5 Words Later...

Tonight I made a breakthrough about my entire novel. It happened during some dialogue. I threw two people into an odd situation and one of them said something. One little line. It was no longer than 5 words. And I felt like everything came together right then and there. I've been so worried about moving forward and getting pages and getting words and feeling stuck, that I forgot how powerful 5 little words can be. I feel very happy :-)
That is all.

A Writer's Responsibility

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to see Jhumpa Lahiri read from her latest book of short stories, Unaccustomed Earth, and answer some questions. I learned that the same simplicity and emotional restraint in her storytelling was reflected in her personality. And I was truly inspired by her approach to life and writing.

A lot of questions came up about the 'responsibility' she has as a writer. When asked if she would consider writing children's books, she claimed that, as of right now, the responsibility would be too great because children's texts are too sacred to her. When asked if she felt a similar responsibility to high school aged students who are, in some cases, required to read her texts, she said she simply doesn't write with that in mind. It was similar to her response when asked if she felt a responsibility to the South Asian community to be a literary 'spokesperson' of sorts. This was not something she felt she could personally take on.

I was glad to hear it. Because I feel that writers shouldn't have responsibilities to entire ethnic communities! They shouldn't be expected to mold a child's youth! They shouldn't be responsible for a teenagers entire high school literary education! Writers have plenty of responsibilities. To family. And friends. To characters. To words. To the stories they choose to tell. That's responsibility enough.

Inspirational Women

I apologize that I haven't been able to blog this week. But I've been occupied with a massive project at work and hanging out with Dora and her Explorer girls every single minute of every single day.

Anyways...I am looking forward to a reading and conversation with Jhumpa Lahiri this evening. Lahiri is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Interpreter of Maladies. She also wrote The Namesake. And, most recently, Unaccustomed Earth. All of which are worth reading and I urge you to run to your nearest bookstore to purchase them. The South Asian Womens Creative Collective is putting on this lovely event. And while, I'm not South Asian, I am a woman. Who may or may not be creative. So I am thrilled to be able to attend. I can't wait to share it with you later this weekend.

Te quiero Barcelona

This weekend I saw Woody Allen's latest film, Vicky Christina Barcelona. (Yes, I realize I'm several months late). While, I am a huge Woody Allen fan, I breathed a sigh of relief to learn that he was not in it. And I was even more relieved that a neurotic, cerebral, east coast male was not central to the plot. Instead, it involved a seductive Scarlet Johanson, an explosively passionate Penelope Cruz, a sexy Javier Bardem, and a headstrong Rebecca Hall (who I was recently impressed with in Frost/Nixon). The sensual city of Barcelona must have inspired something in my friend Woody, because the plot and characters were some of the best I've seen from him in a long while.

The film conjured up a lot of thoughts for me and what better place to spill them than on this darn here blog.

1. I was especially intrigued with the idea that all relationships are dependent on a kind of balance that may or may not involve two people. A dynamic of 'three' could be essential, certainly with friendship, and, as this film explored, maybe even in matters of the heart. (Ex. Penelope and Javier could only make their romance work with Scarlet around)

2. While that actual threesome was going on, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) was struggling with wanting two different men. One, was the man she always envisioned herself with: sturdy, practical, solid, and settled. The other was someone passionate and spontaneous. It begged the question: why on earth should she have to choose? Oh yeah, because we're only supposed to want one.

While I'm not proposing that we all run off and find two people to balance all of our desires out (don't worry Tyler) , it's just an interesting concept. Perhaps we're not wired to desire one type of person at a time. And if we choose one person, maybe we have to make sure that just the right balance exists before we commit. Just something to think about. Something important to think about. Because, this film would have us think (and, in my opinion, rightly so) that happiness depends on that balance.

Ode to Small Towns

This past weekend, Tyler and I escaped the concrete jungle and hopped on an Amtrak train to visit his relatives in Chester, CT. As I relaxed next to the woodburning stove that heated his Aunt and Uncle's entire home, made home-made rosemary potato bread, chopped wood and rode a tractor for the first time, all the while, partaking in delicious homemade meals with organic vegetables and herbs from their garden, I found myself completely at ease in this small town. There was simply, not much to do, and I immediately felt right at home not doing it. It got me to thinking about small towns in general. And, perhaps, an unfulfilled desire to live in one. It occurred to me that my novel takes place in a small town that is so vivid and real to me, I've nearly forgotten that I've never actually lived there. And it also reminded me how amazed I had always been driving up to Ithaca, NY revelling in the small town of Lisle on Rt. 79 which is completely run down with it's dilapidated, abandoned buildings on its tiny main street. And despite the vacant, grey vibe that town always gave me, I found it simply beautiful. It was fascinating that it could be so intimate and yet spacious and empty all at the same time.

So, this is my ode to small towns. The small town I never grew up in. The small town I don't currently live in. And the small town I may end up in.

Oh. And P.S.: I attended a tractor parade.

Roastin' in CT

Little preview of tomorrow's post (I'm feeling too sleepy to write anymore tonight). Yes. That's a pig all right! And, uh, yup, it's being pulled by a tractor.

133rd Westminster Kennel Club Show!!

Yesterday was one of the best days of the year. The dog show came to town! A Sussex Spaniel named Stump won best in show! He was the oldest dog ever to win the show(10 years old) and I loved him. A lot. The crowd went wild for him. Unfortunately, I did not get a photo of him.

I did, however, get a lot of pics in the benching area before the big event. All of the handlers, owners, and pups hang out here while they are waiting to show. They get groomed here, they rest here, they get interviewed by the press here and there is a ton of commotion. The best part is that you walk in and you can see any breed of dog you want. Their owners love to talk about them and they love to be pet and get their picture taken. They are the most well behaved dogs you could ever imagine and I loved every one of them.
I managed to get a shot of lovable Uno, last year's winner. He was getting a little blowdry.
And he looks very mischievous and skeptical of me.

I also saw this big guy. His jowls are amazing and I love him.

This pic is one of my favorites because this man is so proud of his little Pomeranian. It brought a tear to my eye.

I determined that chihuahua owners were sporting some of the best fashions at the show.

They also dressed their pups up very nicely.

This Rotweiller also looked like it was having a swell time.

And there's a lot of love here:

And don't worry. If you do not have your own dog, you can purchase a shockingly life-like portrait of one. So, ya know, chill out.

So next year, if the Superbowl doesn't do it for you, I hope you will consider attending the Westminster Dog Show. Because it is, hands down, one of the best experiences ever. And you get to pet dogs.