Monday, December 12, 2011

New Blog @ Wordpress

I'm happy here at blogspot, but for a professional assignment, I've created a second blog at

http://blogginginplace.wordpress.com/

Mainly, I wanted to claim the domain name--wonderwhereallthedustcomesfrom is meaningful to me (and a few others who recognize it), but probably doesn't make sense to most people, and is long and clumsy.

"Blogginginplace" is catchier, and is the name of a workshop I'll be teaching at the William Paterson University Spring Writers' Conference.  2012 schedule isn't up yet, but conference director Timothy Liu will have it in print soon. (NB: I'm uncomfortable and fully aware of the irony of linking to Wikipedia's page on Tim, but it was the most up-to-date).

Thursday, November 10, 2011

What if we just ask ourselves....

What if you took on a challenge? What if you cleared the clutter from your desk? What if you went outside for a brisk walk? What if you quit your job and headed for southeast Asia with nothing but a small backpack? What if you started a blog about your biggest passion? What if you decided to paint a picture or snap a photograph every single day for the next month? What if you did 5 minutes of yoga each morning? What if you tossed out your to-do list and only did 1 important thing each day before doing the less important tasks? What if you proposed your dream project to your boss? What if you stopped asking permission and just started doing what you’ve been wanting to do? What if your life was a blank slate and you could fill it with only the things you love? What if you could change someone else’s life? What if you tossed out all your excuses? What if you were grateful for what you have, instead of complaining about what you don’t have? What if you tossed out your goals? What if you let go of your expectations? What if you got rid of everything you had?


Thanks to Leo Barbuta
full post at
http://zenhabits.net/rut/



Monday, November 7, 2011

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Too beautiful to describe...

I found this incredible story on NPR, which tells of photographer Jon Crispin and his project to document things left behind, in this case, old suitcases abandoned when New York State
asylums closed.  He has other fascinating projects, too, such as his series on prisons.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Fashion Theory....

...is the name of my boutique on RevolveClothing.com.  Revolve.com has some of the hottest clothes on the web, and now you can create your own "boutique" where you can add everything you love on the site, blog about your favorites and recent purchases, explore others' boutiques, and earn commissions when someone buys from your boutique.  And here is the incentive that clinched the deal for me:  20% discount on your first order.  So be sure that I got that Bailey 44 Aphrodite dress I've been stalking....

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Doodling...writing....

I like to tell my students that all writing is writing.  And maybe some of the best writing is in the margins...... Or maybe it isn't even writing at all.  Check out these doodles from well-known authors.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

On writing, fashion, and design

Previously, my subtitle read: "On writing and not writing," but I've decided to refocus my blog for the new year.  After all, why write about not writing?

Did I have writer's block? Yes, it's true: I have chronic writer's block, but I'm thinking blogging is a cure for that.  My original subtitle was inspired by Marion Milner's On Not Being Able to Paint , which had informed, in a major way, my MA thesis on Virginia Woolf and Carmen Laforet, and the in which ways writers work through (or not) their first novel, and how the success or failure of that "working through" allows them to go on and continue to write, or impedes any further production.

So, since I have so many interests that go beyond my academic projects, I thought I'd try working them out through this blog.  And who knows? Perhaps after 365 days of blogging, I'll have a book.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

So many words, so little time

How do we make the transition from print to electronic media in our reading?  Read this interview with Martin Marty to observe how a real old school intellectual reads today.  

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Salt Therapy

Looking forward to trying out a stress reduction/detox session at Halo Air Salt Rooms in Chelsea, with an awesome discount from Lifebooker, where I book all my hair, skin, and wellness treatments at amazing prices.

Currently Listening...

...... soundtrack to Kids of the Black Hole by my colleague Dewar MacLeod.  Nothing else like Cherry Bomb .

Saturday, January 22, 2011