A week of Cheryls

Cheryl Dunye came to NMWA on Wednesday for an excellent and fun screening and discussion.
She was so comfortable in front of an audience, clearly a great teacher, director and performer.
We piled into the elevator to clear out to the after party...
at Fab Lounge, organized by Ebone (on the right).
I had no idea this place existed.
I had to engage in anal sex with Margaret immediately.
And here I've been trying to make The Phase work all this time...
Yucky but entertaining meal at Kramers with a crew.
I got to sit next to Rudy Huxtable. She's all grown up!
On the way home we stopped off for some spiritual guidance.
Thursday was a celebratory lunch for my wonderful intern, Diane. Really perked her up, I'm sure.
Then Cheryl Coward came to town! Just in time for G's celebratory good-bye meal...
And dancing back at Fab Lounge.
She could not hide her celebrity, exhausting.
So back to the Hyatt. I insisted she needed a chaperone.
She lead a great workshop on Saturday.
I had no idea what an online chapbook was! http://dcwrites.dreamhosters.com
Sunday morning Jason took me out for breakfast buffet brunch! And a look at Jacob Lawrence's migration series at the Phillips.

A Week of Goodbyes to G in DC

Saturday...
Sunday...

Wednesday...


Thursday...






Friday...

Saturday...

Miss you already, G!

This is what I'm into lately

I know, I know, I'm always behind.

But ever since Jenn made me do this yesterday, I feel like Princess Leia.

Definitely futuristic. And a little bit freaky distrubing. But mostly very very good.

Jenn is always nagging, (imagine whiney voice) "Do a screen grab do a screen grab."

And I say, ah, that's complicated, I can just use my trusty camera. And she's like," no it's easy you just push star shift apple release 7 amperstand." and I'm like, "check out my cool old picture, dude."

Jackie's on my page.

Leaving the Reunion & a nite in mini-paradise

One more breakfast...

... some last lovin'...

...last strange exercise.

and then a delightful walk with Auntie KJ.

This is fun, really!

So I took Elise for daquiris when she was your age, this is better for you!

Grandma to the rescue.

I swear to god this was not my thong.

Back in the 6 MOHR van once again, on the way to the airport. Now THIS is reunion.

Had to stay in Denver an extra night thanks to United, a blessing in disguise. Good retreat. And a good view of the city with the mountains behind it...

got better and better.

Wonderful amazing miracle treat. After a trip to the pool and a trip to the gym and some maxin and relaxin and e-mail catching upin, this is what I was able to actualize. I had snatched as many vegetables as I could from Andy's garden, including a perfect tomato and a bunch of basil. With my room service voucher compliments of United, I got a perfect ball of mozzerella to perfectly match said tomato and just enough basil and a little salt and pepper... heaven.

Red Rocks hike and the last day

My dad asked for directions. We must consider the context.

Roxborough State Park

Avvy & papa

happy Avvy, happy papa

That's a bit much.

nice-uh

right before i tripped back into a bench...

Leftover salmon reincarnated into a very yummy sandwich with the help of Andy's sweet relish. Best tailgate ever. His home-smoked salmon and gouda too. (ok, he didn't make the gouda himself...)

gang

amazing, enlightening spark

hiking at Red Rocks

Mrs. & Mr. Nelson harvesting hops

He explained what hops do, but I still don't understand.

my well-intended grave mistake. no, it is not a good idea to teach kids to taste the wondrous mint or anything else in the garden. AG was barfing all night...

kitchen candid

getting attached

OMG I LOVE THIS ONE.

Avvy, she's just...irresistable. She is henceforth known as cute monkey baby or just monkey or Äffchen. OMG she is just a little monkey.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for making the flatbread again, and I'm sorry that I kept eating it before dinner was ready even when you said not to (and THANK YOU for the secret mojitos too, btw) and I'm sorry that I had more than my share and I'm sorry I took the last one from the kitchen and ate it as my airport treat the next day.

OMFG don't even make me talk about this meal. THAT PESTO!!! THOSE BEETS!!! THE CHICKEN LEFTOVERS IN THE PESTO!!! OMFG I'm hungry again...

They're taking a bath for a dog!

Colorado Springs Excursion and on to Boulder and back

And at the end of the fourth day, she went to Colorado Springs with the last pastie, wrapped in tin foil...


and got in on a little bit of the UFVA conference. Well, the important reception and drinking parts.




bathroom photo shoot...


and who knew Courtney Herman would be there! So, of course, we piled into her fancy hotel suite for some major party action. dude.


Giovanna and Kylos were kind enough to host me in their own gorgeous EconoLodge room (reminiscent of Salisbury...)


And then we met Mridu for an authentic hippie college breakfast.


