Very Cool!

I just started work at a New Age/Holistic shop in Nashville called Center of Symmetry. I'll be reading tarot cards and leading workshops on a variety of magickal topics ranging from tarot card classes, writing workshops, and spell workshops. Woo hoo! I'm so happy about this job, and really excited about working with other like-minded people and moving ahead with my spiritual side! (just thought I would share the good news)

Question: What kind of workshops would you attend at a New Age and Holistic shop?
Blessings,
Kristin

the letter hidden under the piano fall

When you went to work I tried to play your piano,
but the sounds that came out were stale
and bent out of tune.
I wanted you home:
I wanted to see your hands playing--peachy silky softly moving
fast then slow in perfect motion and melody, pressing,
creating divine soprano and sonorous bass.
I wanted to watch your body
rock in time with your song, your back bowed in prayer
towards the keyboard, in rhythm, in love:
you are god and music

New Chapter!

Horray! Who doesn't love a new chapter in their life?

I am now settling into life in Nashville, and it has been a wonderful journey. I thought I would share with you a few of the fantastic things that I have in store for the next few weeks.

-Job. Finally. Done with school. I am looking for a job, and even though there is some urgency to this, I am hoping to find something that I can enjoy. I suppose everyone wants this. My ideal job would be working with students with disabilities. However, I am going to visit the witch shop downtown and see if they need anyone for tarot and medium readings.

-Spirituality. Can't wait to tap into that spiritual side again. I am reading loads of inspirational and spiritual books again, and trying to be as open to it all as possible. I am meditating more, and leading a more balanced and healthy life. Even when I read my blog I think about how much I've grown and changed over the last few months--I've gone from being more sarcastic and negative to cheerful and content. I realize now that when my emotional levels get all wacky, and I feel crappy, that it is important to take a step back and either meditate, modify my attitude, or just relax. It's been helping. Otherwise, I am hoping to tap back into the world of magick. Luckily I have found tons of blogs as great places to do some reading at home and connect with other magickally inclined folk. Hopefully, I can find a group of people I can share spiritual interests with in Nashville.

-Creativity. I have had time to write! This is brilliant! I am hoping to learn how to take advantage of writing, now that I have the opportunity to do so much more often. I am writing poetry, and trying to piece together a chapbook. I am also working on a collaborative project with sister
and brother. More news about that in the future!

So. Here are my questions for you:
1. How was the job search for you? Have you been looking for a job recently? What do you do?
2. Where do you find a spiritual outlet? Have any recommendations for online reading?
3. How do you get inspired to be creative? Where do you go to do your creative work?
I would love to hear from you, so leave a comment!

More soon.
Many blessings,
Kristin

Postcard to Readers

Dear Readers,
It's been a stunning vacation, these last few months! I have seen a bit of the US, met some amazing and inspiring people, and have done tons of self-reflecting. Between stops in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, I have experienced a period of personal growth and spirituality. I hope that in coming postcards and letters I can express to you the love and creativity I have felt and am feeling. It's late at night here in Connecticut, and there are still some brave tree frogs outside singing in the cooling weather. The neighborhood owl is out and hooting again. Right now, I understand everything they are saying. So, now I am going off to dreamland. Then it's back to the garden to get some fresh tomatoes, it's back to Nashville with some good books and a journal full of poetry and intent.
Blessings,
Kiki

What it is

2 am in Connecticut
and outside stepping over pebbles and cursing
until I look up and see
a clear sky
loaded up with UFOs and owls

I'm moving to Nashville.

Tidbit is an awful word.

I just noticed I hadthat word plunked on the top of this blog for a good long while. I think my mother uses that word often, and perhaps has passed it along to me via genetics. She'll use it when talking about cooking--you need tidbits and dashes of ingredients. Then you nibble on them. My stomach turns when I think about nibbling on tidbits.

