prodigal son

Okay, so, stirctly speaking, the post title isn't accurate since I still have yet to return to the flock (our seminar) with any measurable evidence of growth, spiritual or literary. But here are some thoughts.

Back in September, before my date was up, I was hard at work on a short story about a manzanita. The inspiration came from an article I'd read on Muir "The Botanist" in Smithsonian. In it Muir gives a brief description of the process by which he would learn about a new plant. Evidently when he encountered an unfamiliar species John would sit silently with the thing for up to a day, just listening, until it stated to talk to him. The implication being that all plants have a story, an evolutionary autobiography of sorts.

Well, you guys know all about me and my checkered relationship with science. So it should come as no surprise that when I finally sat myself down to try out Muir's idiosyncratic scientific method, the resulting story had little to do with natural history. It was raining that day, the first rain of the season, and while the mosses and grasses in my live oak woodland celebrated with vibrant green fireworks, the crimson bark of a manzanita in the courtyard took on the appearence of raw, bleeding flesh. I sat with that tree all day, and it did start talking to me, but the story was a strange one that after 2 months still has yet to run its course.

So, this may seem a bit ad-hoc to you guys in light of how late my essay now is, but, I think I agree with Sydra's recent post about making due dates optional. As excited as I am to share writing with Y'all, it just isn't ready yet. Also, I'm in SE Asia for the winter, so if I do finish something in the coming weeks it probably won't be that essay about the Manzanita.

Okay, Vietnam calls. Cheers,

Nate

Well, it seems we're slackers through and through. Not a big deal really, but are we dropping the ball on our fantastic seminar already?
I guess I began the procrastination...sorry...and still haven't mailed Jenny's piece to her, so I probably shouldn't be writing this at all. But I am because well, why not?
All I'm trying to say is that maybe we don't have to "go in order" since it's not working super well. (Nathan where's your piece?) Perhaps some of the others in the group that haven't submitted anything could just email or snail-mail some of their writing from the last few months. I bet most of us have been doing some writing, especially with the anticipation of this seminar.
So without further ado....I miss your writing everyone! Let's bask in each others' insights.
(Goodness that was awful.)

I'd planned to have my piece ready for y'all by Monday, but this weekend I got seriously distracted by 1,500 vertical feet of granite and didn't end up writing nearly as much as I should have. Soon. I promise.
In the mean time, I'm going to tell Emma that we're okay with her joining the team. Unless someone voices their objection in the next 15 minutes. Cheers!

Nate

Response to Sydra's piece

So, I guess I'll be the first to respond to Sydra's essay. If I seem overeager, it's because I am. Also I have to spend a couple hours every day in the office feigning productivity, so this is a good outlet.

I really liked reading an urban essay, especially one that takes on the sharper, less aesthetic side of PDX and not just the hippie-bourgeoisie side of the city. Some suggestions:

- Tighten up the details within each vignette; there were a few times I was confused about who was doing/saying what and why.

-I want to know what will draw someone who has never known you or Portland into this essay. I like the sense of unease you have created and the way you have a skeptical eye towards what's going on around you. Like, is that guy selling drugs or trinkets? And are those police really giving shit to the black people or is everyone being overly sensitive? What really are you trying to say through this tension, other than that there is tension?

Some fave parts:
-"dual voyeurism"
-"I sit up on my bicycle and light my rollie cruising effortlessly through the side streets towards home."

"Remember, a gun in the room means someone ought to be shot." (MS)

-- The best piece of advice I ever received.

Q for you all

So is anyone going to be severely offended if I only send my piece via email?
I'm a bit strapped for cash, I know it's only a few dollars but yeah....it's still tight.
None of you have to snail-mail me copies unless you're really keen on it.
Just do that lovely Word editing thing, Track Changes I believe - it makes everything nice and RED!
Okay, enough out of me for one day

finally...

hey all,
i just emailed my piece.
i'm out of practice in this deadline thing....
my life is ambiguous and day-to-day
it's kind of amazing, but sorry to keep you all waiting.