If you are a Rogers cellphone customer in Canada your mailbox may have been graced by the marketing drivel that is “URMagazine“.  Presumably the “ur” stands for “ur lets just ignore our own opt out list” because that what is they seem to have done.  Presumably so they could brag about “publishing over 500,000  copies per issue”.  It seems unlikely that anyone would voluntarily subscribe to this garbage, so that probably translates into close to half a million pissed off Rogers customers.

If you are one of those pissed off customers and would like to opt out you can do so following this link: http://ur.marketspace.ca/contact.htm

The link to opt out of all marketing material from Rogers is here: https://your.rogers.com/newsletter/opt_out.asp (Though this is the same list they seem to have ignored when mailing out URMagazine)

My favorite Canadian musician Lhasa has a new album out, and it’s really great!

You can listen to it here.

Can’t get this quote out of my head:

Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s just that I glimpsed something beautiful in a flashbulb moment once, and perhaps mistaking it for prophecy have been seeking its fulfillment ever since.

- Lester Bangs

I spent last week in Vancouver at Kely’s place while he was in central Canada visiting relatives. Vancouver city is something special; I don’t know if I could describe what I love about it so much; or if I could do it justice if I tried.

I’m back on Saltspring now, stocked up for a long haul at the house, but it’s strange being alone out here – part of me really craves company and after a while and I find myself making excuses to go into town. Mmmm coffee…

I am unemployed now, and using the next couple months (short of a brief trip out east) to work on some personal projects, to see more of the gulf islands, and to get back to meditating. Three weeks in and I’ve made a lot of progress on the paintings and gotten a good start on the first of the two applications I want to write. I’ve even managed to sit for half an hour every day. Which is a pretty good start I think.

Upcoming Plans:

• During the last week of July I’ll be in Toronto.
• During the first week of August I’ll be in Saskatoon.
• During the last week of August I’ll be in Ottawa
• In September I’ll be moving to Calgary , probably for just a year.

I you want to come visit before I leave, make plans now!!!

It’s raining, and there are baby deer in my yard this morning; so damn cute!

Vertigo in the dark. Depths spinning between these hutches of glass and light. Vancouver cityscape, a self referential precipice, divine and infinite.

“These,” it’s eyes twinkle, looking up from a kit model of the golden gate bridge, “are the ghosts of old friends, waiting upon the hour of their reunion.”

Gibson reflects “Every object of desire is a found object.“

And your voice echoes down the razor wire, through the tin cans of your childhood, “Everything about it is love…“

Fading Forest Fables
Short stories for other people’s children.
Chapter 2 – Bear’s Bedtime Story

On the third night that Fox cried in her sleep it occurred to Bear that in many ways she was closer to him than his parents. It was such a long time since he had seen them last; far away in the cave which had been all he knew of the world.

Winter had long overstayed her welcome, stretching her visit through two seasons and still giving no sign of leaving. Papa bear was out foraging for longer and longer. On the last day Bear had seen them; papa bear was gone for several weeks and came home with just the husk of a single white berry,

“Listen son,” said momma bear as bear cub huddled next to her. “Oldest Grandmother has grown tired of the stories of men, and is coating the world with snow until everything is white and clean and new. The end of every story Oldest Grandmother tells is also a beginning, which is her magic. When the spring comes the world will be new.”

“Winter will be long, too long for many of Oldest Grandmother’s children. There will be no food for many moons, and it will be bitterly cold. Even down here in our cave near the heart of the world it may be too harsh for us. But we bears have magic stories too, so tonight we will tell you the story of how bear cub slept through the winter to wake with the season’s change. Papa bear has been out foraging, and he has brought back a magic berry which will transform momma and papa bear into food and blankets to keep our baby warm and well fed.”

So momma bear and papa bear ate supper and they all went to sleep and baby bear dreamt that his ancestors and great ancestors came and danced on the walls of the cave, and they sang to him songs about the bears of antiquity, and it was not too hot, and not to cold, and there was always plenty to eat.

Outside the cave the seasons slowly turned, and at long last spring came, and then it was time for his ancestors to leave. Momma bear gave bear cub one last hug and said “It’s time to wake up son. Soon aunt Fox will be here, and she will take care of you.” Then papa bear hugged him too and said “Your aunt will take care of you now, but remember her ways are not our ways, do not forget the songs of your ancestors. We will always be with you.”

Then bear heard someone calling from far above, so he climbed up to the cave entrance, which was also the beginning of the world, and went to meet his aunt.

“Oh my!” said Bear, “What bright red fur you have.

I am reading “The Timeless Way of Building” by Christopher Alexander, and I can not recommend this book highly enough. Go buy a copy, or borrow it from the library, or read it online here.

happy new year mother
and I’m late in my “thank you”s
worn through like old skin
a toss me not of reminiscence
oh the days been gone so long
so long long lullaby
another rainbow to remember you
and I do in my heart’s
half treasured innocence
I do in this thought filled
thank you

Moved onto Saltspring Island for the winter. It’s quiet here, nothing but trees and the occasional rain storm. Learning how to cook again, and how to build a fire which will last the night so it can be lit from the next morning’s embers.

Started packing tonight, arranging memories in boxes, from each time I’ve moved; the people and places I don’t see anymore. I miss you. I hope you are well, wherever you are.