January 2, 2013—Santa Cruz, CA
Back to the diary—I haven’t written here in several weeks, the longest time between entries since I started this, I think. This break didn’t happen for lack of interest, for the most part, but because I’ve been busy. The last month of the semester was kind of crazy, then I landed running into holiday preparations and family obligations. Just as that ended I headed up to Santa Cruz with G—, where I still am. In a few days I’m heading over to Sacramento, to do that reading and hang out with S—. I feel like I’ve been on a fast-moving train for the last couple of months …
Though I’m feeling a bit overtaxed, I’m enjoying being up here; it’s nice just to be doing something different, if nothing else. I’m getting a little antsy to get back home, though—I have a lot of stuff to get done before school start back up that I really don’t want to get behind on—between-semester work invading the semester, I’ve learned, can put a teacher on the wrong foot for months. (Plus, it’s really damn cold up here and my bones are longing for the relative warmth of the Southern California winter.) Another reason I’d like to get back home is I’ve started working on Sunshine Seas again and I would like a more stable home environment for that. Still, I’ve done a fair bit of work on it up here, probably as much as I would have gotten done at home, mainly because I have far fewer responsibilities in these parts …
January 4, 2013—Santa Cruz, CA
Another chilly morning in Santa Cruz—sunny but without much warmth; I’m in G—‘s house, sitting at his breakfast table, and I can see my breath a little (he’s one of those people who never seems to get cold so his places are always just minimally heated, at best).
Feeling quiet at the moment … relaxed into accomplishment. Though I’m sort of on vacation I’ve been getting some work done. I’ve read almost half of a textbook I’m thinking of using in my bio-anth classes. As mentioned, I’ve also got some work done on Sunshine Seas. Most importantly, I’ve done this while managing to unwind a bit—it’s taken me a few days here, but I definitely starting to relax.
G— and I went to the Grateful Dead archive at UC Santa Cruz today. A small, cool little display; a tiny fraction of what they have apparently. Posters, tickets stubs, tape boxes, letters, photos, academic writings on the group, etc. I really enjoyed it, this little semi-intellectual shrine; UCSC manages to take the project seriously while not ruining by taking it too seriously. G—‘s not a Deadhead, so he was a good sport to go with me (he’s a good sport by nature). Definitely worth the effort to make it up to the campus.
Days of good food, a bit too much drink (over the last month I’ve probably ingested more alcohol than I have for the previous year combined). Ready to head to Sacramento and read. Ready to, I don’t know … do something else …
January 8, 2013—Sacramento, CA
Been here for 2 ½ days now. Read poems and a section from Heaping Stones (man, I have a hard time connecting with that book these days) at a little café/bar called Luna’s. Didn’t sell many books, but the reading went OK, especially considering how rusty I was. The place had a strange configuration, which also threw me off—the stage wasn’t quite facing in the direction of the most of the audience, which meant that when I’d look up to make eye contact I was mostly just looking at a wall; in part because of this I’m not sure how much impact I had. I seemed to connect with a few people, though. Rainy night—it was coming down cold and hard by the end of the reading. Strangely romantic … rainy café poet far from home …
I’ve been on the road too long. I’m feeling a bit lonely, in that I’m missing certain important aspects of my routine. Missing myself a bit …
Back to the diary—I haven’t written here in several weeks, the longest time between entries since I started this, I think. This break didn’t happen for lack of interest, for the most part, but because I’ve been busy. The last month of the semester was kind of crazy, then I landed running into holiday preparations and family obligations. Just as that ended I headed up to Santa Cruz with G—, where I still am. In a few days I’m heading over to Sacramento, to do that reading and hang out with S—. I feel like I’ve been on a fast-moving train for the last couple of months …
Though I’m feeling a bit overtaxed, I’m enjoying being up here; it’s nice just to be doing something different, if nothing else. I’m getting a little antsy to get back home, though—I have a lot of stuff to get done before school start back up that I really don’t want to get behind on—between-semester work invading the semester, I’ve learned, can put a teacher on the wrong foot for months. (Plus, it’s really damn cold up here and my bones are longing for the relative warmth of the Southern California winter.) Another reason I’d like to get back home is I’ve started working on Sunshine Seas again and I would like a more stable home environment for that. Still, I’ve done a fair bit of work on it up here, probably as much as I would have gotten done at home, mainly because I have far fewer responsibilities in these parts …
January 4, 2013—Santa Cruz, CA
Another chilly morning in Santa Cruz—sunny but without much warmth; I’m in G—‘s house, sitting at his breakfast table, and I can see my breath a little (he’s one of those people who never seems to get cold so his places are always just minimally heated, at best).
Feeling quiet at the moment … relaxed into accomplishment. Though I’m sort of on vacation I’ve been getting some work done. I’ve read almost half of a textbook I’m thinking of using in my bio-anth classes. As mentioned, I’ve also got some work done on Sunshine Seas. Most importantly, I’ve done this while managing to unwind a bit—it’s taken me a few days here, but I definitely starting to relax.
G— and I went to the Grateful Dead archive at UC Santa Cruz today. A small, cool little display; a tiny fraction of what they have apparently. Posters, tickets stubs, tape boxes, letters, photos, academic writings on the group, etc. I really enjoyed it, this little semi-intellectual shrine; UCSC manages to take the project seriously while not ruining by taking it too seriously. G—‘s not a Deadhead, so he was a good sport to go with me (he’s a good sport by nature). Definitely worth the effort to make it up to the campus.
Days of good food, a bit too much drink (over the last month I’ve probably ingested more alcohol than I have for the previous year combined). Ready to head to Sacramento and read. Ready to, I don’t know … do something else …
January 8, 2013—Sacramento, CA
Been here for 2 ½ days now. Read poems and a section from Heaping Stones (man, I have a hard time connecting with that book these days) at a little café/bar called Luna’s. Didn’t sell many books, but the reading went OK, especially considering how rusty I was. The place had a strange configuration, which also threw me off—the stage wasn’t quite facing in the direction of the most of the audience, which meant that when I’d look up to make eye contact I was mostly just looking at a wall; in part because of this I’m not sure how much impact I had. I seemed to connect with a few people, though. Rainy night—it was coming down cold and hard by the end of the reading. Strangely romantic … rainy café poet far from home …
I’ve been on the road too long. I’m feeling a bit lonely, in that I’m missing certain important aspects of my routine. Missing myself a bit …
