Awake (NaPoWriMo #26)

Photo by Katie Howell on etsy

In a velvet sky the moon sends down its silver glow
Upon the throne between dusk and dawn.
But the sparkle of stars are eaten by a fluorescent yellow,
Brash against midnight; the lights are still on.
On the main road, cars roll in rumbles low and deep.
Human eyelids held open by machines that never sleep.

Red numbers of a clock pierce through shadows to the brain,
Imprinted in half dreams floating between realities.
Furnace whispers are punctuated by distant whistles of a train,
And the fading wails of sirens rushing to their calamities.

In the big city, the night never comes.

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Started writing this one on a sleepless night. Sleep is always so much better in cottage country when you can’t see your hand in front of your face and it’s so quiet your ears start imagining the sound of air pressure. Technology has allowed humans to break the natural sleeping cycle and stay awake far beyond evolutionary bedtime. The prompt was for a shorter version of a classic form : the curtal sonnet. Hope you enjoyed.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

From the NaPoWriMo website:
The curtal sonnet is shorter than the normal, fourteen line sonnet. Instead it has a first stanza of six lines, followed by a second stanza of four, and then closes with a half-line. The form was invented in the 1800s by Gerard Manley Hopkins, who used it in his famous poem“Pied Beauty”.

Foreigner in New York ( NaPoWriMo #21)

Definitely one place to visit. Photo source: google.fr

We walked down the famous street absorbing the fluorescent confidence of theatres and billboards, of all artistic and not-so-artistic types.

“So this is Broadway,” she said, eyes flickering light from a blinking sign.

We had gone to see the Statue of Liberty earlier in the day.

Funny that one of the most iconic American symbols isn’t American at all.

“She is French, ” she had pointed out to me, “a gift from France.”

The Parisian actress and singer wanted to see Chicago before flying tomorrow.

Naturally the request had come fashionably late, so here we were looking for rush tickets.

Within running streams of black suits and clicking heels on pavement, are static queues circling squares and blocks.

Art students and cheap tourists among those in line.

We had been waiting for ten minutes when she announced, “I don’t want to be here anymore, too much.”

There was a brief sad glimmer of a glance around the hustle and bustle of eager faces ordering vinegar fries for the grand opening of the booth, before dark sunglasses dropped on her face.

With a flip of a scarf, hair, and heel she strode through the crowd and stuck a hand out over the street.

At least she seemed to like the yellow taxi cabs.

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My attempt at a “New York School” poems which the NaPoWriMo website describes as having a “conversational tone, references to friends and to places in and around New York, humor, inclusion of pop culture, and a sense of the importance of art.” So, yeah. I can hear the city and the accented voices in my head but it doesn’t translate onto paper very easily. And I have never been to New York so my imaginings may very well be the stereotypes presented in romantic comedies. So I made it about someone seeing the city with those stereotypes in mind. Pretty fun, would be cool to do something similar with Toronto as the inspiring city.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

Halibut or Haddock? (NaPoWriMo #14)

From Buster's Sea Cove! Photo via Cupcake Queen on Pinterest

A conversation over the counter:

-Your order?
-Is there a special?
-Do you like crab?
-Is it from the Pacific?
-No, but how about traditional fish and chips?
-Can I have salad instead of fries?
-Halibut or Cod?
-Do you have Haddock today?
-Sorry, it’s very loud, Haddock as in the captain in Tintin?
-Yes please, two, but they won’t come out burnt like that one?
-Oh, you don’t like black olives and fried onions on your fish?
-Can you please put the toppings on the side?
-Any drinks?
-No thank you, but any napkins?
-It comes in the box, is that ok?
-How long will I have to wait?
-Will you listen for the number 29?
-I must first get fresh air; however do you survive behind those hot stoves?
-It is rather claustrophobic in here, isn’t it?

-Thank you, it was very delicious.

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From the NaPoWriMo website: The idea is to write a poem in which every sentence, except for the last one, is in the form of a question.

Went to our favourite fish joint today where the line up stretches around the block for hours before and after noon. Five chefs dish up steaks, sandwiches, ans seafood pasta as quickly as orders come in, from a horde of hungry strangers eagerly awaiting their first bite. The customer came out pretentious at first, and it is tricky to write conversation strictly in questions. It is so busy we would never have the chance to speak to the chef, so I’m paying compliments here.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

How to Make a Big Green Smoothie

Delicious! That cup is about the height of a hand, by the way.

