Warm Wine

Good News Day (Plus Pictures of Food and Living Things)

2010-01-26T23:40:00.004-05:00

I filed my Federal taxes tonight.

I made a stew--butternut squash, beef, veggies, peanut butter, homemade stock.

I read that Ted is back in jail. I figured he would violate parole. Now, if he would just depart completely. Still, this is good.

I have a number of dog walks lined up and a few tiny financial breaks happening.

My legs ache from walking on Yak Trax.

I have had shoddy sleep for a few days (leaking roof, etc) , and while I slept deeply last night, I still feel worn out.

It'll soon be seven weeks since I have been paid. I'm making it, but really looking forward to a fresh influx.

2009-11-18T15:28:00.000-05:00

I got a mention in this podcast this week, done by my oldest and most creative friend, who has now published piles of novels. I also get some good advice for the literary problem I posed to her.

Packing Heat: Erotica Writing Tips and Techniques: Packing Heat 080: Switcheroo

Source: packingheat.net

Do your sex scenes sizzle? Are your readers on the edge of their seats wondering what your characters are gonna do next? Is the biggest complaint you get that you need to write more stories?Let's get to work on that! Or at least get your butt in the chair with inspiration to keep writing!

November Writing Releases

2009-11-17T15:32:00.000-05:00

Here are some stories for you....cheap and free!

Poetry

Letter, Poems by Celia White

This collection of poems is emotional, sensual, and deeply felt. $13

17

My mother brushes me aside while I'm cooking dinner.
She thinks I don't know how quickly things burn.

She doesn't know
about you.

Short Stories

The Story of a Girl, in which Josie deals with family, identity, and changes in her relationship with her best friend. $2

Natalie and God in the Locked Room, $2

" We played. We played poison. We’d play that there was poison in our bodies, and then we’d touch each other with it. Nat would touch my toe and say here's poison, and I would touch my toe to her knee and say, there's poison, she would put her knee to my arm and say now there's poison. I don't really know why I liked this game, but we played it a lot. We never squealed or tried to get away from the poison. I think it was just fun to pass something back and forth, to share something with somebody. "

Living Color, $2

A day in the life of a family.

Free Downloads

Vamp, a story by Celia White
Micro-fiction with a vampire perspecgtive. FREE

2009-11-10T00:32:00.003-05:00

Plenty Salty Pumpkin Seeds

scoop, clean
boil in saltwater, 10 min
canola, sesame oil, tamari
400, then 300
10-20min

light, crisp, roasty, addictive.

***

I worked 6 days in a row at my various jobs and I too am crispy.

I got HEAP!

I have plans to go to NYC in January. There are few things as cheering as plans.

According to my Blogger Dashboard, I have made 420 posts.

Nostalgia

2009-11-06T23:11:00.003-05:00

This is the soundtrack to the ride to the trailer and beach at Guenther's Grove, Port Colborne, Ontario. This is in my DNA. It IS my father's voice and psychology, for me. I have heard it over and over...

My version was taped from TV on early 70s metal cassette. I can't find it today, though it is a thing I'd never discard. I'm glad these exist. Heck, the sound quality is equivalent if not better...

Part 1
Part 2. (Just watch this one if you are only vaguely interested. at 2:25, there's "Typically English"...)

11:11 PM

Stories and Poems for Sale!

2009-10-20T17:40:00.001-04:00

Celia White is a poet and fiction writer living in Buffalo, New York.

Hello, readers! I am offering a selection of poetry collections and short stories for download. There's always something free! Check back soon for a new set of selections, or email me at celia dot white at gmail dot com. Thank you for looking!

Poetry

Letter, Poems by Celia White

This collection of poems is emotional, sensual, and deeply felt. $13

17

My mother brushes me aside while I'm cooking dinner.

She thinks I don't know how quickly things burn.

She doesn't know

about you.

Short Stories

Right On Red, a story by Celia White

Set partly in San Francisco and partly in imagination, "Right On Red" is a story about an intriguing encounter between a cab driver and a young woman with an agenda of her own. $2

Green Apple Cut With Swiss Army Knife

The story of a young girl and her older lover, and the poetry of their experience. $2

What to Do

A child's perspective on the breakup of a family, both sad and magical. $2

Free Downloads

Housesitting, a story by Celia White

Micro-fiction with a poetic twist. FREE

Download PDF

Three Way Action

2009-04-06T23:32:00.002-04:00

3WA has been my home on the internet for at least 8 years. It is a place I give and get advice, share recipes, tears, laughs, and one of the truest senses of community I've ever known.

3WA is nearly ten years old, but as membership waxes and wanes, so does subscribership. Are you looking for a literature, funny, caring community to call home? Come and explore, and sign up for benefits like chat, access to the Member's Lounge, and other perks.

Please sign up, so that my community can last another decade.

Origin Poem

2009-04-06T13:30:00.002-04:00

First, the seed grew

inside the eggplant:

moist, dark, potent.

Knifed into light, dried

on the sill,

tucked away a year.

In Spring, into soil,

moist and dark and potent,

life truly began again.

From the inside out,

the seed grew

a whole new world.

(Response to Poetry prompts for April.)

Goons Ply

2009-04-06T01:53:00.002-04:00

It's 2AM. The other night I was up until 3 watching American Masters on Jonestown--fascinating, but not good to sleep after. There's nothing on tonight; I've been watching Jill Scott videos and reading about Blurb.com.

Now I'm listening to the Metatalk podcast. Matt and cortex talk over and ignore jessamyn, to my ear. She sounds exasperated & I totally relate. It aint right.

It was a pretty beautiful day, though, an afternoon of warmth in the midst of a cold, wet thud of a weather pattern.

The Musician and I woke up early enough to catch all of Wait Wait, and then we went to Sweetness7Cafe at Grant and Lafayette, my first visit, though it has been open a few months. They have food now, and a full coffee menu, wood cabinets, tin ceiling, good volume (meaning, quiet in music and vibe) and the feel of a Seattle coffee room. I liked it very much.

I started seeds: Turkish eggplant, cilantro, green onion, broccoli. Wish I had some spinach seeds! I am really looking forward to gardening this summer. My sweet potatoes are going gangbusters, too.

TM went off to see his fanily for an early Easter celebration. I took a hot bath in the hour remaining, read some of the Dylan book, packed an orange and beef stew and the last bit of brownie and some tea and went to work for 6 hours. Tears on the laptop, the girl who saved her paper on the desktop before the thing shut down. It's really not the time to learn what "deep freeze" is and why you should read the message on the screen about saving to the college server right away. (Save early and often, dear ones!)

I am finding it a sad truth that part-time work at several jobs is often more exhausting and less well-paying than one full time job. Which I have long avoided. (I have my reasons, all of them poetic and personal.) I am opening it up the Universe, though. How shall I make a living, a real living; how shall I live?

Yes, yes they do.

I got to play the word "quim" today, too. Hee!

2009-04-01T22:16:00.005-04:00

My Adventures with Book Woman

When I was in college, I bought a Book-Woman (by Kiki) t-shirt (probably at Beyond Words in Northampton--a terrible name for a book store, we all agreed). Everyone said of it: "That's you, all right. Look, the hair, and her diaries..." After some years, the shirt got ruined or old, and went on its way.

When I moved back to Buffalo in 2002, I found a woven blanket of the Book Woman image at Amvets. Book Woman, on the scene again! I loved it. I had it on my couch always until wear and tear and dog busted up enough of the threads that it was no longer suitable to be displayed.

A few days ago, I got a package from my pal in Queens. She had visited me and I think saw my destroyed blanket. She sent me one she had in her closet, in absolutely pristine condition.

***

In It Might as Well Be Spring news

I went to a gorgeous wedding, never wore my coat.

I ordered some red sandals.

Crocuses are up!

Passover, Bonita's night, the premiere of John Bacon's musical take on my poem "This is the Kali Yuga" at SUNY Buffalo, a cousin's wedding, and my 40th birthday. All of these are ahead.

I am burning three candles: yellow, red, green.

Sweet Potatoes Anna

2009-03-11T23:09:00.003-04:00

Sweet Potatoes Anna

Thinly slice 3 or so large, peeled sweet potatoes. You want little rounds. Using a vegetable peeler is not a bad idea. Submerge these in cold water if they start to go black on you too quickly. Melt butter, about half a cup. Brush a little of this on the bottom of a pie pan--springform is best if you've got it. then create a nice spiraling layer of potato on the bottom. Atop this, brush more butter, a little nutmeg, and some freshly grated parmesan. I only use parmagiano reggiano, which is exqusite in this. Salt and pepper, if you like. Then do another layer of potato, and repeat until all ingredients are utilized.

Bake, covered in foil, for 45 minutes in a 425 degree oven, then uncover and bake about a half-hour, or till crusty and delicious looking.

Names

2009-02-04T21:41:00.000-05:00

The Meme

1.YOUR REAL NAME
Celia Marie White

2.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME:(mother and fathers middle names)
Ann Patrick

3.NASCAR NAME:(first name of your mother's dad, father's dad)
Amos Charles

4.STAR WARS NAME:(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Whice

5.DETECTIVE NAME:(favorite color, favorite animal)
Purple Camel

6.SOAP OPERA NAME:(middle name, town where you were born)
Marie Kenmore

7.SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Black Cabernet

8.FLY NAME:(first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Cete

9.STREET NAME:(fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Mint Tollhouse

10.ROCK STAR NAME:(current pets name, current street name)
Mariah Norwood

11. PORN NAME: (1st pet, street you grew up on)
Goldie Royal (I love this name)

12.YOUR GANGSTA NAME:(first 3 letters of real name plus izzle)
Celizzle

13.YOUR IRAQI.. NAME:(2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, first two letters of your middle name, last two letters of your first name then last three letters of your last name) [What is the logic of this one??]
Ceeimaiaite

14.YOUR GOTH NAME:(black, and the name of one of your pets)
Black Mariah

15. STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
Karma Reese

Consumption Update

2009-02-03T16:15:00.002-05:00

Eating

BLT at Ambrosia--excellent!
Cold-warding soup: fire cider, miso, lemon juice, honey, ginger
Mighty Taco chips & cheese

Reading

Son of the Circus- John Irving
The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Neffenegger
Word Comix - Charlie Smith

Watching

Oprah on frugality
Desperate Man Blues

2009-01-20T19:04:00.003-05:00

Inauguration Day

I watched the Inauguration, of course. Truly a glorious day.

Domestic-minded me wondered what they got for lunch.

Seafood stew en croute

Brace of American birds – duck and pheasants on a bed of vegetables: brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots and spinach – and a wild cherry chutney.

Corn muffins baked in a corn husk

Apple cinnamon sponge cake and sweet cream glace

And the kids had:

Hot dogs
Cheeseburgers
Macaroni and cheese
French fries
Grilled cheese sandwiches
Cheese pizza
Chocolate chip cookies
Apple and orange juices

(from here.)

