Yesterday was tough. I haven’t been away from New Orleans for Mardi Gras day one time since 2004. That’s 22 years. The past couple months have been a blur. I’ve mainly concerned myself with staying sane, healing my body, and working on DEAD END BOYS. Like BALLAD, it’s a New Orleans novel, and I hope that being away from the city for a while will give me greater insight into the place, its people, its culture. Still, it’s not easy to be so far away during Carnival.
Read MoreMy injury is more serious than I’d hoped. There are no broken bones, but last week, I had an ultrasound--using this device that suspiciously resembled a George Foreman Grill-- and the docs told me that my quad tendon was definitely torn and that it would require surgery to repair. The surgery needs to be sooner than later, so Kechi and I have been rushing to figure out the logistics of that, as well as getting a hold of mobility aids to get me back in class. What a way to start the quarter!
Read MoreKechi and I left camp a little early and went down to spend time with my family in Maryland for a few days. Then, on Tuesday, we drove straight to Chicago and installed ourselves in a hotel downtown….
Read MoreLast night, we had the camp Halloween Carnival, and I didn't go. Instead, I took some time to myself, and then I played D&D with the camp staff group until after midnight. The lack of sleep is one thing, but I'm pretty tired apart from that--though I wouldn't yet say I'm running on empty. Last week was a lot--a lot of emotion, a lot of commotion, and a lot of work.
Read MoreI feel like I’m beginning to get the hang of being at camp. The mornings are early—for me, at least—and working six days a week is a grind, even with all the art and goodwill and natural beauty of the Berkshires foothills. Last Friday was especially strange because it was the Fourth of July, and there was virtually no observance here…
Read MoreThis is my first day as a Creative Writing Counselor at Buck’s Rock Theater and Arts Camp. I’ve been interested in working at Buck’s Rock for years. Jade Patton and Amber Luning used to talk about adventuring there all the time back when I was still regularly doing standup comedy.
Read MoreI’ve also spent the last several days slowly rereading Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, and boy has that ever been instructive….
Read MoreMy mother is fond of the saying, “Life sure is daily.” When I was younger, the sentiment seemed so silly to me. Of course life is daily! We live day in and day out! But the older I get, the better I understand.
Read MoreThe last week or two have been difficult. It was one of those periods where every step I took felt like a tooth-and-nail fight. Like I had to battle through a minefield of stress and anxiety and that the load was becoming so heavy as to manifest physically.
Read MoreAs I type this little update, I'm sitting in one of my very favorite New Orleans cafes, The Bean Gallery. I didn't come to this place enough when I lived in the neighborhood, but I've been visiting for decades.
Read MoreLately, I've seen discourse online about whether The Wiz is a good movie. I understand both sides of the argument, I suppose, but for me, a piece of art succeeds on its strengths rather than its exclusion of weaknesses….
Read More
