CatNapping

This is how the manz watches TV. Since Torello is grown enough to have the run of the house (kinda), and Max is stinky enough to be banished from the chair (until bath time), Torello has taken over Manz-lap. He happily perches on the chair and leans over to help me paint, or draw, or sew (he likes painting the best) but when he is all worn out there is nothing like a nice long nap on the manz lap.

We are normally early-to-bed people... nine o'clock finds us yawning, 5:30 finds us bright-eyed and having coffee on the porch (except now it is chilly). This past week though I was flat down with the flu- slept all day Tuesday, went to school Wednesday and Thursday, slept all day Friday after I got home from the Dr's. (they took my head bump off and froze my wart- a fun filled experience all around. So now I am uber-attractive with a big sore spot on my head..can't wash hair until Monday, a nasty blister where the wart was frozen - don't let them lie to you, it HURTS!- and a scruffy bright red cold-nose)...
anyway, last night I finally started feeling better and was wakeful. The movie was playing, I was working on my thesis surrounded by books and evie, chattering away to the manz when I realised that a: it was past 10, b: manz and cat were sound asleep, c: there was this loud combination of snoring and purring that I somehow didn't hear over the TV and my own chattering..... I sushed them on to bed, but I couldn't sleep and ended up working until 2. Felt good, and this morning I am feeling much better (except the head bump is hurting).

All morning this morning we have been making stuff, I've been gluing beads onto one of my sculptures (note: the smell of E6000 does not improve headbump whining) and manz has been shaping vinyl records, creating bowls and flowers and figuring out how to make curls and twists stay when the record is being heated. I tell him he is as much as an artist as I am, but he doesn't believe me- but of course I'm right, he just doesn't know it yet.

Boots

The manz boots. His philosophy is "I like what I like and I stick to it"... if he is as loyal to me as he is to these boots, I know he will be around for a billion years. (and yep, he is that loyal- I know it!)

I'm not sure how long he has had these boots, but they've seen many a road and adventure, I am sure. They are Timberlins (? timberlands? the kind with the tree on the side) and are worn to the stubs. The sole is coming off, there are holes in the leather, but they remain the first choice of the day- they are comfortable, still serviceable (kinda) and he 'likes what he likes'.

Now, lest you think I am neglecting the manz, he does have a brand new pair of boots- not the Timber kind (they have jumped in price since becoming a fashion statement for rappers- go figure) but a perfectly good pair of Craftsman's from Sears. It took some hunting, but they meet all the man requirements- nubuck leather (check), no steel toe (check), not waterproof (check)... that would seem easy, but it is near impossible to find that specific combination. A few weeks ago when Melissa was down- actually the night I got engaged- we went on the great boot hunt in Wilmington. They have slept safely in their box ever since.

Now, I'm not fussing- I know they will be there when he needs them someday, just like he is there whenever I need him. Right now I am home from school with a nasty nasty cold (hopefully not the swine flu- not that I would mind a few days at home, but my kids are between projects and I do have mercy for the subs...the kids can only take so much bookwork in art class before they rebel)... anyway, he is busy keeping me safe and well with long naps, orange juice and bananas, and pumpkin ice cream. I am just moseying around in a nyquil induced haze, kinda paying attention to things then drifting off to sleep for hours, writing long nonsensical emails trying to register for spring classes, looking for this picture of a skeleton key that I *know* is on the computer somewhere, but which is successfully hiding. (I take lots and lots of pictures- I just sifted through several hundred looking for this key- or any key. I take pictures of keys all the time and I just wish I knew where they went!)
Anyway, he just came home from work with the said pumpkin ice cream, and that is exactly what I want for dinner. Cold. cold is good....mmmm.....loves the man, he's a wonder.

All Hallows

Yesterday was Halloween, one of my favorite holidays ever- I have always loved the spooky, the costumes, the excitement and of course, the chocolate. It was the perfect Halloween day- a little cold, dark but not to stormy. Felt like fall and all of our decorations glowed in the gloom.

