who needs sleep

i found myself up at something like 4 in the morning, catching up on some television i missed, wondering why do i even bother with sleep anymore. my life is a series of naps anymore. so be it.

the Yankees got some great pitching last night and some very timely hitting to beat another former Cy Young winner, 5-1. they go for the series win this afternoon.

i caught up on the episode of Hard Knocks i missed the other night on HBO. as a Saints fan, i'm watching this with part laughter and part trying to learn the secrets of the enemy. i do like the false bravado of these assholes. no wonder the Falcons stunk last year.

Big Brother was interesting last night. and i surely thought i knew who was going to be evicted tonight until i read what happened in the house last night. now, i really have no clue who is going to go out with the first vote tonight, let alone, the second eviction tonight. i love the double eviction nights. let the chaos begin.

Wilfred was really good last night. they have set up the series finale next week perfectly. can't wait.

The Bridge was brilliant as always last night. another couple of twists that really will take the show to yet another level. i absolutely love this show.

had a really great conversation with a publisher last night that really brought my confidence way back up. just the shot of energy i needed. so, thank you Chris Byck. best of luck with your new job.

i'm looking forward to the new episodes of Married and You're the Worst tonight on FX.

i figure i'll be watching the Yankees game today while i'm cleaning out my closet. hopefully it is a long ass game as i haven't touched that damn thing in years.

that's really all for me today. i do hope this finds everyone well. and please, if you do like this blog or my writing, etc., TELL THE REST OF THE FUCKING WORLD...

be well. be cool. be creative. be quick to send me cash, panties, hate mail, whatever your heart desires.

peace and chicken grease my enemies...

music:

Kiesza - What Is Love
Aimee Mann - The Scientist (Live)
Grace Potter - I Shall Be Released (Live)

"I always dreamt of being a basketball player. A dream that only I believed in." - David Duchovny

Christopher Byck's review of Sofisticated White Trash

J.J. Campbell's collection "Sofisticated White Trash" delivers exactly what the title promises. The collection, like most narrative-confessional poetry, is ripe with raw words, dire emotions, and truthfulness.  However, it manages to move the genre into a new semi-unexplored area. These poems are strong; the collection is a great introduction to the poet, his lifestyle, and worldview.

Campbell pays homage to the narrative-confessional style in poems like 'paralyze'. He disgusted me in 'another roadside cross'; a poem which stuck with me, angered me, but which likely proves true, at least according to Campbell. The imagery, as demonstrated in 'suicide watch' with lines like '... holes in walls shaped/ like frustrated fists', is ripe. Campbell has suffered and he is the first to point out his own fault in his suffering. His misgivings are many, his family life hellish, his self-pity evident.

The back roads of Ohio provide a poetic canvas, one that Campbell explores in his truck and reports about in sparse detail. This gives the reader a desire to know more and a conviction to stay away. I disagreed with Campbell a lot, although he is spot on at times, I appreciated hearing the perspective. I wholeheartedly agree that Ellen Barkin is wonderfully sexy.

The 'sofisticated' part of the collection comes about in the craftsmanship of many of the poems. These poems were written with a conscious effort to be artful in design, if not in content. This is demonstrated in 'american flag' which displays a unique perspective on 9/11.

There are occasional misplaced words and redundancies, but these shortcomings add to the authenticity of the poetry. He is a craftsman, but isn't afraid to vomit feelings onto the page and let it dry as it fell.

Christopher Byck @ 48th Street Press