Sunday, July 31, 2011

Day 15 (7-30-11)

Hastings Haircare.

We read at Hastings College!

Then we went back to The Olive, and I played this song again.
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Only so much to do in Hastings, NE, but we're doing all of it!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Day 13 (7-28-11)

Yesterday was a full day off, no driving, no readings.  We worked most of the day in an abandoned middle school a block away from downtown Hasting, NE.  I finished a draft of the new novel, Gainesville.  Very happy with it.  Then we went out to eat with Todd, of Hastings' Todd and Cody.  A design/architectural power couple here in town.  Todd brought out a microphone at dinner and interviewed me and Ben.  I had been reserved most of the day, kept to myself while drinking Todd's homebrew on the back porch.  But when the microphone came out, Ben and I both spoke freely and at length about the tour, our projects, etc.  All of the sudden, we were performing.  Strange how, after all of this, I'm more comfortable when I feel the pressure to perform, when a microphone is out or when I'm on stage, than I do in a more casual social situation, say, without a microphone.  We all noticed how smoothly the conversation went once the microphone came out.  From here on out, I'm going to pin a microphone to my lapel, wear it around wherever I go.  

Roxane Gay told me Hasting was the STICKS.  She was right.  I went to see Captain America 3D today.  I'd been working all morning and it was time to check back in to contemporary popular culture.   Plus I like comic book movies, typically.  But I was late, and no one else showed up, so they hadn't started the movie.  They said if they started it now, it would run into the next showing, so I had to abandon the project.  Hastings is the STICKS.

My favorite place here, so far, is the Olive.  The bar featured in yesterday's video.  It's small and cozy and Sunshine Wheat is $6.50 a pitcher.  Sorry I didn't take any pics or make any videos yesterday.  Hopefully I'll get some tonight.

We have a few hours until our reading tonight.  We're going to a wine tasting in a bit, I guess.  It's exciting after two nights off.  To read, I mean...we haven't had two nights off from wine tasting, which isn't something I'm necessarily proud of...but it's true nonetheless.  Anyway, we'll read at Hastings College tomorrow, do a little workshop, and then we're off to Lincoln, NE to read at the Bourbon Theater.  Fun fun.


Thursday, July 28, 2011

Day 12 (7-27-11)

Nebraska


Mr. Jones and Sunshine at the Olive. 
(Our night off in Hastings).
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We've done not much in Nebraska so far.  It feels good to do not much.  We're holed up in an old Middle School right now, working at a very long table.  I used the girls bathroom just a moment ago.  It was huge and clean.  A strange feeling, but an ignorable strange.  

Day 11 (7-26-11)

Nauman at The Walker - MiniHaHa

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Day 10 (7-25-11)

Minneapolis - Day 3.
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And check out this article in The Daily Nebraskan in prep for our upcoming show!



Monday, July 25, 2011

Day 9 (7-24-11)

While waiting for crepes (thank you, Sarah),
Sierra DeMulder reads the Genius titles from her forthcoming book 
with Write Bloody (2012).


Magers & Quinn - Minneapolis, MN

Reasons to Leave Your Daughter.



Minneapolis.  I'm speechless.
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Had so much fun yesterday and met some truly wonderful folks.  Ever since we left, I've pointed at every body of water we've passed and said, "Swimming," like a child who isn't sure how to ask, or who does so simply as an act of recognition.  Swimming.  And last night, we swam.  Swam until our eyes burned.  Actually, my eyes are burning right now.  And my legs are tired because we invented a game called Noodle Ball, and it was an exhausting game.  Minneapolis is a great place, I think.  Or it is a nice place to visit.  The reading went well, the bookstore was labyrinthine and full of good stuff, so I wandered a bit and enjoyed myself.  Sierra performed wonderfully and gave me a gift If You Lived Here You'd Already Be Home, stories by John Jodzio, which I'm looking forward to and truly appreciated.  Thank you, Sierra.  And thank you to all of Sierra's friends: Brian, Lucy, Bethany, Sarah, Sam, Aden, Gary, and Tony (was it?).  And to anyone I've forgotten.  For a fantastic night.

Also, thank you to our host, Will.  Everyone send him heady birthday wishes!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Day 8 (7-23-11)

Minneapolis - Mager's & Quinn.  
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Yesterday was our first day off since the tour began.
We laid low, grilled with our new friend Will, and I ran past
a lake where I caught a glimpse of Nessie.  A sad story really.  
When transporting her, apparently they botched the airlift, 
peeled off only her top quarter, shoulders up.  The lake's
water was low, exposed her misfortune.  

I bought Metamorphosis, we watched a strange movie, Oddsac.  
Ben liked it.  I fell asleep.  We made friends with a cat.
We're currently in a bike shop/coffee shop, listening
to Jolene by Dolly Parton.  Minneapolis is totally tits. 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Day 7 (7-22-11)

Des Moines

Triptych.

Beaverdale Books.


When in Des Moines, do as the Germans do.


***
Not a lot of battery power (time) left on this computer.  We're in a McDonalds (that's right) about to leave for Minneapolis.  The Des Moines show went well: it was very good to see Jason, Lindsay, Jessica, Jeanette and Beckah.  Making midwest friends = best part of the tour so far...other than watching Ben try to scramble up a mudhill during a rainstorm, with oven-mitts on each hand.  




Thursday, July 21, 2011

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Day 2 (7-17-11)


Preparing to leave for Indianapolis tomorrow.  Danny No-No agrees to come with us?
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Had to learn how to use Flip Clip for this one.  Some people learn something new every day.
Personally, I think that sounds exhausting.

We're reading in Indianapolis, IN tomorrow at 6 PM @ Book Mamas.  Come say Hi.


Saturday, July 16, 2011

Day 1 (7-16-11)

Thanks to everyone who came out last night!  Props to Daniel Lisi for coming all the way out from Long Beach, CA.











Ben and I will be reading at the Green Mill in Chicago on Sunday, July 17th, and we leave first thing in the morning for Indianapolis!











We'll be uploading videos/audio/images from the road as we move along, so check back every now and then, see how things are going.