Photograph: "Lipstick Red Bloody Mary"

The reddest Bloody Mary can be consumed at Outback Steakhouse. I have no idea what they put in this drink to make it lipstick red, but I feel like I'm kissing someone's ruby lips when I drink it.

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Poem: "Obsession"

Even though I call him my sun-tanned god;
As he laughs and skates on the waves,
I slaughter him in my mind,
A ghastly howl of the knife,
A trickle of the divine
To bring together in my mind
Some semblance of sex and death —

I do this, I think,
Because am I a neurotic? —
many would agree.

Only because they do not allow such cruel thoughts.

But it is the only way to rid him from the contours:
the image in my mind that sticks,
sublime

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image credit: Jerome Park Reservoir, New York City

Prose Poem: "to leave"

to unsettle from place is fearful: fear eats the soul; they say face your fears, but isn’t place a barrier between us and our fears; a comforting worn thing set as a wall; for who really faces fears; except maybe the emigrant; moving away — but the death in facing back, like lot’s wife and her salt, or orpheus looking back — and I feel shame, like salt, and I feel evaporated … all those nice things I have come to like, to feel, I will have to give up so I can touch my belly again;

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Why David Remnick is My Hero (But I Don't Want to Emulate Him)

David Remnick, the editor for the New Yorker, and latest biographer of the 44th president, gets up at 5:30 AM to write, goes to work at one of the most eloquent magazines in the country, and still has a few minutes to spend time with family, go back to work, look good, be friends with Malcolm Gladwell - and he commutes by subway. I wish I could be him - but then, I think, maybe not. I don't desire editorial glamour (I'm not a Tina Brown wannabe) but, at least God, please give me a Remnick brain! I wanna write 2,000 words effortlessly.

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Graphic Design: Invocation to the New York Public Library Lions

One of the flanking lions that guard the entrance to the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan

I am a reader.

     As a kid, I read fantasy novels and Mad Magazines. As a college student, I read a lot of philosophy (which stimulated my brain). As an adult, I read loads of spiritual books and followed random blogs on the Internet. As a teacher, I read for work so I can teach what I have read.

     In the remaining moments, I read a voraciously the New York Times — and when the new issue of Entertainment Weekly comes in the mail I spent at least twenty-five minutes lying in bed flipping through its glossy pages.

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graphic design credit: Greig Roselli © 2010

Repost from Kurt Vonnegut: Liberal Crap I Don't Want to Hear Anymore

To commemorate Easter Sunday, I am posting a Vonnegut interview. On September 13, 2005, Jon Stewart interviewed Kurt Vonnegut on The Daily Show. I still laugh at the interview and think it is brilliant. I think they should have let Vonnegut read out his, "liberal crap I don't want to hear anymore," so I will republish it here along with the clip from the Daily Show interview.*
     It's too bad Vonnegut is dead; I saw him as a contemporary Mark Twain. If someone were to ask me who was the funniest and most insouciant writer in America, I would have to say, Vonnegut. Lewis Nordan is pretty goddamn funny too, as well as David Sedaris. But, I think Vonnegut tops them all.

Give us this day our daily bread. Oh sure.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Nobody better trespass against me. I'll tell you that. I'll cut you a new you-know-what. 

Blessed are the meek.
Blessed are the merciful. You mean we can't use torture?
Blessed are the peacemakers. Jane Fonda?
Love your enemies - Arabs? 

Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. The hell I can't! Look at the Reverand Pat Robertson. And He is as happy as a pig in s**t. 

*Comedy Central scrubbed the video. If you want to watch the clip, you'll have to pony up some cash to watch it.

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Dot's Diner

I'm not you're momma!