LANA DEL REY-VIDEO GAMES

The two obvious side-benefits of saying no to cable tv have been the money saved, and the time gained I might've lost forever to waiting for something good to come on. Just what's Good, of course, is subjective. The greatest benefit has been my return to the radio for more than the mundane, and the weather. Weather always trumps the mundane, I say. But enough about the weather, for now. Let's talk about music immersion the radio has also always been about, from the longago crystal set to the tech-toy marvels of this I-generation.

Actually...no, music immersion is probably too big a subject for tackling this moment, past two in the morning. Let's just say I've been listening all around the radio dial, and to a lot of music. As in to all the world'ful of music. Including my eclectic collection of CDs. I've been, metaphorically speaking here, in a comfy bath of music up to the ears. And happy as a clam, to mishmash the image further.

I Revisitor popped into existence as a result of a fusion of single meaningful scene meets mind-mapping during an afternoon of perhaps a little too much Bob Marley. The story's on current hold. I have it all plotted. It'll be great, when I can do it right. But I don't like the first-person present-tense POV. It needs re-thinking. That's going to have to wait. NaNoWriMo has priority. That is the NaNo project has whatever time remains available that I don't have to put in with the day-early-eve-job. And the job's going to stay busy through New Year's.

All that aside now. A particularly lovely song floated through me in my metaphorical bath last week, again tonight, during a UK Hits show on local radio in Vancouver. I caught the artist's name tonight. Lana Del Rey. Her voice lifted me one whole inch higher in my aforementioned bath. I haven't digested Video Games enough to explain the song's meaning. I only know I like it. And will be listening for more from Lana Del Rey.

Prelude

I'm moving. My neighbourhood Real Canadian Superstore. I'm moving in, I've decided.

Superstore's got everything I might conceivably want in a home. Home furnishings, for instance. Bedding, comfy pillows. And pillow cases. Even lawn furniture. Yes, lawn furniture. For the bright someday lawn perhaps not abused by nocturnal dog-walkers as a pet toilet.

I digress. Reality intruded there. Reality, inconsiderate humans, and slave-jobbin' in a world-class city shall this crisp bright Saturday gain no more mental ground for sprouting their strangling weedlings.

Where was I? Moving into the Superstore. I'm packing, just as soon as this is tapped out.

I know where I'll be dining tonight. The Superstore! Food? Oh sure they have food. Fresh greens. Other colours, too. And exotics, from places around the world I've only dreamed of visiting. You want canned, packaged, frozen? Superstore's got 'em, sure. You want your dinner...alive, before you dispatch it, dish it, dine upon it? There's the aquarium. Well, okay, a Seafood Section. Tilapia and rainbow trout in tanks, headed into the current off the aerator and all going nowhere. Crustaceans and crabs, flexing their rubber-banded claws. And shellfish from the intertidal zone. It's as educational as the Vancouver Aquarium, really. Every show's no charge admission. I'm so glad tourists haven't heard about it.

Hey, but save room for dessert. Possibly the best part of any dining experience, the dessert. Cummon, admit it. Cake, cookies, confections, Superstore's sure to please any sweet tooth. I might sit down...no, lounge...I might lounge tonight, after whatever dinner's gonna be, and treat myself to four litres of Neapolitan ice cream. And a wafer cone.

Changed my mind. Popcorn, from aisle 20. Ginger ale from 3. They're currently looping Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 on the big screen in the Electronics department at Superstore. I will definitely roll the lounger over.

Now, to packing. Maybe also a little hammering away at the NaNo fantasy before I head over. I'm in the mood now.

Remembrance Day, 2011

Today isn't the day for anti-war rants about the causes.

"Causes ain't goin' away. I can rant about 'em tomorrow just as easy." That's me being funny, not disrespectful.

Today is for Remembering. And for a lament. I like this particular version, the lament in a wild desolate place.

---

I haven't served. I was only ever a cadet, back in the Cold War days. It was like boy scouts, occasionally with FN semi-automatic rifles. We spent summers in the Okanagan, at Vernon, the army camp above the town. Map and compass work. Lots of marching. Fond memories. But one stands out.

North of Vernon, out a week on dusty Glenemma, where tankers rolled around and gunners fired their Howitzers, at the end of one day we marched back to camp in the pines, aware other companies were watching. For those eyes watching, we marched in column, pretty as a picture behind our company pennant.

Our column began to split, from the head of it. Boys in green stepping left and right, like hikers sidestepping cow pies. Glenemma had lots of cow pies. I reached the spot where we were parting. I saw why. The dark shining curve of something we all assumed unexploded, probably a dummy round, showing in the dusty track between our marching feet.

Anyway, I never joined up Canada's regular forces. I out-grew cadets, in time became a regular in Vancouver's Peace Marches.

My dad's dad served his country in the First Great War. He's been gone a decade. I loved him. We didn't get around to talking about his war experiences. He was an unquestioning patriot to his country. I was and remain one who questions such blind faith. Had we talked, I'm guessing it would have been a superficial one. I have his medals. They're in the fire-safe, they mean that much to me. They're service medals, only that. Base metal, with ribbon attached. However, I know history. I can imagine some of what he experienced.

I've stopped counting the days without cable tv. Old tv, no dtv to analog whatzit, on antenna only, can pull in Vision. Amusing.
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I CAN SEE! Yup. VISION, heh. Old tv can pick up whatever channel Survivor's on, too. When the weather's okay.
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I've made friends with the radio again. Wander the internet, too. But I've missed those nature shows. Fixed that today.
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Superstore had to show something...WOW on display tvs, heh. They showed BBC Planet Earth. I lingered, long, before the beauty.
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I saw bits of BBC Planet Earth maybe last year, during Saturday morn groceries getting. Superstore's electronics. Wall o'tvs!
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Sis's giftcard, and worthwhile little Mastercard extra. I didn't the original series when it aired. I did see bits, tho,
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I got it! BBC Planet Earth 6-disc Special Edition. Future Shop during lunch. Used birthday gift card from sis.
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Kate Bush - Wild Man - radio edit still video

I've been waiting a lonnng time for any new Kate Bush.
Wild Man's here.
50 Words for Snow will be coming November 29th.