tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203879182024-03-13T04:11:57.988+00:00Barbara's Bleeuugh!Getting out of my mind and into the worldAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.comBlogger496125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-85488781451555733752015-08-29T11:18:00.000+01:002015-08-29T11:31:54.402+01:00A new normality<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11904701_10153714176448054_4466676908376926025_n.jpg?oh=d425090ea0495aadc8cf194920e375b4&oe=567A4101" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nuala giving it socks at Miss Emily launch.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's been taking a while to get used to my new normal since surgery. When you are at home all the time, you get cosseted into a false sense of being better than you are. Some of the things I've done this month keep reminding me that I am recuperating, at a better rate than I think sometimes, but still with a cost.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11924897_10153712783788054_3797243162410876904_n.jpg?oh=e5f97e72be338882fbeac6f5d8963338&oe=56724340" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poetry Divas: my gig essentials!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For instance in week 2, about the 6th August, I decided it would be a good idea to drive to Cavan to visit a good friend and colleague of mine - about an hour and a half of driving. Halfway into the journey my eyes started playing stalks with me, making me wish I'd waited perhaps another week: but I did do it and enjoyed the most wonderful afternoon tea at the <a href="http://www.croverhousehotel.ie/">Crover House Hotel</a>, minutes from her home. This looks like a great place to stay in for a weekend away from it all, scenic lake, woodland and lots of walks - one for the future!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11846640_10204507761749293_341098692696264446_n.jpg?oh=a3fb011349f4b04cab5b96754b8c5a49&oe=5680CE06" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="110" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afternoon tea at the Crover House Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A few days later I enjoyed a whistle stop tour around the Ring of Gullion region with an artists' collective, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ROGHA">ROGHA (Ring of Gullion Handcrafts and Art)</a> which I thoroughly enjoyed, but also tested my tiredness limits. I was very enthused by the work on show, and the artists and handcrafts' people were really passionate about their own fields of interest, which rubbed off on us, their lucky audience.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11204482_10153665015503054_8540568385193030460_n.jpg?oh=b66809523904dae3c3b5a4bcbd0bb3c5&oe=56640E77" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felting demonstration at ROGHA day out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Two weeks later I had a mini-holiday in Belfast with a friend, which consisted of an awful lot of talking, a huge deal of laughter and two (non-alcoholic!) late nights, but reminded me just how much I seemed to have lost when I was actually ill before the surgery - I'd gotten very 'cowish': quiet, insular and withdrawn (some of the symptoms that presage a pituitary tumour).<br />
<br />
Sandwiched between those, was the wallpapering of feature walls in the family bedrooms, which was necessitated by the moving out of another offspring - middle son! - into his own independence. This means that the three left out of the sic, now have a room of their own, which of course they are delighted about.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11828831_10153675481818054_3842329675751707432_n.jpg?oh=28e418ef6e2475ed225eb8d06b832137&oe=567B55FA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely bedroom wallpaper & a piece of felt art by Rachel Tinniswood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Somewhere along with all this I've been nursing a pinched nerve in the neck. I think I may have picked this up from the surgery, as I've since discovered that they bend your head right back, so as to get a good downward angle up your nose to the brain-base where the pituitary is located. I've been getting physio, and another MRI scan of the cervical spine reveals that there's a lot of disc degeneration - again, could have been related to lack of some hormones that help your body maintain its bone repair.<br />
<br />
But in all this, I think there's an element of impatience with the recovery period - getting back to normal is all I want, but I don't have much patience with myself, as those who know me well, know only too well - so it could be said I've been getting in the way of my own wellness; although it's understandable when you've missed so much. There's an Irish expression that people have: not lying under an illness... as though it's a mortal sin to give in and admit you're unwell!<br />
<br />
Anyway, a sign that things are coming to a new normal was that I was able to attend Nuala Ni's book launch last night, for her new and third novel, <a href="http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/elegant-tale-of-a-maid-and-the-making-of-a-poet-31468723.html">Miss Emily</a> (nice review there), as well as performing with the Poetry Divas at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FlyingSouthDublin">Flying South</a>, in Dublin 7, a wonderfully convivial artsy gathering of musicians, spoken word artists, comedy, drama, and whatever else you're having. They gather in the name of <a href="http://firstfortnight.ie/flying-south-setting-stage-open-expressions-mental-health/">promoting the theme of mental health issues</a> and I must say there was some really good music, stories and poetic material being aired: I was hugely impressed! I didn't do a lot of 'mingling' as I was trying to conserve energy, but I was happy with what I managed to achieve and I suppose you could say it was an affirmation of my own mental health.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-61066376615044273572015-08-02T15:00:00.000+01:002015-08-02T15:00:00.811+01:00Getting Rid of an Annoying TumourI really wasn't quite prepared for the white-knuckle ride that surgery for my pituitary tumour turned into.<br />
<br />
I rocked up to the hospital on Wednesday the 22nd July, in the evening armed with a book, a suitcase, some vague notion of what was about to happen and the even vaguer hope that it would go well and I'd be home by Friday or Saturday by the latest. I signed the consent sheet with the surgeon that evening and he asked for my input:I kept it witty and short. Denial really is a river in Eygpt.<br />
<br />
In fact I'd spent the previous week totally not wanting to think about it. So much so, that my husband thought it would be a good distraction to head to Carlingford, hire two bikes and cycle the Greenway, a flat, scenic 7k cycle/walkway between Carlingford and Omeath, which follows along the foreshore of Carlingford Lough.<br />
<br />
I didn't even make it five minutes out of the hire-shop, when I pulled on the brakes - which didn't seem to respond. And then responded only too well, flinging me over the handlebars onto the palms of my hands & my face - right in front of a church congregation coming out of 12am mass. Bizarrely, a passing ambulance stopped to see what I had done, and helped me. I was badly shook, but nothing major broken, as a later x-rays showed, apart from my nose, and my dignity.<br />
<br />
That gave me something else to focus on, so that when it came to Thursday morning, at 11am I was seated in the surgery area, with my lovely gown, hat and groovy slipper covers on & staff were still asking me what happened and looking doubtfully at me as I replied (I'm sure some were convinced my husband was a wife-beater). It helped pass the time as I watched everyone else being walked or wheeled into surgery - I was the last one to go to my allotted area.<br />
<br />
I was delighted when I came around in Recovery, although that didn't last long, as I discovered that my bladder was working way overtime: there are probably two reasons for this. One is that I had to have steroid cover during the operation, as my own ability to produce these is currently impaired; the other is that poking around in the pituitary gland tends to 'upset' it a little, causing it to stop producing the hormone that regulates the kidneys in urine production. Between the two, and the IV drip in my arm to flush out the anaesthesia, a whole lotta liquids needed to come out.<br />
