We Made It to Yankee Stadium (Mike's Bucket List) (Perhaps, Me Driving There...My Own) and Had Our Hot Dogs without Crackerjacks

Not a bad drive to Yankee Stadium, until you get closer to the George Washington Bridge, need to exit quickly, and find yourself upon the stadium, and your brother-in-law says go right, when you should go left, but eventually you find a parking space, and all is well. 

What a beautiful stadium. The Yankees aren't looking good right now, and lost yesterday, too, but it was worth the trip. I'm super-excited I ordered food online, as a beer was $15.00 there, but a meal ($20 a piece online) included a beer, a hot dog, and French fries. If we ordered all that there, it would be $30 a meal. So I did alright with that. And they give you way too many French fries. We only need 1/20th of what they gave.

Dylan and Mike wanted to leave the game early, though, and head to Time's Square, but the Uber didn't work out for them and the train wasn't their friend, so they ended up returning with Tunga and me to Stamford, and then Stratford, in the Hulk. They didn't trust their instincts as independent sojourners.

The day was nice, moving from totally gray skies to totally blue skies, and total sunshine brought warmth. The drive home was the same as the drive there....absolutely chaotic. But that's New York, and the stadium is just North of Manhattan. Traffic is typical and I say, "You know NYS Fair traffic. Amplify that by 1,000 and x's it by 365 days a year. That's the price one pays for living in the region.

The driving is absolutely insane. You get used to it, and it is what it is.

This morning, the bro-in-law and nephew are heading east, then North, hoping to settle in for a Boston adventure and to find parking. Finding parking is the key for them...finding parking was the obsession. 

Meanwhile, I became addicted to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney Plus, and that was my distraction the last couple of days. I can easily get trapped into these superhero soap operas and can't get enough of them. One more episode to go...saving it for tonight.

The brother-in-law/nephew partnership 2021 achieved. Now they move on to their next adventures and Tunga and I return to the work-week. 

By the way, the Yankees lost. Squirrel. 

Happy Birthday, Jacob Charles!

And Back to NYC on the Metro...1st Time in 16 Months. Hard to Believe...a Bit Eerie, But Beautiful Day at the MOMA (in the Rain)

On Dylan's bucket-list before heading to Germany for 3 Years (he re-enlisted in the U.S. Army) was to see the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. Five of the Six floors were open, and we made it in time to beat the absolute down-pours. The weather called for 100% rain, for 100% of the day. BUT, we only had mist when we headed in and were able to walk to the museum with no problems. There was, however, a huge line to get in, but we were an hour early, and found a pizza joint outside Central Park to get a fix of NYC pizza before we got out culture on. It was a bit more gourmet than they were used to, but I had my first pizza sandwich, and I'd go back if I could. 

The trains were empty and so were the streets. Very odd to be in NYC without crowds and crowds of people. Also sad to see so much shut down and closed.

Still, MOMA was rocking, and it was odd to be around so many people for 3 hours in masks, although I imagine everyone venturing out right now is vaccinated. 

Naturally, Mike and I gravitated toward the more humorous art, discussing ways we could reinvest in our careers with a box of crayons and some wax paper. We also thought about bronzing our turds, as their seems to be a market for that, too. 

We did see Van Gogh's Starry Night, several Frida Kahlos, a few Salvador Dali pieces, some Jackson Pollock, Monet's Water Lilies, Gustav Klimp's blanket paintings, etc. etc. etc. But we were drawn to the more humor art that made us smile and think. I enjoyed the Jacob Lawrence room, as I did some writing on his work a few months back with a school in Bridgeport. 

Seriously, despite the rain, the insanity of being post-Covid, and the pain-in-the-ass stop-by-stop of the Metro from Stratford to Grand Central ride, it really was a wonderful day in the city. It's also a beautiful ride along the Sound with much to look at along the way. 

This morning, however, we awake for round II, a little north of Manhattan as we travel to the Bronx for a Yankees game...a bucket-list dream of Mike's.

And they are no longer calling for rain. Just clouds. We're good. Very, very good. 

Just need to pick up Tunga ins Stamford and we're off.

Mike and Dylan Successfully Arrived, Although Mike Can't Reach Cups in my Cupboards and Karal Wants Dylan's Bed

All is well. They made good time and immediately wanted fish so we went to Knapp's Landing (2nd time in a week). Karal did her puppy dog thing, they watched a show and fell asleep,  I walked the dog with Chitunga, we went to the water to visit with Jake, Leo, Bev, Oona and Pam, returned homed, for pulled chicken, rice, and smiley potatoes, and everyone tired out by 9:30. Okay. That's good, I guess. 

Mike couldn't eat it all, but was satisfied by his selection. I spent the morning before they arrived cleaning up the house, setting up the beds, going shopping, and arranging the visit for what it would be.

