Updates From the Show

So, we're both completely exhausted, but elated.

We wrapped up little details at the venue yesterday — all the thousand and one things that you think are covered but find are missing some suddenly-crucial element. There was one thing we could not get accomplished, unfortunately, but circumstances simply made it impossible. There may yet be a workaround; we'll see.  

The trip itself went, again, incredibly smoothly. All the more remarkable on that score when you consider that we had a sick dog with us; Grif is not well enough to be left unattended, so we bundled him into the back seat. He's doing much better — still staggering like a drunken little old man, and still falling occasionally, but at least he can struggle to his feet and make it from Point A to Point B, however precariously. He's drinking water regularly, and I think he'll be ready to try some watery rice and broth today. [For those who don't know, CVS is canine vertigo; the spinning sensation makes the dogs too nauseated to eat or drink.]

The good news from the venue is that Sam tells us that there's been HUGE interest in Wings's silverwork. He says that people love the jewelry, and comment on it regularly. No sales yet, but that's to be expected; quite often, shows wind up being more about exposure and building a future clientele than about immediate sales. When you consider the events calendar at the Jean Cocteau Cinema for the duration of the show, this has the potential to get his work in front of thousands of new pairs of eyes, and that's a wonderful thing.

Speaking of that events calendar, here's a sample: Monday night, they hosted internationally acclaimed author Junot Díaz for a reading and book signing. Last night, it was a campaign fundraiser for New Mexico Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham. Tonight, it'll be another reading and book-signing event, hosting in person yet another internationally acclaimed author: famed mystery novelist Anne Perry. And from May 1 through May 4, it's the prestigious Santa Fe Film Festival. And throughout the period of the show, there are an endless parade of indie, arts, cultural, cult, and other film screenings; smaller film festivals; live music; variety and magic shows; and other cool cultural events.

Meanwhile, we are the proud new owners of three direwolves: Grey Wind, Summer and Ghost (I've called dibs on Ghost already). No, don't worry; we haven't gone and adopted three wild wolves (although you can do that, here, if you're so inclined). The Martins are long-time benefactors of the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, and organization that rescues and rehabilitates wolves. Wild Spirit even has a "Westeros Pack." But our three are these, given to us by their spirit mom.

Yesterday was just a whole series of gifts, and reminders to be thankful. But apart from Griffin's continued improvement, the greatest gift we received yesterday was the chance to see and hug a very dear and very beautiful friend for the first time in four months. We love you, darlin'.

And now, I'm two days behind on chores, and the wind's already rising. Time to get to it.