Thursday March 31st, 2011

The exercise:

Today we're writing: in the forest.

Beautiful spring day today - I actually was working outside in shorts and a t-shirt. I've waited a long time for that.

Took Kat over to Keremeos to try out a Thai restaurant we had driven by on the way to and from Vancouver many, many times. Really good food, I'm happy to report. Really good birthday, I'm even happier to report.

Mine:

"It smells like that cleaner mom always used when we were growing up," Mike observed, staring around the clearing with his hands on his hips.

"You mean that pine-scented stuff?" his brother James asked. He kicked at the pile of dead pine needles at his feet and frowned.

"Yeah, that one. I hated that stuff. She'd get some on my backpack and then the kids at school would make fun of me for weeks."

"No wonder you don't like coming out here."

"Yeah, well, if your stupid kid hadn't wandered off on us, I wouldn't be."

"Hey, he's not stupid," James snapped. "He probably thought he smelled his grandma and came looking for her."

Wednesday March 30th, 2011

The exercise:

Today we meet: the new neighbours.

Went up to Penticton today to run some errands - which included sitting in a bank for far too long. Oh well, tomorrow is guaranteed to be better.

Because it's Kat's birthday.

Mine:

After spending the winter months somewhere warmer than here, our neighbours across the street have returned. They're pretty ideal, to be honest. They never complain, they don't make much noise, and all four of them are nice to look at.

Here are some pictures to prove it:

Kat tells me they're racehorses. I say it's only a matter of time before I make up ridiculous names for all of them.

Tuesday March 29th, 2011

The exercise:

Two haiku about: the mailman.

Our wedding video arrived in the mail today. Kat and I watched it after dinner and... yeah, pretty amazing. We were fortunate to have such a wonderful day with friends and family.

Mine:

It's raining again

and all the dogs are hungry.

Time to earn my pay.

*     *     *

I read the letters

before I deliver them.

Just call me Blackmail.

Monday March 28th, 2011

The exercise:

Your word of the day is: snap.

We finally received a healthy dose of spring sunshine today, so we spent most of it working outside. This is more like it.

Mine:

With a snap of my fingers

Those who once lingered

Burst into hurried motions.

A silent commotion

Surrounds and envelops me

As they bring my tea.

The sparkling steaming cup

Is slowly lifted up

To my slightly parted lips

By good old faithful Chip -

Who sadly will not grow old,

For my tea is cold.

Sunday March 27th, 2011

The exercise:

Let's write about: the president.

Of whatever.

More yard work, more pruning, some brief moments of sunshine. Not a bad Sunday.

Mine:

"I'd like to call this meeting to order," the man announced, banging his spoon on the dinner table.

"You can't do this," the woman sitting across the table told him, crossing her arms across her chest.

"You will be silent or you will be sent to the holding cells!"

"You mean the cardboard boxes in the basement that the washer and dryer came in?"

"Do not address your president in such a manner! It will not end well for you, I promise!"

"Dad," the boy to his right said with a shake of his head, "just because you declare yourself the President of This House doesn't make it true."

"Yes, it does!"

"I'm going to bed."

Saturday March 26th, 2011

The exercise:

A four line poem about: our planet.

We celebrated Earth Hour tonight by turning off all the power and lighting a bunch of candles. It was very peaceful and I think we'll have to do that more than once a year.

Earlier in the day, we attended a waterwise gardening workshop and got all sorts of good ideas for our yard. And Kat won a young little pine tree as one of the door prizes! Now we just have to figure out where we want to plant it.

Mine:

Billions of souls share this home:

Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers.

Yet after all of these years,

We still don't understand each other.

Friday March 25th, 2011

The exercise:

Four lines of prose about: the astronaut.

We made some good progress on the yard today. I was also quite excited to see some signs of life in the lilac bushes at the edge of the road. Spring is indeed here, despite the lack of sun.

Mine:

Will had wanted to be an astronaut ever since the first grade. The other kids would change their dream professions when they grew up on a daily - if not hourly - basis. Will never wavered.

But now, as he looks around the six by ten room in which he'll be spending the next four months, with two other men, with the vastness of outer space pushing against the walls, he must be wondering whether or not he had ever properly understood what being an astronaut really entailed.