Sunday, December 18, 2011

MuttCracker

Friday night we got to see the Nutcracker. Sharing the stage at the very beginning were three dogs. This is the first time for my daughter to see the Nutcracker and she was delighted. I will forever think of it as the Muttcracker from now on. Adopt a mutt from the shelter if you're thinking of getting a furry companion.

The music of course, is wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, marvelling at the pirouettes, the jumps and the beauty of the dance form, and remembering my own days taking dance classes during graduate school. Nope, it wasn't part of the biochemistry curriculum and I even had to have a talk with the head of the department to okay it, but it was great fun.

The last time I'd gone to see a ballet was nearly twelve years ago. My neighbor had an extra ticket because her husband was travelling out of town. My son was just a few months old and I was still nursing him every 2-3 hours. I thought I'd be fine. I'd pumped milk beforehand for the baby. I was excited to go out without a diaper bag. However, after intermission, the top of my dress began to strain to the point I feared the buttons would pop. And to my horror, I was leaking milk. My neighbor wanted to take me out to eat since I didn't get out much, but after seeing the state of my dress, we came home. I don't think I ever went to any ballet after that.

Until now ...

Methinks we'll have to do this again sometime.

Here's a video of our sweet mutt (thanks to my son).


The video gives me a taste of what I missed. My husband took the kids to the beach on Saturday so that I could finish up a work-for-hire project. And as my friend Marcia would completely understand, to reward myself for finishing, I'm going to spend some more time writing! And baking, cleaning house, and putting up more pictures on the wall. And let's not forget singing Christmas carols.

So tell me, what are you doing this last week right before Christmas?
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8 comments:

Mirka Breen said...

Ah, canine energy! They'll always remind us of the happiness that is just out there, if we can open up to it. Cheers to your doggy-on-the-beach.
And I'm not even a dog-person. I’m just pro-mutt.

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Received your card today! xo Gorgeous! Thank you!

My girls have performed in our local Nutcracker the last two years, but this year we didn't have one. I guess I missed watching it, but it was nice not having to run everyone around to rehearsals! I love watching ballet and I also have done ballet as an adult. So much fun and such good exercise!

How nice of your husband to take the kids to the beach! And I completely understand rewarding yourself for finishing a project with more writing. We're strange folk, aren't we? :)

Angela said...

WE got our pup from the shelter! Love the video. Congrats on finishing the project (and rewarding yourself with more writing!)

Happy Holidays

Vijaya said...

Mirka, we can truly learn much from our furry companions, and one of them is joy.

Amy, I felt a pang for the mothers who had to drive their little kids to be part of the show. But what a great family event.

Writing is definitely in our bones.

Angela, I've missed seeing you about the blogosphere. Thank you for stopping by and the good wishes. Loved your post on spending half your life together with your husband.

Faith E. Hough said...

I laughed so much at the story of the last time you went to a ballet! I've had similar experiences, and decided that babyhood is short enough that ballets can wait until I'm not at risk of leaking all over my clothes... :) (Did you know there is a correlation between infants' cries and violin music that can cause nursing mothers to have letdowns when they hear violins? Maybe it was the fault of those beautiful melodies...)
I'm afraid this week isn't turning out quite how I'd planned, but I find a little time for writing when the baby is nursing, actually.

Vijaya said...

Faith, life and the different stages of childhood are all too short, indeed. I'm so thankful that I could stay home and enjoy every little thing.

I'm surprised at how many mothers can write and nurse at the same time. Even if I decided to read a bit, I'd fall asleep. You young mothers amaze me.

Anonymous said...

Awww! I love our doggie, too. That is definitely a fun thing to be able to do the week before Christmas!

We cleaned. And shopped. And stared at our tree. Then we went to a "Blue Christmas" service (it was beautiful and serene!) and then a Christmas Eve Service, too. Those are my two fave services of the season now.

Vijaya said...

Donna, shopping for gifts and staring at the tree are good things to do during Christmas. But what is a "Blue Christmas" service? I've never heard this term before.