sold

A nice couple with little kids bought the bunkbed. Yeahhh! The TV and monitor will go smasheroo into the dumpster unless someone steals them tonight. They are not even good enough to donate.

Fifteen year old sold 3 years worth of Yu-Gi-Oh (including a very special deck built with the help of expert friends) for $5.50. Somethere in Port Moody a nine year old boy is very, very happy. Daughter sold a bunch of Beanie Babies and paperback books. The boys up the street made $400 selling popcorn and pop for the Firefighters' Burn fund. The block party was a happy smash. Now we're planning a pajama pancake breakfast block party - perhaps a fundraiser for something (people who need pajamas? pancakes for pandas?)

Life is sweet and lazy and full of sweet lazy neighbours all done with garage saling. I sat under a fuschia this afternoon and drank beer and pretended it was a hat (the fuschia, not the beer) only the bees in my ear made is slightly less than perfect.

question: who says the suburbs is a wasteland?

mompoet - happy to be here

soooo not Martha

Lest my previous post convey an inaccurate impression I will share this brief confession:

Today I took apart the cedar wreath that I made for our front door in December. It has been sitting in the corner of the carport getting dry and brown until now. I know it's still better than buying a plastic wreath and leaving it up all year, but I did feel pretty much like the slovenly housewife of who-cares. Then I told my neighbour and she confided that the dried-out Christmas tree is still in her back yard.

The garage sale went well. We sold the dresser, but the $1 each computer monitor and colour TV are still waiting for new homes. Lots of people have expressed intense affection for the red metal bunkbed but so far nobody is willing to commit $30 and cart it away. Oh well, maybe I'll open a bed and breakfast in the carport. It smells lovely and cedar-y in there.

question: who cares?

mompoet - nope nope, definitely not

mompoet puts by

I saw dill cukes at the veggie store yesterday, and asparagus is down to 1.99/lb. On the radio they said that Friday was the first day for picking local strawberries. Here we go!

Last summer I mostly coasted on my pickling, canning and jamming from the previous summer, but the cupboard is looking a bit bare now so it's going to be a big bickle jammy yammy summer. I also have wine to bottle. The stuff I make is so delicous and healthy, and it's very satisfying to see rows of jars and bottles just sitting there, available when we need them.

If you're walking your dog late at night and get a waft of vinegar coming from my kitchen window you know it's pickle daze.

asparagus, dill cukes, garlic, beans, beets, bread and butter, salsa, bruschetta, jalapenos, strawberry, raspberry, peach, plum, applesauce, yum

question: I hope everyone's hungry?

mompoet - putting by

Africa

My sister Barbara will leave at the end of August with her husband and kids to go live in Rwanda for a year. They will be part of a development program called VSO. (I'll have to find out more about it.) They will work as teachers in a town about 15km outside of Kigali. This is something they have wanted to do for a long time. Now the kids are 14, 11 and 9, the timing is just right. They'll be home in time for their eldest to graduate secondary school in Canada. They will do some good, learn about another way of life and have an adventure.

We knew for about a month that they were going "somewhere in Africa." VSO had not yet confirmed their placement. When Barb emailed me and our parents last night to announce the destination, she knew we'd be concerned. I spent about 90 minutes being pretty freaked then I settled down. Barb has sent us this website to find out about life in Rwanda. If you google Rwanda you just get news service after news service (beginning with the CIA - gulp) about all of the violence that continues in parts of the country.

I admire my sister so much. She's the one who pedalled with her husband around South America for 2 years back in the 80s after working in Ecuador on a development project. She lives in Cranbrook where her family and several others have sponsored so many Burmese refugees that Cranbrook now has a small but thriving Burmese community. I miss seeing her a lot, because she lives a 12 hour drive away. Now she'll be on the other side of the world.

I emailed her back right away then talked to Mom and Dad. My feeling is that it's natural for us to worry about them and wish they'd stay home, but we'd feel that wherever they go. I trust their choice, and if they say it's okay. It's okay. They will have an experience that most people would not even dream of. This will change their lives for the better when it's already pretty remarkable.

