American Art at the MFA

Queenee and I had a couple days of adventuring this week. Monday afternoon she had an appointment with a physical therapist about the edema in her right arm. We'll be going back there next week for the actual therapy, once the proper bandages and wraps are obtained. Afterward we went to the Burlington Coat Factory looking for bargains.

Tuesday she had an appointment with our orthopedic surgeon, who is delighted with how she is getting along with her two new knees. After the hospital visit, we had dinner at a little Turkish diner called the Anadolu Cafe. They are at 1022 Comm Ave, almost across the street from the Paradise. The food was very good, especially the Icli Kofte - we could have each ordered a few of those and made them the meal.

After dinner, we went to the Boston MFA for a brief lecture about the MFA's American art collection. Afterward, we had the galleries almost to ourselves. There were about 200 people there (it was a members thing), which meant you could actually enjoy walking through and seeing the art. Several of the curators were on hand to answer questions and discuss their favorite pieces. One of mine is this charming portrait by John Singleton Copley that just happens to include a Southern flying squirrel. Deacon's favorite painting, Thomas Cole's Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, was also on view.

We had just been to the museum last week to see the Americans in Paris exhibit. I especially wanted Queenee to see Whistler's Mother before it left town. She was surprised at the size, expecting it to be smaller than it actually is.

I know, I know, it's all just more excitement than most folks can stand.

Citizenship

Just a quick post to let everyone know that Dinu passed his US citizenship exam/interview on Monday! He'll be taking the oath in November. Although he is allowed to maintain dual citizenship, he says he will be relinquishing his Indian passport, which is an excellent excuse to go to NYC.

Sophia's squirrel

Sophia has proven to be quite the hunter. Considering she is not allowed out (she goes right to the street) you would think she wouldn't know much about hunting, never mind actually catch things. When I was in NY, she caught several mice that were in the house. Last night, she caught a flying squirrel.

I haven't seen one for ages. They are common enough, but nocturnal, so you rarely see them unless you are lucky enough to be in the woods at dusk and have one glide past you. Or if the squirrel is unlucky enough to be in the house and within reach of a cat.

I was on the computer last night when I heard loud squeaking and saw Sophia charging from the kitchen through the dining room and into the living room with something the size of a small rat hanging out of her mouth. She had it by the head and at first I thought she had already killed it. However, when I followed her into the living room, she was happy to show off her catch by turning it loose. Of course, that meant she got to catch it all over again. I trapped the poor thing in a plastic container and had a good look at it. The good news is that the squirrel wasn't hurt. No blood, no holes, just a pissed off flying squirrel. I'm sure he's much happier across the stone wall where I released him.

Sophia was not pleased to lose the squirrel to me. She's been trailing around behind me all day today. I suspect she thinks I've hidden her squirrel somewhere and if she keeps an eye on me, it's just a matter of time before she'll have it back.

Queenee's birthday

After last night's card game when she was saying goodnight to the assembled company, the Queen saw all the beautiful mums that the girls had distributed around the front walkway. What a nice surprise from Key Dear! Today we'll enjoy the beautiful weather and have a cookout with the Damcats and maybe with the Dawgs, if they listen to their messages. More photos will no doubt follow.

Closer

I've always thought this would be a great song for walking down the aisle, but that's just me. This mash-up video is, well, see for yourself. It's Star Trek, so the video itself is worksafe, but the music is not. Bless you, Trent Reznor.

Boring

Ok, ladies, I admit it, I lead a boring life. I sit in front of a computer most days and I don't have children to brag about. I could talk endlessly about my cats, but speaking of boring... I went to Ikea a couple weeks ago with a girlfriend, but is that blog-worthy? Honestly, my fellow bloggees, have we run out of info to post? I know there are Maine photos, Florida photos, and all the kids are back in school, so wassup ma bitches?

Should we enlarge our scope? Our should I just take it over and proceed with my original intent of tv commercial criticism?

An example: can someone explain to me why small lizards are used to sell car insurance? I love geckos, I loved watching them roam around the walls and ceilings of pretty much every hotel I ever stayed in in Hawaii (particularly the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina, Maui, highly recommended). But do they really represent some kind of selling point to the American public? Was someone at Geico having a brain-fart that day and thought a typo was a great idea for a commercial? Is there anyone who buys car insurance based on the word of a CGI gecko?? And I'm speaking from experience - we can't get Geico insurance here in Taxachusetts, but I had them for years in NY, and from a purely consumer pov, they were just fine. However, I would no more buy car insurance because of the cute gecko than I would go to Taco Bell because of the chihuahua. Do they serve ground canine? Is that the message? Why did Spuds McKenzie sell Bud Light? The Clydesdales I understand, they pull the beer wagon. I understood the marketing behind the Swedish Bikini Team Buy a beer, get a broad ads. But dogs and frogs and lizards? I don't get it.

Where is McLuhan when we need him?

Howdy from Sloppy Joe's

Hello from Key West! Queenee and I are on Duval Street in front of Sloppy Joe's - PopPop is somewhere along the sidewalk, not believing in waving to webcams.

Tropical Storm Ernesto

Tropical Storm Ernesto tore through the Florida Keys a few days ago and left behind well watered plants and some overturned lawn furniture, as seen in this graphic photo.