Uncle David to the Rescue

I dialed CAA.  Was on hold when I got the bright idea to call my brother, who would also be traveling along the 401 to see where he was.  He answered.
“Hi where are you?” I asked quickly
“Just coming up to Shannonville.”
“Oh you should get off there, our car broke and we’re in a lot at the end of the off ramp.”
“OK I’ll be 15 minutes.”
“wow, what good luck, we’ve had”

Road Trip

The car’s stereo lost power, I began fiddling.  It was all of the car’s electronics and we were 40km from a service station.  Then the car shuddered and shook as the fuel injector failed.  Unsure if we could even to make it to the next off ramp in 2 kms, we hoped we could as the baby cooed in the back seat.  The car died as we pulled into a spot in a carpool lot.

First Month Review - Grade -B

We'll I've been trying to write everyday for four weeks now, I've missed a few days and made them up other days, which is cheating but since I'm the one making up the rules, I'll allow it.

I would like to progress to a longer story, although I am enjoying the 75 word format.  Thank you Colin.  I'm not quite sure how to extend them.  I was thinking of using the 75 word stories as a place to start  and also begin to write outlines (and include those as stories), so for example, I began to write a few 75 word stories that were linked and So the next step could be writing an outline of for a longer story could connect them then go from there.

So next month I will work on including outlines, or an outline for the linked dog park stories.

I gave myself a -B because I did write a lot, way more than I ever thought I could, the writing was pretty crappy.  I had fun though and although these stories are still not what I'd like to be producing it's a step in the write direction.  There is room for improvement but I had a lot of success with this ridiculous concept.

Cottage Party

She opened the porch door slowly.  It was so bright outside her eyes took a few moments to adjust as she walked to the dock.  As she looked at the lake a boat came towards her.  Someone shouted and threw her a line.   She caught it and tied it absent mindedly.  When everyone was on the dock she said with a smile “welcome, let me show you the cabin.”  And now the party could begin.

Snowed In

I’m inside cozy and warm, while going over my preparations, list by list.  It’s not just the coming weather that will be hard, it’s all that goes along with bad weather, isolation and deprivation.  The dotard up the path is even gone, I’m not as cozy anymore, I’m alone.  I have the urge to go out and fell another tree.  That time has past I’ll have to make due with what I have already prepared.

The Stone Path

A stone path stretched before me through the woods like a fairy tale.  I followed it anyway.  I kept my eyes moving, turning my head to any noise.  As I walked I saw a lot of forest and trees, but no gnomes or sprites.  Then, as if I had never started, I was back out of the woods.  As I took one last look behind me I’m sure I saw something duck behind a tree.

Rideau Canal

I love skating on the canal.  It is the best thing there is to do in Ottawa, by far.  My favourite time to go is a busy Saturday afternoon.  When it is cold and sunny.  I love to watch adults learning to skate.  How they came to by on the canal I don't know, maybe they are visiting, or here for work or are new to Canada or maybe they just never learned when they were younger.  Whatever the reason, when I see them all bundled up, wobbling around with the biggest smiles on their faces, I couldn't be happier for them.  Skating is the best.
The actual ice on the canal is generally awful.  I've been skating on it when the ice is great lots of times, but mostly the ice conditions are pretty bad.  It needs to be really cold, -20C or colder at night and no warmer than -10C during the day.  They need to flood the ice each night and brush it off everyday.  It's pretty labour intensive but can contribute to a magical experience.  Like late at night, when no one is around and it's really cold and quite.  I love skating on the canal.

Teething

I prepare a carefully selected menu.  It is flavourful, textured and balanced.  The high chair is set up, the baby is strapped in.  The meals for the rest of the family are almost ready, we're getting good at this I don't dare to think.  I begin to fed the baby.  Two spoonfuls in and the screaming starts.  OK, you want the spoon.  Here have a pea you can put in your own mouth.  Another?  More screaming.  Alright, what about airplane noises?  Great and a second time, more screaming.  Got it, carrots from my plate, excellent and another?  No Way!  What if I put your food on my plate.  Two bites later more screaming.  Alright I'll make up some infant gruel, four bites of that then screaming time.  I have about half my dinner left but am no longer hungry, I take the tired swollen screaming baby out of the high chair and straight into a warm bath.  Ah, no more screaming, just happy splashing and laughing.  Little bits of carrot are flying out with each laugh.  Next time we want a family dinner we can have it with the baby in the bath.

Bye Grandma

 There are too many memories to list, a lifetimes worth.  I go through them a lot though, thinking about what she would do helps me stay connected and feeling less like I’m the only one.  I’m resolved to be more practical, use less and reuse more.  The sun is always shining somewhere, so I’ll put in a garden this summer.  I should have some jello salad, cheese biscuits and 7up.  Bye Grandma, I love you.

75 word version: The Stevens Family

Before baths and homework but after dinner, the Stevens all walk to the park as a family.  Pedro walks nicely beside Erin, the eldest, most days.  Once at the park the two older kids can be found in one of the several trees, Melissa climbing up first.  While the youngest, Kate, tried to play with the dogs and was often found with a group of them around her waiting for a ball to be thrown.

75 word addition: The Dog Park

 There had been so much snow that the 6 foot fence between the dog park and the baseball diamond had been reduced to less than 2 feet.  None of the dogs at the park had noticed yet, and maybe they wouldn’t.  All it would take was one dog to jump and the rest would be over.  There was 20-25cm forecast for overnight and it was only February, it was going to be a long winter.