<br />
Suffice it to say, that I spent the time in Recovery (and indeed the next three days) either thinking about wee, wanting to wee, trying to wee, or trying not to wee. The Game of Thrones theme tune came to mind a few times, as they kept wheeling in the commode for me, & I christened myself Queen of Thrones. They snuck in my husband for a few seconds so that he could see I was okay. Apparently I told him that I was "Slur, slur, slur, slur, slur". He couldn't understand a word, as my nose was packed with bandages, along with a rather fetching nose trumpet.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNs5LlDimR5E_3Y5YRBJBZ37cp8Y3sWgPMkXTFgAuAP3jLxZD6yYxbRVEKODwjJiJqfUrjde64UF_w_hhYLR6ECJgdiETPiDeqBY6MAi5FVp3HJhdVp1tR-nNSF3MK8mR4XZ22mQ/s1600/3hrs+after+op.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNs5LlDimR5E_3Y5YRBJBZ37cp8Y3sWgPMkXTFgAuAP3jLxZD6yYxbRVEKODwjJiJqfUrjde64UF_w_hhYLR6ECJgdiETPiDeqBY6MAi5FVp3HJhdVp1tR-nNSF3MK8mR4XZ22mQ/s320/3hrs+after+op.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 Hours Post-Op - bruise from bike accident on far eye - spot the nose trumpet! <br />
"Make sure you take my good side, darling!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They eventually moved me on to the High Dependency Unit, Thursday evening. The fluttering, wailing noise of the all the wards' alarms on the heart-rate and respiratory monitors haunts me still. I was still looking for the commode on a regular basis, so much so that they gave up and left it beside me. I was feeling alright, but very 'high' - again this is because of the amount of steroids they pumped into me. Normally my daily replacement dose is 15mg spread across the day. On the day (& the day after) of surgery I had 300mg pumped into me across each entire day - almost 30 times what I normally would take, so I could not sleep that night, nor the following. Rocket fuel - but I really wouldn't recommend it.<br />
<br />
I had surprisingly little pain, apart from a dull back-of-head headache, which I now realise was related to the frequent urination. I had the classic symptoms of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_insipidus">Diabetes Insipidus</a>: headache, raging thirst, frequent urination. Luckily this has completely stopped now, but it did take a while to get the staff to recognise what was wrong. Because the staff thought my headache was related to the surgery they pumped me full of all the drugs they could find: morphine and all its many sisters, cousins and half-related hybrids - and this meant when my poor husband came to see me on the Friday I was having morphine delusions of a most horrific kind. And as for when the surgeon came to report his findings - I am really hoping that they see this sort of thing all the time, and that he won't hold my sobbing against me. From my POV, it was not a very civilised way to hear and process the news about what he'd found in surgery.<br />
<br />
I was glad to move back to the actual day ward by Friday lunchtime. It meant getting away from the monitors and the bustle, back to a room of one other person, and being able to rest, or so I thought.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTHaMv7ZLvRaKe7jlmAr6kNWVXJS4YJjwUgqd_9mH_dc1eXs9EQZCv5nOs9SZlE97cza8MuaG_sgli18MG9mzOj_g4VsiRg7ud0cO2KqU7OCuWsYN7xUT7CTOCx4ly5H0d5Hj6g/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTHaMv7ZLvRaKe7jlmAr6kNWVXJS4YJjwUgqd_9mH_dc1eXs9EQZCv5nOs9SZlE97cza8MuaG_sgli18MG9mzOj_g4VsiRg7ud0cO2KqU7OCuWsYN7xUT7CTOCx4ly5H0d5Hj6g/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">24 hrs Post Op - nose swollen, bruises starting to show. <br />
"Get your fresh hell here!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My roomie was lovely, a similar age, similar interests, so we were able to prop each other up, metaphorically. She'd had surgery to remove a spinal disc and was in a great deal of pain. I was still unable to sleep properly at night, so the following day, Saturday, my consultant recommended valium for bedtime and desmopressin to stop the overproductive kidneys. Both helped to some degree, but I kept on having small fits of shivering and bad headaches only relieved by an ice-pack that I found in the fridge in our room. However, nothing prepared me for Sunday morning.<br />
<br />
For four hours I shook, and wept uncontrollably and ended up having to sit in a cool shower to get rid of the sensation that my skin and head were literally burning up. I felt like a hedge-witch in olden times being subjected to torture by the village elders. The nurse who oversaw me had such compassion and just the right amount of black humour, and is literally an angel - funnily enough, her name is Angela. I am so glad this happened in the company of a woman, because I honestly think my poor husband would have run away never to be seen again, had this happened at home with him. I think that this episode was down to the hormonal flood released from an angry and irritated pituitary gland, post surgery. All I know is that I never, ever, want to have to go through it again. I really thought I was going to end up in a psych ward.<br />
<br />
As things normalised across Sunday and into Monday, I was able to contemplate leaving. Going home was a nightmare, in that I couldn't actually cope with the rapid onslaught of traffic from my passenger seat. I had to close my eyes to cope with the journey - a blindfold might have been a better bet, in hindsight. A journey that ought to have taken an hour was extended, by an incident that happened on the M1 home and involved a 45 min detour - bottom line is that I got home, and was put to bed in a darkened room. I have never, ever, ever, been so glad to lie on the mattress that is mine and just revel in its comforting, soft, familiarity. I now have a passionate hatred for hospital mattresses.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaEbLYHTyUGOEUXM0PSBK-lPIFUvEcfqRNVGjjdII4_BKLfwO_p2uy_dwPmh_Vmt5hYD5G78uVxxjseW2SJLbKetzdnkrTm3JPBFbeoWTfNOaYicq3PzNK7w8OoI4JHub3vlwJg/s1600/Thurs+30th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaEbLYHTyUGOEUXM0PSBK-lPIFUvEcfqRNVGjjdII4_BKLfwO_p2uy_dwPmh_Vmt5hYD5G78uVxxjseW2SJLbKetzdnkrTm3JPBFbeoWTfNOaYicq3PzNK7w8OoI4JHub3vlwJg/s320/Thurs+30th.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 week Post Op - bruises well developed under eyes & around mouth.<br />
"Hmm, think I need an eyebrow trim."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So: the tumour itself. Well, I'll paraphrase the surgeon: the tumour was located between the two spheres of the pituitary, the anterior and posterior pituitary; it had a clear, liquid centre, making it likely to be a <a href="http://pituitary.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=56">Rathke's Cleft Cyst</a>, or possibly a true adenoma. According to the literature, this is really rare, and is likely to have been there since I was a twinkle in my mother's eye. Pending an MRI at the end of September, that's as much as can be known, The MRI then will show if all of it was got - and if it <b>is</b> a Rathke's Cleft Cyst it will not recur, which will be good!<br />
<br />
As of today Sunday, 2nd August, I am recovering slowly and surely. Each day brings different things. For instance, yesterday I really enjoyed listening to music in a way I simply haven't felt in well over a year - music usually makes me happy and want to dance. That's back. My sense of humour had disappeared: that's back. My quick-wittedness and ability to make black jokes: that's back! Visual focus and the ability to sustain it: that's back! My gratitude to everyone and everything that has helped really knows no bounds - but I shall have to write another day about that and the tests that need doing in the future, writing this has been quite tiring - I still tire very easily, but I'm pushing myself a little every day as much as seems sensible. I'm just delighted that this part is done and behind me.<br />
<br />
So, I just feel really, really lucky. Watch out world: Babs is back!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRRV6_09zxT-Ut9tpT3gfIP-tIBngLVU48e_Sxxr-cNlZuvF2f9wZXS7BX72sfb1GDurmYjuYN2maIxRZt0hXzaEDv9TiZZE40qhmHYzj3SbD_T0UZMbEk35RWF_9MacT6y8ywQ/s1600/Today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRRV6_09zxT-Ut9tpT3gfIP-tIBngLVU48e_Sxxr-cNlZuvF2f9wZXS7BX72sfb1GDurmYjuYN2maIxRZt0hXzaEDv9TiZZE40qhmHYzj3SbD_T0UZMbEk35RWF_9MacT6y8ywQ/s320/Today.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today, Sunday Aug 2nd Bruises beginning to fade. <br />
