the world is your acorn

We never thought Oliver would ever want to play fetch. Poodles generally don’t go for those kinds of shenanigans. So we were pleasantly surprised when he started to fetch with his kosher bone in the house. We figured that maybe his terrier half wants to fetch. But we were also encouraged by another poodle (miniature) who lives down the street who loves fetch. His dad told us that he just learned by watching other dogs do it at the park. This was exciting news, and lo and behold one day on returning from the dog park The Little Red Haired Girl reported to me that Oliver had played fetch with a tennis ball.

Now we have been trying it in our own backyard for a couple weeks now. This is the general pattern of “fetch” that I’ve encountered today:

1. Oliver goes and picks up the ball, brings it over, and drops it just far away enough from where I’m sitting that I have to get out of my chair to pick it up. Then he sits and stares at me until I agree to play “fetch” with him.
2. I pick up the ball and throw it.
3. Oliver looks at me, looks at the ball, and considers going to get it.
4. After a few minutes, he saunters over to the ball.
5. Oliver lies down next to the ball.
6. After a while, Oliver picks up the ball, and after walking around the yard some, eventually brings it to the front right corner of the yard about 5 feet away from where I’m standing. This seems to be the area where he has decided the ball lives.
7. Oliver goes about his business of gnawing on sticks.
8. Oliver goes and picks up the ball, brings it over, and drops it just far away enough from where I’m sitting that I have to get out of my chair to pick it up. Then he sits and stares at me until I agree to play “fetch” with him.

We’ve played at least 4 times in the past 2 hours. That’s how long it takes.

It’s not quite spring break yet, but it will be soon. That means that I already have a list of things to do while on break:

• taxes
• read for pleasure
• catch up on emails that I’ve neglected since January
• get ahead on schoolwork (yeah right)
• figure out budget for me and The Little Red Haired Girl, and hope we have enough saved to go to Brazil or Italy with my parents this summer
• update blogroll

The Little Red Haired Girl and I went to Billy Joel last Wednesday. It was pretty amazing. I’ve been a huge Billy Joel fan since I can remember, and I have all but 1 of his albums (mostly on cassette, but I’m upgrading). I’d seen him once before, on his River of Dreams tour. I was in high school, and I’m pretty sure that my friend and I had the worst seats in all of New Haven Coliseum. It didn’t matter of course, he puts on an amazing show and I just felt lucky to be there. This time though, it was different. Not only were we closer up, but Billy was playing old stuff. It wasn’t a tour promoting new music. If anything he was promoting the box set My Lives, which is a collection of rare recordings from throughout his career. Which meant that he played songs that I just didn’t think I’d ever get to hear live. Like Angry Young Man, Ballad of Billy the Kid, and Everybody Loves You Now. He also played a ton of Greatest Hits type stuff, which was fun and meant The Little Red Haired Girl could sing along. I have no idea if he’ll tour again, but I’m in.

I know it’s not really the weekend yet, but it sure feels like it. It’s 75 degrees outside, I’m done with classes for the week, and tonight is not only Mrs. Superhero’s birthday dinner but The Little Red Haired Girl and I also get to see Billy Joel afterwards! Really, there is nothing more I could ask for.

But there is more, which is the amazing thing. Tomorrow morning Everything Guy and I fly out to Boston to participate in Harvard’s Graduate Student Research Conference. We will be presenting some work that we’ve been doing trying to understand how kids learn to skateboard at local skateparks. Sadly The Little Red Haired Girl can’t come with us, but I will still get to see some of our friends and EAT SUSHI. It’s pretty crazy getting our talk ready, but I’m happy with what we’ve come up with and I’ll be glad to have the experience.

Anyway, I’m off to start my weekend!

Via BoingBoing: It’s a pencil eraser… that looks like a delete key! Seriously though. I want it.

Today is the second day of the Chinese New Year. On Thursday The Little Red Haired Girl and I had some friends over and made some Chinese food for an early celebration. Last night we went to a big 10 course dinner sponsored by the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville. It was pretty fun - the food was good, the people we sat with were interesting and entertaining, and the Lion Dance was incredible.

I did walk away feeling a little weird about it though. I guess I’m always a little weary of my culture being commodified, or fetishized. One of the things that the invitation to the dinner asked was that people dress in Chinese garb. I guess it makes the event feel more festive, but for me it was just a bunch of people wearing either the clothes of another culture or, worse, their idea of the clothes of another culture. At the same time, I guess I should be happy that others are making an effort to participate in and share Chinese traditions. A friend last night asked me how it could have been made better. I’m not really sure. I suppose it would have helped if there had been more information around telling guests about Chinese New Year, the superstitions, traditions, and meanings that go with the holiday. Without that information I fear that guests may have walked away with their eroticized (or something else) ideas of Chinese culture confirmed.

Oliver had some fun at the dog park this morning:

The Little Red Haired Girl’s not-so-little sister just launched her blog Project Beltway this past week. She’s a DC girl, and is doing an amazing job capturing some of the styles and fashions around town. Her writing is fun and just as bubbly as her personality, and her pictures are stellar. From the press release (via fishbowlDC):

Contrary to popular perception, D.C. is much more than basic black, grey, and beige. It’s colorful city with as many fashion choices as political factions. In a city where power dictates fashion, instead of the other way around, Project Beltway will aim to go beyond the power suits and prove that the nation’s capital has a style as interesting as the people shaping its unique culture.

The site will feature profiles, photo essays, reader submissions & forums, local designer spotlights and local product features.

“Project Beltway will celebrate style in Washington,” insists Cothran. “There will be no ‘don’ts.’”

This is the weekend where some candidates for admission to the doc program get wined and dined by the college. I wrote about this when I was a prospective student, then again last year when I participated as a current graduate student. Today my new little buddy asked me how I am feeling about it this year, but I have to say now I just feel like it’s a responsibility. I care about who will come here and be part of the department next year, so I want to meet the prospective students and get to know them and help them make the right choice. But I don’t have the same weird feeling of nostalgia as last year. I guess that means something about where I’m at these days or something.

We’re having some folks over tomorrow night for dinner. It’s a combination of our weekly dinner get together and an early Chinese New Year celebration. The Little Red Haired girl and I are going to a banquet sponsored by the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville on Sunday night. We wanted to also do something with all of our friends though, so tomorrow night’s soiree is the result. We’ve planned something slightly less complicated than last year (lots of pre-made frozen items), but there’s still enough work to do to start prepping tonight. So while The Little Red Haired Girl does her yoga class and starts to clean the house, I’m organizing, making lists, washing, and chopping. It’s kind of relaxing, but stresses me out about the tons of school-related deadlines I have looming.