Author Archives: susan

LITERATURE: Acquisitions

Posted on April 23, 2009 by susan

Back from the library book sale and am excited about what I was able to find to add to my shelves, a couple of which were actually on my To Buy list. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Time for a McCarthy fix?

Posted on April 23, 2009 by susan

In tagging all the Literature posts it amazes me how long ago I’ve read this or that. Of course this latest span of time spent with Ishiguro’s Unconsoled has set me way back in reading, though I’ve got a post … Continue reading →

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BLOGGING: Tags

Posted on April 23, 2009 by susan

Obviously the way cloud tags work is that the more uses of a tag, the larger the text. So far, and I’m only about a third into it, Kundera and Calvino have just beat out Ham Sandoval in size. There’s … Continue reading →

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CODE: From the ‘One Thing Leads to Another’ Department

Posted on April 22, 2009 by susan

Yes, the banner needs to be redone. Obviously what I’ve done here is expand the style from an 800 pixel width to suit the more common 1280 pixel screen setup. What started it was the decision to go back and … Continue reading →

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WRITING: Titles, Phrases, Concepts

Posted on April 22, 2009 by susan

Sometimes the weirdest words set themselves up for story. This morning, a title: “Memories of My Mother On The Pill” is banging around inside my head. Just before I discard it, leaving it here to wallow in its own wacked-out … Continue reading →

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POETRY: Finding the Way

Posted on April 22, 2009 by susan

I’ve been stuck on the Alzheimer’s series of poems that came in a rush for two days and then dwindled. I’m glad that the feelings came out, the memories of memory lost. Just sort of fell into it before I … Continue reading →

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: Ethical and/or Legal

Posted on April 21, 2009 by susan

Lots of interest in the release of the so-called torture memos, and lots of interesting and deeply intense questions arise. I suppose I’m not interested in the legalities as much as the morality of the use of torture. For one … Continue reading →

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EDUCATION: Updating Old Curriculum

Posted on April 21, 2009 by susan

For all the English Professors out there, McSweeneys “Internet Age Writing Syllabus and Course Interview” is just too funny: Week 1: Reading is stoopid This fundamental truth may seem obvious to today’s youth, but this wasn’t always the case. Students … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Beans of Egypt, Maine

Posted on April 20, 2009 by susan

Life’s too short. I don’t know if I’ll keep at Ishiguro’s The Unconsoled, but I’ve already relaxed into Carolyn Chute’s novel and feel comfortable there.

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WRITING & BLOGGING: The Perennial Question

Posted on April 20, 2009 by susan

Yeah, it’s been a while, but I’m again starting to ask myself “Why bother?”  prompted by lack of response (gotta find that Mark Bernstein post on why comments on blogs are not a great idea) but stirred to think more … Continue reading →

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: Right to Carry on Campus

Posted on April 20, 2009 by susan

This Hartford Courant poll on the issue this week regarding students on two state campuses requesting the right to carry concealed weapons on campus show some surprising results (NOTE: I’ve been updating the chart below): Guns on Campus? Yes (5667 … Continue reading →

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POETRY: Alzheimer’s IV

Posted on April 19, 2009 by susan

I wake up to the ghost of her, all that is left stands there in the dark above my couch– her couch–on which, half a dozen years ago her independence would never have allowed for me to sleep there stay … Continue reading →

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POETRY: Quick Fix

Posted on April 19, 2009 by susan

I didn’t see it but I’d heard the sky had fallen somewhere in the southern part of Spain. And someone (again, I don’t know for a fact) had tried to patch the cracks with duct tape rolled out like ribbons … Continue reading →

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POETRY: Magnolia

Posted on April 19, 2009 by susan

Magnolia waits drinks the wine of April clings to her wraps of petal softness purple, pink Magnolia wants that special someone her mother, friends and books had said would come Magnolia feels before she sees him dew glistening as she … Continue reading →

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WRITING: What and When and Why

Posted on April 18, 2009 by susan

Noticed the obvious outpouring of poetic reaction of late–and especially today–and decided to recategorize my dabblings into another category of POETRY rather than STORIES. Tedious, but I have found that categorization is one of the blessings of the mind of … Continue reading →

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