kisses are more important than rats

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Four reasons why returning to Edmonton would be a bad idea.

(today in Edmonton)

One prismatic reason why staying on the Sunshine coast would be an excellent idea.

(today on the Sunshine Coast)

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Tensor bandages.

Today I believe I was delivered a lesson in Be careful what you're thinking.

After cheering on runners who completed the April Fool's Run (half-marathon between Gibsons and Sechelt), I headed out for a long brisk walk. Imagine a beautiful spring day, the Davis Bay esplanade lit in daffodils, the cheery trees exploding in pink blossoms, and birds on wires singing their prettiest songs.

I was thinking, on this walk, about tensor bandages, and how I can remember where they were kept in each of my last three homes. In Edmonton I had a tensor bandage in a kleenex box in the top of the bedroom closet with a few other items I rarely use, like hair curlers.

In Middle Lake (SK) the tensor bandage was kept in the cabinet above the toilet: a practical place, no?

In the City Park house (Saskatoon) the tensor bandages (there were two) were in the kitchen in the far right bottom cabinet reserved also for paid bills, maps, greeting cards, and craft supplies.

I have been fortunate not to have needed a tensor bandage for some time, but on this morning's walk -- the trees, the birds, the bluest sea -- I was not paying attention and hit the jagged edge of the pavement. Oops. I made meat of fingertips, scraped my right knee, and sprained my left ankle.

We have no tensor bandages in Sechelt.

I considered bothering the strangers in the nearest home and asking them to call Greg to drive over to get me -- about 5km from the house. Or I could put pressure on the foot and try to make my way back; sometimes it's best to get right back on the trail. I did the latter.

Greg was impressed with the velocity and size of the swelling, and grabbed me a bag of ice cubes wrapped in a tea towel.

A few hours later we were running errands and both agreed we'd happily detour if we saw any Open House signs. We did. A wonderful B and B operation called Tucker's Inn. The owner immediately noticed my hobbling, sat me down, cleaned my bloodied knee and wrapped my ankle in a tensor bandage he pulled out of a kitchen drawer like a rabbit from a hat.

I suppose this means that I won't be able to go for my traditional birthday run. I am 49 years old tomorrow. There are far worse things.

And I shall mind my thoughts.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Shelley's Spring 2012 Literary Events Updated (with links)

SHELLEY'S APRIL - JUNE 2012 EVENT SCHEDULE

The calm before the tours ...

*Thurs. April 26th, 7 - PM - Reading and music at Shelf Life Books, Calgary Shelf Life Books Reading

Poetry And Music for a Spring Afternoon

Saturday April 28, 2012
3:00pm - 5:00pm
The Artery
9535 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB
Free; Cash bar

Spring is that season when we cross to the sunny side of the ecliptic. It’s a season for changes – hot and cool, high flights and mud, departures and returns. Join us for an afternoon of mood swings and swinging music with poets John Steffler, Nora Gould, Shelley Leedahl, and local poet/songwriter Lyra Brown.

*Tuesday, June 5th, 7:00 PM - Reading at Pilger Public Library, Pilger, SK (sponsored by the Writers Union of Canada)
http://www.panet.pa.sk.ca/menu.asp

*Thursday, June 7th, 7:00 PM - Reading at John M Cuelenaere Library, Prince Albert, SK (sponsored by the Writers Union of Canada) http://www.jmcpl.ca/

*Monday, June 11th, 7:00 PM - Reading in Vertigo Series, Regina, SK Vertigo ... location, time, address

*Tuesday, June 12th, 7:30 PM - Reading at McNally Robinson Bookstore, Saskatoon, SK http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-11051/Shelley-A.-Leedahl----Reading-and-Signing

___________________

Fall events include: November 30th - Planet Earth Series
Reading, Victoria, BC

Reading in Gibsons, BC (TBA)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Eagles!

Posted 4 new bald eagle videos on Youtube recently. They were taken by Logan Leedahl in our yard. Exciting stuff. One is below. The others can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/shelleyannleedahl/feed

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Snowshoeing with Whiskey Jacks.

From sea to sky.

Lashing rain at sea level equates with heaps of snow up the mountain. Logan, Kira and I joined Greg and his students on a Dakota Ridge snowshoe excursion March 13th. It was a new experience for me and the young couple.

Greg with his students on a snowy field trip.

Kira and Logan, Dakota Ridge

I knew I'd dig snowshoeing. The outdoors and physical activity, that's a combo I thoroughly enjoy. Spotted three plump Gray Jays, which my bird book refers to as the "phantoms" of higher elevation forests.

Some say Gray Jay. Some say Perisoreus canadensis. I say Whiskey Jack.

Visitors, and Sea Stories (Part 2)

After one pacific March day on the Pacific, we and our guests woke up to a veritable hurricane on day two. To fully appreciate how riled the sea got, I offer a BEFORE photo of our (borrowed) rowboat:

Rowboat, and the vista from our yard.

And an AFTER photo:

Greg woke up first the morning of the storm, and said: "I'm going to check the boat."

We'd left it high and dry on the rock wall in front of our house. Logan and I checked it before we went to bed. All was well.

Greg came back in the house, poker-faced. "Boat's gone."

"No way," I said, because Greg can be known to pull fast ones. I bolted outside, housecoat flapping in the 100km (or more) winds, and sure enough. Oh, there were logs and clams and a tire and rocks and other unusual debris on our lawn, but nary a boat in sight.

"Logan," I called to my sleeping son, "get up. We've got to find our boat."

Greg went to school and Logan and I slipped into rubber boots and rain gear and began splashing down Stalashen Drive, checking the beach at various points along the way for any flash of silver. We got to the beginning of the Davis Bay esplanade, about 1 km from our house, turned the corner and Logan said: "There's your boat."

Ahoy. Sure enough, there she was, washed up on the sidewalk beside the public washroom. It looked like a pitbull had had its way with her. Or a team of hooligans with baseball bats. Or the sea.

(Reminder at this point in the story: BORROWED boat).

I was feeling terribly distraught, and didn't know who to call. The authorities? The boat owner? A scrap metal dealer? Logan and I returned home. Bystanders were taking photos of the sorry boat. Waves continued to wash over and under her. Oh, god.

"Well," I said, "at least we had one great day of crabbing with her. Let's go back home, call Greg and let him know we found it."

We did that, and at home I checked for any other damage. The sea'd turned maniacal. An otter skirted across the rocks before my eyes.

A few metres from our door.

Too close.

We returned to Davis Bay with Kira, because I didn't want her to miss a minute of this.

Later, after I'd called Sechelt officials, the boat was picked up and scrapped.

Does anyone out there have a good, used aluminum rowboat boat for sale?

If so, please call 604-989-4959.

I mean really ... PLEASE CALL.

Visitors, and Sea Stories (Part 1)

We've been pleased to host eight visitors recently. Edmontonians Anna (Poet Laureate), Douglas and Tallulah were out for a few nights.

It was great to play guitar with Anna again, enjoy word games and hiking, and show off the Sunshine Coast.

Doug went swimming. We did remind him that it's just February, and none too warm yet, but he wouldn't be deterred.

Doug and Tallulah about to go swimming.

Unfortunately a big wave slammed Doug and he lost his glasses. He never complained once about the water being cold. :)

Currently my son, Logan, and his girlfriend, Kira (from Kiel, Germany), are here for two weeks, leaving Saskatoon in a blizzard, and arriving to full sun on the Sunshine Coast. They quickly on the water and caught enough crab for a huge feast, AND a wonderful crab appetizer that we served at our Games Night party on Saturday night.

Guests: six. Sea: zero.

Logan and Kira in the rowboat - six Dungeness crabs, and a few flounder.

Kira mending a net like she was born for it.

Claude and Rob

Logan and Kira on "Music Night" ... my usual gathering with guitar-playing friends and neighbors Claude and Rob.

Logan's friend Pete, from the Ukraine, is now living in Vancouver. He'd never been to the Sunshine Coast, so he ferried over and we hiked the dickens out of him.

Greg (left) and Pete (with cap) at Skookumchuk Rapids

Judit (from Germany) and Krista (Vancouver) were also with us on our hike to the Skookumchuck Rapids, then burgers and fish and chips at the Back Eddy Pub in Egmont.

Judit, Krista, Logan and Kira on Skookukmchuk Rapids hike.
Kira knitted Logan's toque (her first knitting project), and he says he loves the way the ties flare out, because it makes people smile, and that's never a bad thing.