The good thing about an August departure is that we'll get to spend some time together before they go. In the meantime. I must learn as much as I can about Rwanda.

We are already invited to visit them. Mom and Dad will almost certainly go. If I could find the time and money I would, although it would also take some convincing here. Son and I are in one camp about travel: If we're going to do it, let's be as unusual and adventurous as possible. Kigali is ideal! Husband and daughter say: It has to be safe, and preferably insect-free. We want to go to an all-inclusive in Mexico. So far we just go camping in BC so our difference has not yet been tested. This may be the year we find out.

question: where in the world do you find what you seek?

mompoet - peeking around the corner of the earth

rwanda oh my
the word takes my breath away
stay no go go stay

What Old Lovers Do

Old lovers do all the same things we do
Go for moonlit beach walks
Make love like tigers
Fast, purge and have cameras inserted in their rectums

I drove my Mom and Dad to the hospital today
Colonoscopy appointments for two
They would have taken a cab
But after two doses each of a laxative
Calibrated to empty and elephant in under an hour
They could not bear the risk of lingering explosion
I told them it was okay, really
But my dad put a plastic bag and a towel over the back seat
Before he got into the car

I drove carefully
Avoided jarring stops and swerves
As I pulled up to the big doors
Dad said, “Have you had your rear suspension checked?”
For a moment I thought…
Then I realized, he was actually talking about my car
“I think you have a problem with your struts,” he said
Then Mom and Dad scuttled under the awning
And disappeared
Into admissions

As I drove away
I thought, man, that’s really romantic
Dining on jello and juice together
Running to the bathroom together
Allowing the camera to go way, way up
Together
That’s what old lovers do

I drove to the gym
Hopped on a stationary bike
My lazy leaden legs did not want to move
But I thought
In the name of health
For the sake of living for each other, for me
My parents are opening their anuses
For some invasive intestinal spelunking
I can do my goddam workout
And somehow I found the WHUMP
To propel myself through the pushing and sweating
To stay alive
To stay alive

And there was music
I pictured David Cassidy, 18 years old
All hope and tender good intention
And I thought about my husband of 20 years
Is he still my David Cassidy?
Am I still his Marcia Brady?
I wasn’t sure
So I pedaled harder, faster
Until my thighs screamed
I think I love you
I think I love you
I think I love you!

And launched me through another day of workout, work, evening meeting
I made it home at nine
Hugged my kids
Asked my daughter if she’d drive her dad and me to our colonoscopy appointment
When we’re old lovers
She said that’s gross
I kissed my husband
Told him about my day
Told him my parents’ tests turned out A-OK
Together

He said, “I know,
That’s what old lovers do.”

question: David Cassidy?

mompoet - Marcia Brady

what old couples do

I drove my mom and dad to the hospital this morning for their colonoscopy appointments. They didn't want to risk exploding in the bus or a taxi on the way. I drove carefully and we made it er, cleanly to our destination.

Driving away, I thought it was kind of romantic that they did this together - the fasting and the industrial strength laxative purges, then that tense trip to the hospital and what must have been an uncomfortable wait for an even less comfortable procedure, together.

I wonder, when Andy and I are an old couple, will one of our adult kids drive us to the hospital for tandem butt camera examinations? I asked them this when I came home, and they just wanted to know if Grandma and Grandpa had a video of their insides. Sure, we can go over to their place, make some popcorn and play "Guess Whose Colon This Is????"

Makes you want to write a poem or something. Michele says it's a bad idea but she's always been too modest. I know Mom and Dad will love it.

question: do you think it's romantic?

mompoet - really glad I'm still too young for fiber optic colo-rectal spelunking

ps Results were good - no stalactites
pps I mean it about the poem

Slam Finals (it was good)

It was a good good night and a long good day. After an afternoon with the family at Playland (rides 26-31 on the coaster) I headed over to Heritage Hall to help set up for Finals.

