New toy

This is an exersaucer. We only let him play in it for about 20 minutes at a time. Any longer, and we're afraid his head might explode in joy.

Everywhere he goes

Saul is a charmer.

Poetry Thursday

Muzak

When old, do not let me bark
at passersby - let me be

like the slow motion, down-
the-street dog, ignoring

the cardinals, the colors
he cannot see, even us

as we tiptoe by-
Friend, please save me

from being the neighbors'
fool hound who woofs loud

at every grey squirrel, stray
noise, or lab rushing past

to meet some lady - from being
that cur who cannot help but howl

all night like newlyweds
keeping the world awake. O terrible

angel of the elevator, the plane,
insufferable unquiet we pray to, afraid -

Please make me mild

-Kevin Young

How was your Christmas?

Ours was wonderful. More later.

Christmas!

We haven't had that much Christmas spirit around our house. We did not decorate this year, or put up a tree, or put up lights. The only sign of the holidays are the window sills full of cards. But today I realized that it's only a few days away. So I am sitting at my desk, eating the orange-cranberry walnuts that a co-worker brought, listening to Bing Crosby, and working myself up into a holiday cheer.

I'm excited about Saul's first Christmas, although he, of course, has no clue what's going on. But the thought of the next several holidays with a young child is exciting. I can't wait to recreate the the magic that my parents always made for me and my sister. It's like being a kid all over again myself!

Anyway, we're off to Dallas tonight. Happy holidays!

Wildlife

An excellent shot of my father-in-law and a donkey.

Wow, retro

That's B on the far right, looking like someone dropped him off out of a brat pack movie.

Poetry Thursday

First Hour

That hour, I was most myself. I had shrugged
my mother slowly off, I lay there
taking my first breaths, as if
the air of the room was blowing me
like a bubble. All I had to do
was go out along the line of my gaze and back,
feeling gravity, silk, the
pressure of the air a caress, smelling on
myself her creamy blood. The air
was softly touching my skin and mouth,
entering me and drawing forth the little
sighs I did not know as mine.
I was not afraid. I lay in the quiet
and looked, and did the wordless thought,
my mind was getting its oxygen
direct, the rich mix by mouth.
I hated no one. I gazed and gazed,
and everything was interesting, I was
free, not yet in love, I did not
belong to anyone, I had drunk
no milk yet-no one had
my heart. I was not very human. I did not
know there was anyone else. I lay
like a god, for an hour, then they came for me
and took me to my mother.

-Sharon Olds

Alien love

Saul loves his alien cyclops

New plant

B and I won a lady slipper orchid at a purple elephant party we went to last weekend.

It will replace my other orchid at work, which isn't doing so hot after being without me for three months.