Home again

One good thing about being home is sleeping in my own bed. Between the long drive and taking my zombie meds, I slept for hours.

My doctor was an hour late for our appointment but I had a good book with me.  It's about a pig. As a pet, not food. There are some interesting bits about society's attitude towards pigs throughout history. Dr and I had a good conversation about the Underground Railroad before he increased the dosage on the zombie meds. At least they keep the migraines at bay.

Awesome presents arrived in the mail today for three wonderful people. There was also a spare for me to do with as I please. Hmmm, I'll have to give that some thought.

We are back into our regular routine. It doesn't quite fit. How long does it take you to settle back into things after a vacation?  Ky has nudged his leash several times today. He's not ready to be home. That's because his bed went with us.

Last day of vacation

Today was the last day of Ky's vacation. He went down into the gully following his nose. He checked out the giant moth attached to the screen window.

DNe and I wandered around downtown, checking out art galleries, the welcome center and the interesting architecture.  I bought a really neat bracelet made of glass beads and nuts, no bolts. I will post a photo after we're home, or a link if I can find the card that was attached.

No post tomorrow as we will be driving.  It will be good to be home. Vacations are wonderful but to quote Dorothy, "There's no place like home. "

Things that make one ponder

I've been throwing sticks, watching Justified, catching up on life and enjoying a NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

My maternal grandmother loved autosports. I can remember watching Formula 1 (she liked Nicky Lauda) and the Indy 500 with her. My parents continued that tradition. Standing in the stands as the cars roared past us down to the finish line was incredible. Standing beneath the track in the tunnel while cars raced over our heads was astonishing. The claustrophobic in me was screaming to get out of there, the race fan was simply screaming.

I know there are massive differences in the health care systems in Canada and the United States yet it boggled my mind that there was a bus parked by the race track that offered free paps and mammograms. No one was sure if it was a joke or not.  Oh my.

None of us could quite understand why a man several seats over had tattooed the Taco Bell logo on the calf of his leg.  Anyone?

Why do people say, "Have a good one."?  Good what?  They aren't saving themselves any words.

We had a blast. I'm tired. I have lots of photos to share from the vacation though the one tree that I really wanted to photograph was too far away for me to get a decent shot.  Had I known how long we were going to sit in traffic, I would have hopped out, taken the picture, then hopped back into the truck. Oh well. It was pretty and the leaves were unlike anything I've seen.

Fun day

I cannot for the life of me remember what had me standing in the kitchen this morning laughing and thinking, "That's definitely going on the my blog tonight as One Good Thing."  Whatever it was likely involved the dogs and some word play.  The important thing is that all day I've been chuckling.

DNe was running around a shopping mall looking for a particular sports shirt.  The rest of us amused ourselves looking at kayaks.  We compared all the different styles, paddles and roof racks. I think I might start buying the accessories before I make the major boat purchase.  I really liked the blue one - because colour is the most important feature. :insert self-deprecating eye-roll here:

We had frozen custard for dessert tonight.  I had forgotten how smooth it is, and delicious. I was also reminded of some good times there in the past.  I saw the movie 300 right around the corner from there twice when I came to visit in two consecutive months.

We also walked down the street to see the Not-quite-Nea statue with vines blooming in her skirt.  I'll share photos when I can upload them later.  Here's how she looked the first time I saw her.

She's matured since then, turned a bit silver. More beautiful than ever.

We watched more Justified. One particular plot didn't make any sense and that took me right out of the episode. It was an interesting plot but illogical. Doesn't that drive you crazy when writers expect you suspend all sense of logic?

This house is on a resort-worthy property. It is my goal tomorrow not to leave. Ky is sleeping the sleep of the exhausted.  Lots of sticks, balls, kongs and chipmunks today.  There may have even been a pine marten sighting. That has yet to be confirmed but it's like we picked our vacation spot solely on what would most amuse the dog.  What's wrong with that?

