Every now and then, in a fit of vanity, I scan the internet for any personal detritus that might be clogging up the interweb. There's the usual glut of tour and book stuff, a few pictures and cameos on friends blogs. Today, I happened to find a doozy.

When I was about sixteen or so, I participated in an online poetry/critique message board called Poetry Tonight. The site has long since been confined to an electronic graveyard. One piece I posted on Poetry Tonight attracted the attention of another frequent contributor, Papa Yolk, who included it in an online zine he put together. And wouldn't you know it still exists.

Here's a poem by sixteen-year-old me, complete with bonus author pic. Please look at how skinny I am.

Labels: Ancient History

Just got back from a week-long trip to Calgary and Vancouver. I managed to get some sort of mutant cold/flu thing, and may still have a fever. Aside from that small (though vaguely hallucinogenic) annoyance, My trip was absolutely wonderful.

I was nervous to be returning to Calgary. This was my first trip back since I left in July, nearly nine months ago. I was not sure how I would feel. I didn't know if I would be numb or hysterical or joyous. I was almost shocked to see it still standing.

I had a damn good time. I stayed with Natalee and Jeremy and the babies. Natalee's family was visiting as well, and it was a wonderful loud happy place to stay. Staying with them absolutely made the trip. The kids are talking up a storm and so beautiful and loving I felt like the Grinch, my heart stretching almost beyond tolerance.

It was so good to see ryan, whose company I had missed more than I can express. He's one of the good ones, the best ones. It was inexpressibly good to see Ian again, to see him walking and happy and whole. It was great to go to the KP and drink a little, see Paul and Jill, James Dangerous and Jocelyn, to be surprised by Steve. I saw Chris Blais for a special supplemental Sabbath, remembered how much I loved destroying my friends at a completely unfair video game. I had a great lunch with Prof. X and Jonathan Ball, where I was tormented for my inability to come up with decent titles, and introduced to the joys of the Special Containment Procedures project. There was very good wine and excellent company. It was better than I could have hoped or planned. It is no longer home, but it is a place I can go back to, and that is comforting.

The quality of sunlight is so good there -- a bit waterier than the light in California, as if it were skim instead of homogenized, but still so good and clean. I could feel myself photosynthesizing. I had almost forgotten how beautiful the bow river is. How good the air.

After the sun, it was time for some rain. After a few days in Calgary, I spend another handful in Vancouver. It rained nearly the whole time I was there, as it does every time I visit. The dampness on my face made me feel like an orchid, some lush green thing. It was spring, and I needed it. It was wonderful to spend so much time with Jason and Andrea, watching lethal amount of television and laughing my ass off at youtube videos. Andre joined us for Watchmen, which was possibly more awesome the second time. I had breakfast with JSamp and Costa, and chatted with Jordan about drifter's diaries.

My last night in town, we gathered at Chris and Sandy's to watch the Battlestar Galatica series finale (which was ass. but anyway). I had a fever by then, and was strange and vague I am sure. But there was a moment when I looked up and saw all my friends, and I realized that this place, this other city, could be a home too.

Home again now, my current Toronto base of operations. I wish all of my friends could live in the same, magical city. Or that there was a way I could teleport and visit them all whenever I wanted. But having many places to go, many possible simultaneous homes, is never a bad thing. After all, I've never been the settling-down sort.

Labels: Babies, Family and Friends, Toronto, Travelling

Announcing the formation of a new Canadian literary magazine!

STEPHEN HARPER: a journal of the literary arts

Dedicated to the publication of Canadian literary talent, STEPHEN
HARPER is looking for said talent to bombard our inbox with your best
writing. We are looking for submissions from across Canada in both
official languages.

Submissions should be made via email to
stephen.harper.literary.concern@gmail.com. Submissions should remain
under 1 page as budget constraints are also size restraints. Deadline
is as soon as possible! We will start reading as soon as submissions
start rolling in!

We look forward to reading your submissions!

ryan fitzpatrick & Natalie Zina Walschots
STEPHEN HARPER Managing Editors

About STEPHEN HARPER:

STEPHEN HARPER was started as the first magazine under new funding
guidelines made by the Canadian Periodical Fund. We believe that the
best response to these new guidelines is to try to produce a literary
journal streamlined enough to meet the new realities of today’s
publishing industry. STEPHEN HARPER has an official subscription base
of 413 – each MP and senator in the Canadian government is a
subscriber, including our namesake! As well, STEPHEN HARPER will be
starting a list of unsubscribers (the SH! list) of people not quite
lucky enough to be members of Canada’s own government, but who still
wish to receive the light of STEPHEN HARPER into their heart.

Labels: Literary Events