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Barton Springs by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz

April 30, 2019 by rurugby Leave a Comment

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The poetry of Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz has been huge for me this year. 2019 has been a tough one with a fire on the Saturday before New Year’s displacing me from the house for 2 months and losing a job since I couldn’t work with the fire.

My second favorite book from COA is her book about losing her mom “How to Love the Empty Air”. And honestly something that can make me cry is incredibly helpful. It also makes me think about losing my dad 6 years ago on April 1, 2013.

This is one of the happier poems from the book:


Barton Springs

by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz

When they locked the north gates early,
we decide to just walk across the river bed
in our bare feet, the tallest carrying our towels.

on his head. When we reach the springs,
the night is still warm, but so dark. Austin
in late summer, and everyone is laughing.

The water feels like a kiss: all wet and wanted.
Everyone is in love: the moon and the water,
the diving board and the rocks, the night air

and the howls we released into it at midnight.
Weeks ago, you told me you’d never been.
That you felt too pale, too awkward to go.

In the dark, I swim towards you, even though
you aren’t here. Still, I swim to you, the hope
of you, under the pale, perfect Texas moon.

Filed Under: poetry, The Ecq Review

Proud Alumnus

March 24, 2019 by rurugby Leave a Comment

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Today I am a proud alumnus of both Montgomery HS (NJ), where National Championship Wrestler Anthony Cassar (Class of 2014) also went to school. He won the heavyweight division, and first title last night, and chose to go to National Champion Penn State who has won 8 of the last 9 Team National Championships. Montgomery didn’t even have a wrestling program when I graduated in 1992.

I was also very happy to see Rutgers win it’s first two National Championships in Wrestling ever with Nick Suriano and Anthony Ashnault.

I feel like I need to understand better how wrestling is scored and watch it more. I definitely understood the passion, athleticism, and joy watching it last night.

Filed Under: The Ecq Review

“If Beale Street Could Talk” (book) ***1/2

March 21, 2019 by rurugby Leave a Comment

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A devastating book by James Baldwin if a slow read about a broken “criminal justice” system. As true in 1973 as it is 46 years later.

You have to wonder how we can take the bad out of the criminal justice system and make for a saner society.

I also very much wonder how the movie will be since the book is so internal.

*** 1/2

Filed Under: The Ecq Review

Great Acting

March 14, 2019 by rurugby Leave a Comment

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I was lucky to see really great young lead actresses in two movies today.

The first was the awkward and uncomfortable “Eighth Grade” which stars Elsie Fisher as a shy eighth grader. Very believable and accurate performance of one of the toughest parts of life. **1/2

The second was the very good “Lady Bird” starring Saoirse Ronan as a very independent high school senior at a Catholic school. I think this got a lot right about moms and daughters and about moving on at 18. ***

I look forward to more work by both Elsie Fisher and Saoirse Ronan and it’s wonderful to see great performances. Helped that they were both free on Amazon Prime too.

Filed Under: The Ecq Review

IKEA: The Adventure!

March 2, 2019 by rurugby Leave a Comment

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We went to the A Taste of Greece festival today which was tasty and awesome!

Then we went to IKEA.

IKEA is always an adventure and can have nice stuff.

But, lemons too. Like a dresser we bought in Maine and left there.

But our bookcases worked. I like the feather down pillows for $13 and you can find good things.

We got our 3,000 steps in and got a little chest of drawers we can use a place for pens and to put cups on in the living room. We got 6 pillows (2 for me, 4 for the guest bedroom) and small stuff like light bulbs and umbrellas. Actually the $5 umbrellas were pretty big and probably useful for Rites of Spring.

IKEA is a good walk, but expect to spend money.

Nice that they had enough cashier today we got through there pretty quickly even though it was very busy.

And it’s a much easier trip when it’s only 30 minutes away.

So definitely a good day.

Filed Under: The Ecq Review

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