Ky's excellent vacation

So many good things today.  Most of them revolve around Ky.  We started the day with tea on the screened back porch. We played ball. He was able to run around the back yard and still see me inside the house.  We played stick.  We visited the chow next door, followed mole scents and chased a chipmunk. I was merely trailing in his wake as he explored, played and enjoyed himself thoroughly.

Just before dinner, a movement in the trees caught my eye. It was a fawn.  I watched it carefully pick its way through the wooded area at the back of the house. No momma in sight, but I'm sure she was simply better camoflauged.  What an incredible sight.

After dinner there was much snapping of branches so Ky and I went back into the house. He was fairly focused on the stick at my feet but I didn't want him to hightail it into the brush after another deer, or raccoon. Nature is very close to the house here. We joke that it plays Red Light during the day while we watch then Green Light at night while we sleep. The one tree seemed closer to the window this afternoon after we returned from shopping.

It's been a good day with lovely company. Tomorrow we get up and do it all over again.  Lucky us.

Back home in Indiana

One Good Thing about driving for vacation is that I could slam off the alarm and leave a bit later. I was up really late last night and desperately needed more sleep.  Once we got on the road, only an hour later than I'd hope, the trip was great. No traffic to contend with, cool temps, not too sunny, not cloudy, no need for the a/c.  Ky was wonderful.  He slept most of the way, snacked on apples and chicken mcnuggets when we stopped for food.  DNe was a a big help.  I twisted my thumb/wrist when I opened a bottle of water so I'm basically one-handed. I could hold the steering wheel steady but other than that, my right hand is useless.  DNe carried everything, handed me beverages, held my food, walked my dog, emptied the car.

DNe and I had some profound and insightful conversations. We analyzed some of the issues society currently faces and suggested some solutions. We listened to great music, found an 80's rock station that made us giggle because we couldn't remember which hair band was which and talked about creativity with such focus that we missed an exit. Oh well, we ended up where we needed to be in that moment.

The new house is incredible, tucked back into nature, well off the beaten path.  We arrived early enough to wander around the outside of the house, coo over the four car garage that has a loft and room really for various farm equipment on top of the cars.  We actually had a bay to park inside as well so Evangeline is tucked in for the night. Ky has finally stretched out his legs and settled down.  I'm headed to bed myself shortly.

Tomorrow we'll explore the outdoors a bit more.  Apparently there's a Justified marathon in my immediate future. Raylan Givens.  :sigh:  DNe wants to go to Kentucky so he can say he did.  Expect great photos. And Sunday is the Brickyard race in Indianapolis. We have excellent seats just up from the start/finish.  It's shaping up to be a good vacation full of good things.

Busyness

My Icelandic chocolate joke was "liked" on Facebook by the person it was aimed towards. That made me grin. 

I am officially on vacation. Tomorrow, DNe, Ky and I head southwest to spend time with our Indiana family. Be surprised if I post One Good Thing about driving ten hours. Although, that in itself is a good thing.  We're all packed and ready to go.  Ky keeps nudging his travel leash. He's seen the suitcases and noted his travel bowls were on the counter beside reusuable mugs. He's determined that I remember he's going with us.

While today was full of busyness, it was also fun.  I was cranky when I couldn't find the camera bag but the camera and charger were safe so I compromised.  Which books to take?  Which knitting project?  I stumbled across a great pattern for minions but just don't have time to finish one for a birthday in two weeks. Perhaps, Christmas?  I could make lots of minions.

I mailed a birthday card to Iceland today. The man at Canada Post thought it said Ireland. We'll know why if it doesn't get where it's supposed to.

Yikes, I just shivered at the sentence that ended with a preposition. 

For some reason the idea that I had to bail my pond tonight instigated gales of laughter with my coworkers. It poured today and I don't want the pond to overflow. Sheesh.

Yoda's favourite person who doesn't actually sleep in this house often will be checking on him over the weekend. He will tell her off then snuggle in. 

