She Was Tweaked But She Was Not There

I have often said that if you are a writer you need to ride public transit.  You will never lack for ideas.

Daisy got on the bus. She had no purse. She had no wallet and very few coins.

She was clean but kept holding on to herself and rubbing her skin as if ants were on it.

"I'm trying to get to downtown."

Metro buses pass through a number of cities with downtown areas.

"Where do you want to go?" the drive asked.

"The Valley."

The Valley is not downtown.
She fake fumbles for looking for change as she puts one or two coins in the box.

The driver, seeing this type of behavior before has to make some quick decisions.

He could throw her off the bus.
He could let her beg for a fare donation.
He could tell her to sit down.

He tells her to sit down.

Daisy goes to sit down but she doesn't stay down for long.

Three stops later, asked the driver how to get to 6th and Broadway.

The driver says he doesn't know.
Cuz, there are more than one.
It is that city thing.

Daisy gets upset with him.

"How do you not know? You are a bus driver. Why don't you know all of the routes of Metro?"

For those of you that drive, do you know each and every street in Los Angeles County?
What is on each street? How many Broadways there are in which city?

The driver asked again, "Where do you want to go?"

"6th and Broadway but I don't see why you don't know how to get there! That is ridiculous."

He opens the doors and she exits the bus to a city street that is not near 6th and Broadway or the Valley.

Still holding herself.
Still scratching.
Still lost.

Help Laina Forge 21st Century Metal

I was 18 years old. Home on a Friday night. Not unusual. Turned on late night ABC and there she was. Wearing a Mohawk, the sides of her head shaved clean to the bone. Was sporting electrical tape on her nips. I did not know what to make of this person or the band.

The person I speak of is Wendy O Williams. Girl tore it up. I think she set fire to something. She is no longer on the planet. Mainly because people did not believe Williams had the right to play punk/metal/proto grunge like the boys.

She didn't have role models. Wendy was the role model. To be honest, I don't care for the music. Just not my thing. Maybe I haven't found the right band. Don't know.

But I do care about the ability to express and treat yourself musically. The video below is a Indigogo campaign video from Laina. This woman wrote a book about being a fan of metal, the harder the better.





As you can imagine, she has stories to tell. About her experiences. The bands. The people she meets and the people of color who want to listen and play metal music.

The book is written and you can get it if you want from her website Writing Is Fighting.

But it is a little bit more than that. If you can't view the video, Laina wants to do tours of the U.S., talk about the book and then have a mini concert with local artist thrashing it up.

Not sure I'm using the right vocabulary but I'm an old Funkateer. What can I do but try?

If you would like to chip in some moolah to help her make this happen between now and October 21st swing on over to her Indigogo page. She is asking for $8,500. I think it should be rounded up to and even $10,000 but she would appreciate a $5 if you have it to spare.

If if it is after the campaign then go to her website and find out how to send her money. Tear the walls down and make new roads, new paths.

Long Journey From Dreamland

I've been away from my blog. I caught a wicked flu and that sucker wouldn't let me go. The concept of being sick is not easy for me. For some reason I want to do things and be productive.  This is incompatible with being sick.

This last flu had me in bed for two solid days. I had no choice but to rest and sleep. I was cooking chicken dinners for people, riding in fighter planes and my usual intergalactic adventures.

It was surreal.

I'd have these active dreams then I would wake up sneezing up a storm, coughing and what not only to fall back asleep to another adventure.

Two full days of it and it was exhausting in both realms. This is when you need a good movie to try to put the breaks the dreams but I kept falling into dreamland. There was this 1930ish movie about the future where the two lead actors were pining over wanting old fashion girls.

By the time my subconscious had wrapped itself around the movie I had taken over the planet and declared free love for all.

I'm better now. Except that once again this morning I woke up from a dream where I was serving broiled chicken on demand to friends and strangers.

I have no idea what to make of it.

The Speech That Should Viewed To Be Understood

I love animation in just about all the forms possible. I was telling a friend earlier in the day that I had purchased a comic book program that will animate the panels into a comic book motion graphic type video.

The tools to create are becoming more accessible. But it still takes talent and writing skills to get the job done. I need more hours in the day to do what I want to do. So very much to do. For those of you on the non-progressive side of the fence you might want to hook up with me later.




You won't like the video. I just know it. The video takes a speech of President Obama's and animate it to visual clarity.

The video was created by Why Obama Now by animator Lucas Gray.

