outgoing about going out

Thank you to Carol for this quiz:

Your Social Anxiety Level: 0%

You have low social anxiety. You don't have any social anxiety. In fact, you love being social. You're well adjusted and likely quite outgoing. Your social skills put others at ease.

Are You Socially Anxious?

I am not totally free of social anxiety. The survey didn't ask:

Do you mentally rehearse what will happen at a social event before you go?
Do you obsess about what you will wear to a social gathering?
Do you wonder if everyone else in the room feels like they might not find someone to talk to?
Do you dream about the party before you go?

I think I work out the anxiety in these ways. Anyway - take the quiz and find out for yourself.

question: do you sit on the couch, perch in the kitchen, or move around the room(s) at a party?

mompoet - usually happy to meet you!

Spark your Dream by Candalaria and Herman Zapp

On Sunday, Andrew and I went to the mall to meet a couple from Argentina who is traveling the world in a 1928 car with wooden wheels. Herman And Candalaria Zapp dreamed of traveling, put it off for a long time, finally did it, starting without money or a working car, had 3 babies in different parts of North and South America, and are heading next to Asia.

Herman told me, "Maybe our next kid will be Asian. One baby for every continent." Having met Herman and Cande, I think this might be possible.

Cande disappeard to go feed the baby and get some lunch for herself while Andrew and I looked at the map of their travels and investigated the car. Their car is shiny, tiny inside and very cool. It has a pop-top sleep tent and a cargo area jammed with toys for the children (5 years, 3 years and 4 months) and wooden wheels. The tires are regular tires, but the wheels are wood. They have to be kept wet during travel, or they will warp and crack. When the family drove through the desert they had to stop and wet the wheels along the way.

I asked Herman if they were home-schooling the children along the way. He smiled and said no, they are road-schooling. He spoke of visiting museums and historic sites along the way, and meeting people of every walk of life, culture and religion. He told me he wants his kids to know that Christians, Muslims, Jews and others are all the same people. They have opened their hearts and their homes to the family and helped them along the way.

I bought their book. Herman signed it, asking the names of our children to include in the inscription, posed for a photo, and bid us farewell with generous and friendly hugs. "You will have a home to stay in if you ever come to Argentina," he promised. "Unless you're out traveling," was Andrew's reply. We all laughed, and I nearly cried.

Herman and Cande are living their dream. The purpose of their travels is to do this, and by doing it, encourage others to do the same - not to wait, but to go for it.

When I told Herman that I had heard him and Cande earlier on the week on CBC Radio, he said, "That guy Rick is great. Most of the time they just ask - what's the farthest north you have been? what's the farthest south? Rick, he got it about the dream. That's what's important."

question: do you know anyone who lives his or her dream?

mompoet - filled with wonder

instant poetry is beautiful

On Monday night, my friend Amnesia Jane Smith and I hosted an Instant Poetry Slam at the Vancouver Poetry Slam. This was part of the "alt-slam" series - themed or alternative-format slam nights on the second Monday of each month. The poets' scores don't count for standings, and standard slam rules are warped or morphed for fun and creativity. In January we had a Group Piece Slam. In February, it was the Pan-African Slam. In March, it was the Sista'hood Slam. Different hosts step up to organize these slams, so a variety of styles and preferences take the stage for a unique night of poetry for the sake of play, once each month.

Amnesia Jane and I were a bit worried about getting poets for our slam. Participating was a risky proposition:

Come to the cafe at 7pm
Receive a writing prompt
Write a new poem starting NOW
Perform you poem in the slam, beginning at 8:45pm

We were delighted to find 15 poets ready to be in the slam. The writing prompt was "shake well before use." The poetic responses were varied in content, style and presentation, but were all related by their use of the prompt. Judges were instructed to rate the poem half on their overall assessment, and half on how well the prompt was incorporated. Amnesia Jane and I wrote too. We didn't perform our work though, because there were more than enough brave poets ready to write and perform without a net. It was an excellent night.

I have posted my unperformed Instant Poem in the post below this one.

question: would you, could you, write and perform something, all in one evening?

mompoet - I bet you could

Shake Well Before Use

my heart
chunks tight to the top front of my chest
the place where
swallowing is impossible
forcing me to
set down all crunchy past parodies
and accept dreams as nourishment

you
consume my thoughts
you
are beautiful
I know that you deny this
your repertoire of self-effacement
is polished as antique mahogany
subtle
as a fresh-hewed speed bump

I say
"I like your hair that way."
you say
"my bangs are hiding a zit that's about to pop
quick - pass me a bucket"

I say
"your idea is the best idea I have heard all day
you
are a genius"
you say
"that was your idea"

I say
"I can't stop looking at you"
you say
"what - do I have spinach in my teeth?"

while I find your humour endearing
I tend to think
when you pummel your own
artichoke
you are really staking claim to a separate superiority
KING OF THE DORKS
The BEST of the Liverwurst-hearts
Creamed something-not-very-good on toast

which prompts the lump-chunk
sticking spot
that magnetizes me in your direction
to say
give it up (please)
because you
are beautiful
so here it is in a coconut shell:

I desire the imperfection of you
your zit
is a GOD-ZIT
and you are King Vesuvius
when you pull on your new bicycle pants
I think that nobody
could look as wonderfully awful in bicycle pants
as you do
and that makes you wonderful
but the best part is your overbite
your overbite enchants me so
I can only stand here and say
DING A LING A LING

when I call you adorable
and you counter with "abhorable"
I want to take hold of your silly head
screw the lid on finger-tight
and shake well before use
until you stop saying
abhorable
and start saying
beautiful
beautiful
beautiful

some time later
the jarring thought may occur to you

^^^^is^^^^doing^^^^to^^^ ???
why^^^ she^^^^^this^^^me
(because I might still be shaking you, just a little bit)

and when your contents settle
to a gleaming strata of
beautiful on top of
beautiful on top of
beautiful on top of
beautiful on top of
beautiful

you will know
why me
why you
why I say it

because I know when I say it
and you believe it
I will believe it too
(and not only for you)

because I know when I say it
I am really saying - from the
rock-gullet heart-stop place between chest and throat

beautiful

yeah, me too
me too

warm

Spring has been unseasonably cold. Cold and damp. Damp most of the time, cold always.

I have not got out of black shoes and fuzzy coats yet, and it's mid-April. Until Saturday.

Warmth was predicted days in advance. We all walked around buzzing "20!" (this referring to degrees Celsius). Giddy with hopefulness we shivered through the week, almost afraid to believe it could happen.

Saturday arrived. By 9am it was 11 degrees outside. By early afternoon it was 22. We opened all of the windows to the house to let the warm, fresh air in. Flowers bloomed. Cherry blossoms popped. It was instant spring. In our car, we rolled down all of the windows and let our hair blow. We saw kids wearing shorts and bathing suit tops outdoors. We stood on the balcony and blinked.

Sunday morning it rained a bit, then warmed again. Another beautiful day!

Today it rains again, but I'm sure it's not so chilly. Maybe I can put away my black shoes and fuzzy coat.

question: are you warm?

mompoet - talking about the weather is boring, but this is momentous to us

good for you (somewhat)

I heard on the radio today that Girl Guide Cookies are being criticized for their trans-fat content. A representative of Guides Canada said essentially that cookies are treats, and we all eat things that are bad for us, and that we should do it in moderation or we'll never have any fun. The story also quoted the argument that changing the recipe would change the taste. Well, the cookies have been re-reciped twice in the last 10 years after Dare took over making them from Christie, so changing them again wouldn't be breaking with a long tradition of tastiness.

