Thursday June 21st, 2012

The exercise:

Today we write about something or someone: extra.

Kat's sister-in-law arrived this evening, with our little niece in tow. They'll be in Osoyoos for the next week and a half, and Kat's brother will be joining us next Thursday for the last few days of their visit. It'll be great to have them around.

But that's not what my mysterious news of the last couple days is about.

Mine:

Kat and I went up to Penticton on Tuesday afternoon for the twenty week ultrasound. Which means we got to see our baby for the first time.

The ultrasound tech was showing us the baby's head, arms, hands, legs, and feet and it was pretty amazing. It was at this point that Kat decided to ask if the tech was able to tell what the gender was.

Now, we'd been told that they're not supposed to tell, but that a few do anyway. So while we were hoping to find out, we weren't really expecting to be told.

But she said yes.

And then she showed us the, as she put it, 'extra bit'.

And just like that, baby went from being called 'it', to being called 'he'. And just like that, I'm going to have a son.

This is going to take some time to sink in.

Sorry for the delay in sharing the news, by the way. We wanted our immediate families to know before spreading the word far and wide, but Kat's brother is away for a work conference so we weren't sure how to get a hold of him. His wife's arrival here tonight took care of that though.

Anyway. Once I get my head around this, the next challenge will be: finding a few boys names that both Kat and I actually like.

Wednesday June 20th, 2012

The exercise:

Write something about: twisting.

Looks like I jumped the gun yesterday, sorry about that. I'll definitely share tomorrow though. I don't mean to be all mysterious about this!

Another big harvest morning, as we picked for the restaurant and a local order of strawberries. I rewarded myself for all that hard work by sleeping most of the afternoon away.

Mine:

The wind gathers strength as it races across the meadow, barreling toward the forest without fear of the coming impact against bark and leaf. It carries with it the scent of wildflowers and rain and something somber, something more foul.

As it nears the trees it seems to slow, as though hesitant to enter the darkness of the woods. But there is no stopping, no going back. There is only onward.

And so the air flows between branches and over roots, through leaves and bushes. It brushes reluctantly up against clothing and skin, setting the hanging bodies to twisting this way and that.

Forward the wind travels, never looking back, hoping for happier destinations ahead.

Tuesday June 19th, 2012

The exercise:

Two haiku about: the photographer.

Have something I can't talk about until tomorrow. Nothing else seems worth mentioning at the moment, so I'm just going to get to my writing now.

Mine:

Watching our mad world

through his camera's eye, he

captures history

*     *     *

L.A. photog, she

moves in beautiful circles

while feeling ugly

Monday June 18th, 2012

The exercise:

Let us see what comes from: the pit.

While Kat harvested all the greens we needed, I spent almost the entire morning picking strawberries. I'm in danger of getting sick of them already.

The first box program day went really well, though. I'm quite pleased that we got off to such a good start. Hopefully things continue to improve as we settle into a routine and figure everything out.

Mine:

The Pit was never hard to find, for those of us who had any interest in entering its hazy confines. You only had to follow the smoke.

Exiting the back doors, it was across the soccer field and just beyond the tree line. There weren't enough trees to call the area a forest, or even a grove, but the evergreens kept some of the rain off on stormy days.

Wasn't much to the place, really. Just a leaning picnic table with suspect legs and a garbage can. But it was off school property, by a mere crucial foot or two. That was enough, though, for those stray souls who were too cool to care about the cancer they were placing on their tongues and sucking into their lungs.

I never set foot in The Smoker's Pit, but I knew where to find it. We all did. You only had to follow the smoke.

Sunday June 17th, 2012

The exercise:

Glory be, I'm able to use Blogger in Firefox again! I'm in such a festive mood that I think I'll do some more unfavorable comparisons. Join me in the fun, won't you?

We had Kat's parents down for a BBQ on our deck to celebrate Father's and Father-to-be's Day. Kat's dad brought his BBQ down earlier in the afternoon and I grilled up some burgers, salmon, and asparagus. Kat, meanwhile, created this:

Thankfully the weather was in an agreeable mood, so things went great. We've got a really big harvest lined up for tomorrow morning, as there are several local orders to pick for on top of our initial box program day.

Fingers crossed we won't have to do it in the rain.

Mine:

I wouldn't say my son's room should be declared a disaster area. I'm sure the mice and germs find it perfectly hospitable.

*   *   *

He's got the brains of a goldfish, and the kissing technique to match.

*   *   *

Well, I can't say I'd rather be buried alive than date your sister. The feelings are just too similar.

*   *   *

He'd lose a popularity vote against cancer.

Saturday June 16th, 2012

The exercise:

Write a four line poem about something or someone that is: unwanted.

It rained all the way to Penticton this morning, but thankfully it stopped right around opening. Clouds kept the sun away the rest of the time, but at least they didn't insist on dumping rain on us.

The berries went quickly, as expected, and the plants sold decently. Overall it was a pretty good market, all things considered.

Mine:

I am flattered,
I must admit it...
But hourly flowers?
You have to quit it!

Friday June 15th, 2012

The exercise:

Write four lines of prose about: the message.

We collected thirteen pints of strawberries this morning, two unexpected pints of raspberries this evening, and a few bags of greens to go with our (still too large) collection of plants to bring to the market tomorrow. Hopefully we won't be bringing too much of it back home!

This afternoon I went for my quarterly blood test, which I plan on actually staying on top of for once now that I a) have a family doctor, and b) actually like her. Anyway, on top of that I'm also getting my blood type tested since Kat is O negative. I wasn't aware of this before, but apparently if mine is positive she'll need to take a shot of some sort if we have any interest in having another baby.

One of the people at the medical lab told me that a hundred years ago we wouldn't have even been allowed to marry with conflicting blood types. So, um, hurray for modern times?

Mine:

I reach for my phone the moment the man in the black suit enters my office and my heart sinks when I discover there's no dial tone. He is carrying a duffel bag in his black-gloved hands and without a word places it on my desk.

He unzips it slowly and begins to unpack it; my breathing becomes ragged and sweat breaks out all over my body at the sight of the hammer, pliers, and toothpicks.

"Good evening, Mr. Sanchez," he says as he picks up the hammer, "our mutual friend Mrs. Matthews has asked me to deliver a message to you."