Monday, April 30, 2007

Weekend Report Featuring Poetry And a Roasted Suckling Pig, Although Not Poetry About a Roasted Suckling Pig

It was a filled-to-the-brim-overflowing-onto-the-tablecloth weekend here at Nesting Ground HQ: grandparents, softball games, dance classes, birthday parties, school functions, poetry readings and all other manner of fun stuff. To ensure that you remain awake and alert at all times (my fondest wish for every post) whilst reading, I will highlight but two of these myriad events.

Let us begin, shall we, with International Day at R & V's school. This is the day each year when families set up tables representing their countries of origin, the highlight of each table being, of course, food. Do you have pictures, Ver? Silly, reader. Of course I have pictures. Here, for example, are the fine folks who banded together to represent England:


Guatemala in the house!:


Peru, in terms of sheer numbers and traditional dress, did themselves frenetically proud. They even brought in their folk dancers:


All of that looks terrific, V.! But tell us, didn't you prepare a table representing the Philippines? Yes, you nuts! I lit my Filipino beacon and another Pinay mom promptly answered my call. Together, we did this:


We were feeling pretty good about this table. And why not? There's The Noli! Pansit Bihon! Pan de Sal! Mamon Tostado! And then...and then...and then...

...the Tongans sauntered in.

with

a

freaking roasted suckling pig.


And all I have to say about that is: Wait 'til next year, my Tongan friends. Wait 'til next year.

The next day, I showered off my shame and headed over to North Beach to enjoy an afternoon of poetry at the Achiote Press reading, which featured Ms. BJ, Oscar, and Bec. What a pleasure it was—unicorns and sunshine, I tell you!—to meet Rebecca in person and to hear her read. It was also the first time I'd heard Oscar do his thing, and make no mistake, it's his thing. Very at home up there, sending his words out into the space, all relaxed in his pinstripes. And what of his lovely poeta? She was, of course, her usual stellar self. Here's Oscar and Bec:


And here's BJ who is not—I repeat not—reading Spam porn in this picture:


And this is Jennifer whose last name I don't know, Craig Perez, BJ (holding Achiote Seeds/Spring 2007), Oscar (holding his new chapbook, Anywhere Avenue), me (holding BJ's "Ave Maria" letterpress broadside), Bec, and Todd Melicker (holding his chapbook, The Immaculate Autopsy):


The Tongan Incident notwithstanding, it was a most excellent weekend.

10 comments:

Shuboy said...

ohmygod! You're hair looks amazing in that last pic.
Freakin' Tongans. Gimme some warning and I'll help you next year with the Filipino table.

ver said...

My hair?! You crazy.

kmargrett said...

Yunno.. I've never heard of Tongan before this post.. I.. think that's kind of sad.. =\

And you look so pretty in that last picture! Kind of remind me of Vanessa Minnillo :)

Tracey said...

No spam fried rice?!

Shuboy said...

Vanessa Minnillo???? HAHAHAHA!!!!! Wait... kmargrett's right. You kinda' DO look like Nick Lachey's live in luvah.

ver said...

Oh, sure, sure. Everyone go ahead and make fun of the FORTY YEAR OLD woman. I'll just stand here and deflect your jibes with my super-strong Wonder Woman wrist cuffs.

Hi T! I hope the Tongans aren't reading my blog because you've just revealed next year's secret weapon...

JODI said...

all I have to say is I either send my girls to the wrong schools or live in the wrong state...a freaking roasted pig for a school refreshment? Bravo! All we ever seem to get over here is a cupcake cookie from Sam's Club with a cup of watered down lemonade.

*been lurking around your blog for a while now, the darn roasted pig could make me hold my tongue no longer.

ver said...

Hullo Lurker Jodi. We may have roasted pigs over here, but if it makes you feel better, I've never seen a Sam's Club! Also, for the record, a cupcake cookie sounds, um, confusing yet appealing.

Unknown said...

WOW! What an amazing school, you are so lucky to be a part of. And that England table is just INCREDIBLE! ;)

ver said...

I especially like the Beckham jersey...