***

I watched the inauguration, remembering the last time I paid attention to one (by marching in a protest against Bush, in San Francisco.)

Then I made In Honor of Obama Onion Soup. It's done with attention, good ingredients, and additions which make it thoroughly delicious and profoundly good for you. It will also warm you after a long walk in the January day.

This recipe is from The Whole Foods Market Cookbook (which is really good, by the way). It's called French Onion Soup for Everyone.

1/8 c olive oil
3 large onions, thinly sliced
1 large portabello mushroom cap, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried thyme, or 1 tbsp fresh
1/4 cup tomato paste (I like less, actually)
1 cup dry red wine
4 cups vegetable stock
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
1/8 c dark miso dissolved in 1 cup warm water or vegetable stock
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, saute the onions for at least 3 minutes before stirring. The onions should start to brown before you move them around with a spoon. Continue to cook the onions, stirring occasionally in order for the natural sugar to brown. Cook for 20 minutes (or longer), until the onions are well browned.

Add the mushroom, garlic, thyme, and tomato paste. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, until the tomato paste turns brown.

Add the wine, and scrape the pan bottom, removing all the brown bits that are sticking to it. This is called deglazing. Reduce the wine as you simmer for another 2 minutes. Add the stock, tamari, dissolved miso, and nutritional yeast. Continue to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes longer, season with pepper.

This goes perfectly with homemade croutons.

Listen Up For the Partyin' Feet

2009-01-10T23:11:00.001-05:00

A little dance music for your Saturday night...

Intimate Faves

2009-01-05T23:59:00.001-05:00

Tell me you want to play, and:

1. I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll tell you which song or movie you remind me of.
3. I'll pick a flavor of jello to eat with you.
4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.
(if possible. If not, I'll say something that only makes sense to me.)
5. I'll tell you my first memory of you.
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I'll ask you something I've always wondered about you.
8. I'll tell you my favorite thing about you.
9. I'll tell you my least favorite thing about you.
10. If you play, you MUST post this on yours.

Numbers from Last Year

2009-01-02T21:53:00.004-05:00

Books read: 75
Savings account interest earned: about $200
Children babysat: 5, multiple times
Children taught: approximately 841, many 3 or more times
Percent of retirement account lost: 40
Number of baths taken: at least 330
Inches cut off hair: 4
Weddings attended: 3
Friends who died: 3
Published works: 8
Babies born in my world: 4 (Audrey, Augustus, Maria, Nicholson)
Places visited: 3--North Carolina, Toronto, Michigan

2008-12-24T20:10:00.002-05:00

It was Christmas Eve, Babe...

Some friends of ours put out a Christmas CD every year. You can listen to and download the songs for free at JonahthanHughes.com. The Musician is the Elvis Costello voice on Dave Mussen's song "Reindeer Power", which offers a solution to the energy crisis. (TM is also about to finish up some of his own holiday songs, which I hope to share soon.)

Meanwhile, the weather keeps changing, from snow to blizzard to slush to rain and freezing rain with high wind. The east side of our street has never been plowed, and can't be parked upon, though I did call today to request a plow.

The wind is howling at present. I am steaming from a bath, have wine and brie and brownies. Hope you are happy and warm, too.

Herbs on Sunday

2008-12-08T00:48:00.002-05:00

I made an Etsy shop, where you can purchase my book, Letter, or my many herbal tinctures and oils. Thanks for looking.

***

The very cold, dry air made my lungs ache today--I must say, I often feel the ghost of the bronchitis I had last winter. I self-tested and then took a few (less than 3) drops each of elecampane tincture and New England aster tincture. The distress eased; I was inclined to take a few deep breaths.

All day since, my lungs have felt the need to expand--like muscles which long to be stretched. I'm doing as much deep breathing as I can, to satisfy them. It's an odd, but not unpleasant, feeling.

After getting off work at midnight, I made myself an herbal foot bath. It featured salt, chamomile flowers (which I grew myself), lavender oil. Perhaps best of all, I rubbed my warm and rested feet with ginger oil (which I made myself). Feels terribly nice, especially on this brittle cold day (-4 F windchill as I came home tonight).

***

Thinking a lot about making things. I have been cooking a lot, but I miss gathering and working with plants. I feel drawn to sewing, as I often do in winter. Is it time to get a machine, take a class? Perhaps.

Remembering my childhood dollhouse and all the ways it inspired me to create: making clothes, furniture, other things for it, and years of writing novels about the characters, years before I heard the word fanfiction.

I grew the oregano myself.

2008-12-02T20:12:00.002-05:00

Crusty Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Onions, Baked with Olive Oil and Garlic (from Jeanne Lemlin)

This gets caramelized and so good. Great cold in a tortilla with salad dressing, too. Zamfir thinks cheese should be added. Feel free! Serves 4.

6 medium (2 lbs) potatoes, peeled, halved, very thinly sliced
3 large onions, halved vertically and very thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 28 oz can plum tomatoes, drained & chopped
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup fruity olive oil
3 Tbs water
2 tsp dried oregano
S&P

Pre-heat oven to 400 F. In a large bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients. In a small bowl, beat together the tomato paste, olive oil, water, oregano, salt & pepper. Pour over the vegetable mixture and toss to coat well. Spread the mixture in a 12 x 7 x 2-inch baking dish or other 2 1/2-quart ovenproof shallow dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove the foil (carefully!) and bake 45 minutes longer, or until the potatoes are tender.

***

I grew the oregano myself. I will grow more next year.

I really yearn for a garden which is permanent, which is mine, where I can have a perrennial herb patch. And maybe grow some asparagus.

It was truly wintry here today and I am full of green dreams.

Milk vs. milk

2008-11-30T19:53:00.001-05:00

I am looking forward to seeing Milk, which comes out here next Friday.

Yesterday at breakfast I said to The Musician, "I wish Milk was out." And he got the milk out of the fridge, sort of disgruntled, and said, "Your wish is granted."

We didn't understand each other for a full minute, and then we laughed and laughed.

Tinctures for sale....

2008-11-28T22:59:00.004-05:00

I have many tinctures and oils ready to sell or trade. Tinctures, $10 for 1 oz; oils 2oz for $12; $3 shipping. PayPal is okay. Email or comment with questions.

Tinctures (in vodka)

Basil
Burdock
Calendula
Chamomile
Chickweed
Cleavers
Cornsilk
Dandelion
Goldenrod
Horsetail
Knapweed
Latuca
Motherwort
Mullein
New England aster
Plantain
Rose petal
SJW
Skullcap
Violet flower
Violet Leaf
Yarrow
Yellow Dock

Oils (in olive oil)
Calendula
Comfrey
Dandelion
Ginger
Mullein
Plantain
SJW

Salves
Ginger salve (ginger-infused olive oil, beeswax)
Elyse salve (comfrey, plantain, SJW, calendula, olive oil, beeswax)

A Day With A Monster

2008-11-25T01:17:00.001-05:00

That was my 400th post!

Sometimes I remember that blogging can be fun.

For your reading pleasure, here is my book, A Day With a Monster.

2008-11-25T00:47:00.006-05:00

I learned a new word today: lagom. It's a Swedish word which encapsulates the concept "just the right amount". A precept of mine.

Life is not in balance lately, because so much energy goes to working. There's no question that I require the income, but there's also the empty feeling which comes from being on the clock so much. A lot of the time, I stay home and cook.

This past week, I did get out a bit. I caught the end of Cold Turkey, the John Lennon tribute at Nietzsche's.

Since I had to work until midnight, I did not perform, although I thoroughly enjoyed the sing-along after. I heard Brian Eno say recently that singing with other people is one of the best things you can do.

"Well, there are physiological benefits, obviously: You use your lungs in a way that you probably don't for the rest of your day, breathing deeply and openly. And there are psychological benefits, too: Singing aloud leaves you with a sense of levity and contentedness. And then there are what I would call "civilizational benefits." When you sing with a group of people, you learn how to subsume yourself into a group consciousness because a capella singing is all about the immersion of the self into the community. That's one of the great feelings — to stop being me for a little while and to become us. That way lies empathy, the great social virtue."

On Saturday, after a wild-goose chase through BECPL microfilm for a non-existent obituary,

The Musician and I went to the Grand Opening of the new Burchfield-Penney Art Center (warning: sound), a 31-hour event (PDF). I was pleased to go, happy to be part of such a sweet move up for Buffalo and art. As I felt about the new Erie Canal terminus, it was well-done, feels like something from another city. (By which I mean, I think, easy to navigate, pleasant, not worn in yet, not broken, not rusted.)

It also felt rather like Wegman's, where you see everyone you ever knew in your life, but don't really chat with them. I saw folks I knew from probably every decade of my existence. It's my town.

And then it was time to get the hell out of there and have a Manhattan at The Place.

Backward poem: Haircut at 14

2008-10-08T23:22:00.001-04:00

Tears leap from the floor
back into my eyes,
long tresses of hair
re-attach to my head
I step away from my friend
with the hair cutting shears,
I step back into my girlhood,
where I don’t have to worry
about how the world sees me. Eyes dry,
clear, full of hope.

Autumnal Equinox

2008-09-22T21:20:00.002-04:00

These first fall days are some of the best "summer" weather there is. The sky deepens its blue, the air gets nippy at night, and I love it all.

I woke up feeling groggy and crampy today, but I have to acknowledge that today was indeed a day of many blessings from the Goddess. And I honor Her.

Today I did some end of season gardening. I clipped age to make wands. I dug and tinctured yellow dock root. There's a few more peppers coming, and a little more broccoli. My second sowing of spinach is growing slowly, but it's healthy. I collected some elderberries the other day near Squaw Island, and saw that egret (heron) there.

I renewed my library card, and got a present from Smitty. I was supposed to teach 2 classes tonight, but only ended up having to teach one. I sometimes dread library instruction, because it lacks creativity and because one only meets once with a class, there's little opportunity to get to know the students. Still, tonight's class was good, and I got a rush from the connection I was able to make.

Wednesday night, I'll be hosting the Buffalo Pets in Conversation event, along with poet Douglas Manson.

With: Celia White, Michael Sikkema, Gary Earl Ross, Sherry Robbins,
Alex Mead, Douglas Manson, Jimmie Gilliam, Nava Fader, Michael
Basinski, Ansie Baird

Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 7pm.
Bon Vivant. 1862 Hertel Avenue

Doug Manson and I will foster a conversation which will explore the
following areas:

--history/memory
--literature/ambition/success
--making a living
--identity (in activity)
--favorite stories

Come if you can.

