Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Art, lofts, and turning leaves

I arrived in North Adams this afternoon, and I'm totally in love with Rena's new life. Her loft is enormous with so much light, the town is cute, and I got here just in time to see all the fall foliage. Laura and Nate are, sadly, still an hour away. As much as I'd like to wait for them to arrive to partake of the artichoke dip Rena prepared, they're just going to have to play dinner catch up when they finally get here!

Monday, September 29, 2008

P-Town

Jen and I drove out to the end of the Cape today to hit Provincetown (P-Town to those in the know). It's an adorable beach town that's gayer than Boystown and Chelsea put together. Unfortunately we got there about half an hour after the last whale watching trip departed, so there were no whale sightings to punctuate our day. We still had a lot of fun exploring the town, though.

Tomorrow I'm off to another part of the state to visit with Rena and see her amazing new artist loft. Laura and Nate get there tomorrow night, and I can't wait to see everyone!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Biking Martha's Vineyard

Jen and I caught the ferry out to Martha's Vineyard today, and it was beautiful! The weather wasn't great, but it never down poured on us. A little drizzling we could handle, and we braved it like champs. We scoped out the main drag and some cute shops in Vineyard Have where the ferry dropped us and then headed straight to the bike rental shop. George, our bike rental guy, was extremely nice, as was everyone on the island, and hooked us right up.

We biked from Vineyard Haven to Oaks Bluff, which wasn't far but was perfect for a leisurely ride. We took the coastal route and got to see the water, more beautiful homes (to feed my envy) and even a wedding under a lighthouse. The bride even climbed up to the outlook at the top of the lighthouse to pose for pictures with her dress and veil blowing in the wind. It was lovely.

Oaks Bluff was a small neighborhood dreamt up for tourists. One street was nothing but pastel colored gingerbread houses. Another had lots of typical tourists shops intermingling with charming specialty stores. We found an adorable dog store (with one teeny tiny corner of cat stuff; they never have good stuff for those of us who are cat lovers!) with all sorts of treats to make your dog feel special. There were also about eight thousand ice cream shops (ice cream seems to be to Cape Cod what cupcakes are to New York City) and a fudge shop that I couldn't resist.

After walking through the shops, the seafood-fest also continued with an amazing lobster roll. The roll was so stuffed that I couldn't even pick it up and had to eat it with a fork and knife. There was more lobster than bread! So good.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Made it to the Cape

I got to the Cape today! The first thing Jen and I did was get some lunch. I'm all about the seafood while I'm here, so it was clam chowdah for me: I'm not kidding, it was spelled "chowdah" on the menu. I'm learning that people on the Cape are all about the cutesy spellings. I've also seen "movy," as in, "for show times, call: xxx-xxx-movy," "Kountry Korner," and so much more.

Weird spellings for weird spellings' sake really isn't my thing, but it's about the only thing that isn't fabulous here. We couldn't find our way onto the Kennedy Compound--not for lack of trying--but did drive through many a private ("Do not enter" and "Turn around now" marked) areas. Some of the houses here, along with their settings, are mind bogglingly beautiful. I know that in New York there are penthouses that could fit a hundred studios and people who spend more on a single dinner or handbag than I do on rent, but it's all kept out of view. The rich in New York are snooty enough not to want to ruin their $2,000 meal or extravagant shopping experience by being near the masses. These incredible houses, though, are right their for the gaping at (assuming you ignore all the "Turn around now" signs). I don't often fantasize about being rich. As long as I have enough to not stress out and take a good vacation here and there, I'm pretty good to go. But something about seeing these homes (one complete not only with crashing waves but a personal lighthouse-turned-artist-studio!) makes me jealous.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Sweet, sweet freedom

That's it! I'm off! One week's vacation starts...now! I'm headed to the cape to see Jen first and then over to North Adams to visit Rena.

It started to rain here last night and has been dreary throughout the day. I thought I might be able to outrun the storm, but apparently it will be keeping pace with me all the way up the coastline. Do whales come out in the rain? Jen mentioned whale watching, and I'm hoping it's still an option. I mean, what do they care if it's raining? They're already wet, right?

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Anne's new baby

You should all check out my friend Anne's awesome new website, Fiction Writers Review. It just launched, and it looks amazing! As the title suggests, it's a place for writers to come together to talk about writing, reading, books, fiction, craft, you name it.

There are reviews and blog posts-a-plenty to read already. I was one of the inaugural contributors, so you can read my thoughts about the book Ellington Boulevard if you visit. I even contributed a photo essay!

