winesburg, ohio

"I HAD been hungry all the years; My noon had come, to dine; I, trembling, drew the table..."

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:20:00 -0400

“I HAD been hungry all the years; My noon had come, to dine; I, trembling, drew the table...

"To be running breathlessly, but not yet arrived, is itself delightful, a suspended moment of living..."

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:17:56 -0400

“To be running breathlessly, but not yet arrived, is itself delightful, a suspended moment of...

Walking through the Old City of Split today, I stopped to watch...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:55:00 -0400

Walking through the Old City of Split today, I stopped to watch a quartet of traditional Dalmation singers performing in the ancient, domed edifice of the Palace оf Diocletian.

A flock of young school children also stopped, bored and tethered in place by a well-meaning teacher.

A few other strays.

Then a set of squat and elderly Germans, fine mustachios parted neatly over lips, bellies protruding proudly over high-waisted pants.

Then, about one minute or so into the song, three of the Germans — let me once more emphasize their stolid faces, their ages, their apparel, their guts — burst into operatic accompaniment.

You can hear the swell at 0:40 of this minute.

The whole crowd gasped in amazement.

A new favorite! Oh, a real good one.

Yes. Cassiecore.

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:48:04 -0400

Yes. Cassiecore.

natgeofound: Buckets of iron ore are transported to a major...

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:09:21 -0400

natgeofound:

Buckets of iron ore are transported to a major steelworks in Hunedoara, Romania, November 1975.
Photograph by Winfield Parks, National Geographic

Wow.

Dugi Otok. One of my favorite places of this entire trip....

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:33:00 -0400

Dugi Otok. One of my favorite places of this entire trip. Located approx. 45 minutes by ferry from the coast near Zadar.

There is a brilliant national park, clustered bluffs thrusting defiant feet into the sea, an interior coast spotted with tiny, uninhabited islands, a fleet of aimless yachts, running in their smooth and soundless loops, a salt lake that used to be the islanders primary source of income, and a refuge for Croatian donkeys — smaller and sturdier than the common breed, but abandoned in ever increasing numbers by a modernizing local population. Now they wander the stony interior of the island, staying near sea level, and will surprise you as you’re watching the sunset, by nuzzling your palm for food.

Croatia is only two colors. Green and the deeply bluest blue.

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:30:17 -0400

Croatia is only two colors. Green and the deeply bluest blue.

Now Playing. So grateful to have this playing in my ears this...

Tue, 14 May 2013 06:35:00 -0400

Now Playing. So grateful to have this playing in my ears this morning!

I met a guy last night in Pula who said he was a musician, but...

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:06:03 -0400

I met a guy last night in Pula who said he was a musician, but it turns out he’s quite good. This is a video of him improvising on piano from a few years ago. I’ve watched it nine times or so, because I don’t understand how his hands do that.

Margaret Atwood! Delicious.

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:49:28 -0400

Margaret Atwood! Delicious.

her lips are copper wire

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:30:15 -0400

whisper of yellow globes gleaming on lamp-posts that sway like bootleg licker drinkers in the...

compare:

Sun, 05 May 2013 09:31:53 -0400

“With his own glow he looks through a dark pane.” — Jean Toomer, “Bona and...

Beehive

Sun, 05 May 2013 09:16:44 -0400

Within this black hive to-night There swarm a million bees; Bees passing in and out of the...

Chopping wood in the morning, Céret — 4/2 My first duty each...

Sat, 04 May 2013 20:33:00 -0400

Chopping wood in the morning, Céret — 4/2

My first duty each day: chop wood, carry it up the hill to the house. Store it to dry. Good, soothing routine, that one.

Video

Sat, 04 May 2013 20:24:27 -0400

I’m working on the site of a retired B&B in Céret...

Wed, 01 May 2013 18:17:00 -0400

I’m working on the site of a retired B&B in Céret right now, renovating the garden and watching the kids of a family that just moved in. Mostly, though, the kids watch me, and try to teach me things about the chickens, the chestnut trees, and “the new bedtime” their parents, hand-over-heart, really said they could have just yesterday.

Besides them and the chickens there are two mourning doves, three cats, nine guinea pigs, a rescued pigeon, two exotic breeds of racing pigeon (?), one puppy, and whatever of the neighbors happens to stop by. Including a donkey.

The Culture section on the Wikipedia page for Céret has won my...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:51:59 -0400

The Culture section on the Wikipedia page for Céret has won my heart, as has this town and the farms scattered around its narrow country streets.

I almost never eat out in Paris, but this is the second time...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:55:00 -0400

I almost never eat out in Paris, but this is the second time I’ve tried and the second time I’ve been in love, surprised, ecstatic, exquisite happy, etc. (This time was in honor of my Mom, who is visiting.)

The place is Les Cocottes, and the chef’s choice is superb. (Chicken with asparagus and tiny potatoes.)

There’s lots of great old people in Paris.

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:20:32 -0400

There’s lots of great old people in Paris.

Take time off.

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:27:00 -0400

I quit my job last month. A lot of people were surprised. To be honest, even I was a little...