Signs O' The Times

I know the economy is really starting to tank . . . because someone stole the word magnets off my truck last week while I was parked out in front of the Goodwill!! Yes, Goodwill. So now one side of my truck is naked (the Blank Canvas is really blank), meaning my credibility as a member in good standing of the Portland Poetry Posse is now in question . . .


But my status as a member of a democracy isn't! I just posted this Nikki McClure poster in my window . . . I got it for FREE from buyolympia.com . . . it looks like they've sold out again already, but you can sign up to be notified when they get more in, and they've still got a t-shirt for $14.95 and a bumper sticker version for only 99 cents!

I know, I feel like one of those mythical housewives from the 1950's telling my grown children to vote because grown children in other countries don't get to . . . but I gotta say I think it's important - no matter where you stand on the issues, it's important to make your voice heard, even in what may seem like a small way.

And I'm glad that here in Oregon we have vote by mail and the voter's pamphlets pour in a few weeks before the ballots . . . we all have the chance to sip coffee and fill out our ballots at leisure . . . why, when I was a youngun, we had to stand in line for hours just to vote . . . and walk uphill both ways in cardboard shoes . . .

Happy Voting!

The Weather is Good for Poetry

The Blank Canvas, my little white truck and the Eyes Aflame representative in the Portland Poetry Posse, got a good washing a few months ago. And then we (me and my truck) waited for the weather to get good again so that we could clean up the gigantic poetry magnets and put them back where they belonged.

And now - the weather is good, the poetry magnets are clean enough to touch, and The Blank Canvas has been encountered by poets in many a parking lot around town the last few weeks.

The poetry - or at least the creative combination of words - is flowering.

And I think that one's my favorite.

Feeling Quiet Today . . .

Friends are coming over for dinner . . . heating up tamales, making some black beans with mangoes, and some steamed kale and chard with feta to go with . . . I like a lot of flavors. Imagining myself sitting quietly with a small glass of wine, just watching them talk and eat and laugh. Very happy. Maybe I'll make a pear-apple crumble, too.

And what's better on a quiet, rainy, introverted day than cooking and poetry? Here's another bit of word art from my poetry truck, The Blank Canvas, a proud member of the Portland Poetry Posse with Trixie the Poetry Car.


And a query I cannot begin to answer . . .

Poetry and Chocolate . . .

Together, they make for a perfect evening . . .went for a chocolate tasting at Alma - and was blown away! They hold them the second Thursday of every month, and I think it's going to become a permanent fixture on my calendar . . . chocolates of different textures with strong and subtle tastes . . . like wine . . . my oh my! Like an art museum for the palate . . . And then, on the way home, I stopped at the downtown post office and the lady I parked next to asked to play with The Blank Canvas (my dear white truck now covered with magnetic poetry)! I giddily said yes - and here is a poem she made:

and here is a compliment she left for my lovely little Poetry Posse member - The Blank Canvas can hardly wait to show Trixie!

Joining the Poetry Posse

My little truck, The Blank Canvas - who in her former life belonged to a guy who reworked the enamel on bathtubs - now works hard hauling around art supplies and home improvement goodies. A few years ago, she even made it through a fire that melted her hood and her front bumper and her windshield. Here she is!



Recently, though, The Blank Canvas has been telling me she wants a makeover. She already has some happy decorations inside, but they just didn't feel like enough anymore .

We talked about paint, and I got her a cool new license plate for her birthday:



Then, she met Trixie the Poetry Car and was totally inspired! I talked with Trixie's mom, Gretchin, and we are now officially part of the Poetry Posse! I ordered The Blank Canvas some special poetry magnets today, and then went ahead and put a few on her just to see how it felt. The ones she has right now are little, not big like Trixie's. And they don't stick to her canopy, either. But she already feels way cooler, and is really hoping to meet up with Trixie at Burgerville after the rest of her magnets come in! Now all she needs is a little mask and cape to complete her competent sidekick look!