"dragon fruit is cool"

You know, we like to try new things...don't you? Sometimes it's more exciting than others. Tonight it was just fruit...but it's called Dragon Fruit...and that IS exciting, isn't it? Like the Prickly Pear, this is the fruit off a cactus and the colour is similar on the outside to the Prickly Pear. Chill it in the fridge for a while.... Then slice it in half...how gorgeous is that?
Just use a spoon and scoop out mouthfuls of the inside. It tastes a bit like kiwi though the texture is much nicer than the kiwi. Yummy.
And empty...too pretty to toss out, no?
Michael helped all weekend and today over at Em's place. Here is a quiet moment contemplating how great her view is compared to ours. What a good man I have. And now, as I type, I am listening to him play guitar...I hope he plays a little John Prine tonight...he learned to play some of Prine's songs cuz I love them so much. How sweet is that? And sometimes, if I am in a "crusty" mood, a few licks of Violent Femmes' "Blister in the Sun" sets me right again. It's hard to be grouchy when you are singing along to that, am I right?
That's it folks...now that I am a working girl I don't have much news. All I have to report on is the apartment, the paint, the fumes...I am obsessed because it is already the 13th and Em arrives on the 1st and I still want to get to Sechelt for a few days before she leaves her cottage by the sea.

ghost of a raccoon.....

What's up with the ghosts lately? First Michael as Charlie Brown's ghost for Halloween...then the ghost of Maggie has been around, sleeping on my feet...then last night we took Emma on a last spin around the neighbourhood about 11:30 pm before bed. Emma started going a wee bit nuts on the corner. We initially thought it was the very immense kitty we saw there. I joked with Michael that the kitty was as big as a raccoon...then the kitty left very quickly. We walked a couple more steps and heard something crunch crunch crunching.... We peeked through the neighbour's hedging and saw these guys cracking walnuts underneath the tree. They were unperturbed by us...trilling and cooing in happiness and bloated gluttony. They are quite chubby and relaxed.
But LOOK at this photo...the little green glowing things are raccoon eyes, but WHAT is that puff of white? There was no cloud or fog when I took this photo...this is a digital photo so we can't blame old film. Is it the ghost of a raccoon, maybe a relative of these guys keeping watch over them? Is it the ghost of Maggie, who has been at my heels the past couple of days and never could resist a good raccoon chase? Is it the ghost of an old miner that lived and died right here in one of the mines beneath our homes and streets once upon a time ago? Or am I just giddy from all the paint fumes?

ghost of a dog

miss you tonight, chicken.

Lyrics Home » Artists E » EDIE BRICKELL » Ghost Of A Dog Lyrics
how can that dog be barkin' in the backyard?
we ran over him years ago
how can that dog be runnin' by the back fence?
we ran over him years ago
ghost of a dog
barkin' in the backyard
how can that dog be scratchin' at the back door?
we ran over him years ago
how can that dog be lying under that shady tree
where we buried him years ago?
ghost of a dog
flyin' through the back yard

photographs and memories....

For hickchic , I dug out this photo of me(that's my brother, who WAS a hippie, if you couldn't tell, or maybe 1970's Seattle pre-pre-pre-grunge). I know these photos are awful but, hey, it was a 135mm camera, cutting age technology for the time. Snap a picture, wind, wind, wind the film...yikes.
See the Shaun Cassidy baby blue tee shirt? Aren't you jealous? And, for Cara, photographic evidence of the day I broke my mom...after fighting for years, literally, about how a girl should act and dress and behave...I won the argument. See the smirk on my face? I let the dress and the bow slide that day because I WON!!! See those gnarly tennis shoes? I walked out of the house that day in those and NOT shiny black patent leather Mary Janes. Look at how ridiculous that dress is! How could I possibly walk the fence line in that? Play on a swing? Slide? Wrestle that brat Dicky down to the dirt for being an ass-hat? But this day, with that smile, I knew a new day was dawning for me...so I let the dress slide one last time. I did so love that Poncho, though. I still miss that damn thing. See how my mom's hands are "encircling" me? That was not love...she would have strangled me that morning but my sister saved me with that camera! Thanks, Sis. Hee hee. One of my bestests and her mom were standing outside waiting for us(to walk to school) and she STILL talks about the volume of that fight. They didn't know if they should come in or not, to our rescue...I am laughing out loud right now thinking about it. And no story here...just my dad...in a once upon a time thing. Look at how rakishly cute he was...is. I think he joined the Navy cuz it was a sure fire way out of land-locked Iowa.
So, wow, you've seen my family now, except for my sis, who used to be the one always holding the camera. Now I will have to go come up with a photo of her, too. Just so all is fair. One little weekend post, then. Remind me later, ok?
Well, it's about time to roll on out of here to the paint store...so I am going to wrap up now...
You all have a great weekend. Be talking to you soon.

