Okay, I?m now officially sick of my own pet photos. I think I?m going to challenge myself to focus on an entirely different subject matter for the remainder of the month. It can?t be people because as limited as my skills are in general, I?m particularly lousy at taking portrait shots. I?m thinking architecture.

I head down to Boston today?so that should be a good start.

Yay for government holidays that had me at home all day yesterday?love that?oh and all of you who went to war on my behalf, including my own dear grandfather, you were close in my thoughts, in fact, this poem kept circling through my head:

TO THE REPUBLIC

I dreamt I saw a caravan of the dead
start out again from Gettysburg.

Close-packed upright in rows on railcar flat-
beds in the sun, they soon will stink.

Victor and vanquished shoved together, dirt
had bleached the blue and gray one color.

Risen again from Gettysburg, as if
the state were shelter crawled to through

blood, risen disconsolate that we
now ruin the great work of time,

they roll in outrage across America.

You betray us is blazoned across each chest.
To each eye as they pass: You betray us.

Assaulted by the impotent dead, I say it?s
their misfortune and none of my own.

I dreamt I saw a caravan of the dead
move on wheels touching rails without sound.

To each eye as they pass: You betray us.

-- Frank Bidart
from The New Yorker, April 24, 2006

I brought this poem in a few weeks back to both my classes so by the end of prepping it and analyzing it, etc?it is now, deep in my blood.

Hey. Next week is Thanksgiving?you guys on this already? Damn. We?ve got 15 people coming and all I?ve done so far is order a turkey. Well, that and plan a menu with T which right now reads: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, caramelized small white onions with julienned carrots, turnip, squash (hubbard! bien entendu), cheesy beans (thanks Sarah!)--- desserts will be brought by the guests?what am I missing? Surely there are more veggies than that . . . any favorite dishes you care to share? And, anyone out there had good luck with brining a turkey? I want to try that this year?

Wow?that was a Martha Stewart tangent, non?

I?ll leave you with this little vignette from Friday night.

T is on the floor in front of the woodstove giving Daisy a belly and ear rub.

T: Hey. Did I tell you she rolled in moose poop this morning?

Me: (with icy disdain) And you?re PETTING her?

T: Hey--I?m not the one who brought her up into bed with me this afternoon for a cuddle.

Me: *my thoughts are suddenly turning in extra slo-mo*

Ahhhhhhhhaaackkkkk!

When did you hose her down?

T: I never washed her off?she seems fine.

Me: *googling ?justifiable homicide?*

got 2 cents?