[Robin-Kemp]

Why Dave! I thought I was your one and only! And there are witnesses!

Robin

[Marilyn Taylor]

Good grief, I don't think my physical appearance has received this much attention since they counted my toes on the day I was born, a good 29 years ago. Thanks, Jennifer. Thanks, Dave. ("Trance-inducing??" Yike.) Please keep in mind, everyone, that I will be personally signing glamour-shots of myself at AWP in Atlanta.

Robin K took some more wonderful photos at WC, I want you all to know. Robin? Have you tamed your famous craptop in such a way that will allow you to post them?

Marilyn



[This message has been edited by Marilyn Taylor (edited June 17, 2006).]

[Jennifer Reeser]

We feel your pain, Dave. And the Jennifer Reeser Award For Excellence In Post-Panel Audience Participation has to go to the gentleman who, following Sam & Dave's hilarious paradelle session, quoted a commentator from mid-auditorium, "...which leads one to the conclusion that John Ashbery's career has been a 50-year-long paradelle..."

[Gregory Dowling]

That was Michael Slipp (in case he's too modest to come forward himself). Let me add my backing to Jennifer's Award.

[David Mason]

Honey, the only one who can feel my pain is ME.
But thanks for the sympathy.

And thanks, Slipp, for the acute observation, so deserving of an essay....

Dave

[Jennifer Reeser]

It wasn't real sympathy. I just like teasing you

Jenn

[David Mason]

Damn. Can't I at least have the sympathy?

[Jennifer Reeser]

Well, okay. Here's a kiss, too, my dear...

[Mike Slippkauskas]

Thank you Jennifer, Gregory and David,

David,
If an essay could be written, I'll gratefully, graciously cede the theme to another. I do have a perverse nostalgia for Ashbery's work, because I find the New York School phenomenon interesting. I'd rather read about the poets themselves than read their poems. And because I've been variously pretending or trying to enjoy his work for the last 20 years, all the years of my adult life.

Best,
Slipp

[David Landrum]

This was my second year at West Chester. The first one consisted largely of finding out where everything was in hot sweltering weather. This year was more comfortable on both those accounts and marvelous for poetry. Fenton, after his elaborate preambles (or were they elaborate pre-rambles?) was marvelous. I attended the sonnet workshop with A. E. Stallings and got to rub shoulders with and actually talk to favorite poets. I can tell people I sat next to Rachel Hadas at one of the readings (because she got there late and slipped into the closest unoccupied seat). The readings and sessions were wonderful. Lots of booze too and seeing friends from last year made it fun as well. I will again drive the entire Ohio and Pennsylvania Turnpikes from my home in Michigan to attend in 2007.