work work work

Do you remember the story about the crack house up by the park that the landlord actually had to pay the leaseholder to move out of? Because that was the only way to get her and her "friends" out of there and he could get his property back? this is the story, if you don't recall. I hope that link works...it's my first time trying!
Well, this is it...the top floor apartment. It is where Em(the Original) will be living soon. I spent yesterday scrubbing the walls and baseboards, no easy feat with 10 foot ceilings. I removed old stinky lino and scrubbed underneath, and scrubbed the floors with oxy and smelly-things-eraser stuff. Washed the curtains and the sheers. It looks brighter and better just from the wash so imagine it with paint!!! Cute cute cute. She has views from every window. Views that I am jealous about. Bay windows, even. She can see the park from one, downtown from one, the water from more than one. Even the bathroom has a great view...two great views, come to think of it. It will be a great spot for an afternoon coffee...and when and if it snows this year? There is no lovelier place than Nob Hill Park, just outside her front door.
Well, I need to run to the grocery store to lay in some easy dinner-making stuff so Michael doesn't feel abandoned AND hungry. Actually, this weekend is a three day weekend and he is going to come and help paint... if all goes well, we could knock this puppy out by Tuesday....and he wants to sand and refinish the cutting board/counter for her and work on the front door so that we all feel warm and fuzzy about security and weather stripping!! See, Em? Michael wants you back here, too. I can't get him to help paint at home!

a gift

We all received a gift yesterday, a reprieve from the rain. A big wind blew in and took the clouds away. While I was waiting for the dust to clear over at Em's apartment(will explain later!), Emma and I took off to Chase River Estuary for one of our final looks at the running salmon. We had come the day before but had to leave the camera at home due to rains. There were eagles everywhere...everywhere. I must have seen 30 eagles, there for the salmon. They were roosting in old snarled tree limbs trying in vain to dry their feathers. It was most fantastic and I was beside myself for a camera. Yesterday, all I found was this one flying directly overhead. The river is fast and high from all the rains. The salmon that remain here at the estuary probably will not make it to the spawning grounds. They are weak and sick and near the end, and the new-found rush of water is too much for them. I tried to photograph some, but though I can see into the water, it seems my camera cannot.
Found this old Datsun pickup dumped here...the same colour as the sky. I would savour an old Datsun myself. 1972 B510, to be exact, just like my first and favourite car, but an old Datsun pickup would be pretty sweet, too.
Here is our path...a little muddy, to be sure, but passable again.
Another view of Nanaimo...
We walk here at least three times a week, sometimes more. I have passed this tree two hundred times if I have passed it once. Look what I found after all the rain and wind...now that I know there is a nest here, I will keep a watch out this spring and summer to see what happens. Exciting, isn't it?
One very late Wooley Bear Caterpillar...I doubt he'll make it this year, but you just never know, do you? At first I nearly deleted this photo since you can barely see the caterpillar, but after I saw all the sun spots and sunbeams, I realized that it might actually become one of my favourites. What do you think?



And one last note: I received a very last minute invitation...I don't know how in the hell they found me or why they thought I would respond.

Capital High School, class of 1986 reunion, Nov. 10, Pellegrino's Tyee Convention Center, Tumwater. Contact Reunions Unlimited at 360-866-8842, e-mail reunions@reunionsunlimited.com or go to www.reunionsunlimited.com.


HA HA HA HA HA oh, to be a fly on the wall... I did consider putting on dark sunglasses, carrying a white cane, a giant hearing aid and shuffling in just so I could gawk(behind my very dark glasses) ...is that very wrong of me? I couldn't possibly talk to anyone there...but I wonder what CM looks like now.....still dreamy?!?

one last thing....

How could I forget to post this? Went to breakfast at(you can get anything you want at) Alice's Restaurant this weekend while Em was in town...great breakfast, by the way, if you find yourself in Nanaimo. Good Eats. We found this in the parking lot. Jeep Grrrl, good scout that she is, had her camera and snapped a photo for me and sent it along...I thought I would share. Thanks, Jeep Grrrl.

zoinkers!!!!