So good, it can put a smile on your face when you wake up on an April morning greeted by snow. This is one of my favourite breakfasts, and actually, meal options if I’m craving something sweet. It’s packed with nutrients and fills you up, but not in the icky kind of way that a box of donuts does. For a fresh and healthy start to the day, and a sneaky serving of veggies, here’s how I make a BIG, green smoothie.

The fruits and veggies:
-1/2 avocado
-1/2 green apple
-Handful of baby spinach or kale or any other green leafy vegetable (you won’t taste it I promise!)
-1 kiwi(adds a bit of a sour zing to it)
-If you have a big appetite, you can also add 1/2 a banana, but note the high starch content)

Cut up into pieces that will easily blend.
The Protein:
-1 scoop of your favourite protein powder (I usually use either Sunwarrior Brown Rice Protein Blend or Vega Vanilla Protein Smoothie Mix) 

OR

This is another option that is more wholesome though the protein blends above are very good:
-1 tbsp. Shelled Hemp Hearts
-1 flat tspn. Ground flax meal
-1 tbsp. any nut butter (almond is my favourite, and you can use the coated spoon to eat the smoothie with for an extra treat)

The Blending Agent:
-A dash of milk, almond milk, soy milk, Kefir (liquid yogurt), etc.
– If you like your smoothies you can always add water as you wish, but I like mine thick and creamy, sort of like ice cream!

Extra  (metabolism boosters):
Pinch of cinnamon
1/2 tspn. Honey
1-2 tbsp. Coconut oil

The Final Step:
Throw it all in a blender and enjoy!
(We have a Magic Bullet so I can eat it straight from the cup after blending it.)

I know it might seem like a long list, but I’ve written A LOT of different options here that you can mix and match. I tell you, it is worth it, and these are just guidelines to help you tailor your own ultimate smoothie! Hope you like it and what do you like in your smoothies?

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

Erasure (NaPoWriMo #26)

Original poem by Robert Frost:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

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I definitely need more practice before being able to use this method to create poetry. Great on the abstract side and ambiguous on the conceptual side, it was quite fun. And this is a great poem – I know because I didn’t mind reading it in school – to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy! (Recognize the reference to a certain educational childhood show?)Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

 

Le philosophie de Voltaire: Short paragraph en français

Le bonheur et le bon sens de vie

La philosophie de Voltaire est simplement que travail est le secret pour le bonheur véritable. Il croit dans un style de vie qui est introverti et qui concentre sur les tâches de soi-même. Voltaire a opposé l’idée de Leibnitz que tout qui se passe et un produit du cause et effet, et que tout arrive pour un raison, ou pour « les meilleurs du monde ». Voltaire admet qu’il y a de mal dans le monde, mais beaucoup des catastrophes, comme un tremblement de terre ou la mort, n’ont pas une explication que des humains peuvent comprendre. Il faut que nous n’inquiétions pas des grands problèmes ou des bavardages qui sont hors de propos à nos vies. Voltaire croit que les actions sont plus fortes que les mots ; des pensées doivent être appliquées pratiquement et traduites dans les efforts concrets. Le travail fait une personne heureuse par repoussant l’ennui et improductivité.  Essentiellement, Voltaire a dit que le foyer est la détermination sont important pour atteindre la potentielle maximum de chacun individuel et pour apprécier la vie précieuse. La vie significative est plein de bonheur est crée par se développer nos talents, travailler fort à nos buts, et dans les mots de ce philosophe remarquable, par « cultiver notre jardin ».

Thanks/Merci,
thebookybunhead

A High of Twenty-Two (NaPoWriMo #18)

What I felt like as I stepped out into unexpectedly gorgeous spring weather.

Today

was a thunderstorm with a high of twenty-two.
Stretching in a studio anticipating
the song of raindrops to slide down glass walls.

They were right about the high of twenty-two,
But yellow light streamed inside instead,
Too bright we reluctantly put down the blinds.

In a building you can’t feel a high of twenty-two,
A little walk to the store to buy pairs of pointe shoes
For rehearsals that stretch further than sunshine.

At day’s end hoped it’d still be a dry, high of twenty-two,
Sigh of relief stepping out into fresh air
Body had been programmed to seize up for winter’s chill.

