http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm Fri, 10 May 2013 21:21:02 GMT http://bandzoogle.com http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=4249277 What have you been up to all winter?, they asked me. Oh, you know, not much - cracking the code of the gods; turning to face myself in a chaotic fog of mini epiphanies and tears and fears; falling in love; things like this. Not blogging, that's for sure... Yesterday, I went for a spiritual therapy session. I have a psychic astrologer and she is awesome and amazing. She gets me closer to the thin veil.  She blinks her eyelashes and sees another question, another challenging truth. Seems I have some work to do... I told her when I'm writing a lot my admin suffers like, my website never gets updated, for instance. She said I should ask for more help I agreed. I have been thinking this myself lately, I don't need a psychic to tell me. It takes work to ask for help So I'm working on it. For now, this is a mini blog post to tell you I have been having quite a winter and now it is spring! I wrote a lot of words I went into schools and city councils to speak I practiced the drums a lot of times and I think I need to join a band soon so I can practice more. I read a lot of books and sat in my office late at night, thinking I'm working on a big project about faith and spirituality and life and purpose and it is all consumming Really, I spend hours looking out the window and following whims around and I call this work slow soul excavation going down to the underworld to dig up the equations though I can never solve them I won't be touring much for the next little while since I am busy moprhing something is happening but I don't know what my poems are changing so are the songs I want to be playing I have new things to say but how will I say them... give me some time, I'll figure it out. In the meantime, I will ask for help I will figure out how to update my website more frequently, more easily I will get someone to take new pictures so I can show you all my new gray hairs I will keep falling in love and I will take some of the many poems I've written about it and post them up to share. Thank you for your continued support. Please know I am brewing, stewing something. This has been the kind of rich souful artistic winter that needs some solitude growing not showing though I am excited to bust out again soon back on stages to play and say what I've been up to. xo t Oh, you know, not much - cracking the code of the gods; turning to face myself in a chaotic fog of mini epiphanies and tears and fears; falling in love; things like this.
Not blogging, that's for sure...

Yesterday, I went for a spiritual therapy session. I have a psychic astrologer and she is awesome and amazing.
She gets me closer to the thin veil. 
She blinks her eyelashes and sees another question, another challenging truth.
Seems I have some work to do...

I told her when I'm writing a lot my admin suffers
like, my website never gets updated, for instance.
She said I should ask for more help
I agreed.
I have been thinking this myself lately, I don't need a psychic to tell me.
It takes work to ask for help
So I'm working on it.

For now, this is a mini blog post
to tell you I have been having quite a winter
and now it is spring!
I wrote a lot of words
I went into schools and city councils to speak
I practiced the drums a lot of times and I think I need to join a band soon so I can practice more.
I read a lot of books and sat in my office late at night, thinking

I'm working on a big project about faith and spirituality and life and purpose and it is all consumming
Really, I spend hours looking out the window and following whims around and I call this work
slow soul excavation
going down to the underworld to dig up the equations
though I can never solve them

I won't be touring much for the next little while since I am busy moprhing
something is happening but I don't know what
my poems are changing
so are the songs I want to be playing
I have new things to say but how will I say them... give me some time, I'll figure it out.

In the meantime, I will ask for help
I will figure out how to update my website more frequently, more easily
I will get someone to take new pictures so I can show you all my new gray hairs
I will keep falling in love and I will take some of the many poems I've written about it and post them up to share.

Thank you for your continued support.
Please know I am brewing, stewing something.
This has been the kind of rich souful artistic winter that needs some solitude
growing not showing
though I am excited to bust out again soon
back on stages to play and say what I've been up to.

xo
t


]]> Fri, 10 May 2013 21:21:02 GMT 2AEAD23E3C451D118A7F648A34802BDB http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=3422666 Today I have strep throat.  So I am 'home sick' which means that I am home, like usual, but sick, like unsual On sick days I turn to admin tasks that I avoid for months, apparently For instance, today I uploaded alllll of my songs onto my bandcamp page (www.tanyadavis.bandcamp.com) It was tedious but I'm on penicillin and chocolate and so somehow I didn't mind. I thought, maybe someone somewhere would want to listen to these? Or not. But either way they may as well fly away I don't want to hold on to things Today I also wrote emails to dear people so I could let some feelings fly away, too All this week, I did that I wrote emails disgusing poems explaining feelings because the feelings are being like small birds flapping in the cage of my chest and i want them to fly away Not so I don't have them but so they are free let feelings free that is a motto I just came up with  it might be the penicillin talking but I think it's the little bird the little bird is actually love it is all of the love I have in my chest that wants to fly away and into everything and everyone and especially a few ones and especially one so i wrote emails and i wrote poems that are actually love letters that maybe i will give but probably not and i took penicillin and it makes my body weary somebody told me in the coffee shop it is hard on your heart oh, that's good i don't have enough things that are hard on my heart my heart likes a good challenge someday soon, when I am not on penicillin and chocolate and a day of admin tasks, I will write another more sensical blog update I don't know what this one is about mostly, it is time to watch a tv on the internet show and not daydream and not administer anything except pats to my cat and water to my throat mostly, it is time to let the bird out even though she might land somewhere she is not yet welcome i should have warned you this blog post would not make any sense i can't turn back now can't start over here it is penicillin thoughts  xo t So I am 'home sick'
which means that I am home, like usual, but sick, like unsual

On sick days I turn to admin tasks that I avoid for months, apparently
For instance, today I uploaded alllll of my songs onto my bandcamp page
(www.tanyadavis.bandcamp.com)
It was tedious but I'm on penicillin and chocolate and so somehow I didn't mind.

I thought, maybe someone somewhere would want to listen to these?
Or not.
But either way they may as well fly away
I don't want to hold on to things

Today I also wrote emails to dear people so I could let some feelings fly away, too
All this week, I did that
I wrote emails disgusing poems explaining feelings
because the feelings are being like small birds flapping in the cage of my chest and i want them to fly away
Not so I don't have them but so they are free
let feelings free

that is a motto I just came up with 
it might be the penicillin talking
but I think it's the little bird
the little bird is actually love
it is all of the love I have in my chest that wants to fly away and into everything
and everyone
and especially a few ones
and especially one

so i wrote emails and i wrote poems that are actually love letters that maybe i will give but probably not
and i took penicillin and it makes my body weary
somebody told me in the coffee shop it is hard on your heart

oh, that's good
i don't have enough things that are hard on my heart
my heart likes a good challenge

someday soon, when I am not on penicillin and chocolate and a day of admin tasks, I will write another more sensical blog update
I don't know what this one is about
mostly, it is time to watch a tv on the internet show and not daydream and not administer anything except pats to my cat and water to my throat
mostly, it is time to let the bird out even though she might land somewhere she is not yet welcome

i should have warned you this blog post would not make any sense
i can't turn back now
can't start over
here it is
penicillin thoughts 

xo
t


]]> Sat, 09 Feb 2013 05:27:53 GMT AD2024287E5B1CA1079716F69B9C8A77 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=3222363  UPdate! It's time to put up a fresh calendar Holidays almost over It's time for new to-do lists, resolutions, best-of music and moments the symbolism is rife with tension and promise and through all of this the planets do their thing the plants die and keep growing this planet with all its love and pain keeps turning and we take aim at being a better person finally harder working better, stronger, more determined. I get caught up in it, too. I mean, it's hard not to. I like chances and change; I like me a good clean slate. But my astrologer said: revelation not resolution revolution, maybe. I'll take it. Our world needs it. Let us idle no more, let us mean it. ~~~~ I can't sum up a year in an update. But I want to let you know I'm feeling grateful and steaming onwards with projects, ideas, and adoration. Here, in brief, are some finer points: 1.) I recently recorded two tunes. That is more than a single and yet not quite an EP; but I am releasing it anyway, awkward terminology notwithstanding. Do you want to hear? You can hear here: http://tanyadavis.bandcamp.com You can also purchase them. That, of course, would be awesome. Recorded and produced in Halifax by Benn Ross. Check him out: http://bennross.bandcamp.com/ I did this because: - I'm not ready to record an album but I've been writing songs and I want to send them off, let you know they're happening. - I resolved to make more things, send them off, let you know they're happening. - Creativity is coming out of me, here are two examples. - Also, any proceeds I get from downloads will go directly into the other projects I'm working on Here are the other projects I'm working on: 1.) A lot of writing. Stay tuned for new poems, a lot of them. 2.) An epic lofty show involving religion and churches, namely Catholic ones. This will be a show for those of us with questions. With love and wonder and interdependence. Also, to call out nonsense and to highlight purpose. Faith fascinates me and so I'm gonna search for it. Or with it. I can't tell, really. This is a project for spirit's sake, and because our world is hurting. Because world religion has so many failings; and we have looked to logic to explain things. And in so doing, we have poisoned the cathedrals, angels leaving, gods grieving. I'm going to be a wandering monastic (albeit not a chaste one..), on an alternative pilgrimage, worshipping life and glory. This means: I will be crouched over looseleaf paper. I will on my knees in pagan prayer. I will not be on tour as much as last year. I will be quietly galavanting and openly weeping. I will be seeking company to have love and tea with. I will be reading and making messy notes and I will be back in some months with a brand new show. I will post regular updates about its progress. I will ask for help when it is called for. I always need patrons, and I always need love. 3.) There will be another published book this year! Stay tuned. 4.) Andrea Dorfman and I are working on another film project. I wish I could tell you more. I will soon (Oh dear, what kind of vague update is this?!?!?). 5.) I'm learning how to sew and am gonna make me some clothes, as I grow the hair on the top of my head, some kind of vow to all that I don't know. Thank you for your love and support, for reading this bizarre update. I reply to emails as much and as fast as I can. Feel free to write if you have answers or questions. Enjoy the symbolism of the turning year. Remember to look around, inside and out, and hold each other close and dear. Sincerely, Tanya D.
It's time to put up a fresh calendar
Holidays almost over
It's time for new to-do lists, resolutions, best-of music and moments
the symbolism is rife with tension and promise
and through all of this
the planets do their thing
the plants die and keep growing
this planet with all its love and pain keeps turning
and we take aim at being a better person
finally
harder working
better, stronger, more determined.

I get caught up in it, too.
I mean, it's hard not to.
I like chances and change; I like me a good clean slate.

But my astrologer said: revelation
not resolution
revolution, maybe.