See you soon. Have fun and remember there are plenty of good things in our lives. You only have to think of One in order to think of others. 

Much better

One good thing about the recurring tire issues was that it happened today when I had the time to spend at the garage. They covered the cost and my car is now in good shape for a long run.

A very young friend helped me shop for birthday cards. He didn't understand the jokes but decided I liked them very much so those were the best cards.

Ky and I went for dinner and to howl at the moon. Our hostess even cooked enough sweet potato to feed him as well as us. The cinnamon was very good for his breath.  That's a very good thing.

Dessert was Icelandic chocolate. I don't agree with the assessment that it's better than sex but it was very flavorful and creamy milk chocolate. Delicious and a source of great merriment, how many other chocolates deliver both?

I hope you had a yummy day

Challenging day

Some days I schedule my post ahead of time.  Friday was one of those days. I knew there was a thunderstorm coming. It was best to do it while we had power.  Wise decision. The storm was intense with winds that blew in ninety degree angles from itself.

Yesterday was spent on cleanup and dealing with damaged alarm systems at work. It wasn't a bad day, just long. All of my electronic devices needed to be charged so I left the blog for the day.  I did have some lively discussions, good food and puppy time.

Today was much cooler weather than it has been. Ky and I harvested more garlic. There's one more bed to tackle after this. The spinach and cucumbers were pummeled by the storm but the tomato is fine. It's odd how different plants respond to rough weather. We turned off the Central air, opened the windows and puttered outdoor.

I've been cranky all day. DNe accidentally made it worse by trying to help. So he mowed the lawn, did laundry and fed me. It was sweet of him. Milo has wrapped his tail around my wrist as he sleeps beside me.  He was on my lap but I was too restless.

I am well aware of how incredibly blessed I am. Friends, family, work, entertainment, home,travel - I have them all. I may have misplaced my humor but I suspect it's merely napping. Time for some Monty Python and the reminder that, "I'm not dead yet. I think I'll go for a walk. "

What do you do to snap out of a crabby mood?

Excellent day

It was busy in our house, the bird cage got scrubbed down. Yoda hid in his hut, Kiki bathed in the tub while the base of the cage soaked, Milo hid in the closet and Ky happily squeaked the ball he found behind the cage. I had the stereo cranked.

Then Ky and I went outside and harvested garlic.  Casey had started digging it up last week so I continued.
This

amounted to this

Then I filled another container with raspberries and gooseberries. Some happy critter has eaten a significant of portion of the gooseberries off the bush. I noticed yesterday that they were quite ripe.  After I put the container in the bucket with the garlic, I cut back the rose bush. I was already melted.   I was surprised Ky wasn't bugging me to throw the ball for him. That's because he had his head buried in the berry container. Apparently, it was self-serve.  I absolutely and completely adore my furry/feathery companions.


What really made my day perfect was this article . It brought tears to my eyes.  These kids reaffirmed my faith in humanity, never mind the youth of today.

The upside

DNe used the round stone on the bbq to make his pizza.  It cooks much faster that way so the bottom of stone and crust were both black. The house didn't get hotter because of the oven so I'm still calling it a win.

One of my favorite coworkers came in to visit us tonight. It sounded like a party in the library as patrons as well as staff caught up with his exploits since he left us for the big city.  He is a wonderful young man and we really miss him.

I came home and spent the rest of the evening with Liam Neeson. Ha! Auto correct suggested him with little prompting from me.

How was your day?

Good day

I got caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm at our follow-up debrief for the walk and volunteered for next year if it happens.  How soon we forget the frustrations!  I did say I'd been in Iceland next year.  That someone got incorporated into the plans.  Ha! That will teach me.

I had a lovely lunch with a good friend in a sweltering restaurant. It was nice to catch-up and make plans for future luncheons.  There was a dog sitting on the porch with his people. He was in shade, had a large bowl of water and seemed more comfortable than the humans.