You all have to come along on some walkies while we talk...there is so much to get done!!! I took these last week before the rains started. Did I mention the rain?!? We have some rivers at flood level, but back home in Washington EVERY RlVER in the western counties(18 western counties) is on floodwatch, some cresting last night, more today...and no end in sight to the rain. The highway to my Aunt and Uncle's is under a landslide, but at least it is just a road, right? I have lots of friends and family there. Send some love their way with me, won't you?Here is another view of Nanaimo from one of our favourite walking spots. This is from Morrell Bird Sanctuary.
The birds are not the only things to see here...pretty cute, eh? Looks like they're cuddling.
That floating black blob of hair is Duke...I did mention the fact that this is a bird SANCTUARY, right? It's kind of funny but they(the ducks) never really get upset. In fact, some swim over to Duke from the other side of the lake. The laugh at him, in little honky quacks, and circle him. He gets some good exercise that way.
There is always one little duck gal sitting on this log. I don't know if it is the same girl every time...but I'd like to think so.

Part of the walk is along the power lines...it is a fair hike up the hill. We are often huffing and puffing by the time we reach this spot, so I lingered to take this photo, pretending I was futzing with the camera!!! Ha ha.
My little fierce hunter-breed dog found this grumpy guy in the grass. He scared the fight right out of her and for the rest of the walk, poor Emma started at every little rustle. Are there no bullfrogs in St. John's?
Whew, so Em(the Original) is coming back on the first of December. Today, I start cleaning, prepping and painting her apartment. It will take some doing, some long hours and lots of elbow grease to get it ready and still have time to get over to Sechelt for a visit. I don't know how much I will be around here in the coming weeks. I really want to have this place "perfect, shiny and new" for my very good friend AND I want to get to Sechelt AND Michael's company Christmas Party is November 23, as well as my date with the Beauty Queen(so I look stunning) AND there was supposed to be my celebration of the American Thanksgiving in there somewhere, as well. I have too much to do at this point, and need to rearrange..OH, and of course, the Art Exchange....I went from nothing much on my plate to a five course meal!!!! WITH SECONDS!!!! And let's not even go into what will be happening in December....
Yesterday, cuz I knew I would be busy in the coming days, I stood in the pouring rain and trimmed back all the raspberries, the hydrangeas, some of the roses(some are still blooming!) and other berry bushes, my vibernum, trying to get some of the big stuff done around here. Tonight I will make a giant vat of Jumbalaya to eat for a few days so that I won't have to worry about cooking. And now, I must leave. I have to get out to pick up some supplies to scrub down the apartment....I will have to tell you about the apartment another time, a story unto itself. Thank you for the job, Em (and BB). I will have some money for Christmas, for perhaps a new couch, some gas money for my trip home for the holidays....so, really, I gotta go now. Despite my best intentions, I did not wake up early and now I must rushrushrush. Talk at you later!!!!

rushrushrush

It's been that kind of day....for Emma, anyway. She hates the car cage. We were busy this weekend with Em(the Original) here to check out her new apartment... yay, she's coming back!!! I feel a bit sad for her Mom, who loves to have her around, and Aethan, too, but I am a greedy friend. I am SO VERY THRILLED to have her back with me...Sorry, Barb. The whole point of this blog initially was to keep Em(the Original) informed on the haps around here. Now that it has taken on a life of its own(and my own) and Em(the Original) is coming back, I will have to change the headline on Nanaimo Blahg. The Greener Pastures are here!!!! So there is much to report but it has been a busy time for me...and will continue to be busy through the New Year, I imagine. So much to tell...and so much to do.
All I have time for today is to check in with you all....I will wake up early and tell you about the upcoming events....ok? So, until then, goodnite.

Artshare MeMe

Okay...I need some addresses....If you are receiving art from me, please send your info to dilling71us@yahoo.com . Eeks, it's scary to put my address out there. Be kind...don't send me e-mail about Ephedrine, or making money on the Internet, or well, enhancements of any sorts.....thanks.