"Ah, that's better!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-65594684444304301642015-06-24T10:49:00.005+01:002015-06-24T11:03:41.002+01:00Pituitary Problems 2: Surgery OR Out Damn Spot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://agogefit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Midsagital-view-of-brain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://agogefit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Midsagital-view-of-brain.png" height="260" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since <a href="http://intendednot2b.blogspot.ie/2015/05/pituitary-problems-or-how-i-learned-to.html">the last post</a>, there have been some developments. After a review MRI done in April, I got back to see the neurosurgeon, just last week, for his assessment. The drug I was prescribed back in December, Dostinex (cabergoline), which I take weekly, has done wonders for suppressing the prolactin that I was over-producing. Sadly, it has not had the effect of shrinking the tumour.<br />
<br />
If anything, it's grown marginally - they are known to be slow-growing, so this in itself is not a major problem.<br />
<br />
So, the tumour cannot be described as a prolactinoma; it's more likely to be a non-functioning tumour. Put simply, this means that it doesn't produce excess hormones, in and of itself. The raised prolactin levels actually demonstrate that it is the pituitary stalk producing prolactin - think of it as a protest at being squished up out of the way by this rogue growth.<br />
<br />
After mulling a few options over in the consultation, I decided to get it out. The surgeon offered the 21st of July as the nearest date, which I was happy to take. He says that it is fairly straightforward. It's called a transsphenoidal surgery, and basically he goes in just above my front teeth in a line back to the skull/brain base, breaking a small hole in the sphenoid bone, and using endoscopic techniques he'll go in and (hopefully) take it all out. I'll only be in hospital for a few days, and willl recover at home in about 2-6 weeks. Hopefully in time to make it back to work in September.<br />
<br />
In myself, I'm seeing a gradual improvement, week on week. I have a bit more stamina, lasting the day and only feel whacked if I've overdone it - but so often I don't realise I've overdone it, until I've overdone it! But compared to my last visit to this blog, I can really see a difference - and the good weather recently has really helped too.<br />
<br />
Yesterday after visiting the endocrinologist, he agreed that it was probably the best course of action to have it out, but warned that it was unlikely that I would regain any lost hormonal function. So I could well remain on cortisol (steroids) and growth hormone injections for the rest of my life.<br />
<br />
But hey, it will be nice not to have this bump in my head, and it pressing on my sinuses, giving me headaches and vision problems and all the other problems; as well as having histology and pathology done on it to ensure there's no nasty surprises.<br />
<br />
So roll on July 21st!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-85682575016480314852015-05-05T15:25:00.002+01:002015-08-29T11:23:29.450+01:00Pituitary Problems - or, how I learned to chillax about stuff<div class="MsoNormal">
About last October 2014, I began to experience really
debilitating fatigue. I couldn't understand it, I wasn't ill, or so I thought,
just a long-standing sinus problem that wouldn't go away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had been feeling that same fatigue previously, in February
2014 – but I was doing a year-long post-graduate course in Education, working
19 hours a week in teaching and doing the usual mother stuff, so I put it down
to that. I remember going to see a herbalist in Meath, who prescribed me a
tonic, reckoning that my adrenal system needed some support. That tonic did
seem to perk me up and I hobbled through the rest of the academic year, having
some time off in August and picking myself up a bit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the same time, I noticed that I just couldn't stomach alcohol any more – I mean even a pint seemed to make me feel more than woozy,
so I basically avoided drinking. I also seemed to start avoiding most social
situations – Christmas, anything with friends: I just couldn't cope with
anything beyond a working day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then finally my menstrual cycle ground to a halt in October.
I waited until the end of November to see if it’d restart and when it didn't, I
visited the doctor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She sent me for blood tests to see what was lacking, with
the mild warning that it could well be the onset of menopause. However, the
tests revealed that I had a high prolactin level. She then requested an MRI
scan to check out my pituitary, as she suspected I might have a pituitary
adenoma. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She was right.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just before Christmas, I was then referred on to a neuro-surgeon
to see what he thought. He walked me through the MRI images: a 2cm tumour, and
prescribed cabergoline, a dopamine agonist, to help suppress the prolactin, and
possibly shrink the tumour. But he advised me to see an endocrinologist to see
what hormones the pituitary was not making, as it is common for pituitary
tumours to suppress normal pituitary function. He wasn't going in there, until
the endocrinologist had established what function the pituitary did still have.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I now know more than is healthy to know about this tiny
pea-sized master-gland located just beneath the brain, about 2 inches directly back
from the bridge of the nose. It governs the release of ACTH, which tells your
kidneys to make cortisol (and other hormones), as well as human growth hormone,
which maintains normal cell function and has implications for the liver (hence
the aversion to alcohol), as well as TSH, which stimulates the thyroid gland in
the neck, not to mention all other hormones to do with sexual function and
reproduction. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When these are governed normally by the pituitary, you don’t
notice. You just have a normal quality of life. When these are suppressed,
well, let’s say your quality of life ebbs away, drip by drip. It’s insidious and
you really don’t notice it, except as a gradual withdrawal of living: fatigue,
disinterest and just paring back to basic life functions. I hadn't been writing
for a while, but at this stage I wasn't even interested. I had no interest in
books either. I seemed to have a complete sense of humour failure too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The special test that I needed came up towards the end of
February. I underwent an Insulin Tolerance Test. In this, I came fasting to the
hospital. They inserted a cannula to withdraw blood at regular intervals and
then injected me with insulin. This is what is called a provocative test:
basically the equivalent of inducing hypoglycaemia in a diabetic patient. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You don’t feel much discomfort, you just feel a little
sweaty like you’re going to faint. The nice part is the Lucozade and biscuits
you eat once you've achieved a low enough blood sugar count. The test also
provokes the pituitary gland to release ACTH and growth hormone, a normal
bodily response to an invoked stress. About a month later, in March 2015, I
headed back to receive the results. I was still feeling very much under the
weather, in fact, I was even worse than I had been before Christmas, but I now
found out why.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My body wasn't releasing enough ACTH to stimulate normal cortisol
production: basically I was only producing about a 1/3 of what I needed for
normal daily function. So the endocrinologist said I needed to replace this
with hydrocortisone. In other words, steroids. I have to take these every day,
in the morning and early afternoon, to mimic the body’s normal pulses of these.
