I guess I’m creepy.

I was flying back from Sudury on Porter airlines. They’re small planes, about sixty passengers-kind of fun really. But no one would sit beside me. The first who had the ticket for the seat next to me was a middle aged woman. She saw me and asked immediately to be moved. It was as if I was blatantly repulsive. I guess I know how the Marr feel when they fly...

The next was an attractive middle aged woman who immediately asked if there were any other seats and then stood at the back until everyone had boarded. There was another seat, and my repulsiveness gave me some extra room and privacy.

I’m not really bothered by it. At first I was surprised and a little shocked (I might look hopeless but I thought not too scary) but then I was amused and just enjoyed the benefits...

Soon we were up in the air and then into the clouds. I was very happy to be going home. Even though I was presently in the clouds, job hunting in...

I am in Sudbury.
If you don’t know, it’s considered Northern, even if it’s only sort of Northern. All the trees are birch and evergreen and there are rocks and lakes and moose and owls everywhere. Okay so I haven’t seen any owls. But I bet they’re watching me. Because I look tasty. The economy here is Northern- mines, forestry, hunting, fishing, winter sports.

I’m here for a job fair thing- apparently there are always openings in the mines and forests. I’m not really interested in either but sometimes that doesn’t matter much- especially when you are looking for a job.

I thought it would be interesting to come but all I have done is think about home. They say you don’t appreciated the mountains until you live on the plains- and so I am shining on my poor, dirty, highest-unemployment-in-the-country home city. Not even the city so much, but my small cluttered house. And my kids. And my Scape.

I have, for some reason,...

I had long hoped to interview the Valkyrie General Vydar, and so it was with great excitement that I prepared for my meeting with him. It had been several years in the making- or should I say waiting, as it is notoriously difficult to get to meet with any of the old greats.

I was shown into a small anteroom and that’s when I got the first inkling that something was awry. Would Great Vydar, he of glorious giant wings, meet me in a little sitting room? There were two chairs- both the same size- that couldn’t be right, could it? And between the chairs a little table with a pitcher of water and Styrofoam cups. Surely Vydar didn’t drink out of Styrofoam....

My suspicions were confirmed when a small oriental gentlemen in a very crisp dark suit came in and greeted me politely. No, I would not be meeting with General Vydar today. He had been called away by unforeseen important business. But Mr. Chen had been authorized to meet with me in Vydar’s absence....

It is not the oldest castle. There was one on this spot before this one, and I think one before that.

But to me it is the greatest castle, for I was wandering when I sited it, and arriving was like coming home.

Many were the warriors who once strode the castle halls- some orcs, some elves and many strange others, some traders and some of growing ill repute. Many feasts were held, much jesting, great exchanges of ideas, trades good and bad, and of course tales told of battles lost and won. Great tapestries and paintings were displayed proudly for all to see. It seemed it would last forever- and I know it sounds meaningless now, but in the moment I believed it true.

But how could that be? All things are transitory- I say so endlessly, it seems. But it’s easy to forget. We are creatures of the present, living moment to moment- wise if we are even three moves ahead.

And so when the road was moved, when the woods...