A few pictures from the day Kelli and Dan started their marriage. I was on hand as a bear-wrangler.
Later that night, long after vows and champagne and cake, we sat around my living room. Kelli and Dan gave Max many hugs and promised him presents from their honeymoon travels. It was the sort of day that felt like it might mean everything would be different, but not really.
“Your baby sister is almost here” Kelli told him. “WOOF,” said Max. I felt exactly the same way.
After spending most of the week in libraries, we drove through a snowy afternoon to look through even more books, eat mustard, and drink beverages by a waterfall.
(at the Montague Bookmill and the Lady Killigrew Cafe)
Pictures of me, pictures of Watson.
This week Jason and I had the rare treat of doing a story time for a visiting elementary school. He used to be a Children’s Librarian and I spent ages 14-18, 20, and 22-23 volunteering for various children’s departments and collections. We read/read from:
- Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Williems
- Guess Again! by Adam Rex
- Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O’Malley
- Squids Will Be Squids by Jon Scieszka
- Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
- Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Williems
- Baloney (Henri P.) by Jon Scieszka
It may be difficult to tell, but one of these is a photograph, and the other is not.
My mom sent me pictures from that time I was born. “Look at my mom,” I think, “she’s just a baby!”
And then it dawns on me.
It is not that my mom is a baby (though she is); it is that I might be grown up.
Whoa.
Watson reluctantly takes pictures with me in exchange for afternoons getting gross and dusty.
A very Chatter weekend:
- Sunday Chatter was voted “Best Classical Music” by readers of Albuquerque the Magazine. Hurray!
- Sometimes you have to take a nap with Watson before driving home.
- Brunch with Chatter volunteers in Corrales.
- In which Tony sees the table confetti as a math puzzle and I see “hey, shiny!! I will take a picture.” Thanks to Elena for hand modeling.
- Bass clarinet situation on Sunday morning.
- Kelli, your face is the best.
We spend a substantial amount of time talking about whether we are Chaos Muppets or Order Muppets. It is ambiguous.
After working hard all week, we took a day off. Walking along the river, it felt like the last day of autumn. The leaves were gold or crumpled, everything at the edge of life.
Pamela showed us an owl nest. James climbed a tree. Conor carried me on his back, laughing. Elena found us, eventually.
It is too cold to be without a coat.
Anonymous asked: Would you ever get Watson a dog-brother or sister? Or a cat-brother or sister?
I am happiest when, for whatever reason, dogs outnumber people. For example, in this silly picture of me and Kelli:
The nice thing about my life is that this kind of ridiculousness happens on a regular basis. Watson gets the best of everything and I get to sit in a pile of puppies.
The sad thing about my life is that it is nearly 4 AM and I am writing a teaching philosophy statement. I teach at 8 AM. At least once a week, I have a 12 hour day. I travel frequently. I am lucky to have Kelli and Tina. They love Watsy and mitigate the worst aspects of my schedule; I am forever grateful for the times they walked him or took him to the park with a Max, and the weeks they cared for him while I was away. This is one of my favorite pictures of Kelli and Watson:
This is all to say that while it would be amazing for Watson to have dog siblings, I do not think it would be responsible or reasonable. Nor do I need more dog than Watson, really. He is as affectionate, funny, vindictive, and clever as any dog could be, and we are best friends.
Clearly, I am procrastinating. I should get back to work.
- p.s. I REALLY LOVE CATS, but I am allergic to them.
- p.p.s. Watson does not always stay home. This winter he is coming along for Christmas in California, New Year’s Eve in New York, and MLA in Massachusetts (see what I did there? ha!) (I am sleepy).
- p.p.p.s I asked Conor if he would be Watson’s dad and he said, “Silvia, you are strange but yes.” Which is not related to this, except to say that Watson has lots of family.
Kelli and Max came over last night while I was packing; Watson and the Maxes decided it was lay-in-bed-snuggle-the-puppies-time. We called Tina over and much snuggling was had. Our dogs are squashy muppets.
Eventually, I started to pack again. I unzipped my duffel bag…and Watson jumped in. “Time to get on the plane,” I said. I stood up. Watson poked his head out, ready to travel.
This is a picture Kelli took of Watson being his usual Watsony self.
Which is to say, Dog, you are ridiculous.
A week/end digest:
- My brother and I went to Target to pick up some essentials (foil, sandwich bags, ice cream, and dinosaur socks).
- James took this picture at a Chatter board meeting. The budget, man. Serious numbers going on.
- Laura (girl) and Lilly (puppy) are officially Albuquerque residents! They are going to live happily ever after with Rob.
- Weirdly cheered by this guy.
- Also, this guy.
- Ishan Loomba, eleven years old and painfully cute, pounds out some Bach at Sunday Chatter.
Tina took these pictures of Max and Watson being attentive cake-making assistants.