I'll take it.
Our world needs it.
Let us idle no more, let us mean it.

~~~~

I can't sum up a year in an update. But I want to let you know I'm feeling grateful and steaming onwards with projects, ideas, and adoration.
Here, in brief, are some finer points:

1.) I recently recorded two tunes. That is more than a single and yet not quite an EP; but I am releasing it anyway, awkward terminology notwithstanding.
Do you want to hear? You can hear here:
http://tanyadavis.bandcamp.com


You can also purchase them. That, of course, would be awesome.
Recorded and produced in Halifax by Benn Ross. Check him out: http://bennross.bandcamp.com/

I did this because:
- I'm not ready to record an album but I've been writing songs and I want to send them off, let you know they're happening.
- I resolved to make more things, send them off, let you know they're happening.
- Creativity is coming out of me, here are two examples.
- Also, any proceeds I get from downloads will go directly into the other projects I'm working on

Here are the other projects I'm working on:

1.) A lot of writing. Stay tuned for new poems, a lot of them.

2.) An epic lofty show involving religion and churches, namely Catholic ones. This will be a show for those of us with questions. With love and wonder and interdependence. Also, to call out nonsense and to highlight purpose. Faith fascinates me and so I'm gonna search for it. Or with it. I can't tell, really. This is a project for spirit's sake, and because our world is hurting. Because world religion has so many failings; and we have looked to logic to explain things. And in so doing, we have poisoned the cathedrals, angels leaving, gods grieving. I'm going to be a wandering monastic (albeit not a chaste one..), on an alternative pilgrimage, worshipping life and glory.

This means: I will be crouched over looseleaf paper. I will on my knees in pagan prayer. I will not be on tour as much as last year. I will be quietly galavanting and openly weeping. I will be seeking company to have love and tea with. I will be reading and making messy notes and I will be back in some months with a brand new show.

I will post regular updates about its progress. I will ask for help when it is called for. I always need patrons, and I always need love.

3.) There will be another published book this year! Stay tuned.

4.) Andrea Dorfman and I are working on another film project. I wish I could tell you more. I will soon (Oh dear, what kind of vague update is this?!?!?).

5.) I'm learning how to sew and am gonna make me some clothes, as I grow the hair on the top of my head, some kind of vow to all that I don't know.

Thank you for your love and support, for reading this bizarre update. I reply to emails as much and as fast as I can. Feel free to write if you have answers or questions.

Enjoy the symbolism of the turning year.
Remember to look around, inside and out, and hold each other close and dear.

Sincerely,
Tanya D.
]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 02:32:13 GMT 015D57039ABBBAE56C3614927AF2F515 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=2685376  Hello. This world is nuts. Or it's not I can't tell But it is weird, yes? I am shedding a new skin. I am morphing, yet again. I am standing on the edge of another precipice and I cant' see what's after this something about change something about I'll tell you when I figure it out, please, wait I have songs and poems to share, I am not disappearing anyway although, when I turn up around the next corner, I will have a new outfit, new words to say This is because I have new thoughts to speak for on behalf of this is because I keep changing, thank the gods, and so my art does, too so my heart does, too so, I fall in love with you and you  and sometimes you love me back but mostly I have my own back because I have to Because that's what a poet like me should do. I bought hot black boots and I know what to do with them My moto is parked for me and waiting Dance floors need me and sidewalks keep me company and I'm not fading away into anything well, maybe. Maybe i'll ride into the sunset because it's dramatic and I'm learning how to act And maybe I'll fade into the background so I can watch what goes down, before I act I might need to go to Argentina to learn the tango, but I'll be back Basically, I just want you to know that I'm working. Hard. and some of that means I dont' update my twitter or my status so much as I update my heart I'm looking around I'm writing it down i will find the next suiting format for my developing sound I will find the venues that work the people who listen, who teach, who hug, who also can see no ground. I think about you all the time you, world you, reader you, person like all the people who need healing who has feelings worth feeling worth heeding you are all my teachers and I'm so grateful that I'm reeling And while this world spins me yet another web I'm gonna sit down for a bit and check back in the poems keep going the ink keeps flowing the waves keep rolling and I will show you soon just what it is that I'm up to stay tuned. with love and gratitude, from my spot in the wind, Tanya
This world is nuts.
Or it's not
I can't tell
But it is weird, yes?

I am shedding a new skin. I am morphing, yet again.
I am standing on the edge
of another precipice
and I cant' see what's after this

something about change
something about I'll tell you when I figure it out, please, wait
I have songs and poems to share, I am not disappearing anyway
although, when I turn up around the next corner, I will have a new outfit, new words to say

This is because I have new thoughts to speak for
on behalf of
this is because I keep changing, thank the gods, and so my art does, too
so my heart does, too
so, I fall in love with you
and you 
and sometimes you love me back
but mostly
I have my own back because I have to

Because that's what a poet like me should do.

I bought hot black boots and I know what to do with them
My moto is parked for me and waiting
Dance floors need me and sidewalks keep me company
and I'm not fading away into anything
well, maybe.
Maybe i'll ride into the sunset because it's dramatic
and I'm learning how to act
And maybe I'll fade into the background so I can watch what goes down, before I act
I might need to go to Argentina to learn the tango, but I'll be back

Basically, I just want you to know that I'm working. Hard.
and some of that means I dont' update my twitter or my status so much as I update my heart
I'm looking around
I'm writing it down
i will find the next suiting format for my developing sound
I will find the venues that work
the people who listen, who teach, who hug, who also can see no ground.

I think about you all the time
you, world
you, reader
you, person like all the people who need healing
who has feelings worth feeling
worth heeding
you are all my teachers and I'm so grateful that I'm reeling

And while this world spins me
yet another web
I'm gonna sit down for a bit and check back in
the poems keep going
the ink keeps flowing
the waves keep rolling
and I will show you soon
just what it is that I'm up to
stay tuned.

with love and gratitude, from my spot in the wind,
Tanya
]]> Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:08:41 GMT 165E17B11DFB728813E61B9BAD533138 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=2330798 thoughts on a july morning, It didn't rain in Halifax for 3 weeks, and July was hotter than usual And all of the people were sunned and more bronzed than usual and they were more happy than their usual levels of happiness and cats lazed around and meowed softly and bikes cruised down pavements safely and all was well ok, maybe my cucumber plants are not fully well, but otherwise.. I just finished my first solo theatre-esque show. Monologue. All about love and dating and polyamory and too many thoughts from my over-thinky head. It depleted and replenished me at the same time. I got to yell on stage. I've never done that. I swore. My eyes watered. For those of you who might want to see it/hear it/read it stay tuned. It's too fresh right now to put back out there, I need to revisit it, fine tune, all of that. But I will remount it, somewhere sometime soonish. Maybe I will tour it. Maybe I will record it. Maybe I will type it into a little booklet of some kind with cute pencil drawings alongside. For now, I have to go on tour again. Just a mini tour, to the mid country where it will be hot as all get out and I'll think, 'where is the frigging ocean??!!?' But I do get to spend a bit of time in Toronto, with friends and sexy people in my midst and hot coffee in the hot sun. This summer has been a wealth of swimming. Out here in Halifax the swimming is really good. When people ask why I live here I say 'for the swimming' well, that is not the only reason, but it's up there on the list. Definitely top 7. Other things about this summer: cucumbers shelling peas motorcycle rides new-to-me leather new-to-me moves new-to-me joint pain a tour across the prairies that was bliss mixed with canoes and ideas love and falling for it, as usual picnics with beauties on hills and beaches frustration with social media, so more books so leaving my phone at home so putting my body in bodies of water also, poems also analyzing also trying to let it go you know, be here now and all that clicheed stuff also, sorting through the clichees to see what are the good ones hope your summer is going swimmingly, indeed bye for now td
It didn't rain in Halifax for 3 weeks, and July was hotter than usual
And all of the people were sunned and more bronzed than usual
and they were more happy than their usual levels of happiness
and cats lazed around and meowed softly
and bikes cruised down pavements safely
and all was well

ok, maybe my cucumber plants are not fully well, but otherwise..

I just finished my first solo theatre-esque show. Monologue. All about love and dating and polyamory and too many thoughts from my over-thinky head.
It depleted and replenished me at the same time.
I got to yell on stage. I've never done that. I swore. My eyes watered.
For those of you who might want to see it/hear it/read it stay tuned. It's too fresh right now to put back out there, I need to revisit it, fine tune, all of that.

But I will remount it, somewhere sometime soonish. Maybe I will tour it. Maybe I will record it. Maybe I will type it into a little booklet of some kind with cute pencil drawings alongside.

For now, I have to go on tour again. Just a mini tour, to the mid country where it will be hot as all get out and I'll think, 'where is the frigging ocean??!!?'
But I do get to spend a bit of time in Toronto, with friends and sexy people in my midst
and hot coffee in the hot sun.

This summer has been a wealth of swimming. Out here in Halifax the swimming is really good.
When people ask why I live here I say 'for the swimming'
well, that is not the only reason, but it's up there on the list. Definitely top 7.

Other things about this summer:
cucumbers
shelling peas
motorcycle rides
new-to-me leather
new-to-me moves
new-to-me joint pain
a tour across the prairies that was bliss mixed with canoes and ideas
love and falling for it, as usual
picnics with beauties on hills
and beaches
frustration with social media, so more books
so leaving my phone at home
so putting my body in bodies of water

also, poems
also analyzing
also trying to let it go
you know, be here now and all that clicheed stuff
also, sorting through the clichees to see what are the good ones

hope your summer is going swimmingly, indeed
bye for now
td



]]> Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:23:58 GMT 1D8151E4980FC4A34D3BE53CA62B3ABD http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=2194264  Ok, I admit it, I am bad at blogging. Well, I mean, i don't blog enough. I think about blogging. Apparently, that does not get that blog written. Here's the deal: I'm making some sort of vow to spend more time on this thing called 'my webpage'. I've always had a mind to do so. But you know what I don't have? Time. I don't have much time. I am busy, working and living. I'm writing and touring and thinking and playing and scheming and reading and cooking and being. Some things fall off the to-do list before others. And since I am not so tech savvy and computers are hard places for me to spend my time, inevitably my website gets neglected. I'm sorry, website. I'm sorry, people who actually read this blog. I was excited to tell you about Germany! And England! But then I came home and spent all my writing time on this new solo show that I'm performing in July. And suddenly I'm off on tour again.  So, the vow. i, Tanya Davis, do vow to find a way to put time and energy in new and old places. And I will do this by working smarter. I have a plan. I can't unveil it yet. But, basically, i am commited to writing and creating - as I always have been - and am recognizing the burnout that's happening by all the administrative work, the logisitcs, the financial management and stress, the compartmentalizing of my time. So, I'm working to implement some changes and I will put them into place by summer's end, if all goes well. And then I will also start sending out mailing list updates/ news and whatnot. My housemate and fellow musician, Tim Crabtree (of the amazing Paper Beat Scissors) is good at sending mail outs. I am not. I am good at other things. It is hard to be good at all the things. We don't need to be. We just need to prioritize, balance, make do... all of that. For today, this is the update. I have other more exciting things Like the show I'm writing and how my nerves feel to know I will perform it in one month, costumes, light cues, soundtrack and all. It's about polyamory. So... ya. All days long lately I have been sitting and writing, kind of about me but also about this character named Nonmonog. And when I stop writing I think about her. Or I think about the fodder for this whole show, which is my whole life, philosophies about my whole life and your life, too. Or I think about people I am in various states of love with. I feel, lately, like I live in an alternate reality. It's kind of amazing. And I also feel a little nutso. Aaaaaanyway.  It's summer. Offically here in the northern hemisphere. Happy summer to you. I celebrated last night with limbs entangled and then a backyard party wherein I was too heady and riled up for small talk chit chat so I gathered on the fringes and, with fellow artists, discussed the art of storytelling. Then I sat alone in the dark in my own backyard and thought about life. It's good, life. It's a lot of things, but it's mostly good. OK, now on to the to-do list. Blog, you weren't even on the to-do list! You are way more fun than compiling that data for my co-op, you are more fun than buying a long distance calling card. Hell, you are even more fun than renewing my library book. I should write to you more often... I'm not even gonna proofread this. Happy summer,  xo td think about blogging. Apparently, that does not get that blog written.

