Saturday

It was a bit cool this morning, temperatures in the upper 50s. Dad stayed home to read while the rest of us walked on the causeway. We forgot our treat bag, but Toby did great. We passed lots of dogs without any issues. One time he walked between 4 dogs, two on either side of the path. We used commands, and he looked at us and not the dogs.

A very challenging selfie.

Looking like locals all bundled up. We saw one snowbird jogging in shorts and T.

Toby, given the command to get on his mat and settle, did just that while we ate lunch—and stayed.

We are very surprised.

Toby stayed home while the rest of us traveled downtown via golf cart to Mardi Gras, at least the beginning of it. 

The new city hall is about complete. The grand opening is in early March.

“The Sea” public art, from a distance.

Mardi Gras pirates.

We walked around shucking clothes and putting them in my backpack as the temperature warmed. We will miss the parade and bands while we’re at the play tonight.

We came home to a sick dog. Diarrhea. At first we thought Toby was anxious about being left behind, but after a few more episodes, we were convinced that he picked up a bug. Poor thing felt terrible. 

John stayed home with him and missed “Gypsy” and dinner at O’Keefe’s. We got home from the musical at 11:00. The musical was much darker than the musical numbers and lyrics would have you believe. In context, they were delusional and ironic. The controlling stage mother was not interested in her daughter’s success, but instead was trying to achieve some long lost life and stardom of her own. What seemed innocent became clearly abusive as the play unfolded.

The mother achieved some self awareness towards the end, after she hit bottom, but she left a wreck behind her and ended up pushing most people who cared about her away.

One daughter finally achieved stardom, but not in vaudeville or Hollywood, but in a parody of fame: in burlesque, as a stripper. The mother’s act she created for her daughters shifted in this new context: “Let me entertain you” changed from innocence to lewdness. 

I did notice an often repeated line that actors use when they fail: “I would have if I could have, and that’s show business.” The bottom line is that success and fame in entertainment is fleeting, and it’s impossible to live your dream through others. A corrupt dream becomes deformed and finds its expression in the more prurient aspects of human life where it mocks talent, fame, and success.

Toby gave Mom his full approval.

Upset tummy but hanging in there.

Everyone reading in the sunroom.

Miles walked: 9.4