Clamoring: More Mercury

In the realm of fandom, celebrities are frequently asked to satisfy the unreasonable expectations of their fans.

However I received one particularly touching letter from Will, a devoted follower, who seems to have his finger on the pulse of my loyal readers. Naturally, I don't have time to respond to him personally, but I feel compelled to respond to his request.

"More pictures of Mercury," he cried.

My sincere hopes that this purely pictorial essay chronicalling noteworthy moments during my [as yet brief] life.

It is you, dear fans, who make this blog possible. My sincere thanks for your loving support.

Mercury/M²

VIPs: Close to Home

The "close to home" of today's title is less than exact. In the spirit of my previous entry, here I pay tribute to the VIPs in my home: Mama et Papa.

All too often I have exposed their shortcomings [plentiful perhaps], and yet that's a defect that all creatures share.

Yes, my loft space is tiny & only sparingly furnished. [for a size comparision between my loft & the Roushanzamir house, see entry July 28, 2006] True, I'm served 2 meals per day [they eat--at least--three]. My collar is not gem-studded, nor is my name tag either gold or platinum.

However:

It is they who saved me from the hard work & deprivation of life on an Idaho farm towards which I seemed to be headed. [I'd almost rather be beheaded]

As the picture above amply illustrates [shot 1 month after I arrived in the Roushanzamir family], Mama comforted me in my infancy when I felt frightened & alone. [One not apocryphal story: In my initial terror, I feared to leave Mama's arms and thus she lost 10 lbs. during my first 3 days in my new home unable as she was to prepare or eat food.] Papa too was, from the very first, a commited [if permissive] caregiver.

Papa spoils me rotten. I adore him & he's simply wonderful. The nicest guy in town. He encourages treats before breakfast. Allows me to chew on his sock & shoes. Lets me drag him along on walks. I stay up as late as I want & he walks me as early as I choose to awaken each day. In short he give me free reign & indulges me in the most endearing way.

Scattered throughout my blog are numerous photos of Papa [only 1 or 2 of the stricter Mama]. [for example, see July 4 & 30, 2006, August 1, 2006, January 18, 2007; for Papa & Grandmere Manijeh see July 8, 2006; also search for Papa shown sneaking me treats; for Papa with Mama, see July 9, 2006] So for this entry, I've selected a picture of Papa visiting Trinity College, Oxford. [his company, questionable]

And finally, although not the slickest or most current of photos, here I share for the first time one my personal favorites.

Thanks Where Thanks is/are Due

Those familiar with my January 30, 2007 entry, Mercury's futon, will doubtless remember my troubles a propos the disregard with which my personal needs [at table, dog accoutrements such as leashes & name tags, and wardrobe] are fulfilled. Amongst other grievances: the heavy blue water bowl &, an even more crushing indignity, the green plastic cat food bowl.

I am able announce that my melancholy, at feeding time at least, has been in great part acknowledged & alleviated.

[True the menu remains ever-unchanging and my plea for 3 meals per day has gone unheeded.]

However, as the photos above & below show, the table setting itself has been upgraded. With the pop art water bowl & the Modernist stainless steel serving dish, complemented by a colorful place mat, meal times [albeit only 2] satisfy both hungers: for food & for an aesthetically pleasing dining experience.

To whom do I owe my enhanced condition? Primarily it is a response by my Grandmere et Grandpere who understand & empathize with all the challenges & trials facing any discriminating dog. My new food dish is strikingly elegant. It's worthy of display in the Museum of Modern Art. [In fairness, Mama et Papa provided the place mat & the plastic, but cute, water bowl.]

So, from the bottom of my heart Grandmere et Grandpere, I extend my sincere unqualified [and highly public] thank you.

Gratitude also to Mama et Papa who, I concede, have apparantly launched a higher level of service & care.

N.B. Grandmere et Grandpere:
Expect a private communication that will arrive shortly in your mailbox.

Birthdays Past & Present

February 13 birthdays are not uncommon. Peter Gabriel, Stockard Channing, Kim Novak, Chuck Yeager, Bess Truman and even L. L. Bean share the honor.