In this current election I have been exposed to 21st century verbal and political hate that hasn't been this proud and loud since 1954. I am not using hyperbole. It seems that every other week we have a wack job busting at the seems trying to tell me that we need to turn this country back.

There is a politician in Arkansas that wrote a self-published book about just how noxious he finds African Americans to be; if you got the stomach for it you can read a bit of it at Talking Business.

My understanding is that Arkansas is trying to get tech folks to move to that part of the the country.
They are having a hard time with the pre-existing stereotypes that the locals are trying hard to shake.

This business and civic campaign might take awhile when you have a Republican state senator, Jon Hubbard, codifying what my great-grandmother must have heard at least once in her life.

Ok, maybe twice.

“… will it ever become possible for black people in the United States of America to firmly establish themselves as inclusive and contributing members of society within this country?” (Page 187)

I've heard this before. Seen it. Read it. Oh, the above statement is mild. I have no intention of reading the book.I will not co-sign on being called lazy or the reason of the fall of the white man. Even now there are commentators and other bloggers trying to defend what this guy is spewing.

Being a member of this society I have to defend Hubbard's right of free speech. Don't have to like it. Just as Hubbard is now finding out you have to stand and accept the judgment of others who may or may not approve of what you have to say.


As for me? I like the animation better. Go figure. 

Confirmed - I'm Not In the One Percent

The appointment was for 4:30 p.m. I get there at 4:10 p.m. and wait for about an hour or so. In the meantime I get to read a 1% magazine. I am sure that the 1% folks read this magazine because there were ads in it for jewelry that crested around the $367,000 level.

I'm not into polished rocks but I have to say there was not a cubic zirconia in the entire magazine. Fire stones and ice laced with golden circles. There was skimpy food served on porcelain . There were rich guys on private islands trying to keep the natives from encroaching on their land.

There were men in pinstripe suits so tight they couldn't pass gas. You could tell they steamed those male models to make sure not a fleck of dirt got near the cloth of the hem of that suit.

Truth be told I was focusing on the men because if you see one blonde woman wearing an evening gown on a surf board you have seen plenty.

No ads for plastic surgery or lap bands. No ads for ED. There were a lot of stories about exclusive hotels that have rooms for $2, 500+ a night.

Photographically the place looked magical. Until it got to the food. If I'm paying $100 a meal there has got to be some food on the plate. I like impressionistic paintings but I just can't do impressionistic dinning.

I read that sucker from stem to stern and not only did I learn that I am not worthy of the finer things in life I am content in my undesirability to swig up on high tone white rum. Unless you are going to mix some in rum raisin ice cream or rum water ice.

See, pedestrian. I know it.

This is not to say that if my long lost Sugar Daddy, or as I would prefer it, My patron and artistic supporter, happen to show up and offered me a weekend on the island I'd refuse.

I would not.

But we'd be stopping at the market to pick up some real food before we board the flight.

Anais Nin's Students A Celebration at Beyond Baroque

If you happen to be in the Venice or Santa Monica areas around 7:30 p.m. you might want to stop by Beyond Baroque for a Celebration by the students of Anais Nin. If your fingers haven't flipped through Delta of Venus you have got a bit of catching up to do. 

If you feel a bit of frost bite in the heart or other regions of the body you really should plunk down money for her books. That is the heathen side of me, paying more attention to the erotic work instead of her other works.

This is Nancy Shiffrin reading a work that you could say was inspired by Nin.

The participants will be Nancy Shiffrin, Leah Schweitzer and Nan Hunt.

For more info or if you are in the Los Angeles area and need a weekly dose of poetical or literary inspiration visit:

BEYOND BAROQUE
681 Venice Blvd. 
Venice, CA 90291

Or check out their Facebook page.

Meeting the People You Sleep With

2015  Update: The original video has been lost; it was posted on a service called BlipTV. I haven't found the original; it is on a disc someplace in my possession. I've added a book trailer that hopefully you will find interesting.

This takes some explaining. I like audio dramas, storytelling, audio theater, old time radio and stuff like that. I got hooked on Philippa Ballantine podcasts of Weather Child and other productions.

Tee Morris, yes. too many to count. I usually listen to podcasts before I go to bed, when I need to mellow out at work or for medicinal purposes.

I attended Tee's presentation at BlogWorld 2011 in Los Angeles. Excellent. He told the straight scoop and didn't try to get me to believe in the fairly money making slot machine of podcasting. I really appreciate that.