rain, rain, go away

Lordy, the rain is HERE...it's 10 am and looks like 6pm. It is grey as far as you can see...which really isn't that far. It is damp and miserable and it already feels like it's been raining for weeks. Welcome to a West Coast winter. It's a good thing I have been out walking for HOURS the past few days of crisp, cold sunshine so that I will have a couple days worth of photos to share. This is my car window...can you see through it? No? Neither can I. The dogs see to that. Each and every day, there are between one and four dogs in this car. I can't keep up with the window washing...look at all those happy noseprints....ick.
This was the tenderest discovery out walking the other morning...our first big frost and in areas of shade, it never did melt. But look how the ice on this frozen puddle has melted away from the edge of this leaf. Isn't that beautiful? I must have taken 15 pictures of this leaf. I was fascinated...and I absolutely LOVE that something like this can fascinate me. I love that part of myself.
The salmon are still running...the seals are here in the river feasting, following the currents in and out of this tidal inlet on the river. This is not the best photo, but still...a seal in a river!!! I think that is a salmon trying to get away from him. The salmon are beginning to die off now, and the river is getting that smell. My river walk days are numbered. I will have to stay away until they all wash away with the first big storm.
What's a dog walk without a dog, eh? I miss that sky already. Look how blue it was.
The cattails are puffing now... And the Fire and Rescue were at the house on the corner the other night. My curiosity is not what it used to be in these instances. I never did find out why they were here. Last night there was a "clothing swap" at one of the neighbour's. Didn't I say that I have the best neighbours? 15 women cleaned their closets and we traded. I came home with more than I left with, including two lambswool sweaters, a raincoat, something linen and something lace...and someone there has clownfeet like me!!! I scored some good weather-worthy black shoes AND, joy of joys, HushPuppies. I have wanted a pair of HushPuppies since I was a little, little(maybe four?) kid when the boy up the street got some. My mom really wanted me to be a girl...we had so many issues about shoes and dresses and ribbons, until she finally broke... I remember that day as my supreme victory. No more dresses. No more frilly ankle socks or patent leather, shiny Mary Jane shoes! Sorry, I got a little off track. I have wanted HushPuppies since I was four...honestly. I can remember. I am 38 years old and last night I got my first pair of HushPuppies for my clown feet...for free. I thank the HushPuppy Gods for smiling on me. It makes the gloom outside just the tiniest bit easier to bear.

Art Share MeMe

Look what I found over at carawinsorhehir 's blog. She found it on julie's blog, (who found it on deirdrea's...and she saw it on emmy's... who saw it on arlee's...)So if you want to play along, read this and you will get a piece of art from me , but you must follow the instructions.The first five people to respond to this in the comments section will receive a piece of artwork from me....BUT, in addition to the comments you have to post this same blurb to your blog too, and continue sharing art with people who respond to you. What will you get? It will be a surprise, but you will have it before Christmas!.......' (but not if it has to be loaded onto Blogger first!!! Ouch! Oh, just kidding, already.)
And I am artsy fartsy, let me tell you!!!!

I will buy you a new life...

I think she is adjusting well to a life with a little luxury, don't you?

we made it through, did you?

Aside from a street and park full of spent fireworks and candy wrappers, all is well in the hood. Hope your Halloween was a safe one, as well. Despite the clear weather, we had few trick-or-treaters...now I have a giant bowl of candy leftovers. Michael bought the candy this year. I try to buy kinds I do not like. No such luck this year. I will place the bowl right next to my elliptical trainer...sigh. Well, more later. It took five minutes to load the one photo and I just don't have that kind of patience today...besides, I FOUND a mop(I kid you not!) on the curb the other day!!!! And a floor-sweepy-vaccuum thingy(it will collect the dog hair instead of me just moving it around the floor with the broom!)!!!! Feels like Christmas!
Woot! Now, can someone, anyone, get me Vincent D'Onofrio's number?

Happy Hauntings

BOOOOOOOO!!!!
and BOO!!!!!! again!
Gosh, I have been waiting a long time to use that picture for something... creepy, isn't it? We found this head in the woods during dog walkies a while back.......eek. Happy Halloween, everybody. Hope you are all enjoying yourselves.

We went to a Halloween party on Saturday night...er, wait, that's not us... sorry, wrong picture!!!!
Oh, got it, here we are...lots of finger food, drinks, candy and live music...we really do have the best neighbours in this town. Sometimes we all shine and sparkle... you should have seen the effort of some of the costumes...then again, maybe you are one of those people who goes to that effort. I should have taken the camera but I didn't want to try and keep track of it, my treats being beer that night! After the sugar high has worn off....aaaahhhh, how cute.
Today is crisp, and cold and the sky is a beautiful blue. If it stays this clear, we will need to get more candy for tonight. Last year(as most Halloweens I remember on this coast) was rainy. It makes for light trick-or-treater traffic... I hope we get lots this year. I love the kids, so proud and confident in their costumes, faces beaming. I like the way the big people look at the little ones on nights like tonight, like they are trying to commit every moment to memory, to take in each exact detail of their children so that they can replay it for a lifetime. Their excitement, parents' and kids', matched equally, though the pleasures they are experiencing are so different. Am I making any sense? I am babbling...must be all the candy I have ingested.