However perhaps the VIP-est of the VIPs born on February 13 is Sophie, pictured above left in years past with her [younger] soeur Lily & mama Pam. [Papa Nate may possibly be not unpleased that although he's the important man in Sophie's life, my Mama's dubious photographic skills did not capture him -- at least not yet.]

True, this shot is not the most up-to-date. In 2007, Sophie ranks among the new generation of young adults who are taking their place as productive humans. Already an acclaimed actress, film director & editor Sophie is making her mark as an intelligent, creative, well-travelled woman. For example, she recently returned from a several months stay in South Africa. She regularly summers in France [my own country of origin]. And her attendance at a previous Sundance Film Festival excited comment among the glitterati.

For me, and for the entire Roushanzamir family [admitedly there are only we three], she will always remain a favorite friend & beautiful girl, one who we treasure-- on her birthdays and always.

Happy Birthday, Sophie.

Accomplished Fursich; Accomplished Tod[d]

Here, another posting about some VIPs in Mama's life. If you've read the previous entries, you'll understand that I agreed to allow Mama, not to dictate my content per se, but to share news of the accomplishments of a few of her former students, her friends & colleagues. Fursich & Fraley each are experts in their particular scholary specialities.

I would be remiss if I neglected to include a shot illustrating one of my own [examples of expertice in my particular speciality].

Elfriede Fursich, Associate Professor, Boston College, worked with Mama on 2 graduate degrees. Her Master's research led to "Science Journalism Under Scrutiny: a textual analysis of science times," in Critical Studies in Mass Communication. Elfriede's dissertation expanded the definition of journalism, analyzing travel programs heretofore relegated to entertainment genre.

She has travelled the world, on her own, with her husband [also a well-known scholar in his own field] and now with their young son who bears the lovely & lucky name, Felix. One instance of the quality of her teaching is the scholarly publication she co-authored with an undergraduate student [in the complex halls of academia, an uncommon achievement for an undergrad]. She is fluent in German & English, with German as her first language. Mama tells me she is among the top 5% of English writers that Mama has encountered in her [I won't say how many] years of working with doctoral students.

One special instance of her generosity: she invited Mama and Allan [at 16, the very apogee of tedious teendom] to visit her during one of her brief, infrequent holidays at home. She & the Fursich family welcomed Mama and Allan very warmly, indeed. Their stay remains a highlight of their tour of the Continent in both their memories.

Meet Todd Fraley, Assistant Profesor, East Carolina University, & his beautiful wife, Alisa.

Mama tells me many stories about Todd. For example, he gave her the Peeps lights that hang on the dead tree that graces our screened-in porch [I couldn't make this up.] He likes Halloween [& has passed that dubious preference along to his VIP children; but refer to my entry of October 31, 2006], surprise parties and giving out Mama's unlisted phone number [I made up that last].

But there is more to know about Todd than a few anecdotes, more even than his brilliant family.

He too worked with Mama on his 2 graduate degrees. He wrote a thesis, subsequently published as “Fred Hampton, Revolutionary Leader or Deviant Thug,” Howard Journal of Communication 15:3 147-67. And, a dissertation examining the independent media movement from a grassroots perspective. He has edited at least one book [that I know of] ; here see its beautiful cover [I admit I cannot read].

I know for a fact that his teaching skills have attracted numerous prestigious awards.

Infer from the quality of Todd's picture above, Mama was the photographer. Pauvre Mama. I prefer this shot. It depicts Todd's personality which can only sketched with words such as: smart, witty, thoughtful, kind, caring, and commited to students, family & friends.

Accomplished Robins

Melinda Robins is Mama's friend of long-standing. They met in the 1980s [the old days] in Madison, Wisconsin, shared exciting classes & [even more exciting] confidences.

All well & good. Now here comes the cautionary note. About Mama, Melinda, and small dogs. Before I moved into the Roushanzamir home, pauvre Mama shared her love with Stuffed Doggies.

For example, this shot shows Little Doggie and Little Baby Puppy Dog. Yes, pathetically, those are their given names.

