Here are photos from last night’s launch and reading of Amaryllis: Collected Poems. HOO-HA! Some of the feral teens read their poetry in slam-fashion as the opening act. Vinnie (top) and Ian (below). Sarah (in purple top) Mr. Husband was MC for the evening. He ad-libbed a totally fictional bio for me that included my stint in the French Foreign Legion, my career as a professional break dancer in the ’80s and one of the original Fly Girls, and how I learned about poetry when I was in prison. According to the bio, I have never married and have no children. Of course, Mr. Husband slept on the couch last…

I was at Costco Sunday and looked at the fruit trees — apricots, almonds or Chinese pears (pear-apples, yum), but I would have liked an apple, orange or even a kiwi bush. I didn’t buy any of them. I have a lemon tree from my birthday to plant, when it stops raining for a few days, and Mr Husband has his Valentine’s Day lime tree. We’re all set for Arbor Week (Cali celebrates Arbor Week next week, but Arbor Day at the end of April. Go figure.) I saw tomato plants at Long’s today while on my lunch break, for $2.99; it made me feel that spring adrenaline rush that…

Ladies and Gentlemen! I am so excited to announce…the publication of my second book, Amarylis: Collected Poems, on March 11, and a cool way to help my dear friends at the Alameda Food Bank. We’re holding a book launch party and reading at a coffeehouse in Alameda, as a benefit for the Alameda Food Bank. Please bring at least one canned or nonperishable food item to donate to the food bank. There will also be three gift baskets (including a copy of the book) to raffle for the Food Bank. These are “Think Pink,” “Flower Power” and “Pamper Yourself” themes, for $1 per ticket/chance. I would love to see you…

We’ve been repairing our items rather than just throwing them away for a while now, keeping them out of the waste stream and extending their still-useful life. Witnesseth: The Bionic Bird Feeder: Raccoons tore it down and stomped on it, so we repaired it with duct tape and a wire coat hanger to hang it up again. The Bionic Sun Tea Jar: Repaired with epoxy where it was cracked and leaked on the counter. Had a nice white and grimy streak around it where the dirty finger rubbed the epoxy. Not *my* dirty finger. The Bionic Slippers: My lovely black bedroom slippers with (formerly) white faux fur inside, and black…

Things I would never have done but for the Compact: 1. Knit a sock (YAY, I finished my practice sock last night and am now ready to try socks for me. YAHOO!) 2. Stopped buying bananas and other produce from outside of my state or the US 3. Gone Dumpster diving, aka urban foraging, aka safari: that’s where I have found tons of furnishings, plants, garden supplies, etc. 4. Gone more than a day without shampooing my hair, plus using multiple products 5. Made cat food 6. Given used items as gifts, unless it was a genuine “antique.” 7. *Not* purchased school pictures, graduation announcements, gift wrap, or any of…