animules...

the rooster's crowing outside on this golden mountain morn. the dumb & cranky cacophony always makes me happy, makes me laugh. wanted to hop on here briefly to post some pix & recount so i don't forget last night's spooky moment: the neighboring dogs were bark, bark, barking up a real barkfest in direction of the black night beyond their fences toward the mountain when suddenly bursting through the cold came a wide howl, howl, howwwwwwwl, a whole pack of i think at least four coyotes baying urgently toward the sky in lonely, scary, ardent, yearning disharmony... peewee the cat jack-knifed from the blankets with halloweeny back arched & huge green orbs flashing at me w/alarm: whatthehellwasthat????
here and there the coyotes come down nearer the back fences, james says to entice w/their females & therein try to lure the domesticated dogs to their deaths... but this is the 1st time i'd heard a whole pack yowling so close to civilization.
 i checked this a.m. & the next-door dog, an ignored & yet-adorable boy, was still intact, so that was a relief...
so much fun & physical/spiritual reward playing the other night with james in our combo, with  stephen kida on drums... steve, who came in cold to play with us & who's played all over the world with top-tier acts (& is blues express drummer, of course!), enthused about our combo, saying,  "what a treat to play with a piano again... i didn't even know you played! [james!!!!] and [smiling sweetly, he says] you're really, really good!" i found out his favorite pianist, too, is professor longhair! friends showed up that night as well as young rockabilly cat collin king, whom james elliott had said resembles young james page... and he DOES some.
nobody else, tho, has my husband's eccentric charm & charisma, tough-guy shout-singing sinew, rough yet regal...
... oh no; a very heavy young woman is hiking up the other side of the arroyo by the house -- it's very steep, & i hope she doesn't tumble down. on the other hand, i say, because she IS quite big and she IS hiking, you go, girl!

whiteboy & jenny combo... all sweaty from pounding all night

oh my, james is so very handsome...

while on lunch-walk while subbing at arvin library, i got this pretty shot.

happy valentine's day weekend... if you don't have one, be your own. :)