flying back and forth

between Chicago and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida every week has its disadvantages but I get to see the sun and walk around in shorts in the weekends, especially during this harsh winter, it keeps me sane. Another thing that keeps me sane is listening to the Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti and his CD 9. I've practically memorized "un' emozione per sempre" which I repeat over and over as the screaming children around me on the plane make their own music during the two hour and 50 minute flights back and forth. Ramazzotti is a nice step up from the throaty voice of Claudio Baglioni and the Spanish Alejandro Sanz. "Vorrei poterti ricordare cosi con quel sorriso acceso d' amore come se fosse uscita di colpo li' un' vorrei poterti ricordare lo sai. . ."

some feedback from the NPR interview

Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 12:42 PM
To: Morning Edition
Subject: Nick Carbo

I had to laugh!
Although I had the idea some years ago, it's only been a year or so
since I first did a karaoke version of "Secret Asian Man". It was for my
Vietnamese friend, Kenny. Everyone loved it: "He says he's from Hawaii,
but he's really from Viet Nam". I had some other "off the cuff" lyrics
that I don't recall.
I don't have sound on my computer, so I won't be able to hear Mr.
Carbo's version. I'm a 55 year-old southern white male. Funny how two
people could come up the same idea.
Thomas Payne
------------------------
From: Martinez, Dale C, CFSMD
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 9:30 AM
To: Morning Edition
Subject: Secert Asian Man

Nick Carbo should be made aware that "Secret Agent" singer, Johnny Rivers
real name is Juan Rivera. Asians may feel invisible in American, but others
have felt it necessary to hide their identities to obtain acceptance and
success in American Pop culture. Even the Pop culture icon John Wayne
understood this; as his Hispanic wife was never full accepted by Hollywood
society. There are many Secret Agents.

D. Christopher Beaner
Flanders , NJ
------------------------------------
From: William Sommerwerck
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 1:04 PM
To: Morning Edition
Subject: "Secret Asian Man"

When Nick Carbo told us about his John Wayne Back to Bataan fantasy, I couldn't stop laughing...
"He'd promise to let me clean his Tommy gun by the end of the night."
His "Tommy gun," eh? I don't think The Duke was into such things...
------------------------------------------------------
From: rcastor
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 2:20 PM
To: Morning Edition
Subject: Nick Carbo

Hi morning edition,

I am a daily listener of this program and I was very pleased to hear the
interview of Nick Carbo during your intersection series.
I am also a Filipino who emigrated to the United States in the 80's w/ my
family and had the same misinterpretation of a song similar to secret agent man,
but mine was the song billy jean by Michael Jackson - instead of that line billy
jean's not my lover I originally heard it as billy jean's at my door though,
not as funny as secret asian man.
Thank you for introducing me to a Filipino writer sharing his observations
of the American culture & how strongly it influences the world.

Salamat & thank you for starting my day,
Roland D. C.

the fun begins

these questions are not as sophisticated as Beth's but they show a certain enthusiasm
*
--
Leslie Chan
lchan@umail.ucsb.edu

Dear Mr. Carbo

I am currently a student at University of California, Santa Barbara studying Asian American poetry. Me and my group have decided to study your works upon "Secret Asian Man." While analyzing your works, me and my group have encountered much difficulty understanding your works. We are curious about certain ideas you have used upon your works. Here are a few questions we would like to ask you:

1) Who is Ang Tanay? Is he a student you taught poetry to? Why dos he play an important and major role in this book?

2) What is the main goal you are trying to pass onto your readers according to the AOL Chat?

3) What influenced you to write about the Little Brown Brother? Does this have a link to your work in "Secret Asian Man?" Are you trying to depict an Asian American superhero?

4) We currently searched for personal biographical information about you
including your blog Carbonator and Secret Asian Man. We want to know more about you such as...what influenced you to write such interesting works? Why are there so many different styles and structures you apply to your works? Who is Sally and other types of important people in your book? Are you trying to depict/represent any type of filipino culture in this book?

5) Why do most of your works contain sexual content?

I hope you can get back to me ASAP. Have you good night and thanks for all your help! We had a lot of fun researching all of your works!

-Leslie Chan

where to find my new book

Andalusian Dawn

http://www.cherry-grove.com/carbo.html

from the editors at Indiana Review

*
Dear Nick,
We just found out that Thomas E. Kennedy nominated "Consequences" for a Pushcart. We'll find out in May, but I wanted to let you know in case you didn't already. We're crossing our fingers on this end!
Hope you're well.
Danit
*

Very nice to hear of the nomination but what is the Pushcart Prize process? Who are the final judges? And the PRIZE is that your poem or story will appear in the a thick book "Best of the Small Presses/Pushcart Prize Anthology." Which you still have to buy, but at "a prize winner's discount." Hmmm.

can't wait

So, the night before the NPR broadcast and I can't sleep. Still suffering from the bruised ribs last Saturday when I ran into a pole while playing tennis with my friends Jesse Millner, Leonard Nash, and John Dufresne. Yes, Dufresne, famous novelist and author of Deep in the Shade of Paradise is quite a tennis player. He has two forehands and has very tricky shots. Jesse and I were ahead 6-4, 6-4, 2-1 when John injured his right knee area and we had to stop play. Two injuries in one day, maybe we take this tennis too seriously. So, waiting for the radio.

back and another blurb

In Andalusian Dawn, Nick Carbo creates a new, sweet language. This collection hums with tenderness, revelry, and pays special tribute to the importance of memory. Carbo shows his extraordinary range with this, his newest collection, that will make you want to visit Andalusia and reimagine the geography of your heart's home.
--Crystal Williams, author of Lunatic: Poems

off to Chicago

Later today I leave for cold cold cold Chicago to set up my apartment and sign papers at Human Resources at Columbia college. Maybe I can ask for my roster or roaster from the dept sec. Will be back friday.

nuts

Back from a week visiting my family (Papi, Mami, sister Bri and her three kids and her husband Scott) in Texas. Back to the tooth/teeth roundabout. Last week Dorianne Laux said I looked like "half chipmunk, half man" when I came home after the exploratory jaw surgery with an ice pack on my face. My wife Denise agreed saying I had a chipmunk aura about me. And yesterday my main dentist said "you have to de-chipmunk before we put on a crown." Is that a can of cashews?