Victor D. Infante's Blog, page 175
July 19, 2011
Write Bloody: The Videos
My first ever attempt at filming and posting a YouTube video. Clearly, I'm taking it very seriously. Clearly:
Taylor Mali, on the other hand, is playing boogieman. But if one must frighten children, at least it's with a good poem:
And of course, Daniel McGinn is the man. I know he's having some health issues right now, and wish him much luck and send all the love I've got to spare, because he is an amazing individual:
Taylor Mali, on the other hand, is playing boogieman. But if one must frighten children, at least it's with a good poem:
And of course, Daniel McGinn is the man. I know he's having some health issues right now, and wish him much luck and send all the love I've got to spare, because he is an amazing individual:
July 17, 2011
The Past Few Days, In Fast-Forward ...
Nice visit from Dorinda ... Syntactic hip-hop show at the Vernon ... "Torchwood"! ... "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"! ... and tonight, barbecue with Bex & Kae, "From the Back of the Room" documentary in Easthampton and, when I get home, "True Blood."
Relevant bits to come, I'm sure ...
Relevant bits to come, I'm sure ...
July 15, 2011
Victor Vs. The Android ... The Conclusion!
So, the phone showed up yesterday. We went to activate it online, and it didn't work. Then we tried to activate using the handy ap on the phone, and it told us it was linked to another number. Sigh. Once again, on the phone with Virgin customer service. Person on the other end happily tells me what I already know, and then, because "another number is associated with the account," informs me that she's going to have to put an investigation in. I say "No." Confused, she repeats the statement. I say, "No. I want you to make my phone work now." She informs me she can't do that. I beg to differ. She informs me that she's putting the inquiry at the <i>highest</i> priority. I ask how long will that take? An hour, a day? She tells me three to five days, and I ask to speak to a manager.
LOOOOONG time on hold, then finally someone with a clearly American accent answers the phone. He's not reading from a script, has a sense of humor, and understands how the machine works. He tries a few things, and lo and behold, the phone miraculously works!
So far, no problems. It's not pimped out, yet, but I'm hopeful.
LOOOOONG time on hold, then finally someone with a clearly American accent answers the phone. He's not reading from a script, has a sense of humor, and understands how the machine works. He tries a few things, and lo and behold, the phone miraculously works!
So far, no problems. It's not pimped out, yet, but I'm hopeful.
July 14, 2011
July 13, 2011
Victor Vs. The Android, Round Two ...
OK. Our story so far: Victor gets new phone. Yay! New phone don't work right. Boo! VirginMobile says they'll send him a newer phone. Yay! While he's waiting, older new phone starts working for no apparent reason. Yay? Except when it doesn't. Sigh.
Flash forward to yesterday, when I realize that said promised phone hasn't arrived yet, and that seemed odd. So I check the tracking number, and lo and behold, it's been "refused" and "returned." WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?! I call, and after a ... tense ... chat with a nice gentleman, determine that said phone was sent to "King Street," instead of "Paine St." I nearly leap through the phone and murder someone. According to the email this morning, phone number three has been shipped.
Which is good, because at some point today, the original new phone has ceased working entirely. It is, essentially, a brick.
This is getting REALLY annoying.
So the short of it is, nearest and dearest: If you need to reach me, use the land line or email for the next few days.
Flash forward to yesterday, when I realize that said promised phone hasn't arrived yet, and that seemed odd. So I check the tracking number, and lo and behold, it's been "refused" and "returned." WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?! I call, and after a ... tense ... chat with a nice gentleman, determine that said phone was sent to "King Street," instead of "Paine St." I nearly leap through the phone and murder someone. According to the email this morning, phone number three has been shipped.
Which is good, because at some point today, the original new phone has ceased working entirely. It is, essentially, a brick.
This is getting REALLY annoying.
So the short of it is, nearest and dearest: If you need to reach me, use the land line or email for the next few days.
July 11, 2011
Writer's Block: Going the distance
Would you uproot your life and move to another city for someone that you love?
Been there, done that ...
Digestion, Allergies and How Two Over-The-Counter Pills Can Change Your Life
For the better part of the past month, maybe longer, I've been waking up tired every morning. It's been as though I'd not really slept at all. Consequently, this has made me lethargic, depressed and edgy, and it had only been getting worse. Mind, I'm prone to depression, and no stranger to stress, so I figured that was it. Then, Friday night, I slept about 12 hours, and still woke up tired.
Thankfully, my wife and I talked through what was happening with body, and we decided to try something simple: I started in on probiotics and a new allergy medicine. I've slept easily the past two nights, and have been waking up actually rested. In fact, I've been waking up a few minutes before the alarm clock and getting out of bed on the first ring (as opposed to my usual "hit the snooze button for an hour.") Yesterday, I was able to work out after finishing my coffee, and I'm seeing no reason not to today. I've managed to write a bit, too. Nothing spectacular, but it's coming easily.
