Poetry Lecture with Yusef Komunyakaa

The great thing about actually taking pictures is that I remember how much I love to shoot. Like it makes me really happy. I've been doing so much computer work and it can leave me dazed and moody (read, extremely grumpy). And then, shooting this poetry lecture, I had my camera up, looking through the lens, waiting for Mr. Komunyakaa to look up, to gesture, to smile and I had the flash. That feeling of happiness and rightness and joy. I'm doing what I love and I'm surrounded by and exposed to amazing people that I might not otherwise get to experience. It all sounds incredibly hokey...

I've done a number of Seattle Arts and Lecture events this month...their always interesting and I'll share a few from others soon. Mr. Komunyakaa writes a great deal about the Vietnam War and what really struck me was his beginnings. Years after the war he was on a ladder doing some remodeling when a thought struck him and he climbed down and made a note and that apparently was the beginnings of his life as a poet....

My favorite part of the lectures is the question and answer part...Rebecca sits and has a conversation with the poet. I can hardly have a decent conversation one to one and Rebecca has these smart, funny, intelligible talks in front of hundreds of people...

Beasts and BooBoos

Ari went on vacation and it made last week so quiet. I kept feeling like I had forgotten to pick him up from school...like he was standing on the curb waiting for me...so sad.

And then he comes home and so much happens right away...like they got a dog. And he has to have stitches (unrelated incidents!).

Ari saw him and said, "oh, it's scooter!". So Scooter it is...a big, huge, tall, super sweet, jolly, patient Scooter!

And then, that same evening, in the excitement of introducing scooter to granny and grampa he totally biffed it and had to get three stitches.

Pop quiz

Can you guess how old Exie is?

Sunny Days

What wacky weather we are having around here...gorgeous and sunny, snowy, rainy, sunny but freezing...

My Tuesday Ari-day was so beautiful. The type of day that makes you happy. We hung out after school with some of his chums at the park, played tag and bubbles and swings and slides.

Happy Birthday Georgia

It's my favorite little pony's 6th birthday today! At Christmas I decided to attribute animals to each member of my family...it's kind of a fun game and it's surprising how people agree on which animal someone should be. I can't remember them all but Georgia is indisputably a pony.



It might be kind of hard to tell in this photo since she could also be humprhy bogart in this dressing gown...everyone also got a mustache photo this Christmas but I haven't decided just how to use the photos...I'm sure it will come to me in a fit of brilliance and in the meantime...I have mustache photos of my entire family and there has to be some joy in that fact alone.

Naughty Bear Chair

I saw the big bear and wanted to put the little baby in it's lap...but when mom called it the "naughty bear chair" I had second thoughts. Ohhhh...you can't be naughty when you are so little and yummy...

And then I met the real Naughty Bear...

Seriously yummy

ARgh...I want to eat this whole family! I can't tell if all of the stars aligned or if they just permanently shine over their house. Everything was so sweet and loving...oh, and did I mention they are all gorgeous too!

I want them to have a million more babies...because they are so cute...but also so I can photograph them all in this awesome orange chair!