What Halloween really was

There are many ways to wage a war. You can pick up arms and bash in some heads. You can rape, pillage, and plunder. Or you can adopt other people's customs and tell them that they were yours all along.

This was the case with Christmas and this was the case with Halloween. The Christians took over existing holidays and moved their own to match the date. They weren't actually lying, just bending the truth a bit.

Christ was born in July, or was it June? Does anybody really care about that little detail anymore? Hollow's Day wasn't on November 1st either. Ah, but if the pagans could believe in multiple gods, what was one more thing to believe in.

We are in a similar war now. As long as we are permitted to go along with our way of life, to a point, we are lulled into this false sense of security that life is as it should be and there is nothing to be concerned about. Still, little by little the idea of democracy and western beliefs, particularly the belief that women are people and equally able to think as men, these are all things that are fading into the realm of censored history books.

Freedom of thought is a dangerous thing because with that comes the freedom to debate the rights of others. Ultimately, those who should least have the right to debate human rights are the ones who will make the decision because they are militant and resoundingly convinced that some people are indeed more equal than others.

Stalin knew this. This is why the first thing he did was send the intelligentsia to Siberia. WE live in a glass dome of false security. Respecting your heritage and keeping your mother tongue alive, keeping traditions and religious beliefs going is each person's right, and in some ways an obligation. However, live and let live. There must be a separation between public institutions and cultural diversity. We have become liberal to the point of self-decay.

Public schools are now teaching classes in Hindi or Punjabi because the majority of the class understands that better than English. What then of those whose mother tongue is English? If people move to Canada it should be to live in Canada. At some point the demographic has shifted because most of the people who immigrated over the past decade have been from the East.

At first and for a long time they struggled as the 'visible minority' but now minority is no longer applicable. They are the majority and with that comes the privilege of not having to care anymore. So with each election comes more change before legally and demographically I no longer have a say that matters.

This is not about skin color or religion. This is about human rights and the right to be recognized as human. Democracy is not a sustainable political model. At some point, government has an obligation to defend the rights of all of its citizens. That's called the Canadian Constitution. The trouble with Democracy is that we have the right to revoke our own rights and freedoms.


"Those who forget the lessons of history are destined to repeat it."

Why Rob Ford got elected

Interesting insight came out of a conversation I had with a respected leader of the business community. Rob Ford is Rob Ford but the reason he got elected is because he is consistently sending out the same message. You know what you are going to get with the guy. So you may not like him but, you can probably trust him.

For business, what my source said is that Ford would help level the playing field between union and non-union bidders for municipal projects. Because the unions are so familiar with the work and they have the infrastructure to support the bids, there is no reason for why they should not be successful at bidding. But, their pricing is highly inflated and we are all suffering those costs. Makes sense to me.

Social media expert

The other night the news was on. Of course you can't really call what the media puts out these days as news. It never fails to amaze me, the utter base quality of reporting. There is absolutely nothing worth watching... with the exception of Amanda Lang and Kevin O'Leary.

I have heard him mention this before and he did it again the other night. The government should set up a duck wading pond education program to keep these stupid ducks from going where they shouldn't. He says it with a straight face and you just have to realize that's he's poking fun, except that the idiocy of things is that he is basically saying that he wouldn't put it past the government and the voters to do just that.

Just before this Peter Mansbridge got through interviewing a 'social media expert' studying the impact of social media. Holy Crap!!! What exactly is a 'social media expert'. Is that like somebody who really wants to be a nerd but isn't smart enough and try as they might to understand why nobody in chat rooms wants to take them to those deep dark corners they are just too awkward to convince anybody that they have a real function in society so they go and print up some free Vista Print business cards that say "I study social media".

That's just amazing to me. This woman who couldn't get anybody to pay attention to her at a cocktail party even if she were the bartender is touting herself as a 'social media scientist'. I can't remember exactly what she kept calling herself but she just kept doing it. Every sentence started with her reinforcing her roll as a student of social media (it was so inane that Masbridge kept smirking every time she used the term). I think she got a government grant and is working on a masters degree based on watching the Daily Show with John Stewart.

