3am Magazine

3am has accepted five of the poems from My Secret Wars of 1984. yea!

A good day

As I was preparing to teach Freshman Comp, a student came in saying he only had one copy of his essay for Peer Group Review. I had enough time to make extra copies for students.

When I went into the English Dept, there was a large gathering of collegues there. I said, "Hey, is there a meeting I don't know about?" They laughed about it. So when I was heading to my class, there was a large group of people at the end of the hallway. I said to my students, "I don't know what's going on. There are a lot of people out there and in the English Dept."

Just then, Denise came in, asking if some people could observe what was going on. "I have Peer Group Review today," I said. Then lots of people began coming in. Then the English Dept people lined up outside and came in on the other side of the classroom.

Someone had balloons. I forgot someone's name. There was also an award to hand me.

I turned red, as Denise declared I earned the Student Life Achieving Excellence Award!

She talked about the award, but I started to tear up. I have no idea what she said.

Lots of congratulations. Pictures with the Student Life people, English Dept, and my students.

Thank you, Student Life!

Conceptual Gage Park

I'm working on my polygenre poetry-memoir collection--just starting the research. It's amazing how Gage Park has been the center-revealer of cultural hatreds.

Maps and such

http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~23517~820099:Map-of-the-City-of-Topeka--1887--L-?sort=Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No_InitialSort&qvq=q:%2BList_No%3D'2818.187'%22%2B;sort:Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No_InitialSort;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=0&trs=1

http://encore.topekalibraries.info/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1466551__Sgage+park__P0%2C3__Orightresult__X3?lang=eng&suite=pearl

Tributes and Tribulations

Grading my students' responses to Sherman Alexie, I am amazed at how personal, how powerful the writing is. Maybe a response to a story allows us to enter the space of describing the people we each "grew up with?" How we didn't see who they were until we are older and realize there is alcoholism? Strength where we thought weakness was? The flip of perception.

New project

Stars

Many years of mythology and astronomy
Sans astrology
Although the lion haunts me

Maps
Drawings
First constellators
First astronomers

Going stargazing for research

In a field

Begin Again: 150 Kansas Poems (or "Where are my copies?")

First, I want to thank everyone involved with this HUGE project! Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg's project as Kansas Poet Laureate wasn't an easy one, and I'm glad she selected Woodley to offer this manuscript too. The web presence is awesome, but also, as a reader, there is nothing like a book in hand for the visceral experience of poetry.

Also, Kevin Rabas, for leading the book on to publication. Thanks, friend!

Leah Sewell and Matthew Porubsky volunteered their mad skills for designwork. You should hire them to design your book!

Mike Graves for proofreading with Kevin.

Stephen Locke for the amazing artwork on the cover.

Finally, to the contributors! Thanks!

Check out the readings coming up! http://150kansaspoems.wordpress.com/readings/

Here are answers to your questions:

Q: Where are my books?
A: They are on the way.

Q: When did you mail the books?
A: When we received them last Friday, I mailed them on that day, Halloween, and November 2. I have to use the Washburn Woodley account for mailing through Washburn's mail room, who applies the postage and places the packages in "going out" pile.
Q: Why hasn't my check been cashed?
A: After I receive the checks, I send them to our Treasurer in Kansas City. I waited to send them, making sure I had copies in hand or on order. They should be presented soon.

Q: Why did A get their copies first?
A: For larger orders, I ordered them to be sent directly from the printers to the purchasers. For smaller orders, we are sending them Media Mail. It takes longer, but is logistically the cheapest, most effective way we can operate.

Q: Will there be books sold at the readings?
A: I'm not sure about the other readings, but I will personally sell them at the Manhattan and Topeka readings, including the discount to contributors.

Q: Have you received my order yet?
A: I'm guessing I have, as all of the people who have emailed me are getting their copies soon. As you can guess, I've had almost fifty orders. I'm sure I will sell more at the readings.

Thank you for your patience and order!

This is one of the many stacks of shipments that have left the office.