Most Dreaded of Holidays

Halloween is upon us in all of its skeletal, witch-infested glory. People just eat up this holiday like they're gobbling Nerds and Pop Rocks. Perhaps it's the idea of knowing that you can literally become anything for a wee while, hiding behind a mask, dyed hair, or head-to-toe fish nets. I think that is exactly what I hated about it all...limitless possibilities are tough for a mega-type A. Thankfully, this year's annual Halloween party at work was cancelled, so I wasn't required to break out the old mouse ears and tail. For this, I am grateful. I'm also grateful for this photo, which provides me with two sources of inspiration:

1) Possible costume idea for Halloween 13.
2) Affirmation that I'm not the craziest cocker spaniel owner out there....

This Must Be Mine

Merwin can't have Christmas without this.

Happy Opening Day!

That's right, folks! Today is the opening day of the New York Rangers Hockey Season. What a thrill it will be to cheer them on as they play the LA Kings, the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

There you have it. A tiny sampling of what my blog post would've looked like if there was actually a hockey season to be had. After an oh-so-close brush with the Cup back in May and an endless summer of lame-o baseball, it would've gone on with giggly school-girl excitement to detail my hopes and dreams for the boys in blue.

Instead the number one goaltender in the world was out at a NY bar last night "playing a gig with his band." Players everywhere have retreated to European leagues to at least get a paycheck and stay on top of their games. Seems like no progress is being made between players and management and while it's not so bad right now, I fear the worst is yet to come. Dark, dreary winter nights without the comforting sounds of slapshots and bodies slamming into the boards. I feel empty.

Let's hope the Cardinals can pull out a win tonight, or our household will be doubly depressed.

Hello Filth!

Today marked the first day I went outside and was cold. This will last until May. Anyway, the cold reminded me that it is indeed fall, and the arrival of cool weather always brings my family a little chuckle as we welcome the season of "filth." Allow me to explain.

In elementary school, probably around first or second grade, each of us made a little "hot plate" to take home to our parents. I clearly don't recall details since I can barely remember dressing myself this morning, but apparently, Little Petey's assignment was to draw "the seasons." Pete was a smart kid, so he split the hot plate into four sections and drew summer as a nice field with a pretty red house and spring with a puffy cloud and an Easter Egg. Winter was a bare tree with what I assume were supposed to be snowflakes but actually looked more like little blue bicuspids. In each corresponding square, he wrote "Winter," "Spring," and "Summer." Quite impressive spelling for such a little guy with a big head (it's true, he was way out of proportion then). Then it went slightly awry. When you look at the fall picture, there is a nice tree with brightly colored leaves, but underneath it our future double Ivy Leaguer wrote "Fillth."

I mean, heck yeah! Go Petey! Things are dying everywhere and it does seem kinda brown and musty, so why not just say it like it is? I like to think that creatively renaming fall was an early manifestation of his artistic prowess. Perhaps he will let us sneak his very first "piece" into one of his shows.

The earliest work of Peter Francis, entitled "Filth" (circa 1991) housed in a private collection.

Fall Goodies

I don't know about you, but when the seasons change, I itch to buy new clothes. I often do this before I haul the "old" clothes out of storage and do a careful analysis of what I need. If I diligently followed that procedure I would realize that I certainly don't need anything.

However, this year's transition to fall was no exception. Despite that I am usually annoyed by the incessant emails from Loft highlighting their sales, when I saw that the latest deal was 40% off EVERYTHING, I jumped at the chance to update my fall wardrobe. Here's the loot:

Though the yellow top may be returned, I'm rocking the gray shirt today (coincidentally with a yellow sweater) and am eager for slightly cooler weather and that cozy sweater. But yeah, that's the latest thrilling update from over here. Have a happy weekend!

Ranting and Raving

Facebook is designed to share tidbits of your life with the masses. Yes, you can selectively chose who sees your tidbits, but put it up there, and it is out there. Similarly, this blog could in theory, be viewed by anyone. Of course, to come across it you'd have to google something like "W.S. Merwin and dogs named Merwin" or "poetry and dog obsessions: is this a disease?" I love my "fan base" but doubt anyone seeks out this insanity.

But back to Facebook. On Facebook, you can "tag" people in your post which both adds it to their feed, but also lets everyone know you're with them, talking about them, etc. Their friends can now see the post, increasing its exposure. Perfectly acceptable versions of utilizing this tool include things like "Loving this hike up Everest with Ruppert Jones" or "Sure wish Gertrude Flabberknocken would pick up donut holes on her way over."

Unacceptable uses of this blow my mind. This is what I mean:

"Wishing my husband Stanley Cupp a beautiful and romantic anniversary today. Four years ago, I stood at the altar and made the most important promise of my life. It seems like I have known you forever and you are the best thing that ever happened to me. I just can't imagine life without you. I love you more than you know and wish we were back in Bora Bora sipping gin and juice."

So here's the thing. I understand being pumped it is your wedding anniversary, but why would you broadcast your happy anniversary message to your husband across all of Facebook? I would get posting a message like "It's our anniversary! Let us eat cake!" or "Yay! Four years ago today I got hitched!" but why, why, why address it to your husband and tag your seemingly private message to him if it's totally public?!!?!? I just don't get it. Someone enlighten me!!!!!

Oh, and Simon, happy anniversary.