Thursday June 28th, 2012

The exercise:

Write about: the body.

Took the car in this afternoon to get the brakes checked out. Turns out they need to be replaced, so I should probably spend all of tomorrow picking strawberries to sell at the market to pay for that.

Restaurant harvest went fairly well this morning, though I was once again too rushed to make the delivery to get a picture of our haul. Perhaps things will calm down once I set fire to the strawberries are finished for the season.

Mine:

Detective Anderson approached the crime scene on weary feet, one eye on the approaching storm clouds. The team would have to work quickly if they hoped to find any useful evidence, but they were all running on fumes by that point.

Five dumped bodies in less than two days. Had to be a record of some sort, though no one seemed interested in confirming it.

Anderson stopped a few feet away from the man and woman huddled over the nude corpse, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets to protect them from the chill in the air while he waited for them to complete their photography session. His nostrils caught a hint of cherry bubblegum in the air and he wondered which junior officer was about to get dressed down for that lapse in judgement.

"All yours, Detective," the woman told him as she rose from her crouch and began to pack up her camera equipment. "Hope you haven't had dinner yet."

"No time to eat these days," Anderson said with a ghost of a smile. "Thanks guys."

He waited for them to clear the area before stepping closer. In the distance a crow squabbled with its mate as the detective got his first clear view of the most recent victim's face. A brief flex of his jaw muscles was the only indication of his inner thoughts.

At the rate the bodies were piling up, Anderson thought, it was only a matter of time before I had to deal with one I had cared for.

Wednesday June 27th, 2012

The exercise:

Today we write about: the sale.

We received the results from last week's ultrasound this morning and everything is looking as it should. We had no real reason to think otherwise - but plenty of first time parent imaginings and fears - so it was nice to have it confirmed.

Harvesting for the restaurant tomorrow morning, since we were in Penticton today during the time we usually pick for them. I shall have strawberry scented nightmares tonight.

Mine:

"Are you sure you don't want any? They're doing a two for one sale!"

"Why would I care about that? I don't even want one of them."

"But it's a really great deal. Just think of how much you'd be saving if you picked up two or four or ev-"

"I'd rather think about how much I'm saving by not spending money on something I don't want. Come on, put those down. We're going home."

Tuesday June 26th, 2012

The exercise:

Write two haiku that are, or are about something: positive.

In celebration of me finally finding out my blood type, which turned out to be A positive. Unfortunately that means that Kat gets to take a couple of shots - one at 28 weeks and another within three days after delivery - in order to avoid potential future complications should we choose to have a second child.

So, um, sorry about that, dear. I tried to think negative thoughts when they were taking my blood!

Mine:

Things are looking up,

I can feel it in my bones -

Summer is coming.

*     *     *

Another A Plus

on my report; even my

blood's smarter than you.

Monday June 25th, 2012

The exercise:

Write about something that is: endless.

Spent most of the morning picking strawberries in the pouring rain. Good times. This is June, right? In Osoyoos? Yes?

Well then, could someone please inform the weather?

Mine:

The road appears to end, just a few, lumbering steps ahead. There is nothing beyond that point except for a complete, total darkness. No sounds escape from it, no scents, no life.

Upon reaching this seeming end point, everything goes black, as expected. There is a time of waiting, its length unmeasurable. Eternity beckons, but movement is impossible. There is no going forward or back, there is only this one place and nothing more.

At length a voice is heard, giving instructions and encouragement. Then a pinprick of light slices through the murk and begins to grow larger. It draws nearer, with increasing warmth and the rumbling of an oncoming storm.

It passes through and around, leaving a new road in its wake. With no alternative presenting itself, the endless journey continues once more.

Sunday June 24th, 2012

The exercise:

Today we write about: the puzzle.

Enjoyed a relaxing and refreshing day off. Expecting to use all that energy up during tomorrow's harvest.

Mine:

"There's got to be a way out of this. I just have to figure it out, that's all."

"You've said that ten times in the last hour," Sarah observed, not moving from where she was slumped against the wall, "and we are no closer to this fabled solution now than we were when we first got here."

"Perhaps we would have made some progress if you stopped moaning and groaning about our imminent doom and started helping me escape from it instead."

"No, I don't reckon that would've changed a single thing."

"Obviously not. So I can assume that should I find an exit I shouldn't bother informing you?"

"Oh for... there's no way out! How many times do you need to hear that before you accept it?"

"Very well then. It's been... not quite a pleasure. Good day."

"Whatever, Nate." Sarah scratched at the back of her left hand, gritting her teeth against the pain. Looking up, she intended to fire a few more choice words in her companion's direction, but instead found herself alone. "Nate? Nathan!"

Saturday June 23rd, 2012

The exercise:

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

Because that's the only word I can think of to describe the weather today. Raining, sunshine, cloudy, repeat. Every now and then mix in a little rain with sunshine to keep things interesting.

Thankfully it's not the word to describe our sales this morning. All the berries went to good homes, there was about ten pounds of cherries leftover, and all the shelling and snow peas sold. It was a very good, very busy market for us.

Mine:

She walks in the room,

And my heartbeat scatters;

Suddenly deep breaths

Are real hard to gather.

Friday June 22nd, 2012

The exercise:

Write four lines of prose about: the patch.

We have about 200 pounds of cherries, 50(!!) pints of strawberries, and other, less numerous things, to sell at the farmers market tomorrow morning. The forecast is currently calling for a 40% chance of rain, with not too much of it expected to fall.

I would very much like for that to become 0%, with a nice dose of sunshine to bring the crowds out. Please. And thank you.

Currently there is an impressive thunder and lightning storm going on outside, so hopefully the weather is just getting it all out of its system now. Also, the power has gone off and on three times in the last hour, so if this is late getting published, that'll be why.

Mine:

I have spent far, far too much time in our strawberry patch this week. Four hours on Monday, two more on Tuesday, another four on Wednesday, and at least six today (I refuse to make an accurate tally, for fear of losing my mind).

The only reason that I can stand up straight right now, rather than being confined to a wheelchair or permanently attached to a massage table, is that Kat is a trained yoga teacher who knows plenty of tricks to keep my back in shape.

So at this moment, I am deeply grateful to her.