Jesus. Fucking. H. Christ. It's like I'm becoming me again. Amazing how quickly it can feel like your life is spiraling away from you. Amazing sometimes how quickly you can get it back. I've rarely ever been convinced that fixing anything is as simple as taking a pill or two. Still not. But right now? A pill or two is clearly making a difference, in glaringly obvious ways, and I couldn't be happier about it.
Thankfully, my wife and I talked through what was happening with body, and we decided to try something simple: I started in on probiotics and a new allergy medicine. I've slept easily the past two nights, and have been waking up actually rested. In fact, I've been waking up a few minutes before the alarm clock and getting out of bed on the first ring (as opposed to my usual "hit the snooze button for an hour.") Yesterday, I was able to work out after finishing my coffee, and I'm seeing no reason not to today. I've managed to write a bit, too. Nothing spectacular, but it's coming easily.
Jesus. Fucking. H. Christ. It's like I'm becoming me again. Amazing how quickly it can feel like your life is spiraling away from you. Amazing sometimes how quickly you can get it back. I've rarely ever been convinced that fixing anything is as simple as taking a pill or two. Still not. But right now? A pill or two is clearly making a difference, in glaringly obvious ways, and I couldn't be happier about it.
July 10, 2011
The Confessional Is OPEN!
Been a while since I've done this, so here's how this works:
I've set this post to screen ALL comments. I will not unscreen those comments, nor will I respond to them. That said, you are welcome to post anonymously, if you want.
I will not reprint anything here elsewhere, but I MAY use material here as inspiration for a poem, with all the serial numbers filed off, of course. (The reason I do this is to help shake things loose for poems, so please forgive a LITTLE poetic license/thievery.)
Today's question:
Tell me a secret about love.
I've set this post to screen ALL comments. I will not unscreen those comments, nor will I respond to them. That said, you are welcome to post anonymously, if you want.
I will not reprint anything here elsewhere, but I MAY use material here as inspiration for a poem, with all the serial numbers filed off, of course. (The reason I do this is to help shake things loose for poems, so please forgive a LITTLE poetic license/thievery.)
Today's question:
Tell me a secret about love.
July 8, 2011
Victor Vs. The Android
Theoretically, I should have a replacement phone for my new Android, which isn't working correctly. Except that, after several days, it suddenly decided to start working fine. Which is good, as the replacement phone hasn't shown up yet. Sigh.
I've been reluctant to add many fancy aps or anything to the phone, because after three days without Web service, and four without a camera, I was convinced it it was broken. Now I'm not so sure. Everything is running as expected. Maybe it just needed to ... I don't know ... settle? Does that happen?
***
Finished Aimee Bender's beautiful novel, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, and enjoyed it immensely in all its heartbreaking quirkiness. Of course, having just finished it, finding this on Better Book Titles couldn't have been funnier:
I've been reluctant to add many fancy aps or anything to the phone, because after three days without Web service, and four without a camera, I was convinced it it was broken. Now I'm not so sure. Everything is running as expected. Maybe it just needed to ... I don't know ... settle? Does that happen?
***
Finished Aimee Bender's beautiful novel, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, and enjoyed it immensely in all its heartbreaking quirkiness. Of course, having just finished it, finding this on Better Book Titles couldn't have been funnier:
July 7, 2011
Brrrraaaaaaiiiiinnnnsssss ....
I am totally stoked to learn that my poem, "Two Ways of Looking at the Zombie Apocalypse," will be included in Rob Sturma's zombie anthology, "Aim For the Head," coming soon from Write Bloody Publishing:
Who else is in the book? Many of my favorite writers, including Daphne Gottlieb, David Macpherson, Daniel McGinn, Derrick Brown, Shappy Seasholtz, Bucky Sinister, Mindy Nettifee, Megan Thoma, Khary Jackson, Stevie Edwards, Nicole Homer, Dain Michael Down, Jason Bayani, Scott Woods, Jennifer Gigantino, Angus Adair, Steve Ramirez, Ryk McIntyre and Karen Garrabrant, to name a few. How fun will this be? More fun than a barrel of brrrrraaaaaiiiinnnnnssss.
Who else is in the book? Many of my favorite writers, including Daphne Gottlieb, David Macpherson, Daniel McGinn, Derrick Brown, Shappy Seasholtz, Bucky Sinister, Mindy Nettifee, Megan Thoma, Khary Jackson, Stevie Edwards, Nicole Homer, Dain Michael Down, Jason Bayani, Scott Woods, Jennifer Gigantino, Angus Adair, Steve Ramirez, Ryk McIntyre and Karen Garrabrant, to name a few. How fun will this be? More fun than a barrel of brrrrraaaaaiiiinnnnnssss.
