Wednesday July 7th, 2010

The exercise:

The prompt today shall be: stuck.

I don't want this to be my writing today, so here's the quick recap of my accident yesterday:

I was heading into Penticton in a 70 km/h zone and a car heading the opposite direction was waiting to turn left. She started to go, realized there was no time for her to make it and tried to stop. Unfortunately her gas pedal got stuck under her floor mat, so she kept on coming and hit my driver's side door with the front left of her car. I pretty much had nowhere to go and no time to get there.

I'm still not sure how I walked away with just a little scratch on my left elbow from where my door hit me. The car had to be towed away and I'm still waiting to hear if it's fixable or if we'll be car shopping again.

Now, on with the fiction.

Oh. Also: we got our internet hooked up today. Hurray!

Mine:

It was a beautiful day for a walk along the train tracks. The sun had finally come out of hiding to raise the temperature back up to the normal range for July and only a few puffs of white marred the deep blue sky. Lavender that had escaped a nearby garden years ago now crowded both sides of the metal tracks and drenched the air with their fragrance.

Heidi had been feeling trapped in her office the last few days and had decided to call in sick that morning when the day dawned bright and clear. She was usually a very dedicated worker but lately things had not been going her way and she was in desperate need of a break.

The walk was the perfect remedy for her cubicle blues and her guilty conscience had been washed away by a light breeze moments after she had arrived on the trail. When the train had come racing around a curve in the woods an hour later, she had been pleasantly surprised since she hadn't realized the tracks were still in use.

Her delight lasted only as long as it took her to realize that her foot was stuck.

Tuesday July 6th, 2010

The exercise:

Two Haiku Tuesday topic: accidents.

I was in a car accident this afternoon. It's a long story, but the basics are:

- It was the other driver's fault. Thankfully she admits this.

- I'm fine. I think she was shaken up more than I was. Probably because it was her fault.

- Our car's fineness is yet to be determined.

Mine:

Everything can change

in the blink of an eye. Be

present. Be grateful.

*     *     *

The milk has been spilled.

Cry all you want but your tears

won't refill my glass.

Monday July 5th, 2010

The exercise:

Here's the prompt for today: the delivery.

And here's the view looking south from our outdoor living room, as promised yesterday:

The idea was born when we unloaded our couch while moving in and put it out there temporarily while we made space for it inside. Then when Kat's parents new couch and armchair arrived, we salvaged the old couch and loveseat and stuck them down there. The picture was taken while sitting on the loveseat; the chairs and table you see used to reside on our balcony in Vancouver.

I think they're much happier here.

I think it's pretty neat that I can see America from out there (the border is just over the nearest hill, around where the shadow starts).

Mine:

"Have you been waiting long for the delivery?" The question was asked with gentle sympathy. The man had obviously been in his friend's position himself.

"Only a couple of hours," his companion replied, head hanging between sagging shoulders. "But it feels like weeks!"

"I know exactly how you feel - when ours was delayed by a day I thought I wouldn't make it! Worst twenty-four hours of my life. Can I do anything to help?"

"Thanks for the offer, but nothing can console me right now. This is bloody miserable. I'm almost regretting doing it."

"Don't talk crazy!" his friend said, sitting bolt upright in his shock. "Just hang in there buddy, your 60 inch flat screen TV will be here any minute now."

Sunday July 4th, 2010

The exercise:

The prompt today shall be: work it out.

Which also happens to be the title of a song by Jurassic 5 with Dave Matthews.

Mine:

This morning Kat and I helped her parents get the netting off some of their cherry trees (it's used to keep the birds out, since they have the refined taste to enjoy such fine fruit). For my part, this involved taking a wooden pole, which was taller than me and thicker than my forearm, and lifting the net from one side up and over the trees. For a little over an hour.

The pole was not heavy at the start. The same could not be said at the end.

After lunch we helped them clear out a patch of weeds by our outdoor living room, which involved a lot of digging and pulling and raking. Now seems like it would be an appropriate time to share one of the views from our second living room:

I'll get a picture of the view looking the other way another time.

Anyway, back to the point. Between helping in the orchard and working in the garden, I don't think I'll be seeing the inside of a weight room until late fall. The great outdoors has become my gym and I couldn't be happier about that.

Saturday July 3rd, 2010

The exercise:

Saturday is four line poem day. Here's the topic this week: prana.

We had an excellent market this morning, selling out of almost everything we brought. It was great to be back there, making a living from what we love doing. Here's a picture I managed to take right before the market started:

Mine:

Breathe deeply,

Take in life.

Breathe slowly,

Take in peace.

Friday July 2nd, 2010

The exercise:

Our four lines of prose this week shall be inspired by: the harvest.

We're spending today getting ready for our first market of 2010, which is tomorrow morning in Penticton. We've already harvested the potatoes, cabbage, and peas; tonight we'll be getting into the kale, chard, lettuce, carrots, beets, strawberries, rhubarb, onions, and herbs. On top of all that, we'll also be selling cherries from the orchard.

Oh yes, there will be pictures.

Mine:

It had been a good harvest, he thought with a satisfied smile as he eased into his black sedan. The vibrating sacks in the back seat were full to bursting and there were another four in a similar state in the trunk. And they had all been so conveniently close together!

Yes, Death thought with a quiet sigh as he put the car into drive, it's always a good day to collect souls when there's ice on the highway.

Thursday July 1st, 2010

The exercise:

The prompt today: invaders.

I just spent a couple of hours in the garden weeding, pruning, and tying up tomato plants - there must be more dirt under my fingernails than out there in the garden right now.

I bet my mom is reading this and thinking, 'He's weeding an acre of garden these days but I could never get him to weed my ten foot flower garden in front of the house.' Sorry mom, it just took me a while to understand how satisfying weeding can be.

Mine:

"They've got us surrounded sir!"

"Excellent, they're right where we want them."

"But... with all due respect sir, have you lost your mind? They'll be over the walls and through the gates in a matter of minutes!"

"Exactly. That's when we'll blow the dynamite!"

"But... we'll be inside too... won't we?"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"Uh, no sir. Not at all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go... talk to... uh, Gerald. Out back. I'll see you later sir."