Stop and Take Notice

Note to self: When you happen across a good quote in a book, write it down so that later you don't have to go and re-check the book out of the library and spend hours (or what seemed like it) flipping page by page through the book to find it again. Because once you think about the quote, and the fact that you forgot to write it down, then you must go and find it. Or maybe that's just me. Most probably the latter.

So here's the quote I had just about given up finding. It's not even so much a "quote" as it is a thought that popped out from the page; a thought that struck a chord; that made me want to remember it.

"One thing that leads a person to poetry is an inner life of some activity - often even turbulence. There is a weight of emotion, a burden of feeling that has to come out."
- from the Vinyl Cafe: Unplugged by Stuart McLean

Mmmmm....Barbecue

I had my first BBQ of the season today. Mmmm...homemade hamburgers.
The day was brilliantly sunny, enough to make me believe that Spring is finally here. It's amazing the anticipation I feel every year at this time; as though I've never experienced Spring before. I guess it just brings with it so much promise. It feels like a new beginning - more so even than the start of a new year. Spring is the time when anything is possible. Sigh...I should go before I break into song...

Happy Springtime!

Welcome to My Salad.

And that is Inspiration

Having another happy moment...tossing together a salad for supper, snacking on Havarti and crackers, listening to Lonestar.

Pausing to photograph the lettuce.

It's all good.

Thoughts Before Bed...

So I've been working out to country music lately. Yoga and Faith Hill. Seems like an odd combination, but it works.

---

I've decided (again) only to read good books. Now that should go without saying, but I'm the kind of person who feels like they need to finish a book once they've started. As if it's the cardinal sin to put down a book half-read knowing that you will never pick it up again. This decision came about while reading "The Roommating Season" by Rona Jaffe. I was incredibly disappointed with it, and read 100 pages before tossing it aside. When a main character suddenly dies and the reader couldn't care less, it's not worth the time. I had previously read (and own) Jaffe's novel "The Road Taken," which was superb. I suppose because it dealt with more serious and somewhat controversial subjects, (if I remember correctly), it held my attention quite easily. It seemed worthwhile.
And so on to the next novel I went, and I'm enjoying this one considerably more. It falls perfectly between the books about nothing, and the ones that steal your emotions and entangle you so completely in their story that you grieve and laugh and live alongside the characters. (I recently finished such a book and will write about it tomorrow.)
For now, though, I will continue reading "The Good People of New York," by Thisbe Nissen, and leave you with this quote from it:

"...she wonders if that's just what growing up is: the process of that space
between you and your self getting bigger and bigger and bigger until one can't
see the other anymore, and you don't remember what it was like to be a kid, or
what it was like to want something so badly that you can't ever imagine not
wanting [it], least of all imagine wanting something and not knowing what that
something is."

The Castle in the City

winter moon

Sunset near Cranberry Flats.

Sunset over the lake.

Kneeling Man

On a Related Note...

Funny thing - when I ran the spell check on my previous entry, "pics" was not in the dictionary, but "boo-yah" was. Huh. Go figure.

I'm Back!

Boo-yah baby! I'm back! Inspired today, for the first time in a long time, to take out my camera and create something. To actually get out my tripod (the joints of which were rather in need of WD-40 since I haven't used it in so long), create, and properly capture my idea. It's so great now that I have a digital camera, because I can take the picture over and over with minor variations to find what I like best.
Anyhow, thanks to my friend for showing me her travels pics today - that just may have been my inspiration!
And of course I should be in bed right now, but that's when I get my best ideas - when I should be doing something else!
Check out the last photo I posted on carmsclicks to see the pic I took tonight.

Wheels

Westminster Abbey, British Columbia

Three Junes

I recently finished reading a fantastic book. Filled with richness and depth, it was a solid novel; weighty. Split into three parts, the first told the father's story; the second told the son's story; and the third told the story of a character introduced in the second part - an outsider almost. It was a story about now, and about the past. About love and families. About trying to figure out where you belong. It reminded me a lot of the musical "Rent". It was filled with a tangible sadness; not the kind that makes you want to cry, that's born of an unfortunate event, but a sadness that life does not always turn out the way you want it to. The kind of emotion that dwells in you; that underlies even the happiest occasion; a companion, of sorts, through all things good and bad. This is not to say it was mirthless. It wasn't one of those books that takes place entirely at night, in the shadows, where it's always raining. There was sunlight and new beginnings; births and friendships; varied scenery and new experiences. And in the end, you walk away knowing that the story isn't really finished, but that's ok, because

"Here we are - despite the delays, the confusion, and the shadows en route
- at last, or for the moment, where we always intended to be."

Light a Match

Now this is what all music sites should be like. You can listen to 4 complete albums, song by song, and access the lyrics for all of them. And they're a great band to boot. Too bad I didn't go and see them the last time they were here.

"...you're laughing out loud at just the thought of being alive..."

tears

Sunsets

I had the priviledge this past week of doing some highway driving during sunset. The first time, I had to drive Nicole out to Perdue to pick up her car, and then drive back by myself. It was the perfect "golden hour" - that time before sunset when the light is rich and warm and absolutely wonderful. Because there is still quite a bit of snow, everything around me was reflecting this perfect light. And then the sunset was spectacular. I love that moment when the clouds are lit from underneath and you can see the pink sunset behind you reflected in the clouds before you. After a somewhat hectic day, it was the perfect calming drive.

A few days later I was driving out to Martensville when I witnessed another wonderful sunset. I used to love that drive into the city before work. The landscape is so wide open, it seemed as though the sky was breaking open each morning, flooding the world with beauty and the promise of another day. What a wonderful way to start out.

"The heavens declare the

glory of God;

the skies proclaim the

work of his hands.

Day after day they pour

forth speech;

night after night they

display knowledge.

There is no speech or

language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into

all the earth,

their words to the ends of

the world."

Contemplating

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"O Lord...you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar...you are familiar with all my ways...you created my inmost being...ALL THE DAYS ORDAINED FOR ME WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK BEFORE ONE OF THEM CAME TO BE..." from Psalm 139

Still thinking about this sermon.

dance

splinter

music

This Guy is so talented, and I am SO EXCITED to see him live on June 8. Check out his website - you can hear 3 of his songs by using the >> arrows in the top right hand corner. (You have to enter the site first.)