If I am ill or vomiting, I have to double the dose. If I can’t keep them down,
I would have to go to hospital to get an injection.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was a shock in and of itself, but the next shock was to
find out that I wasn't producing enough growth hormone. My numbers showed to be
only 10% of what I should be producing. This hormone regulates cell function,
liver function and without it, your cholesterol levels rise (something I hadn't
got checked in yonks anyway), and your body fat rises. I had noticed my upper
arms and tummy getting extra flab, but I had just put this down to getting
older. It also effects your stamina and ability to exercise. Both of which had
lately just had me flummoxed – I couldn't walk up the hill in Carlingford (a
steep one, but a great one to get your heart going) any more, and just found it
so hard to get from A-B in class – I’d come home wiped out from teaching most days,
but lately I was wiped out after just driving the hour it took to get to work,
never mind trying to get through a 5 hour class. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My eyesight doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be
either. Sitting looking at a laptop or on my iPhone has a tendency to make my
eyes feel sore after a while. This could be down to the tumour too, as where
they develop they can press on the optic chasm: where the nerves from the eyeballs
go back into the brain. As a tumour develops it can press on the nerves causing
vision problems. I probably need to be assessed for this too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The stage I am at now, is waiting to see. I am on growth
hormone therapy and steroids – and could possibly remain on them for the rest
of my life. The tumour itself has been scanned since, just last week, late
April. And it doesn’t seem to be responding to the cabergoline, which I take
every week – it’s more or less the same size. Whether it will need to be
removed is something I’ll find out down the line: I've to wait and see how I
stabilise on the additional drugs. Since beginning the extra drug therapy I am
seeing minor improvements in stamina, but it doesn't take much to tire me out.
I can manage a morning, but I get tired in the afternoon easily. Needless to
say, I'm not at work – I haven’t been able to go, since the March visit to the
endocrinologist. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I found that once I started the steroids I was all over the
place, as I was when I started the growth hormone therapy. Four weeks in, things are starting
to level off, but the advice I've been given is that it will take a long time
to get back to normal – possibly six months to a year. I have a lovely app to
help remind me to take everything, as there’s so much to take at different
times I’d forget, if it was left up to me! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be honest, this is the first time in a long while I've
managed to type anything of substance. But it is a sign that something is
coming back and at the very least the tumour I have is unlikely to be
malignant. Reasons to be cheerful – 1, 2, 3.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-7447210807104239772013-07-25T00:43:00.003+01:002013-07-25T00:43:24.246+01:00Reviews of The Angels's ShareSlow, slow, slow!<br />
<br />
A year later--okay over a year later--I have discovered some reviews of The Angels' Share online. I am quite excited by this, as these are some more than the first collection got: showing that it takes a terribly long time to get going in poetry-- as well as showing that I must be terribly idle to even be looking!<br />
<br />
First, I found one in Australia: <a href="http://tintean.org.au/2013/04/27/winged-views-of-mortal-endeavour/">Tintean</a>, a journal for the Australian Irish Heritage Network. They used to be a hard-copy journal but have gone over to an online version. The reviewer is quite kind, overall, but isn't keen on Pair Bond-- one of the poems that goes down a storm at readings--nor some of the Mallory poems--where I would have 'recycled' some of Mallory's quotes from his letters and journals, which I suppose might have made the poems seem stilted, as the language of the early 20th C is more formal than our 21st C brogues. Can't win 'em all, I guess.<br />
<br />
T<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">hen there's a very warm one from <a href="http://dublinduchess.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-angels-share-by-barbara-smith.html">Dublin Duchess</a> --on an aside, her reading list is quite exhaustive and worth checking out. She loves Pair Bond, but thems the breaks, as they say.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> <a href="http://www.toddswift.blogspot.com/2012/12/guest-review-begnal-on-smith.html">Mike Begnal's</a> </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">review on Todd Swift's Eyewear blog is very generous, I got the impression he really liked the book and his favourite towards the end, Modern Fantasia is one of my favourites too. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">And lastly there's one on <a href="http://magmapoetry.com/blog-review-17-claire-trevien-reviews-barbara-smiths-the-angels-share/">Magma poetry's blog</a> but alas, I don't know what it says yet, as there seems to a problem with the website--maybe it's just me!</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">By the way, if you're wondering what </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?threaded=1&v=O-cKLYb89B0">Pair Bond</a> is all about, click on the link for a very short video of me and some Poetry Divas giving it what for (thanks to you-know-who for putting it together for me).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-52222261119217435242013-05-23T10:27:00.003+01:002013-05-23T10:32:40.297+01:00Awfully Brrr for MayColdy, coldy coldy. Out weather here in Ireland is giving us much pause for thought, what with these unseasonable northerly winds. The garden outside was given its annual shearing about three weeks ago and has been behaving immaculately ever since.<br />
<br />
My pinky clematis looks lovely, spread all over our neighbour's wall and all the other plants I put into a small raised bed are thriving - bar the bean plants. Is it the cold? Is it the rain? I don't know.<br />
<br />
What I do know is that the peas I put beside them are thriving; already climbing up the string and bamboo wigwam I set up for them. But the beans are withering and looking decidedly peaky. I should have just stuck with the peas overall, perhaps.<br />
<br />
In writing news, all is very quiet since the end of the Dundalk Book Festival back at the end of April - almost a month ago. I believe most events were well attended and we Poetry Divas helped to rock the Panama Cafe on the Square (hai). We had an interesting afternoon, with many readers and even a musical interlude. <a href="http://michaelfarry.blogspot.ie/2013/04/panama-cafe-poetry-reading-dundalk.html">More on Michael Farry's blog.</a><br />
<br />
A highlight for me was Noel McGee, doing an excerpt from a one-man play, I, Kavanagh. This is a brightly woven piece with excerpts from Kavanagh's work and work about his work. The audience loved it - what with Patrick Kavanagh being from out the road a bit - and I saw many audience members mumming the words of his poems along with the actor.<br />
<br />