Next week I move back to the United States, where there are Duane Reeds, baseball stadiums, and malls with Forever 21s in them. I haven't shopped at a Forever 21 in like six years, but I'm ready to take it on. I'm sure I can find a show-stopping-tunic there. Here's the planstan: get a tunic at Forever 21, then eat at Buffalo Wild Wings (nibble on corn dog and flaming hot wingies). Then, go to Virigina for a week. Hang out in the south, see DC, come back for 4th of July. Then, begin to feel slightly agrivated with all Americana tidbits and wish for a proper tea back in the UK. Then, spend whatever money I have left on a planeride to the UK, where I will be disappointed in the its weather, education, and men.

Oh also in the plans: I'm going to see a Mets game. I don't even like the Mets. But I'll do anything for a date, you know what I mean? At least I'm going to a game where they are playing the Dodgers. Oh, and in a sports-convo-faux pas this week, I said that I hoped to begin watching basketball this year, adding that I could follow the Knickers.

Interview Dos

What’s poppin’?!?
Damn. A lot. Well, right now I am in Birmingham International Airport, waiting to check in for my flight that leaves in four hours. I’m going to Spain for a few days to unwind. I’ll be in Costa Dorada. Whatever that means.

Ever been to Spain before?
No. I’ve never really had the inkling to. I was actually hoping to go to Greece, but flights were wacky-expensive since I am foolish and make travel plans a day before wanting to leave. So, I went to the nice people at Thomas Cook, and they hooked me up with a nice resort deal. Should be fun. I’ll be hanging with bright red tourists German. Good times.
I know like three things in Spanish, so I bought this thing called ‘Musical Brain Trainer’, a CD with a cover that reads ‘200+ essential words and phrases anchored into your long-term memory with great music’. It’s very charming acoustic music with a fun beat. Fine: totally dorky, but I’m groovin’ to it like it’s the new Cut Copy. I think this CD is going to make me fluent. I’ve already learned ‘Quisiera un café con leche’. It’s a little like French, but not nearly as irritating.

What do you want to do in Spain?
Not be wet and cold, as I have been in Nottingham. I would like to sit on the beach, maybe see Barcelona for a day. If Barcelona impresses me, as everyone says it will, I’ll plan another short visit there. I’m going alone so I don’t have to feel guilty if I end up just passing out on the beach, or spending a day in a spa getting a massage and mani/pedi. I’ll probably drink heavily, and write some poems about Spain and how guilty I feel about never really wanting to visit it.

But, really though. Where the hell have you been?
Hmmm. I don’t know. I think I was in America for a while. Yes, I know I was. I went to a funeral. My grandfather passed away. His name in the army was ‘The Duke’. He was incredible, lived until 91 years old, and was ill for a short amount of time. So, my family and I were just grateful he didn’t suffer for too long, and had a wonderful run while he was here. I do have to mention, though, I think he looks after his grandchildren in the afterlife. I also think he is the reason behind the Red Sox doing so damn well, and the Yankees sucking right now.

You’re a Yankees fan, I take it?
Obsessive Yankees fan. Though, they’ve been sucking so much I’ve started watching the Mets as well. You know, just to be an asshole. It’s been a struggle keeping up with games while in Nottingham. But, I have been lucky enough to find the Nottingham Thieves, the local baseball team.

You’re grandfather was a Red Sox fan?
Yes. I loved talking baseball Pa. I’m telling you—the man had all the stats in his head about the team right up to the end. I wonder what he thinks of the whole Manny Ramirez thing.

Probably not too pleased?
The Duke was a man of strong morals and gentle patience. He was also incredibly thoughtful, so my guess is he knew the dude was juiced all along, but didn’t judge.

How’s Nottingham?
Lovely. I’ve been doing the three things:
1. Dancing. Between pole dancing and burlesque, I’ve been learning and performing a ton. I have a pole dancing competition coming up in a couple of weeks. I’ll be doing a burlesque/pole dancing fusion number. My stage name for the event is ‘Cabana Kiki’, and it is going to be very Carmen Miranda-ish. Then I have another burlesque performance on June 19th. It’s what I live for. It’s what the people want to see.
2. Studying. I’ve just come off of an exam period at school, so I wrote five essays in a week. Why? Because I like to wait until the last minute. I lived in the library, which was fascinating. I would get there at 8 at night and stay until 6 in the morning. I guess I didn’t have to stay until 6, but the walk home that early is wonderful. You get to listen to the nightingales and watch the magpies hoping around.
3. Writing. However questionable my writing has been in the last couple of months, I’ve still been at it. I like going to poetry readings and reading weird things. The last reading I did was at this tea shop with the cute guy working there.

