The exercise:
Let us celebrate Kat's and my 12th wedding anniversary by finally getting to July's installment of Out of the Woods.
Had intended to get to the yearlong story on Thursday but then it slipped my mind until after I'd posted something else. So, here we are!
(I'm actually scheduling this on Friday night before we leave Comox because I'm quite convinced I'll forget again and then we'll be in August)
The exercise:
Write a four line poem about: landings.
We've landed in a hotel in Vancouver (technically North Vancouver) without issue. It was a remarkably smooth drive and ferry ride, actually.
Tomorrow the aquarium awaits, then a night with Kat's aunt, then homeward bound on Monday.
The exercise:
Write four lines of prose about: leaving no trace behind.
Well, that's the goal at any rate. We managed to get most of the packing done tonight, so tomorrow morning will consist of the remaining packing and then the tidy up.
Then the road and ferry ride to Vancouver. Wish us luck with the ferry part - it's a long weekend here.
The exercise:
Write about: the final approach.
Honestly hard to believe our time on the Island is ending on Saturday.
The exercise:
Write about: sleep.
Like, for example, the approximate one hour's worth I got last night because my swollen, itchy foot was bothering me.
The exercise:
Write two haiku that have something to do with: something swollen.
Like, for example, my right foot. Google tells me this is a normal amount of swelling. I still plan on finding that wasp tomorrow, bringing it back to life, and then murdering it again.
The exercise:
Write about: something that stings.
Like the wasp, for example, that stung the top of my right foot this evening. May it rest in pieces.
The exercise:
Write four lines of prose about: the man with the plan.
One last weekend on the Island before we have to start heading for home next Saturday. Let's see what the next two days bring our way.
The exercise:
Write two haiku about: blueberries.
My dad took the boys to a u-pick blueberry farm this morning while Kat and I were working. They managed to bring home more than they ate, so I consider that a momentous success.
The exercise:
Write about something or someone that is: isolated.
First day back wasn't too bad. Plenty of work to keep me occupied for the next two weeks, that's for sure.
The exercise:
Write about: time.
Back in Comox after a lengthy return trip up Island. Having to wait almost an hour for lunch did not help matters, but at least the meal was enjoyed by all once it arrived.
Returning to (remote) work tomorrow. Not sure I'm ready for it.
The exercise:
Write four lines of prose about: cats.
Both wanting to see as many friends as possible and not wanting to overstay our welcome anywhere, we're spending the next two nights with another friend and her family. The last house had two cats, this one has three.
I am not what one might describe as a "cat person".
And yet, here I am, typing this with a purring cat nestled against my leg...
The exercise:
Write about: a history.
Visited the Royal BC Museum this afternoon and spent most of the visit in the natural history wing. It was a beautiful day so we also spent some time on the grass in front of the Legislature Building, which is next door, and, of course, had some time at the beach.
The exercise:
Write about something that has been: extended.
Trip to Victoria took about double the time we'd figured, thanks to two lengthy beach breaks and... well, it was mostly the beach breaks. There were also a couple, much briefer, stops for food.
Kat's friend has two boys the same age as Max and Miles, who they have met a couple times before, and they took zero time to pair off and start playing together.
The exercise:
Write two haiku about: capitals.
Heading to Victoria tomorrow morning to spend a few days with friends at that end of the Island. Looking forward to it, as I haven't been in the provincial capital in a long, long time.
The exercise:
Write about: slowing things down.
Realizing we were not operating at a sustainable pace, we took things a whole lot easier today. The boys hung out with my parents this morning and early afternoon, Kat and I had some quiet time, and then we took them to the beach for the afternoon.
An after dinner walk through some nearby woods capped off the day quite nicely.
The exercise:
Write about: a tree.
Cathedral Grove was very busy today, but still worth giving the boys an opportunity to see some big, big trees.
The exercise:
Write four lines of prose about: a nymph.
Visited Nymph Falls with Kat and the boys this afternoon. What a gorgeous spot. Can't remember if I ever went there while I was living in Comox, but if I didn't I was obviously missing out.
The exercise:
Write about: air.
Took the boys to check out the planes at the Comox Air Force Museum's Heritage Air Park on the way to the beach this morning. They, needless to say, had an absolute blast at both locations.
The exercise:
Write two haiku about: finding your way back home.
Got to Comox a little before dinner time. Had great weather for the ferry crossing from Vancouver. Looking forward to getting settled in here.
The exercise:
Write about: the scientist.
Took the boys to Science World today. A much-delayed visit, originally planned for last summer.
It was certainly worth the wait.
The exercise:
Write about being: lost.
Made the mistake of going to meet a friend on my own this afternoon. I should know better than to go anywhere new without my navigator.
Rest assured, Kat kindly reminded me of this fact after I (finally) returned.
The exercise:
Write a four line poem about: finding the right fit.
Made it to Kat's aunt's house safe and sound, with minimal fuss from the boys. The last hour was, of course, the most challenging.
The exercise:
Write four lines of prose about being: ready for the road.
I think we're basically ready to pack up the SUV in the morning and then hit the road. Pretty productive day, at any rate. One of Kat's cousins is house sitting for us while we're gone, so there was some cleaning up to be done alongside the packing.
Worth it, though, to know that we have someone we trust watching over the place.
