Link to an alternate choice of deities:
The Gods of Your Choice
4th (Monday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Sitting with Shari on a terrace at Belkin House. Told me
Nostradamus was in her apt, read me quotations from the Bible
& sang parts of gospel songs. But she did look charming all
the same, in a long-sleeved shirt, worn above another shirt
that was the purest white. Cold, grey, raining, she stood
looking out on Homer & said it seemed to her like the Garden
of Eden. Her mother called later this evening
12th (Tuesday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Myle telling me her favourite place in Manhatten is a discount
shoe store. Asked if I could bring her hot water, with 'five
seconds' of honey. Met Lani on Burnaby. Described the idea for
'Politics of the Mind'. Asked questions about the position of
the pieces on the chessboard. We had a lovely chat, as the sun
came in & out behind the clouds. Girl at the dollar store,
blonde hair, great voice, ends of her long fingernails painted
gold. Buying a deck of cards. Asked her if she played poker
'I get drunk with my girlfriend sometimes, & we play games.'
'Sounds like fun,' (I replied) Girl at Safeway named Deepa,
with an intriguing accent. From Mauritius. Asking me about my
name. Was I French?
13th (Wednesday)
Shari waiting at Sinclair. 'I got your message & came,' she said
Told me she was thrown out of Belkin House because she was loudly
praying for snow, outside on the terrace. Found out that 'Nostradamus'
was some old bag person. Said to me, 'I do love you Richard, but
we're NOT having children.' Cheeseburgers & beer this afternoon at
the Princeton Pub, with Heather. Weather one moment, chilly the next,
which continued all day
16th (Saturday)
'Pirates of the Caribbean' in the balcony of the Dunbar Theatre,
this afternoon with Heather. Cool & rainy all day
24th (Sunday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Flea market at Croation Cultural Centre, with Heather. Sharing a
ham sandwich in a little kitchen between auditoriums. Chilly, with
showers off & on. Smelling roses, all wet with rain, near
Commercial & Hastings. Cheeseburgers at DQ & then a store in
Gastown with an unusual screen made from old glass panels (walking
man) from pedestrian crossings. Dark clouds & a heavy shower of
of rain, & shopping at Army & Navy. At Drake & Burrard, saw Minori
standing across the street. A cool, light rain was falling,
illuminated with sunshine
29th (Friday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Thunder, & heavy showers this afternoon. Along Robson the sun
shining through a heavy downpour of rain. Image of a courier
riding down an alley, the wet pavement shimmering with light
July
3rd (Tuesday)
With Heather, checked out the photo exhibition on the street
photographer Foncie, on Powell. Tea outside La Luna on Water
St. Girl who worked there with a dredlock medusa hairstyle
Trying to find shoes for the next still life, at Army & Navy
Picked up sushi on Pender, saying 'Hi' to Taeko; & then a long
talk at Sinclair, from Bob's problems to the death of Marisa
Berenson, in the shadows upstairs. Sunny, fairly hot
4th (Wednesday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Finally took the last portrait down to the cafe to show Michelle,
who was VERY excited with how it turned out. Showed it to a girl
who works with her, who was very complimentary. Her name is
Melanie. She's an artist, a sculptor she told me, who admires
Branscusi. She was lovely, cool grey eyes. First day of pure
summer, beneath the weeping willow by Lost Lagoon, the sunlight
filtering down through the shimmering leaves
9th (Monday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Intense heat, strong winds
10th (Tuesday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
A blast furnace, with strong winds, this afternoon. Walking up
to the entrance on Robson, met eyes with Minori through the
door. It went almost perfectly after that...
11th (Wednesday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Phoned Ady late this evening. Thought I should think in terms
of friendship with Minori, & let things happen from there (for
better or worse. Her husband checked out the website in Africa
Was impressed with Ady's portrait, & commented on all the
women, no men
12th (Thursday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
D.Q. on Hastings, this afternoon with Heather. Had a few laughs
at Value Village checking out the shirts. Rosemary spending
most of the day trying to stay cool under the bed, she tells me
Some dismal grey sky this afternoon, which made it oppresive
The air conditioning at Starbucks sublime. Both Ady & Minori
looking tired from the weather & mood of the day. Minori
unimpressed with the Amex pastel
13th (Friday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Visiting Bert & Lorane... Eating a wonderful steak, under
the canopy, on a lovely cool evening, this morning talking
to Michelle & Melanie, about Mexican artists, & movies done
about artists, which I said never fail to upset me
14th (Saturday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Taeko was charming this afternoon. 'You look different,' she
said to me. It was the 'cheeful' summer shirt. Explained to
her what 'pet peeves' meant, & we talked about daylight savings
& keeping a clean apartment, something we both have in common
16th (Monday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Myle was quite charming this morning. 'I got shoes,' she said
to me, remembering that I'd asked her for shoes to do still
lifes. We both laughed when two loonies she was pulling from
her purse flipped off into the waste basket. Brought her a
cranberry/raspberry drink from Seven Eleven. Saisi back from
Hong Kong. Told me her ailing grandfather is feeling better
17th (Tuesday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Gave Minori four photos of the 'Far Away Oceans'. She thought
the color was too dark. 'You're such a perfectionist,' I said
to her. 'Of course I am,' she laughed. 'You know that.' Asked
why don't I start 'Meltdown' right away, asked about what
she should wear, & thought the sky should be red. - The rest
of today I'm thinking, she's so very special. Just like a
dream
18th (Wednesday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Minori phoned after one, & dropped off the portrait, which I'm
framing for her. She looked lovely with her umbrella, in the
rain. Saw 'Crimes & Misdemeanors' at at Cinematheque, with
Heather. First time I've seen it since all those years ago in
901 with G. Good discussion about what it all meant, as we
walked through the wet streets. - Thinking about Minori this
evening, as I'm lying in bed. Whatever happens, I'll always be
thankful I was given another chance with her
19th (Thursday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Overcast, with a sprinkle of rain now & then
20th (Friday) [The Goddess of Your Choice]
Overcast, with heavy rains. Late this evening framed
the portrait of Minori. Very happy with the way it turned
out
21st (Saturday) [The Goddes of Your Choice]
Minori not working this morning. Finished the drawing just
before three. Talking with Janis, in front of the elevator
talking about the power of the mind, NOT to deny yourself, to
BELIEVE. 'Fake it till you make it,' she said to me. Kept
thinking how this would apply to my feelings for Minori
Another lovely conversation with Taeko, who showed me how to
say, 'I love autumn.' in Japanese
22nd (Sunday)
Asked Taeko about a Japanese song which was popular here in
the early sixties. She started humming a tune. 'Yes! That's it!'
Wet, rather warm
24th (Tuesday)
Minori with the bedbug blues. Myle : 'You can do something for
me.' Wanted me to bring her the cranberry drink again, adding :
'Can I have smarties?' Off I went to seven eleven, in the
summer sunshine
