Notes.

Today, I shared my hand made artisanal house made baked from scratch pop tarts with many people, including my son who finally had enough room in his belly (everyone is taking him out to eat and he is perpetually stuffed) to eat one, and then another, and then another. His friends also ate them. And my friends ate them. Verdict: they are awesome.

Today, I picked up my new Kitchen Aid mixer from Target. I have hungered for one of these for years, but I was too busy buying sweaters at the J. Crew sale to (a) stop buying GD sweaters, (b) save the money thereby saved by not buying sweaters, and (c) buy a GD Kitchen Aid mixer, already!

Meet my new kitchen pal. She's apple green and also a powerhouse. And also super cute. #stuff

A photo posted by Lisa Bickmore (@megastore) on Jan 8, 2016 at 9:30pm PST

Not that I've stopped buying sweaters. I will probably never stop buying sweaters.

Today, I saw this.

Today, I heard this, because my son was humming it, and then I was humming it. We were humming it because it is beautiful and haunting.




Today, I heard from a local bookstore that they'll stock my book, and I might get to do a reading there, and I heard from the photographer who shot the picture on my book's cover, which means I can send him a copy.

Today, we saw this, and it was sumptuous and beautiful and moving.

Today, I furthered the plans for this poet to visit my college, which is so freaking exciting, because it's the first reading in our new reading series! (!!!)

Today, I rediscovered a beautiful blue scarf in my scarf box, and wore it. I ate a delicious enchilada, and met with my colleagues, and considered the snow. I talked with my son and his friends, and walked with the historian and Bruiser under a midnight blue sky strewn with clouds. It was, it must be said, a lovely day.

Found in a previous notebook.

I found my gray notebook, tucked into a deep pocket of my camera bag. Notebooks are like little archeological digs. Some notes, you can reconstruct the circumstance, and thus pick up the thread. Other notes are just mysteries. Here's a (lightly) annotated page.

(mouseover the emblems for notes and links:)

      

A few beautiful things.

I want to find a way to see these. And also to live like these artists.

My friend M said we should go see this. Oh how I want us to.

I would go to Australia to hear this concert. Who's with me?

I would like to address a work of art in this way.

This and that.

More awesome stuff about Scotland--including the fact that Unst has a higher density of rural Viking sites than anyplace in the world, including Scandinavia.

My dad reports that the aspens at Mesa Falls just outside of Ashton are fall-glorious--so much so that he has coined a new word for scenery that is too magnificent for the word 'scenery.' The new word is 'scenicity.' You heard it here first.

Jon Hamm won the Emmy for his role in Mad Men. About time.

My friend and colleague came up with this book by Lynda Barry, and now I want to redesign all of my course materials as drawings and handwriting.

Anyone want to know all the packages that came in the mail for me this week? Well, you can't. But I did get these, and this. And this will come very soon, because I have some very fancy notes to write.

I have tabs open on all sorts of online retail sites because I am trying to find a dress for my daughter's wedding, and whoa. This is challenging my shopping talents in a big way.

I was sad to read that C. K. Williams died today. So smart, and such beautiful language.

On this perfectly beautiful day, I was happy to sit out on the porch in the afternoon sun, and to read some of this.

And I roasted about fifteen pounds of tomatoes--my house smelled so good!

Reading list (and a few comments on the beginning of the semester).

I will read any laudatory article about Serena Williams whatsoever. Because I love her. But this is a very good one.

Next year in Scotland... (thanks to my daughter for this one!)

Not that I am the sort to think real hard about the stock market, but 'The stock market is not the economy' seems like a good mantra.

Recommended by Nikwalk: this and this.

Written by Nicole Walker: this.

This gorgeousness.

I could never.

The people, my moods, they have been up and down and up and down and up again. Perhaps the splendor of our Scotland trip has ruined me for my regular life. At least for now. Or maybe I'm almost over it. I worked out twice today, as if I were a high school football boy and as if I were doing two-a-days. That's what I told myself: I'm doing two-a-days. I am surprised, and why should I be, by the fact that the mornings are a little darker and the evenings fall a little quicker. Yesterday when I was doing pull downs, I heard Pat Benatar singing 'We Belong,' and I felt really, really good. If I were a karaoke person, this might be my karaoke song. I can sing all the parts. I won't deny that I sang it a little bit while I was doing the weights. I am not sick of Beck, 'Wide Open,' not one little bit. Tonight I had dinner with two colleagues, and we ate all manner of good things and sat on the patio and laughed while we ate. I came home and did one last orientation with online students who may or may not themselves be feeling dubious about the beginning of the new semester.

Fact: starting the new semester is an up and down and up and down and up again proposition.

Today, while driving to various places, I listened to this


and this,


rather obsessively. It seems to me to be one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

When I've been to Scotland, it always seems that there are more civilized ways of doing things. Such as having smaller teaspoons for tea, and also for the other things that require spoons. I must have some, as it turns out.

I'm still reading those Louisiana crime novels. But soon, I will start reading a French detective novel, and after that, who knows? maybe this. Definitely this. And also this.

