How much mucus can one head hold!
I hate this stupid winter cold.
Quite a bit, or so it seems,
cause head’s leaking more than dreams.
Every cough just wracks my body,
someone grab me a Nyquil toddy!
Throat is rawer than a country road,
voice is squeaky like smashed toad.
Good thing don’t keep a shotgun round,
cause I’d sure put me in the ground.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
LIFECHANCE 2014
It seemed to have warmed up a bit as the boys and I walked out of the Koger Center on Saturday night, no doubt a result of the hot dancing that went on inside as the Columbia Classical Ballet presented its annual Lifechance performance, this year supporting the Ray Tanner Foundation. What a smooth, delightful selection of dances. I was left wanting more---especially of Brooklyn Mack, our local dancing treasure, who enthralled his audience, as always. Not only did he participate in the larger group dances, but his short interpretive dance (I guess it is called) was beautiful as well. Columbia loves Brooklyn and you can feel the crowd buzz when he steps on to the stage. I don’t know most of the new dancers in this year’s rather large company, though there are a few old favorites such as Zoltan Boros, Sasha Vykhrest, and Matthew Waters. The company seems to have a decidedly Asian representation, with dancers from China, Japan, and Korea. The ballerinas were beautiful and lovely to watch, and the men were great too. There was a tall dancers who very much reminded me of Akari Manabe, who I much miss seeing dance, as well as many of the former dancers (who have now scattered all over the globe).
Some of last night’s dances were extremely nice. I really liked the fluidity of Tamas Krizsa and Maki Onuki’s “Together Apart.” Although Lasha Khozashvili looked too skinny to pull it off, he showed great strength and agility lifting and then moving the beautiful Lia Cirio (who has been a regular at Lifechance over the last few years), so she seemed to be floating, in “Giselle.” I especially enjoyed the modern piece (choreographed by Simone Cuttino), with the men barechested and wearing dark flowing skirts, and the crowd seemed to really enjoy it too. If I had any criticism it would have been nice to have a few different backdrops.
After admission there was a cute short featuring CCB dancers, not listed on the program I don’t think, featuring six in a comedy skit of gender-bending. Joey looked at me and said, “You wouldn’t get me out there doing that one.” But the crowd enjoyed it. In another dance, I think it was Kota Fujishima and Sakura Oka, they seemed like two tiny delicate flowers floating in “Flames of Paris.”
Overall, I really loved all the dances and the evening moved along at a brisk and pleasing pace. Been coming for years, often at the generosity of Brooklyn’s mom. I couldn’t see how many people were in attendance, but it looked like a pretty good crowd. I was surprised to find Coach Tanner standing by himself unmolested in the lobby and I thought I would get in a quick handshake, and we ended up chatting for probably ten to fifteen minutes, until his wife Karen joined us and others began coming up. They are really nice nice people. We talked about ballet (I think this may have been his first), Gamecock coaching and basketball, and a few other things. I was honored to have met him. Everyone knows what he means to USC sports, and also his charitable contribution to local children and homeless.
Some of last night’s dances were extremely nice. I really liked the fluidity of Tamas Krizsa and Maki Onuki’s “Together Apart.” Although Lasha Khozashvili looked too skinny to pull it off, he showed great strength and agility lifting and then moving the beautiful Lia Cirio (who has been a regular at Lifechance over the last few years), so she seemed to be floating, in “Giselle.” I especially enjoyed the modern piece (choreographed by Simone Cuttino), with the men barechested and wearing dark flowing skirts, and the crowd seemed to really enjoy it too. If I had any criticism it would have been nice to have a few different backdrops.
After admission there was a cute short featuring CCB dancers, not listed on the program I don’t think, featuring six in a comedy skit of gender-bending. Joey looked at me and said, “You wouldn’t get me out there doing that one.” But the crowd enjoyed it. In another dance, I think it was Kota Fujishima and Sakura Oka, they seemed like two tiny delicate flowers floating in “Flames of Paris.”
Overall, I really loved all the dances and the evening moved along at a brisk and pleasing pace. Been coming for years, often at the generosity of Brooklyn’s mom. I couldn’t see how many people were in attendance, but it looked like a pretty good crowd. I was surprised to find Coach Tanner standing by himself unmolested in the lobby and I thought I would get in a quick handshake, and we ended up chatting for probably ten to fifteen minutes, until his wife Karen joined us and others began coming up. They are really nice nice people. We talked about ballet (I think this may have been his first), Gamecock coaching and basketball, and a few other things. I was honored to have met him. Everyone knows what he means to USC sports, and also his charitable contribution to local children and homeless.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
DUFFY DEAN’S PARTY SCENE
(short version, for cats who want to party on the sly)
I know how to party. Been doing it for years, right under Sarah’s nose. And she ain’t no dumb mistress. No. But there is a fine art to evading the draconian restrictions she attempts to place on my outgoing personality and squeeze time with Honey Boo Boo. She thinks I laze about all day cause I am a kitty. . . no, I am sleeping off my wild nights. Anyway, you want to keep all things copacetic on the homefront (continued catfood and comfy comforters are important) while still carving out personal space for your inner party animal. Cats can have it all. Just ask my friend Hef. You think he’d have all those chickies if it weren’t for me? Ha! My Dad was Hef’s favorite and Poppa got to rub more p**** at the mansion than any five of his playmates. I’m telling ya!
Cats have always partied. Owners think the things knocked off shelves and bureaus while they are away are their cats sending them a message, but really it is just laziness and not tidying up as completely as they should. I tend to leave the house spotless. I even have special incense to eliminate the cigar smoke and heated Honey. . .if you know what I mean!