A cute guy?
Yeah. He served me my first plate of crumpets. He listens to Fleet Foxes and Sparklehorse. I wonder how he felt about the poem I read about kiwis and testicles. I’ve probably blown my chances with him.

We’ve heard a rumor that you’ve gotten a tattoo.
It’s true. I have. My wonderful wonderful soulmate of a friend, Andy, is a tattoo artist, so he hooked me up bigtime. I have a pretty and colorful peacock feather on my right arm now. It’s lovely. I think I’ll be adding more to my arm when I get home. I’ve been wanting some kind of barn owl, or perhaps a lunar moth. I’ll trust whatever Andy says to get. He’s the smartest, and someday I want to marry him. As for the tattoo, I will post pictures after my holiday in Spain.

We’ve also heard a rumor that you’ve gotten into a MFA program.
That’s right. Master of Fucking Arts. I’ve gone into fine arts, and couldn’t be happier. I will be attending Southern Connecticut State University (where I went for my Bachelor’s) next fall for my Masters in poetry writing. They’ve also hooked me up with a sweet-ass position as an adjunct professor.

What will you be teaching?
English composition. Should be interesting, as I am the queen of typos and like to give my editing to other people. But I love to read, so I’m going to force them to get involved with literature. Maybe I’ll make a twitter account for my classes.

How have you been feeling, healthwise?
I’ve been through a slew of testing to see what the hell is wrong with me. According to the tests, not much is wrong with me. I have an intolerance for wheat and dairy, and allergies to garlic and shellfish. I also have IBS. I’m a walking gasbag, and wonder if anyone could ever love me after I have a slice of pizza. Cool thing about not being able to eat is that I’ve lost a lot of weight—everywhere but my boobs. So, I have these massive knockers and fit in a size 6. I wonder how long it’ll last….

You’ll be leaving Nottingham in June, then?
Yes. I am working at National Guitar Workshop over the summer. I can’t wait. I’m absolutely overqualified for my job, but I just love it so much. I’ve made some wonderful friends there, and am actually going to be taking a roadtrip with this guy to Virginia:


He seems nice.
That’s Terry. He’s swell. He loves World of Warcraft. And cats. And purple guitars.

How do you feel about going back to America?
Thrilled some days, sad some other days. I really have always loved England, even when I was homesick. The truth is, I feel pretty settled in at this point and have some great friends to spend time with. So, leaving them behind for boring-ol’ New Haven is a shame. But, on the flipside I have loads of friends in the US I can’t wait to see again. And I’ve missed the following things about America, which I will smother with attention:
1. My Blackberry.
2. Baseball games (in person).
3. My father’s dog Tucker. My father calls him a ‘Rat Fink’. I don’t know what a fink is, but it’s a good name.
4. Astoria. I’ve always liked Astoria. I will go there and enjoy it thoroughly, and all those in the neighborhood who’ll hang with me there.
5. Pinkberry. Not to be confused with Blackberry. Pinkberry is a godsend, and I eat mass quantities of it, even though it makes my tummy ache.

What do you want to do before you leave England?
Probably just travel a lot. I want to stay somewhere haunted in York or Edinburgh for a night or two. I’d like to get to Paris, maybe Nice, definitely Crete… um… I don’t know? Enjoy crumpets with my crush at Lee Rosy’s?

Do you plan to visit Eat A Pomme more often?
Yes. I’ve missed it. I’ve missed my readers. I’ve missed reading their blogs. I’m coming back. I am on twitter, and you can bother me there when you can’t find me here: http://www.twitter.com/KikiD333