poem for 2.15.05: The Bear at the Dump by William Matthews

poem for 2.14.05: Basket of Figs by Ellen Bass

if you need help today, you might try Valentine Be Mine!, a site dedicated to “the romantically dysfunctional.”

so romantic!

read all about the massacre: The History of Valentine’s Day and: Radio station offers free divorce for Valentine’s Day and let’s not forget this guy: Man Said to Seek Suicide Pacts for Years

The Republican Dictionary, by Katrina vanden Heuvel, is an evocative review of the power of language and spin in regards to, among other things, social security (which I’m guessing will eventually be renamed so that Bush has an easier time enunciating–not that he cares about enunciating): But here is the really funny thing about the personal/private accounts debate. Not only are they not personal … Read More

Everything Will Be All Right, by Tessa Hadley

Tessa Hadley’s novel, Everything Will Be All Right , is a lovely and compelling book. The narrative spans several decades in the lives of one family—and more specifically, in the lives of the women of the family. Three of the women in particular—Aunt Vera, the groundbreaking teacher; Joyce, the would-be artist; and Zoe, the brilliant scholar—lead us on the journey from post-WWII England to … Read More Everything Will Be All Right, by Tessa Hadley

poem for 2.12.05: Letters from a Father by Mona Van Duyn

file these under–you can’t make this shit up or life is stranger than fiction: Man ‘set Valentine suicide pact’ and (remember this story from yesterday? I wondered if this might be the case): Tossed and found baby tale’s bogus

carnage at the bird feeder

There are several dark patches of blood marring the snow underneath the bird feeder. I’m guessing that either a fox or a cat got one of the squirrels or that a couple of red squirrels got in a fight and tore each other up (which I’ve seen happen before). It kind of makes me feel like not putting any more bird seed out so … Read More carnage at the bird feeder

I am starting to wonder if my politeness isn’t a form of passive-aggression. Just now I nearly got my arm ripped off and was pulled down my VERY icy driveway when I was bringing my dog out to pee. The reason was that my neighbor’s dog (off leash) was in our yard taking his daily poo (oh, sometimes he blesses us with his shit … Read More

poem for 2.11.05: Smile!by Denise Duhamel

and the winner is… Pride and Prejudice for most romantic novel of all time. Hmmm, I wonder if I agree with that?