Available for pre-order.

Laughed really hard at this, which my son sent me to welcome me back to America.

My daughter predicted that this would be right up my alley, and she was so right. Also: I hadn't quite realized that it was directed by Jonathan Demme, director of some of my favorite movies!

My son finally sat me down and watched one of his favorite movies, which--no surprise--I also really enjoyed.

After reading this--along with the rest of America--I'm in a quandary about where to buy, well, everything.

School starts next week! I will be writing syllabi and getting my course ready and writing a poem for convocation. And putting together my outfits, of course. I hope your Saturday is more snack- and nap-filled than mine promises to be.

Good things.

How about this? Marc Maron interviews President Obama.

I cannot get enough of this amazing article about Robert Rauschenberg's archives.

Do you love to read and look at anything at all about the ways language families are interconnected? I know I do.

My best friend sent me this link to a beautiful video with artist Nayland Blake. It is amazing.

Continuing my obsession with linen coats.

One of the all time great songs.

There's a whole fantastic series of beautiful pieces on storytelling on BrainPickings, but this, on Vivian Gornick's The Situation and the Story: the Art of Personal Narrative, is exceptional.

Since my trip earlier this month to Mesa Verde (and the thwarted Hovenweep trip), I've been looking at how many, many sites there are throughout the general Four Corners area. You guys, so many. How about this? and this? and this? or this?

My grandson did, on video, an amazing and thorough lip-synch of this Muppets 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' (if it becomes shareable, believe me: I will share it.)

I kind of think this shirt is hilarious, although I cannot imagine wearing it.

This epic video essay about Los Angeles as it appears in films is now available as a DVD, and you can bet I'll be watching it.

I read this, sighed a deep, deep sigh, then did the math about what it would take to get those minutes in per week. I had a plan to go to the gym and begin whittling away at those minutes. But I was sick, as it turns out, so instead I took a hardcore nap. Tomorrow, for sure.

In conclusion, the historian just saved me from a giant moth that was strafing me and this blog post, causing me to shriek my patented moth shriek. He also saved the moth, so that makes him the Moth Savior of our house. He is the best.

Today: the facts.

1. I wore a white dress.
2. I saw two movies.
3. A red cardigan arrived in the mail.
4. Also, two books of poems.
5. I submitted my manuscript and also four poems to a journal.
6. I made and ate pancakes.
7. I answered my own questions about three different poems, partly by cutting stuff and partly by relineation.
8. I ran to and from buildings in the rain.
9. I ate Vietnamese noodles and read poems.
10. I laughed at a cat video.
11. I wrote, edited and submitted a panel proposal.
12. I ate a tostada with the historian (he ate chiles rellenos)
13. We walked the dog.
14. I chatted with my daughter in Scotland.

And now it is time for bed.

End of the week.

I am listening to this--it is, in fact, haunting me. (Also reading this and this--thanks, Amelia!)

So looking forward to this, and also this.

So, so happy about this--congratulations, Abbey!

Have got to find good restaurants for when I go here, and a place to stay when we travel here and here.

Am planning on writing up a storm for this--Dr. Write, are you with me?

Cannot stop laughing about this.

Is it time for this yet? I say yes.

I can feel the moment coming when I can ask this question (spark of joy)

My associate dean mentioned this today, which, if I knew about it once, I had forgotten, and it seems wonderful to me.

I was thinking I might reread this--for so many reasons, he's been speaking to me these days, despite the fact that I haven't read anything of his for awhile..

Thinking about getting rid of this for my composition class--and just making a huge amount of screencasts, podcasts, and comics.

Saw this tonight--hoping to see this tomorrow. Happy weekend!

Friday mixtape.

Rediscovering George Starbuck.

My son showed me this dance video, which is the best.

I'm on a search committee, and it is an enormous project, but I was able to share this with my colleagues, and in turn they shared this with me.

The notes in this: mineral salts, fresh water, turned earth, white woods. I bought it, of course.

I've shared this hither and yon, but it's worth sharing again. (thanks Amelia!)

Some things are just beyond.

My daughter Abbey posted this on Facebook and it is wonderful.

Why am I so far behind on watching this? Clearly I am too busy.

This is now the best cold drug, officially. (Caplets, please.)

I can't stand it if any of the three main characters on this die, but I fear that at least one of them will. Don't do it, writers! Don't!

This and this.

You've probably already seen this, but it's beautiful and worth remembering--shared with me by more than one person.

This week, I got to go to Target with this little girl and her mom. She told me that her 'favorite color is cute.'

The historian and I got to see some supercharged indoor soccer played by this guy and his team, the Blast.

I am tired, and I miss everyone, and I'm going to sleep until I wake up tomorrow. Good night.

A few items have come to my attention.

We went to the theater and saw this, which I highly recommend.

The above film made me go on a mad search for 'What is Xanax?' I mean, you know, pharmacologically speaking. (hint: a short-acting anxiolytic.)

We ate ate a new hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant that has excellent entamalados in green sauce, or at least I thought so. Plus? easy on the way home from work access.