Then we drove up to Boulder...


and met these kids in a park!


They were pretty friendly.


Though the rocks scared Giovanna and her motherly sensibilities.


So, after a muddy wet hike, we took her to a teahouse to try to calm her down.


Once we got our act together...


We took her home and fed her Andy's beer and Elliott's amazingly yummy chicken parmesan.



Hey, Karen will make anyone happy!


Whoopie!


Slap happy bedtime...

Colorado Part 2 (this is where it starts to look like a cult)

cult breakfast


fatherhood can be dangerous


Why'd they have to leave?


Rockies game


they lost


But you've still got your cuz, E!


The grand treat- Aunt Karen's pasties. With Andy's homemeade Gertie relish! And pickled turnips!


my debonair cousin


yum


Auntie Annie really makes me look bad.


ahhh!


Grandfathers with s'mores- don't mess with em.

Decendants of Evangeline & Roy Reunite

When I landed, at first I was disappointed, because I didn't see any mountains, although it felt like we were on top of one, a big sandy dirt covered mountain plain. But it was nice when Onkel Chack graciously picked me up at the airport and brought me to these two awesome girls. Haley Kate asked Jeanette, "When are your husband and that girl gonna get here?"


Haley could not have remembered me.


But she was a true hostess and friend and immediately started to entertain me with a card game.


Then Malcolm T et al arrived and we set out to the park.


Check out the view from the park (i.e. mountains in the distance!).


Andy has the most amazing garden I've ever seen (except for Grandpa Nelson's)! I can't begin to describe or perhaps even to fathom my appreciation of this garden. You name a plant that grows, it was in there. Incredible.


And this is what he made from it! A DELICIOUS Thai curry, including great seafood too.


And we got to enjoy it out here! Sunset Magazine, eat your heart out!


There were also 3 Jenny's. and Andy's outstanding home brew, or so they say... I don't drink beer, but when Giovanna came for dinner, she said his was the best beer she's had in years, definitely better than the other 2 fancy beers he had on tap in the garage.


The next Day we went to Cherry Creek State Park and did some swimming...


And more eating. and spilling- out of our suits and out of chip bags.


Haley Kate, Elise arms, Abby Grace & Gramps after another incredible dinner (salmon Andy caught and Jack grilled, grilled flatbread with rosemary, polenta etc)...


and there were a few birthdays to celebrate!

Just 1 from the beach

Thanks god for GOOD GOOD Friends

Open Mic

A Really Good Friend

These are exactly the women that NEED to be in higher education!

Thanks god they are.

We have a lot of questions!

"What do you do when you're gay like that?!"- Jackie 8/19/08

"How weird was that Spanish Armada shit!?!"- Robyn

How did god get into the Plegde?

Why are Russia and Georgia fighting?

What are Braceros?

What is the difference between marijuana and hemp?

What backs the US economy if not gold?

Where is Jewland in the former USSR?

Who came between Gorbechev and Putin? Anybody?

Are there any riches in North Korea?

What is Kim Jong Il's favorite liquor?

What is cake flour?

Where does corn come from?

These women give me hope like Obama. Love.

In Praise of Jenn

I thank this woman...

for a whole lot of things. Including bringing this woman into my life...

And for generously sharing that friendship with me. I've been thinking about that lately, about how we have to give props to the friends that introduce us to the friends. This woman too...

And this guy...

And a big shout out to this fine and fancy lady for making it all possible...



I love you, Jenn!

Unpacking and Packing Again

I just unpacked my backpack for to repack it with tomorrow's load for Denver. In it, I found: 3 or 4 rolled up NewYorkers sticking together in a clump, a bunch of DVD's, my witty thoughts notebook, antibacterial wet wipes, an empty flask, and a white cotton thong. Bassemah never even got to use that.

Now, I'm replacing the flask with toiletries less than 3 ounzes in a plastic bag, and I'm putting the thong in my big suitcase. I might require a tasteful family outfit which requires a white cotton thong, light colors, butt marks, after I wash it, you know...

Bassemah in the Far East

Just what i needed

My neighbor Jeanne just brought her granddaughter Morgan over for a visit. That was exactly what I needed right now.

A very long day

Purposeful Blogging with Bassemah

Bassemah got here from San Diego just in time for the MR DIAL screening. Then we hanged out with Diane and Karen and processed the doc a little (impossible, maybe) and then got a cab home, full of boxes. We had wine and sat on the stoop until the cockroaches took over and we're stretching and dealing and all. We just looked at Jenn's blog and then Bassemah said in a very responsible, purposeful way, "we should" and I said "update our blogs." So here it is.

She just brought out some pistachios from Greece that simply TASTE and we're drinking Havana Club on the rocks and it tastes like Cuba and we are listening to Mary J Blige's "Come to Me (PEACE)" on repeat. Thing is, I'm not a marathon blogger. I am a turtle blogger, and I'm fine with that. I am also a grandma blogger. I think I blog like my grandma would blog. Except content-wise. Actually, I should do a blog in her style, it would be wonderful, very flowers focused. ANYWAY!

Bassemah arived today. Thanks god. How godsend-y is that? Diane came to the screening tonight. And Karen. And Karen's husband of 26 years Randy was giving me the BEST pep talks ever, he's positive and wonderful and I LOVE them together.



Right now I am having an orgasm with these pistachios.

The competition: http://bassemah.blogspot.com/2008/08/kj-got-some-good-advice-from-randy.html

Things can change in an instant, you know...

Luckily, there's also this...

World Bank Lunch Monday

Some good things lately

With G at a sex-workers collective benefit at Be Bar where we went to meet Christina after a satisfying and great SUGAR CANE ALLEY screening.

With Diane & Robyn at Sports Tavern before Andrea's screening at AIM.

August 1, 2008. Alina Octavia is born! This made Friday a GREAT day. I can not wait to smell her, for real...

Plus on Friday I found wonderful blueberries cheap and have been eating them ever since.

And on the way back from Assateague we stopped at a produce stand and I got some blackberries that were not quite sweet enough. So I made my first solo jam! Appropriate that it was blackberry ( I have very fond memories of picking blackberries and making jam in Rotenburg with Mama Lutosch...).

I even used one of her jars, one she gave me Apfelgelee in a couple years ago. Yum.

It didn't turn out great, but it looks good! And it was fun. Felt really good to just have a chill day at home and to be making food again finally.

Nzingha came over to enjoy it with me.

And then we met Giovanna for dessert.

I'm gonna go ahead and tell you about my beach trip

Some plans change, but we go with the flow. G6 and I spent the afternoon at the pool in Reston. It was like Umbria, but different.

I'll go to great lengths to avoid sun damage.

I am so glad that the city of Reston is doing it's part to enforce the gender binary with young Americans.

Actually, I could have stayed on this porch all weekend. Jim and Vanna have a sweet set-up.

And it shines through in their all-American daughter.

Who is sometimes also a scary monster. Finally, we packed the car and prepared to head out on the road.

We grabbed Nzingha, dined on Argentinian & Bolivian delights in Wheaton, and hit the road.

When we reached Salisbury, it was very late. Nothing could have prepared us for the Super 8 motel on Salisbury Blvd. A sign on the front door instructed us to clean our boots before entering. It smelled...bad. Nzingha and I entered the room, and I think we both considered turning around. Or sleeping in the car. But Giovanna has incredible power of will, and she willed the place to be alright. So we got wasted on her parents' whisky and watched cable and played scrabble. After we carefully inspected the sheets and Nzingha and I convinced Giovanna not to touch the blanket or bedspread with any part of her body...

Things got better. As I was preparing for bed, those two night owls insisted we head out on the Salisbury town. They were really excited about the Green Turtle in the strip mall across the highway. Especially Nzingha.

So we went to IHOP at 2:30 am. So we DID get the Green Turtle experience too. Izzy (pictured here) was the one redeeming quality about Salisbury. It is lucky for Salisbury (and for IHOP) that we got to experience him. He has a fan club (according to bathroom graffitti).

This fruit crepe was almost inedible. How can you fuck up an IHOP fruit crepe? As G6 pointed out, it tasted papery, much like the Slim Jim we experimented earlier in the evening.

What could we do?

Morning came, and light and soberiety in the Mississippi Masala motel (Nz's term) was too much.

The view from our window...

So finally!

Nzingha's pesticide grapes, very romantic looking.


The sun acted sort of miraculously in our favor. It was only sunny for the 6 hours we were on the beach. Which is good, considering our Salisbury ordeal- we needed the beach part to go right!

These women are fierce. I have lost any scrabble-cockiness I once posessed.

The birds ignored me like 12 year olds.

One last dip.

Time to start the long trek back to the car.

God bless America.

We got our local produce JUST in time.

It started pouring VIOLENTLY, zero visibility. G6, always a particularly conscientious driver, pulled over.

And by the time we got to Mike's Crab Shack, it was dry once again.

We went ahead and got a bunch of shrimp and haddock. G6 and I went ahead and drank a couple glasses of wine and then we went ahead and joined Nz in some chowder. We went ahead and each indulged in our own cup, even though, as Elliott pointed out to us, it would have been cheaper to share a bowl. We decided to go ahead and leave him a tip, even though it took him forever to go ahead and bring us some cutlery. Something was watching over us, after all. God? Moses? JC? Only Giovanna knows.