I went to downtown Burgaw with some of my kids for the festival- we were in the sidewalk art contest. The kids drew a grim reaper and a cleaning witch- just for fun I made the vampire with the 'don't be afraid...get smart take ART!' It reminded me of when I was growing up and we would go down and paint the windows at Glosser Brothers for Halloween... I was so mad the year that my design was chosen then Richie Moore (I still remember his name!) changed it all around. bleah. Well, I have my revenge as an art teacher... and actually, now that I think of it, I kinda did the same thing to Neena yesterday (sorry Neena). See, Josh and his brother were there first, so they began working on Rico's grim reaper drawing. Neena and Ariel showed up an hour late, and I wouldn't let them do Neena's grim reaper (two reapers are one to many, even though Neena's was a female grim reaper) so they changed it into a kitchen witch. In the meantime, I entertained myself with the vampire drawing and another one, 'the discovery of cake'. Not quite sure how I ended up with this- it is based on a 'hungry ghost' cartoon I did in my sketchbook- I was just amusing myself with imagining two aliens landing in a pumpkin patch on Halloween. They somehow come across a cake, and are enthralled with it...eating and eating until their bellies are big as punkins.... it made me laugh and puzzled everyone else, but what is Halloween without a good mystery?

Growing Up

Squirt is growing up- he has evolved from a sweet kitten to a full out 'tweenaged' 'kittykat'. He's bigger, badder- thinks he owns our pillows, our bed, the world. No foot is safe from his attack, and he is spoiling for a chance to get at bear. Thinks he's a big cat, he does.

And a big cat needs a grown-up name. His baby name is Squirt- and he will always be squirt- but he found his real grown-up-tom-cat name this morning. It's Torello.

It came to us when we were watching Crime Story- the cat formerly known as squirt jumped up on Charles in a surprise attack. The manz says "We shoulda named you Torello"...then we started looking at the screen, and darned if the cat doesn't *look* like Torello. Heavy black eyebrows, mustache. Everything black but his bit of white chest (and drawers). And just take a moment, compare his ears to Torello's hat.... yep. That's who he is!

Until I looked it up, I thought Torello was Turrillo. Like the steakhouse. The BEST steakhouse EVER. Daddy and Mother would go there often- it is in Jennerstown. Red white checked oilcloth on the tables, candles in Chianti bottles, rolls wrapped in a napkin. Steak like melted butter it was so tender, and the best salad dressing in the world. (I grew up with *real* Italian dressing from places like Turillo's and Rizzo's... nothing like the bottled kind)...mmmm.... and a bit on the shady side- you could imagine Torello and the G-men sliding up to the bar while Luca plotted evil in the backroom. Just one step away from real live drama...

Full

Is your pitcher half full or half empty? Mine is always to the full side, and cold water is the best. Actually, right now I am simply dying for a cold non-bubbly something... am still at school and it has been a long day, and I think hotel air just drys you out!

It's pouring outside, buckets and buckets of rain, and the Latin dancers are practicing in my classroom so the air is full of music and flying hair. Lovely.

I have been catching up on school work- still have a design to work on tonight or tomorrow am... I am full of ideas- many things to do, to make, to be. I am lucky to have a good life- my beloved waiting for me at home, interesting things to think about and do, a good kid, happy doggs, a home, a kittenkat- family, friends and tomato soup. Except I really don't have tomato soup, I just thought of it all of a sudden. Do you remember eating tomato soup for lunch- Grendel liked his with goldfish in it, I liked mine with grilled cheese sandwiches. mmmmmm....

Conference Craze

Here we are at the conference- not many words but here are some photos! Our messy messy room, pumpkin and candy corn hershy kisses, endless agenda, the phone that just pissed me off (no offence) ,and a yummy frogs legs.

Twins!!

Yesterday was 'Twin' day for homecoming, so Neena and I were twins. Black skirts, black shirts, hair up in chibi buns (she has dyed her hair reddish) and big messy happy art aprons. We got the shoes wrong- she wore chucks and I wore my new combat boots (which are surprisingly comfy even if they are a bit big...but h-e-a-v-y...feel like I worked out yesterday. maybe I should wear them more often!)

Neena and I are quite a bit alike, stubborn, smart, creative, like to eat and a bit messy (no, not me! actually, Neena is a whole lot tidier than I am...I've become quite the Oscar).

I like highschool so much better this time around! Homecoming is fun but frustrating (no I haven't any glitter, poster board, crepe paper but yes, I can make a giant bulldog for the bonfire out of newspaper and masking tape in under an hour).

But enough of that- today I go to the doctor and get my head-bump-thing removed (thank god. It hurts) then conference at Winston Salem until Sunday.... how am I ever going to survive without the manz? No man-made breakfasts and dinners, no hugs... cold motel sheets. Guess I am just going to drown my sorrows in Chinese food and cell phone conversations. You know, I still love to travel, but now I am loving home even better...