Email, email: electronic mail
Computers are annoying; there are, however, some ways in which they make our lives easier, which most of us who benefit from them take for granted.
Ellipses
These extracts from my spontaneous and infrequent jottings-down – scraps of paper fluttering by in the wind – are elliptical in the sense that their original context has been elided, thus they are to some degree nonsensical. (Unfortunately ‘ellipsis’ and ‘elide’ turn out to be etymologically unrelated.)
2021
If one is singing Compline outdoors in the wintertime at night, it is a very wonderful thing if the air is completely tranquil, so that one's candle-flame hardly quavers, much less thinks of blowing out. I am very grateful on such occasions.
On chickpeas
Whenever I open a can of chickpeas, I find myself soon engrossed in removing their transparent skins, one by one …
It makes me glad to hear pumpkin seeds pop as they toast in the oven.
2020
As I was reading Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, I came across a song that turned out to be a translation of Clamanda, from the Sacred Harp.
Last night I woke up at 2:30 am and could not return to sleep. Eventually I lit a candle and finished reading my novel, Piranesi.
I once dropped my semicolons between the boards of the front porch: I rescued them with a bent m-dash.
On oomancy
Yesterday evening we had friends over to our apartment for our weekly oomancy session. As I was sweeping the floor in anticipation of their arrival, I reflected upon the first time I tried my hand at oomancy.
2019
This city is a strange place—so much of it is paved.
The trees here—it must be lonely for them, not being in a forest; stretching their roots out and finding soil compacted by cement, soil sparse of arboreal conversation.
Holy Communion on Harry Lake
An early winter morning; mist over the lake; a service leaflet bursts into flames.
I want to buy this Oxford UP edition of the Book of Common Prayer; but maybe I only want to want it, not to have it.
2018
My to-do list
I have a secret to-do list. Unfortunately, it’s easy for me to forget what is on it.
Purple sparks
I used to be able to make purple sparks shoot from my fingertips. I just had to snap my fingers at just the right angle, with just the right force, when the humidity was just right …
Mersey River, after compline
The river sings, louder than the wind, unceasing roaring: ‘Eternal praise, eternal praise!’
2017
At Duncan St and Chebucto Lane
As I was walking down Duncan street, I came across a tree that had a face; I was accosted by children; my life plans were interrogated.
While skating at the Oval this afternoon with a few friends, I felt compelled to offer an explanation for why I was alternating smooth skating with bouts of stumbling.
2016
I made a remark shortly after I came in the door—paraphrased from David Lebovitz (unfortunately I've lost the link)—about the state of the Parisian baguette: Emma is this moment recording it in her quote-book. I am flattered.
In the Winnipeg International Airport
I set off for Halifax from the Winnipeg airport after the Christmas break, and observe my surroundings and moods.