Here's the deal: I'm making some sort of vow to spend more time on this thing called 'my webpage'. I've always had a mind to do so. But you know what I don't have? Time. I don't have much time. I am busy, working and living. I'm writing and touring and thinking and playing and scheming and reading and cooking and being. Some things fall off the to-do list before others. And since I am not so tech savvy and computers are hard places for me to spend my time, inevitably my website gets neglected. I'm sorry, website. I'm sorry, people who actually read this blog.

I was excited to tell you about Germany! And England! But then I came home and spent all my writing time on this new solo show that I'm performing in July. And suddenly I'm off on tour again. 

So, the vow. i, Tanya Davis, do vow to find a way to put time and energy in new and old places. And I will do this by working smarter. I have a plan. I can't unveil it yet. But, basically, i am commited to writing and creating - as I always have been - and am recognizing the burnout that's happening by all the administrative work, the logisitcs, the financial management and stress, the compartmentalizing of my time. So, I'm working to implement some changes and I will put them into place by summer's end, if all goes well.

And then I will also start sending out mailing list updates/ news and whatnot.
My housemate and fellow musician, Tim Crabtree (of the amazing Paper Beat Scissors) is good at sending mail outs. I am not. I am good at other things. It is hard to be good at all the things. We don't need to be. We just need to prioritize, balance, make do... all of that.

For today, this is the update.
I have other more exciting things
Like the show I'm writing and how my nerves feel to know I will perform it in one month, costumes, light cues, soundtrack and all. It's about polyamory. So... ya.
All days long lately I have been sitting and writing, kind of about me but also about this character named Nonmonog. And when I stop writing I think about her. Or I think about the fodder for this whole show, which is my whole life, philosophies about my whole life and your life, too. Or I think about people I am in various states of love with. I feel, lately, like I live in an alternate reality. It's kind of amazing. And I also feel a little nutso.

Aaaaaanyway. 

It's summer. Offically here in the northern hemisphere. Happy summer to you. I celebrated last night with limbs entangled and then a backyard party wherein I was too heady and riled up for small talk chit chat so I gathered on the fringes and, with fellow artists, discussed the art of storytelling. Then I sat alone in the dark in my own backyard and thought about life. It's good, life. It's a lot of things, but it's mostly good.

OK, now on to the to-do list. Blog, you weren't even on the to-do list! You are way more fun than compiling that data for my co-op, you are more fun than buying a long distance calling card. Hell, you are even more fun than renewing my library book. I should write to you more often...

I'm not even gonna proofread this.
Happy summer, 

xo
td
]]> Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:59:44 GMT 8D7BA0785CC6098C05A53E3897262611 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=2036532 On a spring day in Halifax, I sit on my back porch with my cat nearby my to-do list is long but most of it is checked off I have left the funnest things for the last minute which is unusual how great that today, instead of booking airplane tickets and shuffling papers, I, instead, get to go buy a german phrasebook and a novel for bookclub I will bring these things on the plane I am to Germany! In a few hours! Oh, but I have not packed yet. Oops. My motorcyle is running and insured and in my driveway. It looks really good and sounds reasonable. I am in love with it. My bicycle also looks good and I am in love with that, too. I am in love with a lot of things. I have spring fever Or else it is always this way. I think it is always this way. In Germany I will drink too much beer.  Well, too much if measured against glasses of fresh squeezed juice, which I will probably not consumme enough of. But just the right amount of beer for flavour and light-headedness after shows and curiosity for new flavours. i will also eat too much cake! At a superduper dinner party the other night a friend said the Germans are good at cake. I will also be to Denmark for one day and Iceland for one day and England for 7 days.  Every time I write a blog post I do so in a spastic hyper mood and I don't know what to focus on, so I end up writing a list Here is my list for today: Gratitude for -  people 7 second (or longer) hugs flirting the strangers I haven't met yet the opportunity to be Halifax's poet laureate the chance to say goodbye the vegetables I recently ate (may you sustain me through beer and cake, vegetables!) dates when Halifax says things out loud, when Canada says things out loud political agitators boat-rockers lovers dance parties Hey, Germany, will you dance with me?! because on friday there is a house party in Halifax where friends and lovers of mine will celebrate and move and grind and they'll all be having a time and, sadly, I will miss it but the thing is with this touring business i pick up other adventures in the places I visit but on this coming friday night if I do feel listless will you grab my waist and grip my hips and spin me shake with me on a floor make me forget the reasons we are here for or else remember them it's for love, yes? yes. xo t my to-do list is long but most of it is checked off
I have left the funnest things for the last minute
which is unusual
how great that today, instead of booking airplane tickets and shuffling papers, I, instead, get to go buy a german phrasebook
and a novel for bookclub
I will bring these things on the plane
I am to Germany! In a few hours!

Oh, but I have not packed yet. Oops.

My motorcyle is running and insured and in my driveway. It looks really good and sounds reasonable. I am in love with it.
My bicycle also looks good and I am in love with that, too.
I am in love with a lot of things.
I have spring fever
Or else it is always this way. I think it is always this way.

In Germany I will drink too much beer. 
Well, too much if measured against glasses of fresh squeezed juice, which I will probably not consumme enough of.
But just the right amount of beer for flavour and light-headedness after shows and curiosity for new flavours.
i will also eat too much cake!

At a superduper dinner party the other night a friend said the Germans are good at cake.

I will also be to Denmark for one day and Iceland for one day and England for 7 days. 

Every time I write a blog post I do so in a spastic hyper mood and I don't know what to focus on, so I end up writing a list
Here is my list for today:

Gratitude for - 
people
7 second (or longer) hugs
flirting
the strangers I haven't met yet
the opportunity to be Halifax's poet laureate
the chance to say goodbye
the vegetables I recently ate (may you sustain me through beer and cake, vegetables!)
dates
when Halifax says things out loud, when Canada says things out loud
political agitators
boat-rockers
lovers
dance parties

Hey, Germany, will you dance with me?!
because on friday there is a house party in Halifax where friends and lovers of mine will celebrate and move and grind
and they'll all be having a time
and, sadly, I will miss it
but the thing is
with this touring business
i pick up other adventures in the places I visit
but on this coming friday night
if I do feel listless
will you grab my waist and grip my hips
and spin me
shake with me on a floor
make me forget the reasons we are here for
or else remember them
it's for love, yes?

yes.

xo
t



]]> Tue, 01 May 2012 21:36:24 GMT 844E933146D0E021BA6AD9657866C777 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1851972  Ah..... Mexico! Mexico Mexico Mexico. I am in love with Mexico. And people and poets and mezcal and rancheros and limes and dancing and love. Just got home to snow dusted Halifax two days ago.  I was only in Mexico for one week but it felt like much much more. Maybe that is because IT IS AMAZING THERE! and time seemed to go slow, or else i went slowly through it. can't tell, doesn't matter. Enclave Festival brought me there. Poetry brought me there. Thank you, poetry and people who bring poets together under umbrellas of festivals and workshops and sharing. This morning in Canada I went to speak in a library at a local college. I drank the punch, though it had no fresh limes in it. I glowed a little bit about Mexico and there are a lot of reasons why. For instance: avocados the oldest most beautiful buildings I have ever seen heat and sun and shade-y places to drink your cerveza and watch the people leather and denim food, everywhere, in the open air without inspections or uptight bylaws people, everywhere, in the open air eating the food and talking to each other and communing plazas, large ones, open air, more open air and people communing in it traffic that seems crazy but somehow works motorcycles that weave through like talented embroiderers, making pretty and dangerous patterns pedestrians who know how to cross the road spanish language and spanish-speaking poets playing with spanish language and all of it's r's rolling mezcal the crazy mezcal-fuelled house party, the dancing people, the shirtless hombres, the flirtation, the zest driving around empty Colima streets late at night with artists and an open bottle (ssshhh.. don't tell. The Canadian in me loved this reckless moment) my new friends, from Mexico, Guatemala, Germany, Chile, USA the ocean in Manzanillo, the waves so big we could only flirt with them, the bashing that happened when I went out too far the ceviche the oysters on the beach that PEI-ers would have approved of the discomfort of not speaking the language and how it was to feel outside in this way the moments of connection that existed without the language of words (dancing, laughter, eye contact, tears) my newfound and pressing desire to learn Spanish, so I can talk to more people in the world, and hear their poems poems, even when i don't understand them poets These are some things I loved there are more, of course But language can't say it, can explore it, can't claim it How grateful I am, up here in Halifax, to have been there, in Mexico, and for poetry. Poets all over the world, living and watching. I feel cracked open. I don't quite know what that means.. but parts are dribbling out of me things I once believed and those I never did made some room so as to let Mexico in Oh, my pounding heart. how I love to love this world,  t I am in love with Mexico. And people and poets and mezcal and rancheros and limes and dancing and love.

Just got home to snow dusted Halifax two days ago. 
I was only in Mexico for one week but it felt like much much more. Maybe that is because IT IS AMAZING THERE!
and time seemed to go slow, or else i went slowly through it.
can't tell, doesn't matter.

Enclave Festival brought me there. Poetry brought me there. Thank you, poetry and people who bring poets together under umbrellas of festivals and workshops and sharing.
This morning in Canada I went to speak in a library at a local college. I drank the punch, though it had no fresh limes in it. I glowed a little bit about Mexico and there are a lot of reasons why.

For instance: avocados
the oldest most beautiful buildings I have ever seen
heat and sun and shade-y places to drink your cerveza and watch the people
leather and denim
food, everywhere, in the open air without inspections or uptight bylaws
people, everywhere, in the open air eating the food and talking to each other and communing
plazas, large ones, open air, more open air and people communing in it
traffic that seems crazy but somehow works
motorcycles that weave through like talented embroiderers, making pretty and dangerous patterns
pedestrians who know how to cross the road
spanish language and spanish-speaking poets playing with spanish language and all of it's r's rolling
mezcal
the crazy mezcal-fuelled house party, the dancing people, the shirtless hombres, the flirtation, the zest
driving around empty Colima streets late at night with artists and an open bottle (ssshhh.. don't tell. The Canadian in me loved this reckless moment)
my new friends, from Mexico, Guatemala, Germany, Chile, USA
the ocean in Manzanillo, the waves so big we could only flirt with them, the bashing that happened when I went out too far
the ceviche
the oysters on the beach that PEI-ers would have approved of
the discomfort of not speaking the language and how it was to feel outside in this way