Laura also writes for FWR, and you can read her review of Lonely Werewolf Girl here. All your favorite bloggers in one place: how much better does it get?

And seriously, a big congratulations to Anne. Putting this site together was no mean feat, and it's really exciting to see it up and running.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Debating whether to debate

Can someone please tell John McCain that the ability to multitask is pretty damn important in a president? Because the economy is imploding, he wants to call a time out and bail on this Friday's debate. The fact that he is unable to contribute to solving the economic crisis while prepping for a debate is utterly ridiculous.

Obama, on the other hand, is quoted as saying "This is exactly the time the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess." And he's absolutely right.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Ongoing Hopes of Hillary

Having drinks after work tonight, the group of us got pretty worked up talking about the election. After the predictable chattering about how we should canvass for Obama, how Palin scares us, and how we think Jon Stewart offers some of the best election coverage of the day, the conversation turned to Joe Biden. He's made some really idiotic comments lately, which is just what I was afraid of when he was tapped.

A couple of women sitting a few feet away from us interrupted to tell us that the guy they'd been speaking to earlier (a fiscal conservative/social liberal basically waiting to lose his job on Wall Street) floated an intresting theory: in a couple more weeks Biden will have some kind of specific-lite personal situation that requires him to step down from the ticket. Hillary Clinton will then be selected as Obama's running mate. It would stop some of the Palin, I-want-to-vote-for-a-woman momentum and bring all the disaffected Hillary supporters firmly into Obama's camp.

I really don't expect it to happen, but it's certainly an intersting theory.

Monday, September 22, 2008

More than just a boy wizard

When the chance to buy a pair of expensive but really good tickets to Equus came my way, I decided to splurge and go. I usually try to get bargains whenever I can, but there are just some shows where discounts are not to be had, and they usually involve celebrities. Three Days of Rain, which came to Broadway a few seasons ago starring Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd, and Bradley Cooper, comes to mind. Sometimes the performances are mediocre and your money spent is for little more than being in the room with such star power (again, Julia Roberts comes to mind). Happily, Equus offered a lot more.

Just to get it out of the way, yes: this is the play where Daniel Radcliffe gets naked. The trio of gay men behind us were very clearly there just to see Harry Potter’s magic wand (this phrasing is on par with their maturity level about the whole thing, too) and were probably disappointed with the very tasteful lighting that accompanied the extended nude scene. While there is something titillating about seeing someone naked, the play and Radcliffe’s performance are rich in so many other ways.

The play centers on the time Alan (Radcliffe) spends with a psychiatrist (played by the ever talented Richard Griffiths) after committing a horrifying act of violence on the horses that he tends. The play questions the cost of passion versus the value of reserve, medical ethics, and self worth. Griffiths was excellent, but it was really Radcliffe who impressed me. His role is a difficult one and without such a nuanced performance it could have become laughable, squirm-inducing, or both. His three-dimensional and emotionally honest performance served the play extremely well, and if this is any indication of his expanded acting ability, we have a lot to look forward to.

Oh, and I got to see Harry Potter naked.

A small post script: I really loved the artwork for this show, which is a rare treat. With so much creative talent connected to theater, a whole lot of Broadway art is pretty ugly. Check out Triton Gallery if you want to see what I mean.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Democracy in America

I got back into town tonight and almost immediately headed out to meet Todd at Democracy in America, an art show currently at the the Park Avenue Armory. It’s incredible, and anyone who is in New York this week is encouraged to check it out. It’s highly political in nature and combines still art with documentary and other video art, performances, interactivity, and an opportunity to connect with other artists and concerned citizens.

It's also completely worth attending just for the chance to see the Armory. It's not usually open to the public and is an incredibly interesting space.

Here’s a description of the show from the website:

Creative Time is pleased to announce the largest public art initiative in its 34-year history, Democracy in America: The National Campaign. A multifaceted project on a national scale, Democracy in America travels across the country to take the temperature of artists’ relationships with and reactions to the historic roots and practical manifestations of the American democratic tradition. Creative Time will promote active participation and open discourse during the 2008 election season and beyond by engaging a diverse community of artists, activists, thinkers, and citizens to create spaces for dialogue, exploration, and congregation. The project includes: a 7-day exhibition at the historic landmark Park Avenue Armory, performative artist commissions from coast to coast and at the RNC and DNC, mobile projects visiting communities in Queens and Brooklyn, and a publication giving artists a platform to reflect on democracy in this country. Democracy in America: The National Campaign is curated by Nato Thompson.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Joey Turns 1

A little over a year ago while I was in Colorado visiting Laura and Nate, Caryn and Larry's daughter Joey was born. I had to wait a whole week to see her, and it's kind of hard to believe that she's now a year old. Her first birthday party was this weekend, and she was cute as ever.

