Rachel Toor's Blog, page 15
August 20, 2009
Book Reviewing for Fun (if not profit)
In the latest issue of Ploughshares, my review of William Davies King's COLLECTIONS OF NOTHING, a beautiful, quirky book.
August 4, 2009
Yes, I am a delicate flower
My Running Times column from the July/August issue.
August 3, 2009
July 27, 2009
Post-racial America
Of all the good ideas that come trickling out of the academy and into the general realm of knowledge and information, there are also some really dumb ones. The notion, for example, of "post-racial America."
In the early 1990s I attended a feminist studies/history conference. The theme was something like, "We have to get beyond the holy trinity of race, class and gender." The response of many of the African-American women was: "Um, we're not quite ready to get past race." (I was not then, nor am
In the early 1990s I attended a feminist studies/history conference. The theme was something like, "We have to get beyond the holy trinity of race, class and gender." The response of many of the African-American women was: "Um, we're not quite ready to get past race." (I was not then, nor am
July 19, 2009
The Olympic Peninsula
I have done a crappy job of exploring the state of Washington. I've been to Seattle exactly once. My orientation has been eastward; I keep scrambling over the mountain passes of Idaho and going back to Missoula.
Things have changed. I've spent the last few days in Sequim, pronounced "skwim," across the bay from Seattle and within spitting distance--if you're an excellent spitter--of another country.
I've traveled west to leave the West. This is a lush and leafy place. We've been riding through p
Things have changed. I've spent the last few days in Sequim, pronounced "skwim," across the bay from Seattle and within spitting distance--if you're an excellent spitter--of another country.
I've traveled west to leave the West. This is a lush and leafy place. We've been riding through p
July 10, 2009
To Blog or Not to Blog
Everyone who knows me knows that I am hard-working and perhaps pathologically productive. I get antsy when I take too many days off from writing. Recently I've been in an all-play-and-no-work mode, which has been fun, but also anxiety producing. I am only comfortable when I have things ready well before deadlines so that I have plenty of time to let them sit before I submit.
So during my great summer adventures, I've been struggling just to keep working on the things that are due. I've gotten a l
So during my great summer adventures, I've been struggling just to keep working on the things that are due. I've gotten a l
June 24, 2009
Cowboying Up
This is the life. Why is this not my everyday life?
Yesterday morning I drove 20 minutes into town and caught up on my email (much email) at the Broad Street Bistro in Nevada City. I had to look over some proofs of a review I wrote for Ploughshares--impossible to do on the Blackberry. I thought I was going to get some writing done. Wrong. Instead I visited many stores searching for poison oak treatment.
Around noon, I went over to the Browning Ranch and Pat and I got to work. Actually, Pat and I
Yesterday morning I drove 20 minutes into town and caught up on my email (much email) at the Broad Street Bistro in Nevada City. I had to look over some proofs of a review I wrote for Ploughshares--impossible to do on the Blackberry. I thought I was going to get some writing done. Wrong. Instead I visited many stores searching for poison oak treatment.
Around noon, I went over to the Browning Ranch and Pat and I got to work. Actually, Pat and I
June 23, 2009
News
--Andrew Sullivan picked up my latest Chronicle column on his blog, The Daily Dish.
--My partners Pip (lunatic but sweet young Arabian), Russ Kiernan (has run the Dipsea race 37 times and won it often), and I were awarded "Best Blood" at the World Championship Ride and Tie. For our efforts, the humans got first aid kits. Pip got a reputation as the most unruly horse in camp.
--There is nothing in the kit to take care of the poison oak that is making my life hell.
--I am happily back in French Corra
June 14, 2009
My New View
This is what I get to see when I walk out my front door.
June 13, 2009
Summer Adventures
On Thursday I leave for Sacramento, where I will pick up a rental car and drive north, north, north to where there are big honkin' redwoods and camp out with a bunch of cool people, horses, and dogs. It's the World Championship Ride and Tie.
I haven't been on a horse since the last championship in 2005 in Libby, Montana. I went there without partner or horse. At the last minute, I hooked up with Elaine Ruprecht, who had lost her partner to injury, and who had a horse who had come along only as a
I haven't been on a horse since the last championship in 2005 in Libby, Montana. I went there without partner or horse. At the last minute, I hooked up with Elaine Ruprecht, who had lost her partner to injury, and who had a horse who had come along only as a