I went to the fruit stand around the corner and bought fresh from the tree sugar plums as well as cherries.  It was the beginning of the first's season and the end of the latter's.  I love living in fruit country. Peaches are ready early this year but I'll buy them on the weekend. 

I spent some quality time with my DNi before her step-sisters came home from the babysitter's. Then the four of us went to the movie and laughed our way through the evening.  The little ones are four and six years old with good manners and an appreciation for the specialness of Girls Night at the Movies.  There are all three adorable. Lots of little girls hugs and kisses as well as whispered plans and hair braiding from the older girl.  I did something silly like dropping my purse, onto the littlest one so I said I was a bad aunt.  With a very serious voice she told me I wasn't a bad aunt. I just made a mistake.  You would think a writer would understand the importance of word choice better than a four year old.

It was a nice day. Long, fulfilling and I was very happy to come home to my little zoo who are much quieter and rarely all talk at once.

Staying cool

One Good Thing about holding a writers' meeting at an arena is the cooling effect. We were so hot walking from car to front door that it took half an hour just to cool down.  Honestly, it was ridiculously hot today.  But we managed to forget about the heat and talk writing. That was fantastic.  The feedback about part two of the horror story was helpful. The discussion about old projects and resubmitting was also good. Neither one of us is going to any writer conference this year but we did agree the networking was invaluable. 

I got home with enough time for a lukewarm shower before I headed into work.  The temp was nice in there and most people were remarkably cheerful. That is not often the case when we're dealing with weather extremes. We're Canadians. We're not bred for Vegas type heat.

Enough about that.  The critters are happy and healthy.   Family photo albums are almost all scanned.  Writing is coming along nicely. Career has several paths to choose from. There's nothing saying I can't wander down all of them. 

What's new with you?

Melting

It's so hot and humid here I feel like I live in the jungle. I even have a little black panther stalking me. Milo is always hungry.  He's getting older now so we're going to have to move his food bowl down a level so the jump isn't too high. 

I didn't send a book out today. I did do a lot of research on the subject.  That counts.  DNe came in and checked on my progress.  Funny kid.  Now I know how my parents feel when I suggest stuff to them they've been doing for years. I guess I'm that old now.

I also spent a good portion of the day scanning family photo albums. I have no idea about the identity of the tow-headed tykes who were photographed in Newcastle in 1900 but they were cute.  Given my granny was the second of six kids, they could be her niece and nephew.  It was interesting.

I do have the horror story open and staring at me. The second part is told from a paranoid point of view. I can't stay in that mindset too long.  I suspect that's why I'm working on it a few paragraphs at a time.  Still, he's unusual and fascinating which bodes well for the storyline.

We are blessed with air conditioning that works well. A fan that cools me while I run on the spot (it's too horrible out there to actually walk or ride my bike) and refreshing oranges in a jug of water. 

Stay cool

Lazy Sunday

I was doing a brilliant zombie impression, art from the craving for brrrrrrains, that I gave myself permission to sleep it off.  It was embarrassing how late I slept,  and could have slept longer, but it was clearly what my body needed.

There were two auto races to watch, a birthday present to begin and Masterpiece Theater. Am I the only one who thinks of the Muppets at the opening of the latter?

It was a hot and humid day so I limited Ky's interaction with the ball outside. We watered the garden and picked raspberries. The gooseberry bush is full so perhaps tomorrow.

I was feeling lazy, unproductive and generally beating up on myself for it when I realized that I was blessed to have a day free of commitment, obligation or schedule.  I knowing had a reading day last week but my body needed more down time. It's better to do that voluntarily rather than collapse from exhaustion.  At least this way I got to choose a comfy couch surrounded by furry/feathery companions and exciting-to-me television.

