farm good-bye

The house on the left is where Jeff and I lived for a while, out in the Hockley Valley near Orangeville, Ontario. After about a year, we moved into another house on the family compound. Allison and Jodi used to come up to visit with their husbands; we'd spend the weekends playing music, hiking in the forest, having picnics out in the sunshine. If you listen to the lyrics of Allison's song on our second album, "Days We Spend Together", she mentions these weekends.

Anyway, the property has just been sold, and we had a big farewell bash there this past weekend. The party was massive, with more people than at our wedding...friends, family, neighbours. Our friend Scott D. flew in from Ireland specifically for the event. And he finally got to meet Scott M. :-)

The two little girls in front of the house are my nieces Brittany and Olivia.

Lots of swimming, walking around the pond, hot tubbing, munching on burgers, frisbee golf, and just hanging out. Sadly, I could only stay for the first part of the party before I had to leave to fly back to Philly.


It was pretty tough leaving, knowing I'd likely not see the place again. I took a cab to the airport, using the new "Call-A-Cab" service offered in Orangeville. I cried quietly in the backseat during the first half hour, not wanting to start any kind of personal conversation with the driver, even if he was a very nice young fellow named Sean who admitted that he had driven to the airport only once before.

"Allergies?" he asked cheerfully at one point.

"Um...yeah," I mumbled.

"I get them, too," said Sean, shaking his head in sympathy.

What is it about a place that makes us put down roots, tearing us up inside when we know we're leaving it for good? Memories? The people? Love of the land? More likely a combination, I think.

I remember when we first moved out to the Hockley Valley together. How citified I felt, looking out across the fields and farm houses. Our neighbour from across the road, a dairy farmer, invited me to come view the spring calves...I knew I was being tested as I walked across the field of manure, each boot squelching as I yanked it up out of the muck, determined not to flinch. She and her husband were at the party on Sunday.

I remember skating on the pond in the winter, arms flailing (I'm not a very good skater), closing my eyes and hearing the trees tinkle with ice.

I remember I did gardening back then, poring over seed catalogs in the winter, excitedly opening the packets when they arrived in the spring and planting them in the rich soil, batting ineffectually at the blackflies circling my head. I remember spending over an hour painstakingly transplanting what I had assumed was a type of flower but found out (to my acute embarrassment) was actually a common type weed.

I remember gathering bunches of lily of the valley in the spring and bringing them inside so their fragrance would fill the house.

I remember our wedding beneath the willow trees on the other side of the pond nine years ago (nine years ago yesterday, in fact :-)). How it rained in the morning but cleared to a brilliant blue sky in the early afternoon. Our friends and family gathered on the grass, a music quartet (Quartetto Gelato, who weren't nearly as well known back then) providing accompaniment while I clutched my father's arm as we walked slowly across the bridge, my only thought at the time being, "don't fall off the bridge don't fall off the bridge".

Kind of weird to think that it's been nine years since that day. Jeff and I are planning to go on a special trip to celebrate our tenth anniversary next year; not sure where, yet. This year, I suggested that we just spend the weekend in Toronto, eating sushi at Fune, browsing through through Chapters, seeing a movie or two at the Paramount. We'll also be dropping by a bbq party at Andy and Christine's (Andy's the scary-looking bearded guy in the picture above, with my ex-officemate Doug).

Other photos today: Helen in the frisbee golf tournament, Luisa mugging for the camera, kids in the hot tub (Brittany is to the far right).

Have a great weekend, everyone! I promised Jeff I'd stay offline for the rest of the day... :-)

settling in

Hugs and good thoughts to Karen, who decided to go ahead with a musical presentation for the Mars Society as a tribute to Lloyd (she and Lloyd were supposed to perform together). "Life is full of bitter-sweet moments," Karen wrote recently in Blatherchat. "Lloyd had been so excited about the Mars Society songwriting contest to write a national anthem for their hoped-for colony there. I performed that song at their conference tonight, knowing that that is what Lloyd would have wanted. The perfomance got a standing ovation, and Lloyd and I won first prize. It was a terrifying and emotional experience to go on without him. But at least I was able to fulfill that dream for him. I just hope he was watching from somewhere."

Michael Liebmann came up with the wonderful idea of funding the planting of a grove of trees in Israel in Lloyd's memory. Both he and Judith Hayman are collecting funds for the tree project, which has the support of both Karen and Lloyd's family. I'm a bit confused about whether these are two separate projects or the one and same, but ultimately I think Lloyd would be touched by how united the filk community has been in supporting Karen, and how news of his death has affected so many people.

