Writing & Journal Exercises

Licorce Beer

Last Sunday, Peter and I decided to make a homebrew.  After purchasing a second copy of Sacred Brews, we agreed on doing a Licorce Ale. 

We bought supplies at a local health food store - focusing on the herbs in jars in the back - then went next door to the grocery store for a couple sacs of organic brown sugar.

Cleaning and preparation went rather quickly - as Peter was cleaning everything of requirement, I set the water to boil in the large pot.  Soon after, I placed the licorce root in the cheese cloth and tied it with string tightly.  When the water was boiled, I put the licorce enclosed in cheese cloth in the water and let that sit for awhile before eventually submerging it fully.

It was a rather easy and easygoing process.  The boiling liquid at first smelled like vegetables, and then it took on a mature sweetness.  It was poured into a large glass jar, and sealed.  The licorce ale we made now sits in the pantry.  It takes, according to the recipe, only a week or so.  I'm guessing it may be there a while longer. 

There is quite a bit of action in the bottle/jar.   Various yeasty formations and sedements are visible.  The bottle is sitting next to a peach wine which is giving off a very nice scent.

I'm hoping its a delicious success.  Regardless, it was a fun experiment that I highly recommend.

Exercise:  Flow Writing - Pick a tangible object from your surroundings and use it as the opening image in your entry.  Let your mind free-associate from one thought to the next.  Write until you have arrived at a place that feels finished.   [Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 24]

Mini-Wheats

There is a box of mini-wheats in a CVS Pharmacy bag on the coffee table next to my socked feet.  Peter brought it home last night.  He shared that the woman he dubs "Crazy Lady @Work" gave him the mini-wheats because she thought he needed breakfast.  At the time of the exchange, he said, "But its 4 o'clock in the afternoon!".   As long as they are not invasive, a conscientious co-worker is a good thing (but, you know, there are limits).

I remember eating mini-wheats in my youth.  I believe it was one of my father's favourites.  You had to be careful eating them because if not properly soaked in milk, they could cut or stab the inside of the mouth.  Or that was my experience.  It was fun to play with though.  Playing hide and seek with the frosted side - delaying gratification until the very last moment.

Peter shared also that his uncle taught him to eat them with warm water.  Letting it soak until "cooked" and then draining the water out.

I liked the flavoured milk at the bottom of the bowl after eating a bowlful of mini-wheats.  Of course flavoured by the frosted side of the wheat.  Years later I believe they introduced a chocolate coating.  I can't remember if I have had them.

I don't eat breakfast cereals anymore - if I do its rare and temporary.  Vector cereal caught my fancy for a bit because of the supposed boost in vitamins and minerals.  But I think its made by Kellogg so it makes me suspicious about its nutritional value. 

One of my favourite breakfasts to have is a croissant that has been heated while covered with some butter and peanut butter.  The melted peanut butter just drips off it - its messy but decadent to my mouth.  Hmm.

Dieticians, nutritionists, and health care professionals always say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  It is said it sets the course for the day.  You'd think then that the work day and the school day would accomodate this important finding.  Give people more time to have a hearty breakfast and productivity would soar.

Health-wise my newest favourite breakfast has got to be a bowl of fruits with cottage cheese.  Its very enjoyable and healthy. 

Exercise:  Flow Writing - Pick a tangible object from your surroundings and use it as the opening image in your entry.  Let your mind free-associate from one thought to the next.  Write until you have arrived at a place that feels finished.   [Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 24]

Paradise Rock Club

It was a Saturday night in Boston Massachusetts.  Six of us at dinner, finishing the last of a Mexican repast, Joe was calculating the bill - recounting the gathered american money in his hand.  We filed out of the restaurant and decided to walk to the Paradise Rock Club.  It was a fair walk, pleasant evening, not cool - light and airy - freeing.  Our companions chatted to each other about many different subjects, some engrossed them more than others as they deepened their voices.  The lighter fair of thoughts expressed brought laughter and lightened steps instead.  And then we arrived.