the moments of connection that existed without the language of words (dancing, laughter, eye contact, tears)
my newfound and pressing desire to learn Spanish, so I can talk to more people in the world, and hear their poems
poems, even when i don't understand them
poets


These are some things I loved
there are more, of course
But language can't say it, can explore it, can't claim it

How grateful I am, up here in Halifax, to have been there, in Mexico, and for poetry.
Poets all over the world, living and watching.
I feel cracked open. I don't quite know what that means.. but parts are dribbling out of me
things I once believed
and those I never did
made some room so as to let Mexico in

Oh, my pounding heart.

how I love to love this world, 
t

]]> Fri, 09 Mar 2012 02:10:55 GMT 3712404E8AC56FE9D46C9171A88D4B8B http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1755978  Some weeks are more about doing poetry than writing it. Having it? LIving it? Sponging it up and sitting in it? I am having one of those weeks. Though I did move ahead at least 2 stanzas on 2 different poems I am trying to finish for upcoming performances. And I've been reading my new Billy Collins book... Productivity is a farce. Still, I strive for it anyway. And so, accomplished this week (thus far...): Serious brainstorm time into what to wear to this weekend's TEXTURE themed dance party and what sort of touches I will garner while in my chosen texture A cabin booked for February's west coast writing retreat weekend (well, actually, i totally didn't do that, my friend Mary did. But I got to OK it) Successful first attempt at braised short ribs Accumulation of new sheet music for the piano! Much pondering over how to use my accumulated air miles that I got thanks to accumulated visa debt - upcoming trip to Mexico City for poetry festival or some future dream trip to Japan. Pondering is not exactly accomplishing but it is productive (?) Love and dating A very great show at the In the Dead of Winter Music Festival with a drummer and a slew of new songs, vulnerable and raw for my hometown crowd Safe bicycle riding in the snow Random speaking engagements booked for months down the road That is the kind of week I'm having Well, there's other things, too. Things like secrets. Also, lustful things, private things. Things you might want to hear but I'm not going to type them today. Also, I have done a lot of thinking. And I made myself sit at my desk many times, though my feet twitched and my knees bumped together and my cat reeaaaally wanted me to get up. And I watched some Halifax poets perform, their hearts exposed through personal words in a bar on a stage for acquaintances and strangers. I also finally spent that gift certificate I was given for the big Indigo Book store, speaking of acquaintances. On sunday I was on a date in a cafe. The people at the next table were familiar faces, we struck up a conversation, soon we were making arrangements for shared transportation 'Let's go spend our gift cards!' So, I spent a few hours at the mall and came home with a few books and two new friends. Now, THAT is the kind of productivity I feel good about. Coming soon: I learn how to post new pictures and poems on my website Also, news of winter/spring touring to other countries! I hope you see something gorgeous today there is always something gorgeous td Having it? LIving it? Sponging it up and sitting in it?

I am having one of those weeks.
Though I did move ahead at least 2 stanzas on 2 different poems I am trying to finish for upcoming performances. And I've been reading my new Billy Collins book...

Productivity is a farce. Still, I strive for it anyway.
And so, accomplished this week (thus far...):

Serious brainstorm time into what to wear to this weekend's TEXTURE themed dance party and what sort of touches I will garner while in my chosen texture
A cabin booked for February's west coast writing retreat weekend (well, actually, i totally didn't do that, my friend Mary did. But I got to OK it)
Successful first attempt at braised short ribs
Accumulation of new sheet music for the piano!
Much pondering over how to use my accumulated air miles that I got thanks to accumulated visa debt - upcoming trip to Mexico City for poetry festival or some future dream trip to Japan. Pondering is not exactly accomplishing but it is productive (?)
Love and dating
A very great show at the In the Dead of Winter Music Festival with a drummer and a slew of new songs, vulnerable and raw for my hometown crowd
Safe bicycle riding in the snow
Random speaking engagements booked for months down the road

That is the kind of week I'm having
Well, there's other things, too.
Things like secrets. Also, lustful things, private things. Things you might want to hear but I'm not going to type them today.
Also, I have done a lot of thinking.
And I made myself sit at my desk many times, though my feet twitched and my knees bumped together and my cat reeaaaally wanted me to get up.
And I watched some Halifax poets perform, their hearts exposed through personal words in a bar on a stage for acquaintances and strangers.
I also finally spent that gift certificate I was given for the big Indigo Book store, speaking of acquaintances.

On sunday I was on a date in a cafe.
The people at the next table were familiar faces, we struck up a conversation, soon we were making arrangements for shared transportation
'Let's go spend our gift cards!'
So, I spent a few hours at the mall and came home with a few books and two new friends.
Now, THAT is the kind of productivity I feel good about.

Coming soon: I learn how to post new pictures and poems on my website
Also, news of winter/spring touring to other countries!

I hope you see something gorgeous today
there is always something gorgeous

td


]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:28:30 GMT F56A5AE3A6E633D074C77360ED6160E4 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1648894 Holidays! Christmess! I am in a PEI cafe. Last night was my last show of 2011 and I am friggin excited for a much needed vacation. Happy Solstice everybody! To celebrate, I will gather around a fire with farmers and spinsters, draft-dodgers and hippies, mothers and children, government employees, teachers and unemployed-ees, artists and wanderers, lovers and friends, pagans and christians. We will welcome the return of the sun and I will celebrate a marvellous year. Thank you for all of your support and love. I feel it. I FEEL IT! I have so much to update on this website of mine.  I have written new poems. I have vinyl available now and my books  and some show dates in western canada and also in UK this winter and spring and i have ideas! lots of them and collaborations in progress and some very lofty plans... thing is, I always get around to updating my website eventually, but it is, admittedly, not the top priority. But I will try harder! I will. for now, just a happy holidays from me, from this pei cafe and gratitude for this good year i've had, the opportunities within it, the people i've met, the places i've visited. i feel fatigued and satisfied. and in love with a lot of things and people. thank you for your continued support (ha, I sound like a small business. well, i guess i am) more soon from me but first, holidays xo t
Holidays! Christmess!

I am in a PEI cafe. Last night was my last show of 2011 and I am friggin excited for a much needed vacation. Happy Solstice everybody! To celebrate, I will gather around a fire with farmers and spinsters, draft-dodgers and hippies, mothers and children, government employees, teachers and unemployed-ees, artists and wanderers, lovers and friends, pagans and christians. We will welcome the return of the sun and I will celebrate a marvellous year. Thank you for all of your support and love. I feel it. I FEEL IT!

I have so much to update on this website of mine. 
I have written new poems.
I have vinyl available now
and my books 
and some show dates in western canada and also in UK this winter and spring

and i have ideas! lots of them
and collaborations in progress
and some very lofty plans...

thing is, I always get around to updating my website eventually, but it is, admittedly, not the top priority. But I will try harder! I will.

for now, just a happy holidays from me, from this pei cafe
and gratitude for this good year i've had, the opportunities within it, the people i've met, the places i've visited.
i feel fatigued and satisfied.
and in love with a lot of things and people.

thank you for your continued support (ha, I sound like a small business. well, i guess i am)

more soon from me
but first, holidays

xo
t

]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:40:09 GMT 7AFF7260C7D2A8B0B6CFA3296CCC4106 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1574058  Hellooooooooo Blog, people reading it, I kept thinking about you, across Canada, in North Carolina, in small villages in Labrador.. Now I am in Ottawa with a morning all to myself and my computer and i am consuming large quantities of coffee and away we go! It's snowing here. It was snowing a lot in Labrador, where I just was for 8 days, teaching a lot of poetry workshops to kids of all ages. I was there as a part of the Labrador Creative Arts Festival. What an amazing experience. And intense. I tell people sometimes in my workshops that I am no teacher. I am an artist and I'm there to talk about what I do and to (hopefully) open up a room and make some space, facilitate some safety in which to create. Workshops make me nervous, as does the stage But workshops make me MORE nervous. Some Labrador highlights: flying in one of those teeny weeny planes to a small innu community up the coast being greeted on a gravel runway by a large fluffy dog late night snow walks no streetlights  boots on snow become beautiful percussion flirting (ha, that will always be a highlight, FYI) moose, arctic char, mustard pickles, innu donuts, redberries, pea soup the most expensive slippers I have ever purchased amazing kids opening up to the possibility of poetry dancing at the local 'club' massage party in the basement of my billet's house sleeping the last night on a futon with 4 amazing people, peas in a pod, cuddle puddle Before Labrador I was home for a few weeks, working away in my office and cleaning my house and before that I was in a lot of other different places Highlights: being recognized in North Carolina for 'How to be Alone' and, consequently, making a new and beautiful friend 4 days at the Banff Centre for the Arts writing poems in front of mountains and eating too much at the buffet dancing, many places Oh, I think there are lots of highlights but I can't remember them all now I need to not leave such large gaps in between blogs... I am sidetracked - I've been thinking about my country's government. And how atrocious it is. Stephen Harper and the conservatives 'rebranding' our gov't, so that on paper it is called The Harper Government instead of the Gov't of Canada. WHAT THE FUCK?!?! While he tries to pass a new crime bill that will put more vulnerable people in prisons instead of giving them actual help And, meanwhile, the momentum of the occupy movement continues to inspire me.  And I think of ways to help. What can I occupy? Lines on paper, moments on stage? How can I make this count? I also am part of the 99% People are amazing, working hard to change in the face of such adversity, gov'ts that work hard to crush us, banks and people so greedy they can't even see how much they're consuming. These days are interesting.  I tour around while people sleep in parks, in prisons.  Here on this snowy Ottawa morning I am opening, listening. I will write poems while people protest our conditions, our conditioning. I remain optimistic and do my best to contribute. Our world is crying, it is beautiful, what will we do? td
Blog, people reading it, I kept thinking about you, across Canada, in North Carolina, in small villages in Labrador..
Now I am in Ottawa with a morning all to myself and my computer and i am consuming large quantities of coffee and away we go!

It's snowing here.
It was snowing a lot in Labrador, where I just was for 8 days, teaching a lot of poetry workshops to kids of all ages. I was there as a part of the Labrador Creative Arts Festival. What an amazing experience. And intense.
I tell people sometimes in my workshops that I am no teacher. I am an artist and I'm there to talk about what I do and to (hopefully) open up a room and make some space, facilitate some safety in which to create.
Workshops make me nervous, as does the stage
But workshops make me MORE nervous.

Some Labrador highlights:

flying in one of those teeny weeny planes to a small innu community up the coast
being greeted on a gravel runway by a large fluffy dog
late night snow walks no streetlights 
boots on snow become beautiful percussion
flirting (ha, that will always be a highlight, FYI)
moose, arctic char, mustard pickles, innu donuts, redberries, pea soup
the most expensive slippers I have ever purchased
amazing kids opening up to the possibility of poetry
dancing at the local 'club'
massage party in the basement of my billet's house
sleeping the last night on a futon with 4 amazing people, peas in a pod, cuddle puddle

Before Labrador I was home for a few weeks, working away in my office and cleaning my house and before that I was in a lot of other different places
Highlights:

being recognized in North Carolina for 'How to be Alone' and, consequently, making a new and beautiful friend
4 days at the Banff Centre for the Arts writing poems in front of mountains and eating too much at the buffet
dancing, many places

Oh, I think there are lots of highlights but I can't remember them all now
I need to not leave such large gaps in between blogs...

I am sidetracked - I've been thinking about my country's government. And how atrocious it is.