I did not order the rain or temperatures, however. Mother Nature decided on those - and neither are fun...we have another 72 hours of it, although we had a slight break in the evening.

Today, we are waking up and heading to NYC to the Museum of Modern Art and 9/11 Memorial, both which are on Dylan's to-do list before embarking on three years in Dresden, German.

This is their father and son hoorah before he leaves, as after Missouri, he was stationed at Fort Drum near Watertown, which has been near Syracuse and easy-access for him to home and his parents. Life in Europe will be good. It was for me, and I'm jealous he will get so many months away from home with the ability to travel to so many countries. It's a once in a life-time opportunity. 

Wish us luck today in the Big Apple, as we're likely to get drenched, soaked, and water-beaten. It's been decades since I've been to the MOMA and I'm looking forward to what we'll see there (although I imagine NYC is just waking up to normal, too - we shall see). 

I told Mike, "Yeah, I'm always extra tired, too, when I drive to Syracuse." There's something about being on the road that wears one out...I think it is because one has to have extra awareness on everything going on...it's is tiring. 

Okay, rainy, cold Sunday! Here we go!

Let's Call It a Bug. In Truth, However, It Was Absolute Exhaustion. My Body Said, "You A'int Going Anywhere or Doing Anything."

My Thursday was jam-packed with super awesome sauce. Tunga and I built a fire at night, and even made it to bed by midnight. I awoke at 4 a.m., starving, so came downstairs to eat a banana. By 4:30 a.m., my body was rejecting everything, not allowing anything to stay in, nor anything to enter.

I spent the next 15 hours in bits of sweat, episodes of frigidity, incredible head and stomach pain, and sleep. It was an awful way to spend a day and I'm thankful that Tunga was home to check on me, to care for Karallynne (Karma, we added another name), and to make sure I didn't die. 

The only blessing to the day was that the temperatures dropped, so the cool breezes coming through the windows were like medicine. (Note: I realize the bug posted here is some sort of Japanese Beatle swimming in a pool, but he was what was triggering my insides yesterday).

At 9 p.m., when I checked my computer and 286 emails awaited me, I boded to The Great Whatever that is why I'm exhausted. It never ends. Our quick-fingered, lap-topped world makes everything an emergency needing immediate attention. I went all day without cellphone or laptop, simply because I couldn't handle any more ugly in my day. I postponed it until I was ready to handle it. I now am dreaming of weeks, if not months, without fast-paced, technological urgency.

The other good news is that even after a day in bed, I was out like a light by 10 p.m. sleeping until 6 a.m. this morning. I'm waking up to what I'm calling a Lebanon-Reservoir camp day. The sky is gray, the trees are blowing, there's a light rain, and it's chilly. Yet, the birds are singing. Reminds me of June days looking out at the lake, hoping the sun would come out so we could play baseball of swim.

My brother-in-law Mike and nephew Dylan are on their way, as we have Yankee tickets for Memorial Day, and adventures are being placed into gear.

There is no day worse, however, than when you are trying to vomit out an empty stomach and a migraine throws lighting to your eye sockets, forehead, and brain. I rarely, rarely get sick like that (except on the odd occasion my body realizes "you actually have time to get sick," and sick I get). 

Ugh. The bug. 

But today it is squashed and there's much to do.

Kicked Off the Day with Kwame Alexander at Westport Library and Finished It with Joseph Bruchac (& Kelly Sassi in Between)

What a Thursday. 

Last week I was asked to emcee an event at the Westport Public Library with Kwame Alexander, which was followed by The Write Time recording with Joseph Bruchac, and also a special guest from North Dakota, when Dr. Kelly Sassi from Red River Writing Project came through with her Wesleyan-graduated senior, Allessandro. 

Phew, now there is a National Writing Project family story if I've ever heard of one. 

Seriously, sometimes I shake my head in disbelief of what a day can deliver. And Chitunga decided to join Kelly, Allesandro, and me for dinner, requesting Karalynn time, a fire, and a few beers. My soul was fulfilled.

I can't wait for the Joseph Bruchac show to air, as it was incredibly inspirational, brilliant, thought-provoking and rewarding. He was perfectly matched with Caitlin Johnson, who coincidentally is of Red River Writing Project, too. It was so magical that Kelly was able to jump in at the end of the recording after seeing the beaches with Chitunga simply to say, "Hello, Everyone."

A jam-packed day, indeed.

Authors, writers, the boys, the dog. I began with the brilliance of the Rooster, and ended by learning so much from another sage. All the while, I had great people at my side. A win, win, win. 

I can hold onto this day for a very long time.

Caption This! I'm Afraid Universe, You'll Be Getting a Lot of Puppy Posts Because I'm Absolutely Enthralled & Overjoyed with this One!

