Slippery Matters

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Dana — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:23:23 +0000

A destination. A place. A way of living.

I’m there. Sort of.

Dog sleeping on his rug in the kitchen.

Supper on the table.

Fire burning in the wood stove.

It feels like we never left.

Maybe we carried it with us.

There is that much baggage.

Superior Snow

Dana — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:56:51 +0000

Well, so far so good. We arrived before the snow that pretty much took over the shore Sunday and yesterday. We lost power Monday morning at the lodge, but it was back on in time for pecan pancakes and juice in the dining room. Then it was a fun-filled day of tramping in the snow with cameras and a couple encounters with other intrepid Superior seekers. Today we head out for more; snow? perhaps? clear skies? maybe. Meantime, a couple of pictures from yesterday.

Temperance River Beach. Cascade River below. Playing with rocks at Temperance River.

Drama Mongers All

Dana — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:15:06 +0000

I would like to thank the weather forecasters and a certain deputy sheriff for taunting my ever cautious partner and keeping him awake with worry so that 45 minutes from now we leave on our journey north. Yes, before 3 a.m., in the dark, we are traveling north. Should see sunrise in Duluth. No coffee at the wren, maybe breakfast with Eric. Did ou hear that? Eric. Wake up. Surprise. Hope the weather pans out.

Robert Pogue Harrison Stays Home!

Dana — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:40:34 +0000

We will be gone five nights and four days. I have spent the last two hours putting books in my backpack and taking them out again. ”Gardens” was in, now out. James Tate was out, now in. Louis Jenkins went in after Dean Young was pulled out. Salt Hill Review is in my purse, as is the latest Willow Springs and my kindle which has many, many possible choices just waiting for me to access them. Four days, of which most will be spent outside with my camera and newly repaired tripod (thanks Mr. B). I expect to spend a significant part of the evening in the hotel swimming pool and sauna. Guess what, there are bookstores where we are going (Lutsen!) and I plan to knit as well (two projects and yarn for an emergency third if there is time). And there is the notebook, for writing and musings. I could pull half of it out and not miss it at all. But I won’t. Just in case. But Harrison stays home, I am almost positively certain of that.

Second birth day

Dana — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:28:08 +0000

Whatever you do or begin today will bear the stamp of your individuality more than anything else. This is the day to assert yourself anew.

According to the astrological calendar today is really my birthday. So, happy birthday, again, to me. Today has proved to be more positive than yesterday and certainly more pleasant. While I mentally compose “thank you” notes to the person responsible for my present unemployment- harmless entertainment as long as I don’t send them- I have been drifting through the day. Sunshine and those long stretchy shadows of winter afternoons are as entertaining as the snow this morning. Saw a gold finch at the feeder. He slipped in under the beaks of the blue jays, the gang of thugs presently dominating the feeder areas. The cardinals need to come back, drive away the jays. Or the woodpecker king could arrive. He doesn’t do much but tap on the tree branches, but it is enough to keep every bird in line. I am sorry the crows are gone. I’ve become quite attached to the avian outcasts.

Oh well, assert anew, away and above. Some days it is best to quack like a duck and other days it helps to moo.

Check My Reality

Dana — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:20:34 +0000

So, my first day of unemployment and I have discovered, or rediscovered the immense number of things that I haven’t been doing because I was working. I firmly believe that work should be the means to an end, not the end itself. I had forgotten that, or more likely, ignored that. So, this morning I was able to start a new knitting project, organize files, finish some chapbooks and ready them for shipment, redesign the 2012 Red Bird logo, ride my bike, and walk to the mailbox with Dennis and Macarthur. The possible time occupiers is endless. Those books piled on my shelves; I have the time to read them now. Those bags and bags of yarn; I have time to knit them into something now. Those blank pages in my notebook; I have time to fill them now. And those piles and piles of poems and essays that could form the basis for my thesis; maybe I can finally organize and assess them.

Yeah, I know I will have to spend time looking for another job. I think the mistake I made with the last one is that I let it become too important in my life. Really, I do better when I work just enough to afford the time and money to do the things I really want to do. The job isn’t important; it is the income. So, the I-pad will have to wait. The books will have to come from the library, and life will be pared down and spare for a while.

The Red Bird will get more of my attention. It needs it. The photo files that are filling up my hard drive I can process and maybe even print. And I can once again look out my window and watch the birds at the feeder and my favorite tree. Today there is a light snow falling, soft and quiet; welcome encouragement for this new adventure.

I like to try new things. Experiment and see how it goes. If it doesn’t work out, there is always something new to try. Another day. Another opportunity. Another lesson learned. K(eep) I(t) S(imple) S(tupid).

RIP Little Toy Truck

Dana — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:06:18 +0000

The official mechanic verified DOA was received today. 16 years, 248,000 miles and the cobalt blue truck was taken out by a blown frost plug. Sad, a little ironic, coasting to a stop in big cloud of white steam.

We are again a single vehicle family. Last time that was true was the two weeks between the Buick blowing up and the Vista Wagon coming home. And that was so long ago I can’t remember the year, early on, at least twenty years ago.

Hopefully this time won’t be any longer- I need to get to work. So, while I would love to revive the 1982 colt hatchback, or even the vista wagon, I am not exactly interested in a diesel rabbit or a jeep. I’d take another Elinor- if only they still made corollas with two doors. Sigh. Car shopping is the very worst of shopping experiences. I look forward to the experience about as much as going to the dentist for the first time in thirty years. Yeah, it s aliready proving to be a good giddy new year.

RIP Little Toy. You will be missed.

Is that really necessary?

Dana — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:33:29 +0000

I get immense satisfaction from that question. For example: is another blog on knitting really necessary? Is is necessary to have yet another republican presidential candidate debate? Is that I-pad I covet really necessary? When do we step across that line to simply unapologetic indulgence? Is it bad to stay in bed in the morning because it feels so nice and warm and soft and it is such a long way down stairs to stand in front of the wood stove and get warm. Is that really an indulgence? What about all those indulgences the catholic church has sold over the centuries? Just where did all that money go? There is always a price. So we pay and pay and still someone will ask that question; is that really necessary?

I don’t want another blog about knitting. I don’t want to watch another political debate, unless it is a real, substantial discussion of issues and ideas and not a manure flinging slanging match. I do sort of want that I-pad. but that is probably more curiosity than need. A lot more curiosity. So really what I want is a distraction, a means of delaying, avoiding, ignoring the things I should be doing. Is it really necessary that the kitchen floor be swept and the dog haired rugs washed? Is it really necessary that the dishes get washed before the cupboards are empty and we have run out of glasses and silverware? What’s the worst thing that can happen? Food poisoning, allergic reactions?

I need to watch one of the hoarding programs on the tv. Motivated by horror. Holding the mirror up to check the reflection. I had the strangely out of character thought today that I should get rid of all my books and only have as many books as will fit on one small bookshelf. none of this one book on a deserted island blather for me. Narrow it down to 48 books. No more, no less. Which ones would you choose? What else can I get rid of, divest my personage of belongings? Computers? Clothes? Furniture? Vehicles? Thoreauvian simplicity and freedom? If I had to walk to town to get a gallon of milk would I decide it was better to own a cow? Is that how it all started? Is the concept of progress nothing more than convenience and indulgence? If I can afford it I can have it. Is that kind of thinking really necessary? Round and round I go. Where will it all stop? When will it all stop? Should it. could it all stop? Wheee!

Is that really necessary?

Monday, now that was a day!

Dana — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:46:01 +0000

just saying…

Dana — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:08:23 +0000

Tread carefully. Speak thoughtfully. Stay the f*ck out of my way. Emotions are smouldering and it won’t take much to set off a conflagration.