Beaverpotts

(no photo: some things are just meant for memories)

 

Two properties over from where I lived as a kid was a 5 acre plot of land called “Beaverpotts”.

A narrow gravel road ran down the middle of it and connected to Lakes Rd and Jaynes Rd at either end. Apart from an old house foundation, that was home to snakes and broken bottles, the place was just a tangle of trees, bushes, and open patches.

It was a magical place. I could get lost for hours there: exploring, wandering, investigating.

I didn’t know why it was called “Beaverpotts“: it was just “Beaverpotts“.

I don’t think I ever questioned the name, in the same way I didn’t question:

why “The Mound” was called “The Mound” … eventhough it was a very small hill surrounded by flatland.

or

why “Hospital Hill” was called “Hospital Hill” … eventhough it was a hill on the way to the hospital.

or

why “Fuller’s Lake Arena” was called “Fuller’s Lake Arena” … eventhough there was a lake around it somewhere.

It was just “Beaverpotts“. Most likely for some reason that no one knew anymore … like someone who gave you a nickname then moved away, but everyone kept calling you that … although they didn’t know why.

When I was 11 years old, I learned why it was called “Beaverpotts“: it was named after Dr. Beaverpotts, who used to live there, but moved somewhere else before I was born.

Knowing why it was called what it was didn’t make it any less special.

I still consider “Beaverpotts” more a place than a person’s name though.

… although it’s a pretty cool name too!

 

note: yes, my last name is Janes and I used to live on Jaynes Road as a kid.  I don’t think any Lake families lived on Lakes Road though.

double note: I’m sure everyone has their own private “Beaverpotts” … somewhere … in their childhood … or I hope so.

triple note: the classic story in my family is 3 of my older siblings going there and one of them saw a kitten, that he  tried to pick up, … while the other two siblings were screaming, “it’s a big rat, not a kitten!”  One of my older brothers was always a sucker for animals … and rabies’ shots.
(it always sounds so much better when my brothers and sisters describe it though)

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Today 184

If I was in a basketball game today, I wouldn’t foul out.

Nozomi Ohashi … Again?

 

Nozomi Ohashi is back again!

If I was a Japanese child, I don’t think I would like her very much: she only seems to show up to notify kids about tests these days.

I bet if you saw Mickey Mouse on your decatheter or Hello Kitty on your speeding tickets, they wouldn’t look so cute anymore.

I have visions of Nozomi trying to hold back the tears in some Tokyo park while shouting, “No! There isn’t a test! … I just want to play tag with you!” … as all the other kids run away from her.

 

note: do you know what’s better than …

        ?

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       hee hee!

 

double note: the other Nozomi Ohashi entries are here and here.

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Today #183

Today is the last day of work for a week: I’m on holidays. I’m going to be like a bad idea for the next week. … I’m not going anywhere.

Irreleventing

 

Sometimes I like to “irrelevent”.

“I cant’ believe popsicles were never mentioned in Charles Dickens’ novels!”

“When Elvis died, I didn’t have a hamster.”

“AC/DC never won best female vocalist of the year in 1962. It’s a shame.”

Other times, I just keep quiet … and think these things to myself.

 

note: one day it will all be irrelevantagious hopefully … one day.

double note: on the day that eyelids are classified as useless, I probably won’t even blink.

triple note: that double note doesn’t have anything to do with anything, … but maybe it does … eventually on purpose randomly planned.

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Today #182

Today was so quiet at work I could hear pins thinking about dropping.

Vocabulariable

 

I like parking lots.

I’m always waiting for one of my elementary school teachers to smack me on the head when I say that.

 

note: there are Alotov Russian families … and Krutov’s, Larionov’s, and Makarov’s too!

double note: if I said “I like parking lots lots.“, that would be incorrect … because I just think they are okay. hee hee!

triple note: in the future there will be parking spaceships … or something like that.

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Today #181

Today felt like a holiday at work. Something was missing: … oh! the other English teacher was!

