Good morning from Kearney, Nebraska! About to hit the road again.

Dog barking at an empty apartment. Have slept three hours the past two days. Chicago, here we come!

For the curious, here's our itinerary:



Wednesday: to Reno

Thursday: Reno to Salt Lake City

Friday: Salt Lake to Cheyenne, Wyoming

Saturday: Cheyenne to Omaha, Nebraska

Sunday: Omaha to Chicago



I hear a rumor that Jim and I may cross paths in Nebraska...there he is, an amber wave of grain.

Another sweaty moving day, boxes piled to the ceiling and blocking out the sun. The dog barometer says let's go out all the time and then go out again.



Still one last library book that I can't find, damn it. Need to settle my earthly accounts.



They're coming at 8 am tomorrow to clean us out. Then it's Reno, here we come.

I must admit that I have become a black-binder user at readings as well. I think this may have something to do with choral singing, which I also do. In fact, what I've always coveted is one of those choral-singing folders that actually has a strap on the back to hold it to your hand, which allows you to stand there grandly without benefit of lectern or stand and emote to the open air.



I am also thinking that the binder is a good substitute when, like me, you don't actually have a book to read out of...

Today I too know the pleasures of being a walking tower of sweat.

Silicon Valley

or, An Essay on the "New Brutalism"



That hooligan

crew’s half-

off, strong

calves and

burning down.

She’s a good

student of talent,

like sunshine

states in the

thick of rain.

The brutal curve

of fountain water

can’t hide the soft edge.