Hip-Hip-Hooray

As you may recall, while I was back east I had the chance to visit the Met. I love the Met and if I lived near a museum like that I'd be dropping in all the time.

For some time - okay, since I was a kid - I've loved the famous turqoise blue Egyptian hippopotamus (come on, who doesn't love that hippo?). For a long time I've wanted to aquire one of the ceramic replicas from the Met store. Maybe I saw one when I was little and it stuck with me - maybe my mom had one, I don't know. I'd certainly seen them on past visits to the museum store when I was a broke teen or equally broke college or grad student. I knew I could get it online, but where's the fun in that? So, of my goals while at the Met, one was to see the hippo in the flesh again (done, even got a pic of him) and the other was to finally bring home the replica. On the later I failed. I made poor Michael roam the store with me in search of one. I even asked! But all I could find were cheesy toy versions, or keychains, or puzzles. Sheesh. I got a postcard instead.

Then, in Boston, to my chagrin, over the sink, in front of the kitchen window, the hippo! I said to Steve, "Steve! You have the hippo!" Steve had gotten his hippo years ago and it had travelled around with him from place to place and was now a part of his new life with his family in Boston. I told him my sad hippo story and then, each day while I was at the Gallagher's, I gazed on the hippo with longing. Several times I lovingly adjusted its position on the window ledge, thinking, "Awe, such a pretty little guy." Steve, too, suggested I order one online. "Yeah, maybe I'll do that when I get home, though it's not quite the same."

And I thought about it. When I got back to SF I even went to the online shop to check him out. But a rare moment of restraint held me back. After all, I'd already spent far too much on my trip. This would just have to wait.

Tonight I got home to a box on my doorstep. "Hmmm," I said, noticing the museum's return address, "this doesn't appear to be my missing gnome hat order." With great curiosity I carried the box inside, threw my purse on the couch, sat down at my desk with my scissors and began to open the box, all the while wondering, "What the heck?"

And there he was, in all his blue glory, my very own Egyptian hippopotamus!

Isn't he beautiful? He's all, "Yup, I'm a hippo." Thank you, Steve, John, Gina and Isaiah!

Here's some hippo love back at 'cha!

 

Ready to Head East, Mostly

My bags are packed, mostly. My to-do list is complete, mostly. My schedule is pretty well laid out, mostly. My anxiety is moderate, mostly.

Stuffed by Skeletrino

Skeletrino Readiness

I already miss my cats and I don't leave till Tuesday.

I'll miss this!

And I'll even miss this. Really.

Essential itinerary: Maplewood, Island Heights, Goshen, Boston. Return via the Lake Shore Limited and the California Zephyr.

 

A Buttery Lovliness

For today's posting I'd like to introduce you to my latest vinyl toy: a very buttery Omen. Be patient... As I was while I waited for this Omen to arrive. I ordered him back in February, I think. I was so excited when I got the email telling me he had shipped from Hong King. Coarse loves to make us wait! (A little about Omen and Coarse's Souls Gone Mad: http://www.cluttermagazine.com/news/2013/02/courses-amazing-souls-gone-mad-vinyl-sets)

All the packaging was perfect Coarse.

Out of the wrapping paper and to the box.

The inner box... A promise of what's to come.

My first Coarse Family & Friends card. When I got Noop & Paw (False Friends Blackout) it was through eBay, so no card for that acquisition.

Peak-a-boo.

Coarse footsies!

Hello, my little buttery loveliness and welcome home!

Aside from new toys, I just finished reading Ann Patchett's latest book, State of Wonder. I haven't read anything by her since I read Bel Canto years ago - a fantastic novel, by the way, and on my list of favorite books. I started reading State of Wonder a few nights ago, even though I'm also in the process of reading Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior (excellent so far) and Lawrence Osborne's The Forgiven (not sure on this one yet, though I think I'm liking it - it's something about the tone of the book that throws me off, as if it was written in the 40's or 50's even though it is a present day novel). Anyway, State of Wonder drew me right in and I couldn't put it down. I'm glad I was stuck with jury duty as I could read with impunity. A an early bit I read struck me:

The scene: our main character, Marina, has been taken to a beach along the Amazon. After the heat nearly overcomes her, one of her companions (her driver, Milton) takes her into the water, which she has previously described as opaque.

"It's better, isn't it," he said, though it wasn't a question.

She nodded. Jackie had been right to make Barbara go in. It was lifesaving. When Marina looked down she saw nothing, just a line where her torso vanished into the water. All around them children kicked their rafts and jumped off one another's shoulders. "How do you know what's under there?" she asked him.

"You don't," Milton said. "You don't want to."

That exchange speaks volumes to me about the Amazon. That terrifying unknown lurking under the water or in the deep, primeval jungle. I'm fascinated by the idea of the Amazon, but it's one place I have no desire to visit. Very large bugs and the promise of heavy, muggy heat deters me. Yeah, no, I'll read about it instead. All through the book I wondered how it might end. For me, at least, I was completely surprised and pleased with how she wrapped it up. I recommend the book highly.