Rabbit Update #2: The Broccolli

I've been reading my vision statement every day, and I think it is helping me stay motivated and make a healthy routine for my day. Bryan and I talked about workout and weight-lifting plans last week (because we both want to work on keeping our bodies healthy), and I've actually biked Monday, Tuesday, and today.

I also wrote a poem yesterday. My mother's birthday is on Friday, and I'd been planning on writing a poem for her about one of her favorite creatures: the dragonfly. I'd done some web research on them last week, took some notes for the poem, and yesterday, I actually got a good draft out. Maybe write now a more specific audience is necessary for my writing. Or, maybe it helps to write about someone. It's about her. I've also started writing about my grandmother, who died a bit over a year ago. We will see.

I've been listening to a CD of poetry as I use the stationary bike. Today, I listened to this CD, which was the format of the 12th issue of Kenning.

Rabbit Update #2
I think Captain Janeway is not enjoying the broccoli after all. Usually Chakotay is the one known as "poopie-pants," but we noticed that Janeway has been leaving her cecotropes around. [Part of the process of the rabbit's digestive system is extracting the nutrients from their food; "the nutrient-rich material is then excreted in the form of cecotropes (some people call these "night feces") which are eaten directly from the anus by the rabbit and redigested." http://www.rabbit.org .] Anyway, so even though we just bought a giant bag of broccoli from BJ's, I think we're going to hold off on it. Luckily, both Bryan and I like broccoli.

On Rhythm

Still reading Hillman, but also started a few others. I listened to Alchemical Elegy: Selected Songs and Writings, Anne Waldman's collection of poems on CD. Also, last night, Bryan and I started to read Orson Scott Card's Enchantment. Bryan's already read it, but he wanted to read it again; and so, it is one of the first pair of books we will read together. I've never read a book with anyone before, so this is exciting for me. It was his idea. Now, I just have to pick a book for us, too. I'm thinking maybe one by Haruki Murakami, one of my favorite novelists. But since we can do poetry too, maybe we could finish the Hillman together--I can't decide.

I've been looking for ways to boost my poetry output, and maybe listening to poems on CD is the way for me to go right now. Sometimes the rhythm is all I need, or a word, or a type of syntax, and I can take it from there.

The Deer, by Wendy Burk

Today, I'm finally sending in my check for The Deer, by Wendy Burk. I'm preordering it through Finishing Line Press. Trying to finish reading Bright Existence, and work on more Chax stuff.

Bunny Update #1

The vision statement seems to be working; or rather, I seem to be working better with the statement.

I've been frequenting the blog of Victoria Chang for the past few days. It seemed to work out well, as she had a nice quote from Brenda Hillman about Death Tractates (whose companion book I'm reading right now). Hm. Yes, originality.

The funny thing is that I'm feeling really self-conscious about my blog today, even though I still have not told anyone that I have this up. Well, I guess I told the Chax board, but I didn't tell them the name.

Every now and then, I'll give a bunny update. My bunnies are Captain Janeway, a "lilac"-colored mixed lop, and Chakotay, an English spot. One day, I will add a picture of them here.

Bunny update #1: Today, Captain Janeway tried broccoli for the first time. She took to it much more quickly than the celery I introduced her to yesterday. I was surprised. Chakotay also took to it quickly, but he seems to just love everything there is to eat; also, I don't know if this is the first time he's had it, since he's adopted. I'll be looking to make sure their stool remains healthy with these new additions to their diet. I know, I should add them one by one, but I'm impatient.

So far, Captain Janeway's favorite foods are Romaine lettuce, carrot tops and carrots. Chakotay's favorite foods are dandelion greens and dandelion greens.

I am Mighty Mouse. I am a little hacksaw

Lisa Jarnot had a particularly upbeat blog entry today. Her September 19th entry (the part about vision statements) was actually what made me think of restarting my own blog, getting a routine going and sticking to it throughout the week, and just making conscious choices that would help me transition into Raleigh.

After talking to Dr. Geary yesterday, I realized that I was asking too much of myself to think that I should have a routine going already--I've only been her for about a week. Lots of times, Dr. Geary has to tell me to give myself a break and not be so hard on myself. Last night, Bryan and I had a wonderful discussion, which also helped me get into a more positive, self-loving state of mind. It's truly amazing how having one person who truly believes in you and can express it in a way that makes sense to you can make you be Wonder Woman, or at least Mighty Mouse.

So, today, I will try my hand at a vision statement. And I must remember that it doesn't have to be perfect, and it's not going to be, and that is not the goal anyway. It is a "working" statement. Here it is:

My Personal Vision Statement

I love my writerly self. I wake up in the morning knowing that I am a poet and I can write good poems. I am a wonderful rabbit caretaker, whose rabbits are happy with the cleanliness, spaciousness, and stimulating environment of the bunny room, and also with the food I provide for them. Each morning, I wake up and eat a breakfast that includes at least 3 food groups. I do yoga 3 times a week for half an hour. I exercise with Bryan two or three times per week. I journal write for at least 5 hours per week, and I read for a total of 10 hours per week. I write one poem a week, just for practice. I do one crossword puzzle per week, because I like them. I also watch at least one episode of Voyager per week, because I like it. I sit with the bunnies whenever I want to and they love that I come sit with them. I am a loving and caring girlfriend, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and sister-in-law. I am strong and good like Mighty Mouse. I am small, but tough, like the little hacksaw I used to cut PVC piping.

Yay, I feel much better.

Coelho, Hirahara, Hillman, Hello

I had to shut down my old blog because I ended my earthlink service when I moved. So, here I am again. Do I like it? I don't know. I've decided to start this up again for the same reasons I did the previous one: to record what I've been reading and writing in a (pseudo) public space, so that I feel more of an immediacy to my work and my studies, thereby keeping me motivated, or at the very least simulating the feeling of motivation until I find the real deal; to bring a sense of routine to my poet-life, in hopes that this will generate more reading and writing; and also to share the wonderful poets and books with anyone who happens to click here. I also enjoy talking to myself.

Currently, I'm reading two works of fiction and one work of poetry. For a while, I was only reading the two pieces of fiction. I needed something that felt more linear. I was having trouble organizing my thoughts, and thought reading a more straight-forward novel would help. I'm about half way through both Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist and Naomi Hirahara's Summer of the Big Bachi. They complement each other well in that Coelho's book provides all the universal language and dreams of a beautiful fable, whereas Hirahara's book focuses specifically on the Japanese American communities in LA. Summer of the Big Bachi contains so many little details that I relate to, and that remind me of home, my family, and my history.

The book of poetry I'm reading right now is Brenda Hillman's Bright Existence. I read Death Tractates a few months ago. Both--amazing.

I have a Chax Press board meeting today, so I think this will be the end of this morning's entry. I'm off to read and write a bit before I call in.