Afternoon reading

Posted in current events, dog!, moment on 10/18/2009 03:14 pm by karen

I accomplished a lot today, seemingly without really trying. By noon, The Cop and I had spent a little time having breakfast at Starbucks with Waylon, the house was clean, clothes were ironed for the week, and all my little chores completed.

When we first arrived at Starbucks this morning, a man was sitting outside at one table talking to a young woman at another table. She had on a yellow and gold dress and looked like she’d been up all night. She was very thin and twitchy and I understood she was a meth user even before I saw The Cop’s eyes, which change a little when he sees… uh, persons of interest.

As we were sitting with our coffee, an older man dressed in golf clothes stopped to look at Waylon.

“That is a big pit bull,” he said.

We told him that Waylon is not a pit bull. He asked a few questions, then said, “He seems friendly.” When we agreed, he smiled and drew closer and spasmodically poked the air in front of Waylon’s face a few times. “Nice dog,” he said as he walked happily to his car.

I wondered what kind of animals the man usually interacts with. His gesture wouldn’t be appreciated by cats. I thought about birds, and imagined him being bitten. Reptiles? I couldn’t imagine they’d respond well, either. The Cop had wondered the same thing and come up with his own explanation: “Maybe he has a five year old at home that he likes to flick on the head.”

***

Here’s a picture of Waylon with his true love. He can only play with it when Maxine is asleep. She does not allow anyone else to play with a ball when she is awake. Seriously. I have to hide yoga balls and tennis balls because she bites and “kills” the big ones, and declares ultimate ownership (she will NOT share, but will pretty much fight to the death) over smaller ones.

I was worried at first that Waylon might swallow the tennis ball, but as it turns out, he just wants to carry it around and lie down next to it and gaze at it lovingly.

waybo with tennis ball

***

Nothing like a super short short story. Lydia Davis. Here’s a good story — and a link to an interview, and a link to more samples…

 

8 Comments

  1. This is good stuff, Karen. REALLY good stuff. The kind of writing I love to read!!! I read it first a couple of hours ago and I have not really stopped thinking about the freaky man with the waving fingers in your dog’s face. Just such an evocative image!

  2. Thanks, Lauren. Nice of you to notice. I was reading some of Lydia Davis’ work and felt inspired to spend a little time crafting a few paragraphs. It made me realize how lazy I can get from blogging: I don’t spend time really editing or focusing blog entries.

  3. Interesting! So, this is what comes of focus on the writing! I should take note…;)

  4. “persons of interest”
    ha ha!!!
    Encountered one today at Whole Foods having lunch with a friend- he was sitting alone, quietly eating, then suddenly started talking loudly, to no one in particular. The words didn’t make sense, but he was saying them as if they did. Everyone around him looked at each other trying to figure out who this guy was addressing. I think he was having a moment with his own mind. I noticed something scrawled on his arm in dark ink. Wish I could have read what it said!

    Waylon and the ball- adorable as usual. Love that Maxine is so protective of her toys!

  5. Hi Karen,

    I think your dog was very well behaved not to eat the guys finger!

    I finally got a reply from Pure in Singapore about practice while I am there at Christmas, they are open and its $42 per day for non members and Celeste is scheduled to be teaching.So my mornings in Singapore are spoken for.

  6. Oh, do write about your experience! It’s crazy expensive, but I just loved it.

    They have mats there, by the way. Mandula black mats laid out in rows, and all pristinely clean. I lugged my black mat across the Pacific for no reason… :-)

  7. Yes the guy said if I e-mail nearer the time they would “Reserve” me a mat. First time that wil have ever happened. It is expensive, but considering what it costs me in travel expenses to get into London to practice its not too bad.

  8. I *love* L.D.’s work and have loved it for so long I have almost an “I knew that band when” possessiveness about it. :) So glad to see she is getting some play!

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