Here is my story. Tee did mention that he and Philippa would be in steampunk attire the next day. I didn't think I get a chance to see them but they were standing near the Podcaster Zone. Do yourself a favor and check their web site http://www.ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com

I did have my digital camcorder, honest. It was hiding from me at the bottom of my bag. I could only lay hands on my mobile phone. Not high definition but you use what you got. I was also going into a mild fan panic of "record you idiot before they get away."

Folks, I must have looked like a dork. I know it.  But I got the video.

I am putting on my self-desired holiday shopping list an electronic organizer for my handbag. This, I swear,  will never happen again. This is my day 4 video for Vlomo 2011.

Two Thoughts and Then I'm Outside for the Day

Got an e-mail from Barnes and Noble about buying Borders customer data. Thing is, I opted out of Borders e-mail long before the bankruptcy. What I forgot was that I was a Border's member. It appears I can have a limited free membership into the BN premium club until I would have to pay in 2012.

I don't want to pay BN an advance on the books I may or many not purchase. I didn't want to do that before the Nook and I don't want to do it now.

I have another e-mail from Writer's Digest talking about them helping me to bulk up for NaNoWriMo, if only I would spend $125 or so in purchasing articles and books on how to write a novel in 30 days.

I took a class years ago on how to write a book in 6 weeks. The dude talked so fast my ears burned.

Literally, he was going like a house on fire. He was informative but by hour 2 my head was thumping. I bought his guide to how to do it for $40 and stumbled home with a migraine.

Anyway, NaNoWriMo is an endurance event, not a shopping opportunity. Ok, you can buy paper and ink.

So I gotta say I'm feeling pressured to buy even though my rational mind does not want to buy these items.

I'm heading out for what the day will bring. Wish me luck.

Poetry In Plain Sight - Sean Raymond Hill

Sean Hill has no way of knowing this. I went to school with a roomful of guys with big Afros. I'm sure one of those Afros caused me to almost flunk French.



I came back to the present because it is better in the here and now. Sean is an actor and poet who was one of the guess poets at the most recent get together. This is a poem because today, no matter what day it is, we need a poem.

Glen A. Palmer on Jumping In on the Noise

There are times when people want to jump in and change the direction of what you wrote or want it to conform to what they think you should have done.



It take a lot to be willing to listen not only to the other person but also listening to your internal compass. This is Glen A. Palmer from the blog, The Gentlemen's Standard.Glen 's blog mixes in male fashion, faith, I don't know any other way to say this, man issues, and other good stuff at his blog.

I do encourage you to visit his blog because you will not see him represented in mainstream television or the news media. This is a child of a single parent. Look to see what he has accomplished and continues to create before you slap a stereotype on him.

I may not agree with everything on his blog but I do appreciate that his voice expands the discussion of what African American men are thinking and talking about.

Glen spoke at part of the panel on Authentic Voice at Blogging While Brown 2011 in Los Angeles.

Update 9/16/2011: I made an error. The speaker's name is Glen, not Greg. I don't know who Greg is but he is not Glen. I swear I checked and even visited the blog to make sure I had the right blog address. I did, just not the correct name.  I have to fix the video but, yeah. I goofed.

Yvelette Stines on Finding Time to Blog

This is Yvelette Stines talking about the need to making time to blog. She was one of the three panelists for the Authentic Voice session at Blogging While Brown 2011 in Los Angeles.


Yvelette has a blog called Caming Corners where you can get tips and advice on inspiration, health and beauty topics.

Postscript:
The air conditioner unit in the hotel was super loud. I had to find a software program that reduced the machine noise and amp up the speakers because there was also no working microphone.

It is not the best audio, but trust me, it sounded like she was speaking on the airport runway before I found a solution.

Quick Recap on Blogging While Brown Conference

I'm stealing a little of my shrinking morning time to say how much I enjoyed the 2011 Blogging While Brown conference in Los Angeles. I do have photos and videos that I will be posting in a few days.

I knew going into the conference my intent was to listen and meet folks. I messed up one time when I found myself talking in one of the sessions but it is the effort that counts.

I feel encourage that there are so many new folks coming on board wanting to use the tools of blogging for advocacy and to generate alternative sources of income. No matter what your purpose is you have to remember the importance of content, good content that will get you to your goal.

And to those misguided souls considering being a payola pimp for products? Nooooooo. Don't do it. Many have crashed and burned following that path of broken glass.

There were a lot of photos and camcorders at the event so I'm expecting a bunch of good stuff appearing soon. Thanks to the sponsors who made the event possible.

