Another Day in Montréal...

It all started on a bus.

It was a beautiful day, and I had already done my run in and by the local track. I knew that I had a private class to teach online in the evening - along with preparing for two new contracts starting later this month - so I could enjoy my time before staring at a computer screen for ninety minutes. I also had just finished Molly Crabapple's 'Drawing Blood', a memoir of her life as an artist and thorn in the side of the establishment. I was feeling as though I had not done enough of my own work, despite writing both here and on another page about film, poetry and the world of contests and awards, and my own letters home to my mom. So I was not prepared for the trip to the library that gave me a feeling this would not be a regular day.

She had her tablet out, pointing it at Mont-Royal as we passed by the statue, joggers, dog walkers, and basic Montréalais on a sunny day. She took a few pictures, and I thought that she might be a tourist (not really the right dress sense for the role). And then she turned back to start talking to me about her own theories on life and Canadian law.

I wish I could quote her verbatim here. There was a tour bus next to us and the guide kept talking very loudly over his microphone as to what we were all looking at...except for the lady in front of me who thought that she was being followed, had Al Qaida on her back, and could not trust anyone who wore nice clothes (two ladies next to me quickly changed seats). I was too entertained by what I thought I was hearing, and I knew that this would be worth at least the length of this article, or even a poem one day (strange to think of Yeats' 'Crazy Jane Talks with the Bishop' as she spoke).

Then, at the library to make notes on the Crabapple book (possible review material there), home to prepare for the classes (had to use the Zoom page for two classes and had no idea that today was the deadline to do so for one group). And then my favourite class began...

I won't embarrass her, or myself, by mentioning names or topics, but I really do believe that old axiom which states, 'If you find a job you love, you never work a day in your life'. It is a twice-weekly online class covering English grammar, conversation, pronunciation, and our general laughter. It was a delight to have her on the page again, and I thought that it would be a nice end to the day. And then...I heard a noise.

Now, I may not have mentioned this before, but I discovered that I had a mouse problem in one of the cabinets. Through a gap between the pipe and the cut-section in the dry food cabinet, I had created a very raw caulk of tinfoil, duct tape and paper that still held after over a year. I got nervous enough to check it out during the lesson when I heard scurrying in the walls, but nothing was there. So, I thought I was in the clear.

Oh, no. No, no, no...

Something very large and hairy is under the sink, and I have now blocked the cabinet doors and feel fortunate that there is no food under there, and that I took out the compost that very day before the trip to the library. I have a rice cooker and an air fryer under there, which means that I will be eating salad and soup for the forseeable future.

Yes, I did call my landlord, who added to my paranoia by mentioning how rats sometimes move through the pipes and come out through the toilet when the weather is nice. Great. He did mention something about someone coming over to check this situation out (perfect for a day off that promises rain), but I stopped listening. No noise are emanating from beneath the tap, but I am still hoping that the rodent has decided to look around, see that there are no food sources, and then mercifully commit suicide.

And for tonight? More reading (Margaret Atwood's memoir is almost done; maybe Dickens next?), some guitar, and a brief thought as to the Challenges here, both personal and Vocalized.

And how was your day?

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You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

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