off the road again

Let's hear it for Nicky Dog. This good sport just spent sixteen hours in the backseat of the car, riding from Cape Cod, Mass to Detroit, Mich. There were a few stops along the way but it was tough on me, so I can only imagine how exhausting it must have been for a little guy who didn't understand what was going on or why we kept pulling over and interacting with the toll collectors (which annoyed him, every time). He sure is excited to be home and went straight to bed. He's pictured here at the first rest area once you get on the turnpike in Mass. He's a road warrior--the gentle kind, of course.

the view this am

So, we're back in Michigan. I love the Great Lakes State, and I admit to being excited about being home, but I'm also quite missing New England and Ptown specifically. Here's another picture I took this morning when I ran downtown. It's a view of the bay between Bayside Betsy's and the establishment next door (a B&B?).

oh how i miss thee my love

So, another succesful week of Ptown fun is behind me. I didn't sleep much last night as I was all sentimental about leaving--typical me--and then woke up at five to hit the road. After I showered, I ran downtown to run an errand and say good bye to my third home. It was all bittersweet. The picture turned out all blurry, but it's fitting. (ed. note: the guy on the sidewalk to the left was the last Ptown folk to say kind words to me on this trip--he said good morning and smiled--and the dude on the right works at a kitschy card store that I visit every year.)

aloha provincetown

Thank you for a wonderful, loving week. xoxo

land's end

Today was our last full day in Provincetown; tomorrow morning we get up bright and early and hit the road. As always, we're quite sweet about leaving. There were a bunch of emotional moments: taking Nicky for his last walk around town, saying goodbye to Vanessa at the video store, having one of Ken's special waffles for breakfast, walking down the pier and looking back on the city, and just breathing in the very distinct Ptown air. This place means so much to me and I'm so thankful Sean introduced me to this place and showed me how magical it is. To quote my friend Amy in Providence: Provincetown is ethereal. I hope I come back very soon.

an ethereal skyline

Today was an overcast, sleepy day in Provincetown, Mass. It started out sunny and humid, so the plan was to get Venezualan food for lunch then head for the beach. As soon as we were done eating the skies began to look threatening, so as a spur of the moment change of plans, we ended up heading to the pirate museum instead. It was something that I've been curious about since my first trip to Ptown but never experienced, so now I can say I've done it. It was nice going down to the end of the pier and looking back on Provincetown. My third home.

live in ptown--one week only: Nick!

I love this city. It's so ideal in so many ways. It's the kind of utopia we idealized in my college Feminist Theory classes; so many different kinds of people living in one little peaceful communal world. Everyone's so nice and it's all so heart-warning. And everywhere is Nick friendly. He's joining the ranks of the local drag queens and performance artists as a Ptown celebrity. Bless.

i love you so let me hide

What a day. We spent most of the day eating food at excellent restaurants, shopping for records and other cool stuff, and dodging the rain. This evening, we grabbed some Thai food on the West End and then popped into a little alt boutique called Map. After spending a few minutes looking at a coffee table book about Cali punk, I walked to the back of the store and passed Michael Cunningham--one of my favorite authors--who'd apparently been there the whole time. Unfortunately, I had some drinks at the restaurant and was too drunk and embarrassed to say anything. i just kept sneaking peeks, then fled the West End and took Nick for a walk. This is what the beautiful evening looked like as I walked Nick down Central and felt starstruck. Michael Cunningham!

somewhere between hollywood and bollywood

There's an international film festival in town this week, ending today, and we got tickets to two movies; the directorial debuts of Madonna--it was ok--and Gael Garcia Bernal--it was brilliant. While walking around town between films, I ran into John Waters twice and Gael Garcia Bernal once. What an exciting night! Oh, and I saw this pretty sight while waiting by the bay for the second film to begin.

not without my Nick

After sleeping for ten and a half hours (!!!) last night, we hit the downtown for a couple of hours this morning. It was great because this city is so dog-friendly and we could take Nick with us virtually everywhere. Even restaurants. So we did some shopping, went to a great veggie restaurant, got coffee, and visited the pier. It was a great day for man and dog alike.

sleeping like a dog

So, we're here at the B&B--the destination in our vacation adventure. Sixteen hours on the road have left us exhausted. Nicky remembered this place straight away and was comfortable enough to quickly curl up for a nap. Car adventures take a lot out of a little dachshund. They take a lot out of a bigger human, too.

mass affection

Massachusetts! It's been two long years, but honeypie, I'm back. Let's go to the beach tomorrow, shall we?

last of the breed

Nicky dog went to the beauty salon yesterday to get all sparkling clean for his trip East. He came back as cute as always, but it's like they channeled my fairly recent Willie Nelson enthusiasm, and gussied him up with a red bandanna. The bandanna didn't stay on long, but my guy still smells like the ginger-scented shampoo they used. I could drink him up.

dreams of dachshund laptime

What I'd really like to do tonight is stay in, watch a movie with Nick in my lap, and go to bed early. I'm beat and I spent the last couple of nights running around, so it feels like it's been ages since I've spent time with my little dachshund buddy. But...tonight's another late night out, so Nicky time will have to wait until tomorrow. I can't wait! I just hope he's not feeling slighted. I'll have to work extra hard to make it up to him.

damp dachshund

Nicky loves going outside. Except when it's raining. Here he is being a good sport, though he won't pretend he liked it. Still, he looks noble. Rightfully so.