Today's blatherpic is one I took of my niece Annie and my sister Ruth, who were visiting recently. Sara insisted on calling my apartment "Auntie Debbie's hotel" since my Real Apartment was obviously still in Toronto. Both Sara and Annie brought me gifts...Sara gave me a set of tiny containers filled with different colours of nail polish; we were going to have a nail painting party, but sadly ran out of time (I was secretly relieved, since I have no nail polish remover). Annie brought me a Magic Washing Cloth, which was shaped like a small heart and that expanded rapidly when immersed into water, decorated with the smiling visages of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White. My brother-in-law fiddled with my remote control and got my tv working!! The cable people had told me that the cause had been hopeless, and that I might have to get a new tv. I now have access to nearly 80 channels. I tried watching an episode of Survivor on Wednesday (I had heard so much about it) but only made it through 10 minutes before losing interest. There must be something wrong with me.

This past weekend, my friend Cathy came to visit. We visited the historic area of Philadelphia, visited Reading Terminal Market (farmer's market, but more so), South Street's wild assortment of unusual shops, went for a carriage and horse tour. It rained almost the entire time, but we still had fun. :-)

Gradually getting adjusted to my new work environment. Many thanks to Lyanne Quirt for sending me a handmade "Cubicle Companion"! Ironically, I will be moving out of my cubicle pretty soon...the company's growing so quickly that we're moving into somewhat more crowded quarters; no cubicles, just folding tables. My shared cubicle space will just be a fond memory. :-) Every so often I peek in on my old office to see what Doug and the others are up to. I have a terrible suspicion that no one has watered our Office Plant since I moved away.

I'm practising my harp every night, even just for a few minutes; it keeps me from getting too homesick and also reminds me not to get too stressed by things which (in the ultimate scheme of things) aren't that important. I've learned 4.3 songs so far:

All Through The Night
Drink To Me Only
Planxty George Braxton
Scarborough Fair
Water Is Wide (1/3 way through; this is a piece that is way too advanced for me but that I couldn't resist gradually learning)

If you see me with a harp, feel free to request one of the above and I may play it for you (especially if you offer me chocolate at the same time).

I haven't had a chance to have any harp lessons yet. My general routine these days is to wake up at 6 am, do some work, go to the health club to work out, come back and work in the apartment the rest of the morning (usually eating breakfast in front of my computer; I'm so bad), go to the office for the afternoon (typically 75% meetings; tomorrow is an All Day Meeting from 8 am to 5 pm), get home around 7:30 pm, bed by 10 p.m.

I started working at the apartment in the mornings out of sheer survival instinct. I'm used to multitasking heavily, as well as working at odd hours of the day and night...my productivity went into a major dive when I started working in a corporate cubicle environment. I know, I know...zillions of people do it every day! Ten years of basically working by myself, however, has definitely had an effect. (Yeah, I feel like an antisocial curmudgeon, so shoot me :-))

I finally got the rest of my furniture put together, woohoo! No more sleeping on the floor. I also went out and bought some posters to put on my unbearably white walls, as well as sticking up some drawings made by my nieces and a card from Andrea and a letter from Lyanne. I got tired of not having enough time to go shopping for a vacuum cleaner and microwave (by the time I got home from work, the shops were all closed) so ordered them online. Now if only I could find a good online grocery service that delivered in the evenings, I'd be set...

lloyd landa :-(

I deeply regret to report that Lloyd Landa died suddenly on Wednesday night of asphyxiation and a heart attack. Karen called the paramedics but they were unable to revive him.

I've been having problems with my computer and only found out today, from Allison. I can't believe it. :( :( :(

More info on Blatherchat, from Allison and others. Lloyd just posted on there Wednesday morning. I can't believe he's gone.

I remember being blown away by Lloyd's music abilities when I first met him. He could improvise at the drop of a hat, execute fingerpicking patterns and chord changes that would tie any normal guitarist's fingers into knots. Lloyd was also a skilled pianist and composer. He was passionate about music; you could see it in his utter concentration during performance.

I remember his crusty good humour and positive life outlook. Lloyd was always supportive and encouraging of others...just take a look at what he's posted in the Blatherchat message board for a sample. He was also one of the worst (best?) punsters I've ever known.

I got to know Lloyd better when he and Karen invited me to play on a few tracks on their CD. We talked on the phone about the project several times, and I went over to their apartment to rehearse. He and Karen helped me come up with my flute part. I was a bit nervous about the studio recording experience (they've had a ton more professional musical experience than I have!), but Lloyd's wisecracking jokes and gentle encouragement helped make the recording experience fun as well as rewarding. He would call from time to time after that, sometimes to talk about music, sometimes just to say hi. He gave me guitar playing tips, and was always willing to help if I needed some musical advice. When he heard I was moving out to Philadelphia away from family and friends, he and Karen sent me supportive e-mails.