Stephen Harper and the conservatives 'rebranding' our gov't, so that on paper it is called The Harper Government instead of the Gov't of Canada.
WHAT THE FUCK?!?!
While he tries to pass a new crime bill that will put more vulnerable people in prisons instead of giving them actual help
And, meanwhile, the momentum of the occupy movement continues to inspire me. 
And I think of ways to help. What can I occupy? Lines on paper, moments on stage? How can I make this count? I also am part of the 99%
People are amazing, working hard to change in the face of such adversity, gov'ts that work hard to crush us, banks and people so greedy they can't even see how much they're consuming.

These days are interesting. 
I tour around while people sleep in parks, in prisons. 
Here on this snowy Ottawa morning I am opening, listening.
I will write poems while people protest our conditions, our conditioning.
I remain optimistic and do my best to contribute.
Our world is crying, it is beautiful, what will we do?

td


]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:34:47 GMT FFE6FCD639F0F08071108966E230DCA9 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1361442 Hey, it became fall! I think of this blog from time to time when I am not in front of a computer. But this morning I thought of it whilst in front of my computer hey, email, move over it's time to spit words out to nowhere I am about to head off on tour again. To far away Canadian cities like Edmonton and Calgary and Vancouver but also for a few days in Banff, mountain land! I will be hanging out with writers a lot! Writers who are famous and have a lot of books published This makes me excited, a bit nervous Some days I question my authenticity, as a writer. Usually that happens when I have gotten to do nothing but administration all week, planning logistics maks me feel weak meek and without the kind of discipline that writing takes. I remedied my most recent bout of am-i-a-real-writer's angst by a day on a country road, throughout which no other human beings were visible coffee beans and scribbles cat on my lap purring to heal, so subtle down in the musty basement for loud drumming make me the lady i want to date make more big my muscles there was a piano, tried, true and trusted there were poems with no goal other than existance songs aching to live again so i played them i drank coffee enough to make me crazy so then i made tea i spent a day alone in the country to remember me Of course, country days fade away into city nights and now I'm back in Halifax trying to organize my life Seeking balance between create and administer Where is my manager? Oh, ya, I don't have one Ok then, applications, let me fill you out ok, schedule, let me organize you somehow hey, time management skills, don't fail me now Often, I get in conversation with my artistic self-employed peers about our love and all of our striving and our fears what we're alive for, why are we here at the end of every conversation it is, for me, the same thing here to live, here to be do our work and connect with human beings be a part of the world, part of the journey to peace in america they are occupying wall street this has more poetry than the financial district has ever seen may the buildings smirk to each other, sideways 'we knew they'd come, see' i am making plans to retreat with a friend next to the ocean and write words and lines that will become poems and this won't happen until deep winter but i hold it now and feel consoled here are some moments i have recently been in love with: purring cat against my ear for medicine motorcyle down the highway to feel independent dancing on wood floors in barns at weddings kisses on stoops and understars and in kitchens pulling from the wicker basket my collection of mittens trips to value village my grandmother's party when she turned 85 a swim in the ocean when the sun began to say goodnight my sister who bakes me cookies, treats me gently when i cry hugs from friends from old and far away hugs from new connections on lots of days the option of connection that i always try to take the ones that have my back, my interests at heart those who have held down roots for me since the very start the truth, for me, no matter joy or pain, always being the best part that is all, for now td
I think of this blog from time to time when I am not in front of a computer. But this morning I thought of it whilst in front of my computer
hey, email, move over
it's time to spit words out to nowhere

I am about to head off on tour again. To far away Canadian cities like Edmonton and Calgary and Vancouver
but also for a few days in Banff, mountain land! I will be hanging out with writers a lot! Writers who are famous and have a lot of books published
This makes me excited, a bit nervous
Some days I question my authenticity, as a writer. Usually that happens when I have gotten to do nothing but administration all week,
planning logistics maks me feel weak
meek and without the kind of discipline that writing takes.

I remedied my most recent bout of am-i-a-real-writer's angst
by a day on a country road, throughout which no other human beings were visible
coffee beans and scribbles
cat on my lap purring to heal, so subtle
down in the musty basement for loud drumming
make me the lady i want to date
make more big my muscles
there was a piano, tried, true and trusted
there were poems with no goal other than existance
songs aching to live again
so i played them
i drank coffee enough to make me crazy
so then i made tea
i spent a day alone in the country
to remember me

Of course, country days fade away into city nights and now I'm back in Halifax trying to organize my life
Seeking balance between create and administer
Where is my manager?
Oh, ya, I don't have one
Ok then, applications, let me fill you out
ok, schedule, let me organize you somehow
hey, time management skills, don't fail me now

Often, I get in conversation with my artistic self-employed peers
about our love and all of our striving and our fears
what we're alive for, why are we here

at the end of every conversation it is, for me, the same thing
here to live, here to be
do our work and connect with human beings
be a part of the world, part of the journey to peace
in america they are occupying wall street
this has more poetry
than the financial district has ever seen
may the buildings smirk to each other, sideways
'we knew they'd come, see'

i am making plans to retreat with a friend next to the ocean
and write words and lines that will become poems
and this won't happen until deep winter but i hold it now and feel consoled

here are some moments i have recently been in love with:

purring cat against my ear for medicine
motorcyle down the highway to feel independent
dancing on wood floors in barns at weddings

kisses on stoops and understars and in kitchens
pulling from the wicker basket my collection of mittens
trips to value village

my grandmother's party when she turned 85
a swim in the ocean when the sun began to say goodnight
my sister who bakes me cookies, treats me gently when i cry

hugs from friends from old and far away
hugs from new connections on lots of days
the option of connection that i always try to take

the ones that have my back, my interests at heart
those who have held down roots for me since the very start
the truth, for me, no matter joy or pain, always being the best part

that is all, for now
td

]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:07:53 GMT B34CDF8B0BD5B017F2956B5B01057F44 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1253882 There has not been much time for blogging I've been on my motorcycle i've been in bodies of water I've even been on dates under moons, on bicycles, in tents. It's a good summer... It's not like last summer, when Jack Layton was still alive and my heart arrythmia was recently fixed and how to be alone was getting lots of youtube hits back in 2010 when the sun shone hotter and we all stayed in the water longer but this summer is more real there's more grit it's more east coast than BC more scraggly bush than tall tall tree And i've been writing Fragments about religion and women new poems about work and witches songs about the lonely days that linger on This fall I will go to the west coast, for writers festivals and to eat salmon I will sit in my first hot spring, goddamn it I am planning this I also get to go to Carolina! Do you live in Carolina? Who lives in Carolina? I will be tootling around with some industry peeps, showcasing and inquiring into where are the good coffee shops and I-know-none-of-the-locals-are-swimming-but-i-am-from-canada-and-so-this-is-like-the-tropics-and-where-is-the-quarry? i will also do these things: pick berries make soup ride my bicycle ride my moto with a scarve that blows in the wind sew old cheap dresses into new, weird ones go on more dates write more poems play the piano that sounds so honky tonk it's starting to sound classical pay my cats on their cute little heads kneel and kiss the mountain collaborate with musicians and videomakers daydream day-be I just made that last one up. Can you tell? I have cried more tears this summer than last summer but still I feel stronger My back stoop is a most welcome landing pad for all of that saline Friends have been landing pads, too (thank you friends) The psychic told me there are rainbows behind me and so I'm gonna take that and run She said, 'go, do things' you are poised' I say, 'I have always been a fan of good posture, thank you very much. Off I go' See you around this country and other ones, you people who read my words I need your help, often If you want me to come to your city/town then maybe you can throw some lavendar seeds at the mayor and she will hire me or that university with all of the lesbians and those sensitive men I dig so much will need a poet to come poem Or maybe you know the venues the artists to team up with shit, maybe you even have funding My psychic said 'ask for help!' Ok, i shall see you around, maybe in your hometown or maybe on a sidewalk or maybe in the afterlife I have only had one gluten free beer so far this end-of-workday and I am typing so fast with such brazen requests that I think gluten free beer is spiked with extra content or magic be well, t I've been on my motorcycle
i've been in bodies of water
I've even been on dates under moons, on bicycles, in tents.
It's a good summer...

It's not like last summer, when Jack Layton was still alive and my heart arrythmia was recently fixed and how to be alone was getting lots of youtube hits
back in 2010 when the sun shone hotter
and we all stayed in the water longer

but this summer is more real
there's more grit
it's more east coast than BC
more scraggly bush than tall tall tree

And i've been writing
Fragments about religion and women
new poems about work and witches
songs about the lonely days that linger on

This fall I will go to the west coast, for writers festivals and to eat salmon
I will sit in my first hot spring, goddamn it
I am planning this
I also get to go to Carolina!
Do you live in Carolina? Who lives in Carolina?
I will be tootling around with some industry peeps, showcasing and inquiring into where are the good coffee shops
and I-know-none-of-the-locals-are-swimming-but-i-am-from-canada-and-so-this-is-like-the-tropics-and-where-is-the-quarry?

i will also do these things:
pick berries
make soup
ride my bicycle
ride my moto with a scarve that blows in the wind
sew old cheap dresses into new, weird ones
go on more dates
write more poems
play the piano that sounds so honky tonk it's starting to sound classical
pay my cats on their cute little heads
kneel and kiss the mountain
collaborate with musicians and videomakers
daydream
day-be

I just made that last one up. Can you tell?

I have cried more tears this summer than last summer but still I feel stronger
My back stoop is a most welcome landing pad for all of that saline
Friends have been landing pads, too (thank you friends)

The psychic told me there are rainbows behind me and so I'm gonna take that and run
She said, 'go, do things' you are poised'
I say, 'I have always been a fan of good posture, thank you very much. Off I go'

See you around this country and other ones, you people who read my words
I need your help, often
If you want me to come to your city/town then maybe you can throw some lavendar seeds at the mayor and she will hire me
or that university with all of the lesbians and those sensitive men I dig so much will need a poet to come
poem
Or maybe you know the venues
the artists to team up with
shit, maybe you even have funding

My psychic said 'ask for help!'
Ok, i shall

see you around, maybe in your hometown
or maybe on a sidewalk or maybe in the afterlife

I have only had one gluten free beer so far this end-of-workday and I am typing so fast with such brazen requests that I think gluten free beer is spiked with extra content
or magic

be well,
t
