Remembering Cornelius

On the first anniversary of Cornelius' death, Joseph and I visited the Hudson River where we scattered her ashes. We love you. We won't forget you or your beautiful voice.

Things I do in order to disassociate

(In no particular order)

1. Stalk my friends
2. Stalk my family
3. Watch television online, currently Top Chef D.C.
4. Read distracting books, currently Lolita
5. Listen to the same song on repeat, currently Neko Case’s cover of Thanks A Lot and Lone Justice’s brilliant, Working Late
6. Watch Nukah sleep
7. Watch Nukah eat woodchips at the dog run
8. Watch Nukah play at the dog run
9. Cook. You read that right. Cook a surprise Rosh Hashanah kugel for Joseph
10. Look for work
11. Dance around the apartment
12. Attempt to work on writing projects
13. Take photographs of the cat and dog
14. Check my email
15. Make lists of ways to disassociate

*A very warm embrace to my big sister on this Rosh Hashanah.

Deckhands keeping me afloat

This is Monkey, the cat that lives near our new home. Everyday Nukah walks by and tries to eat Monkey's food. Some days he is more successful than others. The important thing is that Nukah never stops trying. We've taught him to be independent, persistent, and to believe in his dreams.

I'm immersed in my first intensive editing process. An essay I wrote is on its way to becoming published and all hands are on deck: Joe, my mentors, my family, and my friends are helping me through this emotional process (the only kind of "process" I know). Tonight, I've sent off my first set of revisions. I can relax and enjoy some rest before the next round begins.

Along with revising, I took in a brow-waxing at Aveda and a visit with my dear friend, Matt B.

Huge shout-out to my father, the best editor any writer can know. Thank you for allowing me to sob, flip out, and flail on the phone today. And thank you for getting me through it.

A song for Joseph:
I'm Into Something Good by Herman's Hermits

Another song for Joseph:
Beast of Burden by the Rolling Stones

Approved!

Joseph and I (and the dog and cat) are moving on July 15th to a beautiful apartment close to McGolrick Park on the other side of Greenpoint from where we are now. We have spent all of our free-ish time searching for our dream home to put down roots and settle in for the unknown adventures, awaiting us. Our pursuit has led us to our new front door.

Additionally, we got along almost too well with our realtors and they've offered to let me shadow them for a few days to see if I'd like to begin a career in realty. I never imagined myself selling and renting property, but that won't stop me from giving it a try.

I don't remember the last time I felt this optimistic.

Family affair

Today in the West Village, Nukah made a new friend, Sherlock, a basset from the same breeder in Pennsylvania as the one where we adopted Nukah. Sherlock is two years old with one brown and one blue eye. He's from a different set of parents, but his roots are the same. It seemed like there was some familial recognition between the two puppies.

I'm happy that Nukah had the opportunity to reconnect with his past. Sherlock's owner told us that he was her fourth basset. I asked her if she had any tips for training; she said she didn't, that bassets are impossible to train.

Maybe some day Nukah will have a baby sister from the same breeder. I've already picked out her name: Copernicus, in memory of Cornelius.

Reunion

Back to Brooklyn for a long weekend, the family is reunited. Nancy is not so sure she's into family reunions.


Good food, options, this is why I believe in democracy.


More dog-run fun for Nukah.


Making short-term friends, city-style.

Weekend review: seems so far away now.

Nancy and Nukah are learning to coexist.

Summary: Nukah keeps trying to become friends with Nancy. Nancy swats, growls, groans, and hisses back.


Joe and I revisited the Dia in Beacon this past weekend. I was reminded that this is my favorite architectural space for a museum. Nukah wasn't allowed on the museum's grounds, but we managed to frolic close by.

In the evening, we drove upstate to a bookstore reading by Rebecca Skloot, who just wrote the nonfiction account of Henrietta Lacks, about the woman who unknowingly donated her cells to science. The HeLa cells, as they were named, continue to be the foundation for scientific studies all over the world. Skloot's book is receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews and the attention of scientific and literary communities. I'm looking forward to having time to read her book.

Counting down these last few days until Florida!

Adrift

Cornelius' Memorial at Saugerties Lighthouse

Cornelius' last morning

Firsts and lasts

Today is Cornelius' last day with us. She snuggled with me and even allowed Nukah to get close. I can't write more about her right now.


Joseph gave Nukah his very first bath.


He was a shiny puppy until we took him for a walk. Because his body is so low to the ground, he managed to acquire a thick layer of dirty snow across his belly and on his paws.

Nukah comes home!

We drove five hours in a snowstorm to pick up beautiful Nukah in Pennsylvania.


He was very excited and overstimulated when we began the ride home. After an hour, he slept on and off for most of the trip.


As soon as we arrived home, Nukah investigated Cornelius.








Joseph, Cornelius, Nukah, and I celebrated New Year's together.


We were all exhausted from a long, but happy day.




At first, Nukah cried and groaned when we left him in his crate, but we stayed strong and he slept in his crate through the night. We're so proud of our puppy!