Everything was good. We sold out but turned only a handful away. Every poet was great. The judges were good and steady. Host Graham Olds kept things popping along. TOFU was delicious. I'm so glad to finally see Mike McGee, Shane Koyczan and CR Avery together after everything I have heard about them. They are good and real and good. (Have you counted how many times I said "good?" Good.) I bought their CD. It's good too. Lots of people pitched in to help make things go well, and it worked. The audience was happy. The poets were happy - of course the happiest were the winners: Brendan McLeod, Chrystalene Buhler, Barbara Adler, Zaccheus and alternate Magpie Ulysses. I loved every poet and every poem. Fernando Raguero and Kim Shaughnessy did beautiful sacrifice poems. It was such a good good good night.

So I hope you'll pardon this un-poetic and barely literate description of the night's events. You see, I got just 4 and a half hours of sleep. Luckily I had an on-the-go day at work. A bla bla meeting in the afternoon would have done me in. There's not much worse at work than the excruciating experience of trying to prop the eyes open at 2 in the afternoon while somebody drones on and on about something you read already bla bla bla...It's embarrassing to fall asleep at a table full of co-workers and/or bosses. So I'm glad I didn't. Driving home I listened to the TOFU CD and that kept me awake laughing and crying and saying, "That's a mighty good CD, that is." Then tonight I had to help the girl study for her socials test about Peru and we got all giddy about llamas and potatoes and Lake Titicaca. So now I suppose it tis time to sleep.

I think it's very very GOOOD that I have so much fun that I miss out on sleep. I'd sooner be running on empty from time to time and being part of this GOOD GOOD fun and creative artistry than to miss it and get a solid 8 every night.

Good finals! Good community! Good friends! Good poetry! Gooood nigggghhhhht.

question - ever been so tired you could sleep on the roller coaster?

mompoet - good and tired, and good

TWO REELY BIG SHEWS

Best Slam Poetry in Vancouver
Vancouver Poetry Slam Semi-Finals
Monday, May 23
Heritage Hall in Vancouver
Doors at 8, Show at 9
$10 to get in
The best darned slam poets in Vancouver will compete to represent Vancouver at the US Nationals in August and at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in October.
Feature: T.O.F.U. Mike McGee, Shane Koyczan and CR Avery

Best Garage Sale in Port Moody
Easthill Garage Sale
Saturday May 28
Sunday May 29
Cornell, Cambridge, Cardiff Ways in Port Moody
Officially 9am-4pm but lots of people come early. If you stay late we will give you beer.
250 CARPORTS FULL OF STUFF YOUR NEIGHBOURS DON'T NEED ANY MORE
Best stuff on Saturday
Best deals on Sunday
Free stuff on Sunday night
Monster street party Saturday (drink beer, eat pizza and ask yourself, WHY DID I BUY LIME GREEN SIZE 14 IN-LINE SKATES?)

question: what do these two events have in common?

mompoet - procrastinating and listening to three grade 6 girls in the bathroom dressing up as aliens to make a science project movie. Do aliens wear lip gloss?

mompoet weekend forecast

We're staying home this weekend. Here's my prediction for our basically unscripted Victoria Day stretch:

Probability of taking Alex to see Revenge of the Sith 99.9%
Probability of Andy and me walking to the other side of the inlet with the dog 100%
Probability of doing that twice during the weekend 75%
Probability of rhubarb pecan muffins 98%
Probability of church 100%
Probability of children getting up to go to church 42%
Probability of pizza on Friday night 101%
Probability of watching The Corporation on DVD (finally) 97%
Probability of balancing chequebook, paying bills, cleaning out laundry room, putting winter clothes into attic, bottling wine, rearranging casserole/tupperware cupboard, figuring out who owns which toothbrush head, dusting 75% for all of the above 100% for 75% of the above
Probability of reading for more than one hour in a row 80%
Probability of dramatic patio light installation in front garden 100% (they're bumble bees)
Probability of me washing and vacuuming out my car HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Sorry that's too funny
Probabilty of wasting time 100%
Probability of going to the mall -5%
Probability of sitting out in a carport with the neighbours and a glass of wine 86%
Probability of organized sport on TV or real life 0%
Probability of getting pinned to the couch by a cat 63%
Probability of rain WHO CARES!

question: whatcha doing this weekend?

mompoet - breathing out

I shoulda got stitches

Sometimes I do really stupid things. Or maybe just careless. Usually I end up okay anyway. Okay, so far I always end up okay.

Last Friday I waited too long to start supper then I was rushing to cut up a chicken for the oven. I used the horrible knife - a long, very sharp, serrated thing. I sliced the top of my ring finger, just south of the fingernail and past the first joint. I couldn't see how bad it was but I put three bandaids on and it kept bleeding. I put a fourth on top and it stopped. I felt kind of sick for a few minutes. Then I finished the chicken and got supper in the oven.

I thought about going to the clinic or emerg, but I didn't want to spend Friday evening sitting in a waiting room feeling like a goof for mistaking my finger for a drumstick, so I left it. I cleaned it well and made sure to use polysporin, and at my daughter's suggestion I put on one of those advanced healing bandaids. Those are mighty fine bandaids. Last year I wore one to Disneyland after I burned my arm with the kettle. The wound stayed clean and healed beautifully and the bandaid disguised it so I didn't look like a leper in the swimming pool.

I took a peek at the finger last night. It still hurts like the dickens now and again, but the edges are sealed back shut. There's some kind of frankenstein finger scar though. Youch! Oh well, all's well that ends well.

It got me thinking about something I was thinking about when I wrote "Venus de Milo,"

maybe it is some kind of
Venus de Milo envy
I'm literally disarming myself
in mute testament to my own impending redundancy

Everytime I damage myself by accident I think about this. A friend told me that injuries to extremities are a sign that I am not giving myself enough space or honouring my own self in my environment. His suggestion was to go through my space and re-introduce the parts of my body to it: "Arm, this is the door. Door, this is my arm." Renewed consciousness of myself in space will help me reduce the bumps, bangs, burns and slices.

I'm more impulsive than analytical, so I resist such ideas. I will, however, give it some thought and perhaps prevent actually losing a toe or something next time.

question: how do you get through a busy day with all of your parts intact?

mompoet - taking up space (and avoiding that knife for the time being)

It is how it is

We have a lot more NDP in BC today which is great. Gordo won by a 1.5 kilovotes in his riding. It was Lorne Mayencourt who squeaked back in by just 550 (damn, I did phone canvassing for Vancouver Burrard too!) Our own Karen Rockwell lost by about 3 thousand, but Mike Farnworth (NDP) is back in PoCo and it looks like Diane Thorne (NDP) probably won in Coquitlam, although it's very close. Harry Bloy just barely beat Bart Healy, the NDP candidate who wins the prize for standing by the side of the road and waving the most in any campaign.

Now I know what inside and outside scrutineers do, and I've experienced the adrenalin of 8am-10pm running, running, running to get the vote out. At the beginning of the day my volunteer partner and I had 4 voting places for roving inside scrutineering. These were reduced to two by mid-afternoon as more volunteers arrived. Early in the day we drove to the doorsteps of committed supporters in Anmore and Northeast Coquitlam and dropped of "vote reminders." Later in the day we called in from the polling place to the campaign office with the sequence numbers of voters who had shown up at the poll. Volunteers at the office phoned voters who hadn't gone to the poll to remind them to vote, offer rides, etc. I had not idea how much work goes into making sure people vote on election day. After the polls closed I watched the vote counts and ballot-balancing. It was very interesting and somewhat surreal. In the course of the day I saw 11 ducklings in a trailer park, a bucket put out for clean-up day that was labelled CAT (food), a man who argued with me about whether dropping of the vote reminders on election day was legal, an 18-year old election poll worker all starry-eyed about voting, experienced campaign manager and volunteers working with laser intensity, my friend Cathy staying calm and mentoring me through an almost overwhelming day, elections officers sitting on pillows they brought from home to cushion folding chairs (was that part of the training?), piles of sandwiches, apples, donuts and coffee for volunteers to grab and run at lunch time, a florist shop waking up early at 9am to take an order for a bouquet for Karen and lots and lots of people voting. And I saw a dozen of Karen's friends and supporters standing around a tv in the office at 10pm when the results were sure. After hugs and reassurances they turned out the lights and headed over to the party. What a day, what a day.

Port Moody Westwood was predicted to be the safest riding for the Liberals in the Tri-Cities area. But I hoped. We all did. I guess that's the upside of this little part of the big election story. We all hoped. Hope is the spark that starts many good things. It's still there. Next time. Next time.

question: why the heck not?

mompoet - eternal optimist and constant learner

nothing sweet about defeat

I just can't put a positive spin on it. Karen lost in Port Moody Westwood tonight. I still think she deserved to win, and I'm proud of her for her wonderful campaign and grateful for the opportuntiy to have worked for her, even in a small way.

I learned a lot today. It was rockem' sockem for sure. And I can say with certainty that we did what we could and I'm proud of everyone who got involved. I'm proud of everyone who voted. Especially the young ones voting for the first time. There were a lot of them where I was working, a lot with their moms, which made me happy. One guy had me almost in tears he was so earnest and concerned about marking the ballot right.

No matter what, though, it's disappointing to lose. There were lots of cheers at the campaign office as the results came in from around the province. It looks much brighter for BC, even with Gordon Campbell still in control (did I hear he won by only 800 votes?? - yes!) Karen was brave and a good sport but we were sad. When everyone left for the Legion to celebrate with the 4 Tri-City NDP candidates I came home. It was late already and I just want to be here right now - not drinking beer in PoCo and probably crying.

Guess I'll just have to get to know Howdy-Doody-I'm-Alright-Jack-Black for the next 4 years. In the meantime, I'm sure Karen will do great things. But we're all allowed to be sad for a while, right?

question: what could we have done to make it turn out different?

mompoet - I know, I know, we did our best

tomorrow is it

I stopped in to Karen Rockwell's campaign office tonight on the way home from work to get my instructions for tomorrow. I've booked the day off work to volunteer as a scrutineer. (Why does that name remind me of Disney's "Imagineers"?) Karen greeted me with a big hug and warm thanks. She is fabulous. She's the Georgia Straight's choice for our riding. She sure deserves to win, with her solid experience, dedicated hard work and good, good heart.

I'll work all day tomorrow with Cathy, a co-worker of mine who also lives in Port Moody and who first introduced me to Karen when she was running for city council. That will make the day enjoyable. When the polls close we'll gather with the other Tri-City NDP candidates and their supporters to watch the results come in.

Try something new. That's my favourite. This is it.

Do something worthwhile. That's my habit. Here I go again.

Hope for the best....yup I sure will.

question: will it work? will it work?

mompoet - the night before Christmas feeling right now

Who says politics is boring?

Gordon Campbell gets pink-slipped

There's lots more fun on the Pink Slips website.

mompoet - tickled pink by real people

BC STV Vote

Almost everyone who I have talked to is confused about the STV referendum, despite the information that's floating around. Here's a sample of information, both for and against the STV. Whatever we do, we should know about it and vote...Otherwise somebody else will choose, or we will choose randomly without understanding the implications.

It's not that difficult...take a few minutes to find out if you have not done so already. I've picked these articles because they are pretty straightforward. One is even a cartoon!

FOR:

A cartoon put out by the Citizen's Assembly - STV is Fruity-Good stuff

Vote Yes for STV website

Rafe Mair Loves STV - Tyee Article

AGAINST:

This week's Georgia Straight Editorial - STV is bad for poor people

Know STV before you vote website (otherwise known as "NO STV")

David Shreck - Vote No if Uncertain

NEUTRAL:

The Tyee list's party positions on STV

CBC Explains STV and Illustrates with Ice Cream Poll

Read, talk, know, vote - it's a short commitment with long consequences or benefits...

question: penny for your thoughts?

mompoet - busy too, but not too busy to care

Beautiful Rain

What a comforting sound to hear rain on the roof in the night. It's been a long time since we have had a good long, thick rain. I am glad to see it. I have friends who are camping, and I wish they weren't out there in their tents, but aside from that, rain is good. Sitting in my warm kitchen, looking at the water dripping off of the rhododendrons is cozy and delicious.

When we were little and Mom and Dad took us camping at Douglas Fir or Silver Fir campground near Mount Baker, we would retreat to the picnic shelter on rainy days. I remember a big box of 64 crayolas and grill cheese sandwiches with homemade bread and cheddar cheese, and Campbell's soup made for our lunch on a Coleman stove. Walking through the forest in rubber boots, the ground stayed dry for a long time, protected by the high, dense canopy.

The dog likes the rain too. She has such thick fur she doesn't get soaked to the skin, and when we get inside I dry her with a towel. She loves that. Sometimes when I am folding laundry she comes and looks at me with longing, so I have to pretend that she is wet, and "dry" her all off with one of my towels that I have just folded, she loves it so much.

Rain rain stay today.

question: Will it rain enough today to soak down to the roots?

mompoet - wearing warm socks

This is good

Papaya Cashew Salsa
(Recipe from the Vancouver Sun - they called it chutney, but I think it's a salsa)

Serve this wherever you would any other salsa - with beef, chicken, eggs, vegetables, chips...I served leftover on wheat thins with cream cheese...

1 cup diced fresh papaya
2 Tbs finely chopped red onion
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup unsalted roasted cashews, roughly chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/8 tsp crushed chili flakes
1 Tbs brown sugar
Juice of one lime
1/8 tsp salt (or to taste)

Mix up all of the ingredients. Let sit for a while and stir again before serving. Leftover keeps for a couple of days in the fridge. Mango can be substituted if papya is unavailable. Luckily we live in Vancouver so papaya is always available. Mango would be good too though.

question: don't you love this time of year at the veggie store?

mompoet - luxuriating in spring's bounty

Didn't Know this Existed

I saw these guys doing their thing outside the gas station Wednesday morning:

http://www.pacificbarkblowers.com/

They had a big truck and a long hose that looked like a vaccum hose but worked in reverse. They were blowing bark onto the garden beds. The sign on the truck said:

"Bark, compost or soil blown ANYWHERE you want!"

On the steps of the Legislature??

I don't know, I guess it's a cost-effective way to pretty up garden beds, but it seems to me to be in the same category as the power washer for leaves or blossoms on the driveway. Why use gallons of high-pressure water when a broom will work too? Why blow mulch with a big noisy truck when you could dump, shovel and rake. I suspect it's a guy thing.

question: why blow?

mompoet - slow and simple most of the time

wild life

When I came home from canvassing last night around 8:15 a small bat flew right past my head just outside our front door. It was tiny and fast - woulda thought it was a bird if I hadn't seen one before.

This morning I was walking the dog down the street and I heard a metallic drumming sound. I knew right away it was a woodpecker but I had to get closer and look around to figure out where. The little guy was hammering away on a metal stop sign. He was a beauty - no more than a handspan from tip to tip, with a scarlet head and dappled black and white body. A car drove by and scared him off the sign into a cherry tree - probably better pickings there. But when I came out of the trees onto the upper road there he was again, banging on another sign - maybe he was signalling to a female woodpecker? Does that really impress them? I guess loud sustained hammering indicates the ability to find lots of bugs and grubs for the nest?

We also have crows, robins, chickadees and a predominance of starlings. Something is always flying (or banging) around here.

question: rat a tat?

mompoet - earthbound