Christmas in Vancouver

The Red River Valley

As a result of constantly seeing news updates on the flooding in Fargo, this song has been in my head for the past few days. It is in the same category for me as "Stewball", an old and pretty song which made me feel so very very sad when I was a little kid. Partly because of the words, but maybe because the simplicity and prettiness of the tune made the words so much sadder. I remember singing it in grade four or five and getting all snuffly at my desk. It still makes me sad. "They say you are taking the sunshine".

Depression Breakfast

Ever since I read How To Cook A Wolf earlier this year, I've been more and more interested in this cooking to survive idea.

I guess I also made a movie about this too.

But cooking is kind of magical -- you take these elements that on their own are pretty inert or at least uninteresting (handful of flour: not delicious) and the way you combine them in what ratios and what temperatures brings this new thing into the world that is nourishing and pleasurable. No wonder there's this child chef thing going on right now.

I think Depression-era cooking is particularly magical because you can take the most cast-off and dull tidbits of edibles and work this same magic.

Tent City in Sacramento

Most significant (and alarming) are the regular folk and how much this looks like the dust bowl.

Apocalypse Skills

I'm very interested in this idea of acquiring more and more skills with the intent of preparing for doomsday scenarios.

Here's an excellent example. (Please respond with your observations as to how the Ikea setting is appropriate when thinking about doomsday scenarios)

Postal Service, Data Entry or Special Ed

Hi Women!

Take your pick!

West LA Baby

Yesterday I went to MILK to make friends with a strawberry milkshake. The couple at the table next to me said to their infant son: "You can be gay as long as you are not a Republican".