the Jodi Arias trial and am viewing parts online and commentaries I had not seen. It is an open secret that she's actually - Native American on her mother's side I believe. Her father is Columbian, and her mother is not a full blood, but certainly an American Indian of some kind. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her, her mother, and -- of course, it is obvious looking at Jodi. She's also part white (German, French), so she's a mix like myself, but undoubtedly a Native. Maybe a Karuk or Shasta? She has that family from Yreka. I can see how a lot of her emotional reserve seems very Native American to me, although of course, she's also just detached and has that cool quality that many sociopathic people appear to have. You can't shake her... and even when she cries, it often appears to be for show, at least in her trial. It is hard to say... Her long-winded, cinematic stories of her life, that she told while testifying also strike me as somewhat Indian - I mean, many of us have that way of talking and bringing even a minor story to life, and bringing in all kinds of details... Amy used to always ask me to get to the point please! My mom does this as well. However, aside from that - -she's certainly, just who she is. My family and I suspected (KNEW!) she was Indian just from looking at her, but it was not confirmed for me till I saw her sister Angela's MySpace and under "race" she put "Native American". Angela also had many Native friends and also had some "skinz" bands and so on listed -- as I recall. "Skins" are what Natives call each other, in slang. At least some of the younger people... I am actually kind of glad that Jodi is not talking about this openly, since frankly, it has nothing to do with the case, although it is an interesting side fact. I don't think we are in a big rush to claim her -- heh.
So, I am still engrossed in this odd hobby and it takes my mind off my own problems, such as they are. And, fodder for writing. I am considering doing noir fiction, since my voice lends itself to that - easily.
The whole Denver/Boulder area has changed so much since I left in late 1977, yes a long time ago, and though I had been back to visit, I really had not stayed long enough to take a good look around at recent changes. There were mostly open fields between Boulder and Denver, and now - there is hardly any space at all. And now there are tons of trees, making the area very green, instead of the rolling brown prairies that stretched out before. The whole Denver area is just so much nicer, there's more to do downtown, and tons of lofts, hipsterish bars - that are a bit more funky generally than the ones in SF, and also art galleries - at least a few. They have light rail now connecting the suburbs with the downtown area and a main thoroughfare that stretches for many blocks with no cars allowed and a free bus to take you up and down the street. This is 16th street. Too bad that the winters are a bit long and cold for my California sensibilities. Even the suburbs are more interesting now, and much larger -- you can find microbrews everywhere. People are pretty openly smoking pot outside BTW -- at least downtown. I don't really partake myself, and haven't for years, but if one is into that, this is a good place for it.
Also, I am busy recording an Audible book version of The Testosterone Files ! Fun and very exhausting, exacting work as each word must be perfect. One misreads even if one is not always aware of it, in public performance but for an audio book every syllable must be right - and no mouth sounds. I am, apparently, reading as well as a "pro" -- and I love reading my work and know how to do it better than anyone, of course -- so the engineer is impressed and glad since it makes his job easier.
Also working a bit more and enjoying the summer here. I go to the conference for the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies tomorrow in Colorado Springs. Get to see my dear good friends there and learn some more about the non-Native side of the family - my father's side... Here:
23rd Annual Conference of Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies
I had a great dinner out the other night with my friend Dolly from the Society and her boyfriend, we went to a place on Larimer Street downtown.
Still learning to drive, but haven't had much chance to practice, and yes - I will be back in the Bay in the Fall - some how, some way.