Dog lick'n the Salt Lick

So I filled out a request for information thing on the internet about getting an Assoc. in Biz (book store dreams!). A man called me soon after, and we started talking about my aspirations. He was quite helpful and asked if I wanted to start school in June. That was so soon that it took me aback; but I thought, “why wait?” So, online we started filling out the paperwork for registration and financial aid. Within two hours we were done. I was getting quite excited. However, at that time, I still hadn’t had my e-signature PIN. So it had to wait till this coming Tuesday. Meanwhile, I decided to ask.com Axia College at the University of Phoenix. There were some warnings on some websites concerning this program. So I decided to seek some advice from some of my closest friends, and decide that this wasn’t in my best interest at this time to pursue this program. I should have known; one of the web pages, where you log on, had a warning on it that flashed saying it was a online telemarketing scam. I asked the guy why that was on there, and he said he had no idea and immediately changed the subject. Anyway, I have decided not to go for it. Frankly, to finish a degree would be great, but not necessary to accomplish what I want for my future. Besides, I am so heavily medicated that I don’t really know if I am ready for school. So, I am going to have to let Edwin (my “counselor”) know the bad news today.

I am not going to be ready for “Jesus and the M16” by the end of the month. I am going to give myself an extension (trying not to make that a habit!) of another month. The more I put into it, the more I want to put into it. I really want it to be the best, highest quality book that I can. It started off as a collection of poetry, but it has grown to something more, and I like it, and I’m not bored of it (a miracle within itself). I’ve cleaned up my drawing desk and drawing area, and now I have a nice little creative area in which I can create. My computer here, and a few feet over, my drafting table (art table). I have two full book cases (almost) in this room, and my wife stores all the ebay things in here too.

We’ve been talking about maybe picking up some books at a local library sale, and garage sale, and instead of having a yard sale, we could have a book sale. Perhaps starting off like this will eventually work into a book store. Who knows?

I’ll have to admit, that right now, my poetry juices are pretty deleted, but not my creative juices. I am going to work some magic with the manuscript and see what happens. If I had a program like QuarkXPress, then I could really go to town, but as it stands, I have to do it all in Word. That’s not bad though, because if you play with Word, you can learn a great deal as to what it is capable of; much more than what one would think.

And now, I leave you with this poem:

Salt Lick

Dog lick’n a salt lick
Mud running woman
run race pace to ‘git the mail
paved road slippery when wet
car passing a man in a hat

Dog lick’n a salt lick
Horses hay there or here
watching cars go by
big black Rottweiler catching my eye
neighbor one more and the
Dog is lick’n the salt lick

Blue with corrosion and wheels sitting
in the back of the
barn side to side with a magnificent
display of rusted metal in the shape
of a tractor. Then turn just a
little, and that dang dog is lick’n the
Salt Lick

Brown vrs. Forster

Last week I finished The Di Vinci Code, and this week, I started “Howards End” by E. M. Forster. My best friend told me that my taste in literature is more sophisticated than his. At the time I felt encouraged and edified. But, then I started realizing that it really isn’t a matter of sophistication, but a matter of having a deep desire to be well read.

Regardless, it hasn’t been an easy thing to do. Some of these writings from years, decades, and centuries ago are quite dry and slow going. It is a hard transition from Dan Brown to Forster. The pace of this book (Howards End) is completely different (of course). Anyway, I pretty much knew that going in. So I decided to give it a fair shot. I know this sounds like a bit of a negative review so far, but wait…

I read the first chapter, and it took me three nights to finish most of it. The first few nights I fell asleep on the first page. Last night I decided to really force myself to stay awake. And it was worth it.

Howards End is supremely written with a grace and beauty that I haven’t seen since I started my quest of self education. Reading this first chapter was a smooth, ease and brought a beauty in prose form. It seemed to be (much like Pound) poetry in motion, but not as dislocated as Pound. It was fastened together by sanded and level braces holding it highest jointly. I was fascinated, but…

The English are known for their pomposity and etiquettes. I could tell from the first chapter that the tone of the story will involve a great deal of that sort of thing. By the third chapter, Helen, Margaret, and Tibby’s Aunt Julie (Mrs. Munt) had taken charge of the situation pertaining to Helen’s engagement to a less sophisticate (maybe) living in Howards End. The main reason she goes to visit Helen , is because she doesn’t trust Margaret (the oldest of the three sisters) to say and do things that won’t embarrass them (at least seemingly).

It really is a nice read, but I can’t stand the pretension of English etiquette! Pride beyond pride pushing people to live in deceitful relationships covered in pomp. It drives me nuts. I know that much of modern England isn’t quite as bad as it used to be, but still, YIKES it drives me mad.

That being the case, I am feeling motivated to put the book down and start something else. Perhaps I should give it ten chapters instead of two? Perhaps.

