Don't Divorce Us

Someday we will look back and find it unbelievable that people who love each other were not allowed to be married to each other. But for now, watch this and do something.
Thanks, Barbara, for sharing.

Swimming with the Fishes

Mark treated me to a Swim with the Fishes at the Florida Aquarium for Valentine's Day. We were excited as we got into wet suits and got some instruction on using the gear. It was enormously fun! Thanks, Valentine.

Maira Kalman

As we enter a new era, who better to put it to pictures than the wonderfully talented Maira Kalman, thanks to the New York Times.

this is the last time there will be a Bush in this blog

I hope.
Great Moments in Presidential Speeches was one of the reasons Letterman was worth DVRing over the last couple of years. It was great and I'm so glad it is over.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Mark and I saw this play, by Steve Martin, years ago in New York and loved it then.  It's a clever and provocative fantasy about Picasso and Einstein, both in their twenties and clearly brilliant but not famous yet, meeting at a cafe in Paris.  The Jobsite production is wonderful, set and costumes completely convincing and the acting is really excellent (though I would have liked a better Elvis impersonator but that's just a minor quibble).  We saw it later in the run than we see most Jobsite plays, so all that's left is one last week.  Don't miss this one, Jobsite is getting better and better.

And I love the Ferdie Pacheco portraits on exhibit at the theater.  But why no price tags?  I guess they would be out of reach anyway, but sure did love the Picasso, and the Einstein especially.

Daisy, a patient again

We've had a rough couple of weeks with the dogs.  First Marley had some horrid intestinal thing.  Then we discovered another tumor on Daisy, which was removed, biopsied, and while it does turn out it is malignant, it seems to have all been cleanly removed so we are hopeful that's the end of that.  (And btw, the incision is really about twice as long as it looks in the photo above, really.)  Then Daisy had the same intestinal thing that Marley had and while it was truly horrible when poor 15 pound Marley had it, that turns out to be a gentle intro to what happens to your house when a 75 pound dog has the same problem.  Anyway, everyone is recovering and doing well.

Stones at the entrance

I had been hoping for lots and lots of small dark stones that would cover the landscaping with some larger rocks and some interesting plants scattered here and there, a zen effect.  But the rocks proved too costly for the large areas we had to cover and so we went with mulch made from chopped up tires.  With thick weedblocking cloth underneath, this should last for years instead of the few months bark mulch sticks around for.  And while it is not exactly the look I had in mind, it's environmentally sound and I am getting used to it.
Still, I have found a spot near the front door where I am working on a mosaic, my own rock, pebble and shell covering, that will grow as we take vacations or anytime I'm anywhere I can pick up some interesting stones, etc.  Don't make fun of me, it makes me happy and it holds memories, too.
I did get my dark rocks though, sort of.  Here's our new front door mat.  Feels really good to stand on, but it's not much help in brushing off shoes.