I'm inclined to say that a little of a bad thing is okay, especially for a good cause, but it's also possible to make this bad thing better, so I think they should.

question: do you eat girl guide cookies? and if so, which do you prefer - choco-mint or vanilla and chocolate sandwiches? and what about this trans-fat thing?

mompoet - former brownie and guide and current cookie-eater (in moderation) and able to have plenty o' fun with our without the cookies

getting ready for grad

Alex will graduate from secondary school this June. In May, there's a dinner dance at a fancy hotel, followed by an all night fun party at the school to discourage dangerous partying elsewhere. For the fancy dinner, all of the students dress up. The girls all ordered their dresses months ago. Now the boys are shopping. Alex opted to rent a formal suit for the occasion. Here he is at the rental place modeling the one he chose. (He'll not wear the #420 on the lapel to grad.)

I think he looks very handsome.

question: what did you wear to prom/grad?

mompoet - I sewed my own grad dress.

blossom

daytime into dream consciousness

On Monday at work we had a sad incident with one of the men in the community. He has no place to live, and struggles with addiction. Late in the afternoon, we found him asleep under the bench at the bus stop outside our front door. My partner at work has been meeting with him and our community police rep. Together they have been trying to help this man get into treatment and find support and safe housing. He's still outside, and clearly struggling these days.

So at night I dreamed about homelessness. I somehow mixed in some sad news from the weekend and my festival experience to make a collage of unlikely events, but that's dreaming for you.

Mom and my sister and I are on the run from a bad man who wants to harm us. Our home is not safe. We must leave without coats, belongings or money. I have my cell phone. We have bus passes apparently, because we take the bus to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver to see a musical. We are sitting in the theatre, watching Cats, when I realise we can all go live at my house and we will be safe. My husband will protect us. So I'm watching Cats and trying to text Andy to tell him I'm coming home, and my Mom and sister are coming to live with me.

question: when your brain solves a problem in dream-life, where does it get its ideas?

mompoet - collaging

music in my heart

I spent the weekend at the Coquitlam District Music Festival with Fi, who won everything she entered. I will try not to be a boasting mom, because it was all the daughter's doing so she's the one entitled to boast (which she doesn't). We saw dozens of lovely performances by young vocalists and listened to encouraging and constructive adjudication notes from the wonderful Kevin Power. My heart swelled up to bursting over and over again. Most people never get to be in this place. I am happy happy happy.

question: did you ever witness something wonderful at its beginning of wonderfulness?

mompoet - experiencing wonder on an ongoing basis these days

fern shadow

bromeliad ecosystem

My Mom sent me a link to this delightful article about life in the top of a pineapple.

question: would you like to be tiny for a few days?

mompoet - marveling at the world around us

I though April 1 passed me by

Then I read Stephen's blog this morning and the fool's day was redeemed.

question: did you get fooled?

mompoet - no fooling (sigh)

school again

The last time I took a college-level course was in 1984. Just to give you an idea, I prepared every university assignment I have ever done on a typewriter. A lot has changed.

Now I'm heading into a Supervisory Skills course tomorrow. It's part of the leadership course I am taking at work. In a lot of ways, it's a cushier ride than when I was in university. The course is paid for, the books are paid for, I get paid to attend. There's a free lunch. I still have to do the reading and homework and show up and participate, and I get credit for a BCIT business course. By the way, I have never taken a business course at university or college.

I have heard from last year's participants that this part of the program has a heavy workload. We have 3 chapters to read from the text before tomorrow morning (I have read two). It's pretty straightforward, and mostly material I have encountered before, in the course of my work and in seminars and workshops that I have attended through work over the years. There will be written assignments and a final exam, but that can't be too much different from written reports and a big day at work when I need to have my ducks all in a row.

I'm excited, and hope that it will be informative and challenging. This is the year to stretch my brain, expand my horizons and refocus my compassion and engagement with the world. I hope that Supervisory Skills will be an interesting part of it.

Now to Chapter 11.

question: what's the last course you took?

mompoet - student again

blueberry scones

Breakfast this morning:

2 2/3 c whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
6 Tbs brown sugar
(Stir these all up in a medium-sized bowl)

1/2 cup butter or marg
(Add this and incorporate thoroughly with a pastry mixer or two knives)

1 1/2 cups blueberries - fresh or frozen
(Stir in gently)

3/4 cup milk
3 Tbs lemon juice
1 egg
(mix in a measuring cup and add to the dry/berry mixture)

Stir just until combined. It will be sticky. Move the dough lump onto a parchment-covered large baking sheet. Pat down to a big circle (about 10" diameter). Use a bit more flour if you need to keep it from sticking to your fingers.

Cut the circle into 8 pie-pieces. Gently separate these to spread them out across the baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with a bit of sugar if you like.

Bake about 20 minutes at 450 degreesF. They're done when they're golden and the berries are bubbly.

Yum yum yum. Best eaten still warm from the oven. Serves 4 for a meal or more for a snack.

the end of the shelter program (for this winter)

Here are a couple of articles about the Cold Wet Weather Mat Program, from this weekend's local newspapers.

The Now

The Tri-City News

My impression from following the stories, attending rezoning hearings and volunteering when the shelter was at our church is that the project yielded better immediate results than we could have imagined. It also promises long-term results for the people who have found shelter and treatment where needed, and for the development of a permanent shelter and transition facility in our area.

question: have you heard the story?

mompoet - enjoying the happy end to this chapter, looking forward to what's next

the drop-off documentary

Alex and his friends made this in film class last year. Alex is in the film (interviewer #3 with the glasses and short light-brown hair, and one of the greeters in the final scene).



question: where do you drop off?

mompoet - heeding the signs all of the time

good things happening too

The Tyee ran this article that filled me with delight.

question: have you found the poetry on youtube

mompoet - more there than you could imagine!

some things I missed in the news lately

Canadian Poppy Quarter Spy Coins
(who knew that US defense contractors carried their coins in plastic bags in their inner coat pockets? arrr Canadian spies foiled again!)

Some Christians Believe that Environmental Stewardship is Unnecessary
(what about "on earth as in heaven?")

Sometimes the thoughts and beliefs of some people cause me to
tremble
tremble
tremble
tremble

question: did you know?

mompoet - boggled and saddened by this thinking and believing

always listen to your dog

Dooce is my favourite blog. Yesterday Heather Armstrong posted this story about her wise dog, Chuck. It comes with photos by Heather's husband, Jon.

question: do you have a dog?

mompoet - listen to your dog

Easter Weekend - the list

I have enjoyed a great 6-day break from work and routine. Today is day 6 of 6, so I am looking back. Here's what-all happened.

