Tuesday April 30th, 2019

The exercise:

Write two haiku about: formations.

Monday April 29th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the opening.

Sunday Aprl 28th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the notebook.

Saturday April 27th, 2019

The exercise:

Write a four line poem about: the return.

My four most recent lines in the yearlong poem are below. I'll post the full thing so far in the comments.

Mine:

As it rumbled down the hall past his bedroom.
Somehow the child did not scream.
Buddy paused, waved farewell, then returned to its
Life as a killing machine.

Friday April 26th, 2019

The exercise:

Write four lines of prose about: the whine.

Thursday April 25th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about something that is: sour.

Wednesday April 24th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: higher ground.

Tuesday April 23rd, 2019

The exercise:

Write two haiku about: the cave dweller.

Monday April 22nd, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the low road.

Sunday April 21st, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the bard.

Saturday April 20th, 2019

The exercise:

Write a four line poem about: the dark of night.

As mine runs into next week's four lines, I think I shall take that opportunity to post my yearlong poem in its entirety thus far.

I think I'll do it in the comments though, to save on the front page being a scroll fest for a week...

Mine:

It was nearly three weeks later when Buddy
Awoke in the dark of night
To discover its parts were moving once more,
And gave the child quite a fright

Friday April 19th, 2019

The exercise:

Write four lines of prose about: the entomologist.

Thursday April 18th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: a night on the town.

Wednesday April 17th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about a: highlight.

Second day down. On my own tomorrow, though Amy will only be a phone call away after training me for the last two days. Then... four day Easter weekend, yes please and thank you very much.

Tuesday April 16th, 2019

The exercise:

Write two haiku about: the first day.

Only seems fair.

It was an overwhelming day, but I got through it. I am confident that it will gradually become more manageable though. There's just a lot of stuff to take care of in this position.

Monday April 15th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: moving on.

Good night. In the morning, town hall awaits.

Sunday April 14th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the last day.

Tomorrow is my final day at the community centre... for now, anyway. It feels a little strange thinking about it, but I'm also looking forward to my first day at town hall on Tuesday.

Saturday April 13th, 2019

The exercise:

Write a four line poem about something that has been: knocked loose.

Mine:

They cleaned it carefully but a stray dust brush
Stroke knocked its tracking chip loose.
Back home The Master swore, feeling like he was
Being fitted for a noose.

Friday April 12th, 2019

The exercise:

Write four lines of prose about: the birthday boy.

It only seems fair.

Happy 3rd birthday to Miles. Not sure where the last three years went, but I know there's been a lot of laughs and smiles.

Thursday April 11th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the penalty.

Wednesday April 10th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the journey.

... yeah, all right.

Mine:

So quite nearly four years ago I joined the clerk relief pool with the Town of Osoyoos. Rereading this just now brought a smile to my face, particularly the last bit of it.

Anyway. About six months later I got my first call to actually come in and work a shift. Which was followed by somewhat regular calls, at least compared to the previous six months.

I think it was August of the following year that I interviewed for a full time, permanent position with the Town (front desk at Town Hall). I lost out on that one to Amy (more on her in a bit), so I continued on in the relief pool.

The following April I applied and was hired on for my first round of the cleaning job with Public Works, a six month contract that got me to October. At the conclusion of which I returned to the relief pool.

I signed up for my second tour of duty in the cleaning job when April rolled back around for another visit. Whilst patiently waiting for a new full time permanent job to be posted at Public Works. When that finally arrived I applied and interviewed and lost out on that job to Justin at the Community Centre.

So I took his old job at the Centre, a permanent part time gig. Which, to be clear, I have both enjoyed and come to realize is a better fit for me than the Public Works job would have been.

So that brings us to last August. In March Debbie at Planning and Development retired, so I applied for her job and... lost out to Amy. Yes, again.

But! That meant Amy's job at Town Hall needed to be filled. So I applied, once again. And found out last week that I got it and will be starting April 16th. Full time, permanent at last.

I've got... after this publishes... three days of work left at the Centre. If something full time comes up there I'd certainly be open to applying for it, as I have enjoyed my time there. But I equally certainly wasn't going to wait around for that to happen.

I'd say it's safe to say that I've waited plenty long enough already.

Anyway. I'm very excited. I'm looking forward to my next step forward with the Town. And I'm feeling glad that I found a way to stick with it this long.

Tuesday April 9th, 2019

The exercise:

Write two haiku about: anonymity.

Monday April 8th, 2019

The exercise:

Hey, remember House of Mercy?

Let's revisit it.

Sunday April 7th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the performance.

Yesterday was, without a doubt, so good:


That's the whole cast up on stage together. Max is the third skunk from the left, in front of one of the guards (kneeling) and Robin Hood (standing up in between the sheriff and Prince John).


Here are the skunks. Max is fourth from the left.


And here's Max with Miles after the show.

Considering they did auditions on Monday, had practices Tuesday to Thursday, and did their dress rehearsal on Friday, it was especially impressive what the kids pulled off with the help of their instructors.

Max loved it all and is quite certain that he will be in the lead role once he's old enough to pull it off (Robin Hood this year is 13). I can't wait to see what they do next year.

Saturday April 6th, 2019

The exercise:

Write a four line poem about: discovery.

Mine:

A local family found the stuck robot
But were unsure what to do,
So they brought it home in their red wheelbarrow
And inspected it for clues

Friday April 5th, 2019

The exercise:

Write four lines of prose about: Robin Hood.

A theatre group has been working with Max's learning centre all week to put on a Robin Hood play. Max has been excited from day one, despite not being paired up with his best friend (they were convinced they would be merry men together) and being selected as one of the skunks.

He is utterly, ridiculously excited about playing a skunk. In a play. In front of an audience.

Who is this child and what did he do with my Max?

Anyway, I cannot wait to see the performance tomorrow.

Thursday April 4th, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: the skunk.

Wednesday April 3rd, 2019

The exercise:

Write about: changing lanes.

Tuesday April 2nd, 2019

The exercise:

Write two haiku about: deja vu.

Monday April 1st, 2019

The exercise:

Write about someone that is: gullible.