Sunday, April 29, 2012

no excuses


Apologizing for not blogging is rather like telling everyone you're sorry you didn't have breakfast this morning in that nobody has noticed but now that you mention it, why didn't you?

I must admit I'm feeling a little strange that although I now live in Canada I still pay much more attention to American news and politics than I do to those of this country. Its not that there aren't some serious issues that need to be addressed here but somehow I feel that people a lot more committed and knowledgeable than me have a better handle on the particulars. Besides,  34 years in the US made me addicted to the show and the fact that most of my closest friends are Americans makes certain I stay connected. Naturally, I worry. There's also the fact that nowhere is very far away any more.

Except for Crow. He can go where he pleases and stay as long as he likes. He sent me an invitation just yesterday to join him on a jaunt over the magical islands of the Aegean Sea as they were long ago. His only conditions are that I bring some fruitcake, a case of Remy, and agree to help pedal his anti-gravity flying machine. I may just take him up on it :-)

Always remember, we'll be friends until we're old and senile.. Then we'll be new friends.

27 comments:

  1. I follow the news south of us too, with great concern and alarm. Meanwhile our leader seems to be leaning in the same direction with so many issues. I'd love to escape all this with Crow - a jaunt to the Aegean would make one forget today's problems for a while. I hope you do go - send us all a postcard! (Lovely artwork as always, Susan!) Friends, always.

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    1. I always loved this remark and misquoted it often: 'Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.'

      - Pierre Trudeau to the Washington, D.C. Press Club in 1969

      I think this post was really just an excuse to show the new picture - I'm delighted to know you like it. ♡

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  2. Sorry, but if you think that, up here, "people a lot more committed and knowledgeable than me have a better handle on the particulars," you are living in the midst of a delusion. Or illusion. Sigh. The "people" will be pleased by that. You may not be, when you figure out what the "people" are doing to you. I think marja-leena is right; the ones "up here" are getting more like the ones "down there."

    Strange; I thought Crow was in hospital. But please remember, I'm just a Bear, and I am easily confused. I could probably fly over the Aegean without leaving home. Life is strange.

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    1. I know, Rob. That was a weak attempt at being facetious. Not only was I totally dismayed by the landslide victory of the PC's that gave Mr. Harper and his cronies pretty much full rein for 5 years but then I learned about the robo-calls. There may eventually be a fine but no call for a new election. I spent many years in the US trying to convince apathetic people they ought to be paying more attention. The situation in this country has been compounded by an immigration policy that favors people who are already rich. Meanwhile, Canada has gained one more NDP voter who would prefer a Green Party government.

      Nah, Crow's fine but he's always liable to fly off for a while. It's just his nature.

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  3. I so envy Crow. For two pins I'll help pedal his flying machine!

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  4. I'm going to the Aegean next week for a weeks holidays, a little south of Izmir (Smyrna, as it used to be called long ago)! I'll keep an eye out for Crow :-)

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    1. He's partial to a nice glass of ouzo. I hope you'll drink to my health :-)

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    2. Given the madness of cultural conflict and historical hatred, where I'll be they call it raki rather than ouzo (even if it's the same thing). But the Anatolian/Turkish-Greek conflict has provided enough heartache over thousands of years to inspire thousands of tragic classics.

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    3. Hi again, Francis. As far as continual conflicts go it seems to me humanity in general is a hopeless case. Crow is luckier than most in that he can slip away to sweeter dimensions at will. I hope your holiday takes you there too.

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  5. Old and senile...I'm there now: Hello new friend.
    the Ol'Buzzard

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    1. I've heard it said the best future comes from forgetting the past. May it be so, my friend.

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  6. Yesterday or maybe it was the day before, I had your post opened - the post with the yet uncolored drawing. Sophie sat down at my desk and said "I have to see what Crow is doing."

    I'll have to remember to show her this post with the color. It's lovely.

    I'm taking my lunch hour to visit blogs. Write one? Meh. I'm feeling particularly mediocre these days. And I skipped breakfast. The two things may indeed be related.

    xoxoxox

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    1. It makes me happy to know Sophie likes Crow - I'm sure he feels the same. Did I tell you he's making a hardbound collection of his portraits?

      I'm thinking you probably just need a break while you acclimatize. It's great you like the job so much and I'm sure you're having fun fb'ing etc. The quick reports and retorts are good practice too.

      xoxo

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  7. //nowhere is very far away any more.//

    ....and everywhere is just an illusion we embrace with a scent of sweet oranges and a breath of hope.

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    1. The nice thing about following Crow's travels is that I can be there too.

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  8. this drawing is so very fresh and spring-green! not just dandelions and quackgrass growing here! unlike my yard, at present..... but even in my shivering corner of the world, little perennial noses are prodding through the thawing muck. as the earth warms, so does my heart. we've made it through another long, deep dark.

    Dunno if you've followed the Alberta elections at all, but the !%* Conservatives took yet ANOTHER majority here, with the Canadian Bigots' Alliance (AKA Wild Rose party) taking the job of official opposition... Gaia help us! when does the next plane for the Agean leave?

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    1. I love green a lot but it's never been my favorite color to paint. The last couple of Crow paintings have been fun as well as a bit of an education. I'm glad spring has made its way to the far north of sanity.

      I followed enough of the Alberta election to understand there was no surprise in the PC victory and I'm sure the Wild Rosers won't last long anyway. The good news is that Mulcair is making headway at the federal level. I have my fingers permanently crossed for an eventual no confidence vote.

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  9. I'm sorry I didn't cut the grass until last Friday. Why Crow enjoys fruitcake, I'll never know. Even the cool cats have flaws.

    I love that drawing, mischievous whimsy.

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    1. I wouldn't mind cutting a little grass but I draw the line at shoveling snow. Crow acquired a taste for fruitcake when he discovered it was traditionally soaked in brandy. Why else?

      He loves posing.

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  10. Oh, I do love fruitcake but no one really makes it anymore. That store bought stuff was awful but nowadays I don't even see fruitcake in the stores. Maybe the brandy was why I loved it as a kid.

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    1. A dear friend makes a Christmas fruitcake for me every autumn and pours brandy on it every week til it goes into the mail.

      Funny, but I knew I was back in Canada when I saw tons of fruitcake at the grocery stores as soon as November rolled around.

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  11. i am pecking this out w/ 1 finger just to say i injured my shoulder and may die from this pain... we need phones sometimes, my dearxxx

    and i lovex341 this painting. the colors, whimsy, it is perfection. xox

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    1. Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear you've been hurt. That's just way too unfair after everything else. I'll come by to see if there's more news and meanwhile, hope you recover quickly.

      I love this painting too. Crow (unlike me) just refuses to let stupid sh*t get him down.
      xoxo

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  12. So delightful, this post! I love the drawing. Crow looks like he's in his element there by the lake in his peddle-pushers. What a cad. He sure comes up with the most marvelous invitations for you; no wonder you want to take him up on this one.

    Your musings about the politics here, there, everywhere were whimsical and logical at the same time. And that final line, oh wow did it make me laugh!!! Thank you.

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  13. I just stopped by because I like it here! still mostly pecking on the pad. like now.... wanted to say hi. xoxox

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