And, just because that cake she's eating was so delicious and pretty, here's a picture of that, too.

Friday, September 19, 2008

A Novel Idea

So I found myself in a bit of a blogging slump at the end of last week (so I’m playing catch up now). And, I figure: what better way to work myself out of a writing slump than with a giant writing project! A few days ago I got the first email from the NaNoWriMo people. National Novel Writing Month isn’t until November, but they’re wise to send out a pep talk early and give us all time to talk ourselves in to trying for 50,000 words in 30 days again.

I’ve decided not to abandon last year’s novel and just keep going. I’ve worked on it (extremely sporadically) throughout the year, and I like some of the characters I’ve concocted and the messes they’ve gotten themselves into (pause for a debate about the idea of characters taking on lives of their own and surprising their authors). I didn’t make it to 50,000 words last November and am somewhat doubtful that I’ll get there this year, but I like the external prompt to revisit the work and pick it up again.

Anyone else who wants to participate should let me know. We can be NaNoWriMo friends and be each others' cheerleaders.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Stumped

Some days, the world offers up inspiration a-plenty and I feel ready to blog about any number of topics. Then there are days like today when I seriously can't think of a single thing to write about. It's too soon for another political rant (though I could probably do that every day!); I have no books, movies, or plays to write about; and nothing at all interesting happened to me today.

My apartment is a mess, so I woke up early to tidy it up. It's still a mess, but a slightly less obvious one. And even though I was up early, I still didn't make it to the cleaners, so I have a giant-ass bag of dirty laundry waiting to go tomorrow. I am going to my mom's for the weekend after work tomorrow, so I have to pack but haven't actually gotten around to doing it yet. Yeah. This is riveting stuff. See what I mean? Nothing to write about!

Things are about to get better for me, though, because Todd is on his way over. Not only do I get an evening with him, but he's bringing the latest ep of Project Runway with him so I can catch up and find out about one more designer not making it to Fashion Week (which already happened, so I'm stymied as to whether I should refer to it in the past tense or future...).

This might be my dumbest post ever.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The election

Todd and I went to a canvassing training session last night. It was put on by a local democratic group organizing trips to Pennsylvania (the closest battleground state) in the next few weeks. Frankly, the training was kind of annoying. The place was super hot, and since it was also over crowded we were standing for the hour or so we were there. The people doing the training also seemed more than a little clueless about how to actually structure a training of this sort. What was most aggravating but also most interesting, though, were the other people there to be trained.

I have never in my life seen such an argumentative group! People were intent on answering each other’s questions and not letting the official trainers do it, they spoke over each other, and they all had very different and very strong opinions about what the right approach was to any given situation. It made for a chaotic experience, and I was glad to leave when I did. The positive spin on the whole thing, though, is that the people there were clearly passionate. They all cared so much about Obama winning the White House that they literally couldn’t shut up about it.

Tonight I’m signing up for their trips on 10/4 and 10/11, and I wish I could do more. I honestly can’t believe that the election is as close as it is, and—again—I find myself at an utter loss when trying to figure out could make people vote republican. We’re in the midst of an unpopular war; we’ve lost the respect of most heads of state; energy costs are through the roof; people can’t afford healthcare; not to mention that the economy is in the fucking toilet even worse than anyone could have imagined. McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time! He helped get us into this fucked up situation in the first place. Now that the country is kind of in the shitter, he can’t even decide which way is up. In one moment he says that “the fundamentals of our economy are strong.” In the next breath he’s saying the economy is in “total crisis.” And, by his own admission, "the issue of economics is something that I've really never understood as well as I should.” And if that somehow isn’t convincing enough, let’s not forget that he’s 72 years old, and the average male life span is 75, not to mention that he has a history with cancer and won’t release his medical records. Statistically speaking, the odds are that he won’t survive his first term if he’s elected.