• I got a haircut.
• I swept the winter blowdown off the deck.
• I bought vegetables and reorganized the fridge.
• My sister and her family arrived from Cranbrook.
• My family and I spent lots of time at Mom and Dad's place, visiting with the whole big family.
• I attended church twice (Good Friday and Easter Sunday).
• I lounged at my parents' place with my Mom, Dad and sister while the girl teenagers had a supper party at our house and the boy teenagers and husbands went to the hockey game.
• I chatted on the phone with various friends.
• I finished reading a novel.
• I worked on a poem.
• I wrote morning pages.
• I saw the movie The Counterfeiters.
• I shopped at T&T Supermarket.
• I went for some nice long walks outdoors.
• I roasted a turkey and made mashed potato casseroles.
• I didn't let anyone else mess with the gravy.
• I played home-made balderdash with the whole big family. Now everyone calls Grandma "Gumma" which is really gross if you know the definition of gumma.
• I finally had supper at Cap Hill Szechuan with my sister and her family and my family and my Mom and Dad. Sister and family have been waiting 2 and a half years for this.
• I played Apples to Apples with some of the family.
• I hid Easter baskets for the teenagers.
• I hunted for chocolate eggs, hidden by the teenagers for the adults.
  
• I drove various kids around in my car.
• I gave my car to my son to drive various cousins around in.
• I painted my toenails.
• I slept in.
• I read newspapers and magazines.

It was a nice break.

question: what did you do for Easter weekend?

mompoet - going back to work tomorrow, rested and replenished

and now for something completely different

Matthew Baldwin posts great links at his blog Defective Yeti. Here's one:


Delicious Snacks Distract Congressmen From Horrors Of War

heaven

The Vancouver Sun had a good dialogue about heaven on Saturday. Here's a link to the story.

question: what is your heaven?

mompoet - working on the idea of heaven in us and all around us, rather than as a future destination with a turnstyle and entry eligibility

day 3 of six

like halfway through the top scoop of a two-scoop ice cream cone and my favourite flavour is on the bottom and someone dipped the cone tip in chocolate so it's waiting too

I love long-long-long extra bonus weekends

question: how is your weekend going?

mompoet - everyday delicious, yes indeed

like a tickle in the throat

or an itch wanting a scratch

the solution to a poem-partway-done then abandon is bump-bumpa-lumping at the back of my mind

but there are dishes, and groceries and a family supper...

wait poem, wait, please be still and don't evaporate. I'll be back.

question: when you listen to yourself, what do you hear?

mompoet - memorizing part of a melody so I can find it again when all is quiet

long weekend

I'm away from work for 6 days now. HOORAY! It's the first break I have taken since coming to my new job in January. Okay, it's only been a couple of months, but I like breaks. Don't we all like breaks?

My sister and her family will arrive from Cranbrook Thursday evening to spend the weekend with the family. This is a real treat, especially because Mom isn't ready to make the car journey to Cranbrook. Her new hip is healing well, but 12 hours on the road, with multiple climbs in and out of the car is a bit much at this early date.

The kids are looking forward to spending time with their cousins. I'm looking forward to gang-cooking and a big goofy game of balderdash. It will be nice.

question: is there someone who you have been missing? will you see that person soon?

mompoet - I will see them soon

something we all need to hear

listen

some pictures of pictures of the shelter

The party at the church for the people who helped at the shelter

On Friday night we had a party for the shelter volunteers. I got things organized and sent out invitations. The rest was easy. People from our church brought delicious desserts and lots showed up to help set up and decorate and serve. About 60 attended, out of a total of 130 volunteers. We had a lovely and delicious time. It felt good to say goodbye and "until next winter" to many good friends we have met during our shelter weeks.

question: if you could invite anyone you wanted to invite to a party, who would you invite?

mompoet - happy

some limericks for ye'

My friend Irene has been involved with the Vancouver Celtic Fest for the past few years as the Queen of Limericks. This year she wrote a tribute limerick for the festival's 5-year celebration:

Five years of superb celebration!

Five years of our awesome creation!

Research it and then ya

will know five millenia

of Celtics is huge inspiration!

I asked her to send me a couple more limericks to post today, in honour of St. Patrick's Day. I told her it would be okay if they are a bit naughty. Here we are:

What Now?

These orders from people I dread:

“Come here! Hurry up! Go ahead!”

Next time when I’m humming,

and screaming, “I’m coming!”

I certainly hope it’s in bed!

More to Love

I worried what Isador thought o’ me.

I’ll diet, I said, There’s a lot o’ me.

Said he, Oh no, Minny,

Start eating! You’re skinny!

I love when you’re bosomy and bottomy!

Full Tilt
A couple, in lust, if you will,
had sex on the side of a hill.
cried she, Oh you devil!
Though You're not on the level,
Your slant on it gave me a thrill!

All I Need

Small pleasures to give me a smile

And friends who will go the last mile,

And heavens above!

I do need some love

Without batteries once in a while!

Question: are you any Irish?

mompoet - Happy St. Paddy's to you

Two a Penny

This is the winner of the student prize at this year's Quick Flicks 48 Hour Movie Challenge. Alex worked as a grip on this project. He and his friends created it over the course of a weekend, using an "inspiration package" provided at the beginning of the contest. They were almost eliminated for not including a "head-hunter, scout, talent agent." Watch for the scout.

theatre of the couch

After a couple of crazy-busy weeks, we sloped into the weekend with ebbing ambition and a keen desire to be still and quiet. The kids are on spring break for the next week and a half. We're anticipating a visit over Easter Weekend from the Cranbrook clan. This weekend was about doing less, more slowly.

We rented two movies, both on the same theme it turned out, but with very different approaches. Martian Child is one that Andy worked on. There was a big lag from the time the project was completed until its theatrical release. Then its stay in the theatres was very short, so I has low expectations when we rented the DVD. I do love John and Joan Cusack, but the DVD cover image and back of the box synopsis made it sound like a cutesy version of My Favourite Martian. It turned out to be a lovely, warm-hearted story about a sad man, a bossy but loving sister, and a strange child. It's based on real experiences, and it felt pretty real to me. The story's main message is pounded in with a purple velvet hammer in the final act, but the rest of it was good enough that I forgave that. Fiona and Andy both liked it too.

Rocket Science was one I meant to see but missed. It's hard for me to see all of the movies that I want to see, but I'm going to try to see more. Luckily they all come out on DVD so there's a second chance. This one is about a boy with a speech impediment who is recruited to the high school debate team by the girl who is the star of the team. It's a notch and half to the grim side of Napoleon Dynamite, but with similarly real and quirky characterizations and relationships, and some really stellar moments of teen-age reality reflection. I liked that is was not a Hollywood portrayal of impossible love overcoming improbable odds. Fiona liked it but said it made her feel sad. Andy did not like it.

Then it was 11:30 and we all slept like rocks. It was the right choice for a tired ending to busy week. Sometimes my favourite theatre is our couch.

question: what have you rented lately?

mompoet - pajamas, slippers and popcorn, plus a glass of wine

life coach

I am a fruit basket of serendipity. I ask for apples and apples fall into my lap. Not to say that every day is easy, but I seem to find what I need when I need it.

Today I had my first session with a life coach, provided as part of my "Leading from the Front Line" course that I'm taking at work. I sat in my car with my cell phone (people walk into my office like it's the skytrain station) and talked for 45 minutes. Christina is the coach who will be working with me, and with the other students in the course, for the rest of this year.

