Rambling highlights

...from the past week follow, as I'd promised. The highlight of the highlights is my mom's rhubarb pie. The best.

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On Sunday night we attended Tonight it's Poetry, Saskatoon's only poetry reading series, hosted by Taylor Leedahl. Taylor is a great host and FLINT is a great venue. The line-up included Kevin Wesequate, Phil Legacy, Kerry Ryan and Ariel Gordon, who are currently on their book tour, this being their first stop, and the feature poet was John McDonald. The place was full, the crowd young and attentive. I hear it's always like that. Hats off to Taylor Leedahl for putting this great reading series together. I hope to read there before too long.

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Before the reading, Ariel gave me a gift. A bag. And not just any bag. The bag she gave me is from the Darfur Project - Eclectic Bags. A great cause. A beautiful bag. I am lucky.

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Inside the bag was a little white porcelain bird. More on that later.

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Ariel then gave me a copy of the navel gaze. It's beautiful.

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On Sunday afternoon I met with my pop culture mentor at the Broadway Roastery. As we were leaving, we ran into a writer who I'd hoped to run into as I wanted to give him my spare copy of Elizabeth Bachinsky's Home of Sudden Service. I'd ended up with two copies for some reason. So I whipped it out of my bag and gave it to him. I'm happy the book has a new home.

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On Sunday I learned that a writer in my acquaintance knows how to install culverts.

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The Esso in Raymore, Saskatchewan has fabulous pizza.

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My article on the 12th Annual Festival of Words is in the September issue of Freelance. I haven't read it yet. However, I did read the president's report.

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The best cinnamon bun with cream cheese icing on this planet is at the Quick Stop in Swan River, Manitoba.

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Towne Autobody in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan can repair a quarter-sized stone bruise in a windshield in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee. Or read a poem.

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My shopping list for McNally Robinson included Shawna Lemay's Calm Things and Crabwise to the Hounds by Jeramy Dodds. Both books were just released, so neither one was in stock. I also decided I'd buy Adam Sol's Jeremiah, Ohio, but there were no copies left.

I did buy It's Hard Being Queen: The Dusty Springfield Poems by Jeanette Lynes. Last night I was reading the book and watching Dusty perform on Youtube.

I also bought Mari-Lou Rowley's Suicide Psalms.

And Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks was 30% off! I couldn't resist.

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There was a card in the mail when I got home. A cake card. My favourite card yet. Inside was a recipe for pumpkin-cardamom cupcakes with orange-honey icing. Perfect.