Which brings us to VP wannabe Sarah Palin. She has no foreign policy experience. None. Zip. Being geographically close to Russia doesn’t make her an expert on foreign affairs any more than living on an island makes me a marine biologist. She crows about her daughter’s “decision” (decisions can only be made if one has a choice) to keep her baby while removing all options for all other American women. She wants to ban books and teach creationism in science classes. She doesn’t believe that humans contributed to global climate change. She doesn’t know what the Bush doctrine is or that Iraq had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks of 9/11. A look at her record in Alaska shows that she has, at the very least, questionable ethics. And she’s a full blown liar (see: Bridge to Nowhere; earmarks). Then again, McCain is spouting these same lies, so I guess their ticket is on message, even if the message is complete and utter bullshit.

I’m sorry—I know that 99% of the people who read this are just as committed to an Obama victory as I am. I’m preaching to the choir, but I just can’t help myself. I’m so frustrated that with absolutely everything that is happening in this country there is even a chance that McCain could win and we could continue our downward spiral.

Please, if you know a democrat who isn’t registered to vote, send them here.

If you live in or near a swing state, please consider spending a couple of days canvassing. A few hours of time is a small price to pay for a president who will change this country for the better.

If you are lucky enough to have a few dollars to spare, please give to the Obama campaign.

And come November 4, vote for Obama!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Fig Eater

Have any of you read The Fig Eater? I finished it over the weekend and can’t decide how much I liked it. Author Jody Shields wrote an atmospheric and moody novel that captures a city in a time of transition, but she keeps the reader at a distance and commits the Fiction 101 sin of telling a lot rather than showing it. Characters’ relationships didn’t always feel genuine, and the climax left me unsatisfied. All this should add up to a bad review, and yet the book itself somehow didn’t feel unsatisfying.

I’m curious what others thought, so please let me know if you read it.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Applied!

It’s official. I’ve submitted my application, paid my application fee, and told my letters of recommendation people how much I appreciate them. I am now under consideration by the Master of Science in Strategic Communication admissions team. And in possibly as few as two weeks (but much more likely around six weeks), I’ll know whether I’m admitted.

I have mixed feelings about returning to school. Some of the classes look really interesting and I’m eager to learn more about things like branding and communicating in politics. Maybe if I give up on academia I can start a new career as a communications officer for an Obama-like campaign at some point down the road. Also, I’ve lately been recognizing just how many of my friends and peers have advanced degrees. My BS is all well and good, but I’m starting to feel a little like I’m behind the curve which isn’t a feeling I relish.

On the other hand, I do love having time to read novels, watch a marathon of Mad Men, or just hang out with friends. This program will take up a lot of the time I now to devote to that type of activity. Still, I think I’m the kind of person who takes better advantage of free time when I have less of it, so my fingers are crossed that it will somehow all still fit into my schedule, even if not in quite the same ratio. This program is fairly flexible, too, so once I get a good feel for it, I’ll be able to adjust the number of classes I take each semester to best fit my life.

Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me. I’ll let you all know when I get that acceptance letter!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

SNL

I haven't actually watched an episode of Saturday Night Live in years, but I was really excited to see Tina Fey's take on Sarah Palin last night. Here it is for you who missed it. I thought she did well.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Brooklyn Book Fest

Calling all (NY-based) book lovers! Tomorrow is the Brooklyn Book Festival. I've never been to this before, but the line up looks great, with new and established authors giving readings, being interviewed, and speaking about their process and products. There are also zillions of publishers and booksellers displaying their wares, too. It looks great.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Happy birthday to me!

I just had a great birthday. After being treated to a peanut butter and nutella breakfast-in-bed by Todd (complete with a birthday candle!), I did have to go to work. Boo! But right after, I headed to Art Bar for drinks with friends and then to Sumile for a delicious sushi dinner. Naturally, with Billy's only a stroll away, we made our way there for cake, too.

I loved that some of my closest friends came out to celebrate with me. Doing something small was a change from the past few years when I did the big-crowd-at-a-bar thing, and it was a fabulous change of pace.

Thank you to all of you who came out--it really made my day! And a special shout out to Caryn for making the long drive for it, too. It means the world to me!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Style

I don't think I have my own personal style. I don't mean that I'm walking around in culottes and Uggs every day (apologies to all culotte/Uggs lovers), but rather that what I wear feels fairly generic.

I talked about this with Jen when she was in town a few weeks ago. She had read about a service where, for $500, a couple of women would interview you and then give you the two word description of your style (e.g., crisply bohemian, colorfully modern, etc.). Jen had already identified her own style in this model before we hung out (hers is whimsically graphic, for those who are curious), so she was able to turn her attention to me. The process, of course, differed, since Jen knows me and didn't really need to interview me. She also didn't charge me $500!