We had a "getting-to-know-you" kind of talk. I had done the pre-reading, and knew that I should expect a conversation that was for me, about me, and intended to help me maximize my experience in the course and in life in general. We talked about journeys, mirrors, colour preferences, inner voices, obstacles, me-time, priorities, choices. It was good, and interesting. Christina mostly asked questions, then reflected and re-directed my answers.

At the end she asked what I think now of coaching. I told her it was interesting and I looked forward to the next session with happy anticipation. By paying attention to me, she help direct my attention to myself. That's an unusual feeling, having someone help you look at yourself for almost an hour. I told her I felt like she knew me a lot better but I didn't know her very well because she asked all of the questions and I did all of the talking (about me). She told me that I probably know more about her than I think, just from our conversation. She said, "People aren't really their stories." This reminded me of something a counselor told me once a long time ago: "You are not your experiences. They are things that you go through, and that go through you. You are you all the while."

I feel like the time is right for doing some reflecting and understanding. I'm sure it will help me get more out of the course, and life in general. It's a time of change, so the help is timely.

question: did you ever catch an apple when you needed one?

mompoet - sometimes I get a grapefruit when I thought I wanted an avocado, but it's all good.

Quick Flicks

Alex was invited to join his friend Joel's Quick Flicks 48 Hour Movie Challenge team. The weekend before last he worked as a grip on a film that they made for a contest. Last night was the screening and awards, and his team won the student prize.

Each team received an "inspiration package" of things that needed to be included in the movie. The team that Alex was on had to work with:

Object: paper cups
Character: head hunter/scout/recruiter
Location: elevator
Phrase: the creatives are being screwed

Here's the synopsis as published in the program guide: "On the brink of insanity, David Michaels embarks on an enthralling visceral journey in his struggle to write the elusive last note to his masterpiece." The title: Two a Penny.

What a thrill for them to win. I enjoyed seeing their film, along with all the others. Theirs made me laugh (as did many). One made me cry. The first prize winner was disorientingly weird. There was even a musical. It was good fun, and good to see a project in which Alex participated.

question: did you ever do something big in very little time?

mompoet - admiring quickness and creativity

neverland

Peter Pan was this weekend. I saw 3 of the six performances. Fiona played Wendy in some shows, and an Indian in the rest. I think it was the best show she's been in so far. Andy worked backstage, so I barely saw both of them for the whole week, during the theatre rehearsals and preparations. This weekend I sat in the dark and enjoyed it all.

The flying was absolutely amazing. I thought I would be frightened to see Fi and the other actors swoop up in to the air, but I just felt delighted. My heart raced, and I laughed out loud. Somehow, in just a few days of flying lessons, they learned how to be launched to the rafters on a wire and make it look real. I know I will probably never again see my daughter fly out of the bedroom window and into the night sky, or swoop through the treeptops with an arrow in her heart, and drift to the forest floor (not dead, just fast asleep).

My mind boggles at how 30 young actors can pull together (in about 6 months) something so completely wonderful. They sang and danced beautifully, supported one another like seasoned pros, and conveyed perfectly the comedy, adventure and love that are at the heart of this story. Fiona shone. We are so proud of her.

I cried less than I thought I would. It's sad for everyone when the show ends, but there will always be another and another and another. This one was a treat, a plum, a trip to Neverland, a job well-done.

question: do you believe in fairies?

mompoet - happy memories

by this time tomorrow night

I will have seen our daughter fly.

Friday is opening night for Peter Pan. Fi is playing Wendy. She has been at the theatre most of the time this week, learning how to fly. Along with her fellow actors, she has been preparing the singing, dancing and acting part since September. I can hardly wait to see it all come together.

question: would you like to fly?

mompoet - my heart soars

a yummy healthy recipe, and a yummy recipe

Monday was Linda's birthday at work. I brought blueberry oatmeal muffins. Tuesday, Bruce returned to the office after time at another job. I baked chocolate brownies with chocolate chips. Here are the recipes:

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

This recipe is from Canadian Living Magazine. I have simplified it and made it 100% whole wheat.

3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup low fat yogurt - plain/vanilla/fruit - they all work fine
1 ripe banana - mashed
1/4 cup canola oil
1 egg

Mix those ingredients then dump on top:

3/4 cup rolled oats (the magazine says quick oats but I prefer old fashioned oats because they are oatier)
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Stir them in, just until blended (don't overmix)

Spoon the batter into 12 oiled or paper-lined muffin pan cups.

Bake 20-25 minutes at 375.


Chocolate Chocolate Chip Brownies

This is from the Joy of Cooking. I simplified it so much it's barely recognizable but every bit as yummy. I also increased the vanilla, eliminated the nuts (you can put them back in - 1 cup of pecans) and added chocolate chips.

1/2 cup canola oil
8 Tbs Fry's cocoa
4 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbs. vanilla

Mix these 5 ingredients up.

Add and stir in:

2 cups sugar (DON'T REDUCE THE SUGAR - THIS IS BROWNIES, NOT HEALTH FOOD. JUST GO FOR IT.)

Add and stir in:

1 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips

Pour into a greased 9x13" cake pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. It should be firm around the edges and still a bit soft in the middle.

Dust with icing sugar while still warm.

question: do you bake?

mompoet - firm around the edges and just a bit soft in the middle

mark your calendar and get your sweater

my new wheels

First of all, Dad informed me that my car weighs approximately 2,500 lbs (and he hasn't even looked inside my trunk). So my earlier estimate of how much metal and rubber I was hauling around was significantly short of reality.

The 2.5 kilobrick sat in the driveway today, while I took public transit to work. It was my first day to use my new employer pass. It's a one-year bus pass that will pretty much let me go anywhere, anytime, seven days a week. Getting to the office is a breeze - one community shuttle with a cheerful driver who plays the radio and greets passengers with a friendly hello, then bids each one, "Have a great day!" as they disembark. It's almost surreal it's so nice. Today I had to ride all the way to City Hall. I figured out a 40 minute route, using two buses. Not bad, because it would take me 30 in my car at that time of day. Trouble is, the bus broke down. The on-board computer just quit and the whole big machine when GGGGggggrrrrnnnnnmmp. Then nothing. Luckily another bus came by in the opposite direction, so I jumped on that and found another route in. I just made it to my training session on time. After work, the ride home was sunny and uneventful, with perfect connections, and even a happy driver on the big bus. My pass is a funny flexible little card that gets scooped into the ticket-reader and spit back out, just like a disposable faresaver, only I keep it to use all year.

In the meantime, Alex took my car to school, but he's only allowed to do that once per week. School is a 15 minute walk from home, so on-foot is his main method of transportation.

Busing will definitely be good in the warm weather months. It has already saved me on a couple of snowy days when I preferred not to drive. I'll see how I do in the windy-rainy fall months. I think with proper rainwear I should be okay. If I can leave the big blue metal thing in the driveway most of the time, it will last longer before I need to buy a new one, and the environment will benefit. Besides, I want to test my theory about how many sincerely friendly bus drivers are out there. I hope my first not-happy one is dramatic and entertaining.

In the meantime, I have to pack my bag and get to bed. There's a bus to catch tomorrow morning.

question: what transit is your transit?

mompoet - figuring out new ways to do things

tender

Life has been busy, with lots of calls to be flexible, understanding and accommodating. We all do all of these things every day with barely a thought. Sometimes it catches up with us.

