Posted on November 29, 2009 at 05:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Face painting today for Christmas Light Up.
Many many kids patiently waited for me to paint puppies and butterflies and snowmen on their expectant faces. Some chattered happily. Some cringed at the tickley paint brush on their sweet cheeks. Many said 'please'. Many said 'thank you'. Some wondered 'is it MY turn NOW?'. Some got so impatient that they tried to cut in line.
But one just simply said 'wow'.
And it really doesn't get any better than that.
Posted on November 28, 2009 at 09:12 PM in kids, this or that | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I didn't register what he said to me, because I didn't realize he was talking to me. I smelled him before I heard him. I turned. Greying brush cut, tobacco stained teeth, a few inches taller than me. His fleece sweater tucked into his track pants.
Been clean for 34 days.
Oh, wow, that's an accomplishment.
I say this feebly, feeling genuinely amazed at this feat which must surely have been an epic struggle.
Both drugs and alcohol.
You have somewhere to stay where they are taking good care of you?
This is all I can think to say.
Over at the Gospel Mission. They take good care of me.
Must have been really hard work. You should be proud.
Didn't do it alone. The Lord helped me every step of the way. Couldn't have done it alone.
And right there, in that moment, I'm jealous of the simple faith of a man who has nothing. No home. No income. No vices - well not anymore anyway. Not even a regular bath. My own faith so twisted and complicated that in some ways it's rendered useless. A long list of do's and don'ts. And I can't help feeling that it's so far removed from what it was meant to be.
Everybody's got to believe in something.
Me? I'm working on remembering the simple truths which guide me.
Posted on November 27, 2009 at 10:00 PM in jambalaya | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Just come back, already.
Okay? We're good, right?
See you soon,
FG
Posted on November 26, 2009 at 10:12 PM in jambalaya, this or that | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Sorry gang, no real post tonight. Difficult evening with the big E. All sorted now. Par for the course.
Tomorrow we are back to our regularly schedule....oh who am I kidding, there's no schedule.
See you then.
Posted on November 25, 2009 at 09:48 PM in kids, this or that | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
My Grandpa D was a funny sort of guy. He'd whistle tunes, sing snippets of songs, dance little jigs. He coined interesting and inventive swear words and dubbed Hazel, a neighbour, 'Hazel the witch' - all with a twinkle in his eye. It should be stated, Hazel was not, in fact, a witch. Just a rather unfortunate looking old maid named Hazel, who happened to have a pointy chin and sadly wiry grey hair. To the best of my knowledge, and despite Grandpa's best efforts to convince otherwise, Hazel also did NOT ride a broom.
One of my fondest memories was listening to him recite poetry. The man could remember a vast amount of lyrics, poetry, and passages of stories. I did not inherit this gift and promptly forget peoples names, movie plots, what I had for dinner yesterday, license plate numbers, birthdays and a host of other things that might be considered useful to recall. My absolute favourite was when he'd recite limericks. I'd beg for the same one's over and over. Loving his delivery, his cadence and the ever present mischievous smile twitching at the corners of his mouth, ready to erupt into laughter.
Grandpa, do the one about the girl who drank lemonade.
You mean, the girl from Lynne?
Yes, that one.
Okay, let me see if I can remember how it goes. 'There once was a girl from Lynne, who was so exceedingly thin, that when she assayed to drink lemonade, she slipped through the straw and fell in!'
To which my Grandmother would always respond: LORNE!
Today Ethan brought home a printed off copy of some limericks he's been working on at school during his language arts class. This boy of mine, who fought tooth and nail against the idea of writing, in every sense of the word. This boy who after grade one decided that because he couldn't work as fast as the other kids, he was a 'know nothing'. This boy who frustrates the hell out of most adults, is writing. And not, like he has in the past, exclusively about blowing up the school. He's writing witty, funny, macabre limericks.
There once was a boy named Red
Who liked to sit on his head
He sat there all day
Till his face turned all grey
And now poor Red, he is dead.
There once was a big, smelly skunk
Who liked to sing opera and punk
He sang it too loud
He lost his big crowd
Some poeple said that he stunk!
There was a rather large waiter
Who served hamburgers and taters
He tripped on a chair
Food flew through the air
And his belly left a huge crater!
Maybe limericks are one of those things that skips a generation. Like twins and the laundry gene. Whatever the case, I've a feeling Lorne would be smiling too if he were here.
Posted on November 24, 2009 at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
And one thing I know is that I seem to not be able to rush the creative process. I keep trying to but it never seems to work.
And um, okay, I've officially hit rock bottom here. Who really wants to hear about the intricate and delicate balance of my creative process? No one. No even me!
So instead here's a list:
Top Ten: 10 things I love about my boys
Posted on November 23, 2009 at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I had a spectacularly stupid, pity filled day. Actually, it started earlier this week. A volatile combination of sun deprivation, frustration, seasonal effective bone weary exhaustion, self pity, topped with a healthy dose of PMS. Thursday I was slightly cranky. By last night I was weepy. I spent the better part of the week trying to pep talk, lecture, and cajole myself out the funk. I know that I'm helping my family by working full time. I know that I'm doing what's necessary. I know that many other people are not as blessed as I, or as cared for as I. I know that balance will come, eventually.
I know that I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
But today I just didn't want to.
Posted on November 22, 2009 at 08:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
I had the absolute privilege of being interviewed by the lovely and astoundingly dedicated JP/Deb over at Jane Poet. People, she read through an enormous amount of my archives and came up with some excellent questions. Things like, Did Finn become a serial flasher? and When did I start saying 'oy vey'? I can't even begin to tell you how much I laughed rereading the posts she referenced. It was a great walk down memory lane.
In fact, I recommend you head on over to Jane's blog and read my interview right now. And while you are there, drop a comment and show Jane some love. She's earned it, afterall.
Posted on November 21, 2009 at 06:10 PM in jambalaya, this or that | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Or does JCrew's 'Cashmere Of The Month Club' (for $1800 US, and not a penny less) seem like the height of decadence?
Not that I would say no if someone decided to spoil me.
Also, remember the other day I said that Revlon's Mulled Wine was my current favourite? Well move over Mulled Wine.
Because this just took your place.
:: Love.
Posted on November 20, 2009 at 06:30 PM in things I love, want it | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)