There were parts in it I remembered from Antoinette Quinn's <a href="http://www.gillmacmillanbooks.ie/biography/biography/patrick-kavanagh">Biography of Kavanagh</a>, which by the way if you've never read it is a fantastic read and full of inspiration too. One to buy rather than borrow. "O he was a quare one..." Kavanagh's poetry is something I return to time and again, probably because of the local connection but also because of his way of talking about the land. When you're a country girl, like me, it's nice sometimes to be grounded by what you've come from.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-49266091653698513662013-01-30T19:00:00.001+00:002013-01-30T19:00:48.930+00:00Underground CompetitionEver spent any time on the tube?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Submissions are now open for the first <i>Fire Hazard</i> anthology, "Underground".</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the world's first underground railway in London in 1863, <i>Fire Hazard</i> is compiling a print anthology of poetry dealing with experiences of underground railways and their impact (for better and worse) on the communities they serve around the world.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Themes could include (but are by no means limited to):</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Construction of underground railways</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">History of the lines and the stations</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The above-ground communities the underground serves</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The experience of commuting / travelling underground</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The art of the underground</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">People experienced on the underground</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Subterranean geographies / cities</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mapping the underground</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you would like your work to be considered for this anthology, please send up to four poems and a brief biographical note to us at <a href="mailto:firehazardpoetry@gmail.com">firehazardpoetry@gmail.com</a> with the word "underground" in the subject title. The deadline for submissions is <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">March 31st, 2013</a>. All included poets will receive an electronic copy of the anthology, hardcopies of which will be available for purchase in early summer.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />Turbulence Magazine subscription rates: single issue £2; annual subscription (four issues): £6 (UK rates - please email for international rates). Please send cheques / postal orders (payable to "A Fisher") to: A Fisher, 29 Finchley Close, Hull. HU8 0NU. <br /><br />Visit their website at <a href="http://turbulencepoetry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://turbulencepoetry.blogspot.com/</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-24765145897920554972012-11-24T20:42:00.004+00:002012-11-26T13:13:17.006+00:00More Divas? And a Divo..!Oh boy it's a busy season for the Divas! At 6.30pm, Wednesday 28th November, the Divas
read in <a href="https://www.dkit.ie/communications/poetry-divas-are-coming">DkIT</a> in Dundalk, in the Tomas Mac Anna theatre, emceed by the
new Writer in Residence, Ferdia Mac Anna. Us Divas will be <a href="http://emergingwriter.blogspot.ie/">Kate Dempsey</a> and Triona Walsh, and meself.<br />
<br />
This time we are featured readers with a guest: <a href="http://michaelfarry.blogspot.ie/">Michael Farry.</a> I wonder does that make him a Divo - even just an honorary one!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-34309252762120728232012-11-15T14:08:00.003+00:002012-11-15T14:10:18.151+00:00Poetry Divas are goUs Poetry Divas are getting around a bit these days! On Wednesday 21st November we're reading at The Grand Social in Dublin along with many other poets in support of Pussy Riot.<br />
<br />
This event is just one of many organised across the UK and Ireland to coincide on that date, through the auspices of <a href="http://www.englishpen.org/catechism-poems-for-pussy-riot-live/">English PEN</a> and our own counterpart <a href="http://www.irishpen.com/wordpress/2012/11/14/poems-for-pussy-riot-event/">Irish PEN</a>.<br />
<br />
We have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/367301683361573/">Facebook </a>event page set up: if you're in Dublin on the night do come along from 6pm onwards, it's FREE and it promises to be a great night. Poets who have agreed to read include: <span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">Kimberly
Campanello, Sophie Collins, Sue Cosgrave, Anatoly Kudryavitsky,
Christodoulos Makris, Máighréad Medbh, Paula Meehan, Alan Jude Moore,
Christine Murray, The Poetry Divas, Sam Riviere.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzauXk-3x3EL_yE5DdFqicxa-EsdAfkYAzfx6mnpAfA0mUlqOGHUyxoVy5FtwTTrW-qhyphenhyphenjguLYyye5n6Dn-DUX6uCN6zynHMK7WRmZ51MwnKt3Jf6BjDlPKss8VS5fIWt9W-S-Q/s1600/Divas+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzauXk-3x3EL_yE5DdFqicxa-EsdAfkYAzfx6mnpAfA0mUlqOGHUyxoVy5FtwTTrW-qhyphenhyphenjguLYyye5n6Dn-DUX6uCN6zynHMK7WRmZ51MwnKt3Jf6BjDlPKss8VS5fIWt9W-S-Q/s320/Divas+image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-8933735118384433912012-10-03T09:22:00.001+01:002012-10-03T09:25:19.937+01:00All Ireland Poetry Day: LouthThere's a wonderful broadcast happening on <a href="http://www.dundalkfm.com/"><b>Dundalk FM at 11am</b></a>, called Bookends, which is hosted by the capable Eileen Corcoran. The programme will focus on two poetry books launched in Dundalk recently – “<b>The Angels Share”</b>, by Barbara Smith (yes, me!) and <b>“Once Upon Reflection”</b>
by Petra Berntssen. <br />
<br />
Petra Berntsson is a visual artist born in Sweden, now living in
Dundalk. She has combined her paintings with writing from other poets and writers.
The connections happened naturally and poems
emerged from paintings, and paintings grew from words. The end result, <b>“Once Upon Reflection”</b>
is a beautiful book, inspired by Petra’s years living in
Ireland.<br />
<br />
The programme will also feature four Louth people
readings poems which they love.They are: <b>Cllr. Jennifer Green</b>, Cathaoirleach, Dundalk Town
Council; <b>Pat Keating</b> an active participant in
the cultural life of Dundalk,;<b> Tommy Kelly</b>, a visual artist, comic writer, and
social commentator and <b>Cathal Cassidy</b>, a broadcaster on Dundalk FM 100. <br />
<br />
As if that isn't plenty to be going on with, it's then off to Dundalk Instutute of Technology for a <b>12.30 pm lunchtime reading</b> with myself and John Noonan. John is a Longford native and the 2012 winner of the Goldsmith Prize for
his poem 'Glass Maker'. He is also heavily involved in the Dundalk
Writers Group.<br />
<br />
There's always something happening in Louth for All Ireland Poetry Day and this year is no exception. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-17189389672013046052012-09-29T19:02:00.000+01:002012-09-29T19:02:13.826+01:00Pussy Riot & Poetry DivasAt our Poetry Divas gig at Electric Picnic this year, we dedicated our reading to the girls from Pussy Riot. We said, before we got started, how much we appreciated that we lived in a society where our freedom of speech was not curtailed and that we could pretty much say what we wanted, poetry wise.<br />
<br />
Little did we know that a few hectic weeks later, we would be involved in a mammoth protest project, co-ordinated by English PEN and some very hard-working writers and poets. Two weeks ago, I noticed a call on Twitter to submit poems to Eng. PEN to show solidarity with Pussy Riot, in time for their appeal, which is this Monday, 1st October.<br />
<br />
I responded with Pair Bond, a poem that Poetry Divas usually do together, taking various stanzas each. It's a poem about the many words for breasts, and began life as a sort of riposte to Alan Gillis' poem in Hawks and Doves. My poem has taken on a life of its own, and always seems to go down well at live gigs, especially when we use our visual aids.<br />
<br />
