Alyosha Love Licks

There's nothing like the adoration of a pit bull. Alyosha always greets me enthusiatically, wiggling and hopping all around. She seems to forget that she's not a puppy, that she's a senior citizen. Her golden years have not diminished her admiration of grandma. That's me. Grandma of the grand dog. And proud of it.

Bike Ride Home

One of the many things I love about my job in Watsonville is my bike ride home to Aptos. Car pool mate Anne picks me up in the morning and I toss my bike in the back of her car. After I've had enough of being a conscientious teacher-lady all day, I change into lycra and hop on my bike.

My route home runs primarily along Freedom Blvd. Within a few minutes I've left the burbs and am cruising in the country. I pass apple orchards and berries growing in perfect rows. I pass a small lake. I pass moo-cows and horsies. I watch the seasonal changes, colors, blossoms, harvesting, and am amazed at how lucky I am to be able to do this.

When I peddle into my own driveway I ring the silly bell on my bike handlebars. Suzzie dog knows the signal and meets me at the gate. Time for a shower and a glass of wine.

Life's a Stage

One of the great things about living near my alma matter is the stuff that matters that happens there. Example: UC Santa Cruz hosts Shakespeare Santa Cruz’s summer season. I experienced two shows this past week. I don’t want to simply use the see verb and say I saw two shows. That is not what live theatre is all about. One experiences live theatre. Like Jimi Hendrix. Are you experienced?

In the company of my dear book group friends, I experienced Burn This by Lanford Wilson. Picture the perfect NYC artist’s loft. Tall windows and ceiling, exposed pipes and wires, an expanse of scruffy hard wood floors. Place your feet on those floors and let your mind mosey on back to the 1980’s. Talk about a trip down memory lane. Here I am watching a show about a dancer on a stage on which I performed as a dancer. (True! I was a dance major at UCSC.) To top it off, the set looks remarkably like the Chelsea apartment in which I have spent truly quality time.

For last night’s performance the theatre was transformed into a street in front of a church in Leipzig, Germany, circa 1700. Itamar Moses, the author of Bach at Leipzig is only 30 years old and really, really cute. (If you don't believe me, check out his photo in the playbill.) The play is a goofy comedy complete with sword fights, a gay guy, and rapid fire entrances and exits perfectly timed with the silly jokes. One fundamental thing you must understand about this show: all the musicians in Germany were called either Georg or Johann. Another fundamental: it is based on a true story.

If you’re seriously serious, click on over to the Wall Street Journal review of the Shakespeare Santa Cruz season: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121876098005742875.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Also, enjoy the New York Times piece about Itamar, which includes this:
Question: “How come you get to hang out with Tom Stoppard?"
Answer:“I think I'm just that charming." http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/theater/newsandfeatures/06zino.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The Cement Ship

Last Saturday morning I hauled myself over to Seacliff State Beach to meet up with a small group of women for an ocean swim. The idea was to get our feet wet (ha ha!) with a practice swim around the Pino Alto. We have all signed up for the Mermaid Triathlon.

Pino Alto. That’s the christened name of the half-sunk, stinky, crumbling, flat-out-ugly cement ship now used as an excuse for a fishing pier. It juts out into the Monterey Bay about 200 or so yards. (The triathlon includes a 400-yard swim - 200 + 200 = 400.) You can see it on the Calif. State Parks site: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=543

I’ll be honest. I was scared to swim out that far. Also, it seems creepy to get anywhere close to the cement ship, the fishing line and hooks draped over the side, and the seals and birds that hang out there.
Bright idea! I’ll bring my boogie board and just paddle. I talked my dear friend Connie into this seemingly great idea, too. We can’t die out there if we have big-old boogie boards to hang on to.

Within seconds of hitting the water, I knew the folly of my plan. It is MUCH TOUGHER to push a fat, thick board forward than it is to just plain swim. Arms are the key, baby. You can’t efficiently use your arms to pull you through the water if you’re holding on to a boogie board! Our mermaid sisters, swimming, quickly distanced themselves from Connie and me. We could see their tiny heads bopping up, making their way straight out to sea.

As it turned out, one swimmer, amazingly a bit older than I, was not making much progress. In fact, she was having trouble. I assumed the role of lifeguard for the rest of the journey, staying near her, and sharing the flotation device. She and I made it around the cement ship, talking our way through bouts of hyperventilation and fear. The others, including Connie, were happily chatting on the beach while they waited for us to safely arrive on shore.

So you see, the boogie board turned out to be a good thing in the end.

Sailing High

Back a few years ago, during one of my trips to NYC, I came across this display. Lots of canoes and kayaks and skinny boats all glomed together, flying high above a plaza. What a metaphor, don't you think? Or, make that metaphors (plural). Crash. Fly. Color on high.

Now that the Olympics are over, the Democratic Convention is taking its place in the inspiration department. Just the sight of Nancy Pelosi brings tears to my eyes. I am not kidding. She is #3 in the land, ladies and gentlemen. She rocks!

Middle School is Supposed to be Fun

For some reason, the kids at school were really in good spirits today. It was the end of the second week of school. Maybe they are all in a groove now, remembering how much more fun it is to see all the other kids every day. As opposed to sitting on the couch in front of the tube at home.

Speaking of television, today all of my 70 students had to write an essay about a TV show. They also had the option of choosing a book, but they overwhelmingly choose shows. Man Versus Wild, Wild Boyz, and Family Guy. Ellen, Tyra Banks, Queen Bees, and America's Next Top Model. Sponge Bob Square Pants, Dora the Explorer, and Tom and Jerry. Thank you, god, for the ONE boy who wrote about the Harry Potter series. He mentions that Harry is courageous. I just love it that he wrote that.

On the Couch

It is comforting to know that my handsome husband is in full control. Of the remote control. Important concepts: comfort and control. Very manly, don't you think?