Skin finally sees the sun again, in a high of twenty-two,
Cool breezes aerate fibres of clothing
While the clouds are patiently waiting.

Thank you Mr. Weatherman for reporting the good news,
But it’s nature who let us have a  a high of twenty-two

Today.

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Spring weather makes me so excited for summer and spending time outside. April showers bring May flowers, so pour on, rains of Toronto, because I can’t wait to see green on the trees like the grass. It looks like we’ll be rotating around our seasonal wardrobes very soon…

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

Zombies (NaPoWriMo #1)

Apocalypse through movie screens
Defending the world in a dream hero game
Glued to fantasy stories, plugged into machines
Blind we’re becoming the dead just the same.

Comic from Geek & Poke by Oliver Widder

So I found out it’s National Poetry Writing Month! I have realized these past few weeks just how much I enjoy writing poems and 30 poems in 30 days sounds like a fun challenge. I hope to keep them inspired and concise to be able to succeed in blogging one every day. I usually write poems in spontaneous situations, so I hope I can keep it interesting for everyone and that you enjoy these poems of April. Let NaPoWriMo begin!

Check it out: http://www.napowrimo.net/

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

“Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators.” ― Stephen Fry

Cartoon by The Persichetti Brothers

It is fair to say that the population of VHS’s, floppy disks, pagers, and Tamagotchis have dwindled due to their new and improved counterparts – will the same happen to our beloved books?

OR     ?

Popularity of the e-book has soared over the past year as readers find the sleek appearance and convenience benefits of the product highly appealing. The e-book is light and portable with a virtual database that can contain many more books than one could imagine carrying from the library. With this single surfaces tablet, many books can be read with the swipe of a finger. No slipping bookmarks, heavy loads, risks of paper cuts, or yellowing, stained pages – pretty neat, I must admit.

Already with the advances of technology in all aspects of communication and media, printing industries have suffered losses and are buckling down for the onslaught of superior smartphones and computers with their apps and internet resources. But, despite, all this, the good ol’ sheet and glue books maintain their influence in society. Just like digital notes can never replace hand-written pencil and paper ones, looking at words on a screen is just not the same. I guess it’s all about the senses…

Having each printed word in a slab of a book feels like having a world in the palm of your hand. The whole idea, concept, story created just for you from the author just able to sit on your lap. You’re not just looking at a single page, but hundreds packed to form this compact, spacially efficient block – the WHOLE COMPLETE work, not just a little piece at a time.

Cartoon by Jim Whiting

There’s nothing like moving your fingers across the pages or rifling quickly through them feeling a breeze in your face. The words are concrete and real, and so are the sheets on which they have been stamped. Each page turn is an exciting exercise as a flipping noise reveals another man behind the curtain.

The feeling of accomplishment when you get into a good read and you can see how many pages you’ve conquered and how far you have til the end. For peekers, being able to flip forward and skim the text that lies ahead just to make sure your favourite character doesn’t die. For sticklers, being able to scratch out that extra apostrophe or write in a missing letter to right the text with your own hand. I just love the idea of tracing your history with a book through all its individual pages. And the satisfaction of looking at the shelves and shelves of books you’ve collected over the years…

Cartoon by Jeffery Koterba for the Omaha World Herald

And who can deny that a book read often reflects a sentimental loyalty – yes, I’m basically trying to explain a love affair with your favourite novel. With turned up corners, faded covers, or dog ears, there’s something special about that book you’ve had for so long and almost know by heart and the battle scars it received to survive in your bag, inner jacket pocket, hands, or the wild outdoors. The wear and tear of a book shows that it’s been loved and is loved – it is valuable. The wrinkles and dents, the smell of aging paper, symbolize a friendship that does not show on a screen.

So I am biased, but I think the novelty of ink words on pulp-pressed pages compiled into something that you can see and feel in its entirety will never wear off. Old school books are for me, the real deal.

