Monthly Archives: March 2021

Books, Society, Writing

Found a Copy of Dreamsnake

Long out of print, I found a copy of Vonda McIntyre’s Dreamsnake on Abe Books.

dreamsnake

Ursula K. Le Guin wrote a thought-provoking review of the book in 2011, and why she thought it disappeared:

Theory #1: Ophidiophobia. The phobia is common and extends to pictures, even the mention, of snakes; and the book features them even in the title. A heroine who lets snakes crawl on her, and she’s named Snake? Oh, icky . . .

Theory #2: Sex. It’s an adult book. Snake, though, is barely more than a kid, setting out on her first trial of prowess, so that young women can and do identify with her, happily or longingly, as they do with Ayla in Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children books, though Snake’s taste in men is far better than Ayla’s. But could the book be approved in schools? The sexual mores are as various as the societies, including some very unorthodox customs, and Snake’s sexual behavior is both highly ethical and quite uninhibited. . .

Given the relentless fundamentalist vendettas against “witchcraft” and “pornography” (read imaginative literature and sexual realism) in the schools, few teachers in the 1980s could invite the firestorm that might be started by a right-wing parent who got a hint of how young Snake was carrying on. . .

Theory #3. The hypothesis of gendered reprinting. It appears that as a general rule books written by men get reprinted more frequently and over more years than books written by women.”
Le Guin, Ursula K. . Words Are My Matter (pp. 139-140). Small Beer Press. Kindle Edition.
Society, Writing

Comforting Cross-Cultural Pre-Covid Memory

In this time of anti-Asian hate crimes and Covid frustration, I thought of a wonderful day back in June 2014 — a garden party in Vancouver with folks of many cultures.

I am sharing this nearly seven-year-old post here again because I hope this memory brings a wee bit of comfort and joy to others.

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Had a wonderful evening last weekend. A BBQ hosted by friends of ours in Vancouver. Lovely old house in an older neighborhood. An evening in a gorgeous, modestly groomed, but more wild, back yard, with many burgeoning fruit trees and raspberry bushes.

We were the youngest couple there, and we’re in our mid-40s to mid-50s.

We’re a “mixed” couple, and so was everyone else. And some were in their 80s and 90s, and enjoying life to the full. Former neighbors, still friends, now living in old folks’ homes but graciously picked up and driven to this communal feast in their former ‘hood..

As the evening eased by, there were smatterings of Korean, Italian, and Japanese in the conversations. Not all understood by all present despite efforts at interpretation.

But everyone was cool with that. We were all happy to be with other convivial folks.

And all were sure to ensure that all were happy.

The food was a wonderful mélange of those cultures, and more.
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We can, we will, get back to this . . .
Society, Technology

Grateful for Vaccinations in My Life

I just came across my childhood Immunization Record from the City of Saskatoon Department of Public Health.

At the bottom of the first page it clearly states:

“This record is necessary when child begins school. Please keep it carefully.”

It has dates and doses of my Smallpox and Polio vaccinations.

Apparently I had 5 doses of Polio Vaccine over the course of about six years from age 6 months to 6 years.

This was over 50 years ago.

Folks can draw their own conclusions, but I respect medicine and science, and am grateful to have been born into a world with vaccines.
Books, Nature, Society, Streamkeeping, Sustainability

Good Enviro Book: Changing Tides by Alejandro Frid

For my fishy friends, and anyone who cares for our beleaguered environment:

Just finished Alejandro Frid’s book Changing Tides: An Ecologist’s Journey to Make Peace with the Anthropocene.

Excellent work based on his experiences as an ecologist working with First Nations on the BC coast, integrating traditional knowledge with Western science.

With his own research into fewer fish, smaller fish, and overexploitation of marine and coastal resources, Frid maintains a positive outlook that humans can change and collaborate for a better future.

Pets, Writing

A Poem for Sora the Cat

I was watching Sora the Cat lazing in the sun with Dori the Turtle, and these words came pouring out. I didn’t have a notebook handy so I wrote them on my cell phone in an email to myself. I am not a poet by any means, but this was fun!

I know not where she sleeps
until
at dawn
I feel her presence in the room
then on the bed
she licks my face
in greeting
nips at my nose
I raise a corner
of the quilt
in invitation
her eyes glow in anticipation
and she eases
in next to my pillow
turns, turns
and snuggles into the crook
of my elbow
she starts to purr
stretches out a paw
and touches my cheek
she purrs so happily
that she gulps
she gurgles
we cuddle contentedly
as we greet the morning

sora the cat holding hands
Holding hands watching TV this evening. . . .

Nature, Photography

Flickers, Blackbirds, Frogs ‘n More at Iona Beach

In addition to the previous post of eagles and hawks at Iona Beach Regional Park near YVR, I also shot lots of other critters.

frog iona beach yvr
There were dozens, or perhaps hundreds of these wee frogs chorusing in one of the ponds. The iNaturalist hive mind says Northern Pacific Tree Frog.

Video here:

great blue herons sleeping iona beach yvr
Sleeping Great Blue Herons

annas hummingbird iona beach yvr
Anna’s Hummingbird

northern flicker iona beach yvr
Northern Flicker

northern flicker iona beach yvr

tree swallows iona beach yvr
Tree Swallow

starling iona beach yvr
Starling

golden-crowned sparrow iona beach yvr
Golden-crowned Sparrow

red-winged blackbird iona beach yvr
Red-winged Blackbird

marsh wren iona beach yvr
Marsh Wren