On the Back on a Szechuan Eggplant Recipe from Vegetarian Times, 1994 or so

2008-09-20T00:50:00.002-04:00

(it was not quite a poem, still is not)

I live in this city and never stop moving except to write things down. I live in tis city & it’s making my head hurt today or maybe it’s just the season. I feel stoned & anxious but I don’t miss anybody. I don’t. Separate conversations. I live in this city and the red leaves a good luck. The sirens don’t surprise me. I wanted my head to be cleaned by the wind. I want all change to be for the better. I live in this city & I feel less safe than usual, as if it were a sign of age. I live in this city and the kid at the next table is just learning what a street person is; she has never seen one before. Why doesn’t he get an apartment? Doesn’t he sometimes sleep in a store/indoors? It is time to go home. No one is (cut off) don’t say hello to the people I actually recognize. Having this choice = home.

Coin in the cup. Belly up

at the bar.

What time is it.

Conversation, Celia.

Where the Urban Dream Life Is Going Cheap

2008-08-25T18:27:00.002-04:00

If you live in Buffalo, or NYC, you maybe have seen this New York Magazine article already: "Where the Urban Dream Life Is Going Cheap: What could possibly make someone want to leave New York and move to Buffalo?"It tells some stories of New Yorkers who bought the dream of life in Buffalo, and a snippet about my neighbor, Newell, who is pure Buffalonian. It's good reading, and reflects a lot of things I've lived and seen.

I do love it here.

Staycation

2008-08-20T21:34:00.002-04:00

There was outlet mall day: I got belts and shoes, and Mighty Taco.

And there was bike ride, park, Up Series day. I made pizza with sausage, onion, mushroom.

Today was errand and chore day of staycation, and totally lovely. I did laundry, gardened, got groceries and wine, ad the car washed, and read half a book. Smitty came over and gave me a copy of her new book, which is dedicated to me, in words which...well, make me cry. It's...a testament to our friendship and mutual understanding. And I'm honored by this gesture.

Oh! And I got a lead some sweet plans/dreams I have...more later.

I made pesto, I watched the sun set, and I have a case of Checkered Cab on hand.

It truly feels like a blessed day.

***
School starts next week!

I got some Tupperware and some almonds and I'm ready for reference! I snuck into work today to check out my ILL and CNY books. Library life is sweet.

Lighter than Air

2008-08-12T22:48:00.002-04:00

I got my hair cut:

And I have things to get rid of: some calico (swaths big and small) and fabric in starry/astrological themes, bedding for a twin sized bed, some crafting supplies (fabric stiffening stuff, 60 white pipe cleaners, barrette clips, googly eyes). Do you need these? Email me.

***

Summer seems suspiciously over. The garden is raggedy, basil is bolting, and I bought an aster for fall color. I planted some spinach seeds for second crop. Fall library hours commence in two weeks. A cool tingle in the air pleases me.

Things I've Been Eating and Enjoying

2008-08-05T17:42:00.005-04:00

Last week, I made this and could not stop eating it. I will make this all year long; a new favorite.

Warm Sausage and Lentil Salad

- serves 4 -

Adapted from Pork & Sons by Stéphane Reynaud

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups green lentils, preferably Puy, the French green kind
2 links Italian sausage, about 1/2 pound
1/3 cup chopped bacon
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Balsamic vinegar to taste
1/2 cup olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts (optional)
Slim bunch of chives, chopped

Procedure

1. Simmer lentils with sausage in plenty of water and a bouquet garni (French for "garnished bouquet"; optional), for 30 to 40 minutes, until the lentils are cooked through. (Other types of lentils will require less cooking time.)

2. In the meantime, saute the bacon over medium heat until browned but not crisp.

3. Combine the Dijon, olive oil, shallots, chives, and bacon with its fat in a small jar or bowl. Shake well or whisk, then add the balsamic vinegar little by little to form a vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Once cooled, slice the sausage. Toss the lentils with the vinaigrette and top with the sliced sausage. Finish with a little chopped shallot, chive, and the hazelnuts.

Right now I have this in the oven, and it smells heavenly:

Zucchini Ricotta Cheesecake

To shred the zucchini use a box grater - most micro planes are too fine, you want shredded zucchini, not mush. Feel free to play around with the "add-in" ingredients - for example, use whatever chopped herbs you like. I had dill on hand, and I like how it tastes with summer squash, so dill it was. I suspect anything from chopped olives, sun-dried tomatoes, or chives, to spices, chopped spinach, or corn could work here. Also, when I have the time and inclination I'll drain the ricotta through cheesecloth to get even more moisture out of the cake, but to be honest, most times I won't bother. Lastly, I use a springform pan here, but you could use an equivalent baking dish or deep tart pan as well.

2 cups zucchini, unpeeled & grated
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
2 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
2 shallots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
zest of one lemon
2 large eggs, well beaten
1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled
drizzle of olive oil

Preheat oven to 325F degrees, racks the middle. Butter/oil a 7-inch springform pan.

In a strainer, toss the shredded zucchini with the salt and let sit for ten minutes. Now aggressively squeeze and press out as much moisture as you can. Set aside.

In the meantime, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, shallots, garlic, dill and lemon zest in a medium bowl. Stir in the eggs and continue mixing until well combined. Now stir in the shredded zucchini. Fill the springform pan with the ricotta mixture and place on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake for sixty minutes. If there is any moisture left on top of the cake at this point, carefully use a bit of paper towel to dab it off. Now sprinkle with the goat cheese and return to the oven for another 20 -30 minutes or until the goat cheese is melted and the cake barely jiggles in the center (it will set up more as it cools).

At this point, if the cake is baked and set, but the top isn't quite golden, I'll zap it with the broiler (just about a minute) to get a bit more color on top. Remove from the oven and let cool five minutes, then release the cake from its pan. Cool completely, serve at room temperature drizzled with a bit of olive oil and a few sprigs of dill.

Serves 8.

***

I've also been eating homemade tollhouse cookies (I like the texture from shortening, but I do think butter's flavor more profound), zucchini muffins, purslane from the sidewalk, frozen gyoza, and halvah.

I also ate a variety of on-the-road food on my way to Michigan and back, nothing spectacular. I went to Auburn Hills/Oxford for an herb conference, where I got to hear herbalists (Althea Northage-Orr and jim mcdonald) in action, which was all I wanted. Very inspiring. I'm not sure yet where I'm going on this plant path, but I am on it for sure.

Local Poet

2008-07-27T23:03:00.002-04:00

I biked across the Peace Bridge today with Heather, following her lead all the way.

We went through big winds, customs, and windy peaceful bike path up to Crescent Beach. We were blessed by butterflies, free lemonade, Crescent Variety. The wind made the water choppy and the sand time chilly, but it was completely great.

Home to Hendricks and homegrown cucumber (thanks, Denise), pesto and aloe, chat and blather.

And I wanted to share this, a profile that Buffalo Rising published of me.

2008-06-17T19:19:00.003-04:00

Shine a Little Love

The rain has paused and the birds are singing. It is 7:20pm.

I am getting prepared for my Journal Writing Workshop at the Ellicottville Women's Weekend Saturday. 4pm. Come on by!

On Hulu in another window, I am playing The Original Latin Divas of Comedy, which is excellent. Do you know Hulu? I hang out there and watch The Daily Show and The Addams Family (snap snap). It is good web.

My camera arrived today and I have been having fun discovering it.

2008-06-13T15:38:00.002-04:00

A Slice of June

Nobody I know seems to be going to the Allentown Arts Fest this year.

My camera died and I am awaiting the arrival of my new Sony DSC-W120. Excited!

I dreamed last night that Nietzsche's had been whitewashed and turned into an ice cream parlor, linoleum counter replacing the gorgeous dark wood bar. I woke myself up crying.

Today is a year since my father passed away. I spent time this week making Cornish pasties and listening to Anthony Newly.

Besides the camera, I also bought a TLC plant light, and I am interested to see what it will do for the few things I find challenging to grow.

It is very hot today and the garden seems to be loving it.

2008-06-06T22:45:00.002-04:00

Plastic table bouquet

My camera is not working right now, and I really miss it. I've been envying The Musician's new tiny Canon, but my clunky Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P72 has been a true pal. One more memory stick for the road....

Today I would have photographed the bouquet I made from yard flowers this evening: lunaria, buttercup, sage flowers. My book, Leap of Faith, by Queen Noor of Jordan.

My bangs and eyebrows, and the sort of bruisy look of my eyelids.

My first ever batch of hummus, with romaine lettuce I grew myself.

All my garden needs documenting--the cold Spring has passed and everything is raring: jalapeno pepper starting, dormant chamomile sprouting, transplanted yarrow taking root. I started some yarrow tincture, bought brandy to do skullcap, and tossed the violet oil (for tinnitus) which got murky. Zucchini are huge already, broccoli stronger and stronger, and spinach seedlings crackling along.

Funny to miss pictures so much, poet me. Poet me reads with Kazim tomorrow at Rust Belt at 7. Poet me re-read typewriter poems from 1983 and was horrified. I kept them though. I realized that I read even poetry and definitely fiction for its emotional content, and because I really wanted to know what peole experienced and felt and thought and how this changed. Also for information I could use every day.

It is strange, as librarian and novelist and poet, to admit I get all of this from the internet now.

Now, please put up more pictures and thoughts and experiences and changes on the web for me to sip, please.

2008-06-04T14:53:00.002-04:00

New Erie Canal

"We now have a worthy, history-themed, downtown public waterfront space that will get even better as shops and restaurants follow the crowds. Folks strolled on the boardwalk Monday, lounged on the grass and read signs explaining the site’s history." Full story here.

I was very impressed with the place. It reminded me of Jack London Square in Oakland, and I even learned some new things about the Erie Canal, no small feat as I've been teaching about it for the past three years.

Bike racks were available. Parents and kids were wandering around. The Sahlen's hot dogs sold at a nearby stand were a treat, too.

A job very well done.

2008-05-12T11:24:00.002-04:00

A few literary notes....

Just Buffalo has fired up a community literary calendar, which is great on its own, but best of all for me, it now boasts an RSS feed! Enjoy.

Jack Shifflett, former Buffalo poet, was in town this week visiting from Missoula, Montana...

And Kazim Ali, who also graced the poetry scene here ten years ago, will be launching his second book at Rust Belt Books on Saturday, June 7, at 7pm, and I will be reading along with him.

2008-04-30T08:13:00.002-04:00

Fruit

I'm pleased to announce the fruit of a long-awaited collaboration...Michael Morgulis has made a broadside for my poem, "If I Were."

These will be for sale at my reading at Tru-Teas, 810 Elmwood, on Sunday, May 4, at 4pm. (There will also be an open reading for those who wish to participate.)

Please come!

2008-04-20T22:19:00.001-04:00

Make your own at Speech Bubbler.

2008-04-15T13:35:00.002-04:00

Well, thanks.

That award I mentioned being mentioned for? Apparently I won. I couldn't attend the party to find out/receive my plaque, because I was busy training for a new job and generally freaking out with stress, but it is nice to hear through the grapevine.

