With a spinning head after the past two crazy weeks, I will try to regroup by writing a bit, a strategy that always seems to work. Toby almost reached his end, again, the pace of the school year is rapidly accelerating, my dishwasher situation is making me rip my hair out, and RA is bouncing along in the back seat saying "Are you there yet? Are you there yet?" "There" being flat out in bed as no other movement is possible. Cheerio then.

And then there is art! The visual ideas keep flowing, but are stuck in the drainpipe of life. Just. Can't. Get. To. Them! Ah, summer is on the horizon. Was great to have a class happen at Artist and Craftsman last weekend! Next one is next Saturday -- Fearless Drawing! 

Toby update: His recent bout with Canine Geriatric Idiopathic Vestibular Disease is resolving! He is not his old self in terms of strength, and is more wobbly than before, but he is no longer going in circles and falling up and down stairs. I have to watch his steps very closely but in general he is back to being his usual self. This means stealing his sibling's food, howling like a wolf if I leave the room (how does a blind dog know that so quickly?!) and peeing with carefree abandon. Sadly though he does not like the leash walks that he has enjoyed with vigor since puppy hood. It is just too much for him, and he gets overwhelmed and turns around and tries to go home after a hundred feet. Can't have everything. What this episode, which involved signing the euthanasia papers and truly expecting to put him down, did teach me is that I still love the big sloppy lug. Priceless reminder. 

School is an amazingly creative and energetic place to be, and I am happy to see my students thriving at this point in the year. Projects finishing up, energy and attitude (mostly) good. We had a great open house last week, filled with special moments of achievement for many students. One amazing 7th grade artist I have the good fortune of working with brought in a magnificent wearable art piece that she has been slaving over at home for months. An elaborate, complicated gown, gracefully designed, that expressed her identity through photographs of her life both printed on fabric and attached to the surface. Remarkable piece, never mind that she is only in 7th grade! She has what it takes! GO MEGAN!

The night before Open House I was invited to attend the RMHS National Honor Society induction ceremony at the request of one of the inductees, another hugely successful art student. While the night celebrated the accomplishments of many fine students, it was a huge honor for me, as well, to have a high school student look back to middle school and identify me as influential. Yup, teared me up. Two colleagues from my school were also present to accept similar grace, and we all were especially touched that "our kids" find value in what we tried to do with them during those difficult, awkward, and delicate years when a love of learning can be ignited or stamped out. 

Now, the sad tale of the dishwasher. I need to preface the tale with the fact that my house has an old stone foundation from the 1850's. Permeable at times to the occasional mouse. My kitties address any trespassers quickly and efficiently and that is that. Usually. A month ago I had a dishwasher repairman look at my broken 15 month old dishwasher. He took the plastic cover off the underside of the dishwasher to find a mouse nest. Uh oh. Now I know why the cats would sit in front of the dishwasher and watch it like a television.  The repairman couldn't figure out the problem, and left in utter disgust. He also said he was allergic to dogs so couldn't stay in my house. Riiiigggght.

I called Kitchen Aid direct, and they sent out a repairman from NH. At first he came when I wasn't home because the office didn't listen when I told them I couldn't be home at ten in the morning. We rescheduled. He came last Saturday, took the cover off, and discovered a deceased little mouse carcass way in the back underneath.  He was horrified as though it was a dragon. He did figure out the motor stopped working, so that is a plus. He said he'd check with Kitchen Aid about replacing the motor and would get back in touch.  Never did. 

I called and found out that he couldn't fix the dishwasher because his work could not be guaranteed due to the "mouse problem." I offered to waive all warranties and pay cash if he would just fix it. They said they would not service this dishwasher. Thanks, Reliable Appliance! Not so reliable. 

Disgusting? Yes. Do I need to pull the dishwasher out and find out where the buggers got in? Yes. Should I have to throw out a $600 dishwasher because of a mouse? No. If anyone knows of a clever person who is man or woman enough to not be grossed out by a two inch misguided rodent, please advise. I am tired of handwashing dishes!!!   Cheerio...

A quiet Sunday morning. A light rain is falling, creating wafts of wet asphalt and spring that drift into the kitchen. One of the bigger neighbor dogs a block away is woofing her good mornings, while my three pups sleep soundly on their pile of beds near me in the kitchen, thankfully not responding. Even the birds are being relaxed this morning -- Kizzy grumbling the occasional "Whaaat?" and Hap saying "Ok, I gotta go..." but in a way that sounds like he doesn't really mean it. It was 6:30 am a minute ago. Now it is 7:39. What happened? That is happening a lot, lately. And the cup of coffee is still full. 

Facing challenging times with the Tobster this week.  Between the sudden and extreme heat that moved in for a couple days and a recent difficult spell with his diabetes and/or Addisons, he had a rough week.  As in not being able to go for a walk kind of patch, definitely not his style, and extreme G/I disturbances. He did walk last night and seemed interested again, so hope is not lost. He is not feeling his best, and I have to be prepared for him not bouncing back like the Toby the Immortal Dog he has become. As I wrote this he suddenly got up, holding one paw up, and hobbled aimlessly down the length of the kitchen on three legs, then returned to bed. Yup, poor Tobes. I fear his end is near. :( 

This dog has caused me massive amounts of stress and frustration, but he has taught me equal amounts of patience, and has been one heck of a role model for maintaining a lust for life despite not having optimal health. My little guy and I have shared a Prednisone prescription but sadly I've never mastered his almost carefree way of dealing with physical losses. Blindness, deafness, and weakness from not one, not two, but three rotten long-term diseases can't stop his tail from wagging and his happiness at receiving a belly rub. When all is said and done, my little canine shadow has taught me so much that I am actually grateful for his destructive presence in my home. And man, has he been destructive!!!

Am trying not to dwell on the physical stuff but suffice it to say the Remicade is not doing much of anything, or if it is, I can't tell. Unlike Toby I feel like going to bed for say, a year or so, to encourage the pain to take a break. The joint swelling is pretty much constant. The expression "Listen to your body" is false -- if I did, I'd never move again!

The one thing that keeps me going mentally is the potential of art. Even if I can't put the time in right now to consistently pump out all the ideas I have, at least I have the ideas.  Such an exciting time to be into textiles -- the ability to create digital textiles at home and combine them with other media provides unlimited possibilities. My brain is firing off ideas daily, and many of them do make it to my sketchbook, where they will sit until time comes for me to delve into materials and make them happen. So many thoughts, so little actual time. Such is life. 

The wide format printer is working great and has made a set of fabric pages for my first digital fabric book. The larger size is dramatically different and I can't wait to get into the image and explore possibilities. The resource photo is one that I've considered making into a large piece, and playing with variations of it this way will either help me refine my idea or make me tired of the image altogether. We shall see. Onward!