Don’t Begrudge It

Another successful pilgrimage, 6 years now running.  Have not yet even had time for the re-reading if all the posts, so this has the benefit of not having seen what was said last year.  Remember malaria symptoms and the reporting of an emotion.

Remember the misty rain that cleared up slightly, the sky breaking just enough.  Remember the shrimp cocktail and the mulled cider.  Remember the thoughts of London and NYC.  Remember the 50% blowout and Sierra Zulu at 435.  Remember deGarthe, unleashing the figures from stone but not quite finishing 6 years in, from 1977 to 1983.  Remember this back corner, where you return to think and wonder.  The lighthouse over your right shoulder a beacon, a call to something new.

The fog quote still here.  It comes and goes.  Wish (once more) you were as free.

The MFA begun and I think the A to Z structure the most potent.  Driving past Prospect, past Everything is Connected Massage Therapy, past Friends for Life.  The country music lines as well, knee deep and I love this road and the devil went down to Georgia.  The optimism for what’s next.  The satisfaction of the present for now, with a chance for something not yet tried, in view.  What were my thoughts of Venice last year?  To check now.  But let it be said here, after Kloten, Mombasa, and Barca, seems there is a story still to be told.

It starts, Once Upon a Time...

Flat Sunday

Not feeling the best.  The idea of bringing the boat around not appealing despite the sunny skies.  Lack of wind now also favours Tuesday.  I do wish I had gone for the camping last evening, although who knows how you would be feeling now.  Alas.  The general funk of the fall descending as per usual, notwithstanding the Anne of Green Gables escape that saw our man over the line and the continuation of the Dal Law '04 Parliamentary streak.  You can at least claim some small assistance in this one.  A long fine tight rope.  Heh.

Morocco story submitted and shared around, exemplifying both the joy and difficulty of the process.  It is hard to see how it all comes together as something sustainable, which is part of the reason for some disappointment.  But let's see how the remainder unfolds.  Varanasi up next, and stories from that shore are well worth telling.  Plus the book proposal, book report, research essay, and publication assignments.  All easily done in time along with the end of the year.  Other errands need tending, but there are a few weeks yet.

Day notable for another ridiculous ending at home to Palace.  The end of Emery and the end of Xhaka at the Arsenal?  Truly, truly hope so.  Xmas still well up in the air.  Who can say what is next at this point?  Keep writing and seeing out the days until inspiration strikes.  And trust it will.

Feb '11

Back in the beige room at 1601 lower water, a gorgeous sunny day along the open boardwalk, the last few days of boating season.  Tempted to bring the SC around, but might be a nice night to relax given AHRSE tomorrow and the weekend ahead.  If only the George's dock had not yet been pulled.  Fingers crossed for weather next weekend for one last McNab visit. 

The Queen and the flags off to the left in the room, all the usual subjects in place here. I love these days in the back row, the only public comment is to say my name, and no questions Mr. Chair. So much work done outside your view on these projects during your career, from the approval to build this project to the engineering procurement and installations and delays.  Evidence of time flowing only in one direction, inexorably.

Before those initial agreements were signed, you were returning from Peru and contemplating the exit.  Incredible how the initial writing has zeroed in on that month/year, 02/11.  One trip divided in two that recall and foreshadow so many others.  What a Champions League draw that was, setting up the year of Arsenal v. Barca, the SC, Cuba x2, and Galway.  More so than even Antarctica, it was a swing year.  I like how the tales of Cyprus and Morocco have unfolded.  Need to set the time aside for a few more in the same spirit.

Love as well how Maps and Ducks eventually moved to the basement of this building and serves as the place for wandering in the mind during hearing room breaks.  The countries always change but the mentality stays the same.  What will you be thinking after Iowa, when we are back for ADC, in February 2020? 

Assignments

Did I mention the German Spy Museum?  Looking forward to receipt of that postcard, although bitter sweet given the news from Austria that followed.  Next steps always interesting to contemplate.  It will unfold here, no doubt.  Remember the present uncertainty with fondness.

In other news, the first of the assignments has been submitted for the MFA, with the promise of more to come.  Cyprus recollected, and Patagonia and Clifton reshuffled.  It can be difficult to set up these scenes, but eventually it turns out decently with some effort, enough to suggest you should continue.  But you clearly need to carve out more time for both the research and the writing, so it comes more naturally.  I do like the way the work plan developed by the deadline.  The challenge is to get the words down and share them widely.  The next deadlines are approaching and it would be nice to have a few to chose between rather than be found scrambling in the final hours.

What else?  A past weekend of Cabot links and cliffs and trail.  The Masters champion.  Bras d'or and Meat Cove and another Ingonish sunrise, 5 years later.  The Sonata proved up to it, and no moose sightings throughout the contemplative, hungover state all the way.  Stocks continue to mock your April indecision, but no matter.  Greet it with a shrug.  There are other concerns to ponder.  What may yet come for the election, tomorrow's sailing, and the plays at the Riverview Arts Centre?  Time is dynamic not linear.  Fluid.  I wonder.