Photo Essay--Not

I thought I’d try my hand at a photo essay, and what better models could I find but the cats who live in this house? So I started watching for them, trying to find them in a cute pose. I spent all day shooting the cats – she spent all day on her bed, and he spent all day in his chair. It was raining, so I didn’t feel like going out to shoot raindrops.

So, please meet Tashiko Akuma Pestini—she is the traveling cat, having moved from Oregon to Florida to Washington, and she says that’s enough. She has no desire to go on the long road trip with Kay and I next month. Enough, she says, is enough.
Tashi being terminally cute, and not about to move

And this is Julian. He, too, has made a bit of travel in his lifetime—all the way from Santa Monica to Kennewick. His ideas align with Tashiko’s, so the two of them will stay home while I’m gone to guard the house, the yard, and Aaron.
Julian being terminally cute, and equally not about to move

I tried to get a photo of Aaron, but he declined. Said I could take his picture later, but not right then. Aaron spends all day sitting at his computer, much as I do, only he watches movies and blogs. I write stories and emails. But this is his chair, as seen by me as I enter our office. He has my old computer torn apart and jerry rigged to work. Unfortunately, he moved my old monitor, to which I have taped a short article to remind me that, at least the writer in the interview, started out with about 40 rejections to every one that was accepted. It helps keep my perspective in place when I send a story out, and it comes back with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’ attached.
Aaron being, well, not here at the moment.

Speaking of stories, which of course leads to writing, and reading.... I have just finished reading ANNALS OF THE FORMER WORLD by John McPhee. For those of you who aren’t familiar with McPhee, he is an essayist who writes some of the best books I’ve ever read. Annals of the Former World is a collection of 5 essays on the geologic history of the US, and parts of the rest of the world. It took him 20 years to research and write the essays. Two of my good friends who are geologists by training say that through his research, McPhee became a better geologist than a couple he names in the book—but they wouldn’t tell me those names. It is a history of our country like none I’ve ever read. One of the destinations on our ‘Grand Tour’ is Princeton to visit another friend named Kay, and to photograph McPhee’s house. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get him in the window... Of course, I’d never know it was McPhee, but....

Since I have transitioned to ‘vacation mode’ and no longer writing fiction, I can now read a bit of fiction. I picked up two Willa Cather books to take with me on the trip, and on the strong recommendation of a new friend, Art, who along with his friend, Vina, have coffee most every Thursday when I meet my lady friends for same, I am also taking WHAT HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND ABOUT? TODAY’S LEADING MINDS RETHINK EVERYTHING—edited by John Brockman. These are a series of short essays (1-3 pages) by some of today’s leading scientists that Art thought would be fun for the passenger to read aloud when we hit those areas barren of scenery. I am finding it most difficult to leave in the bag for the trip, and not start reading it now.

Currently I am reading THE WISE HEART, A GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSAL TEACHINGS OF BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY—by Jack Kornfield. It is typical of Kornfield’s work—well thought out, easily read, and chock full of goodness. Two books of poetry I’m reading are MARS BEING RED –by Marvin Bell and THE BUTTERFLY’S BURDEN by Mahmoud Darwish, translated by Fady Joudah. I had the honor of taking a workshop with Marvin Bell some years back. He gave me some of the best advice about writing I’ve ever received: “Give yourself permission to write a bad poem!” I am not overly familiar with Mahmoud Darwish’s work, but the book seemed to leap into my hands at the book store, so it came home with me. On the left page is the Arabic, on the right, the English translation. So far, I am enjoying the poetry very much. And for fun, I am reading TENNESSEE WILLIAMS/COLLECTED STORIES. I have read most, if not all, of his plays, but never his short stories. Used book stores and garage sales can be a treasure trove of fascinating books!

And, don’t forget, MY ADVENTURES AS BROTHER RAT will be available 1 July 2009 from www.samsdotpublishing.com . As if I’d let you forget! In the meantime, an excerpt is available from the current issue of Beyond Centauri, a print magazine available from the same URL.

Quote for the week:

“Nothing limits intelligence more than ignorance; nothing fosters ignorance more than one’s own opinions; nothing strengthens opinions more than refusing to look at reality.”
-- Sheri S. Tepper, from The Visitor