lullaby

Close your eyes
Keep them closed
You are safe here
Keep them closed

Turn off the sounds
Dim the lights
You are safe here
Keep them closed

One more snack
One more drink
You are safe here
Keep them closed

repeat

I wrote this song the first night home with the familial addition.

A Poem in progress

Kisses and kisses and kisses and kisses
And hugs and hugs and hugs and hugs
And cuddles and cuddles and cuddles and cuddles
And tickles and tickles and tickles and tickles
And wiggles and wiggles and wiggles and wiggles
And squeezes and squeezes and squeezes and squeezes


This one is a big hit at home when repeated along with the actions

Still hate my job

I'm coming to the end of my maternity leave.  So I've been calling, emailing and visiting daycares.  Jumping at the cost, chatting about philosophies, using all my people reading skills to get the vibe of new people and places.  I've met some great people and really think that what they offer is fun and worth the money they are charging.  The only problem is I hate my job.  The job I'm doing now is great, looking after my baby, who is very fun to be with.  The job I will be doing is soul sucking corporate retail management.  Sigh, it could be worse, I could be in the States where there is no maternity leave and would have missed out on these past months, it makes me cry just to think of it.  So a few more weeks of the relaxed pace life to be replaced with a new life of never having enough time.

Got some catching up to do

That was a waste of a week for writing.  I'm not feeling very creative so I'll just write diary type entries, just to get something down.  We took the dogs out today, so they could enjoy the snow.  And they did. We let Jack run off leash in a mostly fenced off area.  He had a blast, running, barking at sparrows in a bush.  We played kick snow at Jack, he loved that as well.  Running back and forth and all around.  Then he ran back over to bark at the birds again and wasn't coming back.  Just as he turned to come back to us he saw a person walking down the sidewalk through the open fence.  So he ran off at the person barking.  Scarring the shit out of them.  I heard the young woman scream.  It was horrible.  Matt ran out after him and he did come to Matt, but those 90 seconds, made me feel so terrible for that young woman.  I called out to her to ask if she was alright, and she said she was but she was still in shock, she apologized to us.   I said the Jack was very scary.  She walked off and a few moments later I saw her talking to a friend and she looked scared, and I wish I could take it back.  I wish that hadn't happened.  But now that woman is going to be scared for quite a while, strange dogs running at you barking, who wouldn't be afraid.  So I'm feeling like a terrible dog owner right now.

Nothing to Say

I start with a small idea.  Something that's worth working on.  I get all excited and begin developing and thinking on it.  Then I realize that it's not a good idea, or some such excuse and drop it. Preferably with no trace, so no one can identify my potential failure. This process keeps me quiet but bursting with worthless creativity and idea fragments.  Perhaps along with a daily writing exercise I should do something to increase my self-worth.

And Then Again

The dog lowered in a long stretch while getting up from her nap.  And then slowly made her way towards the kitchen.  And then the back door sprang open with a gust of wind.  And then the little boy came in dropping his book bag in front of the door again.  And then the radio began to play the theme song for a new comedy.  And then the whole family came into the kitchen to hear the show.  And then the wind picked up again and the shutters were being banged around on the upstairs windows.  And then Johnny heard the tap turn on and thought Mom must have started supper. And then with homework left undone the twins sat at the table and laughed at the show on the radio.  And then the water in the kettle began to boil on the stove with a whistle.  And then through the window the neighbors flower beds flowed with the gusts of wind.  And then Dad turned off the radio and sent us all to bed.

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.