It's raining lightly right now. Anticipating a bittersweet drive to Toronto in the morning. 5 a.m. start. You know, the kind of drive when it's still dark outside and your internal clock is confused as to whether or not it's day or night...
I was out for a hike on one of my favourite trails when I spotted this young chap. I had no idea that The Red Winged Blackbird is sexually dimorphic; the male is all black with his famously attractive red and yellow shoulder, while the female is dark brown with some black markings on her tummy! I also learned that its name in many Ojibwa language dialects is called "Memiskondinimaanganeshiinh", literally meaning "a bird with a very red damn-little shoulder-blade." Seriously! It's interesting because I discovered this little guy close to a nearby park called "Ojibway". Hmm. I wonder if he's yelpin' for his momma.
I've never enjoyed the time between 6:30pm and 8:00pm so much in my entire life. God seems to rock the skies between those times...and I love it. "Then the new Heavens and Earth shall be where righteousness shall dwell indeed; There shall be no more blight, nor need, nor barrier of the sea; No sun and moon alternating, for God shall be the Light thereof; No sorrow more, no death, no sting, for God Who reigns is Love." -Christina Rossetti.
Convince me otherwise, and I'd be deeply shocked. Does this sound narrow-minded? To a lot of people, probably so. Many might stop reading after the opening sentence of this little rant. Honestly though, and maybe it's just because I'm in transition and appreciating life a hell of a lot more these days, but look around you. Seriously. (Blowing my mind...) Yes, there are many disturbing things happening in this world that are confusing and gut-wrenching, yet, pain only endures for a time. Its role is to purge us and to make us know ourselves, ultimately becoming stronger for these dark and ugly times. "Surely, then, God's will is set to wither the tentacles of my unkindness, when they are twisted round my neighbor's throat." (Austin Farrer, 1904-1968) Seeing the beauty in each other, regardless of differing world views or religion, can certainly help us to love one another more and untangle the fear, jealousy, anger, timidity, egocentricity, and unforgiveness that has the power to divide us and hold us all back...from... 
This afternoon I was stressssssssed until my niece, Cleah, handed me a special, folded letter... Just for me. When children start to write down their thoughts for you, especially with messy Crayola markers, it's pretty much the most amazing feeling ever. It's like traveling down a secret passage way that leads inside their sweet, little baby soul. It's probably the purest soul that we, as human beings, could ever encounter. So darling and so incredibly honest. This is just soooo soooo soooo Cleah! I love this child! Never grow old! Or, at least, stay just as bright-eyed and curious as ever...
If you're a subscriber to GEEZ, which you probably aren't, than turn with me to page 34. There you'll find my brief, awkward excerpt entitled, "Gangly, somber and sickly". It's my subtle attempt to raise awareness about thoughtless word choices in our society. The excerpt is published in the Summer '09 issue sent out only to subscribers, but you can check out the Winnipeg-based magazine online (I've linked the site under my "Things I Like" column). You should subscribe and support a good, thought-provoking, independent press. Or, better yet, let's go out for coffee because I have an extra copy! Just a little bit of shameless self-promotion since it's the only thing I've got going on, unless you consider gross amounts of psych research something worth talking about...