Cartoon by Sylvia Liu

I wrote the former words in August 2012, and since then have gained more appreciation for e-books. They have really opened a new world for self-publishing and save lots of money on production costs, making books more affordable. I never liked how technology continues to take over our lives, but a portable library is cool. The digital aspect saves trees too, now that I think about it. And so, in the same view as the quote which I used for the title, I would like to own an e-reader, but I love my printed library too; books will always be treasured, no matter what form they take.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

7 days of healthy snacks

This post is dedicated to my friend at greenembers.wordpress.com, who has convinced me to write about a few of my favourite snacks. As one of many dancers, I love snacking because it lets you pace your hunger throughout the day. Of course, the healthiest choices are raw and unprocessed foods, but we all know how to enjoy fruit salad, veggies with dip, or some almonds. However, there are different ways to fix and combine them with other products. So here is a countdown of my favourite snacks to eat that are simple, healthy, and above all, delicious:

7. My favourite smoothie

When my mom first made green smoothies, I was skeptical. That was a first impression that didn’t last long. Because fruits and vegetables lose lots of volume when they are blended, you can fit a lot of good stuff into one smoothie. I believe the one I drink has: half an apple, half an avocado, a kiwi, brown rice protein powder, flax meal (ground up flax seeds) or hemp hearts, almond milk, and one serving of vegetable – usually a handful of pea or broccoli sprouts. You can also use water and whey protein as the liquifier, and substitute the veggies with whatever you have, kale, bok choy, you name it. Trust me when I say you don’t taste vegetables here, so it’s an awesome way to sneak in your veggies! You can adjust the amounts of ingredients to your liking and hunger as well. Smoothies condense all sorts of nutrients and are powerhouse snacks ( and breakfasts too)!

6. Dried seaweed chips

If you are craving something crispy and salty, but are trying to stay away from those deep fried potato chips, here’s a new idea: seaweed chips! They are light, surprisingly addicting, and will give you an extra portion of greens without you realizing it. You can get these in sheets, or in smaller “snack-pack” versions; they are becoming more popular and I can understand why – they’re good! If you like sushi, you’ll probably like this, and if you don’t, you’ll probably still like this.

5. Dark chocolate stuffed raspberries

Yup, it’s as simple and tempting as in the picture – chocolate chips and raspberries. I like 70% or more dark chocolate; anything less, especially white chocolate which is basically pure sugar, does not give you the full benefits of cocoa. Of course, you can eat dark chocolate chips alongside other berries as well. They are a potent shot of antioxidants and a refreshing blend of chocolaty fruitiness!

4. Trail mix with natural sweets

A handful of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits is a yummy way to get pure protein and healthy fats. I often pair the following: dates and almonds, dried/dehydrated apple rings and walnuts, pumpkin/sunflower seeds and craisins. Raisins are good with everything, and other good trail mix elements are hazelnuts, cashews, and brazil nuts. I have a friend who makes candied pecans by adding agave syrup (a sweeter than sugar natural sweetener) and cinnamon; that kind of counts as a trail mix too, I guess. Sorry if you’re allergic to nuts, but this is an easy, fast snack option that is perfect for on the go!

3. Granola with all the fixings

Any granola. Because it is processed, just be sure to buy some that doesn’t contain so much sugar. You can eat it as cereal, but my favourite way is with yogourt. Add a few crushed almonds or walnuts, or raisins if they don’t already come in the granola. And top with lots and lots of berries for the antioxidants! For an immune system boost, you can also add a drizzle of honey and cinnamon. Use Greek yogourt, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try using yogourt from goat’s or sheep’s milk as they are generally ‘cleaner’ than ones from cows, and cause less bloating. This is also a great breakfast that is sure to keep my energy up until lunch!

2. Baked Cinnamon Plantain

It’s basically dessert. Cut ripe plantain into slices and lay them out on a baking sheet (use coconut oil to stop them from sticking). Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake for about 10 minutes or until browned at the bottom edges, then flip the slices, add more cinnamon and bake for another 10 minutes. Perfectly delicious, one pan will be gone in minutes.

1. Almond butter

You know how people eat spoonfuls of peanut butter or Nutella? Well,that’s me with almond butter. I really do live off this stuff – it’s so tasty (and a healthy substitute for the other two)! Make almond butter and jam sandwiches, mix it into oatmeal, or just eat it plain – it’s rich, filling, and packed with protein. It is also easier to digest because the almonds have been ‘ground up’ for you, so it’s good for quick energy. I love this one so much, I gave it up for Lent (only one more week, so excited!).

Please leave any questions or comments you may have – this is my first food post and I hope you enjoyed and decide to try some of these if you haven’t already. Happy snacking and conquering those munchies!

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead