Further Adventures of the Clockwork Kitten

With the gracious acceptance of the painter (L. McLain), I have purchased this wonderful painting and hung it up in the cloister, between her painting of my cat and Cappuccino the llama. The look in the kitten's eyes, the mouse with the gag ball in its mouth, the sadism of the human being (both taunting the cat, and sacrificing the mouse). I love this painting.

Escape

I need to get out of town for a while...soon. Fortunately, Chicago is now only two days away. It is going to be warmer than what I would have enjoyed, but I won't complain. That's what cold beer is for.

And to be in the heart of a city whose baseball team is in the first round of division play-offs, to find a local Chicago bar and to sit amongst fellow Cubs fans and watch the game...what a thrill.

Then there is the hot dogs, the deep dish pizza, the walks around Chicago neighborhoods...

As the dear reader can tell, I enjoy the little things of life, as well as those big moments.

No moment for me, however, is more anticipated than to sit down at a steak house, enjoy a t-bone, a baked potato, couple of sides, a bottle of red, and enjoy the company and conversation of a beautiful woman...that's Saturday. And then some piano bar action...at a cigar-friendly bar.

A well-deserved, much needed escape!

Week of Presidential Birthdays

The week of October 1 will see three presidential birthdays:

- Jimmy Carter (October 1)

- Rutherford Hayes (October 4) and

- Chester Arthur (October 5).

President Arthur is actually buried in the area, at the Albany Rural Cemetery.

In 11 days, we will celebrate Dwight Eisenhower (October 13), followed by Teddy Roosevelt and John Adams at the end of the month (October 27 and 30, respectfully).

In addition to Mrs. McLain, today is also the Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

Happy Birthday, Wifey!

My wife is turning 32 today. As a birthday gift, she is going to be featured in Upstate Magazine on Fashion and Art, about her work. She recently was the featured artist for the Upstate Artists Guild animal-showed and sold 6 pieces. She technically sold a 7th, because I bought one of my favorites from her (The Further Adventures of the Clockwork Kitten). She has a website.

I am proud.

Storgic Love

I am not ashamed to say that I came upon a new word the other day, while searching google for a specific meaning of the word "agapic," as in "agapic love."

From Psychology Today: [Storge] Reflects an inclination to merge love and friendship. Storgic love is solid, down to earth, presumably enduring. It is evolutionary, not revolutionary, and may take time to develop. It is related to satisfaction in long-term relationships.

As an explorer, I find this definition and others related to it kind of neat. There may be relationships that I have that could be in the early phases of storgic love; I could be wrong (it's happened before), so who's to say? But the idea that there can be such evolution in a friendship appeals to this poet..especially living a life of being "just friends" to a handful of gals.

Cubs Clinch Division!

We'll be in Chicago for at least one night of the first round of Division Playoffs. Chicago v. Arizona.

Go Cubs!

New Haiku: The Female Mind

Oh, the female mind!
How it taunts and tortures me...
Such Complexity!

Sadness

One of my parents commented on how it was at times difficult to read this blog, that it felt...sad.

Of course it is sad. I am writing about a transformational period that was catalyzed by the end of a marriage and an uncertainty about the future. There is going to be a certain amount of sadness to it. What is ironic is the sense of remorse or regret my parents always expressed that I was never close enough, that I never shared with them, now I am sharing...not just with them but with whomever desires to read this blog, and it is too sad or they have too many questions that I don't feel like answering directly. What can you do...transformation is not for the faint at heart or those with fixed opinions. And when it comes to parents, both of those would apply...and they will with me in my relationship with my daughter.

But they are my parents, my family, and they are part of my make up...some of their best and worst traits I see in myself. Just as I see a lot of me in my girl. I must be patient.

They are my parents and they are a part of my support system. I am grateful that they are there, even if they don't necessarily understand. I love them.