Last weekend was fun. I've got much photographic evidence (DUH!) on flickr, so you should really go there and see, because you won't want to miss a single iota of the hilarity and wonder- dogs in poodle skirts, Moroccan men pouring tea from such great heights, a hot blonde bellydancer in an African restaurant (right?), cool reflections in a bar surface, raspberry ice cubes...You know, random stuff like that.
Friday I went down to see Dawn Avery play at the National Museum of the American Indian, which is one of my favorite spots in DC, in spite of my belief that the space is underutilized and the exhibitions not as well displayed as they could be. (Right, like I'm a curator? And an architect? No...But I can't help it.) The museum is notable amongst other things for a truly excellent cafeteria, which features foods traditional to tribes throughout North and South America. That was closed by the time we got there, unfortunately, but I'd definitely for lunch if I were in the city during the day. I highly recommend it if you're anywhere near the Mall.
Dawn is very talented, incredibly prolific, and clearly shows her sense of responsibility to her people and to her art. She is of the Mohawk tribe, and performed several of her compositions, which she primarily vocalized and performed on cello, with help from her friends on strings and percussion. One of her most interesting pieces is "Decolonization," which cobbles together native and post-colonized "patriotic" songs, so it's a statement (I'm guessing) on the destruction of the Native Americans and their way of life by the settlers. It includes a distorted version of the Star-Spangled Banner on her 
cello that expresses anger and sadness in a way that words couldn't.
Later we ate at Ray's the Classics, which is a new restaurant in Silver Spring. I interviewed "Ray" (aka Mike someone or the other) years ago for a magazine I used to edit, and I reminded him of that, but he didn't remember and in fact said some choice things about that publication and another that I used to write for. I already knew them, but I was surprised by how embarrassed I was even though I'm no longer a part of either one. He still brought me his special homemade hot chocolate which kicked every ass in the joint, collectively. So good. Homemade whipped cream. AAAAHHHH. I had almost forgotten that quirky "chef" personality, which isn't common to every single member of the species, but let's just say it's close. I always loved working in this industry for the sheer fact that people are off-the-wall, so it is never at all boring. Photography has been a close runner-up, but there still must be a void of some sort, as I felt a sort of nostalgic, indulgent annoyance when I was talking to him, and ignored 
the bartender's irritated stares whilst taking artsy photos in the restaurant. The food was really good, which is the point, I guess. 
My girl Susan is getting married soon. Her shower was Saturday. We are so different on so many levels, i.e., she's a Eucharistic minister and I'm a non-church-going cradle-Catholic heathen...She's more organized than Martha Stewart pre-incarceration, and I am so not...She's a cat person, I'm a dog person. Still, opposites attracted in this case (either that or she just wanted to save my soul), and for the past year and a half, she's had my back like few other people I've known in my life. 
She is one of the most genuine and lovely people I know, and I truly admire her character and her outlook on life. She also happened to meet a great guy, who clearly adores her and takes care of her, and supports the accomplished and amazing woman she is. Ray rocks. This is a situation for which the term "mazel tov" was invented, so I'll borrow it.
Saturday night was Celia's birthday, and a bunch of us went to Marrakesh, where the mint tea flows like wine, and there's bellydancing. 
You don't get forks at a Moroccan restaurant, which threw off some members of our group who weren't used to that sort of thing, but the food was actually pretty good. Moroccan wine didn't thrill me so much, but the chicken was awesome and so was dessert.
Sunday, I helped Annie with Captain, Harley and Raven at the Boston Terrier show in Crownsville. I was so tired, and it was so sunny and breezy out, so I kind of sat there and tried not to fall asleep with leashes in my hand. The PUPPIES woke me up though. I was like fucking Cruella DeVille with "The PUPPIES! PUPPIES! Must have the PUPPIES!!!!" There were so many of them there. I haven't had a baby dog in 11 years (unbelievable, truly) and I've more or less made up my mind that I never will again, because I get too emotionally involved, and if there's one thing that the past few years have taught me, it's that I need BALANCE. My love is like a seesaw, baby, and I need some kind of brick on the center of it to keep it from flipping me over. So in the absence of my own, these gatherings are a great place to get my fix of these little guys. 
It turned out that "the kids" won "most original" in the costume contest, which amounts more or less to a Boston Terrier walk of shame, but good God is it a hoot. Annie did a great job with their outfits. Herewith, the "Three Musketerriers," who were such great sports about it, considering my dog would have eaten his hat before we even got in the ring. Long may they reign. 
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