People like her are fascinated by the idea that somebody who has an opinion worth listening to actually has people listening to him. On top of it all the guy is funny. Really funny. Political commentary aside, pull up an old Sesame Street clip with Stewart singing the ABC song. He's a riot and he's got a certain geeky cuteness about him.

Doing your thesis on people like John Stewart and Stephen Colbert is tantamount to standing at the top of the highest mountain, using a megaphone to tell all the little people that instead of having sex at night you'd rather watch them (well sometimes so do I) and then shrugging your shoulders and going 'hey, look at all that pretty snow crashing to the ground, weeeee!'

At this point, I say (wait let me give a fiver to the squeegee kid who actually got out of bed to try and do something useful today)get off your lazy but and do something. Get a real job. Even driving pizza or backing midnight doughnuts would have more purpose than your attempts to unravel the mysteries of the human mind.

If I want to understand social media, I'll just listen to Lesbian Lu talking about trolling for muff on CFNY. Sorry, was that too graphic? I'm just quoting the boys on The Edge. It seems that the popularity of Facebook is mostly driven by homosexual teenagers in remote rural communities who just can't get some in their home town because they'd get beaten to a pulp. Now that's something you don't learn everyday.

Passivism of the average reader

As a writer or artist I don't think you ever really start out thinking that you can actually physically connect with your audience. Most people talk about wanting to get a reaction, hoping that it will make people think and take action.

They put themselves out there and wait to see if their work clicks with anybody. Maybe 10 to 20% of those people go so far as to "market their work". The rest just do it for recreational sport or try to get themselves taken seriously but nobody does.

Then, once in a while, you start getting attention and can't help but wonder about this strange connection that you have with the audience. Is it an obligation to keep producing? Now you've got followers and a fan base. Or is it ego driven? Now you finally have somebody paying attention.

No matter what it is, it is definitely a lopsided relationship. You know who I am, I don't know you.... or do I? Behind the false security of the internet I can still find who you are and where you live. If I do enough research I can probably see your front door and the roof of your car. Most people probably don't realize that.

You browse the web and stop at a few choice reads and then move on. In a day or more you might come back and check out a few more entries. So the question remains: If you, as the reader, are not really all that isolated from me as the writer, why no comments? If it is thought provoking, where are those thoughts?

Then again, maybe this is the nature of the beast and most writers only pay lip service to wanting that reverse input. Perhaps this is just a case of be careful what you wish for or you just might get it. After all, if you really wanted to get some feedback you'd probably go stand half naked in the middle of a busy intersection and wear a sign saying "talk to me". You wouldn't want to be fully naked or they might think you're just weird and steer clear.

Granted the internet is full of people that best keep their opinions, and hands, to themselves. But if you are a relatively ordinary person with a response, maybe it's time to post a comment.

I should be doing my taxes

A long time ago I sat in front of a computer and read the line on the form asking when I would like my year end to be. Thinking myself all wise and powerful I said "well, December 31st is a terrible time. There is so much going on. The fall is crazy with the new school year. The winter time has Valentine's day. There's nothing going on in the summer. July 31st it is!"

Let me tell you that this was not a good decision. I'm lucky if I get them in just after New Year's. This year I vowed to be better. Mainly because I have received about six envelopes from Revenue Canada saying that my account has been sent to collections with an interest amount of $6, now $10. It's growing. I haven't opened the last few envelopes.

It really isn't procrastination. It's just a matter of supreme disorganization. Stuff is piled up everywhere and I hate missing that one line item after sending everything in. 20% of the water bills.... aaargh!!!

So, this year I started things a bit differently. Forget Excel, paper, calculators and sorting through a year and a half of receipts.

Access, baby! A few hours and I have myself a brand spanking new Access database that not only lets me put in everything I need to organize my stuff for my favorite and most patient bookkeeper, I can also put in all those spare thoughts that keep popping up that distract me from task on hand. Sales lead ideas, story ideas, remembering that I should be following up with somebody on something, issuing invoices and remembering who still owes me money and who said that they might.

I even have planning for the next four projects all captured and partially completed because everything is all in one spot.

So I am procrastinating (I am sure that is what you are thinking). No, not really. These are all those little things that keeping from staying on task and now I can. Laying the right ground work is the best way to stay grounded.