Mama endowed them with high squeeky [highly annoying] voices & dismal personalities which she insisted on "sharing" with friends & family.

Melinda, to mention only one friend/family member, rebelled. I'll pass over her attempt to choke Little Doggie; after all, it was, on her part, a frenzy of sheer annoyance. Understandable.

But, Live & learn. Taking her predilection for, what seems on the surface to be the short fuse, I plan [should Melinda travel to Athens, GA from her current home in Boston] to entertain Melinda and divert her attention from my own status as a little dog [albeit not stuffed], immediately opening my toy box to her and sharing any toy she cares for.











Proceeding to Mama's intentions [see 12/01/06 entry] for the content of VIP entries:

Melinda Robins, Associate Professor, Emerson College, wrote a dissertation about Tanzanian professional women, special focus on journalists. An innovation: her use of methodology based in ethnography & the manner of presentation: 2 1-act plays. Mama & Melinda traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia together where they worked helped establish a journalism & communication program at a local university. [to read more about their experiences in Ethiopia go to: www.grady.uga.edu/coxcenter/ and search the site for Ethiopia]

As a long-time friend & Mama's very 1st advisee to earn a Ph.D., Melinda holds a special place in Mama's life & heart; Mama smiles when she sees Melinda's smiling face.

Ready for Our Close Up

Taking a break from the marker called in [i.e., Mama's insistence that I fulfill my promise to write about her accomplished friends & former students in a timely way--read previous entry], allow me to introduce the Best of the Best in dog closeups.

First, my own [see photo above]. Sadly, Mama's photographic ability varies. Still, this shot displays my long eyelashes, splendid nose and thick head of lustrous hair to, if not perfection, advantage.

[Observe: left is Mama's slightly better photographic effort added on February 7, 2007]. She hasn't heard the last of the Close up readiness issue. In the meantime, I recommend watching Sunset Boulevard for a first-class close up-- & refer you to [Re]noir entry, January 21, 2007 & Noir, January 26 for more information about film noir. ]

Next, Mary Catherine. Named for the most famous & powerful Russian Emperor[ess], Mary Catherine's Papas treat her with deference only fitting & adamantly insist that others behave similarly. With her regal & commanding demeanor & inherent sense of nobless oblige, prompting is unnecessary; Mary Catherine inspires suitable treatment simply by her aura of authority, her charisma. Adorned with satin and gold--she wears a golden name tag on a Louis Vuitton collar--[see 1/30/07 entry], she is royally coifed and perfumed, and petted by all she encounters.

Finally, the pin-up girl. Miss February, chosen to grace the home and business walls & lockers of men and women alike for the entire month of Februrary [therefore hanging, as I write, in a strategic place selected for most frequent viewing in the Roushanzamir home], stands out from the other 11 celebrity dogs chosen to represent the height of beauty [and the It factor] for this, the most famous edition of the poodle calander. The reason seems obvious. [but for the visually challenged, note her close resemblance to me]

Accomplished Friends

You may remember the Gang of 10, Tribute [see: 12/01/06] in which, at Mama's request, I promised exciting profiles of of various VIPs. I have been sadly [wholly] remiss.

The commitment shall be fulfilled beginning with this tribute to a well-known professor & Mama's friend and colleague. Her photo has been slightly retouched [and her name and actual circumstances altered] so that she may avoid the insatiable media attention accorded to highly accomplished intellectuals.

Meet Rose Cleveland, Ph.D. Her research findings are published in "grade A" scholarly journals & she is widely credited with the highest achievements in undergraduate and graduate teaching at a well-known Southern university. She makes herself available for service to benefit that university, her discipline, and indeed to the professional world, all of which eagerly accept her offers with gratitude.

Equally, if not more important, her commitments to the local community and to her friends single her out as a particularly warm, empathetic and loving human being.

Of course, I count myself as one of Mama's [& Papa's] greatest pals. I'd be honored if I can similarly number Professor Rose Cleveland as a personal friend.

She's already one of the few human beings admitted to my house with minimal aggressive barking. So Dr. Cleveland, if you do wish to be my pal, please post your comment[s] in the Comment Section below.