Friday in cycle class, the instructor was spurring us on to pedal harder and faster by offering a visualization: "Now imagine there's someone who your really want to see, just at the top of the hill. Go for it! Catch up with that person!" I immediately thought of my sister and began to cry. I did catch up with her though, and visualized a high plateau ride together through range country.

Spending the weekend with the family is an exercise in shifting gears, coming and going, doing chores and fun things, rushing and relaxing. There's lots of discussion about who wants what and what we do next. Several times I found my feelings hurt by benign comments that I just took the wrong way.

At church this morning I was one of the first up for communion. We sing softly while everyone takes their turn. "Eat this bread, drink this wine, come with me and never be hungry. Eat this bread, drink this wine, trust in me and your will never thirst." Again, I cried.

I wondered, "What's going on?" I realised that there are a few things: Alex is heading into his grad time. Exams, college application, summer job. I know he'll be fine, but I still worry some about how he'll weather this time of change and challenge. I want him to enjoy it, and feel optimistic and confident, even though I know it's natural for him to be afraid. Fiona's "Peter Pan" opens on the weekend. She's ready and excited, but I'm thinking past the beginning to the end and knowing there will be an element of sadness and let-down for all of us when it is over. Andy is focussed on preparations for his job as Assistant Stage Manager with the show, but it has resulted in a demanding and conflicting schedule with little couple time to catch up and connect this weekend. For me, I'm feeling sad about our Minister's recent decision to leave our church at the end of June to pursue a powerful call from God to do something different. He's not running from us, but to something else. Still, it feels like he broke up with us somehow. I respect and care for him, so I am glad he is following this call, but I feel let down and a bit lost.

It's my nature to always crane my neck and look farther up the road. For every hurt or sadness, there is a counter-action. I may get to see my sister at Easter, if her family's plan to find an inexpensive last minute Cuban vacation does not come to reality. If they're home, we'll drive to their home (about 12 hours from our home) and visit for the weekend. As far as my easily-hurt feelings, I have thought about a few conversations (with people than other than family members) that have left me feeling diminished. I am prepared to respond next time in a manner that will help me express my feelings better so I don't carry away the weight of a negative exchange. As for the church, we will survive, and possibly be stronger. We will always have a friend in Tim, and we will find and love a new minister who will take his place.

Before I hop on my bike and pedal towards the sun, I know I have to look the sources of my sadness in the eye and accept that I have them with me now. Then I can drop them off, trade them in, reframe them to things I want with me for the long ride.

question: are you bouncy or tender today?

mompoet - definitely delicate

The wonders of Thursday

I feel like I lived a lifetime in one day on Thursday. It was a long day, but also with so many different lives and worlds pieced together into one day, it was a real wonder.

I rose at 4:30am and got to the church by 5:30. It was my turn to cook at the temporary shelter that we are hosting, and I had a request from one of our guests for French toast. Tim made sure we had bread and eggs. I brought the icing sugar for sprinkling, some strawberries and some whipped cream. I used 3 long loaves of bread, 36 eggs and half a carton of milk, and kept 2 frying pans going for about an hour. We had a great team working in the kitchen and breakfast area, especially Frank, who loaded on the berries and cream in extravagant quantities. Everyone came back for seconds. I was the last to sit down to a warm plate of breakfast. It was better than any French toast I've ever tasted.

After that I stopped by Alex's school, where one of his teachers interviewed me for her Master's project before school began. She's doing a project on caring in the classroom, and how it affects students ability to take risks and exercise their creativity in a secure and nurturing environment. It was an interesting discussion. We also chatted about graduation and scholarships. I was reminded again how grateful I am for this wonderful school and the people who are there, and how proud I am of Alex's accomplishments.

So then I realised that I smelled like French toast, and it was still only about 8:45 in the morning, so I popped back home, grabbed a shower, and changed into work clothes, but I didn't go to work right away.

It was massage day! Our work arranges practicum visits for student massage therapists. We pay a small fee for a one-hour massage session. I was booked for 10am. It was wonderful as usual. The therapist worked on my perpetually-tight trapezius and shoulders, helping me to relax the muscles and sharing some tips for improving my work station ergonomics to reduce strain. She also worked on my tendonitis in my elbow, that had flared up after a marathon of computer cell-clicking during budget prep. It hurt, and it's still tender two days later, but the ouch of the tendonitis has disappeared. Lying on the massage table was relaxing. I stayed awake, but enjoyed the rest.

I stopped by Costco after that, to pick up some photos and stock up on dried fruit and nuts (really!). We were suddenly out of dried cranberries and almonds and also granola bars for work and school lunches. It was a quick stop. I won't say "fruitful" because that would be a very bad pun (get the picture?).

After that I met my friend Chris for lunch. We work together normally, but we've been separated from daily interaction by my new job that I'm doing for a year. We had lots of catching up to do about work and family life. Chris missed the "silly lunch" the week before, but it was very nice just to have some one-on-one time. Because I wasn't due at the office until 1, we had a nice, leisurely 90 minute lunch.

Then it was work time! As usual, life at the rec centre is a whirl of activity. There's administrative, planning and supervisory work to do, but also the day to day things that come up with our members, who are 55 to 94 years old and participate in all kinds of activities from card games to t'ai chi and badminton. Work time raced past, but I managed to grab a break and go for a walk in the sunshine. I took the trail that runs along the creek, and listened to bird singing and the water rushing. Things are starting to green up, and everyone was out in light sweaters and exercise clothing. It felt like spring. I took my Nordic walking poles with me, so the 40 minute walk was a good strong workout too. I've decided to keep my poles at the office. There's great walking in the neighbourhood and it's a perfect way to refresh during a busy day. I was closing my eyes at my desk before my break, but rejuvenated after. Better than 3 cups of coffee.

In the evening we don't have any seniors programs. I was site supervisor until 8 but it was quiet, so I visited with the staff and bumped into some people I know from the neighbourhood at the centre for evening activities. I tidied a few nagging tasks at my desk and slipped away right at 8.

I had one errand to run before I could go home - picking up a couple of needed items for the family at the mall across the street from the community centre. I was in and out of the store quickly, which is good. I was tired.

At home I had a bite of late supper and a glass of red wine. I caught up with Andy, Alex and Fi and found out what they did all day. When my head hit the pillow at 10 I must have disappeared into sleep within seconds.

It was a long day, full of a bit of everything, all happy though, and I made it.

question: have you had a long day recently?

mompoet - stretchy and resilient

outside, the trees were damp and beautiful

these are my friends at work all wearing pink to take a stand against bullying

Here's what the day was about.

I wish I was there

This is a wondrous video of a very cool event.

question: did you see it?

mompoet - wish I did, grateful for the video

silly lunch

Last November, Louise, Lorri and I were having lunch and laughing our heads off. We seem to do this whenever we get together. We talked about how nourishing it is to be with people who prompt you to be loose and silly and ridiculous. We decided to share this experience with some of our, er, susceptible friends.

On Thursday we had our SILLY LUNCH. Here are some pictures.

We began by assuming silly names. These were drawn from 2 official envelopes ("Door #1" and "Edward") and recorded on nametags so we would not forget who we were.