Thanks, Artvoice readers and poetry fans everywhere.

2008-04-10T22:39:00.002-04:00

Best of Buffalo

Everywhere I go today, I've been greeted with, "Congratulations!" For the third year in a row, I've been nominated by Artvoice readers as one of the city's best poets. Truly, it is an honor to be on the list. Winners will be announced at the party Friday, and in next week's Artvoice. (I won the award last year.) Thank you, Buffalo!

2008-04-06T18:29:00.001-04:00

Letter

My poem, "Letter" appears on today's poetry page in the Buffalo News. (Please note, the online version does not attempt to preserve original line breaks of them poem. I've complained about this a few times; you can, too!)

2008-04-02T14:05:00.002-04:00

GNE coverage

For me, truly, this is wish come true. I just wish I could get my old handle (RedWitch) back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Neverending

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/02/game-neverending-rises-from-the-dead/

http://waxy.org/archive/2008/04/01/game_nev.shtml

2008-04-01T20:52:00.001-04:00

GNE IS UP!

http://gne.flickr.com/game.php

2008-03-15T22:50:00.002-04:00

Butter Lamb Meme

I hereby note the emergence of, I think, the first significant Buffalo web meme: The Butter Lamb.

Buffalo Rising (see comments, and comments, and keep looking) and Flickr (last year)

Do you know the butter lamb? It comes in many guises.

***

Tonight I've been enjoying the Anne Waldman and Tina LeMarque Denison interviews at Future Primitive, and geeking out over my Google Map of Asheville, NC, making my plans to visit there more detailed.

***

Definitely in a period of reassessment, particularly in regard to work and money. I have a Master's degree and live very near the poverty line. I miss using some of my deeper, more elaborate, more technical skills. I am looking around for a direction.

2008-03-01T22:47:00.002-05:00

I bought a flower for my hat.

On Leap Day, I took the dog to Front Park in a light snow, and we ran into Beaufort there, with her Willy and her Sam. The dogs perambulated B. and I talked herbs, gardens, dreams.

Since the bronchitis, I've been staying at home, pondering, more than going out. I long for Spring and long walks. Will start seeds soon.

I read Cormac McCarthy's The Road, blocking out Dumbo showing on tv for the Pearl. I just can't handle Dumbo. Post-apocalyptic story with sad ending? Yes, as long as I don't have to see elephants crying.

2008-02-14T00:28:00.002-05:00

Valentine (for J.)

in late winter wind
on branch, bark rubbed raw,
sparrow waits and shivers.
in day's single shaft of light
comes friend, flying,
to warm sweet sparrow heart.

they sing.

2008-02-04T18:04:00.000-05:00

Lennon tribute videos are up!

2008-01-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

Books for Sale

There are only a few more copies of Letter available: 3 at Talking Leaves, Main Street, and a couple at Rust Belt Books.

However, I have discovered that some of my out-of-print chapbooks are still available at Talking Leaves: Lit(1999?), Fevers (very early work), and Cusp (1992).

Next, I think I'll publish some fiction.

2007-11-05T18:40:00.001-05:00

Reading
Warrior Poet: The Lfe of Audre Lorde - Alexis Masani DeVeaux
Black Mountain - Martin Duberman
Election - Tom Perotta

Listening
Afropop
Orchestra Baobab
Wondermints

Watching
Rock & Roll Circus--wow! I esp love the Pete Townshend interview extra
Re-watching Angels in America

Eating
Tempeh, veg and rice
black bean tostadas
red grapes

2007-11-05T18:32:00.000-05:00

She took her sunglasses off after five minutes

This is an interview with Patti Smith too good to keep to myself. I've highlighted my favorite parts.

****

Patti Smith on music, politics... and dental hygiene
By Charlotte Chambers
Camden New Journal, 25 October 2007

Grooves travelled to the Jack Daniels birthday bash in Tennessee for
an intimate chat with the punk rock legend.

Legendary punk rocker Patti Smith spoke to Grooves before her gig at
the Birthday JD Set, held at the Jack Daniels whiskey distillery in
Lynchberg, Tennessee. During that hour, she covered all bases: the
importance of dental care; how she was signed after Bob Dylan went to
watch her first gig; the evil of globalisation. (She took her
sunglasses off after five minutes.)

What made you want to take part in the JD set?
Well I thought it was an unusual request and I was really surprised
that they asked me, I thought why would they want me to come to this?
But I thought it would be great for my son Jackson, a really great
guitar player, so I more took it to have the pleasure of Jackson
coming here. And when I've done political rallies, I've played for 40
people in the middle of nowhere.

Why did you do the covers album?
I always wanted to do one. In the 70s, I didn't start singing, I'm not
a musician, I'm not a real singer or anything. When I sang Horses, I
had no track record of being a singer, I didn't want to have a band, I
grew up in a rural area where I never even saw a guitar for real, and
girls really didn't play guitars.

Weren't you a music journalist?
I saw the trajectory of music, Little Richard, Bob Dylan, The Animals,
and then the 60s, all the great music and I really felt empowered
being a skinny, pimply weirdo from New Jersey. I loved rock'n'roll so
much, and then in the early 70s it felt like it was going downhill,
politically and sexually, it was losing its strength, it was getting
glamorous and snotty, so I started writing and performing stuff. Just
hoping to agitate things. To remind people where rock'n'roll was
supposed to be. It was supposed to be grassroots and speak for the
people. In 73. But what really happened was Bob Dylan came to see me
in some shitty little club and he never did stuff like that. For me,
he was like Bob Dylan, you know, I loved him. It got so much media
attention that I got signed. His endorsement got me signed.

What health would you say rock'n'roll's in now?
It's in an interesting pivotal state, I don't think it's going down or
up, it's like imagine if it's like a war, the people are gathering
their forces, they're marshalling their energies so I find it
interesting. I feel like the new guard are experimenting and becoming
more independent. Record companies are in trouble and scrambling. Its
such a mess that its not owned by anybody. Its being redefined. It's
not a business, it's not supposed to be a business. It's a voice. It's
like it's rebirthing itself. I'd rather that than corporatised.

Where do you see your role in all of it? Are you still shaking things
up?
I don't know. I never even expected to be alive at 60 but since I'm
here, I'm really happy, I hope I'm alive another 40 years. At this
point, I know I'm worse at what I do best. I like to perform, and I
like to communicate, and I think I can be trusted because I don't have
any ulterior motives. I like to make people laugh, I get angry about
things. I want to inspire people to get politically involved. But I'd
also like to inspire people to take good care of their teeth, don't
eat a lot of salt or fast food. I'm a mum, I can be very irreverent, I
can still put my foot through an amp but I can help you with first aid
or nutrition. I don't have an image or agenda, I've been here a long
time and sadly have outlived a lot of my friends, so if I can be of
help.. I will.

What's making you angry at the moment?
The illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq by the Bush administration
is the number one thing. All of the exploitation of young people by
corporations, and how young people are being moulded to be the
consumers of the future. This constant advertising that we have
everywhere is becoming people's education.

How does that sit with a corporate gig like this?
Well it's corporate, it's alcohol. I thought about this. I'm very
sensitive about alcohol issues, I've got friends who've died from
alcoholism, but I'm not anti alcohol, I just feel people have to be
educated that too much alcohol.. that alcohol's a bad drug. But
alcohol itself is not an evil thing. I always search myself when I
agree to do these things but I don't perceive it as evil, if it was a
pharmaceutical company I wouldn't be here, because they're evil. But
in the end.. my relatives drink Jack Daniel's, I wanted my son to meet
these musicians, so I was thinking about it in a different way. But
truthfully I didn't agonise too much over it. But I have turned down
the most money I've every been offered in my whole life because a
pharmaceutical company wanted to use one of my songs. It was a lot of
money I could have bought those houses. But we live in a modern
world, I'm not a purist. I just try and adapt.

Do you think musicians have a responsibility to speak out on issues of
human rights?
I believe everybody has a responsibility, everybody has to. But
artists are in a unique position to inspire. They can't make huge
change but they can inspire people to make change, I wish more artists
would come forward. But the Iraq war, trying to get people to speak
out on that.. and the few people that did, we were marginalised. It
wasn't reported in the media. I came to Europe to march. Couldn't
march in America. I know they were afraid because of what happened on
September 11th, but still, you can't forget who you are.

Why is liberal such a dirty word?
The left have been extremely weak. September 11th is one of the worst
things to have happened to my country, and not because of the tragedy
yes it's a tragedy, but when you look at the tsunami that killed
100,00 people... a lot of it wasn't the amount of people that died, it
was the American pride. It's as if we have this magic shield around us
and all of Europe can experience tragedies but not us. It seemed to,
it struck a pall over the country and the Bush administration crafted
everything, so that anything that you said that opposed what he said
was unpatriotic. People got very weak, they completely lost what
patriotism is what they really meant was you are not nationalistic.
The Bush administration are nationalistic and imperialistic, and most
of the American people do not have the sophistication to understand
the difference. The word should be humanist.

Does it feel like a success to be on the bill with diverse and strong
female artists?
I'm really happy about it, I'm happy to be included. I think it's very
interesting to have this idea, of three diverse females with a male
band of session musicians, we're all different mix, we're all
different ages and different sensibilities. I think it's going to be a
successful experiment.

What new acts do you like?
I don't know anybody or anything that's going on! The way I find out
what's going on is through MySpace. My daughter made me a MySpace and
I felt like an intruder: 'They don't want me on the MySpace thing,
that's like a secret club'. And then 200,000 people came to visit. For
a person like me, who sells 40,000 records in America, to see 200,000
people listening to your music is really exciting.
I like Wagner, Maria Callis, Coldtrain and Jimmy Hendrix. I'm not
really up on who's doing what.

Do you think when it becomes so egalitarian it's difficult to pick out
what you like?
That's how things are right now. In the 60s we had all of these gods
of the period, you look at the Rennaisance and you have Michaelangelo
and Da Vinci, well every generation doesn't necessarily put out these
olympian people. I think we're just in a cycle where it is more
equalised. But people will rise, someone who will be extra special,
have extra charisma or a special gift and they will capture a wider
imagination. Right now the playing field is more people orientated.
Maybe not as mystically exciting, but I think for the individual it's
a good thing. Everyone is learning they can express themselves, yes I
can vote, yes I can make change, I can do something for the
environment.

I think of it like in sports. I always hated sports but my late
husband, who is a great musician and a genius, but he also loved
sports and he forced me to learn about sports including golf.

He was from Detroit and he loved his basketball team, the Detroit
Pistons. This was in the 80s, which was a period we'd had so many
great players, like Michael Jordan, he was like the god of basketball.
But then you had the Pistons, who had no god. You had a bunch of
scrappy players, each with their own personality.