Well, the point is that my books came in from the History Book Club. There are several there that I would like to start. (For fun, I start book and music clubs for their introductory offer of such amount of books for a dollar each, plus shipping, and no further buys necessary) Usually you just need to wait out the 90 day probation period, make sure you cancel the pre-selected books online, and then cancel the club. Then I find a new club and do it again. This cost me about $20-$25 each time. I get about that much every month for my allowance anyway. So instead of Taco Bell, I get books and music. It is almost a hobby, but it drives my wife crazy (and we are negotiating this thing now). Sometimes I still get Taco Bell, or the new McDonalds Bold blend (we don't have any coffee shops in flatwoods, so this new coffee thing at Mic-a-dee's was huge). But this thing I do with the book and music clubs is not only leagal, but completely ethical. These clubs advertise that there is no further obligation to buy, so I don't. For a really poor (richer than thrid world and such) person, you got to figure out how to get new things once in a while, or you go crazy(er).

So, I’m ready to start some serious non-fiction. I think I might pick Howards End back up in the fall. I’ll have the patience for it then. In the spring and summer, my attention span in almost everything is shortened.

My illustrations for “Jesus and the M16” are done, so now, it’s just a matter of formatting it. I am really, really trying like crazy to not get political. My point is the abuse of Christianity in the name of politics (left and right both have arguments, and I’m right in between.), and I want to just stick to the point. So, I am first going to let my wife read it, then my best buddy John, then I’ll trim it down, then maybe a few of you could review it before I send it to www.lulu.com. Just let me know!

Reading Is Fundamental

I put everything on hold last week to read The De Vinci Code. What a great read. Just from sound bytes and such, I went into thinking that my senses would be offended (Proud to love Jesus!); but it is so transparently fiction that it’s underwhelming. The sad thing is that more people READ this book, than they do the bible. Reading is so crucial, and important. I always encourage people who think that they don’t have time to read to repent (not in those words). But there is always time to read. I mean, I you think that you don’t have time to read, then you’re not having any really good solid (as it were) bowel movements. If you have time to poop, then you have time to read. Even a couple of pages a day is better. I am intrigued by this new game for the PSP that they have been advertising concerning your brain age. Part of my motivation to read, do puzzles (fill in’s), and spend time writing my blog is to keep my mind sharp. But even if I weren’t so medicated, I’d still have to prioritize my IQ. Sadly, I did a great deal of mind altering LSD in and out of high school, searching a transcendence which I found out wasn’t obtainable, the hard way. In fact, the quantity of LSD I did (and other things) significantly lowered my IQ, by at least 15 points (regret and self pity inserted here). But, I retain somewhat of some intelligence and reading is a big part of that. So, please, my point is that you must make time to read. NO TIME TO REVISE AND REVEIW, PLEASE FORGIVE GRAMMAR!

A New Direction

Well, I’ve come to a conclusion about a few things:

1.) I really do have some not so bad poetry. (Which means that I won’t be giving poetry up any time soon, but sort of…)

2.) After this month I am going to completely focus on my graphic novel.

Although I am not giving up poetry, I am going to put aside all of my publishing goals and attempts with my poetry. But, I am also going to spend the rest of May sending stuff in for publication. I am entering about three contests and submitting to two or three different publications. I am going to give it one last heave hoe, then for the next year, June 2006 through June 2007, I am going to create and complete my graphic novel, “The Image”. I think about this project all the time, but put it aside to work on my poetry manuscripts. Well, I am almost done with my third manuscript, and have very little to show for it. I know that I could use some serious direction with my manuscripts (I will have September Blue on Lulu soon), but when it comes to writing poetry, I’m spent. I don’t have anymore to give. Sadly, there is just not enough drama and conflict in my life to produce anything, AT THIS TIME. I’m not necessarily looking for drama, but I’m not avoiding it either. But thankfully, little is going on with my health. Actually, there have been improvements with my kidneys and liver, and everything else is so amazingly stable that it is truly uninspiring. That is good, no, GREAT! But doesn’t make for good, tortured soul poetry (my shtick).

JESUS AND THE M16 is coming on along great, and I’m am feeling good about that project. There are a few illustrations that I need to do, and I need to hop on that. I want to be completely done by the end of this month. I mean done and ready to go to print done. On my off hours from working on my Graphic Image, I will be sending this new manuscript to different publishers to see what can happen, but that is it for poetry interaction.

Kind of. I was elected interim Secretary for the Flatwoods Poetry Society, and leaves me with some additional duties (along with the Newsletter). Being the new Secretary, I am doing a new contact info sheet, and schedule. It’s monotonous work, but I’m almost done. I am taking a completely new approach to it, and I don’t know if the long term members will like it. But, basically, I am doing it the way that keeps me interested, so, it’ll have to do.

I have a new poem for the new project, but I’m saving it for submissions for other magazines and such.

Well, like I said, not a lot going on.