On my deck, a fat
red cherry, bleeding hot juices
from beak shaped gash.
Poem-dropped plunder haiku July 15, 2013
On my deck, a fat
red cherry, bleeding hot juices
from beak shaped gash.
The surreal life July 14, 2013
I thought I’d share with you this recent comment I left on the blog of a young lady recently returned from time abroad (slightly edited for broader audience!)
We have a saying in Rotary, “Once an exchange student, always an exchange student.”
If I am in a room, outbound exchange students find me, whether they know I was one or not. They bounce in their chairs, anticipating their year, and I share their enthusiasm, offer packing tips, and give them hugs.
At school, students from far away sit in my class room to discuss ‘life’ in the surreal bubble that is an inbound exchange year. They vent their frustrations, shout their celebrations, observe their confusions. I listen, encourage, bake, and give them hugs.
They write when they’re back home, rebound students, about the strange dream that their year abroad becomes in memory. The students my club sent join me at my table at our Rotary meeting upon their return in a numbed stupor. I commiserate about the loss they’re experiencing, the strange sensation of being home, but being far from home. I give them hugs.
See that sad face? That’s me on my last day in Finland posing with my 4th host family. That is the face of a broken heart. Still miss them and think of them every day! (Thank heaven for Facebook).
We are tied by the experience of youth exchange, because it’s all paradox. We feel disconnected and connected. Lost and found. Happy and sad.
We each leave pieces of our heart behind in these places that become our second homes, and we never get them back. Hopefully, those we love and leave behind, cherish those pieces for the precious parts of ourselves that they are. Sometimes we are blessed with an opportunity to hold those people against our hearts again, but most of the people who made such a profound impact on our lives, we will never touch again. It is a bitter sweet reality of those who live and love abroad.
Welcome home. Welcome to life with pieces missing. We just go on. We find others with missing pieces and we hold each other as we celebrate what we have known.
Rotary Youth Exchange:
Opening minds and breaking hearts
since 1929.
If you know any exchange students returning home this month. Listen to their stories, ask questions about their year, and give them hugs. They really need them right now.
you get what you expect
“The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion; and so let all young persons take their choice.”
William Makepeace Thackeray
There isn’t really much to add to this, is there? Wherever you go, there you are!
Amazingly well trained dog! July 13, 2013
Yeah. I’m still avoiding my CampNaNoWriMo writing (I just added a question mark! That’s something!).
It’s my husband’s fault for sending this to me in an email. It’s absolutely amazing! And he’s so HAPPY! Wonderful to see a joyful, clever canine. OJ can do 3 of these. Dusty could do about 5 in his prime. How many can YOUR dog do?
.
the other side of the pitch
Going to stop avoiding my CampNaNoWriMo. In the meantime, you enjoy this. A funny one for authors!
When I attended my first writing conference- the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in 2009- I was told about The Elevator Pitch. This is the 30 second blurb about your book that establishes the protagonist, conflict, theme and audience. You need one, because every time you’re asked, “What’s your book about?” you should be able to answer concisely, in a manner that catches the person’s interest. I worked with author Carol Mason to polish mine, and when I presented it to Crystal of Gumboot Books that afternoon, it earned me a “Yes, we’d like to see more!” and eventually a contract.
I wondered at the time, what is it like for an agent, publisher or editor at these events? They’re the ones being pounced upon by every would-be writer in the building. Everyone there has something to pitch, and the APEs are the ones being pitched at. The image in my…
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the fundamental fiction
In love with a fictional character?
Honey.
Don’t you know that
ALL
objects of our desire
are fundamentally fictional?
Courtship
is a time of great performance,
convincing the other,
showing the best face,
doing things you’ve never done
(and won’t do again)
pretending you love each moment
to impress the object of your desire.
Love is always
fictional.
We love what we wish
it to be.
If we’re lucky,
when rose lenses are lost,
what we created in dream
bears enough
resemblance to reality
that truth
becomes better
than fiction.
.
.
In response to a Tweet about all the wild Outlander fans in a tizzy about Jamie Fraser coming to life. I was thinking how we fictionalize real people all the time.
Poem-Fire of you July 12, 2013
Another re-post of an old favourite, as I try to get some words done on my CampNaNoWriMo project!
This poem was written as a submission to the Burnaby Writers Society Poetry contest. The theme was fire, and poets were encouraged to interpret the theme. Still 2 months before winners will be announced.
September 2011: This one was a contest finalist! Yay!
.
You reached
into the flames
and plucked an ember
that glowed with
happiness and hope
upon your palm.
