POEM : ANNA WINTOUR.

Green and red
go together, I said.
She looked and shook her head:
“No way, it’s May, Christmas is five months past dead.”

How about purple and pink? I said with apparent success.
Head shake no; “that is an earthquake of massive color mayhem messness.”
Should I roll my jeans up, or maybe my sleeves, I asked.
Was one of many stylistic queries to her I tasked.

Am I my brother’s keeper?
a question of which few are deeper.
It wonders of the responsibility we bear to those we adore
And how to help when their fashion sense is less not more.

To her the question was posed
A question straight on the nose:
Is your brother a fashion wreck?
No, she said firmly; not with me on deck.

She looked after my style,
For time, and times, and half a time, and then a little more while
All my life, from childhood little to childhood big,
She gave suggestions for style that people would dig.
Or maybe not dig, but at least not laugh at her brother,
It made another, her mother, the mom of my brother,
Happy to see; not happy to see her son fashionable,
But joyful to see her daughter’s positive actionable

To look out for each other is a parent’s dream
To watch your kids kind and get siblings’ backs
To know they’re in good hands with each other
In big things and little things too,

The important little things that preserve dignity
Building opposite of bickering enmity.
To help a brother out the door
With colour combos that don’t make an eye sore,
It was an ongoing battle
And again and again, she leapt to the saddle
“I’ll guide my bro,” she said.
“My big one, with colorblind eyes in his head.”

Thanks sis for the help in the pasted.
Some of your tips and suggestions might even have lasted.
You could have laughed with many others.
But you didn’t, and helped me keep some druthers.

Green and red, purple is tough
So many colours, pretty but rough.
Rough for some of us with the condition,
A little one no more I’m scared to mention,
That makes colors tough to see,
At least certain ones, for people like me.

So if you’re like me and some colours aren’t there to your eyes
And people inform you they are there, and make you surprise,
Then I hope you have a sister like mine,
Who can help bring out your own unique style divine.

LET THERE BE BLOODS.

BLOODS.* double-helix sharing ferocities; sometimes fighting with, often fighting for, back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back through everything. by my side, in my heart, sevenstrong. Forever. ____ *a phrase borrowed from other beloved brother Bobby James; where he pillaged it from I do not know. But I love it. ____ #siblings #flyviewaerial #pnw #selfportrait

A post shared by Joseph Long (@josephivanlong) on Dec 31, 2016 at 4:34pm PST

BLOODS.*

double-helix sharing ferocities;
sometimes fighting with, often fighting for,
back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back through everything.
by my side,
in my heart,
sevenstrong.

Forever.

____

*a phrase borrowed from other beloved brother Bobby James; where he pillaged it from I do not know. But I love it.

PUMPKINS, THIEVES, ETC.

The Pumpkin Thieves II.

I AM BOOK.

First off, thanks to Sharika for the Echo Donut Lounge recommendation! Been there twice now; love the space and the people
Second, my mom came up with the great idea, while we were coffee-ing and donut-ing, to each choose a book on the shelf that best described us. We approached this task with thoughtfulness and careful deliberation.

CHILDHOOD ORACULAR IN MONO, BACKWARDS.

Childhood. A time of glorious experimentation and directionless play, where ideally you can figure out a bunch of life without somebody telling you exactly what to do and how to do it at every turn.

Yeah, I guess I've just kind of dragged childhood right into adulthood as well, now that I think about it.

Happy day, all.

QUESTION: Favourite rainy afternoon tunes?

Post by Joseph Long.

____

Are you married to someone who brings home hot chocolate & whipped cream, speaks Pirate prolifically, and casually references Iron Maiden in conversation?

I am. Happy weekend, all. Already is for me.

____

IS THIS LOVE?

LOVE, EVERYWHERE.

MT. VERNON.

Rainy Day Selfies

Desolation of The Prince Bride & Elves.

MY LITTLE SISTER.

Sister.

We have celebrated decades of birthdays together.

Including this, from ten years past.

May there be years, decades and centuries more.

Love you lots. Plus infinity. 

Ask Micael to surprise you and buy you a big hat for your b-day. 

You should have one. Maybe in magenta.

Happy day.

Jos

PERSONS OF INTEREST.

FIVE SONGS I WILL ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH MY BROTHER JONNY.
1. Faithfully / Journey
2. I'll Be Your Shelter / Taylor Dayne
3. All My Life / K-Ci & JoJo
4. You're the Best / Joe Esposito (from the Karate Kid soundtrack)
5. Any power ballad that requires a voice able to reach the upper-upper octaves; a feat Jonny is usually willing to attempt in a sing-along. Respect.

Adorable, both.

Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic. 
- Rosalind Russell, actress, who was also one of seven children.
____


(look at these people. man. they are beautiful. they must use the right cosmetic.) 

Merry, jolly, tuba-listening Christmas buddies.

FIVE THOUGHTS ON WRAPPING GIFTS, AND HOW TO GET A FREE MACBOOK PRO.

1. Forget perfection. If you have children, let them help. Even if there's ones they DON'T help out on, you can always blame shoddy work on them. I certainly do.

2. One Christmas, I bought my sister the soundtrack to Sister Act on cassette. Or maybe it was Roxette. Anyway, I wrapped it in a huge appliance box, surrounded by newspaper, and then stuck some bricks in for extra heft and anticipation. It took forever to unwrap, and the final unveiling was dictionary definition of Russian doll anticlimactic. Hilarious to no one except me, and everyone else there.

3. Why buy? Comic books, newspapers, burlap, duct tape, paper bags, old books, string, twenty dollar bills...the possibilities for an inimitable and memorable wrapping job are infinite.