Gronk Honeytrumpet brought her friend, Chongo 9.12. Chongo 9.12 travels by balloon to Abbotsford everyday with her sisters, Chongo 9.1 and Chongo 9, to collect gas. The gas is stored in secret facilities around the lower mainland. (Remember my post last week about the emergency callout? Unconfirmed reports indicate that the Chongos may have played some part in the evacuation of 500 households last week in Burnaby. But mostly the Chongos are very careful with gas.)

Hermintrude Callawallawalla brought silly toys from the dollar store, including light-up handclappers for budget preparation, giggle bags and a whoopie cushion.

Dame Fishwiggle looked like a rock star. Pitty-potato Galumpy Handsworth took time off school to attend the lunch. Porcupina Bumphrey the 3rd brought a newsletter from a school that will not be named that told about donor plagues being placed in several library books. This was particularly piquant due to Porcupina's preoccupation with bacteria. Mr. Jangles St. Vinnywhistle vowed to drive back to the office in the car with her very strange eyewear. And me, Petunia Goosey-lips, merrily blurted everyone's secrets golly-plopwaggle all over the table.

All non-silly conversation was nipped in the bud. Everyone had to address their friends by their new silly names, but we did forget. The penalty for this was to stand up and clearly introduce all of the friends around the table by their silly names, and propose a toast. Then sit down on the whoopie cushion.

The other people at the restaurant must have wondered what we were. But we didn't care. We had fun being silly. We will do it again soon.

question: how silly are you?

mompoet - silly is good

how to take care of your baby

Dooce posted a link to this site. Follow the instructions carefully.

question: none right now, the pictures answered every one that I have

mompoet - mom first

the shelter

I volunteered this week at the temporary homeless shelter that our church is hosting. I was there on Wednesday and Thursday morning, from 6 - 8am. I was surprised when I arrived Wednesday morning, to find the parking lot filled with cars. Surely there couldn't be that many people at the shelter at this time? It turns out that the Korean congregation that shares our church holds a service of worship every morning at 5:45am. That's something I did not know.

At 6am, at the shelter, our guests are just waking up. My job, along with 4 other volunteers, is to help serve breakfast, distribute bag lunches and put away beds and clean the church after the guests have left for the day. I felt curious, and nervous and worried that I wouldn't know what to say or do. How would these people feel, who had spent the night in our church? How could I be with them in a way that would convey my respect for them, and help them feel really welcome and appreciated? Would they be embarrassed? discouraged? fearful? Would I? Well, yes to all of that. But it turned out to be more like any other social meeting situation with people I don't know than I ever could have imagined.

So we got breakfast served. Some of the conversation was easy, "how are you?" "did you sleep okay?" "Would you like sausages?" "More juice?" was all easy. What was less comfortable was, "May I share this table with you?" "Hi, my name is Sue." It felt awkward. Luckily, some of our guests were willing to talk - ordinary small talk about favourite breakfast foods, and serious conversation about life without a fixed address. Mostly, we tried our best, on both sides, I think, to bridge some of that divide between us with the cars and houses, and them with the knapsacks, tents and tired faces. We are all people living in the same world, separated by fate, luck, circumstances. This chance to share a bit of our extra with those who can use it, even temporarily, is an opportunity to understand one another better, and to know ourselves in a new way.

We're not evangelizing at the shelter. Tim, our minister, says that Jesus just fed people a lot of the time. That's all. Shelter time is an expression of our faith in action. That's enough. I am thankful every day for this opportunity. My spirit is nourished without an out-loud prayer or an organized lesson. Helping at the shelter is an experience of faith and love beyond any that can be read or told or memorized.

After our guests left, I breathed out a big breath of gratitude and relief. This is going to be good. It will go by too quickly. I hope that I'll gain from it as much as I can, and also that I'll give to it just the same. I tiptoed upstairs to the church office, behind the sanctuary. It was 7am. The Korean service was still underway. I could see that the light was dim - probably just a few candles. Two voices sang a sad and loving song in a language I did not understand. The voices wove around each other, rising and falling, on and on. I couldn't know what they were saying but I felt a yearning and a reverence in their song, like reaching for something that you can only pray you'll find.

I stood in the stillness and listened.

This has been a time of new discoveries. I am blessed.

question: did you ever do something that made you feel things in a different way?

mompoet - finder of treasures in unexpected places

the moon

At 6:30 I was driving east to pick Fi up from rehearsal. The moon appeared from behind bands of cloud. I watched as the curved shadow of the earth moved across the moon's bright face. The moon seemed to take up the whole of the sky in front of me. When a cloud ribbon obscured it for a minute or two, I kept glancing at the spot where I knew it was, until it reappeared.

At 6:45, the doors of the rehearsal space opened and performers streamed out. Most didn't notice but one or two stopped to look. Soon everyone was saying, "Look! The moon! Eclipse!" There it was again, a slim fingernail-clipping of a thing, just above the trees.

Driving up the hill the moon played hide and seek as we turned and twisted higher and higher. Fi and her friend sang silly songs as I gasped at glimpses of the fully-shrouded disc hanging low in the sky.

Back at the bottom we stopped at the drugstore. Teenage boys stood in a cluster at the strip mall, pointing, as the moon poked its pale orangey-brown face from behind an apartment tower. Shoppers stopped to talk to each other and point the way, "It's just there, beside the middle floor, the one that's all lit up."

Back at home, outside the dining room window, the moon nestles in the branches of the alder tree, slowly restoring itself.

Now, some time past 9:00. It's full again. Next time, December 2010.

Question: If you stand on the moon at a lunar eclipse, do you see the earth traveling across the sun?

mompoet - closer to the sky than you think

random thoughts

• I have never asked my husband to sleep on the couch. Not even once in almost 24 years of marriage, but when he has a bad cough he tiptoes downstairs to let me sleep. I hope that he feels better soon. I know that cough. It's the pits. He's the tops.
• Driving in the car is one of the best ways to talk with a teenager. I almost missed my chance to make a mall-run with Fi on Sunday, but I was so glad I went. Driving to school once a week is good too. Nothing special or fancy, just a good chance to re-connect.
• Filling out a college application online is light years away from the way I penned block caps into boxes and attached multiple copies of hard-got documents when I did it back when. Alex spent 30 minutes at the computer Sunday, and his application is in. Transcripts (almost) magically transport themselves from Ministry of Ed database to post-sec institution with his (electronic) approval.
• Working together in groups is demanding and rewarding. I've logged dozens of meeting and phone hours in the past 2 weeks, at work and with my volunteer friends. We're getting lots done and strengthening bonds of trust and potential for future endeavours. Good stuff.
• Cooking makes me feel good, no matter what.
• I like taking the bus. It's cool to know the ride is there when I need it, and I don't have to haul a half ton of steel and rubber with me everywhere.
• I am still spinning on a string, looking for how to reset routines and adapt skills at my new job, but I'm starting to recognize the landscape as I hurtle past it. I've got my eye on a landing spot. Coming down soon...
• Nothing feels as good as knowing a friend is well, a family member is healing, people are blooming all around.
• Life is delicious, even in speedy little bites.

question: what are your random thoughts today?

mompoet - dip-skippity-ploppling a long

feasts

Yesterday at work I helped host my first big seniors' luncheon. It was a Chinese New Year celebration. A few volunteers did most of the planning, facilitated by my work partner. They planned the menu and ordered the food - about eight different dishes plus desserts. They bought decorations and organized door prizes. They booked entertainers and planned the program for the event. Hours of preparation went into it. When the day arrived, we came to work ready to work hard. We set up the room, put up the decorations, prepared a space for the entertainers to dress and wait, then just in time we were ready to welcome 108 guests. It was a big success. My favourite parts included the decorations, the meal (mmmmm), our own musicians and singers, and the seniors Chinese dancers from a neighbouring commmunity centre. Our member volunteers did the lion's share of running the event, while we ensured they had what they needed to make the afternoon go smoothly. It was a triumph of happiness and community spirit.