Well, us Divas got ourselves together very quickly, got my son roped in and recorded ourselves all reciting various stanzas. Big son went off to UL, where he studies multimedia and music, and used our visuals and voices to bring a short video to life:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/O-cKLYb89B0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Then I discovered that there was an e-book in the offing as well: <a href="http://www.englishpen.org/poets-pen-literary-protest-for-pussy-riot/">Catechism</a> - but wait! The book only goes live on Monday 1st Oct, so you will have to wait to read what George Szirtes says in his introduction, and to read all the varying voices contained. They are distributing it on a 'Pay What You Think It's Worth' scheme. I've had a sneak preview, so I know what I think it's worth. Enjoy and think of the girls in Russia on Monday; here's hoping that they are freed.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-16548634283930563262012-09-19T14:07:00.000+01:002012-09-19T14:07:39.590+01:00More camping, Electric Picnic highlights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/c67.0.403.403/p403x403/538862_416817555033094_1194437751_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/c67.0.403.403/p403x403/538862_416817555033094_1194437751_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A busy summer is rapidly turning into a busy autumn. I've been on the go at a few readings lately, but I'll start back with the Electric Picnic experience, with the Poetry Divas, once of the best festivals I was at in a long time.<br />
<br />
This is held over the last weekend of August/first weekend of September, so can be a little hard to get going to, what with the six kids and all. But this year worked out sweet, as the kids were more or less back at school anyway, and I wasn't back myself to work until after the 5th.<br />
<br />
I actually didn't mean to go for the weekend, we thought our reading was on the Saturday, originally, and I had planned to just go for the day, taking in The Cure later on before retiring gracefully.<br />
<br />
That didn't happen: turned out our Divas gig was on the Sunday, so I went and bought a pop-up tent (always practice putting them down at home beforehand, if you don't want to look like a right eejit) and dug out me blow-up bed and mummy sleeping bag.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/381281_416817825033067_740647234_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/381281_416817825033067_740647234_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Good job too. Saturday 1st 2012 was a fab day, with warm sunshine, but a bit of a nip in the breeze. I spent the entire afternoon in the Mindfield, taking in acts in Marty Mulligan's Spoken Word tent, the Arts Council tent and the Science Gallery tent.<br />
<br />
I saw Declan Burke and muscian Ken Griffin doing a double act: Declan was reading from his latest Slaughter's Hound, and Ken was playing a few tracks; lovely voice, excellent guitarist. At home I went on to buy Declan's first book Eight Ball Boogie, and will be getting Slaughter's Hound soon, but I need to finish my Raymond Chandler triple-decker first. I also saw Eoin Colfer and John Banville in the flesh: they were in the audience for Declan's set. And I heard Banville will be writing a new Chandler novel soon, if it's not already in the bag.<br />
<br />
I was also present for the Poetry Ireland Saturday contribution in the Spoken Word tent, catching Stephen Murray, Alan Jude Moore, Kit Fryatt (out-there poetry, pushing it right to the limit), and Jennifer Matthews. Missed Mairead Medbh, raging about that.<br />
<br />
Later on, it was back to the Arts Council tent for John Cooper Clarke. The tent was stuffed to the guy ropes with bods. We were sitting next to Fintan O' (wish I was) Cool and Roddy Doyle. Cooper Clarke has a steady patter thing andin the hour and ten mins he was on, I think he actually only did about five or six of his pieces. Still, it was fantastic to see him, he's someone I've admired for years. Saw Patti Smith very briefly. She rocked!<br />
<br />
Needless to say The Cure were bloody brilliant, doing a three hour and twenty min set. Lots of the older stuff: 10:15 Saturday Night, Boys Don't Cry to name a few, but my legs were beginning to give way around midnight so I retired to the performers area for a sit-down and some beer.<br />
<br />
After a surprisingly refreshing sleep, on Sunday morning it was back to the Mindfield, this time in prep for our own Divas gig at 1.30pm, which got moved out a bit due to other acts. There were four of us this time, and we had a cracking, kickass set. It can be hard work doing the spoken word with the bass from the main stage competing with you, but we had a good crowd, and the highlight was a red-headed man popping up for Kate's Flaming for Vincent poem, which begins, 'O give me a red-headed man...' You need to imagine quite a seductive voice... The poor chap near choked on his noodles!<br />
<br />
<br />
Got to see the Icelandic band, Of Men and Monsters later on. A big crowd turned up for this one, and they were really brilliant. They started their set by getting the crowd to sing Happy Birthday for Nanna's dad, which she recorded on her iPhone. There was also the amusement of a blow-up beachball that surfed the crowd as people hand-tapped it up and around the Crawford tent.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, back in the Mindfield, Roddy Doyle and Glen Hansard were on together - bravo to the Arts Council for doing the author/musician thing, it made for some really interesting listening. Again, another packed tent. Also caught three comedian lads (no name, sorry) and Colm Keegan reading from Don't Go There, this time back in the Spoken Word.<br />
<br />
By this stage, the old back and neck were screaming at me, so I headed on home, and had to make do with Elbow, the main stage act, on the car radio going home. Reckon I got a good deal there, as I made it home in two hours, before everyone else got on the M7. All round a brilliant EP, definitely thinking next year is a goer. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/c0.0.843.403/p843x403/402930_413479235366926_1270702132_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/c0.0.843.403/p843x403/402930_413479235366926_1270702132_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-6105570107371583392012-08-14T16:20:00.001+01:002012-08-14T16:20:18.425+01:00Camping in IrelandJust back from a very interesting holiday, camping with the kids in Achill, Co. Mayo.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I say interesting, because there is no greater test of your limits than living in very close proximity to your offspring (and husband!) for eight days, in a tent environment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We were very lucky. We seem to have got the only week of decent sunny weather that the Irish summer had to offer. For four and a half days, the weather was glorious. Rain only hit on the last morning, and even then it feiced off so that the fly sheet of the tent was dry when we had emptied the contents for packing away.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You should have seen us putting up the tent, though, the week before. I'd say we gave other campers at the Keel Sandybanks Camping and Caravan park a real good laugh! Everyone piled out of the car and decided that they knew best how to assemble it! Tent poles, tent innards, fly sheet: I thought the whole lot was going to go flying in the Northeasterly wind that was blowing. The problem, as my husband later pointed out, is that we have raised a little band of leaders and none of them like taking direction from each other.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still, at least the tent went up, and we really enjoyed the holiday. In fact I think we're all better friends now as a result of all the teenage meltdowns. There are probably other less stressful ways of getting to know your family on holidays, but right now, I think that camping is up there. 'Twould have been a different story, I know, if it had rained, but we were very lucky. Someone up there was giving us a break!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-38335065242825563862012-07-06T15:14:00.000+01:002012-07-06T15:16:18.602+01:00Upcoming July Readings<br />
