I've got wheels of polished steel

I've got tires that grab the road...

Got to see Cake this weekend at Artscape. It was fantastic. More from me later (when I'm not perilously close to being late for work), as I'm officially out of school!

Oh sweet summer, how I've missed you

Summer school is about to come to a close. My independent study ended comfortably if rather unceremoniously today, and tomorrow I will turn in my final project for the book design class. It's been an incredibly stressful eight weeks (and I've had the migraines and break outs to prove it), but it was worth it, and, better yet, it's all but over.

First a quick recap:

I designed three books, the last of which is being flattened under my mattress as we speak. As I look back over my work throughout the class, I can really see that I've made strides even in so short a time. My final book is a collection of poems I wrote around the time I moved out to New Mexio. I had collected them all into a chapbook called Changing Weather which I never did anything with (not entirely true, I did submit it to a chapbook contest judged by Densie Duhamel, which I obviously did not win). I've mixed the poems with photos I took both in Missouri and New Mexico to really help convey the landscapes that the piece revolves around. I don't know that it's the best writing or even the greatest photos, but I'm gosh darn proud of myself. Here's the cover and a couple interior spreads:




My independent study gave me an opportunity to really pursue my interest in experimental writing, and I read 2.5 novels (House of Leaves, you beast, I will finish you yet!), too many poems to count, and a few whatsits in between. I also wrote regularly (and more than usual), which was good.


And looking forward:
Ave and I will be making a trip to New Mexico at the end of the month for a celebration of his friend's wedding. I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone and being back in a place I love.

As for the rest of the summer, I intend to take regular walks, reacquaint myself with my camera, do some serious reading, and try to keep up the writing. It's not much, but it's all I need.

Groping my way to the finish

I'm coming into the homestretch on summer classes and though it's been a real doozy so far I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (how many cliche phrases can I use to describe this?). But seriously, things have been busy. On top of my typical work schedule (which is always always always hectic), there's been the book design class, the independent study on experimental writing, a visit from my brother, helping Avelino's mom move to her beautiful new house, planning an unexpected but more than welcome trip to New Mexico at the end of the month, and an unexpected and unwelcome cold/sore throat. I've enjoyed it all (except the being sick part), but am looking forward to my first week of laziness and nothing to do after work.

I'll be back and blogging once my classroom obligations are fulfilled, but in the meantime, here are a couple fun things I've discovered in the past few weeks:

1. Harper Collins' Fifty-Two Stories, a story a week for a whole year. They've got 27 up so far, a mix of classic and contemporary. (Via Neil Gaiman's Twitter feed. He's @neilhimself).

2. The Book Seer, a fun little web project where you input the name and author of the last book you read and it gives you recommendations for others.

And now I must away to work.