You had Vinnie, the microwave, who was like 5'8 and he's a basketball
player. They had Buddha, who was tall and skinny and very meditative,
who would just quietly let everybody else do their thing and then all
of a sudden he would just 'poomf', put it in. And then you had Joe
Dumar, the good guy, the work horse, and you had Rodman, the worm, who
was one of the great defence players.

But none of them were iconic. They were just all of these guys, and
they wound up winning three championships, because they were such a
collective force. Some might have the great one-god guy that sold all
of the t-shirts, and all of America was wearing their sneakers, and
nobody gave as much thought to the Pistons.

But the Pistons won three championships. And I thought there's
something so metaphorically beautiful about this, and it was out of
this atmosphere that my husband and I wrote the song, People Have The
Power, really secretly inspired by the Detroit Pistons. I like to
think that right now, music is in its Detroit Pistons place. We'll see
what happens.

Do you still watch basketball?
No.
My husband before he passed away said to me, because he loved golf, he
was seeing a decline in golf, in the way that almost we're seeing a
decline in music, because all the players were getting too old and it
seemed like the playing field was getting too wide, and too cluttered
and it was getting boring.. And right before my husband passed away he
said 'Tricia we need a young black golfer with a the ability of Jack
Nicklaus' and he said I predict a young black golfer is going to come
and change the whole course of golf history, and then he said, 'and
you're going to have something to do with it.'
So anyway, Fred passed away and never got to see the rise of Tiger
Woods, who of course, did change the course of golf history. But I
always wondered what I had to do with Tiger Woods, until about two
weeks ago. I happened to see in some newspaper, a little article about
him and his birthday, December 30, the same as mine. So my husband was
never wrong.

While we're looking at my camera I will also give you my dental pitch.
As a parting gift, my dental pitch is, I'm telling you something I was
never told because my generation being born right after world war two,
dental care was not a big issue and my generation have terrible teeth.
I'm telling you, please, save your money, and get your teeth
professionally cleaned once twice a year if you can afford it, because
when you get older its such a pain in the ass, its so important. I
never had the money, but it wasn't even the money, I just didn't know.
It will save you a lot of heartache. You wouldn't think that teeth
things were such a big deal but it is such a big pain in the ass.
I worry about people, I do, I want people to come to our concerts and
have fun, I want people to have as much information about things, even
a little thing because if the revolution comes, you don't want to be
with a nerve exposed in your tooth that's so painful that you aren't
ready for the revolution.

You played at the closing of CBGBs last year. Did that feel like the
end of an era or is it just a place?

CBGBs, to me, is symptomatic of one of the tragedies of our modern
world and that is the affluence and the corporatisation of our cities
and advertising, money, condominiums... I'm sure you see it where you
all live. NY city was always such a great city when I was younger,
because it was so cheap, a little dangerous, not so dangerous, but you
could come, get a little bookstore job, live in the east village, meet
a whole bunch of other artists and poets, create a scene and exchange
ideas, and get political ideas and poetic ideas and feel like you were
doing something.(CW sez: Sounds like Buffalo.)

Now its become so affluent and expensive, and they just have come in
really, at such a speed, I can't believe it, right in front of my
eyes, and taken over all our neighbourhoods. Not just some of them,
all of them. And these developers and these really evil people like
Donald Trump, who's like another evil king, and just buy up all these
areas and make condos so expensive so that none of us can live there.

So yes, CBGBs, I feel emotionally sad about losing it physically, but
its not just CBGBs, its the whole thing. And it's not just the whole
thing in NY, its everywhere I go this is happening, everywhere in the
world I go. I was just in Istanbul and kids are saying yeah this is a
cool area but the developers are moving in. It doesn't matter where it
is, it's the globalisation of our world.

To me globalisation should mean everyone can afford health care, Aids
drugs are available to everyone, that no one is starving. That should
be globalisation. But globalisation is not that at all. It's becoming
that the world is just one big playground for people with new
affluence, and a lot of this affluence is made up, because it's built
on credit cards. It's not really built on a real working-class
sensibility where people work hard, it's more to do with how clever an
entrepreneurial you are. And I think that this. I can live with the
equal exploration of the arts, but this equalisation of the world for
the middle classes, the upper middle classes, its such a class
conscious thing. In NY city, I don't have any place left to play any
more, all my band have moved out except for me. Every single place
we've ever practised, they're finished, they're condos, galleries, I
don't know where we're going...

Me myself I'm looking for somewhere to move because it doesn't
represent me any more. I'm giving up. It doesn't matter any more. I
could hold out on my little street, but for what reason? I have no
community. I don't want to be around these people who are basically..
I mean we never had anything, nowadays they've got these stretch
hummers and they're dressed up with cell phones hanging out of their
ears C'mon you know, do something, do something else.

You hit a sensitive nerve, but despite all of that, and despite the
fact that to me, our world seems really fucked up at the moment, and
my country seems in a really bad place, spiritually, socially,
economically, I still believe, and I tell my kids this, we get one
life, one specific life, and we have the right to navigate the dark
sea of the world as well as we can, and be happy and have some kind of
joy and I don't think that we need to be depressed, angry and feel
defeated every day.
I know things are very bad, I know the Bush administration in some
ways has defeated me, but I'm not going to crawl into hole, I'm going
to be myself and I'll be a living thorn, and I'll poke him and poke
him and poke him until hopefully he bleeds. And maybe that's all I can
do, but in the meantime I'm also gonna be happy, and enjoy my kids,
enjoy arts, enjoy nature, enjoy this moment. So for a person who's
maybe the oldest in this room, I'm just telling you that life, even in
its worst, is worth living. There's always something wonderful to wake
up to everyday. It really is worth it. I have seen the bottom, and
even seeing the bottom, I still wanted to come back up. Its great to
be alive.

I don't believe that we all deserve to have a car, or all the
different things that are dangled in front of us, but I do believe we
have the right to be happy. So even if you feel guilty, don't be
afraid to be happy.

2007-10-01T21:43:00.000-04:00

Writing to Jeannine

2007-10-01T21:39:00.000-04:00

Reading
I Am a Pencil - Sam Swope
Hotel De Dream - Edmund White
My Dreams Out in the Street - Kim Addonizio

Listening
Joni Mitchell

Watching
Finally got The Musician to watch The Philadelphia Story with me--he loved it, of course

Eating
baby carrots
stir fry with shrimp
egg salad

2007-09-19T22:42:00.001-04:00

Mariah's Birthday Present

I think it'll suit her, don't you? (More Mariah pics here.)

2007-09-19T22:37:00.000-04:00

Reading
My Life, So Far - Jane Fonda
The Half Life of Happiness - John Casey
The Book of Answers - Carol Bolt

Watching
Mulberry
9 to 5
a John Cage documentary which kinda pissed me off

Eating
Pumpkin bread and peanut butter
salmon, rice pilaf, broccoli
homemade dal

Listening
Cassandra Wilson - New Moon Daughter
The Mason Williams Phonograph Album
Cowboy Junkies

2007-09-19T22:36:00.000-04:00

From '06

Boom Day

Already can’t remember the name of this place, in South Buffalo near where I used to pick Smitty up from work. She’d never eaten here: I always thought it looked neat. I’m on my own in the window, after a morning teaching one small, mellow special ed class, one energetic enthusiastic big class. All their characters died violently. Oh well. It is a cold and vibrant day in early Spring. It’s Boom Day. Earth warm gardens in South Buffalo. Ice in the wind.

Water in a beer glass. Bar clean and well-stocked. Still a lot of green about. The pepper is brown in its shaker. I read about the history of the First Ward’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. It traces the old route from 1913 or 1916. A guy w/ a pen behind his ear cooks industriously in the kitchen.

I love you more every day.

2007-08-18T15:58:00.001-04:00

More MEdia

I was interviewed by Richard Wicka for the Five Minute video series. Here I am talking about drinking, poetry, and Harriet the Spy. (This link will be operational for the next ten weeks.)

2007-08-18T15:13:00.000-04:00

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

The Musician and I went to Montreal. It's about an eight-hour drive from Buffalo. In my trusty Honda Civic, Iris, we motored north and stopped overnight in Alexandria Bay, NY, part of the Thousand Islands region. Although Pirate Days was just kicking off, the high light for us was a thunderstorm at sunset.

I know, we look like cousins.

The next morning, after a lackluster breakfast at Chez Paris, we crossed the border and made our way to Montreal. I had visited Montreal for a few days in 1997 in deep winter. This was totally different. Perfect weather, lovely accommodations, superb food.

Our hotel was the small but gracious l'Auberge du Carre St. Louis. Lovely breakfast of bagels, yogurt, fresh fruit and delicious coffee each day. A hot tub, which I didn't visit because the tub in the room was luxuriously deep. I bought a few things at Lush, just blocks away, specifically to enjoy there.

The hotel, on rue St. Denis, was adjacent to a sweet little park, St. Louis.

I immediately discovered a made-for-me shop, Kamikaze, which sold wooden barrettes and exotic socks. Bliss. I returned twice. Dinner was tamales and fajitas on rue Prince Arthur.

The following day, we enjoyed a stroll around the Old Town and Downtown. We stopped in to see the pipe organ at Christ Church Cathedral. We then headed to the glorious Atwater Market to pick up cheese (Oka!) and crackers and wine and produce for a picnic lunch.

Delightful as this was, our best meal of the trip took place a block from the hotel, at Cafe Cherrier. I had quiche and frites, and The Musician had a salad with chicken livers, which neither of us had ever had before but which knocked our newly-purchased socks right off. (I don't know how Frommer's manages to call the food unexceptional.)

We also took a lot of naps.

Our final day, we enjoyed a drive up Mount Royal, and a walk up to the Chalet at the top. This was a definite highlight of the trip. My only regret was not being able to enter the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, which was under "lock-out." I still don't know the whole story there.

These were the obvious highlights, but mostly I'm left absorbing the vibe and culture of the city, a grand place I hope to visit again soon. More photos here.

2007-07-25T10:56:00.000-04:00

Celia White on This Is Not The Apple

I was interviewed last night by Sue Marie on the Think Twice Radio show This Is Not The Apple.

2007-07-23T23:28:00.000-04:00

More

Reading
BITCHfest, collection of writings from Bitch Magazine

Watching
Edith Piaf: Her Songs, Her Stories
Time Capsule - 10,000 Maniacs videos

Eating
corn relish quesadillas
fresh peaches
KitKat (US)

Listening
"Scorpio Rising"
The Best of the Lovin Spoonful
Swan Farm, live at Nietzsche's

2007-07-20T21:03:00.000-04:00

Reading
Piaf - Simone Bertault
Truck: A Love Story - Michael Perry
Kiss: The Early Years

Watching
Who Are the DeBolts?
Lucinda Williams live at Artpark
La Vie En Rose

Listening
podcasts.
not enough music
Pam Ryder - Soulryder

Eating
garden pesto
Kofta curry

2007-07-15T21:46:00.000-04:00

Weekend

This weekend was my 20th high school reunion. We had a cocktail party and a picnic and it was a truly enjoyable time.

