And so it goes

I am having an interesting week. One in which I search for a literary agent.

I work in publishing. That and $2.25 will get you a ride on the subway. Except it actually does have little perks. I was totally perplexed about creating this new relationship between me and the agent. (I love that this year has been filled with new things, eg: running 5k races, finding an agent.) And so I knocked on the door of a trade publisher and asked if she had 5 minutes. She said yes. For the next ten minutes I asked her questions about agents and she gave me really great answers. Oddly the one sentence that sticks out in my mind is: write from where the passion is. (Which has nothing to do with finding an agent.)

And as we talked I realized a couple of things. I'm going to use my guts. I'm going to follow my instincts. And above and beyond that -- I'm going to let the agent who is right for me, appear in my life.

And today, I received a rejection letter from an agent. Which is totally awesome! (Note: I might be one of the few people who likes being rejected.) The reason why I like being rejected: I don't want to work with you if you don't want to work with me. For real.

I learned this when I farmed. I did not want to do business with people (or retail outlets) who weren't in love with my vegetables.

My real customers loved me and I loved them.

I also don't mind that I was rejected by one agent because there is an ocean of agents and editors out there. And I have my book with another agent. And if s/he rejects me, it'll be onto another one.

Folks. It's all good.

So said Karen O

"Thank you for coming to our dress rehearsal." So said Karen O, last night, at the conclusion of Stop the Virgens at St. Ann's Warehouse. (Which opens to the public tonight through October 22.) It's too bad karen O has said the show is a "psycho opera" because that minimizes the show's cultural and artistic value. This could be the long-awaited riot grrl response to "Tommy" (by The Who). I didn't are for a second that there was no discernible plot although I would have like a play bill or hand out with the lyrics so I could follow along. I mean this is an opera. Can I get super titles here?

How would I describe the performance? In one word, "mesmerizing." Too bad I'm no good at reviewing music because I could go on at length about the catchy hooks, a seriously intense (and stellar) line up of musicians, and the chorus. Yes, the chorus, directed by Debra Barsha.

I might also characterize the show as "Bjorkian." But taken to a whole nuther level. There was something dark and luscious, primal yet refined.

If there are any women's studies/media studies phd candidates out there, you need to get your asses to this show. Your dissertation could be based on this one show alone.

More than anything I was stoked to see a female performance artist go the distance. I remember seeing Karen Finlay with the yams (way back in the day) and Karen O (whether she knows it or not) benefits from the foremothers (and aunts and nieces) of performance art. Marianne Faithfull? Suzie Quatro? Yes, Karen O needs to be sending them thank you notes but better still she's produced Stop the Virgens which could be viewed as a love letter to creation myth, feminism, and anarchy. Did I mention the catchy hooks?

I would have liked a smidge more movement from Karen O and a tiny bit more variation from song to song but overall the 9 songs hold up together individually and collectively.

And I was stoked to be on the 300+ guest list for family and friends. "Karen O thank you for having me at your dress rehearsal."