Timing is everything. For me it is easier than with some of my colleagues. Sarah is easy. If there is a Heat game going on, I can practically throw a party right there in the house without her even noticing (unless LaBron is having a bad night, but you know that ain’t happening often). She gets so immersed in her football (Go Canes! And several pro teams) that she hardly pays any attention to me. It also makes it easy for me to score chips and dips surreptitiously. Ha, you didn’t think I knew words like that, did ya! Beer and booze is a little harder to purloin, cause you know how she is. She hardly lets it cool down before she is on to another. Plus she does all that comedy stuff, and acting too. Sweet! More time for plentiful pleasant partying. She also has tons of friends always willing to wine and dine her. Some necessary items are harder to obtain. Caviar. Alabama pecan-infused bbq (for Honey). Luckily I love Indian food. And Sarah has a pretty good and diverse palate, so takehome boxes can easily pilfered. She thinks she accidentally throws stuff away. She is sooooo easy.
One obstacle is if your owner locks up too tightly. It is always good to stock up whenever you can. Be prepared. I have mastered loosening a secret window pane that she doesn’t know about. Any rat who reveals this knowledge will be found facedown in the sewer. I like to have several different beers (easy as pie here). Catnip is plentiful (and she just thinks I am loopy). I have long fur, so it is easy to hide the track lines, but I am no addict. I only party that way socially. But many of my friends, especially the ladies, have a hankering for the illegal stuff, and it comes in handy with the ladies sometimes.
Sarah has never found my private study (and she isn’t likely to any time soon; she is so inattentive). Solid mahogany paneling, plush chairs, brass ashtrays. Once she thought she saw smoke coming out of one of the sockets, but I managed to excuse that away.
Ok, that is all for now, I’ll perhaps let you in later on some neat masking schemes.
(short version, for cats who want to party on the sly)
I know how to party. Been doing it for years, right under Sarah’s nose. And she ain’t no dumb mistress. No. But there is a fine art to evading the draconian restrictions she attempts to place on my outgoing personality and squeeze time with Honey Boo Boo. She thinks I laze about all day cause I am a kitty. . . no, I am sleeping off my wild nights. Anyway, you want to keep all things copacetic on the homefront (continued catfood and comfy comforters are important) while still carving out personal space for your inner party animal. Cats can have it all. Just ask my friend Hef. You think he’d have all those chickies if it weren’t for me? Ha! My Dad was Hef’s favorite and Poppa got to rub more p**** at the mansion than any five of his playmates. I’m telling ya!
Cats have always partied. Owners think the things knocked off shelves and bureaus while they are away are their cats sending them a message, but really it is just laziness and not tidying up as completely as they should. I tend to leave the house spotless. I even have special incense to eliminate the cigar smoke and heated Honey. . .if you know what I mean!
Timing is everything. For me it is easier than with some of my colleagues. Sarah is easy. If there is a Heat game going on, I can practically throw a party right there in the house without her even noticing (unless LaBron is having a bad night, but you know that ain’t happening often). She gets so immersed in her football (Go Canes! And several pro teams) that she hardly pays any attention to me. It also makes it easy for me to score chips and dips surreptitiously. Ha, you didn’t think I knew words like that, did ya! Beer and booze is a little harder to purloin, cause you know how she is. She hardly lets it cool down before she is on to another. Plus she does all that comedy stuff, and acting too. Sweet! More time for plentiful pleasant partying. She also has tons of friends always willing to wine and dine her. Some necessary items are harder to obtain. Caviar. Alabama pecan-infused bbq (for Honey). Luckily I love Indian food. And Sarah has a pretty good and diverse palate, so takehome boxes can easily pilfered. She thinks she accidentally throws stuff away. She is sooooo easy.
One obstacle is if your owner locks up too tightly. It is always good to stock up whenever you can. Be prepared. I have mastered loosening a secret window pane that she doesn’t know about. Any rat who reveals this knowledge will be found facedown in the sewer. I like to have several different beers (easy as pie here). Catnip is plentiful (and she just thinks I am loopy). I have long fur, so it is easy to hide the track lines, but I am no addict. I only party that way socially. But many of my friends, especially the ladies, have a hankering for the illegal stuff, and it comes in handy with the ladies sometimes.
Sarah has never found my private study (and she isn’t likely to any time soon; she is so inattentive). Solid mahogany paneling, plush chairs, brass ashtrays. Once she thought she saw smoke coming out of one of the sockets, but I managed to excuse that away.
Ok, that is all for now, I’ll perhaps let you in later on some neat masking schemes.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
ICE ANGELS
Windscreen covered with
hundreds of small ice angels
dancing on the glass.
[On way to taking Chimo to school he commented about the ice angels on the windshield, and I made a quip, and he said---Dad, is that a haiku?---and I thought, sure would make a nice one with some tinkering, and here it is.]
hundreds of small ice angels
dancing on the glass.
[On way to taking Chimo to school he commented about the ice angels on the windshield, and I made a quip, and he said---Dad, is that a haiku?---and I thought, sure would make a nice one with some tinkering, and here it is.]
Thursday, January 2, 2014
NEW YEARS 2014
I am boring. Intended to catch Kool and the Gang downtown, but the weather wasn't great and it felt more comfortable just staying home. Kind of glad 2013 over and hope the next one is better. Watched football, mostly, on New Years. Was mightily cheered with the Connor Shaw Show as the Gamecocks downed a tough Badger squad, earning the third straight 11 win season and a bowl victory. Sweet. A little after the game I took the boys to a surprisingly empty Hooters and had dinner. It was pleasant and our waitress was very nice. And that's all I got to say about that.
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