Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, 1977 I discovered I didn’t own Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter either on LP or CD — which means I don’t know the music from it, except for anything performed live or on compilations. This means I have only my current opinions and impressions, and no earlier thoughts
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wmtc: island day trip with mom: alert bay
This week’s day trip was fascinating, meaningful, and so much fun. We went to Alert Bay, toured the U’mista Cultural Centre (us for the second time, my mom for the first), and participated in a traditional salmon barbeque through Culture Shock. Know before you go: residential schools and the potlatch
Continue readingwmtc: pupdate: in which cookie decides to make a bit of progress
First there was Incident With a Fish Head. Then there was this. What is that dog doing, you may ask. She’s chasing tiny fish. She did this for two hours. Two hours!!! We brought treats to practice recall, but I didn’t remember to make them high-value treats. No way this
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: did you know your library is steam-powered?
Your library is STEAM-powered. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. But STEAM is much more than those five subjects. It’s an approach to education and learning. STEAM is a way of looking at the world around us, discovering how things work, and working together to create. STEAM
Continue readingwmtc: weekend trip with mom: a few days in the comox valley
I thought it would be fun for my mom to see a different part of Vancouver Island. I didn’t want her going home thinking the whole island is a sparsely populated rain forest! Plus it’s more fun stuff to do together. I booked an Airbnb in Royston — just south
Continue readingwmtc: island day trip with mom: sointula
This week’s day trip with my Mom was the town of Sointula. One of my libraries is located in Sointula, so I’ve been there a couple of times, but had never had an opportunity to explore the town or surrounding Malcolm Island. Sointula has a fascinating history: it was founded
Continue readingwmtc: toni morrison, rest in power
I was so shocked and saddened to learn of Toni Morrison’s death. I’ve been reading her work since a university creative writing teacher recommended The Bluest Eye in 1979. I’ve read all her novels. Although Beloved is her masterpiece, most of her work is phenomenal, and every book is worth
Continue readingwmtc: extended mom visit
My mother is visiting from Oregon. That visiting from Oregon part still looks weird to me, since for my entire life — and her entire life until a few years ago — my mother has lived in the New York/New Jersey metro area. After her first great-grandchild (my great-niece) was born
Continue readingwmtc: wallander, roddy doyle, one of us is lying: what i’m reading between massive biographies
These biographies are taking me a very long time to read. The list of books I want to read continues to grow, as always, and it feels wrong to use so much time on just one title. I wish I read faster. I wish I spent more time reading. I
Continue readingwmtc: frederick douglass, susan b. anthony, and the ridiculous (and dangerous) quest for moral purity
Reading David Blight’s monumental Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, I learned some facts about both Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony that were very unpleasant and, at least in Douglass’ case, baffling. This brought me back to a topic I’ve revisited several times on wmtc: the rejection of art or
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: frederick douglass, prophet of freedom
My biography reading continues: I finally finished Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by the historian and Douglass scholar David Blight. It is a monumental work, not an easy read, but extremely enlightening and very satisfying. The book is notable for Blight’s refusal to ignore or sugar-coat Douglass’ flaws. Douglass was a
Continue readingwmtc: backyard baby bear
This adorable little dude was not actually in our backyard, but close enough! He or she was just over the back fence of our next-door neighbour’s yard. He was crying and mewing so loudly, we were worried he was scared or in distress. So I spoke to a conservation officer
Continue readingwmtc: why it is interesting and significant that i own a piano
When we were negotiating for this house, through realtors, the former owners asked if we were interested in keeping their piano. I had noticed the old upright as soon as we walked in, and I immediately said an enthusiastic yes. (They also had a beautiful grandfather clock, but they weren’t
Continue readingwmtc: indigenous designs are all around us: more thoughts on accusations of cultural appropriation
Coast Salish Orca In 2017, I wrote this post: accusations of cultural appropriation are a form of bullying — and don’t reduce racism, and a follow-up: postscript: some clarifications and addenda to my recent post on cultural appropriation. For a less-lengthy refresher, scroll down to “The current climate of accusation
Continue readingwmtc: three thoughts arising from a focus on the housing crisis
Today I attended a working meeting that included almost all the service providers in the region. These service providers were brought together by the Mount Waddington Health Network to build a coalition that will deal with the housing crisis. I was there mainly to stay informed and to network, and
Continue readingwmtc: pictures of our new house are one (extra) click away
Allan took some photos of our house while it was still empty. If you are so inclined, you can see the pics here: Our House. So go do that now, then come back, OK? You’re back? Not shown: As you walk in the front door, to your right is a
Continue readingwmtc: concentration camp resistance scrapbook
Resistance to the migrant concentration camps in the US seems to be growing. Or maybe I’m just seizing on anything that looks like hope. I wanted to collect all the examples I’ve seen so far, then I’ll post more in real time. June 2018: No Kids In Cages marches July
Continue readingwmtc: thank you megan rapinoe!
I have a list of topics I want to write about, and I’m not finding any time when my brain is working to write. So on this topic I’m taking the easy and totally lame way out and posting a Facebook share. And that’s fine, because no matter how much
Continue readingwmtc: in which we are officially homeowners
It’s official! We are homeowners! The former owners left us a plant and a card! Is that amazing? The card says they hope we are as happy in this house as they have been. Our plans to go over on Allan’s dinner break with a bottle of champagne didn’t work
Continue readingwmtc: in which cookie gets hold of a fish head, is attacked by an eagle, and almost makes me cry
This weekend we took Kai and Cookie to the beach both days. The beach was Diego’s favourite place in all the world, so it was sad to be there without him. But the Littles are so entertaining; they keep us in the moment. Yesterday, however, Cookie put on a show
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