]]> Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:04:39 GMT 679C51CBDF4F93EEBC80B82BA21D64A3 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1162580 Now I am 32. I marked the ocassion by cooking a large feast for a lot of people I love and hosting a dance party. Friends brought a sound system that turned my house into a club. But the kind of club where you can still get some dancing done because there is room enough for everyone and all of our limbs to flail and be flung and the music was actually good. I bought a 9 and a half pound salmon and rode it home on my moto, in my backpack. If you cook it, they will come. The Gods gave me a thunder and lightning storm. It was 6 hours long and that is not an exageration. I buzzed around like a bumblebee, between friends and crushes and songs front porch, back porch, kitchen I did a costume change and accepted, gratefully, their applause I partied all night long 6am, you haven't looked that beautiful in awhile... And now I am 32 and it's time to keep working. I've had some pretty great converations about the balance between work and play, effort and joy, the intermingling thereof. I am working on some new collaborations with people. They are not ready to put out into the world yet but this fall they will be. I am also putting together a show for the Halifax Fringe Fest. What is it about? I don't know yet! This weekend I am giving a workshop on performance poetry at a writers festival in Shelburne Nova Scotia. Don't tell anyone but teaching makes me nervous. I am not a teacher, I am an artist. And sometime people think that artists can teach, because sometime they can But can I? Not sure. I can talk. I can lead by example? I can show some tips and facilitate a discussion. We will see. I give a fair amount of 'workshops' Hopefully people learn some things.. or think some things... In other news, I'll be to western canada this october, for writers festivals and shows In september i am going to drift away to a mountain in new england and hug some trees and smell some moss and stuff. Ha. That sounds amazing actually.. right now it is a daydream.. we will see. We will see, we will see or will we? do we? can't tell everything is fuzzy t
I marked the ocassion by cooking a large feast for a lot of people I love and hosting a dance party.
Friends brought a sound system that turned my house into a club.
But the kind of club where you can still get some dancing done
because there is room enough for everyone
and all of our limbs to flail and be flung
and the music was actually good.

I bought a 9 and a half pound salmon and rode it home on my moto, in my backpack.

If you cook it, they will come.
The Gods gave me a thunder and lightning storm.
It was 6 hours long
and that is not an exageration.

I buzzed around like a bumblebee, between friends and crushes and songs
front porch, back porch, kitchen
I did a costume change and accepted, gratefully, their applause
I partied all night long

6am, you haven't looked that beautiful in awhile...

And now I am 32 and it's time to keep working.
I've had some pretty great converations about the balance between work and play, effort and joy, the intermingling thereof.
I am working on some new collaborations with people.
They are not ready to put out into the world yet but this fall they will be.

I am also putting together a show for the Halifax Fringe Fest.
What is it about?
I don't know yet!

This weekend I am giving a workshop on performance poetry at a writers festival in Shelburne Nova Scotia.
Don't tell anyone but teaching makes me nervous.
I am not a teacher, I am an artist.
And sometime people think that artists can teach, because sometime they can
But can I?
Not sure. I can talk. I can lead by example? I can show some tips and facilitate a discussion.
We will see.
I give a fair amount of 'workshops'
Hopefully people learn some things.. or think some things...

In other news, I'll be to western canada this october, for writers festivals and shows
In september i am going to drift away to a mountain in new england and hug some trees and smell some moss and stuff.
Ha. That sounds amazing actually..
right now it is a daydream.. we will see.

We will see, we will see
or will we?
do we?
can't tell
everything is fuzzy

t


]]> Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:13:12 GMT F3F1E4EF9B5EAF66C24A6E4847D25E20 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1128222 Well, last week was Pride week in Halifax and I was super gay. Highlights include: Lesbian robot sex on stage after weird and hilarious skit Dressing up and singing an Annie Lennox song, with back up singers! (No more I love yous... those high notes were high but audience members assured me I did a good job, I supposed it worked fine, in Tanya Davis style, when I just breathed the high notes instead of actually hitting them :) All of the cute gay boys that made me wish I was a gay boy! Plays at the Queer Acts Theatre Festival Rding my motorcyle around town.. oh, wait, that wasn't a part of pride week. Performing my new pride poem in front of the mass of people gathered after the parade Going down the giant blown up pirate ship slide! 6 times! The first adult ride I have been on in years! Amaaaaazing! And now it is just another week and there is just some more construction outside my door and I am justanother poet waking up on a monday wondering what to do and what it is for I should write lists on sunday nights instead of monday AM's But, still, I had a nice time at the coffee shop planning to plan things Watching my pen move across paper like it had an important task to do Trying to remember that time is just time and I don't need to run so fast. Meditation helps, a bit. Last night I had some fresh air and then played the piano for a long time. I recorded blips on my phone that I hope to go back to turn them into songs and then I started a new one on the guitar about fidelity, spurred on by a beautiful married woman and also flirtation and the nature of relation and how we pass tension back and forth like it's a dish to savour yes please, more please There are no clouds in Halifax skies today my motorcycle is running fine and there are lakes nearby and probably I will put myself in one The bicycle beckons as well either way it'll be me and two wheels and a body of water After some more planning, that is after a bit of poem-writing spurred on by life's poetry and also some granola and some house-cleaning In an effort to remember that life is happening all the time and not just in my dayplanner I have vowed to do one house task a day to beautify to settle in sit down to keep my feet on the ground Yesterday I clipped the lawn (I can only afford a weed wacker, not a mower, so it is a slow process...) Today maybe I will re-pot that plant that is falling over Oh, summer, you're so good Also, I commited myself to a fringe play here in Halifax in early September! So I will work on that. I mean, it's not a play, per se. But it'll be something OK, random randomness What is this blog about? Dunno. It is representative of my current state of mind - scattered, many focuses (focii?), high on coffee... td Highlights include:

Lesbian robot sex on stage after weird and hilarious skit

Dressing up and singing an Annie Lennox song, with back up singers! (No more I love yous... those high notes were high but audience members assured me I did a good job, I supposed it worked fine, in Tanya Davis style, when I just breathed the high notes instead of actually hitting them :)

All of the cute gay boys that made me wish I was a gay boy!

Plays at the Queer Acts Theatre Festival

Rding my motorcyle around town.. oh, wait, that wasn't a part of pride week.

Performing my new pride poem in front of the mass of people gathered after the parade

Going down the giant blown up pirate ship slide! 6 times! The first adult ride I have been on in years! Amaaaaazing!

And now it is just another week and there is just some more construction outside my door
and I am justanother poet waking up on a monday wondering what to do and what it is for

I should write lists on sunday nights instead of monday AM's
But, still, I had a nice time at the coffee shop planning to plan things
Watching my pen move across paper like it had an important task to do
Trying to remember that time is just time and I don't need to run so fast. Meditation helps, a bit.

Last night I had some fresh air and then played the piano for a long time. I recorded blips on my phone that I hope to go back to
turn them into songs
and then I started a new one on the guitar about fidelity,
spurred on by a beautiful married woman
and also flirtation
and the nature
of relation
and how we pass tension
back and forth
like it's a dish to savour

yes please, more please

There are no clouds in Halifax skies today
my motorcycle is running fine
and there are lakes nearby
and probably I will put myself in one
The bicycle beckons as well
either way it'll be me and two wheels and a body of water

After some more planning, that is
after a bit of poem-writing
spurred on by life's poetry
and also some granola
and some house-cleaning

In an effort to remember that life is happening all the time
and not just in my dayplanner
I have vowed to do one house task a day
to beautify
to settle in
sit down
to keep my feet on the ground

Yesterday I clipped the lawn (I can only afford a weed wacker, not a mower, so it is a slow process...)
Today maybe I will re-pot that plant that is falling over

Oh, summer, you're so good

Also, I commited myself to a fringe play here in Halifax in early September!
So I will work on that. I mean, it's not a play, per se. But it'll be something

OK, random randomness
What is this blog about?
Dunno.
It is representative of my current state of mind - scattered, many focuses (focii?), high on coffee...

td

]]> Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:08:25 GMT 25B6C7B98A243EDC3196D424D717802D http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1092364 I'm flying to England in 3 hours! I am packed but I have some cookies in the fridge that I shouldn't forget It's summer in Halifax and I have been swimming a bunch of times, in my favorite lake which is called Long Lake. I have so much to say... But I have to call a cab! Last minute-ness I am chasing my life around a lot lately. Well, I have been, but that's changing, I feel a shift, a slowing down. For instance, i've been writing more these days And for that I feel relieved more peace intrigue I found me a motorbike, it is black and pretty I will own it in one week First, though, a trip over the ocean i land in London tomorrow morning for two days off ! I am going to eat cadbury chocolate bars and walkandwalkandwalk And hopefully go dancing and see music that is amazing and maybe even free Then on Monday I take a train to Wales to showcase at a conference that is for presenters from rural UK in hopes that they will like what I do and want to book me So then I will go back across the ocean in the future! Ok, really, I am full of words to share but the cab, I have to call one I am excited to talk about my new book. It's out! You can find it at chapters stores (indigo) in Canada. Request it if it's not there Or you can find it at chapters online or amazon, too I will post more soon You should see how fast I am typing this I went dancing at a party last night that smelled of bodies shaking and summer There was bumping and grinding that felt safe and sexy and full of gold Love, there's so much of it, td I am packed but I have some cookies in the fridge that I shouldn't forget
It's summer in Halifax and I have been swimming a bunch of times, in my favorite lake which is called Long Lake.
I have so much to say...

But I have to call a cab!
Last minute-ness
I am chasing my life around a lot lately. Well, I have been, but that's changing, I feel a shift, a slowing down. For instance, i've been writing more these days
And for that I feel relieved
more peace
intrigue

I found me a motorbike, it is black and pretty
I will own it in one week

First, though, a trip over the ocean
i land in London tomorrow morning for two days off
!
I am going to eat cadbury chocolate bars and walkandwalkandwalk
And hopefully go dancing
and see music that is amazing
and maybe even free

Then on Monday I take a train to Wales to showcase at a conference that is for presenters from rural UK
in hopes that they will like what I do and want to book me
So then I will go back across the ocean in the future!

Ok, really, I am full of words to share but the cab, I have to call one

I am excited to talk about my new book. It's out!
You can find it at chapters stores (indigo) in Canada. Request it if it's not there
Or you can find it at chapters online or amazon, too

I will post more soon
You should see how fast I am typing this
I went dancing at a party last night that smelled of bodies shaking and summer
There was bumping and grinding that felt safe and sexy and full of gold

Love, there's so much of it,

td