Counting Down the Days Paying Attention

I listen to a lot of podcasts like The American History Guys. One thing I learned from the fellas is that you respect the people who had to make decisions in a certain space and time.

You can step back and evaluate it from your time frame. You can dig in and try to put a context to what the heck was going on to make folks so nutso crazy (my words, not the History guys) and you can see both sides and understand that the historical picture is complex.

If you have been around me in real space you know I've been keeping track of the end-timers. I got word on three separate dates, for example May 21, 2011, October 21, 2011 and December 12, 2012. I'll add more as time goes on.

Or not.

Now let me be clear. I cannot not nor will not disrespect a person's belief system. If you believe that the end really is here then ok, I think you have more important stuff to do than read this post.

I can however step back and look at people's behaviors, billboards and more importantly how some folks will behave on May 22, 2011.

It has been trippy. People putting bible tracks in my face. I must look like a class-A sinner cuz I get that a lot. The guy walking through Pasadena carrying a really big cross. The up tick in pride of knowing that you are the chosen and I am not.

The selling of everything you own and your home? Oh, my. That is some serious commitment that might be a bit uncomfortable to sleep with on the 23rd.

I mean, the whole conceptual thing is one big dang gummed wow. I'll tell you one thing; it does bust up a good chunk of writer's block. If you can't get a story or poem out of this then lay down the pen and walk away.

So I have to say that I am on high investigative alert. This is my first end-time so I do want to try and document properly. I'm counting this one as a practice because I have two other dates and I'm sure a bunch more will pop up for 2012.

The camcorder is charged up. I have got paper, pen and a spare camera for back-up. I think I'm ready. I'm set either way. I've got relatives in both places.

No worries here.

Grace Krilanovich at the Skylight Books Booth

Grace Krilanovich is one of the people I pointed a lens at during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. What happened was that I just got on the USC campus and I was overwhelmed by the number of people.

There were parents and babes in strollers. There young women welded to communication devices looking for other friends whose faces were stuck in communication devices. The map challenged and impaired were trying to figure where they were and where they wanted to go.

Then there was the Ben and Jerry Ice Creme Truck. Couldn't get near it. Well, I could but choice not to do so. I was trying to show some kind of restraint.

Grace was kind enough to speak to me about her book The Orange Eats Creeps. I'm a plucky duck but I have no technique for interviewing folks. I'm learning as I go.



Other Thoughts

I kind feel sorry for authors that aren't famous. They need to promote their book. Some writers, not all, want to communicate with other people.

I know this for a fact because some of the authors that I approached (without showing my camcorder) looked at me with a tinge of hostility or disappointment that I was not the kind of reader they envisioned.

I pivot and walk away.

It is hard. I know. Many authors spend time writing, dealing with publication issues and survival. You want the book to be published, talked about and generate compensation for your hard work.

Many writers and authors ain't gronking this social media connection aspect. I am talking about the other authors who's tables I avoided, not about Grace. She was very kind.

If you are finishing writing a book and you intended to sell that book you might want to practice your people and conversation skills. If you are going to spend good money for a booth at this kind of event and you have no flyers, bookmarks or other promotions items to share with potential readers you are in trouble.

If you haven't promoted your book via Twitter or made connections to like minded blogs and web sites why are you at a book festival? You book cannot exist in isolation. It needs to find the communities that want to embrace what you have to say.

Somebody has to say this. If folks look at your booth and there is nothing there but you looking sour and your book we are going to turn elsewhere.

Real people and our wallets will go where we are wanted.

Videoblogging Addendum

Yes. I'm a little late for Videoblogging 2011. I was over-booked. Plus I was truly bummed out about the spamination of the term videoblogging in Twitter. The few of us that tried found out that affiliate marketers, content farmers and diversion maggots poisoned communication by lacing the joint with get rich quick offers. One day there was a bunch of it and the next day gone. Or another content farm gets its minions to pollute the other side of the lake.

I've said what I've needed at my other blog but I hate this part of humanity that sees something good and has to sh*t on it in order to make a profit.

Moving on.

Andre Coleman - Citizen Journalism Session Part 3

This is the last exerpt of Andrea Coleman's presentation at the 2011 Citizen Journalism Session.



It is a meeting place that all bloggers, reporters and journalists can stand in agreement.

Poetry In Plain Sight - Rex Butters

Rex Butters is a poet and jazz reviewer in the Los Angeles area; at least that is what the 'Tubes tells me. I had the pleasure of recording one of his poems that appeared in issue #49 of the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly.