.
In the
wavering sphere
of gold and crimson
light, I glimpsed our
future in flickering
depths.
.
But when I reached to take it in my grasp
you clasped
your fist closed,
so the glow
of my hope
spilled
from
your
fingers.
.
“No,” you said.
“It will burn you.”
.
Truth scorched through
the kindness in your eyes, but could not
extinguish my anguish,
even as you wrapped me in your arms
and murmured worthless words of consolation.
.
I didn’t want your wisdom.
I…
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living a dream with Diana Gabaldon
Sam Heughan is already charming Outlander fans and schmoozing with them via Twitter. Things are only going to get better from here for this youthful tri-athlete actor!
For the last week, I have had the privilege of being a fly on the wall as an author has a dream come true. The Starz network signed Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series last spring, and has finally begun casting. This week her lead character, Jamie Fraser, was cast, and the role went to Scots actor Sam Heughan.
With typical enthusiasm Diana shared her excitement over his audition tape with her Facebook followers:
She observed how she started watching the audition tape, “and five seconds later, Sam Heughan’s GONE, and so am I. It’s Jamie Fraser, right there in front of me, moving, talking. One of the biggest thrills ever.”
Talk about understatement!
Of course, not everyone is able to visualize Diana’s quite explicit descriptions of what Jamie looked like at age 22 in the first Outlander book, and those people leapt up complaining about Sam’s physique, his hair, etc. Diana firmly and unequivocally put them in their place. (A hilarious blog about the whole storm on Thatsnormal.com if you want the details)
Meanwhile, Diana took to Twitter and started messaging Sam Heughan (like many in the Outlander world!) Sam is embracing the enthusiasm of his army of new fans and he and Diana are carrying on a public flirtation for the whole world to see.
I am so thrilled for her. I suppose this is how Stephenie Meyer felt when Rob Pattison was cast to become Edward in the Twilight movies. Bad makeup and a low budget probably couldn’t kill her buzz either. I’m sure when Charlaine Harris first saw Anna Pasquin bring Sookie Stackhouse to life she was equally thrilled (Sookie be damned, how about the perfect choice of Joe Manganiello to be Alcide Herveault?! Be still my heart!). Both Twilight and the Sookie Stackhouse series took some serious deviations from the original plots. No matter. How amazing must have been those first halcyon days when the incarnate word was made flesh!
Starz has a budget and a social media savvy author who is sharing her excitement with a legion of fans. The buzz is amazing. On one hand, I feel very sorry for all the companies over the years that optioned the rights to make a movie or TV series out of this story and then had them lapse before funding could be put together. Foolish money men. You will see what you missed! On the other hand, I think Tall Ship Productions and Ron Moore are going to do Diana’s work proud. They know very well that rabid fans are going to be unforgiving if they screw up Diana’s story!
The absolutely best part of this, what has me grinning constantly and bouncing around my house, has been the fun of watching Diana in the absolutely giddy excitement of seeing her character come to life. I can hardly wait until she gets to go on set and meet all the cast!
Some day, perhaps, I’ll get to see my Grace, Ben, Marco, and Alex become flesh. In the meantime, I’m living vicariously through Diana, and I’m enjoying every minute!
Poem-book journeys July 11, 2013
I’ve travelled roads I’ve never walked
Leapt chasms I’ve not seen
Met madmen, trolls, and dreamers, and
watched lovers, lairds and queens.
I’ve journeyed to the future, friend
and I’ve explored the past
I’ve heard the thoughts of robots, dogs,
slaves, aliens and rats.
I’ve been around this great wide earth
and fantastic worlds, too
I’ve lived a thousand lifetimes, and
I’ve swum in oceans blue
A magic travel agency’s
in pages if you look.
Explore lives you’ve not imagined,
Come sit and read a book.
Shawn L. Bird 
poor choices
Tags: poverty, working poor
In the last year or two I’ve learned a lot about the challenges of the working poor. I thought that when we were students, that we were poor. While our income well below the ‘poverty line’ we never felt poor. We shopped for clothes and furniture at thrift stores and garage sales. We filled our grocery cart with products in vibrant yellow boxes, and we certainly weren’t out buying extras, but we didn’t feel poor. We never had bill collectors call us, or had utilities cut off because we were behind in our payments. We never asked our parents for help to cover our day to day expenses, although being parents, they would often send us home with generous care packages when we went to visit.
Our children arrived while we were juggling university and jobs. The magazine the hospital gave me said that it cost $3500 to get everything a…
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