I hope you were able to relax today

Encouraging

On the drive home from the latest showing of his art, DNe compared me to Picasso. You read that right, he was comparing me to one of the most famous artists of the 20th century.  DNe is concerned that I'm not giving my writing as much attention as I give his art. I encourage him and support him and brainstorm all the time when it occurs to him that he should do the same for me with my writing. Despite the lame attempt at the previous sentence, I'm actually good with words.  He thinks I'm talented, have a sharp mind and tell stories well. I entertain people through my writing and he's concerned I don't spend enough time ensuring those words get out there. 

It was an interesting conversation from several viewpoints. He's growing up. He's aware of all the support he gets. He pays more attention than I've given him credit for and he knows the value of networking.  He wants to become a publisher so that the world reads my work. He thinks I should band together with dozens of my talented friends.  He's listened to most of my suggestions for marketing his work, and is now turning my words back on me.  He's smart, he's funny and he's afraid I'll stop writing, be discouraged that I'm not published.

Picasso did some of his best work in his fifties so age isn't a deterrent.  I assured him it wasn't.

All joking aside, he had a point. I've written so many books that are now in the hatbox behind the couch or stored on flash drives. I accepted the rejections, moved on, wrote other books.  After some thought, I realized nothing has been sent out for awhile. Not even Casey's story. And that's a shame.  It has the potential to change lives. Sharing his experience has already helped two dogs. We'd like to help more.

Picasso didn't hide his work away. Neither should I.

I'll send something out on Monday

Unexpected good things

I rode my bicycle to work this morning. Despite the fact that I just filled the tire with air on Sunday, it was low.  I was so focused on needing to reinflate the tire that I was almost to work before I'd noticed that I'd traveled the distance.  I have not lost all the strength and endurance since the Walk ended. Yay, me.  I filled the tire up on the way home, took a different route and was still not winded.  It was an exciting discovery.  My back didn't hold me back the way I'd feared it would.

My boss called from the other library and offered me more hours from August to December. It's enough to really take a chunk out of my debt without exhausting me to the point of tears. I said yes.  Funny, but someone asked me this morning if I'd prefer to work more hours and I said I'd like to add in more at the other place. I haven't been there much lately and I feel like I'm losing the connection.  Twenty minutes later, the call.

What should I wish for now?

I came home, fell into a good book while a special about King Tut played on the television in the background. Milo lay on my lap and purred.  He has such silky ears.  And a warm little body all curled up with just his tail twitching every once in a while. It tickled.

I didn't accomplish much, apart from making an apple/gooseberry crisp, tossing the ball a few times for Ky then relaxing. It was an unexpected surprise and a lovely way to spend the evening. 

Healing good things

I'm blessed to have a good friend who is a registered massage therapist. Thanks to her expertise I am almost back to normal.

I found leftover ice cream cake in the freezer so we all enjoyed that after dinner treat.

Thanks to the recent experimentation with lemons, we were able to alleviate Mom's allergic reaction to a bug bite. Her entire leg was irritated so I cut a lemon and rubbed it all over the rash. She said it helped with the itching as well as kept the flies away.

Lemons, ice cream and massage - it was a good day.

Slow things

Having watched fictionalized accounts of the lives of both Hemingway and Sid Viscous (auto-correct and I cannot agree on spelling), I've noticed several similarities, mostly about addiction and the realization that I do not understand what attracts people to each other.

As bending forward is the most comfortable position,  I picked raspberries and gooseberries today. They are delicious.  Ky and I did it together in the pouring rain. He very gently pulls the berries from the spiky branches.

My back is slowly coming along. It was my day off so along with the stretches I learned yesterday, I rested. I read. I brainstormed with my DNe and wrote a small amount, I also taught him how to parallel park. We survived.  He actually did well.

Silver lining

It didn't rain today. That means no more flooding. Power is slowly being restored. My friend with the basement apartment in Toronto wasn't affected.

There have been several consecutive minutes today when my back didn't hurt.  I've learned several stretches and yoga poses.  There may be a correlation.