<br />
I have two lovely readings coming up. The first is in Dublin, next Thursday 12th July (especially for Norn Iron fans), at 6.30pm in the <a href="http://www.bodytonicmusic.com/events/3095/">Twisted Pepper, Abbey Street, Dublin</a>, with the lovely Seven Towers; it's just a quick slot in a themed evening on the subject of 'Friendship' - I think there may be one or two poems from my book that I can tenuously link!<br />
<br />
The following Saturday 14th July (Bastille day), I read in lovely Tralee, at the gala <a href="http://www.siamsatire.com/event.php?id=442">Poets in the Doghouse</a> reading in Siamsa Tire - note the early start of 5pm - with all the poets from this years' publications, including <span style="font-size: small;"><span span="">Monica Corish, Gréagóir O’Dúill, Michael Farry, Anatoly Kudryavitsky, James Lawless & meself. Looking forward to that one, as I missed out last time, in 2007. Great craic will be had by everyone afterwards, no doubt and I hope to get some pictures too.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span span=""><br /></span></span><br />
It's been a busy six weeks or so since my poetry collection, The Angels'
Share was launched: back at work, portfolios to be marked, new classes started and it feels like I'm only getting to the stuff I should be
doing now.<br />
<br />
Life has a funny habit of going on, while you're trying to keep pedaling the bike of normality, in the pouring rain.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-40684482871909056012012-05-28T19:51:00.002+01:002012-05-28T19:51:36.135+01:00The Angel's Share LaunchThe day dawned bright and sunny, the invites were sent, the speakers booked, the wine bought... in short, it all had the makings of a great launch.<br />
<br />
Enda Coyle-Greene spoke at length about the book and even made me blush a few times. Noel King said a few words to send it on its way as did Denis Darcy, representing the Arts Office.<br />
<br />
And then I read some of the poems: Shackleton's Portable Homeland, a few of the Mallory sonnets, two about the kids, one about the eldest teenager - which of course he hated - and the (by-now-infamous) 'boob' poem, Pair Bond. Actually, Pair Bond has a life of its own at festivals around Ireland, thanks to the Poetry Divas - hey girls! - and a very swish set of accompanying visuals<br />
<br />
It all went very well indeed, with many thanks to those who came along - cheers to you all for coming to send it off. And a lovely few relaxing pints afterwards in the lovely venue of the Spirit Store.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZmxcDN__OumQqrt0DcwMJ06OkZGkjTt5dOZl70Qe36_BO_Ah3NJoGR0ZfVopQ-f7bgLFeyoqWIPXZllmwVj1h5zo4kQA3gcWmMN8NBMQ8YRaGUhP66CodHD7r10CtCEa7dxFbQ/s1600/Barbara+swallows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZmxcDN__OumQqrt0DcwMJ06OkZGkjTt5dOZl70Qe36_BO_Ah3NJoGR0ZfVopQ-f7bgLFeyoqWIPXZllmwVj1h5zo4kQA3gcWmMN8NBMQ8YRaGUhP66CodHD7r10CtCEa7dxFbQ/s1600/Barbara+swallows.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Barbara reading: although it looks like she's swallowing ice!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGbBjMWsy0mnmFBPGYyMAZbyOYUEfPnJpDBOpK9tg7KHfaqpSknploPx-AC-4ZiLea9bSuJH49-l1w2KQnSE3Sp_AYm_rIeqzijUJlz8HlAs_WgpZGvoCLRUujYnkvda-JBMEsw/s1600/Enda+Barbara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGbBjMWsy0mnmFBPGYyMAZbyOYUEfPnJpDBOpK9tg7KHfaqpSknploPx-AC-4ZiLea9bSuJH49-l1w2KQnSE3Sp_AYm_rIeqzijUJlz8HlAs_WgpZGvoCLRUujYnkvda-JBMEsw/s1600/Enda+Barbara.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Enda Coyle-Greene who launched Barbara's collection.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKir8gBGKGAzYKzwZyGnS1vkAjRcQXdFe3SHCj069cNDOfMbRKs1MVsBLAxCT0Mo44czwVCbkU1sTMDJFZuRNI5uTe6xsuMtUwwIFuYyHyFON_fjA_4qTEFBjy5PBNMl-mlgep-A/s1600/Matt+Mary+Emer+Tracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKir8gBGKGAzYKzwZyGnS1vkAjRcQXdFe3SHCj069cNDOfMbRKs1MVsBLAxCT0Mo44czwVCbkU1sTMDJFZuRNI5uTe6xsuMtUwwIFuYyHyFON_fjA_4qTEFBjy5PBNMl-mlgep-A/s320/Matt+Mary+Emer+Tracy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Matt, left telling Mary, Emer and Tracy a really funny one!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb3z2FwXGSFFEqOwQQY59H792iyzoJ1WK_w7xZ4zDoqyKIO6kMPzqaQQLQGVTA32Ha3SI4Bon8KFE3Zd8V6-omwJvANp1rw0FN6RcTOkKE_z9jtPK6ausjfd1YrYtMhwBIuW0-g/s1600/Michael+Barbara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb3z2FwXGSFFEqOwQQY59H792iyzoJ1WK_w7xZ4zDoqyKIO6kMPzqaQQLQGVTA32Ha3SI4Bon8KFE3Zd8V6-omwJvANp1rw0FN6RcTOkKE_z9jtPK6ausjfd1YrYtMhwBIuW0-g/s320/Michael+Barbara.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Poet Michael Farry and Barbara.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-71663136951973040142012-05-22T18:46:00.002+01:002012-05-22T18:46:58.197+01:0010... 9... 8... 7...Today I delivered the wine consignment to the Basement Gallery, where the book launch is due to take place tomorrow. The Angels' Share is just about to be sent out into the wide world for everyone to read.
Am I nervous? Yes!
The first copy arrived yesterday. I opened the package and held it, this pristine new copy. Such a tiny thing for five years work, and yet... isn't that the great thing about books - a whole world of thought in your hands.
All you need do is open the cover and dive in with your mind.
See you all on the far side!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-62537361597735295332012-05-10T20:52:00.002+01:002012-05-10T20:52:30.573+01:00Nearly there with The Angels' Share<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheD3d3piJvjazKKsCpc3l8OxD7k8atdZv3a8keQ9xmOYp1BtC8Z0SuTN8nzaBIV2h-Gxo3oo8lLCWdOpHjMbxiGhROZXNOHokkUm4D2nAGBchY9USWJ1HoV33lw7gNfKuDWCWZTA/s1600/angelsshare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheD3d3piJvjazKKsCpc3l8OxD7k8atdZv3a8keQ9xmOYp1BtC8Z0SuTN8nzaBIV2h-Gxo3oo8lLCWdOpHjMbxiGhROZXNOHokkUm4D2nAGBchY9USWJ1HoV33lw7gNfKuDWCWZTA/s320/angelsshare.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
I've got great news now: the book has gone to print and I'm in the process of sending invitations.
The launch date is set for Wednesday 23rd of May, in the Basement Gallery, Dundalk Town Council Offices, Crowe Street, Dundalk @ 6pm. My dear poetry friend and colleague, <a href="http://www.dedaluspress.com/poets/coyle-greene.html">Enda Coyle-Greene</a> has agreed to launch it for me.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, that's a very busy week for Doghouse Books as two other books are launched too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday 21st, sees the launch in Trim, Co. Meath at the <span style="background-color: #f7f0e9; color: #4b6320; text-align: left;">Castle Arch Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath.(Time: 8pm</span>) of Asking for Directions, by <a href="http://michaelfarry.blogspot.com/">Michael Farry</a> and then Rus in Urbe, by James Lawless, gets its lift-off in Leixlip, Co. Kildare at the Springfield Hotel on Tuesday 22nd at 7.30pm. </span><br />
<br />
My book is available to pre-order now, but books won't be sent until launch date.You can order here at <a href="http://www.doghousebooks.ie/doghouse/publications/publication.php?publication=angelsshare">Doghouse's website</a>. If you're around Dundalk on the 23rd, consider yourself invited - there's free wine!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-89165078084955884722012-04-11T17:22:00.001+01:002012-04-11T17:25:28.138+01:00Cover art for The Angels' ShareThe new book continues being worked on at a lickety split pace now.
I just got to see the new cover today, complete with blurb and words from previous reviews.
The artwork is by an Irish artist, <a href="http://www.sarahwalker.ie/">Sarah Walker</a>.