Writing this blog entry instead of actually using it is, however, is me procrastinating. Being a writer who believes in due diligence I have even gone so far as to read up on some tips to include here. But then realized I would just be feeding the fire. There are so many books on the topic you'll never get back to what you were supposed to be doing. My absolute favorite is the workbook that wants to work through the habit with you to get over it.
Let me get this straight: I should have done this, I don't have any motivation to do it so I turn to tools that passively keep me occupied until I find a 'workbook' (interesting choice of words) that will actively keep me from getting anything done because I am taking a course on how to get things done. Oh, I'm sure that will really make the tax man happy.

time travel hoax about woman with cell phone at Chaplin premier

It never fails to amaze me how little Americans know about their own culture. The latest hot story all over the news (must be a slow news day) is the viral you tube video which I am about to help promote time travel hoax video.
In reality, Hedy Lamarr, the first woman to take off her clothes on screen also pioneered the mobile phone way back in the 1930s. I could bore you with the details (actually not at all boring) but I'll just let you read about them: http://www.hackwriters.com/Lamarr.htm.
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I could understand the nimrod seeking notoriety for missing that day in film class but what is Peter Mansbridge's excuse? Shouldn't somebody at CNCnews have caught this one?

This technology simply didn't hit the market as broadly as it did in the recent decade or two simply by virtue of the public not being ready for it. This is the same thing that happened with ATM and credit cards. The market simply couldn't bear it.

Even if the cell phone was not a real one keep in mind that this was a Charlie Chaplin movie premier and if you look at the clip closely enough you'll see that the person one the "phone" knew they were being filmed and flashed a smile at the camera.

If Chaplin or Lamarr could hear today's news reports they would die laughing.

Caledon Election Wrap-up

It has been a wild ride. What a year to start learning about Caledon. It used to be a place for farmers and equestrian enthusiasts but over the past few years it had slowly simmered until the boiling point that was the election of 2010.

This was an election where the good guys won. A little Mayor from a little town stood up tall against developers from somewhere different. Mayor Marolyn Morrison was all set to retire. She was ready to hand over the reigns and enjoy spending time with John and go visit the grand kids every once in a while. But given that the only person running against her was being happily pushed along and led by the hand by people with less than honorable intentions, Mayor Morrison felt that she had an obligation to give people a choice.

In recent years there has been an anti-incumbent trend. The most popular thing to say is something along the lines of "now is the time for change." The beautiful thing about Caledon is that the people voted strongly in favor of not changing, mainly because it wouldn't have made any sense to sell the town. That's what we would have been doing.

Even if Annette Groves isn't in the pocket of developers she certainly has their best interests at heart. This is the paradox that is Ms. Groves. On the one hand, she is extremely likable and well spoken. On the other, she is supremely naive. At best, she would have been Bolton's Mayor.

In listening to Annie speak you'd swear she had a few good points, until you stopped to think about them. Losing this election is the best thing that could have ever happened to Annette Groves because along with it hopefully she will lose her backers and maybe a loose cannon or two.

We have not seen the last of Annette, and I hope that we haven't be because I really do like her. But the lady needs a reality check or two. From what I have been told she wasn't always like this and perhaps this is an opportunity for her to go back to her roots.



Perhaps some time out in the real world will teach her the difference between good business and borderline insider trading tendencies. Just because something makes good math sense doesn't make it practicing in good faith.

Then there is Allan Thompson, the hardest working politician I have ever met. He was up against a self-serving farmer looking to protect little more than his own homestead and a school board trustee veteran who was hoping to get elected by hosting tea parties.

The only reason he lost Valleywood is because these are people that needed a scapegoat after the 410. Well you can't blame these people too much because some men got in a room and decided to drop in a subdivision in the middle of nowhere, with only one exit in or out and highway cutting through half of it.

I used to say, I have no pity for these folks but the truth is that the development is 17 years old, not 10, which means that at least the folks in phase one had no idea about Hwy 410 before they bought there. So, if you can't give it to Dalton yet, at least you can try to give it to Allan. Good thing he has broad shoulders.

I used to have a friend named Liz

A long time ago I used to have a girl friend named Liz. She was a sweet girl who had the great misfortune of having lost her mother early and a father who drank. We were friends for years and she did what she could to cope. She was the woman of the house, went to school and was starting a career.

