i am not running for president

perhaps in my absence, you have wondered whether i was in new hampshire testing the waters for a presidential bid? silly you.

i got lost in the pocket of the mid-atlantic over the past week, and then made like gerry ford, and returned to michigan yesterday in the early evening, except no one played hailed to the victors upon my return, and no one except sarah awaited me in the big, low silver moon.

while in d.c., i really enjoyed my visits with old friends at the tabard, rice, full kee, teaism, busboys, jaleo, + flow. wow! that aaa exhibition from joseph cornell's personal papers was sweet; i loved the cup of tea that i sipped while sketching gross' happy children; ruth duckworth's mastery of clay and porcelain forms impressed. it was sweet to sit with others and mostly laugh and laugh and laugh. (when i wasn't nursing my flu-esque self or rushing to the tee-tee-torium). in fact, i didn't get quite enough of this visit. there were whole (holy) families that i didn't get to see -- not in person or in their annual silk-screened christimas card; i didn't really get to hang with les babies, things one and two; i didn't get to haunt whole neighborhoods and on...maybe i will need to buy one of the nwa roundtrip tickets to get myself back east pronto?

thanks for all the dates-- individual and group. thanks madeline for the heavy petting. thanks to mindy + mary for their hospitality in absentia. thanks to my mommy and daddy who are still quite remarkable and loving and totally fun + funny even if they disagree on where the beverage station should be. thanks to my cousins who have grown into adults.

special shout outs: way to go miss bird who closed on her new condo. even tyra and miss jay would think you fierce. good luck with your new neighbors, giggles, miss jackson, and miss love.

way to go shelley and marsha who hosted me for new year's eve in new york. it is extremely portentous that i got the gift of ringing in the new year with you both in the village inside tonic while listening to a totally fun band led by a talented if a little tiny arrogant bandleader. (but hey, his suit matched the red velvet drapes behind the band, so who is to judge?) i think, by the way, that the rash on my arm pits has cleared. and this is a great relief because i hit the ground running and will be sweating and clenching directly this week. back to back meetings today, new classes to meet tomorrow and then the conference to end all conferences.

big deal on the horizon: april 1: first (annual ?) aprils' fools day parade is on. full steam ahead. shelley and marsha signed on; so have barb and mike. my parents have generously and wisely suggested that we host a big part on 03.31 for all the out-of-towners. i am so excited. it is nice to have something to look forward to. the homestead might be full, but i can help people investigate cheap hotel options and will run a continuous shuttle to and from dtw. please come. it will be such fun. i know that pregnant women cannot travel that late in their terms...sorry joan and miri, but i will post lots of pix -- especially snapped for you with my brand new camera. thanks again mom and dad for the camera -- i love it. and i still have it. and i haven't broken it.


happy new year to my 12(+/-) readers.