The bouncer was genial yet purposeful.  Everyone flashed their IDs and that is when I realized I had forgetten something.  I hadnt thought of bringing my ID, I have no idea why.  This left me in an awkard position - can't really describe how bad I felt for that misstep - but I was soon rescued by a generous walk to the car and return to my place of stay to retrieve that important piece of information.

Once at the Paradise Rock Club, the first act had finished and the main attraction was about to begin.  I was there to see Nouvelle Vague.   They are an eclectic mix of personalities; musicians who turn covers into their own sound and interpretation.  And they put on a great show.  I enjoyed myself quite well. 

The crowd was good and the venue was functional.  A largish hall in front of the stage, two bars behind that and two tiers flanking the hall to produce a congenial atmosphere.    The security guy looked bored, I guess most security guards do.  But everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves.

After a fine encore performance by Nouvelle Vague, it was time to leave Paradise behind and carry on as before.

Exercise:  Flow Writing - Pick a tangible object from your surroundings and use it as the opening image in your entry.  Let your mind free-associate from one thought to the next.  Write until you have arrived at a place that feels finished.   [Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 24]

Age Of Wonders II

                It was some time in the day a someday last week, in fog from all the stress, I went downstairs to look through some boxes.  It was just a feeling that struck me so I followed it.  The first box I came upon had a collection of old computer games.  Some were just the boxes, the CDs missing - placed somewhere else.  But there were a couple that were fully intact.

One of my favourite games is Age of Wonders II.  It came out in 2002 and I played it often.  You might say I was slightly addicted to playing it.  The strategic elements were engrossing and the graphics beautiful.  The game mechanics were enthralling and drew me in.  Add to this that I found myself playing with a regular group  of players online with new ones coming everyday.  I eventually joined a ladder on myleague and carried on from there.

Age of Wonders II was looking up at me.  I looked down.  Such a sparkly cover.  I picked it up and looked inside to see if the CD was there.  It was.  I scooped it up and brought it upstairs.

As I was installing the game anew, I searched online to see what was happening with the game if anything anymore.  I found out that they no longer produce the game nor its successor Shadow Magic.  But!  I did find the old forum that still has a number of players I played with active.  It was very strange moment.  Its 2006 and they are still playing.

It was time.  The game loaded, I plunge into play.  Oh my!   I still love it.  So entertaining.  If there is anyone out there reading this flow writing who still has a copy of this game and wants to play, please contact me.  I would love to play multiplayer again.  That would be neat.

Exercise:  Flow Writing - Pick a tangible object from your surroundings and use it as the opening image in your entry.  Let your mind free-associate from one thought to the next.  Write until you have arrived at a place that feels finished.   [Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 24]

Impatiens

                I had a unique and special guest arriving in the Light of May.  To honour this guest I wanted to set the stage in every way I could.  Part of this effort was to buy flowers for the garden.  I found a beautiful flat of bright red impatiens at a local garden centre, one annexed to a popular grocery store.  Happily I bought the entire flat of flowers and a couple pots of other species - piled them all in the back of my sportscar and headed home.
                It seized upon me to dig into the dirt immediately and so I did.  What pleasure that brought me!  My hands and arms muscled their way through the compacted dirt in the huge pots aligned like ornamental lions on either side of the stairs to the entryway.  It felt vigourous and strong to plunge into the earth and then delicate and sweet making sure the new guests, the impatiens, felt comfy in their new beds.
               Weeks later the owner came by and knocked on the door.  Mind you, my visitor had come and gone by then (without mention of the impatiens display) and so I open the door.   "I just wanted to thank you very much for planting these flowers in the front here.  It makes me happy to see them," he said.  He looked tender and sincere.  I replied that I was happy to do so and appreciated him telling me.  (I refrained from telling him that they'd been there for some time already).  A few days later, he came by and gave me $10 saying that he had found it on the ground outside.  I smiled and thanked him.
                I sit here, September, and these impatiens are still growing strong.  They bloomed magnificently for months  - spilling over the sides of the giant pots.  I love how their colour matches the door.  It makes me happy.

Exercise:  Flow Writing - Pick a tangible object from your surroundings and use it as the opening image in your entry.  Let your mind free-associate from one thought to the next.  Write for a specific period of time.   [Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 24]