To be perfectly honest I’m not sure that the other four girls know that I haven’t been in a canoe since middle school bible camp. The extent of that canoeing was basically around the tiny lake enclosed by our camp ground. This was not a day trip or even a couple hours worth of canoeing – we’re talking maybe a half hour at the most on a sunny afternoon before heading back to shore to stock up on goodies at the canteen.

Regardless of past experience this Monday I’ll be heading up with four other comrades in search of the peaceful wilderness that is known as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. My parents have been constantly drilling into my head the importance of water safety (regardless of how many times I reassure them that yes we have life vests and yes as a high schooler I did take emergency water safety classes (one step before life guarding). They still seem a little nervous and insist on telling me horror storys about good swimmers who my brother knows that were caught in an undercurrent and did not survive. Never mind the fact also that I do have a decent head on my shoulders, am a fairly bright and well rounded twenty five year old – my mom still asked me last night if we were still planning on going.

We’re going. We might not have quite all of our gear yet. I might be doing something every waking minute between now and Monday (kickboxing, Cinema and Civics, Rhymesayers 10th Anniversary Show, Betsy and David’s wedding shower, driving between all these things oh and last minute trips to REI and the grocery store…)

I’m still totally psyched.

Just want to say hello! to anyone checking out blindcarboncopy because of the lovely little mention in mnspeak today...

I totally have a crush.

It happened last sometime between last Wednesday and last night and I’m really not sure how. But that’s how crushes are aren’t they?
He shows me films about films, films about how troubled youth and deaf kids can change each others lives, films about tadpoles who grow, and most importantly films of horses biting, running through mud, running through water, running through fire all French and all in slow motion set to music. He announces the titles in-between films and sometimes gives short witty commentary "now this ones french, very french" or "this ones a bit more educational". It was hard to hear him last night and I kept craning my neck to hear him better. I think the cutie tattooed boys and girl next to me though I was a bit off or that I was trying to communicate with them in some way. I wasn’t. I was just trying to get a better listen. They should either give him a microphone or next week I might have to move my blanket closer to the projector. He wears cutoff coveralls (something I’m quite amazed by) and has straight shaggy hair.

It might be love.
I’m just warning you.

He was out there this morning.
I had a feeling he might be starting before the heat or the rain of the day makes his job too difficult. I was eating my toast and jam (standing up in my kitchen of course) when I heard a couple voices below the window. Two neighbors from down the block were chatting with him about the spaceship that he had left over the rear tire while the rest of the car had seemingly over night returned to blank palate – white paint covering up the cartoon characters on the body of the car while a great wave now covers the hood of the car where odes to Johnny Cash and Ray Charles were emblazoned a year ago. He stood there pencil in his thin fingers, worn out trucker hat covering his nest of grey, taking in their comments and compliments with a smile. I watched from my breakfast and contemplated how late I could afford to be to work if I just stayed and watched for a bit. I sat down next to the window but then felt as if I was too obvious of an eavesdropper on his artistic process. Instead I packed my lunch, grabbed my bag and keys, and headed for the door. As I walked the half block from my alley to my car he was cross-legged next to his car, book in hand plotting out the course for his paintbrush.

You missed it.

Last night was the first night of Reel Politics: Cinema and Civics in my park around dusk. This lovely little educational community get together is taking the place of the much beloved Stevens Square Music and Movies in the Park this summer. Because of a cut in funding for the program an appeal went out to all residents of the neighborhood early this spring jointly from Stevens Square Community Organization and the several families/businesses that provide our rental housing in the neighborhood for donations that would be matched up to a certain dollar amount. As the result of this support from both landlords and residents and of course the SSCO Reel Politics: Cinema and Civics was born.

The music is taken care of by local djs – last night Danny Sigelman entertained the every growing crowd with his record collection despite technical difficulties – and open mic time. The civic portion of the evening is being provided by a panel of candidates for city office (library, mayor, park board) with questions from SSCO and attendees. Last night Peter McLaughlin and Dean Zimmerman were the two white guys whose names I remember - terrible of me to have forgotten already the women on the panel. Movies are being provided by Minnesota Film Arts Search and Rescue Program. They have compiled some very interesting shorts – some educational, some cartoons, some super cheesy and all downright entertaining. The community is encouraged to bring potluck items (evidently last night there was a blueberry rhubarb tart not to pass up) and hot dogs and sodas are being sold by the SSCO.

So you missed it this week – but make sure to be there next Wednesday.