75 word version: Sara and Tom

Biking through downtown traffic on a friday afternoon was not often enjoyable.  That didn’t matter to Sara, she was heading home to her puppy.  Willie was 5 months old and was headed on her first camping trip tonight.  Tom was also rushing home, having just picked up the last of the camping groceries.  Once everyone was home the car was loaded and off they all went to the dog park before a long car ride.

75 word version: Deborah and Jane

With the third dog loaded into the back of the car they were ready to go.  Jane ran through a mental checklist of important items, water and pick up bags. Deborah pulled out of their driveway and checked the time on the dash and calculated that they would be a little early for their dog park rendezvous.  In the back of the car the dogs were quiet as they settled in to the familiar drive.

75 word version: Manny

As the cab drove off Manny pulled out his keys and the new toy he had for Bella.  Her happy barking began before his key was in the lock.  Manny read the note from the dog sitter, "Bella was great, hope you had a good trip."  Bending down he gave Bella a hug and then showed her the new toy. She played with the toy as Manny got ready to take Bella to the park.

75 word version: Lynn

Lynn was surprised by how many neighbours she met on walks with her pup.  She was very happy to stop for a few moments and chat about the adorable and quickly expanding, ball of fur at her feet.  Normally shy, Lynn was enjoying having something to talk about with the people she came across.  She hadn’t payed attention to parks before, but was happy to have a fenced in park walking distance from her place.

75 word version: The Dog Park

Chain link fencing enclosing dirt and a few trees, not much to Carl’s dog park, it was where he loved to be.   There were no benches, no shelter, no running water, nothing but dogs playing and owners chatting.  The people who went to the park took care of it themselves.  They chipped ice in the winter and filled in holes in the summer.  All the while keeping tabs on each other, while the dogs played.

explination

I'm working on a series of connected short stories.  They are taking more time to write than I can get published in a day.  What I'll do is a 75 word story to summarize the story sections.

Yes Officer

I was laughing because the tension was excruciating, I looked over and saw the tag sticking out, I couldn’t hold the laughter in.  I saw Anna reaching her hand towards the officer almost in slow motion.  I’m sure she wasn’t thinking.  Frankly the tag was distracting us all and Anna did everyone a favour by folding it under, then we could focus on being berated.  I still can’t believe he let us go after that.

Drugs in Sports

I don't care.  No, I don't care.  Do what ever you want.  If you think that you are not cheating because other people are also cheating you are wrong.  If what you are doing is against the rules then you are cheating.  If what you are doing is using performance enhancing drugs to keep your body at a higher level or to recover faster or do something that your body wouldn't naturally do then you are cheating.  Even if the top 1000 other athletes in your sport are also doing exactly the same thing, you are all fucking cheaters.

Cheating is a choice, you are free to make that choice or not.

I used to want to know why, I wanted to hear the sordid details about loving the sport and being shut out and being heart broken after working your whole young life to get to the top level.  Now I say I don't care.  Cheat or don't, I don't care.  And no I don't believe you.  You might be 20 and never had seen anyone use drugs, I still don't believe you until you make me believe you.  You can thank Lance Armstrong for that.  That is his legacy for me.  He was so horrible to those around him and to the people who were just trying to do their jobs that I will never again be able to believe the denial.

When I congratulate you with a weak smile and a "great job" then check the Watts/Kg and then maybe I'll say "wow."  No more will I say "that's unbelievable"  because if you are clean you had better not be doing anything that is unbelievable.

I don't blame you, I blame myself.  I suspended disbelief.  I wanted the unreal to be true.  I believed in heroes and fraudulent romanticism.  I thought I was watching something else, I was watching fiction and I loved it.

Now, I can't go back to not knowing.  I will watch, I will follow but I can't hear any more.  For now just sit on it.  Just wait until it's been a few more months and Lance is out of the news again and there are no television moguls involved and we can try again for an under appreciated sport.

You athletes talk about being caught between and rock and a hard place, the choice is a hard one but I didn't have a choice to watch a sport with or without doping.  We can only participate in the sport as it is until we all clean it up.

So for my part, I will assume you are on drugs until it is proven unequivocally that you are not.  You will wither work hard to show me you are not on drugs or you won't do anything to show that you are not on drugs and then I will know you are on them.  That's the best I can do.  Again blame Lance Armstrong if you think it's unfair.  If you want me to think you are clean you have extra work to do, that's the way it will be for me.  That or if you feel like you could get along without me, that's also fine, continue on the current path, Festina, Puerto, Lance etc.  I don't need you, but you do need me.

Winter Walk

The trees and fog mean that I move slowly through the woods.  That's fine by me.  It's beautiful on this walk.  I'm catching glimpses of sun through the canopy of leaves above me.  I haven't seen a single bird, not even a flash of feathers.  I can hear various kinds of birds all around, thrashes, grosbeaks, warblers and waxwings among others I’m sure.  I can't tell which is which, I can only identify them by sight, which is of no use yet as I haven't seen a single one.  I checked out tapes from the library, "how to identify song birds by their song."  They sit, unheard, on the coffee table at home.  

The trees are clearing as I continue, I must be coming to the end of the loop.  Back to the parking lot, my car then home.  I can relive some of the experience by listening to the bird call tapes at home.  Otherwise I will just have to wait until next weekend, when I can again get out into the trees and birds.  I’m planning the next trip, where I’ll head to, as I emerge into the gravel parking lot.  I walk to my car, one of a handful and unlock the door.  I look up at the sky just in time to see a crow fly over head, it is headed back to the city, I follow.