Body of Work: High-Yield Workshops

Here are three poems from my most recent workshop at the Trimble County Library:

Musical Hands

Crack Pop
Fireworks in my Fingers
Jubilant joints
Flexible, gripping
Bending and poking
Sharp arrows when Bent
Wrinkly and crinkly
Loud or silent, Never in Between
Integral but mostly unnoticed

-- Amanda, librarian


Pulmonary Embolus

The thorax chest
lung that holds life's Breath
the heart that gives life's Blood
The bronchi that lead to
the road of exchange with
Blood & Air.  Like a storm
the Blood Clot stops this
life exchange road,
blocks the tree of life.
Pulmonary Emboli
The Pain.
The Shortness of Air.
The threat that this PE
may break off and go else
where to Pain & death.

-- Denise, x-ray technician


Masks

They say that our eyes are
the windows to the soul

They tell stories
of sadness, despair, anger

Loss, happiness, failure, success.

There was a boy I once knew
whose eyes told me the story
of love, loneliness, and anger.

He was always sitting alone
during class-- no one liked him.
His classmates picked on him
Spread lies just to get him in trouble.

At home, Dad was always drunk
Mom was always beat
He was always crying himself to sleep

He wanted to kill himself
To just end all of the pain
But he couldn't because of
a girl he loved

In my opinion
He was just lost

We all wear masks,
everyone, everyday,
But sometimes we wear
them so much,
we forget who we really are.

--Anonymous, student

Best of the Bad News

As many of you have heard, the doctors found a small spot (measured in millimeters) on mom's last two MRI's.  After much debate, they decided that it is most likely a recurrence of the SNUC tumor, even though it is in a totally different area (the cerebellum rather than the frontal lobe).  Even though that's rare, it would be more rare for her to develop a completely different type of tumor.  As one doctor said, it would be like lightning striking twice. 

They found no other areas of concern in the PET scan, so they are going to focus on the spot.  The consensus regarding the treatment approach is that she should have Stereo Tactic Radio Surgery (aka STaRS).  This is the "one dose" of radiation that they mentioned earlier.  It's basically a very intense, precise dose of radiation that will remove the tumor.  So even though it is called "surgery," there's no cutting involved.  Just radiation.

She was fitted for the radiation mask the week before Christmas, so everything is set for her to have the procedure next week.  They would have done it sooner, but she had planned to visit Allie and Natalie and families in Virginia this past week and the doctors were very much in favor of her doing that.  So, she's back home as of last night and resting up for the big day.

Hope that 2012 has already brought you many blessings and that it holds many more,
jk

Chestnuts at Cultivate, November 20th

Here we are rehearsing!

No Nano, but Still a Go

So I didn't finish the novel in a month (big surprise!), but I am still working on it. I'm pretty excited about it actually. I want to read the journals of Lewis and Clark as well as Frank X Walker's Buffalo Dance and When Winter Come for inspiration. I've been wanting to read those for a while anyway, so this will be a good excuse. I would also love to walk some of the Wilderness Trail, maybe this summer? Big plans, big plans.

NaNoing

I'm starting the NaNoWriMo -- writing a novel in a month.



Writing the story of Sarah Mitchell. Stay tuned...

It's a Girl!

Esphyr Dorothea Koren was born at home January 14th, 2009! She weighed 7 lbs. 8oz and was 19 inches long. She is doing well, as we all are. We're enjoying the babymoon. Emeka goes back to school tomorrow, so wish us luck!

Super Sonny

Sonny was practicing for Halloween.

Dave Levin on The Colbert Report

Poor Dave only gets a few words in. But it's a good little clip, nonetheless. Thanks to Melinda for sharing this with me.

Giving Nowlin a Ride

I've been meaning to post this for a while now, so here it is. I finally got on the "other" computer to do so. This is a very short little video taken at the first birthday party of Nowlin Craig, son of my good friend Jessica Nowlin Craig. They were having a good time.

An Extra Window

So this is another picture so that you can see where the painting is hanging. Perfect-- it's my new window. And we didn't even have to knock out any bricks. Whew!

My Graduation Gift!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who contributed to honor me with such a gift. It's an Alethaire Kelly original, and it's one of my favorites of hers. About it, she said, "I got to the top of the window, and I just wanted to keep drawing trees, so I did." I love it.

Once More to the Lake

Emeka, Erica and Sarah Sailing

My friend from Yale (fellow gymnast and Slav) was driving cross country and made a little detour to experience life at the lake. We had a great time, and it was fun getting to know Erica (fellow capoeirista). Their next stop: The Grand Canyon.

Captain and First Mate

We decided to go for a sail while at Kentucky Lake. The wind didn't cooperate at first and the sun blazed. We anchored in the main lake, jumped in to cool off. Sonny perfected his jump with a twist off the boat during that little break. And, lo, on the way back the gods of the winds blessed us with a nice breeze so we coasted back to Bent Tree Cove. Sonny decided he preferred sailing to speed-boating: fewer "bumps."

Back Home

After a summer of insane traveling, I am back at home. The new news, in case you haven't heard, is that we are expecting our second Koren baby, due January 23. And you can expect pictures from our travels soon. And hopefully a few new videos, too!

Speaking of the Folk Festival...

You should check it out on the web. This year's line-up is unbelievable. I can't believe all these people are going to be in Madison, Indiana: Tom Paxton, John Gorka, Red Molly, James McMurtry! We have a guest bedroom if you're from out of town... www.ohiorivervalleyfolkfestival.com

Folk Festival Forever

Hey, y'all! Come to joeyg's next Tuesday for a Folk Festival Benefit. Music starts around 6:30 and includes yours truly (The Chestnuts) plus Greg n' Kriss and Jimmy D. I promise it will be lovely and not too loud (this is folk, not punk!). See you there!

See What I Mean?

Trains

It's been snowing/icing for about five days, so the trains and blocks have been getting a good workout.

Sonny Opening Shaked & Alfredo's Presents!

De****ar Alfredo and Shaked,

1234567890221212556987570122541011144


*
/*
0111114447758888870000000000000000000000000771147787877