In the end, we settled on: bold simplicity. I tend not to wear things that are too flashy, chunky, or trendy. At the same time, I'm by no means color averse or drawn toward the conservative. I love the images these two words conjured for me: basic streamlined outfits with one accessory that pops or an element that really stands out feels right for me.

Tuesday was the first time I felt like I really executed my newly defined style. The monochromatic black dress with the fun scarf and simple jewelry really hit it, and I want to start pulling this off more often. It will be a slow progress as I need ot start weeding out my closet and replenishing it with items that meet this goal.

One final note: I recently read an article about favorites and the role favorites should play in our lives. In terms of clothing, means no longer wearing anything you don't love. I have a pair of pants that shrunk the first time I washed them. Now when I wear them I look like I'm waiting for a flood, and yet I still put them on about once a month. And all day long I think how bad I look. Why do I keep wearing them?! To wear only favorites requires, again, a big closet clean out. But I'm going to try to be smart about only buying pieces I'm over the moon about. Smart mixing and matching of fewer but really, really good pieces is my new way forward.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Shame

Most of you, in responding to my request for blog topics, have been kind. Not so for Kimberly, who prompted me to relive a shameful memory.

Siblings fight. It’s just a fact—-maybe one of the few universals in the world, right up there with how babies cry. And my older sister Veronica and I were no exception. We definitely got into some doozies, and there are plenty of family stories about the various ways we used to torture each other.

There is a moment in particular that I still remember. What’s funny is that I have absolutely no idea what we were fighting about, but I do, extremely clearly, remember being the world’s worst sister for a minute. I’m guessing that Veronica was ten and I was seven. Honestly, that part is extremely fuzzy, so I could be wildly off. We were playing with some neighborhood kids at Tamblyn Field, a park near our childhood home in Rutherford, New Jersey. I have a vague recollection that all of us had just done something sporty like playing basketball or something. That doesn’t really sound like us (Veronica was never into sports and I didn’t play anything until after we moved to Vermont), but it’s still what’s in my head.

Anyway, I was pissed off at Veronica for something at the end of the game. As the rest of our friends dispersed, Veronica stopped to tie her shoes. She was a tall and lanky kid, and instead of crouching down to tie it, she leaned over at the waist. I knew instinctually that the way she was standing meant that she didn’t have great balance at that moment, and I took the opportunity to shove her over hard and, of course, she fell. Even as I was doing it, I knew it was a really mean thing to do. I don’t think she had any idea I was going to do it, so she wasn’t braced for it at all. We physically fought each other many times before and after. But this is the only time I can remember taking advantage of the surprise attack so thoroughly. It just wasn’t a fair fight.

She got up and spat, “I hate you!” The way she said it and the look in her eye were convincing; at that moment at least, she really, really did hate me. And I kind of deserved it.

I’m not sure what it is that allows us to be most awful to the people in our own families, but there it is. I have no idea if Veronica even remembers this (I hope not; it would be awful to know that she’s held a grudge against me all these years!), but either way: Sorry, Veronica!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Booker Books

The Booker Prize shortlist was announced today. Has anyone read any of these? My boss just lent me Netherland, but it's still sitting unopened on my desk. And Netherland is only mentioned in this article because it didn't make the shortlist.

The White Tiger, by Aravid Adiga
The Secret Scripture, by Sebastian Barry
Sea of Poppies, by Amitav Ghosh
The Clothes on Their Backs, by Linda Grant
The Northern Clemency, by Philip Hensher
A Fraction of the Whole, by Steve Toltz

Monday, September 8, 2008

Seasons of Rent

After twelve years on Broadway, Rent closed this weekend. Even if you're a Puccini purist, there's no denying that Rent made an impact on the New York theater scene. Jonathan Larson put together an incredibly diverse cast for a medium that is typically pretty lily white, and he introduced themes that were probably pretty racy to the octogenarians who make up most of Broadway's audiences.

And speaking of those white-haired audience members--Rent introduced a new way to change that audience demographic. When it started selling $20 tickets for seats in the first two rows, nothing like it had ever been done before. Now it's almost standard fare, especially for any show trying to bring in a youthful crowd.

Rent had a good run, and, to remember it properly, here are a few scenes of the original cast:

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Hater's Ball

Just discovered Ill Doctrine and really liked this particular vlog.