Perspective

I went for a nice walk this afternoon with a friend and discussed her burgeoning romance with a mutual friend. The breeze was strong enough to keep the bugs at bay, the sky virtually cloudless and the humidity draining but the conversation and company balanced it out. Plus,  we walked through the woods and down by water. The sun played through the leaves and painted the trunks with shadows.

Considering how much pain we were both suffering at the time - the walk was an abysmal attempt to stretch out spasming back muscles - I'm impressed with our ability to notice our surroundings.  our projected rainfall failed to materialize.  I'm afraid it all went north.

Most of my family and friends in Toronto have checked in and are safe. That's all that matters.

Family good things

It's my dad's birthday today.  We all pitched in and bought him a new barbecue. My DB came by and put it together.  That was kind of him, less swearing that way. He simply followed the instructions.  He attributes the lack of cussing to that.  We grilled steaks, asparagus, and sausage. There were two salads and a cake.  The kids were thrilled with the noisemakers and Dad enjoyed the racing themed serviettes. 

DB's girlfriend and I had a great bonding moment over homemade and all-natural cleaning products. We swapped recipes and snickered at the way everyone else things we're nutcases.  You would think we'd be offended but it's just nice to have someone else to share tips with.  We both agreed coconut oil is a great base for just about everything. She texted me later to say it also takes bubble gum out of hair. Good to know.

I filled my bicycle tire with air.  That was long overdue. I hope to ride the bike to work tomorrow, barring torrential downpours in the meantime.  Every time I mention riding my bike to work, my dad reminds us that he rode his bike all the way to Queenston to work on his uncle's farm picking fruit. We remind him he was ten years old, with all the energy that age generates, and that there was no where near the traffic there is today. He calls us slackers, we all laugh and I resolve to ride my bike more often. 

Unconnected good things

One good thing about having such a horrible headache is I'll be in bed before too long which means I *should* wake up well-rested tomorrow.

I walked to work this morning. Yay! It's been two weeks since the 32km walk and I've not kept up with the training.  On the detour route -the bridge no longer exists - I saw a beautiful Golden Retriever. I realized that I knew him, that his people weren't around, and that he needed to go home. So I yelled at him and sent him on his way. Then I called his people and told them where he was.  A pickup truck was racing down the road so I yelled at him about the dog. Too many people are using that short strip of road like a drag race.  Good news - the dog made it home safely.  I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't walked this morning. He was well on his way down to the canal when I came along.

We had a very productive day at work. I was able to tidy up a whole mess of small jobs. I also organized several others. 

A little pre-dinner entertainment - the birds were out of the cage under strong supervision. Kiki tried to bathe in my glass of water.  The opening was narrow enough that she couldn't fall in her. Her body is wider than the mouth of the cup.  Yoda didn't want to be left out of the fun so he chased her off so he can have his own bath. He's twice her size.  All that fit was his feet, one at a time, and his head. He'd dunk his whole head into the water, come up for air, sneeze then duck back underwater.  He was absolutely ridiculous and happy as a clam.

DNe and I had dinner with my parents. They weren't as entertaining as the birds but definitely interesting. 

All in all, a good day. Not the best finish but easily fixable.

Shopping good things

Met my friend and her son for tea this morning. It's been too long since I've seen them. He was as entertaining as always. He was fairly well-behaved so we went to the dollar store where he was allowed to buy one item.  The indecision was incredible but his attention returned time and again to the same item - glasses that lit up.  He was so delighted with them, his face glowed brighter than the glasses. Three people asked where he'd bought them as they thought their grandsons would love them as much as my young friend. There's a good lesson in his simple joy with that one item.  He even let me borrow them for a moment.

While out shopping with my brother awhile later, I found cucumber, red pepper and radish plants.  We had a vicious Spring that damaged a great many seedlings, mine included. It's been hard to find replacements as many garden centers lost the same crops I lost.  It was exciting to come home and plant them in the ground. First, I had to dig up the Queen Anne's Lace and thistle that grew in the border between sidewalk and driveway.  I felt bad about their displacement but we need the food.  I hope the honeybees find my offering. I left the clover, as well as single plants of the two aforementioned place holders.

