waiting...

Things to do after work when you're [impatiently] awaiting word on adopting a new dog.

Step one. Call Mom and talk about dogs. Have her turn the phone over to Dad. Talk to him about computers. And dogs.

Step two. Get on the internet and read about dogs.

Step three. Try for about three minutes to work on writing.

Step four. Give up and get on the internet and read about dogs.

Step five. Make frozen pizza and watch a movie. Look through your collection for something that might be about dogs or at least heartwarming. Select White Heat.



Step six. Think, hmm, Cagney would make a great name for a Chihuahua.

names not to name your dog

When Stephen and I finally got serious about looking at dogs for adoption, we came across a tiny guy named QBall. He was one of a few we met yesterday, and though he was incredibly cute (and I fell a little in love at first sight as he was very meticulously trying to attack a bit of fluff out of the air), he was more energetic than would be good in our apartment.

As we browsed doggies online, we've tried to keep the renaming impulse in check because that's far too personal before you know a dog is actually going to be coming to live with you. But we couldn't help it with QBall. When I got José, I would have liked to rename him, but I figured two and a half years old was too old - it would be too confusing. I don't think that anymore, and... well... QBall.

It's just not our kind of name.

[can i say, i still think horatio is one of the best dog names ever...]

We couldn't help but play the rename game with QBall, wondering if there was something we could come up with that rhymed or sounded similar...

Screwball...

U-Haul...

Ru Paul...

new workspaces part two - the ladies who watch over me

One of the lovely outcomes of moving our spaces around in the apartment was the way decorating and redecorating made these spaces our own. I've been known to do my writing anywhere. From the makeshift "desk" in the living room of recent days, to vans and tents and sleeper trucks when I was in the circus. I think in those circus years, I sort of forgot about what nesting can do to you personally and to your art.

When we got all the furniture and accessories settled, Stephen had to do a little nudging, actually, to get me off my tuffet and into the task of nesting in my new area. Together, we put up a few pieces of his art in the room, over the couch and by the joint computer - and he reminded me of a couple prints that in the past I had said I'd someday like to frame and hang.

Once everything was up on the walls, I noticed something. Now when I write, I have a circle of women like muses around me...

The tempestuous Norma


A couple of not-so-tempestuous but quite fashionable ladies of Stephen's creation



The lovely and glamorous Medusa (also of Stephen's creation)


And, ladies and gentlemen, standing behind me and watching over my shoulder, the inimitable Bette Davis.

new workspaces

Another little show and tell. Recently, Stephen and I moved the rooms around in the apartment so that we both had better places to work. We used to have three desks crammed into the studio. Stephen did his art in there, but it was so claustrophobic that I couldn't write. Plus, I need to work in a separate space from him. Plus my desk was such a mess I couldn't stand it but was too lazy to clean it off... So instead, I would have my computer on the little table in the... living/dining room and work there.

Now Stephen has a bigger art area and I have a little writing area all my own.

Stephen's space. Bay window backdrop. Note the rabbits.


He's made his space pretty.






Here's the view from Stephen's chair. Along with sneak previews of what he's working on...


And here's my new space in back. It's also where the couch went, so maybe that makes it the den. See? I can write or I can take a nap. But, oh man, trying to get that couch in that room...


My desk back by the window. Nice to look out and see sky when I write.

The walls there in my corner. Something extra special about putting up a little art around me. Makes it more my corner. The poster is from when I was a super for the opera Norma.

And this is my view from the desk. The desk, when Stephen took the picture, was still mostly uncluttered...


Thanks to Stephen for being the mastermind, able to work out all the math of what could go where so we could get the best space possible.

birthday card show-off

Friday was Stephen's birthday. We both worked that day but we had a lovely evening. Including dinner out and champagne with puréed strawberries (from the farmer's market). And the traditional homemade card.

So, here's my show-off of this time around. Because of all that's been going on, I thought I'd go with a New York theme. So here's Lady Liberty by way of Judith and Holofernes...

dame

What better for your birthday morning than chocolate croissants and strawberries in champagne and dames? Or Dames, anyway. Busby Berkeley dance numbers, Dick Powell making wise cracks, Ruby Keeler faces everywhere.

The card Stephen made was Berkeley too, although from a different movie. Here's "By a Waterfall" from Footlight Parade...





And since I've always wanted to be a Berkeley girl...

interview

An interview with Stephen just went up at Artinfo.com.

Check it out here!