Well, enjoy the hauntings tonight, all.

Trick or Treat.

free hugs!!!!!!!!!

Free Hugs Campaign. Inspiring Story! (music by sick puppies)

Saw this through Barb's Blog
http://www.greenwellies.typepad.com and watched it twice this morning...and because it made me feel so good, I am putting it up so that maybe it can do the same for you... Happy Monday.

when dreams disappoint...

The other morning I had a dream than Vince Vaughn was my boyfriend... not a bad dream to have, I guess, if Vince Vaughn is your guy. It wasn't even a sexy dream or anything. We were cleaning the house(well, that is a little sexy, come to think of it...you know how I feel about cleaning!), and discussing what our weekend plans were, and what needed to be done in the yard and around the house. The thing is, having a dream about some well-known, sexy guy as your boyfriend and all I can do is dream about him cleaning and mowing the yard is NOT the disappointing part. The disappointing part is that I was dreaming about the wrong Vincent. I think the confusion in my dreaming brain came from watching the BreakUp(not so good, really) where my Vincent plays Vince's brother, follow me? Good casting, eh?
This is my Vince....Vincent D'Onofrio. Now, if I had been dreaming about him, it may have involved a little bit more than the dream with Vince Vaughn...at least I hope it would...snicker. And, before you even bring up the fact that I have a boyfriend...I would never knowingly wake Michael from a dream of Lauren Graham. He has good taste in women, I will give him that. And I don't even know why I had to write about it, but I have been thinking about it for a couple of days now. Why? Why Vince Vaughn? Weird to be so disappointed in a dream, isn't it? Vincent D'Onofrio, if you are reading this, it should have been you hanging pictures on my wall...and laying out the brick walkway...and (gasp) mopping my kitchen!

the story

This was in the paper...it was what I was watching out my window the other night...I am not sure I believe it is NOT related to other assaults just because nothing else happened THAT night. That is not a convincing argument, is it? There was a robbery/stabbing a couple days previous at the Howard Johnson...just how many people are running around stabbing people in this town, anyway? Oh, the RCMP seem so lazy here. I hope they aren't reading this....



Group chases, robs and stabs man, 22

Allison Cross, The Daily NewsPublished: Friday, October 27, 2006
Article tools

A 22-year-old Nanaimo man is in hospital with a lacerated liver after he was chased, robbed and stabbed twice by a group of male attackers early Monday morning, said Nanaimo RCMP.
At approximately 2 a.m., in the 100 block of Victoria Road, the victim was thrown to the ground, robbed of his wallet and stabbed in the stomach.
A passing motorist came to the victim's assistance and he was later treated at Nanaimo General Regional Hospital.
RCMP spokeswoman Const. Jen Allan said there is no indication the group is part of a gang.
"These males didn't appear to commit any other crimes that night," she said. "There's no indication that this incident has any relationship to other assaults."
Allan said descriptions of the suspects will not be made available to the public.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.
ACross@nanaimodailynews.com
© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2006

food and fun

Our good friend, TH, was in from Vancouver for the past two nights. Sometimes she works over here on the island and stays with us. We get treated to lovely dinners and drinks(thank you again for Armanis AND the Modern) at our favourite places. We sit around playing Scrabble...not very well, in my case. TH brought Stella.
Stella and Emma hit it right off and played until WE were exhausted and had to make them stop. Everything was a playtoy to them, the furniture, our socks...in this instance, Michael. It was sure nice to see Emma get along with another dog so well. Only a month ago, she probably would have attacked Stella...just because.
Have to clean out the cat poo today or tomorrow. The guy in the garden center swears by this stuff. It is green and gel-ish. It won't break down in the rain immediately so we won't have to reappy every day, now that the rain is here. Just a little drop here and there. It doesn't smell horrific to me, and probably not to you, but apparently cats and dogs hate it. It is overly minty...really overly so...but better than poo. I'll keep you in the loop on this one, okay? Cuz I know that you will all want to know!
And this I am adding because I am looking for some damn sympathy...just when that giant black spot on my nail had FINALLY grown out to where I could cut it off(I dropped a can of paint on it in early summer. Greek Blue or something like that)....I stubbed my toe so hard while dog walking in my Holeys that I have bruised the whole damn thing. DAMMIT. I don't polish my damn toes and my new Fluevogs(both pair) are open toed!!!! ARGH. Michael doesn't get my frustration...much like I can't sympathize with his cold symptoms. "Get over it!" we say to each other!! Dammit.
Well, time to walk the dog. I better go put on some damn boots! Talk to you all later!