Gorillas

 

People with pet gorillas must have to carry some pretty big plastic bags around in their pockets when they take them for walks.

 

note: I don’t have a pet dog … I carry other crap around in plastic bags.

double note: a Zoo is always a zoo … even when it’s not busy.

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Today #180

I hope today turns out like a pocket … because they turn out quite well usually.

Trying Something New

 

I’ve had success cutting my grass and pulling weeds.

I’ve had success with 75% of the flowers I’ve planted.

Let’s see if I can grow vegetables.

I went to the place that sells that stuff, but I couldn’t find the salad plants, raisin plants, or pickle plants.

… so I’ve settled for tomatoes, cucumbers, Japanese green peppers, and red peppers … or at least the ones that turn red if they are green too long at home.

 

note: this is an experiment, but I won’t count it as one.

double note: I should have planted a bumper plant … because I could use a bumper crop … mine’s kind of rusty.

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Today #179

Today  I drove to the next city and bought a few books: Roald Dahl‘s “The BFG“, Roddy Doyle‘s “The Dead Republic“, and Haruki Murakami‘s ” Kafka on the Shore“.  There wasn’t a big selection.

Melancholy

 

I’m feeling melancholy tonight.

I’m not usually in this mood, but sometimes it comes.

I’ve tried to fight it before, but it’s no use: if melancholy is on the menu, it’s what’s for dinner.

I embrace it now. It’s like a party you don’t want to go to, but if you get your head right … it’s actually quite enjoyable.

Thoughts about the past, could have beens, and what ifs float around like balloons in some parade … that I’m an invited guest at.

The soundtrack is always Tom Waits, Jackson Browne, or Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska”.

Memories aren’t always about not sticking your finger into the light socket again … sometimes they have a purpose that isn’t all too clear.

 

note: whatever has happened to Jackson Browne?

double note: “nobody rides for free” Jackson Browne

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Today #178

Today all the flowers seemed ugly at the store, so I bought vegetable plants instead … to plant this season. Possibly this is a new experiment.

Transient Trees

 

Across the street from where I live, there is a transient tree depot.

The trees appear, hang out for 6 or 8 months, and then disappear.
The cycle usually starts over again after 4 months.

I don’t know where they come from, and I don’t where they go.

I’m stumped:

… except for the stump on the right … that’s doesn’t go anywhere.

 

note: no one wants the runt of the litter … or the stump of the littoral … I guess.

double note: it took me about a year to figure out what was happening over there … the big machinery transplanting them onto big trucks was a bit of a give away.

triple note: do people in big cities use the expression, “my neck of the woods“? … if they don’t, they must be more monocultured than mixed cultured … like those people with woods and necks and stuff.

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Today #177

Today someone said it was Good Friday. I told them every Friday was pretty good for me.

Cookies

 

 

I’ve dislocated my cookie again!

I’m pretty sure I didn’t eat it.

I’ll keep looking for it.

 

note: “cookies” should technically be called “bakies“.

double note: when I was kid, the cookie tins were always full of homemade chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies (with the fork pattern on the top), oatmeal cookies, or giant raisin cookies … but not for long … enough.

triple note: I can count the number of cookies I’ve eaten in the last year on one hand … I don’t wash the chocolate off my hands after eating cookies very well. hee hee!

quadruple note: I’m always dishlocating my dishes in the sink.

quintuple note: I’m sure there is a “wookie/cookie” joke in the photo somewhere.

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Today #176

I was the oddest person I encountered today.

Interruptionationalizing

 

If an interruption is interrupted, is that a “withinterruption”?

… because it’s definitely not a “withoutinterruption”.

 

note: if someone interrupts me while I’m talking in my sleep … will I know? … it’s all hearsay really.

double note: “outerruptions” must happen to other people.

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Today #175

Today I found a bird’s nest on the verandah outside my bedroom … I’m taking it as a sign of good luck, prosperity, and earplugs in the future.