Michael Penn's solo album March is quite fantastic. The main single off of it, "No Myth" was a pretty decent hit for Sean Penn's brother and it's a shame he's never quite had the same level of success again. "No Myth" though, has that excellent pop sensibility and a fantastic hook.
1. That Andy Richter is back with Conan O'Brien as he begins hosting The Tonight Show is fantastic. I miss the old days and was very glad to see them do a new version of "In the Year 2000," retitled as (you guessed it) "In the Year 3000." I was laughing so hard I was crying, and a little weepy too at the prospect of both guy being back together. If you haven't seen Conan yet, he's quite good and not "Late Night" Conan. He's prepared to take on the middle-aged people that used to watch Leno, who, of course, is much less funny than Conan.
2. If you're so inclined, pick up or download (which you can do legally) The Decemberists' new album, The Hazards of Love. It's a concept album, but more than that, it's really goddamn good. It's a bit rough in patches in terms of theme, but if that bothers you, I'm not sure how to help you. Like all concept albums, there are songs that have been hammered into the round hole, but the more I listen to the songs, the more I feel like they are together. 
3. Moving preparations are coming along. I'm so excited about starting school that I can hardly express it in any available form.
A link I should have added a while back:
Blake Butler's blog has fascinated me for a while and I kept meaning to add it but never got around to it. Blake not only is from Atlanta, but one of his high school friends is one of my college friends. Small world, really.
I think I recall Blake's foot from a photo on Bo's wall.
Anyways, check out Blake's blog in this post and over to the left.
I'm alive, just have nothing terribly good to write about of late. Still working on "Sound/Chest." Planning a move to Providence at the end of July. Took a trip there last week and had a blast.
Oh, and Jennifer's a Mets fan. I feel betrayed, but at least she's kind of getting into baseball.
My fantasy team sucks again.
Sold a bunch of books and bought pants.
Thinking about buying some cheap guitar pedals from Danelectro- like $12 a pop. They seem to sound good and I don't do a lot of "stomping."
Our place in Providence is out of our price range but happily worth it. It's beautiful and the landlord is a classy guy, much like our current landlord, Kermit. We've had some luck, to say the least.
Jennifer's sister Annie is graduating from high school this coming week. She's heading to Syracuse. My wife and I will be within 5 hours of each of her sisters. And Cooperstown. And Waterbury, VT, home of Ben and Jerry's. There's a factory tour.
I'm thinking about writing a poem for an event. It's a good choice in terms of "events," but I feel strange that my mind is wandering towards it. Fortunately, when asked initially, I said I wouldn't write something, but rather find something to read. It will be a happy surprise for the event planners, no doubt.
I'm happy that Keith Waldrop is teaching the first workshop next Fall. It was an incredible honor meeting him and his wife of so many years, Rosmarie. She spent a lot of time with us at a reading while in Providence and she was so kind.
The other class I'm thinking of taking is on Modernism in the English department. It's being taught by Mutlu Blasing and I've read some great essays from her. She has a book on form and politics in poetry. Sounds right up the alley I was heading in the Nowak essay.
My last day of work at Media Services is July 16.
I've been in a Leonard Cohen mood lately, not quite a "Leonard Cohen afterworld," though.
If you're a local person, Mark Nowak is reading at Prairie Lights on Friday night at 7pm and if you're a slightly less local person, he'll be in Lucas, Iowa at the Coal Mining Labor Museum on Saturday.
Should be a fun time for all.