What do you think of community organizers? Do you do anything in your community?

Saturday, September 6, 2008

I'm gonna pie somebody good

One of the things I love about being with Todd is that he finds the most interesting and surprising things to do—things that I would never even know about on my own, let alone be a part of. Last night was no exception. It's currently The New York Clown Theater Festival, and they kicked off the festivities with a participatory pie fight.

We showed up at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn totally, completely, and utterly incorrectly dressed. We'd come straight from work and were the only people in office duds. The rest of the people were dressed like clowns or at least goof balls. We gamely got into the fray anyway, though, hurling shaving cream pies at each other and a handful of other fighters, while an audience of 25 or so watched from relative safety on the other side of a clear plastic sheet. As you can see from the photo, it got a little hairy! Todd and I both came out looking the worse for wear, but I think he got the brunt of it. One of the organizers told Todd afterward that we (and he in particular) were particularly fun to target because we looked (accurately) like we'd just come from work. All the people who came in wearing pie-ready outfits just weren't as fun to take down, apparently.

The whole event was crazy and so much fun. We just gave ourselves over to the slippery mess of it all and had a blast. There should be more opportunities to act loony, make a mess, and laugh throughout it all.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Never Let Me Go

I read Never Let Me Go as the last of the summer reading list books that I was able to get to before Labor Day. Alas, the love it/hate it responses to Dave Eggers pushed A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius to the back of the pack, and the never-ending-ness of The Children's Hospital meant that I didn't fit everything in. Still, five out of six isn't bad, and I'm sure to get to Eggers at some point.

Thanks to everyone who voted for Never Let Me Go—I really liked it. It lost a little of its magic by the end, but even with that said it's a great read. I really appreciated Ishiguro's willingness to pose questions without answering them and the fact that he clearly respects his readers enough to not spell everything out. The tale of Kath, Ruth, and Tommy—students at the exclusive Hailsham, where they are regularly reminded of just how special they are—raises interesting questions about societal structures and why people so often accept their lots in life.

In some ways, Never Let Me Go is sort of The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas turned on its head, and it's interesting to think about it with that short story in mind.

I've just added Ishiguro's other best known work, The Remains of the Day to my reading list.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Dramaturgy

Another reader-prompted post!

Kristinn asked about my dream job, and it took me no time at all to decide how to answer. What I think I’d like to do more than anything is become a dramaturge. The role of a dramaturge varies from theater to theater, but essentially I’d be involved with research and development of new plays and translations. Dramaturges can help shape a season, adding coherence to a company’s offerings. Through extensive research they provide background on a play’s time period, geography, social conditions, etc. to assist the director actors. In a non linear play they might put together a timeline to help actors better grasp what’s happening when and where their characters are. There’s also an element of marketing to dramaturgy, as some dramaturges write program notes or media pieces, produce programs, put together talkbacks, and generally act as a liaison between the company and the audience.

Basically everything about this job appeals to me. It would be an ideal way to be involved in this art form I love and fully appeals to my love of order and research and my natural editorial inclination.

When I was still in Chicago but looking for a way to come back to NYC, I did some half-assed research into the dramaturgy program at Brooklyn College. I never did figure out how to move back to the city with not only no job but tuition to pay as well. In the end, I took the easy way out and stayed with McGraw-Hell...sorry, McGraw-Hill, and suffered through another couple of years with them. In some ways, the mountains of debt seem more appealing in retrospect! Alas, I’m no closer to being a dramaturge now than I was in my Chicago days. And at least now I have a job I like, even if it’s not my dream job.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Joy Ridin'

I am totally stealing this from Ben (who stole it from Daily Kos), but only because it's bringing me so much joy that I want to pass it on.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

The Professor and the Madman

My summer reading list is serving me well. After an unexpectedly long hiatus from the list (thanks to a 600+ page book club pick that I didn’t like and therefore couldn’t motivate to read quickly) I just inhaled The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary. This nonfiction account addresses the history of English dictionaries and the enormously daunting task of creating the Oxford English Dictionary. Because editor James Murray and his team were tasked with including every single word in the language, complete with history, evolution, and sample sentences to show all usages, they relied on volunteer readers for help. The “madman” of the title refers to how a murderer imprisoned in a lunatic asylum spent decades contributing to the dictionary, finding partial salvation through his participation.

Definitely recommended.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Camilla

I'm bored and don't feel much like writing, so you all get this photo of Camilla instead of a real post: