Rosey-cheeked smiles - January 2007

chatting aimlessly (this has special pleasure for us journalsits who talk pointedly for a living)
heat of a fireplace
nachos and beers - at chris
(last of january)
sunny winter day
late morning run now it's overwith for the day
was outfitted with bunker gear and helmet and boots
first firehall meeting
walking out of frenchies without spending a dime
a lonnggg call from phillip
stopping under the bear river bridge
early morning run over with for the day
did i mention apple crsip
visiting grammie - big hugs
an xmas gift mom says she bought two years ago for me
supper at mom's - hamburger and gravy, peas, and turnip - with apple crisp for dessert
a long wonderful explore along Dartmouth's waterfront
rob's kids using this crazy dipthing in their speech - dayad iyam sayad
the crazy lady in the orange jumpsuit and big earphones, with the ruddy face who was talking to herself ("people stink") didnt kill us
(Jan. 31)
robert did my laundry
running in hilly dartmouth
little big town - good as gone
country radio
letting him drive - ack
jony being close - hanging off me, leaning on me, sitting close
playing guitar and trading songs with jony
sleeping in and waking up to coffee and scones
sleeping in a wrm soft bed
chatting with rob
picking out a movie at blockbuster
catching up
enjoying a DQ blizzard with my boy
finding jony
finding clear roads
hitting the road
signing up, joining, becoming a member
writing a comprehensive story even without participation of the subject
tracking down the info with a few calls and stick to itveness
inspiration for an editorial on an "off" week for me
(28 Jan)
friends have been making nosies - they are still out there :P
the judge trying to reach me all day :D
i feel very welcome and settled here - too comfortable? i wish i could stay but i dont know if i can - yes that's a smile - any dilemna is an opportunity to explore :D
cruising around my community like a valued and appreciated member :P
talking to kids about their smoking situation
a thick huge meaty pile of work
nicole's good mood for her trip
running near midnight
witnessing courage and honesty and selflessness
being honoured with people's stories
getting the phone call when i was already half way there
listening when a friend needs a listener
lunch with chris at the 'hollow
swim trunks i will be comfortable in next summer - yeehaw
a sweet blood boiling frustration cured by a stop at frenchies
writing the story with a great big "Asshole was too cranky to play today - he sat in the corner and sulked."
getting run out for being one of those "inaccurate whitewashing journalists"
getting the scopp
real live models to play with and photograph
hearing the word adventure from the second "senior" in a week
driving tour of bear river learning where all the great trails are and...yes a waterfall
that's real hospitality - i approve
coffee brought to me on a tray with a creamer and sugar bowl
Bear River in the snowy sunshine
(Jan. 26)
a long list of peeps to talk to tomorrow
watching great hard-working athletes with talent
the competition has folded
i just feel good - i dunno why
plans for a kegger
photos of knockers
a whole book of alan bennet to read
free vegggie tray
free pizza
long list of story ideas
a couple days of sun
running on a fresh snow
putting friends on front page of the paper ( oh the power)
getting questions and clarification requests from friends re: my smiles
(Jan. 24)
non-stop production
beautiful colours
the sun
repairing slowly a messed up relationship - not that one, please!
doing my job
Gd GD has a girlfriend
volunteers who'll do anything for the commuity
there is humour in even the saddest moments
helping the firemen and not taking the picture
thinking up killer cutlines
regaling colleagues with old war stories
my colleagues said Angel would be welcome at work...
reading terrible dumb wrong silly stories in the competition
being tired enough to dream up an idea like below
getting the idea for my first book - a collection of tennis ball essays
getting it all written when i really didnt think i would
i survived another all-nighter when i really didnt think i would
(Jan. 22)
three weeks of everyday running under my belt
runner's high
just catching the end of the game but getting all you need for a decent story
winter waterfall memories
finding a sheltered spot in out of the wind and flooded with sunshine
the feel of a cold winter wind on our cheeks and chin and nose
helping a friend who needs distracting
a beautiful dog
the help of strangers
getting good and royally stuck
watching the waves do their crazything
exploring the side roads
driving home the old road
a Runner's World mag
a new bank card
four wheeling in a fore wheeler
radio, coffee and cruising
getting all bundled up for a day outdoors
good warm winter clothes
a long drive
the word "glib" as in "glib of ice"
something i just cant mention here but mmm mmm mmm
a photoshoot with local snowboarders
an avalanche of stories
a ski bum movie
a beautiful photo of Bay of Fundy winter
a real serious no holds bar winter storm
(Jan. 22 early AM)
(have been slack soory)
p.c. wren
rudyard kipling
getting organized
another great day at frenchies
living learning and peeling back the onion layers
a big ol "school cancelled" snow storm
cooking a big pot of deer stew
cleaning ans scrubbing
a rink'dog and hot chocolate
the silly music they play between the action
players jumping over the boards
give and go passing
goals scored with two defencemen on the forward's back
hip checks
delayed penalties
pulling the goalie
junior c players using professional cliches to answer my questions
a flashy glove save
the excitement, the adrenalin rush when the home team is rushing up ice
end-to-end hockey
when the puck flies right at your head and you duck even though there is plexiglass in the way
laughing and joking at the rink
eavesdropping on all the warm familiar rink socializing
(Jan. 16)
having a plan
jumping over broken rum bottles on King Street
warm running weather
early morning runs through a sleepy town
getting up early and out of bed and started on my day
(early Jan. 13)
getting another photo of Ronnie the garbage man
reading the hilarious antics of west prince - mayor suggest 15 minute parking - RCMP will enforce it - Mayor keeps councillor attendance on white board - Mayor wonders why his photo isnt on wall of council chamber
stickies software - ahhhhh - so you can mess up your computer
meeting an honest-to-goodness Playboy Bunny (albeit 30 years too late)
realizing that 30 years ago i wouldnt have appreciated it
reading my stories in the Valley Today rewritten of course
a little Simon and Garfunkel
listening to the CD pearl gave me and missing three times the sad ending she warned me about??
writing a letter to my good buddy hobbes
an email from pearl saying she is settling in
a letter from mom saying i didnt get my xmas present (my car was so full when i left her house i was thinkning about sterring from outside??)
an article stolen from a library by my grandfather for me to read
beautiful fotos from florida
handwritten mail
a short cold snap
crunchy ice underfoot
hearing a friend's good news
realizing i really need to smarten up
laundry hung up and put away - most of it
sleeping in by mistake on purpose
(Jan. 12)
so warm !!
snow that stays and snow that melts - snow pellets in my hair - snow everywhere
the shadows cast by my lamp
rereading a book u love
hanging on
rappie pie
long walks around a sleeping town
playing like kids at work
calls from florida - over an hour
luke wilson
uma
my ex super girlfirend
coffee and brownies
salad with tangerines and pumpkin seeds
lunch at the hungry hollow
chatting with a real writer
free lunch with noah richler
free lunch
getting close and really seeing
the colour red
deadlines make the heart go pump pump pump
writing an editorial and a column - in one day
(Jan. 10)
orange juice
just as answers to your questions inevitably mean more questions, a visit to a new spot means more places you want to visit
finding yet another glorious picnic spot
standing on a cliff over loking the ocean - seagulls soaring, waves crashing, sun beaming - yeah!
brambles and alders and thick spruce
red cliffs
sandy beach
big rocks (very funny but i do like big rocks you pervs!)
sun shining off the crashing waves
+6 and sunny in january
kissing off work and going for a hike
writing a compelling sports story
arena coffee
a big fancy QUICK glove save
knowing our boys by sight and name and no longer by their numbers
being surrounded by french people and french conversation
road trip for away hockey game
every bone and muscle in my body aching
a long hot soak
driving without a shirt on, heater and tunes blasting
muddy rocky branch blocked trails
finding the trail home
finding a waterfall in the wild
being scared shitless ( not literally - thought that does have its charms too)
climbing through a mossy gulley with water dancing
standing on a rocky cliff overlooking a stormy Bay of Fundy
freedom to explore and wander and roam
discovering waterfall after waterfall
heavy heavy heavy downpours
waterproof cameras
rain so heavy you can't see or breathe
free lunch was which was, contrary to the proverb, pretty much free
people who love to learn
Dexter seems a good man with a brain
(Jan. 7)
that beautiful homemade yeasty bread from the french shore
i cleaned the "lunch room" cupboard
Darryl Dexter wants to talk to me
got my work cut out for me
got my to do list done and phone calls made
warm today - really warm - calling for +14 tomorrow
colourful sunset on the marsh road mudflats tonight
it's my birthday - and for the first time in my life, i am in my home town on my birthday
(Jan. 4)
another sunny day
Liz brought lunch
watching another good sports movie: Invincible
arriving ealry for council
getting the story online one day before the competition
meeting a physicist, futurist and deep thinker in Tiverton
homemade biscuits and plum jam
huge waves smashing up against the shore at Boar's Head
rough wave-splashing crossing
trip to Tiverton
pulling over to run in the rain in the middle of nowhere at 11:30 to get my run in before midnight
a crazy Jan One
one scary drive home
a new shortcut - the Lucasville Road
Hippy hung over and hurting
Rob and I laughing over tuna and raisin sandwiches
Bert looking good and relaxed and happy
visiting
wide-eyed wakefulness
my first ever Polar Bear Dip (on Jan One)
big screaming carves and little quick kickers
not having to snowplow through the day
four runs and then a breakfast buster
waking up with the sun to do 'er all over again
a scary snowy ride home and a chance to show jony what i learned over 12 years of driving to and fro the ski hill in winter - rule number one - taker er slow
Balboa - a fantastic return to the truth of Rocky I
"fighters fight"
the father/son confrontation scene
"You're one crazy old man." "You'll get there."
going to a rocky movie in the theatre with JOny - does life get any better?
exchanging gifts with buddy
a night at the hostel
legs turning to jelly from wonderful fresh air exercise
just one more run
random conversations on the lift
tables turning - now jony is working and im skiing alone
hanging with my boy for the day
skiing right onto the lift heart pumping, breath gasping, smiles exploding - yeehaw
those first sweet easy turns - oh yeah this is what it feels like
a big warm yellow sun rising through the trees of the Sissy
teasing and being teased by the old familiar lifties
stepping into my skis and discovering i still know how
picking up buddy
watching the sunrise over and over again as i drive north
5:30 a.m. breakfast
money to finance my adventures with jony
someone thinking of Jony
a funny bright deep movie
The History Boys
laughing with a theatre full of snickerers
choosing a movie from the Coast
bread pudding and coffee
trying out a new pub
a signed local photographers calendar on my desk
finding the remote
(Jan. 3)