At the time I tried to tell her she was worth more than she gave herself credit for. She was selling herself short by not going to school and getting a better education. She didn't think she was smart enough, or strong enough to do it. She was a sweet girl and I didn't agree with her personal self-assessment.

I tried to get her to talk to people who could understand her situation but she balked at the idea. She coped and hopefully is continuing to cope. Hopefully she's married and with kids of her own now.

I remember being really taken aback when she told me that to help manage with everything they ate off paper plates each night so that she didn't have to deal with doing dishes. That was crazy, I thought. Now I'm starting to understand her a bit better.

Every once in a while I remember my old friend from Richmond Hill and wonder how she's doing these days.

Caledon Election update: last minute campaign tactics

Every election is a critical one but none has been more important for Caledon as the one that will take place on Monday, October 25, 2010.
Being a small town (well a large land mass but still a small town) the style of politics is of a much different flavor that what the good people of Toronto are used to. But so much is at stake this time around that the gap in styles has narrowed significantly.
I haven't been in Caledon long but from what I've seen and heard, the level of lies and underhanded tactics used this time around are truly unprecedented.
Most of it was more or less relayed through third party reports, though I did see signs missing that had been there in the morning and mysteriously vanished the next time I looked.
There were also reports of some unsavory prerecorded telephone calls. I think I got one but tend to hang up as soon as I hear a non-human voice following a pause when I pick up the phone. Still, enough people didn't hang up fast enough and heard all sorts of gag worthy innuendos.
Today, two days before the election we've reached a new low. Making sure that the signs would not be taken down due to timing they popped up where surely they would not have been permitted to go had permission been requested.
This squeals of desperation. If the support was really there they wouldn't have to wait for until after business hours on the 11th hour.
Here's hoping the good guys will win because the people of Caledon really aren't that gullible.

Halloween: The new commercial holiday

For as long as I can remember people have complained about the commercialization of Christmas. This really is shameful because at the heart of it Christmas is about family and friends getting together and arguing over family feuds that lay dormant for the the better part of the rest of the year. But, business being business, it has has turned in to a great revenue generator, as well.

Over the past ten or twenty years, the costume industry has taken the quaint custom of home made costumes into the dark ages. A large part of the fun used to be who could come up with the best costumes but now everybody shows up wearing the same off-the rack jobs.

Disney is one of the worst culprits. You used to be able to find a decent costume, as little as four years ago for $15. These days, they have added sparkle, shine, and on average about $50 to the price tag. You can go to Wal-Mart or Zellers or even Value Village but you are still looking at $27 a costume and starting to think that this is a pretty good deal.

Now that you have the costume in hand, where to go with it is the next question. Sure they get to go to school dressed up but most of the costumes are for in door use and Trick or Treating is usually done outside. Places like Old Navy have started selling great padded out-door costumes so there is evolution.

Anyway, back to where to go. I opened the latest Parent City magazine and was amazed to see the multitude, a venerable plethora of venues promising a howling good times`. The most interesting is the Haunted Forest shindig being held by the Friends of Terra Cotta, in Caledon. All they want is $5 in advance or $7 at the door. So, I am thinking that this is a good deal, plus the scenery is beautiful.

Now to decorations. You can spend a pretty penny for these things. Everybody from the dollar stores to the big box chains is hoping that you`ll do what you can to get into the spirit. Well who can blame them? If the appetite is there, why not try to feed it for a profit.

The fault really lies with our society. What ever happened to real world old-school pot luck gatherings? We are just that disjointed with our friends, family, and neighbors that it is simply easier to go out and buy a bunch of stuff instead of do a little planning and make one bowl of punch or a plate of haunted cup cakes.

The biggest problem with commercialization of holiday institutions is not that people want to opt for convenience. It's that the object of the game gets lost and all you are left with is the things you bought, not what you bought them for. The point loses substance and becomes a hollow shadow of what it started off as being.

So what to do? Either push your friends and family to put together gatherings worth holding where everybody does a little something or understand that this is the evolution and a step closer to the decline of the Western Civilization. These are all symptoms of a bigger affliction.

Remember that all things organic have a life cycle and we are on the way down. So either strap in for a speedy descent or realize that convenience is an emotional paradigm. It will be inconvenient to realize that all of your kids memories when they become adults will have been store bought.

