Confessions of a Pseudo Writer

I have another blog. It's a work relationship. At first, writing somewhere else was more exciting than writing on my home blog. I wrote about different things. I was a different person with a different agenda. The words were dressed differently. When I started it, I wrote about things I was passionate about. I wrote about fun and games. I wrote about connections and change agents. Sometimes I copied and pasted others' words to get a point across, all legitimate, all for the sake of the cause.

There's nothing underhanded about any of this. How can there be when both blogs know about the other's existence. It's just that one or the other tends to be neglected. Lately it's both. Lately, I haven't wanted to write at all. Lately, I've had nothing to say. Lately, writing seems to be too onerous, too energy-sucking, too meaningless.

Here's my second confession. I've turned to Facebook to give me a quick, easy writing fix. Facebook is like a one night stand.(I've never actually had a one night stand, so this is all fanciful or at a stretch, theoretical) Fun while it lasts, a little embarrassing once it's out there, and always leaving one with wishing it was more than it actually is.

I may have to go back to the old fashioned ways of pen and paper, like "morning pages" to find meaning again. I may have to cut all ties with on-line writing. I'll have to keep the work relationship blog but it can remain just that.

I may post soon or not.
Logging off.

From Yale, Finally

Since I last wrote:
I went to Montreal to an adult learning symposium which was excellent. We also had a couple of days of wandering around that great city and got to see Cirque du Soleil. Amazing. It's probably the best show that I've ever seen.

Jessica and Jonathan got married in Zambia and they are working on getting Jonathan a Visa so that they can live here while Jessica finishes her degree at SFU.

I've been going to various events in the area to promote our literacy programs. We entered "Page Turner" in the Canada Day Beaver Races in Agassiz. We had a booth at the summer market at Christ Church Anglican Church in Hope and won first prize for the best decorated authentic 1800's look. I got to dress up in a costume from Yale Museum. I loved it.

We created a website for literacy in the Fraser Cascade region. www.wannaread.org. It was designed and built by Exit 170 Internet Solutions.

Three weeks ago, we moved into the basement of our new house. Two weeks ago, we moved upstairs. This evening we sat by a fire made up of old doors, reminiscing about previous burnings of the old house. There's probably a metaphor in here somewhere but I'm too tired to dig deep tonight.

Did You Miss Me?

Since we last spoke:
Our daughter Jessica flew back to Africa and got herself engaged to Jonathan Mundia of Zambia. We are excited for them and can't wait to meet Jonathan.
I spent 3 days in the Skagit camping with many grade sixers.
Our house in Yale is closer to completion and moving day is ...
I went to May Days in Boston Bar to promote literacy and won second place in the parade,(miscellaneous category).
I've been teaching a computer workshop in Boston Bar on Wednesday evenings.
Gillian and Paul moved to Educo and have started work.
Gillian has been accepted at Vancouver Island University School of Nursing for Sept 2009.
I met with my cousins, cousins'daughters, aunts, sister, sister in-law, niece, and mom to celebrate the arrival of new babies.
I've gone to many meetings regarding literacy and community development.
I saw Star Trek and Wolverine and they were good.
I've read more books than I care to count, all of them fluff.
I watched Remington Steele series on DVD
I've moved dirt, plywood, drywall, painted a little.
I've assembled cabinets from IKEA and only had a few parts left over.
I've been working out at the gym but not enough.

How have I been?
Exhausted, disconnected, missing my children.

I hope it won't be so long till we talk again.

Gratitude

I just read a friend's blog on having a gratitude journal. Let me share about my Tuesday.
I went to Boston Bar to read "Angela's Airplane" to 2,3, and 4 year olds and their moms.
Then we made paper airplanes.
Then we had a snack.
And then we got to take home some books.
I got back to the office and I along with a co-worker got to cut and paste (job postings for our local job board).
The only thing missing was the nap.
A great day in kindergarten.

After work I cycled out to Yale to practice my commute. I was pleasantly surprised at how well I did on the hill. Bring it on!
I enjoyed the solitude, the views, the sound of the tires on pavement, the shifting of gears on bike and in brain.

A good day for which I'm thankful.

Party Time is All the Time

We have windows, doors that lock, and stairs that fit.
Electrical inspection has been completed.
Tomorrow the framing inspection will happen.
Hoping to insulate on the weekend and drywall next week.
Insulation party anyone?

Have Your Book and Eat It Too

Wednesday, April 1 is the day of the International Edible Book Festival. This festival was the idea of Judith A. Hoffberg and Béatrice Coron. They decided it would be best celebrated on April 1, "the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for his book Physiologie du goût, a witty meditation on food." This event was first celebrated in 2000. The intent was to celebrate and reflect on our cultural differences and our attachment to food by making and eating food that represents books in form, text, or theme.

In the position of Literacy Outreach Coordinator for British Columbia's Fraser Cascade region, I am promoting a local version of the festival. There will be edible books, non edible books and prizes at Pages Book Store in Hope, the Hope Library, and the Boston Bar Library. I'm hoping that we can build on this and make it an even bigger event next year with a literary and food creation extravaganza.

One reason that I latched on to this Edible Book Day idea is that I still experience the magic of opening a book and entering into a different world, just as I did when I first learned to read. I wish that for everyone. My intention is to draw attention to the places where there is an abundant supply of magic and to some of the programs that will help people acquire the skills to draw that magic out from books.

When I was at the Vancouver Writers' and Readers' Festival a few years ago, I heard an author speak on the importance of writing fiction. She said that if done well, the story pulls people in; they become the characters; experience the emotions, crisis, decisions, and culture; and come to understand and empathize. She believes that it will be the entering into the stories that will change our world, eliminate war, and will bring about world peace. I think the walking in someone else's shoes in fiction will encourage participation and connection in our real world. With knowledge, (on emotional and spiritual levels as well as on an intellectual level) comes understanding, with understanding empathy, with empathy cooperation and collaboration.

So let's go out and devour some books. It will make a better world for you and me.

Things I Like

A glass of cold water after a workout
Reading books and blogs
Running in the rain
Paddling my kayak
Hiking
Hugging trees
Swimming naked in the ocean
Joking with fellow employees at work
Chocolate anything
Conversations
Laughing so hard that my muscles are sore
Hugs
Making connections
Action
Accomplishing a goal
Sweating while exercising
Wind in my hair
Sandcastles
Children's illustrations
Making bread, pies, cookies ...
Trying a new recipe
Experiencing the spiritual
Dancing away my inhibitions
Dreaming
Snuggling on the couch with my close someone(s)
Smiles
Wit
Attending the theatre
Acting in a play
Dressing up
Alone time
Picnics
Camping
My life

Reading Binge

I just finished Lovely Bones, before that Any Place I Hang My Hat, before that The Mermaid Chair, before that The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, before that The Time of the Uprooted, Divisadero, The Apprentice's Masterpiece, The Steppes Are The Colour of Sepia, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Lullabies for Little Criminals.

Beside my bed, waiting to be read are: Gods Behaving Badly, A Map of Glass, Summer of My Amazing Luck, and All Families Are Pschotic.

Besides the fact that I love to read, always have, I know what this binge is about. I am trying to escape thinking of work. Thoughts of work are seeping into my other life and I don't like it.