transitional birdys
[kinda weird image, i know. but bear with me a sec...]

so, i saw this bird on the sidewalk on the way to work this (friday) morning. it was a strange and sad little moment--not sure what happened to the pigeon, but it was deader than doornail when i walked by. something about it made me stop, walk back, and take a camera photo.

at least part of it was a reminder from my graduation from college (15 years ago! and yes, i graduated, who knows how...). i'd just finished my last final ever. can't remember what it was, but i do remember leaving the building (it was big and red and relatively modern). everything was a bit surreal, as i'd just gotten through a sleepless week of finals, a huge chapter in my life was coming to a close, and the future was completely unclear. i didn't even have a place to live yet, never mind a job or anything. needless to say, i wasn't one of those graduates going on to successful $60K careers (not even close...my poor parents!).

it was in this frame of mind that i walked out and saw a dead bird. a pigeon had flown into the window and died. not sure why, but i wrapped the bird in paper, picked it up, and took it to the studio, and started an etching from it. i never finished that etching, but i still have the copper plate somewhere.

later that night, i went to the cafeteria (relax, this isn't that kinda story), and found a friend (more like a carload of friends) to drive me to pick out a puppy at someone's home. our town was small enough that there wasn't a proper pound. instead, the pound (where the lost critters went) gave me a phone number, and that number hooked up people who wanted animals with people who had too many animals. turns out that a family an hour away had a litter of puppies that needed homes. when we got there, there were 4 puppies left, and each of us gravitated toward a different pup. i don't remember much, except getting lost near a place called the lunchbox (i think), and satchmo's big belly and smushy square face of cuteness. the kids had named her satchmo, and despite having a list of names (and not knowing the first thing about jazz), the name stuck. the other puppies, stayed behind (not a bad setup: country to run in, kids, a lineoleum floor to pee on. i'm sure they all did well), and satchmo rode back with us to campus.

it was the beginning of my adult life (such as it is). and it all started with that dead bird. weird, but that's how i remember it.
Labels: change, dogdogdog, moley, noho, roadtrip2k, spring

:: ewee 4:39:00 PM [+] :: 0 comments ::
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:: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 ::

spring, sproing, sprung
spring is (officially) here at last. march is being march, and vacillating between gorgeous summer weather, and winter rainy nonsense (and that's just in one day). but somehow that's appropriate for me. change is afoot, and i'm trying to ride it and stay positive (instead of my usual head-in-the-sand reaction).
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sweet lovechop
a coupla weeks ago, i said goodbye to baskie boy. sweet beasty lovechop. turns out that he's gotta fairly advanced (and aggressive) form of cancer, kidneys and lungs so far. it was heartbreaking and hard, at least in part because it's very much the end of an era, and part of a bigger letting go.

baskie being his stoic self, it was hard to see that anything was wrong. he's still the big lug who'll leap with amazing grace at any treat (and gulp it down with frightening alacrity). his eyes are as bright and as mischevious as always. it's his body that betrays his ailments. normally a dog fountain, now it's a struggle for him to produce even just a drop or two. when we first got there, he couldn't get up off the slippery lineoleum floor. but he was all too happy to hold court in the kitchen, wolfing down treats, and the occassional finger.

in some ways, i'd already made my peace (as much as i know how) with baskie's passing. but i was thankful for the chance to see him (with kehoe and loo) one more time.
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waltzing outrigga
made the happy connection (finally) last night about waltzing and paddling. people have been telling me for ages that the rhythm is like a waltz (ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three), and something clicked last night.

it wasn't perfect, but there were moments when everything was in alignment -- the boat paddled as one, the sunset was golden and pink and gorgeous behind the golden gate, and i was working hard enough to keep my nose running, and most of my body warm.
Labels: bask baskie dogs, change, outrigger, paddling, spring

:: ewee 12:23:00 PM [+] :: 1 comments ::
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