Volunteering to care and why bother

I have to admit that most people don't get me. There are times that I start to not get myself but that's probably just because I let things bother me and wonder if they might have a point. In truth there really aren't all that many alternatives. You either live life like it matters or you sink deeper and deeper into self-absorbed apathy with each passing year.

You could call it a symptom of parenthood, wanting to create a better world for the next generation. I don't think that's it. That wouldn't explain all the years prior to now.

Much more likely, the disconnect is that people who are born and raised, and more than one generation in to a democratic society tend to take democracy for granted. They live in a false sense of security that this is the best of all possible worlds and surely the most logical so why bother defending it when it reason and common sense defends it for us. Horse shit!

Democracy is a fickle lover. While we sit and ponder and debate anybody who has subscribed to a different doctrine and believes in it with gusto is a threat to our way of life. Even our constitution will not protect us in a democratic society because it is entirely democratic to re-write the constitution to favor Sharia Law for Canada. All it would take is enough votes and the way current trends are moving, this won't take long to accomplish.

It used to be that what attracted people to Canada was a new and better way of life. I don't care what country or culture you come from, this was a universal fact. But somewhere along the line that changed. It became a safe-haven for terrorists in training and now I'm becoming convinced that they leave where they are from not to escape political and theological oppression as much as to bring their own back into the fold and enjoy a more humane climate (it's less hot here for most of the year). A few years ago there was an interesting little article about this being a preferred destination to escape unbearably hot Summers back home.

There is a silent war taking place on Western culture that is eroding and destabilizing the false security that has been enjoyed in North America for as long as Europeans were the chief source of import of new blood. Entire schools are being taught in languages other than English or even French because there is enough of a population to bear it, and they don't understand English or French all that well anyway.

Ask yourself, if they don't learn English, what else are they not learning. More importantly, what are they being taught?

Before you get your back up too much in reading this, ask yourself when is the last time you went to a minimum wage fast food outlet and saw mostly brown girls women behind the counter doing a lot more chatting and laughing (and not in English) and a lot less promptly serving the customer. They get to you, but after they finish their conversations. Ask yourself also, doesn't it seem like there are a whole bunch more people behind the counter than you were used to seeing but the service has gotten slower? If you haven't noticed it yet, just wait a little.

These aren't even the early signs that the face of North America is changing. It changed. A while ago. What are you going to do about it common sense is not waht you were brought up to believe it should be.

Caledon Meals on Wheels

There are a few fundamental truths to life and one of them is that if you are lucky enough to grow old you are likely to watch many of your friends and loved ones leave you. Each year brings a smaller inner circle until eventually you are surrounded by mostly strangers.

Twilight years deserve dignity and the arrogance of youth is rarely forgiving enough to adequately pay it forward. So, although it would truly be a perfect world if people realized that as a society we have a responsibility to care for the young, old, and infirm, we do not live in a perfect world.

How fortunate then that there are people who spend their days returning even a shred of human decency to those who have long since earned their place in this world. Organizations such as Caledon Meals on Wheels serve an essential function within our community, especially since geographically there is sometimes a tremendous amount of space between people who can no longer get around as well as they used to.

This coming Spring the SouthFields Village Voice will be putting on a fundraiser for Caledon Meals on Wheels. The event will include local artists, musicians, and an auction, as well as a fine meal. Proceeds will go to this worthy organization who should and must be supported by those who one day may very well be glad for their services.

If you are interested in helping organize the event please contact the SouthFields Village Voice.

The problem with communities pulling together

I just came home from a community school meeting. This is a group of mostly women sitting around a table, and God bless the one or two token men in the room to bring down the estrogen levels, discussing what can be done to raise money for programs and events within the school.

These are the people behind the field trips and books in the library and uniforms and multitudes of expenses that just are not covered by the province or the board.

They don't do it by sending their kids into the streets to knock on doors to sell cookies and chocolates. They get creative. Really creative. They have fun and they banter and except for the people who are part of the group they get very little thanks. People just take, accept and complain about yet another fundraiser, whether their kids benefit from the earnings or not.

