Wannaskan Almanac

    I studied in various schools for 16 years, but got my real education in the Navy, I was thrown together with people from all over the country and learned that even crazy people can get the job done when put under military discipline. During my enlistment I lived in a poor foreign country for a year and learned it doesn’t take much money to be happy.   Every so often a fellow sailor, always someone I didn’t know, would sidle up and ask if I knew the Lord. I’m a Catholic, was my answer. Your question is redundant and embarrassing. I didn’t say that. I just mumbled something that made him feel his mission was accomplished and he would sidle away.   Since I got out of the service decades ago no one has asked me about my knowledge of the Lord, until last Monday outside the Super One grocery store. As I walked toward my car I could see a woman loading bags into the back of her car while a tall skinny kid, her son I thought, talked to her. But when she was done, she drove off and he turne

  An Old Mostly-True Story "Ula, wake up! I think I see something on the road ahead..." said Sven, who was riding shotgun this leg of the trip. "What is it, Sven?" replied Ula, sleepily awakening behind the wheel of the car as Sven steered steered one-handed from the passenger seat, binoculars to his eyes. "What do you see?" "It's still a long ways away Ula, but it could be a deer, eh. Take the wheel, eh? I want to hold the binoculars with both hands. Ula resumed steering and slowed the car down. "What is it Sven? I can barely make it out, Ula said, the sleep not yet out of his eyes. "Is it a deer?" "No Ula, ... Sven slowly replied. " But it looks ... mighty strange ... to me . You look. I'll steer." And once again, Ula let go of the steering wheel to use Sven's binoculars as Sven steered one-handed from the passenger seat. "GOOD GRIEF! SVEN!" Ula shouted. "YOU AIN'T GOIN' TO BELIEVE TH

And here is the Wannaskan Almanac with Word-Wednesday for October 2, 2024, the fortieth Wednesday of the year, the second Wednesday of fall, the first Wednesday of October, and the two-hundred-seventy-sixth day of the year, with ninety days remaining, sponsored by Bead Gypsy Studío, 101 Main Avenue North, Roseau’s FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL, Saturday, October 5, 9:00am-4:01pm, with fika all day (three flavors of coffee and cookies), aaaaand earring special: buy one, get one fifty percent off.   Wannaska Phenology Update for October 2, 2024 Screaming Porcupines It’s that time of year again — females of Erethizon dorsatum are clambering [clamber: /ˈklambər/ v., climb, move, or get in or out of something in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet] up trees to loudly announce their readiness to engage with male companions. October 2 Fickle Pickle Wednesday Menu Special : Potato Dumpling October 2 Nordhem Wednesday Lunch : Updated daily, occasionally. Earth/Moon Alm

I refuse to believe that it already October So today I celebrate September thirty one October is a cold month up in Wannaska While September can bring a bit more Sun In October the leaves fall all too abundantly And put on sweaters and jackets and caps And plan for Oktoberfest celebrations With flat German beer flowing out of their taps In September I might just be able to wear A T-shirt and shorts on a sunny day And take a quick dip in the Roseau River When I go out to play Aye, I turn my eye from the month of October And cling to September for maybe a week Till the temps and the pumpkins bring me back to reality Like a post-September wind whipping hard on my cheek