Potluck

I We have a "potluck" of informtion to blog today - kind of like or ward Christmas party see above. Madion was Santa's helper this year - she just dressed up and did it on her own - nobody asked her! Livi had a piano recital on Sunday - she's on her fifth year and did a great job! Her teacher is standing in the back. We named the puppie "Ralphie" from the Christmas story - it was a long democratic process with lots of shouting, votes, and revotes, even lobbying, until we agreed on the name. Ralphie is doing better today than yesterday. I can see all those wise dog owners nodding wisely or smugly smiling. When i put Ralphie in his crate at night, he whimpered and howled all night long. I put on my slippers and bathrobe on and shuffled him out to his "spot" in the yard where we are training him to go wee. I felt like a tired old redneck with a flashlight - hunting for doggie doo. This would be a perfect spot for a cigarette hanging out the side of my mouth or nursing a hot cup of coffee if I smoked and drank coffee. I thought "I'm such an idiot... than Who out of my friends will take this puppy off my hands, then what the _ell am I doing?" Morning came and Livi and I dressed for Livi's trip to the Kennedy Center. I took Ralphie out one last time and put him in his crate - I didn't know it at the time, but he shredded my pantyhose in the balk of my calf where I didn't see the holes until I was going to the bathroom during the concert intermission! It was wonderful going with Livi's 5th grade to hear the National Symphony Orchestra do a special afternoon program for fifth graders. The music teacher had an extra ticket and asked if I would like to go too. A tender mercy for sure! I sat in a boxed seat holding Livi's hand while segments from Gershwin, Beethoven, Wagner, Joplin, Copeland, and finally John Williams playing "Harry Potter" send chills up and down my spine as they did a program on American music. We were mesmerized, and the concert hall full of fifth graders were a rapt and courteous audience. The Kennedy Center is so close, and so vast and beautiful. I took a program for the year, vowing to come back soon for a concert with the kids. They have a free Messiah sing in , and the "Nutcracker" ballet , also "My Fair Lady" and "Sleeping Beauty" coming soon! I talked to two mothers there who where dog experts, and I felt a lot better after talking with them. Last night thanks to their advice, I filled a hot water bottle and a blanket with our smell and put it in his crate. He curled up next to the water bottle and whining was a minimum! Today I am staying home to get him used to our schedule, and setting the timer ever thirty minutes to take him out. We are confining him to the family room, where he has weed a few times every day, so we are scrubbing a lot! It's worth it though when the kids come in the door calling "Ralphie!" and play with him until bedtime with big smiles on their faces.