At Saturday's picnic, I was stung by a bee on my foot. Wow, did it hurt! I chewed up some plantain and stuck it on the site and felt immediate relief. Last night it swelled and hurt; today it swells and itches if I stand up too long. I'm treating it a variety of ways, mostly with herbs.
The Musician and I dined this evening at Faso's Restaurant on Niagara Street.

More Pictures at Flickr.

2007-07-01T17:12:00.000-04:00

Home is good.

More photos at Flickr.

2007-06-25T22:01:00.000-04:00

Mark Freeland Remembered

I am taping the WLKK (The Lake) tribute/bio of Mark Freeland, if anyone is interested. It's two hours of interviews, music, etc.

2007-06-19T19:56:00.000-04:00

Consuming Consummation

Welcome, readers (if any) of Consumption By Celia.

Reading
The Happiness Myth - Jennifer Michael Hecht. Best book I've read in ages, about opening our thinking via historical perspectives on drugs, sex, enlightenment, and the body. Wonderful to read about happiness, as rendered by a poet-historian.
The Witch Family - Eleanor Estes
The Book of Miso

Listening
old radio interviews I did in the 90's
Victory Gardens - John & Mary
Kenneth Patchen poems

Eating
Saag Paneer
Pesto made from any thriving herb in the garden, gathered between rainfalls
lemon-poppy seed muffin

Watching
Gilmore Girls re-runs
Ahmet Ertegun profile
The Weavers - Wasn't That a Time

2007-06-19T19:45:00.001-04:00

Celia reads at the Screening Room, Tomorrow

I'll be reading at the Screening Room on June 20 at 7:30. (After, Joe Rozler and Rob Lynch are playing at Nietzsche's--so make a night of it!)

Here is some info about the reading:

- Celia White, active poet in the WNY poetry scene. Former host of the Tru-Teas poetry readings, now focusing on education, and continuing the Urban Epiphany Readings. She has a new collection, Letter, newly published by Ambient Press. This is a great opportunity to purchase this books of poems new and old.
- With Rose Salley, who we are happy to say, has agreed to share her wonderful words with us this month after facing a challenge back in March, which prevented us from enjoying her words, only for a moment.

Located in the Northtown Plaza Business Center, 3131 Sheridan Dr. (837-0376). Parking & entrance located in area behind Tom's at Bailey & Sheridan across from Orville's Appliances. Admission is $2. Time 7:15 (sign-up) – 9:30.

ps- As we all know, things can change, but we hope not. For your information, we generally start at 7:30, opening with two/three open mic readers, our 1st featured, followed by a few more open mike, then our 2nd featured, closing with the rest of the open mics, ending at around 9:15 -9:30.
The open mics are about 5 min. ea. and our featured(s) are 20 min. ea. As always, we will have an "artist(s) basket" so that whoever would like to, can give a donation, with all the proceeds going to the featured artist(s) and musicians (From time to time BASS and CO. will be in the house)

(Image: an old one, taken by someone I don't know, long ago.)

2007-06-19T19:40:00.000-04:00

I made this yesterday, and had it with frozen/heated-on-skillet paratha from SuperBazaar Indian Grocery on Sheridan Drive in Amherst, NY. Really wonderful. I didn't use cream, and I added some onions. It is fast, easy, and delicious.

Saag Paneer

Madhur Jaffrey World of the East Vegetarian Cooking

1 inch cube of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped

3-6 cloves garlic, peeled

½ to 1 fresh hot chile, sliced roughly (I use jalepeno)

Paneer (I use queso fresco, got at Wegman's, inexpensive), cut into chunks

salt

¼ tsp garam masala

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

6 Tbs vegetable oil

1 ½ pounds spinach, washed, trimmed, and very finely chopped

3 Tbs heavy cream (optional)

Put ginger, garlic and green chili into the container of an electric blender or food processor along with ¼ cup water. Blend until you have a smooth paste.

Heat the oil in a large, non-stick saute pan over medium flame. Put in the pieces of paneer and fry them, turning gently as they go golden brown on all sides. (This happens fairly quickly.) Remove from pan and place on plate in a single layer. Sprinkle with a bit of salt, the garam masala and cayenne. Set aside.

Put the paste from the blender into the hot oil in the pan (keep your face averted) and fry it, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds. Now put in the spinach and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir thespinach around for 1 minute. Cover the pan, lower the heat and let the spinach cook gently with the ginger-garlic paste for 15 minutes. There should be enough water clinging to the spinach leaves to cook them. If all the water evaporates, add 1 to 2 tablespoons and continue cooking.

Now put in the paneer and cream, stir gently, and bring to a simmer. Cover, and continue cooking on low heat for another ten minutes. Stir once or twice during this period.

I've been putting up recipes for A LONG time, but have been keeping it from you! Please accept my apologies.

2007-06-14T00:12:00.000-04:00

.

My father, C. Patrick White (1920-2007) has passed away at the age of 87. He often said that he'd had a great life and that he did not want to live to be very old. I hope he can listen to some Ella Fitzgerald now.

P.S. for local readers, artist/musician Mark Freeland has also just passed. RIP.

2007-05-08T19:21:00.000-04:00

An Invitation

Dear friends,

I'm happy to announce that my collection of poems, Letter, has been published by Ambient Press. There will be a book release party on Sunday, May 27, from 3-5 p.m. at Rust Belt Books on Allen Street in Buffalo. Please come and help me celebrate.

If you'd like to order a copy by mail, please contact me (celia dot white at gmail period com): copies are $10 each, with $2 for shipping.

2007-03-30T22:37:00.000-04:00

What I did on my day off

laundry
Premier run
bike ride
Kundalini yoga/visit
made matzoh ball soup
made garlicky carrots and burdock
park walk
mended cloth cover for couch
drank wine
picked out poems for Sunday's reading
made lesson plans for next week
stared down barrel of that wicked work week
talked to Joe in Germany
washed dishes
washed hair
bartered off some medicine bottles for salve
watched The Miracle Worker
called about getting bike shelter made
enjoyed The Wondermints ("Cellophane") and Laura Nyro ("Gibsom Street")
wrote seven lines of poetry

plus the usual:

web
email
chat
chores

2007-03-27T21:23:00.000-04:00

This is Awesome!

11AM Lest the Keepers of the Books Wreak a Terrible Vengeance

Homeless guy #1: Damn! I just got kicked out of the library! Damn!
Homeless guy #2: What did you do, man?
Homeless guy #1: I don't know. I don't know.
Homeless guy #2: Aren't you drunk?
Homeless guy #1: Well, yeah. Also, I might have been looking at dirty pictures on the computer.
Homeless guy #2: Aw, that's not so bad.
Homeless guy #1: And they said that I was being disrespectful to the librarians.
Homeless guy #2, freaking out: No way, man! You can never, never disrespect the librarians! Always respect librarians! What were you thinking? Are you an idiot?

Outside Boulder Public Library
Boulder, Colorado

Overheard by: Librarian on break

Overheard in the Office

2007-03-25T21:35:00.000-04:00

Fools on Parade

Kristianne Meal and I will be doing a duo-reading at Nietzsche's (248 Allen Street in Buffalo) on Sunday, April 1 at 5 pm. Come and join in the silly, the foolish, the spontanous, with the musical backing of the amazing Anne Phillipone. It's free. Think Spring!

2007-03-12T21:32:00.000-04:00

The Schvitz

I finally found a bath house in Buffalo.

When I travel, I seek out a few things: foods I can't get in Buffalo, like Ethiopian cuisine, bookstores (especially used), and bath houses. To me, a place with a jacuzzi , sauna (and steam, but definitely sauna) and cold plunge is heaven.

I've been to bath houses all over the world. NYC's Tenth Street Russian baths, Kabuki and Osento in SF, Sauna Deco in Amsterdam (hands down, the winner), a little Korean place in Chicago, and more. When I worked at UCSF, I'd often spend an extended Friday lunch hour in the gym's sauna. Though this was essential to my sanity, I don't prefer an athletic atmosphere.

I like the variety of bodies, the wet air, the wringing out of the pores, the heat, the salt, the opportunity to lose oneself in a ritual which touches every culture.

Tonight, I went to women's night at Buffalo's own Russian-Jewish baths, The Schvitz, on Kenmore Avenue near Starin. $20 gets you towels, locker, robe, and an evening's access to the facilties. Though I had a short visit, my muscles are loose, my sinuses clear, my spirit calm.

***

I needed that deep heat. I've been working nearly every day (4 gigs in total) and on Sunday I devoted about 10 hours to the project of painting my bedroom, a pale yellow called moonlight. I'm a clumsy painter, and my shoulders and hands ache, but it looks nice. I also grocery shopped, hennaed my hair, made granola, and basically dervished all day.

This week: teaching every day. Expect a crispy little poet on the other end of this week.

2007-03-08T14:54:00.000-05:00

Jeff Vincent Benefit

Tyler sez:

Jeffrey just had surgery for a collapsed lung: this means that he had a small chunk of his left lung cut away and then the lung was "glued" it to his chest wall in the hopes that it will not ever re-collapse.

Jeff's recovery has been a little bumpy but he is finally on the upswing. Still, he will be out of commision for a good 4-6 more weeks. To raise a some $ in the mean lean time, he is having a silent auction (which can be quite fun BTW) for (damn near all of) his work at Kepa3 gallery on March 9 (5-9pm).

This is going to be the opportuntiy to get some really great art
while directly helping out a friend in need.

There will be screenprints, drawings, pastels, paintings and a few dolls. Everything will be starting at very low minimal bids.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tylerlove/409372835/

Celia sez: I'll be there, and I'm telling whoever I can.

2007-03-06T22:41:00.000-05:00

Ooh!

My dreams have come true: The Buffalo News has finally redesigned their website. It's readable, and there's content! This alone is an improvement.

Life is work, these days, with some shivering in between. The cold feels cruel.

The Musician is on the wing and I miss him already.

2007-02-23T01:03:00.000-05:00

"If television's a babysitter,
the internet's a drunk librarian who won't shut up." - catandgirl.com

2007-01-29T22:32:00.000-05:00

Urban Epiphany 2007

The blogging has begun.

2007-01-02T21:09:00.000-05:00

Patti tells her New Year's Day, too.

2007-01-02T18:49:00.000-05:00

Back Home

Had a blast in New York.

Saw Patti Smith. (SJF says it all.) Heard many poets at the marathon.

Bought many books.

Walked miles.

Wrote a lot in my journal (the paper one). (Surely you didn't think this approximates?)

There are many new pictures up at Flickr.

So very tired, so pictures will have to do.