]]> Sat, 09 Jul 2011 07:16:41 GMT 5697903ACBDB57F98F2DEAA8E67A9FFD http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=1051005 I have a chocolate bar. It is a family-sized one and tonight I am an entire family. I will soon be an entire family in front of tv on the internet with my exciting choco bar. And I will watch some weird reality show that I stream for free while hoping that such an activity does not give my computer a virus. Tv on the internet is weird but I like it. Because there are no commercials and I like to watch good storytelling, be it about vampires, motorcycle clubs, lesbians or historical times. Tonight it might be motorcycle clubs. Because I just got my motorcycle license! Woo! And please don't tell me to be careful or about a motorcycle accident you heard about recently. Of course I will be careful. And news of motorcycle accidents does not make me a more cautious rider, it just makes me paranoid. There are always accidents, everyday, with all sorts of vehicles and tools and playground equipment and staircases and on and on. They are tragic and commonplace. I hope to not have one. That is my intention. I took a safety course. It was all weekend long here in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 8 hours each day on a motorcycle, from pushing it around the parking lot, to turning it on and off, to getting into first gear then second gear then around the pylons and corners. And now I have a beginners permit because I passed the necessary test and they trust me. Inwardly, I cried. I swelled up. Because I've been wanting to ride a bike for half my life and it intimidated me and though I knew I could do it I was still scared of failing, of looking foolish. Aren't we all... So, now I have a license but no bike. I am searching on kijiji. But I have no money. So I am looking at cheap ones. But I don't know how to fix them. So I am looking for cheap ones in good shape. But I don't know how to tell. So I am feeling nervous about calling the phone numbers that are connected to the bikes that seem cheap and yet in good shape. Life is a series of obstacles. Is it? I'm not sure. I'm not sure what life is. That's okay. To the person that commented to me about my last blog. Thank you. Yes, it IS okay. Today I rode my bike to an appt, as I do, and I passed a dreamy motorcycle. I'm going to call the number. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe with my mom nearby who is worried a bit but secretly excited for this new venture of mine. She knows I follow my soul around, my irrational and beauty-loving soul. And she must also know that I have good defensive driving skills. And I've done other 'crazy' things. I'm reading 'Just Kids' by Patti Smith. It's inspiring. I don't listen to her music, I haven't much at all. But I know a bit about her and respect her work and what she's done. It's a great story. Today I got the copies of my first published book. 10 copies to do with as I wish. I will give them to my family and my close friends. I gave one to myself already. I've been carrying it around and I take it out of my bag and run my hand over the cover once in awhile. I've always wanted a book. It's my first book and I'm nervous. How will people respond, what will they think, what will they say? I have thin skin.. But I'm proud, like I am about the motorcycle license. Things I've wanted to do. I have no money and that is a blog entry in and of itself (because I've been thinking about that lately, about what it takes to make an income after so much investment..) but I have a published book and a motorcycle license. And friends and support and fans who might read this blog and a bicycle and today is summer and so I dove naked into a lake to celebrate. I can dive into lakes, naked if I want because there is so much space. No people, save a beautiful friend who supports such ventures. I offered something to the gods, because they have been good to me and they have been good to us. We still have a planet and it still supports us, though we are terrible stewards. I don't even know if I believe in gods. I don't believe in god. Plural gods make more sense to me. It's just like a concept of interconnection and a huge web and everyone is a part of it, all the gods, all the myths, all the stories. Sure, why not. I'm very impressionable. I'm also typing really fast and I only meant to say hello and tell you about my book and that I would write more soon. Well, I will write more soon. I will include the details about where to buy my book. It will be in some stores and also online. The chocolate bar, the motorcycle club stories, it's all waiting. It's been a long day and darkness has descended and I am going to sit on my plaid chair and tv on the internet is going to tell me a story. Be well, td I will soon be an entire family in front of tv on the internet with my exciting choco bar. And I will watch some weird reality show that I stream for free while hoping that such an activity does not give my computer a virus.
Tv on the internet is weird but I like it. Because there are no commercials and I like to watch good storytelling, be it about vampires, motorcycle clubs, lesbians or historical times. Tonight it might be motorcycle clubs. Because I just got my motorcycle license!

Woo!

And please don't tell me to be careful or about a motorcycle accident you heard about recently. Of course I will be careful. And news of motorcycle accidents does not make me a more cautious rider, it just makes me paranoid. There are always accidents, everyday, with all sorts of vehicles and tools and playground equipment and staircases and on and on. They are tragic and commonplace. I hope to not have one. That is my intention.

I took a safety course. It was all weekend long here in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 8 hours each day on a motorcycle, from pushing it around the parking lot, to turning it on and off, to getting into first gear then second gear then around the pylons and corners. And now I have a beginners permit because I passed the necessary test and they trust me. Inwardly, I cried. I swelled up. Because I've been wanting to ride a bike for half my life and it intimidated me and though I knew I could do it I was still scared of failing, of looking foolish. Aren't we all...

So, now I have a license but no bike. I am searching on kijiji. But I have no money. So I am looking at cheap ones. But I don't know how to fix them. So I am looking for cheap ones in good shape. But I don't know how to tell. So I am feeling nervous about calling the phone numbers that are connected to the bikes that seem cheap and yet in good shape.
Life is a series of obstacles.
Is it?
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure what life is.
That's okay.
To the person that commented to me about my last blog. Thank you. Yes, it IS okay.

Today I rode my bike to an appt, as I do, and I passed a dreamy motorcycle. I'm going to call the number. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe with my mom nearby who is worried a bit but secretly excited for this new venture of mine. She knows I follow my soul around, my irrational and beauty-loving soul. And she must also know that I have good defensive driving skills. And I've done other 'crazy' things.

I'm reading 'Just Kids' by Patti Smith. It's inspiring. I don't listen to her music, I haven't much at all. But I know a bit about her and respect her work and what she's done. It's a great story.

Today I got the copies of my first published book. 10 copies to do with as I wish. I will give them to my family and my close friends. I gave one to myself already. I've been carrying it around and I take it out of my bag and run my hand over the cover once in awhile. I've always wanted a book. It's my first book and I'm nervous. How will people respond, what will they think, what will they say? I have thin skin..
But I'm proud, like I am about the motorcycle license. Things I've wanted to do. I have no money and that is a blog entry in and of itself (because I've been thinking about that lately, about what it takes to make an income after so much investment..) but I have a published book and a motorcycle license. And friends and support and fans who might read this blog and a bicycle and today is summer and so I dove naked into a lake to celebrate. I can dive into lakes, naked if I want because there is so much space. No people, save a beautiful friend who supports such ventures. I offered something to the gods, because they have been good to me and they have been good to us. We still have a planet and it still supports us, though we are terrible stewards. I don't even know if I believe in gods. I don't believe in god. Plural gods make more sense to me. It's just like a concept of interconnection and a huge web and everyone is a part of it, all the gods, all the myths, all the stories. Sure, why not. I'm very impressionable.

I'm also typing really fast and I only meant to say hello and tell you about my book and that I would write more soon.
Well, I will write more soon. I will include the details about where to buy my book. It will be in some stores and also online.
The chocolate bar, the motorcycle club stories, it's all waiting. It's been a long day and darkness has descended and I am going to sit on my plaid chair and tv on the internet is going to tell me a story.

Be well,

td
]]> Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:25:58 GMT DD33813139437166FA6C2CCB667AB540 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=988437 Soon. For now I make nettle soup. With grated dubliner cheese and roasted pepitas on top. I love to cook. I don't do it as much as I'd like to. Either because I am travelling, or my housemates cook something first, or I go out for dinner because I also love going out for dinner. Or just becase. But this morning, this holiday monday that feels like sunday, I am cooking. The sun woke me up early, in concert with my cat. They both wanted me to get up. Quiet house, quiet city, I laid down my yoga mat. Then I drank pine tea (tastes like woods and freedom!) And then I caught up to emails I had put stars beside and now I am waiting for the nettle soup to be ready. These mornings are good, these domestic and slow, quiet ones. You know what else is good? Waking up in a new city and finding a good place for breakfast, recalling new faces from last night's show, both cute and interesting. It is good to be on tour and I look forward to going back out there! In a few days I fly to the midcountry and I start this tour with 3 days off. I am a worker bee! Ha, well, I sort of am. And that is why I build days off, deliberately, into my tour schedule. I have friends to see and dates to go on. I have good food to eat and lakes to swim in. I have poems to write and I like writing them in unfamiliar coffee shops, anonymous and quiet. All of this is fodder for my creative work and, also, my soul. Recently, I finished a book called 'Care of the Soul', by Thomas Moore. Did I talk about this in my last blog. HHmm, can't remember. Probably. Anyway, it was a good reminder that it is important to feed one's soul, in all sorts of beautiful, invigorating, irrational, and thought-provoking ways. I forget that. We all do. We work so much. This long weekend reminds me that I support the 4 day work week, for the good of all. If we worked a bit less we would be happier. And all of those technological advancements could be put to better use. We would be more productive, after having rested for a solid 3 days. There would be more work to go around perhaps, all of those unemployed people who want to work could get some work and all of those people who are addicted to work would have to work less and, gasp, maybe even consumme less. We would burn less fuel by millions of workers commuting one less day a week. We would use less power. We would see our kids more. We would cook more, relax more, smell the roses more.. I could go on. I could be more descriptive and articulate but my nettle soup is almost done and this is not an essay. Soul food, right, that's what I was talking about. Well, I offered my soul some food recently. It's called 'motorcycle lessons'! Yep. Me and a long desired piece of machinery are going to become friends later this summer and I am pumped for that! I will remind myself, with nettles, with pine trees, with motorcycles, with dates, with friends, with swims in lakes and deep breaths that life is for living I want to make art. I consider myself very lucky that I get to do this I want less people to be suffering and I want to work to help that My soul wants to feel things, too. It is irrational. I don't need to prove that. I'll just let it meander it's way sometime. Kind of like my blogs.. meander meander be well, td But this morning, this holiday monday that feels like sunday, I am cooking. The sun woke me up early, in concert with my cat. They both wanted me to get up.
Quiet house, quiet city, I laid down my yoga mat.
Then I drank pine tea (tastes like woods and freedom!)
And then I caught up to emails I had put stars beside and now I am waiting for the nettle soup to be ready.

These mornings are good, these domestic and slow, quiet ones.
You know what else is good? Waking up in a new city and finding a good place for breakfast, recalling new faces from last night's show, both cute and interesting.
It is good to be on tour and I look forward to going back out there!

In a few days I fly to the midcountry and I start this tour with 3 days off. I am a worker bee! Ha, well, I sort of am. And that is why I build days off, deliberately, into my tour schedule. I have friends to see and dates to go on. I have good food to eat and lakes to swim in. I have poems to write and I like writing them in unfamiliar coffee shops, anonymous and quiet. All of this is fodder for my creative work and, also, my soul.

Recently, I finished a book called 'Care of the Soul', by Thomas Moore. Did I talk about this in my last blog. HHmm, can't remember. Probably. Anyway, it was a good reminder that it is important to feed one's soul, in all sorts of beautiful, invigorating, irrational, and thought-provoking ways. I forget that. We all do. We work so much.
This long weekend reminds me that I support the 4 day work week, for the good of all. If we worked a bit less we would be happier. And all of those technological advancements could be put to better use. We would be more productive, after having rested for a solid 3 days. There would be more work to go around perhaps, all of those unemployed people who want to work could get some work and all of those people who are addicted to work would have to work less and, gasp, maybe even consumme less. We would burn less fuel by millions of workers commuting one less day a week. We would use less power. We would see our kids more. We would cook more, relax more, smell the roses more..

I could go on. I could be more descriptive and articulate but my nettle soup is almost done and this is not an essay.
Soul food, right, that's what I was talking about. Well, I offered my soul some food recently. It's called 'motorcycle lessons'! Yep. Me and a long desired piece of machinery are going to become friends later this summer and I am pumped for that!

I will remind myself, with nettles, with pine trees, with motorcycles, with dates, with friends, with swims in lakes and deep breaths
that life is for living
I want to make art. I consider myself very lucky that I get to do this
I want less people to be suffering and I want to work to help that
My soul wants to feel things, too. It is irrational. I don't need to prove that. I'll just let it meander it's way sometime.
