Friday December 31st, 2010

The exercise:

Let us close out 2010 with four lines of prose about: paranoia.

It's been... quite the year. Incredibly busy, incredibly good. I'm about ready to slow things down a little, but still keep all the goodness.

On the cabin front: a few baseboards left to do, a bit of painting still needs to be done, some light fixtures, outlets, and light switches need to be replaced.

Screw it. We're moving in tomorrow.

Mine:

There's mice in the walls, that's all, that's all. It's not government men, listening to all my phone calls. It's not an alien, hurt and trapped after a fall.

It's just mice, that's all... right?

Thursday December 30th, 2010

The exercise:

The prompt today: blame.

So it turns out it wasn't the nail gun's fault yesterday. Because the other nail gun stopped working this afternoon. Because the compressor has apparently done enough work for its lifetime. So Kat's dad is buying a new one, since this one is quite old and he'd been thinking about it anyway.

Oh, also: the building supply store was sold out of our baseboards so I couldn't get the last three we needed.

Hurray for frustrations!

Mine:

You blame me,

I blame you,

But we're still

Stuck like glue.

Because... well,

Of this glue,

That somehow

Got on you.

And on me,

Thanks to you.

Yes it is.

It is true!

There you go,

Face all blue,

Yelling like

You're a shrew.

But we're still

Stuck like glue,

And the blame's

Still on you.

Wednesday December 29th, 2010

The exercise:

With 2011 fast approaching, today we write about: moving on.

Another light fixture went up tonight, some painting got done this afternoon, and a few more baseboards were put in tonight. If the frickin' nail gun hadn't died this morning, a whole lot more baseboards would be in right now. Ah well, tomorrow will hopefully see the remainder finished.

Mine:

All our bags had been crammed into the taxi which was waiting at the curb out front. The house was empty, not a single sign of our presence remained. Twenty years erased in the space of a few days.

I stared around the living room, feeling nothing at all. I wondered if, now that all signs of life had been eradicated from between its four walls, it should now be called the dead room.

You placed an arm around my shoulders but said nothing. I was grateful for that. In the silence I could hear Kevin running across the floorboards upstairs, and Ginny washing dishes in the kitchen. It was almost like they were still with us.

"Well," I said after a final look around, "I guess it's past time we should be moving on."

Without another word, we exited the house and climbed into the cab. We left the door unlocked, as there didn't feel like there was any point in securing it. We had left nothing behind.

Tuesday December 28th, 2010

The exercise:

Two haiku about: home.

Had a lovely drive back to Osoyoos today. The sun was shining, there was hardly any traffic, and there was snow where it was supposed to be: anywhere and everywhere but the road.

Oh, I promised snowshoeing pictures from Mount Washington. Here's one by me:

And here's one Kat took of me:

So. Much. Snow.

Mine:

Home is where my heart

was broken, so now I live

on the open road.

*     *     *

Four walls, a few doors,

five windows, floors and a roof...

yet it's so much more.

Monday December 27th, 2010

The exercise:

Let us begin this final week of 2010 with: the record.

This article is what inspired the prompt. But not my writing. That happens sometimes.

Thankfully I managed to get internet access here, because I totally forgot to schedule a post before leaving my parent's house. The trip to Vancouver went fairly smoothly, hopefully the same will be said after tomorrow's journey home.

Mine:

Turn the lights down low,

Let all those busy thoughts slow;

You've got nowhere to go,

So let that mad wind blow.

That wild storm will pass,

But oh this moment will last.

Rain splatters against glass,

While Miles comforts with class.

Kind of Blue is here

To fill you with peace my dear;

This record is my seer

And this will be a good year.

Sunday December 26th, 2010

The exercise:

Your prompt: in the snowy woods.

Kat and I went showshoeing on Mount Washington this morning and it was beautiful. I'll share a picture at some point.

We're packing up and heading back to Vancouver tomorrow morning. We'll spend the night there and then it's back to Osoyoos for us. 

Mine: 

I had to hurry, as the tracks were quickly being filled with new snow. It felt like Mother Nature was working against me and for my prey.

Rude old cow, isn't she? Hardly playing fair at all.

I pushed onward, rifle at the ready and my eyes straining to catch any movement between the fluttering snowflakes and stolid tree trunks. At least the uniform blanket of white was in my favor - as long as the prick had any color on his body at all he'd stand out like a white politician in Harlem.

As I came to a small clearing in the woods the tracks disappeared. I stared at the snow before me, trying to make them reappear by force of will alone.

It was while I was in the midst of this fruitless task that I heard the gun cock in the tree above me.

Saturday December 25th, 2010

The exercise:

A four line poem about: Santa Claus.

Merry Christmas!

Mine:

He travels the world

Creating millions of smiles;

What I wouldn't give

To have all of his air miles.