eat this post

This last week marked a sea change. Kate is back in Ontario, and Dallas and I are left to our own devices. The house is enjoying an unprecedented level of cleaning, lunches are packed every day, and the dog is enjoying a great deal more of my attention. She adapts easily to the selfish, have-you-all-to-myself mentality, and those puppy-dog eyes stare up at me every time I show signs of restlessness, as if to ask, "you know what would make you feel better? Throwing my ball. Where should you throw my ball? At the Dog-Beach. You will henceforth stop mucking about and Take me to the Dog-Beach!!" I appear susceptible to these mental commands.

The Fringe Festival is on here. I've seen a play about Time already, and tonight I go see LegoLand- about a teen-age girl drug cartel that murders and american pop idol... later I will probably darn socks or something. I've been reading like crazy. I finished off The Enamoured Knight (LOVE LOVE LOVED), am on a fourth play of Camus' I picked up second-hand in Tofino, I'm reading an anthology on the Story and its Writer, and I'm into my Roman Reader and some Catullus, which suits my pining perfectly at the moment. Inspired by that perhaps, I've watched 5 episodes of ROME as well. Even the plants, the lowly plants have been watered. So far only one has died, although sadly I found the fern fallen and huddled into a corner the other day, but I replaced it on its sill, and even spritzed its little fronds. I have time to care for all little creatures these days. Expect a friendster update next...

I went for a gorgeous kayak yesterday too, in between errands all over town, including getting tickets to Be Your Own Pet on October 27th (!!). Instead of my usual route toward UBC, I went North, past Kitsilano, toward the downtown, but then veered West, went around Stanley Park, and underneath the Lion's Gate bridge. I am such a creature of habit. There was lots of great stuff to look at just by turning right, but I'd only ever done it once before. I guess given the choice, I'd choose wilderness any time. Next time I go, I will bring my camera so you can picture what I'm talking about. I dreamed of living on a boat... Every so often, yachts and sailboats would go by, and all I could think of was life somewhere sunny on something floaty. Life is long- It just may happen. It's a hedge against sea-levels rising too. As always, it's the dog part of the scenario that throws the wrench into the plan. Oh, and the lack of sailing experience. (full disclosure)

Before Kate left, we distracted ourselves with a hike in Squamish. There were a few memorable moments which I can share. What Dallas lacks in subtlety, she makes up for in photogenetic charm...