4. My family is a very giving family, and has always looked for excuses to pile up as many presents as possible under the tree. Even when that means wrapping up someone's old dirty shoes and gifting them to a loved one. Sometimes, it's what's on the outside that counts.

5. One of my favourite memories is witnessing the exultation of my brother Jamey when he unwrapped a terribly-wrapped gift to find a brand-new laptop inside. It was a present from our brother Jeremy. Jamey's exultation was short-lived, as it turned out that Jeremy had found (other brother) Jonny's laptop laying around, appropriated it, and re-gifted it to Jamey. Truly from the heart. 

(Note: I do not recall which brothers were involved precisely. It was some combination of the above, I think. Could have been any one of them. Might have been Josh. Regardless of the details: brilliant.)

Happy wrapping, and make a mess!

The Great Pumpkin Caper / The Pumpkin Thieves

That's What Dads Are For

My father, in reference to his daughter's wedding:

"I'll try to be there."

Sometimes you just do your best and hope things work out. Hope you can make it, Dad.

Duckfeeding with my little sister

It's not that I'm nostalgic;
it's just that my little sister and I were feeding ducks yesterday in 1984
and now she's getting married.

We were a really good duck-feeding team. 

circa 1984 - Nehalem Bay area

Wonder Woman, Theft, and My Ban on British Accents

Becca thinks it's hilarious to converse in a British accent. 

I have told that it is not. Nobody thinks it is humorous, especially today. Nobody. 

If you agree with me, IGNORE THIS POST. 
If you agree with her, THEN LIKE THIS POST.

Thank you ahead of time for your silence. A jolly good Independence Day, everyone.
____

Facebook Responses

• Ben James Jajajajajaja 

  July 4 at 12:30pm via mobile · Unlike · 1
• 

  Joseph Long Thanks Annie. Thanks.

  July 4 at 12:48pm via mobile · Like
• 

  Annie Genstler-Gatward I like to help out wherever I can lol

  July 4 at 12:49pm · Like · 1
• 

  Annie Genstler-Gatward 

  July 4 at 12:52pm · Like
• 

  Joseph Long Julie. Laura. Kelli. So uncool. I am keeping a list, and you are all on it.

  July 4 at 1:04pm via mobile · Like · 2
• 

  Ben James I guess its better then french! 

  July 4 at 1:05pm via mobile · Like · 1
• 

  Ghazala Osman Long Sorry. . .

  July 4 at 1:09pm · Unlike · 3
• 

  Joseph Long You got a big red X next to your name now too, Ghazala. And Ben: not cool. I have French blood flowing rough my veins. 
  
  Au revoir.

  July 4 at 1:23pm via mobile · Like · 2
• 

  Ben James Please don't choke on our freedom frise this holiday!

  July 4 at 1:25pm via mobile · Like · 1
• 

  Becca Nutter Long It's a bloody good day, I dare say. Jolly good. Jolly good. 
  I just love being on holiday with you. You're a rather dashing bloke, Dear. Oh Blimey! Happy Forth 

  July 4 at 1:30pm via mobile · Unlike · 11
• 

  Ben James I always laugh at "young chap"

  July 4 at 1:32pm via mobile · Unlike · 3
• 

  Ben James When you said this:
  It's a bloody good day, I dare say. Jolly good. Jolly good. 
  I just love being on holiday with you. You're a rather dashing bloke, Dear. Oh Blimey! Happy Forth 
  
  Joseph heard this:
  C'est une journée sanglante bonne, j'ose dire. Jolly good. Jolly good. 
  J'adore être en vacances avec vous. Vous êtes un mec plutôt fringant, mon cher. Oh mince alors ! Heureux suite;).

  July 4 at 1:55pm via mobile · Unlike · 3
• 

  Liesl Vistaunet Go Becca! We need to get together and watch Mary Poppins with our kids.

  July 4 at 2:18pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Lisa Pacini Fonville · 10 mutual friends
  

  hehehe.

  July 4 at 2:35pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Wendy Meier I wish I had the nerve to do that. Maybe I'll try it with the small fry one day when no one else is around (since he might not notice). So far I've only braved an accent when reading story books to him.

  July 4 at 3:07pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Amy Cafferky The British are coming, the British are coming! And they will know you are not one of them if you don't get a good linguistic tutor right away.

  July 4 at 3:39pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Walter Cox A couple years ago Chelsey threw a British themed 4th of July party. It was a good time! While it was advertised as being available, I declined to eat any spotted dick.

  July 4 at 4:04pm via mobile · Unlike · 2
• 

  Joseph Long I am mad at so many of you now that I've lost count. But I'll be the big person here and wish you a jolly good 4th anyway. Enjoy your fish and chips.

  July 4 at 4:31pm via mobile · Like · 4
• 

  Ghazala Osman Long Actually, fish & chips was a dish brought to Britain by Portuguese cod fisherman. . . Or so I heard on one of the many PBS programs to which I'm addicted.

  July 4 at 5:52pm · Edited · Unlike · 2
• 

  Janetta Byrd Any day but today

  July 4 at 5:57pm via mobile · Like
• 

  Ruth Stickney Love you Joseph, but I don't agree with you, I just don't agree with you!

  July 5 at 6:30pm · Like

photo: Leanna Long

I thought it was going to be a good day, until I went to pour myself a cuppa joe and realised my Wonder Woman mug was missing.

There is only one thing* that I demand out of every day, and that is that I start it off with a good cup of coffee IN MY WONDER WOMAN MUG. No substitutions. And now that demand, that tiny little joy that is probably the only good thing in my life...was yanked away. 

Thanks Leanna Long. I hope you're pleased with yourself. Farewell to what was, until ten minutes ago, destined to be a fantastic day. 

Happy Fourth Day of July, U. S. A., France, and Britain.

*one of many things
____

___

Love these peeps, love them so crazy.