New year, new tasks

As soon as this workshop for poets returning from my previous 6 juried intensive poetry workshops is over, immediately I have to start going over my sex wars presentation for Binghamton. I also must start reading Adrienne Rich’s collected poems and beginning to think about the critical overview I have promised to write for TIKKUN magazine. I can’t cook for the party on Monday, the day we celebrate Columbus the Indian Killer. He didn’t ‘discover’ America. Whoever came over the land bridge Berringia, across what is now the Berring Straits, actually did that thousands of years before. Plus he was by no means the first European to come to America. Fisherman and sailors regularly visited the coast of New England – bringing with them diseases for which the native inhabitants had no immunity and which wiped out 90% of them before the Pilgrims landed into what was by no means a wilderness. That’s leaving out the Vikings. Even possibly Irish monks, but of that we have no archeological evidence. Yet. So for once only the gravlax and the Swedish sauce I make to serve with the salmon will be home made. Woody has ordered what should be excellent sushi from his landlord, Mac. Maybe I’ll serve some shrimp with my own cocktail sauce. And Woody will get some pizzas. Two of my poets have promised to get some icecream from the best around, in Truro, and Dale is making his great Italian apple cake – one of the best cakes Woody and I have ever tasted. Stephen, Dale’s partner, will finally get to meet Schwartzie. Schwartzie aka Mr. Schwartzno is getting quite handsome. He is becoming a long lean all black cat with long fur and a plumy tail. He’s in love with Willow, our multi-patched white cashmere kitty. He is still thick with Mingus. All three of them play together. Willow was getting a big languid before Schwartzie arrived, but all that has changed. After all, she’s only a little more than a year older than he is. Xena observes him carefully but he is wary of her. She is a very large strong cat. I had a haircut this week. I continue potting herbs to bring in for the winter. I’ve managed to write a couple of poems ovefr the week in spite of our heavy schedule. I started reading Max Dashu’s book WITCHES AND PAGANS before the crunch set in and look forward to going back to it as soon as I can. Tonight we’ll eat the first fall salad from our garden. Tomorrow I want to get started on the Chinese cabbage before the snails and slugs get at it. The fall weather is invigorating. That makes it wonderful instead of enervating to work outside – and to work inside, as well. The sugar maple in front is beginning to turn and the Virginia creeper is ablaze. We have asters and Japanese anemones in bloom, still some phlox, marigolds and nasturtiums. I’ve begun putting away summer clothes and sandals and taking from the hall closet transitional skirts and dresses and seasonal shoes. Soon I should begin bringing out sweaters. I love this season.