I am hopng it works well in the context of the angels's share being something that's up out there somewhere ...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-77203921702723186622012-04-01T10:21:00.003+01:002012-04-01T10:28:22.919+01:00April 1stMakes me think of is spring really here now? Of course it is - the cherry blossoms shedding everywhere like tired confetti.<div><br /></div><div>Did you spot any April's fool stories or jokes? The press must be enjoying the luxury of a Sunday to spring some nice ones on us.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-61980028686074940512012-03-08T19:23:00.004+00:002012-04-11T17:24:03.873+01:00Kids these days, eh?The new book continues being worked on at a lickety split pace now.
I just got to see the new cover today, complete with blurb and words from previous reviews.
The artwork is by an Irish artist, <a href="http://www.sarahwalker.ie/">Sarah Walker</a>.
I am hopng it works well in the context of the angels's share being something that's up out there somewhere ...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-54029506610849958542012-02-17T19:24:00.009+00:002012-02-17T20:23:12.417+00:00The book takes shapeJust back from the lovely kingdom county, otherwise known as Kerry, where I've been working on the manuscript of the new book, with my editor, Noel King.<div><br /></div><div>Noel is a fine poet in his own right, having a long-awaited debut collection published in 2010 by Salmon press: <a href="http://www.salmonpoetry.com/details.php?ID=199&a=184">Prophesying the Past.</a> So he knows his poetry onions and it's easy to trust his instincts when editing, because he's usually right!</div><div><br /></div><div>We had the lovely job of having to lose poems: some because they were not quite right for the book, others simply because we didn't have enough room in the end - and that's not a bad complaint to have!</div><div><br /></div><div>The book now has a shape, and I feel I can now start calling it a book, not a ms anymore. It feels stronger than the first one: I hope that is true, I can't say for certain myself, because I'm far too close to it at present. You know, wood for trees syndrome and the like. Sometimes I think it's bloody marvellous; at others I'm just not sure. Tell me other people doubt like that too?</div><div><br /></div><div>The title will be The Angels' Share. It begins with whiskey and ends with arses. And there is a pair of boobs in there as well... some mountaineering poems, a fair few sonnets, even some chips. I hope there's something for everyone!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-3622821881852596972012-02-09T13:33:00.003+00:002012-02-09T13:37:39.193+00:00Interview onKate Dempsey, otherwise known as <a href="http://emergingwriter.blogspot.com/">Emerging Writer</a>, has posted <a href="http://writing.ie/guest-blogs/poetic-license/entry/guest-blogs/interview-with-poet-barbara-smith.html">an interview </a>she did with me on Writing.ie<br /><br />Pop along and have a read and find out how I got into reading and writing poetry and my time spent writing lyrics for a band I used to sing with... and discover how my newly coming collection is progressing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-82188215340354663092012-02-01T18:25:00.004+00:002012-02-01T18:42:39.110+00:00New year, new...Here we are on St. Brigid's day already, and not a peep on the blog in an age. Things are moving again on the poetry front. All being well, I hope to back with my fellow peers in Ballinasloe, this weekend, and there's talk of a new collection coming out this year, with Doghouse.<div><br /></div><div>That said, I need to see if I've actually got the good makings of a book: the real test is the editing day, or days, I'll be spending down in Tralee. Not too long to go now: I'm hoping to get down over the half-term coming up shortly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The title seems to have settled on the one thing. I won't say just yet, but I'm quietly pleased with it and hope it reflects the collection as a whole.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, I've been getting used to me new iPad. I think I can safely say it's one of the most useful presents I've ever had. The kids have been teasing me about how I never put the damn thing down.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've all sorts of wee games and functions on it now, and a whole lifetime's worth of music is now on tap whenever I'm up for it. I can even listen to the radio, read and sometimes type at the same time. I even read poems from it at a reading the other night!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you've got one, do look out for a wee game app, Machinarium: it has great appeal if you're into solving puzzles and lateral thinking at the same time. Reminds me of all the Discworld games I used to play - not that long ago!</div><div><br /></div><div>Better start thinking about doing some readings and promotion then, hadn't I?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-28908754575187967482011-11-09T14:49:00.008+00:002011-11-13T11:18:47.422+00:00Digital Archives at SHC Queen's, BelfastI was reading an interview with <a href="http://www.bloodaxebooks.com/titlepage.asp?isbn=1852248688">Miriam Gamble</a>, over on <a href="http://emergingwriter.blogspot.com/">Emerging Writer's</a> blog, and Miriam mentioned that a good deal of her work is available to listen to at the <a href="http://digitalcollections.qub.ac.uk/poetry/home/">The Seamus Heaney Centre Digital Archive at QUB</a>. I know the person behind the establishment of this digital sound archive, <a href="http://www.templarpoetry.co.uk/paulmaddern/index.html">Paul Maddern</a> (from my time at QUB doing my Masters), as this mammoth project was his PhD.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I had a good old browse and a listen to some of Miriam's work, which is really interesting and has earned her a good reputation. </div><div><br /></div><div>I then wondered if there was any of my work on there, as I and Enda Coyle Greene had launched books in No Alibis bookshop (a great place to browse and buy books, as well as music and other events) back in March 2008. Well, I found a few (use the search facility and enter author's name) - a bit cringeworthy for me to listen to - but there they are in all their glory.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you get a chance to browse this amazing digital archive, you won't be disappointed. In there you will find poets as diverse as Sinead Morrissey, Medbh McGuckian, Ciaran Carson, Michael Longley, Seamus Heaney (of course!) and many, many more. I was really tickled to see and hear <a href="http://digitalcollections.qub.ac.uk/poetry/recordings/results/play-file/store343/item107944/">Billy Collins</a>' work on the website, as I actually attended this reading in Armagh in July 2008 (and wrote about it <a href="http://intendednot2b.blogspot.com/2008/07/billy-collins-seamus-heaney.html">here</a>), so it's nice to re-hear the work again.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's a lot to be said for 'hearing' poetry - after all, it is an oral/aural art.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387918.post-53557557094147825202011-10-17T18:19:00.004+01:002011-10-17T18:31:28.129+01:00Poems and MushroomsI picked this up from <a href="http://robmack.blogspot.com/2011/09/on-katharine-kilaleas-henneckers-ditch.html">Rob McKenzie's</a> blog, who in turn is talking about <a href="http://newpoetries.blogspot.com/2011/09/don-share-on-kate-kilaleas-henneckers.html">Don Share's take on a poem by Katherine Kilalea which is called 'Henneker's Ditch</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Share quotes the poem - if it is not the whole, I'd be dying to get the collection it's in, New Poetries V - and then goes on a really interesting meander, showing us not only a good appreciation, but a good insight into his own thought processes when he comes across a poem that needs unlocking.</div><div><br /></div><div>I last felt this interested in a poem when reading T.S. Eliot's Prufrock, or Ginsberg's Howl. This is a poem that's got me thinking about hybridity, dream sequences, and - of all things - some of the things I used to do, twenty or so years ago before I got sense. </div><div><br /></div><div>They would be drugs - well, mushrooms in particular (that's about as hard as it got around here - they were free!) - which I'm not advocating in any shape or form - but these were the first thing I thought of when I read Kate Kilalea's poem... I've put this here more as a note or reminder to myself, more than anything - but the poem is exciting, and has me thinking hard.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.com5