Twenty-five Cent Stories

What’s up with me and my late dispatches? That is probably one of the biggest no-noes for a blogger to make. Things have been busier than late–for starters, I accepted a position as a Retention Specialist at The National Hispanic University. That’s probably not much of an excuse for late dispatching considering I just got the job a week ago. Also, I turned 30 this month. Happy birthday to me!

The reading at Watsonville went well. It wasn’t until then that I realized that there are two Cabrillo College campuses, the second being in downtown Watsonville, which has it’s charm. Very urban, very mexicano. The campus itself is a two-story building and it reminded me very much of NHU. Cosidering that the reading was held in-between sessions, we had a very good turnout. Maybe about 20.

It’s good to see my poetry peeps again. David Dominguez I have seen read about four times in 12 months and never get bored of his stuff and stories. Adela Najarro grows on me more and more. And Scott Inguito–Scott who I haven’t seen since I first met him in Baltimore in 2003–is simply comedy. Monica got a kick out of him. Even though I haven’t seen him since, ironically, he teaches at San Jose City College just down the street from me. He probably has his students crack up all class session. It wouldn’t surprise me if Scott’s SJCC popularity is through the roof. Dennis Morton was there doing a good job of MCing. I hope I see him again.

Did I say the reading went well? I actually started coming down with a cold and my nose was simultaenously very stuffy and runny. I imagine my reading was very nasaly. I wonder what David thinks of me because last time we met and read together, I had shown up at Fresno with allergies. I promise I don’t get sick that often.

On Sunday, Adela and I went on “The Poetry Show” with Dennis Morton (and Monica came along with me!). It was a very laid back affair. Dennis is very nice as well as his assistant Gwen. During the show we talked about the poets’ role in enviromental castastrophe, about the upcoming reading in Watsonville, about our companeros who will be reading with us, and we even talked about Francisco Aragon!–which caught me off guard because he’s done so much that I don’t think I even scratched the surface of his vita. I hope I did you right, but forgive me if I didn’t, F.A.! Well why talk about the show when you can listen to it. It’s up on the KUSP website: http://www.kusp.org/shows/poetry.html click on “The Wind Shifts”

Also, it turns out that I met Adela eight years ago at AWP Palm Springs at one of the parties there. And Dennis remembered my honey from somewhere–it was at a Poetry Santa Cruz reading we went to earlier this year. It’s a small, small poetry world.

I have to add that Adela has the perfect voice for radio, unlike me with my stop-start way of talking. But I do hope to return to the show!

You can catch Adela Najarro and me on the air at KUSP 88.9 (AM/FM?) on Sunday, August 10, 2008 from 8-9PM to promote the Poetry Santa Cruz reading. We will be on The Poetry Show hosted by Dennis Morton and Mort Marcus. Tune in to listen to my accent and my word finding issues!

I’ve been on the radio once before my senior year at UCR. I was on the college station promoting my then new chapbook, The Gardeners of Eden, which had just come out in May 2000. The radio host, who went by the name La Picosa, knew nothing about poetry. I don’t know how I made it through it. I did have friends call in anonymously to ask me questions. They were probably my only audience–an audience of three.

Poetry Santa Cruz

I will be reading for Poetry Santa Cruz at the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center with Adela Najarro, David Dominguez, and Scott Inguito. We are promoting the anthology The Wind Shifts: New Latino Poetry, which is getting around. Click “Poetry Santa Cruz” to download the flyer.

Cabrillo College Watsonville Center, The Forum 4650, 318 Union Street, Watsonville, CA 95076

Tuesday, August 12, 2008–7:30PM–$3 suggested donation

See www.poetrysantacruz.com for more info!