The Neo

 

One the 1st of April I added the Neocounter to my blog just out of curiosity. I already
had Feedjit but that can be blocked. I was astonished to watch the numbers accumulate in
a one month period. A lot are from blogsurfer's who just think "Wildthings" sounds like it
might be interesting or "wild". I feel rather guilty about this as it is not really very
wild. That just happens to be our last name and what I use as a name for my art stuff.
So at the close of this month I've had over a thousand hits from 60 some countries and over
650 cities. Pretty amazing! Thanks to those that have come back despite the fact that things
aren't wild.

New Batch

 

Born last nite these little ones were.....................

Her Royal Abbness

 

Yup, she's cute. Yup, she's pretty good for a rottie. Yup, she's as strong as she looks.
We've had Abby since Friday nite and she goes home tomorrow. She likes it here at her grand's
and makes herself right at home. We take her for walks (though she'd really rather run). She
follows our every move and is never out of our sight (her choice). She's only bitten up a guitar
pick, put two holes in our porch screen and bitten a few holes in my vacuum just to be
sure it wasn't going to do us harm. But there is a reason someone young and strong (Matt) should
be the owner of this type of dog. Whew, did I mention she is strong?

"Candy"

 

My latest download on itunes. I don't know if anyone else does this (though I suspect I'm not alone)......you hear something you like on the radio or elsewhere. You go to youtube to hear it again (in full) to make sure you really, really like it. Then you "committ" to it by purchasing the tune on your itunes account. Then you commence to playing
it to death. Can't help it.........love it so much you just have to keep hearing it over and over. You know you shouldn't cause in the end you'll be sick of it but you just can't seem to help yourself. Did this with that last song
I committed to as well......Florence and the Machine's Dog Days are Over. I'll do it with this one too cause.......it's
kinda like candy.

Toss of the coin

The Wild siblings gather once a year as a group. Usually with spouses and children it numbers in the 15-20 range and requires 6 bedrooms or so. 2 houses close works, a couple of condo's close works or one large house works. This year it was particularly difficult because of our late start. Things book up quickly and should really be done right after Xmas at the latest.
We came down to polar opposites this year and had to decide between 1) Montague in a cluster of 1/2/and 3 bedroom rather spartan type of units but with WIFI (important to most Wild's), walk to Lake Michigan, firepits, picnic tables around type of a place. A step up from camping. 2) Saugatuck in a 5 bdrm/3 bath open concept living space with no WiFi, close to beaches but not on and walking distance, on the other side of the river from a delightful little town.
It went back and forth with some for 1 and some for 2 and some right on the fence to teeter either way. The big lesson learned was next year we are on "it" earlier. ( 2 won!)

It's Lindsay's Day

 

Our daughter has reached that point in her life when she starts reversing her birthdays.
My Mother started it many years ago. It took me awhile to understand it though I remember
it distinctly. Instead of turning 31, go back to 29 and hold.......for as long as possible.

You are at a wonderful point in your life though admittedly hectic. A career, a wonderful husband you
can't imagine living without, the most delightful and sweet little son. It's hard to think how it
could get any better. Each age and stage is wonderful and my wish for you is to truly enjoy and
appreciate each one.

Like my Mother, I am finding out being a "grand" may just be the best one of all. Happy Birthday
Lindsay! We love you!

Lost in Wonderland

I recently read an article that described the feeling any artist feels upon entering the "zone". It likened the experience of getting lost in one's artistic mind to the
Alice in Wonderland experience of tumbling down the rabbit hole into a "world of your own". That ability to transport oneself to another world and to get lost is exactly what happens to most every artist each time we go to our zone. A key component to entry is believing that nothing is impossible and nothing is as it seems. I truly believe this is the case no matter what the medium. You feel like
something will come to you and expression is inevitable.
I also think of art as varied and vast. A good cook, gardener, musician, photographer, and many more I haven't listed qualify and probably find themselves
feeling that same lost in wonderland feeling when doing what they enjoy so much.
Tap into your Alice every chance you can. The world is full of possibilities.

Wild Clouds

 

As my nephew Jeff says "the clouds just magically appear for we Wild's".............

Club 60

 

This past week I joined the club most of my friends are in.......Club "60".
While most lament getting a year older, we celebrate it. We think that getting
older isn't so bad especially if you have friends to go through it with. And hey,
we think we look pretty good for being seniors!

Geese in spring

 

"One swallow does not make a summer, but one skein of geese, cleaving the murk of March thaw, is the spring." Aldo Leopold

90 Today

 

My Dad, James F. Anzalone Sr., would be 90 years old today.
Gone but not forgotten.

Miami Design District

 

One last post on the Keys and Miami trip. This year we took a two day side trip back up to Miami for a girl's day with Lonell, I, Patty and Monica hitting the Design District for the day. Needless to say it was great fun for me (and all) as I truly enjoy home decorating. Walking through the showrooms and galleries here was truly eye candy for me. I felt like I was walking through the pages of Veranda or Architectural Digest. Around every corner was another amazing sight.
Lunch in the middle at Michael's Genuine and ending the day at George's Coconut Grove with these friends just made it perfect! The next day Lonell and I did a serious day of furniture shopping for a new dining set for the Keys house and found the perfect thing after combing through some 8 or 9 stores across Miami. All in all work for some, fun for me!