2006-12-28T21:22:00.000-05:00

The Colors of Beau Fleauve

One of my best Christmas presents was the "comic" (really a set of stories and impressions rendered in watercolor) by Charmaine Wheatley, whom I met at a party a few months ago. She was a total delight. (You can buy it at Talking Leaves in Buffalo, and probably Rust Belt Books.) I've been enjoying it for days, while wrapped in my crocheted shawl (thanks, Mom) and listening repeatedly to Pete Townshend's Gold (thanks, Postey).

I was also blessed with the visits of some old friends, and a lovely Solstice with my crew of Crows. Another highlight of the week was skating with Denise and Anne at the Rainbow Rink in North Tonawanda, possibly the best location for a girls night ever.

I am packed, the car is washed, plants watered, dog stuff packed up, directions printed, MetroCard in wallet--NYC, here we come!

2006-12-24T20:36:00.000-05:00

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Empress Celia the Imaginary of Hope End
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

2006-12-23T16:32:00.000-05:00

Update

I've been teaching and working like a mad thing. Not used to being so busy, but it's mostly good.

Going to NYC over New Year's, to see Patti Smith and attend the St. Mark's Poetry Project marathon, which inspired Urban Epiphany so many years ago.

When I return, I will begin as a part-time reference librarian on staff at Canisius College. I am really excited about this opportunity.

Solstice and Christmas have been a light, joyful thing this year, and I haven't suffered so much from the darkness. Thank you, Goddess! For this and so much more.

Times Beach, December 2006.

2006-11-25T23:34:00.000-05:00

"By words, the mind is winged" - Aristophanes

Patti Smith gives some advice about travel and flying. I love this tone of hers; I dig her advice, too. (She's big into dental care these days.)

Thanksgiving was relaxing and very nice. Then, I spent a lovely day with divinetailor, having soup, looking at collage, talking. Today, I attended a very beautiful wedding, of a couple who have been together for 25 years. Tommorow is empty and quiet--I'll have breakfast with The Musician, do some work, take Mariah to run around somewhere.

Things are very calm. Money, nutrition, teaching schedules, Lennon tribute on my mind.

2006-11-22T16:10:00.000-05:00

Just stuff

I joined Biznik, "radical self promotion'...it's business networking, but more.

Special plans afoot for the Lennon tribute, at Nietzsche's on November 30. Be there or be unenlightened.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2006-11-03T23:35:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Jim Whitford!

My friend and neighbor, local musician Jim Whitford, was recently inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. I love Jim's songs, and he is unfailingly humble (don't let him fool you; he's great!). Gusto had a nice interview with him tonight, and then I got to see him play with one of my favorite local groups, The Possums, who only play about every 18 months. If ya missed it, I know you're sorry.

(This shot is from a gig at Sportsmen's Tavern in December, 2005. That's Jim, Rob, and Joe, l-r.))

2006-10-30T18:12:00.000-05:00

YouTube Favorites

A career-motivating film, from 1947 or so, on becoming The Librarian. (via LipstickLibrarian)

Patti Smith performing "Don't Smoke in Bed."

Sesame Street, "The Golden An." And the classic "Lowercase N." (A song Ookla the Mok should cover.)

Vintage Fleetwood Mac: "I'm So Afraid" from 1976.

2006-10-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

Post-Storm

The storm really took its psychic toll on me, as for many of us, I'm sure. This week I've been getting out again, like seeing Petra Haden and her acapella group The Sell Outs, perform some of The Who Sell Out as well as Bach.

I also spent a day with friends at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, looking at all the cute and useless stuff and buying none.

This afternoon I went to a reading of Olga Karman's Scatter My Ashes Over Havana. I've known Olga since I was 12, mostly as a poet. Her work of prose is an amazing thing, vivid and moving and often very sad, describing her leaving Havana, Cuba, at age 20, losing all contact with her family and friends, and returning 37 years later to find a very different place. (Ginger, if you think you might be interested, I'll share my copy with you.)

Coming Up:
The Possums at Nietzsche's, happy hour, Friday November 3.
Joe Rozler and Mary Ramsey at Classics on Elmwood, UU Church, Friday, November 10. A rare and special event, indeed.
My cousin, Ken Schlimgen, in a production of Gilbert & Sullivan's Patience, at Theatreloft, also that second weekend of November.

2006-10-29T16:24:00.000-05:00

Help the library, please

Buffalo Libraries are campaigning for restoration of their budget, decimated by the crisis a fewyears ago. Please help by writing a letter or email to your representatives.

The BECPL page gives a rundown of the situation. Here's how to contact your legislator.

Here's my simple letter (feel free to use my text; the library page also has sample text to borrow):

I'm writing to ask that you restore full funding to the Buffalo and Erie County Library system in the 2007 budget. I write both as a librarian and as a citizen concerned about literacy and simple access to information in our city. Library services are vital. I'm sure you know how difficult the library situation has been since the Red Budget crisis; I ask that you do what you can to rectify the situation on your watch.

2006-10-26T22:06:00.000-04:00

Six Melodies

I'm watching The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill for the 8th time, hot water bottle on my belly, hanging in chat, shaking off a cup of yarrow tea (boy, that stuff really *is* mildly psychotropic!). I had a bath, listening to John Cage, read a chapter of a book about Brian Eno, and wrote my busy sweetheart a love letter.

What are you doing?

2006-10-14T20:02:00.000-04:00

Day 3, I guess, of October Storm 2006. I have taken in a houseguest. She, like about 300,000 others, still has no electricity. I've been checking updates at the National Grid site, about every 4 hours, and their numbers of folks who still need service seem actually to be rising--230,000 to 246,000 between 12 and 4 pm.

On my own street, I can observe after dark that around 1/3 of the properties have no power. The street is definitely a hazardous zone--sometimes the parking lanes are blocked, sometimes the sidewalk. The dog is perplexed by our circuitous route.

Walked up to Richmond Avenue just now, to check out what the trucks were doing--scooping up tree limbs and loading them out. I wish that the city would give some direction about how citizens could help with tree debris--this, at least, is not a highly dangerous or technical job. Do they want limbs piled in one direction, or criss-cross? We could handle this task.

My prayer tonight is that the workers find all the magical connections possible--one wire which can restore awhole block or even neighborhood to humming, a solution to the puzzle which is the map at present. I'm grateful to the crews which have come from Ohio and elsewhere to staff trucks and positions. Thinking good thoughts, and thank you.

2006-10-13T17:04:00.000-04:00

Buffalo: blogging disaster

I added some more pics to my set. Also check out the Buffalo set at Flickr. This is a day when I desperately wish Buffalo had a true web infrastructure--there's almost no information online about road conditions, power restoration, or closings. Radio and tv news are up-to-date, though.

The horror which is the Buffalo News website has one story. One.

As far as I can tell, driving bans are in effect everywhere still, due to limbs and downed power lines. The power companies are talking about it being a week before power is back on for everyone. As far as I can tell, no customers have had power restored as of yet (this storm began about 25 hours ago.)

It's hard not to think of other poorly managed disasters of late.

We're still fine, but most folks I talked to by phone today had no power or heat. We're lucky that the temperature is 47F at the moment.

2006-10-13T09:21:00.000-04:00

The New York State Thruway's Closed, Man. (--Arlo Guthrie, at Woodstock)

No, it's not Woodstock. Western New York got a freakish 17 inches of snow yesterday. I commuted to Orchard Park and back in hail, thunder and lightning. They had rain. When I returned to the city, every tree along Forest Avenue had some branches down. Like, full limbs of trees.

It's the earliest October snowstorm ever recorded. A quarter million people are without power. Many cars have been damaged by falling limbs. Travel ban is in effect. We won't be dug out and humming for a few days, I think.

See more photos here.

2006-10-11T21:08:00.000-04:00

October Update

Love getting new incense; the little holder in the top of the box. Flick, click, light, peace.

Driving south, the sunset light on the brick of the buildings, my harvest, pretty as any tree line.

Tonight after the poetry reading (where I mostly heard the names of plants, the register of light), splashy rain in the dark of Allen Street, and wind. Leaves blown into the entry way of the bookstore, the bar. (Poems by Martin Clibbens, Ethan Paquin; art by Dana Scott, Jeff Vincent.)

Chickweed is coming up everywhere in my yard, where it never was before. Matthew Wood's Plants as Medicine and Alice Notley's Alma, or The Dead Woman in the mail today.

Hats from all over the world to be sent to the cancer center in Ottawa.

Many small, interesting jobs. A little work on the novel. Gomasio, apple pie, dog romp in cemetery, disheveled mornings watching the squirrels from second-floor kitchen window.

Paid off my credit card.

2006-10-08T23:24:00.000-04:00

Media count

CDs: 286
casettes: 378
LPs: including those for sale, probably 400.
VHS tapes: 105
DVDs:18.

Have never counted books; have 3 bookcases full.

Need new ways to arrange these things, and better access to my turntable.

2006-09-19T17:27:00.000-04:00

I have a great many 33 1/3 LP records For Sale...

Email me if you should want more details or to make an offer.

Louis Armstrong – The Authentic Sound of Louis Armstrong in the 30s (RCA Victor) decent

Ray Anthony – Dream Dancing Medley (Capitol) scratched

Count Basie - One o’clock Jump (Columbia) fair

Ray Charles – Greatest Hits (ABC) poor

Ray Charles & Cleo Laine – Porgy & Bess (RCA) 2 records, mint BOX

Buddy Clark - For You Alone – Orchestra under the direction of Mitchell Ayres (Columbia) decent

Nat King Cole – At The Sands (Capitol) excellent

Bing Crosby – Der Bingle (Columbia) decent

Bing Crosby Songs from “Mississippi” Decca scratchy, no cover

Bing Crosby – Bing : A Musical Autobiography with Buddy Cole (Decca) excellent

Bing Crosby – A Legendary Performer (RCA) excellent

Bob Crosby - The Best Of (MCA) 2 record set, good

Bob Florence Big Band – Live at Concerts By The Sea (Trend) fair

Eddie Condon’s Treasury of Jazz (Columbia) good

Erroll Garner Popular Piano Classics Set 3 (Quality) decent

Jimmy Dorsey – Dixie by Dorsey – (Columbia) scratchy, no cover

Dorsey Orchestra – A Toast to Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey (Crown) poor

Tommy Dorsey – That Sentimental Gentleman (RCA) 2 records, excellent

Benny Goodman Orchestra – The Golden Age of Benny Goodman (RCA Victor) excellent

Benny Goodman – Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert Vol. 3 (Columbia) poor

Benny Goodman – King of Swing, Vol. 1 (Columbia), very good

The Glenn Miller Story – (Decca) decent/very scratched

This is Glenn Miller (RCA Victor) good

Glenn Miller and his Orchestra – For the Very First Time 50 Never Before Released Original Performnces (RCA Victor) booklet and 3 records; good BOX

Norman Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic voume 8 and10? scratchy

