Clifford Garstang's Blog, page 174

Vote for the 2009 New Yorker Story of the Year

It's time to select the 2009 New Yorker Story of the Year. The process is a little different this year. In previous years I have nominated a top ten and then narrowed the list to five on the basis of reader feedback. This year I received reader feedback first in order to select a Top Ten, and the voting (in the poll in the sidebar at right) will include all ten stories.

Below are the top ten New Yorker stories of 2009 as determined by the readers of Perpetual Folly. The story title links to t...

New Acquisitions: Where I Must Go by Angela Jackson

I'm digging my way back into my life, literally and figuratively. The drive across the mountain yesterday--once I got off the VCCA campus, which was complicated by snow and an inconsiderate driver--wasn't too bad, despite chunky ice in spots. As expected, though, my own driveway was impassable thanks to drifts both natural and plow-made. I pulled into the neighbor's drive, dived into the drift to retrieve a shovel from the garage, and started digging in. In about a half hour I'd cleared enoug...

VCCA Report, Day 10

It's the last full day of my residency at VCCA. It's been an odd couple of days because of the snow event that began Friday evening and continued through last night. The snow finally stopped, leaving close to 2 feet on everything. It was fun to see the horses out in it (see the picture) and also a couple of runaway cows. It was not too hard to get back to the residence for dinner (actually, we'd had to make the trip for lunch, too, since the truck couldn't get out to the barns to deliver the ...

VCCA Report, Day 9

VCCA Report, Day 8

I took this picture in the early afternoon on Friday while taking a walk--I figured it might be my last chance on this residency given the promised snow that was headed our way. Also saw a deer on this walk--usually happens once a residency, so I was due. At around 2:30 the snow started and by 4:00, when we were due at the office for the holiday party, it was already serious. A couple of inches, wind blowing, very cold. Etc. The party was nice (pictures on my facebook page), but i wanted to g...

VCCA Report, Day 7

Today is, um, Thursday. It's hard to tell sometimes, but I know because I had to run home today to give my "final exam" at the college where I teach, and tonight I've been fiddling with grades.

But earlier today I got some work done on the book, although I won't finish this draft during the residency as I'd originally hoped. That's okay. New target is Christmas, and then I'll work on revisions after that.

Aside from a lovely drive over the mountain on a beautiful day, the highlight was the pres...

The Face in the Tree

VCCA Report, Days 5 & 6

Not much to report about Tuesday. I worked. I graded papers. I got a lot done but it wasn't a very exciting day.

Wednesday was pretty much the same. I worked. I did laundry. I took a walk in the woods. (Regarding the pictures: on the left is a picture called the Loch VCCA Otter--I saw a trio of otters playing in the lake on campus; on the right is Roadblock!--a large tree had fallen across the walking trail since I was here last year.) And now I'm working again.

To see more of the pictures I to...

Rain Taxi Benefit Auction

Check out the cool stuff available at the Rain Taxi Benefit Auction. As you probably know, Rain Taxi Review of Books is a wonderful source of information and reviews about books -- especially underreviewed books. It's a worthy cause to support.

VCCA Report, Day 4

Monday was a good day, with few distractions. It was very wet from the rainy weekend, so I didn't walk in the woods. Just worked . . .

In the evening after dinner I read (research for the novel: Shamans, Housewives, and Other Restless Spirits, by Laurel Kendall) until it was time for the day's main entertainment: Open Studios.

I love Open Studios because I'm fascinated by the work of the visual artists. This was a group effort, which made it extra interesting. The fellows who were showing joine...