Last night at the church, our temporary homeless shelter opened. We are the 4th church out of five to take a turn at hosting this shelter, run by a local society that is working with a federal housing grant. Our rezoning approval came just in time (Tuesday night) and staff at the church and our volunteer coordinator (herself a volunteer) have mustered more than one hundred volunteers to work morning and evening shifts, sort donated clothing, prepare suppers, breakfasts and bag lunches and ensure that information is distributed to our neighbouring homes and businesses about what we are doing. I didn't work at the shelter last night, but I prayed for its success. Tonight, Alex will work the evening shift. I can't wait to hear from him how it went. I'll do early mornings (breakfast and cleanup) twice a week starting on Wednesday. The ladies in the 'hood are donating Wednesday's supper.

In life, there are many feasts that feed our hearts and souls in many ways. I am grateful for this abundance.

question: what is a feast for you?

mompoet - reflecting

dear valentine

Dear Valentine,

I did not buy you flowers this year because of the sneezing and coughing and whining last year. I thought you would think chocolates are too cliche, so I planned a unique and personal valentine gift for you - something of me, made for you.

I decided to take a "love photograph" of myself for you, valentine, partly because I love you, and partly because you complain all the time about my flannel pajamas and bulky terrycloth robe and also about the sweatpants. I wanted you to see the romantic side of me...well, actually the romantic front of me. Well, some if not all of the romantic front of me.

I couldn't quite give up the chocolate part, valentine, so I designed a provocative and delicious pose including partial nudity and several strategically-placed Hershey's kisses. I thought I could maintain some modesty using the candies, and also leave something up to your imagination.

The way I imagined it, the photograph would be me, reclining on a rumpled, red, satin sheet, with nothing on, but some Hershey's kisses in the, um, bikini zones. I thought you would like that very much. I got everything I needed: the camera, the candies, a red sheet. But when I tried to set it up, I realised that I needed more candies than I thought, so I had to get dressed again and go back to WalMart for more, which made me kind of grumpy but I thought, "valentine's day is once a year so let's go for it."

By now, it was close to 3pm, and the kids would be home from school soon, so I hurried up and set things up again. The cat had curled up on the sheet and I had to shoo her off, then the sheet had cat fur on it, but I thought, that won't show up in the picture. I left the wrappers on the Hershey's kisses. I thought that way maybe you could eat them later. Also they wouldn't melt while I got the camera focussed and such.

Then I found out the real problem with this plan. The self-timer on the camera is 60 seconds, and 60 seconds is a very short time to run naked across the room, pose on a red sheet and get all of the Hershey's kisses in place to obtain a dignified pose and stay consistent with a valentine motif. The darn flash kept going off while I was still getting back in place or fumbling for the chocolates around the edges of the sheet. I was starting to sweat. I was also sneezing from the cat fur.

I tried again and again, each time with more speed, and less accuracy. There's one pretty interesting shot of me sliding off the sheet, onto the floor, with Hershey's kisses flying through the air. It's out of focus and kind of arty, but that's not what I was going for. I settled for glueing the kisses together onto triangles of red construction paper, into a kind of candy codpiece and bra, and sticking this to my skin with packing tape. I hoped the tape would be invisible in the photograph, but by now I would pretty much settle for just getting it done.

By the time the kids got home I was dressed, and had tossed the red sheet into the laundry. The kids and I took the camera and memory card down to Costco photo lab. I figured we'd be done and home before supper with a nice surprise for you. The thing is, at Costco I ran into the minister and his wife, waiting in line behind me while I viewed the pictures on the card reader and selected how many and what size enlargement. I thought I was having a hard time explaining to the kids what I was doing, but the minister? Good thing he and his wife were laughing too hard to say much. I paid for the prints and got home as fast as I could.

When I got home I made two discoveries.

1) I forgot to put the Hershey's kisses away. The dog ate all of them, and barfed chocolate with bits of red and silver foil all around the house.
2) In my rush to escape from Costco, I left the packet of prints and the enlargement on top of the car. It slid off somewhere. Maybe in the parking lot, maybe somewhere on the way home. Maybe someone found it. My Costco membership number is on the envelope so I'm sure they could track me down if they wanted to. I doubt they will.

I meant three discoveries.

3) I left the memory chip at Costco. I don't want to go back for it. In fact, I don't ever want to go back to Costco. Perhaps a new memory chip could be my Valentine's gift this year? (some memories you just don't want to hold onto)

Dear Valentine, I hope that you will accept this story in place of the "love photograph" I had planned, and that you will appreciate all of the trouble I went to for you, even though you will never see the results.

After I clean up the dog vomit, maybe we can call for pizza.

Happy Valentine's Day, with kisses.

me

ps - what would you think about looking for a new church?

thursday already

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

It's early Thursday morning, and the end of the week is in sight. It's Valentine's Day, and I'm expecting a quiet-ish evening after work. Andy has been home sick for the past couple of days and just only returned to work this morning, so he'll be tired tonight. The kids will be home and me too. I'll make a nice supper and maybe we'll watch a movie on DVD. We'll see.

At work, I have my first Seniors' Society Board meeting where I am the key staff person in attendance. I'm confident it will go well, but I'll be relieved once I get through it. The afternoon is a techno-mystery to me. I'll spend it in a "budget workshop." That means I will be in a room with computers with my co-workers and an Info Services specialist, inputting my 2008 budget to our new automated system. The deadline for completing my work is Monday, so I'm trusting that the info I have prepared already is good, and the process won't be too picky and time-consuming. All of the permanent staff positions are pre-set in the system, but more than half of my staffing is casual, so there will be work to be done, in a language with which I am not yet well-versed. At least I know I'll be in the same boat with everyone else, learning as we go.

Tomorrow the kids will be home from school for a pro-d day (teacher development). I usually take these off work, but it's the Chinese New Year Luncheon and I need to be there to help run the event. That will be a busy but fun day at work, and I think the kids are okay. I'll leave them my car.

This weekend is the Spagnol's sale. Spagnols sells wine-making equipment and supplies. Andy and I will avoid the big Spagnol's store, which will be a madhouse, and visit instead our local wine supply shop, Gerry's Vintner's. Roger there run's a parallel sale - much closer to home, just as cheap and not so crowded. Then I'll have lots of wine kits from which to make wine at home.

The weekend is unstructured, except for the church AGM Sunday afternoon. Our homeless shelter opens Friday night, but I won't be on duty as a volunteer until next Wednesday and Thursday early mornings. Alex will work Saturday night, so he'll be the first in for our family.

