On the Spot Poetry Marathon

If there are any poets out there who go through an impasse, can't get back in the groove, couldn't find a metaphor if it walked right past you like the girl in the red dress, then I make a recommendation.  A spontaneous poetry challenge.  I was chatting online with my long time writing partner, Brian (I've known him for ten years, we've been having writing meetings of over 5 years) who has moved from South Carolina to Durham, NC. 
He happened to mention he'd written a poem a month or so ago.  Right now he doesn't have time for writing with his heavy course load in college where he's going for a degree in ancient languages.  So I encouraged  him to send it on.  I read it while he waited. Then I reminded a half finished poem I'd written a few months ago.  So I went and dug it out, rewrote it and forwarded it to him along with my comments to him. This started a marathon which is still going on!
Wow.  His first offering was the beginning of an epic poem, The Bastards of Amon.  It was so powerful, so rich in texture and imagery, language and emotion, I was inspired.  By the end of the weekend I completed the first poem and wrote two more. I also started the layout out a poetry chap I've had in mind for over a year. And to top it off,  I started a beeswax collage for the cover of  Lunar Moth Lessons.  I haven't produced a poetry book for two or three years so this is a miracle in itself.
Brian has now written four parts to his poem and I feel as if I'm back in my writing group, where the tangential conversations lead into everything from politics, to philosophy, language and word, duende and awareness, each exchange driving us onward to renewed efforts and different insights charged up by the emotion put forth in the poems.  It is very different from our usual methods where we had at least a week to review and critique each other's work and to produce something new, a poem, a chapter, a story.  I don't know if we ever would have thought of this other than in such a spontaneous matter.
Now I feel like a poet again - it;'s been a long and lonely time as far as that goes.  And it feels very rewarding to be back on track. 

Out Out Hermit and magical realism

Trying to write but lately it's been feeling a lot more like work and isn't flowing like it was before.  
This is most likely due to the hectic few weeks at work at the brain injury center with lots of time away from the office. First, there was a conference in Columbia, SC with a  decent talk on  technology for those with brain injury. On the fun side, we took some of our clients to an outing to see "Limitless" which was quite good except for the rushed and unexplained ending of how all things suddenly worked out for the hero, without any explanations on how he pulled it off.  Big no no in the novel world.  Doesn't work in the movies either, as far as I'm concerned.
Then I spent part of a Saturday volunteering at the Run for Thought which raises money for brain injury survivors. And yesterday we had another outing to the Harley Davidson store and Quaker State and Lube, 19 of us, only 5 of us staff.  Wow, it was hectic, to say the least but I never knew how impressive a Harley Davidson store was. 
So in my free time, I've done a little editing on other writer;s work and am planning my roadtrip to see Salman Rushdie speak at Duke Univ. in April,. I've worked a bit on Fireworks, most of a new chapter, but there are scientific kinks to work out. In between doing research, and thanks to the inspiration form stories in publications like Danse Macabre, sein und werden, and Mad Hatter's Review, I worked on reviving Two Ruffians and a Rat, with a new twist. It's a challenge to get back into the pace and style, but I like the characters and the style  so hope I can get back into the mindset. Now, this one requires research too. Why do I do this to myself?
Ther4e are lots of practical issues to attend to now with the house, my garden, etc. 

Emerging out of hermit status?

While the weekend started in my customary way... writing, it soon veered off the hermit path after a single  poem.  Due to the gorgeous weather and need for warm weather clothing, I did a mini thrift store haunt, starting at Junior League where everything you could stuff in large paper bag was only $8.  I found five things for me, including a jacket perfect for steampunk using some of my old SCA metallic buttons, five things for Kendall and a book on the Voyager 1 & 2 space programs.  Then onto L's on Augusta where I picked up another steampunk jacket this one a soft gray which I've had my eye on for months at 1/2 off and some tops for work, then onto Goodwill where they must have just put out there spring items, because I came away with 15 items for 22 bucks.  I did spring $4.25 for a funky trendy cotton skirt because that's the only fabric I like to wear when the temps get over 90 degrees.   Normally, I hate clothes shopping.  I don't have the patience, but usually twice a year at the first smell of spring or fall I try and go out and find matching items all at once to wear for the entire upcoming 2 seasons.  My only disappointment was that skirts were in short supply and I much prefer skirts to even capri slacks in the summer.  My average cost of each item was under $1.00!  Can't beat that.
On Sunday Lindy, Vicki, Julia and I went downtown, Lindy and I ate at the new Carolina Ale House - yummy with great service and headed to the St. Patrick's Day, Return of the Green, bagpipes bring tears to my eyes still.  WE topped it off with a beer at a new little corner pub called, On the Roxx in the West End. 
In between I did a bit of writing, working on Fireworks.  So all in all a busy weekend.