Are You Exhausted, I'm Exhausted, Too

Man, it's been crazy lately. I literally spent 55 hours in 5 days (including one marathon 17 hour day) painting three parts of our house to get it ready to go on the market. Less than an hour after finishing the last coat in the master bathroom yesterday I got in my car, raced 3 boxes to UPS to send to AWP for the bookfair, then drove 4+ hours to Portland, woke up, went to a job interview, got in my car and drove the 4+ hours back. And here we are.

Here's some things about painting. First of all, Jackson Pollack wasn't trying to make an artistic statement, he just got sick of painting. I know this because toward the end of the marathon day I was ready to fling paint on the walls. I spent a summer working for a painting company, it sucked. But at least for the most part we were painting new houses which meant not painting around cabinets, baseboards, toilets, showers, etc. Secondly we often got to use a sprayer, which even though I ended the days with paint for snot (literally), was way better than applying the paint by hand. Thirdly, whoever came up with textured walls and ceilings should know there's a special ring in hell where you'll be trying to get an even coat of paint on said textured wall and ceiling for all eternity.

Here's some things about the interview. It went great. I've never had a job interview before (I think I've mentioned that I sort of stumbled into all my previous jobs) and I wasn't nervous going in (oddly) and leaving I felt confident in my chances. Plus it's a job that I am actually excited about which is cool.

Here's something about my drive to and from Portland. I made a killer mix that I listened to at least four times. I will put it here for you to replicate so you can feel as awesome as me:

1. "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear
2. "To Binge" by Gorillaz
3. "Mongrel Heart" by Broken Bells
4. "The Mall & Misery" by Broken Bells
5. "No One Does It Like You" by Department of Eagles
6. "Souljacker, Part 1" by Eels
7. "Bottled Up In Cork" by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
8. "Scumbag Blues" by Them Crooked Vultures
9. "Wolf Like Me" by TV On The Radio
10. "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" by Arcade Fire
11. "Bonfire Blondes" by Beck
12. "So He Won't Break" by The Black Keys
13. "The Name Tossers" by BOAT
14. "Dandelion" by Charlotte Gainsbourg
15. "Perfect Fit" by Clues
16. "Bone House" by The Dead Weather
17. "Ask Her For Adderall" by The Hold Steady
18. "Buriedfed" by Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
19. "Give Blood" by Rain Machine
20. "(Are There) Ways To Come Home?" by Sebastien Grainger

Normally I wouldn't have two songs by the same artist on a mix, or at least not right next to each other, but those Broken Bells (read my review of the album HERE) songs work so well in tandem, not to mention they are severely awesome. Having Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles is sort of cheating on that rule, too, as is TVOTR and Rain Machine since they share key members and have similar sounds. But seriously, this is one of the best mixes I've ever made, and I make a lot of mixes.

Ok. Thanks. See you soon.

Not Really News, Not Really Nothing

I'm still slowly working on this experimental novel I've been playing around with for what seems like an eternity. It is definitely the most complex project I've ever undertaken, in terms of various narratives, etc. There are three and a half narrators. Plus "artifacts." I'm writing this in fragments, and not linearly at all, so organizing it all will be a fun way to cap off the project. I feel that stage is coming soon. I've had titles and variations of titles throughout this process. Right now I'm thinking A Home of Architects, A Home of Loss.

Tidbit

I was going through old stuff in the garage, throwing junk out finally. We're starting to pack; we're going to be hella ready to move by the time our house sells (fingers crossed). I found a stash of old story drafts from my writing classes as an undergrad. As I was taking a enormous stack of these to the recycling bin, I noticed this critique written on the back of one of my stories: "The dialogue only works on one level: informative." Oh, the dialogue is only informative? If dialogue is only going to be one thing, informative seems like a good choice to me. It made me laugh. Out loud. In the garage. By myself. Dialogue is the backbone of my of my writing, it is action, it moves a story forward. But it can only do so if it's informative.

Major fail, unidentified classmate from my undergrad days.

So Much A-Happening

Life is busy, man.

Still on the job hunt. 235 applications out now. But we've decided to put our house up for sale, and roll that money into buying a house in the Portland area. It means more time, but it also means being in a place with more job opportunities, and to be frank, it means being in a place I want to be. So I'm pretty jazzed even though I haven't found a job yet. So all searches have been shifted to the Portland area exclusively, instead of statewide as I was doing before.

AWP is sneaking closer.

I started querying agents about my story collection, Glaciers. I don't know if it's the best idea I ever had, but I think the work is worthy of my best effort on all fronts. So now on top of job, and submission rejections I can get rejected by agents, too! I have to say, my self-confidence is pretty excited about it. Actually I am oddly excited about it, even if it is a longshot. I feel like I took a chance with each of the 12 stories, and if I can find someone, and editor or an agent, to take a chance with me on it what more could a humble writer ask for?

I've been listening to the Broken Bells album on repeat nearly all week.

Small Statements

As of this exact moment in time I have applied for 210 jobs.

THIS is fantastic, and I am honored to be associated with it in a small way.

I had a story from my Alaskan collection, Glaciers accepted the other day. The story is called "The Pinata." I am excited about the home it found: Pear Noir! Also, because it's the second story from the collection to find a home. I think the collection is just about finished. There are some small changes I need to make to one of the stories. I may re-evaluate the order I've put the stories in. I really feel like this collection is my statement.

Hear Me

Orange Alert is one of my favorite websites. Seriously. It's always good stuff. Recently I learned about THIS UPCOMING BOOK that sounds absolutely amazing. Another reason to hope for a new job soon! I am honored to be a part of Orange Alert's new podcast. In which I read an excerpt from my unpublished novella thing, Who Killed Owen Wilson? Check it out HERE. This is pretty much the first light of day any part of WKOW? has seen. Ya know, other than the handful of editors who I've sent it to.

Is Of Little Use

I've applied for nearly 100 jobs and have heard nothing, other than 2 emails telling me I was not selected for interviews. One came with a nice letter telling me how great my application was. Yay.

I'm now working half-time at the bookstore. My mother-in-law is kind in giving me that. I'm trying to feel grateful. In reality I feel bitter and angry because she continues to waste money on items the store doesn't need and that won't sell (especially in the small amount of time the store has left). So, basically, despite all the talk of really having to cut corners and scale back, the only cost she's been willing to cut is my salary. That feels nice.

Had a grouping of story rejections lately, too. One came with a note about how much they liked the story. I also got a nice email from an editor. I'm hoping that turns into something.

At the bookstore today we got a sheet of Caldecott Medal stickers in case we had any stock of the winner that were still without stickers. We don't. I am considering saving them in case I ever have a chapbook or book out, then I could slap Caldecott stickers on some copies and really confuse people.

I could use some good luck/news right about now.

I'm really looking forward to AWP next month. It feels like there's so much to get done by that time, though.

Geeking

Allow me to geek out for a brief second. What To Wear During An Orange Alert, one of my favorite websites reviewed an issue of a journal I had a story in last summer. It's the first time that a story of mine has been mentioned in a review of a journal I had something in. Read it HERE.