Minime, who is now most certainly Maximen ... a whole head taller ... just got back from a trip to Vancouver. The trip was part of our homeschooling and so over the next week or two, my blog will host a guest blogger ... minime. There will also be some poetry, by me, and some accompanying AI art done with Grok to close out the posts.

From Minime ...

(my own image)

Where I live in Northern Alberta, it’s freezing cold and super snowy in the winter. Some days, it can get as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. And even colder. A person could freeze to death in minutes. I wanted a break from the frigid temperatures: and so, my Mom and I packed up our car and headed for Edmonton to catch an afternoon plane to Vancouver the next day.

The drive from Northern Alberta to Edmonton is long, and the highways were icy. The days are also very short this time of year; and so, the drive took two days. We stopped for the night in Vallyview, in a hotel with a pool, which was fun. My Mom also thinks Valleyview has the best coffee in Northern Alberta. We always stop there anyways for a cup of Columbian at the local Seven Eleven.

The second day was also cold and snowy when we hit the road at sunrise, my mom with her coffee and me with a Prime. Alberta drivers tend to speed, but my mom drives the speed limit or less. She is a safe driver. We got to Edmonton, left the car in long term parking, and caught a shuttle to the airport. We arrived at the terminal and discovered that our plane was delayed. We checked in, went through security, and had food and drinks at a place called Avalon.

Finally, it was time to get on our plane and go to Vancouver. Ninety minutes or so later, we landed at Richmond airport YVR. We got our luggage from the carousal and got on a train to Waterfront Station. Fortunately, there was a taxi waiting for us just outside the station. We taxied to my mom’s friends place, and had a very nice dinner. All and all, it was a great trip into Vancouver.

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The Devil is a DJ

the devil is a DJ extraordinaire
Clad in a 3-piece suit and epaulettes
On a flaming turntable lies he spins
Melding, mixing, fanning, inciting
Until we forget their fiery myths

The devil gyrates on
Composing his calumny
Carnivorous ears smoulder
We dance upon the cinders
Consuming faux-phobias

One brave little soldier, two die
Two brave little soldiers …
In pools of blood, thousands lie

We dance to the war beat
Lapping up his words ablaze
Stamping our feet in the fire
Growing, searing, engulfing
Love and reason with ire

One brave little soldier, two die
Two brave little soldiers …
In pools of blood, our reflections lie ...

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The above piece of #poetry is from my collection of poems and short stories, Monsters, Avatars, and Angels. Link below. The #AIart and Video was created with grok.

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