Lloyd has touched many of our lives in so many positive ways, and the Toronto filk community will never be the same without him.

We miss you, Lloyd. You will always be in our hearts, and in our music.

outhouse daily news

I'm typing this on my laptop whilst sitting on the deck of the Ridpath cottage in Algonquin Park. The weather is perfect, sunny with a slight breeze that stirs the wind chimes on a nearby cabin. It's going to be tough packing up and leaving after only one full day here. :-)

Saw Allison on Friday, which was very cool. She came all the way downtown from Richmond Hill just to have lunch with me. I miss my Thursday night get-togethers with her and Jodi. We ate at Swiss Chalet, rehashed as much as we could of our recent lives that we could in an hour, and then I went back to work.

Yesterday was the Canoe Lake Leaseholders' Association meeting. Jeff's the President this year. Topics included: bear problem, cellphones (whether access from the Park would be a good or bad thing), garbage disposal, the loon nesting platform project, recent cottager events, a Canoe Lake history research project being conducted by one of the cottagers that may turn into a book.

The Canoe Lake cottagers are a close-knit group, protective of the lake and its wildlife, pulling tourists out of the lake when their canoes tip, supporting each other in times of crisis. When Jeff first introduced me to the group years ago, before we were married, I was pretty nervous about how/if I was going to be accepted. My worries were unfounded. :-)

Jeff and I spent the summer of '89 here, building our one-room cabin. It was an enormously educational experience for me. I learned how to pour cement, install insulation, attach roofing tiles. I did all the electrical wiring. I also started a newsletter called the Outhouse Daily News, painstakingly typed out on an ancient Underwood that skipped characters in humid weather.

FYI, here, is the first issue:

---

OUTHOUSE DAILY NEWS
Canoe Lake, Algonquin Park
July 8, 1989

Welcome to the first issue of Outhouse Daily News. This exciting publication will be produced through the months of July and the first part of September. For those interested, this fine publication is being created on an Underwood typewriter (courtesy Len's Flea Market) which has a few quicks but a great deal of character.

Everyone is invited to submit articles and/or illustrations. Please address them to Debbie Ohi.

Today was our (Jeff, Harry, Debbie) first day at the park. Jeff and Debbie spent their morning (and afternoon) cleaning out and reorganizing the kitchen. Harry spent the morning sleeping blissfully in JBR's cabin. Note for JBR: On Friday night Harry had steak for dinner. Jeff and Debbie had Ramen soup and stir-fried vegetables with rice. We discovered that Western rice is not nearly as yummy as Japanese rice.

In the evening, Harry and Debbie had a jam session while Jefferson had an allergy attack on the sofa.

The weather was fantastic - clear and fresh, not humid. Aunt Joan and Uncle David came today but left in the afternoon because of a news report of a thunderstorm. Tina left with them.

After kitchen cleaning today, Harry worked in JBR's cabin. Note to JBR: It is 6:35 pm and we have not decided what we are going to have for dinner.

in philly

Getting settled. I finally got my futon couch put together. Still need to assemble my bed, coffee table, chest of drawers. Still need to finish unpacking. :-)

Also getting settled at the office...I've been working there two weeks now. Here's my cubicle, which I'll be sharing soon. They were short on furniture (new furniture is on order) so I've done some creative improvisation with boxes I filched from the mailing room and some wood left over from a previous tenant. It's a bit of a mental adjustment for me; I've been pretty much a solitary curmudgeon for most of the past fifteen years. :-) There are pros and cons to working in this kind of environment. The people I'm working with are pretty cool; our area is called "The Cramp" (short for Writer's Cramp).

Went to the cottage with Jeff last weekend. Scott was visiting from Ireland, and I also had a chance to briefly visit with my niece Brittany and her mom Larkin.

Highlight of my weekend: Night paddle with Jeff...we took the canoe to the middle of the lake and just floated for a while, talking and letting the boat drift in the darkness. From time to time, we'd hear loons calling from the north end of the lake. Jeff and I used to spend most of each summer at the cottage; in recent years we've both gotten too busy (okay, it's mainly been my fault :-( ) and have grabbed snatches of cottage time when we can.

Today's blatherpic: Day paddle to Adaskin's Bay with Scott (in a separate canoe in the background) where we saw a young bull moose, two blue herons, a loon, and an otter.