The best part about it is that when the province gets wind of groups like this, they pull back their contribution even more because the community is filling in the gap. It's like getting a nice firm kick, and not in the behind.

So why do it? Why not? At the end of the day it is our kids and our school and you just have to do what you have to do. Sometimes you take the raw end of the stick because it isn't worth the sacrifice not to.

The reward is in the pudding, the kind the volunteers bring to the bake sales and the proverbial kind. It is in the smiles and the relationships and the pride that people, even the smallest people take in where the live and how they grew up.

I'm a city girl living in the country and I love the country.

There is something really wrong with Toronto

Toronto is a city full of potential. Every once in a while I decide not to take the highway and realize how absolutely HUGE and diverse the place really is. There is so much to love about it and no real reason for why it should be so absolutely base.

In truth, somehow with all of its potential it is a constant disappointment. It's like a really clumsy person trying to hit a nail on the head and banging up their own nails instead. How else can you explain the constant questionable choices for Mayor?

Rob Ford... really? Wow.

There is definitely something to be said for getting what you ask for. The front runner against Ford is Smitherman. I still can't forget the diaper incident. It is a shame that he didn't go through with his offer to wear one. If you are stupid enough to need to conduct a scientific experiment instead of just logically understanding that subjecting grown adults who deserve much more than this in their aging years you should get to feel some diaper rash. These are the people who used to change our parents diapers and now we can't offer them even an ounce of compassion. Revolting. Go Smitherman!

I still remember the Bare Naked Ladies not being allowed to perform for Barbara Hall and the hell that was raised because Mel dared call in the army to help dig out the city. If they aren't off fighting a war why can't these dudes help dig out the city? Was that really so wrong? Young able bodied men and women helping the community. Shameful! I can't imagine what he was thinking. He was probably the best Mayor the city has had in ages and they still talk about the stuff he did to put us on the map.

And what about David Miller? Not once. More than once. They'll never learn. At least he did the right thing and not run again after the garbage strike. Why isn't waste disposal and essential service? Really?

Toronto should be the kind of town that is always buzzing, always alive regardless of the time of night. Just like Manhattan. It has so much potential. But it is boring and full of ignorant people who keep electing the most dysfunctional people they can find.

Of course they should elect Rob Ford. He is a prime example of the kind of moral leader that should help determine the future of the city and help revitalize the business community. Help stem the population drain and pull it out of its financial woes. Here is a man who can pull together a council divided.

Bravo Toronto. If it weren't for you there would be absolutely no hope for growth and development in the surrounding areas.

Thanks to your wise decisions places like Brampton, Milton, and even Caledon have a real chance at taking advantage of economic growth and development. We will gladly take your refuse (those being the truly wise business leaders who see the potential in the 905 and really can't stomach the stupidity that prevents Toronto politicians and voters from understanding that it is a city that should do what it can to welcome SME business and home owners with open arms rather than encouraging them to leave as quickly as possible).

Put down the camera and just look

So the truth of the matter is that every once in a while there isn't all that much to say. This isn't a question of writer's block. It is the revelry in all things silence.
There is this calm state of being that can only be achieved when you don't have to go home or call anybody or do anything and can actually just enjoy where you are.
This is true freedom. Standing at the top of the hill and looking down at Firenze through the fog and thinking there is no way that my camera will be able to capture this moment so I might as well just look at it.
Sometimes, you go on a journey and try to document each moment so that you can tell a story. Then, you come home to the people that love you and want to go through each photograph, frame by frame and tell them each reason for the snapshot and they just don't want to listen. What then?
If you think about it, there is a whole part of life that is missed every time you look through the camera lens instead of straight ahead.

A writer puts down her pen

The title to this post sounds so final. I know it.

We have all heard the old adage, write what you know. But I've realized something lately. If all you do is write then you won't have all that much to know. It's a lot like doing all the talking and none of the listening.

For too long I have been neglecting all those little things around the house. Maybe I have even been doing a bit too much ignoring of the little things that pitter patter around the house, as well. So, this past weekend I decided to (gasp) not turn on the computer.

We got so much done. I almost feel satisfied. Still, there is a lot left to do. But for the first time the kids found something to play with amongst the multitude of toys that they have because when there is order the clutter makes all the thousands of dollars spent on gifts and playthings turn into one big blurr of junk.