Robert Stolz - Viennese Memories – (Decca) good

Richard Strauss Stadium Concerts Symphony Orchestra of New York (Decca) decent

Paul Smith – Liquid Sounds (Capitol) good

Billy Daniels – Torch Hour (Mercury) poor condition

June Christy – Something Cool (Capitol) good

June Christy – Fair and Warmer (Capitol) fair

Ramsey Lewis – Back to The Roots (Cadet) excellent

Stan Kenton – The Ballad Style of Stan Kenton (Capitol) poor

Dinah Washington – Dinah ’62 (Roulette) good

Vienenese Zithers (Capitol) fair; no cover

The 5^th Dimension – Stoned Soul Picnic (Liberty) good

101 Strings - Camelot (Somerset) good

Jackie Gleason – Gigot (Capitol) like new

Jackie Gleason – Music to Remember Her (Capitol) decent

Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra – Fiesta! (Capitol) good

Horst Kudritzki – Berlin bei Natch (Capitol) good; one scratch

Tiroler Ensemble - Tiroler Abend (Bellaphon)good

Moody Blues – On The Threshold of a Dream book

Das Orchester Karl Loube – Das ist Zunftig (Polydor) good

Longines Symphonette – The Memory Years (Gold Mdal) excellent; sleeve only, no cover

The Bickersons – The Bickersons Rematch (Columbia) 2 discs; good condition

Sandler & Young – More & More of Sandler & Young (Capitol) poor

Learn a Language: German (Lessons 1-10) no cover; poor

Carl Millocker – Der Bettelstudent (Electrola) excellent

Lee Oskar (UA) good

RCA Broadway Strings and Velvet Voices – No, No, Nanette (RCA Victor) good

The World of Your Hundred Best Tunes Vol. 8 (London) excellent

Art Van Damme – Music for Lovers (Harmony) good

Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra - Symphony for Tommy: A Tribute to Tommy Dorsey (Somerset) fair

Johnny Desmond – Blue Smoke (Columbia) fair

Vic Damone – On The South Side of Chicago (RCA Victor) good

The Kingston Trio – Sold Out (Capitol); 3 copies, good condition

Abbey Lincoln – People in Me (Inner City) good

Herbie Mann – Brazil Once Again (Atlantic) good

Chuck Mangione – Chase the Clouds Away (A&M) good

Chuck Mangione – Feels So Good (A&M) good

Erroll Garner – music from “A New Kind of Love” (Mercury) good

The JATP ALL Stars - Perdido (VSP-Verve) good

The Fats Waller Legacy (Olympic) very good

Sammy Davis Jr. – Starring Sammy Davis Jr. (Decca) poor

Vince Guaraldi and the Conte Condoli All Stars (Crown) good

MFSB - End of Phase 1 (CBS) good

The Sound of Christmas, Vol 2. (Capitol) fair

George Shearing Quintet – Touch of Genius (MGM) poor

George Shearing with Billy May strings – The Shearing Touch (Capitol) excellent

George Shearing and Nancy Wilson – The Swingin’s Mutual (Capitol) excellent

Jack Jones – Wives and Lovers (Kapp) fair

Jack Jones - The Impossible Dream (Kapp) 2 copies; fair

Jack Jones – For The “In” Crowd (Kapp) fair

Jack Jones – Lady (Kapp) good

Jack Jones and Billy May – Shall We Dance? (Kapp) good

Matt Monro – This Is The Life! (Capitol) good

Matt Monro – Close to You (Capitol) good

Matt Monro – These Years (Capitol) good

Dick Haymes – The Best Of Dick Haymes (MCA) fair

Roy Hamilton – Soft N’ Warm (Epic) good

Cleo Laine- Born on a Friday (RCA) good

Cleo Laine – Live at Carnegie Hall (RCA) good

Cleo Laine & James Galway – Sometimes When We Touch (RCA) good

Cleo Laine – Gonna Get Through (RCA) good

Funky Finger sex records: Midnight Cowpoke, Humpingville, USA, The Dirtiest Sluts in Plainsville, Hired Stud Will Travel

Peter Nero – If Ever I Would Leave You (RCA Camden) scratchy

The Mills Brothers – Sixteen Great Performances (ABC) fair

The Ink Spots – America’s Most Popular Quartet, Vol. 2 (Colortone) poor

Ella Fitzgerald – The Cole Porter Songbook (Verve) 2 records; good

Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Sings Gershwin (Decca) fair

Ella Fitzgerald – The First Lady of Song (Decca) scratched

Ella Fitzgerald – The Rodgers and Hart Song Book (Verve); 2 records, fair

Ella Fitzgerald – Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers (Verve) good

Ella Fitzgerald – Sings the Gershwin Song Book Vol. 2 (Verve) excellent

Ella Fitzgerald – Ella in London (Pablo) good

Duke Ellington and His Orchestra – Masterpieces by Ellington (Columbia) good

Dexter Gordon – A Swingin’ Affair (Blue Note) good

Oscar Peterson Trio – At the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Holland (Verve) scratched

Oscar Peterson Trio & One Clark Terry (Mercury) excellent

The Best of Arthur Prysock Number 2 (Verve) excellent

Red Norvo Jazz Trio (Allegro) excellent

An American in Paris soundtrack (MGM) poor

Original Soundtracks and Music from the Great Motion Pictures [1962] (UA) very good

Orchestral, Etc

Andre Previn piano and orchestra – Like Love (Columbia) good

Andre Previn – With Voices (RCA Victor) excellent

Vienna Festival Orchestra - Grieg, Richard Strauss, Debussy (?) fair

Berlin Philharmonic, Andre Cluytens conducting – Beethoven The Nine Symphonies, Coriolan and Egmont Overtures (Seraphim) 7 records, excellent BOX

New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein conducting – Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36; Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 (Columbia) excellent

Philadelphia Orchestra with Rudolf Serkin, piano and Eugene Ormandy, conductor – Beethoven Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 73 (“Emperor”) (Columbia) good

Vienna State Opera/Austrian Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (Remington) poor

Johann Strauss Operettas (Die Fledermaus; A Night in Vencice; Der Zigeunerbaron; Waldmeister Overture (Capitol) scratchy

Vienna Philharmonic – Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra (London) excellent

Der Zigeunerbaron (Electrola) excellent

Arthur Rother Orchestra of the Nerlin Municipal Opera – Johann Strauss Overtures (Telefunken) scratchy

The Best of Charles Aznavour (Polydor) excellent

Morton Gould Orchestra and Band – Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture (RCA Victor) good

Austrian Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Overture Fantasy (Remington) poor

Eileen Farrell – Puccini Arias (Columbia) decent

Ted Heath - at the London Palladium (London) fair

Ted Heath - Shall We Dance? (Decca) excellent

Der Orchester der Hamburgischen Staatsoper – Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (Somerset) good

The Longines Symponette – The Memory Years 1925-1960 (MGM) 5 records, mint BOX

Vienna Tonkuestler Symphony Orchestra – Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto in C minor, op. 18 (Plymouth) fair

NBC Symphony Orchestra with Arthur Rubenstein, pianist and Vladimir Golschmann conducting – Rachmaninoff Conerto No. 2 on C minor, Op. 18 (RCA Victor) poor

Arthur Rubenstein – Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2; Liszt Concerto No. 1 (RCA Victor) excellent

Arthur Rubenstein and Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 (LM) good

Accademia di Santa Cecilia – Puccini La Boheme (London) fair

Viennese Symphonic Orchestra, Felicitas Karrer, pianist – Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Opus 16 (Masterseal) excellent

Toscanini Plays Light Classics (RCA Victor) 2 records, good

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – Strauss (RCA Victor) poor; sleeve only, no cover

2006-09-18T15:41:00.000-04:00

TAKING NOTE: A JOURNAL WRITING WORKSHOP [510001]

'An inner life, cultivated, nourished, is a well of strength, the inner structure we need to resist out catastrophes and errors and injustices.'-Anais Nin; Every area of your life benefits when you take time to reflect and listen to your inner voice. You don't have to be an accomplished or aspiring write to benefit from journal writing. In this workshop, particpants are invited to begin or deepen their experience of journal writing. Use of the journal as keepsake book, memoir, problem-solving tool, safe space, and starting place for creative writing will be discussed. In-class writing and homework assignments will be given and some sessions may feature use of artistic materials. NOTE: This is not a group-therapy session in any sense. Students will not be required to share the contents of journals. Monday, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM; 6 sessions starting October 16, 2006, ending November 20, 2006
Cost $41 - Available Discounts Instructor: Celia White Location: Williamsville - Williamsville North High School

Interested? Go here.

2006-09-14T23:19:00.000-04:00

Thursday's Thrills

I made up a song about Goldie Gardener and Frank Lloyd Wright to stop the baby crying tonight while babysitting. (That's right, it's Pledge Week on Ch. 17!) I might also note that Norah's world has trees, catalogs, shoes, walks, kitties, books, friends, yogurt, and country songs (all sung to the tune "Elmo's World").

Bought some fabric remnants, French barette clips, and notions today. Need some project, besides re-typing the novel.

Summer Pierre has finished 30 days of one-word writing/drawing prompts: a great inspiration.

Not so thrilling:

Quite sad about the Montreal shootings, and the general state of attitudes in the world. (Mine not excluded.)

2006-09-09T23:12:00.000-04:00

Weekend

(Me and the Kreepy Dolls at Buffalo Arts Studio)

This is the art I saw tonight: Kreepy Doll Factory, work by Jeff Vincent and Thu Tran and Dan Baxter.

Been resting.

And I went to see Redheaded Stepchild the other night; pictures here.

2006-09-08T17:49:00.000-04:00

Debuting...ProfessionalResearchServices.com

I am extremely happy to announce the launch of my new website, Professional Research Services. As some of you know, I've been running my own home-based research business since 2002, specifically serving the tobacco control/public health community. I've decided to expand my services to include answering the research, writing, archival needs of organizations and individuals.

Do you know anyone who needs assistance organizing a collection, writing a history, fact-checking, or in-depth research?

I hope you'll think of me.

Tags: business, library, professionalresearchservices

2006-09-04T18:57:00.000-04:00

Tech-Cred Screed

I'm a little afraid to admit it: I'm thinking about letting my domain expire.

Celiathepoet.org was a gift (thank you, Sean) and a perfect one for 1999 San Francisco. I'd had webpages of sorts before that, though I was as happy as anyone to see hand-coding go its way in favor of blogging and templates. I was also happy to support the ultra-cool Eskimo.com. (As you can see by their page, they're about as interested in updating a web site as I am.)

But, as you've probably noticed, if I write at all, it is via my blogs. Also, there is the expense, considerable as I cut all corners. And the fun of FTPing. This, perhaps, I shall recover from.

I guess I am just wondering...am I less of a "person" online without a domain behind me? In what way should I care? Who shall mourn if I sink into blogging obscurity? It is no more or less shallow than CTP.org allows now.

I feel vaguely Shakespearean (tragic? comic? O, I am slain?) about it all.