Monday, July 30, 2007

The new fridge, Defenestration and Caffeine Destiny

What did A have to do to acquire of a new fridge? Because she didn't want the fridge-delivery guys to think she's a slob — for two weeks, she scrubbed floors, she sponged muck off window screens, she vacuumed dust bunnies and yes, she sniffed grease remover fumes until her sinuses opened up — she sniffled all the time — and made her see funny lights. She hasn't been the same since. She's been cleaning up after herself, for one. Her husband suspects that she spilled olive oil on the table just to have a reason to sniff some more toxic fumes. He doesn't know what's it like to live without grease removers.

Anyway, the new fridge will arrive on Wednesday. At last. The one we have came with the house when we moved in 7 years ago. Even then it was already old. It grows a slab of ice in the fridge compartment every summer and part of its rubber seal hangs like dried twig from under the door. We suspect it's the reason our electric bill has been so high this year.

Recent publications:

• A picture I took at the Vienna Central Cemetery is now up in the July 20th issue of Defenestration. Behold the man. Or should I say, the stiff.

• My poems, Possessions and Ceremonial Spoon are now up in the Fall 2007 issue of Caffeine Destiny. Really thrilled to be sharing space with Mary Biddinger, Ryan Collins, John Gallaher, Anne Heide, David Lehman, Reb Livingston, Rebecca Loudon, John Morrison and Susan Stewart. Did I mention this is one of my favorite 'zines?

Recent acceptance and a half:

Blood Orange Review accepted my poem, And God said let there be economy class passengers— for an upcoming issue.

     Submission date: 2 May 2007
     Reply date: 26 July 2007

• Was happy to finally hear from the editor of Anemone Sidecar — thought they'd closed down and had quite given up on it. They're interested in taking my poem, fortitude: a reportage — thing is I've already sent it to Counterpath Press and, according to the guidelines, if submitters don't hear from them in three months (August 25th for me), then we can consider our work rejected. The AS editor said she'd wait and keep her fingers crossed. Here's to hoping for a rejection.

Anyway, if you're still waiting to hear from Anemone Sidecar — you ought to hear from them soon. They're busy catching up with the submissions.

     Submission date: 10 October 2006
     Reply date: 22 July 2007

Saturday, July 14, 2007

It's alive!!

And it has even cut its hair today! Five inches off. And the hairdresser begged it not to wait for another year to pass before coming back to them.

Won't bother confessing what I've been up to these past few weeks... apart from frying my brain in front of the television and watching a chicken bone in a solution of water and laundry detergent — research for the novel Valerie and I have been plotting together.

Recent publications/recording:

• My poem, Say Goodbye to Baked Alaska is up in the July/August 2007 issue of Eclectica.

• Have two poems up in the Spring/Summer 2007 issue of DMQ Review: (fear) of being watched and Tessa Fishes in Her Backpack for a Banana.

• A recording of my poem, A Driving Student Adjusts the Seat is up in the Rattle Audio Archive. I really love this idea of asking contributors to send audio files of their poetry!

Recent acceptances:

Defenestration said AYE to a visual —erm— aid I sent them. Am tickled pinkish because I teeheed the whole time I was photoshopping it. It's due to be revealed on the 20th for their July 2007 issue.

     Submission date: 18 May 2007
     Reply date: 30 June 2007

Zygote In My Coffee, another ticklish 'zine, accepted three poems: The Gorilla Suit Turned Up For Its Close-Up Today and Portrait of Anselma and Marianne as Minor Saints (inspired, if I remember correctly, by Sarah's In the Voice of a Minor Saint ) for their 4th Print Edition (due out late August 2007) plus Please Meet My Table for issue #93 of their ONLINE edition (due out 8/6/07).

     Submission date: 5 June 2007
     Reply date: 3 July 2007

Smileys of A's brain:

Haven't done much writing these days, but hope to haul my ass back to 30:30 sometime next week. Even the husband has noticed how oddly I act when I'm not writing. Funny how writing keeps my feet on the ground — makes me wonder if this is the same of others?
Here's the smiley of A's brain when she writes poetry:
And here's the smiley of A's brain at rest:

However, to make writing less interesting, the wineshop across the street seems to have closed for vacation — am going crazy from lack of draft wine or whatever they call vino sfuso in English. I desire some Sparkling Rabosé!