It is also quite amazing what happens when you actually do hang up all the laundry and suddenly realize that they have outgrown all their long pants just in time for winter.

Well, enough writing and off to replenish their wardrobes.

Inspiration for new book

There are hopes and dreams and thoughts and then there is reality. The reality of wanting to write a book and either not having anything to say at all or not knowing where to begin. Either is harsh and unfair.
After all, with self-publishing so easy to do, there really is a plethora of books out there that are uncensored and unedited. Each, in their own right, believes theirs worthy of readership.
For me, I do it because I need to. Not for the money, and not for the fame. This is a pure case of inner drive. Once done it would be nice to have it read but this is not an essential component. Perhaps because one day I believe it will be. Maybe after I'm dead. Who knows. Mine is just to output.
My favorite is when I gift a copy of Broken Axle Spinning Blind to somebody and they don't expect anything of it because the author gave it to them. There is a stigma around getting the author's work from the author. Then, there is the usual reaction. Shock and disbelief that it's good.
Poetry isn't for everybody and not every piece in a volume will be your favorite but it is good because it is personal and unbridled. It is raw and pure and something almost not intended for others to know. Therein lies the justification. That look of shock and truly not expecting to connect with something that somebody gave you. Beyond that it is a matter of time. Just waiting to be discovered.
Some things you have to market and work at getting out there. Some you just have to plant. This I planted. It's a seedling.
With each person who reads it, it grows. But it is not enough to read and to connect. It is meant to be shared. Shared with others and shared with me. This is the difference between standing in a dark room full of people and taking off all your clothes and feeling safe and then having somebody flick on the lights.
Decide if you are the one standing bare or if it is me. Perhaps we are nude together and in this way completely robed.

Caledon West _ SouthFields Village Voice

Okay so there is this little magazine that has been stirring up some trouble around Caledon and getting some feathers ruffled. That's what happens when you have a new kid on the block.

Not a bad piece of work, though still young. Only second issue in but it looks like it is building a following. Definitely worth keeping an eye on. Next issue is suppose to come out in December and a little birdie tells me that it's going to try and ruffle a few more feathers.

I say anything that gets people thinking is a good thing. Current issue of SouthFields Vilage Voice is online now so you can check it out.

Poetry

There is something to be said about cycles. After a few decades of walking the earth I think I've got a bit of a grasp on mine. Creativity flows with blood and that makes it easy to plan around.

It is just plain good business practice to apply the 30-30-30 rule. Spend 30% of your time managing current projects, 30% seeking new projects, and 30% creating the deliverable goods. So, if you can't control a muse but know when she is likely to roll around you know that you'd better free up some time around then.

Not sure how that works for post menopausal women. Then again, I was writing before I hit puberty so I should be okay.

A liquid state
A drunken state
A state of utter bliss

He comes to me
He comes at me
Who am I to resist

No words but 'yes'
Inactive state
Agreed upon submission

Too long I wait for one more time
Desperate and dry
Asleep, alive, and free

His gentle snores
One floor below
Oblivious and vain

Instead of me
Hockey tonight
Though missed through blissful dreams

I'm writing a new book

For those who truly know me this will come as no surprise: I am writing a book. The working title is "Me". This is a work that has been frothing up to the surface for the past 21 years but I just didn't know where to start.

It starts like this: "I spent my teenage Saturday mornings in the bowels of the Art Gallery of Ontario, taking art lessons at the Anne Tanenbaum Gallery School. Instead of watching Saturday morning cartoons I was drawing naked old men and nude pregnant women."

The Caledon Public Library has bought a couple of copies of Broken Axle Spinning Blind for its collection and it is available for purchase on Amazon. Though it would be lovely to sell thousands of copies I just want people to read it. There are so few times in life when you can truly feel satisfied with what you have done and I am satisfied with it.

People don't usually expect poetry to be good so when I give them a copy they take it expecting it to be bad and then they start to read it. The reaction is best described as confusion because now they don't know what to think. If an author gives you their work somehow it means less than if you found it yourself.

That's the thing about written work, people like to discover it for themselves.

So, discover it. I challenge you. Get a copy of Broken Axle Spinning Blind, by Freyda Tartak and see for yourself.