Sunday, August 07, 2011

Inside Looking Out


A Storm on the Bay

The wild of it
The wind of it.
The wend of it.
The weft of it
The warp of it
The whisht of it,
The whelp of it
The whinge of it.
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It's a nor'easter - a savage day, wind howling, blowing the bedroom curtains across the room in jigs and reels. Trees screeching sideways. Reluctantly, I close all the windows and glance at the wood stove. And glance again and set a fire and light it. Birds dart around the empty bird feeder. I had to move it when I spotted the squirrels hanging upside down from an overhead branch and swinging towards it and tipping the contents on the ground. Barnum and Bailey acrobats had nothing on these critters.

I think, in gleeful anticipation, as I do on such days, safe indoors, wind and water tussling to the death in front of me, what will I do? A friend had recommended a great read, her favourite book for the last five years, and it arrives from England yesterday and I hold it for a while, heft the weight of it, find the love note within, savour that, read the reviews printed this way and that all over it. A Sunday Times bestseller that never found its way here, it seems.

I defer the actual reading of it. I smell it. Touch the slightly worn pages between my fingers. The energy of previous readers cling to it, I imagine. I anticipate the pleasure of reading that first page. On some books we agree, my friend and I. On others we engage in animated discussion. It's been that way since we shared Annie Smithson's Irish novels of love and love lost in Sixth Class back in the day. We each came out of the cradle reading, our mothers would say.

It's coming up to a night for a fire and a read and maybe a movie later. I've a few lined up, some from friends, some rescued from bargain bins in various secret shops around St. John's. Maybe a bit of knitting. I've always loved days and nights like this. It seems to me like the pressure is off.

You ask me what pressure?

Ah, sure now, I 'd be hard pressed to tell you.

17 comments:

  1. I think it hit about 27 or 28 here today in sunshine. Rain forecast for the next few days, but nothing like the rock. I know the feeling of anticipation of a new book ... the sense of adventure that lies within the pages ... the chance to see how another uses this limited vocabulary we've been given ... a friend and I have been comparing notes on some books over the last couple of weeks and I'll soon start to build my winter list. The wish list on amazon is a great way to do that. Used books can be picked up for as good a price as those dvd bargain bins at Wal-Mart. :-) Peaceful thoughts!

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  2. Perfect weather for savoring a new book. What is the book? And why did your friend send it? What other books do you agree on?

    Love the description of the squirrels!

    xoxox

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  3. I love the poem. I used to live overlooking the sea when we lived in the Outer Hebrides. Wind, waves, horizontal rain..... all these contrived to keep me snug indoors.

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  4. Love this post, it contains all I love..... books, wild weather, great thoughts.
    I would love to know what the book is.....

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  5. Beautiful photo and poem and I'm curious about your books, too. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  6. Such marvelous description. Even in the midst of the heat and humidity here i felt a cool breeze blowing.

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  7. sounds like a perfect day to me...enjoy :)

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  8. Enjoy cosying up to the fire and the book.

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  9. After a sweltering summer, including a whole week of day and night air conditioning, I envy you your Atlantic storm. Your description reminds me of childhood days in Ballybunion. But don't leave us hanging ... what's the book you're so intent on reading?

    Although I wasn't even in 6th class when I first came across Annie P Smithson, I remember the occasion well. It was such a revelation, to find novels that were set in my own city and country, after so many years of reading English and American authors.

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  10. That's one of the great pleasures of life, eagerly anticipating a new book and wondering if it'll be a delight to read or a tedious bore.

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  11. Veep:
    I don't "do" Walmart or other big box horrors but I "do" Sally Anne and Value Village for books and DVDs. Marvellous trolling in those places!
    Yes, I love discussing books too!
    Verna:
    The book is the last one on my list at the side - "Sister" By Rosamund Lupton a most unusual read. We both adamently agreed on Ian McEwan's recent "Solar". I rarely laugh out loud reading but we all did (her husband, my daughter)and in public places :)
    Freda:
    The Outer Hebrides are on my Bucket list and have been for ages. Lucky you!
    Cait:
    See comment to Verna for the book. Thanks!
    E:
    Thank you!
    Pauline:
    Anything cooling in the heat, my daughter tells me it is awful.
    Twain:
    A kindred spirit.
    GM:
    Especially in so-called "summer", LOL
    Tessa:
    I'm sure Annie had no small spirit in forming our adventuresome spirits. I was so hooked on her and found a first edition birthday present recently for another fan of hers who lives in Toronto. She was over the moon!
    Nick:
    It sure is, one of life's bonuses!
    XO
    WWW

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  12. I've just lokked out the kitchen window and the thermometer thingie in the backyard is hovering around 120 degrees, it's 3.43pm! Yikes.

    So we'll stay hiding indoors, like you. No going to the flicks tonight.

    Different climates, same outcome.

    Enjoy your reading, knitting and viewing, WWW. It'll be a few more episodes of "Torchwood" on DVD for us.

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  13. 120!!! Oh my T, I can't even imagine it!
    How is Torchwood, are you enjoying it?
    XO
    WWW

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  14. Yes, we're enjoying it a lot - I've just invested in the Season 2 set and likely to be going for the rest of 'em in due course.
    It's darker than Dr. Who, more adult, but ever intriguing. :-)

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  15. I'm putting on the order list right now! Thanks T!
    XO
    WWW

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  16. If I were you or Twilight, I'd stop at season two. The current season has moved Torchwood to the US and it sucks, big time! I'm so pissed. I'm sticking with it because the plot is intriguing and I want to see how it's resolved, but it's a struggle ...

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