Sitting in my chair in the early morning, it looks like a good last stretch to the weekend. The sun will shine today, and all will be well in the world.

question: What does Thursday look like to you?

mompoet - doing okay

on standby

I was contemplating pajamas and a glass of red wine by 8pm tonight. A perfect end to a Monday full of Mondayness. Now I'm sipping green tea and staying dressed because I might have to go back in to work.

The recreation centre where I work is designated as a reception centre in case of an emergency. I'm one of the the city staffers trained to come out to help if I'm needed. Tonight, there's a gas leak in the neighbourhood and my boss just called to say maybe they'll need me. At a reception centre, people who are evacuated from their homes gather, get registered, and are provided with what they need to get through the next few minutes, hours or days. If people can't return to their homes, the Emergency Social Services program arranges hotel rooms and vouchers for meals, clothing, and other immediate needs. It's reassuring to know that the program is there, ready to kick in whatever happens. Most often it's a ...

Oh, there's my phone.

Gotta go. I'll tell more later. I'm called in.

question: I wonder what will happen? (this is my first call-in)

mompoet - going now


UPDATE - 10:20pm

By the time I got to the rec centre around 8:15pm, 500 homes were on the evacuation list. We had to be prepared for 1,000 people. As it turned out, not nearly that many showed up. Some people found other places to stay, or went out for supper to await further news. Those who came to the reception centre were made welcome in our gym and lobby areas. Some emergency volunteers and designated staff were on hand to help. We were able to provide an update: the gas had been shut off, and now workers were checking for any remaining pockets of gas, and venting manholes to ensure safety.

We were pretty sure everyone would go home that same evening, so we served coffee, ordered in pizza, made sure people had a place to rest and answered questions to the best of our knowledge. Had the evacuation gone later we would have stayed and made arrangements for hotels and meals, but by about 9pm, we received word that it was safe to go home. We thanked everyone for their patience, and said goodbye, then had a short de-brief meeting, cleaned up and went home.

My first call-out was low-stress and mostly about waiting and making people feel welcome, comfortable and reassured. Not so bad at all. I admire my boss and the other volunteers and staff with whom I worked. I can see how they (and I) could make a big difference in more serious circumstances.

Now to unwind, debrief a bit more with the family, and find those pajamas. Too late for the red wine, but there will be other nights.

question: have you ever seen an emergency reception shelter?

mompoet - If you ever did, I hope that things were okay for you, and that everyone got to go home soon.

dark morning

Friday morning was heavy and dark. I took this photograph while I walked around the outside of the building where I work. The sky looked heavy with snow and the mostly bare trees were stark and beautiful.

If you know me already you know that I find winter to be a beautiful time. I like the shape of trees, I like skies painted in shades of grey. I like early darkness. There is depth, texture and infinite variation, with less distraction than I find during the other seasons. Things hold still in winter, and let me look at them.

question: which season do you find most beautiful?

mompoet - staring at tree branches

come on in, y'all

Last night I had some sewing to do. I planned to come home from work right on time, cook and serve a quick supper, then huddle with my fabrics and sewing machine for 4 or 5 hours. I have a costume deadline for the weekend, and it's a busy week.

About 3pm, I was still at work, and I noticed it had begun to snow. By the time I left at 4:30, the snow had piled up at least an inch or so on the ground. It took me 45 minutes to make my usually 10 minute car trip home.

At home, the kitchen was stacked with cupcakes and cupcake-making paraphenalia. Fiona and her friend Kira were in the process of cooking up nine boxes of cake mix. In all they made over 200 cupcakes for a school bake sale. In the meantime, Kira's mom phoned from work. Both she and her husband work at the university, which is at the top of a small mountain. The snowstorm had closed driving access for an indefinite time. I told her that Kira could stay as long as needed, including overnight if they found themselves stranded.

Fortunately for our supper prospects, Andy was out on the porch, barbequeing in the snow. I helped set out condiments and veggies at one end of the crowded dining room table. Then the doorbell rang. Rhonda from next door had been stuck in the snow on her drive home. She and her boys, Bowen - 2 and Tristan - 4, had walked for about 1/2 hour in the snow, and left their house keys at the car. We found the copy of the key that they keep at our house and they went home.

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang again. Rhonda's husband Chris was late arriving home because of the snow, and Rhonda had an appointment. We took the boys, along with their supper, and Rhonda left.

Time for supper. I heated up chicken, veggies and rice in the microwave for Tristan and Bowen, while everyone else served up chicken and beef burgers from Andy's barbeque. They were yummy. The boys enjoyed a bit of ketchup on the side, and Bowen showed us the sign language gesture for "more."

After supper, we watched a bit of "Big Comfy Counch," read some Dr. Seuss, played Hungry Hungry Hippo, and made a box fort. Fi and Kira helped entertain the boys in between finishing batches of cupcakes. Andy snugged on the couch with Bowen, who likes Andy a lot. Alex brought the cat downstairs to be petted, then retreated upstairs with the cat for some peace and quiet.

Chris arrived around 7:45. Kira's parents made it down the hill by about 8:45. All was quiet by 9. Fiona even cleaned up the wall-to-wall cupcake making and burned me a CD from iTunes while she was doing it.

I still have sewing left to do, but I wouldn't have traded this whacky, funny evening for the world. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

question: have you changed your plans recently? Did you enjoy the diversion?

mompoet - just going with it

mailing my pajamas

I mailed my pajamas to Vancouver on Monday. Today or tomorrow, my friend Rhonda should receive them. I hope she wears them right away, or at least that same night.

It began about a week ago when Rhonda posted on her FaceBook status that she felt like wearing flannel, but did not own any. I posted on her wall that I would send her a pair of pajamas, and offered her the choice of red with snowmen or blue with penguins. It took a few messages back and forth to decide that we would really do this with real pajamas, and ended up with me mailing the pajamas. I have also started a mail my pajamas blog, and (I hope) a fun game of pajama travels.

I have asked Rhonda to enjoy the pajamas, and when she has finished with them to mail them to someone else. Along the way, I have requested emails and/or photos of the pajamas' progress, which I will post to the blog.

I miss the pajamas a little. They were among my favourites (I have many pajamas). It's exciting, however, to think about them being set free and having adventures, and making many different people comfy and cozy with their flannelness.

question: what's the most interesting thing that you ever sent in the mail?

mompoet - wearing the pink pajamas with kitty cats, with a brown sweater just now

ready to cook

Saturday was Mom and Dad's 51st wedding anniversary. My niece Maya was in town, visiting during her semester break, staying with Grandma and Grandpa and hanging out with her cousins, Alex and Fiona.

We converged on Mom and Dad's house Saturday evening for a big lettuce wrap supper. Maya, Fiona, Mom and I chopped and chopped in preparation. Dad, Andy and Alex helped set the table and serve beverages. This photograph shows just some of the components of the lettuce wraps, prior to hitting the wok: red, yellow and orange bell peppers, onions, garlic, fresh ginger, zucchini, carrots and of course the lettuce leaves, ready to receive the crispy, spicy, steamy filling. Also present but not shown were green peppers and water chestnuts and sizzled vermicelli noodles for bedding.

The supper was yummy. A huge amount of lettuce wrap was consumed. It felt good to celebrate Maya's visit and Mom and Dad's anniversary with some family time together.

question: do you like to cook with loved ones?

mompoet - partying in the kitchen most of the time