My fitbit, this 'slim, stylish device,' which I obtained courtesy of Middlebrow, who didn't want his anymore, thinks I walked more steps today than yesterday, even though yesterday I walked for 35 minutes and more than 2 miles on the treadmill at the gym. Still, I am fascinated by what it has to say to me.

I just bought this and am planning to wear it to work until I am no longer on any committees.

I am anxious to read this and this. Also, I need to read this.

I am mesmerized by this.

Soon, I will be here for the utter and absolute calm and the riveting beauty. (Although I am going to be careful to avoid infection.) (thanks, katherine of it all.)

Also, it would be better than amazing if I could somehow run into this person whilst there.

I think I'll listen to this while we're driving.

I think I saw this on Facebook, and I know I should credit someone, but I can't remember who--so sorry! But it is beautiful.

I think I finally need to get this. Can you imagine what wonders I might be able to compose? Well, can you?

Or maybe I'll just think about it a little longer.

this & that.

I think I would like seeing this.

Someone should figure out how to make all of these clothes for me, stat.

I have reached the point in this particular cold where I would rather blow my nose than take this or this anymore.

This guy will be back from Mumbai in January (for two months)--can't wait to see him!

Sure, I'll be watching this, but with a jaundiced eye.

On the other hand, we'll be watching this (streaming) and DVRing this (so we can binge-watch later).

Hoping to visit the modern-day version of this town over spring break.

When we visit Chengdu this spring, I hope I get to see this.

Having an after school snack with this guy on Monday, and sneaking kisses from this tiny girl.

I'll be sorry to see these two go home tomorrow afternoon.

Loved watching this again with my son and his friend.

I hope I hope I hope that these people will be in Utah this summer.

Looking forward to being well again, so I can finally see this (after reading this and this and this).

This is compulsively readable!

Super quiet low-key Sunday.

As such, it was a great day to contemplate quiet, and how sweet it is. Even boredom, which I did not experience today--sometimes boredom can be a little bit sweet, if it is in contrast to a frenetic pace of activity. Which this past week was.

Today, I read the entire Times minus the business section. And I also read a couple of magazines. Three magazines. And I took a nap, and ate leftovers. I checked in a couple of times on my online course. That was pretty much the long and short of it. What have I learned, you ask, from this quiet, not to say contemplative, day?

Well, I read this, about riding in the Quiet Car on Amtrak. Apparently it's a real thing, which, I know you've heard about the loud Americans and how very very loud they are when they go into foreign lands? But I remember a trip on a train from Darby to London where people talked on their cell phones for hours. So, think about that, so-called "quiet" not-Americans, when you're casting your aspersions about the noisy.

(For real, though: Americans are loud.)

Onward:

I also heard this (okay, I took a short trip to Target) whilst driving to Target.  I am lately fascinated by the connection of the new brain science with cultural observations of all sorts. Is this kind of analysis/synthesis revelatory? or specious? Curious minds want to know.

When I got home, I did a little more searching. Now I kind of want to read this, and this was interesting also. Both are about storytelling, and maybe some connection with brain science as well. But while I was rummaging around on this bundle of sites (they explore the intersection between creativity, technology, and branding, which doesn't sound good when you/I put it that way, but I found a ton of interesting stuff there, so--check them out, I guess?), I found a really excellent article which led me to this new tool, which I can imagine running riot with. It lets you annotate video and images from the web--essentially, a swell tool for remix. I cannot wait to spend more time with it. Maybe I'll have something to post from it soon.

Today

I shared these with the Folio staff (issue launch next week!)

these are my pretty darn good version of the recipe linked above.
by which I mean, they are almost as cute. (photo credit: jason mcfarland)

and watched this:



and read this obsessively

and wrote this.

Also: the semester is almost over. Just in case you didn't notice. How could you not notice?

Questions & statements.

1. Can anyone give me one good reason I shouldn't dye a pair of white jeans brilliant yellow? Because I'm going to.

2. Question: What is the best M&M? Answer: Almond is the best M&M.

3. I need an agenda. I need some agendas. I need a lot of agendas. Or, possibly, I may need to drastically improve my character.

4. Writing is reading is writing is reading is writing is reading is writing.

5. A year of wearing mostly comfortable shoes renders uncomfortable shoes exponentially more uncomfortable.

6. Today, we have to save capitalism. We can dismantle it later.

7. Some people describe some artists as mere technicians, but technique is really never mere.

8. I speak very, very fluent Spanish. (not true at all. A big fat lie, in fact. But a quotation from Stevie Wonder, so in that sense, true.)

9. (conversation at a gelato stand in Geneva:)

Qu'est-ce que c'est "cannelle"?

Cannelle? C'est--c'est cannelle!

(cannelle is cinnamon, a fact which momentarily escaped the customer, hence the question.)

Any more questions? or statements? Please! I'm not sure why you think I could help you.

Important information for your head.

Tiny hotel rooms. (via digg)

Good news if you like Halloween (or, conversely, another reason I hate Halloween). (via The Cut)

And of course,