This is how Karalynne Brunette Caramel (thanks Beth) Carrot Cake Cupcake sleeps. The name is morphing, but I'm solidified with Karalynn Crandall, and she responds to it. Casey will be thrilled to know that she is getting the hang of "bang" as a command, where you make a bang noise and she rolls over to play dead. It's probably not funny or cute given America today, but it's what she decided to do after a few 'roll over' lessons. She's got her name down, stay, come, etc. She also was tired out in the extreme heat of yesterday and two long walks. 

I laugh that she sits outside the shower curtain and waits for me with her frog in her mouth. A few times she's tried to push it in so it can get a bath, too. 

She's not a licker, although she'll rub noses. Definitely all about the chest and stomach being rubbed.

I got a lot done yesterday, but only because I took her for long walks twice and tired her out. She came home to sleep in her John Travolta position. Staying alive. Staying alive. 

She's also played well with other dogs, took her puppy meds, and adapted to front pay window surveillance. I need to work on her with encroaching sleep space, as she keeps getting deeper and deeper into my sides at night, and I hate that. It's already too hot. 

Okay, I'd better jump off. I have a Kwame Alexander event followed by a Joseph Bruchac one. I have to figure out what I'll do with this fuzz-cake so I'm not distracted with squeaky toys and sudden lap launches. 

I'm also looking forward to having a visit from my colleague from North Dakota who is in town for the day. 

And we're off. 

In Person Planning for Weir Farm National Historic Park, We're Going After Another Year of Spectacular Collaboration.

Boy, it feels good to barbecue again for friends. Pasta salad made. Check. Vegetables for the grill. Check. Chicken soaked in sauce. Check. Salad made. Good to go. Asparagus, Zucchini, Heaven. 

Reading Landscapes and Writing Nature in a Digital Age. Dr. Rich Novack and Ranger Kristin Lessard came over so we could plan "Flooded with Possibilities" for a water-themed year of National Writing Project and National Parks collaboration. Our authors are line up, the dates are almost on the calendar, and the brilliance of collaboration continues - Connecticut's biggest secret....Weir Farm National Historic Park featuring Julian Alden Weir...and this year, a focus on Weir Pond while reading Ann E. Burg's Flooded (and many others. Cool beans with awesome sauce. 

Finally, I was able to deliver the squid and flamingo socks purchased during last year's Write Out and National Day on Writing (and look, I am featuring Ignotofsky's What's Inside a Flower in the background...shhhh. A bonus to this year's grant cycle).

Meanwhile, Karalynn Cupcake (that's the name the vet got yesterday) was a tremendous hit - a huge hit as she entertained everyone with an her thusiasm for everything puppy and human. She was a riot, too. She exerted all the energy she could so that at 9:40 p.m. she was able to conk out, which is KONG out, as Companion Animal Hospital gave her a new KONG which she loved, especially with peanut butter.

It felt good to entertain again.

Like Glamis the Wonderdog, Karalynn Cupcake (or Carrot Cake) loves having a female ranger at the house. Beers, environmental conversation, art, writing prompts, books - too exciting to capture in one post.

Boy, Karalyn Cupcake (look, another K.C.) really was obsessed with getting a peanut butter cookie, which she failed at, only pulling aluminum foil from the counter. Boom. What'd she get? Oh, Just Reynold's Wrap.

Also, a tremendous shout-out to the Louisville Writing Project for hosting the first Writing Across America event. So proud I have thick roots connected there. I love that family so much.

Okay, Wednesday. I need a day for tuning some writing and picking up after the whirlwind of puppy-dog that is my house. Toys everywhere.

And the secret-Chewy.com delivery sent to the puppy...a huge lick. Thanks Sue McV...the chicken strips were a tremendous. 

Come visit. This girl wants to meet everyone. 

Just Throwing This Into the Universe. There's Precious, Then There's Precious. Day 4 with Karal-Lynne Carrot-Cake Crandall

The rules are easy. We have to learn one another and figure things out. 

I like to work all day. She likes to play all day. There's a compromise there somewhere, even when one is smart enough to open the pantry to help one's self to treats and to close the laptop when she's tired of daddy's working.

I have my work cut out for me. She understands everything: routines, patterns, habits, visitors, rituals, and patterns. If you cut from that, she' scolds you. 

Karal-Lynn, Carrot-Cake, loves playing. We've figured that out, and when she's exhausted she enjoys crawling in daddy's lap to conk out or over his should to fall asleep, even if there is no space and the comfort level is zilch.

Edem, however, disrupts that, because his overnight work and day sleeping throws the routine off Just when she's ready to collapse for the night (as pictured here) he's ready to start his day...hence, the distraction.

I laugh, though, because Karal is very astute, has memorized the patterns, and is disturbed by the distractions. Last night, a late night CVS visit threw her into a tizzy. She was already collapsed behind my shoulders. She has her play time, and there's also space for sleep. Edem, obviously was distracting her from her sleep. She was not happy with him.

