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Monday, February 21, 2005
February 28: Come To Your Senses!
Date: February 28th, 2005
I Wanted to Paint the Night
by Laurie Kutchins
I wanted to paint the night:
the glow that comes from nowhere
the yearly spill of lilacs
filling an open window
moonless steetlampless shine
the eyes adjust to
after the snuffed yellow smudge of lamp oil
loses its aferscent after the bodies of lovers
slip back into separateness
and the newborn sniffs out the milky
tit alert inside the gown
and the ears adjust to the still blue
breath falling on cattle
on hills windless as closed eyelids
and there memory of giving up
the long lulls between trains
the sound of a dog that chases rabbits
in its sleep and a green-eyed black cat
moving from one room to another
like a dream we usually sleep through
unless like me
you wanted to paint the night's own light
thin plum skin
Saturday, February 12, 2005
February 28 :: Next Meeting
Regarding the location, we have found that the Wired Cafe is a little loud. So we are looking for a place "centrally" located, which means a location between Encinitas and Chula Vista. The Wired Cafe was nice because it was right off the 805, so a little east for us La Mesanites. The idea of going back to National University came up...do either Candice or Sue...know who I can contact about perhaps getting a room or hanging out in the lobby (it sounds like a seedy motel)? Or if anyone knows of a cool, centrally located place for our group, please let us in on the secret.
Assignments/goals (call them what you will) are as follows:
Marsha-polish up a travel piece, begin to write queries for a travel article
Jenn-write a query focusing on the piece she brought last time about her sister, Jenn and the c-word
Michelle-Bring Chapter 2 to distribute
Eber-write outline on 3x5 cards and share with group
Claire-I can't remember if you signed yourself up for an assignment...please enlighten me.
--Michelle
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Meeting February 7 :: Recap
Devil is in the Details
In attendance: Jennifer, Marsha, Michelle and Claire.
We talked, we commiserated about being writers, we drank warm and cold beverages and tried to get water.
We talked about adding detail to our text. Jenn read some stuff from Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott... and then shared the opening, detail-laden couple of paragraphs from one of Anne Lamott's novels, Joe Jones: A Novel.
Absent: Mike, Lex, Eber... Nellie... did we scare you off? Join us when you can!
We wrote....
about an old lady walking
home from the library or the farmers market...
She wore a tattered brown or green wool coat
and orthopedic shoes or bedroom slippers
depending on who
you believed.
Claire shared an essay on being a GR8 mom-- a wonderful start, and everyone wanted more details more story telling... Jenn (that's me) keeps trying to make the essay about her sister work and needs to keep working on it or move on to something else... Marsha did quite a bit of research on markets, thinking about the direction she wants to take her writing, and managed a little guilt about not bringing a draft, but that's ok, it's only a goal not a mandate!
Michelle brought Chapter One which we didn't get a chance to read, she emailed us later.
Next Meeting TBD: Michelle taking the lead, penance for being late!
Feb. 21, which is Presidents Day, may not be a good meeting day if kids are off school. Michelle will get back to us with details.
Also, we're thinking about meeting back at National University... just hang out in the lobby on those nice comfy couches. Its quiet. Or check into the libraries.... we'll keep you posted. Please if you have suggestions, please share. This is a group thing.
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