Birds of a feather...

...follow me around the yard.

Back in May I went out to a guest ranche east of the Cypress Hills, south of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan to do the music for a friend's wedding.

As soon as I got out of the van, I'd made a friend. The locals were going on about how I "...should be cafeful - it bites." All the while, anyone who approached - and I'm sorry, I'm not sure if this is a girl bird or a boy bird - my friend, would get snapped at, or walked away from.

I was followed.

Relentlessly.

It would appear that I was to pet said bird - else I'd get nuzzled to the point of agrevation! One of the fellows in the wedding party agreed to play photographer for this shot, and no one believed I could get that close.

It was bazzaar, yet kinda cool.

Good fortune, timing and a little luck

On Monday I took the C-Train downtown to an appointment with a potential client. I like to take the train in and out of downtown when I'm simply attending a meeting because it means I'm free of the hassle and cost of parking a vehicle.

At home I counted out some loose change, enough for the $2.50 fare. I plugged the machine with my nickles, dimes, quarters and dollar coin - in no particular sequence. Two of the nickles fell though... consistently - they wouldn't take.

I changed machines.

Same thing.

I changed machines AGIAN.

AGAIN, the same two nickles fell through.

Frustrated, knowing this was my only change on hand, I was in a bit of a fit. Now you may be wondering why I simply didn't get on the train and take my trip - who would know, right? What are the chances of actually getting caught?

Well... back in April, I DID get caught. One in a million. It couldn't have happened on a better day, either. On that day back in April, I had just received news that my van would need a $3500.00 transmission, and I was making my way from the Foothills Hospital to a chiropractic appointment at Dalhousie Station - then at the end of the LRT line. I had boarded the train at University station after realizing my book of tickets was at home, and loose change? Nada. THEN, I figured,

"Two stops? What are the chances?"

Well, on that day, quite good, actually! (To the tune of $150.00, actually!)

So... on Monday I was ready to head home and reschedule with my client!

I had one more machine to try. I looked over at the device that stamps the ticket-book tickets. On it sat a stamped ticket.

"What are the chances it's still good?"

On this particular day, at this particular time - quite good, actually! Transit tickets in Calgary are valid for 90 minutes from the time of validation. This one had been stamped 15 minutes prior at a nearby station. I guess someone was looking out for me! It's actually quite common to see people offering up unused tickets on their way off the platform, but never have I seen a ticket simply sitting there - a gift to someone (like me, for instance) who might be in need.

I accepted the ticket from the Universe, said a little 'thank you' and proceeded on my way. I actually had enough time to do my business downtown and return before its expiration, too.

Indeeed, good fortune, timing and yes, luck.

Musing

I love that word.

In its adjective form, absorbed in thought or meditative. As a noun, a musing is a contemplation, or reflection.

I haven't felt like blogging for months now, but that's not to say that I haven't been keeping true to my form; I partake in contemplations and reflection regularly. Absorbed in thought? Me? Absolutely. In fact, I've literally been accused of overthinking. Can't argue, either. I do it. But that's not what's kept me from blogging. I tend to have lots to say here whilst the wheels turn.

Since the beginning of the year, it seems, I've been far busier "doing" than I used to. I feel, anyway, far more exhausted yet energized at the same time. In January we had record sales. Ten events in a month is hardly "record", except for the fact it was January and a normal January sees normally the odd leftover Christmas party. This had me scratching my head wondering why, while everyone was banterning on about a recession, we were doing so well.

I honestly remember very little about February through April. I didn't keep a blog record of any consequence. April brought with it the onset of a flood at my place which necessitated a full-on renovation of the basement suite. We did it in a month - the entire month of May - and I came out the other side with a tenant right away for June, and it's worked out rather well. I jokingly call her my "downstairs wife" because on the occasion that I forget to flip my laundry, it mysteriously gets dried, folded and stacked. I also get invited for suppers fairly regularly. In exchange I tend to offer up rides here and there because my "downstairs wife" doesn't drive. Now, before you go getting any wild and crazy ideas, "downstairs wife" starts and ends with laundry, meals and rides. But it also provides for a bit of a humerous story:

Back in July I went on a date.
It was the first real date I'd had since Nathalie moved back to Quebec, so I was anticipating it. We went for a bevy, then over to catch the fireworks. Now, think of the most stunning question you could ever be asked on a first date - the one that would make you choke on your food, or spit your drink across the table. Got it? OK, now I'm going to tell you what happened to me. Thankfully, at the time, we were not sitting at the table so I didn't spew all over my date. That's bad, and you usually don't get a second chance for a first impression.

The question was, as we stood outside my van,

"Why didn't you tell me you have kids?"

I literally replied,

"Huh?"

(for those of you who may be reading for the first time, I don't have kids)

I was thinking to myself, 'So... is this a trick question?'

She replied,

"You have a car seat in your van. Why?"

I wish I had had something clever with which to respond. I didn't. So, I told her the truth:

"Oh, that! It belongs to my downstairs tenant." Notice I said "tenant", not "wife"... that would have been bad.

I explained that I occasionally give rides to a single mom, who has two kids, who also happens to live in my basement. My date nodded as if she understood, we had a bit of a laugh and carried on. A little while later - 'bout two weeks to be precise, I received a phone call from the same girl explaining to me that she really felt she wasn't ready to be dating again. I shared the story with my "downstairs tenant-wife-whatever" and she gave me a look like 'are you an idiot?'

"Dave, there ARE times when you don't ACTUALLY have to tell the truth! ...and... this is one of them!"

I think I actually shared a bigger laugh with her over that than with my date. So, note to self - remove other people's car seats from your vehicle before going on a date. It just makes things simpler.

How's that for "a musing"?

Getting going

Some days, I'm sure you'd agree, it's easier than others. The last couple weeks have seen me exhausted. I want to get up early and have a "day to myself" before jumping into the stuff of the everyday.

Last Sunday I slept. Man, did I sleep! It's not every day I wake up at 1:00 in the afternoon.

This week I planned to be up early over the weekend to take in a run and just time to be on my own. There aren't many people out and about at 6:00 AM on a Saturday. 'Cept my neighbours. As I ran past, my neighbour Barb was sitting on her front step with a coffee. Soon her husband Mark came out to join us. We chatted for some time - not sure for how long - but it was 7-something by the time I made the University. I grabbed a coffee from one of the independent places in the food court that keep off-hours to capture the early-morning and weekend crowd. I sat and enjoyed my iPod tunes while planning stuff out on the electronic notepad.

Did I mention I love my iPone??

I decided that being worn out wasn't getting me any further ahead, so my approach to yesterday was to do a few things, but put the clock to it to keep an eye on the time. I set the timer in fact. I'd made a list of probably a dozen things which were broken down into personal and business objectives for the day. This may not be new to you, but I discovered how much you can get done with a list... and some focus.

I've been puttering away at building up a yoga room out of one of the upstairs bedrooms. Last week I swapped my room over to the front bedroom - the bigger of the two which had years ago been my office. The new-to-be yoga room needs some TLC - a coat of paint and a good cleaning. I spent some time at that yesterday.

I also did a couple or three things - you know those little projects that should get done "some day"? Yah, you know the ones you walk past every day saying, "Geeze that bugs me - gotta fix that!" Felt great... and know what? I wasn't exhausted at the end of the day! And with so much more accomplished, I felt better inside too.

I've got some ugly business stuff to do tomorrow, so it's been nice to recharge and at the same time get some of my surroundings settled.

Today I got up early and went for a run to the U. and back... but not quite as early as yesterday. I've been doggin' it today, and have a list half as long as yesterday. For breakfast I enjoyed some leftover crock pot stew... meant I didn't have to "make breakfast". It was great to turn on some tunes, eat and now write in the blog.

Whatever you're doing today, I hope it's as peaceful and recharging as I intend my day to be.


Looking west-ish through the campus toward the prairie chicken sculpture under which we had numerous Poetry classes in '07... including a picnic.

Slow like Turtle, heart like Rabbit

So yesterday evening I was at Shopper's Drug Mart and simply on spec tried out the blood pressure cuff they have for public use at the pharmacy.

Was I surprised at the result? You bet.

187 / 94

For those of you who aren't in the know, 120 / 80 is normal. My "normal" is slightly lower, actually, at 110 / 70. You can see why I was surprised!

My resting heart rate is high, too - this afternoon it clocked in at 79 BPM, and although in music terms that's the tempo of a slow song, it certainly isn't anything plodding where my heart is concerned. Normal for me is in around 58 to 61.

What's up?

Dunno, but I called the Health Link folks and was told a few things of note:

--Because I'm showing no "symptoms", there isn't any reason to panic

--If my numbers reach the low 200s and/or are accompanied by blurred vision or back pain, I must seek medical attention within four hours

--Because 187 / 94 is well over 20 points higher than my "normal", I should go in to the clinic to be checked out... today or tomorrow.

I think I'll sleep on it. I was also told that you should take your BP on an empty stomach - which mine wasn't yesterday - so perhaps I'll return tomorrow to the pharmacy first.

Taken now after sitting to write this post, my pulse is down to 66.

Hmm... sleep on it, yes.

River Run

This, the title of a James Keelaghan song, seemed suitable for today's post. James wrote the song in support of the Alberta Wilderness Association and to curse the Alberta and Canadian governments for the construction of the Old Man River dam.

I woke up early this morning, around 5:00. After several months of attempting to calm my own waters, and feeling a lack of physical vitality, I was inspired by the words,

"Now the river's not running as fast as it did,
there's a dam there restricting the flow;
and I don't run either as fast as I could,
guess that river and I have grown old."


inspired, yes, to go running this morning. I thought about where I had tucked my running shoes from about a year ago - having given up running because of the strain it caused on my right knee. I've since had a lift added to my orthodic to compensate for my leg length discrepancy, so felt comfortable taking it on this morning.

It's been beastly hot here as of late so to step out to a cool, freshly-rained-on yard was yet even more inspiration for the run.

Do you know that wet smell that brings out the fragrance of the Evergreens and the grass?

I was quickly reminded of why, a year ago, I started with a 30-second walk-run.

With River Run programmed on my iPod, I ran.
Then I walked.
James' words struck incredible metaphor for me as I ran and paralleled his account to events in my own life.

I've returned now, going to grab some change and walk over to the U. for a coffee - perhaps a bit of an indulgence after such an incredibly healthy start to the day, but it will allow me to smell the trees again.

Go West!

Indeed I did. Last Sunday I accepted a ride to the airport from my friend Jim. Up practically the whole night before, I sleepishly miscalculated the time and ended up at the airport TWO hours ahead of flight time, not one. Ah well, time for a Tims with Jim then to the terminal.


Calgary from the air facing south across the river.



From my travels on Westjet to Quebec I learned that if you order a beverage that they likely won't serve to anyone else, they give you the whole can. I love tonic, and get the whole thing every time!

Once on the ground in Comox, I *texted* (ouch, I can't believe that word is now acceptable in the English language!) my friend Mike who was to pick me up. Trouble was, he was flying from Calgary to Nanaimo via Air Canada to grab his truck to drive to Comox to meet me for Folk Fest. Thing is, he'd missed his connecting flight in Vancouver. He was going to be an additional two hours, then the hour and a half drive north.

The Comox airport is a lovely place, and I got to know it intimately. I also got to know the security personnel and the Westjet office staff. You see, I'd inadvertently left my binder sitting on a seat outside the main doors to the terminal. I had sauntered in to the snack shop and when I came out, realized I didn't have my book. I went from one end to the other trying to remember where it was. I finally clued in to the fact that security must have picked it up. Sure enough, they'd taken it to the Westjet office. I got a teasing little lecture not to leave things lying around the airport. After hearing my friend's story of being bumped in Vancouver - the reason for me hanging around Comox - the Westjet girl said, "I guess he'll be flying Westjet next time, eh?"

I spent the bulk of my time listening to my iPod and reading poetry. Both endeavours had me reading and listening about marginalized peoples; my mood inspired this photo:



Mike showed up around 4:30 and we headed to Campbell River to pick up a couple fishing rods for my friend Norm. Campbell River is beautiful and yielded these:







We came back down to catch the last of the Folk Fest but discovered the day price still applied at the gate - a whopping $95.00! Four bands left on the stage list, none of whom were James Keelaghan - after I had noted on the website that he was to play at 8:00 Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

More than rather disappointed, we headed back to Nanaimo and stopped in at the Piper's Pub for a bite to eat. Great food, a visit with a great friend... a fabulous start to a much-needed vacation!

...to be continued