This is Rex's poem, Giving Myself the Finger



Doing a little digging I found out how Rex got started contributing jazz reviews for All About Jazz. I found other poems by Rex at Vscorpiozine called Little Sister Going Down and a poem of his called American Nero on OMEGA, Online Journal of Literary Arts from 2006.

It is National Poetry Month so do your duty and at least read, listen or view a poem and let it stay with you a while.

Listing To Rain and Other Thoughts About Lonlieness

It is raining on and off. This is strange. You see, this is supposed to be our fire season. Some doofus either sets a fire or nature causes a spark that has everybody nervous. It is better without the fires. I know that.

But it is raining. This isn't right.

You see we have our rain season between February and April. Los Angeles generally has really warm weather between September and November. I love my hot Santa Ana's winds. It is like being in love with an air stream.

Those with allergies do not love the Santa Ana's as I do. Those that hate high heat ain't crazy about them either.

Me, I adore them.

The winds haven't come as yet. Instead we've been having weather like San Francisco. It was so cold last week I voluntarily turned on the heater. It was a three blanket night.

Weather like this helps to make folks feel more isolated. Me? I'm good but I bought some DVD with classic movies that I use to watch on the Late, Late show.

For $9 the DVD set included:

• An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr
• Leave Her to Heaven
  
• Letter to Three Wives
• Peyton Place

The mini documentary on Peyton Place was most interesting. The author Grace Metalious
was a hard knock dame who shook up the home town and nation by bringing sex, sexual violence and morals into plain view.

I have to say I've never watched the movie nor viewed the television show more than I had to. I was too young.

I'm a Sci-Fi girl, I can watch a good romance movie but I don't seek them out. I still haven't watch the DVD but I have been reading about Grace. If she could have eased up on the liqueur and got into the 1960's she might have found her space and time.

Now if somebody wanted to film Grace's story I'd pay cash money to see that. Trying to carve a path in the time of the real world Stepford wives was a mental battle not many of us would take one. It did kill Grace, along with the booze.

Writing can be cathartic but it isn't a cure for what is missing in your soul. It is important to remember that that thought when the rain comes down and there is no place to go but where you sit.

But if you have to drink and write I think fruit smoothies are the way to go. Reduces the chance of brain damage that way.

Errol Elumir Acapella Video For NaNoWriMo

I'll post one one video on the last day of VloMo10 but I got time crunched toward the end. To make it up to you I present a one man cheerleader squad of four part harmony goodness.



Salud to our writing compatriots as well as those in the VlogNation. Special shout out to those that did 30 Pies in 30 Days. My hips forbade me from even contemplating such a crusty adventure but props just the same.

Charles Bukowski Exhibit at the Huntington Library

If you have never been to The Huntington Library this is your chance to make it up to yourself. It is physically beautiful place and crammed to the rafters with books, art and a plant or two.

If you can, stroll in on a sunny weekday so that you can take your time getting lost in the stacks or in the botanical gardens.



Here is another good reason to head over to The Huntington. From now until February 14, 2011 there is an exhibit of his life and work. The library has posted a biographical guide the exhibit.



For those that are asking Bukowski who? I say shame on you and your English teacher too (Elementary through 11th grade English teachers are exempt.)

Admission to The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is $15 during the week and $20 on the weekends. The weekends, depending on the weather, can be very crowded.

This is the kind of place you want to take your time to explore so plan on a good three hours to do the short version. The library is located on 1151 Oxford Road in San Marino, CA.

Poetry In Plain Sight - Nancy Shiffrin

I purchased Nancy's poetry book called The Vast Unknowing. It is a journey into Jewish identity, living in Los Angeles and the fears that bind all of us if we are honest.

This is a poem with multiple levels of depth. The intersections of youth and culture mixed in with straddling living in America when you were born elsewhere. How do you fit in? How do you understand freedom?

For me it is loving the poetry of Rumi and finding out "Wait, there are others poets I should know about?" Of course there are other Persian poets and people I should know about. A poem gives you a chance to expand your world view, if you are open to hearing about the lives of other people.

Not everyone is willing.

Nancy has a new collection of poems called Game with Variations. If you would like to purchase her book you can e-mail her or visit the Unibook web site.

I generally try to only post one poem per poet but this one is short. I have to post this video to represent for those of us still longing for the touch and refusing to give it up, no matter what society says.