Dances with Words

Just popping in from my hectic schedule to pass you a Truly Excellent Blog link, Riverbend. This intelligent, personable girl lives in Iraq and comments on what it’s like living there. So, so important to read this kind of stuff, people. I can’t stress it enough. Get to it.

The zoo was great! Because it was evening we saw several animals being fed, the lions weren’t as interesting as you’d think but the seals were very entertaining. And the band rocked, they had the raaf something band that played big band jazz with lots of brass, and they had a group there teaching simple dance moves. Great fun! I think next time though I’d like to get there earlier. We only really got to see the animals that were being fed, we didn’t have time to see the rest – and the whole place was worth spending a bit more time exploring.

I’ve been working so hard that I haven’t felt like getting back on the computer when I get home the last few days. It’s a bit of a struggle – I’m spoiled, I think, by working from home so much – but it also feels good to be doing a big project with someone again. Anyway, it means I probably won’t update as often as I’d like for the next week or two.

But we are going to the zoo tonight for one of their jazz/animal feeding evenings, so I might have to force myself back here to write about that. I’m looking forward to it, I’ve never been in the evening before and it must be over ten years since the last time I went at all. It’s meant to be great. We’ll find out tonight!

It has been a relatively lengthy amount of time since last time I updated here, but rest assured it is not because nothing has been happening. Quite the opposite, my life has been so filled with activity – bla bla bla.

To start in the right order: Paul Colman Friday night. He rocks. One of the most talented musicians around, a great performer who knows how to connect with the audience, and good theology to boot. He was signing albums afterward and we met him, he was very friendly and was taking the time to connect with each person he met. Great guy.

Friday night I had another powerful dream, this one about seeing a clairvoyant with Elicia and breathing on her (the clairvoyant) to cast demons out of her. Which is wierd, because I don’t go in for that kind of stuff in real life. That makes three big dreams in three weeks. (I didn’t mention the second one because it was very scary – it concerned tithing.)

Saturday I was in a very good mood and went and saw the Incredibles (great movie, awesome animation) then bought some runners and a wok steamer. And Des moved in. She’s fitting in very well, she’s friendly and easy-going and we all watched Wimbledon (the movie) together.

Sunday I went out for breakfast with Leash to celebrate Valentine’s Day – a day early but we were booked out Monday. Church (after breaky) was Vision Sunday, where all the things that are happening throughout the year are promoted. I like it, it gives a sense of what our church really is. Otherwise it can be hard to know what’s going on with people that I’m not directly involved with.

Sunday night my parents came around for tea and we made dim sum in my newly acquired wok steamer, sushi and tom yum soup. It was a really fun night, we ate well and Des got along with my family well and after dinner we rang Macca in Sydney. She’d been to the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House and all that sort of thing with a guy she met at ncyc, who I think bought her lunch – so it sounds like she’s settling in fine!

Then yesterday (whew! when will this end) I went to visit a friend in Geelong who I used to work with, it was very cool and his business is very inspring. Awesome!

Off to see Paul Colman after work today! Looking forward to a good time. BUT honestly, who starts a rock concert at 6:30? Dang churchy people. The doors open at 6:30, music starts at 7:30 – which hardly leaves enough time to finish work, grab a bite to eat and get into town in time to find a good seat. I make a policy of not attending meetings (or services, groups etc) that start earlier than 7pm unless they involve a meal. It’s just too early. And I think that for music, especially a well-respected pub-rock artist like Colman, the absolute earliest start should be 8pm. That way normal working people can go out for tea first and make a good night of it.

Phew… that was a bit of a rant wasn’t it… Don’t worry, once we get there I’m sure I’ll have a great time!

Talented drama queen, occasional wiblogger and younger sister of myself, Macca had her last meal as a Victorian last night. She left with surprisingly little drama on the plane this morning and we got an sms that she has arrived safely a short time later. Enjoy your stay Macca, get involved in the glitz and glamour, meet some business people, drink second-rate coffee, ogle aghast at the price of housing and make sure you come back to us the same beautiful woman you are now.

In other news I’m not getting any better at darts, despite regular practise during work hours.

Did I mention I found some of my old poems? You may have guessed from two of them appearing below. In our old house my office door was covered with scrap pieces of paper with poems scribbled down. I kept them and found them a couple of days ago (box marked “James’ spesh stuff”), but I’m not going to put them back up. That would make me a poser, somehow. If I want another door of poetry I’ll have to write more poems.

Glad we got that sorted out.

Beauty is framed in white
the piercing white of tall socks
on the legs of Japanese schoolgirls
the fragility of nautilus shells
washed up the silken beach;
they travel over the chop
from troublesome Asian waters
sensuous shells worn smooth
until they are buried in the sand
the shiny lip showing
(it needs that negative space)
while you’re walking
shirt sticking, sun in your brain -
if you look carefully you’ll find them,
among the dark seeds of the seaweed
they always have fine legs, such damn fine legs
thighs showing from beneath pleated skirts
calves like wine, shoes like bourbon:
drink of the shell, taste the salt,
crush the mystery between your teeth.
when broken, the sharp edge
cuts your lip, the blood
makes you drunk enough
to frame your thoughts in red.

The ones who always have time to do
they get all the good muses, working
beautiful, lyrical, silken, sapphire eyes
(and only occasionally confrontational)
mine lives in a claustraphobic suburb
rust wrought into twirls, I have to use the knocker
her hair is coiled, her lip is split, her nose is flat
“suppose you want another masterpiece today, huh?”
mutters from toothless gums begin the assault
and I hate her more than death
more than vagueness
more than ambiguity, more than oppression
thin cheeks wrinkle into a gaping grin
“come in then, Fool, come in.”

My youngest sister Amy was in Bellarine Idol on the weekend, a singing contest for the Bellarine Peninsula. The high school finals were last night, with ten students from all over the Geelong region competing. The standard was amazing, I was honestly suprised at how fantastic some of the voices were. I’m guessing most of them would be receiving singing lessons of some description. Of the ten finalists I thought seven of them deserved to win, and the judges also had a very hard time deciding who it would be. And guess what? Amy came third!! It was so exciting! She played piano as well as sang, which worked in her favour I think because all the other contestants just sang with backing tapes. Congratulations Amy! First and second were also very deserving.

Speaking of darts (weren’t we?) I finally got our dartboard up on Saturday. I have been waiting to get something to cover the wall, and on Saturday I bought a large sheet of particle board from the hardware store, cut it to size and screwed it in place. Felt very much the handyman. Then I spent the next four hours playing darts against various people and when I woke up the next morning my arm muscles were sore. What’s up with that? You know you’re unfit when playing darts gives you a sore arm. All I can say is: more practice required!

We also got a few plants for the front garden from the Sunday market, we put a couple in nice pots and we’re going to plant the rest along the front of the house, once we get some manure or something for the tired looking bed. Lets just say that the previous tenants did not have a gift for gardening. Even sitting in position in their pots, a little bit of green and some bright flowers give the whole front of the house a better look.

And – last thing – I almost forgot to mention that Maggie and Amy, my two youngest sisters, got confirmed yesterday. It was simple ceremony, their church has a breakfast service the first Sunday of the month so in between the porridge and the sermon they and another teenage girl vowed to live for Christ. It was beautiful, so much a part of normal life an yet such an important event in their lives and their church’s.

I won tickets to see Paul Colman!! I rang our local Christian radio station this morning and sleepily answered quiz questions, and won! That’s the first time I’ve ever rang them, definitely the first time I’ve ever won a radio competition. Elicia was very excited.