readings and CNF competition

It's summer! John came yesterday and we spent our usual hour standing on a chair and a ladder, putting on the pergola cover; it's infuriatingly difficult but once it's done, I have another room, an outside living room with retractable roof. My home class came yesterday evening and we sat outside in the new room. The lettuce in the deck containers is lush and the roses and gardenia about to burst. My own Garden of Eden, except that I hope not to be expelled by a vengeful god anytime soon.

Yesterday, Anna came with her boys on the way to a school board meeting; she's getting involved in local school politics, not a surprise as she's so articulate and engaged. Two little boys appear; my soul is flooded with love, they rip my house apart, and they leave. My very own little endorphin-producing beings. Oxytocin, the cuddle hormone—released through closeness with another person. It can also be triggered through social bonding, like eye contact and attentiveness. This helps strengthen existing bonds and relationships.

This morning, the termite hunters came with their equipment and their drills, seeking colonies and nests. Last month, as I wrote here, I was sitting in the kitchen when winged ants began to emerge from an old wooden column in the kitchen. Horror! I sprayed Raid madly in all directions, but Richard, aka Mr. Termites, came last week to confirm what the ants were. However, even after the two young guys this morning had done their worst - ripping up carpet, drilling holes, digging into walls - they found nothing, no colonies and no nests. I must have obliterated a small fledgling group, or else they're hiding somewhere. The guys injected their anti-termite poison anyway, since the holes were dug, and Richard comes back in 3 months to check. But for once - though I still have to pay the bill - good news.

And tonight's good news - I'm going to see Bonnie Raitt. I've been a fan, bought her first album in 1971, but have never seen her live.

Lots going on literature-wise: Ben McNally is producing an event with young female writers, and there's one of the best-known non-fiction prizes.

In Her Voice Festival Next Week (June 15-17)

Just a reminder that next week we'll be hosting our big In Her Voice Festival. Tickets are still available, and we hope you all can make it out to hear about these interesting books, and the remarkable authors behind them. The festival is being held at: Crow's Nest Theatre  345 Carlaw Ave (at Dundas) Click the button below for more general information about the festival and to buy tickets.

Crow's Nest Theatre Dig Out Your Best Truths! $1,000 Goes to One Winner The Malahat's annual Creative Nonfiction Contest is now accepting submissions for the $1,000 grand prize! Writers from around the world are invited to submit. Send us personal essays or memoirs, narrative nonfiction or travel writing... if it's real and creative, we want to read it! Word count limit is 2,000 to 3,000 words. Entry fee varies by location, but comes with a nifty one-year subscription! This year's contest judge is Brian Brett. Submit your contest entry today.