Kind of like my blogs.. meander meander

be well,
td
]]> Mon, 23 May 2011 21:45:11 GMT BE75A7411135F4DF325B9E6A47D531BC http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=961607 My housemate is making rice and curry dahl I am curled up in my office wishing the rain would not fall for at least a day, frig off I need the sun to lift me from this lethargy, warm me up It started with the election. That was when I realized that I live in a bubble. I suppose I realize it from time to timen but that was when I was, once again, reminded. This little peninsula is full of left-leaning socialists and we are left learning on the democrats to pull us out of this So much can happen in 4 years. What sort of bills will get introduced and passed through, will it be as bad as I fear? This morning, over a meeting with city staff about my new position as Poet Laureate I somehow brought up armeggedon. I didn't mean to, I mean, it wasn't premeditated. I noticed that my term ends in 2012 and I mentioned how, according to some, that could be a really significant year. I don't believe in armeggedon, necessarily. But I do believe that things might be crashing around us a little bit, going from bad to worse. And I believe that things need to get pretty bad before the majority of people will take action to do something about it. So, maybe we're getting closer to action.. Our newly elected government is just one sign of things going from bad to worse. Goodbye arts funding, hello prisons. Hello more war, goodbye peacekeeping Nice to meet you privatized heatlh care and subsidized oil digging This is not all new but now it's just less secret. And so many disasters kiling so many people ruining soil when food is already scarce, sources keep depleting. Holy wars still waging and no god is winning I read a book called Ren-Gen, a few months ago. The author claims that we are heading for another renaissance age and, to prove that, she draws parellels between what's happening now and what happened preceeding the Italian renaissance. Things like the breakdown of power and the rising up of citizens (I think of all the govts toppling or struggling in the Middle East, Northern Africa); the dissemination of information to more people (during the Italian renaissance this was helped by the network of roads that were legally once only for the Roman army but then the people said 'fuck that, I need to go somewhere, do something, learn something and I, too, am going to use this really practical network of roads'. These days, the internet is our accessible system of 'roads' leading us to all kinds of free information, regardless of governmental hieararchies that might try to keep us mis/uninformed. The author also compares the balance of power shifting away from a major centre (Rome) to minor centres (Florence). Is that like how Halifax is just as cool as Toronto? I don't know, that ones a stretch of a comparison, but maybe you see where I'm going with this. I'm no scholar, certainly no renaissance era scholar. Still, my gut tells me that something's going down, lots of things. Our world and the people in it are having a hard time and something's gotta give. I am an optimist so, luckily, this does not all feel bleak to me. In fact, it feels hopeful. Is 2012 the age of a new astrology? Like, aquarius or something? Could it be there year that more people look around and see the suffering of the world, their neighbors, this earth we're standing on? And then, by feeling that pain, more of us could work for compassion? Compassion instead of growth, instead of economic gain instead of power, instead of oblivion to others' pain It's been raining and raining I've been complaining I want a motorcycle so I can protect myself and ride away though I know that that is not the way. Luckily, i don't have my license and I have a penchant for company So I stay In my office with drops chasing each other down the windowpane Luckily, rain makes me think of books so I've been reading them again Remembering that it's a good use of my time, that my soul aches for words for sentences for the depths of the page down where I don't know the answer, where I really can't say but I'll hang out there, soaking in mystery's grace If 2012 is an armeggedon than I want to participate. I am curled up in my office wishing the rain would not fall
for at least a day, frig off
I need the sun to lift me from this lethargy, warm me up

It started with the election.
That was when I realized that I live in a bubble. I suppose I realize it from time to timen but that was when I was, once again, reminded.
This little peninsula is full of left-leaning socialists
and we are left learning on the democrats
to pull us out of this
So much can happen in 4 years.
What sort of bills will get introduced and passed through, will it be as bad as I fear?

This morning, over a meeting with city staff about my new position as Poet Laureate I somehow brought up armeggedon. I didn't mean to, I mean, it wasn't premeditated.
I noticed that my term ends in 2012 and I mentioned how, according to some, that could be a really significant year. I don't believe in armeggedon, necessarily. But I do believe that things might be crashing around us a little bit, going from bad to worse. And I believe that things need to get pretty bad before the majority of people will take action to do something about it. So, maybe we're getting closer to action..

Our newly elected government is just one sign of things going from bad to worse.
Goodbye arts funding, hello prisons. Hello more war, goodbye peacekeeping
Nice to meet you privatized heatlh care and subsidized oil digging
This is not all new but now it's just less secret.
And so many disasters kiling so many people
ruining soil when food is already scarce, sources keep depleting.
Holy wars still waging
and no god is winning

I read a book called Ren-Gen, a few months ago. The author claims that we are heading for another renaissance age and, to prove that, she draws parellels between what's happening now and what happened preceeding the Italian renaissance. Things like the breakdown of power and the rising up of citizens (I think of all the govts toppling or struggling in the Middle East, Northern Africa); the dissemination of information to more people (during the Italian renaissance this was helped by the network of roads that were legally once only for the Roman army but then the people said 'fuck that, I need to go somewhere, do something, learn something and I, too, am going to use this really practical network of roads'. These days, the internet is our accessible system of 'roads' leading us to all kinds of free information, regardless of governmental hieararchies that might try to keep us mis/uninformed. The author also compares the balance of power shifting away from a major centre (Rome) to minor centres (Florence). Is that like how Halifax is just as cool as Toronto? I don't know, that ones a stretch of a comparison, but maybe you see where I'm going with this.
I'm no scholar, certainly no renaissance era scholar. Still, my gut tells me that something's going down, lots of things. Our world and the people in it are having a hard time and something's gotta give. I am an optimist so, luckily, this does not all feel bleak to me. In fact, it feels hopeful.

Is 2012 the age of a new astrology? Like, aquarius or something? Could it be there year that more people look around and see the suffering of the world, their neighbors, this earth we're standing on? And then, by feeling that pain, more of us could work for compassion?
Compassion instead of growth, instead of economic gain
instead of power, instead of oblivion to others' pain

It's been raining and raining
I've been complaining
I want a motorcycle so I can protect myself and ride away
though I know that that is not the way.
Luckily, i don't have my license and I have a penchant for company
So I stay
In my office with drops chasing each other down the windowpane

Luckily, rain makes me think of books so I've been reading them again
Remembering that it's a good use of my time, that my soul aches
for words for sentences for the depths of the page
down where I don't know the answer, where I really can't say
but I'll hang out there, soaking in mystery's grace
If 2012 is an armeggedon than I want to participate.

]]> Wed, 11 May 2011 00:27:36 GMT 50EA34525CD998EAB730BB4B35843BC4 http://tanyadavis.ca/blog.cfm?feature=1831197&postid=933492 HIIIIII! I don't know where to begin. So, then, I'm just going to begin. I wanted to write to you, bloggity wog, for the last week. And time kept filling up or else I fell asleep or else I opted for scotch or daydreams I started to drink red wine, in efforts to be romantic So in the future I could say a truthful yes to pretty women and sexy men when they held out glasses with long stems and we could raise them to fuel our antics. Also, I like that red wine doesn't need refrigerators. So, this past week I drank some. Both on dates and alone in my kitchen post connection and pre-decisions and I thought a lot of thoughts. I reflected on the tour from which I just got off. I pondered women who love me and women who I want. i thought of all of the connections that are dropped. I don't drink very often. But in the past coupla weeks I've been with a light head a coupla times. (Do traditional poets hate the word 'coupla'. The english language is fluid and I'm just taking advantage...) There's been reason to celebrate. Here are some reasons: I was just named The Mayor's Poet Laureate of Halifax (for a 2 year term, advocacy, writing, orating, igniting..) I had a great first tour of the UK! (perks include good shows, generous people, cask ales, cadbury chocolate, swimming in the freezing cold ocean, finding the good food, many old churches, stone buildings, accents, edinburgh, london, cute people, music, poetry, trains, inspiration) It is spring! My cat loves me more than ever. My first book of poetry comes out in June. Kisses. My record comes out on vinyl really soon. Plans. New songs. I celebrate these things not only with wine but also with feeling with tears streaming with joy reaching the depths of my being and that sounds cheesy because maybe it is but, you know, i really like cheese! Recently, I sat in Yorkminster cathedral. I snuck on my device to record the voices of the people the choir rejoiced with vigour enough to reach up to the steeple to wake up the birds that were sleeping to shake up that young girl whose heart was once beating with fear of repeating too many mistakes she quivered and reeled in the knowledge that she didn't quite have the right faith and now, these days, she sits in churches and doesn't pray but, still, the tears stream down her face she cries for me, I cry for her we've made our peace And a couple weeks later I am back on my seat on my floor in my room, kneeling at the world's feet and then I am at my own desk while the rain comes down outdoors in sheets trying to keep up the pace the world works while it does change Another tour ends a new one waits And I am beginning.. always td
I don't know where to begin. So, then, I'm just going to begin.

I wanted to write to you, bloggity wog, for the last week. And time kept filling up or else I fell asleep
or else I opted for scotch or daydreams
I started to drink red wine, in efforts to be romantic
So in the future I could say a truthful yes to pretty women and sexy men
when they held out glasses with long stems
and we could raise them to fuel our antics.

Also, I like that red wine doesn't need refrigerators.

So, this past week I drank some. Both on dates and alone in my kitchen
post connection and pre-decisions
and I thought a lot of thoughts.
I reflected on the tour from which I just got off.
I pondered women who love me and women who I want.
i thought of all of the connections that are dropped.

I don't drink very often.
But in the past coupla weeks I've been with a light head a coupla times.
(Do traditional poets hate the word 'coupla'. The english language is fluid and I'm just taking advantage...)

There's been reason to celebrate. Here are some reasons:

I was just named The Mayor's Poet Laureate of Halifax (for a 2 year term, advocacy, writing, orating, igniting..)

I had a great first tour of the UK! (perks include good shows, generous people, cask ales, cadbury chocolate, swimming in the freezing cold ocean, finding the good food, many old churches, stone buildings, accents, edinburgh, london, cute people, music, poetry, trains, inspiration)

It is spring!

My cat loves me more than ever.

My first book of poetry comes out in June.

Kisses.

My record comes out on vinyl really soon.

Plans.

New songs.


I celebrate these things not only with wine but also with feeling
with tears streaming
with joy reaching the depths of my being
and that sounds cheesy
because maybe it is
but, you know, i really like cheese!

Recently, I sat in Yorkminster cathedral.
I snuck on my device to record the voices of the people
the choir rejoiced with vigour enough to reach up to the steeple
to wake up the birds that were sleeping
to shake up that young girl whose heart was once beating with fear of repeating too many mistakes
she quivered and reeled in the knowledge that she didn't quite have the right faith
and now, these days, she sits in churches and doesn't pray
but, still, the tears stream down her face
she cries for me, I cry for her
we've made our peace

And a couple weeks later I am back on my seat
on my floor in my room, kneeling at the world's feet
and then I am at my own desk while the rain comes down outdoors in sheets
trying to keep up the pace
the world works while it does change
Another tour ends a new one waits
And I am beginning.. always

td

]]> Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:41:10 GMT 0C834480478A21DFFB35244DACF04384