I should also say, she doesn't like me typing at all hours a day. That is prime play time, but we've discussed options. You chew on bones. I write. It's that easy.

Her deal is, "When I want to play, I want to play," and my deal is "When I'm in a writing groove I'm in a writing groove." We haven't quite found the match yet, and when we bring Edem's "I work all night and sleep all day" into the equation, there's several compromises still to be made. 

I laugh however at how ready she is to collapse on my lap, head, or shoulders when her day is done. It doesn't matter if it is comfortable or not....when she is done, she's done. 

Phew. I can't compete with that - same as me. I'm always willing to give in to my own pillows (and shhh. we played from 6 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. - she just closed her eyes...on the doggie bed. This is great news).

With Thanks to @Domello, I Have My Tomato Plants In. That Was a Hot One Yesterday!

 Lawn mowed, gardened watered, helped neighbor pull her heavy furniture to her deck with Chitunga, tired out Carol-cake, worked in house, took Carol-cake to meet Jake, tired her out again, was given tomato plants by Dominik and Kaitlyn, came home, and planted them. Not a bad Sunday, although I soaked through three t-shirts during the day. It was a hot one..a little soon, so I'll welcome the cooler temperatures this week. 

Funny to have a curious dog who wants to help with everything. She loved the hose like Cynde's Bella loves the hose until she chased it and banged her body against the porch...she was stunned a little by that and decided her chasing was over.

That'll learn them. It has always amazed me that dogs survived in the wild on their own. They really are spazz-a-ga-zoinks and aren't the best decision makers. 

I was lucky she didn't eat the tomato plants, and she loved chasing the locust tree seeds falling from the sky.

Allergy season to the billionth degree.

With only 4 hours of sleep on Saturday night, I'm still wondering how the puppy didn't stop all day. It's one giant fun house for her, and visiting friends, she's like a kid who can't get enough. It will be interesting as the week settles how she'll do...less backyard time with other dogs.

Back to a routine now in 3...2...1

(which now consists of throwing a ball obsessively)

Yes, Mom, This Post Is Late. I'm Out of Practice of Staying Up Until 2 a.m. and Karal Lynne is, Well, a Puppy with Tremendous Energy

And the squeaky balls have returned.

Karal Lynne found me outside of NYC yesterday in Harrison, NY, at a National Pet Rescue Week event. For me, it was the eyes and ears. Love at first site. Then I needed to field out the dispositions. Although she was in a sea of puppies and strays and a bit mouthy at first, she quickly settled, was not interested in them, and quietly did her own thing. We bonded for over an hour, then I said, "Let's head to your new forever home..." in southern CT traffic...on a Saturday...on I-95. I have not missed that at all. She slept the entire way, 100% less neurotic in the car as Glamis. She also loves when I vacuum, sweep, dust, or pick things up - it's game time for her. 

The foster family said she was super smart, which she proved at Justin Wooley's graduation party...already she sits, shakes, lies down, and almost rolls over. Unlike Glamis, it's not the ears and eyes she loves rubbed. It's her tummy and chest. Once she goes on her back she remains that way to be scratched.

Great on a leash, curious of every thing, and definitely a pig pen with all the toys (after 20 minutes of giving the house a sniff-down, she got every toy Glamis ever owned out of a basket and went to work), I know she's going to chisel her way into the Mt. Pleasant lifestyle. Tunga came home to meet her and to attend the graduation party, which lasted late into the night, and ended with another hour of more tricks and fetch. 2 a.m. bedtime. I'm too old for that.

The foster family said she was adopted and returned twice to PetRescueNY, both times from families who underestimated the amount of work of a puppy...especially in NYC apartments. On Mt. Pleasant, although she likes to be underfoot (knocks the cellphone out of the hand when she wants attention), she is thrilled by a fenced in backyard and opportunities to walk - great on a leash.

As I predicted, she jumped on my bed last night, trying to settle between my feet at first, realizing I toss too much and finally zonking out in the same spot as Glamis, at the edge of the bed. I slept 4 hours before the sun rose and made it hard to fall back to sleep. I tried my best, until 9 until I heard her chewing a bone on the dog bed below. I then realized, she probably needs to go outside (which she did)...Tunga already at the kitchen table with his computer, and Karal Lynne at his feet instantly.

She came with the name Karal, and I added Lynne because it sounds good with Crandall. I also was calling her Karal Brunette, Carrot, Caroli, and Rikki Tikki Tavi all day. She is definitely a mongoose (Mother Goose), and I'm sure she could find rabbit holes to burrow down. 

Right this second, however, 46-minutes into her day of  play, breakfast, outside run, and investigation, she is settled by my feet and calm. Makes me want to cuddle with her.

Holy July/August temperatures, Batman! It's a scorcher today. Blessings to all you pool owners. It's a swimming kind of day. Go swim.