I love the smell of freshly turned dirt. The roots of Queen Anne's lace smell like carrots.  I should have planted some of those.

Artistic good things

One Good Thing about carrying a giant purse is there's room for tons of stuff. I was sitting in the cafe bored out of my mind wishing I had my notebook so I could write while DNe installed his art for this month's show. I reached into my purse for my phone and there was my notebook (the pen and paper kind, not the computer) from yesterday's meeting. I pulled it out and finished - tada! - the first part of the horror story. Then I went on to write the opening of the second part. 

I haven't been home much today but whenever I was, for some reason, I turned on the television. This afternoon, it was on the history channel or maybe Discovery so I watched a program about Jack the Ripper.  It's a mystery that will never be solved because no one really wants it to.  They like the challenge, mystery and romance. Romance?  Have they looked at the crime scene photos???  Horrific.  This program actually focused on the victims. They were women who had families and descendents who want people to remember they were real people.  Again, romance? 

Tonight, I deliberately turned the tv to TVO so I could watch a documentary about Tom Thomson.  Another mysterious death. A famous artist. Incredible paintings.  Then I turned the television off so I could think about all that I'd just seen. 

It's quiet here, just the steady whoosh from the a/c.  Most of the art on my walls has been relocated to the cafe for the show.  White walls, white noise and my brain contemplating the mysteries of Thomson and Jack the Ripper.  It's not the personalities so much as the enduring public fascination with tragedy that has me thinking. And it all ties in with what I'm writing.

One good thing about being a writer is the ability to connect a series of thoughts/images/ideas/senses and create something new.

What's on your mind?

Writing Good Things

I woke up in a better mood this morning. Yay!!  That's actually worthy of three exclamation points but I didn't want to overdo it.

I spent so much time writing this morning that I was late for a writers meeting.  Best excuse ever, and one that was absolutely understood.   We spent the afternoon brainstorming on several projects.  I have notes, ideas and am half a page away from finishing part one of the horror story. I'd twisted the ending around but my good friend helped me get the order right.  It's amazing how much that opened me up creatively as well as strengthened the scene. Nothing beats time hashing out plots with another writer.

I came home and wrote for awhile, jazzed and full of enthusiasm.  Let's hope it lasts.

Blah good things

One good thing about this blog is that I'm in the habit of thinking of good things even when I'm in a less-than-stellar mood. I'm stomping around cranky yet still noticing that the raspberries will be ripe for picking tomorrow.  Ky is easily amused, and incredibly soft. Kiki is still alive despite the loss of 1/4 of her feathers after walking across a sleeping dog yesterday, DNi and I picked mulberries off the treat and ate them on the spot. My presence was missed at the thank you reception for the volunteers.

Little things add up. They don't negate the disappointment, unfortunate choices or exhaustion but the do remind one that life is not cut-and-dried, black-and-white, good-or-evil.  Life is full of the combinations.      DNe complains about my sunshine and roses optimistic view of life. I remind him sunshine can burn and roses have thorns but we embrace them regardless. It's all about your focus.  I love the the scent of roses blooming in the afternoon sun, but also enjoy rainy days. We need balance. Perhaps that's the source of my blah mood. Balance must be restored.

Canadian good things

The library participated in the 5th annual Boot Walk fundraiser for Community Care. 2km in rubber boots was more painful than 32km in hiking boots, but it was a great way to start the Canada Day celebrations.

DNi is here for a sleepover. That meant a walk through the park, a trip to Tim Hortons and another viewing of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The child catcher scares the crap out of us but the rest of it is fun.



We can hear the fireworks from the park. Lovely red and white, shot through with green, blue, silver and gold. Ky is in his Thunderbird in an uneasy sleep at my feet.  It's good to live in a country where the source of the dog's fear is merely a lot of colorful noise - a celebration.