Saturday, September 29, 2007
Torrance Farmers' Market
We went to the local farmers' market on our bikes again this weekend. The absence of rain brought more vendors including the croissant guy. We ate one of his chocolate almond croissants in the "food court" seating, and it was amazing. (Way better than the soggy strawberry rhubarb pie we bought last weekend.) Jeff discovered sweet limes and ate both samples we were given. The bike ride over is perfect -- flat and not too long and short with a wide path two-thirds of the way. We heard buzz about a pancake breakfast in the park but didn't check it out, as it was lunch time. My mom would have loved that.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Another good poem, this one from Poetry 180
Did I Miss Anything?
Tom Wayman
Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here
we sat with our hands folded on our desks
in silence, for the full two hours
Everything. I gave an exam worth
40 percent of the grade for this term
and assigned some reading due today
on which I’m about to hand out a quiz
worth 50 percent
Nothing. None of the content of this course
has value or meaning
Take as many days off as you like:
any activities we undertake as a class
I assure you will not matter either to you or me
and are without purpose
Everything. A few minutes after we began last time
a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel
or other heavenly being appeared
and revealed to us what each woman or man must do
to attain divine wisdom in this life and
the hereafter
This is the last time the class will meet
before we disperse to bring the good news to all people
on earth.
Nothing. When you are not present
how could something significant occur?
Everything. Contained in this classroom
is a microcosm of human experience
assembled for you to query and examine and ponder
This is not the only place such an opportunity has been
gathered
but it was one place
And you weren’t here
From Did I Miss Anything? Selected Poems 1973-1993, 1993
Harbour Publishing
Copyright 1993 Tom Wayman.
All rights reserved.
Reproduced with permission (click for permissions information).
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Farmer's Market + Rain + Bikes = FUN!!
Jeff and I rode our bikes to the Farmer's Market this Saturday morning while fluffy white clouds loomed in the sky. My bike is a new cruiser, with a detachable basket (perfect for the market), and I bought it last Sunday afternoon. Jeff's had his bike for a few years but hasn't had a reason to ride it in a while. With two bikes in the family, it'll be easier. The 25 minute ride to Wilson Park was dry, but after we bought our goods (pie, fresh bread, green beans, peaches, and pears), the rain started up. While we had some lunch in the "food court" tent, the rain started to pour. We thought it was over and left, but on the way home got soaked. It ended up being really fun; Jeff said he felt like a nine-year-old, riding his bike in the rain. I made Jeff take a picture of soaked me at the end, holding the strawberry rhubard pie we'll dive into tonight.